Quillan

The role of the moderator is to ensure that the terms and conditions of joining the forum and the Code of Conduct are kept to. This in turn takes some of the pressure off Forum Admin who has other work other than administering the forum. (Sorry to reply in English but my English grammer is a bit bad at times so you can imagine what my French is like, nice to see somebody post in French for a change). Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Try.: http://www.narbonneaccessoires.fr/info/ They do mail order. My brother-in-law uses them and he lives in Spain. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Does anyone know what the situation is with replacing an existing fosse septic? Can you just do it or do you have to apply for permission. Just so you know ours is not low enough and the water is not running in to it properly so it has to be dug out and lowered which probably means we have to actually replace it. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Yes Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

LAST EDITED ON 23-Jul-04 AT 06:17 AM (BST) There was a posting about GPS Navigation for cars here some time back which I found very interesting as I miss the system I had in my Mondeo which was very good and extremely accurate and produced by a company called Becker. I used it several times coming to France and it navigated me door to door without problem. I had been looking at buying another system but wanted something more portable, preferably a PDA based system as I already have an IPaq 5550. Using the websites given in the other post I soon discovered its like picking your way through a mine field as there are several systems to choose from. Tom Tom seems to be the most popular although the reviews show some failings in its data quality which rather put me off plus the fact you have to buy each countrys data separately either by buying another data disk or by unlocking the original CD using codes which can be rather expensive. The other thing you must buy is of course a GPS receiver which is also a bit confusing. So here is my story with the hope it might help others who like gadgets and a few bob to spare. Car Sat Navigation is based on two map data providers. The Becker system as fitted to Ford products (including Jaguar, Land Rover etc) is based on the Navteq maps (now known as Navtech). This I know from experience (in my Mondeo) is very good so I wanted a system that used the same data. Of course the data is only as good as the way its used and car based navigation systems are far superior to PDA versions in their accuracy. The reason for this is that they dont rely on pure GPS but have inertia navigation platforms (Like they have in aircraft) and wheel sensors. This gives an accuracy of around half a metre (or less). PDAs dont have these extra sensors and are therefore less accurate. Choice of GPS unit to connect to your PDA is also important. I didnt want cables all over the place and being in a hilly and wooded area I wanted a very sensitive unit. I also wanted to use it off road and for walking so I wanted something light and again capable of working in more severe conditions. I have chosen to use the following products. Software - CoPilot Live.: This uses NavTech and can be activated for either the UK or Europe, to get both you have to pay another 99.99 although you will get main routes in the country its not activated in. It will also install in any EU language. I have it activated for the EU although you cant download all of it in to a storage card as it requires around 550MB and there is no card big enough at present. Downloading the data is simple; select a town in the centre of the area in which you want to travel then select a radius, the maximum being around 400 Miles (thats a diameter of 800 miles). I have found I can download an area from the Spanish boarder up to just short of Calais. It has all the normal Navtech POIs as well as petrol stations, hotels, airports etc and has city and town maps which is useful for walking around Toulouse and a like, street names are included. CoPilot also has the ability to have its maps updated by patches from NavTech which I have done and know works. It also uses a mobile phone on Bluetooth to receive traffic information. You get a 30 day trial after which you pay a monthly subscription. It works OK here in France but as we dont exactly get much traffic down in Quillan so I have not subscribed afte the 30 days. GPS Unit.: I chose the Fortuna Bluetooth GPS Clip-on. I was rather concerned as this unit has had problems in the past. Many of the first batch of these units shipped failed. Many of the reviewers had to get theirs replaced but then I read the new batch are OK. I picked this unit because it uses the new XT (SIRF STAR IIE/LP) technology. What is XT? Well its hyper sensitive receiver technology which means you pick up more satellites in difficult areas. Mine is working with 7 satellites and I am down in my basement 5M from the window with all sorts of concrete and steel above me on two levels. The reviews say that it responds slower in XT mode but I have not experienced this. This unit gives between 8 and 10 hrs use out of one charge although a car power cable is available as an extra accessory. Software BAYO.: This is to use off road either in my Discovery or walking. Its a cheap product (around 40) and uses IGN maps but the program is in French but as I use Windows XP Professional on my PC there is no problem with language DLLs screwing my PC up, a problem usually found with older versions of Windows. Downloading to the IPaq is again simple but due to the level of detail it takes a lot of space. I keep the program in main memory and use a spare storage card for the maps and swap them over depending on which software I am using. This is not the same type of thing as you would use to navi

I to lost my login and it was to do with the crash last October. I have 2 PC's, one of which I logged on to the Forum all the time with because it had a cookie to do that. However when I tried to login with my new PC using my user name and password it would not let me. The login database was checked and I didn't exist. Strange but there you are, one that would work and one that wouldn't. I think the problem was that the crash was 'fixed' rather than the program re-installed and then the data reloaded. No changes have been made whatsoever to the current system. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

We have an insert and Chimney all from Rennee Brishac (probably spelt it wrong) who I am told are either the top of the range or very near, it came with the house. The insert really comes into its own if you design it to fit the house or the house to fit the insert. The reason for saying this is because the big ones are designed to heat more than one room. The one we have installed can produce 24,000 BTUs (needs a lot of wood) and the hot air can be pumped into 4 rooms via a silent low power fan and ducting. The door on our model either hinges open or can be slid up into the chimney and allows for cooking and BBQ in the winter. With the door up one gets a vast amount of heat generated into the room which has at times (when I have put to much wood on) resulted in us opening the windows in deep winter to let the heat out. Our fire is located in our lounge area which is around 200 cubic metres (big lounge with vaulted ceiling) and we burn around 8 cubic meters of wood (oak) a winter. Would I buy another, too right I would and I would not now bother with something like a Waterford which I was so keen on when I came here as I had one back in the UK which I thought was brilliant until I tried an insert. Hope this all makes sense. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Phone Swansea and tell them what you are doing and ask for an export cert to be posted to you in France then proceed with registering in France. It gets them of your back and don't forget if there is no tax you automatically get sent a fine to the UK address. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

I to would use prappy as I call it. It's worth getting it put on profesionally (with a machine) and NEVER paint over it. It does discolour down at the footings but a power washer cleans it of OK. Our house is 20 years old and there is nothing wrong with the coating. Somebody painted theres over the way and now has to do it every 5 to 7 years. A painter will want you to paint, it's more money for him in the long run. Don't use any UK products as they are not really designed for over here. There was a guy once who told me he bought his shutter paint from Wicks, it was cheap and he did it every year. My paint which I bought here cost twice as much but is warranted for 9 years. Thgere is nothing wrong with the Wicks stuff it's just that its not designed for the temps we get down here in Southern France. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

I notice Archant have registered website names for the above (and probably more but I didn't check) and was wondering if they have magazines for these countries or is it something they will be doing shortly. Shame www.living-france.com has been grabed (not by me I hasten to add) as they would have a complete stable of names but then www.livingspain.com is still available. Just being nosey. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

I have removed the post about TV company as it is advertising. I have emailed the poster to inform them of this. Chris Moderator

Both my wife and I smoke. We do not allow smoking in the bedrooms and use smoke detectors to alert us if somebody does but it has not happened to date. When we have a evening meal we allow smoking after coffee and likewise don't allow smoking before or during breakfast. Other than that people can smoke in the lounge or garden. The same rules are applied to us as well as the guests as you can't expect others to do differently than yourselves. I thing it's a matter of common sense and good manners if you are a smoker and appreciate that some people object to smoking. France is more 'smoker friendly' than the UK which is good for those of us that smoke. If we go out with non smoking friends we are quite happy to sit in a none smoking area, we can always go to the bar or outside and smoke. Likewise we don't smoke in front of children not only because of passive smoking but because it is a bad habit and like many of us that have not enough will power to give up don't want to encourage youngsters to smoke. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

I'll put this here but it gos with both your posts really. We use to wait for people to turn up but now ask them for an approx time. We also say that we will hold a room to 18:00 hrs on the basis we get passing trade and can re-let the room after that. If they know they are going to be late, things happen as we all know, then they should call us. Unlike some we don't take deposits, we find it time consuming and feel that those that don't turn up we don't really want in our house. We are in a lucky position with the passing trade and I know others are not so fortunate. We have never had anyone not arrive (it's going to happen now I have said this) and really have not given it much thought but I can imagine it's a pain in the rear when it happens. Chin up Coco, on with the good work. Bye Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Miki, Well put, I couldn't agree with you more. It's funny how some English state that one of the many reasons they leave the UK is because it 'full of bl@@dy immigrants who make no effort to integrate and can't speak a word of English' what do they do, come over here and do exactly the same. One woman guest who was house hunting and staying with us asked where the Brits were, I asked if she wanted to ensure she didn't buy near them to which she said 'Oh no it's nice to live amongst ones own'. Dont know why she didnt move to Surrey, well I do actually, she was one of those that also watches A place in the Sun from 5 years back and thought she could buy a 5 bed mansion with pool for 20,000, got quite a shock and we wont be seeing her again, thank god. By the way saw a house in 1 Hectare to renovate in Ariege for 315,000, thought it was a joke but there are quite a few like that for the same sort of money, frightening isnt it. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Well I am very sorry about the grief you have had but I do feel you have rather bought this on yourself. Firstly you appear never to have done any serious homework otherwise you would be aware that no normal immobilier in France charges for house/property searches, you would also be aware of the following. It has been common practice to include the fees in the price of the property for sometime now and this was defiantly the case when we bought 2 years ago. I am sorry (to others) but never buy through a UK based company as they are often not aware of the laws in France and may not be registered in France. In fact when I searched for immobiliers in France I ruled out all UK based companies. If you do use a UK agency then 2 articles in any magazine is not sufficient to do business, you need to talk to several of their clients to make sure they are happy. I would never have sold up and moved over until I had at least paid my deposit and signed my contract (there was a good article on this subject in the LF magazine 2 years ago). Always deal with a member of the FNAIM in France as this gives you protection and all good immobiliers are members. The good thing from your story is that it shows exactly how not to go about moving to France and what happens when it goes wrong. The only course of action is to inform the police both in the UK and France and give them all the details you have as he has basically conned/robed you. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Its been really hot (38 on terrace in shade). There was a big 4th July party in Quillan, Told the yanks we changed our minds and want it back.. except Bush, they can keep him! So we toasted King George followed by the colonials and all went home late but well fed and watered. Outside chores are done around 6 am as its to hot the rest of the day, never thought I would be praying for rain as all the grass is now dead. Been very busy with the old B&B over the last few weeks and the full sign has not come down for a long time. Pats back in the UK, her mum is very ill so I have been running it on my own for the last week and a bit. Why is it women make such a black art out of ironing, once you remember to turn it on it simple. Got over the colours and whites washing thing. Put them all in on a boil wash and now dont have to sort things as they are all the same colour, saves a lot of time on change over days. Mole din Laden has gone on holiday as he and his terrorists have left the garden alone for a while. It might have something to do with the ground being so dry its set like concrete. Thats about it really. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Firstly you need to get over and look around and visit agents. You will find that prices her are no longer cheap but the type of property you want is around. I think it would be a good idea to visit now while it's hot (34 to 38 deg C for the last couple of days) and again in the winter. You can rent a gite at a cheap rate during the winter for 3 or 4 weeks which will give you a feel for what it's like. Last winter we had little snow at this altitude but boy did it rain. It rained basically from November through till April with a few days off here and there. Quite a few people we know went on holiday somewhere warm. Some English have been complaining becasue they seem to think it's sunny all year round which it isn't. Good luck. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Your E106 is only granted if you have two complete consecutive years worth of Class 1 contributions prior to requesting one. It then lasts for a maximum of 2 years after which time you must have registered in the EU country in which you live. Unfortunately voluntary payments are only for your pension and nothing else and are known as Class 3. Class 2 stamps are what self employed people pay in the UK but again do not automatically give you a E106 in fact I am sure they dont count. Class 1 contributions can only be collected via PAYE in the UK. Unfortunately I rather think your friend may be a bit confused unless he/she has a UK Company through which he/she is being paid and PAYE is collected and they get an annual P60. The good news is that you are automatically covered under your husbands E106 till that expires. We went all through this some 6 months back (I posted a load of questions about this and got some good answers in B&B part of the forum) and its the reason why you need to start paying your cotistations ASAP to ensure you are covered when your E106 runs out. You don't have to pay the full cotistations because you can estimate your earnings and get them reduced to match. They (CofC) told us however that if you go over your earnings then there are problems. We only paid 688 for our first year using this method. You could try contacting Peter Owen (posts here) its his business to know these sort of things and can answer your questions more better than I and is is always up to date on the law etc. Im afraid the old Ive paid in for the last 30 years makes no difference at all although I see your point. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

We bought one for my wife (2 years ago) and I have to say it's very good. It has electris windows, sentral locking and made by Axim. Burns one tank of fuel every 2 months going back and forth from the shops and it costs 10 to fill it up, service is cheap but the insurance is high and you don't appear to get a bonus (it's around 600 per year). Wouldn't use it for long drives although I did go from Quillan to Carcassonne once and it only took 10 minutes longer than in my Discovery and I am not a slow driver and it normally takes around 40 mins. Now she is taking her French teest shortly we shall be selling it and in a way I shall be sad to see it go. Some people think they are a pain and as this one looks like a real car we have put a 50 sticker on it. To save grief is we get a few cars behind us we pull over and let them pass. Don't be put off by negative comments which I know you will get they are great. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Moles, I hate them. We have Mole bin Laden living with all the other terrorists in our garden. I have tried just about everything to get ride of them from gassing trough to shooting the buggers. I even tried explosives but ended up in hospital (fuse to short). Short of an A bomb I think you are out of luck. I have tried all the approved methods, wine bottles (empty of course, drunk for a week trying to get enough) placed in soil with top showing so wind blows across making a noise, sonic poles, gas, you name it Ive tried it. If you find a system that works 110% let me know. Yours desperately Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

As an Ebayer and before I can give any advice (or not) can you tell us which site you used i.e. .fr or .co.uk Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

What you want is Marine Insurance. This is a extra premium and all items you want covered must be listed so you go for 'capital' cost items. This not only gives you like for like but a longer period in which to make a claim. The normal period is 7 days in which to make a claim but this form of insurance gives you 3 months which is handy as I have found it takes about this amount of time to unpack everything (in fact we have been here 2 years and there are still unopened box's in the garage). The premium will be so much per 1000 listed. Don't forget to bring all your reciepts with you as when you take out a French policy it is very hard to claim if you don't have a reciept. Hope this helps Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

Regrtfully you have picked a rather bad time to come. Most of the decent properties will be rented out for the holiday season and Winter lets don't really start till the end of September. I was thinking hard and the only ones I know of are fully booked till then. Might I suggest you hold off till September, you will have much better luck then I think. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

I want to have a fixed IP address and about 5 email addresses does anyone know a ISP in France who can supply this at a reasonable price. I am already on ADSL. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com

You can't claim off the French system as you have put nothing in. However for the first 2 years you can claim and have paid in France your UK allowances. You need to visit the appropriate UK departments and tell them what you are doing and if you are still recieving benifits from the UK they will give you the relevent documents to bring to France. I believe that you don't get any raises that are issued each year in the UK. After the two years are up you are on your own. This is only what I have been told but if I was you I would go see specialists in the UK. The French are not as 'generous' as the Brits on these matters and locals don't like people who come to France and them claim off the French system, well not round here anyway. In fact they can get very nasty, spitting on people and such like. Chris http://www.chambresdhote.com