Laurier

Thank you Parsnips. What you mention is exactly what I was concerned about. I will first go into the sites you suggest. I have already tried to do some research on my own. However, I would definitely like to pm you later. Tks again. Laurier

Hi I know there has been discussion on this and I have done a search but can't find what I want. I really want to know where is the best place to go for some unbiased information? How do you decide which one, where do you find out about them? I have spoken to the bank but was not happy really happy with the person's expertise. I spoke to one financial adviser - he was quite helpful but only dealt with cases involving huge sums. However, he said I should negotiate the entry fee, etc. right down when I did find one. I spoke to a well-known financial company - they recommended a Luxembourg based AV as being the best but I don't know if they have an 'interest'. I wonder if they are going to push the ones where they have the best interest plus their entry and management fees seemed high. I need to have it thoroughly explained to me - if anyone can point me towards someone/something (pm if necessary) where I could get unbiased info, I would be grateful. Thanks Laurier      

Hi At a meeting held in Normandy to help Brits to fill in their Tax Returns this year, they were told they should enclose a copy of the S1 with their Tax Return. If you didn't have a copy, you were advised to get another copy from UK. My friend did this and the UK office (I think Newcastle, but not sure?) were incredibly efficient and said they would send 2, just in case. These arrived within 4 days! I think they must have been asked for this before! My friend had put a note on the form to say he was a holder of the S1 and therefore not 'a la charge' but they still wanted a copy of the S1. Laurier  

SD. Tks very much. I do have E so am fine and the medical doesn't apply. Laurier.

Do you know if the French licence has the same categories as our UK driving licences? Like others of my age, my UK driving licence seems to allow me to drive many more categories than my nephew of 28. He wasn't allowed to drive a van when moving but I believe I could have driven it (if asked!) on my 'granny' licence. I am happily towing a trailer on my UK licence but am led to believe also that you have to take a test in France? Also, does the French licence require you to get a medical certificate over 70? Thanks Laurier  

Hi Thanks - that's absolutely great, didn't know about that at all. Laurier

Hi Parsnips Have been following your advice on filling in the form. I wasn't aware that there was a 10% abattement on the OAP pension. How is this allowed? Thanks Laurier

NH ... the French looks pretty hot to me ... have made a note of some of the phrases in case I need to trot them out ... The content is very useful as well! Thanks Laurier

Clair You and some of the others contributors must have an amazing reference/filing system to be able to pull up these links 'as and when'.  They are so useful on so many different subjects. Thanks!  

Thanks pp. I'll go through it - looks just what I need. Laurier.

Does anyone know how I would rent a central post box/address facility in France to receive mail and, possibly, forward it until I have a permanent address? While searching for property, I am thinking of moving temporarily into different areas so think it would make sense to have one address rather than keep changing it. Thanks. Laurier  

Thanks. It comes up this size 3 automatically. It looked huge so I made it smaller. When I previewed, it looked the right size but maybe it comes out much smaller for everyone else. Laurier

Thanks. I did explain to the pharmacy that it was for putting in icing and she still gave me the wrong one - said it was up to me, which it was! I should have read the stuff more carefully before taking it but threw it away when I got back. I will try another pharmacy. They couldn't understand why I would put it in icing! We had used the preserving sugar but still found that some of the fruits didn't set - maybe we weren't using enough. Will try again. I have checked every supermarket in all the towns for pectin, even tried the big one (Auchan) in Poitiers yesterday, by the sugars and by the home-baking, and still haven't located it, even asked the assistant yesterday and have asked in other supermarkets. The one assistant recommended Agar Agar but think that is just a kind of gelatine. Thanks anyway. Laurier.  

Two questions maybe someone can help me with: Do you know where I can get glycerine from, to put into royal icing? I bought some "glycerine" from the pharmacy and it said 'don't swallow' on the side so I realised it was not the right stuff to soften the royal icing! I haven't been able to find it in any supermarket and the patisseries don't seem to know what I am talking about. Also, is pectin available in France or what is used in jam-making? I haven't been able to find it locally at all. Thanks in advance Laurier    

Thanks for all the input on this. I hope I won't need it! Regards Laurier

Thanks SD for the form. Has anyone had experience of filling in one of these at an accident? It seems that you both fill in the one form, both sign it and each have a copy so presumably you have to really have the carbonated copies. I wonder how it works in practice. I just can't imagine it being that easy to agree, or get one party to put on the form that they drove into the other, etc. Having just had a car accident in the UK, I am talking from personal experience and just wonder how I would have agreed and completed this form with the courier driver who did a u-turn and came straight back into me. Laurier

Hi I have been carrying the European Accident Statement with me in the car since 2008 and, thankfully, never needed it. The link for this was given to me on the Forum together with some very useful basic insurance information. Does anyone know if this has been updated? Tks Laurier

Thanks Idun/Chancer - I knew 'creve' but couldn't work out baratiner. I must try and remember them. I don't know if I will be using that one but it's good to recognise it if you hear it! I have picked up on some of your other words, Idun, which are such fun. I need to be at the level where they trip off the tongue, though. Thanks for the references. I had tried Babelfish but it didn't give it. I realise that my French is definitely not 'French as she is spoke'! Laurier

I had no idea that the wiring was such a 'complicated' subject. It has given me a lot to think about with other properties I will be looking at. I'm afraid 'creve de baratiner' is lost on me as well - what does that mean? Thanks Laurier

Thanks. Really appreciate all the input. Laurier

Thanks Crossy. That's brilliant. As I said, I haven't yet seen it. I had thought if it was cheap enough, then it might be worth getting it done if everything else ticks the boxes but I do need to get a proper quote and factor in all the other works needed (decoration). The location is the best I have seen so far for me, with everything I would need nearby, so I am loath to write it off until I have seen it for myself and found out what the financial implications are. I have seen some very nice places which are in perfect condition and would suit me very well but they are in the wrong location!! Tks again Laurier

Hi DB yes, when you put it like that, it does sound dopey, doesn't it, and that might well be what I will come round to in the end. I am very cautious so wouldn't venture in unless I was totally sure it was 'the one' and had checked all angles. However, I have been looking for quite some time, back and forth to France, in and out of local mairies, and it sounded as if this one might tick a lot of the boxes, i.e. location, price, facilities, etc. so I thought it was worth taking a look. Rgds laurier

Thanks for all the info. I am so glad I asked. The owner had intimated that he would consider a slight reduction in the price. However, it sounds as if it would involve quite a bit more than just replacing a 'circuit board'. I hadn't thought rewiring would be so expensive. I agree I would need to get it looked at properly and quoted for. I hadn't considered the insurance aspect and that is very important. The house has been let out as a holiday let during the season for several years and I am surprised, therefore, that it doesn't conform in case of fire!! I find that a bit scary. I have heard from others that the English wiring is superior to the French. However, I agree that you have to go with what the regulations in France and if it is not acceptable to EDF, then that is also a problem. The owner is probably genuine in that it is "safe" but I don't want to give myself problems further down the line. I will only be able to get over to France in September to have a look but am very happy to be forearmed with so much extra info. Tks all Laurier

Seeing the other thread on the diagnostics, I thought I would see if anyone could advise on the above. I am going to look at a house for sale and understand it has failed the electrical diagnostic because it was wired in the English way rather than the French way. This doesn't mean an awful lot to me. I am going to take a friend with me to look over the place generally. However, the owner has told me it is perfectly safe. Would a failed electrical diagnostic, for that reason, be a problem ? Laurier

Yes, I second that. Will be very interested to hear how you get on. My friend in Normandy has had an absolute glut of apples and I thought it would be good to make apple juice. I had a juice extractor years ago but had to use about 4kg of spinach to make a glass of the foul tasting stuff, so gave up, especially when the juice didn't have the same benefits for me as it seemed to have for Goldie Hawn. Laurier