tinabee

yes - dry outside, finish off in dryer with dryer balls [:)]  - gives them a good bashing!

Another option would be to join www.bookmooch.com  - there are quite a few books in Portuguese - you can browse or search by language

One possible drawback of offshore accounts is that they are not protected by the FSA, so they often have a smaller limit on how much of your money is safe - check the small print. Whereever you keep your money, you will still have to pay tax and social charges. If you want to save in Euros, Credit Agricole have just launched their Livret A account (tax free for French residents) paying around 5.6%    

have a look here for the rules and exemptions for capital gains tax http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/taxation/capital-gains-tax/ this section gives the basic rules of inheritance law and options available for inheritance planning http://www.french-property.com/guides/france/finance-taxation/inheritance/overview/   good luck!

make some hummus and serve with sticks of carrot and radish - easy recipe here http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/quickhummousandolive_71473.shtml  

You could try looking for international companies that have offices in the area you want to live. For example, Airbus is massive in Toulouse (along with CSC). Or just Google "IT jobs France" and see if there are sites where you can narrow down the geography.  You will probably stand more chance if you have expertise in something like SAP. Good luck.  

about €1200 a year (includes hot water, excludes cooker)  we also have a wood burner for winter evenings.

[quote user="Nell"] Now can I please ask another question - There is another form (don't remember the number off the top of my head) but it is to claim back tax taken from savings if the bank won't change my account to "tax exempt". When do I fill this in and send it off? After I see what I get back from the tax office? After annual interest is posted to my savings account? or after 5th April each year?  Who said retirement was easy? [:D]  [/quote] The form you need is an R43 available here http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nonresidents/fagallow_nonres.shtml You can send it off as soon as you have your section 352 certificate from the bank (which normally arrives in April).  I will be sending mine by registered post with proof of receipt next year, so as to avoid the problems I had this year. As an update from my last post, I had to re-send the forms to Nottingham and have now received my tax back. The speed may have been due to the fact that I kept asking for updates via email [6]

If you buy the ordinary blackcurrent cordial (Tessiere sp?) instead of the alcoholic cassis, you can make a nice Kir Royale style drink with Champomy. Grape juice and perrier is nice too. There are usually 2 or 3 different types of grape juice available. I like the red one best.

We had to complete a "Demande d'installation d'assainissement non collectif" which was submitted to Veolia (who do the inspections in our area, not SPANC) with the soil study report. A copy had to be given to the Mairie. Veolia then sent back an approval for the plans so that we could get quotes for installation. All paperwork was directed through the Mairie. Having said that, when we began the process the Mairie were pretty unsure as to what should happen regarding the new rules and I think they used us as a test case to find out how it all should work. Your best bet would be to get advice from your inspector (SPANC or Veolia) to make sure you are complying with the latest procedures.        

Send our best wishes to an amazing person. Hope she is feeling better soon.

Just watched Carol Klein on the telly talking about planting winter greens, looks like I now know what to look for in French [:)] She also mentioned Mache.  

Read this cautionary tale http://www.totalfrance.com/france/forum/viewtopic.php?t=49098    

I keep mine in the car so I can always give the garage the odd change when buying petrol.

Just found this service provided via Genius - it's a pre-paid package of either gardening, cleaning or small DIY jobs http://www.genius-laposte.fr/index.php?page=packs&id_article=235 Also found this website where you can find approved providers who will accept CESU http://www.servicesalapersonne.gouv.fr/repertoire-national-des-organismes-agrees-(1701).cml?      

If you sign up for this free course you get a regular newsletter: http://www.rocketlanguages.com/french/ You can also get a free newsletter here: http://french.about.com/  

It is called the Controle Technique or CT. Special test centres exist in most towns - they only do the controle technique and do not do any other repairs or servicing. You could find your nearest centre here http://www.controletechnique.info/  

We have just had a new fosse in a restricted area. Soil study recommended sand filter but a lot depends on your soil/terrain etc. We used Bureau d'étude DELALANDE 5, Rue du Général de Gaulle 50410 PERCY   Tél / Fax :02.33.50.00.51  Portable : 06.75.55.95.00 E-Mail : [email protected] They were very good and will deal with phone and email in English.  

This post reminded me I hadn't had a reply to the R43 I submitted earlier this year (May). Having just rung the centre for non-residents it would appear they never received the form. Good job I had kept a copy. Here we go again [:'(]

Have a browse on the Point P website - they have lots of info on options and innovations in construction http://www.pointp.fr/nos-specialites/gros-oeuvre-X127S224R268c9018  

[quote user="Bannon"]  Mine is pretty well paid up with the Mrs not far behind. [/quote] You can get a pension forecast and if necessary top-up your NI contributions (you now need 30 years contributions to get maximum pension) http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/nonresidents/iwtget_retirement_forecast_while_abroad.shtml  

When in the UK I always had my eyes tested every year. Having now been in France for 2 years I decided it was time to sort something out for an eye test and possibly new glasses. I read as much as I could about all of it, checking with the medecin traitant (answer: yes you do need to see an ophthalmologue, no you don't need a referral, and there is a 12 month delay to get an appointment), making sure I had cover on the mutuelle, etc. I decided to check with an optician recommended by the mutuelle to see if they would do a basic vision test and check if my prescription needs changing. I booked an appointment, just over a week ago, went in today, she did a complete sight test (same as I used to have in the Uk), checked my current glasses and concluded that for distance nothing needed changing, but if I wanted I could have a slightly stronger pair for close work, but it wasn't really necessary.  After about an hour of test, advice etc. I decided that I didn't need new glasses and asked what the bill was for the test. The answer - NOTHING! It's the cheapest visit to an optician I have ever had [:D] I'll be booking the ophthalmo in due course just to make sure everything else is ok.

info on auto-entrepreneur here http://www.auto-entrepreneur.fr/ as far as I can make out, you can't register until Jan 2009 but there is a draft "kit" available    

I can now confirm the coffee is absolutely fine. And as I already wanted a small slow cooker and would have paid at least €21 - the coffee is free, so it tastes even better [:D]

As you have no protected heirs, you can leave your estate to whoever you want. However, if you don't make a will in France, then all of your siblings (or their descendants) will inherit your estate. If you are resident in France at the time of your death, this will apply to all of your worldwide assets, if you are not resident in France, it will only apply to your French property.