Chassaing

May be some will be interested in this..... http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.650649,-116.139221&spn=2.062781,3.99353&z=8

[quote user="Katieb"]I wonder if anybody could suggest a book or web site address relating to the above as we would like to try our hands at planting according to the lunar calendar this year. Thankyou, Kate [/quote] I use this one... http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/Moon_Planting.asp

Hi Frederick, this is not an isolated case, and I believe it won't be the last.  People are finding that 'life' is getting tougher, especially in UK.  My father had allotments for over 40 years and I often wondered how the whole place did not get 'stripped'. I hope this is the last time for your friend, so that he feels it is worthwhile to keep at it...... All the best,

Hi Ian, May we wish Coops all the very best for a magical high speed recovery.  Hope it the quickest 'pit stop' on record...... Tim and Morag

[quote user="Polremy"]Do you mean "complement" or "compliment"? It was spelt one way in my mail box and the other way when I went to the forum. Actually, it makes quite a difference.[/quote]  Thank you, I agree.  But as you can't complement me that is a compliment!  :) 

[quote user="lebois"]Hi Everyone! I think this petition is destined to receive huge support............ Perhaps you'd like to visit too? http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/pensionpoverty/ The UKs Basic Pension is 17% of the National Average Wage. Most European pensioners receive a Basic Pension of at least 60% of their countries Average wage. Only Estonia (33%),Ireland (31%),Holland (30%)and the UK(17%) pays a Basic Pension of under 40% of its Average Wage. A Political consensus was reached by the EU Nations at the Laeken Summit 2001. that each Member State would attempt to attain a Basic Pension of 40% of its Average Wage by 2007 and then work towards 60%. The UK provides the worst Basic Pension by far. In fact , taking the Pension as a percentage of each countries Average Wage you will note that Pensioners in Greece, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy receive over 5 times our basic pension. Those in Portugal, Malta , Hungary and France receive over 4 times as much and those in Poland ,Czech Republic ,Latvia ,Finland and Sweden receive 3 times as much. Slovakia ,Cyprus ,Denmark, Germany ,Lithuania and Belgium receive over double ,whist finally Estonia Ireland and Holland have almost twice our basic pension. Regards.[/quote] I'm happy to be delusional.......  thanks for the compliment.

Hi Dave, Loved your post, read it 4 times to see if there was anything I could disagree with - I couldn't.  I laughed and smiled many times. For 3 years the trials of the veggie plot have challenged me and if it wasn't for the sweetcorn, courgettes and the tomatoes it would have cost us money too. We go through the fuss of collecting seeds for the following year, it is like stealing from the garden centres but very work intensive. Why do I do it?  Well.......  I have this mania, it makes me believe that the harder I work at growing our own food the better it tastes!  :)                 When we have guests we give them HGMS (pronounced 'Hugums')  Home Grown Home Made.                 The guests tell us the food tastes better therefore reinforcing my mania. So there you go, we are mad and we enjoy doing it.  :) Regards

[quote user="allanb"][quote user="lebois"]I think this petition is destined to receive huge support............ Perhaps you'd like to visit too?[/quote] Sounds like a worthy cause, except that it doesn't suggest how it might be achieved.  It would be more likely to be taken seriously if it said "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Raise the State Basic Pension to levels paid in every other EU country.  We propose that 40% of the amount needed should be funded by increases in everybody's income tax and 30% by increases in NI contributions, and the other 30% should just be added to the national debt so that we won't have to worry about it." Without something like that, it's pie in the sky. [/quote] Hi Allanb, You might be right, thank you for highlighting this point..... Regards.

Hi Everyone! I think this petition is destined to receive huge support............ Perhaps you'd like to visit too? http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/pensionpoverty/ The UKs Basic Pension is 17% of the National Average Wage. Most European pensioners receive a Basic Pension of at least 60% of their countries Average wage. Only Estonia (33%),Ireland (31%),Holland (30%)and the UK(17%) pays a Basic Pension of under 40% of its Average Wage. A Political consensus was reached by the EU Nations at the Laeken Summit 2001. that each Member State would attempt to attain a Basic Pension of 40% of its Average Wage by 2007 and then work towards 60%. The UK provides the worst Basic Pension by far. In fact , taking the Pension as a percentage of each countries Average Wage you will note that Pensioners in Greece, Luxembourg, Spain and Italy receive over 5 times our basic pension. Those in Portugal, Malta , Hungary and France receive over 4 times as much and those in Poland ,Czech Republic ,Latvia ,Finland and Sweden receive 3 times as much. Slovakia ,Cyprus ,Denmark, Germany ,Lithuania and Belgium receive over double ,whist finally Estonia Ireland and Holland have almost twice our basic pension. Regards.

Hi everyone, Before you read this article, may I suggest you prepare yourself a stiff drink! http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/70b4ef0a-1b91-11dd-9e58-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 I use this before topping up, every little helps! http://www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr/ Goats do a good job of mowing the lawn.....   :)

[quote user="Martinwatkins"]Well,  my main problem is the cost of the customer service line;   in our case last year we had long and frequent outages,  I reported these twice (at a personal cost of €18 for two phone calls) and then gave up and lived with the problem.   It seems to me totally unsatisfactory that there is no way of reporting defficiencies except via a phone call that costs €0.34 per minute and entails calls that last over 25 minutes while they faff around getting one to perform tests on the box that have no effect whatsoever. They then (as a result of the merger)  announced that - even though I was past the one year engagement -  I was to be put on a new contract (which meant I would be tied to them for a minimum of another year) AND gave me the wrong (too high) price for this contract.    When I queried this (on the premium rate number) they said they couldn't possibly personalise the announcement (which came via email) to all their customers.    This just strikes me as lazy - they could have put an asterisk by the price and said that those who own their own boxes (as I do) would pay the current rather than the increased price. In other words they now want to tie me back in to an identical contract to that which I already have,   with no new incentives,   and still with the premium rate customer service number,  for another whole year. I'm going to Alice where although I will pay more (because of the fact I won't have purchased my box) I will at least be able to pester them if the ADSL doesn't work, without pushing my phone bill up.   I suppose it's dread of having to ring CI and the fact they want to take me prisoner again for no advantage to me that makes me determined to escape their clutches. And of course a company that doensn't even know what its own resiliation address is must be a bit dodgy! [/quote] Hi Martin, Almost the same story as yours here, we also put up with the poor service but now have decided to jumped ship. After we called the service line for a new ADSL modem as ours was not working. CI told us they couldn't help us because our computer 'windows' was set up in English.  After being instructed to got to a local factor and having it changed in to French, the service helper refused to send out a new modem without going through a check list at our expence.... We decided it was time to change. The new company ADSL modem works perfectly (same IP adress so our PC was fine).   Our contract was extended without our agreement aswell, so we are on the same trail as this thread, how to get out..... Regards

I guess it is a lot more fun when you are not getting shot at!  :)

[quote user="cooperlola"]The French Health Minister has agreed NOT TO APPLY THE LEGISLATION RETROSPECTIVELY!!! Any economically inactive EU citizens legally resident on or before 23/11/07 will be allowed to join CMU,whether on an E106, or paying in.   More news shortly, please see the website which will carry the details soon. In spite of what we may have been thinking, huge thanks are due to the Europe minister and especially, Sir Peter Westmacott and the Embassy staff in Paris who have been working their socks of on this, although it might not have been evident in the last fortnight, as they did not want the minister to change her mind by jumping the gun before she had agreed to the changes we were asking for and had signed up. Sorry everybody was kept in suspense for so long but it was worth it in the end![:D][:D][:D] [/quote] From Jim Murphy: http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/jim_murphy/archive/2008/1/24.aspx

Fantastic news! Enormous thanks to 'The Team' and special praise for the leadership Coops has displayed, and of course to Mary Honeyball et al who gave us hope very early on. History has shown once again, that so many owe so much to 'The Few'. Looking forward to getting that little green card back......

Thanks Makfai, brilliant work. The 'quota issue' is getting around the world, Africa and Asia are now reporting a similar view on Mr Sarkozy's policies. http://www.indiaenews.com/europe/20080124/93473.htm

[quote user="BJSLIV"]Why would they/should they care?  If you move from area A to B within the UK, your MPs change, so why is a French resident the responsibility of any British MP when they have their constituents’ interests to deal with? As you retain voting rights in your last registered constituency they might hope that you would carry on voting for them from your foreign retreat. After all you could vote in  three General Elections,  and who knows your vote might save their neck if they have a marginal seat!. [/quote] Good stuff guys, many people are registered in France as well.  Furthermore, many pay taxes in both UK and France.  We should count for something because we are still paying in and voting.  This petition has been started, with 5.5 million expats worldwide I'm not sure if 1 MP would be the way to go.  But who am I? http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Votes-Europe/?ref=votes-europe

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="Russethouse"] I guess even if he wanted to, paying for the op in France would just highlight the fact that he doesn't have cover and is now an illegal immigrant ? I notice someone on the blog has suggested AME..... [/quote]Earlier on in the blog he says he tried this but was turned down. BaF, I have asked the Health Minister how she proposes to deport the illegal aliens now... no response thus far.... [/quote] Hi Cooperlola, my guess is that you won't get an answer to 'that' question.  But 'nice try' all the same. If we can believe the media, it looks like a 'Quota rule' (see links below).  But as we are now labeled 'Immigrants' for 5 years, and if without health cover we break 'the directive', then surely at best the term 'not legal Immigrant' would apply and worst 'Illegal Immigrant'.  We can only hope the CPAMs get their act together - soon! (14 months to E121 and counting!) http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/01/17/europe/EU-GEN-France-Immigration.php http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=United+Kingdom+%26+Europe&month=January2008&file=World_News200801082438.xml

Hi Joshua, Having experienced the way many people just don't care about the people involved in this issue, I hold little hope, but my thoughts include: To continue collecting, providing information and aiding lobbying. Aid paths for legal test cases for 'Human Rights'. (There must be something here) Increase 'friendly' political relationships.  Remember - Europe elections in 2009. Actively support MEPs like Mary H.  She is where it is happening.  (I believe we can debate on forums for centuries, but the real debates that will change this issue happen at the EU.) Use the pen in the right places.  Just a few ideas to help the ball roll further. Regards

[quote user="cooperlola"]Are you following M. Graham's tragic story on Jim Murphy's blog?  He should be admitted into the CMU  under the new rules, as a victim of an "accident de vie" but his local CPAM refuses to acknowledge that they exist. http://blogs.fco.gov.uk/blogs/jim_murphy/archive/2008/01/11/15734.aspx He is going back to the UK tomorrow in the hopes that he will get his urgent gall bladder operation courtesy of the NHS. [/quote] Hi Coops, thank you for raising our awareness on M. Graham's journey, everyone who has an ounce of  empathy  in them will be saddened, or angry for him.

[quote user="Russethouse"][quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Russethouse"] Perhaps you would not be so keen to promote the idea that you can just sell up a couple of years after moving if it was you involved. Have you any idea of the financial ramifications? [/quote] Exactly  RH!! That sentence sums it up - its not that people can't get health care, they just don't want to part with any money for the privilege.  If you were back in the UK and needed long term residential care they'd take your house off you anyway!!! [/quote] I think you should go to the FHI web site and read it. They are perfectly happy to pay for health care - the fact is that people may have sold up and moved to France (not a cheap undertaking, even just removal costs, agency fees etc) they buy  a house to improve and invest in that house, using local artisans, shopping locally, paying all their taxes and charges etc, then after a year one of them discovers cancer and treatment is started - several months after an operation chemo is ongoing and their oncologist has a programme of treatment planned. Then without any notice the French government start saying that in a couple of months time  we are going to stop paying - of course your life may be any danger, but don't worry, while you are fighting the cancer you can just put your house on the market, find another property in the UK (which of course will a lot worse than the one you left because you were silly enough to invest in France and now have considerably less money, but never mind) pray you can sell your French house and move back to the Uk and prove residency there in time to get 'free' life saving treatment..... Gee Scooby - could you be a little short of basic humanity ? These are not just a set of rules and regulation, real human beings,  just like you, with families, hopes and dreams, are being affected. Oh - and the comment about the the UK government taking your home is just a red herring. [/quote] Hi RH, succinctly put.  I agree. Perhaps a FG change of heart would be welcomed.  But atleast the 'go home' stance generally in France may be subsiding: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?sid=a8UWPwD5zB.U&pid=20601109

[quote user="Scooby"][quote user="Boiling a frog"]What a load of total misinformation. [/quote] Sorry but the facts are correct and I stand by them - and can provide names etc by pm if anyone wants them.  Maybe the rules have changed because both my B-i-L and my close friend retired 15 years ago and both drew their pensions immediately.  Both entered the police force age 18 - as did my friends husband.  Even if the rules have changed, 2/3 of your salary as a pension after only 25 years is a huge amout more than most people on a 40/80ths scheme get - especially when you consider it's paid from a much earlier age.  And the 40/80th group are doing extremely well compared to those on private defined contribution schemes.  Then there is the group my sister is in who only have the state pension to rely on.  Difficult to feel hugely sympathetic really. (As an aside my b-i-l bought a run down farm in one of the national parks (in the UK).  He built several new barns, extended the farm house and converted several of the old barns into holiday cottages - doing most of the labouring himself.  So although 'early retired' quite capable of doing another job so didn't really justify the big early pension imho - like many others.) The point about Sarkosy was his recent attempt to reduce the generous pension entitlements of certain groups of government employees - notably the railway workers to reduce the drain on the French public pocket. The point I'm making is that a lot of the 'inactifs' I'm sure, will have similar backgrounds, early retirement from comfortable government jobs on a nice big pension (compared to the income of many French), with plenty of proceeds from the sale of a house in the UK - if not a lump sum invested the enough to be mortgage free.  Its not suprised the French feel agrieved.  No 'inactif' is without healthcare - as groslard said already -  you just have to move back to the UK.  [/quote] Scooby, thank you for explaining your true motives for 'Forum Baiting.'   If you want to try to distract us from helping people less fortunate than ourselves, go ahead, who are we to stop you.  But just remember, we will resolve this issue and most will live a long and interesting life, so please keep working long and hard because 'the pot' needs people like you.  All the very best, Lebois

[quote user="cooperlola"]We are working on this.  There are still quite a few promises in the offing and the numbers went up by 25 again last week.  We also have ECAS working with the MEPs, plus some good support from two French MEPs who are in the forefront of the move to unify the health position throughout the Union.  You are right, and this really is a matter for Europe to sort out. We're preparing an update on the site for this, but meanwhile, take a look at : http://www.frenchhealthissues.eu/latest_news/yannick_vaugrenard_12_01.htm [/quote] Thank you Cooperlola,  it is reasuring that some French MEPs can see the 'big picture'.  Well done for your and the team's continueing hard work and success.  All the very best, Lebois

Hi Cooperlola, I see Mary et al are not getting complete support with their 'Written declaration', at the moment. (They could get a late charge I dream)  What other avenues can be taken on this issue?  If any, as this healthcare issue is a European one. Ongoing Authors : Mary Honeyball, Proinsias De Rossa, Bill Newton Dunn on health care provision for European citizens residing in another Member State Date opened : 22/10/2007 Lapse date : 05/02/2008 Number of signatories : 96 - 17/01/2008

[quote user="Scooby"]  It's a shame Brown can't take the same approach with these drains on the UK public purse in the same was as Sarkozy is trying to do with the drains on the French public purse. [/quote] Hi Scooby, I'm not sure your statement is true; just for my interest, could you present the data or point me to your source that supports your view please? Thank you in advance. Lebois

[quote user="cooperlola"]As my o/h and I both started working full time at 17, can we have the 4 years we didn't spend in "full time education" as a bonus at the end then please?  These arguments are a bit spurious, imo.  The biggest problem seems to me (having dealt with a lot of these things in the last 3 months) is for the professions where "early" retirement is mandatory, not a choice.  The worst cases we're hearing about are from police, armed forces etc where the retirement age is lower.  Many CPAM staff have expressed amazement that they are not considered as proper pensioners by their own governments, as they would have been if they had had the same jobs here.  They just do not understand why they do not qualify for E121s as they apparently have government pensions. To be honest, neither do I.[/quote] Hi Coops, agreed.  But in UK there isn't a problem, as 'residents' their healthcare is covered.  Unfortunately in certain parts of Europe, 'Freedom of Movement' isn't free.