Maricopa

If you do have a photocard style licence, then you need to exchange it before it expires, as the licence has to be vaild when exchanged.

And look at this thread.

I have been with Neuf for 2 years (nearly) now and don't have any of the problems described by either poster.  I am VERY happy with them.

[quote user="DebP"]Please can anyone suggest a good phone and internet provider for the Aude.  We have SFR for our current property but we're moving and would like an opportunity to change to a better provider. [/quote] Well, I am with Neuf (taken over by SFR) and am very happy with the service I get.  I have been with them for nearly 2 years, so cannot make any other suggestion.  It is pobably best to go to one of the ADSL test sites and see which providers are available for your intended new address. What is wrong with our current service, if you don't mind me asking?

See the subject discussed here.

[quote user="Quillan"]You are right in that its not just the English here in France that break the French laws.[/quote] No, even some French people do it.  I know of at least 2 cars in my village owned by French people that are still on Spanish plates several months after being imported.  One of the owners does intend to register it here, when he gets round to it.

Couldn't agree more SD, driving is a pleasure in France, and a chore in the UK, the contrasts between driving on a Péage and a Motorway couldn't be more extreme.

[quote user="cooperlola"]I notice in another place that things are likely to change on the naturalisation front, in the near future (2010 in some areas): [/quote] All that is really changing  is that the final decision will be taken at prefectoral level instead of at national level.  The rules remain the same.

I don't know if it's the same for all casernes, but each year on the back of the pompiers calendar are published the different periods and restrictions of when you can and cannot light a fire.

See here and here for Ryanair info (for example, but other airlines are similar).

If you look at the responses in this search that I did, it seems to be only a temporary right of residence, that is valid for three years that can then be renewed. I doubt (but don't know) that a temporary right of residence could then be translated into a right to citizenship.  There may be further info within the responses, I didn't read them all.

[quote user="ErnieY"]Apart from this latest episode I think their service has probably been no better or worse than any other ISP's, anybody else care to comment on that ?[/quote] I am with Neuf (as I often state on here) and this comment: [quote user="ErnieY"]I imagine that there is still some tweaking going on and I have lost the VOIP light on a couple of occasions but a router reboot always brings it back. Frankly this has always gone on to one extent or another and we've got into the habit of checking it before making calls, the phone is nearby anyway so it's no real hardship.[/quote] comes as a bit of a surprise, as with my Neufbox, I have had to reset it about twice in nearly two years.  I personally would not consider such a level of dropout as you experience acceptable. However, I'm sure there will be someone along shortly to complain about Neuf!

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]I've had a funny few days - please forgive.[/quote] Nothing to forgive, glad you sorted your problem with guests out.

[quote user="fatscoleymo"]Ysatis - Haroldh was the less than helpful person who posted the 1st response to my initial post.[/quote] Don't you mean NormanH?[8-)]

[quote user="Renaud"]I was reading a report about traffic lights being linked so that a car travelling at 30mph gets only green lights. Sounds a good idea, it has been thought of before (Slough in the 60s on the A4). But the idea was killed ......[/quote] in Portsmouth when they did something similar on the Eastern Road and all the louts tried to see if the same thing could be achieved by doubling their speed[:-))]

[quote user="Stan Streason"] 4/5 oil filled electric radiators (for winter) Pool pump (on continuously in summer – but probably not at the same time as the heaters) [/quote] I wouldn't be worrying about the pool pump, it will be using a lot less electricity than the 4 radiators, which are likely to be your deciding factor (in conjuction with the other appliances).

[quote user="ErnieY"]It might be good to have a French driving too as plod could query the DVLA database which would show that you had actually surrendered your UK licence to obtain it, not something you would be very likely to do if UK resident.[/quote] And something you would not choose to do on a whim[:'(]

[quote user="Araucaria"]I'm a UK national but now resident in France and I managed to get a "titre de sejour" from the Prefecture. They said I didn't need it but weren't that unhappy issuing one. This was last year. Does anyone know whether this counts as a valid European identity document? That's to say, for travel in the Schengen rules area? [/quote] No, a Carte de Sejour is not valid ID for travel outside France, only a UK passport for a british citizen or a French ID card (or Passport) for a French citizen. IE, if you turned up for a flight with only a Carte de Sejour, you would be denied boarding for not having a valid form of ID. Edit.  Interestingly, this says that if you had an ID check outside France, for example on the Spanish péage, then a Permis de Conduire (for instance) would suffice[8-)], but then says for expats that a valid passport or ID must be presented.  I still believe my statement above to be correct for international flights (and is absolutely true for Ryanair flights).

[quote user="bigears"]so all french resident ex pats when they drive to the uk in their french reged cars carry proof that they are french residents ?[/quote] Easy if you change your driving licence to a French one (even though you don't have to)

Anyone else going to see Depeche Mode on the 6th July, or will you be going to watch Seal or anyone else perhaps? Edit:  See here for the full program, including Depeche Mode, Seal, Status Quo, Scorpions. 

[quote user="Bob T"]and it is not needed to cross other European borders. [/quote] Not true.  Unless you have dual (French) nationality and therefore have a French ID card, the only legal form of identity to travel throughout Europe for a British national is a UK passport.  A driving licence (for example, even a French one) is not acceptable.  See this link. Also, if you had to return to the UK, you would have to have a UK passport.

Whilst I find most organisations fairly efficient, anything that is based in Béziers (CPAM, Sous-Prefecture) are horribly inefficient!

Around the sometimes narrow roads here, lorries often "indicate" right, to let you know it is clear to overtake.[:)]

Most GPS units can be set to different Datums, are you sure you can't change this one?

Have a look at this thread.