Maricopa

Have you looked at this?

Absolutely Cat, I love going there, just not in the high season...... Perpignan itself is lovely, a must see is the Cathedral St Jean.  Also you can drive into Spain and visit the Dali museum at Figueras and his house at Port Ligat (but you have to book in advance for that).  Barcelona is close, but would recommend taking a train. One final point, it is the Pyrenees-Orientales

Lovely area, but don't even think about trying to visit Collioure in July/August.

Around here at the moment, an empty pool will fill overnight[Www]

Not if you receive your pension gross[I]

Hi You need to go to this page then enter your postcode then select the Tab Vos service en ligne then scroll down to Demandez une Carte European d'Assurance Maladie, click on Acceder au service then fill in the details

David I have sent you a PM (Private Message).

Darnsarf, you should take a look at this thread.

[quote user="Albert the InfoGipsy"] I'm not sure how insurance and tax matters are dealt with, but French law does recognise that foreign 'artisans' can work here legally on a temporary basis. II. - Construction, entretien et réparation des bâtiments : métiers de gros oeuvre, de second oeuvre et de finition du bâtiment.  [/quote] This should help the OP in this thread.

See my link on page 1 of this thread.

Although we live in France, last weekend we travelled to the UK using Ryanair from Girona. We had booked for airport check-in with hold luggage.  As we had about an hour before check-in should have opened for our flight, we sat in the café and had a snack and a drink. In front of us were several Ryanair bag drop check-ins, but no apparent "normal" check-in desks.  There were also several electronic machines, which seemed quite popular. After eating, we made our way round to the area and were immediately approached by a member of staff.  After confirming that we were travelling by Ryanair, she explained that we need to go to one of the machines, enter our confirmation number, answer the usual baggage questions and then our boarding passes would be printed out.  We then had to take our baggage to one of the baggage drop desks, show our passports and boarding tickets, leave our case and that would be us checked-in. The whole process took about 10 mins (would have been shorter but for someone clueless in front of us). It seemed to me to be very efficient and take a lot less time than traditional check-in. All in all a very positive experience and a big thumbs up to the future check-in procedures for Ryanair, assuming this is the way it will work come October. One happy Ryanair customer.[:D]

Everyone is still checking their instructions to see if it is something they missed[:-))]

Hi valens, been away in the UK for a few days, hence the delay in replying. Saint-Maclou in Narbonne was where we bought the astroturf from.  They have many different grades/qualities.  Don't know if they are a national chain?

[quote user="Nell"]It's a bit like that comedian with the broken mike from a good few years ago [:D]  I can't remember his name but I am sure someone will tell me [Www] [/quote] Norman Collier, as you asked[Www]

[quote user="Maricopa"] [I have French friends who have moved from the village I live in to Martinique.  I had heard on the grapevine that they were moving back (before the troubles there started), but haven't seen them here yet.  I do hope they are/ will be all right.[:(] [/quote] An update, if anyone was interested.  My wife bumped into the wife of these friends this afternoon.  So they are back safe and sound.  Apparently it was a great place for a holiday, but there were lots of problems beneath the surface.  Glad to be back.  Sound familiar?

[quote user="Pierre ZFP"]I was going to suggest Astroturf but as I found out it's around €35 per metre, perhaps not! (€4200  for 120 sqM in case you were wondering)[/quote] Just bought and fitted some that was 8.99€/M2, it depends on the quality.

[quote user="Judith"] Maricopa, thanks, though I think that there are SFR shops in the nearest towns, so it probably works OK.  Also, if I remember correctly, an English friend here has a LeClerc mobile, so I'm off to chat to her![/quote] Further to my last, see this map and input your postcode, certainly seems fairly accurate as far as my village is concerned (for poor coverage). And I would still invite the friend round to give their phone a try chez vous!

[quote user="Judith"] Maricopa, thanks, though I think that there are SFR shops in the nearest towns, so it probably works OK.  [/quote] Sorry Judith, but that really means nothing.  My nextdoor neighbour bought an SFR mobile from our nearest big town (Narbonne), and he doesn't get a signal at all in his house.  Whereas with Orange I do. [quote user="Judith"] Also, if I remember correctly, an English friend here has a LeClerc mobile, so I'm off to chat to her![/quote] Great idea, even better to get her to come up to your house and see how good the signal is there! Good luck[:)]

[quote user="LJW"] Bit of a bizarre post as we are thinking of doing this some years from now .....  - buying a property with outbuildings not far from Montpellier  - converting some to make decent accomodation for paying guests  - converting one to make a teaching classroom and offering residential business english courses to companies etc...... .Is this a completely ludicrous idea or is there any scope at all for it to provide an income for us to realise our dream of living in the South of France?? [/quote] I think from memory of things I have read and programs I have seen on TV, that there are a lot of language schools in Montpellier.  I would check out whether there is any scope for more, before committing any money.

But do follow the other previous advice and check that you have good SFR coverage where you live, it's notoriously patchy throughout France.

[quote user="Ron Avery"]Apologies to Baz, I had not read it as a charge for non luggage carriers after 1 May and now I am totally puzzled.   Their news summary is as clear as mud.  In phase 1 it talks about free check-in for carry-on baggage passengers and then in phase 2 "the check in fee" of £5/5€ will apply to all new bookings (which only previously applied to those booking-in luggage) .  Surely it should say "A check-in fee will be applied" if it is the intention to charge an across the board check-in fee?[/quote] I assume you meant to quote me Ron?  I agree, I had to read this twice to confirm that the most likely interpretation is that it applies to ALL new on-line bookings/check-ins after 1st May.  Post edited for clarity.

[quote user="Ron Avery"]That £5 charge is news to me and Ryanair.  Like to quote a RELIABLE source for this?[/quote] Ron, from the ryanair site.

[quote user="tuppence"]Hi Maricopa, I'm sorry if I sounded ungrateful for you post, never intended to! But I am fairly certain that income has  something to do with getting tax relief on items such as windows, woodburners etc. [/quote] Just to clarify, I was writing from experience.  We declare our income in France, but don't pay tax (miltary pension).  We had a 40% refund of the cost of the windows (not fitting) in the form of a cheque, very gratefully received I might add!  

[quote user="tuppence"]Maricopa, I think there is slightly more to your response than you indicated. Having read a post somewhere else I think the criteria to get tax refunds has other implications. Having said that, it is far too costly to have the suppliers fit them for me as there are only 3 to do and the fitting is 3 times the cost of the windows. tuppence[/quote] I would like to know what you mean by other implications?  Everything I posted is a fact.  However, as you are going to fit them yourselves, it's neither here or there. I am glad my Mairie thinks the same as you and Clair[:-))]

In a very similar situation, I asked at the Mairie.  When I explained that I wasn't altering the size or adding new windows, merely replacing wooden with UPVC, after a brief discussion, the verdict was no permisson required. I would definitely ask at the Mairie, not necessarily rely on my or anyone elses reply[;-)] PS, if you make sure that they meet certain levels of insulation, and on the proviso you complete a tax declaration in France and they are supplied and fitted by the same company, you can get 40% of the cost of the new windows back, either as a reduction in your tax or a cheque[:D]