Maricopa

Last sunday we invited our French next door neighbours for Lunch, and the wife insisted she bring a frangipain (spelling?), and as my wife was showing of her new speciality dessert, we had two lots! Interestingly, they also bought a rather nice bottle of wine with them, despite what some claim as a no no.

In the event of a medical emergency, ring 15 and the operator will decide the best means of assistance for you.  Don't be surprised if the Pompiers turn up if you live outside a major town.

[quote user="Belle"].... but I would just like to defend my last post, Maricopa, I will tell you that I know for sure that our freinds neighbour really doesn't mind helping, because she says for them to bring all their english friends that need help, when we have met her she asks us if we need her help..[/quote] No need to defend anything. Sounds like a really nice neighbour.

I am glad it's not just me.  I do genuinely worry for those with poor language skills how they would cope in an emergency, especially as is so often the case, where one partner speaks better than the other and does all the talking when necessary, and it is then that person who is in some way incapacitated. I read or was told once, something that has always stuck in my mind, if you can't speak the language of the country you live in, then you are the equivalent of a small child, and all the needs and demands that go with that. [quote user="Belle"]it's very easy for those of you with a command of the language, to critisise those who havn't, one of the statements was that ' you wouldn't help your neighbour in England to fill out tax forms, ring garages, or help with Doctors and dentists', well yes I would, I could'nt see anyone struggle, we don't have any French neighbours that we can call on for help, a friend of ours does, they have lived here for five years, and still go to their neighbour all the time for her help, she never tells them off for not speaking enough French, and she never tells them she can't help because she has a 'life'. nothing is too much trouble for her, is that the difference, between the French and the Brits.[/quote] Belle, those of us who have a reasonable command of French don't mind helping those in genuine need, but some of the stuff you mention, such as ringing garages and seeing Doctors and Dentists, would any English speaker really need any help to do that in the UK? And you are only seeing it from the stand point of someone who isn't asked for such help, because when you are asked (again) to make that call or translate this document it becomes very wearing.  Being rang up at 2230 on a Friday night to be asked to ring the Gendarmes to report a missing dog (even though the caller speaks some French) is a bit much even for someone with my patience. As for unconditional help from French neighbours, do your friends really know what their neighbours say and think about the constant demands? 

[quote user="gardengirl "]Does anyone know about this? We are joining a French group which goes rambling, amongst other activities. We are part-timers in France, so don't have French medical insurance. We apparently need a medical certificate from a doctor- sounds expensive! [/quote] Most (if not all) organised activities in France will have some form of insurance, subsidised by the membership fees.  Hence for example, the AVF (Accueil de Ville Français), which organises walks, will have insurance covering this.  Other organised activities, such as exercise classes, require their partcipants to have a medical certificate from a doctor.  I can't remember if the cost of this is reimbursable, but at most will cost about 24€ from any French doctor.  Just walk into their surgery, explain what you want, there will be probably some basic checks done and hey presto. Hope this helps.

[quote user="LyndaandRichard"] But I be blowed if I can read the books. I've tried many times and just can't get into them.[/quote] [quote user="Clair"]I have read the big book!! (Skipped a lot of pages about the Ents and Fangorn Forest though... [:$])[/quote] My favourite book, now read it about 20 times since I was 14 and first was lent a copy.  Last year finished reading it in French, it did take me a long time, but it really helped knowing (the words to) the story almost off by heart[geek]. I do enjoy the films,but too short and too much missed out for my liking. I love JB films, and I agree completely about The Usual Suspects, a classic film.

Whilst I profess to know nothing about the moneymarkets, I find it quite interesting that since 2nd Feb 2009, the CAC 40 has lost over 600 points.  That by my maths represents more than 18% of its value, in a month.  I know it has lost a lot of value since the  middle of last year, but this last month has been a steep slide.  Maybe a sign of a loss of confidence in at least part of Euroland?

Seems he was in Paris when he was taken ill.  A great magician.

I'm sure someone more knowing than me will come along, but I think social charges are also payable on capital gains[:(]

Nothing really to get excited about, but can't help mentioning this figure at the end of the report: "1,233 foreign drivers were found to be evading the requirement to register their cars within six months of bringing them to Britain during a week-long DVLA campaign last autumn " Imagine if the same thing was done here[6]

Nice to see things have returned to normal in Guadeloupe, just the rest of the DOM-TOMs to sort out now[:(]

[quote user="teapot"]But that wasn't Thursday morning was it?[Www][/quote] But it reinforced the notion that lunchtime is a pretty good time to chose[I]

As Cat said I can't help when is the worst time, but we drove through Paris and around the Boulevard Periphique at middayish on a sunday in august, practically deserted and sailed through[:D]

According to this it's only outside Europe.

Bienvenue[:D]

I have found greek yoghurt (full fat version) and feta cheese in both Intermarche in Lezignan and Geant/Carrefour in Narbonne.  Hope this helps. Mrs Maricopa

[quote user="sueyh"]We rent out a property in the UK and have now discovered that we are being taxed in the UK for the rent and also in France. What should we do? Suey[/quote] It is correctly taxed in the UK.  It also needs to be declared in France on the 2047 section VII before being transfered across to the nominated section on the main tax form.  No further tax in normally due, but it is used to calculate your Revenue Fiscal de Reference (RFR). Take a look at the Tax Facts in the finance section for further info.

Thanks for that Will, looks useful.  Bookmarked.

For powerdesal Please permit me to try to unravel your confusion The reading that UlsterRugby1999 is refering to is (I believe) the total usage ie the present reading with no load read 32W and stayed there. With the kettle on ther reading rose at 35W per minute, and after 3 minutes switched itself off, using a total of 105W, which then added to the inital steady reading gives a total of 137W. [quote user="UlsterRugby1999"]Everything turned off at sockets etc and nothing plugged in at all. When I went to meter the counter was at 32w. It stayed there and didnt move until I plugged in a kettle to boil 1 ltr water. The counter started to increase in number and after 1 minute of use, for the kettle alone, had increased by 35w. It took 3 minutes to boil the kettle and the counter stopped dead at 137w. So it remained constant at 35w per minute for the kettle.[/quote] So the 32W wasn't a reading of live usage, but usage up to that point.  With no load the reading did not increase. I hope this clears it up for you.  

[quote user="Frenchie"] I'd really like someone to tell me honestly what it is like. When people tell me it is OK, I think they 're just being too nice. [:$] [/quote] This is what I always wonder when I am told I speak french well[8-)]

The original Taxe d'Habitation bill (from Jan 2008 to Dec 2008)would have been due in September (2008) payable in October.  If not paid when due, I believe an automatic majoration of 10% is applied. This years bill (2009) will arrive in September 2009.

I'll think you'l find he was taking the p***.  Very clever guy with lots of free publicity.  I can't help myself but like and admire him!

Did you pay your bill on time?

Here's a report with a map of average radon levels across France that may be of help.

[quote user="just john "] The geometre went on to say : Ci-joint egalement l'arrete d'alignement qui a ete delivre concernant la distance a respecter en limite de la route, which google translates as ''Herewith also the arrete alignment which has been awarded on the distance limit in respect of the road''; I'm guess this is not the meaning of what he is trying to say, please could someone advise? Thanks a bunch[8-|] [/quote] "Attached is the official document concerning the rules with regard to the distance from the road", or something to that effect. Was there anything attached?