[Why are house prices falling in Dordogneshire?]

In terms of home ownership in europe the Uk has an average rate of home ownership in comparison with the rest of Europe. The country with the highest rate of home ownership is Spain, followed by Ireland, Norway and Belguim.

In terms of social housing the Uk rates much more highly than France!

In France its not  the lack of mortage finance that is causing the downturn in prices but more so the cost of living and in particular the cost of petrol. With cheaper petrol individuals  in the past have not had a problem with being further from work, but the advent of more expensive petrol/diesel people now wish to move closer to their work. That's why I think prices for houses in rural areas wil fall more dramatically than in or near towns/cities.

Also the loi Robien(a buy to let scheme with tax breaks) has created vast amounts of housing where it is not needed and created large losses and a tax headache for investors who were conned into buying this type of property. For example around periguex a huge number of appartments have been built and I believe almost 70-80% of them are empty.

I think that 2009 will make 2008 seem like a picnic in the park.

P.S the banking failures of the early 1930's were caused by the fall of an austrian bank called credit anstall. I just wonder whether its the spanish banks we have to worry about?!?

[Security of French Banks]

It is true that european banks have escaped lightly for the moment from the american banking fallout, however there is a second bigger more toxic instrument that all banks are trading in, which if the world economy goes into deep recession could bring down the banking system. This is why the fed saved Aig and not lehman brothers

The instrument that banks are increasingly trading is the credit derivative. This article better explains the problem than I can do - http://news.goldseek.com/GoldSeek/1221672153.php

If you take a look for instance at Hsbc's 2008 Interim report under the note for derivatives you will that the trading in this instrument has more than qaudrupled in a year.

Lets keep our fingers crossed that this does not happen.

[which bedding]

Snugfits does european sizes as well so you can get mattress protectors for 160X200cm, 90x200, etc

[which bedding]

We bought all of our waterproof mattress protectors from http://www.snugnights.co.uk/

You would never know that there is a mattress protector on the bed because they are so confortable.

[Trying to install a second computer with an Orange "dongle"]

You may have already gone to France telecom but the network key is normally found at the bottom of the livebox on the little sticker. It is called the Clef Wep.

[Another scam email to be aware of!]

Today we received our first french language scam booking

Here is the content of that email

Bonjour Mr , Mme ,

Je suis

Mr Kouassi , j'aimreai faire une reservation dans votre local pour les dates

suivantes :

10/04/2008 au 30/04/2008.

J'aimerai vous reglez en avance par

virement bancaire.

Je tiens a vous dire que nous avons eu votre adresse par

nos recherches sur le net , aussi nous venons dans votre local pour notre lune

de miel.

Alors si possible veuillez nous faire parvenir par email en pj votre

RIB complet ainsi que un contrat de locations y compris la facture

globale.

Dès réception de ces documents nous allons faire le

necessaires.

Nous sommes en attente d'une reponse favorable.

Mr et Mme

kouassi .

01 BP 1001 ABJ 01

24, RUE DES PLAGES

ABIDJAN COTE

D'IVOIRE

TEL : +225 45 737435

[Photo editing Software]

There is other free photo editing software you should have a look at

• paint.net - this is a
  sophisticated piece of work from computer science students at Washington
  State University. It's not quite as powerful as The Gimp but a lot
  easier to use and install.
  Website:
  http://www.getpaint.net/

• photoplus - this software installs easily and it's
  loaded with features including layer support. In fact, it looks and
  feels like a "lite" and slightly clunky version of Adobe PhotoShop. Version 6 is free, however the latest version is available for only $10.
  Website:
  http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/software/PhotoPlus/default.asp
• Photofiltre - this is french software. It comes with a good range of tools, however it cannot handle layers.
  Website:
  http://photofiltre.free.fr/

Hope this info helps

[Decret du 4 Aout 2007 - Chambres d'hotes]

Dont forget that you have until the end of December 2007 to make a declaration for your chambres d'hotes at your mairie. This declaration covers the number of rooms let,  periods when you are open and your maximum capacity. You have to make this complete declaration even if you may have made some declaration to the mairie in the past.

The lists of chambres d'hotes will be able to be consulted in the mairie.

Please note that hoteliers are looking forward to consulting this list to denounce anybody not complying with the regulations, e.g letting six rooms when you can only let up to five to be termed a chambres d'hotes, etc.

Fivecats