[Lockerbie bomber]

The sights of the welcome were certainly unpalatable.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out from now on though.   One can only trust that it was a "one off".  We will see.

[Lockerbie bomber]

[quote user="Russethouse"] IMHO as he was found guilty he should have served his sentence to the end. It's not up to the Scottish secretary to assume that an appeal would be sucessful and if guilty  Megrahi certainly showed the victims no compassion.[/quote]

And you are making the assumption that the decision to release Megrahi was because of  an appeal.  The Scottish Secretary forcefully made the point that Megrahi had shown no compassion to his victims but that did not preclude the showing of compassion towards Megrahi.

Whether one agrees with the decision or not, IMHO it was MacAskill's to make and that should be respected.

[AMELI.FR]

If you go onto the ameli.fr website click on  "vous êtes assuré" then "accedez à mon compte". Click on "Vous n'avez pas un compte Ameli. Commandez un code provisoire"

You will then be given a menu to complete.  Where it asks for your name put only your surname (no other names) use capitals.  When you complete the application you will be sent a provisional code by post.  It takes about a week or so.

The code is valid for 15 days.  The first time you use it you will be prompted to create your own code.   Use ONLY figures no letters.

Hope that helps.

Adblo

[driving to Zeebrugge]

For what it's worth if you avoid Paris going from Dordogne to Zeebrugge you do add quite a bit to the journey.  Personally, I would use A20, A71, A10 then follow signs for Lille around Paris to the A1 and north.

However, you say you don't want to do that so I would go round to the west via Chartres and Rouen.  If you go via Rambouillet and Mantes La Jolie you are getting close enough to Paris anyway.

My own view. Others will probably have different opinions.[:)]

[Is there a 'Law' relating to noise from a household ?]

Here's a starter for you:

http://www.bruit.fr/FR/info/00

[FRENCH BANK ACCOUNT]

[quote user="Julie M"]

 We pay the electricity by automatic payment but nothing else as we don't know how to do it and they won't help us. 

[/quote]

If I have understood you correctly you are trying to get the bank to arrange the automatic payments. As in UK Direct Debits (Prélèvements Automatiques) are normally arranged through the supplier and not the bank.  If you wish to set them up you should contact the supplier stating that you want to set up a Prélèvement Automatique and they will provide an authorisation for signature which you return to them and they then forward to the bank.

The various taxes (Foncière, Habitation) can also be done this way either on line or by a visit to your Tresor Public when you are in France.

Apologies if I have misunderstood or am "teaching you to suck eggs."[:)]

Also, as has been said, you can just photocopy some RIBs as they are nothing more than pieces of paper giving the necessary information.

[Belkin Router]

I have a Belkin wi-fi router.  In the set-up it states that you should connect through one of the ethernet ports when setting-up.  I have succeeded just using a wireless connection but it was quicker with ethernet.  Perhaps not relevant but just a point which may apply if you are getting a "connection failure" message.

[En Tontine written in Deeds]

It may vary slightly but there should be something like this, the words "en tontine" don't appear:

"RAPPORTS ENTRE LES NOUVEAUX PROPRIETAIRES

Il est convenu entre les nouveaux propriétaires:

A.  JOUISSANCE DU BIEN

Ils jouiront en commun, pendant leur vie durant, de ce bien sous les conditions juridiques définies ci-dessus.  (refers to marriage state etc)

PROPRIETE DU BIEN

A titre de clause aléatoire, il est convenu entre eux que le premier mourant sera consideré comme n'ayant jamais eu de droit de proprieté sur ce bien.  La proprieté du bien appartiendra, en totalité, au survivant d'entre eux et il sera réputé avoir, toujours, reposé sur ce survivant et ce, sous les mêmes conditions que celle définies ci-dessus sous le paragraphe "PROPRIETÉ-JOUISSANCE"

It goes on to say that, whilst both survive, one cannot sell the property without the agreement of the other.

You may have guessed where I got this.[:D]

Before it is mentioned, I have referred to a couple purchasing together but there can be a number of people purchasing together in this way.[:)]

[French Revolution execution records go online]

[quote user="Bugbear"]That program was certainly an eye-opener. I always thought (school teachings) it was simply the 'peasants' revolt against the rich and had no idea that the 'witch-hunt' was so widespread and intense.[/quote]

It wasn't called "The Terror" for nothing.[:)]  At school we were taught about.

[Router Tables]

Thanks for that.  The Excalibur does look pretty solid.  Perhaps I will think about making my own!

[Router Tables]

I am currently, very much as a beginner, trying to kit myself out with some woodworking equipment.  At present I am looking at router tables.  I have seen Kreg equipment on the internet (Axminster) in particular the Kreg PRS2000 bench top . I have also looked at the Kreg PRS1040 which is the larger model.

Bearing in mind as a beginner I would have some difficulty justify the cost of the PRS1040 which is more than twice the cost of the PR2000, I would appreciate any views on these items and also any alternative suggestions (for router tables that is[:D]).  Also any advice on router jigs would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Best sat nav for France?]

Possibly to do with the aerial.  Better sited and matched on a built in unit?

[Prefecture.]

Driving licences etc etc.

Most of the things a County Council in UK deals with and more:-

http://www.nord-pas-de-calais.pref.gouv.fr/page.php?P=static/accueil/&Action=ConnectUser&InitPortal=1

[Must you be resident in France to vote?]

They are not entitled to vote in both countries.  It's one or the other:

http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/F1937.xhtml?&n=Papiers%20-%20Citoyennet%C3%A9&l=N19810&n=Elections,%20arm%C3%A9e&l=N20070&n=Elections&l=N47&n=Inscription%20sur%20les%20listes%20et%20carte%20%C3%A9lectorale&l=N362

"A noter"

[Rumour Gordo has resigned]

Cameron's a lightweight.  Style without substance.[:)]

[Those plasterboard rails]

If you do a Google search (UK) on "dry lining systems" you'll get some results.

[Credit Agricole Scam?]

Just looked too and it isn't showing today.  I have had it come up a few times though. 

[Credit Agricole Scam?]

For the last few weeks when logging into my CA account there has been a warning about a phishing scam.  It says DO NOT reply to an e-mail requesting this information but to delete it.

If you have given this information in reply to an e-mail I would suggest you contact your branch. 

Edit: Snap, Parsnips!

[I wish we hadn't started with French tax!]

Just one correction, the years for which information was requested were 2005 and 2006.

There was no indication as to why they were checking.  It appeared to be a "dip-check".

The letter, dated 29 Feb., 2008, started (in French) "As part of checking your file please be kind enough to provide the following information.:

- the proof of your pension and tax paid abroad, for the years 2005 and 2006

- proof of your health cover.

This request is made in conformity with the measures in article L.10 of the fiscal procedures book, which allows the administration to require information regarding the facts declared by taxpayers."

I went to the  Centre and, as a result of conversations with the staff, they appeared to know nothing about E Forms.  As a result I did a small paper giving an outline.  I also gave them a copy of the European Court ruling that CRDS was not applicable to certain income if the taxpayer was the holder of an E Form.

I have to say that they were very receptive and I have some evidence that they revised their procedures where they had been taking pensions, for example, into account when charging CRDS.

[I wish we hadn't started with French tax!]

They do check and they, in north 24 anyway, were doing so last year.  I was requested to provide confirmation details of income, tax paid in UK and also how my health cover was provided (an E121 as it happens) for the years 2006 and  2007.  I have been full-time resident and making tax returns since 2003.

I received a letter from the Centre d'Impôts in Nontron requiring the information in February last year.

As a result of this and the subsequent dialogue with the Centre I have doubts if the information was cross-related  or, if cross-related, accessed by them, certainly at that time.

[Peeing In a Pot!]

Too much information!![:D][:D]

[CANADIAN DRIVING LICENCE]

Another link showing which Canadian Provinces' licences are accepted in France:

http://www.mfe.org/Default.aspx?SID=12359

A UK licence issued in exchange would carry details of it being issued for a Canadian licence

[Re: Changing to a French Driving licence - very simple]

[quote user="ngh"]

Can anyone tell me is you are entitled to tow a trailer on a French driving Licence.

Thanks

nichthewood

www.howittgites.com

[/quote] Category B allows{-

"Le permis B permet la conduite :

des véhicules dont le PTAC (poids total en charge) est inférieur

ou égal à 3,5 tonnes, pouvant être affecté au transport des personnes

ou des marchandises,

des véhicules pouvant comporter neuf places assises au plus (siège du conducteur compris).

Aux véhicules de cette catégorie peut être attelée une remorque :

dont le PTAC de la remorque est inférieur ou égal à 750 kilogrammes,

si le PTAC de la remorque excède 750 kg, il doit être inférieur ou

égal au poids à vide du véhicule tracteur, et la somme des PTAC de

l'ensemble doit être inférieur ou égal à 3,5 t.

Si ces PTAC sont dépassés, un permis E(B) doit être obtenu pour pouvoir les conduire. "

Which means that the trailer should be either:

less than 750Kg Total weight

or

If it's  total weight is greater than 750Kg it must be equal to or less than the empty weight of the towing vehicle and the total authorised weight of both combined must not exceed 3.5 tonnes.

If it exceeds these criteria then you need Category E(B)

So it depends on the weight of the trailer and the towing vehicle.

If you had the entitlement to E(B) on your UK licence and you need to

have it put on your French licence then it means a medical (unless you

already have had one) and a revisit to the Prefecture.

[Peeing In a Pot!]

Couldn't the OP do it in an Urn?[:D]

[Anyone phoned tax office for exchange rate yet?]

[quote user="allanb"][quote user="dragonrouge"]Indeed I have a retired Senior Police Officer as a very good friend and he builds up his tax paid pension and then deposits it by a UK cheque with CA on his sterling account. But he only xfers it into euros when he is happy with the rate. So I suppose until that happens then he does not have to declare it...[/quote]Unless I'm misunderstanding something, that's not correct.  The rule about currency conversion, whether it's modified by a tax inspector or not, applies to any income that needs to be converted.  That includes all income originally received in sterling, whether it's taxable in France (like the state retirement pension) or in the UK (like your friend's police pension).

[/quote]

Allan is correct.  The total income for the year has to be declared (at the appropriate conversion rate) whether transferred or left in a UK bank account.  It is required to calculate the revenue fiscal de reference.  I have a similar pension.