newbiee

[quote user="woolybanana"]Nah, he sounds a bit loose round the edges.[/quote] Well ..... that coming from you ..... I'm going to hide!!!  [Www] [:P]

It was him who was absolutely insistent on doing it 'by the book'.  (He even called the police!! )   Probably my fault on paper ... probably both at fault in reality.  His message said he's phoned his insurance company so he obviously doesn't want to sort it out between us.  As far as I'm concerned it can all be handled by the insurance people now. .... he's phoned three times in the last hour!  Just wondered if this was the norm in France.

I had a very minor prang this morning - tiny damage to other's car, nobody hurt etc. Completed insurance paperwork one the spot, chap said we'd keep in touch via phone.  I'm wondering why?  In the UK, once things have been escalated to insurance companies, the parties involved would not have anything to do with each other - leaving everything to the insurance company. Are things different in France?  Why would we speak to each other?  He's already been on the phone, left a message ... couldn't understand the important bits ... he spoke to fast and my French isn't that good to start with! Thanks

hello - can anybody tell me what the closest French equivilent of sour cream is please.  Thanks

I've never met a woman yet, in her early forties, who wouldn't appreciate a bottle of perfume. (perhaps your US friends could send the cash to you, along with a card, then you could buy the gift easily and present it to her with the card.  Thus saving expensive postage charges)

Excalibur are the best .. they're not too heavy, I'm sure you could find a seller who would post to France if you don't have any luck finding a supplier over here. EBAY

[quote user="Patf"]They are now about 18inches high and sending out very vigorous side shoots. Is it too soon to cut these off and just encourage the central shoot? [/quote] Pinch them out now.... or let them grow on a bit, then pot them into compost and grow another tomato plant.

My toms are doing brilliantly, those in the polytunnel and outside. Brandywine doing really well, Marmande, Black Russian, AislaC, Batman, cherry toms.. about 9/10 varieties in total and I now have green toms about the size of a golfball.  So much better than the last couple of years. [:D]  [:D]  [:D] Though lots of rain and not much sun over the last few days.  Looks like it will pick up later in the week though.

How much?????? Holy   ****  !!!!!!  I think I'll risk it! Thanks Clair

It shocks me very much how much I see English folk drink over here and then drive a car - sometimes with their KIDS in it!  I'm certain English people drink  more over here, and then drive, than they would dream of doing in the UK ... citing the rural nature of the roads as their excuse... that and the unlikely event that they will be pulled for a breathaliser. How many of you would feel comfortable refusing to give friends / acquaintances more than one or two alcoholic drinks when they are visiting your home for a social event and you know they are driving?  I would do it (if I spotted it), but it would certainly feel odd.

Does anybody know what the costs for whatever the French equivilent of recorded delivery is please? Parcel weighs just under 1.2kg and value of contents is about 70-80 Euro. Thanks

Is there any kind of documentation available to check what charges I will incur when tuning one of my buildings into a residence?  I believe the charge comes in two parts, a year or so apart. I'm betting it isn't as simple as ticking a few 'boxes' .. how many bedrooms, square metre of footprint, how many bathrooms, etc.   Does anybody know of any info that will give me a rough idea of what I will be charged? Also, will I be charged Taxe d'habitation on that and my current home (both on same plot) ... and just on set of Tax Fonciere?  Or will I get a Fonciere charge on both of them?  (The second building will be for visiting family and friends)

I have a trailer which I use ocassionally to go to the dump etc. Is it a legal requirement to have a 'proper' plate attached at a garage, or is it perfectly legal to print something out (in large clear text, nowt fancy), waterproof it and use that instead? Many thanks

A French family member told me recently that only French wines can be certain of not containing additives such as sulphides. Is there anybody in the know who can tell me if this is true?  Is there some legislation to assure this?  Or is that just her thinking that French wine is better than anybody else's?  (Like French cheese is the best, French music etc etc! She's very patriotic  [:)]   )

Bought and tried some of Lidl's halloumi yesterday - wasn't hugely impressed.  It's OK if you're desparate for a halloumi-hit, but it's not very flavoursome - not a patch on the stuff you can get in the UK. Not cheap either.  But what is these days!

has anybody had any success growing sweet potatoes (for potatoes, not vines) from a potato bought form a supermarket? Or does one need to buy slips? Thanks

Thanks for all the advice and information folks, very very much appeciated. I had my own E106 form  (as I've worked all my life) and my husband has his own.  Although my E106 has run out, I presume status (whatever that ends up being!!) in the French healthcare system will remain unchanged.  I was never piggy backing on his application. Isn't this earning a living lark a pain eh?!

NOt sure where to put this,.... hope Post Bag is ok. My husband has returned to the UK to work and will be there for some time.  He'll be working PAYE and paying his taxes in the UK. Who does he need to inform here that he is not, at present, resident in France?  Indeed, is that the best route?   What is the tax situation in France for those working, and paying tax, in the UK.  (He hasn't been working in France at all since we've lived here.) I will remain in France with our home as my principal residence.  But for the time being (quite some time), my husband will be living in the UK. Any advice gratefully recived.

I remembered ... they are part of the potato cycle ... so rotations, tomatoes, augergines are planted in the same slot of the rotation cycle. Tomatoes shouldn't be grown in the same spot for more than three years at the most .... makes 'em more suseptible to blight as well as taking too much of the same nutrient out of the soil for year after year.  Though I've know some plant them in the same place for years, I've also seen their crop diminish.  so, if one has the space, one should rotate as much as poss.

where do you put your tomatoes in your crop rotation scheme?

[quote user="Tony F Dordogne"]But you're asking people here to comment on your business and without knowing more, how can people help you? [/quote] not at all.  I asked a specific question.  And specifically said I had no income.  Can't get much more clear than that. Thanks for the advice folks.  Up to the tax office it is then.  Happily (or not really!!) I'm not one of those who live a lavish lifestyle while claiming to have no income.  Though I don't know how one can prove one lives a modest lifestyle.

I find minding my own business works a treat !  [;-)] Vanman - you're quite right  [:)]  we (quite obviously) live off our savings.

Our E106s ran out in January - we sent the Pensions Dept letter off and have received back a sheaf of paperwork to complete. Ah .. .a sticky point....... they want the 2007 tax return and well ..... um ..... we didn't do one.   We had absolutely no income, neither here nor in the UK, and we ignorant to the fact that we should have declared this anyway.  So, are we scuppered?  Or is it possible to make a late declaration of tax (or lack of it). Fingers and toes crossed! Thanks

I've just taken my French registered car to the UK where I think I got flashed by a speed trap. Somebody told me a recipricol agreement for passing along such fines etc between European countries. Is this true or another urban myth? Cheers

careful if you're transfering large sums of money.  They paid me no interest whatsoever - I transfered to my local CA bank and now the interest is rolling in.  I lost of interest before I transferred.