Panda

Hello Does any one know if it is straight forward to add an additional named driver to a french insurance policy? Is there any particular terms I should be aware of? I want add my brother in-law to my fully comp policy. Thanks

That's fine but my experience is largely with large companies, appartments in ski resorts etc. so I'm thinking it's not a choice but perhaps 'the way it's done'.  If they could bank my money surely they would or perhaps it's to much hassle to pay the money back.  I'm not sure but I guess I'm saying I can understand someone asking why you've banked a damage deposit when it so often isn't done over here.  

Hello Like Benjamin I've stayed in a number of French owned properties over the years and have always recieved my cheque back at the end of the week or in the post a few days after so maybe it is standard practice not to bank the cheque. Panda

Hello When using a phone through the livebox you will have times when you get an engaged tone to all outgoing numbers.  If you look at the livebox you will likely see that the phone symbol is not illuminated, if this is the case log into the live box and reactivate the telephone service, this will require you to logon to your orange internet account account.  Switching everything off will also sometimes cure this problem.  This happens about once a month to me and FT say it's due to the livebox being unable to validate my user credentials, hence why when you login and confirm your password it works.  Nothing you can do about it but learn how to solve it.  I kept my land line for this very reason, without a phone I can't work! Panda

Hmm, I can just imagine me hitting hard times and then trying to think of ways of giving some poor old chap a heart attack...where did I put those jodphurs[:D]

Hello On the other end of this I've seen investment adverts to buy a house which is 'en viager' whereby you pay a low valuation, in this case I saw one for100k for 3 appartments in a nice part of Bordeaux and then you pay the current owner a monthly amount, again in this case about 1500 euros a month until they die at which time the property becomes yours.   The one I saw was unoccupied so you rent the appartments out and keep the rent,  It looked interesting but I couldn't help thinkinig how awful it would be to be hoping someone kicked the bucket sooner rather than later...  Others I've seen are occupied so the amount you pay them each month is much reduced as you have no means of getting any income until the person dies.. bit morbid I thought. Panda

[quote user="odile"]. I was playing devil's advocate, and sorry if I ruffled a few feathers. I know so many Brits who have moved to France because, quote 'country going to the dogs. foreigners coming over and expecting to change to their culture and language, etc, etc... then going over to France or Spain to do exactly the same. [/quote] You might try to get to know a few people on here before making sweeping statements about 'copping  out', to give you a start Woolly lives in France, hence being a regular poster on a forum of the same name!!!

[quote user="odile"]does that mean I shouldn't have spoken to my children in English as they grew up because my 'th' often turn out as 'f' or 'v'. Or that Pakistanis parents shouldn't speak to their children in English, or Italian ones, or whatever? A language is for communicating- first and foremost. And what about parents with a Geordie or Scouse accent, should they never speak to their children at all- and leave it to the teachers. How sad ... and I feel, a cop out. sorry. And what if their teacher has a Toulouse or Vosges or Dordogne accent? [/quote] Actually you will find that most Pakistani's speak exclusively their mother tongue at home (and follow traditions, eat traditional food etc. etc.) and we too were advised to speak in English to our son at home to ensure he does not lose his English (by a french speech specialist).  It's not about accents at all, I speak well in french and on occasion explain things to my son in french when needed but the majority of conversations in our household are in english unless a french friend is here when we all revert to a common language to make things easier for all. So not a cop out at all, most of the parents I've met recognise the importance of being able to speak english to their childs future and speaking at home is key to this. As to the OP my son was 3 when we moved here and was one of the lucky ones and picked up the language very quickly, I studied here too (at Uni, FLE) and we learnt together, some kids and adults have more problems with language than others and I;m sure she will come through it well.  Having said all of that I would consider an international school if I were in your position and able to afford it especially if there is any chance you will move in the next few years to an english speaking country. As for the television, I let my son watch french childrens telly, all childrens TV is pretty dire (in any country) but at least the language is going in! Panda  

[quote user="squidge"] bed barrier - we're going to try the three in a bed thing [/quote] Ok my 'baby' is now 8 but I am not getting this???

Hope it all goes well Val, I had my first very much loved cocker spaniel until the ripe old age of 16 and she had to have a late age op too, she was fine and I hope Molly is too. 

Thanks Cat, having paid out the 145 pounds for Eurotunnel you can imagine that knowing it ended soon after the train left makes me feel much (un)happier!  

Hello I don't think so but I will let some one more knowledgable answer, in my experience when entering France they don't even look at the animal let alone the paperwork but that's at the ports and out of the UK so might be different for you.

Hello Where are you going in Europe, if France then as long as you have a rabies jab you will be fine, if the UK it's a whole other issue and you need the blood tests to confirm anti-bodies and all of that mularky. Panda

I too have installed a new woodburner with little or no fumes coming off, two in fact.  It does seem odd, the symptoms are identical to that of my dog who had a type of stroke and was also on Candilat Before the woodburners not after).  I agree with the other posts the smoke seems too much though for just bedding in a new stove

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Sadly, first hand, I had someone on the Speedferries 07.00 crossing which was turned back after sitting in port at Boulogne for and hour and half, they were then advised to go with P&O as Calais was not affected, then that was changed to say that that may too be sent back on arrival at Calais as the strikers were heading that way, on checking with P&O they are saying they have been put on alert of an issue but as yet no one has turned up, cheerfully adding it only takes 10 minutesfor that to change, yeah thanks for that I say.  My visitors have just boarded Eurotunnel, that for now is running!

I give up, no one can confirm either way on Calais port but Boulogne is definitely blocked for the foreseeable..

Speedferries has been turned back and all sailings cancelled for today due to Boulogne being blocked, it has been sugggested now that Calais is also now affected and P&O services suspended, this is not confirmed I'm on the line now!

The french fishermen are demonstrating , ferry crossings this morning are cancelled.  Don't you just love living here!  Glad to see the port of Dover know what's going on, not.

Hello It would seem that the ports are blockaded this morning, anyone know what's going on? Panda

Snap!  My doesy rescue pup got hold of a huge Green lizard today, the lizard was in the lounge (how the hell it got there I do not know...) anyway it didn't bite her thank goodness I was only aware of the danger form these lovely creatures by reading something on here, anyway I was able to catch it with the barbecue tongs and put it outside where yes the stupid dog is now hunting it down!    Hope your pooch goes on OK.

Rude but true, I can't stand the guy

Hello I live near to Riberac (about 15km) and this whole area is packed with Brits mostly second homes though so they start arriving anytime now and fill the supermarket car parks with UK plated vehicles.  The reason why I think is there are loads of Brit focused estate agents here.  Even in the depths of winter you will see a UK plated car every day whereas when I was in the Viennne I never met another Brit in 4 years.  It's close to Dordogneshire of course too so there is that draw as well.  I do like it here and have got used to having British friends again something I missed so it's not all bad, my french is suffering though as I don't get to use it so much, the announcements in the super market are even repeated in english here! Panda

Thanks, yes the mairie would be a start although the farmer is a councillor and a throughly nice bloke normally, I wanted to be sure of my facts not sound like another wingeing Brit.  I will do some research before I go.