[Found a buyer, now what?]

Dear Dog whatever but the sale must be registered in France it is the law of France that rules here. You still have to use a Notaire in France to register the deal.

The original Notaire is the better starting point and essentially both parties can sign the original documents without being in France and then it is a matter for you whether you attend the final signing.

We sold private two years ago and supplied the names and addresses their profession their proof of identifity copy birth certificates and the like and the maiden name of one of the purchasers. Just sent it to the Notaire with our phone number and email address and it went like clockwork.

I still suggest that it is the law of France that rules this purchase and just because the two parties live in the UK is immaterial.

[English speaking notaire]

I do apologize folks but I missed something. Here in France they do not have what everyone recognises as a Solicitor. They do not exist. What you have is a Notaire who may or may not speak English but is a Govt official and amongst whose duties is the collection of Tax. They you make a leap to Avocats and which the French suggest are akin to our Barristers. I disagree with that concept in that for centuries our system has been based upon Common Law theirs is code based.

[English speaking notaire]

I too believe that Scrumpyjack is being a bit tough here and essentially he is saying if you go to another country and have a problem then why expect someone to speak your native tongue? I am presuming he is fluent in French?

I take his point on an interpreter but equally take the other points made by the OP.

In the early days my French was weak and I used a number of sources to resolve problems one including an interpreter for a legal problem and where despite my profession as a legal guy in the UK I could not get my head around.

Now it is different and one tries to integrate into French life and to become involved. Some of my neighbours compliment me on my French some do not!!! But is hugely improved since I arrived her.

Scrumpyjack some of the 'property programmes' on the UK suggest a couple selling up say around London and then moving to Wales and for whatever reason. Some of the regions in Wales are Welsh speaking as a first language and they are proud of it and their culture. However they again speak English as a second language in which language do you suggest they address a non-Welsh speaking individual?

And would you be prepared to learn to speak Welsh?

When I went to school yonks ago Welsh was not available save for say in University. I took other languages based on purely forward looking views.

Scrumpyjack you are being over the top on this one (with respect)

[DLA some movement]

I now have a headache and am going to bed. Its an age thing coupled with the snow!

[DLA some movement]

Dear Tony I have no doubt that Norman will let us know in due course his views.

My views in all of this are well documented and I went on line early to say that in my legal opinion HMG had nowhere to go and our Common Law system should and would take this matter back to the position where claimants were before they left the UK. Perhaps Norman would it be helpful for you to consider that HMG are paying child allowance from guys who are resident in the UK but whose children are in say Poland?

[Airfields in Lower Normandy area]

our friends during the summer fly into the Vendee from London in their small private plane. They drop down in Cherbourg to clear customs.

[A right to vote?]

I was a card carrying member of the Labour Party. My Grandfather was one of the original founders of the Labour Party.

Grew up not far from Nye Bevan.

There is very little that anyone can tell me about true socialism.

Was in Wales 84/85 during the strike and saw what one bigot and one politician did to communities not miners. Big difference.

Believed in Tony Blair made big error of judgment.

I simply do not care that I cannot vote with recent history and form why would one?

There is a big battle going on at the moment on another front where HMG are denying UK citizens their 'just dues' and I am more interested in that fight which has a value attached to it.

[Multi-lingual UK- at what cost?]

Ok a differing concept. I am Welsh and South Walian to boot. Should we allow a north Wales Local Authority whose first language is Welsh to employ a translator to translate Welsh documents to English for those who do not speak the language. Be careful there is a Welsh Language Act.

I do not speak Welsh.

[Multi-lingual UK- at what cost?]

Those who know me will attest that I was with others responsible for setting up a NHS complaints procedure that was transparent.

No details necessary here.

However one complaint was from a Moslem couple whose son had died in hospital and then they obviously had to see him in the morgue.

With respect they treat the deceased somewhat differently to us. They were totally lost and obviously distressed to see the way we treat deceased souls.

It was all resolved for future in that we had a translation service made available and indeed the staff to be made aware of the different approach.

Should we deny a grieving couple their devout beliefs?

[MICRO BNC money owed]

Hi if you go to Her Majesty's Court Service web site scroll down and I think it is MoneyonLine you can issue for relatively small amounts a County Court summons.

It is worth a final throw of the dice.

[When a confession isn't really about owning up]

Slightly off topic but related. My best mate is now retired from a very senior position within the police force and was 'invited' to join another organisation within the same sort of area (if you follow my meaning).

As a result and with others he faced down some Irish terrorists complete with guns and the like and who were in the process of stealing gelignite and other related items.

Cases like this are normally heard at The Old Bailey and my mate and others were commended for their bravery and the way that the case file was presented to HHJ.

The terrorists were found guilty and potted for 30 years.

Weeks later they were let out on the basis of the Good Friday agreement.

From afar I can see the value of such an action in that we now see a marked improvement in NI. Indeed our son served in let us say an intelligence unit there on two tours of duty.

Long may NI continue to prosper but there is nothing worse than bigots and then political bigots.

Finally I am not sure if my friend (probably because he was literally too close) can see the benefits of letting those guys go free.

He and I continue to have a joke that he would have arrested some MP's on conspiracy charges and I would pot them.

[Can we fine the Inland Revenue ?]

I continue to have interest at source deducted from a building society deposit. Normally it took about eight months to organise to get it back then I had to post it back to the Building Society from whence it came!

Now have the name of a lovely lady at Nottingham and all I do is to email her when I see the amount of tax that is deducted and the repayment arrives within days.

I just kept my head and pestered and pestered them not in letter form for they currently go into sacks with a date code on the label and they are opened in strict date order!

[Triphase/monophase]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I know exactly nothing about the subject area so hence the request for help?

[Triphase/monophase]

Please may I join this posting and also ask for advice. We have Triphase in the house and much earlier in the piece 2007 and when we moved from Normandie the 'general' view was that triphase was not inherently dangerous and the earlier posting now starts we worrying once more.

Briefly our house was owned by a coach operator and in the huge courtyard there was a hangar an inspection pit and the like.

My understanding of his need for triphase was the need for power washers pumps and the inspection pit. All of this has now gone.

Within the house two of the phases has been completely rewired and in the third (the courtyard area we only use say a fridge and freezer in the dependance plus lighting from time to time. We are also in the courtyard area now to install a halogen light for security.

The electrician comes on Friday next what should I ask him. There is a overhead cable that runs from the house to the courtyard area. We have 5kw on each of the triphases and as one of the postings says the monthly charge reflects this. Really would appreciate guidance and help.

[5.5%/19.6% TVA]

I am so grateful to everyone just hope that Connextion get it right!

[5.5%/19.6% TVA]

Good morning have just been reading the Connextion news paper. It suggests that the lower rate for renovations of 5.5% no longer applies and it has increased back to 19.6%. On the basis that I never believe anything in a newspaper can anyone please confirm the point. I do hope not for around here our artisans are suffering and what work there is is in part driven by the lower rate. Also I have new double glazed window units to install.

[Fosse - assainissement non-collectif - inspection due!]

Dear Pommier have also pm'd you and indeed Sweet 17 so perhaps they may be common threads running through all of this.

Best wishes to you both and to everyone else at this time of year.

[Fosse - assainissement non-collectif - inspection due!]

For the better team on the night in that I have to remain dignified!

As to Porthcawl I used to go there so many many years ago for week end courses but that was of course way back and I have just been there once in over 40 years.

Then it was a lovely place did not truly realise its present position.

[Ding Dong just found a bottle of...]

When I graduated and obtained my Law Degree they were being given out by a very eminent Law Lord a lady indeed. The University had entertained her well for lunch she fell off the steps of the podium.

[DLA some movement]

Dear Tony thanks for the update. As you rightly say it is a sad indictment of HMG and the clowns and I say clowns at Blackpool. Again the estate of a deceased still has the right to continue the fight and it does not end with death.

Tony I am going to be in London around about the 4th and with all Tribunals it will be open to the public or come to think about it the ones that I have been to in the past have always been private and for obvious reasons. These however are on points of law so should be open. Could you kindly let me have the address and I will see if I can be there.

Recently came across my appeal documents for Linda and another claimant the other day. Quite different then.

[Fosse - assainissement non-collectif - inspection due!]

Sweet 17 yes have been around 44 lots to do lots to see much more going on. Access of course better and generally not much difference in the weather between here in the Vendee and 44.

Whatever truly hope it goes well for you.

Going home for Wales v France in February taking our local Pharmacist staying not too far from Cowbridge. Could not afford Porthcawl.

[Attracting Dutch or Belgian buyers]

We are selling as well and the purchasers of our previous home in Normandie are Belgian and in addition speak English French German and Dutch. They are going to do a translation for us and place the advert on a number of web sites. I think in todays climate it is important to spread the contact base as broadly as one can.

[Pink Onions]

Hi I am with Russethouse on this one. Love Roscoff onions but they perhaps only flourish there by reason of the make up of the soil. By example I had some Mammoth improved leek seedlings posted here to me in the Vendee. Then did a test the local seedlings have done much better. Do not run away with the idea that Roscoff onions will flourish they may or they may not. Its like Jersey pots.

[offer accepted, what's next??]

As Judie says some agents are authorised and indeed insured to take deposits. But having bought and sold a number of houses in France and on the basis that behind the Notaire there is let us say 'substance' then we have always but always paid our deposits to the Notaire. For no other reason than that.

[Fosse - assainissement non-collectif - inspection due!]

Life is so so different in the Loire Atlantique not really North Sweet 17?