NormanH

Which Region?

Try the second or third verse.. Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman Ce qui cause mon tourment ? Papa veut que je raisonne Comme une grande personne Moi je dis que les bonbons Valent mieux que la raison. Quand trois poules vont au champ La première va devant La seconde suis la première La troisième vient la dernière Quand trois poules vont au champ La première va devant [Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman Ce qui cause mon tourment ? Papa veut que je retienne Les verbes, La Laurentienne Moi je dis que les bonbons Valent mieux que les leçons.] or (theoriginal) Ah! Vous dirai-je, Maman, Ce qui cause mon tourment ? Depuis que j'ai vu Silvandre, Me regarder d'un air tendre ; Mon cœur dit à chaque instant : « Peut-on vivre sans amant ? » L'autre jour, dans un bosquet, De fleurs il fit un bouquet ; Il en para ma houlette Me disant : « Belle brunette, Flore est moins belle que toi ; L'amour moins tendre que moi. » Je rougis et par malheur Un soupir trahit mon cœur. Le cruel avec adresse, Profita de ma faiblesse : Hélas, Maman ! Un faux pas Me fit tomber dans ses bras. Je n'avais pour tout soutien Que ma houlette et mon chien. L'amour, voulant ma défaite, Ecarta chien et houlette ; Ah ! Qu'on goûte de douceur, Quand l'amour prend soin d'un cœur ! Did you know that Mozart wrote a set of variations on the tune?

I don't think that everybody realises before they live here that you have limited supply, and that even if you live in a town the monthly standing charge is based on the power you have chosen. 3/6/9 kw  etc, and that if you exceed it, the trip switch ...TRIPS . This is a reason why the sort of high-consumption-for- a short-burst appliance ( such as power showers) are much less in evidence over here.

[quote user="freddy"]OOOOOH - I want one - I want one - can I ask where you are in france as I thought you couldn't do citrus unless you are right down on the coast due to frost.[/quote] In the Hérault   there is a micro-climat http://ami.roquebrun.free.fr/#lien

This site is interesting: apologies if its been posted before http://www.propertysnake.co.uk/

Are on strike in Paris (link in French) http://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2008/04/15/greve-simultanee-de-plusieurs-centaines-de-salaries-sans-papiers-en-ile-de-france_1034333_3234.html?xtor=RSS-3208

Do any of the legal experts on here know if there is a law of Trespass in France?

[quote user="Gastines"]I don't think Gordon and his Darling can afford to let the UK house market go into freefall. Just think of the loss in revenue to the exchequer in stamp duty.inheritance/death duties and VAT. The Council Tax would have to adjusted to the lower valuation and I don't think the Government can afford to prop up Council services,or lack of them. They might even have to stop a few of the free loaders,ranging from politicians to the thousands of scroungers. Regards. [/quote] see this article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/apr/15/houseprices.housingmarket

Latest news on this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/apr/15/houseprices.housingmarket

Don't forget that these things also happen in France: http://www.midilibre.com/articles/2008/04/15/20080415-FAIT-DU-JOUR-2-Le-couple-ecroue-apres-le-deces-de-l-39-enfant-martyre.php5 and http://www.midilibre.com/articles/2008/04/11/20080411-FAIT-DU-JOUR-5-Fillettes-violees-le-beau-pere-avoue-enfin.php5

If your French is good enough to enjoy this film (I am not talking about the accent, which as other people have correctly said is no barrier as it is explained for the benefit of the southerner) you might be interested by this survey of French critics' opinions: http://www.marianne2.fr/Bienvenue-chez-les-ch-tis-la-critique-sourit-mais-n-en-pense-pas-moins_a85632.html

You can watch it change every 10 seconds on http://www.rte.ie/business/markets/poundexchangerates.html

One question Clair. You said that you started with DD and switched to cheque. Do you think they would accept cheques from the beginning? (btw I have free dégroupé and am happy , but pay by DD)

Towns are much more expensive than country places for both taxe d'habitation and taxe foncière....and yes we get all sorts of 'extras', but of course many of the services paid for are also available to people who live in the near-by villages and commute. This was one reason behind the development of 'agglomerations', or "communauté de communes"   so that the cost of things like cultural or sporting facilities doesn't fall only on town dwellers. I pay about 1000 in total in town and 300 in total in the country, but get street lighting and mains drainage in both.

You are of course completely right. Good luck in the battle you will obviously win. Let's hope it doesn't become a "Pyrrhic victory" Just one question. What exactly do you suspect 'the French' of?

Contact a Notaire, not a Solicitor. Explain exactly what you require. Usually this advice will be free. If your French isn't very good you will be able to find one who speaks English. Do not try to deal with this on the advice you receive from well-meaning people (including me [:)]) who post on Internet boards.

Are you looking for parts from a scrapyard? If so look under casse automobile. In the yellow pages for the Hérault it is page 199 Spare parts are pièces détachées

Don't put too much confidence in the Accident service though. Last year I hurt my ankle, and the Hospital missed the fact that is was fractured. I had to go to the local clinique for a second opinion to get it spotted. On the other hand there is a reasonable chance of getting some preventative tests  (for bowel or prostate cancer for example) as long as you push for them.

1)I think that some good salads are always welcome at lunchtime: a 'salad du pecheur' with a few prawns, mussels, an anchovy or two with the tomato and lettuce 2)Simple, local well-done things go well too: in the winter a good fish soup or "soupe de potiron", and chou farçi or a daube de boeuf  . A favorite of mine is poulet basquaise but that might not be right for where you are. A gigot or blanquette is a popular option too. 3)On a low price menu you can't expect expensive ingredients, but some classics which are easier come by in France than in parts of the UK can give a touch of luxury : 6 oysters for example. 4)  A non-meat option,  for each course even if it only various omelettes,  a piperade, crudités to start etc. If you are in the south a popular 'formule' might  be: a basket of fresh vegetables/hard boiled eggs/cooked potatoes  to cut at yourself with an aioli sauce for dipping Some charcuterie and gherkins A simple main course (steak frites for example) cheese or dessert ( or both with a supplement)

As I said I found it mildly amusing, but nothing more. It is certainly intended to be 'feelgood' but does it so obviously and clumsily that it doesn't work for me.

I find the email service good: but to answer Peter's question, I get my tax form with all my earned income already filled in, so there must be a direct link to my employer. I just have to add any other income, and anything from the UK for the global figure.

You must live in a palace Raindog! I also live in the Hérault and the taxe d'habitation in town is 450 euros, and in the country place 120.

This is what I did five years ago when I was that the market was becoming saturated. I had a small country place that I now let to local people long -term.  It's not the same sort of luxury market as those with swimming pools and dishwashers, but it does mean I have a guranteed income from the CAF.

I don't believe that English people here really ever integrate. We become known and more or less accepted, but always as 'les Anglais'. I am pretty good in French, and I am a well-known local figure in a medium-sized town, who has worked, run cultural events, and been involved in local politics but it's rather like the West of England where I lived for 30 years: if your great-grandparents aren't in the cemetary you remain an out sider. In this part of France this is also true of people from further North, so it's not a specifically  anti-English thing, although our accents don't help. Blood relationships are very important here, so unless you marry into a French family, you will never be completely 'one of them' This doesn't mean that you can't have a decent working relationship with your  neighbours, just don't fool yourself.

I completed the purchase of my first house at a time when the franc was about 7.5 to the pound, so the present rate is really reminding me of those days! I was getting 1200 euros a month for my pension a few months back; now it's only about 1000.  200 isn't a lot, but it is proportionately higher when you haven't got much slack.