rockstitch

Hi, Try ordering this book from Play.com it's called SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE by NIGEL PERRIN The life story of SOE agent HARRY PEULEVE' DSO MC. This is a very interesting read and is based mainly on a triangle from Brive, Bordeaux and Cahors, although he operated in many other parts of France before being captured. Regards Sam

Hi, I have a tree in my Patio area and it gives great shelter from the Hot sun during the day, but it has all these red rasberry type berries, they ripen and fall all over the place and if you stand on them they are very sticky and stain anything they land and burst on, I have tried everything to get rid of them but they just seem to be mulitplying by the day. The birds won't eat them either, does anyone know what this tree is called and if I cut some of the branches off will this do any harm. Sue

Hi, Try ordering this book from Play.com it's called SPIRIT OF RESISTANCE by NIGEL PERRIN The life story of SOE agent HARRY PEULEVE' DSO MC. This is a very interesting read and is based mainly on a triangle from Brive, Bordeaux and Cahors, although he operated in many other parts of France before being captured. Regards Sam

Thank you Sunday Driver, This is the first piece of real advice I have recieved by this means as I did'nt know the 1999 safety standard had been superceded in 2004 and now it makes a lot more sence to me. Once again thank you. Sam.

With reference to my last thread on this subject I would appreciate any HELPFUL advice from anyone who has had EXPERIENCE of registering a British caravan in Area 46. Sam

I am in the process of registering my caravan in the Lot region area 46, I took all my documents to the DRIRE in Cahores and was told if they needed any more info they would be in touch. I received a letter from the DRIRE telling me it was necessary to provide the Certificate of Compliance, the interior has the standard NFS 56-200 (Part 8: gaz facilities) and the standards EN 721 (ventilation requirements of safety) and EN 1645-1 (requirements relating to health and safety) (approved bodies Veritas or Qualigaz) they gave me the phone numbers to ring and make an appointement with either of these Companies, I could only get through to Veritas in Rodez and was told 10/07/09, I asked how much this would cost and was told 233euros plus 22euros which I think was VAT making a total of 255euros. I double chequed with the DRIRE but was told this was what I must do, then I would have to take my Van to his dept (DRIRE) to have another inspection done for the brakes, chassis,lights and towing head. I have already got a letter from Coachman saying that the van complies with all these EU standards (my van is a Coachman Amara 2001), also a Certificate from the Caravan Council, and a CRIS Registration Certificate Plus all the info on the Brakes and the Chassis in all European Languages, which were all photocopied 3 times each. But this was not good enough, whilst I realise that they must do this and I don't mind all this work ( at least I know my Van will be the safest Van on the road), I strongly object having to pay the 255euros to Veritas, they seem to have the monolopy on Gaz checks and they know how to charge, you either pay up or don't get your Van passed, surly there must be some other way around this!! My brother took his caravan which is 1995 to the DRIRE in area 24 and didn't have any problems like this and didn't have as much info as I did and had his Van passed with flying colours. Can anyone out there give me any HELPFUL advice Please. Sam

Hi Deborah, Thanks for your very kind reply. I spoke to a very helpful man at Orange and took out a package 39.90euros per month- Formual internet TV and Telephone and that includes the rental of the Live box plus a Decoder (which I paid a deposit on and will get back when I disconnet) I have taken a contract out with them for 1 year, I will also get 63 FREE calls to anywhere in USA Canada and Euroupe and unlimited calles to a French landline, also free calls to a mobile in USA and Canada. I will have to pay France Telecom euros32 every 2 months. So will wait and see, he has put me on priority and urgent to have my phone connected. As they say time will tell. Sue

I might add that I still have no working phone line and have to use my brothers phone to try and get this sorted.

Hi, I have had a France Telecom line installed on the 6/5/09 and was given an estimate of 45euros I also had to pay a security deposit of 96euros which I was told would be reimbursed when I set up a direct debit, the next day a guy arrived from Orange and set up the internet and charged me 99euro and said my phone would come on in 2 days, 7 days later and a Bill for 42euro. 13c which was for 1 month and 21 days 10/04/09 to 31/05/09. When I phoned the english help line I was told that the charge was when I first phoned to have the internet and phone installed,I also have been charged for TV as well, which I don't want as I have a sky dish. I complained that the package that I wanted was for 29euros a month they said that was what I had got but had to pay the extra. I strongly objected to this as I only moved to France on the 3/05/09 and took up residence on the 4/05/09, this is very confusing and the english speaking helpline is totally useless as most of the persons that I spoke to can barly speak english. This still ongoing and I have to do battle again tomorrow with the Manager this time and he will try and sort this problem out once and for all. I won't hold my breath.

I have been issiued with an E121 on my age (just turned 60), I did enquire about getting an E121 on my DLA also for my husband but DLA didn't know what I was talking about in Castle Court Belfast didn't even know what an E121 was for and kept saying I should go to the Post Office. Now I am really confused, will my age related E121 only cover 70% and I have get top up for the rest. My husband can piggy back off mine, but he also has a heart condition, Can he apply for an E121 in his own right, or can he get 100% from the doctor for one of the listed conditins (forgot the name for it begins with A). Now that I have been issiued with an E121 for my age will I be able to apply for replacement E121 for my disiablity??            Sue

Yippie I have just received a letter from DLA in Castle Court Belfast saying that my DlA will be paid when I move to France next week, just waiting to hear if my OH will get his paid, but when I phoned them I was told he should'nt have any problem.                  Sue

thanks I have just realised this after I had posted it Sue

Hi, What date does the Blues Festival be held, as we would be interested would love to go. Sue

thank you you have been a great help.

I have just phoned the incapacity benefit branch in Castle Court Belfast N Ireland to ask for a E121 for my husband when we move to France in May (he is also on DLA) and I really am gaub smacked, the person I spoke to didn't know what I was talking about, she kept telling me to go to the Post Office where I could get the form I persumed she was talking about the E111 but when I asked again about the E121 she asked me what it was for. So I then asked her for the number in Newcastle upon Tyne and again she didn't know and kept insisting that I write in and tell them all my details and a decision would be made, I told her that a decision didn't need to be made so long as you had one of the qualifing benifets you could get a E121, so she told me that there were rules and regulations that had to be followed. What hope is there for anyone!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you saying that my husband won't be covered for his heart condition. but he will be my dependant on my E121. I have just spoken to State Pensions in Newcastle upon Tyne and they say he will get 70% or what a French National would get. Am I correct in thinking that he has to get top up insurance for the other 30%, or do we both have to get top ups. I will be regestering with a doctor as soon as I get to France which will be some time in early May. Also has the rule like in my brothers case not applicable any more, I didn't know it had changed also along with DLA ruling

I thought there was a list of medical conditions that gave you a percentage of treatment. My brother is under 60 and had a stroke before moving to France and was able to get a Carte Vital, he moved to France Oct5/6th 2007. I will be 60 this month and will get my State Pension and my husband can piggyback of my E121 but would still be able to get a Carte Vital in his own right as he has a heart condition that is listed. I do hope that I am correct can someone tell me if I'm not.

Surly if you give the pension provider the new bank details they just pay into that account, at least that's what I thought. Sue

There is a phone line into the house that I am moving into but it is disconnected, does anyone know how much it will cost to connect it and which is the best company to go to, or do you have to have it connected via French Telecom first and then choose a different company and what is the cost of this??????

I will be 60 years  next month April, I will be getting my first payment of my State Pension. After a lot of writing and phone calls later I had to pay for the missing years (£156) and 1 year that they awarded me on HRP (Home Responsibaly Protection)  on my husbands stamps which I had to point out to them I was entitled to, including the miserly sum of .23p(Graduated Retirement Benefit) based on contributions paid between the years 1961-1965. I was eventually awarded £69.03per week.  At the moment I am on Incapacity Benefit and I am getting £84.50 per week. So I will be taking a cut of £15.47per week. Is it when you are sick and become a pensioner you need less money to survive per week or perhaps the goverment would prefer that you just die????

I have been following with intrest all the posts about DLA and I know that if you went to France or any EU country it stopped. I will be moving to France in May and am wondering how my DLA will be processed. Will I get it stopped and do I reapply or does it just continue minus the Motability????? Does anyone know what the correct procedure is?

Hi, I wondered if you can make a direct debit from a Franch Bank Account to a UK (Nationwide) Account (monthly), and roughly what are the charges if any?? I made a payment from an Isle of Man bank to Nationwide and the IoM charged me £30. Is it something similar

Hi, I have just received my Certificate of Conformity from Nissan UK and it took just over 2 weeks to arrive and cost £111.63, but at least it's one less  'job to do'.

Thank you Clair for that. Sue

We move to France in May (just under 8 weeks). Can anyone tell me can we get  flu jabs given to people over 60yrs in France free as they do in UK and if not, how much do you have to pay? My husband has a heart condition and gets a flu jab free in the autumn, and as I will be a pensioner next month I will be eligable also, but will I be entiteled to have the flu jab in France and how much will it cost. I think it's a worthwile treatment as last Christmas 07 I came down with the flu and was very ill all over Christmas and the New Year, I lost 1stone and it took me a good 2 month's to recover properly from the flu.