Zac

Thank you all very much for taking the time to reply to my enquiry with positive advice, which is more than welcome.  I will reply/react to each individuals advice over the next couple of days, but one question I have to ask is how far back should I go with regard to the issue.  I feel April 2008 would be okay, but any advice would be appreciated. I have been in touch with my employer and given him the information that you all kindly provided and enforced the point that it his duty to start sorting this out properly.  However I do know that I am not blameless and could have been more  pro-active.  I will keep you abreast of the situation, which obviously I want/need to progress. Regards, Zac

I have been living in France since Sep 2007 and work from home for a UK company by computer.  I return to the UK every 6 - 8 weeks and sometimes work in the US for the same company.  Newcastle has classed me as working at distance, therefore I am not entitled to an E106.  I stopped paying UK tax in December 2007 and I am now in the French system having just paid my first French tax bill.  My question is, how do I apply to be part of the French system to pay Social Contributions/Coissitations instead of National Insurance in the UK.  My employer looked into this initially, before Apr 2008 and after he spoke with Newcastle he was advised to stop paying the employers contribution as well as not deducting my contributions.  This he did in Apr this year.  He and me are struggling to speak/write to the correct people and my question is to ask if anybody on the forum is able to point us in the right direction.  I believe that the contributions are higher in France for both my employer and me; could anybody advise me by how much (%) this would be.  Also I would expect the payments to be backdated to Apr (or perhaps Dec 2007). Obviously I am concerned as to how much will have to pay in contributions, but I also want to be within the French system i.e. to be legal and correct. If any body can help I will be grateful and I apologise if the same questions have been hammered out before - Zac

Here's a couple of good sites below (especially 'Planet Passion') that identify various reptiles. I've recently moved into a new place with lots of land, which had long grass, and many types of lizards, but mainly Common Wall Lizards and Green Lizards, plus Western Whip snakes. I and the dog had a head to head with a meter plus WWS on the driveway and I was amazed how fast it slithered up the wall of the house. It soon came back down when one of my kids came to the window to see what the commotion was about. Another head to head (it was half a meter away), the dog stayed perfectly still and quiet and the snake slithered away across the driveway. No problems, as long as you don't irritate them. A French neighbour told me that the Western Whip snakes keep the vipers away, but if you want the WWS to move along, then find yourself some hedgehogs!!! I think I'll leave it as it is for the moment and keep the grass short. Re the shedding of skins I also found one, which was off the WWS. Re the lizards, my neighbour again tells me that the Green Lizard if cornered will bite you; say on your finger, and is reluctant to let go. But they are beautiful to look at. Hope this helps you - Zac www.reptilesamphibians.suite101.com/article.cfm/venomous_french_snakes; www.planetepassion.com/SPECIES%20FACT%20SHEETS/SNAKES/Couleuvre_verte_et_jaune.htm

Puzzled - As stated in previous correspondence I was having my dog castrated last Friday.  I checked with the vet after the op to see if his 'bits' were removed totally, to which she answered yes and asked me if I wanted to see them!  I politley declined this.  The dog has to wear a 'cone' around his neck for 10 days to prevent him licking the affected area, also there were no stitches, just a 3 inch incision which is covered with a hefty plaster.  He's only 9 months old and has been full of beans, as if he hadn't been operated on.  He's a border collie and it's difficult to keep him quiet, but he's a wonderful dog - Zac

Chris - I have just bought a house in the S. Correze and  I have quite a lot of trees. Any likelihood of snakes being up in the trees?  In the past 2 weeks I've seen 3 snakes over a metre long dead on the road - Zac

Puzzled - I'll let you know tomorrow as my boy is having his done! - Zac

Many thanks Robert for steering me in that direction, which is a good site for the future also - Zac

Plasterboard!

Cheers; take your point re the strimmer and I will probably buy a new one this week - Zac

Thanks to you all for your inputs.  I never realised this topic would be so popular - Zac

Hi - I 'm after 30 - 50 litres of white matt emulsion paint (UK brands) if anybody wishes to part with it. I'm in the South Correze (Dept 19)  

Hi - I'm after a second hand sit on mower and petrol strimmer if any body out there has these items for sale.  I'm in the South Correze (Dept19) - Zac