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JulieP

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  1. Latest... We went to RSI and the lady instructed us to go to the Chamber of Commerce. Went to the Chamber and was informed although it will take months to sort we will be covered Health wise from 1st October, we're going back tomorrow for a rendevous to get the ball rolling. Thanks for all your help.
  2. Sounds very complicated but we'll give it a shot by going into the RSI office in Perigueux this afternoon to try to sort it.  I'll report back later!
  3. Thank you for your comments Sunday Driver.  We were aware that we 'should be' entitled to CMU Complimentaire but when we applied a couple of years ago we were refused... I didn't pursue it and we continue to pay top-up via Exclusive Healthcare at over 1000€ per year.  It's interesting what you mention about RSI but have no idea how we go about going down this route.  Do you know where we go to apply for RSI? Julie
  4. Hi, On Saturday morning we received a letter regarding our CMU (Protection de base) application where they are stopping our cover from 1st October '09 - giving us just 2 working days to sort this!  The letter is very short but basically states... 'pour le motif suivant : vous avez une activité qui relève du régime des non-salariés'. Our situation is this... We are my husband (64) and myself (45) been living here since March '04 and have 2 gites giving a small income.My husband receives 2 private pensions totalling just over £300 per month. Last year the our local tax office insisted we register with them - Régime fiscal de la micro-enterprise with a Siret number.  This we did but suspect because of this we are now classed as 'self-employed' and are therefore not entitled to CMU even though our total income including gite rental and the 2 small private pensions is under the qualifying amount for CMU.My husband will be 65 in March 2010 and be drawing a full UK state pension via the E121 - just 6 months away! Have tried the English Speaking helpline (0820 904212) but it doesn't seem to be working. Before we do anything today does anyone have any idea of why we have been refused and how we may resolve this issue? Julie
  5. We went too for the first time this year. Brilliant day, couldn't believe the amount of people there. I've blogged about it - see here! Photo's not brilliant I'm afraid, I'm no David Bailey and could do with a new camera!
  6. Hi Sue, Just read your dentistry blog... loved your candor but can't believe you went back twice for more treatment from the same 'butcher'! I used to go to my dentist at least once a year back in the UK but since being here have only been once for a check-up in 5 years.  I'm trying to really look after my teeth as I'm dreading having to have any treatment here.  My husband has had to go several times and after trying half a dozen different dentists within a 40km radius have found one in Perigueux who seems pretty good.  The only problem is my husbands French is zilch and mine is still only passable and our dentist understandably speaks no English... I have to go with my husband every time to help translate but I'm useless.  Moh is having another bout of dental problems right now and we've just got back from a visit this afternoon.  I was saying to moh "would our mutuel top-up cover an 'emergency trip to the dentist' visit whilst in the UK?  I think I know the answer to that and I also know it's our fault for not learning French proficiently after 5 years but it's like a double whammy, not being able to communicate and mostly awful dentists... it's times like this I feel like packing it all in and going home!
  7. I've been a right anorak over this shopping mullarky this last couple of weeks, here's my findings... Even better... Sainsbury offer free UK delivery if your order comes over £100 (not difficult these days) so you only pay Sterlings 10%!  Sainsbury's also allow you to keep amending your order up until the night before their delivery which Tesco's site doesn't! Arranged for the delivery to Sterling on the Thursday, picked up on the Saturday at Perigueux - everything in excellent condition including a lot of chilled products which Sterling kindly put in 'Cool bags' during the journey (you need to take your own when picking up).  I ordered... sausages, bacon, sausage rolls, chicken kiev's, butter, cheese, MullerRice, Pork Pie's, Cornish Pasties, Elmlea double cream - most of this went straight into the freezer and has subsequently defrosted perfectly inlcuding the pork pies!!!.  For those that critisize... I have made most of these things myself over the past 5 years of living here, or can buy them here but at the moment they're cheaper in the UK and I miss the convenience of some of these food products! It's worth checking out the 'Special Offers' first on these sites too, just remember to check that the offer doesn't finish before your delivery although if an item you've ordered at full price then goes on 'special' your final bill will reflect this as I found out when I ordered Brita Classic water filters this time. eg: I put a pack of 6 in my basket on 29th April at £20.00 (they're 35,90€ in Auchan btw) and they're now on special at £17.81. I too hope Sterling lots of success for the future!!!
  8. Hi, We are 2 adults with 1 dog looking for  accommodation next week in Hérault department.  Our gites are not booked out next week and so we thought we would take the opportunity if possible to get away and check out this area with a view to possibly moving there in a couple of years.  Does anyone know anyone who has a gite or apartment available, it doesn't have to be top notch as we'll be out and about hopefully most of the time? Thanks
  9. Hi Thebiga, We have had exactly the same problem this week although I do accept part of the blame.  Guests asked upon booking if they could invite friends around that were also holidaying near us and I agreed.  they arrived last Saturday and fortunately they happened to mention to moh that the said friends were visiting the next day and just checking again if that was ok - a figure of 27 people were mentioned!   Moh thought they were joking and walked away with a slightly confused smile.  I was not so amused and popped around to clarify, turns out there were going to be a further 3 families coming to visit en-mass so I told the lady 'no way', only one family at a time could visit. The whole family have accused us of 'completely ruining their holiday' and said 'I should have asked the question of "how many etc"' when she booked. Well, in hindsight I should and certainly will in future although I think I'll treat it as a massive lesson learnt and just say no if asked again... it was awful with them shouting across the terrace at us - gawd knows what our other guests thought (we have 2 other gites). Moh did offer them there money back for the remainder of their holiday seeing as how we'd ruined their holiday but they haven't taken us up on that yet.  The atmosphere around them has been awful since and like your guests they don't seem to want to hang around now!  Thank god they leave on Saturday - just hope they don't trash the place in retalliation
  10. Should be out partying tonight - typical isn't it, one of the best parties of the whole year and we're too cream crackered to go.  As least I've got this thread to keep me sane, puts it all in persepective..., it's now my 'Saturday Night Highlight'.  I agree Dave you should definately write the 'Alternative gite keepers guide to hospitality'!!! Seen off last weeks guests at 10am, managed to get all 3 gites turned around by 4.30pm and last lot of new guests all in as of 1 hour ago.  All 3 families from last week left the gites pretty clean, I've started giving them ratings out of 10 and all 3 scored a 7 today.  Good changeover day for us.  This is our 3rd season/year running gites and we both said today "another 2 years of this and we're 'out of here"' - do you think you can get 'burnt out' running gites or do you ever get blasé to it all???
  11. We're only into our 3rd season and I feel like an old hand already... I swear I'm turning into the 'Blackpool landlady from hell' - except I get to do the cleaning in me bikini in 33+ºc temps... and all you men out there can stop dreaming cause a 40 something women in bikini and rubber  gauntlets with her hands down the Karsie is not a sight to behold... get the picture cause the reality of this life is definately not the paradise that I envisaged.  But eh oh I'm on my 3rd Gin & Tonic (courtesty of the last lot of guests's) so I've got over it already. I'll have another one and think of you.
  12. This is a bit strange and must be upsetting for you after 4 years of successfully letting your gite.  We're in to our 3rd year with 3 gites now up and running and the only negative comments we seem to get are in reference to the weather as it's been so up and down even in the hight of summer.  I'm sure the day will come though when someone complains about something and I dread that day as I hate confrontation.   If the reason your guests complained is, as you say, to get money back in able to afford to go elsewhere, well that's going to be pretty obvious once you start querying the exact greivances of their complaints if the complaints are indeed unjustified.  You say your area is very rural and quiet - I just wondered if you make this point very clear with any advertising you do in order to avoid any misunderstandings when guests arrive.  If they have genuine complaints then the only thing I can think is that they're the type of customers who're too shy to tell you to your face.  The only way to find out is to have a chat with them. The trouble with this business is we're all different and have different expectations so the best policy in my opinion is honesty. Let us know how you get on once you decide what to do... Good luck!
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