Speedy

Don't forget if your building a 'terrace' (from memory bigger than 2m2) you need to inform the marie!

Do some searching for tyres with American web sites. You will find they have a specific measure of tyre life - which is not used in Europe. Assuming in our globalized world the tyres are probably made to the same standards, you can then look for these brands/models in Europe. From memory its called wear rating (I'm not going outside to llo - as its raining!)

"For foreign licence holders who are resident here, they are required to exchange their licence for a French one" This is NOT true. When I livedin the North of France the prefecture would NOT change my licence (assuming I am a 'good boy') According to my (now)local prefecture (a couple of years ago , they refused to exchange my license again telling me, it would only be done in the case of an infraction) Today on my local prefecture web site : La personne résidant habituellement en France et titulaire d'un permis de conduire délivré par un autre Etat membre de l'Union européenne (UE) ou par un autre Etat partie à l'accord sur l'Espace économique européen (EEE) peut, si elle remplit certaines conditions, : soit l'utiliser en France sans limitation de durée, en application du principe communautaire de la reconnaissance mutuelle des permis de conduire This again confirms it is NOT necessary. Sans limitation de durée!!!!

Its a few months old but interesting reading .... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7293992.stm   Text removed by a moderator to comply with BBC copyright terms

Oh I do love the 'law' in France. Anyhow my story : One day I went to the Pref, they refused to exchange my driving license for a French one (although being a resident and working here!). They did give me an 'official' document saying my license was valid. They also gave me paperwork confirming when (they must have known) I get a point that I would have to 'convert' my license. Some time after I was stopped by the local plod who were not interested in the 'official' papers I had, and was told if I was stopped again with a UK license I would be fined! Hey Ho!

I think there is a margin. I 've thrown away my last(only) speeding ticket, but from memory it stated I was doing 98kph in a 90kph but they adjusted the speed with a margin/error of 7 and I ended up getting a fine for 91kph. As I said from memory.

Homework, homework. You need to spend time investigating your estate agent, that includes several different visits (just to check out values - our last house was valued with a difference/range of over 100k!!). I think SD wrote in another subject/forum about the importance of local agents(with a good web site), this is so true. I obviously can't be sure it was the agent but our last house in Picardie sold in under a week! Thats not to say I would not consider a personal web ad.

Funy how you learn things as you get older! I lived in Aylesbury for TOO many years, some 40 odd years ago my father was the 'council pied piper' but I never heard particular stories of the gliss gliss! On the subject of food, when I lived in Africa, you could by rat pate in the supermarkets!

Not an expert, but I wouldn't tell too many people as bats can be a protected species - a problem if they start to annoy you and you want to get rid of them! 'Animals' over here can be a (nice) pain , we have had owls falling down the chimney, bats flying down the corridors and a mouse with a mask like Zorro in the loft (it was called a lerot (?) - protected species according to some people I spoke to!)

I reckon you should find some Russian web sites

Maybe my English expressionism is getting bad. I do not defend these people. If they stretched themselves using multiplication factors that were unreasonable / unrealistic - whatever, then pay the price - they had no right. The right comes with being able to meet your responsabilities. IAS39 I have not needed a mortgage for some years now (is this type of investigation entered into when taking out a mortgage,), but this regulation looks to me(you can shoot me down - its just my opinion) like the sort of thing you may find in small print, or is beyond the man in the street. If it ensures the mortgage market is better controlled then it should be welcomed.

I'm 100% with JR

The most important thing (and generally you won't find this even in the UK) is to acclimatise a carpet (how this may relate to your type?) in the room for as long min 24 hours as possible beofre it is cut /stretched etc Yes, I have years of carpet fitting experience - in case anyone wants to know.

OK  - apologies for the !!! But, I simply feel passionate about the housing market 'circumstances' The banking institutions who changed the 'rules' from 3 x a salary to 5x for mortgages etc should pay the price. Yes I do understand that failing banks can effect the man in the street but something must be done! (opps) I agree with fivecats reasoning about the French population being worried about thier living cost. The French hosuing market needs a good shake up, from the point of its administrative cost for selling/buying a house. With companies regularly closing (yes I'm about to be made redundant as my company is moving the office 500km away!!!! - oh there I go again) the freedom and liberty is not easily achivable for an ordinary man , who had previously decided to purchase a house and is then faced with huge estate agent etc fees to move to 'follow his work'

Hmmm.....I do believe in market forces, but I believe more importantly in leaving'a house (and the 'world') in an acceptable 'condition' (oh would I like to make some - no lots of changes changes!!) Houses rising at more than bank investment rates : means what ? What is a bank investment rate  : say 6 % (or is that too generous)?? So, more than that you would accept a house price rise of 10% - No, its too much! I am glad many (not all!- I write in general terms) people are having difficulties with mortgages (yes I had the choice but NEVER took it !!) in my experience of family and friends in the building and estate agent games they regularly encountered people after a quick buck! I have worked for everything I (we - my wife has worked hard as well!) have! Thats not saying other people didn't but NO ONE should make excessive profits over what is a 'basic human need' Houses should NOT be seen as an investment : every man has the right to a roof over his head - an affordable one! If regulation is the solution then so be it! I don't think the 'banks' will be capable of doing it themselves , as they are only there to make money for their directors bonuses (ha ha!) Anyhow as per the things P-D de  Rouffignac has seen  - hooray!

I may as well tell you this was the 'worst' situation, but....living in a small village 'can' have problmes.... Another example of small village schools/community : a local who had 'difficulties' threatened the teacher, hit the teacher, and because people in the area were frightened of the family no actions were taken. All I am saying is that in small rural communities there can be more problems. Having experienced them, personally I would not contemplate a village school. You also need to clarify what is a village school. By that what I mean is : are all the different years in 1 class with 1 teacher = is a real village school , which was our situation!

Interesting question..........regulated by the govn?? It would be interesting to know 'who' (in France) actually 'controls' the financial decison makers - my guess is although the banks implement rules - they are probably follwoing govn directives?? Anyhow, regulated yes to a small extent, but, prices must be realistic!! Do you really want to end up with 100 year mortgages like in Japan. Have you no concern for 'our children'? - That may be un unfair way of putting it, but thats what it boils down to. Long may the prices continue to fall. And yes it could effect  me with 'interests' in France and the UK

Ahh, and I also never said the teacher was an Indian, taken on to teach English!! Not being racist, but we even had 'villagers' knocking on our door asking us to explain what the teacher had done in class.

Whilst I sympathise with anyone with financial problems - and with those who need to return to the UK. Here my view : like it of not! House prices NEED to fall for the sake of our children and granchildren. It is our generation (and in my case my parents) who allowed the 'rules' to change that consequently pushed prices into the sky! We cannot allow prices to be 'unreasonable' , we cannot put our children in  a position where they cannot buy a house or have to take a mortgage over 30 years. Yes I am a house owner  and if it falls in value - so be it!

To Tony : who was I ? No idea what name I used! From memory it was way before 2005 - thats simply because I used to get living France some 12(??) years ago! Bike : yes I have 2 if you include my 125cc scooter, my bike is a lot bigger.

To JR Picardie : I don't know if its coincidence, but MOST of the incidents I have had occured whilst I lived in ....Picardie! I hope for you its not a bad sign.

FYI If  you have read my 'many comments', you will notice that I said I used to be a member of this forum years ago under a different name. As the mediators edit things you have no actual idea of what I wrote. I would however like to understand why you consider that schools are not state functions?? Oh this is fun!

Just for curiosity can you claify your question : for a French national THEY have identity cards. As a Brit : you have a carte de sejour ?

You may have to go and declare it, but if the functionnaire refuses to do anything...................and states its not necessary.........you try and get them to confirm that in writing!

As the forum administrators dont like my comments, heres another version. As you asked for examples  in a previous comment : laws/'reglementation' /official procedures are applied on an adhoc basis! I have experience of this that necessitated calling upon the French mediator to resolve issues. I have personal experince of situations where I was part of a 'local committee' who overturned (in a court of Law!!!) legal administrative 'errors'(I cant be bother to detail the refusal to give access to things that was refused to our solicitor etc etc) and this 'corruption' went as high as the Prefect! I have had problems with the police who are not familiar with the 'law' : driving licenses etc........and...... the POINT is ..irrelevant of spouting out procedurs etc...thier application is down to the individaul at that moment. Aftzerwards YOU the individual have to decide what YOU want to do about it. SD may be respected but .........'objecting'  (thats what I call it) to poeples comments shows his ....so I've probably wasted my keyboard fingers here. And yes as someone pointed out(somewhere) I regulalry make spelling errors, thats probably because I swtich computers (keyboards) (like now) and work in both Englsih and French..and... but what the heck...or is that a requirement here? Did you see the recent (a couple of months ago - on TV -  how much of the actual facts were presented??)of an English chap who bought a chateau and had it 'repossessed' by someone else who said he had made an earlier offer on it!! Look at the legal details that were presented in this case!! Where was the law here?!