David

[quote user="lacote0_0"]David I am sending you a PM. [/quote] Many thanks for the kind thought of sending me a PM, unfortunately it has not come through the system so I have not been able to read it. David

A Minneapolis couple decided to go to Florida to thaw out during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon 20 years earlier.   Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules. So, the husband left Minnesota and flew to Florida on Thursday, with his wife flying down the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address, and without realizing his error, sent the email.   Meanwhile, somewhere in Houston , a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister who died following a heart attack.   The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted.   The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read: To: My Loving Wife Subject: I've Arrived Date: October 16, 2007   I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones.   I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow.   Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.   P.S. F***ing hot down here!   David  

For clarity I should say that my injury was a non work related injury, which nevertheless prevented me from working.  I was also not employed by the government, but was a self employed marine surveyor. Thus I do not think that it could be classed as a "pension accident du travail", but I live in hope that I need not declare it at all. Any advice gratefully received. David

I am in receipt of payments made under a UK Permanent Health Insurance, or Personal Income Protection, which are paid monthly into a UK bank account. This was a privately funded insurance, and as such is tax free in UK. Do I have to declare this in France, and if so which box should I declare it in? I am presently declaring this in form 2047-K, and in form 2042-K.   On a separate matter I have a sum pre-entered in form 2042-K, page 4, top line in the box to the left of box DE.  What does this amount represent please.   Very many thanks in anticipation, David

Parsnips, Why do you not offer to provide a tax service to members of this forum? I for one would welcome it. David

Do you actually believe this stuff Ron, or are you just stirring it? David

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] I don't know why this always gets so complicated..... I submitted an on-line request via the main Impots 'contact us' webpage asking them to confirm what the allowable average exchange rate is for 2008 revenus étrangers. The reply came back in a hour in the form of an e-mail from the Direction Générale des Finances Publique reiterating the standard daily rate procedure, but confirming that for practical purposes, it is permitted to use an average rate.  For sterling, the approved rate for 2008 is 1,049868766. Simple request, simple reply, 100% official and binding - now printed out and clipped to my personal tax file.....[;-)]     [/quote] Once again Sunday Driver gives us the definitive answer.  I followed his advice and reveived a similar answer.  Now printed off and clipped to my personal tax file. Many thanks SD. David

I note that Ernie Y waas told by his local tax office that the tax exchange rate was 1.17, and another English lady was told 1.04. I wonder if anyone has asked the local Bressuire (Deux-Sevres) Impots what average exchange rate they will accept? Thanks, David

Thanks for your very helpful posts Benjamin. I will be replying, but I have to find some papers sent to me by CPAM as I think my acceptance to CPAM, and also my entitlement to 100% was limited to the day I reached 65 years old. Thus I will have to reapply to CPAM when I reach 65, and I do not have a French ALD although I do receive UK long term disability benefit. Thanks again for your posts, Benjamin and Ame, David

Thanks everyone, and particularly Gluestick for some very helpful answers and links. I think there will be no problem in bringing over a BBQ, and we will buy one next week. Many thanks, David

[quote user="Bugbear"]Now this doesn't happen very often but I have to agree totally with Ron ...........[:)] Dropping back in, after an overtake, is much better than staying out for the next one in the distance. It is also 'cleaner' shall we say, when 'making a bit of progress' [:D] I am always amazed when I see drivers happily driving alongside HGVs (meat in the sandwich) for long periods rather than, (a), waiting until their exit is clear before passing and (b), accelerating quickly past the danger rather than creeping past within the speed limit. Down the outside of HGVs into roundabouts is in the same category. Good lane disipline is king IMB. [/quote] I would have agreed with you, however, not now.  I have been driving for some 45 years and have never had so much a parking or speeding ticket - until recently.  When learning to drive I seem to remember being taught to accelerate quickly past a danger, if safe to do so, and then reduce to the speed limit.  Recently I did just that to overtake some heavy traffic on the autoroute between Niort and Bordeaux.  I started off keeping within the speed limit and was overtaking slowly.  I was very quickly tailgated by a high speed car convoy with much flashing of headlights, so I speeded up a little, completed the overtake, and went back into the inside lane.  Just as I was finishing the overtake, and before slowing down, I was flashed by a mobile speed camera.  In due course I received a letter saying I was 1 kilometer over the speed limit after allowances; I was fined and deducted one point!  No doubt the high speed convoy behind me got nothing as they were hidden by me!!! I still feel much aggrieved.  Thus I cannot now agree with your post. David

I would like to buy a Weber gas "Q" series BBQ in UK for use in France as the purchase cost in UK is about half that of France. However, in the FAQ section of the Weber site it says:- Quote (when a BBQ is not reaching the correct temperature) you may have a barbecue that is not set to your local liquid propane or butane settings. This can happen if the barbecue is transported out of a region for which its valves and regulators are set, and moved to a region with different norms. Unquote Has anybody brought a Weber gas BBQ over from UK?  Is there a problem?  I would be using bottled propane gas, and would buy a French regulator to fit the gas bottle. Any advice welcomed.  Thanks. David

Surely Odile, if you had overtaken the French drivers in the middle of the night, while you were totally pis**d, hitting one side, swerving etc, would this not have put the poor French drivers in danger with you swerving about in front of them instead of behind them? Could you not have parked somewhere in order to sober up? David.  [8-)] [6]

Congratulations Benjamin, FYG I presently have 100% cover from CPAM due to a "disabled" E121, and I do not have top up cover.  So far I have not regretted this, even after several serious operations in France. Some questions arising, which I would be grateful if the forum could answer. I see that when a disability E121 changes to a retirement E121, the beneficiary is then subject to a French medical before being granted 100% cover.  Thus, just because the UK authorities grant long term disability allowance, thus giving 100% cover in France before retirement, there is no guarantee that the French authorities will give the 100% cover for retirement after the medical exam. Does anyone know at what level of disability the French grant 100% cover for retired people, or is it dependent on particular disabling illnesses?  What are the requirements? When granted this retirement 100% cover, do dependents also receive this level of cover?  Presently although I receive 100% cover, my wife does not.  I am not yet of UK retirement age, but my wife is of UK retirement age. David

Benjamin and Ame, Many thanks for all your kind help, and particular heartfelt thanks to Ame for the links and detailed advice. Bon Courage to both of you, and also thanks to Coops if she is reading this for her work in this matter at a time of great difficulty for her. David

I am again crossing from Calais to Dover and return next month, and I will let you know how I get on. I do miss SpeedFerries.  We always travelled with them, and never had any problems at all.  They were always very helpful to disabled travellers, but they had to tighten up and insist that disabled passengers had a blue parking badge, as their system of early loading, and parking on the ramp was being abused by able bodied passengers. The pirates won! David

Thanks Benjamin, I will follow your advice.  I have to say that these days, things seem to be getting to be too much of a hassle, and I tend to just give in.  I never used to be like this. Can you remind me please where I get the forms to be reassessed?  The first time, I went to the sub-prefecture in Bressuire for the forms for a parking badge, but I was told that I was at the wrong place.  However, the very kind lady phoned someone and arranged for the proper forms to be sent to me. Yes I do receive incapacity benefit from the UK, and my E121 incapacity box was ticked , thus I now receive 100% cover from CPAM. I had not realised thay you were applying to re-establish the incapacitated status of Mrs. Benjamin, so I will wait to see how you get on. May I wish you success in your endeavour; from your past postings you seem to be the most qualified poster to try to take on the French system.  Perhaps Coops can assist you, if you need any assistance that is.  I am sure that many people on this forum will be cheering you on, as will I. Good luck, David

Thanks for that Coops, As you know we have talked about this before, and I am sure that keeping the 100% cover from CPAM will make a huge difference to all disabled people at retirement age. Is this 100% cover means tested, or is it for all retired disabled French people? I have to say that with pre-existing conditions I do not know if I could get top up cover if I lose my 100% at retirement age in two years time. Are there any medical requirements under the French system for keeping the 100% cover?  Or would it be automatic if it was in place before retirement?  Presumably there will be some differences as the 100% cover before retirement would be dependent on UK disability allowance, whereas after retirement it would be dependent on French requirements. As a personal note I have been assessed as 50% to 79% disabled under the French system, but my condition is getting worse and my GP has suggested that I reapply and I should be reassessed at between 70% to 79% disabled.  I am not sure what the practical difference is between 50% and 70%, or the significance of 79%, so I do not know if this is worth the hassle. David

Well, I recently crossed the channel as a disabled driver with P&O, with mixed results.  The outward trip from Calais was poor, but the return trip was fine. When booking I went through all the steps to say I was disabled and needed a ship’s wheelchair, and this was confirmed by P&O.  We turned up at the Calais check in 90 minutes before the scheduled departure and confirmed that I needed a ships wheelchair and disabled assistance to get off the car deck.  We were given a windscreen sign for a wheelchair and were directed to a special lane to await the ferry.  We were also told that the ferry was on time.  So far, so good, but this was not to last. We parked at the front of the lane and were joined behind by cars with pets.  Being at the front we could see a ferry in front of us loading lorries.  The lorry loading stopped and five minutes before our departure time the barriers were closed to that ferry!  We then saw the ferry depart at our departure time - we were concerned, but there was nobody around to ask what was happening.  It was a freezing cold day with a strong wind, and after 90 minutes waiting in the car we were somewhat cold to put it mildly.  I could not go to the cafe as I did not have my wheelchair with me.  I was taking my broken down electric scooter back to the UK for repair, and I was going to use the boat's wheelchair. We waited with reducing patience, and no info, until about an hour after our scheduled departure time, when a bloke wandered over and told us to get ready.  Apparently the ferry had been delayed outside the port, and we were to depart on the correct ferry.  He checked that I was disabled and needed the ships wheelchair.  No additional instructions. Finally we were allowed to drive on board.  I became a bit suspicious that we were being waved forward too quickly and tried to stop at the ferry ramp entrance and also on the car deck, but was rather forcefully waved on.  We were finally parked right at the front end of the car deck, with cars close to us on each side.  Being disabled I need to get the car door wide open to get out, and this was not possible.  Luckily the car beside me had room outside him, and the driver was very helpful in that he backed and forwarded to shuffle his car sideways to give me room to get out. Once out of the car there was no sign of any wheelchair or assistance.  Holding onto my wife, we managed a few steps through the cars till we saw a seaman about 20 metres away waving lorries into parking spaces.  I called to him for help, saying “Hello hello” while hanging onto my wife, shaking and shivering from the cold, and trying hard not to fall over, but he ignored me.  I called louder, thinking he had not heard me over the noise of lorry engines and car deck fans, only to see him come over and in a very threatening manner with hunched up shoulders and clenched fists to say “DO NOT RAISE YOUR VOICE TO ME SIR!”.  Afraid of being punched, or threatened with some other action I spluttered “But but but I was only trying to attract your attention to get some help, there is supposed to be a wheel chair here to help me, where is it?”.  Reply “I HEARD YOU PERFECTLY WELL SIR.  NOBODY TOLD ME ABOUT A WHEELCHAIR AND THERE ISN’T ONE HERE, IT’S NOT MY JOB THAT’S THE STEWARDS’ JOB.  THE LIFT IS OVER THERE”.  Whereupon he left as I looked after him disbelievingly.  My wife helped me to the lift, and we arrived at a bar whereupon I staggered to a chair and sat down. Things started to get better then.  I must have been in a bit of a state as the bar steward came over and offered me a drink on the house.  Regretfully I declined as I was driving, but I asked him if I could speak to someone in authority.  The Chief Steward arrived promptly and heard my tale.  He was sympathetic, apologised and insisted that we be taken to the Club lounge.  I tried to say that was not necessary (because I have never been on the P&O Ferries and I wanted to look around and also buy a late breakfast as we had not breakfasted in the hotel, preferring to eat on the ferry – but I did not say this).  The Chief Steward was very kind and well meaning and he insisted we went to the Club Lounge.  A wheelchair arrived and I was escorted to the Club lounge through a crew lift and crew pantries.  We were offered free coffee, tea, and biscuits and invited to make ourselves comfortable until the Chief Officer arrived to hear our story.  This was fine, and the Club lounge was fine, but we were trapped there.  This suited my wife who plonked herself down and dived into the coffee and newspapers, but as an ex seaman and Master Mariner, I was curious about the boat.  Still you cannot have everything, and if wife was happy then so was I.  The Second Officer (in charge of the car deck loading) arrived and seemed rather subdued and pale.  He heard our story and confirmed it.  He had been to the car deck and seen where we were parked, and seen the other car skewed out of it’s lane.  The part the seaman played was glossed over with a comment that this would be reviewed.  He advised us that if I had been stuck in the car and unable to get out, then the ferry could not have sailed until I was out of the car.  This could have been somewhat difficult to say the least. Ha also advised that communications had broken down, and that P&O accepted all blame.  It seemed that we had been mixed with the cars containing pets, and the car deck did not know that was a disabled person in our car.  (So much for the windscreen sign!) The best advice he gave was that when boarding have the hazard lights flashing, whether asked to or not, and stop on arrival at the car deck, even if you are waved on, to ensure that the car deck staff know that there is a disabled person in the car, and which side of the car they are in. After that we were well looked after.  On arrival at Dover a steward pushed me through all the lifts, and as close to the car as he could.  He then helped me through the close parked cars till we got to our car, and ensured that I was able to get into the car. I have to say that once off the car deck, the ship’s staff could not have been more helpful. I would also say that the ship’s wheelchairs are not the self propelled type.  They have small wheels with automatic brakes, and thus the person in the wheelchair does not have any freedom of movement.  It is essential to have someone to push the wheelchair and to hold the brakes off. The return Dover Calais crossing on a different ship was entirely different.  While in our special lane a seaman wandered over before boarding and asked us to put our hazard lights on, and to stop when we arrived on the car deck.  We boarded the car deck with hazard lights flashing, were stopped on arrival in the car deck by a SMILING seaman, we were put into an excellent parking space right beside the lift, and there was a stewardess waiting with a wheelchair.  She pushed me up to the passenger decks, and we were left free to roam.  I think she would have stayed with me for the whole crossing if I had needed her, but wife "volunteered" to push me.  While on board, the staff frequently asked me if I was ok, and they could not have been more helpful.  On arrival at Calais I was taken back to the car, and helped into the car. Hope this helps others on P&O Ferries. David

With regard to the 100% medical cover from CPAM, do we know if French disabled people retain this cover after reaching retirement age, and is it means assessed? David

Thank you everyone, I have not downloaded the email and it rests on the Orange site, so I will delete it there. Perhaps a warning in case others receive this email? Thanks, David

Hi Clair, I found the email in the list of emails on my email page on the Orange web site.  I always check the emails on the Orange site before downloading them to my machine. This still could be a phishing attempt though? David

I have just received the following email purporting to be from Orange. Quote de: "Orange/Wanadoo Maintenance" [email protected] objet : Orange Prévu Maintenance © 2009     Orange et Wanadoo Cher utilisateur - © Chers Orange - Wanadoo Chers © Orange Cher client Orange, en raison de la nécessaire re-construction de notre site Web et mise à jour de début de trimestre en raison de cette année, nous avons besoin de vous pour re-confirmer et mettre à jour votre nom d'utilisateur et votre mot de passe de notre base de données et aussi pour protéger votre compte de messagerie électronique contre le spam et les messages à éviter que votre compte de messagerie été supprimé. Nom d'utilisateur: mot de passe: Réponse de l'information à [email protected] Orange Maintenance équipe. © 2009 Orange. © Powered by Live, Microsoft Inc Unquote In view of the advice never to respond to emails requesting personal information, and that Orange should already have this information, I wonder if this email is genuine? I also wonder what would happen if I ignore this email, and it is genuine? Thanks, David

I must be thick because I cannot see how the Ramsgate to Boulogne route could be profitable.  The length of passage must be nearly double that of Dover to Calais, which combined with higher fuel costs of high speed ferries, seems to make it commercially unviable. I would have thought that Dover or Folkstone would have been better than Ramsgate, or alternatively Ramsgate to Calais. I do not have a nautical chart available, but surely going round the Goodwin sands would add distance to the Ramsgate to Boulogne route? No doubt Will or FerryGuru will put me right. David

I wonder if anyone can recommend an accountant in the North Deux-Sevres area? David