sunshinegirl

Thanks to you all for your suggestions-I'll get my atlas out...

I'm going to be driving to Zeebrugge from Dordogne soon and I wondered if anyone had a route they knew was good -and avoids Paris! Yes, I know I should just bite the bullet and go through/round but I don't want to so... would it be best to avoid it to the east or the west?

I agree, Sprogster, I don't feel that it's at all negative to be  moving back -our time here has been great, but now it's time to move on, doesn't mean I don't like France or anything, just that circumstances change. But I'm surprised at how (relatively) difficult it is to find out stuff. If I have a question about soemthing in France, I'm certain to find the answer (or an answer) here, and so think a section in a similar vein could be both useful and interesting, and certainly positive. Sunshinegirl, (who is definitely keeping her name!)

LOL!! I'll have to choose another name, something watery and cold, I guess!

Thank you to both of you, am hugely relieved!!!

Thanks for the that about the car. Someone told me that returning expats don't have an automatic right to NHS treatment?

I'm not sure which section to put this in, so sorry if I've got it wrong. I'm moving back to the UK and finding it difficult to find out information about things like reregistering the car, signing back on with a doctor, tax etc etc -there's so much help available for people moving here, via a site like this, but does anyone know of anything to help with going the other way? Thanks

Hi Joy What a shame about your house, how annoying. Good luck with it all, and really hope you get to move soon... Very best wishes Sunshinegirl

I've just found this thread, and , like a couple  of you said, it could have been written by me! My daughter, having just done a year in 6eme, and experienced many  of the things you talk about, has changed from a bright cheerful girl to one who can't be bothered to do anything at all and is starting to refer to herself as 'stupid' because that's what she's been told.  We're also moving back to the UK in the next few weeks but  I think it's a real shame that we feel we have to. Good luck to all of you who are making a move..

That's really helpful, NormanH, thanks.

I've been asked by the headteacher of our local collège to -in theory- do a maternity cover for the English teacher. However, she isn't sure, and I don't know, whether I can be employed on the basis of my English qualifications (PGCE, TEFL) or if I have to do a conversion. Is there anyone who has any experience of this please? I know she's in the best place to find out, but it is the end of term....!

I think you've answered all the questions I had, and saved me a trip to Urssaf, so thanks and hooray! I earn peanuts so will opt for the paying at the end of the year tax  option -I did doubt that a refund would be forthcoming if I paid and then didn't earn enough, which almost certainly I won't. Right, I think I'm ready for the plunge, wish me luck, folks...

Thanks for that Clair, it's helpful (although very frustrating for you, I can tell. So I guess the lesson for me is to add the other things straight away if I'm going to do  it? I don't suppose you know, while on the subject, whether, if I opt to pay tax up front, if by the end of the year I haven't earned enough to pay tax, will I get it back? Thanks again for your help, and goooood luck with your redtape trials...

Sorry for hijacking your thread but my question seems to fit here: can you add several different things (and do they have to be closley related?) or will that in some way cause things to be more expensive ie two/three lots of charges? Thanks

Hi Nick Thanks for your help

I'm sorry if this has been answered before but I can't find it so.. I teach English and so am paid either through short contracts with businesses or cheque emploi for the 'soutien scolaire' I do at people's houses. Would it be possible for me to register as an autoentrepreneur as well, for things that aren't covered by the other two ways of being paid, eg classes in my village?  The ways I'm paid now suit me completely, and I wouldn't want to lose them, if it came to a choice, but maybe it needn't come to that? Thanks

Thanks for your comments. I'm now the proud owner of this pool, but got it for less than 300 euros from a company called Zyke -on their website it's about 450 but if you buy it from one of their shops it's much cheaper.(I think it's limited stock at last year's prices) There are 3 outlets around Bordeaux, one near Angouleme and a couple of others I think. Just got to level the ground now...

I'm going to buy an overground pool but am at a bit of a loss as to which is best on a small budget. I'm thinking about an Intex metal frame one 4m57x1m22 , price is 447 euros (You can see it on http://www.piscine-autoportante.fr/piscine-metal-frame-457-p-822.html if you want) I'm thinking of this because there are a lot of cats about and I'm worried about a blow up one but does anyone have any experience of this pool and is it a good price? And will my twelve year old and her mates be able to actually swim in it? And is it easy to put together? Any tips appreciated! Thanks