Panda

Surely it's not just hospital type issues where you need to be able to speak, what about when the house has flooded and you need to call a plumber urgently?  Who does this for you retirees who can't speak the language?  I know who does it where I'ved live, ME.  I have two nearish negihbours in the Charente (one about 600 yeards the other a mile or so) and they come and see me only when something has gone wrong and they want help.  The last time they had no hot water and couldn't speak enough french to call a plumber out. I know you can get by without speaking but what sort of life is that when you can't speak in any detail to your neighbours and as above can't do simple daily things without resorting to calling in help from others.  I would never want to be in this position what ever my situation.

What do you do for a living Polly?[:D] The ruling is nowhere near as clear as you are stating it here, even Chris agreed on that point!  I have been told different things by different people, some in the pool business some in the mayors office.  Public pool is defined as paying to enter the pool, again even poolguy has quoted this in the past. There is clearly a grey area around pools in this regard and so everyone should make their own choice and not be bullied by those seeking to line their own pockets.  

No one wants you not to state your point Jon, not at all and no one is attacking it, just stating our own experiences which oppose yours, that's life!  I've said before I was exactly the same as you, really postive on all things french and would not have a bad word said against my choice 4 years ago, but time has changed my views. I have lived here for 6 years Jon and will be going back to live and work, as I have here, in IT. Yes it is quite far (1.5 hours) but I would like to see that area, I will still have property in France so will have a holiday home here and so perhaps during my next holiday (october)  I will get over as I will fly into Bergerac, this visit to the area is to pack up for the move back so it could be quite busy.

Hello Just being nosey but has your son just finshed as in completed college or leaving to go to a different college?  I'm interested in how he got on with college as we often hear bad things but perhaps you have a more positive story to tell to counter some of my negative ones in primaire? Always good to hear both sides.   Panda

[quote user="krusty"] Just to show a certain few can get out of poverty. These sites with figures indicate a figure of 20% in poverty . 20% of say 60,000,000 =12,000,000 48,000,000 not in poverty = the greater majority [/quote] Again I think you are missing the point Krusty.  No one said the majority live in proverty, what I was saying is that I find the french generally are very down about their lot.  I have never met a french person who said, I have had the most wonderful day today, they would be happier telling you something that went wrong, for me it does seem that they like to look on the black side of everything.  I really haven't met a french person in 6 years with a glass half full attitude, it's weird and it sounds wrong when I think or type, such a generalisation is daft, but that's how it has seemed to me.  We can only talk about our own experiences and I feel both you and Jon feel the need to defend your view, you do not need to, if that's how you see it that's fine but allow me to say how I se it too without being defensive.  Again I will say I love France and will return.  I am in Dordogne/Charente week after next Jon.

It's a shame my attitude depresses you, yours amuses me. I have lived in 3 different areas of France and have travelled extensively, I have never seen what you have seen and I lived not that far away. I have a couple of weeks left here in France and will be in your area for much of that, I must come and have a look. As I've said many times I loe France, it is just not good for those who need to earn a living or with children of school age. If you have found in an area where the French are truly happy I would love to see it as I will retire to France one day and will be looking for somewhere with a nice atmosphere. I'll call in if I make it to your town. Panda

For some reason Jon/Barbara whne you post it leads to lots of misunderstandings on both sides. Yes we are talking about the OP moving from good jobs in the UK to who knows what in France. We are advising him that it's not easy and that he should consider renting first. We are also saying education is not great in France so dn't move here just for that reason. You are coming at this from a different angle, near retirement I woudl guess and not with a family to raise. Most of the respnders on this post do live here, not sure why you keep making that poiint and I have a child i school here and have found it difficult such that I am returning to england. Most french people in rural areas are poor, they are not happy poor either in my epxerience, the talk at the school gates is mostly doom and gloom and tittle tatle, not much else goes on. Where you live are you really sayng no one earns minimum wage and that they are all happy and poor?? PLease don't go into one of your floaty posts, just type it as you would say it for a chance that we can all understand your point more clearly. Panda

[quote user="powerdesal"][quote user="Panda"][quote user="powerdesal"][quote user="Panda"] The biggest issue most people face is having ''dropped out' of the job market in the UK your CV doesn't look great on return (if no job or low skilled job for more than a year) and it is likely you will not be able to pick up your career where you left it and will end up in a lower paid job.  It also depends on your age. [/quote] Even if you have a great CV you will struggle to get a job in UK if you have been out of the UK job market for any length of time, if you are 40 / 45 + you can generally forget it, unless you are very senior in your field. [/quote] In my very current experience, it's not quite that bad that you should forget it.  I'm doing exactly this after 6 years, I'm lucky that I have been working on contract for a UK company during my time here so have no break in employment and so am stepping back in at my previous level with the same company on a permanent basis. My OH though hasn't worked a great deal here but has still got some options, not in his orignal field though and for less money, hence my previous post. Panda [/quote] Not quite the same though is it Panda?, you are a known employee going back into the same Company with, as you say, no break in employment. Its substantially different to 'coming in from the cold' to a new employer who knows nothing about you (or you him). I do speak from a degree of experience in this respect, before being 'head-hunted' into my present job I had actively searched the European job market and discovered the hard way that the experience of age is generally offset by that very age that allowed the experience. [/quote] Hence me stating the situation with my OH who is in exactly that position.

[quote user="powerdesal"][quote user="Panda"] The biggest issue most people face is having ''dropped out' of the job market in the UK your CV doesn't look great on return (if no job or low skilled job for more than a year) and it is likely you will not be able to pick up your career where you left it and will end up in a lower paid job.  It also depends on your age. [/quote] Even if you have a great CV you will struggle to get a job in UK if you have been out of the UK job market for any length of time, if you are 40 / 45 + you can generally forget it, unless you are very senior in your field. [/quote] In my very current experience, it's not quite that bad that you should forget it.  I'm doing exactly this after 6 years, I'm lucky that I have been working on contract for a UK company during my time here so have no break in employment and so am stepping back in at my previous level with the same company on a permanent basis. My OH though hasn't worked a great deal here but has still got some options, not in his orignal field though and for less money, hence my previous post. Panda

Can't agree with the above, especially not when you don't know the person very well, how do you know what they like, what they already have etc. etc.. 

The biggest issue most people face is having ''dropped out' of the job market in the UK your CV doesn't look great on return (if no job or low skilled job for more than a year) and it is likely you will not be able to pick up your career where you left it and will end up in a lower paid job.  It also depends on your age.

I'm flying next week and have had an email today stating that I can only have one bag which includes purchases in the airport, first time I've heard this, this from Ryan Air.  I have often taken the large carrier bag route and never been stopped, bag includes my purchases and laptop etc.  I was stopped with a cricket bat once and told I could use it as a weapon so it had to go in the hold, I wanted to use it as a weapon right there and then.  I made a big fuss ( quite expert at that now) though and wasn't charged but had to put it in the hold.

[quote user="Iceni"] [quote user="velcorin"] ...... but I haven't been in a bank for 10 years, or my wife [/quote] Just a suggestion but perhaps you should read carefully what you have typed before hitting the post button. John [/quote] LOL, thanks for that, a lighter note, just what I needed

[quote user="Stan Streason"]  but it is the mans job to be head of the household and to be responsible for providing well for all under his care.  (How pathetic is that yet deep down I really do believe it). My sons joke that the reason I have bought a house in france is to fulfill the image I can see of myself sitting at the head of a long table with all my sons, daughters in law and grandchildren listening "godfather" like to me. [/quote] Ha, yes right,  OK, you must love France at that's how most of the population think, even those in their 20's and 30's. I, however live in this century where women want a bit more out of life and not only want to but have to take on an equal role in the family set up.

Yes, it was a joint decision I can't imagine anyone changing country just because one of a couple wanted to.

[quote user="tegwini"]  Panda,  good luck sending your son back to the UK for his secondary education.  Perhaps 'a regurgitated poem' might be boring, but I hope you have found a school with reasonable standards of discipline, where teachers are able to and do actually teach.   Even in rural Wiltshire we have some grim schools, and a few that are very good.   The very good schools have seriously difficult entrance exams (11+) and you need to be well above average to pass the exam. The other LEA schools usually have very poor exam results,  high  absentee numbers and bad behaviour.   Yet these grim schools OFSTED usually rates as satisfactory - meaningless or what ! The UK is also elitist, and school leavers and  graduates are judged on their schools and universities.  Many non-Russell Group university graduates cannot find  appropriate jobs. Whatever you decide to do I hope that this huge change for your son works out for the best. [/quote] Thanks tegwini, you have no idea what it's like having to take this decision and your remarks help a great deal, (not)! I prefer to take my chances in a country where I know the system and can make damn sure he is getting what he needs the area I come from and will return to has some great schools so I'm not concerned about that, you also have no idea what it's like for teens (ados and adults) in France to get a job.... I do know what it's like in the UK and it's tougher than it has been for a long time but not as tough as France.  

Thanks Joy, good luck to you too.  We are renting our house out so don't have to wait for the sale.  It's not ideal but as I have a job lined up it's the best option for us. Hope it goes well, 7 viewings are a lot in this market so fingers crossed!

Ah, that'll be it then, alll stops post primaire!  When are you moving back and can I ask which part of the country?  I am going in a couple of weeks time back to the Cotswolds.

[quote user="tegwini"] I don't know much about the problems of school leavers in France,   but it is common knowledge in the UK that even graduates struggle to find jobs - some with 'Macjobs' (working in McDonalds etc), and many unemployed.  Some do have poorly rated 'degrees' so that is part of the problem. Education here (and I write as a teacher with decades of experience in secondary schools) can be as specialised, and  specialising at a young age too.   Sixth  form/ FE college (for 17-18 yr olds)  is usually very specialised indeed.   The Bac has lots to recommend it and the better UK schools either offer it,  or are considering it.   Sadly, the average LEA school cannot afford to offer it.   GCSE subjects are chosen at the end of year 9 when children are only 13/14 years old.   In  southern  Wiltshire we also have the 11+ which does determine a child's future at a very young age.    And,   in many schools around the UK children still leave without basic literacy and numeracy skills.  I can't see that the grass is greener here.   With NuLab and the mess we're in at present,   I suspect that the job scene here will be amongst the most difficult for unskilled/inexperienced  young people in the future.  [/quote] I think your missing my point, of course you chose subjects in UK schools at 13, I do remember it's not that long ago[:)].  The differene in France is once you are set on a path it is nigh on impossible to change it and adults virtually never change careers, it's just not heard of here.  In the UK you can change about more easily even retrain very late in life, I have a friend who has just become a teacher at 47 having been a postmen all his life, that would be impossible to achieve I believe in France. So as I said every country has it's issues, when I left school youth unemployment was really high (late eighties) I had to take any job that came by and in my twenties studied and changed careers and happily was successful in doing so. There is still a very elitist system in France and some jobs are just not accessable to those who have not been to the right schools and Uni's. Whilst the grass may not be greener in the UK, as far as schooling goes having experienced french schools for 6 years I really feel that it's the right choice for my son who is very bright and needs more than a regurgitated poem every week to ensure he does not lose interest all together in education.

[quote user="Russethouse"]  Honestly Carmelle how wrong can you be, I speak several times a week to an American friend who lives in France and who has many friends, an active  social life and is very involved in her community.   [/quote] Confused by this, what did Carmelle say that is stated here as being so wrong, she agreed with you that Americans, in her experience, travel and make friends easily as I read it...have I missed something?

Hi It's interesting the homework thing, my son gets loads and he is in CM1 primaire.  It can take 3 hours for his weekend homework and on the last holiday he had something of at least 30 minutes duration for every day.  It was all boring stuff and the thing that really annoyed me was when he had worked hard at getting it done (and so had I worked hard helping him) the teacher did not collect it in and did not mark it!  He was upset by this and now feels whats the point of doing homework 2ho can blame him? Panda

Hi It's one of the main reasons for my decision to take my son back to the UK for his secondary education.  I know he will have the same issues in the UK to find work but at least he will have a much wider choice of careers instead of liiving to specialise at  a young age and be stuck in that track.  

  I agree that it is difficult to make friends in France, I have met only one french woman with whom I had anything in common, she had travelled extensively and had been to Uni in the US, she is open minded. and a lot of fun  I'm sure if I lived in a city I would find more but in rural france the women have not travelled and many have never worked so conversations were centred around the weather, the kids and listeing to them moan about life in general.   There is no culture of going for a coffee in a resto with the girls or a girls night out, I really miss that. Before you wax lyrical about all your friends Jon I mean real freinds, tell all your worries and secrets to friends, not how are you, weather is nice. what's that you're doing, these are mere polite nieghbours to me of which I know loads. The americans are more friendly in my experience, I have met a few here in france whilst at Uni and I am still in touch with them.  

For a comparison I have a friend who is an electrician and gets charged around 3k per year, he has no employees.  I had an accountant in my first year as a micro and was charged 1500, I raise 4 invoices a year and have some rental appartments all of which I prepared for them!  They still went on to c*ck up the return and I had to sort out the mess, I never paid the bill but went through a lot of pain to get the bill reduced to half of that and that's still too much for the standard of work produced. I think your price is probably the going rate and worth it if they are any good and get your cotisations etc down.

Good, I'm not going mad than, well no more than usual!