Polly

I agree Coops, horses for courses : I knew the knocking noise from under my bonnet wasn't good news Friday morning, by the time I'd limped the car home I knew 'twas gearbox trouble. OH did the full diagnosis, and grumpily ordered a new box, which he'll fit, but he needed me to make the online payment for it as that's way beyond his online abilities!

[quote user="andrew44"]Polly, just check the French for 'byte' as in Gigabyte (Gb), and all will be revealed - ah, it starts with an 'o'. Also works for Kilobyte, Megabyte and Terabyte. It also explains the '8' reference (8 bits in a byte). HTH Andrew 44 [/quote] Oui, je suis au courant! For those who are not, wiki has a detailed page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabyte and at http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigaoctet (backing down behind the parapet here as someone lines up to shoot wiki down, and then me because my links are never clickable) I was originally just asking, in effect, for a simple comparison of memory sizes, what's big BIG and what's teeny and what's good or not so good.

I ain't THAT dumb, Bob! From the screen 'A propos de ce Mac' I have Processeur 2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo Mémoire 2Go 667 MHz DDR2 and in the Mémoire detail it says for Bank  DIMM Taille :    1 Go  Type :    DDR2 SDRAM  Vitesse :    667 MHz  État :    OK FYI, just in case you ever need to turn one on, the iMac on/off button lurks behind the screen unit, bottom left, with a standard on/off electrical logo on it. Even non-tecchies like me can unpack a mac, connect it up and use it. The only people who have trouble using my machine are British visitors who can never find . or @ or & on an azerty keyboard.

Bob, I have Go, not Gb.....so duh? And I don't have any windoze, I'm Mac...

I've never really understood what all these memory sizes mean, I'm probably not the only person, can anyone explain it simply? What's 256K or 1Go for example? Apparently I have 2Go 667 Mhz DDR2 on the thing I'm typing on....

The car was on old plates, therefore your change of address resulted in your car being re-registered under the new SIV registration, and the new plates which you had to buy are for the life of the vehicle. A clear explanation of the rules regarding change of address for both new and old plates are at http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F12118.xhtml#N100FA (sorry, I can never make links work, you'll have to copy & paste) How much did the Préfecture charge you? 2€50? A lot of French people are just as unaware of the details of the new registration rules as most British folk are, after all it only concerns you when you move or buy/sell a vehicle.

Not without breaking the law.

From my reading of the law I quoted earlier it seems to me that if you want to keep a non-runner, or indeed any vehicle out of circulation, you make a déclaration to the Préfecture and return the Carte Grise to them. Then when you want to drive it again you ask for it to be re-registered. What the forms/format are for doing this I haven't a clue, and I don't know anybody who has done it. Maybe SD knows, or can correct me if I'm wrong?

No longer being able to get a CT non-roulant is a nuisance, it means you can't re-register a non-running classic in your name until you have restored it. The CT man used to make a home visit, check the car was an X with the paperwork correct and off you went to the Préfecture. Then when you'd got the wreck restored, you booked a CT at a quiet time, drove to the CT centre (ssh!) and got your CT and all was tickety-boo. Article R322-6 du code de la route modifié par Décret n°2009-136 du 9 février 2009 - art.6  covers the current law on non-running vehicles.

Not quite right, Ixy: you don't have to prove your system conforms, you just have to produce your inspection report. This will state whether your system is OK, or if needs upgrading urgently,  or if it's generally OK but with reservations.

I can't see why anyone would bother. I drive both RHD and LHD cars and a RHD van, no problems... except when I get in on the wrong side and find someone's nicked the steering wheel. What with all the things mentioned above, plus modifying the gearbox and buying a new steering rack (you can tell I'm into classics here),...... Oh, and do check the passenger door has a key lock on it, otherwise you'll have to scramble to get in and out.

Simple solutions: Pay by direct debit Set up your 'espace client' on the EDF website Have bills sent electronically

I have pm'd you

DIY receipts are not deductible for the calculation of plus-value gains, nor are materials you may have purchased for a registered artisan to do work. His work (whether with TVA or under a micro régime) and any materials he supplies count, so long as you have the factures to prove it, so: You have a new roof, the company supplies all the tiles etc and the labour. The  total bill is allowable. You buy a new bathroom suite in the UK and your French plumber installs it. Only the bill for his labour and any materials he supplies are allowable, the cost of the suite isn't. re your builders not giving you a receipt: if you have the bills and the payment ref from your bank (cheque N° and date cleared) that's OK

[quote user="pachapapa"]And how long does a C.P.E on the other thread last?[:D] (contrat première embauche) [/quote] wiki it!

Typing error in p de d's post? It is a DPE not a CPE in French (le Diagnostic de Performance Energétique)

No, it's not 'jobs for the boys' as no-one connected with the sale can do the DPE, it has to be an independent qualified professional. The DPE results must be included in the sales advert, be it online, in an agent's window or a 2-line newspaper classified. Therefore it has to be done before you market the property. Naturally the agents will be happy to recommend someone, most lay people don't know where to look; You are not obliged to go with that person. You can organise the DPE youself,  look under yellow pages (pagesjaunes.fr) or on google.fr for "diagnostic immobilier" and get some written quotes. It's life, it's the law, moaning about it won't change anything, sorry!

[quote user="Théière"]What effect does an uninsulated, un covered, heated swimming pool have, the must have accessory? [/quote] The DPE on a house sale or rent does not cover or include the swimming pool. For full technical info go to the ADEME website, or if you're really into technical stuff look at "La méthode de calcul des Consommations Conventionnelles des Logements (3CL)"

[quote user="Fi"]I wonder if you could use the report given when the house was bought.  It was already converted so I have separate reports for the apartments.  probably not..... [/quote] The DPE reports are valid for 10 years, so yes you could use the ones you were given when you bought the place if you bought within this time. Of course, if you've made improvements to your energy consumption you might want to commission new ones. A DPE is likely to cost 100-250€ depending on the type & size of the property, there is no fixed fee scale To find an expert, look under yellow pages (pagesjaunes.fr) or on google.fr for "diagnostic immobilier". Always get a written quote before giving instructions to proceed

At 9 months the youngster is having an adolescent crisis, just like a human teenager. This is the age that so many large breed dogs get abandoned/dumped as the owners find the cute bundle has turned into an uncontrollable hulk. Has she had her first season yet? If not, see if the vet can spay her now. You need to be in firm control of the whole menagerie, and demonstrate that control. If you need to put them in separate rooms to calm them down do so, then re-introduce them slowly and under supervision. Make sure the pup gets plenty of exercise, three half-hour walks a day are better than one long one. I agree with Pouyade, a water spray can be v effective plus the use of positive reinforcement, using treats and toys, as opposed to negative shouting and smacking (which only hurts your hand) Now, behind me, what's that 10 week old labrador got in it's mouth NOW......?

Exactly, AllanB Perhaps every new member wishing to argue in the motoring section in particular should have to register first AND have to sign that they understand the difference between Directives and Regulations!

And what I'd like to do the b*****d(s) who abandoned 3 lab cross puppies approx 2 months old down by the river here in freezing temperatures.... The pups were found and have been taken in by someone, but I doubt she will be able to keep all 3. And we haven't even got to the post Christmas chucking out season yet.

[quote user="Anton Redman II"]Interesting debate about appropriate language from another place. http://www.proz.com/forum/french/85607-langue_utilisée_pour_les_factures.html Worth reading to the end.[/quote] I take it that you mean by 'reading to the end' to follow up the ref to art 289 of the Code Générale des Impots? Which states at (IV) that, as I said, in case of a check by the tax authorities one may be asked to provide a translation into French of a bill written in a language other than French. In other words, it's OK to write a bill in English. Also note that at (V)art289 and art 289bis, bills issued by 'electronic means' such as email are perfectly acceptable so long as key details are included (artisan & SIRET, TVA ref if applicable, client details etc). A paper copy must howver be supplied to the taxman if so requested. Anyone running a business in France already knows that paper keeps the taxman happy!

There is no legal requirement for a devis to be written in French, nor the final invoice for that matter. Many decent, honest French-registered British tradesmen write their quotes in English for English-speaking clients. In dealings with the French tax authorities, for the artisan on his accounts, or for owners on, say, the calculation of plus-value when a second home is sold there may be a problem which can be resolved with a translation of the invoices into French. Ditto if an insurance claim arises. Acceptance of a devis has traditionally required the signature of both parties, but in practice these days email acceptance works. Re P-D de R's comment, if a French-registered builder is working on a property in France French law will apply. There's no opting-out of that. Others have posted regarding the usual precautions to be taken when you engage anyone to do work, & special care is needed if no-one is on hand to check out what's being done.

Cash Piscines is right, your wall & property gate do not comply with pool safety legislation. pm me if you need chapter & verse on this. To comply with the law pool shelters must be kept closed & locked when the pool is not in use. One might not like the law and one can argue it's effectiveness until the cows come home but like the compulsory wearing of seat-belts and the no-smoking bans it's here to stay and there's no opting-out. With regard to Mairies checking out existing pools, they do not currently have the legal right to enter private property to check out compliance with pool safety law, nor to require owners to provide pool safety information.