Le Petomane Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I am coming up to 60. Are there any goodies I shall be entitled to in France in the way of bus fares, train fares, getting into smutty films half-price, etc etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tourangelle Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Train fares, yes, 25%. Bus fares vary from place to place. I think my MIL got a discount with Air France for being over 60. HTH[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 You will be entitled to use your age as an excuse for pushing in at the supermarket, not have the right money ready in the bus and forgetting to buy your round. "J'ai soixante ans que vous connaissez!" That should be enough surely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loiseau Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 If you plan to do a lot of rail journeys, it's worth getting a "carte senior" from your local railway station. It costs around 50 euro a year, but entitles you to 50 per cent off off-peak train travel.One cinema I know in the Vendee gives over-60s a discount at the cinema for the Tuesday 5.30pm performance.I think state-owned museums give discounted admission for over-60s. This practice is not nearly as prevalent in France as it is in the UK though. I think French pensioners are considered privileged, rather than looked on as poverty-stricken objects of pity as they are in UK. (Sorry, rather a lot of alliteration in that sentence...)Angela Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard-R Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 You now get to talk about the 'good old days' 'the war' ' 'you youngster don't know how easy you have got it'You can now also fall asleep mid conversation.What do you want?I'm counting the day until I'm 60. Only 9500 to go! Than I will become Victor Meldrew on Acid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bixy Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 You can also nod off in the afternoon, and wake up with a stream of dribble down your shirt; get up at six o'clock for no obvious reason; go to bed at nine ditto; and spend several hours a day looking for your glasses, which are actually perched on your forehead. Have fun!Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 You also need never ever worry again if your clothes match, you can get all those comfy things out of the wardrobe you knew one day you could wear again (stretchy, baggy things). You will put the milk in the dishwasher and you will go upstairs and then forget why you did so............zzzzzzzzzzzzzweedon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colette Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 I thought 60 was the new 40 and I don't know any 40 or 60 year olds who dribble or put their milk in the dishwasher or remember anything about the War, which is perfectly understandable because they weren't born then. Most of the 60 year olds I know are comfortably retired in France on good pensions and having a marvellous time. They're in good health, have loads of interests and certainly don't think of themselves as old. Quite the contrary! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 When I'm 60 will I lose my ability to recognise irony? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 [quote user="Colette"]I thought 60 was the new 40 [/quote]Oh I do hope so. Life didn't "start" for me at 40 so I hope it does at 60! Not too long to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 Blimey, all the signs are that I am 60 already and I have a LONG way to go yet.If I get there[:D][:D][:D]I shall probably stay at 29 and some months for a good few years yet. At least until my grandchildren arrive at 29 too!Up at six or before, bed at nine, yes, yes, forgetfull, that too...Nothing wrong with an elasticated waistband either[:P] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceni Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 [quote user="Colette"]I thought 60 was the new 40 and I don't know any 40 or 60 year olds who dribble or put their milk in the dishwasher or remember anything about the War, which is perfectly understandable because they weren't born then. Most of the 60 year olds I know are comfortably retired in France on good pensions and having a marvellous time. They're in good health, have loads of interests and certainly don't think of themselves as old. Quite the contrary![/quote]Well about 50% of the UK retirees out here that I know fall into that bracket - the others like us 'did' have pensions till the like of Equitable 'did their thing'.I have 363 days to go before I get my pittance from the UK gov. We have designed our barn so that we can keep warm for the minimum of cost in the winter and use the large space in the summer. Hearing the costs that some pay for the pleasure of just keeping 'warm' was enough of a warning. There are a lot of folks coming up to retirement here in France who have no 'pot' for emergencies and are sure 'something will come along'. Well it might, but I personally would not count on it. I work now and am having a marvellous time - my aim is never to be bored and am planning what I intend to do when I get to 60 - I fancy a change, not of country just of work. The 'good health' bit does not cover us but we certainly intend to have a great time - and the amount of painkillers I take each day should in my case almost guarantee it (prescribed I might add).What ever your age and ability - live today as if it is your last and always tell the ones you love that you love them everytime you see them (or in the case of your partner - every day) - nothing is worse than regrets. And remember the words of C, S, N & Y - if you cannot be with the one you love then love the one you are with.Off to dribble some tea - too many painkillers for wine [:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedon Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 [quote user="Dicksmith"]When I'm 60 will I lose my ability to recognise irony?[/quote] Of course Dick, you just leave it in a pile beside the irony board!weedon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tag Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 60 in December but 'er indoors is 18 years younger. Stops me of even thinking about slowing down. And she is very good at ironying too! (sorry, that was a true Dicksmithism) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeb Posted January 31, 2006 Share Posted January 31, 2006 Well, if I'm not off to do VSO then for a couple of years which I plan to do if I haven't forgotten by then, I'll be able to join the University of the 3rd age here in our commune and also entitled to a free lunch at Christmas. Ask at your Mairie what's put on for over 60s in your village.I may wear purple more often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert the infopikey Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 I'm close behind on the age front. Still in the UK but planning on moving once we have our house build sorted. I'll probably be moving shortly before my 60th birthday and one thing puzzles me. I know I'll only be able to draw my UK pension at 65, but at 60 I'm old enough to retire in France. Does that have any effect on paying cotisations and the like? (I've been lurking in the earning a living forum, but this thread made me ask here)I had assumed that I'd need to set aside anything up to50% of any earnings to cover cotisations, tax .... Does this change at 60? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 If you work after retirement age in France you still pay cotisations. Looking through the paper work from the caisse de viellesse that I have to pay into, the rates are slightly different for those over pensionable age, or more to be more precise the rates seem to kick in at different points, depending on whether you draw a pension or not. It doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to the actual amount due. It will almost certainly differ considerably according to which caisses you have to deal with for retirement, health provision etc. and whether you are salaried, self-employed, or profession liberale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert the infopikey Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Thanks (I think!) I thought it might be too good to be true. I'm not sure yet where I stand for things like that yet. Still got a lot of research to doI'm likely to look for work as a freelance IT consultant to start with, but I don't know enough about the market to be sure of my chances. If that doesn't work out I've got a few other strings to the bow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renaud Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I started reading this thread thinking that somebody had news that Bill Oddey was stopping bothering the wildlife and Tim Brooke Taylor and Graeme Garden were giving up the quiz shows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 What a sad day that would be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opalienne Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 My husband got a food parcel at Christmas. He received a note asking him to go the Mairie to collect it and really didn't want to - I had to drag him there. But he was pleased when we arrived to find all his mates handing out the goodies, and he got a complete Christmas meal - local deer terrine, a large guineafowl, a tin of peas, cheese, a buche de Noel, biscuits, chocolates and two bottles of wine. Plus he gets a free lunch at the ducasse (village fete) every year. It's not a lot but enough to make you feel that people care. There's also a club du 3ieme age in the village that meets every month but he has never been to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 I've twice got caught up in outings of citoyens de la troisieme age, once on a trip round the golfe de Morbihan with 30 English schoolkids and once in a restaurant in Fougeres. In both cases the behaviour of the old people was utterly disgraceful. Many had clearly been drinking, and the comments made by some of the ladies about the adolescent boys made you grateful that they were slack in doing their conversation homework. The restaurant mob drank, ate and shouted a lot and completely took over the place, Two travelling salesmen had to go and eat outside. And as for the singing!How old do I have to be to join? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Great days out !I've got all the props, false beards (whoops !! sorry forgot Dick, youhave a real one, it's the new avatar !!) a couple of zimmer frames, I put a stone in oneshoe to help the limp et voila, troisième age at aglance...Just let me know when you are here next and I'll send you thesongsheet to get you up to speed. You can practice swilling the aperoset vin at home, before you arrive here [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 You're on! You bring the false beards and I'll bring the pastis - from what I remember it was industrial strength in heroic quantities... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miki Posted February 2, 2006 Share Posted February 2, 2006 Absinthe makes the chant seem so much easier to sing ('ish)Aux armes, citoyens !Formez vos bataillons !Marchons, marchons !Qu'un sang impur... Abreuve nos sillons !I'll have another absin................pleesh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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