Before doing any business in France, you should carefully research the main issues (outlined below) which are involved. French language, law, local and national bureaucracy, culture and taxes may all be initially unfamiliar, but must…
Climate in the Pyrénées-Orientales The weather in the Pyrénées-Orientales is one of the main attractions for tourists, as well as one of the reasons that a lot of us moved here, along with the incredibly…
New French Driving licences The old pink paper driving licence is to be replaced over several years, starting in 2013 by a new ‘credit card’ style digital licence. New licences will have a photo which…
Electricity and gas for sale Since the 1st July, 2007, the EDF and the GDF no longer have the monopoly on gas and electricity in France. The consumer is able to shop around for cheaper…
Basil Howitt’s report on the fraught and prolonged installation of WiFi in his remote village of Lansac in Le Fenouillèdes “France Télécom can wipe out its reported 70 billion euros of debt at a stroke…
Ex pats to lose state health entitlement [(In his election campaign speech, M. Sarkosy said: “If you feel you are old enough to retire at 53, go ahead, but don’t expect the state to pay…
Changing your French matrimonial regime These notes apply not only to those who are thinking of buying real property in France (“French immeubles”), but also to those who already own French immeubles either as a…
Gently into Retirement No 6 – Frantic with Flatpacks Bringing Mum and Dad out at the autumn half-term for their first visit since we’d bought our French home was quite emotional bearing in mind how…
Gently into Retirement No 5 – A Hot Date with a Cool Maître While events were certainly moving along nicely in France with completion set for the first week of September, things were definitely not…
Gently into Retirement No 4 – The Deal is (Finally) Done Mid-way through the half-term break May 2006 and we’d made an offer on a lovely apartment which had been accepted. After aperos (several) and…
