Most of you by now know about the savings account called Assurance Vie which is an investment with tax advantages (revenue and inheritance tax) and many of you have asked me in the past if you could do an Assurance vie in British Pounds so you did not have to suffer...

From the 1st of April 2024, all vehicles in France which already have a green card (proof of insurance) will be integrated into a system called FVA which allows the authorities (gendarme and police) to check the insurance status of that vehicle. This system is updated...

We have not been experiencing any heat waves so far this year so this is more in hope than expectations!!!This is the worst summer in France I have known!!

he election municipal is not just to elect your Maire but also his team of conseiller municipaux. It will take place on the 15th and 22nd of March 2020. You do not vote for a Maire but for a list of people. The first one on the list is the person...

ell, I guess not everybody is happy in France!! So some of you may wish to go back to the UK or leave for sunnier countries like Spain! So here is what you need to do: Tax: You must i nform your local tax office by a simple letter with your new...

As you might have found out in France, we love paperwork! Well, French people do not like it, but it would seem that our government and civil servants do…. And maybe insurance companies, banks, etc do as well! But fear no more! If you are fed up with filing, you can...

After the “galette des rois” in January, we have the “crêpes” (pancakes) of February!! Needless to say that if you have taken a New year resolution such as losing weight, January and February in France are not helping!! The Chandeleur which means the candle feast is...

In January, you will see a lot of pastry cakes called “galette des rois” in bakeries and supermarket. It is a pastry dessert eaten on the 6th of Jnauary to celebrate the visit of the 3 wise men (3 kings in French) to the divine enfant “Jesus” (Epithany). But as French...

The 1st November is All Saints day, and it’s a bank holiday. The 2nd of November is the day of the dead. To celebrate all Saints day, French people put Chrysanthéme flowers (Chrysanthemum flower) on the tomb of their loved ones that have passed away. This tradition...

It might not come to you as a surprise but this was first set up in 1789 after the Revolution by the parliament created by revolutionists. There are 101 departements in France grouped inside 18 regions in France and abroad. Funny enough, they pretty much have kept the...

Yes, we also celebrate Easter and it is the most important celebration of Christianism. Easter Sunday is the first Sunday after the full moon that follows the 21st of March. It celebrates the resurection of Jesus. Le Lundi de Paques which is Easter Monday is bank...

In 2018, it is estimated that 520 000 tons of rubbish have been deposited in the wild, the equivalent to 52 Eiffel towers!! And this is on the increase!! It represents 21kg of rubbishes per inhabitant per year. This is highly uncivilised when you consider all the...

The Month of May in France is famous for bank holidays!! So what a good oportunity for me to enumerate them all and how they work compare to Great Britain. First of all, we have more than you BUT if it falls on a Sunday, tough luck!! We don’t have “in lieu”. And in...

ne of the news of this Month is the entry of Josephine Baker in the Panthéon, which gives me the opportunity to explain what is the Panthéon. It is a monument  based in the 5th arondissement of Paris which was originally built as a church in the 18...

s it is July and the weather is great, why not make the most of our wonderful department and try some rambling, climbing, archery, horse riding, sailing, paddle, mountain biking or canoeing!! There is a special site...

am sure it does not come as a surprise to you that we have laws in France to help maintain peace in villages between neigbours. And it won’t surprise you either that most French people do not respect it!! Or choose to ignore it!! For instance,...

his is a aperitif wine which has been invented by mistake in 1589 (according to the legend!). A vineyard worker had poured some grape juice inside a barrel that already contained some eau de vie (the liquid to make Cognac).  When they opened the...

ou have been living in France for more than 5 years: Your situation: Documents you need : You already have or had a carte or titre de séjour (even expired) Your carte or titre de séjour even if expired I never had a carte or titre de séjour Your...

he Soldes happens twice a year in France and the dates are decided by the prefet( chief of police) of each department after consulting with shop owners. The only product allowed to be sold at reduce price (even below cost) are the ones that have...

n case of your death, your family will need to know what property you have and where it is. Having the following information will help them and save worry and uncertainty. So, feel free to print this page and fill in the relevant information and...

he Canelé is a mini cake that originated from Bordeaux and is now the official specialty of Bordeaux (with red wine of course!!). Nobody knows when it was first created and by who!! It was very fashoinable in the 1930ies but almost disappeared...

llianz like many other compagnys is victim of Fraud. So we are asking you to help us fight it. Criminals can try to use our logo to get access to informations in oder to steal money!! If you think you have been victim of a fraud which involved a...

ow most of you are renovating your houses in France but are you fully aware of the rules and yes, paperwork that goes along with it!! Those forms are to make sure that the work you do is OK and conformed to the rules of your commune (town or...

ell, the answer is straight forward really: because It is illegal for you, if you live in France, to drive a UK Registered car. Why: Because using a foreign registered car enables you to avoid parking and speeding tickets!! And the French...

irst of all, you need to check that you are covered for it!! If your policy is fully comprehensive, it’s covered. If it is third party, it depends as there are 3 types of third party (One includes Windscreen cover so check first). Option 1: Call...

fter almost 12 years of ‘living our dream’ retirement in France, we took the decision to return to the UK, to once again be closer to family. Although aware that it would be near impossible to buy a comparable property for the sale price of our...

n the 4th of July around 3pm, a hail storm broke out in the commune of St Sornin and its surrounding villages (Rouzede, Chabanais, Chazelles, Vouthon, etc). In the space of 5 minutes, between 800 and 1000 houses had been damaged. The hail stones...

here are so many different sorts of social help in France that it is impossible to know them all. Some of them are a direct financial help towards bills (money or vouchers) or some others are material help like someone helping you at home or even a...

his is a document that you can draft with your Notaire that basically lets you name someone to look after you and/or your assets in case your mental health diminishes. This document does not take away your rights or legal capacities. It just allows...

y train, by plane, by bus or by car, sometimes, things can go wrong. Do not panic! Whatever your mode of transport, Europe is taking care of your rights as a passenger. Here are a few pieces of advices to stay cool during your holidays.You are...