So if you want to know if your driving licence will be accepted in France, what to do if you buy something which turns out to be faulty, or what day of the week the dustmen call, go to Premier Pages Lifetsyle. These are just some of the subjects covered:
Car Ownership and Tax |
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Car ownership in France is quite different from the UK. Road tax on cars was abolished about three years ago, fuel is cheaper and the car only needs an CT (MOT) every two years………. |
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Car Repairs and Garages |
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The one thing the French excel at is the repair and servicing of motorcars. Garage labour charges are half those of UK, although some spare parts can be more expensive………. |
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Drains and Rubbish |
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France is a rural country and is not well provided for in terms of mains drainage. For many years, the country has survived on a Fosse Rural or a Fosse Septique………. |
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Driving Licences |
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Now the EU symbol appears on the UK driving licence, more and more would-be ex-pats are asking if they can drive on their UK licence or whether they need a French one and have to take a test………. |
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Fruit and Veg |
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Go into any open-air market, shop, super / hypermarket and look at all the un-radiated fruit and vegetables - spots , scabs and all. It may not be the prettiest of food to look at, but quality is high………. |
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Gas, Electric, and Fuel Oil |
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Natural gas is slowly being introduced to the major towns and villages of France. However, there is unlikely to be a mains supply in rural areas………. |
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Lifestyle and Lawlessness |
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France has a significant up-side. Life is 'laid back', with good food and wine plus all the time in the world to enjoy it. You probably wont get rich working and living in France, but neither will you find high levels of vandalism………. |
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Milk and Bread |
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There are no daily milk deliveries in France. Milk is usually purchased weekly at the super / hypermarket and comes with several levels of fat content. Most is UHT with good keeping qualities………. |
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Postal Service |
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A letter sent in France will usually be delivered the following day. Send a roll of film to Paris on Monday, and your prints and a new film will be back by Thursday morning………. |
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Public Transport in Rural France |
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There is no public transport in rural France and if you don’t drive, getting to the local town or to the supermarket can be a daunting process. Taxis are available and are usually driven by men or women in white coats (they double up as local private ambulance drivers)………. |
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Returning Faulty Goods |
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This experience is not for the faint hearted. Forget all you have been taught in UK about buyer’s rights and acts of law. It just doesn’t have the same effect in France………. |
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Small businesses and working from Home |
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It can take up to a year to start a new business and the registration and documentation are full of pitfalls for the unwary. You must have an 'expert compatible' (accountant) and a 'Notaire' (solicitor) to help set up the business………. |
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Swimming Pools |
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The much-publicised fiasco surrounding Swimming pools and safety is slowly becoming a reality. All the rules, regulations, and petty bureaucratic interventions now look as if they are here to stay………. |
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Tea and Coffee |
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The French have a reputation for drinking large amounts of strong coffee, but over the past couple of years the more health conscious have been slowly weaned onto that most English of brews - tea!………. |
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Telephones |
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Don't expect the telephone system to be as reliable as back home. Rural overhead lines suffer from regular lightning strikes, which can be catastrophic if your computer is on-line at the time………. |
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35 hour working week |
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The EU labour laws and the 35 hour working week make life almost impossible for the small businesses that still abound in rural France. Traditional small bakeries are a typical example………. |
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