THE online petition to stop the UK government’s plan to end winter fuel payment for expats in countries seen as too warm, including France, has reached more than 12,000 signatures.
Having gone beyond 10,000 signatures the government will have to reply to the petition, however for the issue to be raised in parliament the petition will have to see 100,000 back it before its close in June 2014.
But the fight is continuing to highlight how wrong the UK government’s decision to end the payment is, especially after it was found that the weather statistics it used drew in average temperatures from the French DOM-TOM territories.
These are made up of the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion and Mayotte and French Guiana in South America, and are home to just 30 people receiving UK pensions.
If the proposals pass through parliament it will mean eligibility for winter fuel payments would end for those living in France from the winter of 2015/16.
HARRY Shindler’s flight to ensure that UK expats retain their right to vote in British parliamentary elections beyond 15 years has been dealt a blow.
The European Court of Human Rights has notified his solicitor, Oliver & Partners, that a panel of five judges of the Grand Chamber decided on 9 September not to accept Harry Shindler’s request that his case be referred to the Grand Chamber.
No reasons were given for this decision, but the consequence is that the judgement of 7 May, finding that the disenfranchisement of Harry Shindler resulting from the 15 year rule was not a violation of Art 3 Protocol 1 of the European Convention of Human Rights, is now considered final.
Harry Shindler, pictured, said he intends to continue with his campaign for the right to vote in UK national elections and referendums and intends to petition the United Nations as he also believes that his disenfranchisement is in violation of the Universal Charter of Human Rights (Art.21).
Earlier this month a representative group from across Europe, including France, led by 93-year-old Harry Shindler had a meeting with Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship.
The group came together to press the Commission to take further action to ensure EU citizens living in another EU country enjoy the right to vote in national elections of their country of origin.
Viviane Reding insisted that the practice in some Member States of depriving their citizens of their right to vote once they moved to another EU country – disenfranchisement – is effectively tantamount to punishing citizens for having exercised their right to free movement.
REMEMBER how we found out a few days ago that the UK government had used the French overseas’ départementsin the tropics for working out average temperatures and their relation to winter fuel payments?
Well according to the Connexion newspaper there are just 30 people receiving UK pensions in the DOM-TOM territories made up of the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion and Mayotte and French Guiana in South America.
This compares to just under 60,000 British state pensioners in mainland France.
Not surprisingly drawing in the mild winter weather of these territories completely skews the average temperature of mainland France itself.
The UK government had said that a ‘temperature test’ would be used to decide eligibility for winter fuel payments and that the changes would come into force from the winter of 2015/16.
With the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, saying that people living in warmer countries should not receive the payment, ‘it is, after all, a payment for winter fuel’ he said earlier this year.
The temperature rule meant that while people living in the Alps or Pyrenees would no longer receive the payment, expats living in Sicily retained their entitlement.
And it also came to light that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) had estimated that by cutting the entitlement to winter fuel payments for some pensioners, it would save £30 million a year.
A Winter Fuel Payment e-petition has been produced to seek support and oppose the UK government’s proposals, with nearly 5,000 people currently signed up.
THE FIVE French overseas departments – all of which have tropical climates – were included in the calculation of France's average winter temperature which was then used to determine whether British expatriates should continue to receive the winter fuel allowance, Connexion has found.
The Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Indian Ocean islands of Reunion and Mayotte and French Guiana in South America were all included. Meteo France data is only available for the first three online but shows an average winter temperature of 26C.
The islands' temperatures were used with those of mainland France to gain an average which was then compared with 5.6C for the south-west of England. If the resulting figure was higher – as was the case with France – the country was deemed "too hot" and the payments will be stopped.
WITH the final week of the summer holidays almost upon us, the Calendrier Scolaire points out the different term times for the coming academic year amongst the different educational zones in France.
There are three distinct geographical zones when it comes to the dates of when classes break up, to try and ensure holiday periods are spread out across France.
The 2013 – 2014 academic year starts on Tuesday 3 September for all school children, with the Toussaint and Christmas holidays being taken by all three zones at the same time, although holidays next year will be staggered.
And if you want there is a useful calendar you can print off showing the school holiday periods over the coming academic year.
MARCO Polo sur son ciné, a Franco-American project being launched via the crowd-funding site Indiegogo, will be a mobile vegan/vegetarian restaurant and portable art house cinema, also offering theatre and dance workshops for children, serving the rural Dordogne department of south west France, writes Paul Ben-Itzak.
Known as the capital of pre-history because it is home to the Lascaux caves as well as the first Cro-Magnon discoveries, the Dordogne is also famous for its delectable cuisine.
But if you’re a vegetarian, let alone a lacto-sensitive vegan, you’re out of luck.
Restaurants serve everything made from ducks, but if you can’t eat meat, you’ll often have to settle for a bland plate of vegetables and make sure they hold the duck fat from those pommes sarladoise.
AS the tourists head home, the French countryside will once again return to la chasse as the hunters and their dogs head off into the forests and fields.
Details of the the opening and closing dates for the hunting season of individual départements are available online, which provides details of when different species of animal can be hunted.
The information sheets also provide details on individual rules the hunters have to respect, such as how some species can be hunted and when dogs can be used.
La chasse is probably one of the most unsettling features of French country life for many people, it can be a little disconcerting to see a group of armed hunters and their barking hounds sweeping through a forest.
If you are on a walk it is usually best to be very aware of your position and head the other way if possible, unless you can actually see the hunters and they are able to shepherd you through.
Also if you are out with your own dog then try to ensure they are on a lead, I have seen hunting dogs get agitated when other dogs are close by and I always keep my own dog close to me.
If you are a land owner with a large amount of property it is possible for you to ask that the local hunt do not cross it.
This French Life has featured in the past how to close off your land to la chasse, you will need to complete a form and have some patience.
But it is possible and while you may face some opposition and the procedure can take some time it is one way to ensure a little peace and quiet come the weekend.
STAYING in touch via email or social networks, while browsing a favourite website, is common for many of us today, but when that link is cut what happens then?
Losing your connection when crossing the Channel between the UK and France may leave some people wondering just what to do next, so here is a look at the different options available from ferry firms as well as rail companies.
I have always had a nagging feeling that although many currency exchange services say ‘fee free’ you know deep down that a fee is wrapped up in the actual exchange rate and there is no way of working out what you are being charged.
Such charges are easy to disguise in exchange rates and so you are left with the sense that you have paid for something without being exactly sure what you are getting.
Clarity on fees and charges
A little bit of transparency would really appeal where a company was actually upfront with the fee being charged and the actual rate for swapping euros for sterling, dollars or other currencies.
Well, whilst taking a break browsing online I saw that an old work colleague was now employed with CurrencyFair and so I took a look over their website.
It is as you would expect a currency exchange service that was created by people who like me were a little annoyed at seeing their money eaten up by fees they had little control over.
So right up front, CurrencyFair says that for transfers from sterling to euros then you will pay a fee of £3, but having checked some rates you will also receive a competitive currency exchange price.
FIVE Key Points About CurrencyFair
1. Easy to use – Send and receive money to and from 150+ countries in 20+ currencies
2. Fast, reliable transfers – Get same-day transfers on most major currencies
3. Trusted & secure – Licensed and regulated
4. Money exchange – Rates up to 8x cheaper than banks
5. Transparent – Flat-fee of just £3 (or currency equivalent)
A quick currency exchange test
So as a quick example here is what I found for transferring £1,000 to euros in May in the mid-afternoon.
For my £1,000 I would receive €1,126 from CurrencyFair, while HSBC who I’ve used in the past would provide me with €1,082.
That is a difference of €44 when compared to HSBC, and could add up to a sizeable amount over a year or two of regular transfers.
Of course you are going to have to go through the registration process if you decide to use CurrencyFair, which in these days of tightened online security requires you to submit a copy of your passport and two proofs of address for checks to be carried out.
Financial regulation system
The company is incorporated in Ireland (No. 469391) and is fully regulated as an Authorised Payment Institution by the Central Bank of Ireland (No.C57373) under the European Communities (Payment Services) Regulations 2009.
Another feature within CurrencyFair is that they offer a peer-to-peer currency exchange service, that allows individuals with differing currencies to swap their money at favourable rates.
Bank details are not exchanged between each person, that is handled via CurrencyFair itself, but if you are willing to wait a short time for an advantageous rate of exchange again you could benefit.
But if you want to just transfer money as you have in the past, be it savings, a pension or some business payments then you would set up an account and undertake a currency exchange as normal.
CurrencyFair offers a clear, easy to understand service at a very good price.
FIVE Key Points About CurrencyFair
1. Easy to use – Send and receive money to and from 150+ countries in 20+ currencies
2. Fast, reliable transfers – Get same-day transfers on most major currencies
3. Trusted & secure – Licensed and regulated
4. Money exchange – Rates up to 8x cheaper than banks
5. Transparent – Flat-fee of just £3 (or currency equivalent)
Disclaimer: If you do go on to use CurrencyFair they will provide a commission that will help keep This French Life up and running which has proven helpful to many readers, including possibly you.
HERE is a fun feature to help you improve your French language skills, courtesy of international television channel TV5.
Hosted by Bernard Cerquiglini each of the Merci Professeur videos offers you quick sound bites on French words and language, delivered in a snappy manner that can become quite addictive.
Each clip takes a couple of minutes and covers everything from whether après-midi is masculine or feminine to the use of the word tennis – even the introductory music will make you tap your toes.
WITH the final week of the summer holidays almost upon us, the 
AS the tourists head home, the French countryside will once again return to la chasse as the hunters and their dogs head off into the forests and fields.