Category: Uncategorized

  • Overseas UK pensions ‘blocked for spouses’

    People living abroad will no longer be entitled to a British state pension based solely on their spouse's work history, under government plans.

    Pensions Minister Steve Webb said some of those claiming a married person's allowance had never been to the UK.

    Some 220,000 overseas residents receive this payment at a cost of £410m a year.

    The measure will be part of an overhaul of the state pension, to be included in the Queen's Speech on Wednesday. Existing pensioners will be unaffected.

    via www.bbc.co.uk

  • BBC iPlayer Radio app on Android devices

    The BBC iPlayer Radio app transforms your access to BBC radio programmes. With the app you can wake up with your favourite breakfast show and instantly find the breadth of BBC Radio at your fingertips.

    Specific features include the ability to:

    • Set the alarm and wake up with your favourite DJ or programme.
    • Spin through the touchscreen dial and listen live to the whole range of BBC Radio stations.
    • Swipe to reveal on-demand catch-up content and videos on every station page.
    • Set programme reminders to ensure you never miss favourite shows and add tracks to favourites.
    • Easily discover what tracks are playing and share with friends.

    The app surfaces a wide range of content including the BBC’s wealth of radio shows to watch and listen to live or via catch-up, wherever you are. There are also hundreds of podcasts, on-demand programmes from the past seven days and video clips from music sessions, events, gigs, festivals and your favourite DJs.

    via www.bbc.co.uk

  • WWI soldiers finally laid to rest after 96 years

    The remains of two World War I soldiers who were killed in action in France nearly 100 years ago are to be laid to rest at a military cemetery later.

    The remains of Lt John Pritchard and Pte Christopher Douglas Elphick were discovered in 2009 by a French farmer clearing his field.

    The men were killed on 15 May, 1917, during an enemy attack near Bullecourt.

    Descendents of the two soldiers will attend the ceremony in which the men will be given full military honours.

    via www.bbc.co.uk

  • Australia contributes to French WWI museum

    Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Warren Snowdon, announced plans to develop new visitor interpretive facilities at Péronne, France to highlight the Australian experience of war in the 1918 Battle of Mont St Quentin.

    Mr Snowdon said the project, in equal funding partnership with French authorities, will deliver two walking trails and a new interpretive room at the l’Historial de la Grande Guerre, or Museum of the Great War, in Péronne.

    “The new facilities will tell the story of the 2nd Australian Division’s greatest victory on the Western Front, the capture of Mont St Quentin on 1 September 1918, and will complement the existing Second Australian Division Memorial at Mont St Quentin,” he said.

    In Paris Mr Snowdon presented the Australian Government’s initial contribution to the project of €200,000 (approximately AUD 250,000) to the Director of the l’Historial de la Grande Guerre, Mr Hervé François.

    via minister.dva.gov.au

  • Site sought for memorial to WWI’s ‘forgotten soldiers’

    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is trying to find a place in the Somme for a new memorial with thousands of names that have been missed.

    Speaking to Today presenter Justin Webb, Terry Denham co-founder of the In From The Cold Project, – the initiative established to find a place for the soldiers to be remembered – explained "the bureaucracy of the day did not keep up with the events… and names just got forgotten."

    via www.bbc.co.uk

  • Call for designated MP for expats

    A British expat has launched a petition calling for new MPs to be established who can represent Brits living abroad. Retired policeman Peter Johnson was inspired after the French government created a new constituency of Northern Europe to look after the interests of French expats living in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia.

    via www.telegraph.co.uk

  • Property sales in the Lot and Dordogne

    Puy-leveque

    With many years experience in the estate agency business in south west France, Jane Bloggs is bilingual and able to help you find a property in the region.

    Her experience will be invaluable if you are looking for property in the Lot Valley, la Bouriane, Lot et Garonne or Dordorgne areas.

    Below is just a selection of properties Jane currently has available, and if you want more information please complete the form below to arrange an initial, no obligation chat.

    ***

    Former railway house, three bedrooms on around 700 m² of land

    Price : €159,000 (I.A.F. inclusive of agency fees)

    Station-houseThrough the entrance door into a large lounge (about 17m²) with large windows, overlooking the terrace and the garden, and has a wooden floor.

    There is a bathroom with bath, wash hand basin, tiled floor and separate WC. Also bedroom 1 (15.75 m²), with wooden floor, built-in cupboards and a window.

    Kitchen/dining room (15m²) fully fitted with units, two windows and a fireplace with a wood burning stove, tiled floors.

    On the first floor there is bedroom 2: (15m²) with carpet floor and a window. Bedroom 3: (10.44m²) with carpet floor and a window. Also a shower room with cabin shower, wash hand basin and WC.

    ***

    Attractive fully restored stone property set on 1,478 square metres of land

    Price : €250,000 (I.A.F. inclusive of agency fees)

    House-saleMain house accommodation is on two levels with 3 bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, 2 WCs, a lounge, a utility room and a stone small barn.

    Access with stone steps to a covered front entrance doorway. Entrance hallway landing. A corridor leads to the bedrooms and bathroom.

    At the garden level there is a fitted kitchen (of about 19m²) with double sink, tiled floors, exposed wooden beams, with a door leading to the garden and terrace. Utility room with sink, plumbing for washing machine and oil fired boiler.

    A large lounge (of about 27m²) with open stone fireplace in stone, three windows and a door leading to the garden, tiled floor, and exposed oak wooden beams.

    A lovely enclosed private terrace area with a BBQ. Also a small stone barn for complete renovation. A covered workshop/storage area.

    ***

    Renovated country stone house and barn, stunning views

    Price : €315,000 (I.A.F. inclusive of agency fees)

    Conversion-stone-barn-lotAccess to the property is via a long private gravelled driveway to the parking area.

    On the ground floor you enter through the front room onto the reception room (6.5m x 4m), double height ceilings, with a lovely open stone fireplace, exposed wooden beams, tiled floor.

    The living room (4.9 x 4.3) has chestnut flooring and with woodburner. And the kitchen/dining (7.5 x 3.8) area has a small utility room. Two windows and a door leads to the garden. Tiled floor.

    On the first floor there is a wooden staircase that leads to the two bedrooms. Bedroom 1: (4.3 x 4.9) with en-suite bathroom and WC, two windows, exposed beams and wooden parquet floor. Bedroom 2: (3.8 x 4) with wooden exposed beams, wooden parquet floor and one window.

    There is a bathroom with wash hand basin and WC. Also a study / bedroom (2.8 x 4.1) currently used as a bedroom, with one window, wooden parquet flooring.

    ***

    Other properties Jane is able to provide more details on include:

    An old house in need of complete renovation in Blanquefort sur Briolance, priced €27,300. A large house in St Cyprien over two floors with new fosse septique and electricity in place, priced €98,000.

    ***

  • UK residents with property in France. What are your tax obligations?

    Many British readers own property here in France but remain resident in the UK. For many of them it is a holiday home, which they may also rent out from time to time. For others it is an investment property. Either way, you need to understand what all your tax liabilities are on the property, bearing in mind that it is your responsibility to declare the property and any income and gains correctly.

    With the UK Treasury issuing another warning against hiding assets offshore – including property – it is worth reminding UK residents what their tax obligations are on their French property, here in France as well as in the UK, particularly since there have been some changes in France this year.

    via www.blevinsfranks.com

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    Disclaimer

    Although http://www.thisfrenchlife.com (the website) and its accompanying newsletter deals with topics of interest to the buyer of property in France each individual will have their own particular circumstances.

    Therefore advice on the website and its accompanying newsletter cannot be comprehensive.

    The text on the website and its accompanying newsletter will provide you with a starting point and allow you to ask questions of professional advisors.

    THE WEBSITE AND ITS ACCOMPANYING NEWSLETTER IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SEEKING PROFESSIONAL QUALIFIED ADVICE.I cannot accept any liability for any action or not taken as a result of the website and its accompanying newsletter.

    No. Siret: 52049485700029

  • Shale gas plans in France

    Shale-gas-franceOPPOSITION is strong across France to plans to begin the extraction of shale gas, or gaz de schiste, which can cause pollution to the water table and threatens the surrounding countryside.

    Here is a collection of some of the articles I have written on the website covering shale gas issues across France, but also those in the Lot and the Dordogne local to me.

    Ban on shale gas fracking remains in place
    Constitutional Council turns down challenge from drilling firm to overturn ban on shale gas drilling in France.

    Gas drilling plan for Permis de Brive blocked
    Application to begin exploration for gaz de houille, or coal gas, covering the Permis de Brive in south west France has been blocked.

    Mining company set to get go ahead for Permis de Brive
    Hexagon Gaz looked upon favourably by French government to begin exploration for gaz de houille, or coal gas.

    Names of seven shale gas permits blocked, includes Cahors
    François Hollande has said that he will block seven shale gas permits in France.

    Transparency on oil and gas drilling plans introduced
    It has been made much easier to track down planned oil and gas drilling operations in France.

    Petition to block shale gas permit in south west France
    The fight continues to block exploratory work on shale gas deposits, or gaz de schiste, at locations across France.

    Total continues shale gas studies in south of France
    Oil company Total has said it will continue to explore the potential of gaz de schiste, or shale gas, fields in the south of France.

    Big turn out at anti-shale gas protest in Cahors
    Around 5,000 people attended an anti-shale gas protest in Cahors over the weekend, joining others across France in opposition to the plans.

    Fighting shale gas plans in the Lot
    Opposition is growing against plans to begin exploratory operations for shale gas (gaz de schiste) in the Lot region of south west France.