This French Life

Buying at a property auction

IF you buy a property at auction in France not only can the sale process be completed in under a fortnight, but you may pick up a bargain.

Telephone prices will change

FRANCE Telecom will be able to increase its monthly line rental by 23 per cent over the next four years.

The Acte de Vente

THE completion of the sale of a property in France is undertaken by the notaire using an Acte de Vente, or deed of sale.

The signing of this important document will take place in the notaire's office, but first you should make sure of a few things.

First be happy that all the clauses/conditions suspensives have been satisfied from your Compromis de Vente.

First time buyers look abroad

FIRST time buyers in the UK are heading abroad in an attempt to get a foot on the property ladder.

Link up to Dinard

RYANAIR is to start a summer service between Stansted and Dinard in the west of France.

Broadband access in France

AS use of the internet increases one of the first things people check when heading to France is if there is broadband access in the area they are moving to.

If you are setting up a business a high-speed connection via ADSL is important, especially if transferring large files or if there is a need to keep the telephone line free.

But it can also be useful if you want to keep in touch with family and friends by sending digital photos, using web cams or even using the telephone over the internet.

Two views of a long engagement

AUDREY Tautou, star of Amélie, is back on UK cinema screens in her latest film, A Long Engagement (Un long dimanche de fiancailles).

French lose ‘joie de vivre’

A REPORT describes the French as pessimistic, wracked with doubt and disillusioned with government and politics in general.

Man survives weeks in caves

A MAN who got lost in tunnels, once used to grow mushrooms, has been found 35 days after he went missing.

The BBC reports that 48-year-old Jean-Luc Josuat-Verges was found by police, he was described as looking thin and dishevelled.

Blair praises French PM

IN an interview on France 2 tomorrow British Prime Minister Tony Bair says relationships with France are better than in the past.