This French Life

Got a letter from inforegistre? File under 'B for Bin'

WHEN a letter from a company called inforegistre dropped into my letterbox asking for €87,04 my scam detectors went on high alert.

The enclosed form looked very smart and proper (click thumbnail for larger image), it even had an air of urgency in the opening line saying I had to complete the details within 15 days and send it back to an address in Paris.

But having worked in the past on similar stories about bogus directories and supposed charity diaries being sold to smaller businesses, I wondered just how legitimate inforegistre was.

A small stream bubbling away

JUST the sound of a small stream bubbling away as it passes beneath a bridge on a back road to Sauveterre-la-Lémance, Lot-et-Garonne (map).

London to Paris bike ride in aid of Medecins du Monde

KEEN cyclists are being urged to take to their bikes and sign up for a three-day trip from London to Paris in aid of Doctors of the World UK.

The UK arm of Medecins du Monde has launched its charity bike ride appeal which will take place in late July and cover almost 190 miles, reaching Paris is time to see the final stage of the Tour de France as the professionals peddle up the Champs Elysées.

Riders from the UK will be joined by a team from the French HQ bringing an international flavour to the event.

Medecins du Monde (MDM) is an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organization founded in 1980 by a group of French physicians.

Five compelling reasons to buy the wrong house in France

IF you want to make your dream move to France a reality it's important to ask yourself some difficult questions - if you don't you could be heading back in a few months time.

Here property hunter, Gregory Mose, offers up some thoughts on buying a property that people may want to consider when walking around a house wondering if this is the one.

Housing markets go up and down, but some things you can always count on. Location will continue to be king, estate agents will persist in believing that any room large enough to lie down in qualifies as a 'spacious bedroom' and human nature will always be a buyer's worst enemy.

Make Do & Cook in the kitchen to save

MAKE Do & Cook is the latest book by Patricia Mansfield-Devine, who has lived in France for more than 10 years and is the author of the Living in France book.

In her latest title Patricia offers advice and tips on preparing delicious meals, whilst keeping an eye on the cost. Here she writes about why it's time to Make Do & Cook:

As a downshifter living in rural France, I felt almost compelled to write this book.

Nationwide to change overseas card use rules

ONE tip often passed on is if you make regular trips between the UK and France get a Nationwide Building Society current account as cash withdrawals from ATMs in France are free.

But according to The Times website that is set to change as from June the building society will replace its cash card with a cash card plus offering, which cannot be used to make cash withdrawals overseas (via Mark Bodega).

Condor Ferries to start fast ferry service to St Malo

A NEW high-speed ferry service will soon be operating to France and the Channel Islands, and regular cross-Channel travellers may recognise the new ship.

Condor Ferries has added the catamaran, Condor Rapide, to its fleet that will sail between Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo and which is expected to come into service in late May.

But as eagle-eyed Geoffrey Coan, of the Gite in Brittany site, writes he thought he recognised mention of the catamaran's former role in the Australian Navy.

New registration form for your gite in France

HAVE you dropped in on your mairie to register your gite or chambres d'hôtes? No didn't think so and it would appear not many behind the counter are expecting you either.

The France This Way site mentions the passing of legislation, Déclaration en mairie de location d'un meublé de tourisme - Formulaire Cerfa n°14004*01, that requires gite owners to complete a brief form and drop it off at their mairie.

A new look for President Sarkozy's website

THE Elysée palace website, the online home of the French president, has received a bit of make over.

A look back over French news headlines

CATCH up with some of the stories that have been making the headlines in France over the past few days.