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Still Alive and Kicking from the South of France So many readers wrote to me with encouraging and warm letters following my hospitalisation last month in France, that it is not possible for me to write an individual thank you to you all. Thank you all for writing and for your support, your mail was helpful, both for me personally and telling me a lot about what you wish to read and learn from these letters. I will write more about life in France as well as respond to the questions about living here, buying property here and renting accommodation. Interestingly there were a couple of letters about good service from the British NHS, but a great many more highly critical letters about tragedy, delay and expense in the NHS and other hospital services in the world. I will not say more except I believe I am lucky to be living in France. I publish one highly critical letter from a NHS "client relations" person - whatever that is - if this is representative of the management of the NHS in the UK, then no wonder they are in a mess. Now I must change my lifestyle, this opens new opportunities. - I am looking for partners in the UK (or the USA) who I can work with and develop our new products for Internet sites and businesses. Some discussions are advancing and look very productive, I am still open to ideas. I am also looking for someone to help me with some simple building and decorating work I need to finish in our property in France. I can offer free accommodation, support and some wages. If anyone wants from one to three months in the south of France on a paid vacation with lots of time off let me know. The Da Vinci tour plans are well advanced, I will be writing to all of you who have asked for details in a few days - the delay in hospital gave me time to read and research - I had already found some new aspects on medieval encryption and message transfers systems (Microsoft was not around then) but I have uncovered some completely new techniques which I believe were used for many centuries for secure information transfer (money, plans, maps and documents). These were refined in Languedoc in the 10th to 13th centuries and are, I believe, the basis for many of the legends and stories of treasure and mysteries. Our tours will be real discovery tours as each person can bring more thought and experience to this new research and we can explore this history from a new viewpoint. ======= In this weeks newsletter 1. Phishing update 2. Our life in France 3. Water Restrictions in France 4. Buying a Vineyard in France 5. Planning permission - Change of Use for a Barn 6. Safety and Quality Regulations for Rentals 7. Property Design and Management Service 8. Why the British NHS is in a Mess ======= 1. Phishing update Phishing (pronounce fishing) is used by crooks to get you to give them delicate information about your bank or credit card by pretending to be a website of you bank, PayPal or you credit agency. The simple rule is - To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/234 Phishing update ======= 2. Our life in France This week it is sixteen years since we moved to France full time to live, with a 6 month old baby and a three year old toddler. We moved because we believed then that education and health care was better in France than in the UK, family life had a better chance of survival and vague phrases like "the quality of life" and "values" were better in France than in Bracknell or Slough. Were we right...? To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/233 Our life in France ======= 3. Water Restrictions in France If you are hoping to have the use of a pool when you visit France this year - you may be disappointed - water restrictions are already in place in many places along the coast and it looks as if this summer will be hot and dry again so this is likely to escalate. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/232 Water Restrictions in France ======= 4. Buying a Vineyard in France Dear Tony, I was recommended to contact you about the availability of assistance in finding agricultural properties in the South of France. Your story as described on your France Voila website is quite inspiring to me and my companion David, who dream of owning a small vineyard (winery optional) in the South of France someday. We have found a wonderful-sounding property in the Corbieres region via the Internet. As we contemplate the reality of negotiating the French real estate market we realize the need for experienced local guidance undertaking the transaction. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/235 Buying a Vineyard in France ======= 5. Planning permission - Change of Use for a Barn Tony I have seen mention that from next year applications to convert a barn to habitable accommodation will not be granted. Do you know if this information is correct? To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/231 Planning permission - Change of Use for a Barn ======= 6. Safety and Quality Regulations for Rentals I wrote recently about the legal requirements for a rental property in France and suggested that an owner applied the very strict standards required in the UK as I could never find any equivalent French rules. If any reader can help me with information where to find more data in French or English I can pass this on. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/230 Safety and Quality Regulations for Rentals ======= 7. Property Design and Management Service Hi Tony, First of all I would to thank you for your very useful and informative newsletters. I am writing to you regarding small operation in Paris called DoMi Design. To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/229 Property Design and Management Service ======= 8. Why the British NHS is in a Mess After my comments about the health services in France and the UK I received a lot of mail, - the ratio was about 20 to 1 telling me I was right and I heard many horror stories about problems in the UK, often to do with incompetent and bad management decisions. Here is a short exchange from someone, I assume from their address, in the NHS propaganda department == Sir! I find this email exceptionally offensive - To read the rest of this article, please go to http://www.fblog.com/?q=node/view/228 Why the British NHS is in a Mess ======= I really do try to reply to all mail, most are questions about property or living in France. I publish comments in this newsletter which I believe are of interest and may help find answers to questions put by others wanting to come to France. By linking the points I make to our weblog at http://www.fblog.com Fblog I hope readers will click on the adverts which help support our overheads. Our business is our advertising sites for property and rentals at http://rentalsfrance.com/ RentalsFrance http://francevoila.com/ France voila Please make use of these sites for rentals and sales (and do click on the adverts).