Hi all I have just joined and wanted to say hello. I have a small home close to La Chatre in Indre. I live alone and I am learning French but struggling. I am retired from working in the UK TV and film industry.
I don’t know anyone here in France so I hope to make friends on this forum hopefully. I will be needing advice on regestering a car here in france from the UK and when my retirement officially kicks in how to get French health cover (is it called and S1 or something?)
I have managed to get my French residency permit all on my own thanks to another website called the franco british network and a bank account in france thanks to advice from a english speaking property agent who told me about a british bank manager with a local bank, but its a long way from where my house is!
anyway I hope you will welcome me to the forum and thank you for all the informative posts I have already lokked at.
I expect there will be all sorts of associations and events going-on around you.
Info is usually available from Tourist Offices and/or Mairies.
Joining something is an excellent way to get to know people and, of course, helps improve language skills. Don’t feel shy…
Volunteering is another route… always seem to be more hands needed than are available.
Check out your local Press or ask neighbours.
Perhaps there is a bulletin/booklet issued with local info…
Gary, welcome. You are indeed in good hands on this forum. I have benefitted enormously from the breadth and depth of experience and knowledge of the contributors. There really isn’t ANYTHING that someone - or several people - have not been through/know about/used to earn a living doing/have just saved a packet on …
Whatever it is that you need help with, trawl the topics or ask outright.
As far as getting FR reg on a car, there was a guy called Mark Rimmer on this forum, now departed, who was in the business of doing just that, for very reasonable cost - in my case £40.
He is a garagiste so may well still be doing registrations. If you PM me I will give you his email address. It can be done DIY and many of the more experienced/fluent on SF do so but for a new arrival, having Mark do it was something I then didn’t have to think/worry about any more.
Crikey Mr @GaryC you seem to have done quite well so far and taking French lessons is certainly going to help with the integration into French life !!
What was the inspiration to move here from UK??
Not sure if we have much good advice for the future but happy to help where we can.
You’ll be well looked after here.