Yes, France has to be the most non-Christmassy place I've been to. Not that I have a lot of experience of being in foreign climes this close to Christmas if I'm honest, but here there are virtually no Christmas decorations, and the only sign of Christmas in the shops seems to be gigantic piles of boxes of chocolates. It might as well be any time of year (well winter time of year anyway - could hardly be summer with this grim weather!). Is it due to the financial crisis or is it just that France is a non-Anglosaxon, secular country and doesn't really go in for celebrating Christmas in a big way??
Anyway, I will be safely back in the UK by Monday evening, and I have to say I'm looking forward to it. Not because I miss the UK or my family particularly but because if I were to stay here, I think Christmas would just pass me by completely and that would be sad. Also, I'm just dying for a mince pie*....!
Not had much inspiration on the presents front though. Partly a time thing, partly due to the non-Christmassy feeling, but also due to all the "nice" things being really pricey here in Paris. Instead I have settled for the rather unimaginative (but expensive) wine, chocolates, saucisson (good quality I hope as I bought it at great exense from a proper charcuterie / traiteur place), cheese solution - well I reckon I can get away with it for one year at least. Thing is I suspect my Mum won't consider it to be much of a present and will be waiting expectantly for something else to materialise....dread to think what the reaction will be when it doesn't.
You know, Christmas should be a happy time but in our household it is so often spoilt by people (read 'my Mum') getting stressed about the lunch on Christmas Day and generally being too stuck in the past and resistant to change to accommodate things not going according to (her) plan or idea of what should happen, when. If something doesn't work out or if people don't want to do things how she expects, critisims and snide comments begin to fly, even resulting in tears.... And then of course after lunch everyone just falls asleep, and it's all a bit boring really. And Hubby won't be with me this year either due to weird, antiquated French HR people who think people can work a year with no holiday (or something like that but probably more complicated).
Hmmm....perhaps I'm not looking forward to being back in the UK for Christmas after all....
*Note, I would make some myself but it's kind of difficult without an oven.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Lacking experience?
Maybe this post should be entitled "Insolite #2" or maybe not, I don't know. But one thing is for certain: the way French employers determine whether or not someone is employable is very small minded (my personal opinion of course, but well founded I would say). This has become very evident over the past few days, as follows:
Hubby and I currently looking for jobs. Hubby is well qualified and has lots of extremely valuable experience in the UK. However, to a French potential employer's way of thinking, (a) 6 years in the same job is too much, and (b) if the 6 years of experience was gained in a university rather than a big company, it counts for nothing. Never mind the fact that Hubby has 10 years experience, of which the last six were spent single-handedly "designing", ordering, setting up and then managing over 600 000€ worth of equipment. Apparently his level of experience (and therefore the level of pay he can expect when starts working in France) is equal to a just out of university level employee, ie. he has no experience. Apart from being rather dispiriting, there are a few points which come to mind:
1. If Hubby accepts a job equal in pay and responsibility to a young inexperienced thing just because he can't get anything better as his experience isn't experience in France, surely this is exploitation - I mean I'm sure all these companies can see he has experience and are only too happy in this case to use the French mind-set to the full and pay him nothing for actually being brilliant (again, the latter is of course my opinion, but extremely well founded of course!).
2. Apparently the fact Hubby does not have a degree from a posh Engineering school means he is useless. Erm, if you follow this logic, doesn't that condemn half the French university educated population to earning peanuts in an unrewarding job because they are apparently, useless?
3. Also, what is this French obsession with needing to be of a certain age before you can take on any responsibility, make decisions, handle money etc etc? Where does it come from?
4. How can France expect to decrease its currently very high unemployment rate if its mindset is so inflexible (and that's a nice way of putting what I actually wanted to say). It seems to me Sarkozy has a VERY long way to go if he wants to change things (and on this point I have to say I tend to agree with him (for once), ie. the Anglosaxon system is preferable!).
Anyway, I guess it's the same for lots of people around the world. i can certainly sympathise more now with those who, for example, come from outside the EU, have brilliant skills and experience but just not EU (or French?!) recognised qualifications. What a cauchemar.
Meanwhile, there is another job related conundrum we have to get through. I have been offered a job if I want it, but to get the contract sorted out, I would have to provide an address in Paris. Well, have you tried searching for an apartment to rent without a job and not even a signed contract to wave in front of someone? Not easy in the UK but in France - impossible. So how does one get the contract sorted (without bending the truth)? Well, the answer is........I'll let you know when/if we get that far.
So all in all, this is turning out to be a frustrating week, but nothing's going to change (in the short term at least), so either we'll have to be very lucky indeed or we'll have to change to fit in with the ways things are here. I guess, when in Rome.....
Hubby and I currently looking for jobs. Hubby is well qualified and has lots of extremely valuable experience in the UK. However, to a French potential employer's way of thinking, (a) 6 years in the same job is too much, and (b) if the 6 years of experience was gained in a university rather than a big company, it counts for nothing. Never mind the fact that Hubby has 10 years experience, of which the last six were spent single-handedly "designing", ordering, setting up and then managing over 600 000€ worth of equipment. Apparently his level of experience (and therefore the level of pay he can expect when starts working in France) is equal to a just out of university level employee, ie. he has no experience. Apart from being rather dispiriting, there are a few points which come to mind:
1. If Hubby accepts a job equal in pay and responsibility to a young inexperienced thing just because he can't get anything better as his experience isn't experience in France, surely this is exploitation - I mean I'm sure all these companies can see he has experience and are only too happy in this case to use the French mind-set to the full and pay him nothing for actually being brilliant (again, the latter is of course my opinion, but extremely well founded of course!).
2. Apparently the fact Hubby does not have a degree from a posh Engineering school means he is useless. Erm, if you follow this logic, doesn't that condemn half the French university educated population to earning peanuts in an unrewarding job because they are apparently, useless?
3. Also, what is this French obsession with needing to be of a certain age before you can take on any responsibility, make decisions, handle money etc etc? Where does it come from?
4. How can France expect to decrease its currently very high unemployment rate if its mindset is so inflexible (and that's a nice way of putting what I actually wanted to say). It seems to me Sarkozy has a VERY long way to go if he wants to change things (and on this point I have to say I tend to agree with him (for once), ie. the Anglosaxon system is preferable!).
Anyway, I guess it's the same for lots of people around the world. i can certainly sympathise more now with those who, for example, come from outside the EU, have brilliant skills and experience but just not EU (or French?!) recognised qualifications. What a cauchemar.
Meanwhile, there is another job related conundrum we have to get through. I have been offered a job if I want it, but to get the contract sorted out, I would have to provide an address in Paris. Well, have you tried searching for an apartment to rent without a job and not even a signed contract to wave in front of someone? Not easy in the UK but in France - impossible. So how does one get the contract sorted (without bending the truth)? Well, the answer is........I'll let you know when/if we get that far.
So all in all, this is turning out to be a frustrating week, but nothing's going to change (in the short term at least), so either we'll have to be very lucky indeed or we'll have to change to fit in with the ways things are here. I guess, when in Rome.....
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Insolite #1
I've been living in France for just over a month now (about 5 1/2 weeks to be more precise) and there are some things I really do find very interesting (aka, amusing or bizarre!). For a start, Hubby and I are living (temporarily we hope!) with the Beaux-parents, and therefore, hear all about their various friends and neighbours on a regular basis. One thing that has really struck me is that they do seem to have quite bizarre names. For example, there is Mrs Neighbour, Mr Beignet (think that's some type of biscuit), Mr & Mrs God.....need I go on?!! All very nice people, but I just can't help smiling to myself occasionally. I mean, I know British names are often related to the historical trades of our ancestors or the places where they lived, but somehow the French versions just seem so much more comical.
Another funny thing I discovered the other day, is that plugs and sockets here are known as "prise male" and "prise female" (I leave you to guess which is which). Now, whilst this makes amazing sense, and I can very well understand the thinking behind this, I can't help feeling that only the French could get away with this interpretation (or should that be, implying such connotations?) of what, until this point, I saw as being simply an inane (but necessary) electrical item. Quite apart from anything else, this new discovery of mine seems to give plugs and sockets a rather human quality - at least I shall never feel lonely again!
I'm sure these won't be the last of my anecdotes, so please note, this post is entitled #1.
Another funny thing I discovered the other day, is that plugs and sockets here are known as "prise male" and "prise female" (I leave you to guess which is which). Now, whilst this makes amazing sense, and I can very well understand the thinking behind this, I can't help feeling that only the French could get away with this interpretation (or should that be, implying such connotations?) of what, until this point, I saw as being simply an inane (but necessary) electrical item. Quite apart from anything else, this new discovery of mine seems to give plugs and sockets a rather human quality - at least I shall never feel lonely again!
I'm sure these won't be the last of my anecdotes, so please note, this post is entitled #1.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Revolutions
There are two things that have revolutionised my health & beauty life over the past couple of years, and which I think all women should be made aware of. Normally I would be the last person dishing out advice in this area or that anyone would come to for information about lifestyle (the first thing the Belle-mere did once I was safely installed under her roof was take me out shopping to buy some more appropriate (ie. stylish!) attire). Anyway the two things are as follows:
1. Epilator - introduced to me by Hubby and Belle-mere. No more needing razors and accidental self-flailing. This handy tool comes in various models and brands (mine is Phillips) and as well as reducing the risk of injury, also massively decreases the frequency with which shaving is required. Lasts for years (none of this disposable razor business harming the environment!!) and although it has one minor inconvenience (more than a bit painful the first time, but do persevere), is worth its weight in gold.
2. Mooncup - thanks sis! Having thought this was a rather scarey, inconvenient and in a manner of speaking, ugly, device, I can now say I am one hundred percent convinced that this is one of the best ever inventions for women of pre-menopausal age. So what exactly is this wonderful 'tool'? Well look here for details.
You will notice (once again!), that it is environmentally friendly as there is no need to dispose of said item - once you have one (initial outlay is not cheap, considering you may not be sure about whether or not you will like using it, but rest assured it's the best buy my sister ever made for me*), it should, in theory, last for years - and it just requires a rinse (soap and warm water) between uses with the occasional boil from time to time.
So there we have it. My vote for the two most useful and revolutionary devices invented for women in the past few years. My geeky hubby is also so very impressed with the mooncup that he has devised a logo for it ("Mooncup inside").
Anyone out there got any other great inventions or tips they would like to share, or am I just writing to myself as usual.....? Yes, I thought so.
*perhaps one of the only ones - she tends to be a bit on the stingey side..!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
AAgggghhhh.......
Oh dear it's been a while since I last wrote and I still haven't reported back on my stay in Cordoba or Granada, or in fact, on our latest trip to North Wales. Even more lax of me is not to have even managed to write about preparations for moving to France, which was originally the whole point of this blog. My excuse though is that so much has been happening here, I think I'll have to report it all after the move has happened (starts on 17th June, ie. 3 days time...aaagggghhh....!!) so watch this space....
Next post is likely to be from the other side of the Channel. How bizarre....I'm not sure it's quite sunk in yet, despite the leaving (BBQ) party we had today. Hhmmm....
Next post is likely to be from the other side of the Channel. How bizarre....I'm not sure it's quite sunk in yet, despite the leaving (BBQ) party we had today. Hhmmm....
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Interlude #1
I know I said I would continue my post on what's hot and what's not in Andalucia, but since my original intention for this blog was to record progress on the moving to France front, I will just pop in a small, very serious (!) comment about how things are progressing (ie. slowly but surely).
Firstly, I forgot to mention before that Hubby is now also unemployed, having finally finished handing over his technical stuff to the next geek to play with. This means (a) that we really have to continue with the plans - can't back out now (help!!), and (b) that we can start to get down to the serious stuff like form-filling, handing in the notice on our house, tax returns, considering how we're going to physically move our junk, and of course, the dreaded packing.
We started working on the form-filling bit earlier this week, and here's what we found....
Social services and health care
We have read / heard that when going to France it is best to get every type of form or certificate you could possibly need just in case French beaurocracy demands it. So with this in mind, we have just completed the following form for HMRC:
CA3916 - use this to obtain an E104, E301 or E205 (we don't need this one) certificate.
E104 - shows insurance for sickness and maternity purposes
E301 - shows insurance for unemployment purposes
We will also be requesting an E106 to cover us for healthcare until we're employed (and if not, for up to 2 years after we leave the UK). Phone the Medical Benefits dept of HMRC 2 weeks before you leave the UK with your address in France and a definite date of departure.
You may have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This covers you for up to 6 months in case of a medical emergency, but not after this.
It all seems quite complicated really but there are a number of places to go for information and advice:
HMRC Medical Benefits - 0191 218 1999 (for queries regarding E106 and EHIC)
HMRC Non-Residents - 0191 225 4811 (for queries regarding other forms that ma be required).
These forms can be found on the HMRC website, which also has some useful information and contact details for various sections of HMRC.
In addition, there are a number of handy books around. I found this one a handy starting place.
Will let you know how it goes with the forms, ie. will we get what we want / need from HMRC, problems or pitfalls, and if we actually need them when we get to France.
Serious bit over for the time-being.
Firstly, I forgot to mention before that Hubby is now also unemployed, having finally finished handing over his technical stuff to the next geek to play with. This means (a) that we really have to continue with the plans - can't back out now (help!!), and (b) that we can start to get down to the serious stuff like form-filling, handing in the notice on our house, tax returns, considering how we're going to physically move our junk, and of course, the dreaded packing.
We started working on the form-filling bit earlier this week, and here's what we found....
Social services and health care
We have read / heard that when going to France it is best to get every type of form or certificate you could possibly need just in case French beaurocracy demands it. So with this in mind, we have just completed the following form for HMRC:
CA3916 - use this to obtain an E104, E301 or E205 (we don't need this one) certificate.
E104 - shows insurance for sickness and maternity purposes
E301 - shows insurance for unemployment purposes
We will also be requesting an E106 to cover us for healthcare until we're employed (and if not, for up to 2 years after we leave the UK). Phone the Medical Benefits dept of HMRC 2 weeks before you leave the UK with your address in France and a definite date of departure.
You may have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This covers you for up to 6 months in case of a medical emergency, but not after this.
It all seems quite complicated really but there are a number of places to go for information and advice:
HMRC Medical Benefits - 0191 218 1999 (for queries regarding E106 and EHIC)
HMRC Non-Residents - 0191 225 4811 (for queries regarding other forms that ma be required).
These forms can be found on the HMRC website, which also has some useful information and contact details for various sections of HMRC.
In addition, there are a number of handy books around. I found this one a handy starting place.
Will let you know how it goes with the forms, ie. will we get what we want / need from HMRC, problems or pitfalls, and if we actually need them when we get to France.
Serious bit over for the time-being.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Phew!
Got back from Spain early yesterday morning - had a great time. Visited Seville, Cordoba and Granada, and ticked off most of the touristy things (ie. tapas, jerez, flamenco, architecture, pickpocket victim, visit to the police station etc).
Here are a few of my impressions of these places, along with a couple of tit-bits of potentially useful info for the discerning traveller:
Seville
Impressions:
Friendly people, amazingly on time for everything; excellent transport system (buses, tram and cycle routes); tasty tapas; beautiful gardens and interesting Moorish architecture (although not as much as I'd expected). Feels like a 'real' city (particularly the El Centro district).
Tips:
1) Albergue Juvenil Sevilla
Otherwise known as Seville YH. Not so out of town as all that, whatever the guide books would have you believe. #34 bus takes you directly to the city centre in 10 mins or so. Get a bonobus card to make using the bus cheaper (10 journeys for 5€ (no transfers) or 6€ (transfers included)). Particularly fab as one card can be shared between several people.
Tends to be very noisy at night as there are a lot of school parties staying here, and the 11pm curfew does not seem to be imposed at all. Also, the building seems to have been designed to allow all residents the opportunity to hear a pin drop several floors and corridors away.... Other than that, the facilities are great (all 2 and 3 bed, ensuite rooms; breakfast included).
2) Flamenco
Don't pay loads to see a flamenco show - go to La Carboneria (c/Levies 18) on a Thursday night instead for the price of a locally produced Cruzcampo cerveza. Flamenco starts around 11pm.
3) Barrios
Barrio means quarter, of which there are several in Seville.
Santa Cruz is the much raved about barrio near the Cathedral. However, we found it to be a pleasant but rather false place - stuck in time, but for tourist purposes.
Triana is where the gypsies used to live and some gypsy families apparently still live there. Rough Guide raves about this area being a good place to go if you're after finding flamenco.
If you need the loo, Triana market has some, but watch out - it is also a good place to have your purse knabbed by a pickpocket...the less said about that the better, although I will just mention that at times like this it is very handy to have a Hubby who speaks Spanish.
La Macarena - didn't visit this area much but did go through it on the #5 bus (we had already walked miles and my legs were aching). Don't think there's much to see here anyway really.
El Centro - the main shopping area. Lively and pleasant. Wide range of shops and an El Corte Inglés with supermarket in the basement, should you wish to shop for a picnic in a slightly more purse-friendly environment than the Mercado de Triana.
Loos and good granizada de limón available.
4) Don't spend ages looking for a statue of Carmen around the old tabacco factory. The statue is across the road from the bull ring.
5) Trains
The train from Seville to Cordoba is very fast (approx. 45 mins) and is quite expensive if you buy your ticket 4 mins before the train departs. Ticket desk people don't seem to be able to speak; they just swipe your card through and before you know it you've spent nearly 60€ on two one way tickets. As an alternative, you can catch the bus, although this takes 2 hours or so.
6) Important Food
Churros and chocolate - a good place is Calenteria, c/Cano y Cueto 7. Murillo gardens are close by if you fancy sitting outside.
Ice cream - we had a very tasty one at Heladeria Rayas, c/Almirante Apodacha 1.
My Seville Top 10 (in no particular order):
Gardens - Parque de Maria Luisa and Alcazar Gardens
Real Alcazar
Museo Arqueologico
Casa de Pilatos
Museo de Bellas Artes
Tapas at El Rinconcillo
Cycle paths and buses
El Centro
Flamenco at La Carboneria
Churros and chocolate
Hmmm...actually feeling slightly tired now, what with reliving the experience and not being able to sleep at night due to the lack of banging doors and screaming adolescents. Will continue later, after my siesta.
Here are a few of my impressions of these places, along with a couple of tit-bits of potentially useful info for the discerning traveller:
Seville
Impressions:
Friendly people, amazingly on time for everything; excellent transport system (buses, tram and cycle routes); tasty tapas; beautiful gardens and interesting Moorish architecture (although not as much as I'd expected). Feels like a 'real' city (particularly the El Centro district).
Tips:
1) Albergue Juvenil Sevilla
Otherwise known as Seville YH. Not so out of town as all that, whatever the guide books would have you believe. #34 bus takes you directly to the city centre in 10 mins or so. Get a bonobus card to make using the bus cheaper (10 journeys for 5€ (no transfers) or 6€ (transfers included)). Particularly fab as one card can be shared between several people.
Tends to be very noisy at night as there are a lot of school parties staying here, and the 11pm curfew does not seem to be imposed at all. Also, the building seems to have been designed to allow all residents the opportunity to hear a pin drop several floors and corridors away.... Other than that, the facilities are great (all 2 and 3 bed, ensuite rooms; breakfast included).
2) Flamenco
Don't pay loads to see a flamenco show - go to La Carboneria (c/Levies 18) on a Thursday night instead for the price of a locally produced Cruzcampo cerveza. Flamenco starts around 11pm.
3) Barrios
Barrio means quarter, of which there are several in Seville.
Santa Cruz is the much raved about barrio near the Cathedral. However, we found it to be a pleasant but rather false place - stuck in time, but for tourist purposes.
Triana is where the gypsies used to live and some gypsy families apparently still live there. Rough Guide raves about this area being a good place to go if you're after finding flamenco.
If you need the loo, Triana market has some, but watch out - it is also a good place to have your purse knabbed by a pickpocket...the less said about that the better, although I will just mention that at times like this it is very handy to have a Hubby who speaks Spanish.
La Macarena - didn't visit this area much but did go through it on the #5 bus (we had already walked miles and my legs were aching). Don't think there's much to see here anyway really.
El Centro - the main shopping area. Lively and pleasant. Wide range of shops and an El Corte Inglés with supermarket in the basement, should you wish to shop for a picnic in a slightly more purse-friendly environment than the Mercado de Triana.
Loos and good granizada de limón available.
4) Don't spend ages looking for a statue of Carmen around the old tabacco factory. The statue is across the road from the bull ring.
5) Trains
The train from Seville to Cordoba is very fast (approx. 45 mins) and is quite expensive if you buy your ticket 4 mins before the train departs. Ticket desk people don't seem to be able to speak; they just swipe your card through and before you know it you've spent nearly 60€ on two one way tickets. As an alternative, you can catch the bus, although this takes 2 hours or so.
6) Important Food
Churros and chocolate - a good place is Calenteria, c/Cano y Cueto 7. Murillo gardens are close by if you fancy sitting outside.
Ice cream - we had a very tasty one at Heladeria Rayas, c/Almirante Apodacha 1.
My Seville Top 10 (in no particular order):
Gardens - Parque de Maria Luisa and Alcazar Gardens
Real Alcazar
Museo Arqueologico
Casa de Pilatos
Museo de Bellas Artes
Tapas at El Rinconcillo
Cycle paths and buses
El Centro
Flamenco at La Carboneria
Churros and chocolate
Hmmm...actually feeling slightly tired now, what with reliving the experience and not being able to sleep at night due to the lack of banging doors and screaming adolescents. Will continue later, after my siesta.
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