France looks to reduce road deaths

There has recently been a huge increase in the number of deaths on French roads and the French government is determined to improve traffic safety.

As a result, expect to see far more police as you travel through France and be aware they will be looking for a whole host of offences!

Part of the move to reduce the number of deaths includes the following new policies

1) Removing speed radar camera warning signs

2) Clamping down on the usage of mobile phones whilst driving

3) 1,000 new radar sights by the end of 2012

4) The banning of screens in the drivers field of vision (beware of your sat nav being in the wrong place)

5) Motorcyclists must wear reflective jackets and have larger index plates

You have been warned!!

Renovation work 2010 - The terrace

The garden at La Pagerie is very large and is surrounded by a stone wall which makes it not only safe and secure but also private. We have had a number of comments over the past summer that guests would really like some sun loungers to make the most of the new terrace - this job was completed in October 2010.

The sun loungers are to go on the new terrace which was built by Chris during May 2010. This was a huge job and involved over 3000 separate paving slabs.

Over the last few years we have moved from the original garden at the back of the house, to it looking like a building site, to having a temporary terrace to the final instalment.

I hope you agree that the finished product looks fantastic and was worth all the work and effort that it took to build. Thank you Chris!

The terrace in 2009 before the latest addition

July 2004 and the existing flooring upstairs comes out and onto the garden

The grass - when you don't mow it for a while!

The original garden with upturned wine bottles for a border

French telephone for holiday homes

I know this has been around for a while, and French-Property.com have just written a small article about it. Basically, if you own a second home in France then you can get a telephone line and activate/de-activate it for when you are in the home.

This can be done via the internet and via telephone.

However, what is not clear is whether you can have internet access associated with this telephone line as well. My first thoughts are that it would appear in the 'too difficult box' and there would be many problems associated with it.

Anyone know any different?

Here is the article

Euro Rate dropping again

You may think I’m said, but on a daily basis I check the €/£ rate of exchange on the BBC business website, and yet again over the past few weeks the rate continues to slide downwards.

When I first bought the house in France the rate was around 1,52€ to the pound. This made French property very attractive as in the rural parts of France the house prices were generally low anyway.

Now, the rate is virtually €1 to £1 and the price of local taxes etc continue to rise.
I was expecting a steady rise in the rate in the second half of 2009 but this does not appear to be happening with regular doom and gloom news being released about the UK economy.

Come on the pound – rally again and lets start having some good news!
Anyone have any thoughts about the rate of exchange over the next few months??