Some things in France are way ahead of the UK and some things just ain’t. In fact when it comes to customer service, it’s about 20 years behind. Take supermarkets for example. Most don’t open until 9.00 am, this means that to make the most of a what seems like a very short day, you arrive at 9 to a queue of people waiting to go in. Oh and don’t forget your 1 euro coin if you want a trolley! They open the doors (usually late) which are the big rotating ones and everyone piles in at the same time, which jams the doors continously as they all try and get into the same section! Then you have to negotiate the metal “styles” which can only allow 1 trolley through at a time so it’s another back up of trolleys. Finally you are in the supermarket. Off to the fruit and veg. Here another queue again as you have to put what you want into a bag and let the assistant (or is that the assasin) weigh it to put the bar code on. I have learned to my cost that you need to check all the prices once they have been weighed. The last time I went I was charged 4.90 euros for 5 small new potatoes! After the hassle of actually getting your shopping you then have to negotiate the ridiculously small checkouts. If you have a trolley full of shopping, you can only fit about 2/3rds of an average trolley load. Oh and I forgot to mention that the trolleys are so deep, you break your back getting stuff out of them! Oh and don’t wait for the cashier to wait until you’ve unloaded, no, she’ll put your shopping through as you are unpacking it so it’s jamming up the other end and you can’t pack it away quick enough. The whole process is designed to be as difficult as possible. No wonder you see every garden here stacked with fruit and veg, they all know how awful it is to go shopping here!

I started the process of car re-registration today. After asking lots of questions on the forums, I discover that I need a Certificate of Conformity to confirm my vehicle is up to European standards, even thought it’s a German car and aren’t we all in the EU??? Anyway, I thought I could speed up the process by sending off a request before we left for France. No chance, I got the email back saying that I had to visit in person with the original V5C certificate. Oh no it’s in the middle of Limoges, this is going to be a nightmare. Armed with Multimap print of the location from the website, and tons of other maps, we set off. Actually we found it remarkably easily – those good old ring roads work wonders around the city. I finally found the office on the 6th floor – phew! I walked into “Bureau Numero 603″ to find a lady sitting at the desk, reading a newspaper and listening to the radio. These government clerks are always so busy! I handed over the email, it was easier and she asked to see my V5C. “Le Control Technique?”, “Non” I replied. “Le quittas fiscal?”, “Non” I replied. After the usual pigeon french conversation, I found out that I needed to get all my other documentation before the Certificate of Conformity. Oh well, I always knew it wasn’t going to be a straight forward affair. First Stop, Hotel Des Impost at St Junien for the Quittus Fiscal. This basically proves that you have paid VAT on importing your car to France. Of course the old thing was second hand so it’s just a formality really. However, you never know what they are going to want. As usual I went armed with every bit of paper I could think of. We arrived at the most stunning looking building I’ve seen in a long time and wasn’t convinced I’d got the right place. Surely this can’t be one of the government offices? I walked up the steps to a huge solid wooden door with the biggest knocker of the head of a lion. I turned the handled and went in. After establishing which office I needed I opened a door to see a lady sitting at a grand mahogany desk. “Je voudrai un Quittus Fiscal??”, “Oui”. I sat down and asked which documents she needed. V5C, yes, proof of address, I handed over my Bank Statement. “Non, ca dois le facture EDF ou FT.” Damn, “Attendez, je vais a la voiture.” Dropping everything I went out through the grand old doors, “Steve, can you look in the drivers door and see if there is an EDF bill in there”. Yep, great. Back in, “voila” facture EDF. Scribble, scribble – “Est ce que le puissance?”, “Le puissance?” I pointed and said it was a 250 TD, “Non, le puissance, c’est different” It would be! I have no idea what she is talking about. She suggested I look at my insurance to see if there is a category on there. “Attendez, je vais la voiture…” Off I went and got my insurance papers. No nothing. I shrugged and asked who I could speak to? She picked up the phone, waffled onto some other person for 5 minutes and then put a big question mark on the form! More scribble, scribble, “Le nombre le KM sur la voiture?” Ooh la la, “Attendez, je vais a la voiture…”. Steve what’s the mileage?” 195,223. Now there’s no way I can be bothered to convert that to KM so I just give her the number and she writes it in. Finally, I get to sign something, and got my Quittus Fiscal. Now for the Control Technique. More later….