Britain and France have a reciprocal health care arrangement which means that, for the first little while that we’re resident here, we have health cover. However, because I worked part time in the UK, my cover expires on Jan 5th 2013. It’s something we prepared for and is the reason I did a TEFL course, to enable me to teach English here and thus get a carte vitale. So I’m going to be an auto-entrepreneur, a scheme in which it’s meant to be simple to set up and run a small business. It may be simple by French standards, but I was completely lost, trying to fill in the forms online; I couldn’t even understand the questions! So I went into Nogaro and asked there; no joy; I’d have to go to Auch. So off we went, to visit the CFE office where they’d help me; but I couldn’t get past the receptionist, a very helpful woman who spoke very fast and is convinced that she answered all my questions. She probably did! But I’m none the wiser, so my friend Maria came round today to help, but she wasn’t sure either and suggests the tax office in Nogaro may be of some assistance. I’m going to ask an English friend, who speaks brilliant French, to go with me this time and maybe I’ll get somewhere.

While in Auch, we also went to the ADEME office for information on the various types of “eco” heating systems. Again we didn’t get the sort of information we were looking for, but did get a list of registered installers, so I spent this afternoon leaving messages for people to call us back; I hope they will.

All this bureaucacy is disheartening, so I’ve sorted out a few pictures of people, places and events that have made 2012 memorable; they cheered me up, I hope you enjoy them too 🙂