Rubbish collection for your French house

To find out when rubbish collection day is for your French property, ask your local mairie.
Depending where you live in France, it can be everyday in big cities like Paris or if you live in the countryside like I do in Brittany, bin day is once a week!

Place the bin outside your property the night before or at the end of the road next to your neighbour’s bin if you live in the countryside.

Check with your local authorities as they might provide a plastic 'wheely' bin free of charge.

You will get charged an annual rubbish removal tax, taxe d'enlèvement or redevance des ordures ménagères. 

If you buy a property in the following communes:

Dinan, Calorguen, Evran, Plouasne, Saint Juvat, Saint Judoce, Saint André des Eaux, Les Champs Géraux, Taden, Quevert, Pleudihen sur Rance, Aucaleuc, Bobital, Brusvily, Lanvallay, La Vicomté sur Rance, Le Hinglé, Le Quiou, Léhon, Saint Carné, Saint Hélen, Saint Samson sur Rance, Tréfumel, Trélivan, Trévron, or Vildé Guingalan, the rubbish collection tax is issued by Dinan Communauté.

 
The tax is sent to you in July to be paid by mid September. 

Paper, cardboard, glass, tins etc must be recycled and not mixed with your ‘normal’ rubbish.
Check with your mairie where the recycling areas are.

If you wish to get rid of some items that still work, you can visit Emmaus, a charity in France.

See my previous posts about Emmaus in France. 

For assistance with your French house, please contact me here. 

How to set up a contract with your local water company for your new home in France

Water is delivered by private companies in France. To find the water company in your area, ask your estate agent or the mairie.

The French water company will need:

• Your full name
• Your French address
• The name of the previous owners or tenants
• The readings
• Your French bank details (RIB)
• If you want the bills to be sent to the UK or anywhere else then your foreign address

You will pay a flat fee (abonnement) and consumption retroactively (consommation). Consumption is often estimated based on how many weeks you will be in your French home (if it is a holiday home) and how many people will be staying. It is advisable to set up a monthly direct debit. It gets readjusted when a technician comes and reads the meter once a year usually at the end of the year. Otherwise bills are sent twice a year.

The main water companies in France are Veolia, formerly Générale des Eaux, and Lyonnaise des Eaux. If you live around Dinan in Brittany, it could be SAUR.

If you require assistance, please contact me herehttp://www.anglofrenchcommunication.com/contact.php.

How to set up a contract with EDF for your new home in France

To open an account with EDF for your new home in France,   

EDF will ask you for:

• ·       Your full name
• ·       Your French address
• ·       The name of the previous owners or tenants
• ·       The readings
• ·       Your French bank details (RIB)
• ·       If you want the bills to be sent to the UK or anywhere else then your foreign address

Bills are sent every two months. It is best to set up a monthly direct debit. It gets readjusted when EDF come and read the meter twice a year.

You will pay a flat fee (abonnement) and consumption retroactively (consommation). Consumption is often estimated based on how many weeks you will be in your French home (if it is a holiday home) and how many people will be staying.

To set up a contract with EDF, call this number: 0969 393302.

If you require assistance, please contact me here.

Special Offer - Last minute deal for our gite in Brittany

If you are looking for a place to stay in Brittany, don't look further !
We are currently offering a special offer from 29th August 2015.

Our gie ideally located to explore Brittany, Dinan, St Malo, Mont St Michel etc.


295 pounds for 2 people

Mention Last minute deal - Rachel's blog when booking your gite.

For more information please visit our web site here.

Fish and Chip shop in Dinan

If you are on holiday in Brittany and miss your Fish and Chips, you can enjoy one in Dinan, Sur le Pouce, 8 Grande Rue, 22100 Dinan.
The shop has recently changed hands but not the recipe!
The owners, Laurette and Jean Pierre are French. 

Recipe for coconut macaroons, gluten free

I make coconut macaroons if I have some extra egg whites. They are very quick and easy to make. They keep for a few days in a air tight jar. 

Ingredients:

3 egg white

210 g of sugar (I use 180 g only)

250 g of desiccated (shredded) coconut

Whisk the egg whites, slowly add the sugar and coconut, whisk till they are completely combined and the mixture is frothy.

Shape de macaroons with wet hands into small balls (2 cm diameter)

Place the macaroons on the baking sheet.

Bake the macaroons until golden, about 20 / 25 minutes at 180 degrees.

They are crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle and very tasty when they are still warm!

They are gluten free.