It's Yet Another

It's Yet Another gloriously grey day
where clouds leave no room towards the end of May
for red or orange, yellow or blue
to shine or peek even a little bit through.
As the grey scudding vapour passes overhead high
what does it matter if the sun is not in the sky?

Life on a dull day is better than to die,
when light and dark, 
warmth and cold,
rain and sun,
will matter not.

At 10 o'clock in the morning
treat of a chocolate pudding
as a shopping 40% reduction in a glass jar
says to me aha
glides past my lips
down onto my hips
in a sweet brown slurp
promise not to burp.
 

Tax tales

November 2011 HMRC were contacted as tax code changes meant less income.  Having never had to do self-assessment, after many hours of angst, enquiry, letter writing and learning to understand how they'd calculated my high tax,  I eventually sussed out how and why they'd accounted for my State Pension when it was declared in France. They reprimanded me for not informing them that I receive one. I thought it was automatic but evidently not so. There is a clause that says the receiver of a State Pension must tell the HMRC.  In that case I asked, why hadn't they taxed me on the first 6 months of it?  This they didn't know!  By July 2012 all was amicably settled.  I received a new sensible coding and continue to pay UK tax on my Teachers' Pension with State Pension taxed in France.

Tax for expats in France has become an increasingly difficult issue as declaration forms have changed format and there is more than one.  It has been officially stated in a newspaper for expats and in National French press that different regions, departments, tax offices and individuals within tax offices are all interpreting tax directives differently.  People are being unnecessarily charged social charges etc.  Almost every year I've had a dispute regarding my personal French taxes especially since receiving two pensions.  Having settled the UK issue, I arranged to discuss the French tax issue before the end of 2012. After two meetings amounting to apx 3 hours in one to one discussion, computer spreadsheets and sums were re-calculated. My tax criteria seemed correct. Errors had not been completely of my making.

Today, I arrived at the office to verify my forms.  It seems I had been unwittingly misled on one element because the exemplaire given in December 2012 said for one box "Totale de 2 pensions" when it should only be one!!!  Forums for expats can be wonderful though one can't believe everything one hears or reads.  Not everyone gets the facts correct...not even me!!!! However, on one of these, are two respected individuals who give correct advice! I chose to follow forum advice rather than Tax office information.  I showed the gentleman, he that I saw in December 2012, and we are content, as the French say.  Whooppee!  I submitted my tax forms before the deadline.
This year is the first time in 7 years that a friend and I have both been correct on the first consultation.

A "BEFORE THAT" STORY:
We wait for our ticketed number to show on the illuminated sign.  I enter a consultation cubicle with a friend who needs linguistic support. The madame ignores the friend and immediately says quite firmly and unkindly to me that I should not be there.  Whoah... I wondered what I'd done to upset her?   Even my friend was surprised by her reaction.  Meanwhile, he has his forms checked. My property address was changed two years ago which necessitates a change of tax office in a different town!!!!   I know that!  Politely, but firmly, to match her tone and in fairly good or even perfect French I explained that I was allowed to verify my papers at her office, before proceeding to the next office NEXT year when all will hopefully be resolved and correct with my tax return.  WELL!!! ... up she gets and says that I must speak to the man I saw in December.  I am being careful not to mention names on this posting.  "Oui madame comme vous voulez!!!"  I am so glad to be transferred.  He arrives from a different room to his cubicle desk.  But before I leave her,  I shake her hand and tell her "Vous êtes trés gentil!!!"  *** From her gestures I could see that she didn't want to shake my hand with my arms full of papers and bags swept up to leave her as quickly as I could, but I intended to give her no choice!!!!!
It's very bizarre because this particular lady has been really kind and helpful in the 7 years of getting our tax returns correct, even one year annulling a payment. Every year, some change of circumstances has led to an alteration of which box to fill.  I am praying that I don't have complications from the next tax office 'cos if I do, you may hear a very loud scream!!!!!!!
P.S. *** In France always keep one's cool.  Never rage at anyone  and always be totally firm, polite and insistent, as charming as they are and tell them how kind they are,  during the altercation and at the end as one shakes their hand.  Always SMILE, no matter how grumpy they are. As a result I have had many re-imbursements and changes of goods when "they" did not wish to do this!!!! Sometimes though, we/ I have been fobbed off onto another person, given the phone number of a different department etc and got rid of and then we've had to laugh about how clever they are to give wrong information and lead us in circles.
My friend was once going to be charged 18,000 euros with huissier fees but we eventually got round all of that because bureaucracy was incorrect!!! Most probably a misunderstanding of culture, language and know-how.     All's well that ends well ... I hope.........

Le Gartempe flooded

Lost but always found

It may be May but it hasn't stopped raining for 4 days or so it feels. Today, I've collected at least 20 black buckets of water from the guttering gushing onto the road at the front of my neighbour's house.
(I'm remembering the 1967 film: Far From The Madding Crowd where gargoyles spew rain onto Fanny's grave!)  It's such a grey day! At the back of the house several empty vessels are filled with water from a similar gutter. Must check the level of my water cistern.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to wear my long black WINTER coat for the concert in the church.  This had not been worn since I don't know when.  I need to wear heeled shoes at an appropriate outing to feel elegant. It is a quality woollen coat.  In the pocket, I discovered my reading / driving glasses and oooooooohhh yes, they do improve distance vision!!  I thought I was going to need a new pair but the purse has been SAVED!!!    See..... all things lost in France are found in France!!!!

Wonderful Female Choir

Thirteen voices and piano led by the conductor sang songs from 19th and 20th centuries. Grieg, Verdi, Schubert, Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Lilli Boulanger and some lesser renowned composers.

An unusual theme was 'Faces of Women'; each song representing fiancée, mother, queen, Virgin Mary, Sorceress, Ophelia, Titania, Mermaids, Andalucian dancers, Bohemian women. Extremely interesting and beautifully executed.  The "Ensemble Vocal Fa Majeur" herald from Normandy. It was such a shame that winter weather with endless rain kept people from attending.   It was surprisingly warm in the church both in temperature and ambience.  My cushion and pink blankety rug (it had been lost and found) kept me extra comfy.  I felt my age!!! Thanks to all who organised this event which was free. One made a contribution as we departed.

Take 5 one street

Flowers make life bright

From my poetic cousin

Once you regain your strength, 

life generally will have a brighter perspective.  

Try to relax rather than dwell on painful episodes. 

Like flowers you have just planted in the garden, 

sunshine will make everything seem even brighter.

Peony and Anemone

It aint hunkydory

Falling flat on my face! A smack in the Face!  Face up to it! were alternative post headings.

It grieves me to say that my face was embedded in tarmac 6 days ago as a result of a vehicle hitting my velo.  As I lay face down in a horizontal line, feeling rather poorly, testing toes and fingers, ascertaining that nothing other else was crushed apart from two knees receiving the brunt of the fall,  did I also absorb how lucky I was that my legs were still in tact, clothes not torn and later discovered the bike was not damaged!!!!!!!!

"Leave me alone" I cried as people tried to get me to raise myself OFF the tarmac.......

I gave instructions to call an ambulance .....a woman AT THE SIDE OF MY FACE wanted to know if I could breathe!!!!!!! Oh yes, she was the driver of the vehicle....later, I discovered it was a funeral parlour van.......mais moi? Je ne suis pas prêt pour ça actuellement!!!!!!!!

Ambulance and A&E were absolutely brilliant. I've had mild concussion, am still in shock, feeling cold most of the time, a swollen very bruised face, an eye closed up on Wednesday and Thursday, headaches, teeth went through the inside of my lips. Little dangly bits as one slurps one's drink isn't very nice!  It's been difficult to breathe through the nose but can. Neck pain but otherwise no broken bones.   Remarkably, most of the scabs are falling thanks to the treatment I gave my face.  I stayed at home until Sunday when I ventured forth for a few hours to someone's house to have lunch with friends where the little two year old kept pointing to the scabs and repeating "Poorly" after me! Have been quite depressed and lacking energy, that is, I am extremely tired.  I feel like a bag of poo. Thankfully, I am on the mend.  No driving until 10 days after the accident as I have a medical certificate.

LESSON:
Always stop at the thick white line with the STOP sign and always check that the route is clear in both directions.  I've read that the penalty is immediate loss of licence or 4 points.  I am hoping that she is prosecuted which is not unkind of me. I've suffered for 7 days and still not correct.
LESSON:
Never think that life is fun and the day is going to be wonderful. Be alert on a velo even when there is no time to brake or swerve!
METAPHORICAL LESSONS:
"It's come to a head."
"Face it!"
"Facing facts"
"Keep your head up."
"Chin up!"
"Don't shed a tear"
"Don't feel sorry for yourself"
"Rest and be kind to yourself"
''Never rest on one's laurels"
"Be prepared"
"Watch where you're going"
"Be brave"
"Have dignity in the face of adversity"

At last I now know what course of action I am supposed to take.  Interestingly, the driver in question is not at work this week, nor did she provide her private contact details to my friend!!! BUT I have the vehicle registration number on photo. House insurance company will contact the company to get her details as she has to receieve and fill in a "constat amiable".  I'm not feeling very friendly!!!!!!!
Such a waste of time!!!!!!! Oh, it's just another set back but I pick myself up, dust myself down and start all over again!
ADDENDUM 19 May 2013... GP says to continue to rest as post traumatic stress needs a while to heal on the inside ... he prescribes 0.50mg Alprazalom when I've only been taking 0.125mg.   I really don't want to get back onto these drugs... as I had a whole year free of anything chemical. A little support from a friend perhaps is necessary!

Nature

Success

(Re-written post) 
My latest creations make a successful contribution to courtyard ambience.  Previously, I made a posting about a wonderful two seater rattan chair, painted blue, adorned with a basket of trailing plants. However, the post / site has been deleted and so too, the photo, which I gave credit to.
Painting garden furniture is not new a new idea but the photo inspired me to find a rattan chair. Lo, Emmaus had one for 4 euros.
Three years ago, I inherited three brown dilapidated chairs, so painted them green, blue and pink. What inspired that I have no idea! Unfortunately, woodworm and weathering have made them  far too shabbychic! The pink one's legs collapsed in a rain storm, so the Valencian floral pot broke as it tumbled. Now I need another trip to Spain. This pink chair almost met the bonfire, but being frugal, I granted it a new life.  Indeed I have sat on that short-legged version and it is most comfortable! It looks as if I have buried the legs in the ground! Never mind THE TATE, I have my own installations HereinFrance!

(Nota bene: see potatoes peeking in a potager when I avowed I would never have another one....it is small taking just 50 seed potatoes, at a squeeze, and already I wish it to be bigger so I can plant beetroots etc.....)