BRITONS looking for some “joie de vivre” should move to France to feel happier and healthier, according to a new survey of expatriates.

The findings suggest that people living across the “La Manche” are also likely to find their French neighbours sexier and better dressed, but possibly not as witty or good company.

Foreign civil partners living in France will have their relationships officially recognised for the first time, thanks to a measure passed by the French National Assembly yesterday (29 April).

The move means that British ex-pats who have had civil partnerships in Britain will now have their union recognised in France as PACS, which is a form of civil union in France. While similar to a British civil partnership, PACS can be entered into by both same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

French president Nicolas Sarkozy now has 15 days to “promulgate” the measure into law, after the National Assembly endorsed the Senate’s position, which passed it last month.

Currently, same-sex couples who live in France but have legal partnerships or marriages registered in other countries are not legally recognised as a couple.

This means that an ex-pat who has entered into a civil partnership in Britain is subject to a higher rate of inheritance tax if their partner died, than somebody with PACS – especially if property was owned.

The measure has been welcomed by both the European Union and the European Parliament, who had been putting pressure on the French Government to recognise the legal status of same-sex couples that had registered their partnerships in another country.

“We have been calling for this for some time,” said the president of the European Parliament’s all-party Intergroup on Gay and Lesbian Rights.

“I am looking forward to similar moves in other countries and eventually hope that same sex partnerships will be recognised throughout all 27 Member States of the EU.”

The non-recognition of foreign same-sex couples in France has been particularly frustrating, as PACS are recognised by EU countries that have same-sex partnerships laws.

We have all heard it said that “money is the root of all evil” and probably thought that was a bit of an exaggeration. But when we understand how money is created in the modern world we can then understand the main cause of many major problems: ever increasing taxation; pensions disappearing; inequitable distribution of wealth; inflation; national debt; currency crises and devaluations; recessions; depressions; and even the failure of government in a democracy to govern in the interest of its electors.

Money was invented to be a tool for facilitating trade, but has now become a tool used by the rich to govern the world. If you have any doubt about that, please read on.

If the idea of a move to France attracts you and you like the idea of buying a house, which perhaps needs renovation, then before you even consider the financial implications you must ask yourself some much more important and deeply searching questions. Print this article, go and lie in a nice warm bath, take a glass and a bottle of Beaujolais with you, relax and be totally honest with yourself. When you’ve finished the wine, open another bottle and see if your partner will join you in the bath (bring another glass)… and then be brutally honest with each other.

Now, imagine you’ve sold up, kissed your family and friends goodbye and followed the removal van to your new French home. This is not a two week holiday, this is for keeps…so, seriously ask yourself and your partner these questions:

Can I and my partner really cope with leaving our home-country?

The French plan to rescue the financial industry do not disrupt competition, says EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes .

The European Commission on Thursday cleared French and Dutch plans to preserve their lenders from the global credit squeeze.

Both were judged to be in line with EU rules on community aid and with guidelines reported by the European Union’s executive arm on 13 October.

These say that any rescue package should be limited in time and range and must not discriminate against foreign-based banks operating in that country.

Driving in France is well regulated, as with most countries.  Some of the most frequently broken and, therefore, most often prosecuted rules are below.  This is not an exhaustive list, but driver beware… if you cannot pay the “on-the-spot” fine, you may find your personal “tour de France” ends in jail.

Observe driving speed limits

Fines for speeding are DRACONIAN. From “on-the-spot” fines of €135 to as high as €1,500 (the higher fines include attending a court).  If you don’t have the cash on you to pay, the gendarme will escort you to the nearest ATM – or jail.

Built-up areas 50kph (31mph). The town or village name post starts the limit – the bar through name is the de-restriction sign.

Ordinary roads 90kph (56mph).  If the road surface is wet the speed limit is 80kph (50mph).

Toll-free autoroutes and dual carriageways 110kph (68mph); if wet l00kph (62mph).

Other autoroutes l30kph (81mph); if wet 110kph (68mph).

On autoroutes in foggy conditions, when visibility is less than 50m, the speed limit is 50kph (31mph).

DO NOT drink and drive

The alcohol limit is lower in France than Britain: 50mg per 100ml of blood… in reality a miniscule amount of alcohol. Fines can be as high as €4,500… so just don’t drink and drive.

10 VITAL RULES TO REMEMBER

This article has been written to give you a general step-by-step overview of the French property buying process.  Please use the references and links contained in this article to find more information about stages of the process.

The French property buying process is fairly straightforward and well regulated.  Each year many thousands of foreign buyers purchase in France without problems or complications. As with any property purchase there can be problems, but the majority of them are encountered because buyers have not understood properly what they need to do in advance and how the process works, especially if they don’t speak French. This guide is here to give you independent advice.

The most important issue to be aware of is that the sale becomes binding much earlier in the process than in the UK. Therefore providing you allow enough time for viewing, one can effectively secure a property you have seen on your visit and return to your home country knowing that no-one else can buy it.

Where to buy

It’s horrifying to read the papers these days.

All sorts of terrible illnesses and conditions seem to be on the increase, despite the best efforts of medical technology.

It makes you wonder about the diets and lifestyle of modern man.  We’ve got old evils like polio and tuberculosis under control in this country… but new ailments are on the rampage.

Especially diabetes.

According to the organisation ‘Diabetes UK’, there are 1.8 million people with it. But there’s a million more who have it… but don’t even know it!  What’s more, it gets more common as you get older. The average age of diagnosis for people with no family history of the illness is 52.

There are two basic types of diabetes…

“Type 1″ develops when the body is unable to produce any insulin. Sufferers need to take insulin to control their blood sugar levels.

“Type 2″ develops when you can’t produce enough insulin, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.  This is the diabetes which usually appears in people once they pass 40 years old.

But I’ve got some good news for you. Protection from both kinds of diabetes can come in the form of a vitamin that’s not even a real vitamin!

“Why dead fish are the answer…”