PGTV

That’s where the grey areas starts if the good are being taken to your holiday home/2nd home and kept there. Then the Euro 430 applies. (As rightly stated by the other comment) if you are moving the goods as you intend to live there (ie you are moving) - then it does not apply but if you are taking the mentioned laptop with you to use for work (while you are in your holiday home), but you are bringing it back with you, then it’s personal use. Same applies with the suitcase containing your clothes and underwear. Hence the itemised list is handy, as you can show what was taken over, and what was coming back. Mobile phones, wallet with cash (but personal amount), car etc are all personal use. the receipts are handy to show the value if you intend to “export” the items to your holiday home. You can read about here https://www.completefrance.com/living-in-france/customs-and-taxes-when-moving-furniture-to-france-1-6962027

If the (new) goods are for personal use, there should be no problems. The only thing I would recommend is to have/keep the receipts as this would prove that VAT was paid. if the items are “used” (ie you already own these products) there is no issue with bringing these goods in/out might be worth keeping an itemised list of contents that you take on a very rare chance that you get a jobsworth, but customs are only interested in illegal goods, or traders as it costs too much to investigate. (I do EU custom declarations everyday for a company - so have some knowledge).

This vaccine seems strange that you need two doses, plus another one this autumn, plus more in the future yet, for things like measles, whooping cough or other illnesses you only need just the one, usually as a infant. I understand (from experience) that some people need booster jabs such as Vit D jabs if they are having chemo etc as your body looses it during the treatment - but I cannot think of a “protection vaccine” that needs “updating/boosting” every few months? even the flu jab is a “one a year” you can see why there is mix feelings. I saw Pont Aven today (Plymouth) from the office window - and as much I would love to travel on her, I just cannot justify having something injected in my body that has been rushed through. (Thought I keep the topic BF related) Personal opinion as usual

Can you buy an overpriced tobleron or Lego from the onboard shop? If not, not interested…

Finally after a couple months of jumping through hoops, managed to sort out the water board situation. Veolia are not easy. I wanted to update my bank details with them - they would not accept my UK account details unless I phone up. Got no where with phoning them. The French Euro account is empty, I cannot put funds in as it is under probate, and I cannot visit the branch due to covid. The latest bill was due to be taken out by end of month, so managed to overrule their own system by logging in. Cancelling the direct debit of the French account, finding a very obscure link to pay by debit card (as they want everyone to pay by direct debit). Copied and pasted the invoice number to pay, “would not accept”. You have to manually enter in the invoice number (all 15 digits) - and finally it took my payment To make matters worse, they try and force you into using their app to pay - but it is not compatible in the uk! Getting there, slowly…

Thought I start a thread with advice, tips and general chat for 2nd home owners in France. Many travellers who use BF are 2nd home owners, so it is good to share information.

I think with today’s numbers - the uk are likely to red listed by others soon. Sorry to say, but this year can be written off again. I hope I’m wrong…

I second that question - judging that some of these cars yesterday were rammed with stuff inside, are the French and Spanish customs going to check each car, empty it, and take a note of what was inside. Are they going to impound you/car if they find a carton of milk or some slices of ham - while the car next to you gets away with 5kg of *cough* inside?

Yep, parked. Put it in reverse, and put the handbrake on. Left it neutral, ready to go forward. Hope the captain uses MSM (mirror signal manoeuvre) before leaving None of this docking thing…

Pont vs Galicia in millbay parked up for comparison in size

A few pictures

Ponty has arrived in Plymouth - the queue to get into the Millbay terminal stretched all the way out towards Millbay itself. Campervans, cars with trailers, bikes. I have never seen it like this backed all the way up, I got caught up in it as I was not expecting it Queue also in Martin Street - brave souls to do that

So someone has to watch you while you gag and wretch while sticking the swab down your throat… Ding ding - I want to get off the next stop please…

I have mentioned it - brittany ferries should do uk stay-cation mini cruises. Still a holiday, but avoids the international issues. also if they get into the channel, you can pick up duty free! it’s better than nothing!

Why do the government always do stupid things? Money wasted on projects that no one wants - puts us through conflict that no one wanted. Governments has always done what they wanted to do. im the first one to disregard all these conspiracy etc - but I can’t help feeling that in the future we will look at this and think - why did we allow this to happen. It doesn’t look or feel right. personal opinion