[driving from Calais to Limoges]

Yes the rain was the french end, had a miserable week weather wise, cold,rain,wind, but between showers we did manage to get the grass cut and brambles under control, typical tho, checked weather in our area for this week and its late 20s/early 30s grrrrrrrrrr

Spent August there last year and blue skies every day mmmmm

[Help-dream becomes reality!!!]

Health Insurance - I believe this can be very expensive.

Correct me if I am wrong, but arent people getting around this by registering as Auto-Entrepeneur ,thereby entering the system.

Think I have read this on here somewhere

[Buying first house in France]

I agree with the others, internet descriptions can be very deceiving. when we bought our house, I fell in love with the photos and description, 3 bed habitable house with large barn attached, orchard and beautiful grounds - House has kitchen,bathroom,lounge,3 beds and the picture confirmed this, when we arrived to view the property, we pulled up outside a completely unknown house - this was the 3 bed habitable house, out through the back door and into the back garden were the buildings in the agents photograph - a large barn with house attached,two floors, no rooms in need of complete renovation.

We loved the place even more, great 3 bed house to live in whilst we converted the barn/house into a large house and then use the 3 bed as gite.

Well things dont always go to plan, hubby had heart attack (all well now) but had to scrap the renovation plans.

So, go into the viewings with an open mind - things arent always what they seem, it could well be the house of your dreams, but could also be a big disappointment.

Hope your trip goes well and you find your place in France (wherever it may be)

[driving from Calais to Limoges]

Hi - we take the A16 from Calais heading for Boulogne/Rouen, at Abbeville we turn off onto the A28 to Rouen, the toll there is 7e30, through the tunnel into Rouen and then follow the signs for the A13 motorway,this takes you through the industrial estate, lots of traffic lights but a straight road, on leaving the industrial estate you go across a roundabout (concrete cows on), then across another roundabout - the road then splits either A13 Paris or A13 Caen, follow Paris, the turn off for Evereux,Dreux,Chartres is only a few miles and a toll payable is 2e, this road is non motorway but dual carriageway for most of the way, once in Chartres follow the signs for Orleans, this will take you to the motorway A10 at Allaines just North of Orleans, follow this motorway until the exit for Vierzon (A71 motorway) once at Vierzon, take the A20 motorway to Limoges/Toulouse another toll here 10e50

Our journey time is Rouen 2hrs, cross to Orleans 2-3hrs, Orleans to Bessines (north of Limoges) 2 hrs.

We go by Eurotunnel catching the 6am train, this gets us into Rouen about 930, so missing rush hour, Orleans by 1230ish and get to Bessines by 230 in time for the shop to open, get some shopping and on to our house.

Going home we get a 2pm crossing, leaving Limousin about 6am

Note: On the return journey the toll 10e50 is payable at Allaines (A10 turnoff for Chartres) and there is no person at the tollbooth just automatic payment - this is very easy as there are English instructions, I always try to have the correct money ready.

Sorry cant help with overnight accomodation as we always do it in one go, but then we live in SE so only a short trip to the tunnel

Toll charges accurate as we came home yesterday - another cold,wet trip

[I am really fed up..................]

Off to our house on Tuesday, we have tiny tv, OH wanted to buy Flatscreen so he can watch the footy.........wont fit in the car..........shame lol

[How many bedrooms?]

We have 4 bedrooms at present, like the idea of making 2 into 1 and having a double room each, plus small single. We are lucky we own the cottage next door, thats where the visitors will go.

[Which part of France did you move to and why??]

Haute Vienne 87, empty roads, lovely and green, ok cold winters, but not too hot summers which suit us. Very friendly,helpful neighbours, 6 hrs to Calais, 20 mins from motorway, 2hrs from ski-ing and 2 hrs from coast.

[Cle 3G Plus]

We bought an orange cle back in December, cost 79euros, but we got 30e back (received within 30days) and included was 6 hours internet use valid for 6 months - to keep the cle we have to top up at least once a year this can be done by buying the smallest amount possible just a few euros. think the usage starts at 20 minutes (valid for one day) with the max valid 30 days. This is ideal for us as we can just purchase what we need for the few times we are in France per year

It was very easy to do, pop into a phone shop, they usually have an english speaking staff member to help. We bought the cle, gave our RIB (for the 30e refund).

1st time we logged on we just entered the usernumber and password and away you go. We have only experienced a small problem with getting connected, most main towns are brill, smaller places are getting better. Hope this helps

['Green' McDonald's]

Pre Jordan aka Katie Price then Tony. Glad to hear you have persuaded your wife to divide time between France/Uk, precisely what we do, we have owned our french place for 10 years, its out bolthole, hope to spend more and more time there as work/life allows.

['Green' McDonald's]

Our largest nearest town - Limoges has a new retail park nearing completion - I read somewhere that Kentucky Fried Chicken are supposed to be going in there - are there anymore KFC'S out there, havent seen any before

Just noticed Tony in Brighton, not far from me, Uckfield

[Lidl: one query and one recommendation]

Will definately try them on our next visit.....soon I hope

[Lidl: one query and one recommendation]

Dont visit our house as often as we would like, but use Lidl - get honey-covered peanuts in the UK ones, can you get them in France too?