Greenfrog

Hi I have just read this short novel by an English guy living in Languedoc: http://www.amazon.fr/Marseille-Sink-ebook/dp/B00BLOQ74M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362059984&sr=8-1 It is a crime book, slightly Chandleresque. Well worth a read and I gather the next one will be out soon.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and like Andyh4 I was impressed that at least Monty did speak French. It is embarrassing that generally the British don't even try. And I liked his straw hat and braces - it seems to be very him! He once designed fashion jewellery ( I still have one of his pieces!) so he certainly has an 'arty' side to his character. I thought he presented it really well and you could feel his curiosity and desire to understand the thinking behind the gardens he visited. The worst bit was there were only 3 programmes as I am sure there are plenty more gardens he could have visited.

Hi Chancer, Ah if only I could persuade two teenagers to walk 10 km to attend school! As I said I was surprised that even the kids in the same town as the college didn't walk to school. One of their friends did and was sent home so I guess communications were a bit awry!

Yes you are right Greyman. I will write the absence note eventually - I am just holding fire while all the irate parents unleash their displeasure and see if that changes things. And I agree you have to decide for yourself on the conditions. When we went in the next day there were still sections of black ice on bends but by afternoon it was all fine. Just had a text from eldest daughter no lessons after 2pm today as none of her teachers in! Great when their Brevet Blanc is very soon. It is this that annoys me - they get pompous about parents deciding it wasn't safe to drive and the next thing a whole afternoon of lessons is written off for no reason. C'est la vie - I guess!

Hi there, We had snow here last week - it snowed all Wednesday afternoon and then froze overnight. Not a good combination. As no gritting done and a 10 min drive on country roads in prospect we thought it best not to take kids to College. Consulted one of their friends who goes on the bus and lives in our village and they weren't going. Neither were friends who live within walking distance of the school. But they didn't cancel the buses just said they were going to be disrupted and late. Even though only 10 kids were at school the school say we all have to write an absence note for Thursday and that they will have to attend school on two Wednesday afternoons to make up the time. This seems totally ridiculous as in the end hardly any teachers could get there and there was no lunch. I have refused to write a note as it seems totally ludicrous. Has anyone else had a problem with snow days?

I am pleased you said this about the Doctors, Debra. My girls are always saying their friends have this and that medication to take if they have been ill as they go to the Doctors. Like you I only resort to that if it is something serious and not for every virus they pick up at College and recover from in a day or two. And I do sometimes wonder if College think I make up their ailments as I never give a medical certificate. I phone the vie scolaire about 10 mins before they start College and say they are ill and they always say "c'est note". But if they are off for two days I don't call on the second day as I feel they will assume they are still ill if they don't appear. And then sign the note in their carnet on their return. It is good to know that we don't have to take them to the Doctor - it is just sometimes they make you feel like a neglectful parent. A difference in French/English parenting I guess.

Thanks for the help. I will give it a bit longer and hope things start to happen.

Hi Does anyone have an idea how long an application should take? I did an online form just over a month ago - but silence since. Is this normal or do I need to pursue it? Thanks

Hi Friends of ours have just used www.anyvan.com I am sure they wouldnt mind me saying they are not very computer literate! But they managed the site really well and it worked for them although being flexible on dates helped a lot.