doris day

Can anyone recommend a dentist in the Dordgne.  Someone who they have had a good experience with and who they felt charged a fair price.  My dentist seems to be recommending very expensive - and after doing research unnecessary treatment.  Plus even after sociale securite and mutual his devis is way more than I would pay a private UK dentist.  So something is wrong somewhere. Any help would be gratefully received. Doris

Thanks for that 5element.  I'm worried about it now.  I left out some cat buscuits last night but it could have been my cats that eat them - or something else.  I'll go out at dusk tonight to see if is starts shuffling about.  I'm sure I could catch it if I see it - tho it moves pretty fast!  Do you think then that it's better to keep it somewhere "inside" and feed it once I've weighed it etc... and feed it those things it likes until it's bigger - then leave it "free" and put food out?  Hope that makes sense. Thanks again

Thanks for you help - the English site is very good.  It's about 5 - 6 inches long I think - dunno how old it is but it looks small compared to a full sized one.  I'll put some cat biscuits out for it and water.  Doris

[quote user="nomoss"]I had almost all my upper teeth removed in one session by my (Brit) dentist in Spain some years ago. He had been a specialist in a major London dental hospital before semi-retiring to Spain. Previously he had taken an impression, and had the new plate ready, which he slapped into my mouth as soon as he finished the extractions. He said it was important to do this so that the new plate was in place as the gums healed. I had no problem whatever with the new plate, which lasted for many years.   [/quote] Thanks so much for that. Well, my dentist went on for quite some time about how it takes around 2 months for your gums to fully heal and the bones shrink - which is why I "need" the 550 euro temporary teeth.  He told me that I would need to keep going back for him to adjust these teeth as my bones/gums shrunk over time.  Then once they had shrunk as far as they were going to he would fit my permanent teeth - cost 1115 euros. I would be interested to hear anyone else's experience.  Thanks again Doris

I found a baby hedgehog outside my house this evening. It is really quite small but seems very energetic.  Should I give it something to eat - if so what?  Or just let it find it's own food.  Will my cats bother it?  I know lots of stuff's been posted on the site about hedgehogs but I just couldn't find a short answer Thanks Doris

Thanks everyone for your helpful comments.  I will call in to see my mutuel..  I live in the dordogne - does anyone know a good dentist?  I thought mine was good but I think perhaps he's suggesting more expensive proceedures than I need.  Part of the devis is 515 euros for temporary teeth which he says I need until my gums fully heal.  Dunno if anyone out there has experience of having their teeth out and dentures fitted either here or in the UK (or anywhere really).  Screw in teeth are expensive I kno and not an option for me. thanks again doris

I have to have most of most teeth removed and dentures fitted - both upper and lower.  I work in France and have a mutual (which I took out knowing I needed to have some serious work on my teeth - the advisor described the cover as "correct") The devis from my dentist is 2755 euros (which does not cover the cost of having my teeth removed) of which the securite sociale and mutual combined will pay just over 1100 euros, leaving me with a bill of 1600 (at least).  So if  it's bad enough having to have my teeth out at 48 years old - now I have to pay what I consider quite a lot for the privilige.  My question is; does anyone else have similar experience?   Am I being over charged?  Would it be cheaper to go to the UK? If anyone can help that'd be great. 

Does anyone know how successful they've been in recapturing these animals?  I was astonished to read that this fur farm existed.  Dunno why, I just thought there wouldn't be the demand anymore. 

Still waiting to hear from Plod - how he managed to grow onions and garlic without watering them in a very dry summer??  Am intreaged!! Doris

Really - that's interesting.  Did you get good size produce?  Be interested to kno. Thanks Doris

I'm sure many people would disagree but I've always found shop bought garlic as good as any bought from specialist suppliers.  You can generally see where it has been grown, and very much cheaper.  I have grown it in pots before - don't remember the size but quite big ones, and it did ok but clearly prefers to be in the ground.  Should do ok in troughs described but like I say ..... Garlic is a tough beast indeed and as long as it's watered enough will do fine - it likes potash - hence my use of wood ash.  Doris

The only problem I've had with garlic is rust.  It looks quite dramatic but appears to have no adverse effect on the garlic itself.  I've had lovely plump bulbs which are storing very well so far.  Dunno about onions tho.  Again I had a smashing crop planting them in March - planted then cus that's when they were available.  I give them both a good dressing of fresh wood ash - seems to work wonders. Doris

I meant supermarket bulbs!!

Hi This will be my fourth year here and I always plant my garlic around October time - which I also did in the UK.  Garlic likes a few cold spells.  I live in the South West by the way but we still have pretty cold - albeit shortish - winters.  I generally use good quality summer market bulbs, split them, then plant them.  Doris

Thanks for that.  I really thought it was "bad liver!"  I'm a little disappointed I must say!  In fact, the French person I was discussing the meaning with thought it was "foie" too.  Having a bad liver might indeed make you behave badly, n'est pas?  Doris

Do anyone know a good English translation for this?  I've seen two-faced but am not sure this fits the description I was given. Thanks Doris

Hi Jo Your post reminded me of the roof top gardens in New York - i guess because you garden 2 floors up!! I think just growing a little is great. Once you have the gardening bug it's hard to give it up.  I've managed to keep on top of the courgettes this year - dunno how.  I think the variety isn't a prolific as others can be.  my problem earlier in the year was cucumbers - they were incredible.  and what can be done with a surplus of them?  i've learnt my lesson there I think. Back to the bugs - I noticed that the ones on the rocket are similar to the others but not quite the same markings.  However, what really sets them apart is the fact that they can fly!!  So... they're off before you've got a chance to catch them.  colorado beetles, which can also fly, are so slow you can easily get them.  These things are like lightening.  There was nothing else for it I had to pull up the plants - especially since they were already full of holes from the flea beetles.  There must be a way of controlling this pest. Help!! Doris

Hi Jo yes, my veggie patch is my passion really.  I love it.  I also love broccolli and sproats.  This is the third year I've grown them, the two previous years quite successfully.  I guess the pests just multiply over the years.  I am determined to continue tho and to avoid the chemicals.  What do you grow? Doris

Thanks for answering. Yeah, the flea beetle.   They had/have those too.  To keep them under control I walk round the patch with a piece of stiff paper or card covered in honey or something very sticky.  I then, holding the paper stinky side down over the leaves, tap each leaf upwards.  Two or three times really did seem to take the numbers down.  (they were really infested) I agree these flea beetles are a huge problem.  They start on roquet (!!) and move on.  As for the caterpillars - yes, I afraid I do squash them.  Horrible I know but I tend to do it between the leaves.  I very quickly got over my squeemishness killing the colorado beetles.. It's us or them!! In fact I think my brassicas have had every pest and disease known.  Including some maggots which ate the roots. I understand why you gave up!!  I also understand why they are not grown here very much.  Something to do with warmer climates?? supermarket broccoli seems to come from Spain tho?!  They must use tons of chemicals to keep everything under control!

I am a keen veg grower and this year have had so many problems with my brassicas I wouldn't bore you with listing them.  However, I must mention one pest - the brassica bug - euydema oleracea.  Small beetle like thing in various sizes - yellowish with black mask on back - that sucks the life out of leaves leaving them brown and dry.  Does anyone else have this problem?  If so what have you done (I'm organic) and how might I prevent them coming back next year?  Thanks Doris