Swissie

Ugo my heart does out to you - but I do think you are making the right decision. You would never forgive yourself if anything ever happened, and Insurance would have been a nightmare. I feel sorry for the vendor too - not their fault. Good luck with the hunt for another perfect chalet, in the right place. Bonne chance.

Thanks for that. I do wonder how Ugo is getting on- it would be nice to hear from him.

I'd do exactly what your described Woolie - great for crumbles, pies etc. Must say the plum chutney sounds good too - so maybe a bit of both. What about plum and banana chutney?[:P] Here I am trying not to bottle up sour grapes.[:D]

With tar DG?  Sweet hope you get to see the dentist tomorrow and make a decision re. appropriate treatment, so you can get on your way without pain or worries and a big  [:D] xx

Sad people indeed.

aarrgghhh Sweet - I am so sorry, If I were you I'd definitely visit the dentist again to check and ask her/his advice. Toothache can be so terrible and debilitating. Hope you can get it all sorted out before you go (when I had a problem, our dentist gave me a mouth wash called 'corseodyl- I was NOT amused). Bonne chance xx (please check your e-mail/merci).

Alli G 'innit?' - much easier. lol.

It was quite a while ago, but I can remember him saying he had been a fan of the bullfights for over 50 years.

Principal Quillan, your English fails you. Never heard of him or met him so I have no idea how he could have heard of me - I am perfectly aware that anybody who wanted to find out who I am could easily do so - but why they would want to, truly beats me! It would not take a genious at all. Been asking questions then? All our neighbours are armed police officers and work day and night, thank you. Your post is truly unpleasant and is surely meant to intimidate and as such, again, would not fit in well with the Code of Conduct, sadly.

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="Swissie"]In which case why not just shut down the Forum [/quote] Because the forum is for English speaking people who either live in France, have a holiday home there (not Switzerland, theres a specific forum for them http://www.englishforum.ch/ - I expect your a member anyway) or have a love of France. [/quote] What a very nice man! I checked the forum rules- there is something about all sorts of things this above Post seems to breach - but no, can't find the above criteria in the rules. I am British and Swiss, part French and Hugenot by descent - lived in the UK for nearly 40 years, still have a home there, my children, grand-children and so many friends - and hey ho, I DO speak English (with a funny accent!) - I have lived and worked in France, spend much time there with French friends and taught French culture and politics in a 6th Form - go to France practically everyday - but yes, I do apologize, my house is 400 metres from the French border. I hate to boast, but I do wonder how many people here speak French as well as I speak English, somehow? Your reply has nothing to do with my comment - which was that many people do ask questions here on the forum, instead of Googling, for whatever reason, and wherever they live- and that it is definitely one of the very points of taking part in a Forum- and clearly NOT against the rules Q. Gosh - I think my blood pressure might have risen a bit there.  [:P] Off to France to listen to a great concert, with our French friends playing guitar, accordeon and keyboard. Just come back from a Fete du Terroir, just round the corner - you've guessed it, in beautiful France, which we love, of course. A bon entendeur... salut.

Any news Ugo?

In which case why not just shut down the Forum - most things can be Googled after all. Somebody mentions Diwali - it brings back happy memories of great times had with my students - and I wonder- when is it this year? How that makes me cantankerous, I just do not know! Thanks for the info - we won't be there, sadly. I did notice the smilie... I wonder how long it takes to shed the past??[:)] My thoughts recently are for all our great Muslim friends- with Ramadan being earlier and earlier, and with this heat, the days must seems so long and almost unbearable. Salam alekum.

In Leicester we had fabulous Diwali festivals - what are the dates for this year?

Aaaaatschoum!   xx LOL

GGGGRRRRRRRRRR      LOL  gg I have a friend who is a librarian there! amazing place.

Whenever this has happened with us,  it has been a clear 'thank you' for letting them pass.

Lavender is great , but sadly many think it is no maintenance, and within a few years, plants are leggy and ugly. So remember to cut off the flowers and a bit more (but NOT into old wood) in the autumn. Easy and quick.

I agree it is not a place you fall in love straightway - you need to look, listen and feel. No Devon or Cotswolds, no pretty pretty or even woolie! But when you give it time, it is a very very special place, almost unique. This is not the right place to talk about this, apologies to the OP for thread drift. I am truly glad I made it my home for quite a long time, and a piece of my heart, and many friends, remain there. Will leave it at that.

Well I lived there for a very long time, and it was a great place. Very very interesting town, great mix of people, and taught in 4 different great schools. Beautiful countryside and villages too. A very happy time. But we rather digress. Woolie, lots of bananas enjoy Leicester market - including green ones of course - couldn't be in a better place.

Have you ever lived there? I did for 35 years.

And of course, savoury. Wild mushrooms cooked with ham and cream the other day. Delish.

My blood pressure has just gone sky high - the very mention of Christmas cards in mid August is just too much!  AAARGGHHH.

Never ashamed of backpedalling if I feel I've upset anybody or perhaps not made myself clear- or misread the situation. Always prepared to apologize and listen too, and even change my mind if I am convinced that I should. The 'some' to 'most' comes from another Forum, where it was made clear that 'some' but an increasing number of Brits in France, are now buying a large proportion (most) of their food, goods, etc, from UK and having it shipped over. I can understand that the value of the £ has really affected many (including us I can tell you - but yes,  we are very lucky that having bought in an area where property values are very low - we can 'take it' without struggling, and I know we are very lucky) - but again, I am just concerned that this increased buying in UK and importing MAY have an effect on relations should it continue or get even more prevalent. Here it is not a problem - there are no other Brits. I have NO axe to grind, no personal interest or bitterness in this 'debate' - but I DO talk to a lot of French people in various areas, and can feel the tide a'changing. As said before I hope I am wrong. Have none of you noticed how the Dutch are resented for bringing everything and the kitchen sink with them- and not spending any money in the area? Of course, Money talks Sweet, but locals feeling the pinch and struggling to make ends meet (small shops, artisans, etc - who are also pretty hard up in the present climate) might also become a tad more sensitive - and one needs to take that on board, perhaps. Up to you, each to their own - et bonne chance.

Oh dear Gluestick, I can assure you my friends are not confused at all- a great bunch really. Leicester is actually a fascinating immigration City. Those who came in the 70s from Uganda brought huge knowledge and experience with them. They restored parts of the inner Victorian working-class areas which were falling down - then moved out to more salubrious areas. Many are now very well-off- and own some of the largest properties in the middle-class suburbs- doctors, surgeons, lawyers and business men. As a teacher, I must say teaching their children was a joy - hard-working, motivated, well supported by parents and aspirational. They found a way of being totally integrated and at the same time keeping their culture, and that was a joy to see. I am not naive BTW - there are problems- but most of the second and third generation Asians are well-educated,  well employed and sadly, much more integrated than some groups of a rising indigenous 'underclass', poorly educated, with no ambition and practically unemployable in a modern world. Rose thanks for your post. And I agree with most of what you say. We all buy bits from 'back home' and it is very normal. What concerns me, is that some Brits in France are now buying not 'some' things, but 'most things, from the UK, including a large percentage of their daily foodstuff. Most French people have not yet cottoned on to this - and I do worry that when they do, some might react negatively. I hope I am wrong- but I do think we as 'immigrants' should perhaps be aware of this. I discussed this with French and Swiss friends following a thread on another Forum re. buying most foodstuff from UK on the net and having it shipped over by agents and collecting from set points. I just asked them what they thought. They were  a/ very surprised that it goes on  b/ felt it was not conducive to good relationships. If the locals feel under pressure from 'la crise' and that the Brits no longer patronise the local shops and artisans, then I do understand they may feel a bit aggrieved. I respect your comments and hope you can perhaps mine as sincere.

Bizarre Richard- I can understand you were annoyed and bemused! I must say I've never seen as much dog mess as in French towns- much worse than in the UK. On a visit to Collioure some years back - you could hardly walk for the dog mess. Here bags and bins are provided everywhere, and people seem to really try. However, some people drive me crazy - they get a bag, pick up, then leave the bag by the roadside or throw it in a ditch or hedge!!