Swissie

It could be just ideal for a retired couple- why not? Bonne chance.

Nomoss, what a brilliant idea - I will e-mail him NOW. He has also written today to his local CICR - thanks to all- you are stars!

My last (State) school in the UK had a boarding school- originally for Armed forces kids whose parents were abroad - but now increasingly used for cases like yours, and also foreign students wanted to become bilingual 'on the cheap' and with total immersion. Much easier of course in the UK Year 12, as students only study 4 subjects- and the variety is much greater. My friend's daughter did a Year with us doing German (she is a French native, but studied German at school), Art&Design, Business and Music- it was a 'wasted' year from the strict academical way - but she loved doing those subjects, made loads of friends and became totally bilingual- only cost the price of the boarding. Great. One of our daughters did a year at the prestigious Ecole de Commerce in Marseilles (as her Erasmus year) and said it was very poor compared to the IBML course at Aston Uni - but loved being next to the Calanques!

(aaarrrggghhhh Frenchie - main thing is you were not injured - OUF. I've got Henry for sale, but it is a Opel  (Vauxhall) Zafira, petrol, and in central UK- but has been a brilliant friend for 10 years!  Hope you find a great car soon. Here I have a Toyota Yaris - and we get on very well. xx

Darn Sweetie, I am sooooo disappointed. I was really hoping for a conspiracy theory so I could write a bestseller. Never mind then   xxx very hot here BTW   scorchio

This person did talk to his top up insurance and asked them, but they were not interested, which seems bizarre, as the second op cost them a lot of money. And whereas a surgeon here would be entirely responsible for the choice of prosthesis and therefore the outcome in case of failure - he just says that it was a Manufacturing fault, so nothing to do with him! What a very sad saga, but somehow I feel sure redress will be got for this really nice man. Battle on.

The square opening we keep open for them is about 50cm square, but they never miss and never slow down- and the youngsters seem to have no trouble managing this either. Love them.

That is a very useful tip AnOther, thanks.

Thanks SD, did manage to Google them - problem is it seems, that it appears to be a manufacturing fault, not a medical one. In the UK the surgeon/hospital would be responsible for any product used (in this instance a prosthesis).

Don't worry, I do remember asking before. It is just that most simple pm's which do not turn into an exchange or discussion = 3 viewings - but from time to time it is 6. I'd just like to understand why and how a normal 3 turns into a funny 6.

If you are up all night with screaming twins - no wonder! He'll come back.

Really hope you do find your dream home. My best friend had 'trompe l'oeuil' hirondelles painted on their house - they are so realistic and wonderful - although they might act as a deterrent to the real thing. xx

lol

I still do not understand. I get a message and look at it once - and all of a sudden it has 6 viewings. Whereas most pms only get 3, sender, reply, sender.

I'd never heard about ISO9001 certification , thanks Clarkkent - will try and find out more. And an excellent idea Cooperlola about getting top up insurance involved. Lisa, I hope you've finally got redress - but what a nightmare this type of situation is in France.

He has been trying to get the results of the expertise on the faulty prosthesis for a year now - zilch, nothing. Which is why I was hoping somebody here might have experience, knowledge, advice - or all 3- after much research, Googling (wouldn't dream of asking here if we hadn't done that first - although many many do - without being told to go away and Google- but never mind) solicitor, translating letters, etc, etc. The thing is, at first, all he wanted was to understand why the prosthesis had broken - but know, he is angry (as well as in constant pain) - and wants proper redress. but can you imagine anything like that happening in UK? Mistakes are made, as everywhere- but no Surgeon and Manufacturer could get away with a refusal to give relevant info. It is appalling.

One of my favourite ever cartoon film 'Chicken Run' - one lovely hen is threatened with the pot as she is not laying daily! Aaarrrgghh.  I used to sell extra eggs to colleagues at work - we hardly ate any as after a few months, enough was enough. I really miss my chickens - all had a 'personality' and all very different, just like cats or dogs- they were great company when I was working in the garden and they followed me everywhere. Faiza, Martha, Poppy, Donner, Blitzen and the most handsome and gallant little cockerel in the world - Minus. Fell of his perch of old age, at 12. Away too often, and too many martens, pine and beech and foxes here. But having them when the kids were young was a brilliant experience.

Arrghh - lovely. got a barnfull too- both house martins and swallows. Is that a very recent photo - in which case she is leaving it a bit late. Wonder if it is a second brood? I just love their constant chatter and flying just over my head in and out of the opening we made for them.

No snow quite yet - any day now, I'm sure. There all those green eyed monsters will soon be covered by huge white drifts!  BTW Switzerland went out of the World Cup after a very poor match - can't play for toffee (even worse than England- and they did not have the excuse of having a blind referee!). Weedon hope you are recovering quickly and without too much pain. Recently had friends over from Colorado- she had both hips done about 12 years ago and has no pain and enjoys walking, swimming, golf and skiing. But she is VERY strict about doing her exercises - swimming with physio palms and exercises with a physio elastic band EVERY day, religiously. Her OH suggested not doing them one am as we were going on a longer trip out, and she threw a wobbly - did her exercises, and then we went. Bonne chance.

Patf, thanks for that link. In the UK, it is relatively easy to make a medical complaint- which has to be dealt with by the GMC, etc. But in France it seems much more tortuous. Many letters have been written to the manufacturer to request results of the expertise - by patient, by solicitor, by surgeon, by Director of Hospital - but to no avail. It seems that as the manufacturers are not Health professionals, they do not have to give results of expertise. That seems incredible. There is also no 'no result, no fee' system, so the patient is very reluctant to engage in long and expensive procedure - very understandable. Personally I have much experience of the UK system- and to some extent the Swiss medical set up- but none of the French - hence my question here- to help a British retiree who is at the end of his tether- and would be so grateful for any help/advice. I am so sorry if my second message sounded impatient. I sent a second message to push it back up to the top- in hope - as he needs prompt advice prior to having an appt. with the surgeon soon. Merci Patf.

Sweet, I think some of them do! Water +duck!

Nothing stroppy at all about my second post - just sent 2nd message to put it up to top again. And indeed, I am sure that anybody who finds him'herself in such a dreadful position would be most grateful for any help. I've Googled and Googled, in French and English - I can assure you- but what it clear is that the situation in France is NOT clear at all! I've translated letters which have been sent - to no avail. I cannot remember another member being told to go away and just 'Google it' - which could apply to most things, from recipes to insurance or immo info. Surely, finding and sharing info and support is what this forum is about, as well as sharing (and yes, even at times, disagreeing) opinions and ideas. A pity some can't let bygones be bygones, perhaps.    Have a good Summer.  Swissie

Hi Velcorin - the company is   ATF Laboratoire   191  rue des Métaux  74970 Marignier      Many letters have been sent already, by the patient, his solicitor and the Hospital Director- and the surgeon has talked to them on several occasions. I must try and find if they have a 'subsidiary' or representative in the UK - I think I looked on Google already a few months back. Will try again. thanks for getting his name (surely there must be 1 or 2 female PDGs in France??). It seems that RH is not very well disposed towards me - but c'est la vie.   Merci mille fois    Odile / Swissie.

Thank you kindly Vercorin - I will pm you later. Very kind and a brilliant idea to put pressure on the UK side. MERCI. Is it not incredible though, that a Company could just ignore or refuse to act upon, several solicitors letters and a request from the Hospital Director and the surgeon? This would just be impossible in the UK. I am almost sure they will eventually say that they have 'lost' the expertise and 'mislaid' the prosthesis. RH- Don't quite know how to interpret your comment. Most questions about France are kindly answered here by one person or other, with or without relevant experience, in a friendly manner. Why should this one be any different? I'm afraid I do not know of French medical websites, nor have access to them.

There is no 'one size' fits all - it depends on region, whether rural or town, age group and perhaps even, type of people (trying to avoid the word 'class'). Here in Central Eastern French rural mountains, it's either 11ish or 6ish. Rural folk here tend to eat at 12-12.30 and 6.30-7.00 - and would find later times would impinge too much on habits. In a town and with more 'professional' types, tend to be 1 hour or more later. So I'd ask a local person who knows the local habits, not to ruffle feathers. Keep it simple - caviar canapés will cause derision (and perhaps jealousy) in France profonde. Bonne chance et ... santé!