Swissie

A good idea to watch films and read books you have already seen/read in English - that way you don't panic about the odd unknown word as you know the storyline.

Get a satellite which will pick up French tv + get in touch with your local college to ask if they have a French assistant/e - and ask if they would like to give private lessons.

Off downhill skiing this afternoon at our local slope. Loic our next door neighbour is taking my snowboard and shoes- and I will give him his first lesson today - he is so excited. Thérèse glad you enjoyed your visit to the Jura- the Mecca of cross country. Discovered lots of new slopes last week but only touched a tiny bit of the range. I feel so sad so many people can't wait to see the end of winter - when there is so much to do and see. Off to St Foy Tarentaise for downhill, off-piste (WITH a local guide) and babysitting!

Céline have you ever lived in England? Like RH I hate stereotypes.  In Leicester where I lived for more than 30 years, lots and lots of activities, discussions, lectures, art events etc, are organised every year for IWD- and they are very well attended. It is a pity some people, both men and women- think that they are only for hardened and vociferous feminists- as it is very far from the truth. I'd recommend that wherever you are it is might be very interesting to find out what goes in in your area- and hopefully, take part.

Today was a fabulous day in the Jura. Did 12 km through the snow laden trees with my lovely neighbour- beautiful.

Je reviens d'un tour de 12km dans la foret à ski de fond - paysage absolument fabuleux - les arbres sont tout figés de neige et de givre, et la neige scintillait sous le soleil. Merci Cristelle, ma super petite voisine.

The key is to book 90 days in advance to get best price. Personally, both in UK and in France - I find the best way to get a good price is to actually go in person to your local station- outside peak hours- and ask the guy in the ticket office to search for the very best price- explaining that we can have some flexibility on day/dates. Our local guy here took about 20 mins looking at all the possible options. Got E950 return for 2- then down to 350 and finally to 228. It saved us getting to Geneva transport or parking and time- and again we arrived in central London St Pancras (ok just north of) - and saved us lots of time and money at that end too. Defo do it again.

and certainly easier than crépuscule Dawn!

We took the train last time and it was really great fun, and in many ways quicker and cheaper than flying. TGV to Paris Gare de Lyon, RER D2 to Gare du Nord (or taxi) and Eurostar. The key is to book early - and if you are flexible with dates (eg week-days) tell the ticket guy. We got the price reduced from E950 for 2 return, to E228 for 2 return - by booking early and going on a Tuesday coming back on a Thursday (from Pontarlier). Brilliant.

slow here too - but mainly very inert - not much happening at all recently. Yawn.

Il neige à plein tube - environ 30 cm aujourd'hui. Nous avons deblayé la grande place derrière la maison une fois ce matin, et de nouveau cet après-midi. C'est un sport moins rigolo que le ski... surtout que la neige doit ensuite etre jetée par dessus des murs de neige de 1 m tout autour. Nous achèterons defo une souffleuse à neige pour l'hiver prochain. MAIS le paysage sera merveilleux quand le soleil arrivera - et pour le ski de fond et de descente - joie et bonheur.

Just before we moved here last March, several tons of snow slid of our roof- taking a third one the East side off, tiles, slats, felting, guttering and all- the snow was up to the second window, pressing on lower windows and filling the entrance porch. Our farmer neighbour and next door neighbour worked all day with a tractor and spades to clear the lot- then called the roofer to make secure. THEN they called us in the UK. That is what I call good neighbours! Since we've moved OH has given acupuncture treatment to both sets of neighbours for various ailments, and I have supported the kids with their homework. Send the cops if you wish - but this is what life is all about- helping each other out. Of course with elderly neighbours, help goes one way only - and that is fine too.

My new veg garden is still under lots of snow - but bought some parsnips seed when over in UK recently- as we miss them very much and can't find them here. They will ber parboiled for 5 mins (smell like old socks, warning Frenchie) then roasted - the best.

Must say it is much easier to find cheap fares outside school holidays - which is not poss for our friend Frenchie. Bonne chance. Nice town- very English in many ways - a great + was whale watching off Cape Cod. Hope you get there.

Excellent!

Daft though - my neighbour's son needs help with his English - I hate ironing. How can that be illegal? My OH wants to learn how to play the piano, another neighbour needs help with her son's German - great. And so on - always done it, always will! What is the situation with exchanging accommodation for holidays - a more and more popular option.

Did anybody see Terry Pratchett's plea, movingly read by Tony Robinson, for the Dimbledy Lecture last week. Extremely moving and totally convincing. I am so glad I live in a country where we have the choice to end our life with dignity in the case of terminal or debilitating illness.

Salut GG - regarde le calendrier de vacances sur le 'French education' thread - pour les dates pour les 3 différentes zones. Tu dois vraiment te réjouir de votre séjour en France - j'espère que vous vous amuserez et vous reposerez bien, et qu'il fera beau. Dans quelle région serez-vous? BONNES   VACANCES  A  TOUS  ET  TOUTES XXXX

There is a fine line between fraud and just giving a hand ... not always easy to define. We 'tit for tat' all the time with neighbours - the skills we exchange would cost them an awful lot more than the ones they have on offer, but it is irrelevant to us. One hour teaching for me is the same as one hour ironing- for instance. We all help each other here and it's great. I would happily offer to host, feed and give French course for somebody who would fit a shower-room for us. I think they would be quids in, but it wouldn't matter to me - work for work (and making sure insurance is covered). What would the legal position be in France? In the UK most towns have an official website for swapping skills, with the approval of the Council. I have often given language lessons (French, English or German) in exchange for other help. As long as it is a genuine swap, it's fine by me.

Oh là là - j'espèreque ton cou et ton coude iront bientot mieux et que tu pourras pleinement profiter des vacances. Pas de visite en Angleterre?? Sommes-nous vraiment seules ici à 'pratiquer' notre français!? xx

After a long career teaching in a variety of UK schools - I can truly say that 'simple' it is sadly not.

C'est bien calme ici aujourd'hui - le temps est mi-figue, mi-raisin - mais je vais aller faire un grand tour avec Gatsby - car je l'ai un peu abandonnée cette semaine. Maleureusement les chiens sont interdits sur les pistes de ski de fond! Cette semaine nous allons faire du ski de descente car les conditions sont bonnes - et peut etre du ski de fond avec nos amis du Kent qui ont un petit chalet près d'ici et sont là pour quelques jours.

That sounds like a brilliant idea. Would you be prepared to do that? Have you got any pictures of the trees (to identify them) and the plot?

Personally I do not care one jot about remains or ashes, mine or my beloved ones, human or pets. Absolutely ridiculous to stop people scattering ashes in the countryside or their garden, or indeed burying them. It is a concern however that cemeteries with buried bodies can be very polluting as many people who die nowadays do so after dangerous chemicals (drugs), x-rays and chemo chemicals, pace-makers, etc - if these are near water-tables or streams, rivers, etc. Our little cemetery here receives about 10 bodies a year- so it is not a problem- but in huge town cemeteries it's a different story.

Yes, that is the one Silver Beach, Barnagate Island- where my cousin has a lovely holiday house. They actually live in Warren, further North.