EmilyA

You have never tasted mine, Idun......

Well nobody knew what it was, but they wolfed it down! It was funny really because the mayor came round the day before and said he would bring the main course and the deputy mayor would do the starter so eventually I worked out that I was meant to bring the pudding. Like all prudent English housewives in France I had a (rather elderly) tin of golden syrup in the back of the larder, so treacle tart it was.

This may be the only time in French electoral history when lunch has included a treacle tart.

When I did the lunchtime shift we all took a course and sat down to a three course meal. Voters wished us Bon Appétit.

As an outgoing member of the Conseil (I am not standing again), I am really looking forward to my 8am to 1pm stints at the election. Especially the second one when the clocks go on.

I am pretty sure the answer to this is no, but is there anything we can do when we only have 512k?

Chalus, my ipad and iphone are using up the battery much more quickly since Ios7. My ipad is just over a year old. The background updating of apps and the location services are the most likely things. I have turned off the updating of apps, but wouldn't want to lose location for Find My Iphone. I have Flightradar on my ipad and updating all those aeroplanes was using up the battery fast. Also turning down the brightness helps.

Given that the OP says this started a few weeks and lots of people have this problem with the Ios7 upgrade, I am pretty sure that this will be the problem. If you Google Ios7 and battery draining, you will find plenty of help.

Have you updated to IOS7? My battery drains much more quickly now. It helps to turn off the automatic updating of background apps, but it still goes much faster. Or is it just too much Candy Crush? Level 409 is using up lots of battery!

I think people suggested that if the weather improved she would have just parked somewhere and walked. She kept all the walking gear in her car.

I am guessing that some of you have been on Gransnet, but there is a lot going on to try and contact French media at the moment http://www.gransnet.com/forums/other_subjects/1202005-IMPORTANT-Please-read-Missing-Gransnet-member-in-France?pg=13 French speakers are needed!

Thanks Chancer. Now in the Mail and the Telegraph, but local French media would help!

Thanks Catalpa. Not my family at all, just someone I "know" from various forums. She posts as Sheridan on here and has been a member for years I think. Her family are doing well with the press in the UK, there are stories in the Hull Daily Mail and Manchester Evening news, plus masses on Twitter and Facebook. The gendarmes and the mountain rescue are searching and the FCO are involved. I have been trying to help by keeping up to date with French media responses and feeding back to the family.

That would be great Chancer. I think Provence Alpes (it is Haute Savoie), but I am not sure. I think the scheduling is the same everywhere. It is so important to find the car and it seems to me that the local news is the obvious way.

It would really help if you could monitor the local media to see what they are covering, Sheila. I can only find stuff on the France3 Alpes website, but need to know if there is anything in the local paper or on the news. The family are in England and New Zealand, so nobody is there as far as I know. Also, I don't think Carol posted on here often, but the family are asking about information on any communication after Saturday lunchtime.

Yes I am sure you are right Pickles. If anyone is in the region and can watch the 19/20 it would be great to know if they mention it.

Quillan, that was a cut and paste from another forum where lots has been happening. Carol's granddaughter is keen to keep the information flowing, so I have been helping out. Hope that is OK. I have been a bit surprised that there has not been much response here. It would be great if anyone in the region could let us know about any media coverage.

Update from Carol's granddaughter. UPDATE: Got the call - have just been informed that an official search is being launched by French police TODAY. Mountain police have also been contacted and are launching their own search as well. The focus is on finding Nan's car and from there a helicopter is on standby to complete a more thorough search in a specific area. This is a testament to all your hard work in getting the work out there and putting pressure on the police to act! Don't stop now - she isn't found, keep it up!!

I think the family have asked them directly. This is her granddaughter's post on another forum. Obviously extra difficult because they are in New Zealand. UPDATE: Just received a call from the foreign office who have been in contact with the local police. Having been advised by several charities to remain put as there is little we can do from France that we couldn't do from home (particularly as we are not fluent French-speakers), the French police have now suggested that if we want them to begin a search party for my Nan we should be over there doing it ourselves. Unfortunately they maintain that a crime has not been committed and that if a person wishes to disappear they have every right to do so. After much talking the foreign office is going to contact them again and stress how vulnerable Carol is and how unusual this behaviour is. Their lack of urgency in this matter is of course adding to our stress, but we will persist with it & keep you all updated. Please continue with your efforts to raise awareness in the local community & get everyone looking for her car!

Apparently the French police are refusing to search for her because no crime has been committed and everyone has the right to go missing. The FCO is involved.

Still no news this morning. Carol's family are trying to get the story covered in the local media. Is anyone in the area able to help with this, even if it is only to suggest the best people to contact?

Can I ask members in the Haute Savoie if the message is getting through there? Is there anything else that can be done? This is one of our long-standing members who is missing.

More details 'Carol Sheridan lives in Habere Poche, in the Haute Savoie departement about 20 miles from Lake Geneva. She is keen on hiking alone in the mountains, and will often take off in her car to find a remote mountain pass where she can walk and enjoy the amazing scenery. On Saturday last, she was seen driving out of her car park by a neighbour, and she has not been sighted since. Police have made enquiries and advised she can be listed as a missing person this morning. Interpol, Wellington, New Zealand police and the French gendarmerie will cooperate in attempts to find Carol. (Her daughter lives in New Zealand) Her daughter, Fiona Conyers, is coordinating a poster campaign, and local radio stations, the Mairie, people in the village, Commonwealth Office, British Embassy and several others have been notified. She drives a black Fiat Panda 4x4 reg: AZ 522 AP. She could be parked on a mountain pass, waiting for help to arrive if she has broken down. The walks she goes on are in very remote areas, but she does occasionally see other walkers and cyclists.'

Moderators, could you do something with the poster from the Gransnet thread. I have also failed to make the link live. Help please!

Have just heard that Carol, who posts on here as Sheridan, is missing. Here is a link to the thread on the Gransnet forum.  http://www.gransnet.com/forums/other_subjects/1202005-IMPORTANT-Please-read-Missing-Gransnet-member-in-France. If anyone is in that region, it would help if they could spread the word.