Anna

Na....a measly, begrudged heating allowance wouldn't have stopped me from living in France! It's just that it's annoying to think that the UK system is unfair in this regard. Having paid into the UK system enough to qualify for a State Pension why on earth should they do you out of the heating allowance! If you stop to consider all the points long enough, life might pass you by and then you may look back when it's too late and wish you had.  

Sorry, to have confused you, I should originally have said "in the September before your 60th birthday" (ie when you are still 59). This was the qualifying date at that time, although the qualifying date can change. I believe it means that, if you didn't qualify, you cannot ever receive  a heating allowance. Ridiculous really, as I said, it should be paid to everyone who qualifies for a UK State Pension as if they qualify for their pension, then surely they are deemed to have paid their just dues into the system! My neighbour moved to France in the November, a couple of weeks before his 60th birthday but, because he was still resident in the UK in that September, he qualifies for life (or until things change) for the heating allowance, no matter where he is in the World. Anyway, it can get a lot colder here than in the Uk in Winter and, if we have paid up all our dues, then why shouldn't we receive the heating allowance? By the way, said neighbour isn't in receipt of his State Pension yet (but receives his heating allowance). I am in receipt of my State Pension but wasn't resident in the Uk on the qualifying date so will never (unless things change) receive the heating allowance! Fair or unfair, what do you think?

It's only paid when you reach 60 if you were resident in the UK in the September before your 60th birthday!

While I totally empathise with what you are saying, Gastines, let's keep to the OP's message. This is one close to my heart! I think it's totally unfair to pay heating allowance to anyone who is a resident of the Uk in the September before their 59th birthday! What sort of marker is that? Our English neighbour moved over here in the November after the September before his 59th birthday so gets his heating allowance for life (unless things change of course!). What's wrong with giving the heating allowance to everyone who qualifies for their State Pension, regardless of where they live. If they qualify for a UK State Pension, then surely they have paid their contributions and should be also be eligible for a heating allowance. And yes, I moved to France before the required date so, although I qualify for, and am now in receipt of my State Pension, I do not receive the heating allowance!

Yeah, know exactly what you mean about rolling in "God knows what"! We had an abandoned Jack Russell cross (now sadly departed), who used to do that regularly. Even after a good bath, the smell still lingered! Cow dung, hen pen, you name it, he loved it for a good old roll!! Never tried Fabreeze, it would be interesting (if it was ok, which I very much doubt) to find out if it worked. My sister-in-law always says "never cover a smell with a smell" as it doesn't work! Have to say, I think she's right!

Hi Lisa Sorry, not any further forward but I've had a heavy cold so not been out and about for a few days. I just wondered if Hobo has been castrated, just in case someone asks. Also, is he inclined to wander and is there any other info you can give me about him....good and bad points? Also, I noticed Claire said she was looking for another dog so wondered if there was any luck with that? I would take him in a heartbeat if only I was allowed! He really does look so handsome with that alert look and shiny coat! It's just a case of finding a family with room for another dog, isn't it, as he sure does look irresistable.

Hi Cathy I believe Magnolia is away this weekend, picking up a number of rescue pups, so may not answer for a while. Below is the info about Nana, taken from the galgo news site. Galgo is the name for a Spanish Greyhound, which is used by Spanish Hunters, who often mistreat their dogs and get rid of them at the end of the hunting season in the most horrific ways imaginable. There is a band of wonderfully dedicated people who, without enough funding, are dedicated to rescuing these dogs and trying to find loving adopted homes for them and also are trying hard to make their plight known to everyone in the hope of bringing pressure to bear on the Spanish authorities to bring an end to the suffering of these dogs. More info can be found on http://www.galgonews.com/  I didn't know anything about these dogs until, thanks to Magnolia, I read about them on this Forum and subsequently adopted our Roqui, who is a Podenco, which is also a Spanish hunting dog. Looks rather like a greyhound but has large pointed ears. Like the greyhound, he has a beautiful, gentle nature and has brought us a lot of pleasure. Nana - just a little dog Cristina de Luna is trying to find a permanent home for this little dog. She is called NANA, she's a crossed galga, very small. She's around 45 cm high and weights 10 kg., and is only 10 months old. The photos show her in her foster home, but now her foster mum is very ill, and a refuge is the only other place open to her. She cries the whole day and is very depressed because she doesn't understand what happened. If there is anyone looking for a small dog, this little girl is perfect.

Sorry, don't mean to go on, but here is another link which may be useful: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalhealth/about-us/contact-us/animal-health-offices.htm You should be able to scroll down and find your local office here, which may seem more personal.  

Have a look at this link and let me know what you make of it.... http://www.douane.gouv.fr/page.asp?id=107

Hi I'm the first to agree that my French is pretty abismal (yes, even after 7yrs!), however, I think this link is saying that it's for outside the EU. Maybe someone with better French will verify. You're absolutely correct that things may well have changed since we came over in 2001 so you must check for up to date info. However, I do think that if you do not intend to take your pets back to the UK, you do not need to go to the expense of getting a Pet Passport. If you find you want this in the future, it can be done in France. Defra are, in my experience, very good at answering their e-mails so will, I hope, respond with good info.

Hi Vivi Welcome to the Forum. I suggest you contact Defra [email protected] to make sure of the requirements. If you just want to bring your cat over to France and do not wish to obtain a Pet Passport for it, then tell Defra that you only want to export your cat (and do not want a Pet Passport ) and what the requirements are for an export only certificate. We brought our old cat over to France in 2001 and only obtained an export certificate for it and one of our dogs. We obtained the form from our local Ministry of Agriculture (probably Defra will now issue) and the only requirement was that we had to have a vet sign the form to say that the pet had been checked and was found to be fit enough to travel. We did not have to have any documentation to show jabs, etc. When we crossed over by ferry, no-one either side of the channel ever asked to see any documentation at all! We crossed over with our cat and dog (both with only export certificates) and my Mother's guide dog, which has her Pet Passport. If you're leaving the UK for France, there's no problem. It's only if you want to return that you have to have all the Pet Passport hassle. Hope this helps and best wishes for a smooth crossing in June. Anna

Calling Rob Roy Hey, Mary, can you help? Have you had a look at the photos of Hobo, Lea and Joy? Haven't heard from you for a while, how are you? Would you spread the word about any of these dogs looking for a home? Perhaps at your local Vet's or amongst your Brit/French friends? Hope to hear from soon

Hi Lisa Sorry we can't take him....he looks so handsome and friendly. Wish we didn't have to take in guests during the Summer to help pay our bills! But there you go, we do and so can't take on another dog. I have printed off Hobo's photos and will talk to anyone and everyone we meet about him. We do play darts in a little Brit/French local Pub league so, I promise I'll take his photos and talk about him. I know how it is with other dogs in your family and what with work, your own family, etc, I'm sure you have your hands full but I hope you can work round all that and find it in your hearts to hold out from sending Hobo to the kennels. Come on everyone, please try your hardest to put the word out and find Hobo a good loving and, to quote Magnolia, a forever home! I know it's difficult as all us animal lovers probably have all the pets we can handle but we must know someone out there who can handle another beautiful dog. I tell you, it's just as well we women have husbands/partners to keep our feet on the ground or else (certainly for me and I'm sure for a lot of you), we would have our homes full of these dogs.....well don't they all look so sweet??

Hi All Well, I couldn't resist posting a preview photo of my first, not quite finished coat! The pattern is the Anne Finch one (the Lazy Way it says!), found here http://www.greyhoundsinneed.co.uk/howyoucanhelp/coat.htm   I've just got the neck to bind and the ties to do. Can you see, it even has a little pocket for a doggie biscuit!! Ha ha....just the way it worked out when I cut out from the anorak!! I just cut the pattern from newspaper and made it (the pattern) 30"x12" as you don't need the other squares. I was also even lazier as I didn't bother to make the curves, other than the neck, and I think it looks fine straight! This, as you can see fits our Roqui fine and I think he's quite a big lad. It wouldn't matter if the sides came down lower as I noticed some coats on Nuria's rescue dogs which were longer at the sides. Also, being a canny Scot (we're not mean, just careful, you understand!), instead of buying bias binding, I used some old lining material I had left over from making curtains, and just cut strips of that diagonally and those are the pink edges you can see on the coat. So the pattern was cut from newspaper, anorak from the charity shop, bias binding made from scraps and thread from my sewing box so only postage to pay for! I'm well chuffed....as you can tell!! Magnolia, re the knitting pattern, are you using size 8 (4mm) needles and Arran or similar thick wool? As, if not, it will make a difference to the size of the finished coat. Maybe Chrisse would give you some advice on size of needles and thickness of wool. By the way, Chrissie, my sewn coat measures 24" along the back and 24" wide so the same size as your knitted one.   [IMG]http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii67/Anna-dordogne/CoatinProgress.jpg[/IMG]  

Well done, Chrissie, it looks and sounds fab.....and lined too...really cosy! I did some more to my first "anorak coat" today but have come down with a really heavy cold, all of a sudden. Hopefully it'll disappear as quickly! Anyway, wasn't quite with it and had to unpick and resew, only to find I'd sewn it the very same (wrong) way, yet again!! So, have unpicked and set aside till tomorrow. Not that there's anything difficult, just the way I was feeling! Determined to get it finished though and post a photo to keep upsides with you, Chrissie!! Lol! Remember, if anyone has any old anoraks I'll take them. Doesn't matter if the zips broken, as I don't use that part.

Great Chrissie. It's lovely to think that we can all make a difference to these poor dogs and also give a boost to the volunteers in Spain too to know that others do care enough to send a donation. Any chance of a photo of you doggie coat of many colours? It sounds pretty and cosy!

Just a PS to let you know that I've received an e-mail receipt from Paypal and also a donation notification e-mail from Nuria Blanco, which says: "Thank you very much for your donation. We shall use this entirely for our galgos rescue mission. This is the end of the hunting season and we have lots of galgos waiting for help in the refuges. Yous donation is very much welcome. Thanks a lot" So, good to know it's worked  and the donations are going where they're most needed. Hope this encourages more of you to make a donation too.

Hi Christine and All Yes, paid by Paypal on the site www.levriers.net  As Christine said, I just filled in the amount and clicked on the Paypal box on the right, filled in my e-mail address and my Paypal password, clicked on the yellow box, then it came up in English and voila, job done. Really easy! I hope more people will feel it in their hearts to make a donation too. I'll just have to cut down on the groceries this week.....we'll have baked potatoes for dinner a few times.....very filling and cheap and I shan't tell the family why!!!! Hopefully will have my first "anorak doggie coat" finished soon and will post a photo. I'll try to get Roqui to be my model!! That is if he stands still long enough to take a photo!

Hi Christine I already have an account set up with Paypal for Ebay. I could send a cheque but I think they may have to pay bank charges on a French Euro cheque if cashed in Spain. Can I use my Paypal account, already set up? If so can you tell me what to do? If so, I can send a little note to Nuria to let her know I've paid the money by Paypal and tell her we're all thinking of her and the poor Galgos and, hopefully there will be others who will follow suit, no matter how small a donation they can give as it will all help.

Re Magnolia, oops, just read her post on the Forum today, about Joy, so good to know she's obviously well and active as usual!

Hi Yes, please, I want to send 50€ too. I clicked on their website to pay by Paypal but not sure what to do (all foreign!!). Please can you talk me through it? Also, if you will send me some leaflets to print off, I'll see what I can do, no promises but I can only try. It's such a shame. We adopted Roqui, our Podenco, a few weeks ago and he's such a gem. At only 10 months old, he just seems like he's been here before! He just wants to please and he's such a pleasure to have around. He's really settled down with us and some of his antics are so funny he makes us smile a lot! We were concerned that our property isn't fenced and, although we are in the countryside, we were worried that he might wander off. Well, he obviously knows when he's well off (he does seem very intellegent!) as he often sits, looking out over the fields, at the edge of our property but, so far, hasn't been tempted to venture. He really is delightful and I can recommend to anyone considering giving one of theses poor dogs a home, to go ahead....you won't regret it. I've now began sewing doggie coats, made out of old anoraks and have lots of people looking out for anoraks so I can make more to at least give these poor Spanish dogs some comfort. Come on folks, lets rally round and give a little money to help. I know there are lots of good causes but this is near to our hearts. After all, who can resist a poor defenseless animal? By the way, where's Magnolia? Hope she's ok. I've e-mailed her but not had a reply. Anyone else heard from her lately?

Hi Sorry, don't have experience of poisoning but have had an ill cat to deal with in the past. So I would just like to add that, if you think your cat isn't drinking, then I suggest that, every hour or two, get a little water down him on a teaspoon, even if it's only a few drops. It's very important not to let your cat become dehydrated. It's more important than eating as, if he's not feeling well, he may not want to eat but must drink. Same with us humans really! Then, if you're worried about her/him, go back to your vet. Hope your cat recovers soon.

Hi Rose Your photos are lovely. Shame you lost Mum, she looks so loving. How's Pig doing? Anna

Great news Rose! Good for you...and your helpers! Keep it up, you now know you can do this. Don't expect Pig to understand that it's for his own good and to allow you to do it any easier though! It will only become easier by you all perfecting your technique! Pig looks very like our old Cheeky, long since departed, a real gem of a cat, the kind you are lucky enough to have once every so often, the kind who you can do anything to. When our oldest daughter was little, she used to wrap Cheeky in a shawl and push him about in her dolls pram. He was such a softie and never scratched anyone. We now have our old 18yr old Scottish, rescue cat, Smokey, who loves her life here in France and our 4yr old twin black French rescue cats, Coca and Cola. Our youngest daughter has a flat in Perigueux. Are you near Le Bugue then? Good luck Anna

Good idea Gail. I should have said I'm in 24320 Nanteuil Auriac de Bourzac, near Verteillac. So not far from you Gail! We used to have friends near Grand Brassac but they went back to UK last year. Also, our daughter's boyfriend lives just outside Grand Brassac! Small world! Had a few good nights down at Renamont too!