Fureys

Hi, The White Heron, or Great White Egret to use its common name, is primarily an eastern European bird, but the very cold spell that has struck at the eastern end of the Mediterranean and the whole of the Balkan region will make a lot of them move west. As was mentioned upthread there is a small population of Great White Egret in southern France and one in the valley of the Po in Italy, so this one is probably one of those. BTW what colour was the bill? If it's grey the bird is still in winter plumage, but if was yellow, the bird is moving into breeding plumage - it would be great if you could see two together! Fureys

As Idun knows, I live in southern Sweden and travel to our house in the Charente as often as I can, a little matter of 2,000 km each way. We start the down trip at 2.00 am to be able to get a ferry from Denmark to Germany (a monopoly, so you pay the fare or stay ashore) then drive 750 km through northern and western Germany, a few minutes through Luxembourg and finally arrive, knackered but chuffed, in Metz, which is just over halfway. Still, this is the last winter and the last spring we'll be doing it, retirement looms and then the trip to sunny Charente will be one way only, I'm not complaining, I'm loving it!   (we do get a bit of a longer summer than you up in Finisterre tho', so my sympathies there) Allez les Bleus! Fureys

Hi Mrs H   I think it's worse than that: I've heard about people being banned from driving for being DIC and then go out and buy one of these dinkies and set off drunk driving all over again. Fureys

Hi, What you need is called naphthalene (same in both French and English), be careful when you lay it out as it can be flammable. Furs

Hi all, I've been following this thread with some interest and now Val 2 has really hit a good spot! I left the UK when I was 22 years old and have lived in Scandinavia ever since, working self-employed and paying in my social welfare contributions. I am due for retirement in 2012 and will get a Swedish pension. I did however work for 3 years in the UK before leaving, paying income tax and social contributions during that time. Does this entitle me to a few bob from the UK? Fureys

Hi tout le monde! Thank you very much for your kind suggestions. We'll deffo check out Jordan's. but I haven't seen a Biocoop around us. We actually do mix our own up here in Sweden where we spend a little more than half the year (until next year when we plan to move permanently in a south-westerly direction and live full time in Charente), but it's when we get down to the warmth and sunshine that the muesli problem kicks in. Once again, tusen tack! Fureys

Hi all, We have been looking for real muesli mixtures, without being full of chocolate bits and other sweeteners but haven't found any. Does anyone know where we can buy unsweetened muesli mixtures? We live in 16 so our supermarkets are SuperU, Geant, Carrefour and Auchan. Thanks

Great shot Crossy! what lens have you got for that? 600? Fureys

Wendy is absolutely right; since this is (I am assuming) la voie publique - which means exactly what it says - the public highway - and only the police or those acting under public authority are empowered to cordon or close off a public highway. You wouldn't need to go to the Mayor's office, the gendarmes are a better bet.

And just in case you thought you'd got it sussed, one of the tributaries of La Loire is Le Loir. Ahem

Hi 275pedro I Pm'ed you a couple of days ago about hunting/target shooting etc. Maybe I've pressed the wrong button somewhere! Grateful for a reply Fureys

Hi Tuppence, Hedges of all kinds thrive on ash, just spread out the ash in handfuls or use a trowel then rake or hoe the ash lightly into the soil beneath the hedge, after a couple of showers you won't even see it's there. Fureys

Hi Patf, In the French Hunters' Handbook, they are clearly advised NOT to shoot closer than 150 metres from a habitated dwelling, now whether this is the law or not, I don't know, but they are not doing themselves any favours by such behaviour which they are at great pains to point out; hunters' behaviour towards non-hunters is vitally important for the well-being of hunting in every respect.

Hi Clair! Did you forget to put in a link here? or is it a Bordeaux branch of seasonedpioneers? Thanks

No Angela, RSPB got it right, they just added a picture of a similar bird that might cause confusion.

Charly's right, male chaffinch. Bullfinch is much larger, with bright red/pink breast and black head (not steely grey).

Nice one Wooly! But some birds already have wonderful names in French, like Short-toed eagle, Circaete Jean-le-Blanc. Love that.

Hi! White patch on the back of the head means Coal Tit (Parus ater).

Hi! Great shots of a greenfinch, are they common where you are? Got this funny wheezing call as well. Fureys

Hi, sorry I'm late! By the olive green legs and the diffuse eye stripe, this is a Chiffchaff. Normally Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler are almost imposible to tell apart other than by their song, but such a good clear photo as this makes identification pretty straightforward. Fureys

Hi Podrushka, Have you thought about contacting a property finder rather than an estate agent. These are people who normally don't have loads of properties on their books, but will - naturally for a fee - do a custom made search on properties in his/her area to meet your specific requirements and budget. You complete a questionnaire providing the property finder with your wish list and so on, then come up with a short list of places to go and visit. That's how we found our place in Charente and we were very satisfied. good luck! Fureys

Hi! Re Black redstarts, a very unusual call, not the song, is like someone crunching on gravel, you'd be surprised but that is the male making a contact call!

Hi! Heard on the birdwatchers' grapevine that 70 000 (seventy thousand) cranes have been counted resting at a lake called Sotonero in Northern Spain. This was a few days ago, but you lucky people in the SW should be in for some spectacular views over the next few weeks, weather permitting. Fureys

We plan to buy a small piece of land (1000 sq m) from our neighbours, we are in agreement about price and time for hand-over and so on, do we still need to use a Notaire or can we register the change of ownership ourselves at the Hypotheques? Fureys