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Mrs Trellis

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Everything posted by Mrs Trellis

  1. I've never heard of a bonfire ban here, except in the heatwave. Lots of people have them and we had one a few weeks ago and can be seen for a long way around.
  2. Having a large bonfire of garden cuttings ready to burn, and having invited friends over to enjoy it, it would be nice to have some fireworks. I've never noticed them on sale here, one person says they are only available for official displays, another says they can be found in supermarkets. A few years ago we went to a bonfire party, but the fireworks were brought over from UK (not by plane, obviously!).
  3. I booked a supermarket delivery slot for November with a company that brings stuff over from UK. They have just announced they will no longer deliver to Cahors (about 25 miles away) and the only option is to collect from miles away - about a 5 hour round trip. I'm disappointed as was hoping to have some goodies for Christmas. I was in contact with them a week ago and they were still saying all was well. A bit annoying - they could at least have contacted the Cahors customers to say the service would stop if they don't get more orders. I believe there are other companies that do a similar service but cannot bring any frozen items. Ah well..... please don't tell me I don't need stuff from UK! We just fancied some things we can't get here.
  4. We found we needed to go out at the appointment time! If I get any more calls like this I will ask why they need to know whether we own our house. I don't mind genuine surveys. I have a certain sympathy as I once did surveys for the Office for National Statistics.
  5. This is a difficult one! I believe it's right to respect people's choices and customs. (Except extremes such as FGM). I feel uncomfortable that France is so draconian in this matter. However, I can't help feeling angry every time I see a woman shrouded in black like that. It's an insult to women to make them hide themselves. It's a custom often enforced by men - and not required by the Koran. Too bad if men would be so inflamed by the sight a woman's hair! It must be awful in hot weather.
  6. Oops, already said we are owners - and she did say Monsieur must be there too. I think I'll go out.
  7. Had a call yesterday about a survey. I asked what organisation and it's AGC, possibly AJC. They made an appointment, saying they are working in all the villages round here. Promised they are not selling things, Asked what fuel we use and if we have double glazing - I said 'triple'. But I'm wondering.... Has anyone heard of them? I don't want my time wasted as have other things to do. Suspicious as had the cursed Indians twice yesterday, claiming to call from Glasgow UK, and knowing I'm in France. Where do they get my number?
  8. Thanks folks. I know a friend complained her answerphone wasn't working when it had been switched off! I don't know why things changed after we've had Orange internet phone for over a year. However, OH did decide that now Orange was cutting in before our answerphone because of the rings and now it's working again. But I think he had to shut off the Orange message service. Yes, I noticed sometimes we get an Email from Orange saying 'missed call' or 'number....phoned'. Certainly sometimes when I'm on the phone, there will be a noise and when I check on the internet, there is a message.
  9. We have an answerphone which flashes when we have messages. If we are on the phone, messages go through to Orange and I find them when I remember to go to the Orange website. Now the Orange message clicks in, instead of our answerphone, and we keep missing messages. Annoying! Does anyone know why this happened? Has Orange done something? I don't like their message system as I have to put the computer on every time I come in, to see if there are any messages. Is there any way of stopping this happening?
  10. Talking of inefficiency, OH finally got her new licence on tues only to find that it is only valid for 5 years. On ringing to find out the reason, she was informed that it was because she had HGV vehicle cover," Oh dear, I don't think I'll tell him that! Went to prefecture yesterday (Gendarme called at our house the day before saying he was going on holiday at the weekend and we'd better sort it.) Unlike friends who went in May, we were told we must have translations of the DVLA stuff. Managed to get it done - 30 euros each - and went back this morning. After the usual long wait, the woman at the counter said if OH wants to tow a trailer, he needs a medical. (Friends were told only for a big trailer.) We said 'forget it, the trailer's broken anyway' but she insisted, saying we couldn't amend the licence later and it was a shame to lose the right to drive other vehicles. So.off to the recommended doc with a very helpful receptionist. After a long wait the doc checked OH's blood pressure (slightly high which was hardly surprising), gave him an eye test (with one eye he couldn't read the letters) and gave him the medical form. 33 euros. The woman at the prefecture was surprised to see us again the same morning and she took ages going through and questioning every piece of paper. We had to use the photo machine, 5 euros, for another set as we brought the required 4 photos and a 5th was needed. She seemed to tick all the extra possibilities though all we need is to pull a small trailer. The large one is illegal as we can't get a certificate of conformity for it. Finally got a piece of paper to show the gendarme and were told to phone and ask if the licence was ready if nothing heard after 2 months. I've a nasty feeling there will be something else they aren't happy with. So knackered and stressed I didn't even attempt to apply for my licence. OH has been through a lot recently with numerous hospital visits and doesn't enjoy all the travelling around. Went to the gendarmerie this afternoon and 'our' gendarme is not there till tomorrow. PS, before someone tells me off re the eyesight test, he is getting new glasses
  11. I want to buy a plant as a Golden Wedding present. Does anyone know of a reliable online retailer? The obvious choice would be something named 'Golden ....' but I think yellow would not be liked. Any suggestions for a suitable plant gift for someone in the south of England?
  12. How can any of us know whether some of these accusations are false? I suspect most aren't and the cases the CPS pursues have enough credibility to be pursued. What is apparent is that so many people were so cruel arrogant to think they could abuse children for their pleasure - and it didn't really matter. How must that make victims feel?
  13. This thread has run on since I last looked!. Last week we gathered all the paperwork and set off for the prefecture, only to find it shuts on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. This week OH had 3 hospital visits and the gendarme phoned again about our licences! He's not giving up. I explained and he said when we get a piece of paper from t he Prefecture that will do. The friends I originally helped applied in May and have not received their licences yet. The stuff from DVLA took ages and was dated 10th June, received on 18th. The same day visitors arrived for a week. The DVLA stuff said it was up to June 26 so I wonder if we'll have to do it all again..... and the stuff they sent wasn't a letter, just a list of dates and numbers related to our driving history. So not really anything to translate. I fear this will drag on, as did OH's carte vitale - which arrived after 10 months of hassle.
  14. I saw the advantage when we had to get to hospital in a hurry the other day - friends who took us had the doofer. Are they transferable? If so, why not borrow/share them if you don't use motorways a lot?
  15. Depending where you live, there may be another smaller charity which does not kill the animals after a short time. I know of 2 run by Brits and there are French ones too. Ask your Vet?
  16. That's more helpful Andy! I guess for peace of mind the owner may get the wood treated if it's not horrendously expensive.
  17. I'm in the south west and we'll be travelling to Caen in August, and back via the Tunnel. A large chunk of the A20 is toll free anyway. We avoid Paris where we have encountered long queues at the peage. Otherwise not much motorway driving except hospital appointments in Toulouse and (very occasionally) Ikea.
  18. Email from Eurotunnel re 'free' Sanef thingy. It seems aimed at people holidaying in France but we live here. We are going over by ferry and return via Tunnel •Free application - no fee (save €10) •€6** annual fee for the first year of subscription, discounted to €3** from the second year onwards •€20 refundable security deposit on the tag •€5** active usage fee - only for the months in which the tag is used and capped at €10 in any subsciption year. After you pay the above, do they still debit you the same as you would pay cash at the toll? We don't do that much motorway driving most years.
  19. How can you tell if wood has been treated against termites? A friend had an extension built with exposed beams 2-3 years ago and is concerned about termites. Definitely we are in a termite zone. Another friend said the wood may have been treated before being bought by the builder, in which case she need not have the treatment done. The 'builder' was one of those dodgy Brits who take a lot of money and do a poor, unfinished job and has now vanished so can't answer this.
  20. Of course I don't blame Ryanair for the strike! I just remember being stranded at Bergerac on a Sunday morning as the plane didn't land due to fog. They gave us a phone number which didn't work and when we finally got to the desk and asked to be transferred to a Tuesday flight they said that was impossible - even though we could have booked in on the Internet at that moment. We were told we could fly on Friday, missing a whole week's work. For the moment it looks hopeful as they have listed the flights cancelled tomorrow and none are from Bergerac so with luck, Wednesday flights will go ahead
  21. Oh great! Son and friend due to fly home, Bergerac-East Mids, on Wednesday. Strike Tuesday and Wednesday. The next scheduled flight is Sunday. No idea whether they should trust in Ruinair or try to book something else, e.g. Easijet from Toulouse to Gatwick, train to Nottingham. When I was stuck once, due to fog and plane not landing at Bergerac, there was no help or info at all from Ryanair.
  22. True! I didn't know it might not be but luckily all was well went my friends did it.
  23. You don't actually need a CoT to register a UK car in France. I posted this once before, just point to a number on the registration doc - I think it was section K but haven't looked at previous post - and the number there will bring up all the info when entered into the computer. The fonctionnaire muttered but it worked!
  24. "I think we have earned the right not to be lectured as though we have suddenly become irresponsible and somehow unable to direct our own lives and affairs." I didn't intend to 'lecture' and as I don't know you it is obviously not addressed to you in particular. I would say 'expressing an opinion' or 'making a comment' on the forum.. I am probably over-cautious and tend to worry about 'what if....' while others are different. None of us knows what may happen as we get older and many do not need care. As I said "people can't be blamed for living for today and enjoying their life in France"
  25. Interesting discussion! And thanks for the practical advice. A friend with Alzheimer's had been a fluent French speaker but forgot it. Memory seems to roll back so you forget the more recent input first. My Mum at one point knew her grandchildren but forgot the names of their children. 'They would be economic migrants effectively, with the UK taxpayer picking up the bill'. As they paid UK tax all their working lives and little in France on a small retirement income, I'm not sure that is fair comment. The UK health service would be free, again after many years of paying NI. I am sometimes surprised at Brits with little French coming over in their 70s with no thought of what will happen when one dies or becomes disabled, if they can no longer drive, etc. We decided not to sell up and splurge all on a large French property, so downsized to a small UK house and live happily in a 2 bed village house in France. I have in the back of my mind that at some point decisions will have to be made - assuming we don't both get dementia. Who knows what the future holds? So people can't be blamed for living for today and enjoying their life in France.
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