alittlebitfrench

With a wink to the acrimonious post above, your best bet is to find a 'horticole' college/Lycee in your area that sells direct to the public. There are many about and really are the best way to buy plants in France. This is one I found in your area but it does not say if they sell direct. http://www.chadignac.com/ Google around you may find others. Good luck

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]I think, ALBF, that you might be falling into the trap of stereotyping many posters on here. Not everyone is an exact cut-out of your uncharitable view of the "typical" expat, nor do they all live in enclaves or only mix with other Brits. It appears that you believe most on here all live in some cosy little enclave built as a shrine to Miss Marple or Downton, a stones throw from Eymet, and that only you have a grasp on life in "mainstream" France, whatever that is. You've brought your preconceptions with you from that other forum, haven't you??[/quote] Nooo. I am just having a laugh. I really have no idea of what the typical 'Brit expat' is. I suspect most are pretty cool although some seem to lose their sense of humour when moving to France. Which is understandable. The 'other' forum as you put it has become boring. If it was not for itchy and scratchy (well just itchy now) it would not be worth a visit. Largely because it has become the Exchange & Mart for RHD cars in France and a Windows 8 Helpdesk. The funny face forum (s***** France) is the best one although I am not a member (far too good looking). Seriously, that is a scary place but very funny. I think most there live in a cosy little enclave built as a shrine to Miss Marple or Downton as you put it.

LOL NickP...or are you steptoe ?? I do make a valid point. Should you put a wood burning stove in the space of a chimney ? I am not an expert on wood burners but the heat needs to radiate from all sides of the stove to warm the room. If you put it in the chimney space it can only radiate from the front. If you look at 'expat' property websites a lot of 'expats' selling their houses in France have a wood burner in the chimney space. In the photo of the wood burner in the chimney space is always a sofa and two arm chairs within a foot of the stove. This suggests to me that the stove cannot heat the room and the stove is a complete waste of flippin time. Furthermore, a modern stove from Briconanutes looks really crap in a 16th century fireplace. Am I right ?

High Nick I used to play pool in Vendôme in the 'La Comedie'. You might know it. There was another pool club just outside Vendôme I use to play there as well. The Liverpool I think it was called. Not sure it is still there still mind you. Anyway, that was when I lived a less sheltered life. LOL Vendôme is a really nice place. We once looked at house there not far from the gare TGV. I think a lot of Americans live there. I have had loads of X rays in Bretoneau. I can't remember anyone speaking English. Spent 5 hours in the emergency of Trousseau last week only a student nurse (who could not take blood very well) spoke English. I suppose it is all down to luck.

Your my kinda expat NickP. Do you have the customary sofa and two chairs immediately in front of your wood burner ?

Just my two pence worth. The chimney will certainly need to be lined. But, I think a wood burning stove placed in an old chimney space looks horrible and naff. Given you have to tube it anyway, think about putting the stove somewhere else.

Given the amount of British expats living in SW France it would stand to reason I suppose that a lot of medical staff speak English. In mainstream France it is certainly not the case.

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]Well, although not recent, this does only date from a couple of years ago....perhaps you are aware of a more recent law change or mass evacuation? http://sante.lefigaro.fr/actualite/2013/06/04/20705-plus-plus-medecins-etrangers-france And check out the related article link at the end of the first article: "Mon medecin generaliste est un etranger"[/quote] Medicine is such a popular career in France you wonder why there is a shortfall of doctors. But the reality is that most people in France don't want to live or work in rural locations. A message I keep trying to get across to those looking to move to France. The average salary of a Doctor (generaliste) in France is something like 89,000 euros. I am not sure their is a financial incentive for a foreign person to move to France and become a doctor bearing in mind of course that France is a very expensive country to live in. Interestingly, the average salary of a radiologist in France is something like 189,000 euros. I know what my kids will be doing.

Betty said "Basically, and my limited but nonetheless existent knowledge of French hospitals seems to indicate pretty much the same: there are plenty of health professionals in both countries making a fairly good fist of practising their chosen profession in a country where they don't speak their native language to patients" As I understand it, only doctors with French or EU qualifications can practice medicine in France. So that rules out most of the world. The exception to that is the American Hospital in Paris where a small percentage of Doctors can practice with lets say an 'American' qualification. Going back to the EU, in order to practice medicine in France you would have to pass a language test and I should imagine you would have to be bordering on bilingual to pass them. That pretty much locks out most EU doctors from working in France. So if you go and see a doctor, specialist or go to hospital in France you will most certainly will be seen by a French doctor. Going back to the point of an 'English' speaking French doctor, like I said I have never met one that will 'practice' medicine in English. The translation of French medical terms and terminology into English (and vice versa) is not as straight forward as one might think. I have seen umpteen cardiologists all over France not one spoke English. You would think in cardiology most would speak English !!!!! I have also had two operations in hospital and at no stage during the whole process from the doctor to the anaesthetist to all the support staff has anyone spoken English. Even the 'Kiné after the operation did not speak English. When I said flippantly to learn French earlier in the thread, is because the whole medical world in France operates in French. You might get by with your local doctor but if life gets more serious you will need some language skills.

Judith you are very funny. Your posts make me laugh. P.S Where is W1 by the way in France ?

Anywhere more than a 25 minute commute by car into a city centre is remote for me. The buoyancy of the housing market in France tends to back-up my logic.

Most do or they certainly ask if you want it written down.

Jaspers Girl says..... "for the record i do speak french but when in pain i would like to be able to communicate and be understood quickly" It is quite easy to be understood in French....you just say 'aye' instead of 'ouch'. LOL P.S. I never got the alittlebitof french joke even in a previous life. I am sure I will get it one day.

[quote user="Patf"]albf - trouble with you is - you aint got no imagination! Always harping on the same old moan. [/quote] I don't harp....I am a happy smily person. There is a logic to my posts.......I think. I am with Idun. I am not a language person. I struggle with English nevermind French. The day I gave up trying to learn French was the best day of my life in France. When you struggle with language (even you own) you see life differently. It is not a question of saying to someone looking for help 'learn French' it is trying to explain to them that the challenge of living in France (or any foreign country) is to try and exist happily without needing your own language. That is fun. Without that I would not live here. Why on earth would you live in France ? France is rubbish. In terms of heath, I truly believe you don't need an English speaking doctor. But, if you prefer and you can find one then that is fine.

I would say Nerac (having googled it) is remote. It is miles from a decent city. I had a quick walk around on google street thingy and looks OK. Not a lot going on by the looks of it but pretty. Thanks betty for your links. If I was a French student just out of University I would head straight for the UK. Having said that, if I was a young French Electrician or plumber I would head straight to the UK.

[quote user="jaspers girl"]hi thankyou for the ear bashing and the judgements and assumptions alittlebitof french and iban have you quite finished with the character assassination feel free to carry on as it says more about your small mindedness than mine. i have no idea why you feel it necessary. must reflect your lifestyle. A big thank you for the pm with the English speaking doctor i contacted this morning living in nerac. just shows you two do not know eveything [/quote] I have not been called alittlebitof french for a while. Maybe it is just coincidence you calling me that but as Mr Spook says in Star Trek..."there is no such thing". I am happy you have found your English speaking Doctor. Live long and prosper.

I have to admit I am stuck in the 1990's when it comes to the UK and that was before internet. Maybe the internet is spoon feeding people too much and everyone is becoming wimps. I can't imagine though a French person living in Stoke on Trent going onto a forum and asking if anyone knows of a French speaking Electrician in the area. But if you say that happens then fair enough. Cant imagine there being any French speaking Electrician in Stoke on Trent mind you. But anyway, life is not about speaking the language it is about communication. You can point, draw pictures, shake your head or whatever. Moving to a French village and not hiring the local electrician or hairdresser because they do not speak English is just silly. The probability of finding one in the next village or the area is zero yet people ask the question. We have employed many many tradesmen in France and not one speaks English. It comes with the territory. I have never had or met a English speaking hairdresser either. I am sure your one is an exception to the rule. Another one is vets. Why does a vet have to be English speaking. It is the animal that is the patient. The cat or the dog does not care. Does speaking English make the vet better ?

Having spent so much time in French hospitals I kinda understand why expats want a 'English speaking' doctor ect. But (no disrespect to the OP) asking if there is an English speaking doctor in Nerac is like asking if there is an French speaking doctor working in a tiny village near Shaftesbury. It borders on ridiculous. There is an assumption by the British that speaking English is widespread across France which of course it is not. Learning English for the French is as difficult as learning French for the English....and unless you use it on a day to day basis you lose it. But what irritates me the most are those that go on forums and ask for English speaking electriciens, plumbers, hairdressers ect. When I was at school the people who became electriciens, plumbers and hairdressers were not that interested in learning anything nevermind languages. It is very much the same in France. So I find that question so utterly disrespectful and I am sure only stupid British people would ask such a stupid question. Or do Germans on their forums ask if anyone knows of a German speaking X, Y and Z in a tiny village in France. When My OH came and lived with me in the UK she could hardly speak any English. But that did not stop her getting out and about going to doctors, shopping, hairdressers, registering her car !!!! and being independent. We are a rubbish pathetic nation sometimes.

[quote user="NickP"][quote user="jaspers girl"]just because you have not experience something does not make it false? Can we just get back to the question please alittlebitof french as your replies are irrelevant. [/quote] Most of albf's comments are irrelevant , he's a French life style fascist and will take any chance however slim to denigrate anybody who asks advice about anything English or from The UK. Ignore him, with a bit of luck he'll disappear. I'm surprised that he claims not to speak French very well, especially after being in France for twenty years. As for doctors not speaking any English, absolute nonsense most do and are only too pleased to practise their language skills. Hope you find what you are looking for.[/quote] That is a very rude post Nick P. I am sure you have your reasons. Back on topic...I have never had/met a doctor in twenty years in France to converse with fluently in English regarding medical matters. Hands up who have ????? P.S Last week went to the the emergency unit of a big city hospital with an injury. Receptionist in AE did not speak English. WE got by. Got through to the AE unit and met a nurse who took my vitals....she did not speak English...We got by. Spent 4 hours having exams/blood tests/échographies with doctors that did not speak English. We all got by. You kinda get the message I am getting across here. You are in France.

What ? What departments ? Never met in twenty years (I have had my fair share of medical appointments/X-rays/injections/surgery/ emergency departments and all that) a doctor that speaks fluent enough to converse with in English....and I have lived in Paris (twice), Lyon, and now the most visited tourist region of France Really. My personal doctor (and the one I had before her) speaks ZERO English but we get by.

and breath...... You are missing the point. Doctors in France will 'practice' in French. It is a liability issue.

I am not trying to be sanctimonious at all.....as I don't speak French well myself. As I understand it the OP has just arrived in France looking for a French speaking Doctor, Dentist, Hairdresser and probably in a few weeks time a plumber. Having spent my fair time in hospital in France (even once was driven at high speed across ' la place de Concorde' in a flashy ambulance/pompier type thing) and spent last week in emergency with a very a poorly arm.....I speak with experience. There is a legal issue here if things go wrong. Doctors prefer to speak in their own language and justifiably so. Just my experience.

I have never met an English speaking doctor or dentist in twenty years. Well I have....many.... but none that like to 'practice' in English. There must be a reason for that. I should imagine it is the same reason that doctors in the UK prefer to speak English to French patients. When you move to France you have to accept that French people in most walks of life prefer to speak French. P.S regardless of nationality hairdressers and plumbers don't tend to speak more than one language. Ever met a French speaking hairdresser or plumber in the UK ? Top tip to survive in France....learn french quick.

Our Mairie owns some land that borders our property and two others. They wish to build on it. The Mairie sent out a letter that a 'Geometre' had been contracted to confirm the borders ect ect. We were sent a letter (recorded) and we wee obliged to sign a paper that we agreed and they had access to our property to do this. That was it. The Mairie (they contracted the Geometre) paid the cost. You are not liable to pay unless you have agreed to do so in advance.

Your neighbour cannot call in a geometre without your consent and expect you to pay. If he is disputing something then let him pay. Simples.