Russethouse

This forum is so 'lumpy on my PC nothing happens quickly and its clear that I have missed notifications, although I have been away in Cornwall. However since 'something' is going on I am going to try and catch up. My personal situation has changed in so far as my mother died (she was 94 and frankly ready to go ) and my OH has retired. We have had a busy year but things should calm down over the next couple of weeks. Furthermore with the chancellor having a pop at buy to let landlords and annuity rules changing I can foresee that buying n France may once again be popular and in turn the forum be busier again...... I'll be back [;-)]

 Do you have a friend or neighbour you could leave it with to collect later ? Sadly I think packing it will have one of two consequences : The insects die, or they come out and multiply while in the packing possibly making a nasty surprise for the un-wrapper.[:'(] PS: OH built a big insect house from things we had in the garden: pallets, bricks, bamboo, flower pots crocs, a bit of hay/straw, logs etc.

Mr Coops re- married yesterday ! Congratulations to Ian & Sherry

Or read the terms and conditions of posting here - this is a 'no advertising allowed' forum

Looked as if there were half a dozen ships in various stages of construction....huge ship building area, plus aerospace industry....looks a thriving area.....

Feeling much better now thank you. We went to the Signature Sunset the first night and Nina's the second, both were lovely and the first night there was lots of wind surfer action which was a novelty for us ( as we live on near the Thames, rather than the sea ) at Nina's we were treated to the sight of ladies exercising on the beach, they were partially hidden by rocks so every now and then we saw 10 legs or arms rise in unison :-) I'm sure that stretch of sand is just wonderful for joggers and similar.... The first day we visited Batz sur Mer and the Salt Museum (which is new since the last time I visited) and spent a pleasant hour watching the birds on the salt marshes, then on to Guerande for a cup of tea and light lunch and then Oceania at Croisic ( OH went in , I had a little snooze) the next day we went to St Nazaire and the saw the submarine, and the pens then went down to Pornic to the Faiencerie, We stopped in Pornic for 'Le Sandwich' at a bar tabac but on hearing our order the waiter said he had run out of bread....not deterred he ran down the road to the bakers, but came back empty handed, 5 minutes later the baker arrived carry one fresh baguette ! Only in France! Now in Cancale for a few nights before heading home....the weather is lovely...we had some patchy weather in Quimper but have done quite well on the whole....

I am in France and have food poisoning....is there a French equivalent of Dioralyte ( hope that's how you spell it ) I've had flat coke and the worst is over but I think I need to get back in 'balance....' Many thanks

Could they not change it to a big upmarket shower/bathroom which would add to the properties appeal ? Lots of bathrooms are windowless and are fine...  

Maybe ex offenders would feel at home [;-)]

Would anyone want to rent a property with a windowless room ?

That's why the lady who had my mothers copper bottomed pans loved them so much, she makes something that involves heating milk very slowly and in these pans she said it doesn't 'catch'

That's terrific Andrew, thanks. We are not visiting until the last weekend in September so I hope to avoid most of the crowds ;-) The hotel has a car park and we've reserved spaces I loved the salt marshes, a friend and I took a wrong turn and ended up literally driving right across them, fascinating! Any recommended restaurants ?

 I stayed in  La Baule about 5 years ago, with the Quimper Club. Not that keen on it but seemed to offer easy access to the Guerande, and plenty of choice of restaurants etc  and as this budget hotel is close to the station - it may be nice to have a car free day esp for the OH. He'd probably like to see the Natural History Museum in Nantes, but I haven't mentioned it yet.... Thanks for the tips - as I once wrote an article about Anne de Bretagne I'd really like to visit the Chateau....

 We are going to have two or three days in Pornichet , we are planning on looking at the salt marshes in the Guerande but as our hotel will be near the station I did think of going into Nantes by train...does any one know if the station is central ? And what would be good things to see while we are there ? Or if we go by car  is parking easy and again fairly central ? Any other suggestions of interesting places to visit gratefully received too Many thanks  

 I'm on Windows 8.1 plus IE 11 ( IIRC) but I get HUGE amounts of white space at the bottom of the page.....what's that all about ?

I have the black, inside and out, Le Creuset saucepans (not the cast iron one) They stack which saves draw space....and they are lighter than the cast iron pans. John Lewis sell them. When we were clearing my mothers house there were numerous Prestige stainless steel saucepans, ( my father used to sell them and was often given samples !) some of them were a bit 'limey' (its a very hard water area) they were no good for me as most were copper bottomed and wouldn't work on my induction hob, but my mothers carer took them and cleaned them up and now she loves them.....

We used to occasionally pop over to Calais for a spot of lunch plus a visit to the Cite of Europe, not worth the effort now as we could be held up both ways - not fun....shame [:(]

We are indeed very fortunate to be born in Western Europe, but that is because of the work our forefathers put in to make it the place it is today. I have no wish to share it or budge up to make room for a race whose forefathers have done F all to contribute to the modern world and the only thing they bring with them is more work for our police. Does it for one second occur to you that some of the work our forefathers put in was helping keep their forefathers oppressed ? Really !  

What's UKIP's policy on sewage treatment, BTW? Anyone ? I think they are happy to be net contributors [;-)]

Given that many of the people trying to get into Britain via Calais illegally, have travelled hundreds if not thousands of miles, and that benefits and the NHS are much more closely monitored now, I doubt we have much to fear from them being work shy or afraid of making an effort. In fact frankly I would probably rather we embraced them and ejected some of the people just a few miles from here on their third and fourth generation of life 'claiming' .

Can we proceed the debate without the personal insults please - this in an interesting and important topic we really don't want to have start deleting posts

[quote user="Quillan"]I don't think they wanted to copy the Australian system exactly, I think they used the description in the broadest of terms. They seemed to be under the impression that you had to have a job to go to when you arrived and that the employer would confirm that you had that job.[/quote] But I like the idea that if you want to get something out (ie the right to work) you have to put something in, and I suspect that others would too...  

Not sure you are right about the Australian system Q. My nephew is there at present, I think for 6 months - if he wants to stay longer he has to go and work on a farm for a period, and it would have to be where he is sent, he would have no choice, then he return to a 'normal' job and can stay two years. His current employer would sponsor him anyway. We also know someone who is thirty who is excluded from this scheme as he is too old ! (suits us as he is a great mixologist and we like having him work at our local restaurant ![;-)]) There are obviously ways to get more out of immigrants.....   PS Its Ok mint - I thought you were having a stir up [;-)]

Sports migrants are rarely much of a burden to the tax payer, I doubt if they are in competition for low paid jobs or social housing and as long as they pay appropriate tax here and a portion of their disposable income they help contribute to the funds which in turn support others less fortunate or able....same as any other wealthy immigrant....

We liked L'enclume but wouldn't do it again...the waiters were a tad 'evangelical' and having asked if there was anything I didn't like they just ignored it......we liked Rogan and Company and would go again and just eat there or at the pub which we didn't have time to try..... Our latest foodie visit was to Nathan Outlaws new restaurant in Port Isaac....we've already booked to go back.....