Judith-aka-Judith

Chessfou suggsts an interesting region, one I'd consider indeed, even living futher south, but also I have a preference for the area around the north and east of Bordeaux, but not the Dordogne .. (sorry Mint!), getnlert climate, usually, but  again, not alwasy. But as NormanH as, weather is no longer a reliable indicator.  Slightly out of the Med basin would seem sensible, it has its limitations of heat, wind, and flooding, plus you can honestly only go in 2 / 3 instead of 4 directions. I also agree that as you age what is important to you changes.  And it always is a compromise between what you'd like, and what is actually available .. like we had to have things in this house and location which were not perfect, but which filled about 75% of our (then) requirements (I get a feel they might now be changing as we age further, hence that statement). If you rent, of course, some of these difficulties are less problematic. Just seen your second post, Lori, I personally would not now live in any town, but having a firend who does live onthe outskirts of Nantes, pretty village, but accesibleto the centte of Nantes which does have good tranport, some thing to look out foe, most villhges do not .. here included.  Byt still the weather "up north" can rarely be considered warm in comparision to the southern half whererever you are.  Why not travel joyfully and peripatetically over the next 2 years and just go exploring first, rather than having one or two targets in mind.  You never know what might tempt!  Bonne chance!

Lori, I think this is sometimes an age thing, plus if you are not well etc.  As he aged (he died at 92), my father always had his heating on, loads of pullovers, both my sister and I learnt to go in lightweight clothing when visiting.  He felt the cold.  My hubby, as he reaches towards the age at which my father began to feel the cold more, is getting to be the same.  I'll be expiring the heat in a Tee shirt and leggings and sandals, he'll be fully clothed with jumper, shoes, socks, vest and the lot!  Mind you, I WAS cold this weekend too, but I've got my own health issues at the moment too! 

To the best of my knowledge this has not changed, but try, if you must, I wish you well.  You might be lucky. UK, NI, EU, EEA Licence - Info & Instructions for Exchange, Lost or Stolen and Infractions T All applications can only be carried out online. The exchange procedure is on the ANTS system for UK, NI, EU, EEA and Non-EU Citizens that currently hold a UK, NI, EU, EEA Licence ONLY. Should you wish to read the Government Notice confirming this please click here Service-Public.----------------------------------------If you have a photocard licence that expires (4b) between 01/02/2020 and 31/08/2020 your card validity has been extended for 7 months from the date of expiry of your card (4b) providing your licence, column 11 on the back, has at least 7 months validity remaining, otherwise your photocard is only extended for as long as column 11 remains in date. You will apply to exchange 6 weeks before the end of your 7 month extension, or how ever long before your licence expires, not before.This is the link to the Notice issued with with regard to the extension https://www.facebook.com/groups/206199943590115/permalink/547007989509307/There are pdf documents to print and keep in the car should you get stopped if you do not meet the current exchange criteria, link is in document A1 (Not copied here) YOU CANNOT EXCHANGE YOUR LICENCE UNTIL YOU MEET A CONDITION BELOW This applies to all UK/NI/EU/EEA LicencesLicence* or Photocard (4b) has expired or is due to expire in the next 6 weeks.UK GB 70+ and expired NI licences will also require a Certificate of Entitlement from where your licence was issued, please read document B5 - Driving Rights Document in Files.EU (not UK or NI) - I believe certain countries only allow you to drive for a specific period of time once you have left that country (if you fall into this exchange criteria can you let me know).Remember you must be domiciled in France and be able to provide official evidence of 185 days in France, noted in document A2, before you can apply.* UK - Licence expired - column 11 on a card and expiry date on old original paper licence. ** UK - Photocard (4b) - expired card is a condition for exchange, as above.Licence lost (there is a 25€ charge for this at the end of your application)declaration to be completed and uploaded, form at the end Licence stolen (there is a 25€ charge for this at the end of your application)you will require a police report to be uploaded later in the application New driving category added to your licence.You commit an infraction cancellation or suspension - select relevant section - you require documents to evidence completion of said offence.point/s - you require the letter to upload later in the application.NB. It is an exchange condition if you have a UK licence, you do NOT receive notification of a point being withdrawn from your licence, that is only if you have a French licence.

We are not as strong willed at you, Lori.  We put put pur heating on yesterday!Though at last today, at almost 6pm I do think it might be warming up a little. PS - It IS October on Thursday!!!

Pomme, if this is from teh UK site, I would ignore it.  She only operates on teh French regulations, is in constant contact with ANTS (and the Nantes office before it moved) has a huge load of documents on the site, which is updated as needed and often before we get any other information about it. I would certainly trust her advice above any on here. It does not concern me, I had to change my licence last year when I got to the magic age .. and had to do it in the new system. Having said that, it looks as some applications are slipping through which do not follow the general conditions for exchange. I spent my professional life providing information from published sources, the first thing was always to verify the facts, date etc .. and go direct to the relevant (and in this case, country) source.  Hence my comment above.

Yes, Nomoss, it did. Once I'd passed through the sign in screen.

Had the same problem, went into Ameli direct, as also suggested.  Straight in, first page, accept new conditions (still no idea what they are, but needs must), and all OK.  Happily, but incidentally going onto the site reminded me to  download my last 6 months statements, so that's another chore over!

[quote user="BritinBretagne"]For those who want a simple answer; a UK photo card licence will remain valid in France until its expiry date. In fact you can only renew it if it’s lost or stolen, you receive multiple points for a traffic offence or it is about to expire.[/quote] I follow the Facebook page on on exchanging licences.  The admin there is an expert.  The advice I quote above is correct, whatever other posts says. Whatever the DVLA site says, it is incorrect.

Don't worry, Mint, I knew what you meant ... even if Weegie has decided to play Devil's Advocate!

Agree, Guardian, it was IMHO, time for a re-think, so it was an added bonus for me.  Suited the mood of the country too.

Fortunately, along with NormanH, who also is at the "other end" of the Hérault, we've been fine .. but it looks like it's been another nasty time for some.  Been there done that as you know .. so prayers all round that it stops soon ..

Disagree, Kong, thought it was lovely.  Removing some of the OTT hype meant you could actually hear what was being sung ... and it did not go on all night either - much better!

Thanks ericd, sen that video before ..  going to see if I can capture the amounts .. but that will be too large for me, for sure.

Alan, that's helpful.  It did say on the instructions that it was because it was cooked covered, and the water built the crust, but I really do not know.  I just find that kneading and I don't really see eye to eye, nor  have I ever had very good results with it, even when the breadmaker worked and I used it to prepare the dough,and cook it separately, but if preparing it by hand in the morning, and then just letting it do its own works, I am happy to try a few options and see what works best.  It seems to be fairly forgiving of errors .. which I have never seen occur in kneaded bread!

Today for the first time in a long time, I baked a loaf of bread, by hand.  Nothing strange in that you bakers would say .. though in fact, I'm not baker, and it was needs must (supermarket did not have my bread, and the breadmaker refused to work!). I only had brioche flour, and a first attempt over the weekend had worked OK, but it was very difficult to knead, so this time I tried a no knead loaf.  Following instructions from the internet, to my amazement it worked!  But the crust was rather thicker and crustier than than I like .. so this is my question. How can I make the crust less crusty and thick?? Thanks!

[quote user="mint"]Yes, Judith, it's like other famous soliloquies as in Hamlet's to be or not to be and John of Gaunt's this royal throne of kings, this septred isle. They are there, at the back of your mind, and you rack your brains, trying hard to remember the rest of the words and, in my case, always failing[:)] [/quote] Indeed, Mint, so many quotations you know, but cannot at all remember where they are from ... which has triggered a memory about a quotation - about memory - but can I rememebr what it is - of course not!

Le Cid, well, that's a surprise, as I haven't read the book, and yet the words are so famililar - or is it just that they are so appropriate?!

Lori, Hubby, been here almost 15 years, never had a mutuelle, relatively healthy but with several ops needed from time to time .. he's just pays as he goes along and has not found it overly onerous.  He's 80.  Meanwhile, I did without a mutuelle for 7 years, until it became obvious I would need a hip replacement, with extra care, so I did take one out, and have continued, with other care needed, though now I have an ALD for the most important problem, the mutelle is saving money hand over fist!   Peace of mind is good, but not throwing money away.  I would recommend seeing how it goes for a year, or if something horrible comes up, you can start it then.

[quote user="NormanH"]I think that my reaction is summed up in my new tag... [/quote] Yes, I was thinking how approriate it was to how I was feeling too .. wish I could remember who wrote it, I have certainly read it somewhere, sometime in the past!

Well if what David Attenborough said last night on his extinction programme comes true, it's too late anyway!  We are all doomed!

Mint, yes, I know why senior mutuelles are more expensive .. -; NormanH, I looked at Swiss life, as you say, expensive, but indeed, you can pick and choose options, which I like.  Still couldn;t get rid of some things though (like maternity!!).  Whatever you do with these, it's always swings and roundabouts, but the point about a true mutuelle will not ask about previous medical history is something that I did not know, and is a point well noted.  Thanks.

I foudn that nearly every mutuelle allowed for maternity, regardless of age!  Special plans for seniors (which presumably excluded maternity), were highier subscriptions than standard ones, and not always the best cover, and I have heard of April, but have had not experience of it.  Getting quotes for dental and optical, and yes you do not normally need glasses every year, but I found very complex lenses such as mine were, and still are when I buy varifocal, gave you basically nothing back and not worth the price you might pay to include them.

Mint - Ceredigian  - had a job there once .. didn't last long, loved the country, job was terrible!

NormanH, I accept that there is fluency and fluency - as in I am reasonably good at French, can unsertand most things I read, but if  talking about speaking fluently I get by rather than feel fluent! As fo BJ as a classical scholar with his mixed origins, he can certainly speak in French, but it appears with the same incredible stutterings and ummerings with which he speaks his utterances in so-called English. But then, how many politicians do you know who can speak another country's language fluently?  The northern Europeans probably, others, less so .. particularly, dare I say it, on this forum, the French!

Mint, in his favour I do believe BJ is fluent in several languages, even French, but whether he wishes to use it is quite another matter, never mind whether he could do so without so many "ums" and "ahs" even if that is so French!