GRT17

Alece, with a menu like that I think you should " go for it" I am sure the French would like a menu with such delights. Perhaps the secret would be to not put too much emphasis on the English dishes to begin with, just put them on the menu with both French and English names. Isn't Bread and Butter pudding called Pain Perdu in France? (or have I got that wrong)  When and where are you thinking of opening the restaurant? Gill  

You might want to post your question in The Post Bag as it might get more viewing. Good thinking Lori but perhaps the Health forum would be an even better place to post. I am sure there are quite a few who post on here, who have recently given birth in France. Gill

Very true and wise comments T.U.   Gill

[quote]hi there, I totally think the opposite way we live in the lImousin, and talking ti the brits here they are desperate for a chippy or an english resterant and as for them not doing well, the chippy in ...[/quote] I will get blasted here but I find the standard of french food in a typical small resturant that does three courses for a tenner set menu totally appauling and to get decent food you have to pay over 20 euros, I agree that some of the food in French restaurants and not only the cheap ones, can be very mediocre. Happily, there are still some where a 10 to 12 euro meal can be excellent value. whereas the brit resturants are serving good food for6/8 euros BUT how much profit can they be making? Gill

There are now many British people living both full and part time in the Charente-Maritime but I am not sure how well an English restaurant would do and would be worried about possible lack of trade during the winter months. There's an English shop in Saintes selling mostly food I believe and a newish, English epicerie in Gemozac . Near La Rochelle there is a British owned cookery school where they specialise in vegetarian cooking. I have heard of an English  couple making curries and delivering them to order, I have not tried this service but some I know have and seem to be pleased. I read an article about someone Indian / English near St Jean d'Angely making a living this way. Good luck with your new venture, research and location are the words that come to mind. Gill

Yes, a couple of cars were burnt, I don't know whether this was in the same league as the big riots or just the local vandals out for a "good time". Gill

"moving into a French “Maison de Retraite”, Hopefully you will be fluent by the time you reach this stage otherwise you could find yourself well and truly in a fix and leading a very isolated life. I don't think anyone here is saying you have to be really fluent or bilingual before you move to another country but " every little helps". IMHO Having a holiday and living full time in another country are two quite different things. rereading Richard&Lynda's posting, .......you can't be serious, can you? G

Margaret You have made the points I was about to make. Lynda and Richard, the smile and wave technique may work in the short term but fingers crossed that you never have a crisis in France. bonne chance (good luck) Gill

[quote]Hi. i'm shas, used to be shaz, but that's the only change... Sharon.[/quote] I obviously got that one wrong then Lynn I don't have a problem with anyone changing their I.D. I was just intrigued that some names have changed and like to link the  past ones with the present. Gill

There seems to be a new twist to the postings these days and quite a few people have taken a new name! Zeb a.k.a. Helen, La Bezarderie (sp?) Lynnorton, Shas I think, (was she / he chezshells in another life?) and Langridge was yelbid. Has anyone spotted anymore? Gill

[quote]hi the best thing is ,found this out by accident is the local ....sorry for my spelling again " aude - de -vine " , the local donot know what to call him really a self sufficiant wine gro...[/quote] the best thing is ,found this out by accident is the local ....sorry for my spelling again " aude - de -vine " Dave, would that be "Eau de Vie" ? powerful stuff indeed! Gill

LOL S.B. I hope I get a nice one at my door next week! Gill

errmm, could you all move on to another subject as this is becoming long, tedious and boring. O.K. I don't run a B&B or hotel so perhaps I will just opt not to read more until everyone finds something more interesting to discuss. Gill

Yes, I would agree with that Christine. Add to that being able to switch back and forth from one language to the other without too much thought, again the "thinking" in the language idea. Gill

I am with Gay on this one. According to the Yahoo info they have also announced a ban on selling poultry at markets. Gill

Oui ! If you are able to have interesting and lively conversations with your French friends in French and communicate well on the phone then you are doing O.K. I think you can be classed as reasonably fluent once you are able to understand the radio, T.V. and follow a French film at the cinema without too much effort.  Gill.  

Porth This is on Yahoo news this p.m., 21 departments have the ban and these have been selected because poultry reared outdoors could come into contact with migratory birds who may carry La Grippe Avare. Worrying news for anyone with free range poultry. I think it will apply to everyone whether they keep 6 or 6000. It might be an idea to check at your local Mairie Gill

Sorry I can't help with the name of a suitable website. I would imagine that your place would make an excellent feature in one of the magazines about France, the supplements in the British weekend papers or magazines such as Country Living. Good luck and fingers crossed for a speedy and excellent sale. Gill

Chambo Just go ahead and do it! All new mothers need company, support and help at times. It can be a very isolated life at home with a new baby. Bonne chance et bon courage. Gill

Last night while waiting in the queue at Manchester airport on my way to Gatwick, I overheard an interesting conversation.  A young American and young English woman were comparing living abroad. The American had studied and lives in Amsterdam and the English woman it seemed, had emigrated to Australia two and a half years ago and was back on a business / family visit. The English one said "it was very, very hard at the beginning, we love it there  but we had to make new friends, find a flat, find jobs etc. all very difficult" So it is not that easy to just uproot and settle in a new country, with a different culture however rosy it appears from afar.   Gill

Clair, thanks for posting this interesting article. Val 2: When my eldest was born in a London teaching hospital (quite a long time ago now) there was an Australian back packer who pitched up and gave birth. She had been told beforehand that she would have to have pay her way etc.  but did she? oh no, and of course they couldn't turn her away. I am not sure she ever showed up for any post natal care and thus avoided any payment, so it was all funded by the N.H.S. Sounds a bit like your story doesn't it. Plus ca change....... Gill U.K. and 17

[quote]GRT17, sorry perhaps I didn`t make my comment clear enough, I didn`t mean the sort of people you meant....I know that exercise is good for everybody, the ones I meant were the people who I used t meet...[/quote] Mrs O I understood your posting and I agree that of course there will be people who will scrounge wherever one lives be it France, U.K. or any other country. I just wanted to make the point that there are a lot of disabled people who now make good use of facilites such as sports centres. I could be wrong but have the impression that this is a more recent trend that would probably not have been available to them say five years ago. Gill U.K. and 17

so is anyone able to give Washy some help with her situation in France?   Re. people with disabilities going to the gym.  I have recently seen quite a few at our local sports centre. One young chap with Motor Neurone disease being helped to use what muscles he can in order to keep some level of fitness. Several permanent, wheelchair users being helped, one of which was being lowered into the pool yesterday with a special hoist. Others who have suffered stroke and heart attacks are encouraged to use the centre. I think it's wonderful that they are helped and encouraged in this way and not just confined to the four walls of home.   Gill

Wilko, So sorry to hear of your dilemma. Did you call les flics, were they any help or did they just give a gallic shrug?   Bon courage Gill

Excellent news, long may it continue. Gill