GRT17

Gay Lovely here too, in S.E England. We too had some much needed rain overnight but it's been a beautiful afternoon. Gill

STRASBOURG lots to do there and very special. Gill

Nicola Do as you would be done by, even if you get no recognition or reward. Perhaps one day, someone else will do the same for you. I think you all, Nicola and those who have posted replies, have the right attitude. bon courage Gill  

seen last month in France, on a campsite menu, Crudenesses of vegetables and Chicken's stomach! I tactfully offered to put their translations right for them and although they were a little embarrassed I think they were pleased. Gill

A couple of weeks ago in the Charente-Maritime(17) they had a plague of ladybirds. Fairly harmless one would think but there were reports of them stinging the visitors at the seaside. Gill

I am with Alexis and Babnik on this one. "Smile and wave" and go to any local events. I am definitely in favour of the softly, softly and slowly but surely approach and wouldn't rush in with gifts even if they were very modest. You will be a curiosity and the locals will soon start to chat if you just say "bonjour" when you meet, believe me, it won't take long to get to know them. Of course if there are immediate neighbours and you need to ask a question about your property, roof, walls, gardens etc. then knock at their door and introduce yourselves. If they are anything like our neighbours in our small village,  I am sure they will be friendly and more than willing to offer help.   Bon courage Gill

"The general health service is great and my GP here is fantastic but when they don't recognise a condition or you don't fit into a pigeon hole it gets too complicated." Oh dear, this is sounding just like the problems with the French education system.  Coral, you have my sympathies, I do hope you are now making a good recovery. Gill

"With regards holidayautos you are using an agency, cheap I will grant you, but you could end up with hertz or Europcar anyway."   Very true. As far as I can see there is no way of predicting which car hire company will have the shortest queue. Gill

Definitely! We always book through Holiday Autos now.   Gill

Any unaccompanied children we have ever seen always seem to have been well looked after and I' ve never seen anything to give me any cause for concern. I agree Would it be easier for her to travel NCE or MRS to U.K. London (Heathrow or Gatwick)? Gill

"However, do keep your luggage with you at all times" I agree Angela. I often have to travel by train for work and my teaching materials, samples etc. are usually all packed in my luggage. I do put it on the luggage rack but stand there until the train departs and leap up at every station just to make sure my cases don't go AWOL. ( BTW I do this whichever country I am in) It is easier to travel with two small pieces of luggage rather than one large case. To the original poster; I have travelled alone on the Paris to Limoges trains many times and never had a problem. If you have luggage it is easiest to take a taxi from Gare du Nord to Austerlizt,( I think it cost roughly 12 euros last time I went) You can get a snack and cup of coffee at the cafe on the station concours. I have eaten only once at the station restaurant but found it to be rather overpriced for what they served. Before boarding the train don't forget to stamp your ticket in the machine on the platform at Austerlitz. (I once stamped my reservation card rather than the ticket but they forgave me!) As others have said the carraiges are open plan. During the journey the ticket collector will come along and check tickets once or twice and staff do the rounds with the refreshment trolley. The W.C. s on the train are usually o.k. as well. Sometimes, especially at the Limoges end, they do change the seating arrangements, do check the board on the platform. Last year I had a student who spoke no French, had never been to France before and she made it all the way from Doncaster to Limoges by train. So, Bon Courage, I am sure you'll be fine. Gill

My name is a bit of a non starter with the French, they usually write it as Gil (just the one L) and pronounce it as Gilles (!) Now where does that leave me? It is actually easier if I use my full name Gillian, but usually I don't. gill (99 / 17)

"I have a back up plan hatched with my friend Monsieur Ricardo" Tresco, this sounds very interestingdon't do anything you might regret later! Wish I was going to the Saturday market in Saintes today but unfortunately I have to go to work.   Gill

So, did your baby arrive on time? Bon courage! Gill

bon voyage Bridget (or should that be to Brigitte? will she change her name once she crosses the channel? ) Gill

Saintes is a lovely town isn't it? absolutely but don't tell everyone!   I will not be around for the 6th but might make it to the Foire in July. I managed to see a bit of the Foire last September, it looked wonderful but had to dash to take the rellies back to the airport and couldn't stay BTW Tresco, good luck with the bicycle ride. Gill

"Over the years the advice I have read here is that to really make a living you need 5 gites, and probably to have something extra (things to do, courses etc)to offer too." Gay, it sounds alright doesn't it, five gites = more income. However I believe that the gite complexes would generally appeal to families with young children who require the company of others. Imagine if you are only able to let them during during the Summer, peak weeks, i.e. the school holidays. This would be approx. for 5 / 6 weeks, that means the rest of the year the gites would be sitting empty = no income and still all the maintenance costs to pay. Courses and activities might extend the season. Those who choose to holiday off season are probably looking for a bit more independence and perhaps don't want to be holidaying next door to other holiday makers from their own country. Re. one gite: I think if you lived in a large house and had a small property to let in the grounds then this would bring in some "extra euros" (although not enough for a "living" as such) so long as it didn't cost an arm and a leg to convert. Gill

et aussi.............. Juliette Greco singing, "si tu t'imagines" Gill

Having a gite (singular) is O.K. as a "sideline" but I would be very worried if I had to make a living and keep a family on the income. A gite complex must need a lot of investment and maintenance, and seriously. how many weeks of the year can one fill with bookings? As Val2 says, doing changeovers and gardening seems to be a popular choice but there is probably a lot of competition. It all sounds idyllic but do the research carefully. Bonne chance Gill

I'm not so sure that Outcast has gone.  Look at the recent posts Alexis, I agree! I have a hunch that he has reincarnated himself and now goes under the pseudonym of "Padraig" Gill

Deby, I for one am very happy in my time warp! Vraititi, I agree, I love 'em all! Gill

I have no idea about Bridget but my student niece brought a fish (exotic type) back from the States by air! It certainly was not declared to anyone and somehow it didn't have to pass through the Xray machines! Somehow I picture Bridget carefully packed in a small cardboard box with some straw .....................and no questions asked Gill

I was in France but nowhere near Perpignan. There was a lot of coverage on French radio news about this happening. I don't know whether it hit the U.K. headlines but then I expect we had our own violence and tragedies to report. It is sometimes a very sad world in which we live. Gill

Can the weather really be an issue ? Does this shorten the season ?     Probably! I think you are thinking along the right lines. I would include Central Heating as well as there is nothing more soul destroying than being cold, wet amd miserable on holiday. Gill

From what Bob says, it seems his mother-in-law’s case got to the airport OK.  It looks like someone mistook the case for their own (or thought they came with more luggage!) and took it from luggage reclaim. Well yes I can see your point but unless the person who took the case had a contact address and tel. no. for Bob's MIL, Bob probably had to report the missing case to the airline and they presumably filled out a PIR (property irregularity report). It may not work but I think I would have pushed for the the airline to deliver the case or for the "offending" passenger to pay for the missing case to be sent by taxi. As you suggested I would definitely tie something disitinctive around the case handle or find a suitable coloured strap. Gill