Hutchiesinfrance

hi, we have just moved back to the UK and have a volvo 850 estate with french headlights fitted - costing €500.  if anyone who is going to france from the north of england with a volvo and would like to arrange a swap at a convenient garage we could all save some pennies!  drop us a line.

Hi all, unfortunately we are on the move the other way - back to the big island.....  has anyone had experience of transfering funds back to the UK? Could it be done at the point of sale of the house or does it have to go through our french euro bank account?  would it be better using a currency dealer such as HIFX (i think thats the name) or would it be better to open a euro account at a high street bank in the UK and pay a cheque in euros when we return to the UK and transfer into sterling at the bank. thanks for your help in advance.

Hi, Sadly and with heavy hearts we are having to return to the UK in January.  We are looking for ideas (cheapest) to get our furniture etc back.  We havent got a huge amount and was wondering if anyone has used a 'man and van' or a half load option back to the UK and can give me an idea of price and companies.  Also, we will be selling or short term (6 months) letting our house and are looking for any recommendations for good websites for advertising.   Thanks for your help - this forum has certainly helped us over the years we have been here in France.

We are extremely sad about having to rehome our cats, it is the first time in our lives when we are asking for help and homes for our animals and not being the ones offering them, including dogs, cats, horses and any other fluffy and feathered creatures that needed looking after.  I would therefore respectfully ask you not to be too judgmental without knowing all the details why we are returning to the UK.  I feel that when people are returning to the UK, they are not normally doing it without a lot of thought and probably a lot of heartache and pain, so for the minority the philisophy of  'where there's a will there's a way' may fit, but for the majority, I am sure they have looked at all the 'ways' of keeping their pets and all the 'will' in the world does not conjure up the resources needed for quarantine or the 6 months needed here, when the return to the UK is unplanned and imminent.  I feel therefore that a kind word would be more feeling and helpful as they are losing friends in a way they had not foreseen. I appreciate the work you do with rehoming, but maybe you could learn to feel for your fellow kind as much as you do the animals,  try to see the best in everyone and certainly have all the details before judging someone, they are probably suffering and needing support, rather than making them feel worse than they probably already do!  I will not respond to any other posting unless it is of a positive nature or sent directly to me at my email address. I write this with respect and will send you photographs.  

Hi,  Our owners are really sad because they have got to go back to England unexpectedly and cannot take us with them. We haven't got a pet passport because they rescued us here in France and never expected to be having to go back to England for good.  They have enquired into putting us into quarantine and that would cost over £3,500.00, unfortunately, they have not got that sort of money until their house here is sold and they have asked the vets how quickly we could get passports and that would take over 6 months.  They are extremely upset as they are responsible owners and would definitely prefer to take us with them.  They have not been able to rehome us with friends, as all their friends already have as many cats as they can home.  We have all been neutered/spayed, wormed recently and are treated with frontline for fleas and ticks.  Minnie is a very pretty silver tabby female, approx 4 years old, when she gets to know you she is the sweetest natured cat you will find, Rumpus is a ginger male, very much a house cat , likes nothing better than to be sat on your knee in front of the fire, approx 8 years old and Gizmo is a black and white pretty female, still very much a baby, a bit naughty but also cuddly about 1 year old and occassionally we do catch the odd mouse!!! So please if you could take one or all of us into your home we (and our owners) would be soooo happy and grateful, we have plenty of photos if you would like to see us first. We hope you can help us Minnie, Rumpus and Gizmo  

Hi, I have been looking through the forum and noticed some of you are doing the OU courses, levels 1 & 2.  Has anyone looked at other routes for learning French at this level online? I havent been able to find any other options, and the OU courses, when living in France are quite expensive.  Only 10 days to go before the closing date for the feb 2005 courses, so I will have to make up my mind quickly.  Any feedback on the OU course quality/tutor assistance would also be very much appreciated.  Also, has anyone been on the residential course? Is it all ages, or mostly youngsters studying for their degrees - I wouldnt want to feel like a wrinkly! Thanks for any help  

hi Does anyone have or know of any young pygmy goats for sale (or just needing good homes)? We are in the north Dordogne, on the Charente border.  My daughter has asked Santa for some for Christmas!!!! thanks

thank you all for your advice.  i am waiting to hear from Novatech as to whether they would export to France, i will keep you posted.  we thought hard about whether a desktop would be a possibility, as this would be an easier solution, but we are limited on space, so a laptop would be ideal.  if we cannot find a company who would export, a trip back to the 'big island' in the new year looks like the only possibility.  thanks again

Help needed please - our PC is finally giving up on us and we are hoping to upgrade to a laptop.  Can anyone recommend where we can get a laptop with a QWERTY keyboard in France, or if there are any companies in the UK that export? Thanks