Jmd

Are there any techies out there who can help me? We've finally got onto ADSL (hoorah) and have set up our "Alicebox" onto the laptop computer via an Ethernet connection without any problems. We want to set up the other computer using a wireless (WiFi) connection. The Alice box didn't come with a WiFi key so we bought one from the supermarket and installed it without problems. The problems come when we try to install the Alice (tiscali) software onto the second computer. The setup sequence seems to go fine, it finds the WiFi signal (at 100%) and says the installation is complete. After clicking on Terminée a new window with the Alice sybol opens - and then a window type message appears saying "2 is not valid paramater, value must be between [1...1]". At this point the whole thing blocks up and we have to do CTRL-ALT-DEL and end the task. I have spent over an hour with 4 different people on the 24 hour asistance help line (with my good French) but they haven't been able to solve the problem. I have un-installed and re-installed all the software about 10 times, rebooted everything in site, and even got hold of a new CD with the software on but I am still getting the same error message. I am at my wits end - and after 3 lost days of work am now convinced that computers DO NOT save time. Please help. Ju

My normal advice would be don't move any child over 6, however I think you situation is a little different. If they genuinely play with the village children and therefore presumably speak some French, and you and you husband both speak good French then I don't see that you have anything to be concerned about. If you moved within the UK your children would have to make new friends, but they already have friends in France. I say go for it. J.

Hi Deby Don't worry about your daughters writing, I'm sure you will feel differently in a years time when your daughter has beautiful french handwriting. My daughter is in CP and her handwriting is so lovely, far better than mine or her fathers. It is streets ahead of her contempories in the UK, and I think it is important. Even in this day and age, people are judged on their handwriting. Once children learn all the techniques, the writing comes quickly. As for creativity, as an engineer I am not convinced it can be taught, I think it is inate. It is not a skill one needs for everyday life, but it's nice ot have if you are born with it. J.

Thank you you your replies. I looked at the national cirriculum site, but as a lay person there appeared to be alot a management gobbledy-gook and no real information to help parents who know nothing about teaching methods. I had a look at the oxford reading tree on Amazon; but was put off by a review saying that the first 6 books didn't have any words in them. I'll have another look. I have also seen the ladybird reading scheme, does anyone have experience of this. Special thanks to cjb for putting things into a language I can understand. I was obviously on the right track as I have taught my daughter mopre than half of the first set of words already. I'll get on with the rest. I am a big reader myself, and we live in a house full of books, but I had never really thought about how you taught it. Whatever they pay teachers - it's not enough! Julia

My daughter is in grand section, but has started the work for CP. Her French is excellent, and she is having no problems at all with the reading and writing at school. I would like to ensure that her ability to read and write in English remains at the same standard as her French. I am very aware that this can be a problem in children who move to a foreign country at an early age. My problem is that I can't seem to find any information as to what level she would be reading to in English. I've found alsorts of sites explaining why there is a national cirriculum and what parents can do to help with reading at home, but nothing that actually tells me how well they are expected to be able to read at the end of year one. Can anyone please give me some advice on this, or point me in the right direction. Thanks Julia

Noooooooooooo! Nothing should ever be done to give the supermarkets more power. One of the nice things about France is that shops still exist, and markets are thriving. They seem to be able to live in harmony with the supermarkets much better than in the UK. Yes I know alot of local shops have shut down buth thats nothing to the UK. At least here if I chose to do my shopping else where I still can, in many places in the UK this is no longer possible, greengrocers, butchers, bakers all gone. On a recent visit to a town in the North I wanted to get some bread and some carrots, but all the high street had was second hand charity shops and bars, I ended up having to go to Tescos - and this is all supposed to be about convienience remember - so driving to a hugh store (no doubt using petrol bought at the same store) walking around the huge store to find the bread and carrots, queing at the checkout and walking back to the car, all more convienient than going to the local baker, passing the time of day, and then walking two stores down to the greengrocer. I'm sorry but I am quite fanatical about this. Supermarkets reduce choice, they are at a stage now in the UK where they have rediculous powers and are resposible for alot of people going out of buisiness, shopkeepers, farmers, even the local cafe. They are sucking lives out of communities, and in return giving us poor quality uniform food, with little choice of variety. If you want to know more about this try reading "Not on the label" and "Shopped" both books which go into more detail about the way supermarkets operate, and the effect that it has on our lives. Be cafeful what you wish for or it might come true!