Chrissie

Blimey Dave - do you have to slide down that pole à la fire brigade???[:)] Chrissie (81)

It's a dreadful time for you, but Lace doesn't know that.  She is a lucky girl, having had a marvellous life with loving owners who will make sure that her end is painless and stress-free.  And that place she has stolen in your heart will always be there, no matter how soon or how much later you find another dog steatling its way in - that's the funny thing: there's always more room in there. Good luck in the coming days. Chrissie (81)

We're doing an English book bring-and-buy here (near Mazamet in Southern Tarn (81)) on Sunday 20th Feb.  All books to be sold at 1 euro, and all proceeds will be split between the local cat and dog refuges. I have contacted lots of locals, but if anyone from further afield would be interested, please pm me and I'll email you full details. Chrissie (81)

Thank goodness Fred finally tried to stop them saying "Hiyaaaaaa!" in that whiny tone.  It was driving me mad and making me scream at the TV (doesn't happen often)! Now, can he stop the spindly boy from greeting people with "Y'ahright then?" Chrissie (81)

Surely you could manage by merely chaining the two children out in the garden?  That way they'll get lots of fresh air and won't be able to get near the puppy in his basket.  Mind you if they cry very loudly, it might irritate the neighbours, I suppose. Chrissie (81)

Cats have a reputation for being solitary, but in fact they love company.  I would not recommend leaving your cat suddenly on his own and shut out of the house, even with someone coming in to feed him - he will be confused and frightened and will look for new company. We always put ours in a cattery, except once when we couldn't get a space and some very kind friends took our cat, but she had to be shut inside their house all the time with a litter tray in case she roamed. Chrissie (81)

We have had little or no Spam since the beginning of the year, compared with 100 or so per day prior to that.  Looked at our Orange mail site and we have nothing in our indesirables folder, so everything is either being blocked before it arrives or is coming through.  I feel sorry for the poor b******s who WANT to buy their Viagra online!  [:)] Chrissie (81)

I posted something to Canada on 3rd November - it arrived on 17th December.  Another item posted to the same address on about 12th December has not yet arrived...... Chrissie (81)

Thanks for that - the only *wab file is the same, so somehow it has become corrupted. However, I did take a backup onto disc about a year ago, and between that and a lot of "saved" emails I think I've reconstituted most of it.  A warning to us all to back up Address Book and Favourites regularly! Chrissie (81)

Our email Address Book (Outlook Express) suddenly seems to have lost a whole chunk of people.  Is it backed up anywhere on our computer? Chrissie (81)

Any word is only as offensive as the audience finds it - the fact that "English" swear words are used more and more here to a largely uncomprehending audience is unfortunate for those who do understand and find the words shocking, but I think we must accept that no major offence was intended.  And you can never turn back the tide, so shrug and ignore it.  Although I think that if your children are likely to repeat such phrases to an English-speaking audience, then you should get into explanations of why it is not suitable. Chrissie (81) 

They have it in our local Leclerc - near the lumpfish, smoked salmon etc.  Usually vacuum-packed. Chrissie (81)

Don't know whether that would be acceptable (to Payee) or not.  Do people still use travellers'cheques?  We had a visitor come about 5 years ago with nothing but USD trav cheques and the banks here were very reluctant to take and change them.  Ended up in CA where, before we finally got the euros, we were interrogated, his passport was taken away, higher authorities were repeatedly summoned and people kept peering worriedly over the screen at us!  [:D]   Hilarious in retrospect, but infuriating at the time. Chrissie (81)

Thank you Allanb - I have sent you a reply. Chrissie (81)

I need to send someone in Canada a US dollar cheque (sounds crazy, I know).  It's not a large amount, $40, so I don't want to pay a hefty great fee, and even if I did, my bank here is making confused buzzing and flapping sounds.....[:(] Does anyone on here have a US dollar cheque book who would be able to help me out?  I could reimburse you either in euros or sterling, by cheques, or even by Paypal! Chrissie (81)

Look in Yellow Pages, under "Affutage". Chrissie (81)

I used to have a suede jacket with an enormous label inside which said: "WARNING!  This garment to be wet-cleaned only, by reputable dry cleaner." Never got my head round that one. Chrissie (81)

Perhaps it's all to do with the french being terribly accurate about the timing of all tenses. It seems from the above posts that "en travaillant" can only be used if it is a simultaneous action, so if you can say "whilst working in the garden I whistled", it would be OK, but similarly "I spent all day whilst working" would be nonsense......... Hope this is right!! Chrissie (81)  

Just bumping this poor little soul up to the top.  Hoping someone will want to sweep him up and away to a lovely home.  Is he a baby, or just tiny? Chrissie (81)

Thanks Clair and Cooperlola - so if I use the infinitive, which is more elegant, I think, I must also put in "à"...... More grammar practice definitely needed! Chrissie (81)

How do you say "to spend all day working in the garden?" Would it be "passer toute la journée en travaillant dans le jardin", or "passer toute la journée travailler dans le jardin."? And if it's plural and the former, would I write "il nous faut passer toute la journée en travaillant dans le jardin" or "travaillants".....[8-)] Chrissie (81) (I don't by the way, it's just a grammatical exercise!!)

Thanks Christine - I've passed on the links.  (I think they have already been in touch with the bearded collie rescue people, but it might have been the UK version.) Chrissie (81)

A couple I know here in the Tarn are looking to adopt a bearded collie as a companion for their existing 8-yr old beardie.  (They enquired at Carcassonne having seen the beardie who became "Dinky" on the Web, but were too late.) They would prefer a full pedigree, also a youngish dog, but could probably be swayed by a beardie-cross type.  Would also be willing to travel quite a way.  Either male or female. Anyone know of a suitable dog needing a good home? Chrissie (81)

A friend here was cross to learn that her 14-year old grandson had gone to take part in the anti-pension-reform protest in Toulouse.  "But you should have been in school!" she told him.  "Oh, that's OK," he replied, "the head teacher gave us 200 euros to hire a coach."....................................[blink] Chrissie (81)

Here are a couple of photos of this poor little soul! [IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb196/chrissie_081/puppy1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb196/chrissie_081/puppy2.jpg[/IMG] Doesn't she look a real cutie? Go on, someone must be looking for just this sort of girl.......