Chrissie

I did search on the Web after that, and found that garlic is not toxic in the same way as onions.  But it does contain a very small amount of the dangerous chemical in onions (name forgotten now) and so dosage should be carefully controlled.  I think I might give it a try, as my poor old dog has other problems that might be helped by garlic.  Will start with half a clove and see what happens. Chrissie (81)

Both of our dogs get very distressed by Frontline and Advantix spot-ons, so I switched last year to Effipro, against our vet's advice, despite the fact that he sells it!  It seems to work OK so far (touch wood hastily) and gives them no nasty reactions. There was someone on this site a few months back asking about various treatments for dogs, who mentioned she gave her dgos garlic pills to combat fleas and ticks.  Does anyone know if this actually works?  Or even helps?  And, if so, what the dosage might be?  Chrissie (81)

How awful - thank goodness they have got the guilty parties.  Is it just stupidity and lack of empathy that provokes these acts?  I could weep.  In fact I have. Chrissie (81)

You probably don't need to be told this, but keep copies of everything you give the French tax office and make a note of which dates it was given etc.  The office here "lost" the forms which they were supposed to send to HMRC, TWICE.  (I understood from a casual chat with someone about 5-6 years later that they felt overly put upon to be asked to "process" forms for foreigners and also to incur the cost of the postage [blink] - they only had to send them to Paris!)  I finally stood over someone while they reluctantly signed and stamped the third set and posted them myself directly to HMRC having got agreement from HMRC on the phone that this would be OK.  Nearly four years from start to finish. Chrissie (81)

Thanks Coops - I used your link and managed to navigate from there to the terms and conditions and it is max 2 hours each call. Am I weird or what? - I could no more spend two hours on the trot on the phone to anyone, even my nearest and dearest, than I could fly to the moon!  I understand that teenagers are different  [blink] (fortunately my lifestyle does not often involve my world colliding with theirs)  but does anyone else witter on for hours and hours at a time? (Sorry, have meaningful converstaions with etc etc..........! Chrissie (81)

I've just topped up our SFR mobile with 2 months of credit and was told I could register "3 numéros gratuit illimités" to last for 2 months.  After much trying of various SFR customer service numbers, emails, website etc I finally landed on an advisor who put in the three numbers for me, but who then mumbled something about a 2 hours resrtiction.  I asked several times about this, trying to discover if it is a restriction per call, or a restriction on each number, or a restriction on the overall time I can call them for free, but he was equally unclear and kept saying they were illimité within the restriction.  [8-)] Can anyone clarify please? Chrissie (81)

Surely your pool has to be either fenced off or alarmed in case a child should fall in?  In which case the alarm would warn you if the dog went in.  Or are you worried he will fall/jump in when you are not at the property and could not save him? A dog-useable ramp sounds a great idea though - and could also help wildlife that might fall in.  If you Google "rampe piscine" you will see all sorts of things available here, many you can buy online. (I would have thought a plastic chute would be very difficult to climb up when wet!) Chrissie (81)

We're back to the old confusion about date of receipt and date of transfer.  Any salary or pension you get in sterling should be converted for tax purposes at the rate on that day - as most of us receive regualr monthly payments it is acceptable to use an average for the year.  Whether you are subsequently clever or not about actually buying euros with your pounds is totally irrelevant. Every year we have lengthy discussions about what rate to use as an average for the year - it is best to ask your local tax office for the rate, as they are the ones who will be scrutinising your tax return at the end of the day. Chrissie (81)

We have had four different estate agents view our property and they have each come up with different habitable area sizes.  But in general it seems to include all reception and bedrooms, but not small halls, corridors, garages, utility areas or bathrooms.  We have a large upper hall separating three areas and most of the estate agents included that. Good luck with your search. Chrissie (81)

Funnily enough I was looking at that sort of thing in M. Bricolage the other day and saw a variety of blinds which seemed to hook over the PVC window (thus allowing the opening of the window without getting the blind caught up).  Wasn't sure how this allowed the window to close properly without warping, so would welcome views from anyone who has tried them. Chrissie (81)

Just to update, I went round various garden and car places yesterday and asked re getting the battery charged with a pulse charger.  In every case I was met with looks of puzzlement, changing, as I described the process, to a mixture of disbelief and condescension.  Poor woman - worse - poor English woman - she really thinks something like that exists?  Ho ho.  It's clear she really needs a new battery........... Anyway, I got one place to just charge it and it's now working OK.  If it starts failing again I'll probably invest in a normal charger just to keep the thing ticking over until (hopefully) the tondeuse is sold along with the house.  Er....anyone want a beautiful large house in the glorious southern Tarn?........ Chrissie (81)

Great - thanks! Chrissie (81)

Can anyone tell me what the French is for "pulse charger"?  I am told this is a type of professional battery charger that will revitalise tired car and tractor batteries. Chrissie (81)

Well, I just spent a load of time writing a list of problems etc, but after trying to post (twice!)  it has never appeared.  So, at the risk of double posting, I will try again:  (Wish there was a smiley for "gnashing my teeth".....) Am using XP with IE 1) At 100% screen size I get the kitsch lavender view at the sides, at 125% I lose the lavender but the forum is shouting at me. 2) I got rid of the huge white gap by unclicking the Compatibility View, but only discovered this thanks to someone posting that, and after several pages of frustration. 3) The contrast of black on blue is poor, and the plain white general background is indeed a bit tiring on the eyes, but I could live with that. 4) The whole thing seems very slow to load, but that may be a problem at my end. 5) As mentioned at the top, I am not sure if this post will actually even get through - it failed whilst I had taken off Compatibilty View - I have now re-clicked that and am trying for the third time. Hmmmm.  6) Will try a smiley here.............[:(]   (this seems tt have worked this third time, but didn't on the earlier two messages I tried posting) Overall, I guess we can all get used to a new colour scheme, but the site should have run smoothly before we were presented with it, and sheer common courtesy would indicate that we should have had some warning of an imminent major change.  I have better things to waste my time on than fighting with the technology on this site (One hour 15 mins so far this morning, trying to get to grips with it).  After over ten years, I should be sorry to go but I will not be continuing on the Forum if this nonsense continues. Chrissie (81)

Sorry to take so long to get back to all of you with your helpful replies.  I found that our house insurance has an option to cover cancellation of holidays - but the max reimbursement is 1000 euros.  I tried several online sites but many only insure UK residents or under 70s.  I will keep looking on the web, but of course, there are many firms offering to sell insurance but not necessarily willing to pay up in the event......        Your site AllanB, was very good and now has a dedicated site for French nationals so I got a quote from them - they also didn't seem to balk at the fact that one of the party would be aged over 80, so I think we will end up going with them.   Thanks again Chrissie (81)

We have just booked a rather expensive cruise on the Canal du Midi.[:D]  Obviously any health problems during the holiday would be covered by our usual cover and mutuelle, but I want to be sure we are covered against any need to cancel owing to sudden health problems or family crises etc.  A cancellation less than 90 days before the start of the trip would result in no refund whatsoever.  Am planning to talk to our insurance man today, but wondered if anyone had any recommendations for specific travel insurers that would cover our needs? Chrissie (81)

I am nowhere near you (sadly) but have you looked on line for any kind of charity which does English book sales/fairs?  We do them regularly down here in the south and raise hundreds of euros each year for the local animal shelters. Hopefully someone else nearer you will be able to help. Chrissie (81)

Oh yes - I think they are trained in carriages on the UK railway system - gives them the right amount of volume and really irritates the **** out of everyone.  I hastily fold my English shopping list over so no-one thinks I am in any way connected to these people .  Or (worse) that they should spot me and start to involve me in conversation.  At times like this I find it handy to be able to say "I only speak Danish" but once I was caught out by someone (a ghastly Swede) who DID!   Uurrgghh.  [+o(] Chrissie(81)

When I moved to Scandinavia a long time ago, I went to one set of evening classes for the language and another set of classes (in my case making lace) to give me a few local contacts and a bit of light relief.  I found it much easier to produce incomprehensible letters from tax authorities or whatever at the lace classes and ask for help and they all thought it was hilarious.  I made some good friends there and it helped with everyday language. Chrissie (81)

Mine came to pick me up to go out but was obviously very distracted.  When pressed he said he had seen a little dog by the side of the road, all alone in the middle of nowhere.  He would have stopped but was on the way to me and was already running late.  I asked whether he wanted to go back there and he said "Yes" so we turned the car round and went back to where he had seen the dog.  Looked all over - no sign of it, but at least there was no run-over corpse either.  I think that was when I made my mind up. Chrissie (81)

If they have a reasonably unusual name, you can look on freebmd for a marriage before end 1984, and that's free, but if it is e.g. Peter Johnson, you would get too many.  Divorces are harder. Chrissie (81)

Love the pic - that's just typical!!! Chrissie (81)

How lovely, Pads.  After all the hard work and patience you have put in, it's finally paid off.  And a bruised little animal is now a (reasonably!) well rounded and happy domestic cat.[:D] Well done!  Chrissie (81) 

Has she taken the dog to a vet, to check for a microchip?  Always the first step. Chrissie (81)

[quote user="Jonzjob"]Just as a matter of interest[8-)], How will you wash your feet now[8-)][:D] [/quote] Oh, I have a little man come in to wash them - doesn't everyone nowadays?.......[:$][:$].......[:D] Chrissie (81)