Alexis

I realise that they may not be everyones cup of tea but did anyone see them last night on TF1?  I laughed till I cried.  Love the "Pran Charl" and Lady Diana sketches. I shall be rushing out to buy their DVD.  Want the 'Petite Announce' one too with Elie Simoun and Franck - the ex French boyfriend of Deidre in Corrie!!  Did you know that then??? Also last week was the original Sex God...Cary Grant in To Catch a Thief in VO. Tonight it is Evita on Arte but dpends if anything else is on....

Wonderfull.  Carole King.

Just thinking that I have never seen cream of tartar.  Bicarb is easy to find around here.  Try the pharmacie if you can't find it in the supermarket. I have only seen currants once, in Carrefour, but I already had 'supplies' so didn't buy them. Can't you get the flaçons d'avoine for your oaty things?  Always in the cereal section.  In fact, it is either Scott's or the other one.  Memory lapse.  Red box.  Lot dearer here though. In the new Super U in St Meen they have an English section.  It is about 1m long with salad cream, mustard, brown sauces etc.  At the Intermarche there they sell parsnips in season.  Don't care for them myself but I grow them for a friend. When I really fancy English food, I am lucky that Jersey is not far away.  Then I get there and look at the prices!!! Still, I like looking at labels.  How sad it that?

Anybody a tasty recipe for morue please?  I thought I would give it a try.

I can't wait for Rennes to open.  Squeaking with excitement. Not for summer but for those long dreary days in winter. I will go for my lunch and make a day of it . . .

I was in Vannes the other week and found just what I had been looking for so we went back with the trailer on the Saturday and found even more treasure.  Well, had a trailer to fill. Must agree that prices are high and also find, near me at least, that furniture is being passed over in favour of second hand videos, books, records etc and even new furniture.  The Troc seemed empty. It is also trés fashionable for the French huppies to buy up the old stuff and, leaving it in its original state, re-capture the 'old' France in their homes.

TF1 13 Heures had a film about this the other day.  Talking to a producer etc and showed him stuffing his ducks.  There will no doubt be lots more before Christmas if past years are anything to go by.  I have watched the programmes explaining which to buy and the explanation of the terms with their morceaux and entier etc but still haven't paid enough attention and find it simplest to buy the dearest.  Then I am usually safe.  Saying that, when cravings threaten to overcome me and it isn't readily available, like August, one of the manufacturers does two slices in a pack which isn't bad.  About 4€ I think. Roll on Christmas.  Foie gras one night, plateau de fruit mer another.  Sorted!

I agree with Val.  The longer you live here the more you adapt.  Or get used to doing without.  I used to have very long lists before but now it is just jellies for OH trifles - yes I know it is 'common' to use jelly - suet, Paxo, golden syrup.... I hoard golden syrup so it goes black and I have to chuck it. Anyway, there are English shopping sites where you can get most things if you are desperate for strong white flour or anything Mr Cadbury makes..... I have used one site once and they were very good.  Not used them since as been in the UK and shopped but will no doubt order again. Ooh currants can be difficult to find too.

I know some of you hate them, but I love them!  Françonville,Montpellier,Dijon and Saint-Etienne are the spots to be. Rennes is in 2006...which is sooner than planned.  They must have felt sorry for me having to go to Nantes.  

I have just got back from the UK where I was Catering Manager for my daughters wedding.... I went to Asda - open all night!  What joy for us early birds! I spent say, £75 in there but couldn't get all the things I needed.  I perhaps didn't look too closely in my panic, not saying they don't sell them.  Popped to Sainsbury's, which my French husband absolutely LOVED?????  Spent the same for well, nowt! I didn't find either dear though.  Asda was positively cheap. BUT.....goodness, it is dear in the UK.  Everything seems to cost £20.  Or should I say that £20 buys nothing?  I was forever peeling off another £20.  Never seemed to be asked for less!

This is interesting.  I have never had a problem withdrawing MY money from my bank.  Certainly, if it was a large amount, I had to warn the bank.  Used to be 10,000F I think.  I often draw large amounts if I am off to the UK - hope that I won't need to change all of it - usually do though! Can I ask if there seem to be different rules for people who live here all the time and people who have 'second homes'?

Must admit that I love IKEA.  IK as in sick like the French pronouce it.  Only know the one in Nantes but it is full of little treasures.  Not battled with furniture though.

SMIC is what, 1000€ now?  About £650 - before tax.  Yes, people live on that but certainly, those with children are entiltled to something.  No idea what though. It all depend on where you live as to your big outgoings, the taxe foncierre and taxe d'habitation.  My taxe foncierre for here in Brittany is 93€ per annum.  You can tell what a tip it is!!  Sorry, my house, not Brittany.  People further south can pay twenty times that.  The same will apply for taxe d'habitation. Normally EDF, SAUR and telephone will be the same all over.  Depends how much you use.  Yes I know we decided we paid more for water than anywhere else but I don't count it as dear. Who told you that you pay 8% for medical cover?  Is this true?  It comes directly out of my wages and then I pay 30 odd euros per month for my mutuelle.  I don't think my retired friends pay anything for cover other than their mutuelle but it could be taken as tax.  I really don't know. Not a lot of use I'm afraid.  Go for it though!

I hadn't heard about this.  Might have happened whilst I was away. The French take their illnesses very seriously and I can see them doing the round of doctors to see if they all agree. As for John and his problem, if it is serious I would just phone the pompiers.  If, however, things are tightening up, it might be a good idea to register with your local doctor - just in case.  You could ask the receptionist.....  Less 'dragon' like here.  Ours is usually outside 'avin a fag!

I have always bought my meat at the supermarket.  The suppliers of the supermarkets also supply the butchers.  I have seen their lorries/vans delivering. This might not be true for chickens or other poultry but it is certainly true for pork and beef where I live.

I would suggest you do a nude calendar.  Six photo's each.  Then send them out to garages, Womens Institutes etc. People will be flooding across. Make sure it is tastefull though..... When they check you out on the internet you could have a 'special' one for them.

Slowing down around me too, here in Morbihan according to the local immobilier.  Just when we had decided to sell too!  Not a lot of houses on the market and all very expensive - compared with a few years ago. Not many renovation jobs around and the finished articles are going for high prices. Apparently a 'better class of person' is buying.  Don't ask me! Will just say that every house I know that has been for sale has been bought by the Anglais. I liked the old ladies too ....

Did you know that there is a new parasite to menace your fuchsias? Picked up a leaflet in the Mairie today. Aculops fuchsiae. I'm off to google it..... Booklet is www.feredec-bretagne.com so will try them as well. Always something......!!

It is normal to take over the existing insurance company. Twice I have been trotted along to their offices after signing. Take care though, it can be VERY difficult to get out of their clutches. Needs recommended letters etc. two months before re-newal date.

Try the local papers. Cards in shops too.

LAST EDITED ON 03-Aug-04 AT 06:41 PM (BST) Autoroute. The money you pay on tolls you save in time. I am about 20 minutes from Loudeac and can get up to Zeebrugge in 7-8 hours depending on stops. If I try to 'save' money it can take up to 12. Now, that was a nightmare journey. The smaller roads are fine but I always seem to get stuck behind a convoy of lorries for hundreds of miles..... Then there is the problem of getting lost...... Edited to say...after Avranches, take the N176 to Dinan, D766 to St Meen le Grand and then the N164 to Loudeac. If you prefer to go on the speedy routes, you can cut across from Tinteniac, Becherel to Quedillac. It is a good road.

Are there things such as site visits to pass work so you could continue etc. Building Inspector types.

Can't help you I am afraid. 750 is only in the region of 500 so I don't think that is dear. Think how much you will save in the long run! Normally it is done the day you buy a property. We had something signed the day we purchased here. It was the first purchse after we married. Means his daughter can't chuck me out the day of the funeral. Or mine him! I will ask my husband when he comes in. Failing that I have a RDV with the Notaire on Monday - yes, another house - and I will ask him. I do know that when my in-laws changed their regime some years ago there was nothing but trouble from one of his sisters who didn't agree to the change. Fortunately, the Judge went on the wishes of the majority. Meant she couldn't chuck her Mother out and claim her inheritance.....

I have. I asked about this for a friend. Can't seem to find the papers but I would have no doubt given him the site details in an e-mail. I will check.

What are you worried about? Noise? Smell? I live next to two duck sheds, three turkey sheds and three egg producing chicken sheds. The chickens are outside during the day. The farmyard called Bretagne! The noisiest are the pecanne which are a breed of duck. Next are the pintade. Rare you hear the ducks, turkeys or chickens. As for smell, it seems to depend on the weather conditions - humid or heavy - and, of course, which way the wind is blowing. I must say though that the days it smells are very rare indeed. I wouldn't have thought that great numbers of grouse would be raised. Are they for hunting? Christmas? Never heard of this here. Will ask my neighbour - the duck man!