Suninfrance

Hi Cathy No, I'm not getting any error messages.  When I click on the paperclip for the attachment, the list is "grey" as opposed to "black" which means the attachment is there but I can't get to it. I'm currently running Outlook Express 6.

Any computer wizards out there? I recently had a major crash on my PC which included some b* infecting it with a Trojan (Spooner-A) and a web page hijacker.  My Norton Anti-Virus and Firewall didn't pick up the Trojan. Anyway - I've dug out my old PC and got that up and running (obviously), and I've done all my settings on Norton.  However, now I can't open ANY attachments in e-mails.  Not that I want to open all of them, but we have an ongoing situation with a solicitor in England who attaches their letters to e-mails and now I can't read them. I have a feeling it might be something to do with the Norton Firewall settings, but not being the brightest sparkler in the pack and a PC technical idiot, does anyone have any ideas where I might be going wrong?  Perhaps I've got something turned ON that should be turned OFF. HELP Jan  

You can do it Gay. Me - well not so good this week at 71.6kg (thats 0.5kg up on last week).  Mind you, the weather has gone cold again and it's really hard. Better try harder next week - I gather the weather is due to perk up a bit. Jan

Hi Mpprh Seems you and I had similar problems at about the same time. My PC seemed to be getting slower and slower with more and more error messages last week. Ran Adaware and found a couple of "bad" cookies.  Didn't think much about it as I quarantined them.  Logged onto the internet and found my browser page changed from Wanadoo to AboutBlank (which I gather is notoriously difficult to get rid of). I'm covered by NAV and Firewall, have Adaware.  I downloaded a spyware detector from the internet and there my troubles REALLY started.  Ended up with a Trojan Horse (which NAV didn't pick up), 2 very bad cookies, and CWS Hijacker.  As I am not technically minded, it has cost me a fortune ringing my brother back in England and getting instructions from him.  However, it got to the point where my computer completely seized.  It took 3 days and the only thing I can do now is completely wipe my hard drive and start again. Fortunately I had another computer lurking in a cupboard (not quite as high spec, but a PC nevertheless) and the other will be going back to England with me, so my brother can give it a good seeing to There are some real b******s out there. Next stop is to invest in a pucker spyware detector programme as I gather these programmes are starting to become more of a nuisance than virus programmes. Hope your PC is well now. Jan

I know it's not diet - but I have just munched two rather fine (if I say so myself) pancakes with golden syrup. I know have to go and help hubby strip more tiles off the roof.  Hopefully the exercise will burn off the extra calories I've just eaten.    Jan

Congratulations Alexis. Gay - sometimes you can lose inches and not pounds - funny old life ain't it!  So don't despair.  I am now down to 71.2kg and feeling good. Have started drinking Actimel in the mornings (pineapple flavour) and am starting to feel better for it.  I've also cut out my morning tea and drink hot water instead (hubby thinks I'm weird) but it's a good way to flush out the system.  I don't have tea until the afternoons now. The South Beach gave me a good idea of what I can and can't eat and I find that if I don't eat carbs after, say, 3pm, my weight doesn't fluctuate so much.  So pancakes for lunch today instead of at tea time, it being shrove Tuesday and all that. Friday night is still chips night though when les anglais meet up for a meal and a few drinks at our local.  I figure one sinful meal a week won't hurt. Jan

Back in France now. Wedding was great and went off with only one hitch (the bride and groom) As for the weight - I'm back up to 73.2kg. Had dinner with friends on the Friday night which consisted of pizza, potato rosti,******ail sausages, ham, garlic bread, colslaw, sauces and the smallest bowl of salad I've ever seen between 6 of us.  I couldn't very well, just stick to the ham and salad, there wouldn't have been any left for anyone else!! Wedding breakfast - fruit starter, fully turkey roast followed by 3 layer chocolate mouse (heaven), plus the champagne and wedding cake and sugared almonds.  I couldn't face the evening buffet which consisted of just about every bad carb you could imagine. We were staying with the bride's parents who didn't fancy cooking on Sunday evening (can't blame them), so it was pizza again. So looking at it all, gaining 1.4kg not too bad. It was along journey back to France, so I expect I won't feel like cooking tonight.  Bacon sarnies for lunch and pasta bake for dinner and tomorrow I will back back on the good and righteous course with hopefully good news to report next Tuesday. Jan

I hadn't even considered vol-au-vents - damn The wedding is this Saturday.  My mum has been staying with us for the last 10 days and we are taking her back with us on Thursday.  Mum's been eating what we've been eating on our diet and has lost 4lbs.  I think she's quite pleased and is going to buy the South Beach book when she gets back to England. As for the wedding cake - I will do my best to have some.  We missed out at the last wedding as we had to leave early. Jan

Hi all Well, down to 71.8kg - 1kg down on last week.  Tried on the outfit I'm wearing for the wedding and it fits a treat, if anything the skirt is loose How's everyone else doing. Alexis - 1cm is good.  2cm for 14 Feb - no probs. Jan

Stay strong Gay.   Me - I was 73.2kg last week and this week its 72.8kg.  Not as good as I had hoped, but progress in the right direction.    Jan

Welcome back Belinda. Don't despair that weight will come off in no time. Tuesdays it is then. Jan

Alexis - I know what you mean about not being in the mood - but as long as you are keeping a note - one day the mood will change.  And you were right - I didn't hear a loud thump, but the weight is starting to shift. Keep it going (is that a phrase from Harvey on Celebrity Fit Club?). I would have added this to my previous mail - but I've lost my "edit" button. Jan

Hi Gay - I had hoped to sail through mine too - it comes and goes, although it seems that since I started the SB it's all come back again.  I still have a supply of Black Cohosh which helped me before and I stopped taking them when the ol' sweats stopped.  Back on them again now and they do help. On the plus side though - I know you're not supposed to weigh yourself everday, but I jumped on the scales this morning only to discover I'd lost 2lbs .  So maybe there is a chance I'll get to my desired first goal weight for the wedding at the end of January. Jan

Hi Alexis I went for the South Beach Diet.  It's been OK apart from the amount of fish you have to eat.  I can't eat fish - it doesn't agree with me, although I'm OK with prawns and tinned tuna. No bread, pasta, rice, potatoes in the first couple of weeks but lots of veg and salads.  Alledgedly you can lose between 8-13lbs in the first two weeks, then you gradually start introducing "good" carbs after the first two week phase. I've tried really hard this week and I've lost zero, zilch, nada, nothing, but I won't give up. Thornton choccies (OK - dribbling over the keyboard now). Jan

Hi Gay I've just come off the SBD forum site as well and noticed and interesting selection of letters on SBD and Menopause.  Very interesting theories.  My night sweats and hot flashes have come back with avengence since I started this diet last week - or maybe it could just be a coincidence?  Who knows? I will not give in after a week though, but I must try and lose at least a couple of kg for my husband's neice's wedding at the end of this month. Jan

OK - despite trying really hard all week and only giving in to a handful of peanuts I've stayed exactly the same as I was last week - 73.2kg.    Still at least it didn't go up. How's everyone else doing? Jan

Alexis - you can do it, we all can.  I know we'll all shed a few pounds and cm before Valentines Day. Jan

Starting today - weight 73.2kg.  6kg to go for first target. Jan

We're all going to do it - this year We had Xmas dinner with friends and went for a walk afterwards.  Hubby took a photo of us all.  Needless to say, I was quite shocked.  We don't have any mirrors in our "hovel" yet, but the photo said it all. Measuring/weigh in on Tuesdays again? Jan

Got myself a copy of the South Beach Diet book and rather than just skip to the eating plans, decided to read it.  What the book says makes so much sense. Not completely sticking to the eating plan at the moment - need to get to the shops, but I'm just having meat and veg for my evening meal, no spuds and I'm losing weight without feeling hungry - that has to be good. Jan

OK - this is it - new year, new me (how many times have I said that :hehe. Seriously though.  I actually started cutting down my carbs after Boxing Day.  Today I got on the scales and I'm down 3lbs.  Amazing . Introducing a 'no alcohol til the weekend' rule and hopefully this will help too. Daily walks (if it ever stops raining - Correze (19) allegedly has the highest rainful in France) and early nights too. I am so going to get fit this year. Two friends joining in as well. Here's to a fitter, slimmer New Year. Happy New Year everyone.

I'm trying to find out if there is a college near Arnac Pompadour which gives French lessons to the English.  I know words, but stringing a sentence together - no chance!! I heard of a course being run in Objat which started in November, but by the time I'd heard about it, it was fully booked. Does anyone know of any colleges, small private groups that can teach french to beginners (like me) and more advanced stuff for my husband? Jan  

Thanks Will We went to the CPAM in Tulle this afternoon and met with an extremely helpful lady.  I should have read your e-mail before we went, but my PC locked out (again).  However, she advised us that we could take all our "evidence" to the Mairie in Lubersac which is lot closer to us on Mondays between 2.00 - 3.00pm as a member of the CPAM visits there for one hour.  She also informed me that because I am undergoing continuing observation for the brain haemorrhage I had three years ago, if I need any follow ups or treatment in France, I will be covered 100% (she thinks) which is great news.  I now have copies of all my certificates, etc and plan to go to Lubersac on Monday to try and get this sorted out. As a bonus, we also found out today that 2 doctors at our local surgery in Pompadour speak English which is great for me as I don't speak French (yet). Thanks for your help on that one. Jan

Despite having lived in France on and off now for six months, I am still unclear as to what I have to do to get into the medical system. Can anyone explain this to me in "idiot proof" language. ie, Step 1, step 2, etc. So far, I have got my E106 forms from England and this afternoon I am taking them to my local medical insurance place in Tulle.  That's about it. I see from a previous post that things may change next year and that I will need to register with a doctor.  Do I have to register with my local doctor in Pompadour (19) or can I register with the English speaking doctor a couple of villages down from where I live? Jan    

Thanks Alcazar. We've done the refilling the trap one.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not.  So I reckon it's probably the leak scenario.  Not looking forward to taking the shower tray out - plumbing is not one of our favourite tasks. Guess I'll have to wait until the new year when the bathroom upstairs is ready, then we can completely de-commission the one downstairs which is in a corner of what will eventually be a living room.  At the moment I put a soap dish over the plughole after showering to stop the smell permeating through the rest of the house, unfortunately it creeps under the back door from the outside when the wind is in the wrong direction. Don't you just love house renovations Jan