[shopping in France just got better!]

Auchan

Tio Pepe

Fino

€15/bottle

don't feel any duty to reply on the cost or the quality, but it is sherry and available in France.

[shopping in France just got better!]

Stilton (blue Stilton) is available in our Auchan and also from time to time in Grand Frais. Red Leicester - also available in Grand Frais as Vieux Leicester - looks old and dried out under its plastic wrap - it isn't. Wensleydale, proper crumbly Lancashire or Cheshire - still waiting for the world to change. But they do have Blue Shropshire - not my personal favorite but OK - and little cheddars wrapped in wax - which I will personally avoid.

And before ALBF gets on his hobby horse, I also love Danish, Norwegian, French, Italian, Spanish cheeses. They each have a character of their own and we should refrain from saying that A is a good substitute for B or A is as good as B. There are good'uns and not so good'uns [according to your own tastes only] and they all have an individual character.

[shopping in France just got better!]

Well just for once we seem to be ahead of the curve Mint. We also have prepackaged Wyke Farms which is OK for cooing, but the cheese counter in our Auchan also has blocks of White Cheddar cut to order - Cheddar fremier. - as well as the red. These are also Wyke products but the white cheddar is pretty good. Friends brought out some Cathedral City over the summer, and while the taste was different, if I had been scoring them I would have ended up with very similar scores.

And yes for melting onto toast/crumpets or just on top of things, Cheddar is impossible to match.

[Holiday cancellation]

Normally in these situations it is the insurance that covers it - but you did not have any. That basically is what insurance is for and if there were other avenues you would not need insurance. I am therefore fairly sure your money is gone.

[Photovoltaic panels]

I can only relay what our local heating and plumbing engineer said. He used to do the installations but has now taken them off his list of specialities - but will still install if the customer insists.

He says that if you have to borrow to pay for the installation, the payback is around 20 years. The "expected" life of the photovoltaic cells is 15 years. There have also been occasions where problems with the electrical side of the installations has caused roof fires (and neighbours of a good friend have suffered this in the UK).

He therefore believes that as things stand today, this is nothing more than a con.

[Caterpillar tree destruction mk2]

http://tai2.ntu.edu.tw/taiwania/pdf/tai.1999.44.230.pdf

Read through the abstract and you will find thunbergiensis. Polypodiidites T.to be exact.

Effects of forest management on biodiversity in temperate ...

Also this but you will have to purchase the full report to find the specific link:

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S...

Effects of forest management on biodiversity in temperate deciduous forests: An overview based on Central European ... and Hymenoptera thunbergiensis on wet sandstone ...

You need a better search engine.

As to the question is this word proper latin, it depends what you mean by proper latin. If you mean used by the Romans, then most certainly no - along with many/most genus descriptions.

Likewise you won't find Sirdavidii in any Latin dictionary (plant named after Davis Attenborough).

[3916 form]

You could declare this in one of two positions.

1. Declare this as a pension payment (which it is even if there will never be another one) under the foreign incomes section.

2. Declare it as a special payment attracting a flat rate 7.5% income tax.

For only £5000, the latter is not likely to be a tax effective method of declaring.

[NOT Posting threads or replies]

I would put a clapping smilie Judith only the rubbish software that comprises this board has removed that extravagance since W10 arrived in the world.

No wonder Chancer got fed up.

[NOT Posting threads or replies]

Mobile/smart-phones are wonderful things - provided you can get a signal.

Here it is quite interesting to see the artisans doing work around the village, hanging out of windows with their device in their hand or standing in the middle of the square arm stretched upwards and spinning like a dervish devotee.

So no we don't have a French mobile, but do have a UK PAYG one for an emergency.

[Dental Care, information needed.]

I cannot give any chapter and verse on this but I would have thought an emergency appointment with a dentist on Monday (cost max 50€) would be the best and probably quickest course.

He might also be able to effect a temporary repair at least leaving the OH with something until a replacement can be constructed.

[Did anyone see it?]

My interests are in science Mogs and I am afraid this event was for Europeans an overhyped non-event.

As you say the blood red element did not occur over Europe, but a lunar eclipse is something worth seeing. There was one while I was in Germany - probably 15-20 years ago now - and interesting it was.

So down to the European bit:

Blue moon - well these by definition occur once in a blue moon. But what is it really? A full moon that occurs for a second time in a month. So that is really interesting, except that a month is a man made construct and it took a couple of millennia to get the approximation of months to fit with solar cycles. That is why we have a mismatch of months with 31 days (most likely to have a blue moon), 30 days (less likely to have a blue moon) and 29 and 28 days. The moon circles the Earth at a predictable rate and every 28-29 days there will be a full moon. We treat 2 of these in our artificial construct of months as something special, but it's not. We might just as well drop months and call today for example Earthdate 201833 (day 33 of 2018) and blue moons would instantly disappear.

So we are left with the fact that the moon is at its closest approach to the Earth which we perceive as a bigger and brighter moon. Except that most of us don't and couldn't. If it hadn't been plastered across the media, how many people would have known or noticed that it was bigger and brighter?

As you found the impact of atmospheric conditions on how bright it is or even if you can see it at all is far more important than how close it is. Its closeness is of interest to those scientists looking at gravitational effects - beyond that it is just media hype - and the lunartics fell for it.

[Did anyone see it?]

No one in France will have seen the red bit of the combination since this is caused by a lunar eclipse - which ran from the Western USA to Asia - but not Europe.

Just a rather hazy view of the moon, which may or may not have been bigger and or brighter than usual, based on a purely subjective view.

Amazing how the world can get wound up about something of little consequence.

Bah. Humbug - and all that.

[Expiry of clause suspensive]

Rustryhole wrote:

Taking the emotion out of it, i reckon that if a contract date has an expiry date then that is enforceable, hence why issue a avenant due to the original expiry if it is none commital?

As I wrote above, stop thinking with a UK legal head.

The expiry date is there so that if in the event that there is a time waster, the seller has a legal opportunity to put the property back on the market without any redress.

You can reckon all you want but if you keep up like this with the notaire please be prepared to lose the deposit and just possibly be chased by the agent for his fees on top.

[Expiry of clause suspensive]

Rustyhole

Your view that because the date in the clause suspensive has passed that the contract does not exist is a very British outlook. Here in France it is Napoleonic code that rules and - well shall we say - interpretations are somewhat different, some might chose to use flexible.

IIRC you said early on that you expected a mortgage offer to arrive later this month and that alone may well mean that the compromise is still considered as active. If the agent (you did say you had kept him in the loop), the notaire or the sellers are aware of this potential offer, then I think you could get hung out to dry if you do not proceed when/if the offer is made.

The onus is going to be on you to provide documentary proof of your inability to obtain an offer. This is a lot more than just keeping the agent informed. It could well include copies of the application forms you have submitted and the negative responses from the mortgage agencies.

Whatever you do, do not make any suggestion that you now have cold feet - for whatever reason, good or bad - because this can and probably will be treated as a sign of bad faith; that you have not fully tried to obtain a mortgage etc..

Good luck whichever way it goes.

[My cat keeps injuring itself - need help]

Is there one or maybe two particular places where she likes to cross the boundary, or is her crossing a rather random affair?

Most cats have routes and if she follows true to form you could probably knock up a protective cover with three bits of wood fixed together in a U shape. Turn upside down and place over the top of the fence at her crossing point(s). Each would probably need to be around 1 - 1.5m long.

[We're Baffled !]

Perhaps also a Scops Owl, which is often confused with the midwife toad.

[Dog bite]

Pat

There is no official rabies threat in France. I say official because the fox population in parts of France is still AFAIK still being regularly fed inoculated meat to ensure that rabies is controlled and cannot spread.

However the big flaw in your argument is that if a dog has rabies an analysis of its blood will show the antibodies for Rabies.

If a dog has been inoculated to prevent it having rabies it too will show antibodies for rabies in the blood sample.

Ergo the only test for rabies is quarantine and if the dog is still alive after 4 weeks it does not have rabies.

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

Idun

My apologies if I have given the impression that you indulge in expat bashing. As far as I can see you tell it like you have found it and do not assume that all expats come out of the same mould.

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

Just to add, I have just looked up Sarlat - over 9000 citizens - a positive city round here. That is more than out prefecture!

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

ALBF

I don't want this to be a p155ing contest, but just in this thread you have written:

Timeline 11/11/16 06:33

Imagine you are a French rural peasant and your neighbour is British who drives a black Range Rover sport with a personalised number plate 'TW at' and has an industrial satellite dish attached to his house so that he can watch sky one on loop. You would hate them. And before you say that is a cliche, I can count about 5 Rangerovers (with said plate) a day heading south west when I was in Tours.

Timeline 9/11/16 14:22

Do you really want to join/live in that Dordogne/Sarlat misery ?

I have read so many bad stories about that expat hell hole.

I think you, Idun and I are all one the same page, but the way you put your posts over comes across as an ex-pat Brit bashing bonanza - and that means the message gets lost.

PS. I have lived in rural France for longer than you - but then I lived in rural UK and semi-rural Germany before. I perhaps have a different perspective and expectation - but I am sure that many would-be movers to rural France do not come from such a background. They have often have no idea what they are letting themselves in for. We should inform them and warn them; but branding everyone who has ever bought in the same region is frankly just silly.

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

ALBF wrote:

Andy....you are talking nonsense. I will explain.

île de France represents 25% of the French population. You/your friend can't call them all ignorant and arrogant that is ridiculous. People have to work in Paris because that is where the work is. Many (like us) live in Paris during the week/month and head home during holidays. Others stay in hotels or bedsits or whatever during the week.

An actual 'Parisien' is someone that is born and bred in Paris. They are no different to cockneys and tend mostly to be working class and very funny.

So who are you and your friend describing exactly when you say arrogant and ignorant ? My neighbours are nice, my doctor is nice, those who in the supermarket are nice (they even say hello if I see them in the street), the man who sweeps the street says hello every morning. Our children love their school and their teachers. Where are these people you describe ??? I have not met them yet and this is the third time I have lived in Paris.

Yes there are some arrogant t#### I should imagine but that is no different to other countries.

Yes, yes, yes!!

I fully agree generalisations are likely not to describe many people. In fact they may not even describe a majority.

Perhaps you might like to consider that, the next time you are tempted to post about the British in the Dordogne, rural France or whatever.

The sad fact is that you seemingly constant "get-at" comments against such groups means that the important bits of your message get completely lost.

Yes, rural France is a very tough place to get employment generally.

Yes, schooling in France is tough on non-French speaking children and becomes tougher the older they get. Unless of course the parents consider an international school and even then may well not be a piece of cake.

Yes facilities for the young are very limited in France profonde.

Yes simple facilities like hospitals or bus service may be many, many kilometres away, if you chose rural France

But all of that gets lost in YOUR extreme generalisations of the British in France living in Dordogneshire, refusing to speak French, driving top of the range cars and employing (often English) so-called tradesmen to "do up their little pad in France" - usually on the black.

So next time you think to post one of your standard diatribes, think on, young man, think on.

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

Interesting observations Idun.

I have to say that I have not met anyone from Cote d'Azur so cannot comment there. Regarding Normans, I have worked with people in the Le Havre area since we had a plant there, and did not find them as you describe. It must be said that our relations were more professional than social however.

When I was working in Marseille one of my better friends was a Norman. In comparison there were a number of Parisians also working at he site (some still commuting every weekend back to the capital) and they did nothing to change my impressions.

Perhaps, as you suggest, our experiences are tailored by the fact that we are not French. Certainly some of my experiences will be influenced by professional rather than social relationships.

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

I wrote

I don't harp on about Paris being a busy rat-run of a place, full of the most ignorant and arrogant of the French nation plus a whole bunch of foreigners and tourists to drive you to distraction. I don't complain about the rip off Parisian prices for just about everything from an apartment downwards.

And ALBF said it was just clichés.

All I can say is I report as I find.

Busy - try and deny that point (well maybe not in July and August but the rest of the year?). Like most worldwide capitals it is a busy city.

Ignorant and arrogant inhabitants - actually not my words but those of a good French friend. It matches my experience however of the French in Paris who look down their noses at the rest of France, let alone foreigners. It also describes our next door neighbours who own a holiday home. Hardly even get a bonjour out of them. So yes I stand by that description.

Foreigners - well yes Paris is a cosmopolitan city with international companies and lots of non-French workers.

Tourists - surely you cannot find fault with that since it it one of the major tourist attractions in the world.

Expensive - well I suppose you could buy everything from the Sunday Clignancourt markets which might almost bring the prices down to the rural prices we enjoy. I still struggle to find a 3 course Parisian lunch with wine for 12€ - and probably supplied by the same frozen ready meal company as here in the sticks. Parisian real estate prices are the highest in metropolitan France.

So where are the clichés?

[Wanted: Property Let or Purchase Near Sarlat/Salignac]

ALBF:

So why the Dordogne ?

Well why the hell not. We know it's not your cup of tea and mine neither, but why shouldn't people move to and enjoy the Dordogne?

I would go brain dead living in a 60 sq. metre box in the Ile de France. You it seems are happy, or at least prepared to put up with it. I don't quiz your motives, I don't harp on about Paris being a busy rat-run of a place, full of the most ignorant and arrogant of the French nation plus a whole bunch of foreigners and tourists to drive you to distraction. I don't complain about the rip off Parisian prices for just about everything from an apartment downwards.

Just accept that we are all different. We have different motivations and different desires and thank goodness for that, otherwise the top of my little mountain would be very, very crowded.

[Opening a UK Bank Account]

Why does a French resident have a UK bank account?

Well I have UK (GBP) commitments and I have UK income from a number of sources.

I could have it all paid into a French account and suffer the exchange charges on being paid in and I could pay out fro the French account and again pay for the privilege - but why should I?

So Nick, simple economics and stopping the banks taking even more of my hard earned.