Paris

Bet it was a ragondin.  There are supposed to be otters in the river not far from our cottage, but over 15 years all we have have ever seen crossing the lanes nearby have been 'ragondins', according to the locals.  However about 3 years ago my son was sure he did really see an otter. Hope they were otters! Julia

Greetings A year or so ago I noticed someone in Gueret put a note in La Montagne offering French Lessons to English and any other foreign residents.  Lessons in Gueret and name given was Julia (same as mine, hence I remembered it)  Why not make enquiries at the Mairie in Gueret? You could also pop into the library in La Souteraine (it being quite central) and enquire there - if, of course library is open!  Otherwise Mairie there.  French classes seem to be offered quite widely nowadays - presumably because so many foreigners are settling in the area (and of course we are all foreigners to the French!) Best wishes Julia (sometimes in the Creuse)

We returned to England last week, Le Havre - Newhaven on the 8 p.m. sailing.  It took an hour to reach the check-in booths (2 were manned) and the back of the queue extended onto the roundabout and the road leading to the roundabout from the town.  Last used Le Havre about 14 years ago with P & O, when there seemed to be plenty of space to check-in.   We too may decide to return another time via Dieppe. I too noticed that the upstairs restaurant remained closed, and roped off - I had assumed it would be open in the summer season, although we did not need food as had eaten a delicious meal earlier in France. Julia 

About 2 years ago our house, together with that of our neighbour, was reroofed by our local French artisan.  Shortly after our arrival for the summer holidays, monsieur brought the bill round.  He informed us that in the course of reroofing he had discovered martens in our grenier.  I was not unduly surprised as I had heard some rather nasty scampering overhead on our last visit!  Monsieur said, while illustrating with his hand, that he had sprayed them and they should cause no further trouble!  If they returned, just ring him and he would come and spray the grenier again.   Our neighbours were then on holiday, but on their return they discussed those martens with us - they are deemed most undesirable, as they can give you fleas.  Our property is in an area where the flora and fauna are listed, observed, etc. but clearly beasts in the 'wrong place' have to go. Julia

A few years ago a friend, English but a long-time French resident, told me she had visited an excellent lady dentist in Bourganeuf, who I think spoke English.  Friend was terrified of dentists, but this particular dentist seemed to be kind and gentle!   Have not seen this friend since she moved, over a year ago, so you would need to check Pages Jaune or the Mairie, Bourganeuf, or chat to some ex-pat in Bourganeuf, who might well be found at the cafe next-door to Pulsat! Good luck Julia (in England)

Interesting to read all the possible solutions for mal de mer - my husband has suffered from it all his life.  It does not get better with age!  The only solution for him is to book a cabin, no matter how calm the sea, and lie down.  He has tried all the things mentioned, except the sticking plaster, but I think he will stick to the lying down.  He has also, from time to time, been car sick driving the car and he is the only driver!  That is fun!  His symptoms are just as for migraine (with which this is connected). good travelling Julia

Greetings I did reply the other day, but email seemed to get lost somewhere along the line (I do not yet have broadband!) So, in Felletin visit the square in the centre and go to the church, which is worth a visit as frescoes were uncovered there just a few years ago.  You will notice the office de tourisme on your right as you approach the church.  With any luck it will be open, for further ideas.  There are some views from the garden (French type) to the side of the church.    Abusson to the north worth visit, but a lot of walking to fully appreciate all it has to offer.  Just off the Gueret road, to the north, Moutier d'Ahun is definately worth a visit - we go at least once every year even though we live the other end of the Creuse.   In a westerly direction take the D road via Gentioux-Pigerolles to Lac de Vassiviere.  I think it is at Gentiooux that there is the war memorial the the words 'Maudit soit la guerre' and a boy in a smock shaking his raised fist.   A D road to the east takes you to Crocq with quite dramatic castle remains.  (I am asuming you have a map! Best wishes Julia

Restaurants not far form Le Grand Bourg: Once visited the Logis de France at Benevent (this keyboard does not do accents), not long after it opened.  Food seemed good, but found the atmosphere chilly.    We like the restaurant of the Hotel Nougier at  St Etienne de Fursac.  the chef is still quite young, in his 30s now, and I think he took over after his father died suddenly a few years ago  Certainly his meals seem always good, the place is popular with the French, especially on a Sunday, and Madame is quite charming.   Otherwise, we would head down to St Leonard-de-Noblat where the logis serves good meals, our neighbours reported that the Gay Lussac (or similar name!) provided them with an excellent meal, the Moulin in the valley on the road to Limoges serves a varied clientele meals in 3 different restaurants(one expensive), but I've had no reports!) Some of these are of course south of you, but you might fancy a trip out one day...! Julia on the wet, windy south coast of England

As someone residing about 4 miles form Newhaven, I have noticed that the morning ferry stays in port when there are storms in the Channel.  We have decided to a short trip via Transmanche just before Christmas, so just hope the storms have abated by then... Julia, on the not so sunny south coast.

Greetings - especially to those of you resident in France and hence hearing/speaking French daily.  I read in today's Daily Telegraph that the French are now using the Vous form less and less and are now using tu more and more to all and sundry - and not just children, dogs etc. Is this really the case?   My French neighbours with whom I chat whenever we visit our second home in the Creuse have always addressed us, individually, as vous - they are now retired but still have their principal home in Paris.  They address our adult son as Tu (we have know each other 14 years and are all about the same age. I am  curious about this as nowhere on our meanderings through France each year have I noticed this extra familiarity - but perhaps I am not listening intently enough! Julia

Noticed Transmanche new ferry was in dock at Newhaven all day Saturday (May 26th).  No lorries in the port, so clearly no sailings.  No idea of the reason - I am not intending to sail on the ferry at present, so if I had gone into the port and asked, I would only have done so as I was being nosy!  I did wonder though if this was weather related - I was surprised at the lack of activity, it being a Bank Holiday saturday. Julia

Clearly all depends on what you enjoy doing! Over the years we have visited Gargilesse (one of those most beautiful villages...).  Worth a visit, but no to our taste! Due south of you, follow the river: Crozant: gorge, ruined castle, restaurant. Amazing to see in winter when the river is in full spate, but worth a visit any time.  Fresseline, is you enjoy art and impressionists, as Monet was one of the artists who painted here.  Walks down by theriver, which is the confluence of the 2 Creuses. Further down, still on the Creuse, is La Celle Dunoise - very pretty houses by the river.  Quite a large settlement, but have only found one small shop there (if one needed some fruit, etc).  A restaurant by the bridge, have not visited it as was closed the day we thought of so doing!   Further along the river is Le Bourg d'Hem - a small settlement on a hill overlooking the river (a lake at this point).  One can go down to a sandy beach, lakeside with trees to the water's edge.  There is a cafe, where one can get snacks in the summer.  Quite well used but not crowded.  Good parking.  Continuing on, heading for the D940 Gueret to La Chatre road, Glenic, on this road is worth a visit as the old village, with a fortified church, sited above the main road, is worth seeing.    If you take the D940 up from Glenic, a few kms along, on the left is Le Moulin Noye, a hotel and restaurant, which is probably quite good (I have not visited it, but son went a few years ago). All this is very gentle sight-seeing, of course.  For real excitment race down the A20 to Limoges! Best wishes Julia

It must be quite easy to book a sailing with this ferry - my husband has early monring coffee in the restaurant atSainsbury's Newhaven while I do the shopping.  He chats to 1 elderly and 1 very elderly gentlemen who are regular foot passengers on the old ferries.  I assume they just go to the dock-side booking office to book.  I cannot understand the website at all.  I picked up a new newsletter published by the tourism department of the Seine-Maritime, encouraging us to visit Dieppe, etc., which had no information on contacting the ferry company except re special short breaks. I am booked for main holidays this year with BF again... Julia

The new ferry is now in service on the Newhaven - Dieppe route, as from 6th March.  No doubt some of the locals will go to Dieppe for the day now, as it should be a little quicker than the old boats.  I will await their reports... Julia

Greetings from a very wet Sussex coastal town - it has been raining all day. In case you did not know - the new ferry the Cotes d'Albatre, built in Spain, iI think, will arrive in Newhaven shortly and commence sailings March/April.  It has super-stabilisers and is semi- fast - the trip to Dieppe should take just over 3 hours.  Trust there is a good 'driver'... We await with interest! Julia

I have heard that French spin-driers, etc do not spin at the speed of English dryers and thus leave the washing wetter than we are used to.  I have never yet had occasion to test this as acquired a spin-drier in England back in 1993 and as it was not required here, took it to France, where I still use it! Julia

Thank you Dick - that's it.  I knew there was more to that use of the apostrophe than the word being English! Reply delayed as rather busy this month with wedding anniversary (mine) and family weddings... Julia

Could anyone remind me why the French spell this little word as "Le pin's"?    About a year ago I read an explanation which seemed perfectly logical at the time.  I thought I was bound to remember, but now all I can recall is that the apostrophe is not an apostrophe!  Possibly it indicated a foreign word?  Not to be confused with le pin or les pins?  All I could tell our elderly French teacher whothought there was a misprint in a text was that the word le pin's was correct French! Julia

The log house being built near St Leonard must be the house our friends are having constructed - in July they said work would start on it shortly.  They have lived and worked in the area for about 14 years now and he is, himself an excellent builder, renovater, etc.  A firm of specialists are, however, constructing all external walls, etc.  We will be down that way in December for a few days, so may pop round to see what is happening. Julia, in england

Much amused by the 'pictures' of others going 'a over t' on ice or in the toilet (perhaps it was a large one)  I thought I would look in my French dictionary to see what the French say.  Apparently the phrase is 'cul par-dessus tete', which leads me to wonder if at some moment here in England someone misheard or misunderstood a certain word!     Now here in the south awaiting Arctic blasts of wind, and possibly snow, Thursday night/ Friday... Julia

Yes - whereabouts are you?  Roofers certainly do not all want to replace slates.  We, and all but one of our neighbours had our block of 5 properties re-roofed this spring by the roofer in our commune.  He seems to have done an excellent job and only used new slates where absolutely necessary.  The good old slates were reused (we had to have new batons, etc. as well). Best wishes Julia

Thank you for your interesting responses.  I will check the website mentioned.  Of course what we would really like to know is what the 'lad' wants to do with the land.  Also, what will be the response of the other 2 owners, one of whom has just purchased here and would not sign a devis when we had the whole roof replaced/renovated earlier in the year (so the section above his house was left unrepaired!).  That new owner is a local notaire, and has bought for investment as far as I can deduce!            Of course, we do not need to sell our plot - they asked if we would sell - we will consider the proposal and perhaps get son to investigate further next month. Best wishes to everyone,  Julia

We have a little village cottage in the Creuse, in a co-ownership with French neighbours.  We all have some land on an adjacent site - our immedient neighbours have 2 strips as they have 2 cottages, the rest of us have one strip each (a total of 4 strips and a corner piece!).  Neighbour with 2 strips can no longer find anyone to cultivate his plot (he is no gardener), so has given his plots to youngest son who lives in Paris. Youngest son has now written to all the other co-owners, as he would like to buy our plots of land at 3 euros per square metre.  Our plot is 250 square metres and he would like to buy it for 750 euros.  In 13 years we have yet to do anything with our plot, which has some little trees scattered along it, as we only spend a few weeks a years at the cottage.  But, we, and our son, wonder, is this a fair price to be offered?  As one co-owner is M. le Maire, I think I will ask son to see if he can have a word with him (if he can find him) on his visit at the beginning of October...(M. le Maire does not actually live in cottage he owns, but lets it out) Has anyone else had recent experience of buying/selling land in central France? Best wishes Julia

Which town is the school in?  Our little place is not in the Haute Vienne, but if you give the name of the town there may be someone living nearby who may be acquainted with school/town but not by name. Julia

Re electrician (or any other skilled worker) In my experience best idea is 1.  Ask neighbours, near or not so near - french, English, Dutch... Does not matter, although French often v. good as know who really is a good worker, but not too expensive if you pick a French person to do work. 2.  Visit Mairie in La Souterraine for list of local electricians (they do not recommend anyone in particular) I'm unable to recommend anyone myself, as we are about 25km to the south of La Souterraine. Julia