Kent

The first week of September we will be travelling from Samoes up to the outskirts of Paris. We will be taking 4 days and plan to spend a day in Paris. Looking to take the N7 / A77 after Macon. Can anyone recommend B&B's, restaurants, places of interest, vineyards etc etc that may be worth us frequenting? Many Thanks Kate

Many thanks for your helpful reply - will pass it on to them tomorrow when I say Bon Voyage!

My parents are holidaying in Chambord next week - does anyone have any recommendations for restaurants, events or places to visit? Thanks

Have sent you pm Kate

Have sent you a pm

I send money each month using Natwest Low Value Payment - costs me £10 to send but means the money goes in regularly to pay the mortgages, bills etc and I don't have to do anything (except keep working to make sure there are funds in the bank :-(    ) . Not sure what the upper limit is I can send. Otherwise I have used HIFX - that can take a while to get there.

Thanks for the comments - unfortunately I really can't remember what the trees were - It was freezing cold, early spring but bright and I was sat on my bum in the middle of the three trees getting very odd looks from the mountain bikers who were passing and thought I had gone mad. I'll have to go back one day and see if I can identify . i took this at the same time [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT1522.jpg[/IMG]

Well thanks for your comments - this photo was taken without flash - high iso and long exposure - hence the grainy image and the slight movement, that is what gives it the surreal effect I suppose. Digital cameras work well in low light -some times too well - get the exposure too long and you can end up with a night shot almost looking like day! When I took this shot the owl knew I was there and kept popping his head around the chimney pot to establish if I was a threat ( and decided that I wasn't really) The young were taking their first flights during this week and it was a privilege to be able to observe. Kate

But the North Downs: [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT1556.jpg[/IMG]

oops - forgot the pic!   [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT0081.jpg[/IMG]

I read this and thought that you had been squatting in my house!  We have exactly the same situation. Mum is in the chimney with the babes and Dad lives in the barn. They will often go off hunting together. Then as the chicks get older they eventually scrabble up the pot and line up on the ridge. I tried to take photos last summer with a 300mm lens, camera on tripod but they were too far away - three stories up and a steep roof - I just got a face but its not what I would call a good picture................... However the excuse to sit in the garden with a glass of wine waiting to see the owls wake keeps me going when I am unfortunately back in the wet and windy UK Kate

I can be slightly more positive! I contacted Belling UK via their web-site and they gave me the phone number of their French agent. I was trying to find out whether the cookers would work with the bottled gas. Anyway - there is a french agent, they are sold in France - the only problem is I can't find the email with the phone number on! Suggest you contact them via the web-site - they were very helpful Kate

Harvey - a rescue dog from locals Kennels in UK [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/SV300023.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT1591.jpg[/IMG]

A bit further round the coast in Whitstable: [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT1651.jpg[/IMG]   [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT1633.jpg[/IMG]

The sunset from my village [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/1.jpg[/IMG]

A simple picture from me   [IMG]http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r191/Kent_66/PICT1416.jpg[/IMG]  

Not sure if this is too late for you now but we went from Haute-Vienne (87) to the Auvergne to ski last Christmas. Try www.superbesse.com or www.mont-dore.com Had a great time - plenty of snow, no queues, cheap lift passes, very french resort although not the prettiest. We stayed in an Auberge just out of town and drove in to ski - plenty of free parking. Priced at about €30 per person per night half-board. Let me know if you need any more info Kate

I am a complete novice and not very computer literate but I managed to write mine. Domain name cost me about £20 and hosting about £80 a year. I'm not sure if this is good or not but they helped me through sorting it all out so figured it was a good deal at the time. I used Microsoft Frontpage to create it - after having read up on html and figured it was beyond me! People have told me that using FrontPage means lots of space taken up by code that doesn't really do anything but as I only wanted a simple site I figured it wouldn't affect performance or anything so I carried on. I found it fairly easy to use (once I gave up with certain features!) I believe my hosting company now offers free web-writing tools with the hosting package so no need for the FrontPage software. Site may not be perfect but and there is still some more work to do with interior photos etc. The feeling of having achieved something I didn't think I could do was great so my advice would be to go for it. If you want any more info feel free to pm me - but don't expect any technical advice!! Kate

You're not the first to make that comment It seems to be the only way friends of ours can remember where to find us!

I'm looking for accommodation in Samoens for two nights for two adults from 12th - 14th November. Is there anyone out there with a hotel, chambres d'hotes, B&B who isn't closed for November? Many thanks Kate  

I've had brochures from Mer Montagne Vacances and the prices seem reasonable. They have animation / creches at most of the hotels. I've not used them so can't comment on the quality but you could have a look at www.mmv.fr

Hi Fromental is actually in Haute Vienne (just), The chateau is currently owned by 6 siblings - with one of them living there permenantly. The family always all get together for the village festival which is where I have met them. I have a some history in a book purchased in Bessines about the villages of Haute Vienne - I'll dig it out. I can send you a copy of the page if your French is OK? Did you also have a look inside the church? Kate

Well despite having had our house for over a year now - the majority of our time has been spent on renovation. This time we have decided that this holiday is for sight-seeing and eating out. so i'd like to ask all you lovely people who love the Limousin as much as us to let me have any recommendations on restaurants, cafes, bars and things to do. We are based in the Haute-Vienne not far from La Souterraine so anythng within say a 90 min drive would be great. Thanks Kate

A while ago I saw an article in Living France and they talked of canoeing down the river from Celle -Dunoise. Anyone know if this is still in business? and if so anyone have anymore details. Thanks  

I've found that the back button doesn't work either!