Kazanton

Hi Carole As you exit the teaching profession, I will enter it! I had thought, all along, that I would have to work in Jersey or Guernsey as there was a native-born frenchperson clause to being a teacher in Primary or Secondary. I have now been told this is not the case. Also when I was recently talking to my french teacher about taking the concours (Concours de professeur des coles) or the CAPES (certificat d'aptitude au professorat de l'enseignement du second degr) because I'm doing KS 2/3 Science, she told me not to bother! According to her, all you need is QTS and experience and the ability to speak French! She told me a lot of her friends and people she knew came to the UK to do a PGCE after their first or second degree and then went back and taught in France as they had failed the Capes or the l'agrgation (for teaching in lyce or post-bac with a Masters, I think) I will be interested to know what you find out! Good luck and bon chance! Belinda

Hi Katew We have a top-loading Whirlpool 'American Collection' Ultimate Care II. It is marked on the 'information plate' 8.2 kgs but I can usually force it to hold more by topping it up with more water. It is identical to the one I had in California, newer model of the one my Mum had, and I like it a lot. It cost approx. 350-380 from Costco, about 3 years ago, they still have them, at the same-ish price, along with the matching electric dryers (which will hold slightly more in kgs.) I find this is big enough for most things, for instance, I can wash a 15 tog Queen-size poly-fil duvet no probs. And the feather/down duvets are easy as well. Saying that, I will probably opt for a front-loader next time. BUT the largest front loader domestic washer you will get is 8 kg tops, I am guessing, I certainly haven't been able to find anything bigger... I have seen the front-loading 8 kg Dream Space from Whirlpool but from Darty, its a hefty 1548! Yikes! Its nice though... The Admiral Large capacity domestic top-loader has a 10.1 kg capacity and is in the 550 region. I think I would see if it is possible to get an ex-commercial front-loader from a launderette refurbishment place. With the french love of recycling anything that doesn't move, certainly there must be somewhere that does this! This is the route I will follow when it is time to replace my washer, but since my Mother's washer lasted in excess of 25 years, and the one I had in California is still in daily use after 17 years (according to my ex...) So, I might have this one for a while yet! Bonne Chance! Belinda

Carr d'agneau or sometimes Ctes d'agneau Picture is worth 1k words Belinda

>First question - We are looking >for Emmaus 'shops'. Use this link and imput your department number, or the department near you, it gives all the Emmas shops in France http://www.emmaus-france.org/vous_ventes.section/pages/vous2BC1485A85.html Had to go right >back to the beginning and >do the same search all >over again - this happened >four times and then I >got fed up keep waiting >for it to re-search every >time and gave up. I have a PC at home, not a Mac. I always 'right-click' on the link and choose 'open in a new window.' I usually do that with all the links on here, but especially a search, I really never click straight through. Cheers! Belinda

Hello all(especially Gay!) I started Atkins 13 October so it has now been one month on the programme. It was horrible at first because I had to switch to decaffeinated coffee, I had headaches for about a week. Now I am fine. I have lost 2 stone 2 ponds so far. My doctor suggested I try this and I was sceptical so looked up some of the research, read it and thought, well... give it a go. Let me tell you, I love it! I do miss bread sometimes and will allow myself a slice of true wholemeal from time to time but I know refined white flour and sugar are bad for you anyway. My daily carb intake is 20-25 grams and its all veg. Tons of salad, broccoli, sauted greens, kale, etc. I look and feel great, good energy levels as well. My breathe doesn't smell of nail varnish remover, I know because my kids would tell me. I eat lots of fibre so no problem, er, there either. So, how is it going for you? Cheers! Belinda

For anyone interested in general information, I came across a listing of school websites. You click on a big map of france on a chosen area and it brings up all schools on the web in that area's departments. http://perso.club-internet.fr/vicq/carte/carte.htm For those of us in Brittany (or wanting to be ), you can also go straight to this website below for general info and addresses, calendrier scolaire and all sorts of other info. Click on your department, then from 'prsentation' go to 'etablissements' and you are taken to a smaller map with cantons/citys listed, this takes you to the canton's schools with addresses. http://www.ac-rennes.fr/ Hope this helps someone! Cheers! Belinda