Llantony

I think weather varies even within departements.  e.g. Tarn & Garonne. On Good Friday my hubby was working in our garden (north west 82) wearing shorts and no top (first nice day that week tho) and people we met next day in the eastern part of 82 said it had snowed on Good Friday! Our neighbour claims our village has a micro-climat and says it has only snowed twice in 11 years.  We were there the 2nd time and there was v little snow but it was cold and damp there and in Toulouse.  

I booked early - after learning about Speedferries on this forum - so it was £50 for a return in August.  Going out we left on time and arrived a little late.  Returning 31st August we were told it would be slow because 1 engine was not working - it took 2 hours instead of the 50 minutes advertised. At £50 compared with £300 for the tunnel, it's our best option even if a bit tatty and disorganised!

I don't even want a debit card. I have a foreigner's account with a cheque book at Credit Agricole, the bank in my village. I only use it for paying bills such as EDF, insurance etc. so write a handful of cheques a year and they charge 4.40 euros a month. Can I do better? Problem is I pay cash in at my local branch to cover the bills so I can send a cheque from the UK to EDF etc. Maz

We fancy taking a ride on the train that goes up towards the Pyrenees from Villefranche de Conflent. Anyone tried this? Anyone know of a nice not too pricey B & B in that area? (French or foreign) It will have to be August, probably around 24th/25th. Maz

Thanks Blair, for the warning. Having seen it, it occurred to me that it might be cheaper to shop around for the cheapest single crossing on the selected day and just use the return half of Speedferries. However, having just today returned by Fastferry hydrofoil, that would not work as you only get the return ticket when you book in at Dover! In our haste to get a cheap crossing in school hols, we booked with Speedferries for morning of Sat 7th August and later realise that is THE day to avoid! (The 1st day of French hols) Not sure if I can face trying to change it for Sunday. Maz

Firstly, what's an HEJ card at Ikea? Never heard of it and spend a lot there last summer. Secondly, anyone know a good place for a cheap washing machine? Montauban/Moissac region. I've been told Carrefour is good but haven't seen one near me. Maz

Another message in box! Maz

I haven't read a novel in French for years and have no idea what I'd enjoy now. I don't fancy Camus, Gide etc! Can anyone recommend good, readable novels? I enjoy lots of English language novels such as Virgin Blue, Chocolat, Christopher Brookmyre (though I don't think Id' understand a French equivalent - if there is one!) whodunnits.

Hi, Message in box. I wonder why you're selling up? We've just bought!

Message in in box

One thing I look forward to about retiring is having more time to read, I've lots of unread books just waiting. But if we go to live in France we'll use up our stock of fiction fairly fast. (I can read French but will be much slower and husband couldn't manage, also I like many current and past English language authors). What do other people do? There is a bookshop in a nearby town that has some English books, but not a huge choice, and I wouldn't want to buy them as will be on a v limited budget.