Lori

I would add that the helpline with Cegetel is less than "helpful" too.  Their supposed online service is even worse an actual joke !  I found the answer to our problem online by searching the problem.  Amazing...  after getting 3 ridiculous and insulting emails back from my online request to Cegetel I found the answer myself.  

Yes, my sixieme came home last night to say no school on Thursday - yippeeee  ..  Guess we can sleep a little later that day. Haven't heard about the 6th Jan. yet.  

I was really surprised to read all this too Katie.  Is there any real fact to prove the concern?  Can the blood not be tested like it is for so many other maladies before going to the blood bank? I don't know about France, but I know in the U.S. blood banks will take nearly anyone - short of the obvious warnings.  They need the blood.  Does the same not apply here?  I realize they must to everything they can to protect their supply.  I would never suggest any wrong in that.  It just seems sort of over the top... Are there other countries on the " no take " list?  

Has anyone been to this shop?  I'm thinking of taking a drive to check it out.  However, it is not that close to me and I am not sure if it is worth the drive.  Anyone been there?  If so, what did you think? Thanks.  

Cul over nichon - never heard the phrase - hilarious Woke this a.m. (Sunday) to an even thicker frost, you'd swear it was snow !  I think this must be a sign of a cold winter ahead....best stock up the bucks for the outrageous fuel bill..

We did exactly what you said - checked the local hypermarkets and made several phone calls.  Also asked neighbors what they paid.  In the end, we found a regular supplier who is almost always the same price as the Hypermarkets.  We pay no delivery charge. Filled the tank in October - boy was that expensive !! 13 cents per litre more than last year...  And it is already COLD....

Hi Chrissie - well we have bought all kinds.  We seem to prefer the ones that go on the stove top, but they don't do steamed milk.  I can tell you which ones we were extremely disappointed in - Magimix.  We forked out 400 Euros for one of their top line machines.  Within one year, it was leaking all over the place (water leaks - probably bad seals).  However, hubby could not open the $#*&$%  machine as it required some sort of special tool.  When we called the manufacture, they gave us the name of a place to take it.  They kept it 4 months in a wet dingy storage area (along with tons of other things) till I finally said, just give it back to me and I'll find someone else.  Never did.  It sits in the garage until I decide to chuck it in the bin. We also ordered a very nice machine from Italy.  Have enjoyed it, but hubby took it with him to his overseas assignment, so I don't have it.  It was 200 euros, so still not in your budget, but makes nice coffee and froths milk well.  Also, the seals are easy to replace ourselves. Here with me I have bought a Senseo.  It uses those pods you mentioned.  However, don't pay the huge price for prepackaged pods at the grocer.  Go to Auchan and buy the plastic pods that allow you to put your own coffee in (MUCH cheaper) and they work in ALL pod type machines.  I like the coffee the Senseo produces - with nice brown foam (forget what the real name for that is - crema or something) on top.  It cost 70 euros, the plastic pods 12.  I use it every day and like it.  I foam my milk in a microwaveable plastic jug with my hand blender.  Makes the best foamed milk I have EVER made.  I like this system so much that there is no way I would pay the high prices for the other types of machines.  They never live long enough to justify their prices. Good luck and enjoy your coffee !  

Thanks I did run a Norton Scan and if anything attempted to download, it was stopped as my computer checked okay.  I did see where several things were stopped. Still don't understand why people do these things.  Can they not be tracked by their registration data?  

Teamedup - try www.meteo.france2.fr   They give a 4 day forecast at no charge and it seems to be pretty accurate.  They only thing they don't show is whether the wind will be blowing.  You can enter the postal code of any area in France to get the localised weather forecast. Tis COLDDDDD here in the Vaucluse - big frost last night.  Outlook is between 3 and 5 for the next few mornings with 9 to 12 in the afternoons.  Winter is here.

Woke up to a lovely (but cold) thick frost on the ground.  Here in Dept. 84 (Vaucluse) it is cold !  Had to turn the heat on last night as I was freezing my toes off.  The wind didn't help either. Went out at 7:55 am this morning to take my daughter to the school bus stop and the car was completely covered in ice.  Had to scrape for a good 5 minutes to be able to see.  Oh well, I guess winter is here.  Seems early to me, but time flies - just had another birthday yesterday and have to wonder why does time pass so fast once we reach adulthood?  When you're a kid the days seem to go on forever.  After a certain age, they seem to pass in seconds.. Must get the woolies out and the winter duvet on the bed.

This may have been mentioned on the forum before, but I have only just found the site.  For those interested in a food glossary take a look at the Patricia Wells website glossary.   Found at www.patriciawells.com  then click on the glossary tab at the top of the screen. I believe it is meant to be an aide for restaurant menus (for those not speaking enough French to know what they are ordering).  However, I found it quite interesting in general.  It would have answered the Watercress question recently posted.  It is 41 pages long ! but I did print it out as I found it so helpful. Just FYI.

Oops, went back and saw it was removed...  Thanks.

What do you mean?  I clicked on it and my computer still seems to be working.  What do I do?  I have Norton installed.  I guess I will run a check and see if I am okay.  Why is the post still here if it is a problem??  

Your requirements sound totally normal.  Perhaps it was something else that bothered them - perhaps a no smoking comment, etc.  I wouldn't worry about it.  That is why you have a Booking Agreement.  I haven't seen yours (booking agreement), but in most cases, it is designed to protect both the owner and the renter.  I have seen some that were very odd and chose not to rent with them, but it was for reasons such as asking for a 5000 Euros security deposit. I'm sure you will get more inquiries.  We have found that most folks begin to book their summer vacations starting around February.  Good luck.

You must have several fireplaces to add up to 300 euros..  I do love a house with lots of fireplaces. We do have our (one) cleaned each year at a cost of 60 euros TTC.  We get the Certificate of Ramonage (don't know if I spelled that right) and are set for another year.  Don't know if it is actually required by the insurance company, but in the event of a chimney fire, I'm sure they would not pay if we didn't have the certificate (assuming it didn't burn in the fire !). Perhaps someone else here will know the fact on requirement or not.

You might want to post your question in The Post Bag as it might get more viewing. Best of luck to you all.  I'm sure it will turn out to be a positive experience.  I had our daughter in Athens, Greece (11 years ago) and have extremely good memories to share from it.

As stated watercress is cresson.  It is often available at our local Auchan and many produce shops, but it cannot be relied upon - often not there. Try asking for Cresson at your local supermarket, maybe they will get it for you.  

I agree with what teamedup said, except that I probably wouldn't have the courage to tear down the wall.  I suppose I would rather like to have the wall between me and the neighbors, but as you say, not 45 cm's onto my land. I don't know about your dept., but here, building a wall around your property requires a legal permit.  Did they get one?  If so, that permit must state exactly where the fence will be positioned and built.  Go to the Mairie and ask to see this permit.  If said permit does not exisit, you have a legal case against them - I believe you have one anyway assuming your data is correct and they built the wall 45 cms onto your land. Sounds like a nightmare - and yes, like oh so many.  I am not totally sure what I would do, but I know one thing - I would try my best to come up with SOME sort of compromise.  If not, these "little bad dreams" just keep growing and growing on any and every little tiny opportunity until they are full blown nightmares that can lead to people doing some really stupid things.  Maybe it is not possible, but have you tried to invite them over for coffee or drinks in the effort to try to determine what might help the two households to work these issues out in a manner both can accept?  There must be some way both sides could compromise? Just a thought. Legal work can cost a fortune, sometimes a bit of compromise along with a regular glass of wine or shared cup of coffee can go a long way.  

Cfcjohn - I feel bad for you.  Life can be stressful enough without all this added in.  I do not know your full situation, but you may now wish to consider cutting your losses and pay the Architect.  You may then wish to pursue writing all professional societies to inform them of said Architects unprofessional methods.  Perhaps this will give you some satisfaction after such an ordeal. Good luck.

Our French lawyer does exactly what Patf says.  Discusses her expected actions, sends us a detailed facture with the charge involved BEFORE she proceeds.  The case continues this way until completed. I think your fee sounds high, but I don't live in the UK and have never had legal assistance there, so perhaps my opinion is inaccurate.. Any reason why you can't use a French lawyer?  Is your Architect French or English - here or in the UK?  

Auchan Le Pontet (Dept. 84 Vaucluse) open today.  Other local shops were open this morning, closed this afternoon.

Do be careful.  A friend of ours had a Compromis signed by a French woman from Paris (not that that matters).  As it ended up, she could not obtain a mortgage - not so odd...  However, her son then "said" he would buy the house for her.  But, the Notaire did not draw up a new Compromis with HIS name on it.  When he decided he didn't want the house, there was nothing our friends (also French) could do about it.  The first buyer was out clear as she could not obtain a loan, but when her son came in as the second buyer, the Notaire should have re-written the Compromis under his name, she didn't.  Very unprofessional, but not uncommon here. Everybody beware....  

Brought a 2000 Toyota Corolla from San Diego, California.  Nightmare !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   No, getting it here was absolutely nothing.  Paid 990 U.S. dollars for it to be shipped to France.  Went to the port to get it, had the shipping documents with me.  You are allowed one custom free shipment of goods (including a car) without duty charged.  I already knew this, had my document (quite detailed) of every single item of furniture we would be receiving seperately (required by customs in order to state that the car was only PART of our shipment).  Customs stamped my furniture document and charged no duty on the receiving of the car.  I think there was some sort of fee to pick it up, but it was minimal. Once the car is here, that is when you troubles begin.  The process was so long and awful, it is too detailed to put here in the forum.  I could not obtain insurance for the car as it had not been registered with the DRIRE.  Registering with the DRIRE required all kinds of inspections and documentation from Toyota FRANCe - what a nightmare.  Toyota France was like dealing with a block of cement.  Every document costing something - 90 Euros here, 100 there, inspections by Toyota garages.  In the end, it took us 2 years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We had to buy a car here in order to drive legally.  Once the tags on on your vehicle, you will not have any trouble getting insurance, however, as stated, you may have trouble getting service or parts, depending upon your model of car - and whether it is sold here in France. I would not recommend it.  It simply isn't worth it.  We bought a new Renault Kangoo for 14,900 Euros with all the nice equipment on it.  Insurance is quite reasonable and we are very happy.  Loan was for 3 years and no problem to obtain. Up to you, but there is no way in #(*$#* I would do it again. Good luck.  

My husband works overseas almost the entire year - each year, so I am here with my 11 year old daughter, pretty much alone.  I no longer hesitate to go anywhere on my own.  Nor do I hesitate to engage services on my own.  I have NO choice.  I was forced into it by the shear need to "get things done."  Also renovated a 260 m2 home on my own.  That, I would not do again.  However met some excellent artisans whom we still use.  Also met a couple of hoodlums too. I would not feel too uncomfortable going to a cafe for a coffee or tea alone, but would feel a bit odd having an alcoholic drink alone as, to me, it is something you share with a friend over fun conversation.  When out on a day of running here and there, at lunch, I would not go to a sit down cafe to eat alone as I find it depressing, but have no problem getting a baguette sandwich and sitting on a bench to eat it. Walk everywhere alone, including mountain hiking trails, with no worries.  I always have my cell phone.   I understand fully a woman feeling uncomfortable under certain circumstances.  I just had to get on with it and feel better having done so... That's just me..  

We never have trick or treaters here in France.  Halloween just doesn't seem to be celebrated - sauf the odd private party - which we used to have 3 years running and then daughter started to go visit Gramma in the States where Halloween is at occult status ! In the states we always said Trick or Treat !!  and thank you when the candy came.  You can always add the trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat Always hated that one, but the little ones love it !  Don't think it is translatable... Happy Halloween (coming) ..