Lori

Just FYI, Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice has arrived at Auchan, Le Pontet.  Even the Nestea Cranberry drink was there.  I have waited four years to buy some !  Perhaps it has been available all along in other parts of France, but not here.  Now, if they can only bring in the sugar free version..  

Sorry, must be too late for me.  I see I am on the wrong thread...

Not sure why, but my reply was deleted??  Where did it go?  It was a white Bull Terrier that I saw.  Where did my post go?

Well it wasn't a Dogue Argentin, but now that I looked that breed up, I recognized a dog I had seen wandering down the road one day - looked lost, but not approachable.  It was a white Dogue Argentin.  I saw it again a few days later.  Still not sure if it has a home here in the Village. It was a white Bull Terrier.   The photos seem to show smaller ones than the one I saw at the Vet.  This fella was a real contender.  I know I would NEVER go anywhere near his master's home.  He's probably a real baby, but I don't think most of us would ever get close enough to know. Thanks to all.  Now I know.  Also didn't know the French had categories for dog breeds.  Read up on the website noted - very very interesting.  Might explain why, while in Carpentras one day, I saw a man walking a Rottweiller with a muzzle on him.  I thought it was cruel - or perhaps the dog is mean.  Had no idea it was regulated. 

After reading the thread on the Staffordshire Bull Terrier (classified dangerous dog question), I had to look up the dog on the web to see what it looked like.  I thought maybe it was the same breed of dog I saw last time I was at the vet with our collie.  It wasn't. I am still very curious as to what that dog was -  I couldn't find it on the web as I don't know the breed name.  I thought it was a pit bull, but when I looked those up, it didn't look like that. It was all white, with fairly short legs and a very very strong stout body.  It looked like it weighed somewhere in the vicinity of 25 kilos - I could be wrong.  It had a somewhat elongated nose/face.  I found it quite ugly, but coming from a collie owner, that probably speaks for itself.  I love dogs, all kinds, but this one really gave me a scare.  It looked like it could eat you up.  His mouth and teeth were very large.  I was a bit nervous walking by him with my own dog.  The doctor said he was okay, and obviously he didn't attack us... Any ideas?

sorry, but what's a staff ?

I know, but for winter collection - if we ever get any winter rain... This past winter was the dryest I have seen yet..   

It is really really bad here too.  I am watching my neighbors fruit trees turn brown and start to die ..  Our garden has long since been dead.  Have been drip irrigating our hedge in the middle of the night (once every 10 days or so - as little as possible), but gather that too will be illegal (if it isn't already - website doesn't show it being illegal yet, but could be any day).  The local newspaper (a couple of days back) said that, we in the Vaucluse will not end up without drinking water due to our close proximity to the Rhone river.  Not sure how true that is.  Read it in the Dauphine Vaucluse. Probably a good idea to stock up on a good deal of bottled water just in case. It is really awful.  I think the time has come to purchase a couple of those huge rain collection containers.  It looks like we're going to have to go through this every year now.

You are probably on your way by now.  It is 7:15 pm. Our experience with invitations to a French apero has in fact lasted until about midnight, started at 7:30 pm.  It was great fun, but next time, I would eat something before hand as the alcohol was flowing and I had eaten nothing since lunch.  Now, I know better.  As for offerings,  I would bring flowers, a homeade savoury item or chilled champagne... Have fun

Just to add.  The  service-public.fr  website lists these articles (laws) in English and French, so if your French is not that great, you can print out the English version.  Fabulous. Once you start reading these laws, it is kind of hard to stop..

Boiling a Frog - You're the best !  I actually had this website on my favorites list, but hadn't really reviewed it in a couple of years and certainly not in any detail the last time I did.  Was looking for something totally different at that time. I plan to print out the laws you forwarded (from the website).  Can't wait for the tea time conversation with my friends (French and otherwise), whom I doubt know anything about this either. Appears to be a fairly new set of laws - at least it looked like they came into effect in 2002, 2003 and 2005.  Makes me wonder why the macon, etc. didn't inform me of the law when I paid in cash in excess of the legal amount.  Either they don't know or don't care or don't plan to declare ... We have come to learn so many French laws the hard way.  Hence the book idea.  Maybe I should spend an hour every day just reading the service-public website.  Probably would find it frighteningly eye opening.  Have read many other types of books regarding the legalities of living in France, but NONE of them have been very accurate.  In fact, most of them have been totally wrong.  It is extremely hard to accept the fact that the laws in this country can vary from department to department.  Maybe the laws don't vary, but how they are enforced, or not, does (not sure). Anyway, thanks a million for that.  This is a great forum !

I would agree.  Don't leave wine - a bit too ordinary around here.  My French friends really seem to like Scotch or some sort of nice Whiskey...  

Thank you so much for the clarification.  It is amazing these days that we must live our own lives based on the fact that whom ever we are dealing with are criminals and will draw us up into their little web of deceit ( a word I had to look up in French - "tromperie").  It is equally amazing that we (the client thinking he/she has paid legally) can actually be pursued - well now I know.  No more paying anything large with cash .... Learn something new every day ! I do wish there was a place where we could really read about the laws of this country.  That will be my next book search ..  I'm sure they are out there.  I think I need one.. Merci !

Have to admit, our most difficult guests were from, you guessed it, New York...

Andyh4 - I was never aware of this.  How can I keep abreast of these types of issues.  Have never seen it on any of the French governmental websites that I know about.  Bank has never told me anything of this nature - granted, I had not asked.  Can you advise?  Where can I read about these things?  French or English, either works. Can't the same argument go to the restaurant that accepts nothing but cash - no credit cards and perhaps, doesn't record all his/her payments to the tax man?.  And, the shopkeeper who sells me a 400 Euro appliance, I pay cash for and he/she records something different..?  These may not be above a 2000 Euro mark, but the same argument would apply no? If my macon has given me a legal facture, I pay it in cash and he gives me a receipt for my payment, isn't that where MY responsibility ends and his begins?  I have my facture and my receipt of payment.  If he doesn't record or report it, he would be in error, how could I be?  

Coco - you know you will find sympathy from me... Only our experience was with American kids (don't get me started).  We don't get many children in our gite bookings.  I suppose we have been lucky.  Originally we stated no children under the age of 6.  After our experience this year, we decided NO CHILDREN OF ANY AGE.  Too much damage was done and the noise level, among too many other very unpleasant things - one of which was needing to lock myself in my own home too, was just too much.  Going out ONLY when they were out - which wasn't often enough. We actually decided to take a break from the whole thing.  We do already have a couple of bookings for 2006 and we will, of course, keep those (no children).  But, have decided perhaps we are not cut out for this type of thing. I don't know why parents are not more concerned about teaching their children proper manners and basic respect.  I have an 11 year old daughter and I can assure you she knows the rules.  When she was 4 or 5, I doubt I would have taken her to an establishment like a B&B.  We rarely took her out to restaurants (short of the family type).  It never bothered us.  We wanted to wait until she was more capable of handling it.  I have always been aware that other folks are not too keen on hearing your (or anyone else's except their own) kids running around playing/screaming, etc. It is a terrible position to be in to have to discipline someone else's child.  But it becomes quickly evident when the parents don't care and leave you with no other choice. If you find that you don't have all that many guests with children, then I doubt your business would suffer if you decide not to accept them.  If you get children very often, you could find otherwise.  I guess only time will tell. Anyway, you have my sympathy.

I paid our macon more than 2000 Euros for some work he did.  He gave me the facture (TVA INCLUDED !) and I paid him in cash.  To me, there is no difference between check and cash.  As long as you pay from a legal facture, I don't see the difference.  I had the money in the house at the time (don't normally).  He took it and gave me my receipt.  How can that be illegal?

Is that to say that it is illegal to say buy a car with cash (over 3000 euros)?? You've got to be kidding me...  Is this true?

We came here four years ago (Dept. 84) when our daughter was 7 years old.  She had the benefit of having attended a private French school in California prior to our move here.  That school was probably the poorest excuse for  a school I have ever seen and it made me really scared to think we might be seeing the same thing once we arrived in France.  Not at all - thank goodness.  I too have heard some horrible nightmares about both schools and children (by both the school staff AND the parents), but I think it all depends on how you arrive, how you treat others and your own children. Our experience has been exceptional.  Our daughter has ended the last two years number 1 in her classes.  She is not an easy child either.  She begins college in September and I know she is a bit nervous, but if my interview with the college (when I brought all her papers in to register her) is any example of what we can expect, we will be fine. I'm glad to read the positive experiences too.  But, just like everything in life there are the not so positive too.  

Lizzie - happened to me too !  Deposited a GBP check and NEVER saw the funds !!!  3 months later, Bank in Scotland blaming bank in France.  Bank in France blaming bank in Scotland !  I suspect the problem was the bank in FRANCE ...   Luckily for me, the check was from my husband, so he simply canceled it and wrote me another one. This also happened on a WIRE TRANSFER....  waited 3 weeks for it to show up.  Normally takes 3 to 5 days.  Have to say that Credit Agricole is horrible with customer service, trying to track down your own money is incredible ...

Yes, with our branch of Credit Agricole, you would need to advise them in advance.  Here, they no longer handle cash (hard to believe, but true) and would probably be giving you a bank check anyway.  I'm sure the cash could be ordered, but you would need to give them some notice.  Amazing huh..

Do it all the time.  The 30 Euro fee will be obligatoire, plus the exchange rate.  4 days is the norm.    

Thanks Chocccie.  I already keep the water off when brushing, except to rinse the brush, but I had not thought of doing the same thing in the shower.  I will start immediately.  And, I have a large bucket in the garage.  I will give it a try in the shower.  I'm sure you're right, one needs to have good balance for this, but these days, I think we have to do every thing we can. I'll look for the natural soap/shampoos.  Thanks.

How can I save the shower water?  Do you buy a big bucket and place it in the shower and stand in it when you shower?  Really, I'm serious.  I would like to save the water I can, but I'm not sure how this is done.  Also, when you say use natural products, what exactly does that mean?  Is there a natural shampoo I can use or do I have to remove the bucket from the shower when I'm washing my hair. Don't laugh, I really would like to do this, but have never had to in the past, so don't know the "how to's." Please advise.

I would suggest a small breed dog since you don't really have a garden.  You don't say how much grooming you might be willing to do, but this can come into play when choosing a breed.   Also temperament, many breeds are quite friendly and "barky," others not at all.  A little Internet searching can give you some suggestions. Do check with your local SPA.  They could well have the perfect pup for you (and cat for that matter) and you would be doing such a good service in giving him/her a home.  However, if you plan to have a cat too, you might not want to take on an adult dog.  It has been my experience that lots of adult dogs cannot accept a cat hanging around all the time and vice versa. If you want to get a cat and a dog, then you might want to get them both young and at the same time as they will be forced to become friends at a young age.  At least it sounds more sensible to me, but others may have a different take on this.  I have a dog, no cat (am allergic to them). I have several friends who bought kittens and have never let them out of the house.  They are now adult cats and seem quite happy.  They get lots of exercise running all around large homes and playing with the kids. As to leaving the dog outside on the terraced area.  You will have to play that by ear.  I would imagine you would need to walk the dog fairly often to give it the exercise it needs (and wants).  If you do leave the dog inside the house, you must take into account the potty breaks he/she will need.  Puppies need more than adults on that note.  A puppy can be fairly easily house trained - not to go inside.  Most adult dogs know better, unless you adopt one that has never lived in the house.  An important question to ask when adopting. Good luck.  Animals can bring such joy to a person.