Lori

Lynarth - we are here year round - never leave. Often wish for a small vacation in another part of France, just for the enjoyment. Another hot day today. Looked like a thunderstorm might arrive last evening, but alas, it blew over with no rain at all. Still have the risk this evening and can only hope for the best - some rain ! Enjoyed the Festival of Music in Bedoin last night. The place was packed with happy vacationers. Must be keeping the local businesses smiling. Where is 66 ?

Isn't the Internet the greatest thing !

I'm sure others will be able to give the legal definition of the Livret, but as I understand it, it is drawn up upon the birth of a child in France. It shows the name of the parents, or legal guardians and it tracks the medical vaccines and medical care of the child. The college wants a copy of it for several reasons, to know if there are any medical problems with the child, to confirm the birthdate of the child, to confirm the names of the parents/legal guardians, and to see that all vaccines are current. My daughter was born in Athens, Greece, but she is American (dual citizenship). We give the full record of her vaccinations (via photocopy), a photocopy of her U.S. passport, a photocopy of her birth certificate and proof of residency. This was quite sufficient for them. You should be able to do the same thing. If I understood you, your child was NOT born in France. The procedures can vary from department to department, but we have had no problems here - have been here in the school system for 4 years now. Perhaps if you go to someone a little higher up in the school system. It would be hard to believe they have not dealt with this issue before. Good luck to you.

Fantine: lived in the 150m2 lower portion of our home - the gite - for a year while the upper house was being renovated. I understand what you are saying, but I think if you saw what was moved and to where you might see why I was confused. Punch - I thought of the dropped toothbrush thing too as far as the sink vanity goes - anything is possible. Had it been the only thing moved, I might have assumed that was the case. As far as drilling it to the wall. We probably should do that, but I don't intend to keep it there forever as I don't particularly like it, but you're right, drilling it to the wall would take care of the moving issue.. You are also right in that those Rental Agreements that go on for page after page with, what I often think are ridiculous rules and regulations, are the ones that we do not stay in.

lynarth - I was wondering the same thing. I figured maybe most folks on the forum don't live in the Southeast. Here in Bedoin - not far from Carpentras or Avignon, it is truly HOT these last few days. Mowed and cut weeds this morning in the yard from 8:30 am to noon. By the time I was finished I think I had lost a litre of perspiration. I was thrilled our guests had gone to Avignon and I jumped in the pool to cool off ! What a relief. Bedoin is filled with tourists and the Monday market is unapproachable so I guess tourism is going well here (as it always seems to). Still hoping for another evening rain storm like the one we got Sunday evening. Went a long way in rejuvenating the grass/plants/trees...

Teamedup - yes, the PIPIOL really does provide relief. I also bought some Cinq a Cinq spray to use before I mowed the lawn this morning. Got no bites whatsoever ! What a relief. Now, if I can just get the dozens of bites I already had healed and gone, then I'll be happy..

We too had to get rid of all kinds of "junk" left on the property by the previous owners. We loaded up a friend's truck and took it to the local dechetterie. Had to show we were local residents, did that - and there was no charge to dump the "stuff." Now, we go there often to get rid of sacks of weed cuttings, empty paint cans, etc. Really handy and FREE..

Thanks Teamedup. I went to the pharmacy here in Bedoin yesterday and found the PIPIOL. 6.55 Euros, so not cheap, but you don't need to use too much at one time to get relief. I was pleased to find it as I need to mow the lawn today !! I also picked up a repellant/bite relief combination to spray on before I mow. With temps expected to reach 37 today, the recommendation from the pharmacist that I wear sleaves and pants is impossible.. I'd drop dead of heat stroke. Our garden is 3000 m2 and 75% under direct sunshine. Hard to believe there is still grass there, but the recent afternoon storms have revived the dying stuff. Anyway, glad to hear someone else has heard of the PIPIOL. Thanks to my current guests, I now have it too. L

Went to the pharmacy yesterday and found the PIPIOL. It is manufactured in France and is said to have no side effects. You use it after you have been bitten and it calms the itch and sting. It was 6.55 Euros, so not cheap, but I find it works very well and you don't have to use much.

I agree with you Krill. I don't normally use the pool when our guests are here. When they go out, I will swim - if I have the time. Most of the time, the guests ask us why we don't use the pool. But, for me, I like having it to myself and rather figure they do too ..

Oh well, I can't let it bother me too much. Who knows why they do it. A chair here or there is one thing, but heavy pieces are really hard for me to place back and they look really odd sitting so far from the wall. With the bathroom, it MUST stay where the plumbing is located.. oh you know what I mean. You're right Catherine, I realize it would be strange to add "don't move the furniture" to the confirmation form. Guess I'll just have to hope for the best. Looking for dust ... whew, I can tell you I keep the place spotless - am EXTREMELY picky - hence the annoyance with the furniture movement, but I shudder to think of the dust that might have been behind the double vanity in the bathroom as it hasn't been moved out from the wall in years...

Motorhead - is it the PIPOL you are talking about?? My guests bought it from a French pharmacist who told them it was for use on us human kind... When I saw the ingredients, I certainly thought it was weird, but it worked really well and the pharmacist told them there were no side effects ...??

Funny I posted a similar question on the gardening site. I too have what seems like hundreds of those tiny fly bites all over me. They itch like crazy and god forbid you scratch them, cause you'll never be able to stop ! My current guests sprayed me with something called PIPOL. It comes in a small spray bottle, looks like around 40 ml and is clear. It says it has menthol, fermaldehyde and a third ingredient - I forget. Anyway, it worked really well. They told me they used to buy it in France, but had heard they stopped selling it here. They got it at the pharmacy years ago and just stocked up. Have no idea what it costs, but intend to stop by the pharmacy to ask them if it is sold here. Will take their bottle with me to make sure there is no question as to what it is. Will advise after the trip to the pharm.

Have to agree. We have large areas of our property that cannot be mowed due to tons of rocks. Weeds still grow through, so I have to use the gas powered debrousailleur (have no idea how you spell that). This can take hours and hours and the machine is heavy ! After several years of this, I now have some very nasty big muscles in my upper arms - not attractive on a woman (at least not me). I seem to get bitten up by those tiny flies. Doesn't seem to matter when I do the cutting, they get me all over, arms, legs, neck, back. I cannot wear long pants, long sleeves, etc. in 35 degree heat. Also, I cannot get up at 5 am to do the work as we have guests and the noise would be an awful way to wake up at that hour. My current guests have told me about a spray called PIPOL. They bought it here in France several years ago. You spray it on your itchy insect bites and it takes the itch away. I read the ingredients and it is Menthol, Fermaldehyde ! and something else. They told me they thought it was no longer sold here. Anyone heard of it - or anything like it????? My arms are a mess !

I went to your flicr.com and saw it fine. Gorgeous, but to me, it looks like a butterfly bush. We have several. There are also different varieties. Maybe it is not the butterfly bush, but it sure looks like one. Blooms in late Spring, Summer and comes in a variety of colors. Not sure, maybe someone else can add their two centimes worth to the idea. I had no trouble seeing the photo at the website you gave.

I'd like to know if anyone else has experienced this. It has not happened often, but my current guests have moved the furniture around quite a bit. I go down to do the housekeeping on the weekends and I noticed the changes. I don't really know why and some of the movements are odd to me. By example, we have a large dining room buffet against a wall. It was moved out by about 10 centimeters. There no electrical outlets - or anything else - behind the buffet. The dining room is quite large. The buffet is positioned in the most convenient place to the large farm table and chairs. I pushed the buffet back into place - it is HEAVY ! and I am on my own. Next, I went to the bathroom where there is a double sink vanity below a large mirror. It too is a heavy piece of furniture and positioned just so for plumbing that arrives and departs from the sinks. The floor in this bathroom is not totally even (flat), so we have a 5 x 5 cm square piece of tile positioned under one of the corners of the vanity. It keeps the vanity completely stable. Due to the weight of this vanity, it would be difficult to move it away from the wall. However, you guessed it, they had moved it about 10 cms from the wall and the tile piece was no longer there. This caused the vanity to move if you put your weight on it - say leaning on it to get closer to the mirror, etc. Then, in the kitchen, they had moved the marble table and four fer forge chairs to be in a different position. It was the way it was because it allowed for easier movement from sink to cooktop and around the kitchen, without running into the table or its occupants. All these things take me extra time (that I rarely have) to put back in order on changeover days. They also are heavy pieces of furniture, taking its toll on the back. Anyone else have this happen? I never thought I would have to include "please don't move the furniture around" on my Rental Confirmation Form....???? Okay, thanks for letting me rant....

We too considered setting time limits for swimming, for many reasons. However, when we asked our guests how they would feel about that, they said they wouldn't like it. Granted, we did say that it was something we were considering for the future, not the present. Like someone else said earlier, these people are here on vacation and they want to do what they want, when they want. I'm still not keen on swimming in the darkness, our pool is not flood lit, but these people are adults so what do you do.... As far as putting in the vacum. We let people know when they arrive that the vacum will be put in in the evenings (when needed) and removed the next morning. Swimming is totally fine even with the vacum in the pool. No one seems to be upset with this. We also have a pool man who comes in once per week to check chemicals, clean, check equipment, etc. I cannot determine what day or time he will come - it varies, but guests are told of his existence and that he will not take too much time to complete his tasks. No one needs to leave the pool area. We have never had a complaint. But, I think if we limited the time the pool was available, we wouldn't get any bookings....

DITTO !

Glad to hear it Steve. You will be fine. Don't stay on your own. Go out and enjoy what the world has to give. There is a lot out there. Very best wishes, Lori

I would agree with most everything that has been said here. I would like to note that, for me, during my first year here, going to fetes and other public places where lots of people (with other people) were, made me feel that much more alone. Watching all those folks with other folks to talk to wasn't as great as I had hoped it would be. I still think it is a good idea to go to these places, but don't be surprised if you come away feeling as I did. Don't give up. The key for me was learning to speak better French and making a few friends. Also, having a young child to take care of kept me occupied and also opened doors to meeting other people. Even if you don't have that, the road is still the same. Get out of the house. Go to the local tourist office, MJC or Mairie to determine what classes are being offered in your area. Just choose one and give it a try. Like others have said, English or French friends, matters not. I don't believe you mentioned what department you are in. Perhaps there are people here, on the forum, who live near you and can pop in for coffee now and then. Don't give up. France is a wonderful place and the people so very inviting if you give them a chance. Life is not easy no matter where you hang your hat, but it is also short, so try your best to look at the positives. Often there is little we can do about the negatives, so try to get them out of your head as best you can. Good luck to you !

Thanks so much for that website. It is really quite handy to have. I'm sure I will use it often. Really helpful.

Thanks to all, but I was so busy this weekend, I decided to make homeade brownies instead. Just couldn't deal with the prospect that the pizza wouldn't turn out well. The brownies are always fool-proof. With the excellent dessert chocolate they sell here, you simply can't go wrong. When I walked past the table in the market this morning at 9:30 am, all my brownies were sold. Happily. Will try the pizza dough in the fridge another time when it isn't a problem if it goes wrong. Thanks anyway for all the advice. It is most helpful.

Yes, alarm or no alarm, I don't think I could sleep at night knowing there are toddlers on the property. A good friend of mine lost their 2 year old to drowning in their own home swimming pool. A dreadful thing to even imagine.

We don't rent to people who have children under the age of 6 years old.

SaligoBay - as far as legally binding, I suspect not. An accident is an accident. I suppose the signature on the rules list certainly couldn't hurt our case, but I am sure the cause and type of accident would also come into play. We have the approved alarm system on our pool and don't take children under the age of 6, but I am sure liability would be high in any case. The signature on the rules page is really to make sure that the guests understand that we are very aware of pool dangers and we want them to be too. It is also there to be sure that they understand that NO child swims without adult supervision. Probably not legally binding, just a sort of "heads up" reminder.