Chouette

Just feel the need to speak up in defense of the poor, misunderstood hornet.  They really are gentle giants and will only sting you if you are bothering them or go too near their nest.  There is the misconception that the sting from a hornet is far more dangerous than that from a wasp or a bee but in fact the risks are exactly the same, despite their bigger size.  Obviously if you have a hornets nest in or too near your house then I don't blame anyone for wanting to get it removed, but there is no need to be hysterical if the odd one or two happen to fly into your house.  When we let our cat in last thing at night occasionally a hornet will follow him in, attracted by the light indoors.  My husband just gets a glass and a piece of card and takes it outside again.  A friend in the UK once got stung twice by a hornet she was bothering and though she wouldn't like to repeat the experience she lived to tell the tale and said it was no worse than when she'd been stung by a wasp.  For further info look at www.muenster.org/hornissenschutz/hornets.htm

Here are my reasons:   The UK is overcrowded and it will only get worse.  France it is three times the size of the UK with roughly the same population and it really notices. I always feel rather claustrophic when I return to the UK these days and one of the reasons I love France is the feeling of there being more space. The uncongested roads alone show the difference. The government in the UK has a target to build thousands of new homes but seem to overlook the fact that the people that then fill those houses will add to the strain already existing on schools, hospitals, doctors, transport systems etc., in the areas they build.   The UK government’s anti-car stance in order to reduce traffic congestion is ridiculous and unless they are prepared to make the necessary investment to improve the transport system, which is currently dirty, overcrowded and expensive and sometimes dangerous, people will continue to stick to using their cars. Then there’s the yob culture and the general underlying feeling of aggression simmering just under the surface in many of the bigger towns. Of course there are still sleepy little villages out in the country, but they tend to be very expensive and not everyone can afford to live in idyllic places such as those.   In France I live in a very spacious house that has a large garden with a swimming pool, set in a pretty village surrounded by glorious open countryside.  There’s no way I could have afforded something similar in the UK, unless of course I was prepared to live in a rabbit hutch The growing compensation culture; anything that happens to a person is always someone else’s fault and nobody seems to want take responsibility for themselves and for what they do. That leads me on to political correctness; criminals are treated better than victims, minorities given more support and rights than majorities, etc., etc. Tony Blair, materialism, the asylum seekers debacle, the state of the health service. I could go on   Of course France is not some kind of utopia – where in the world is? However after weighting up all the pros and cons, France suits me and I definitely enjoy a better quality of life than the one I used to live in rat-race southeast UK.  

Since living in France I have just about got used to seeing Frenchmen brazenly relieving themselves anytime, anyplace, anywhere, but the other day I just couldn't believe my eyes My husband and I were walking our dog along a lane not far from some houses and which had shallow ditches on either side. Also walking up the lane, about 50 yards or so in front of us there was a young woman. Suddenly and without so much as a by your leave, she walked over to the ditch on one side, pulled down her jeans and had a pee If you gotta go, you gotta go I guess but I have to say we were both a bit shocked

Hi Zap My husband and I visited Canada for a month a few years back and absolutely loved it which is why we considered emigrating there.  We flew to Calgary, travelled across the rockies to Banff and then onto Vancouver and Vancouver Island.  Flew from there to Toronto, then drove up to Ottawa and Montreal.  We adored Vancouver and that's where we would have liked to have lived if we had emigrated; either there or the Okanagan.  We will most definitely go back there one day.......... In the meantime and for the foreseeable future, we're busy building and enjoying our new life in France

Zap!  Loved your post, especially as we so very nearly emigrated to Canada What made us choose France over Canada?  Like you have said I just knew I'd probably find the lack of history in a country like Canada to be a definite downside and also the weather is much better in France  Another big factor in our decision was that it wouldn't be so easy to pop back to the UK to visit friends and family due to the distance and expense.    I'm pretty sure we made the right decision but we will definitely return to Canada for a holiday someday

Am I happy in France?  Sometimes yes, incredibly so.  Other times I could quite happily jump on the next ferry back to the UK When I weigh up the pros and cons though, France for me still comes out tops and I definitely enjoy a much better quality of life here compared to the one I left behind in the UK. I'm a country girl at heart and the relative cheapness of housing in France allows me to live in a very spacious house in a lovely small village surrounded by glorious countryside, something which I couldn't have afforded to do in the UK, unless I wanted to live in a matchbox   I love the space, peace and sense of safety (a false illusion maybe?) I feel here.  The downside for me is the sense of social isolation caused by the language barrier and cultural differences.  Although I can now speak French reasonably well, I really do miss being able to have a good ol'natter with someone without having to think so hard.  The French themselves I have found to be very kind, polite and helpful, but I have also found them to be a lot more formal than the British and not so spontaneous and as a result I am finding it very difficult to make French friends here. I do sometimes wonder also if France is the country I'll want to be living in when I'm old Whatever happens in the future, whether we decide to stay here or return to the UK, it has been a great adventure and so far the plus's outweigh the minus's  

I really do sympathise with you over this.  I've a JRT, Daschund cross who is absolutely adorable - now!  But when she was a puppy I nearly despaired.  She used to bite all the time and make growling noises and if she got your hand between her teeth she would try to shake it as dogs like do with a rag or a toy   It really hurt and I was at my wits end.  I tried saying NO really loudly, squirting with a water pistol, ignoring her, growling at her.  Sometimes these things worked, other times they didn't.  She eventually just grew out of it and learned to be soft mouthed, thank goodness.  So don't despair as it is normal and just a temporary, if rather painful, phase that he will eventually grow out of. 

The other night we had several huge hornets trying to get in the house through the patio doors.  It must have been the light inside attracting them and they were literally banging themselves against the glass It was quite scary - I didn't realise that hornets were active during the night.  Apart from those we have a couple of bats who perform acrobatics outside our living room windows each evening, but don't know where they hide during the day.  When we first moved into this house in June there were loads of earwigs - haven't seen any recently but apparently they reappear in September - pah!  House spiders become more active this time of year too, because it's their mating season and they come out from their hiding places to search for a mate - the big ones are the females    

Hope you won't 'flame' me, but I can't help feeling rather peeved by your post. I totally agree that if one chooses to emigrate to another country then one should make the effort to learn the language and integrate etc., etc., but at the same time what's wrong with wanting to have both French and English friends? Unless you are able to speak French totally fluently interactions with the French are always going to be a challenge and frankly hard work sometimes. Plus you haven't got the shared history, culture and sense of humour that you have with people of your own race and it's natural to want to have a good ol'natter with people every now and again. As for people trying to hook up with other English the moment they arrive, again maybe it's because their French is only at a very elementary stage and in order to settle in and find their feet they would gain comfort from finding others of the same nationality who have already made the move, are integrated and who can offer them valuable advice and support during their move to a new country, which is for most people the biggest step they will ever take in their lives. I don't think it's fair to look down one's nose at people just because they have chosen a different way of settling in to a new country than you might have done. You can never be French, so why try to deny your Englishness? Just a thought.

Hi there Mandy My husband and I have recently moved to the Indre and are living in a village called Velles, midway between Argenton sur Creuse and Chateauroux. Looking on the map I see you're quite a bit further south of the department than us but not a million miles away. We've been doing a bit of exploring and think it is a lovely region with something for everyone: La Brenne - a nature lover's paradise, Argenton sur Creuse - pretty town with an interesting indoor market on Saturdays, Gargilesse - beautiful village in the Val de la Creuse, Eguzon - lakes with beaches, La Chatre - pretty medieval town.............. and so on! So 'Bienvenue a l'Indre' and I hope you settle in as quickly as we have Haven't got kids ourselves, so can't advise you on that kind of stuff I'm afraid, but if you just fancy chatting to someone, I've put my email address in your inbox.

I've been looking for French lessons since moving to Chateauroux and after a bit of research have found out that there are lessons available via the Centre de Formation CCI de l'Indre. They had an open day at the centre last Saturday so I went along and met one of the teachers there who is English and she explained to me the different options that are available. If they have enough people who are interested to start a group they will offer lessons for 6 euros an hour, which in my opinion seems very reasonable. Unfortunately it wouldn't be available for beginners but for those who would be considered intermediate level. There is a free test you can take to see what level you are. The group lessons could be during the day or evening depending on what would suit most people. I'd really be interested in doing this and am hoping by putting this post out that there may be more out there who would be interested too. The telephone number to ring if youre interested is: 02 54 53 52 01 and the contact names are Valerie Han-Li-Kuin or Claudia Beneforti (both French). If there aren't enough people to form a group, the other option available is to enrol on a multimedia course run in their very nice, modern language lab. You have a choice of either 10 hours plus two with a tutor which costs 120 euros or 20 hours, three with a tutor for 180 euros. The centre are going to ring me if they get a good enough response for the group lessons, so here's hoping

I've been looking for French lessons since moving to Chateauroux and after a bit of research have found out that there are lessons available via the Centre de Formation CCI de l'Indre. They had an open day at the centre last Saturday so I went along and met one of the teachers there who is English and she explained to me the different options that are available. If they have enough people who are interested to start a group they will offer lessons for 6 euros an hour, which in my opinion seems very reasonable. Unfortunately it wouldn't be available for beginners but for those who would be considered intermediate level. There is a free test you can take to see what level you are. The group lessons could be during the day or evening depending on what would suit most people. I'd really be interested in doing this and am hoping by putting this post out that there may be more out there who would be interested too. The telephone number to ring if youre interested is: 02 54 53 52 01 and the contact names are Valerie Han-Li-Kuin or Claudia Beneforti (both French). If there aren't enough people to form a group, the other option available is to enrol on a multimedia course run in their very nice, modern language lab. You have a choice of either 10 hours plus two with a tutor which costs 120 euros or 20 hours, three with a tutor for 180 euros. The centre are going to ring me if they get a good response for the group lesson, so here's hoping

Hi there We are moving from Normandy to Chateauroux in the Indre. For the last two years we have been receiving excellent (free) French lessons via an organisation called APE (Accueil et Promotion de Etrangers). I'm wondering if any one knows of a similar set up in the region we're moving to. Failing that does anyone have contact details for private tuition in the area?

Hi John & Nik Congratulations! We'll be moved into our new house in the area at the beginning of June and it would be nice to meet up for a drink when you finally arrive and are settled in. I've put my email address in your private message box. Bientot

We went there last weekend and were very pleasantly surprised. The menu is rather limited unfortunately and it isn't quite up to the standard of the curry restaurants we used to frequent back in the UK, but having been in France for nearly three years it was a really nice to know that there is now somewhere we can go when we are in need of a curry 'fix'. They also do take-aways. My husband and I are in the process of moving to the Chateauroux area, having previously lived in Normandy, and we'd really like to hear from any other people who live in the area

Hi everyone My hubby and I will be moving to Chateauroux at the beginning of June and I'm wondering if anyone knows if it is possible to receive free French lessons in the area. We are moving from Basse Normandie where we have been receiving lessons for the last two years thanks to an organisation called APE (Accueil et Promotion de Etrangers)and I'm wondering if there is a similar organisation operating in the Chateauroux area? On a totally different subject has anyone tried out the Indian restaurant in Chateauroux? I'm hoping it's going to be good as it would be a real treat to go out for an occasional ruby murray!

Hi there My husband and I (plus small dog and a fat cat, no kids) are looking for a house to rent (minimum two bedrooms) within a 30 mile radius around Pouance, Dept 49. Is there anyone out there who may be able to help? Many thanks.

Since posting my original message I've discovered this website which I've found very informative: www.frenchinvestmentproperty.com

Don't know if this is the right thread to post this on but here goes: Does anyone out there know anything about becoming a landlord in France. I don't mean holiday lettings but more along the lines of buying several appartments and letting them out (unfurnished) to bring me year round income. Buy to let is the big thing in the UK at the moment and though I know that property values do not increase to the same extent as they do in the UK, I am hoping that it would be a way to generate income, plus have some investment growth too. Any ideas, advice, pointers in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Can anyone tell me if I can get Evening Primrose Oil and essential oils in France, or alternatively recommend a website where I can order mail order.