Millymollymandy

James/Admin Many thanks for your help so far, but in fact on checking on my own PC there is no problem. It is only appearing on my husband's laptop! Probably because he has more up to date Microsoft stuff and firewalls etc. As I am only using this laptop whilst my brother who is visiting is sleeping in the room with my PC, it's not such a big deal after all - although if you should come up with any solutions in the future I would like to hear about it. So will let you get back to all your other problems!! Cheers MMM

Well I've sorted out my avatar at least!

Hello.  MMM's tech support/long suffering husband here.  We're running Win XP and IE6.  Screen resolution has not changed recently (not that this would change the items displayed, just screen and font size/resolution).  I have configured Norton Internet Security Professional to permit www.livingfrance.com (though I'm still blocking all the Trojans that you send us!).  The only recent change has been the addition of Service Pack 2 to WinXP.  You might want to check with Microsoft to see if this has introduced a bug (I'm not using the MS firewall that comes with XP2) which prevents the names of posters being displayed.  We can see the column showing people's photos and avatars, plus whether they're a junior member or whatever, just the sender's name box appears blank.  ????? -- hubby

Hello.  MMM's tech support/long suffering husband here.  We're running Win XP and IE6.  Screen resolution has not changed recently (not that this would change the items displayed, just screen and font size/resolution).  I have configured Norton Internet Security Professional to permit www.livingfrance.com (though I'm still blocking all the Trojans that you send us!).  The only recent change has been the addition of Service Pack 2 to WinXP.  You might want to check with Microsoft to see if this has introduced a bug (I'm not using the MS firewall that comes with XP2) which prevents the names of posters being displayed.  We can see the column showing people's photos and avatars, plus whether they're a junior member or whatever, just the sender's name box appears blank.  ?????

Due to no reply to my post re. can't see poster's names, I'll try again. This is a very strange forum where there is no contact for admin or help.

I've been looking for days for how to contact Admin with problems. Guess this is the place. For about 5 days now I haven't been seeing the names of the posters on the screen. This makes it a bit odd to read through threads. Can someone technical pls look into this? Also, how do I get to have an avatar? My profile just says - no avatar. Doesn't give me the option to install one.

To the poster with the kids in the photo (for some reason I'm not seeing any names): Don't worry, my husband got the same letter from ASSEDIC re not signing on last month too! Glad to hear we're not alone. This is our experience. Husband used to work in Geneva, but we lived in France. When he lost his job, the Swiss said to go and talk to the ANPE re possible unemployment benefits. The ANPE said (at least, one woman), "no of course you can't claim the dole in France when you haven't been working here, paying taxes etc". Fair enough, that's true, we thought at the time. A long time later he learnt from ASSEDIC that it was complete bo***cks and that due to the agreements between French and Swiss Governments re. cross-border workers, he could have been claiming the unemployment benefits in France. HOWEVER by this time he had been unemployed for more than 1 year therefore he could not claim it any more!!!! So we've sold up, moved halfway across France to a cheaper area to live and hope that he'll find something down the freelance route. At least we don't have a crippling mortgage anymore. Strangely the ANPE have been polite and helpful here in Fougeres.........

My cats were vaccinated against rabies every year (since moving to France 7 yrs ago) in Ain. Before that they were vaccinated in Holland. I have always assumed it was a legal requirement in continental European. They need the jab to move from one country to another anyway.

Normally you need permission for Velux windows! It is changing the facade of the building. For some reason I am not seeing the names of the posters, but to the original poster, I would check with the Mairie if I were you. Just because the Maire of one commune says it's OK to do something, doesn't mean it's the same in your commune. If your landscaping involves any structures i.e. greenhouses, sheds, summer house etc, you will need to apply for permission - the same permission that you need for adding new windows to your house. Can't remember what it is called, it's the permission that isn't planning permission.

We have changed our marriage regime to Communaute Universelle. However, we don't have children. From what I have read about it on notaires' websites, it's generally geared towards the older married couple without children. Without kids it is straightforward - the couple own everything (in France) jointly, if you get divorced (in France) all your assets (biens) are split 50:50 and on the death of one spouse the surviving spouse gets everything (in France) without paying ANY inheritance tax. However strongly advise you to get legal advice if you have children.

I think Kirsty has lost a lot of weight since her earlier days on TV. However it's her shoes that get me. She can be quite irritating but is somehow very likeable. I don't think Phil Spencer is camp. Justin & Colin are camp! Sarah Beeny is "well endowed". But Tommy Walsh is King! Wish they would do a series of Challenge Tommy in France - chez moi! Yes I watch all the property/renovation/makeover shows!

My husband has A levels and a degree. It was a 4 yr joint honours degree in languages. The ANPE told him that is the equivalent of a "BAC plus 3". (presume that means 3 years). I don't know about having certificates attested or whatever, they didn't mention it (not that that means you don't have to!)

Pucette - had a quick look on internet and it is either called "taches noir" or far more interesting, "maladie du cul noir"!!!!!!

I hear often enough a phrase spoken by French people (especially workmen types), and just this am. on the radio, which reminded me of it. I understand from the gist of it they are saying the equivalent of "know what I mean" or "know what I am saying". HOWEVER I can't make out all the individual words. What I actually hear is: (sounds like) "wes que je dire" Could some kind soul explain what they are actually saying word for word in French? (and why it comes out as "je dire" and not "je dit"). Yours very confused!

I know what you mean being an avid tomato grower I would have to look it up in an old French gardening mag - but possibly chucked them during my recent move. The other problem you might enounter is I think called "collier vert", that's when a a lot of the tomato around the stalk end stays green, hard and inedible and refuses to ripen making the toms of no use whatsoever, That's what I got during last year's canicule (and some blossom end rot too). Will endeavour to find out for you.

Oil based paints (I assume that's what you mean by gloss) are called "glycero". You can buy gloss = brillante or satin = satin. I think you can get matt = mat too. Acrylic paint is water based, it's the same here, called acrylique. Can get in satin or matt. There is something new(ish) called "phase aqueouse" (sp?) which has the properties of oil based but is water based. Haven't used that yet. A word of advice - buy a good quality paint i.e. Dulux Valentine (I think it is called Valenite when it is glycero). Don't go for cheap paints as they are not good! Corona paint is OK for acrylic but the finish is not good in satin. I gave up using satin paint in France. I use only mat. Otherwise you always get roller marks no matter how well/carefully you paint. One coat of Dulux Valentine matt will give a better finish than two coats of cheap paint, therefore you are not saving money buying cheap! Happy painting.