Georgina

Sorry I mean Llwyncelyn, .........man these Welsh folks all sound the same to me......[:D]

[quote user="Llwyncelyn"] I approach this from the legal standpoint and it being my profession for too many years.  Your mind (its mens rea) tells you what is right or wrong.  Say in a shop you give £10  get change for £20 then you are aware of it then walk away.  Its theft plain and simple.  Theft Act .  [/quote] But Llewellyn it is not theft unless the court can prove that you were aware of it, but  this is not the correct analogy. Without blinding people with science, the OP is contemplating walking away from his debt, he wonders if he would get away with it in France - probably, it depends if they think it is easy to trace him.  He could walk away again if they did and many do ( I have seen it done many times in the UK).  If he went back to the UK (possibly) they would have obtained judgment against him and he would have to face it (probably).  This is not a morality question as the OP knows it is wrong.   And Llewelyn, to answer your question, yes you are from another plant!![:D][:D][:D] Georgina

Sorry Ford, I should not be so touchy, just going on past experience.   Thing is, I am not sure I want the world and his dog to be able to see my house, although I have nothing to hide, it just seems a bit nosey, especially if you had not agreed to it in the first place. Georgina[:)]

[quote user="Clair"]Linking from Georgina's mention of aerial photos, Géoportail (France's Google Earth equivalent) has updated a lot of its data to digital pictures and I can now see my house and small pool in relatively good detail. The site has also added basic layers showing clickable info about the towns, altitude markers and aerial photos available for sale.[/quote]   Ooh I can see my pool, my 4x4s and my tennis court!!!  not forgetting the lake, - Not. [:D][:D][:)]

[quote user="Ford Anglia"] Yes, I knew, there was a thread about it earlier. And the problem with it would be? [/quote]   There was a thread earlier, sorry, I never saw it.  But it is useful to know, so have you anything useful to add?[:@]  

Did you know that if you are listed in the Pages Jaune or the Pages Blanc (ie you have a phone installed by France Telecom) there is an aerial photograph of your house included in the listing on the net???  On checking, they have made an error and circled a house that is not ours, but the house on another street with the same number, I am not going to put them right.  But, if you are not aware of this, could be, you are now.[:'(] Georgina

Thanks for your explanation Pickles, it was very interesting. Chipie, you could post your message on here and therefore everyone gets the benefit of your advice. That is what we are here for. Georgina

Oh sorry to hear about your emergency Val. However I do consider some policies to be a bit of a lottery.  When you read the small print, it seems that the first paragraph covers you then you read the what is not covered and it excludes most of the likely circumstances at the same time.  Like I was reading for holiday insurance I was buying, for instance:, you are covered for loss and theft of money, then it went on to say exclusions, so long as you keep it in a locked safe in the hotel!!! [:'(]  Then they take the excess from every part of your claim, so they have maximums and then take off say £100, so it is not worth claiming in the end, and the stress can make it worse trying to sort it out. Also I was thinking about taking cancellation cover on my holiday recently, and it said if any close relative to you has visited the doctors within the last five years you must disclose it, then if they died for that reason, you could not be paid out (it does not matter if you do not know).   So Val, if you tried to get paid out, for instance, you went back for a family illness, say if you had to postpone coming back because someone was still seriously ill, then they would not pay out, as they were probably really ill before you went, whether you knew that or not. So has anyone had a really successful holiday insurance claim, because I do not know one? I would really like to know. Georgina[:)]  

Tourangelle, could you explain in simple terms, what you understand, as to how this change will affect you please, without being too personal, how would it affect a married couple I mean. Georgina

Could be some of it is corked. Our local Noz which is a similar business sells wine which I have found sometimes is corked.  Where is Mille Stocks then? Georgina

 Yes I have done that RH but found that they deal only with people who live in the UK. Pickles, you are right, it would hold everything up.   Georgina

I notice on the website when you book for just a short flight with them that they state that you must have travel insurance. Do they actually ask you for this before you fly, does anyone know.  I do not take out specific travel insurance but my household policy covers me for luggage , but do they insist on seeing it? The fact is, it looks on the site like another way of getting you to buy theirs? That you feel you would not be allowed on the plane without it. Georgina

Yes Graham you would be wasting your breath. I must get this off my chest.  I shop and have spent thousands of euros at my local Monsieur Bricolage. they know me well, E500 on a wood burning stove, E400 on a rotivator to mention but a few very large purchases I bought some  expensive wallpaper and asked the girl, if I had too many, could I obtain a reimboursement,  (before I bought it).  The lady said I could. However when I brought one roll back for my reimboursement I was told that I could only have a credit note. But I had been in the day before and spent about E100 on something else.  I asked to see the manager who was most obnoxious and said that I probably was not understood. ha!  My question is why would the manager risk losing thousands of euros of business from people by p... sing them off over E20.  I really was annoyed that and I know it is not my french as I have never had a problem with their staff in two years explaining things. I was not rude and feel I stood my ground.  I usually shop there because their staff are so polite, but that's it for them.  He said it was the policy in any shop (not true).  But this is a common problem with wallpaper surely and I returned it within three days. Brico Depot  however always give you a refund - I feel robbed.[:@] Sympathy please? Georgina  

Yes I had an Italian fiance (in a previous life) and he showed me how to make this without cream in it. However I prefer to make it here with mascarpone cheese.  Try it, it's easy. Georgina

How lovely I thought when my kids wanted to spend their pocket money on a toy that tries to immitate real life with a wheelchair and user complete with someone to push.   How nice I thought that my children and indeed, toy producers were recognising that these people are the same as everyone else and acknowledging through play, their difficulties in life. Except not.  "That's nice, I said. why did you buy that, boys" I asked.  "Because mum. it is like that programme Little Britain!!!!"   [:'(]Doh.  ("don't like that" one said "don't want to" the other said.  Oh well.[:D] Georgina

[:)][:)][:)] Gosh sounds more like England every day. Georgina

Good luck John, looks like you have done the homework.  Tell your son not to worry, he will pick it up in no time.  Kids fluent after 8months.  They had french lessons in UK and I introduced them gradually into french school. They are much happier than in UK school.  They were that age when I introduced them here during holidays etc. It depends what you want out of life as to whether it is better here, and it is for me.  But I can vouch for the fact that it is a much better life for young children. Georgina

Yes you definitely always see them in damp places, but why are they dead? Strange that.  Does anyone know if they eat flowers' roots, because I always see them inside the bottom of my tubs. Georgina

I hate the women that pounces on me at the self serve check out, just because I am foreign.  I dare not hesitate for one second because she just takes over and does it for me!!![:@] whereas the French can hesitate as long as they like. Georgina

I love that other customers and not impatient and don't shove you up the bum[:)] with their trolley (at least if they do by accident they say Pardon). I don't feel stressed out in supermarkets here, as people stroll around like they are in a museum.  Whether that is a good or bad thing depends on whether you are in a hurry. Georgina

Well we have a block of  apartments (boxes) appear in the last three years near us.  There is just one left.  They are quite expensive but have gone like hot cakes.  When I see the owners coming out on a morning, they look like those cookoos in the clocks.  They have all gone to French people, according to my neighbour. I cannot see what the appeal is myself.  But then it must be the novelty factor, whereas in England, we are used to living in little boxes and now want something better. Each to his own.[:D] Georgina

Yes, thanks for that.  I will try there. Georgina

I have looked in all the DIY shops but cannot find the winders anywhere. Has anyone any idea where I could find some. I thought about window companies but don't think they would sell me any without I buy windows or shutters. These ones are a long metal pole that turns at the end, probably a bit dated but just want something that will do the job. Georgina

I had this problem, bought a rotivator, but ended up having to rotivate it about ten times (although it could be that I am not that good at it) and then pulling up the weeds manually, then trampling it. Lots of work but it looks far better grassed. It's still a bit lumpy though. Georgina

Tresco wrote: There is more of a will to whack very young children round the head when they speak out of turn. No wonder they squeak when they speak.     Yes, I have to say I find that very shocking.  I have seen them hit very young children hard. Georgina[:(]