MargaretD

Wow! Thank you so much for your ideas. Yes, it would be in our garage - but we do have a rodent problem in there, sadly. We have preferred diesels in the past, but I wasn't sure which would be best to store over the winter. Thank you again. Now to find 'that' car without spending too much!!! Margaret

HI, We are hoping to leave a car in France for 7 months of each year, as we don't have space in England for one, and neither do we need one here. However, I am looking for 'voitures d'occasion' and don't know whether it's easier to store a petrol or a diesel powered car. If you have any ideas please let me know. M.

We have had a mixed response.  Some naturally seem to recycle as if it is what they expect - and one family even asked where the compost was on arrival ! (almost fell over).  However, to encourage everyone I have invested in the small yellow and green bags from the supermarket and leave one of each with the washing up liquid etc.  Since this has been introduced we've very little rubbish and almost everything has been recycled. I was made to do something when one family tried to through away a whole bag of plastic water bottles, it had been hot, but...

Wen, It's interesting reading all the comments.  Having taught CAP to 14 to 24 year olds I would assume that your son's teacher is assuming that he will make little more progress in written French, and is therefore making suitable provision for him to access the CAP earlier than most.  I had one 14 year old on the programme who was bright, but had a physical disability.  The CAP can lead to BEP and then BAC PRO and onto higher education, however histoire/geo is still required and a 10 is necessary, or else the whole year is failed. As your son's French speaking is coming on, I would encourage himto think about what he really wants to do and then go back to the school and find out what the possible options are.  During the CAP he may have to do English - and so use these times to have 1:1 provision for enhancing his written French, but he may only be in the learning centre for 1 week out of four!  The other weeks are often in the work environment. I hope it all works out for you all. Margaret  

I thought UK cards would work in our local intermarche and champion 24/24 pumps, so was suprised when an English person approached me to find out how I had got the petrol pump to work.  I obligingly asked for his cash then put in my card.  I must have seemed daft as I couldn't work out what the person was saying - speaking in English with an English accent really put me to the test! M

I would suggest, though, you don't do anything in haste.  We arrived in France definately in 2005, registered with CPAM, then husband was advised to train in the UK rather than France and come back to work in three years.  CPAM sent us a bill for more than I earnt last year, basing it on what we had both earnt in 2004.  As my husband had to move to the UK in Feb 2006, they suggested we pay 1/3 of the annual bill, and suggested that next time he moves here permanently we use the EHIC(from the UK) for a year, or at least six months.  We have it in writing from CPAM!  We are based in France, but with my husband studying in the UK we spend more time there. I would suggest talking with your husbands firm to see what health insurance they offer when he does move to France.  It may make your next move easier.  By the way, we call the lady from the CPAM a "dragon", but she is now a nice dragon, as she was the one who has helped us not pay all the bill! M

I travel regularly with Eurotunnel, once or twice a month, and find that they are beginning to start the "loading" process earlier.  With all the door wiping, steering wheel swobbing and passport checking I was sometimes too late for the train I had been booked onto and for which I had waited the call.  Now, they seem to allow more time, and last Friday evening there were 5 trains leaving Folkestone between 4pm and 5pm (Or at least that was what we were told)! By the way, what happens if you work in a quarry with explosives?  Surely the car would be covered with whatever they are looking for.  I also travel with P and O, when I know I have a few spare minutes to plan in an evening meal.  M

Nick and Paul, Sorry to take so long in replying.  Yes, I've cut over a metre off the coax wire.  We now have good signals to all TV channels. After having installed it myself last year, I couldn't work out where I was going wrong. thank you for your help. Margaret

No trees, but yes, the box has been switched off for 6 weeks, but then we weren't getting ITV or BBC2.  We get the channels for the North West, but the BBC1 is OK.  We're also missing BBC3 and BBC4. I've tried realigning everything, but having misplaced my compass it's a little more difficult - just line it up to the back of the post box (that's 149.5 degrees from north!) and the tilt is at 29.5 degrees.  These settings are ideal for our village - I suppose I was wondering if something funny had happened - like ITV gone on strike etc... Thanks for the help, M

In a gale this last winter the sat dish moved, children then attacked it and took some useful connecting bits. But since this episode we have had BBC1 and Channel 4, but no BBC2 or ITV.  The signal strength is about 60% and the signal quality about 70%.  We have been to our local TV shop and they say they can't help us as we use different astra satellites. Has anyone any ideas? M

As an answer about kids - yes, there are two adorable boys (!) who have thrown fireworks, wrecked the post box and caused other damage.  Their fathers are always on the case and usually I only hear of damage when the dads show how they have repaired said letter box, etc.  French dads are great!

Well, I had to get a step ladder, to see, but hubby reaches up, though finds it easier on the step ladder It did go through my mind - perhaps it's back to a very heavy bird...........

Could I also suggest that YOU don't try to speak to your kids in French!  I've learnt the hard way, and though I speak French fluently, everyone I teach knows I am English.  I picked up the accents from my parents (and I suppose my French teachers at school).  Now the young people who I have taught speak with a lovely English accent, as they have leant it from me...  I am convinced they will be OK, they may end up repeating a year, but very soon will be probably also better at the English language as well. M

I'm just letting off steam!!!  We arrived back at our home in France after 6 weeks away, to find that the Sky lead is no longer attached to the dish.  My assumption is that someone has cut it with a knife.  The twist fastening is also gone, and the dish was at a funny angle.  Now, I originally blamed a bird, but it took an awful lot of yanking to get the dish back to normal degrees of (whatever) to make contact.  I'm going  to have to 'make do' with electrical tape to keep everything neat, tidy and dry.  Has anyone else ever had this problem, as we have never had any problems up until now. M

I am really pleased with the prices that we pay for wood.  Just checking the details, but we pay 3euros for a stere of hard wood, and 1.25 per stere of soft wood.  There are advantages to living with a forest nearby!

Hoovers and tablets!  Done them both today.  We're going to England on New Years Day, so hoovering the house (with our cat always running to the next room to be cleaned!) and then to the vets. The vets comment to us was "I know they don't have rabies in the UK, but surely they have worms and flees.  He doesn't seem to have either.  The English go a little over the top, don't they?"  To that we all agreed, including cat. BUT we used to have a cat who loved being hoovered and also ate tablets off your hand - he also had six toes on every paw.. (honest) M

Silly really, but our cat was fascinated by the programme on BBC2 about reindeer yesterday, with Johnny Kingdom.  He had settled on our knees - scrawled acorss both of us - as we were watching the programme.  My husband had to get up to do some work and the cat took the opportunity to move closer to the TV to keep watching.  He only watches a few things.  Apart from Johnny he also watches Bill Oddie.  I wonder if it is the mens softer voices, the way they move thier arms as they speak or whether it's just the wildlife... But as soon as the music finished, off he went to sit in front of the fire! M

In Troyes there is a MacArthur Glen in Pont Ste Marie, to the East of the town, but around this area are huge outlets of levi's, farmer, (I can't remember all of them) but designer - we often stop and look, but have never bought anything.  the Glen part is quite good, but depends on the season.  You can buy sandels in the autumn, and cheap winter coats in the sping... On the Avenue Dijon (I think) there are three larger grous of shops the Avenue des Marques??? This has some good designer shops and I often buy things here, (hope husband doesn't read this!)  Also down the same road is the house and home section.  This is great for villroy bosch (Spelling gone somewhere for Christmas). But it's only since not being in Troyes fulltime that I've missed the shops.  Gald to be back there tomorrow evening. Outside the town there are also shops for Lacoste and Petit Bateau (both based in the town).  Also on the main road to the North West are the tights factories and their outlets. Happy Shopping, M

What a lovely area to be in.  We camped there, many years ago, and have lots of memories.  We're now living/holidaying/based-in the Champagne (east of Troyes). We found several English people once we settled in, but as we all speak French and are employed in French speaking businesses etc. we've only met each other via mutual French friends!  But this made great gatherings during the world cup...  I think the best thing about meeting other "English" was retelling stories about our initial experiences and laughing together at some of most stupid mistakes, oh and of course enjoying a good meal and some excellent wine during the process. Happy settling in. Margaret

I found that NRJ were the cheapest and lastest the longest.  I don't use my phone except for emergencies so have spent 15euro only (incl. SIM card). M

I think it definately depends on the cat.  Our cat is equally at home in one of three locations - France - he sleeps inside or on the balcony and goes in/out/in/out (no cat flap so we get fit!!!)  In Canterbury he lives in a flat and only has been out once (when he fell out of the window - only pride hurt gladly) and at my parents where he has a cat flap and garden with 6ft fence (which he is unable to jump up due to never being able to jump!). He goes between the three places with ease - but he only started his travels at 13 and knows that home is where the Felix is. (He also loves cuddles and when passing him over to my parents at a service station almost succeeded in getting out of his basket, as he was so glad to see them - I think it was the thought of having time in the garden that made him so crazy.  He was quiet on my section of the journey, then told my parents all sorts of stories on the way to their house!!!!) Sadly we do travel with a mesh baby gate as he can open cat flaps, and he can't get out through the baby gate!  I must look sad loading the car for travelling... Margaret

I agree with you all that this is a scam.  We have had two weeks rental from a family from India.  They actually asked a friend in the UK to send money on their behalf, the UK friend also vouched for the Visa, and therefore came on holiday with them.  They had a fantastic time, but the first we knew they were from India was when they all arrived at the house.  They were Christian missionaries attending a few conferences - so if they are real, they will do things to make  your life easy - not difficult.  And they left the house so clean!  I'll have them back any day. M

We've been using holiday-rentals.com since last February, and were pleased with the number of weeks we've had booked.  We do have a problem though with messages from people wanting to book, as orange.fr keep thinking they are spam, so... M

You only have to be away from the house for a short week to realise that the freezer has been off then come back on.  We had a lovely bag of ice cubes, which when we got back from a 5 day holiday was a solid mass!  I have now left the fridge and small freezer empty, with the door propped open with a bottle of red wine.  At least we'll have something to drink when we get back to France... M

Have a look at the anpe website.  It will give you an idea of the sorts of jobs available, but in our region (Champagne) I applied for 86 jobs in two months and had 82 letters of rejection and 4 no replies.  However, I did get work at one of the places I wrote to 6 months later.  I think the main reason I got the job was because I enrolled at the local afpa, and I think the place I eventually worked for asked them if they had anyone who would fit the role.  Although I was fluent in French I dodn't feel confident in writing, so afpa gave me written french courses.  Supposedly I could now study at Uni in France, if I wanted to... We are returning to England for three yeas, for my husband to train as a nurse.  When we come back in 2009 he will be armed with translations of his new qualification and that it can be used in France.  If your wife wants to do hairdressing she may be wise to see if her qualification is acceptable as a CAP or BEP in hairdressing.  If she could show equivalency she should walk into a job.  It's the same with any of your qualifications.  They are similar to NVQs. But, don't give up.  We are loving it here, and I don't really want to return to the UK at all, it's just that I do want to see my husband from time to time! M