Frogslegs

Many times in conversation with french people, normally at lunch over a glass of wine...they gesture which looks remarkably similar to a 'UP YOURS'  or worse...the only difference instead of placing their left hand in the crease of the underside of elbow and raising right arm...I think they (not sure now I am trying to explain) place there left hand on the upperside of right arm and raise! This had been done in front of me not only by men but women...and I really was not talking dirty![;-)]

thanks for the link..one week in may has been sorted thanks to totalfrance site.[:D]

Well its less than four weeks since my original message..hubby has had the op, went for the patch under local anest. left hospital day after op, most of the stitches out the day after! Excellent service in Niort hospital. Weather is superb so it will make a change for him to relax in the garden while recuperating.[8-|]

Yes it appears that it is requesting further information on quantity of t.v. sets.

Hubby has to have an operation for hernia next week just as we intended to start unfinished jobs involving digging and lifting! As we have some weeks available in late april or may does anyone fancy a weeks holiday for say 2/3 days work. Hoping to build a pergola....only waited 5 years...before the really busy season starts. Perhaps a little gardening! Visit our website www.le-tilleul.com for further information.

Just received a form cerfa 3310 K-A-NI could possible be for TVA. In 6 years I have never received such a form, our earnings are well below the figure for a micro business! Any ideas? at the bottom of the form is mentions televisions which we have paid for with either tax fonciere or tax habitation. Not really spent much time looking at the form but perhaps someone has? thanks[:@] this is what the lady in our Melle tax office looks like and I dont fancy asking her!!

Met the surgeon in Niort last Tuesday..op on 17th of April, probably sooner but we have just returned from one weeks holiday. Choice of tradional stitching or a prosthetic patch (which I believe is only offered privately in U.K.) where the recovery rate is far quicker. Meeting the anethiatist this Tuesday and I think he is going to opt for a local!! [+o(](braver than me)

after the op in the post-op room a nurse approached  with what looked like a hoover tube connected to a white box,I thought it was a complete WASTE disposal system. She lifted the sheet and as I TRIED to clench ny buttocks together she walked away and turned the tube on,a warm air heater. ha, ha, ha....Hubby has just read the post and nearly caused him another hernia![:D]

We visited the doctor last wednesday and seeing the consultant tuesday.....holiday the next day for a week so will keep you posted how long before op. We have our carte vitale and  top up insurance so hopefully everything in order.[:)]

When I had the op I was obviously awake Crikey...he better not read  this post!! Not saying he is a scaredy cat![;-)] Doctor did suggest 5 days in hospital, one month doing nothing, next month not much more!      

Perhaps not a good idea to let him read this post! Considering he is fit and active (50)...any ideas of when back to normal after op? thanks[;-)]

Hubby may have a hernia and the doctor asked us if he wanted the operation carried out in a hospital or clinic! Anyone had the operation here in France? Seeing a consultant next tuesday...the evening before our planned overdue holiday to blighty....it snowed last year in March and the plane could not land at Poitiers...so the holiday was cancelled, are we jinxed? Any advice greatly appreciated, the joys or renovating eh![:(]

WELL IT WAS NOT ME![:(] www.le-tilleul.com  

BRILLIANT 4.45...bbc one Baaaaaaagggggggghhhhhh [:D]

Perhaps I should offer say 5 forum users the opportunity to advertise on the site for a year for free....see how they get on. o.k. I will be the 5th user if the offer is still on! [:D] www.le-tilleul.com    

Had to laugh at all the comments...true the escalator was the highlight of the year...true people are VERY strange....true about a time warp.... true about solent t.v.....It was quite apparent that unless you had a blue rinse and wore crimpolene skirts you would not enjoy market day in Newport but than its obligatory here to have red hair and wear nylon dresses!

We lived in Newbridge for 7 years prior to Poitou Charentes, used to sell organic fruit and veg from our cottage opposite the post office. Did you know that Solent t.v can be picked up if you have a dish! Nothing much happened while we were there but one year after leaving they decided on bringing back the Isle of White music festival with top bands! Know what you mean about the ferries though....reason why we did not return to Essex often. maria www.le-tilleul.com 

 I am sure this coach company can help http://www.nationalexpress.com/home/hp.cfm

Thank you....that is the one beginning with M!

© Cityvox La Tartine du Pressoir (7 avis) 2, Rue de la Boule d'Or 79000 Niort Tel : 05 49 28 20 15 Fax : 05 49 24 84 87   I would recommend this restaurant, they also have another one beginning with M (can not think of it for the moment) but it is just before the small undercover pedestrian walkway not far from a picture framing shop...tres excellent. The ones opposite the car park are good but I would not say special enough.   maria www.le-tilleul.com  

[quote user="Val_2"] Lol. Well I was watching a much repeated re-run of No Going Back where a few lots went to Oz and to me, it looked wonderful, a real paradise and everything that France isn't and certainly not the UK. [/quote] It may have been the programme about Queensland which showed John's cousin Chris Newman from Romford running an Italian restaurant. Needless to say he is back in Sydney installing lifts? Why is it people think running a restaurant especially in a foreign country with no experience (even as a waiter/waitress) is easy? I know of at least 10 that have failed here in Deux Sevres. O.k. we chose the gite business (admit no experience) but a lifetime of different skills, including self suffiency and we have a very successfull business. Luck may be part of it but so is hard work! maria www.le-tilleul.com    

We decided to stop b/b after the completion of our second gite two years ago. House hunters have dwindled to very few here in the Deux Sevres which were our main guests 6 years ago. Many other b/b hosts nearby have decided to rent out the entire house and some have had to camp out elsewhere. I would presume that those that can afford to 'weather the storm' will eventually have more clients because of lack of competition.

Found  a hotel...Sanctury House opposite  Westminster Abbery, has a pub downstairs where we can get a guinness and fish and chips! Found a website called www.hotel.com where guests write about their accommodation and this one had glowing reports, plus we only pay (I say only loosely) £95 each night instead of the usual £135. Really looking forward to our first trip back in 6 years. Many thanks for all the recommendations. Maria[kiss] www.le-tilleul.com  

Agas are lovely to look at and cook superbly well...but....expensive to buy and use and twice a year you have to employ a skilled artisan to service it. We had many problems during the years with one thing or another. Also bear in mind they throw out a lot of heat..I personally would not have one here in the Poitou Charentes as it would only be used probably November to March and I would not want it on now...we have had to turn the central heating off because of the mild temps. Another thing..you can never smell the cooking...Turkey at Christmas, fresh bread...you have to go out into the garden to smell! many a time I left the rice pudding in overnight.....woke up to a black baked dish!

Well yes there are.....11500 British live in the Poitou Charentes, 50% arrived in the last 5 years....I knew I should have kept this place a secret!                                                                                          read today in the Charente Libre maria www.le-tilleul.com and guess how many are gite owners? [Www]