Poppy

Well done Janey. How on earth have you lost that much weight since Sunday? I"m very envious. Have been trying a detox diet for 3 days and feel awful. Perhaps Atkins is best. Did try the green tea yesterday with a little sugar. Not bad with the sweetener. SaligoBay - I know the beached whale feeling, but there must be a way to get into a bikini again. We all need some support!!!! Jan Lost in the Lot

Shauna we know what you mean. We used to be nice too, but a lot of knives in the back have changed that. Our Gite was spotless, obviously lots of stories, but cant forget the one who complained about a tiny bit of dust from woodworm and demanded a refund. This was on the outside terrace and beams only 2 years old. Also the ones who left because we would not completely empty and change the water in our 11x5 metre pool because there was a lizard in the skimmer. Knives have also come from so called friends, but the world keeps on turning and there appears to be a lot of bridge building going on at the moment. I wont be cynical and say  'perhaps they want something'. Guess we have just been unlucky. Hubby says he would prefer cats to dogs but I dont mind. Jan Lost in the Lot

It isn"t usually a problem or expensive to get a UK car registered on French plates. Just check out the price of replacement lights, probably less expensive for Renault, Citroen etc. Although second hand cars are more expensive in France our experience is that new cars are cheaper. So you might like to look at the price of new ones. Jan Lost in the Lot

Did well yesterday, but got invited to Auberge for lunch today. OOOOOOOOOOH dear, will start again tomorrow on the Rosemary Conley diet. Know its going back a few years but it does seem a well balanced diet. Years ago I was able to starve for a few days to give myself a kick start but go dizzy these days after a few hours without food. Jan Lost in the Lot

Please can I be counted me in as well. Going on holiday 3 September. It would be lovely not to be miserable on hol because I think, not true I know, my bum looks big in everything. Jan Lost in the Lot

Pleased, well I guess not really to hear that somebody else has experienced negativity in the FRENCH health service. We have been in France for 16 years and  in all that time I never felt the French system despite media quotes was as good as UK. Is it just me? Jan often lost in the LOT

Try the cans of polyutherane mousse, available in most DIY places. Be very careful it does expand a lot but it did the job on gaps around our windows and between floorboards. Jan  

Tell them only if its got HP Sauce on, you won't settle for anything else. Well we all have to have standards. DON'T WE. Still trying to find mine Jan lost in the Lot

Sorry at a personal  level most incoming money is subject to tax in France if you are french resident, even Premium Bond wins. Just because UK tax is not applicable does not mean that it is tax free in France. We have seen a lot of people caught out with the initial lump sum payable on private & public sector pensions. Wish it was different Jan

Hello Belinda You look fantastic and so happy and well deserve to be. Well done. Thanks for the info on Minceur. The other Jan

Well done Belinda that weight loss is fantastic, you must be so proud. I would be very interested to hear how you get on with Minceur.  Since MP I have been stuck at 56 kilos, that sound good but I am just 4 foot 11 inches, couldn't quite make 5 foot. No matter how much I eat I dont put on weight but no matter how little I eat I dont lose anything. Would love to get rid of 10 kilos, I look a bit frumpy at present weight. Has anyone tried the green tea? Hope you dont mind me joining in. The other Jan

Can someone please help before we pull out what is left of our hair. We want to install one of the thin underfloor heating mats that are available on several european websites (but not french for some reason). The websites recommend laying insulated tile backing boards but we cant order these from overseas as they are brittle. We have searched all the main building suppliers without success for the same product. Today we thought hurray we had found it in PointP. Its Maxisol made by placo. Couldnt believe it though PointP refused to order it and tried to fob us off with something we knew wouldnt do the trick. Can anyone give us any advice, be very grateful. Jan

Hello Alexis I am now 56 menopause finally started at 50 and weight has crept on slowly since then. Size 8 to hate to say it 14. For the last two years no matter how much I eat I don't put on weight but unfortunately no matter how little I eat I don't lose an ounce. I always thought I was a fairly intelligent reasonable sort but I can't work this one out. Can fully sympathise with the soles you see on chat shows who swear to not overeating but nobody believes them. Perhaps its all in the genes, but not my jeans haven't seen them for years, but ever hopeful. Jan

Fully sympathise Janey. I was a size 8 before nemopause now 14 going on 16. Even just 2 apples per day , honestly nothing else except coffee, wont shift half a kilo. I did think it was an oestrogen problem as I am not on HRT but obviously based on your history that's not the case. Have read that green tea gets the metabolism going. I hate the stuff but has anyone any experience. Jan

Hello Naps Many thanks for the website info. A quick read through and it appears in my case a slow down in metabolism is the problem. Pre menopausal and  2 years in I was very slim. Another 2 years on despite sensible eating and lots of excercise I am very frumpy and probably 10 kilos overweight. Possibly time to give the green tea a try aagh. The other Jan

Hello Jan So pleased to hear someone is in the same position as me. I have been meopausal for 4 years. No matter how much I eat I don't put on weight , well perhaps one kilo, but no matter how little I eat sometimes just a couple of apples a day I can't lose weight. Would love to lose 10 kilos; Felt as though I was going mad until I saw your posting. Will let you know if I discover some miracle cure. Another Jan

Did you foget the cost of maintenance and replacement/labour for parts over ten years or does your equipment run trouble free for that number of years. We understand and sympathise fully. Jan

Hello If the washing up liquid hasn't cured the problem try hair shampoo. Goodness knows what it does to the hair but it is excellent on tide marks in the bath & swimming pool. Jan

Washing up liquid and a scrub very gently with the rough side of those green and yellow washing up sponges always works well for me. Apply liquid neat onto sponge, even shifts the dreaded sun tan lotion. Jan

Tell  your Maire about the problem. They often have names of local farmers/beekeepers who will come and collect the bees. We did this a couple of years ago and two beekeepers arrived within a couple of days. Jan  

Sounds as though you are in the same position as we are. We have been running away to cheap hotels in Spain for the last year. I noticed an advert on the Living France home page- bottom right hand corner - sale of second hand mobile homes by Canvas Holidays. I havent done any research into good value or delivery charges but you might like to have a look.

Boghound I applaud your honesty. I am sat here surfing the forum on a bank holiday afternoon. Glass of wine in hand. Need I say any more.