Monika

No, they did not, I had visions of them stranded at the Ferry Terminal, in the hope to be collected because I thought, may be they sent me an e-mail which never arrived. But last week we were out there and they explained that because she is pregnant they decided not to come. But why not let us know? I think you are right, next time we need to make a more firm arrangement.

We have just returned from France. A stray cat (I think she was abandoned during the time of the scare: cats and birdflu), has had 6 beautiful kittens in our neighbour's garden. I am so worried, that they will become strays and have promised my neighbour to find homes for them. Anybody wanting a kitten or two (cats born in summer are healthy and strong!).

Hi Cassis, I want to replace this picture with a more recent one (this picture was one sent to us by our project manager and I was able to put it in my avatar without problems).However I followed your advice and sent our new photo to my son which worked out fine with very little downloading time. But I am just unable to replace my AVATAR. I will try again today, following your advice.

Hi Russethouse. Thanks for that, I am doing what you suggested, but it does not seem to work. Then I did the same wanting to send the photo to my son, because it would be a more "sendable" size (I have tried to send it direct from "my photoes" but it takes ages to download for the recipient)  but only the website comes up on the e-mail not the photo. Thanks for your help. You seem to be very computer literate, perhaps you could help me on that: whenever I print something on my Epson I get these red horizontal lines, I tried to clean the head, but it still happens.

I have put my photo I want on my Avatar as suggested in "Photobucket", this was successful, but how do I get it into my AVATAR. I have gone as far as press Browse, but " My Document" comes up.

Thank you to all of you. Looked at the Castorama web site, it is the best site I have come across, and each item has a picture. Plenty of reasonably priced woodburners there, but do we take the chance and buy one in the hope of finding somebody to install it?

Now everything is nearly finish in our Renovation/extension we are starting to think about woodburners. We went to see a, what seemed to us, expensive place near Flers (61). The woodburners started at Euros 900 and we were told that we need a mason to build a chimney. We have had a woodburner installed several years ago in England, the woodburner was £350 and we just had a flue. Is this not possible in France and what is the best way to have one installed there. Should we just bring one from England and have somebody install it for us. Advice would be very much appreciated or perhaps we even have a "woodburner installer" in our midst.

Sorry my question was incomplete: you mean, Nick that you can just screw into the plasterboard to hang pictures etc. what about shelves?

What about fixing things after the studwall  is up?

I wonder what we do wrong, or is this just the French Way of "Laisser Fair": Every time we are at our "building project" we get invited by our young French/Brazilien neighbours for a coffee, we arrange an approx. time and when we appear they are no way ready (once they were still in their dressing gown), they scurry around, and we feel out of place and it is always highly embarrassing. We have invited them to come for a weekend to England, and given them the date (our only weekend this summer) and telephone number. They were very enthusiastic but we have heard nothing (the date is today). Is this the French way, or are we not observing the correct etiquette?

Yes in Switzerland (but only some parts) it heralds the arrival of a baby. The more trees you have the more people like you. My niece on her farm in Switzerland had about 10 trees. Her only worry when she came home from hospital was not how she could cope with the baby, but how many trees she was going to have. Mostly these trees are decorated with toys which are taken off, but the trees are left up until the new mother and dad invites everybody to come for a drink.

I did not even realise one could complain! Surely if I don't like the tone of a post, I just stop reading it! "Difference of opinion" surely contributes to a Forum. I was very sorry to see the thread "What? No Flags?" vanish. Was it just because people were called Snobs? Whats wrong with being a Snob?

Thank you CA, it worked a treat and I am sure I have made many people smile. I sent it even to our Maitre d'oeuvre to beg him to hurry along, it might work, one never knows!!

I don't agree, French people do smile and say hello: as experienced on our many hikes around the Normandy. Perhaps it is because all the hikers are on Holiday and very happy. Christine Animal: I love the smiling mouse. Could I download that and how?

Just saw some advice when I was browsing my medical books: These three tips are from an American Home Remedy Book: Wash in a weak solutuion of bleach (yuk!), it gives you a few hours peace!! Take a Vitamin B Compound, starting at least 4 weeks before your holiday (the mosquitos hate the taste of it which will be coming through your skin). Take Zinc, again start 4 weeks before the holidays, again the Mosquitos hate it.   Should that not help: once bitten, wet the sting and rub an Aspirin over it!! I think the tip with the Vitamin B Compound is a sound one because I remember my sons having to take it before they went to Island with the school.    

I have already been bitten by mosquitos and it is only June and that in Normandy! And a tick as well! The bites have come up huge (they were huge mosquitos) and I felt quite faint in the night.  O.K. our garden is a mess (a haven for wildlife!) and we are surrounded by forest which has encroached into our garden. What can we do? Will clearing the garden help or can we spray? I am sure it will get worse in August and then we are going to stay for 3 weeks. Help?

I just have it from our Project Manager: Monday everybody works, it's because of the "Heatwave" in 2004 when so many elderly peole died. All the money earned that day goes to the elderly.  

I am no expert either but here is my experience: the CU (Certificate d'urbanism) our Notaire obtained was valid for one year which we had to renew before the year was out. Then we had to draw up plans and obtain Planning Permission (Permit de construire), which is valid  for 3 years.    

I had a really good Internet Site (fle.fr.), recommended on this Forum,  with Classical "Readings" in French to which I used to listen to while doing my ironing. Unfortunately the Site has completely changed and now just advertises courses. Does anybody know of a good Site with French Stories to listen to?

I have just found out that there is a Brittany Ferries Enthusiasts Club: www.bfenthusiasts.com. They might have very good, up to date "Insider Information".  

I think there are three pieces of music and you are quite right one of them must be Sailing by, then there is a choral piece by Mozart and one more which we can't place. Well I might be able to find out via the www.bfenthusiasts.com. A Brittany Ferry enthusiasts club.  

I like the idea of the Danish Oil, but I wonder if you have to apply it like to a boat, on first application you have to go over it as many times as possible before it dries, which would make it a big job. Then again the lasure treatment sounds good, because it would also have insect treatment. Thanks for your help.

Our new windows and french doors all need to be treated with some sort of oil or ? I am not sure what the wood is, it is teak coloured but don't think it is.

We pay against detailed devis/invoices from Management Firm and have no devis or contract from/with the employed Artisans.(We don't have a contract with the Management firm, only devis).  I am a little reluctant to get the advice of a Notaire, as all this is surely just one of these things, where somebody wants to scare you. Surely this could only happen in very rare circumstances and as you say Catalpa there is no need to panick at this stage.

So my relative might not be so wrong! We employ a firm who employs all the Artisans, we pay the firm (most of it in advance). Surely though, hundreds of people employ Building firms who subcontract work, should they not all be warned as a matter of urgency that they could forfeit their house if the Artisans are not paid. One bit of consolation Nick,  that is is not as easy as in the States.