Tresco

I am amazed that Chris Ecclestone has taken this part. I know Hollywood isn't for everyone, but that's where I thought he was heading. His agent should hide behind his sofa. tresco

It's a tricky one isn't it. We had no visitors at all for the first 8 months, and that was a conscious decision on our parts. What I did last spring/summer, was have a sort of double entry calendar, with 'pretend' and real guest 'bookings'. I allowed plenty of time between each set of visitors, to lessen the fatigue. Some people got fobbed off completely, i.e, people who clearly just wanted a free holiday. You have got me thinking now Pip, as I need to come up with a new set of excuses for my evil twin, who seems to have forgotten that we have not got on since about 1970, and has suddenly become very interested in spending some quality time with me in France. tresco

The film SB talks about has been the focus of a massive amount of discussion in Germany. What SB said, I can understand and relate to. It makes sense to me, I understand what she says. Plato, you clearly have a lot to say, and strong views, but I really have a lot of trouble understanding your 'flow' of thought. Actually, I just cannot follow it at all. I just can't understand your point(s), and I don't like that. It makes me feel stoooooopid. You are mr 'stream of consciousness/intelligence' guy, and I am this ordinary person who wants to understand what the other guy is saying. Help me out. Be your own editor. tresco

'you seem to have a down on most things in life' please could you refresh my memory, albi, as I have always thought georgina had a pretty sunny outlook on life. "if guns are outlawed, then only outlaws will have guns" Well its the wild wild west of France i'm posting from, they are registered, i'm fairly sure, but whether they should be is a different matter. Please, please, do not use the term 'tree hugger', it makes it hard for me to listen to the answer. tresco

OK i've waited a few days for others who may know more than me to respond and continue. I admit I have disenfanchised myself at this point. I am not proud of this, but I am not ashamed, it's just what happened (for the first time in my adult life). As for the vote in France, it matters in the short term, if nothing else. France's vote would be almost certainly be 'no' if the plebiscite on Turkish membership had  not been offered. As I understand it, this issue has been separated out because there was little chance of a 'yes' vote unless it was. As far as I can make out, only the UK really stands any chance of voting 'no' to ratification. Please can you explain your 'superstate'/'lameduck' point  outcast, or anyone who agrees (or disagrees). I'm not looking for major political insight here, really, just views. tresco

It's probably permissable outcast. After all, the BNP would like a world without colour, wouldn't they? In fact, beige would probably be at the limit of acceptable depth of colour. Joke, joke, joke, everyone, before I get told i'm  bickering/ranting. tresco

Just a bit James, thought I was going potty Dicksmith threw me a bit of a lifeline there, but I wasn't using 'recent posts' facility, as I have found it doesn't always show all the recent posts in the last 12, 24 hours etc. tresco

Hi turnip. Searching for a house for friends over the last 9 months or so, i've come across nearly all the factors you mention (and combinations of them) given as reasons for partly finished renovations. Some very sad tales, and weary, weary people. Families of 4/5 basically living and sleeping in one room, 'runaway' husbands and wives etc. It's very sad for these people, but while some of these houses are a mess, (i've seen some shockers, where you would basically have to start again) you could be lucky enough to find one where all the major structural, electrical and plumbing work is done to a high standard, at a price which does not reflect the amount of money spent. tresco    

Where's the 'Would Like to Meet' section gone. I've seen posts pulled, and even whole threads, but never a forum in its entirety. Are you working on it or something? tresco EDIT Ok, It is there, clearly, but I could have sworn it wasn't when I posted. Time for a break

Approx. 300 guests at the moment. Tourangelles suggestion got me wondering whether the 3 months free subscription to the LF magazine has anything to do with it. Am I on the right track? Come on Guest Guys'n'Gals, it's an dinky first post to make. tresco

Some views as a consumer. If you are going to provide a DVD then you'll need to supply some films for guests to choose from. Perhaps print out a list of titles, brief description of genre etc. I much prefer glass tumblers to plastic. Kettle - travel size CD, not sure about this, I reckon most people will take something with them on holiday, perhaps a walkman available to borrow? (again with discs to borrow). You could get some guests blaring music otherwise. Toiletries, most people take their preferred brands with them, but not everyone, and I always appreciate provision of a small kit including soap and shampoo. Toothpaste, and other items, easily forgotten or needed in 'emergency' shaving gear, ST's and tampons, combs etc,   perhaps you could have some supplies in and make it clear to guests in your written material/welcome pack that these are available. What do others think about this. I suppose I am concerned that your costs will rocket if all these are provided as a matter of course. I tend to take anything like toiletries with me when I leave -is that awful? Internet access, your common room idea sounds good, it would probablyswing it for me tresco    

Earlier today I counted roughly 250 guests on the forum. Some will be members who havn't logged in, but i've noticed similar huge numbers in the last couple of days. Can anyone account for this enormous upsurge in numbers of visitors to the site (or am I imagining the increase?) tresco

I've been trying to keep up with this mainly via BBC news online, as we havn't recieved anything at all here by way of public information through the post, yet, and I still find it hard to follow what few discussions I have caught on the TV/Radio. I reckon France will vote yes to ratify, but only because there will be a separate vote on the issue of Turkish membership, at some point in the future, and despite the fact that elements of both the political right and left opposing ratification of the constitution as it stands. tresco

Lots of things escape my notice, but not the fact that the Forum name is Living France, rather than Living in France. Bearing that in mind, I'll just carry on appreciating helpful posters wherever they live. tresco  

You raised the second homes thing outcast and now you're implying that a forum member is a coward because they don't live here. There are many members and guests who use the forum who do not live in France. There is no requirement to do so. You and I probably agree that it's best to think long and hard before making the move, and i'm certain that there are plenty of people on the forum who have done this and decided that it is not for them, some of them reluctantly. These people are not 'carping from the sidelines'. Many of them have demonstrated time and time again that they know a great deal about France, and give very good advice on the forum. It seems clear to me that you respond to certain topics only because a forum member who you have 'taken against' has posted. Any regular reader of the forum will know who those people are, so you certainly don't need to ask me. Can I ask again, why you chose your rather tragic user name? tresco    

That's a good suggestion Fantine, as bamboo is evergreen, attractive, and fast growing. If the poster chooses it, just be very careful not to choose a variety that grows to 40ft high and/or spreads indefinately. Sorry, my books are buried at the moment so can't advise specifically, but one drawback with all bamboos is that they need a lot of water. tresco

Sorry outcast, as you know i'm not in the habit of picking up on your grammar, but it's unclear just what you are intending to say about the fact that Dicksmith has a holiday home here. Currently it seems you find it 'condescending'. Is this really what you meant to say? If so, it doesn't make sense. There is a thread running in 'owning french property' titled something like 'the ethics of having a holiday home', perhaps you could join in there, and make your points regarding second home ownership. Jonjob, it would be nice to be friends, or even just friendly with everyone here, but sometimes this just isn't possible. Outcast gets on my very last nerve sometimes, and i'm not even one of the people he constantly trails around after having digs at (while digging himself in ever deeper holes). I think those people restrain themselves remarkably well in their responses. tresco  

'....put in detention for whittling', that made me laugh Dicksmith. One of my mums favourite topics at the moment relates to this comment.  As everyone seems to want 'go to uni', "where will the butchers, bakers and candlestick makers come from?" she cries. As shops everywhere seem to be full of candles, I don't think she needs to worry on that score. This has been a great thread to read. Lots of interesting views and memories reawakened, I had both domestic science, meal planning, cooking, nutrition, and woodwork/metalwork on 6 months rotation (made an ashtray in the form of a devils head - what was that all about, it was a Catholic school too). I too am amazed by what people give their kids to eat, chips and gravy was a once every 6 weeks treat for us. I see people giving their kids orange 'juice' rather than an orange, and saying it's the same thing. If Jamie Oliver, (has anyone seen the Jamie 'copy' on French TV?) can raise awareness, that's a good thing in itself, and if this leads to change, even better. As Simon said earlier, responsible adults should make the choices for childrens diet in schools. This doesn't mean denial of choice to children, it just means all the available choices should be healthy. tresco  

Don't worry Frogslegs, it's quite apparent who the 'loser' is in this exchange. tresco

It's going to be a while (3 or 4 years) before any hedging plants form an effective windbreak. I wish I'd considered this more carefully before buying hedging for our boundary. A chain link type fence with fast growing evergreen or semi evergreen climbers planted at intervals would probably have been much quicker in giving cover.  This is what i'd do, if I had the chance again, even though it would have been more expensive at the outset. Rustic poles with with strong wires for the climbers would be considerably cheaper. Another point to bear in mind is that evergreen plants do drop their leaves, they just do it gradually over the whole year, rather than all at once as Autumn comes. Alone, a slatted fence like the one in Andy's avatar would be ok as a windbreak, but not any form of 'solid' type fencing. tresco

I've been a second home owner in the past, in Northern France. Nothing but botheration, couldn't ever justify going anywhere else, (until I put my foot down, finally), spent every holiday working, came home exhausted. That said it was a lovely place, but never again. About the air pollution. All these second home owners would almost certainly be flying to other destinations if they did not have their holiday home, so is it reasonable to add this in as a factor?. tresco  

I said much earlier in the thread I have no problem with people practicing shooting on ranges. There's a difference between shooting holes in paper targets (at a licenced, possibly sound protected, insured venue), and doing it in your back garden. There is also a difference between you owning a pistol, for such a hobby, and members of the armed forces/security services. I see no need to spell out all the differences, but I believe those guys have a bit more than 2 days training  on the use of their weapons, they don't tend to keep their weapons at home, practice in the back garden, or indeed on other peoples land as happens here. tresco

Plato, I am having a bit of trouble following your posting, so i'll just stick to one small part of it. I have never heard of anyone dying from cannabis use alone. I accept that for instance driving while under the influence of cannabis could cause a fatal accident, but you imply your friends died just from taking the drug. Can you explain please? tresco    

MOH cooks every evening, pretty much the same as he did in England, when working, except here he sometimes starts at 3pm, just because he can. All fresh ingredients, and he makes fantastic stocks and sauces too. I can't remember the last time we had a take away, because he is such a great cook, enjoys cooking, and take aways have never been as good as even the simplest meal he makes. If he goes away things change a bit. I live on Alpen, Oranges, bread, and Cheese/Salads, despite the huge range of pre cooked food available here in France (are Knorr trying to take over the country or something?), including traiteur type stuff. tresco

At best I feel mildly amused by this sort of 'feature', at worst, really annoyed. Really, it may be fairly balanced, but it's pretty shoddy stuff. I love France, but I can't be the only person who took a while to adjust to shops not only shutting for 4 hours at lunchtime, but sometimes closed after I had been standing waiting for 10 minutes with a full trolley I wanted to buy. And yes I grumbled, so did the French people around me - a real 'community spirit' developed on one of these occasions, but it probably wasn't the way some envisage the way they will 'integrate' with the locals. Am I the only person here who thinks, 'yep, it's lovely to see staff chatting with pensioners in small shops, but could you carry on serving at the same time please?'. Don't get me started on the larger shops, where you often don't even get an apologetic 'look' while a member of staff continues their phone call at the till. tresco