Patf

r51 - you're one-up with the arabic script. What does it mean?

It looks as if France is going the same way as the UK.With an ophthalmologist the waiting list has always been long. Husband had to wait 5 months, 3 years ago. Though they would fit you in if urgent.I'm surprised about the generalistes though. Ours had 3 mornings a week when you could go and be seen without an appt., after a long wait unless you got there at 8am.I had to see a cardialogue every year and rang in Nov. for a March appt.Husband could get an appt. with his rheumatalogue the following week.

I thought you were already a french citizen albf?

But Trump still has a lot of support in the USA.And as you know, many males admire a man who seems to be able to attract females. And is rich.

Good to hear from you Paul - I think we met you and your wife years ago, at our house in the Gers.We're back in England now, but still miss France. And as you say, the politeness of rural people.

From what I've read and heard on the media here (UK) and on some forums, some people are panicking about what will happen post 31 March 2019.So try to escape. If I was younger I think I would be too. It's all 'min ha'shomayim' - make the best of it.

Back to topic - the infestation is a huge problem both in France and in the UK. In France the buis is a much loved small bush which has been used for edging and shaping in most of the classical gardens. In England also it's used to make a neat shrub edge for small and large garden plots.When we were staying in the SE I saw the start of the invasion here. It's a big worry to our ecology on the same scale as dutch elm disease and the disease of ash trees. And in France, the chestnut trees.

Good to hear about the successful grape harvest.Re having your own vine - we had 2 kinds of green grapes, one was seedless. I looked up their names and found that only a small range of vines can be sold to individuals. Most are protected and only for commercial buyers.

Some friends of ours were on one of the less wellknown series, ages ago. They were looking for a holiday house in the SW, eventually bought one in the Gers, near us.They eventually sold it on Leboncoin. I'm still in touch with her and will ask her about it. I know they did tell us about the experience, but I can't remember the details.

I always thought we went to war originally when we saw what happened to Poland, then other european countries in quick succession. We were terrified the Germans would invade UK next, which they almost did. By some miracle the germans turned to Russia instead, which started their downfall.I've read and spoken to some french people who think the Americans won the war. Don't like us because of Mers-el Kebir.As idun says, we certainly didn't enter to save the Jews. Though eventually many were accepted as refugees.

I haven't had ours yet, in spite of the fact that I wrote snail mail with our address in UK.

Husband bought a lot of power tools when we were in France - no room for them here but that's another story.He says he researched online and as Thiere says bought mostly from UK. Cheaper even with transport/postage.That might mean you need to have bank accounts in both countries?

That's a good one Mint - so close. Richard - "F u c k you" seems to get a good response too."I know, it was printed on the dusty windscreen  of an abandoned car next to our first house.Why do you think they sometimes resort to english?

Noisette - re cat food.I used to buy 25kg sacks of cat croquettes from the agri-coop. Can't remember the name, (Cocktail?) but one sack costed 20-30 euro and lasted a few months. Once a week she had a treat - a pate pour chat. She kept healthy on that, still there with the new owners at age about 14.I agree about the wine though, [smile].

Reminds me of a story in 3 Men in a Boat - scroll down a bit:http://www.authorama.com/three-men-in-a-boat-4.htmlI don't think it was a french cheese though.

Another thing that makes France cheaper - if you live in a deep rural area as we did there's none of this 'keeping up with the Joneses' or the Castets or whatever.No carpets no curtains no pool no posh car no fashionable clothes etc.

We had annual village sales of our own produce and my home made bread, english style, always sold like 'hot cakes'.And I had neighbours converted to my home made ice cream. And spice bread, which is completely different from the french version.

We had always intended to return to the UK - various reasons.We enjoyed our 16 years in France, no complaints, but the time had come to leave.We never had any illusions about being 'integrated' - IMO the french will always see us as etrangers, at the same time accepting us and being kind. (Usually). We also tried to help them.It does help a lot if you speak french though. Any language barrier emphasises our differences.Exceptions could be british children born and grown up in France, and british people with a french spouse.

Do you mean you're going to grow veg. in pots rather than open soil?

When we sold our house we just gave the notaire the last routine SPANC report. Which was v. bad by the way.We'd had inspections every 3-4 years since ?2004. Which I thought were obligatory everywhere in France?

Why are you asking this question, Richard? Personal reasons?As for my part in our partnership, most people going into business on their own have high points and low points. Wins and losses. Which we had, in spades.If you have a family, in order to survive another source of income is a big help.That's all I'm saying, not boasting.Luckily I loved my job.

My husband left school at 14, and via various enterprises did quite well.He worked very hard, long hours, and had me to be the bread and butter earner.Another factor - it was easier to switch jobs in those days than it is now.

Yes their sense of humour is different from ours.Did anyone see the tv series Excuse my French? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excuse_My_French_(2006_TV_series)Marcus Brigstocke tried out one of his standup routines on a french audience, I think it was in Paris. It fell flat, so he made it more slapstick and they loved it.

Good for you Cathar Tours [;-)]

Yes that's a good example Mint.As I (think) I wrote earlier, I think language reflects a nation's essence. So I would like to think that we british have something in common with the french. Many of whom I became close to. In spite of earlier wars, and current Brexit differences.