Patf

Thanks H. I knew that was your name.I once lived in an upstairs flat, near here, and downstairs was a family with a daughter called Hazel. The times we heard the mother yelling "ay-ZEL! where are you?

I'm  a bit late on this.I thought Noisette was asking what form of the verb pleuvoir to us - pleut or pleuve?I know nowt about the subjunctive either. They must have invented it after I left school.

Wooly - there's a recent book by Hunter Davies called The Coop's Got Bananas - memoirs of his life growing up in the NW, and later.He's still writing for the Times.

That sounds strange, Hoddy, but probably ok.I remember going to a birthday party during the war and the mother had made banana sandwiches. No bananas in those days. She used stewed mashed parsnips with banana essence.

I can't believe all the 'shock-horror'. This was always a possibility.None of the guarantees etc are set in stone. You can't trust any of them, british or french. Even pensions aren't sacrosanct - and that's not just for you in France. Feeling bolshie today.

nomoss - I used to have a book of wartime recipes - wish I'd kept it now.I wonder if they'll bring back rationing?At least we'll all be thin again.

Planning to dig up our little back garden for potatoes and onions.We've got room for a few rabbit hutches too. but not chickens [:(] Betty I agree with the theme of your post yesterday at 20:22.

I had no idea, thanks. I thought it was a purely french charity.

No idea - how much did the house cost, and how many m2 ?TG we don't have those problems now ( though we have others)!I hope you're going to be around all the time to make sure they do what you want, and keep to the contract - this is when the problems arise.

btw I was surprised to see an Emmaus van here in NE England the other day.

We sold some things on Leboncoin.One friend bought a lot, eg wood van diy stuff. I didn't have much luck with Emmaus, though they had been helpful in the past. We gave most of the sitting room furniture to friends in the village, they were happy as theirs was falling apart. We ended up leaving a lot behind, our buyers didn't seem to mind.

The difference is the results of a GE are legally binding. Whereas the result of a referendum is not - it's only advisory.So if there was a second ref. and remain won we would still have confusion.

From the title I thought you had joined a Bridge club Richard [:D]  But snooker - no wonder husband has been hiding in his office all afternoon.

But he had a syndrome [:D]Prada Willi.

I'm embarrassed [:$] to admit that I stupidly scrapped the files on our french vehicles a few months ago (after moving back.) A lesson for others!Luckily our CA/Pacifica agent in France is very helpful and she sent me a copy of the last statement before we sold that car.We're trying to get a cheaper estimate for car insurance here.Another point is that the UK insurers seem to prefer that we have UK driving licenses, so we're in the process of changing now. Although legally I think we can drive on a french license for 3 years after leaving France. But post Brexit, who knows?

We used to have a sale in the village Hall where everyone brought their home made things - not just food, artistic diy stuff too.My home-made bread - different types- used to sell well, but I think it was partly curiosity. But my spice loaf was nothing like their pain d'epice.

Mercy bucket [:)]

We  need info. about no-claims bonus on the car we had in France.Do you think this is it?"Le coefficient de reduction/majoration applique a la derniere echance annuelle du 15/11/2017 est de 0,50."And if so, does it mean 50%?Thanks in advance.

Hoping your health improves Mint, and sorry you've been 'laid up'.Talking about counter point, I never mastered the first variation , though I kept trying!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEkXet4WX_c&t=350sAlways get a shock when he goes into no.2.

Ken Clarke speaks in a very clear and logical way, and he's very knowledgeable.The trouble is, most people's views on Brexit are based on emotion, and don't respond to logic.eg one excited caller on LBC today - all he could keep saying was get rid of May, then everything will work out fine for we Brexiters. It's all her fault. And he wouldn't budge, in spite of J.O'B pointing out the flaws in his logic, and many facts he was ignoring.

[:D] It shows the difference between learning how to operate eg internet information, and the ability to transfer that learning to other communication systems. Exists in both age groups.

That's probably it Wooly.  British people seem to be more business-minded than the french.

A few months before we left husband went over to the UK and bought a UK reg. car. Then we sold our french car and van.We rang Churchill from France and the agent spoke to each of us on the phone. I can't remember if he asked how many points we had, but he did ask about accidents. I had had one bad accident when my car was a write off, I thought I would be refused, especially as I'm ancient. But he agreed to insure both of us. I don't drive much here anyway, and we're probably going to change to UK licenses soon.Husband still had one point, I had none, in spite of the accident.Chrissie - you could try filling in an online application for UK insurance and see what questions they ask etc.

I admit I'm quite puzzled by the discrepancy in the estimates we were given. The french companies sent someone to look all round our house and barns etc, measuring up and recording all items. Then came up with an estimate of 6000 euro.Bishops Move did it all on the phone and their estimate was £3000. Maybe more in euros.Was this because french businesses take into account the taxes they have to pay, whereas british businesses are treated more leniently?

When we were in our first house in France we had a french man who helped with gardening, building etc. When we needed a new hedge he said just cut bits off the bushes you like and stick them in the soil. Which we did, and it worked. Can't remember what kind they were.The plants were adapted to that type of soil. And they probably did the work at the best time of the year. And moon.I don't think early Jan. is a good time.