Montsauton

Ask that question five years ago and the answer was no. Ask it now and it's a definite yes. But of course for those who earn our living in the UK it all depends on the exchange rate. With the pound strong at the moment things are not too bad but if it should slide I dread to think how people will manage. Thinking particularly about those resident in France but living on pensions from the UK. It's the dreadful uncertainty that bothers me - the sooner we join the uro the better as far as I am concerned. Controversial point that, I know, but until we do join (if ever) we are entirely at the mercy of currency speculators. Patrick

We've always found our neighbours in France somewhat standoffish. Even a Parisian described the local people as "hard". Then the following happened. While we have been in the UK a water leak developed. This was noticed by the lady friend of our neighbour. She drove to the lady who holds our spare keys. They both returned and turned the water off. Then our neighbour, who happens to be a plumber, went in and repaired the leak. Finally the lady friend returned the keys to the keyhoder. All of this happened in a day. I've only ever spoken to the lady friend once and the neighbour avoids eye contact whenever he can. What am I missing here? Our place is in a deeply rural location, where I daresay until relatively recent times people seldom went further than their local town - probably still true of many of them - and where life must have been incredibly difficult. Has this got something to do with it? Have other people found this coolness which isn't really coolness? Is the coolness actually just reserve and undemonstrativeness? Patrick

Don't worrry, if you buy your TV in France you will have to give your details and they will contact you. patrick

I wonder if anyone else has this problem or can offer advice. We have two phone points connected to two handsets and noticed for the last year or so that callers sound very faint. We called France Telecom and they reckon they checked the line and it was ok. One day while doing some diy I had to unplug one of the phones and while it was unplugged I received a call using the other phone. Volume was fine. As soon as the second phone was plugged back in the volume went faint again. Any ideas? Thanks in anticipation. Patrick