Sunshine

I did not realise the waiting lists was so long in France...  It has been a long time since I lived in the EU and I am used to emergency treatment the same day......  Guess I will have to get used to the delays too... Toothache relief ...   have you tried the old remedy of sucking a clove in the area of pain, sounds crazy but it worked for me one christmas eve!!!...

I would like to thank everyone for the information I have recieved. My husband and I had a great visit in France last week.  We stayed in a nice 2 bed apartment near Thiviers with a view to the long term let from February, we enjoyed our selves so much we have decided to stay with him.  He also introduced us to another couple in the village and they made us so welcome that we would like to buy in the same area. Once again thank you for all the contacts and information, without them we would not have found our temporary home.    

Hi I live in Turkey where belly dancing outfits can be bought in the local bazzar, they have all the colours under the sun, with optional coins....etc  Not sure how much they are. If anyone is interested I will pop down to check the prices out and send a photo via email. From December we will spend most of our time in france and only pop back to Turkey to pack our belongings before we retire to FFFFFrrance.............   yipeeeee..  So you will have to be quick.    

opps I was so excited I got the spelling wrong, but I did find the correct website.  My husband calls it just another one of my fluffy bunny moments...   of which I have several every day. We will be in the area in the next week or two, so if there are any groups getting together please let us know. Regards

Hi I am preparing for our final and permanent move to France, in January 2006 and would be interested in any Expat Associations or similar in the 19, 24, 46 or 47 departments. I have already looked at www.avf.assoc.fr but either the website has a problem or they are not operating in these area's.  

Do you have any links or know of any forums in Italy...  I hasten to add this is not for me as I am a few months away from our permanent move to France....  yippeeeeeee  

Hi everyone My mail from the UK takes 8-10 weeks due to our location in Turkey.  I have ordered several items from Play.com and I highly recommend them.  I too once emailed to say I had not received a CD and they sent a replacement immediately. That sort of service gets my vote!....  

Hi Earlier this month I posted a request for information on a house for short to mid term rent.  Our extraction from Turkey has caused a delay and change in our plans. We now need a furnished house for 3 - 12 months somewhere in the 19,24,46 departments for my husband, myself and our very well behaved 10 year old labrador (who is used to being among farm stock etc).  We now need a place from the end of January 2006 while we look for our new home.  We intend to visit the area towards the end of November and will be in Bordeaux for the whole of January. Finally, I am going stir crazy looking on the internet for our new home.  If you know of any thing for sale under 250,000 euro's please let me know.  Minimum 2 bedrooms with about 2,000 m2 + land.  Katrina PS If any one is planning a holiday/trip in Turkey or thinking about purchasing a property here, please let me know.   I can recommend places to see, things to buy, good english to turkish phrase book etc.  I am always happy to help.   

Hi  Roger. I agree it does save an awful lot of time; not to mention the toll on the car in terms of mileage, petrol and repairs etc.  However you have forgotten one thing. You are restricted by weight or have you perfected the Dr Who tardis of packing vin packs and vac packed cheese.    ouhhhh trying saying that after a glass or 2 or 3. I know because we live in Turkey and my husband and I talk about this every time we fly back to our beloved France!.. Yours ...Desperate for a glass of decent plonk and slice of brie.....    

My husband and I are moving from Turkey to Dordogne/Correze area end 2005.  We need a good English speaking Financial and Tax adviser as our affairs are divided between the UK and France and a little complicated.  Any personal recommendations would be appreciated.

I used the train across Italy this year and they were great, easy to use, clean and cheap. Train timetable below. http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html  

I like a good storm too and nice to see that the SE have a good sense of humour.  We live in Turkey where there is 300 days of continuous sunshine, then comes autumn with it's fabulous storms, sheet lightening and rolling thunder.  Moving to the SW France before the end of the year, I hope they have a sense of humour too. 

RAF officer, wife and very well behaved black labrador retiring to France from Turkey (NATO Post); lots of faffing in the UK combined with house search.  Can anyone provide contact or details of furnished house, preferably with garden, available for 1-4 months from November/December 2005 (we are very happy to house sit in return for low rent). Any pointers to houses for sale and/or GOOD estate agents extremely welcome.

My husband is retiring from the RAF and we hope to buy a home in the Dordogne area between now and April.  However; we currently live in Turkey and cannot take our dog back to the UK (quarantine!).  Can anyone recommend a GOOD boarding kennel for our very well behaved 10 year old Labrador in the Dordogne area. We have to return to the UK temporarily before renting in France whilst looking for property.  

Do you have a recipe for Cote de Boeuf. I have a million cook books and looked on the internet but can not find one. I live in a very hot, non EU country, where very little English is spoken and I am missing France, french cooking and an everyday bottle of red wine is only a dream.  I have the beef and herbs but it never turns out like it does in our favourite french restaurant. Does any one have a recipe to die for.  

[quote]http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/index_en.htm Gives you the info you require It appears that you will need a rabies vacinne plus a blood test taken at least 3 months prior to y...[/quote] Thank you for the website address, looks like Turkey is not classed as a 'third country'.  I have emailed them for more information. Thank you again. 

I have a 10 year old dog born and registered in the UK.  Evie has had all the relevant annual inoculations and boosters.  In 2003 she had her first rabies injection and blood test but we never had a pet passport.  2 years ago we moved to Turkey and all her boosters are upto date, but we have not had another blood test.  In December we are hoping to retire in France, and of course take Evie.  All the information I have found refers to the movement of dogs within the EU.  Our problems are more complicated because her chip can not be read by any vet in our area of Turkey ( either non compatible reader or broken).  In addition the chip has moved and a few months ago became infected.  This may have to be removed.  Although I enjoy Turkey the standard of veterinary care falls well short of UK standards. Defra could not help me and refered me to the french authorities but I can not find their DEFRA equivilent website.  Can any one help me with any contact email address', in English, or a vet in France who can help me, possibly in the Aquitane or Midi Pyrenees area.

[quote]This website lists forthcoming Brocantes and Vide Greniers etc. http://vide-greniers.org/[/quote] This is a fantastic web site, saves me trawling through the internet, magazines and books. I can assure you this is in my 'favourites' and will be used time and time again.  

[quote]Confused of france here ,but where are you now,and if like many of our friends you are still in turkey why do you want to come to france after only two years in turkey[/quote] Dear Outcast I think the title 'Retiring to Languedoc-Rousillion' says it all; but as your name suggests, perhaps you are non too bright, as you have not followed the conversation. My husband and I have worked all over the world and Turkey happens to be our last contract.  Our aim for the last 15 years has been to settle and retire in France. I enjoyed India but I would not want to retire there either.  Please do not criticise a country without having lived there, your friends are still here!.  Iyi Aksamlar

[quote]Hello I really wonder why anyone would like to live like a Turk. Reegards John[/quote] Dear John You are either a Turkish gentleman who has not treated your neighbours and/or work colleagues well or you have never lived here or understood your hosts. I have not found living here a problem nor have my international friends.  Indeed few wish to leave.  My husband and I feel previliged to be here.  Yes there are many problems, it's a hard life, but this is true all over the world. When our time comes to leave, we will be very sad. Katrina

[quote]So did we,which part.we where a little east of kemer to start with and any where in between bodrum and cyprus after.[/quote] We live between Izmir and Cesme and really enjoy our life here, but the problems with flights not to mention the cost, make our regular trips to our beloved France out of the question.   If you have tried Turkish wine  you will understand why we have to have at least one trip back each year.

[quote]You will save money on all french lessons because nearly all the brit expats speak english up there,french is a alien language to them. see above posting for link.[/quote] I thought the whole idea of moving to France was to escape from the brits!... We have lived in Turkey for 2 years, completely native and choose not to live with the rest of the British community.  We intend to do the same in France.  pass me a glass of wine!

Can any one recommend a good web site for the northern Languedoc region and give me an idea of what sort of income is required to live comfortably (house and car paid for)?

Can any one recommend a good web site for the northern Languedoc region and give me an idea of what sort of income is required to live comfortably (house and car paid for)?

My husband and I are thinking of a winter holiday in December/January near the Canal du Midi, north of Carcassonne.  Any suggestions of interesting places to visit and accommodation.  We are thinking of buying in the area, and would like to see it in winter.  Don't want to hibernate and don't like winter sports, apart from mulled wine, log fires and good company.