[Changing to French Licence]

Oh if that is the case he is anyway a 'Dead Man Walking'....

Tbh we showed them his licence at the time and the carte gris so it all seems a bit strange. I guess tomorrow will sort it out one way or another but boy am I going to be mad if they make me change licence and not him !!

[Changing to French Licence]

Car is registered to me.

But my French may not be great but it's good enough to know that he was saying quite clearly the law had changed and that everyone had to change licence.

Of course you are right about the points, its probably me being not very articulate right now (a bit wound up about it tbh!) and I did realise that points were added in france rather than deducted.

On the Avis de contravention there are two boxes

one which says obligation to change licence which has been left empty and the other

retrait de points du permis de conduire which has a line through it - suppose it could be a tick but doesn't look like it.

Are you saying therefore (and sorry belated thanks for your response) that because the car is registered to me I would get the points also ?

Doesn't seem quite right.

[Changing to French Licence]

thanks Anton

I had a look at the links, and there is definitely a section which says if you have a non-european driving licence then you must change after a year. OH has a UK licence and I am wondering (being really nasty here!) if gendarme realises UK is in europe (!)

the points thing I was aware of, but there were no points marked on the form and we never received anything regarding points, which I assume would have been required after the even.

Besides which you can't get points by association (or I hope not!) so no reason for him to decide that I also must change.

Off to see our neighbours now and show them the links also (they are very uppity ex Parisians) and will come with us to gendarmerie tomorrow and fight our cause.

Thanks for response - I am fairly sure they have got wrong end of stick here, but hopefully we can sort out.

[Changing to French Licence]

Sorry - I think one part of that was not clear

- all french residents who are effectively foreigners and do not have a French driving licence - have to change to a French licence after one year of residency is what I meant.

Sorry for confusion ....

Grrrrr

[Changing to French Licence]

Hi everyone

About 6 months ago OH (let's call him Mr Stupid!) decided not to bother stopping at a white line, as there was no traffic coming and continued on his merry way. We were stopped by gendarmes and given a fine, which we paid the next day.

There were no points indicated on the contravention.

Today, same gendarmes just came to our house and told us that OH has to present himself at Gendarmerie tomorrow with his UK licence and proof that he is French resident. He then has to change to a French licence. Oh, and for good measure I have to change as well, according to them.

They showed me a piece of paper which looked like it had been typed out by one of their children, it was so shoddy, which (with lots of finger pointing at the last point on the big list) confidently declared that the law has changed (he couldn't tell when it changed) and now all non-French residents have to change to a French driving licence after one year. I asked him twice if it was because of the contravention and he said no, it was for everyone (hence he then quickly decided that I had to change my licence as well).

So, is it true, Sunday Driver are you still around, I know you will know?

If not true, anyone have a link to how I can dispute this at the lovely meeting at the gendamerie tomorrow.

Just don't need this right now !!!!

thanks for any help.

[Objections to Permis de Construire]

I can only give our experience in a similar situation and advise that you continue to liaise with the local mairie closely, as did we.

We had no problems with our permis (same situation as you) and the mayor was very keen to bring business into a new commune.

We did not know at the time but we later found out from a neighbour that he visited our immediate farmer neighbours and said 'you don't keep any animals in that barn do you ' (statement not question) because there could not be livestock within a certain distance of the renovated properties. Well actually they did keep completely illegal livestock in the barns so had to say no !

My advice would be keep on side of the mairie and visit for updates every now and then because a mayor really can have a great deal of influence in a small commune.

Good luck.

[Lost Dog]

Quick update in case anyone is worrying about the poor dog.

Went to see a neighbour who I suspected would know chasse people and she has called the local chasse. Anyway since no dogs were missing from local chasse they called the next village chasse and yes there is a dog of that description missing and they are going to go and look for him. Hopefully they will find him (unless he is enjoying his top quality dog food a bit tooo much - because he is polishing it off now!).

Anyway they will let me know if he is found.

Moral of story - contact the local chasse first (wish I had thought of it earlier !).

[Lost Dog]

Hi - thanks - I am going tomorrow morning and will take camera.

OH has just dragged himself down there (again) and is moaning like crazy because food has not been eaten so far.

He (could be a she for all I know) is a really cute looking dog - it's got the ears and eyes of a true basset, and the colouring, but is obviously a cross with something.

Thanks for suggestion - will have a go tomorrow if he/she is still there. The problem is that we really don't want another dog and I am afraid that if we do end up 'catching it' (for want of a better phrase) it will stay.....

[Four cats in desperate need of new homes]

So good to hear.

I'd love another cat, but am not in the right circumstances at the moment - one day !

Glad they found a lovely new home.

[Lost Dog]

Hi

Looking for some suggestions/advice.

We live close to Le Chalard (87500) and yesterday when taking our dog for a walk across fields/woods we 'found' a very timid young dog. Didn't get a good look as it ran away. Of course we thought it was probably just on a frolic, even though the nearest houses are about a km away.

Today, we went back to the same area (taking some dog food just in case) and there it was again, in more or less the same place. Still couldn't get close to it, although had a slightly better look at it and can't see a collar (although as it's constantly running away, hard to be sure!).

Left the food in the general area where we have seen it and will go and have a look tomorrow morning, but feel really guilty about it and have no idea what to do.

I could go knocking on doors but that would entail a circular route of around 6 km to cover all the houses on the outskirts of this area and it just feels like a waste of time.

Any thoughts anyone ?

Really worried about the poor thing, it seems very young, and relatively healthy but so timid.

[Pruning - General]

wow - I haven't got anything in flower yet, just lots of stuff doing unusual things !

Many thanks - waiting probably does make sense. I will have to fight the temptation to get out there and start hacking away ! Too nice to sit indoors.

[Pruning - General]

Ok, I'm a bit worried and at a loss.

Plants, which should definitely not be coming into leaf bud are.

Every year, first week of April I mutter and prod at the mrtyle (sp?) thinking they have died, because they come into leaf bud so late. You've guessed it - 11th February and they are doing their stuff.

That's the most extreme example, but two clematis are coming into leaf as well, which is really unusual.

Question, therefore, do I prune everything (including myrtle) now, or do I wait and prune at normal time ???

Any thoughts?

And am I likely to have anything growing at all in the garden this summer after the next heavy frost (and we all know there will be one at some point in next 6 weeks).

[Refusing pets illegal?]

Oh I am sure there is going to be a way around this, as long as you explain the reasons.

1. All dogs must be muzzled at all times when not in gite - in order to guarantee safety of all other parties on site

2. No dogs allowed in the grounds, as they may defacate - which cannot be allowed because of the dangers of dog poo to small unsuspecting crawling and dog poo eating children. Even if dog poo is cleaned up some contaminate may remain, thus so sorry no dogs in the grounds.

3. No dogs allowed into the sleeping areas of gites.

4. Sadly we will be unable to provide mattresses in the event of a dog staying in the gite, but we do welcome dogs, so please feel free to bring your own.

5. Cats are welcome anywhere in the grounds, although we do have to inform you that our own large rottie has a bit of a thing about cats (and not in a good way).

No-one is going to take much notice of this law in my view and although the above is clearly in jest, I think there are sufficient ways around it.

[Cost of Neutering Cats]

We are in Haute Vienne, and once a year (February I think ...) the vets in the area have a reduced offer on sterilisation for cats. My neighbour had his two toms done a couple of years ago for 20 euros each.

Sorry probably not much help as I am not sure whether every area does this - if you give your local SPA a call they may have the information.

[Earthing]

Well, small update - and sorry I never got back to thank those who replied.

Diagnostic man has now checked our electrics (and energy rating (oh dear !)) and no problems with the earthing (or lack of) of the individual appliances.

However, our external earth rating (sorry probably not the correct term) was not sufficient. We actually have four earth spikes on the property (one for each building) and none were acceptable. Diagnostics man suggested joining them all up and connecting them all to some kind of earthing grid buried in ground (no idea what he is talking about). In fairness I should say that he also recommended discussing with an electrician.

Has anyone any suggestions (apart from discuss with electrician, because if it is something we can put right ourselves then we would prefer to do this).

Anyone with experience of this? The readings were around 1000 (should be less than 500 apparently).

[Earthing]

Hi

Can someone please advise, if you use all plastic piping (no copper at all) is it necessary to earth the sinks/taps etc.

The kitchen sink is stainless steel, bathrooms are all ceramic.

Hope this makes sense !

[Where to shop]

Pauline

As has been suggested, find a couple of supermarkets you like, sign up for their loyalty cards and absolutely, as far as meat is concerned, buy in bulk when on special.

I just bought a small piece of roast pork for around 8 euros. Last time I purchased a pack with two roast joints and around 15 pork chops for less than 12 euros on special (just got caught out this time).

Oh, and don't even bother thinking there will ever be any meat on good offer for the two weeks leading up to christmas, although intermarche often have a special offer on turkey around 3 - 4 weeks before. Or, you can do what we did the first year, wait til christmas eve and buy the most miserable scrawny turkey you have ever seen (last one though !) for 35 euros .. never again !

[Lamb Roast]

thanks

Think I am going to give the 7 hour lamb a go.

Thiere, thermometer for oven would be no good I think, because the temperature probably goes up and down all the time. Although surprisingly I manage to cook pastry and the odd (normally very odd!) cake with no problems - you do start to get a feel for general temperature - except lamb! I never thought of a meat thermometer before - might look for one.

I'm going to have a go !

Will report back ...

Wishing you all a fantastic Christmas.

[Lamb Roast]

Sadly Delia is the one who has been causing me all my problems !

Actually not true - I have a wood-burning stove with no temperature gauge which probably causes most of the problems.

But it's quite good on low (ie don't put any wood in until you only have embers left!).

Have you ever done slow roast coops ?

Oh and it has to be leg because that's what I've got (special offer intermarche a few weeks ago - I'm so tight!)

[Re: Your mindless viewing pleasure!]

Come Dine with me - sooo addictive - I love watching cooking programmes and reading cookery books (hate cooking though). I like the one where the guy sits in the middle of a field and cooks something in a pan in the open back of his car (can't remember name). That's hilarious because who in their right mind wants to actually do that, then when you have finished, what do you do, phone all your friends and say drive down to the second field past Sainsbury's and come and get some dinner - weird.

Strictly, up to a point.

Judge Judy - I would love to be JJ - be on TV, be rude to all of the stupid people (and my god there are plenty of them aren't there), and have the lovely Bert to look after me.

Definitely the first few rounds of X Factor - get bored after that.

Britain's got talent - yet more opportunity to watch deluded people do pointless things.

Can't think of any others.

[Lamb Roast]

I know it's not really French but hey ho!

Have some friends around for dinner boxing day, so we are having a small xmas dinner together on christmas day and doing something a little grander on Boxing Day this year.

I am not exactly a natural cook (picture hair on end, sweat, panic, requirement to drink alcohol to get through the experience, thus normally legless by the time I have finished). Getting the picture?

Normally when I cook lamb what happens is that everything looks lovely and then when I cut into it, it's practically raw in middle, so I hack it about a bit and stick it back in the oven to finish cooking.

Anyway, it occurred to me that perhaps I might have greater success with slow roast lamb, which surely must be cooked after xxx number of hours, thus saving me the stress of following the above procedure with 4 guests staring at me in abject horror while I butcher the half cooked carcass and stuff the bits back in the oven. (No, I am not exaggerating either!).

Question, after very long-winded explanation, is it fool-proof and does it taste good. I have a 2.7 kg leg of lamb by the way.

Temperature, cooking time?

There are so many recipes that I am exhausted just trying to decide on which one.

Feeling stressed already and it's not even Christmas yet ...

[What I love about Christmas?]

Bixy

Totally agree - we spend almost no extra money here at christmas - maybe an extra 150 euros on food and drink, and this comes normally from our intermarche points through the year. Not because we are particularly mean, but because there isn't really the same hype (or in truth the temptation in the shops around here !).

We have both said that as / when we leave France for a new challenge elsewhere, whether UK or somewhere else, we will absolutely not go back to the christmas frenzy. Our christmas here is some nice food/treats on christmas day/boxing day (for me the most expensive bottle of vodka in intermarche !!) and then back to normal.

Ahh, so nice not to have to look at that mountain of food and chocolate on 30th December and feel compelled to eat it, so as not to waste it !

Have a lovely christmas everyone

[Films you recommend]

Never seem to get to watch any new films - fell asleep during Avatar tho !

Very old films :

Streetcar Named Desire

To Kill a Mocking Bird

Not quite so old films:

Once were Warriors

Fried Green Tomatos at the Whistlestop Cafe

Deja Vu

ooh so many I can't think.

Might buy a couple of new one for this christmas ... better start at the beginning of the thread and re-read I think for some ideas!

The Piano

[Otters ?]

well I would probably rather eat it than look at it.

Reminds me of one of my neighbours who is very frequently saying 'bon pour mange' (excuse spelling a glass of wine been taken).

It was only when he eyed my CAT and said it that I got reall anxious (he was joking - I hope!)

[Otters ?]

oh no I've just googled it and it's horrible !

Quite spoilt by walk around that lake now - not the attractive otter like animal I was envisaging ... oh well

many thanks