Lola56<P>**************<P><P>Lola (56)<P>

I've just read this thread with interest as I've heard a lot about the 'English' kids being naughty whilst the 'French' kids aren't..........& I have to say I agree, in general.  But there are the exceptions!!  I've seen plenty of 'delightful' French kids in the local supermarché, but then the parents of said children have normally given them a wallop, & all is back to normal! If we go out anywhere, my girls (6 & 7) will behave because I won't put up with them being naughty.  I understand that folks don't want to listen to my 2 playing up any more than I want to listen to other people's children when I'm paying for a night out etc. Funnily enough, I was discusiing with MOH today about our 'spare' house.  We'd like to do B&B but as we have neighbours, I'd hate for them to put up with screaming brats or obnoxious parents, so we're thinking of having a "sorry, no children" rule, but it seems a bit cheeky when we have 2 of 'em! And on the note of "the look", my maiden name was Cook & my hubby says that all the women in my family have the same "Cook Look"!!!!  He reckons you've got to shield your eyes when it's in action!!!

Hi , We live in 56 but only 10 mins from the border of 22 (Mur-de-Bretagne) & we've been here nearly 2 years now.  It really is a lovely area (IMO) but be wary of looking at certain websites that offer houses in one area but when you get here, they're 30km away from where you were expecting! If you want any names of local immos, PM me & I'll see if I can help at all! (PS Father-in-law is from Cape Town & he adores it here!!)

There's loads of vinaigrette recipes on www.uktvfood.co.uk .  I know you're looking for a recommendation but I try different ones all the time with different food!!

Leclerc is a large chain of supermarkets.  You'll find your kitchen utensils but in the ones near us, there's no furniture. If you can find a Casa store near you, go there because you'll find really good kitchen bits & drawers & things too!

Totally agree!!  We've just waved off 10 family members (in-laws, I add) & I've never been so relieved!  No help whatsoever, ALL 10 taking a shower every day, 3 loads of washing EVERY day (how????) & me cooking for them all every day while they all sat outside & got pissed.  They came over in camper vans & wanted to empty the chemical loos down out toilet into the septic tank!?!?! They bought over some foodie bits for us (cheddar, double cream, bacon, Kenco) which we paid for, then they all wanted to bloody eat it.  I told them "no way, you can eat it when you get home!" I felt awkward asking them to give me a hand because it was my hubby's family (I would have gone mental had it been my family!) but we've both agreed that they're not coming back.  We will be 'conveniently' busy whenever they want to come back!!  Grrrrrrrrrr!!!!!

We pay 5€ an hour & we pick her up & take her home at the end of the night.  She said this is what all her friends charge as well.

They sell tubs of cream cheese (like Phily) in Lidls.  They might do cottage cheese as well, I'm not sure though.

I've had two childrens medicines prescribed over here by my doctor when my daughter was ill.  Doliprane is the alternative to Calpol & Advil is the same as liquid nurofen. The dosage is done by the childs weight not age & they are both excellent.  I had ran out of childrens nurofen medicine so was glad to find these.  They're available without prescription too.

Arnold, If you want brochures doing for a good price, try www.vistaprint.biz.  The prices are excellent & you can just design them yourself.

Totally agree about missing curry!  I do my own (a lot!) but it's so nice to have someone else cook it now & again! I found this last month www.les-epices.com & I had all my spices & ghee delivered to my home, easier than waiting for folks to come from the UK!!