RayB

Hi Will - I have no idea what the answer to this question is.  On the reverse side of this, do French who take up residency in the UK have the right to the same coverage as Brits.  Is there some sort of reciprocal agreement to EU/UK countries?

It is called a Mobicarte and the answer to your other questions is yes.

[quote user="nicktrollope"]Hell yeah! We got leaches, bleeding and generous applications of urine! But we still ain't allowed to marry our sisters.... Perhaps you could suggest to your friends that, if they anticipate that Europe is so backward, that they might be better off in Florida. [/quote] True!!  It is sad that the NHS can't get up to those standards though.

[quote user="Evianers"]I could post this on the section marked "Health" but as far more members use the postbox, we felt we just might receive a few more replies this way: Our American friends, soon to take the plunge and return after three generations to Europe, ask whether American medication or similar are available in France, specially asthma inhalers and medication related to the elderly [high blood pressure, heart difficulties etc.] Although the young ones are in their fifties, they wish to bring elderly mother of 84 with them when they emigrate/immigrate so if anyone knows the answer to this query, please would you be so kind as to post a reply so that we can reassure them. Thanks in advance.[/quote] The basic answer is: Yes.  Some are even better.  My opinion is based on actual, personal experience.

[quote user="Suninfrance"]Got two kitties (one male, one female) coming up to 4 months old.  Is this too young to get them neutered/spayed?[/quote] We have 3 cats here on the farm.  Well, 4 if you count my wife (She's the 'COOL' one).  All 4 have been spayed.

[quote user="Creusois"]I heard two American women talking about the Arc De Triomphe - one described it as great, but couldn't understand why the French built it in the middle of a roundabout![:S] [/quote] They really got upset when I took a shortcut and drove through it.

[quote user="Teamedup"]How much would you expect to pay in a half decent resto with a half decent menu selection? I am talking evening here and not lunch time. AND ofcourse not the price restos are asking for the Revillon de St Sylvestre........ friends of ours paid 120 euros each last year for that and it was poor. [/quote] Forty to sixty Euros including Kirs and wine for two.

Hi Chris - I swear that I read somewhere someplace that feeding wild birds was bad. As I recall it keeps them from migrating where only the fittest survive and therefore keeps the quality of the species strong. As lush as the countryside is here, I can't see birds starving. I think the article also said that feeding birds was for the selfish satisfaction of humans wanting to watch them and not good for the birds.

**I could perhaps offer £500 each for the imbecile's ears. ** Hell, I'll sell you my ears for that!

People should decorate to suit their own style and in a manner that gives THEM pleasure. If it gives pleasure to others, so much the better. Merry Christmas to all on the forum and may 2006 be just a little bit better than you could possibly hope for!

[quote user="Agenais"] Oh, the lights are on in the bank, people are gathered around an office table, looks quiet, usually people are queueing to the doors, what a pleasant change.........much pressing of the bell to enter the air lock and in I go.  Odd, to be served by the manager thought I.  The usual polite greeting and then he said we are closed in the afternoons, how can we help you?........He was obviously not socialising round the table, it became apparent that it was some high powered meeting of managers and there's me, bold as brass, wanting to pay a bit of cash in.  He was politeness itself.  The more I apologised in my best  French, the more he chated away in English.  In the end I could hardly speak at all, in any language.  After much hand shaking I shot to the door, in my haste I completely forgot to press the door button, needless to say I  bounced off the glass..............oh please, just let me get out of here..................[:$]  [/quote] ROFL!! Poor thing!!

[quote user="Champagnac"] And the bizarre thing is that UK-trained, qualified and experienced English teachers are, unless the regulations have changed recently, not acceptable to the French authorities as teachers ! Also, we have a French friend who obtained an English degree in France, a PGCE teaching qualification in England and taught English in Secondary schools in the UK to GCSE level. She speaks impeccable English with the slightest (if you KNOW to listen for it) hint of an accent.   There HAS to be more to that story, Roy. [/quote] On her return to France she was not deemed qualified to teach English.  Is it any wonder the teaching is a little suspect ?   Roy

[quote user="Val_2"]When they employ so called "english" teachers here in France who havn't got a clue to the english language. My son got sent out of class yesterday,he's almost 19,for correcting the english teacher who did his training in America. My son's crime was that he corrected this person for saying that the word chips was wrong and that the correct term was french fries. My son said "got to england and see how many outlets have french fries and chips written outside",the correct term is chips,chips in France mean crisps. Its not the first time this teacher has made mistakes in marking of english grammar either,both myself and a neighbour who teaches english here have remarked on his errors. Why don't they employ properly qualified english teachers and not american-english? I am seriously thinking of writing or visiting the principal to complain about this if he continues to put my son down when he does the correct homework.[/quote] Treat it as a foriegn language and pass the course would be my advice to my child. Chips versus fries is irrelevant.

-- I am sometimes asked to translate texts into "international English". What is this?-- This will confuse you even more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_English/archive

-- English English is the basis of American English, stand up for your native language !-- Hi Gay - You probably figured I'd show-up on this one sooner or later. (g) Some things to consider: The purpose of any language is to be able to communicate with others in the same language. English taught in French schools is for French students . . not British or Americans. The French get to make the choice. To try to teach both 'versions' would never work. Either one can communicate with the other . . . usually. I speak both. That's cool, innit? (g)

[quote]Unless you've got a big truck I would order it from the builder merchants and get them to deliver it. Put the whole order together, metal stud, plasterboard, rockwool, screws, joint tape, joint fille...[/quote] Can you, or anyone, tell me the what the product is called to fill plasterboard holes for mounting curtain rods and filling old holes? Would be much appreciated - Thanks

[quote]Has anyone out there attempted to obtain a French Amateur Radio licence? I used to hold a full UK licence (A) and have a certificate issued by the RA called: Harmonized Amateur Radio Examination Certi...[/quote] A friend of mine passes this on: "the French ham organisation website is: www.ref-union.org They have all the information there (in French) with some stuff translated into English. (The translation link is a royal pain to use for anything past the home page.) Click on the link for CNFRA (Formation) for all the info about the exams and licensing procedure." Hope this helps.

[quote]Service is terrible, and the call centre staff are most unhelpful when trying to make an amendment. I will never use them again, however thay have brought a common sense pricing approach from the big ...[/quote] As they say - Ya gets what ya pays fer!

[quote]Why it is our language ? The only time I become possessive about English is when anybody becomes upset about the changes Benjamin Franklin made which ensured North America decided that English should...[/quote] **If you want to imagine history changed by a single event imagine a German speaking USA in 1916 or 1941 ** Or the UK for that matter.

[quote]A french CT runs longer than an MOT,so not having MOT means the car may be safe after the MOT runs out!The bigger the engine means per BHP that is is more fuel efficient,fact is that any car with brit...[/quote] Exactly! It is also called 'obeying the law'.

[quote]http://a.gouge.free.fr/bricolage/electricite/telerupteur.htm Anything more than simple two way instalation AKA 'Va & Vent' ( Go and Come) is outside the NF Norme Francais. Instead they use a 'te...[/quote] Interesting. We have switches at the French doors at each end of the kitchen and at the entrance to it. I just replaced one last week and there is no relay involved. They were installed by a French electrician when he re-wired the whole house during restoration about 2 years ago. The same is true with stairway lights on two sets of stairs. I do remember that the gite we used to stay at did have the relays.

[quote]My thoughts exactly Ray ! Integration is about give and take. I also agree that this rioting needs to be stopped - by whatever means ! It's just not 'on' - whatever their plight. (I'm looking forw...[/quote] **(I'm looking forward to the flak Ray !)** You mean you pay any attention to that? (g)

[quote]Not strictly relevant to the original post in the thread but in relation to "...Well, let's see . . . . it was 12 years of talks with Saddam . . . . how many more years would you think was adequate?"...[/quote] Gosh, people, you would think you just didn't like us anymore . . . . or is it just me? In either case, I really don't care about your opinions. You are welcome to them, of course. As you folk are fond of saying - 'Sorry!'.

[quote]Ah, come on Ray.........we're not that naive, (sp?) BTW: I read recently that the US have bombed 68 different countries since the end of WW2. Is that a fact, or something the media have made up again...[/quote] **BTW: I read recently that the US have bombed 68 different countries since the end of WW2. Is that a fact, or something the media have made up again?** No I didn't. Did they say why or were we just being cranky or showing off?

[quote]Mascapone whips up quite well and is quite light. I've used it before in cheesecakes.[/quote] That does work well but I find that St. Moret has a little 'stiffer' consistancy.