Teamedup

I didn't know Peter Mayle was a proper author, so there you go.

I wrote to the BEEB last night, couldn't let that program go without at least saying something.   Re the french. How else would they feel, this is a sort of colonialism isn't it. The rich, because let's face it these people who are doing this are earning far more than the locals could usually earn, must seem rich to them, are inflating house prices and want all their brit things. Well in the SW it looks like they do. How would I feel? how do I feel when I see such foreign things in the UK, I don't like it.   My sentiments about this have never changed. In the early 70's when all our friends were off to the Costas, a few of us didn't fancy that at all, and we went to other places, other countries. There never was any appeal to me to go foreign shores and be able to get english beer and fish an chips, just never felt right and still doesn't. The farrier said he had been in France 2 years............ 2 years and he spoke his best french for the tv, well he would have wouldn't he he wouldn't have wanted to look like a pillock?  He said it would take him longer to learn, it will take him an awfully long time won't it with the effort he is putting into it. I think him saying that he spoke french 'un petit' said it all. He should have just said 'non'.    

The bar, they wouldn't 'just' be classed as heavy drinkers and where I live  would be sending out the wrong signals completely. [:-))] Our fairly recently deceased putain was the only woman who used to go into our bar....... and a working gal she was right into her 70's. I would say that the maternelle/primaire is the thing if you have children. I can't think of anywhere better to meet most people at some time or other.    

Would I believe an estate agent, I would check up myself. Planning regulations do vary. Recently a voisin of ours knocked down quite a big building without permission and I was told that they would have to apply for permission to build again. I didn't ask about the footings being left and they didn't mention it. It seemed pretty reasonable and straight forward to me.  

The buyer pays it, however, the less they have to pay, I'm sure they will be happy about.

Catalpa, I would 'never' confuse melons with pumpkins.........   Cassis, if I make my husband a pumpkin pie, I know exactly wh..........   I don't think I'd better say anymore[:D][:-))]

Cassis said: What area is that?      That would be in the alpine bit of the Rhone Alpes.

Well, that was actually a complete surprise. I had expected proper reporting, as the BBC used to do and it wasn't.     Well, well, well.   It was a rallying call to whom, I'm glad I don't live in a cheap area of France, I dread to think what they will be like in the future, little britain won't be in it.  EDIT:   IF any of you near Calais or in Dorgogneshire or the Lot, well if you are thinking of selling up, looks like you might be getting plenty of takers in the near future.......  

That isn't always the case Cassis. Sometimes once land become clear of any building, then getting a new permis de construire can be very difficult, it really depends where it is.    

I don't like pumpkin soup much. I keep meaning to get a good recipe for pumpkin pie, but haven't as yet, it is supposed to be an aphrodisiac........ for men, but I suspect that the spices have more to do with that than the pumpkin itself...... but I could be wrong.[Www]

Pumpkin ice cream........ yes I have had it. When we had it, it tasted to me like fresh hot mashed potatoe, only with it being cold, it just is wrong. I would never have it again. The tarte tatin, yes please..... I love that.

[:)]LOL Patf, you have learnt another word then. I used to give it to my kids and I suspect that my eldest cut a couple of teeth on them.

Well that is what it is called around here. Do any of you pull it off to eat on the way home.

A few things off my mind. By nature I am an apprentice not a student. Me staying on at school would have been just plain daft and so I did some training for a job, and got a job in accounts. I always worked in accounts, saying someone works in accounts is in no way implying that they are an accountant. I was very good with figures, strangely some qualified accountants weren't good with figures.  I like being trained 'with' the work, I learn best like that.I always worked with figures and money, larger and larger sums of money as the years went by. Was I good at my job, yes and well paid. Having an A level in math would not have helped me in my chosen work. Calculus is not a great help with simple arithmatic, which is basically what most of my work was about. Don't think I am against education, but tarring all kids and saying that they  have to stay on and learn until they are 18 is a bad thing.  I am very much for choice, further education or the apprenticeship system, I know I am not the only one who learns far quicker by this method. AND for kids like me there was nightschool to learn other things if we wanted and I did go to nightschool.

Out of order there Clair. That is not on at all.

Don't worry I have also run around like a vache folle topping every last thing up with water a couple of times, but not before or during a storm. Signs of the water going off have been enough to send me it to a frantic 'fill' mode as I have been caught out several times over the years. [:)]

I seem to think that Le Roy Merlin do one that will go on lasure. Last year it had been my intention to do as you have done, but every place I went to told me NOT to just rub down and then paint onto lasure, even with wood paint. They told me to decap all the old lasure before starting and I just couldn't face doing that. So I lasured again.  AND when I had finished every last window in the house, I saw this stuff at leroy Merlin. No idea if it is good quality. I don't know what quality paint other parts of France need, be we usually get very cold winters and very hot summers and so our exterior wood work needs something robust.

[quote user="londoneye"] thanks all; my french neighbour is insisting i don't need permission; he is of the opinion asking permission only causes you problems (!!!).   However, come to think of it he told us not to seek permission for our pool either, because our taxes would increase (yes, we ignored him then as well !). As for re-building, we definitely wouldn't rebuild on the site, so that would not be a problem.  Looks like a trip to mairie (again) is in order when we make final decision. thanks again [/quote]   [:)]Ah neighbours insisting......... sometimes I just listen and am humming the jackanory tune in my head. As BJSLIV said, you might get a reduction in local taxes if it is done properly.

Cornflour is Maizena.  Personally I wouldn't use T55 for a cherry cake, I would use SR flour. I might use T55 is a christmas cake, othewise I would always use SR flour in all my other fruit cakes.   How long does flour keep, I never have a cupboard full of assorted flours, I just have the three I use, so I am rather curious about this.   CC what is a classic french cake? Everyone round here does yoghurt cake and some more adventurous folk make a gateau savoyard, with it's potatoe starch. And the odd person will do a moelleux aux chocolat, which varies from a being delicious to practically inedible.

Where school is concerned we can't just pick and chose. We have a catchment areas.We are supposed to write and ask and sometimes the inspecteur gets involved too. Your Maire is doing any old thing and no one is saying that he shouldn't and  so he continues. I am sure that the Inspecteur, the person who will have quite a say in making the decision about the closure will be more than aware of what is going on. As you say, lots of politics but I don't blame him for not building a new school. That never seems to have any influence at all over class closures and they cost communes lots of money. As far as the class closure is concerned, good luck, but they seem to be playing strange games where you live.  

As long as you are UK resident have you tired the Post Office.

When I think about it so many my friends have had career changes in the UK, the majority of them. All this started a long long time ago when I was a young woman. I suppose that most of us started work at a young age. By the time we reached 20 some were already ready for a change. Qualified apprentices went off to college and became various things, a complete change for them. And as time went by more and more of my friends did the same. Why, because they could. Maybe those of us who were leaving education in the late 60's just knew that nothing was fixed in stone. We could move on. Happiness, well maybe that, some of the men certainly left well paid skilled jobs to end up in less well paid careers. I think fulfillment was something that was valued when these changes were made. Changing jobs is certainly something that is 'done' in the UK. I only know one person who has had a full career change in France. Are people happy in their work in France, are they fulfilled. It is never discussed.

I don't like the silver bags of farine fluide, I find that it can go glutinous in sauces and it is ...........beurk. Which is strange as I don't make lumpy sauces, this flour always does though. I use the cheapest stuff I can find type 55 and no make. For sr flour, I prefer leader price's own, the bags have some blue one them and are clearly marked. And if I am making whole meal type bread use one of carrefours semi complete bio. I successfully cook and bake using these flours.

This should be done with a formal request, or go to a private school.   IF your Mairie is taking such an attitude about this, I am wondering how this will affect keeping your class open. Strange old goings on, this laisser faire attitude for a place with the risk of a class closure.

I would love to think that the french authorities were too bordélique to be able to 'use' / 'misuse' all the information they get. I hope that they are.