Tonyfuller

We're currently going though this in the UK before we move to France. So what we did about a year ago is to identify the plants that we want to take with us and have potted them (some in very large pots) so when the potential buyers look around the garden we can tell them everything except the plants in pots. They even get my two sheds and 8 x 10 greenhouse. And wouldn't you know it, this year we've had the best crop of tomatoes and courgettes for ages, ok for our last year here. Tony Fuller

Three triple sets of films coming out in September, each set of 3 in one package: Jean-Luc Goddard: Alphaville; Ene Femme est Une Femme; Le Petit Soldat Luis Brunel: Belle de Jour; The Diary of a Chambermaid; The Milky Way Jean Renoir: La Bete Humaine; La Grand Illusion; Le Crime de Monsieur Lange All available on line from either Virgin or HMV. The version of La Grande Illusion is the shorter version (by about 6 mins) but is worthwhile nevertheless. And Alphaville at last, Eddie Constandine being wonderfully remote. Belle de Jour, always worth watching - for people with a more robust turn of mind, try Maitresse, available from the BFI, now that IS an adult portion and when you see the reinstated bits (one of which involves a hammer, nails, a piece of wood and a man's wotsits) you'll understand why it was banned - not necessarily agree with the banning but that was then and this is now. Also available now is La Kermesses heroique, by Jacques Feyder, 1935, which is set in a Flemish town in the early 17th century. I've seen some of it and it's well worth buying if you like French classic films. It's available through the bfi web site. Tony Fuller

Hi Anne We have just set up our account with Britline and they couldn't have been better. The problem we had was with Barclays in England but once we had overcome that, everything went along swimmingly. Could I suggest that you may not have read all the instructions that came with the pack? The blue check sheet outlined everything and having just looked at out photocopies of what we submitted, it clearly states that the copies have to be certified and stamped. We've had nothing but great service from Britline. Tony Fuller

Couple of ideas that may help somebody. We've actually got a glut of courgettes atm which we've had to find something more creative than the usual saute with garlic, steam, whatever ...... I found a couple of good recipes. One is salmon encrusted with herbs with courgette cut into ribbons and then wilted in the excess herb stuffing/crust. The second is courgette and small pasta soup which is almost like a broth with grated courgette and tiny pasta in it - and the soup freezes really well. Have the recipes if anybody wants them. The second recipe is less labour intensive than the first but both are a good use for what might otherwise be a bland veg. Tony Fuller

Well guys, wouldn't you know it ... We finally get through the problems getting a reference from our local Barclays Bank (we don't do them, yes you do, no we don't sort of thing) and Britline says 'congrats, you got an account' than Barclays go and set up somthing called FranceSolutions which, according to The Times on Saturday's Money section last week aimed at people wanting to buy a property in France which ' ... includes a current account in euros, free euro money transactions within the single currency zone and access to English-speaking advisers.' So J has queue twice this week at two branches in London and we spent 40 mins queueing this morning in our local hub branch and guess what ... nobody has heard of it. We do however, now have a telephone number of the International department to phone about it on Monday - more postings to follow. Tony Fuller

Does anybody have a B&B for one night, 10th September, for one night please, also evening meal if that can be arranged. Thanks Tony Fuller

Does anybody have a B&B in the Alencon area please for one night, 9th September. Should be arriving about 4.30/5 and would also appreciate an evening meal if that could be arranged. Thanks Tony Fuller

Hi Guys We seem to be stuck in something of a black hole/catch 22 position with the application. Jenny has made the application and she has used her bank account with Barclays for a reference. She has plenty of money in the bank, has never been overdrawn, does all her banking on-line, has plenty of those pot things for seperate parts of her financial empire and has plenty of money going through the account and plenty on deposit. Barclay's idea of a reference is a few lines saying that 'this person has an account at this branch/within this group' and that seems to be it. Britline seems to want more but this evening we have received a note (sort of a comps slip) from Britline with a compliments slip from Barclays saying 'this is all that we provide' and that's it. Has anybody else been through this with Barclays and if so, PLEASE, how did you get through it with Britline? Tony Fuller

Catch mice, bomp on the head, clean and then skewer for the barbie, like satay in a stick. Already garlic flavoured, dress with a little olive oil, saves time. Tony Fuller

Couple of ideas - fig jam is just to die for, especially using lemon juice as the setting agent. Or figs wrapped in parma ham, but first cut the hard stalk from the top of the fig, cut a cross in the fig about 2/3 of the way down and put in some blue cheese. Wrap the fig in the ham quite loosely, put in the oven (180 for about 10 mins until the cheese melts) and then serve whilst still at least warm. Tony Fuller

Diana just beat me to it, I was going to post a similar message. J and I are signing up for it and the one week residential course in France next year, even though we hope to be living there by then. We're both OU students from way back when, my first course was studing the Common Market way back in 1974 I think. Tony Fuller

Today we did the first of our planned 'big steps', we sent the application off to Britline for our first French bank account. For anybody else considering this bank, they are now insisting that the applicants send them E150 with the application form. Now just wait to see whether there was some small bureaucratic oversight that means we get the whole lot back. Tony Fuller

Equally good are Sainsburty's organic or Good to Yourself oats - and you can use them to make the greatest flapjacks, great big oat flakes!!! Tony Fuller

Finally found time to post the list of French films: Boudu Saved From Drowning L'Atalante (which is available on video and DVD) Marius Fanny Cesar Le Grande Jeu A Nous la Liberte Poil de Carotte Justin de Marsailles L'Homme de Nulle Part The Cheat The dates of the film are broadly 1932 to 1936 and will be running from 1 June to 26th. There will be a second season later in the year. Tony Fuller

And there is also Johnny's acting career - L'Homme du Train, which I managed to pick up yesterday in the HMV sale. Tony Fuller

Interesting that your friends are American because in America the police must have a warrant to enter premises without 'due cause' and a general investigation isn't due cause there. And the fact that the police drove onto their property means nothing, in the uk most people would be glad to see a policeman, even if they were just turning their cars round on their property. Sorry if this sounds harsh but so what if gendarmes drove into their property, the French have different rules about such things than they do in the US? If your friends are involved in some sort of a dispute with the previous owners, go see a notaire/lawyer and get it sorted out. And the first rule is don't upset the gendarmerie, they can make your life a lot more difficult than your friends can theirs and the second rule is go to see them at their barracks/station, ask to see the most senior officer (make an appointment, don't just turn up) there and tell him what's happening, preferably accompanied by their lawyer, but in a non-confrontational way. They may be really hacked off about the whole situation but they must remember that they're the newcomers, they're not French nationals and if they're in a rural part of France, they have to live in the community which may (for whatever misguided reason) have some sympathy with the other side. But whatever they do, don't upset the gendarmes. Tony Fuller

Hi Guys Thers is a new series of classic French films showing at the NFT in June, all from the 1930s. I'll post details when I get 15 mins or so. Regards Tony Fuller

If anybody using the LF Forum is interested in the general history of the Huguenots (La Reigne Margot) or is working on their family history and they think that they may have Huguenot (French/Dutch/German Calvinist, thousands of refugees to England, Ireland and America in the 16th/17th/early 18th centuries) ancestors, they might want to post on here. I'm shortly going on the Council of the Huguenot Society of GB and Ireland (it's a research speciality of mine, have Huguenot ancestors from the Languedoc) and, if you need help, I may be able to steer you in the right direction with your research or do the odd free look-up for you. Tony Fuller

Hi Folks The HMV world cinema offer is still on, masses of European and other goodies. Today I picked up two Jean-Luc Godard films, Bout de Souffle (Breathless) & Bande a Part. Both new wave stuff and Breathless has the involvement of Francois Truffaut, Claude Chabrol and Jean Pierre Melville. Wonderful and they were only 9.99 each. Tony Fuller

As an historical researcher, I get enquiries like this about every month or so from different people, usually from the US I'm afraid. If they're blatantly ripping me off, I just ignore them, if I'm not sure I reply asking who their supervisors are, what course they're doing and what their submission date is. In 7 years, I think I've only had two replies where the student could verify their status. It's nothing else but lazy journalism, speculative articles probably from a freelancer trying to break into the market. Tony Fuller

I've been working in the garden for a few weeks now, tidying up, getting an estimate to have the garden finished (I started a major overhaul a couple of years ago but never had time to fin ish it because of a new job, since retired but too unwell to complete it myself), I've been pruning, today I dug over the raised bed that we use for herbs and veg, have taken down some old fencing and ordered the replacement panels - and then I realised that this is likely to be the last year that I do this in the UK. We've lived in the house for nearly 20 years and have transformed the garden from a very old 'corporation park' garden (the old guy who lived here prior to us worked in the Parks Dept and obviously used their overstock for the garden) have planted and then cut trees, have seen sheds go, then be replaced, greenhouses etc - BUT no more, this time next year we hope to be in France, diffent sort of gardening, different weather patterns, different planting regimes and hopefully room for a proper soft fruit cage and bees. And a bigger herb bed for me to use when I cook (J doesn't cook, that's my job). It's really quite scary but very exciting. Tony Fuller

Tha application form for a Britline Account asks for proof of French property purchase (if applicable) or proof of visits to France within the last 6 months e.g. copy of travel documents (not internet booking), or bank statements showing card payments in France etc. Seems pretty clear to me and her - we booked our ferry crossing via the internet so that scuppers that and whilst we did use our cards last year, that was over 6 months ago. And the rider at the ends says that if you are unable to provide any of the above items (list of 9) the application will be returned to you. Tony Fuller

We are now getting doewn to the admin of moving to France and want to open a Britline account. Has anybody fallen foul of their rule on visiting France during the last six months? We were last there in September and won't be going out again until this September but we're not sure how strict they are on this particular rule - paperwork is fine, just need to sort this bit. Thanks Tony Fuller

Try one of the proprietory systemic spot killers. I always cut the offending plant down to an inch or so, then just spray or dab it on the nettle. Plenty of organic spot weeders available now if that interests you at all. Tony Fuller

Nobody! Tony Fuller