Thorpe

Sometimes you can find second hand cars in the brocantes! I did see some for sale at a brocante in Mael Carhaix ! in August Chrissy

Hi I have been away from this site for sometime!!!! Returning - and finding good items still to enjoy - Anyone out there aware of the pig problem in the vicinity of Locarn? Would like to know the progress that is being made by the opposers to the idea of using land in this area to to distribute the pig waste onto arable land ? Chrissy

Last year we saw some really dodgy English cars and vans parked there! Yet ,I suppose if you pay your parking fees up front there is no problem and those who don't, deserve to have their vehichles towed away !  

Where is the divide for north west France? I would have thought that Brittany could have been an area on its own by the number of residents for this site that have settled there! I find it most confusing exchanging about various areas which are supposed to be within this area - some I would find really timeconsuming to visit and have no culture connection with Brittany! Out of my own preference I would rather see Brittany on its own! What about other forum members? Surely it is an unique area on its own without dragging other areas into it? Ok, maybe I am missing the plot that  techcnologically  that is (ict) that it is more convenient for adminstration, but surely sensibly Brittany is an area unique on its own? chrissy

We were on the Bretagne from St Malo to Portsmouth and experienced the same conditions. The situation got so bad that the computerised tills failed and crashed the computer resulting in incredible queues. Hid in our cabin for respite from the maddening crowds! Thankfully we were one of the first to disembark!

If one is driving a RHD vehicle as we were- one has to stop to look across when entering a new road.In our case we definately stopped, looked, saw the way clear and proceeded. Strangely enough, as I observed another 3 vehicles who were stopped and charged -they all entered when the road was clear and therefore being of no danger to anyone else. Watch this space! we might take it in turns to loiter at stop signs! just to make sure that we have stopped long enough.

Just experienced a £60 on spot fine for not stopping long enough at stop sign! We stopped- dual carriageway clear and proceeded on. Then stopped about 100 metres further on by three gendemarie who insisted that we only hesitated before entering onto road. We observed another 3 who committed same offence- all French and no one disputed so we had to pay up!Never had a driving offence and now feeling really peeved to have been done for something so simple!

I hav e never found anyone else willing to cross same time as lonely me! Yet my next door neighbour in Brittany has done all her crossings on her own to coincide with us. She is from Manchester and might appreciate a shared lift at times. Will pm you with details. Christina

[quote]Agree with you about Brittany Ferries. They are now by far the most expensive routes across the channel. The 4 hour crossing with Transmanche to Dieppe is usually much less than Brittany and is about ...[/quote] At the moment BF are offering special prices for 5 days and less and over 5 days. They are an improvement on their original price! Maybe they are beginning to realise that holiday makers are voting by ferry economy. 

I particularly enjoy the water gardens at Mael Carhaix. They have a superb walk through gardens and around the lake and also have a park area for the children to play in, near the camping area and the beach lake.My children have enjoyed this area immensley as they grew up and I am looking forward to taking my 5 day old grandson for a many excursion playtime moments to this park. We have watched this park in its development and have enjoyed entertaining young and old with its facilities. Christina

Learning a language is a very committed task whatever age you might be! As an adult language teacher( I have taught Welsh as a second language for many years to adults)  my advice would always be to try and use the language as much as you can. Plan and explain what you are doing in French in your head. Make notes all in French ie. shopping lists   - leave messages for your family in french. I find it very useful when I attend meetings that I take minutes in French. When under such a pressure- it is amazing how you find the vocabulary to record events. The more you practice -the easier it becomes. From one who is still practicing. Christina  

After 10 years of ownership we decided last year that we would spend Christmas in France. We had been before Christmas after and spent a number of "New Years" celebration. Christmas Day - all quiet on the village front so we had traditional dinner 3 pm. Hubby went to throw away turkey carcass on the village rubbish dump and brought back out farmer neighbour who was on his own since his mother was in hospital and his wife and family had gone in visiting. After a few drinks he began to tell us about the birds that annoyed him with his crops! He then struggled to get his gun out of his pocket -brandishing it to the air and all around my sitting room and then took a real struggle to get out the ammunition and loaded it and then stood up and almost fired it indoors. We took him outside and gave him more wine a christmas pudding and pointed the direction of his farm! Spent the next few minutes checking that he had taken the route with no mishap! Thankfully he managed the journey very well. Us we are just relieved that he didn't manage to get his gun loaded and shoot in the house!¬ Moral of the story - "woman of the house" -  firsk all  french male visitors - especially farming ones for guns! Could be fun!!!!  

How refreshing to hear of late entertainment in the heart of the Breton Country. We have always presumed that life ended at 7.00pm in our locality unless we invited people to our house. Night clubs have been frowned upon as dens of iniquity! with foam being sprayed everywhere! Maybe if they have such a diverse age group maybe we ought to pay  a visit! Be it on your head if we find ourselves the oldest dancing couple there! I rather fancy this 70's nostalgia - athough we don't remember this mirror thing and neon light! We do have teenage memories of circulating mirror ball that reflected light  and the fantastic trendy music of the era