val douest

If you are happy just to have the wedding celebrations in France then there is no doubt it is simpler to do the actual  marriage bit in the UK (or the USA, or wherever).  However, if you want to, it is often possible to do the whole thing in France.  Like many other things here, it all depends on where you live and on how your maire interprets the regulations.  Ours, when asked, confirmed that as we are full-time residents of several years standing she had no hesitation in marrying our daughter; we know of other communes where this attitude prevails. The same thing often happens, we were told, when French families want a local wedding for a child who has been living or working away from home for some time, but we know of at least one other maire who has stood by the letter of the law. So if you have a child who wants to be married in France rather than just have the celebrations here then it's at least worth asking.  Our Mairie is adjacent to the Salle de Fetes so after the ceremony, which we all felt very much a part of, everyone moved just a few yards away for the vin d'honneur outside and then on into the Salle for the wedding dinner - a memorable day!

We have one in our house, a Saniflo, put in by the last owners.  We have been here four years ( I think it was installed a few years before that) and it has given no problems whatsoever.  It is a bit noisy but as it's at the end of the utility area on the ground floor that doesn't matter.  If you go to the brico sites on line (www.castorama.fr or www.leroymerlin.fr for example) you will see a selection with prices. 

Castorama sell log splitters.  You can check them out on line at www.castorama.fr - just enter 'fendeur de buches' in the search box to see the three models on offer. Val

We are soon having a new floor fitted upstairs which will raise the level by 20mm.  We are taking this opportunity to replace the old and somewhat manky toilet; the new floor will be laid before the new wc is installed, which apart from looking better should help with the noise insulation which is somewhat embarrassingly lacking at the moment! In order to connect the new wc to the soil pipe will we have to enlarge the hole through the wall, or are there any kind of flexible couplings available which will allow for the difference?  Any advice welcome!

Hi Jo Sorry you are having such a stressful time with the adders.  We have only seen whip snakes round our property and they are harmless, but I remember having spotted an anti-snake preparation in the gardening section of our local SuperU.  I think it was called something like 'serpent repulse' but it was quite clear from the package what it was for.  I've no idea how effective it is but on the belt and braces principle it might be worth buying some and giving it a go. Good luck! Val

May I add my good wishes to everyone else's.  And just in case you haven't read them yet, it would be a good idea to look at Sunday Driver's and Quillan's postings at the head of the Legal forum below.  These explain the new health system regulations coming into force about now, and also the recent changes to the inheritance laws (with a link to the notaires' English website which is also useful).  I gather from your post that you have children who are not all of your current marriage - if so it is important to understand just how the inheritance system in France (which is very inflexible about who can inherit what, and does not automatically protect a surviving partner) will affect you before you buy any property.  It's a lot simpler to get it set up right for your circumstances now than to try to sort it out further down the line. I also found the Michel Thomas course a great confidence builder to help my rusty French, and once you are actually here buying the bread, dealing with paperwork at the Mairie, and talking to the man about the septic tank I am sure it will start to fall into place.  And most neighbours are pleased to help, especially if they can see that you are trying to learn the language and to become a part of the community. Bonne chance! Val

When we arrived (end of 2003) Cartes du Sejour were being phased out.  We arrived at the local CPAM office with our E forms and every bit of supporting evidence we could think of.  However, we were asked to return with a Certificat de Residence from our local Mairie.  So the next Tuesday morning (the only opening time for our Mairie) we presented ourselves with a utility bill, passports and paperwork related to our house purchase.  Nothing was inspected and we were issued by the secretary with a Certificate of Residence printed off the computer, duly signed and dated by the Mayor.  No questions about our ability to support ourselves or any other questions come to that.  So if they have not yet received any info to the contrary, your local Mairie may be happy to issue you with a Certificat de Residence on the same basis - particularly if they already know you and are aware you are actually a resident.  Might be worth a try for the original poster (simply asking for the certificat)  as suddenly a Certificat de Residence seems to be a very useful document to have. Val

Hi – sorry, I can’t help with rehoming your border collie but felt very sad that no-one has responded to any of your posts.  I guess it is because it is a difficult one to help with: a border collie needs lots of space and exercise and that means the countryside. The countryside means livestock (ours and/or everyone else’s) and no-one feels like taking on a dog which will almost certainly cause problems.  But that doesn’t mean that people don’t sympathise with you and your situation. I know you have contacted Phoenix and I am sure they will do everything they can to help.  If you do a search back through Christine Animal’s postings I remember she talks about various Animal Refuges and which ones are better than others.  If you do find a Refuge which will take him, it is obviously vital that they have the full facts about his chasing instincts.  It seems likely that this is why he was in the Refuge where you found him and it would be awful to think of him being brought back yet again because he didn’t fit in to a new home. It might be worth contacting the Border Collie Rescue association in the UK http://www.bordercollierescue.org/. I know he can’t be exported there until he has all his shots and papers but they might have some suggestions or links to people or organisations in France.  As an interim measure could you sort out some kind of temporary enclosure or even somewhere he could be chained?  Not ideal I know but if he is brought into the house when you are relaxed and able to spend time with him, and is walked on the lead regularly then this will be a better life for him than being shut in a pen at the average refuge (though I know some places are very good).  This would take a lot of the stress off you and your husband, your other dog and the livestock and mean you could concentrate on your building projects.  If you worked with Phoenix and the Border Collie people you could then plan longterm on rehoming him in a knowledgeable UK home.  Of course something suitable may crop up locally in the meantime but at least you will have an end in view.  It sounds unlikely that he will ever be reliable with livestock so any rehoming will have to bear that in mind. And meanwhile don’t despair.  If you can keep him under controlled conditions until you find a solution rather than trying to keep him alongside your other longsuffering and welltrained dog then everyone will be happier I’m sure. Hope it works out and sorry I can’t do more to help. Val

We have loads of figs at the moment and I have made fig and lemon preserve (an American recipe off the internet).  It is very easy and we really like it. Cut or chop your figs (depending on size - ours are very small so I just halve them) and then weigh them.  Place in a large glass or plastic bowl with an equal quantity of sugar (or slightly less. I tend to round down so that 2.3 kilos of fruit for example would have 2 kilos of sugar added).  Add one lemon for each kilo of figs, halved lengthways and with any visible pips removed, and then very finely sliced; I put mine through the slicer widget on the food processor. You could grate the lemon with the grater widget if you prefer smaller pieces.  Stir, and leave the bowl covered overnight.  Next day bring the fruit and sugar to the boil in a preserving pan and simmer until slightly thickened  and rich looking; times will depend on whether you are cooking a large or a small batch.  I used two kilos of figs last time and I think it took around 30 mins to look about right. Ladle into jars preheated in the oven in the usual way.  The recipe says simmer rather than boil and it seems to work OK - it isn't really a true jam as it stays slightly runny but when cold it is quite manageable on toast and really delicious.  I guess you could cook it for longer and make it stickier but we love it just as it is.  And it doesn't seem to have the same effects as overdosing on fresh figs does, so it's a really good way of using a bumper crop! Val

Hi Lorraine I came across this website the other day.  It looks lovely and they mention that they serve meals at Christmas and New Year so I guess they are open for chambres d'hôtes then too.  The web address is http://www.ourinns.org/click2inn.php?id=inn-fr-pc102-en and the bit about Christmas and New Year was on http://www.ourinns.org/i-inn-fr-pc102-en.htm Good luck with finding something! Val

Many thanks for that information - very useful to have all the details, and as you say cheap at the price. Val

Many thanks for your detailed reply, Washy - it's inspired me to have a go at doing my own next year instead of buying them ready made up.  Everyone seems to have them round us (65)  but they aren't nearly as varied as in the UK - mainly geraniums and petunias as these seem to stand the heat well.  In fact the baskets with several varieties of plants mixed in are described as 'Suspensions Anglaises'.  And yes, if you can manage to post some pictures, that would be great. Val

Washy - I didn't know there is such a thing as a contraceptive pill for cats!  Can you tell me more as it would be very useful for the female cat which turns up locally on occasions and will eat food put out but is too canny to get caught in traps. Thanks, Val

A couple of weeks ago my daughter and her husband picked up a rental car from Toulouse airport (prebooked through Holiday Autos).  While they were queueing a woman was going from rental desk to rental desk to ask if there were any cars left that she could hire. Eventually she was told that if she waited until everyone was served she might be lucky if there was a no-show, otherwise nothing until the following morning (this was 10.30pm).  So I guess you take a gamble if you don't book in advance and you may be left stranded or having to take a bigger car than you need.  In that situation the rental firm has the whip hand so I doubt whether they'll be offering any bargains!

We acquired our much loved cat when he was run over in the road near us seven years ago.  He had extensive surgery and afterwards the main problem was that the vet couldn't get him to eat (chicken, fish, plus any branded food - all rejected outright).  He was about to be force fed when they tried a liquid food which he liked and he then made a slow but steady recovery.  He is now 9 years old but whenever he is off colour he still prefers foods which can be licked rather than chewed. The liquid food he was given is Liquivite (http://www.liquivite.co.uk/ava.html) and it is recommended for sick or aged cats.  It doesn't seem to be available in France but there are several European agents listed on the website who should be able to ship you some (or preferably send you a sample).  I do hope you find some and that it tempts his appetite.  We'll be thinking of you... Val

I think the posting I originally saw was about some emulsion which insects and spiders found uncongenial and so they tended to go elsewhere.  But I can't find it in the archives so maybe I did dream it!  Anyway, thanks for all the additional info - we are off to a big brico this afternoon so I will have a good look round and report back if I find anything new/useful.

....and make sure you take a photocopy before you send it!  A couple of our feuilles never surfaced in the CPAM office and we were able to produce the copy to show them what we had sent.  We still had to go back and get a replacement original but at least it gave us a starting point for chasing up the nonpayment.

I'm sure I saw a post in this forum not too long ago about insect-repellent paint but a search hasn't come up with anything.  Can anybody direct me to it - or was I dreaming?????

Walking round Tarbes and Pau recently I couldn't help admiring the splendid hanging baskets everywhere.  They have been in flower for months and still look fantastic, while mine - although still flowering - are looking decidedly past their best.  Just what do these municipal gardeners do to get their baskets looking so good for so long?  Is it in the compost they choose, the plants they raise, special feeding...?  I have seen the water trucks go round after dark so I know the baskets are regularly watered, but then so are mine.  My petunias are deadheaded, too, which should help but I can't believe all those public ones are tidied up in the same way. Any ex-municipal gardeners out there who can share their secrets?

...so I will just pop the recently deceased monsieur in the passenger seat until the widow Beauvais (who is a very demanding woman) is satisfied, and then I'll take him back to be measured up for one of my best oak coffins.  In fact if Madame Beauvais is very satisfied, she might let me have a shagpile offcut to line the casket. "No, no - you can't do that!" a desperate voice beside him cried,  "because...

Another good mail order company operating in France is http://www.avisadesigns.com which has a range of cards featuring paintings and drawings by artists based here: they have Christmas cards, too. On many of the cards it is possible to choose your own wording (French or English) on the front (and inside if you order several of the same design).  Prices start at €1.00 with most around €3.50 and there is no charge for delivery.  I have used them a lot and the service is quick and reliable - I always keep a couple of 'get well' and 'thinking of you' cards as well as those for birthdays. Val

...because the parquet flottant is too hard on her...

....where he found there was a surfeit of ramoneurs, especially randy ones, so he has set off to look for somewhere his special skills will be more appreciated.  Yvette sees his van through the window and her heart leaps with excitement.  After all this time would her chimney at last be swept?  She runs to the door, but someone in a pink tutu is rushing past her calling with excitement "Blow me down, if it isn't Randy Ramon from Rochdale... I haven't seen you since......"

.....help British exports of Christmas delicacies including mince tarts.  I think there has been a dreadful mistake for which I hold my agent wholly responsible.  But since I am here.....

Thank you for the update, Christine - I was wondering what had happened to little "Rougeline" and hoping someone had been found to take her in. Val