Jollity Farm

Thanks to everyone for their good wishes, Ezia has settled in beautifully and we have a feeling when she has established herself that she will be top dog! We have changed her name to Izzy  because its easier for recall and she answers well to it. She is loving the freedom to roam and loves roaring around the field with Brisca the collie! The 4 cats are absolutely FURIOUS that there is another dog ... but she has been very good with them and is just curious about them> Chickens, sheep, horses? No problem she's taken all in her stride. Will put some photos on asap! Thanks to Jane and Evelyn who made it all possible! Linda x 

I'd be interested to see how you get over this- we've just uncovered a ceiling exactly the same they could be photos from my kitchen... perhaps the same artisan did the work!!! Linda

On the same note does anyone know if Aromatherapy qualifications are valid in France- moving over next month and need to explore employment possibilities

Wouldnt have thought they would GIVE you a FIMO- will probably help you sit the exam! My husband started off with an English subsidiary of a French haulage firm, when they closed the English depot, he negotiated to be employed on the French side-  because we have a house already in France and are planning on moving over permanently they agreed to take him on. He was able to sit the FCOS and  FIMO, paid for by them, and he was allowed to have one of the office guys to translate anything he wasnt sure about as his French isnt completely fluent- he actually got higher marks than the French guys sitting it with him! To get the initial job he sent his CV and a covering letter/ e-mail to all the  French firms he could think of -good luck with the job hunting

Hi Maryjane, have just got back from our home in the Correze and read your post. Can only endorse what others have said- we have had our house  near to Uzerche for almost two years now, and have been made to feel very welcome by everyone we have met so far. Not too many Brits in the area, think Rob Roy is our closest ( hi Mary!) and she and her husband have given us loads of help and advice. We have our house in England up for sale and hope to be moving over permanently very soon...Any help I can give please dont hesitate to contact, regards, linda

Oh Christine I would love to have her so much- but we are waiting to sell in England its just not happening yet[:(] looks like it will be spring nowbefore we come permanently... I have always had German Shepherds, we lost our old boy earlier this year and decided to wait till we come over to look for another one... she looks so much like my last girl Flora- please someone give her a lovely home, they are fantastic dogs and will give you so much pleasure

must be something about ginger toms- Lucy's cat Mango is just the same!! After his great disappearing act he now goes for a couple of days at a time - just to keep everyone on their toes and to ensure he gets spoilt when he comes home!!

My daughter's cat went missing like your Davy earlier this year- he was gone for a month and like you they tried everything they could think of... after a month they cried and gave him up for lost. Acouple of days later she was asleep in bed after working night duty and was woken up by Mango leaping onto her bed demanding to be fed... starving hungry and very sheepish  but otherwise fine... so don't give up yet[:)] as they say no news is good news, surely if it was bad you would have heard by now, love Linda

only at certain times of the month...hee hee

Glad to see we ladies all have a sense of humour! Also suffering insomnia, how annoying is it to toss and turn... dropping off just before the alarm is about to go off... Apparently  a recent study has found that women find different male faces attractive depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle... for example when a woman is ovulating she prefers a man with rugged features. However when she is menstruating she prefers a man doused in petrol and set on fire, with scissors stuck in his eye and a cricket stump shoved up his back side....

How long would you be able to hold him... would love him but have no definite moving date yet house on market and hoping to be out before christmas

could you negotiate with your prospective employer to help finance you through these courses? The OH took his in December and his firm paid all fees, he had however been working for them for a year on the English depot (which no longer exists) and 4 months from the French depot

Me too Chipie- have to pluck up courage to post- would be nice to hear some positive experiences sometimes. I darent aska question for fear of being shot down in flames!!

We've got an ancient 'De Dietrich' woodburner thats great for heating and cooking- don't know if it could be adapted for hot water as well- pretty economical on logs tho and takes fairly big ones

Simon happy to fill in your questionnaire too, pm it to me

can someone tell me if I'm being dim , but Ryanair advertising free flights (plus taxes etc) till end of June, trying to book flight to Limoges in May, not school holiday - comes up as 39.99 out and 29.99 back. What am I doing wrong- is it me having a senior moment?

have just finished watching it... how sad that those girls are having no childhood... you would think social services would be more involved, and how selfish are those parents to stil want another baby

wishing you lots of luck and happiness in your new home... keep us posted

We Bought our house in May last year and managed about six weeks in total last year. I hope to be able to go out for a week every 2 months this year. We are preparing for the big move ( but cant get rid of the kids, they're just too damn comfortable at home!) hopefully later this year or early next, husband already employed in France... watch this space!

It can be done... my husband works for a \french haulage company and took his FIMO etc in December successfully although not completely fluent in French - he loves his work and is treated far better and with more respect in France as a lorry driver. We bought our house last May but are putting the building blocks in place so to speak before making the big move, my language needs to improve before seeking employment now in 3rd year at college doing French( and its getting bloomin' hard!!) - do your research and take your time, wishing you lots of luck

She looks gorgeous and I would have her tomorrow but unfortunately we are not moving over till september. Having always had German Shepherds they are loving and loyal and make great family pets as long as you are firm but kind

He can just about get his head through the door... spect he'll dine out on that for years... or at least till he has to resit in 3 years....hope it will encourage other drivers to have a go.

The OH has just done his FIMO and FCOS - you need to be able to read and write French reasonably well. His firm very obligingly arranged for one of the office staff to sit in with him to translate anything he wasnt sure about. You also have to do a1hr 30 min driving test! He was well chuffed as he got higher marks than the French drivers who sat the exam with him! 

We now have the opposite problem- OH employed by French firm and paid into the French bank account in Euros- anybody know the best way to transfer funds back to England!!? Have a Nationwide Flexaccount here and can highly recommend them as before

Bought our place last May after much consideration and soul-searching, none of the children want to move to France but at 23, 22 and 18 nearly old enought o do their own thing anyway!! Taking things very slowly, OH now employed in the French haulage industry and travels to and fro each week tho not to the house unfortunately. Had to extend our mortgage here but will be able to pay it off completely when we sell our house here. It is a worry about weather etc but we have fantastic French neighbours, all in the hamlet have made us most welcome and lots of advice on local artisans etc as we have a fair bit of work to do- someone always knows "a man who can..." WE are hoping to ultimately pack up and go either September this year or March 2008. I am studying hard at college to improve the language and the neighbours love to help as long as you make the effort to try! Take your time, do your homework, don't be pushed into anything and follow your dreams... we are here but once, enjoy!