La Vette

In my opinion and based on aperos I have been to at French friends and neighbours.  Keep it simple with nibbles and snacks such as crisps, the little snack biscuits you can buy, maybe ritz crackers with a little cream cheese and a walnut on top, crackers with pate - that sort of thing.  A BBQ constitues a meal and depending on the timing of your apero ie midday or evening, your visitors may have eaten.  As for the timing, 1 to 2 hours is fine but you dont have to throw them out, just play it by ear, so make sure you have plenty to drink, they might still be there hours later (longest I have known was 4 hours). Local stuff is good, do you mean drinks.  The French like Whiskey, Pastis, Martini (red or white) and fruit juice.  I have never yet been offered wine. We have always been told that the French do not show you around.  BUT - Our new neighbour showed everyone around and the neighbours confessed they had always wanted to have a look around this particular house.  When we visited French friends who have just moved they showed us around their house.  The French are just as nosey as us Brits.  Have a lovely time.

Thanks for making me laugh Furry

Paravendu (free French paper), Connextions or French News if you want English papers.

Thanks for the info Clair.  When the last increase came in I was at the doctors that very day and handed over 21€.  He said I was the only patient he had seen that day that knew about the increase, all his previous patients being French.  Thanks to this site (and others similar) we are always kept up to date on many issues.

The sales have just started so it is a good time to be buying.  Sorry, don't know your area.

Are you asking for the name of the shop or an exact location.  I don't know where you are!  For example, if you go to the commercial centre in Libourne there is a kitchen shop in the Carrefour arcade, they sell beautiful kitchen accessories but are very expensive.  If you go into the Carrefour they also sell kitchen accessories but of a more basic nature ie pots and pans type of things, also storage jars. Anywhere in France has supermarkets and kitchen shops. 

Im tempted to ask "how does it hear then??" but I won't - oh go on then, cant resist.  Boom boom! Okay, lets be serious.  I don't know the answer but I know a man who will.  Log onto www.browfarm.co.uk and browse the site.  If they don't have anything on about it you can press the Contact button and send them an e-mail.  A very nice chap will e-mail you back within a couple of days (even if you are asking a silly question like I was about spotty potatoes).

Just about anywhere that sells kitchen storage jars in France would have the item named in French!  Supermarkets, kitchen shops, the choice is endless.

All banks have their own regulations so you will just have to be prepared.  Take as much as you can i.e. your passport is a must, your UK bank account details to show you are you are already considered worthy of an account, proof of your UK address (if still applicable) such as telephone, council tax bill.  If you are in the process of renting or buying in France anything to prove that fact ie rental agreement, invoice for gas, electric etc.  If you have not got that far yet just tell them when you have your meeting to open your account what your intentions are.  Also you may have to make an appointment rather than just walk in and be seen so dont waste any time before going into the bank.  Just like banks in the UK they will want your business but they also have to follow the anti-money laundering checks.  Most important, take some cash to put into the account.  If you are not yet living here you will probably only get a cheque account with a cheque book but no card (carte bancaire) which are more like credit cards than cheque guarentee cards. That is just a little of my own experience and I am sure others will come on and give you the benefit of theirs.

They are Routier(s) - you could try and google it.

I have been keeping a secret for several weeks now but have decided to share it with you.  www.sparkpeople.com  If you don't like it don't blame me but it works for me.  It helps me to actually stick to my diet and I found out that some days I was eating (or drinking) 500 or 600 calories more than I thought, enough to scupper anyones good intentions.  I have no connection with this particular site except I use it and it is totally FREE!!!! Keep up the good work all of you on the diet thread.  P.S.  the web name above is not a link - you will have to type it in (I'm not that computer lit)

I know it is too late for your soiree (hope it goes well) but sour cream seems to be a thing of the past even in the UK, although Ant Worrel T was talking about it this morning.  When I need it I just add a little lemon juice to plain yog or creme fraiche, seems to have the same effect.

Thanks Ron, I knew someone would know.  I must be thinking of the ban in England.  I hope it works, being banned in my work environment helped me stop 14 years ago.

The smoking ban started in France on 7th Jan this year.  There is no smoking in public buildings such as maries, cpam offices etc.  Strangely there is still smoking allowed in bars, restaurants and casinos etc but this is also banned from 7th July.  Will they adhere to it??  Why would they not?  The owners of the premises will be fined so it will be up to them to police it.  I'm sure you will get more comments on this but I do not find smoking in France the problem it used to be 10 years ago.  Most restaurants have no smoking areas these days and even the French complain if someone puffs a little too close to them.

If I look back at my original post on this subject I find it difficult to understand what I have done that is so wrong to upset not only TU but now Russett - a moderator at that.  I think I need to curl up in a corner and stick pins in my eyes for the crime I have committed.

I recounted the experience I had.  It is different for everyone.  I dont apologise for being pink and fluffy about my experience, I was frightened and in pain and was happy to be treated so well.  As an ex-nurse with other nurses in the family I know the staff in NHS hospitals do the best they can and coming from a small market town in the UK had good hospital experiences there (local hospital run by the local army base staff plus civvies).  I was just happy to let people know that there is nothing to be afraid of even if your French is not all that good (I get by) and everything else was a bonus. When I told a French friend of my experience she could not understand why I was so surprised at the excellent, efficient treatment - c'est normale.  So not only have I been slated by people on this forum but by my French friend. Teamedup - I will not let a few snipes put me off - I was being ironic!!

Sorry about my good news item.  I dont think I will bother posting anymore as you seem to take pleasure in cutting people to pieces.  I do hope those of you who actually live here and worry about 'first experiences' will feel more comfortable about going to places.  I have had lots of 'good' first experiences that I was warned would be terrible, bureaucratic, etc by people on forums.  There are lots of things that are a bit nervewracking here, even if it is only the language difference - where is the harm in telling people that it is not that difficult.  Mind you, when you have made more than 5,000 posts it is not difficult to see that you sit at your computer waiting for a chance to have a go at someone.  You know who I mean.

Thanks ali - I am going to be on crutches for around 12 days and will be stir crazy by then. Teamedup - I didnt understand your post, you have obviously had a bad experience at some time.  Where did you wait for 6 hours, sounds like the NHS to me.

Yesterday I had my first experience of having to go to the Urgence.  I had fallen over and twisted my ankle.  From arriving where they met me at the car with a wheelchair to being wheeled back to the car took a total of 37 minutes.  I didnt have to wait at all and was seen immediately by two nurses who took my details, followed by the doctor who examined me, sent me for xrays and had the films in the lightbox by the time I was wheeled back.  While he was telling me that it was not broken and giving me a prescription for anti inflammatories and pain killers an aide was putting a splint on my leg.  IT WAS WONDERFUL!!!  Beats the NHS anyday.

Do register with a doctor asap as he will have to apply for you (or yours) to get a certificate to say you are 100% free from charges and this could take a couple of months to come through.  Also, when this comes through dont forget to get your card mettez a jour (updated) this can be done in the pharmacy or CPAM office.  You are then entitled to free:- annual eye test and cardiology check, regular blood and urine tests, a monthly prescription to see a chiropodist, medication relating to the diabetes and your doctors fee refunded when you see him in relation to the diabetes.  Unlike the UK you will have to pay towards any other medications unless they directly affect your diabetes. My doctor has been wonderful so I wish you all the best for a good result. 

Are you sure you have the correct form.  'Demande de Delivrance de Permis de Conduire.  It is a straight exchange and does not have the questions you mention - although there is a section at the bottom for your doctor to sign which I am not sure about.  It asks if you have a prosthesis (artificial limb) and also mentions eye sight, with a section for the doctor to fill in with details of your appointments.  I am going to ask my doctor what needs to be done about this. 

should have included our location - near to Ste Foy le Grande - Region 24

Have had 3 fly overs today with groups of around 50.  It is great when they are flying low and swoop around trying to catch the thermals.  It didnt take them long to reach a great height.  The only downside was gun shot as they flew over, fortunately they were much too high.

The Le Fleix pecharment is produced and sold at the cave cooperative here in Le Fleix on the D32 between Bergerac and Ste Foy le Grande.

Thank you all for your info.  I have to have blood tests at the end of this week, then I have to see my doctor with the results and from that he will give me a prescription.  In all it will cost around 500 euros, so I really hope to get it back.  We have been in the system for around 15 months but are just changing over to the CMU.