La Vette

louise you are soooooo cheeky.  Anyway I would have hidden my disaster under my pink beret.[:$]

I have covered them in netting leaving a few exposed for the little monsters (whatever they are) to munch on.  I grow veg etc on the basis that I always plant too much anyway so I expect some loss, I just don't want them to have it all. The farmer is cutting the mais today and the bunnies are dancing about in the naked field wondering what on earth happened to their nice hideaway.  I guess they will make their way over to us before long.  Oh hum

I have had my l'eclerc card through December and not had my points wiped although in store advertising said it would be.  When they do 20% off or bogof you only get the benefit of this if you have a card.  The discount shows as cash on the card and you can use this to pay for goods in store.  I didn't know you can convert points to euros but if you need 5000 someone will have to remind me in about 12 years.

Andy, it is not rabbits as it is fenced off, no slugs, but could be small animal.  I would put down a trap but I cannot bear the thought of killing anything, I would rather they had my cabbages.  We might get a cat fairly soon so that should help.  Thanks

Well I have come back with hair not too short and not a touch of red in sight - I'll sort that out myself later (I like short and red).  She was absolutely charming and has only had the business for a month.  I took in a photo of me from when I was last done in the UK and my grandson is on the photo which started the conversation.  I thought I would get out of all that chit chat but NO, the first thing she ask me was - you ladies know what is coming - have I been on holiday.  Anyway it turns out that we live next door but 2 to her parents and her uncle has the big house across from us.  Quite a concidence when you consider we live down a little chemin that goes nowhere and there are only 14 houses in total.  What a lovely chat we had about my grandson, her little girl, why we live here, her parents etc etc.  I was actually chuffed to bits that I had managed to hold a 20 minute conversation.  Hubby had his hair cut too and was very pleased with the result, normally he is left with a sticky up bit at the back.  We were given a card with 2 tokens on and when we have collected 7 (that's 7 hair appointments) we get the 8th appointment for free.  We will be going back again, she was lovely and did a lovely job.

I have finally plucked up the courage to have my hair cut and styled and my local hairdresser.  My appointment is 4.30 today.  I will let you know what I come out looking like.  For you men out their who just have a razer flashed around your barnets, hair is very important to females and chosing a new hairdresser anywhere is always a traumatic experience.

How do I protect my caulis and cabbage from the smaller pests as something is feasting during the night.  Small holes at first and eventually the plant is totally gone.  Not rabbits, probably a small animal or caterpillar (I havent seen any slugs). Thanks in advance.

These are crows attacking the buzzards nest especially when there are young in the nest, not the other way around.  Yes the sparrowhawk did put up a good run but the crows had it surrounded and were there whichever way it went.

When we first saw the herons in fields we thought someone had put a plastic one as a joke, or as in the UK, to scare off real herons near fish ponds.  However, they are real and tend to go back to the exact same place every time.  One distressing thing we saw yesterday was a 'murder' of crows, about 20 of them, attacking a sparrowhawk.  We think it did manage to get away but they were very viscious with it.  They also attack the nest of buzzards nearby, whereas you would think a buzzard was big enough to look out for itself, they seem to have a pretty hard time from the crows.  Now I know why they are called a 'murder'.

Just thought I would bump this back to the top of the page.

The French love dancing, you are bound to find something in your area.  Enjoy.

I am in agreement with Will.  We were told lots of stories about needed things like your mother, father and grandparents dates of birth, everything translated and costs of around 200 euros per document.  None of that was true for us.  We have not had anything translated and have never been asked for anything.  I think in the days of the Carte Sejour it was necessary but has also gone.  When we have handed over our english version documents the French authority we were dealing with just take a photocopy. Big sigh of relief, it is not that scarey here, but as Will said, different departements can have different interpretations of the rules.

There is a gym in Ste Foy - not much good to you but you will probably be able to find one in your area.  There are two outdoor pools that I know of and one indoor which is closed for refurbishment.  Again, they do exist in France you just need to look - try www.pagesjaune.fr

I tried everything, patches, gums etc.  Finally decided to stop on No Smoking Day and just did.  My advice would be to plan a date and get rid of anything that refers to smoking, ashtrays, lighters.  I didnt use any aids except ordinary chewing gum and I got through quite a few pen tops.  I don't know what made this time different but I told myself that I was not having a ciggie today, then told myself the same thing again the next day.  That was nearly 14 years ago.  What a relief not to be dependant on something so stupid and expensive too.  It was the best thing I ever did.

Spongebob, the spider survived as it was under the pool cover which hubby lifted to do a PH check.  Spider legged it across the cover.

From the Wildlife/Nature section I have just found the spider that bit my husband (not the exact same spider!).  It is a wolf spider.  Does anyone know how serious the bite is as he has a very swollen hand (although it is getting better).  Should he have seen a doctor or pharmacist?  This is more for future information as it is still lurking by our pool.

Possumgirl, I'm like that with my Sloggi briefs.  A girl needs a bit of comfort.

One of these bit my husband a few days ago.  He is still alive but his hand is quite swollen so we assume it is not too serious a bite.

I can answer a couple of your questions but only as generalisations as every bank in different (even if it is the same bank but different branch).  1. We opened an account with Credite Agricole without a French address but told them we would be buying in the future and needed the account for when things started to happen.  No problem.  2.  It didnt cost anything to open the account but we had to put in a small amount to open it, I think we put in 100 euros.  3.  Any documents that prove who you are and where you live, we only had our passports as we had not planned the visit to the bank, as you know you will be doing this also bring birth/ marriage certificates and a utility bill (or 3) from your UK address. I dont have any experience of moving money from France but it is simple to do it the other way around so I would assume it is easy enough vice versa.  It might be an idea to set up an account with a couple of currency brokers in the UK and make sure you have a french bank that does internet banking.

Yes, we went into our insurance agents to 'buy' a green card and were told breakdown and recovery is covered anywhere in the EU at no extra cost.  There are two numbers on our insurers card, one for France and one for the rest of Europe.

Hi Effie, I have sent you a pm, let me know if it doesnt arrive as nothing seemed to happen when I pressed the post button.  I did find the radiologist and it was not too scarey.

I wouldn't like to have a face lift and look like a freak al la the ex Mrs Presley, Farrah Fawcett etc.  With all the moeny they have don't you think they could get it right.  Would rather like a lift like Sharon Osborne though.  What I would really like is for someone to tell me what to wear for my age to look chic.  Then again, I live in the countryside and wear mainly short and t-shirts or trousers and rarely go anywhere to dress up so why bother.  Anyway, you can't please everyone - bought a new handbag and daughter said I was too old fashioned, went out wearing crop trousers and she said 'aren't they a bit young for you'.  By the way, I am 53, 4'11" and a bit on the plump side.

Geri, we have a DesJoyaux pool which cost 26,000 euros including the summer cover and an alarm.  We do not have the filter system in the steps but in a separate compartment at the end of the pool also we have roman steps at the other end at the side.  Someone said you cannot pump excess water out, you can and it is easy with a hose attachment.  We robot clean the pool twice a weeks and clean the filter bags once a week.

E. Leclerc were selling them last year but, thankfully, not until December.  Also Ikea.

We have a 'Floralie' once a year with everyone selling plants from their gardens, vinyards and professional jardiniers and pepiniers.  It takes up nearly all the village.