Katt

Hoddy My comments were based on my experience of teaching maths in a comprehensive school 35 years ago. My kids were also in a comprehensive school until 3 yrs ago and that school, which is supposed to be one of the best in the area, practised streaming, including banding, even then. Postcode lottery? Irrespective of current liberal educational practises, I really do think that not advocating some form of streaming/selection/grading is totally impractical for pupils of various abilities. Examinations are one method of doing this, which are then ultimately used as a tool in the world of selection of people for jobs. I must agree, though, that bull (sorry verbal skills), especially in people management areas, is another criterion used for jobs.

A very interesting thread - rather like those of a bygone time. I agree pretty much totally with Mac and Betty. Indeed,with respect to Mac, I too, went to a Technical High School (one type of three schools) and observed the "two tier" approach of either academic or technical within it. I took the academic route to eventually PhD (in Physics) whilst some of my friends took the technical (plumber, electrician) route. Which route is better is very debatable. For some reason there were not too many arty types??!! With regard to today's politics on this thread's topic, in my opinion our deputy prime minister is well off the mark objecting to a two tier system when even in today's comprehensive schools the pupils, by necessity, are banded into A or B bands with even more separation either above or below these academic groupings. Typical liberal thinking which is useful in tempering right or left wing extremes, but totally impractical as stand alone (smiley here!). I would agree with him if he could spend his time reducing the divide between private and public schools. ClarkKent asks what is wrong with media studies. He / She is right in arguing that a university education is more than just learning the subject, but even this has been diluted by the plethora of students doing a plethora of degrees in a plethora of universities. As Betty intimates, though, Media Studies seems to be a subject that has become know as second rate degree material. Taking a newer Russell group university (York) for no particular reason, media studies is not even offered as a specific subject but as part of more specific subjects (eg digital media) which can command higher entry qualifications. Soft subjects should be looked at carefully and more applied degrees replaced with more appropriate vocational qualifications. Mr R51

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Home made mincemeat is wonderful - and very easy to make.  And when you've tasted it you'll never eat the vinegary shop bought stuff again - eeewww Kathie p.s - nice variation on mincepies is using squares of filo pastry slightly offset and pulled together like a little tied parcel, or puff pastry brushed with egg and sprinkled with preserving suger (has nice big crystals which look pretty).

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I believe the installation of a pool only needs a simple declaration de travaux. We were wondering - if we built a pool house at the same time would we need permis de construire? Is this something that is likely to be straight forward or is it advisable to have it as a condition precedent in the compromise? The pool house would house the pump etc and have lockable storage for outdoor furniture / garden equipment etc. We also wanted to build it so that it had an 'extended' roof (supported by timbers) to create a shaded area - if you follow?. Kathie

I wondered if anyone here could help out. The house we are buying has an independent sanitation system (FTE - fosse toutes eaux? and an épandage - soak away?). We have been advised that the regulations regarding independant sanitation systems has changed recently and we have to make sure our system complies. What are the new regulations and could this be expensive if we don't comply? Kathie

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I worked as a freelance web designer / server side programmer for quite a while so this is my twopence worth. - first impressions count, so its worth spending a little bit (either time or money) to get it to look good. If you web site looks like it was done on the cheap then potential customers may wonder whether your chambre d'hote, gite etc is the same - as someone said its no good having a beautiful website if no one sees it - so get it listed, exchange links, include local area info etc etc. What will get it listed (and keep it listed) is up to date, relevant content. - on that note its always worth having more than just information about your property, include local information, useful facts for visitors to the area - maybe a blogger or journal. As well as helping with search engine listing it makes your site stand out to customers. - having said that..don't have too much content on a page. If it takes more than 5 seconds to load your visitor has moved on. If it take more than a few minutes to read you've lost the customer. Keep important information 'above the fold' i.e. in the area of the screen that is immediately visible as the page loads. - make sure your navigation is consisitent and that your visitor always knows where they are - and can 'get back' - don't go for garish colours and fancy effects. Make sure fonts are clear and easily readable and with a good colour contrast. Dark brown on pale beige rather than yellow on black. Fonts should be verdana, arial etc - not times roman! If you are up to it make fonts scaleable (i.e. use % sizes etc) that way elderly people etc can read them. - hosting and domain names can be done very cheaply - if you're paying more than £50 a year for the combined package you've been stitched! - As a guideline, a good basic site should cost no more than £250 including hosting - and your designer (if they're any good) should be able to create you a simple cms (content management system) page so that you can update at least one area of the site without recourse to the designer. If anyone wants names of hosts etc that are good (and cost effective) - let me know. (...and i don't have a connection to them ) Kathie

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We spent a day with the agent from the Montignac (Dordogne (Dept 24)) office of La Foret (http://www.laforet-centre-ouest.com). He speaks very good English and was very helpful. We didn't buy through this agent but could recommend him. Kathie (in the process of buying a house in Polignac near Grignols)