Wendy

I see where you are coming from Coop's. This is why we are leaving before our two youngest (3 & 5) start primary school here. I also want to get my teen back into an english language education before he is of GCSE age, I want to give him the chance to catch up. I have already seen one son (20)  take off and return to his country of birth where his chances of education and career prospects have already improved immeasurably, even his social life is 200% to what it was here. He was here for four years and never got anywhere. I don't want our being in France to stuff up the future prospects of my other kids. Their future is what matters, I can continue mine anytime. Hindsight, once again[:)]

Yes Cooperlola, but how do you simply place a 15/16 year old  into a UK secondary school when they have only ever been educated in France?...I have a friend whose daughter is 15. They arrived here when she was 7. They returned to the UK in July last year. This girl has never studied upper primary and secondary school work in the english language, in fact, I found when speaking to her here that her english language skills were very poor indeed. She only ever used the english language when speaking with mum and dad at home...she primarilly operated in French with her friends and teachers. Her parents spoke hardly any French at all and she is an only child.  This is another problem...people bring kids here at a very young age, put them through several years of french education and then expect them to just slip back into the UK system. My friends daughter is having the same problems now in her UK school as a French-born child would have if just dumped in a UK school with very poor english. Your kids do not have the best of both worlds, either you educate them as French or as British and depending which age you change them over means they will only ever be either one or the other. The earlier and the longer you school them in France the more problems they will have coping with a British education later on.

I agree rusheslake. A move to France is a completely different prospect for the teens as opposed to their parents, basically because the parents are at one end of life whilst the teens are only just at the beginning.  It may be fine whilst your kids are attending the cute little village school and rattling off in French to their hearts delight...but what happens afterwards though? Mum and Dad might find that their niche is running a B&B, selling real estate to other expats or offering a translation and 'hand holding' service, but what happens when their kids have to leave school? There is no doubt that bringing our kids to live in rural France has many advantages; peace, calm and a safer community in general for them to live in, but as for work prospects...they simply do not exist. For the local French teens and even more for the expat teens. The only way around this is to shift to a large city here...but who wants to do that when we can do that 'back home'? Expats, in general are attracted to rural French life. Fine for retiring to, but not for kids who are just starting out in life. As  far as my experiences go, I have found that the Colleges here simply weed out who is fit to go onto Lycee and who is fit to register with Assedic each month from the age of 16. It seems a kids exam results decide the difference here, without taking into account what individual kids want to do with their life. Even that woman who bought a Monastery near Mossett and penned 'Life in a Postcard' has sold up, left and returned to the UK with her son. She knew where the limitations lay with regards to her child's future. Using hindsight I would have stamped my foot a lot harder five years ago. I wish we had waited...about a good twenty years before coming here. With regards to families; a move to France should benefit everyone in the long run...not just Mum and Dad.        

Framboise, what about those people who buy a pitbull pup and then relegate it to a life tied to the clothesline in the back garden as a form of protection for the house? Two children in the UK in recent times have died as a result from attacks from 'pets' such as these. The owners were actually the grandmothers of the victims. Not 'goaders', not 'users of barbaric tactics' at all. Just owners of vicious unsociable creatures that's all. Why on earth would anyone want to own something called a 'pitbull' - bred for fighting and killing - as a pet is beyond me. Dog was 'mans best friend' at a time when man needed protection and food...these days we have the gun, the police and Tesco. I would happily cull all pitbull's, pups and dogs. By the way, I have a pet crocodile; he has been raised as a family pet and just loves to be petted, crocodiles are very much mis-understood in my opinion...want to leave your kids with him? He is a family pet you know...

Thanks so much for all this advice [:)] We are using a generic box at the moment to do the tuning as we were having probs with the SKY box, it kept turning on and off on it's own...it was four years old. We will go over all the points you have all suggested: we just cannot work out why we are not getting one single channel reading at all. We are tuning to Astra satellite. Here goes![:-))]

Are they 'soft'?...the one's we have give the impression one is lying on a fabric covered raincoat. I'm sure you know the type I mean. I think I'll give your's a try though.

An update: we have replaced absolutely everything...LNB, dish (from 80cm to 95cm), coax, tuner and tried every combination of everything we have (old with new/new with new) but still have no picture at all. Co-ordinates are spot on as we are getting 75-99% signal strength but are only getting 45% signal quality. We don't have anyone in our area that deals with this and technicians 30 minutes away are not interested in coming this far. Anyone open to blackmail?[:'(]

Quillan I am just a wee bit intrigued...I personally do not sleep on waterproof mattress protectors, cannot stand the feel of the things. I understand you only accept adults at your establishment; do you assume that some of your adult guests may wet the bed? Otherwise why should you need them? I only ask this because if I were to book a stay at an establishment that catered for 'big people' only I would be a bit miffed to find I was sleeping on something I have not encountered since my days at kindergarten. When I have stayed at a hotel/B&B with such on the bed I have taken it off. We do use fabric protectors on our beds but not of the waterproof kind. Is 'waterproof' necessary with regards to adults? [8-)] I only ask this because when we took over this place people complained about the things being on the bed. Haven't used 'em since.    

"Spending holidays in France, even feeling at home and having friends is a completely different thing to actually living and going to school here." Amen ! If only the 'France' that some people find and gloat about could be the same 'France' that other's find to be a total pain in the arse.  

Northender, your 'vaulting' over the fence brings to mind our own experience of visiting the village. My partner visited there in 1998, pre the price charging museum, and remembers a plaque stating that the village was to be available to the public free of charge to remain as a constant reminder to future generations as to what happened there. When we visited there in 2003 the museum was in place; the village itself is free to visit however  the administration of the museum have cannily worked it so that it is almost impossible to access the village without paying to go through the museum first. We did the back-entrance 'vault' ourselves on this occasion. I don't believe that money should be made out of this horrific incident in recent history. Don't be ashamed, it was the original intention that this village be accessed for free and by all.

Scarfish, it's not that they 'rarely' show up...they NEVER show up!  delete them...plain and simple!

Hi Etoile, we are getting a raft of these types from Glasgow and Scotland in general lately. One even came from Canada. I especially love the one's from a 'doctor' or the owner of a tour company...all with a yahoo address and shocking spelling. Funny how they always have four couples but want four single rooms... You don't have to be an Einstein to work these out.  

Exactly Framboise, these new laws will target imbecile owners. That's where the problem lies. However, what purpose the pitbull serves to life on earth is beyond me... We were walking in Collioure last year, past one of the lovely cafes. A couple had one of those yappy, snappy little white terrier things tied to the leg of their table and it jumped out snarling and tried to take a bite out of my three year old sons leg with its nasty little mouth as we passed by. My husband's foot directed sharp and hard, and in good time, at it's teeth did the job in discouraging it from going any further. He gave it one hell of a kick. The owners were not too impressed when it yelped, however it saved my little boy from a nasty injury. Too bad if the owners were pissed about their spiteful little mutt being kicked...humans are definately the problem when it comes to dogs and their behaviour. Especially those who claim  'my dog would never hurt anyone'. This is why we need these laws. And the sooner the better.

Here's what it says: "The new laws, which have passed their first reading, will require certain classified 'dangerous dogs', of which there are about 600,000 in France, to be taken for annual behavioural evaluations. Fighting dogs, such as pitbulls and staffordshire bull terriers, will be placed in the highest Category 1. Guard dogs, including rottweilers, will be Category 2 dogs." "The owner of any dog which has bitten someone will have to declare the incident at the mairie. If this is a dog which has been classified as dangerous, the owner must take a competance test in order to keep it. The owner(s) of a dog responsible for a death will be liable to a jail sentence of up to ten years." "All dogs will need to be classified by a vet as soon as they are bought." "This project will need to undergo a second reading before it is formally adopted." I hope it does and will be. Little children being killed by the 'family pet' is totally unacceptable and just deplorable.  

I am surprised that some of you are unaware of the new laws being introduced here...if your dog ever bites someone then be prepared to lose it! Read page nine of the January issue of The Connexion "New laws to rein in dangerous dogs and punish owners'. I read a similar report in our local 'Independant' newspaper in December. Along with the story of a 14 month old boy being killed by a rottweiller that was supposedly a 'family pet' in a suburb of Paris that month. These laws cannot come too soon in my opinion.                                                         

I read that owners of certain breeds  i.e pitbulls, who will be classed as category one, (cull the lot of them I say) and rottweillers who will be classed as cat two, will have to prove their competance with regards to handling them. I would like to see such dogs not allowed to be owned as domestic pets. Because they were never bred to be such. Too many clueless humans buying them I'm afraid and too many children dying as a result of attacks from these creatures. Two babies this past week and one on new years eve last year..three too many.  

I wonder why cigarette smoke should be banned and yet alcohol, and the obnoxious effects of it's over consumption, goes without any prohibition whatsoever. I have seen what alcohol does to people and families...I would prefer to live with a fag addict than an alcoholic anyday. No doubt the govt will continue to revel in the taxes incurred from those buying smokes though. Why not ban the sale of the bloody things altogether if they are really serious!

Is anyone else here welcoming the new legislation regarding the categorisation of dangerous canine breeds? I certainly am. I just wish the UK would follow suit. Personally, I cannot stand dobermans. One attacked me when I was nine and I was on my way home from school, it belonged to a neighbour who used to let it run free in the street in the afternoon; I needed 35 stitches to my arm...bloody thing's name was 'Pixie' and it was the devil incarnate. It got run over and killed by a car not long after[:D]...my parents wanted to nominate the driver for an OBE.    

I just told my son to 'swap back to the 80cm' and he has threatened to leave the country...this has been the work of an entire day[:)] He has to get up onto the roof again in the face of angry black weather bearing down on us from the mountains and we are dreading the wind when it arrives. However your advice as to smaller movements being needed with the bigger dish may be the key...thanks[kiss] If your suggestion works you could be in line for something more, however they don't have an icon for such [:D]

We are near Perpignan in the Corbieres. Way south. We have just swapped over the old 80cm dish for the new 95cm dish. New transponder and cables as well. Changed the LNB. No signal at all. My son has been on the roof for three hours turning and pointing the bloody thing and we cannot get a tiny blimp even. He did this with the old dish when the wind blew ( it blows mean as the devil here in winter) and it needed repositioning so he is pretty spot-on with regards to where it should be pointing. Could the satellite in outer space have moved at all? (that's a woman's technical question there). Did UK transmitting change at all on the 31st so that we require something new? We've no Brits locally to compare things with. Bugbear, I suggested turning the antenna upside down but the whole situation is in the hands of men here... I cannot bear to watch anymore Brum or Bob the Builder dvd's. Help...I'm missing my telly ! [:'(]  

Is anyone else, with SKY, plagued by the 'no satellite signal is being received' at certain times of the day? And it is only AT certain times of the day, and on certain channels! Is there a conspiracy against non-mainland SKY users?

Very good question mate. But ever since she came back, on the back of a tow truck, she has never worked at all. The next car we bought was wiped out by a local tractor driver...long story. We are verrrrryy careful on the local roads now with our new car and stay well clear of tractors driven by old frenchmen. They should be outlawed. Completely.  

All I can say to the OP is take a very very good look through most of the forums here; especially education, health, legal and finance. France as a holiday destination, and the subject of a TV series, is NOT the France some will find once living here... Why not consider Spain instead?..Valencia is a brilliant and lively location and has four bi-lingual schools (english/spanish) and about a dozen schools that teach in English only, plus a French Lycee. I would not choose France if I had my time over again. That's the last I am saying on this subject for want of upsetting the population here. And I bet I have already...[:P]    

If this is how they read... Head Office: Flat 2-1, 35, Polwarth Street, Glasgow,G129UE,                                       Scotland. United Kingdom. Hello, Could you please confirm availability and total cost for the dates stated below for 3 guests from the Scotland, UK. I am harrison jenny of the Flat 2-1, 35 Polwarth Street,Glasgow,G129UE Scotland, UK  of harrison Tours Rental Services Ltd. Arrival Date: 6th may, 2008 Departure Date: 20th May 2008 Room Type: Standard single Room Number Of Rooms: 3 Length of Stay: 2 weeks Please advise availabilty.Moreover, what is the TOTAL COST in EURO or USD for the entire period? and the total cost however should reflect government taxes. As our policy, my agency will make a deposit for this booking via certified cheque, once availability and total cost is confirmed. Is this ok? Your prompt response will be appreciated and hoping that we could partner in the hospitality business. Sincerely yours,   Jenny   Then ignore and delete them. NEVER reply! Yahoo addresses always give them away.

We get a lot of these; they all have yahoo addresses and they all want accommodation for 3 weeks or more, and always ask for single rooms... Head Office: Flat 2-1, 35, Polwarth Street, Glasgow,G129UE,                                       Scotland. United Kingdom. Hello, Could you please confirm availability and total cost for the dates stated below for 3 guests from the Scotland, UK. I am harrison jenny of the Flat 2-1, 35 Polwarth Street,Glasgow,G129UE Scotland, UK  of harrison Tours Rental Services Ltd. Arrival Date: 6th may, 2008 Departure Date: 20th May 2008 Room Type: Standard single Room Number Of Rooms: 3 Length of Stay: 2 weeks Please advise availabilty.Moreover, what is the TOTAL COST in EURO or USD for the entire period? and the total cost however should reflect government taxes. As our policy, my agency will make a deposit for this booking via certified cheque, once availability and total cost is confirmed. Is this ok? Your prompt response will be appreciated and hoping that we could partner in the hospitality business. Sincerely yours,   Jenny   There you have it. Ignore and delete them.