Wendy

Oh for gods sake, here we go again. Maybe it is because I come from a multi-cultural society where I often worked alongside foreigners who could not speak a word of english yet they were given a job. That's how they improved their english...in the workplace!. And take a look at the UK and Ireland today; loads of Polish immigrants with no english language skills at all yet it is 'racist' to refuse them a job. Yet they have jobs. I doubt you would be allowed to refuse an immigrant a job in the UK today simply because they could not speak english. I am not 'doting' in the sense you make out, and please do not be so condescending. My son is making every effort. Save your sarcasm for those retirees who come here, live in British enclaves and never choose to speak a word of French. And by god we know a few.[:@] Di, just be aware that this country does not suit everyone. And judging your daughters feelings I would either wait or leave her where you are . This country is not that great that it is worth upsetting your family over [:)].        

Hi Di, we came here four years ago when my second eldest son was 16. He spoke only a few words of French. We are in south-west France as well. Because of his poor French language skills no College would touch him and neither would any Lycee in our entire region. No arguments about this - we went all the way to the top at IA Perpignan. He received no schooling here at all. All my kids were very keen to come here and make a go of it but William, especially, wound up hating it here. Two weeks ago he returned to Australia to, in his words, 'get his life back'. And he is. My eldest is 21 and taking French lessons but is yet to find work becuase if you cannot speak French in our region doors get slammed in your face. Discriminatory is an understatement in my opinion after our experiences. If she doesn't want to come here then leave her where she is. Maybe she will visit and come around eventually, but 16 is a bad age to uproot them.

Just for the record we went back to Belfast for a week just before Xmas last year and found the most fantastic Xmas atmosphere there; international Xmas markets featuring goods and food stalls from all over Europe around the town hall/city centre, lights, huge illuminated Xmas trees and lots to do for the kiddies. I had a ball and had to be forced back on the plane in Dublin. We are getting out of France for Xmas this year as nothing really happens down our way...near Spain that is. I'd be back to Belfast but Ryanair have hiked up the airfares too much. Why not try the markets in Germany...Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Baden Baden?. Too cold for me though. We are going waaaay south this year; winter has arrived too early south of France this year.

Well I have eaten shark; we have been eating that in Chinese resto's in Australia for many years now. They started farming ostrich some years back and even emu. Somehow I cannot bring myself to ever try kanga as I had one as a pet as a kid. Most of us Aussies, though the city dwellers, take some convincing to try it but I hear it is popular now there. I just don't know anyone who has as yet tried it except for cousin Gary. He'd eat anything that had four legs and was within range. Croc seemed to always be on the menu's of restaurants I could never afford to go to as it was always promoted as 'exotic  food', even though Australia has a glut of crocs. Maybe the taste has something to do with the number of english tourists they have taken over the years...[;-)]

I tried not to gag when my son informed me that he has eaten cheval at college at lunchtime [+o(]; but when he recently told me that kangaroo meat had been served on occasion I had to drop my spoon. As an Aussie should I take umbrage at this?. I don't know anyone back home who has tried a taste of Skippy!, (except my rather unusual cousin who lives outback and shoots his own dinner, but the family don't talk too much about him [;-)] ).  

Hi Lollie, thanks for that advice. Actually we are looking at places that are 'unusual' rather than the norm. We have the museum of prehistory on our list as well as one of the FM radio stations in town as well. We have received a raft of forms from the school in triplicate - what do I do with them?. I assume one is for me, one for the school and one for the employer he is placed with...is that correct?. I discounted the cinema at first but shall try there as well.

When we bought this place (hotel plus house - all one property)  four years ago our notaire told us we could not buy en tontine because 1) we were not married and 2) I am not european and had no carte de sejour at the time, and 3) because the property was classed as a business. I still cannot understand why?.

Darren: You should have applied for a European Family Permit on behalf of your wife, at the French Embassy, whilst you were in Russia. The EU Family Permit is the equivalent of the Schengen visa BUT it must be issued free of charge, is NON-discretionary, and must be issued within 90 days. That's what you should have done. My partner (British) and I (non-european) in the past four years of living in France have driven over all the French borders (Germany, Italy, Swiss, Spanish) and have never been stopped once let alone questioned...what on earth are you doing?. I hope your 'wife' is not holding up her Russian passport for all to see, if so, she is inviting trouble for both of you!. As a rule the border controls do not stop anyone these days unless you appear to be sus...are you deliberately stopping for them to check you?. Hide her in the boot next time and see how you go. Very strange I must say.

You are correct Rob. Just saw that beloved old name and had to reply as such.  It was tempting fate you know. Carry on as you were...dear oh dear.

That's brilliant so thanks for the help. We have a well known museum close by and he is keen to try there and thought about McDo's as well seeing as my son is the type that needs to be kept busy. His bored-o-meter has a low setting [:)]

I always love those photo's of a room with someone sitting in a chair in the background.

We would love to get a pet dog for the family next year and, as we have two bairns aged 3 and five, think a puppy would be the way to go. I'd love to give a homeless dog a second chance but wonder what conditions are like at the local pounds and how well cared for these animals are. Are they micro-chipped, vaccinated and de-sexed before sold?. The trip to the pound won't be distressing...will it?. How well do the French care for homeless dogs in their animal shelters?.

My son's class is due to do work experience soon and has brought home a raft of forms to be filled out. My question is: is it my job to line up somewhere for him to do his work experience or the schools?. Most of this paperwork is legal jargon.

Tourangelle, you are the type of guest we welcome with open arms and love to see come back. You did all you should have done: anymore and the owners should have been paying you!.  I don't expect anything more than a basic sweep, wipe and clear from our gite guests. The beds are my job, not theirs. I have a feeling that the owner was not looking for what you HAD done, but rather for what you HADN'T done. Overly pedantic in other words, and I know a couple exactly like this. They run a gite near to us and are always whinging about their guests, I wonder why they bother having them at all as they seem to view them as intruders more than anything else. I have never recommended anyone to book with them and they must be wondering why by now as we get many people looking for gite rentals. I have a feeling you experienced owners like the people I know. They like the money and they can see how well you have left the place but they still want to 'catch you out' on something. Like I said, overly pedantic. By all means complain to Gite de France (we don't use them; too dictatorial to owners in our opinion) as you booked through them and I feel you have reason to feel affronted. Personally, we take a 'before' photo when we rent an apartment/gite and an 'after' prior to leaving. Both are given to the owners/key handlers. Silly I agree, but necessary these days I reckon in order to cover yourself. [;-)]

Oh dear, we must watch where we tread... It does not pay to take ones-self too seriously, or either that what others say.

Difficult one that. Under European law, you cannot be legally obliged to pay something before you know the price of it which makes the two month rule in France illegal. The insurance companies know this so in fact you CAN cancel well before the renewal period comes up. When we were insuring our car here originally we did exactly that as they quoted one price when we called and a figure more than twice what they'd originally quoted when the bill came out several weeks later. They expected us to just pay the inflated price and threatened us with legal action when we refused. They were quite shocked to say the least when we stood up to them over this as I suspect the French just pay up without question. They backed down once we quoted EU law, and the fact that they were acting illegally as such; we took our business elsewhere. However, if you just want to cancel mid-contract then the cancellation conditions of the contract itself come into play which, probably, means a recorded delivery letter and two months delay.    

We now use IKEA at Montpellier. Try them.

I dooo not believe it!! Well, someone had to say it.

Well, you never know these days. 12 primates would make quite a mess...maybe an aviary would do or would that be cruel?. I hope 12 monkeys is not that way inclined...imagine what this forum would smell like!.[:D]

12Monkeys: probably not. You need to catch up with me of course in that respect. By the way, where do you keep them...those dozen apes of yours?.[:P]

Thanks!.

I haven't scurried off anywhere!. Take some stress leave dear girl [:)] otherwise...move to France!. I hear the mods moving in soon!. Lie down for a bit and chill.

Hi, we live in a rural area where our only neighbours are 100 metres down the drive. They run a wine domaine. Our other 'neighbours' are miles away. We have extended invites to them  for dinners and BBQ's and etc plenty but they are always too busy to accept. We chat in passing and are quite friendly. But, after 4 years, we have accepted that their job is a 365 day a year thing. And it certainly is if you produce wine for your living. They never seem to have any spare time to socialise. I dont know what your 'relationship' is with your neighbours, or what they do for a crust, but I feel you have assumed that moving to France includes having wonderful neighbours who are always offering you invites to long lunches and great dinners all the time. Plus regular supplies from their vegie patch. I have read such in all those magazines. This is not always the case. Many French people just want to be left alone, just like many of us, to live quietly. Continue to be polite and friendly. Maybe they just do not want to develop a 'relationship'?. Don't try to force them into being the english-stereotypical 'french neighbours' that we all read about. Live and let live. A 'bonjour' is better than nothing.  

We service rooms on a daily basis. If the bed is unmade then we make it up. We dont have the laundry budget of a Hilton so we change the bed linen every 3 days, when guests are in that long of course. We make one exception, and I wonder if Quillan has noticed this: if we see that the guests have made their own bed then we leave the bed as it is. To us this says 'leave it alone'. I know because we have stayed in many B&B's/hotels and at times have not wanted our room 'disturbed'. We have had several guests in who have asked us at the off to stay out of their room for the duration of their stay. So, even though daily servicing is a habit here we still enquire each day as to whether our guests wish their room to be serviced. Most say 'yes', a few say 'no'. In all, guests like their beds made up on a daily basis but do notice, as we have, that if they make up their own bed then just leave it as it is. Some people are fussy about how their bed is.  We have applied this practice and have never had any complaints. If you have plenty of bed linen then change such on a daily basis if you wish, but such a service is usually a hotel kind of thing. Not a B&B feature.    

Katie-whatever: So what are you doing spending precious time on a 'Living in France' forum my Welsh-dwelling dear?. To whoever it was that asked...Canada and The Channel Islands are on our list. I am happy, just not settled here that's all. Just don't lump the Channel Isles in with the UK...they dont like that (like the Welsh) as I have gauged from the many I have met. I certainly do not 'scurry off into the bushes'...there are none around here. I simply comment here and there and then move on to other things. Some of us here have to work for a living you know. I was not aware that after commenting I had to stick around to post a stream of retaliations. I leave that to others. [;-)]