Frank

Many thanks Sunday driver for your reply, much appreciated.

Hi, Hope some one can help. If a car repair is going to be higher than the value of the car, do French insurance companies operate the same way as the uk with regard to buying back the car if it is a category d write off, please? Any advice/links etc would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Jetlag

Hi We had a very large fig tree at the side of the house that was cut down by a company. The chap then told me the best way to kill the roots was to have a thick mix of garlic and milk (well crushed/liquidised) and pour into the grooves he had cut. I have to say, I did this and the roots have died, no chemicals, no adverse reactions to animals (we had a dog at the time) and I could plant out around the tree straight away. No sign whatsoever or regrowth. Had I not done it myself, I would not believe it would work, but it has. Would recommend the same organic/bio treatment for any tree!

Many thanks to everyone for your replies. I saw some naan bread for sale in Super U today, so will get some of that instead. Thanks again!!

Hi everyone, hope someone can help. Is there anywhere in the Saintes/Royan/Jonzac triangle that sells chapaties or the flour to make them please. I am having a curry night with some French friends who have never had curry and was wanting it to be authentic! Any help/advice greatly appreciated, many thanks in advance

Hi Chezstevens, many thanks, will check it out

Hi everyone, looking for some 'tester' advice please. My electrionic tester (cool pool) has finally died and gone to the great pool in the sky! Looking to replace with similar product in France (bought original in UK) Has anyone any suggestions/recommendations for replacements and where they can be bought in the Saintes/Jonzac/Royan triangle please. Many thanks in advance for any advice

many thanks Pachapapa,

Hi, Hope someone can help please. I will be travelling on the D764 & D769 from Gourin to Carhaix then onto Roscoff on 5th July and I recall seeing a small notice on the roadside about the Tour de France but didn't get all the detail. Is there anyone in the area who knows if there will be closures along this route or of a website that will give closures please so that I can plan an alternative route to the ferry. Many thanks in advance. Jetlag

Hi We had a bee nest in a chimney, it cost 125e using a professional company (sorry can't remember their name) to have them killed as it was too big to be removed by a bee keeper. the pompiers in our area (17) no longer deal with bees nests. Good luck with finding someone.

Seen first one this morning in my courtyard I thought it was maybe still too early, but they are here all the same, yet more beaks to feed lol!!!!!

Ooops!!!!! Just had another call from other half, all called and set to go on train, then withdrawn and delayed, sorry! He says they are due to board in 2 mins, so hopefully this time all will be good. Good luck to all you travellers out there!

Just spoke to hubby who is at the tunnel in Folkestone, no delays and transferred free onto earlier train!! He said terminal etc very quiet and not many people about, hope this helps, happy travelling and Merry Christmas!!!!!

Hi Thanks Maude and La Guerriere for your suggestions, I have just been in contact with Emmaus, so will have a jolly up there on Monday. Thanks again

Hi everyone Not sure to ask here or on the shopping forum, I am sure the forum moderaters will let me know, so here goes! I am looking to buy a bath for an outdoor display (newish or sceond hand) and I was wondering if anyone new of any shops that might sell 'damaged' stock (ie cracks in the side etc) like you can sometimes find in the UK. I am in dept 17 so any pointers would be a help an much appreciated, many thanks Jetlag

Thanks for the link Weedon, definitely a female!

Hi Jo The supermarkets usually start to stock turkeys about one or two weeks before christmas. The ones I have seen have been quite small at around 2-3k. I have found for a larger bird, its a visit the local to order one, but in my experience, they come at a price!! I am sure someone will come along who may know of a farm that you could try. Leclerc and Super U also have a small English range for things like cranberry sauce etc, but again, they are at a premium price. Hope this helps! Joyeux Noel!!

Hi Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, I think I have narrowed it down to a woodpecker, I saw it again this morning and took a somewhat blurry pic through the window, and it definately looks like a woodpecker, possibly a female great spotted as there is no red cap. It's the first time I have seen one, so lets hope there are more!! Thanks again ps, it likes walnuts!

Hi PeterG Thanks for your reply and link, it's definately not a hoopoo, although we do get them here in summer. Thanks again

Hi everyone, need some help identifying a bird I have just seen in the garden. Didn't have time to get a pic, so here goes!! Quite a large, sturdy looking bird, about 6 inches with a large beak. Looked to be mainly black and white, with definate white strip on wing and a brown (I think) underside. It flew from the ground onto the tree trunk then ran up the trunk and branch, not seen this behaviour before (most birds fly between branches etc) so first thought it might be a woodpecker or similar. I have trawled through my books but not seen anything that matches what I saw!! I am in dept 17 about 25km for the sea, so if anyone has seen similar or even better, knows what it is, it would be much appreciated, many thanks jetlag

I have loads of Belle de Nuit flowers and all I have done over the last few years is pull up those that will pull up and those that don't I have cut off as close to the ground as possible. Each year they have grown back, a combination of old and new growth as they have loads of seeds which drop as the flowers die. I have also collected the seeds and just scattered them around in the early spring and they grow, so find them an easy plant to look after!! My idea of gardening is dig a hole and stcik in the plant and see what happens, so far, seems to work quite well lol!!!! I am sure a more knowledgable gardener will come along and give you the correct advice, but for me, this method has worked

UPDATE!!!! I have just got in from my first day as a volunteer for the banque alimentaire in my commune, and I have to say it is well worth giving up a few hours a fortnight to help out. Many thanks for all who have replied and offered advice to my original post. Jetlag

Excellent link NormanH, many thanks. As for being under 25.......................I wish (not!!), thanks again for all replies

Hi all, I don't know if this is the correct place to post this query, but here goes! I have enquired about voluntary work at the Mairie and I have been invited along to see about the 'banque alimentaire' Before I go along and 'sign up' so to speak, are there any forms etc that would need completing to show work is unpaid (for the tax office) or do I get something to say it is unpaid work. I have tried to find out info on internet and Mairie but sadly no answers to questions, Would appreciate if any one who has done voluntary work could offer some advice or suggest links to sites, many thanks in advance Jetlag

Has anyone tried putting the owners name into Pages Blanche online and then just adding the different departments to see if there is a Barton nearby, just a thought, maybe someone has already done this?