[My cat's scared...]

Hello Rose

Just one further thought about Pig weeing in the bath - if he does have urinary problems it might be that he finds the cold of the bath surface just eases his pain a little bit....the fact that it's only wee and not poo might be the answer - he's probably finding the litter tray just a bit 'rough' on what might be a very sore and painful part of his anatomy !!!

Do hope he gets proper treatment and is soon back to his 'cuddly' self.

Regards - chessie

[My cat's scared...]

Hello Rose - I think poor Pig has got physical problems.......

I would be extremely worried if a lovely, 'flopsy', cuddly cat suddenly started acting in the way your - previously soppy - Pig is now doing.

I'm presuming he's been neutered - in which case one of the problems male cats have if they are neutered too soon is that their urinary system does not mature properly; if a cat subsequently develops crystals in its urine these crystals can build up or 'block' the urinary system over time - and you then have a poor cat that is in pain when weeing.  Your comments about him 'assume position...take ages..try again' - really are classic symptoms of urinary problems - please take him to Vet asap. The sitting close to you is a sign that he is in pain, and is desperately trying to get your attention, to understand why he's unhappy, and to help him feel better....

I don't want to frighten you, but if left unchecked that poor cat can eventually end up with a blocked urethea, a bloated bladder and failing kidneys - and it's an emergency situation. We had these troubles with a 3 year old rescue cat back in the UK - the poor cat was not well-treated by the vet and eventually he had a very distressing and painful end. I would always advise any owners of male kittens to delay having them 'sorted' for as long as possible.

Do please have Pig examined...after all if you can rule out any physical pain for his problems then it must be psychologial...and even more interesting to resolve.

But let us know what the vet says first.

Regards - Chessie

[A4/foolscap box files - where ?]

Hello everyone

I need some A4 or foolscap box files - the sort with a spring clip inside just to hold papers/documents in place.

I've seen plastic type files/folders but these are just far too flimsy.

I want the old fashioned heavy weight fibreboard with plastic laminate cover. The heavy duty ones are best because they can be stacked one on top of the other.

I've looked in lots of places and can't find exactly what I want. Any ideas; ideally I want to find the French equivalent of a Staples or Office stationery type store - and I've not found suitable one yet !!!

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Thanks - Chessie

[Flights from Bergerac airport]

Family tragedy means I must return to UK urgently.

Flybe isn't operating any flights from Bergerac to UK until 26 March.

I can't get any info on Easyjet website.

Ryanair website 'freezes' on me and I can't work out whether there are still any flights to UK.

Please - can anyone tell me whether there are definitely any flights to Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, or even London from Bergerac in next few days...

So sorry to throw this to anyone - I should be able to sort - but I can't...and need help asap - thank you.

Chessie

[Easyjet Cancels all flights from Bristol]

I've looked on a Commercial Pilots discussion group website this evening. The airline pilots refer to Bristol runway as a ski-jump ! Since November there have been several incidents reported by pilots of problems with aquaplaning on the runway....and with the recent heavy rain Easy Jet aren't going to take any chances.....

I think the runway layout at Bristol airport has also been changed; I can remember flying out of this airport and the plane would fly over the main road - where the traffic would be halted whilst the plan flew over the road...but now the runway alignment has been changed and this could be adding to the problems because Bristol Airport is at the top of Lulsgate Hill - a definite ski-jump set-up !!!!!

And it's not just EasyJet cancelling flights; British Airways and another operator are also cancelling flights in and out of Bristol for the time being.

Chessie

[DWP Winter Fuel Payments]

Thanks Hoddy - your comment re surname is interesting and is a possible explanation as well.

Just as well our surname isn't 'Xerxes' or 'Zorathustra' (?)- we'd probably have to wait until heat-wave weather !!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year - and thanks

Chessie

 

[DWP Winter Fuel Payments]

Hello BJSLIV and Judith

Thanks for comments.

BJSLIV - no this isn't first payment; previous payments went straight into bank account without any problems and we haven't changed banks or done anything else silly like that...

Judith - coincidence or synchronicity or serendipity - whatever - you did make me smile ... Thanks for comments. I was just interested as to whether this was a widespread problem or just us being unlucky for some reason.  You've given me a bit more info - and I think I'll phone the bods in DWP again just to check that nothing's gone wrong.

Otherwise OH says we'll have to restrict number of logs on fire to three a day, wear 3 jumpers and if we get freezing cold it'll be 'wrap up in a duvet time' - oh the joys of living in a warmer climate.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year to you both

Chessie

[DWP Winter Fuel Payments]

Has anyone - who is entitled to their UK Winter Fuel Payments - received their payment for this winter ?

Only ask because we have not yet received ours; have checked with DWP (before Christmas) whose laconic reply was 'well, they've been held up, bit of a back-log, but you should receive this by the end of December' .

This payment not yet arrived in bank account (checked online this morning); anyone else received/not yet received this payment ?

Thanks - Chessie

[French tax payable on a uk inheritance]

Interesting question - one I think could well affect quite a substantial number of UK ex-Pats in the next few years....

More info is needed I think.

Would this be a one-half, one-quarter share-out of a total inheritance ?  If so, if original amount (before share-out) was over UK IHT threshold, then tax would have been paid on estate in UK. Wouldn't the double tax treaty agreement mean that there shouldn't be any tax to be paid in France ? Or is this where we have an unfair anomoly between France and UK.

In the UK any inheritance (below IHT threshold) is Not taxed.

It would seem to be extremely unjust that a UK ex-Pat has to pay tax on an inheritance that - in the UK - would not be taxed.........why should tax be paid to the French Tax people on what is UK money that belonged to a deceased UK resident person ?

I, too, would love to know the answer - because it is something I know I will have to face some time in the next few years....

Chessie

[Cranes - magical midnight moments]

Just had one of those 'aaahhh' moments.

We had been out for a meal, returned and were relaxing with a cup of coffee on the terrace and enjoying the lovely mild evening - and it's midnight !!!

Suddenly we heard overhead a flock of the south-bound migrating cranes - 'chorus from heaven' - absolute delight....one of those moments of pure magic... clear sky, no moon, bright stars - and the song of the cranes going south.....

Sorry, it's after midnight - but I just had to share... I didn't know the cranes flew at night. We've been watching for them during this morning and afternoon (now the winds have died down) and hadn't seen any - can someone tell me whether this is likely to have been the first wave and there's more to fly over during the next few days...any one else spotted them flying south yet ?

Chessie

[Major dispute with our guests.]

Oh Well Done You - I'm glad you didn't wave the white flag !!!

Here's a thought to make you smile !!! This family love their consipiracy theories; isn't it a shame they probably won't be flying back to the good ol'  USA from Heathrow....!!! - does anyone know what the security precautions are like at CDG - anything as tight as Heathrow ? This happy little family might think think the whole world's 'out to get 'em' if they have to use Heathrow !!!!!!!!!!

Gram - you can relax in a few days time...enjoy the feeling of 'light at the end of the tunnel' !!!!!!!!

[Am I illegitimate?!]

Please don't waste £7 using the 1871(?) site - much easier way to do this.

Where were you born - go to the local registry website - it is possible to order a copy of your birth certificate for only £3.50....

As I understood things, your parents were always given two copies of birth certificate - one full one giving details of parents etc, and a much shorter one which could be used for all sorts of occasions.  So if you don't have your full BC chances are it's become 'mislaid' somewhere - how many times did your parents - or you - move house ???

[Iceberg lettuce]

Thanks Miki - nearest large supermarkets like LeClarc are about half-an-hour's drive away for us - bit of a long journey just for a few Icebergs !!! - but at least you've reasurred me that individual Icebergs are available - thank you - I was beginning to wonder whether it was a 'Mission Impossible' thing...!!!!

Chessire

[Short, fat caterpillar (?) with long legs ???]

Thanks everyone - amazing how helpful everyone is on this forum....

Mary - I loved the Dr Dolitle 'push me pull you' - what a perfect description - they really are like that...!!!

Chris - how impressive - proper latin name - I've now Googled and discovered that wee beastie is also known as a house centipede, useful house guest as its eats insects etc.

And my they really can move fast.  Here's a new game for the dreary winter evenings - trap two Scuttlers at one end of the living room or whatever, let them loose and see how quickly they find sanctuary !!! Even better, take bets on the winner...

Can you imagine an older scuttler having a 'senior moment' and starting to trip over its legs..............!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chessie

[Iceberg lettuce]

Why am I having difficulty finding Iceberg lettuce ?.

During the summer salad season  it's nice to have a choice of

different lettuce. I can find the red frilly leaved, the two-tone red

and green frilly leaved, the green frilly leaved, the two-tone yellow

and green, the little red ones, the little heart ones (packed in sets

from Spain !!) and the floppy green lettuce where you waste half the

outside leaves just to find the nicer centre leaves....but I haven't

yet seen Iceberg lettuce sold individually.

Yes, I know I can buy bags of the chopped up Iceberge lettuce - but I

really don't like buying these - the minute the bags are opened the

lettuce seems to start deteriorating....

Can anyone help - or is it that Iceberg is just not grown in France (or not imported from Spain ?)

Thanks - Chessie

[Short, fat caterpillar (?) with long legs ???]

Oooops - sorry -

Should have added that this wee beastie had 14 legs x 2 = total of 28 legs !!! Sorry - never could count properly !!!

Chessie

[Short, fat caterpillar (?) with long legs ???]

Just 'captured' (with cup and piece of paper) - a fat bodied,

long-legged wee beastie that was sprinting across the floor-tiles in

the living-room.

The body looked like a caterpillar's, was about 1 inch to 1.5 inchs in

length but was quite fat in proportion to its length. It had 14 - yes

14 - very long legs (shorter at the front and then getting longer

towards the rear) and two sets of very long antenna (one set at the

front and one set at the rear) - which were about twice the length of

its body.

Very peculiar beastie, can't find any picture in reference books; any one know what this creature might be ?

Thanks - Chessie

[Feline Kidney Failure]

Hello Christine - thanks for putting up info about this website - it's

really excellent. I wish I had found it a couple of years ago. And

there's one thing I really must mention - once a cat is over 10 or 12 years do take your feline friend to the vets once a year and Insist on a Blood Test. 

I was concerned about our lovely cat for several years before he

finally died of Chronic Renal Failure - and not once, not ever, never,

in the five or six years after his 12th birthday did the vet ever

suggest a blood test....so to anyone reading this site - please, please

- any concerns about your cat - a blood test is a Must, Must, Must.....

Happy meee-ooww-woows everyone

[Vet in Eymet - opening hours - urgent help needed please]

Personal notes for -

Ian

WJT

Sarah - The Lime Tree

I don't know how this system works so that I could thank you personally for your help and advice and concerns....

Unfortunately we had to make the horrible inevitable decision.

But I have been so upset and concerned over what happened in his final

few minutes that I have put a separate post on the Pets Forum under

'Putting pet cat to final sleep' -

If you have pets then please read it - I think pet owners should be

aware that there appear to be significant differences between French

and UK vet procedures - and I would like others to avoid the heartache

that we now have to live with......

Thank you all for your good wishes - I think pet owners are the nicest people in the world...!!!

Chessie (still in tears)

[Vet in Eymet - opening hours - urgent help needed please]

Hello Sueandpete

So grateful for your advice and support - sadly we had to face the inevitable decision.

Have posted on Pets Forum - 'Putting pet cat to final sleep' - if you

have pets please read this - I think pet owners should be aware of the

differences between French and UK vet/surgical practice and procedures.

Chessie

[Concerns re putting pet cat to final sleep]

Sorry about this (to those who read this post) - but I am totally distraught.

Our much loved elderly cat has had to be put to sleep due to kidney failure. (Yesterday - Thursday afternoon).

We are distraught for two reasons. The obvious one being that we have lost our lovely and much loved cat.

Secondly - we are upset and uneasy at the way this was carried out at the vets.

We took the cat to the vets - and stayed with him. We were told he

would have two injections - one to put him to sleep, and the second

would be the fatal injection. Pusscat was on the vets table and I was

holding him and comforting him with my hands around his chest and

shoulders and stroking his face. A torniquet was put round the top of

his front leg to expose a vein. He was then given the first injection

in his stomach wall. We thought this would put him to sleep (ie like an

anaesthetic) - it did not appear to do so.  The vet left the room

for a minute or two - but our cat was still conscious when she returned.

He was fully aware of the second injection; he meeowed when the second

injection was given, and attempted to move his front leg away from the

needle.  His eyes were open.

He DID appear to suffer - he was aware of what was happening.

He appeared to suffocate -he seemed to 'snuffle' a couple of

times;  his heart continued to beat - and I feel we watched while

our cat suffocated - and that he was conscious of what was happening

and has suffered.

I am heartbroken that what should have been a peaceful 'go to sleep'

and then have the fatal injection does not seem to have happened.

We have brought his litle body home, and laid him in his cat

basket.  We now have the distressing sight of blood draining from

his nostrils. 

I feel what had happened was not right - I feel physically sick at the thought we caused our cat to suffer.

I am so uneasy.

What is the normal procedure by French vets in such

circumstances.  Do they always use 2 injections - or were we - and

our cat - just unlucky?

Why does he have this nosebleed. 

In the UK we have had two cats that were 'put to sleep'; both deaths

were at home, and were extremely peaceful. I do not feel that this time

we had an 'easy, peaceful' death. Yes, I know I'm a bit distraught and

upset at the moment, but I do not feel I am over-reacting to the

circumstances around the death of our lovely cat.

I want other pet owners just to be aware that here in France it would

seem that they have different procedures than in the UK. If any of you

are faced with the same situation DO PLEASE be aware that your pet may

not be completely asleep after the first injection - and then make sure

the vet gives additional anaesthetic so your pet is unconsicous before

the fatel injection.

(Tearful) Chessie

[Vet in Eymet - opening hours - urgent help needed please]

Thank you both for your kind and helpful comments...very much appreciated.

After reading your posts, I took a deep breath, stopped panicking, and followed your common-sense advice !!!

I phoned the vets and amazingly was able to speak to her personally. We

took cat to vets this morning....he has been diagnosed with kidney

failure; he had an ecg (?) - little machine with 4 leads that were

attached him to give read-out on heart-rate and blood pressure. Never,

ever seen this in vets in UK - or been present at such a test so that

was a first !!! He has also had some blood taken for blood tests, plus

an injection to help him recover his appetite.

Poor thing had a bit of a tumble 10 days ago and aggravated his

arthritic rear legs and began limping.. He then stopped eating, we took

him to vets (different one to this morning) who gave him painkillers

and thoroughly 'manipulated' his rear legs just to check that he hadn't

done anything serious to his joints. Cat started to eat a bit on

Tuesday and Wednesday, then stopped completely on Thursday, didn't

drink much and just sat around looking very sorry for himself. By

Sunday evening we were really, really worried and of course I'd got

myself into a bit of a 'state' - and suddenly wanted quick answers and

reassurances...!!!!!!!!!!!!

We've now been given pills, vitamins, medicine and special diet tins of

cat food for him. But I'm still worried - he is not yet showing any

signs of wanting to eat even though the vet said she expected that he

would want something to eat this afternoon.  So we're all still

very, very concerned about him....nothing worse than owners worried

about their pet is there...!!!!!!!!!

I really do thank both of you for your interest and advice and concern - it is really so much appreciated - thank you again.

Chessie

[Vet in Eymet - opening hours - urgent help needed please]

We have an elderly rather ill cat; needs vet attention asap.

Please - does anyone know the opening hours of the vet on the Market

Square in Eymet (our nearest vet) - essential our cat is seen tomorrow

(Monday) - would be so very grateful for anyone's help in this - thank

you.

Chessie

[Caller number display telephones]

Thanks to you all for your helpful replies; I'll certainly check out

Auchen next time we're close. Problems may have been 'bored kiddlie

winkies' for a few days; but on the other hand if one is listed in the

phone book with a non-French name then could be more suspicious reasons

for 'strange' phone calls (ie possible empty house)?...or maybe we're

just worrying for no real reason !!!

Thanks...Chessie

[Caller number display telephones]

We're being plagued by 'nuisance' calls at the moment... I'd like to

buy a telephone/fax machine with caller ID display similar to the ones

available in the UK. Are there any available in France that will show

caller ID, and if so where could I buy and how much ? Many thanks

Chessie (Smiley-less - Mozilla won't let me do icons - happy or sad!!!)