Beryl

Thanks for suggestions. Sorry to be ignorant but what are Gateaux Aperitifs? Are they just a posh name for 'nibbles'?

Did they give you one of the baby record books when you were in the UK? If so, hand that over next time you have your baby looked at and I'm pretty sure they will sort you out with the French version quickly.  

I don't drink a great deal and no idea what I should have in the house for aperitifs (just in case). Can any one recommend a few that will fit most occasions?  

Thank you I will contact them. I had been using a 'fixed contract' type of company where the exchange rate is set but you have to commit for 12 months. I would rather have the flexibility that Moneybookers appears to give...when I can just get my account working.

I am setting up an account with Money Bookers to tranfer money from my UK bank account to my French one. However, when I try to upload funds, it tells me that that I have to transfer funds from my UK bank to the Money Booker bank in Paris in EUROS. This kind of defeats the obect of using Money bookers,  if I have to pay my UK commission for changing sterling in to euros, I might as well get my UK bank to transfer the money straight into my French bank! What am I doing wrong?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/smokedduckwithwarmco_82122.shtml Smoked duck with warm courgette salad.

I don't think SD was really suggesting anything, the wink sort of gave that away.[:)] We haven't received anything back yet, it is our first year and we too have a UK as well as French bank accounts. Perhaps, they save us newcomers til last.

You could make a rillettes type dish with the duck but it sounds far to good for that. Cherries always go well with Duck, What about a cherry chutney?     I just found this one on the web.   1 llb cherries 1 cup brown sugar 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled and finely chopped 1/2 cup finely chopped onion 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 tsp. allspice 1/4 tsp. cinnamon Combine all ingredients  in heavy saucepan and stir to mix. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and cook gently for 45-50 minutes until thickened, stirring occasionally. 1/2 tsp. salt  

Probably a silly question but does  it need  emptying?

In the recent Brico Depot brochure they have Parpaings          R = 0.22 priced at 0.75 € , 0.90 € and 1.03 € Brique Alvéolaire R = 2.20 priced at 1.17 € ( 15 x 19 ) and 1.78 €  (30 x 19) There is a Brico Depot at Poitiers.

There are programs you can buy to get back lost files, if you do a google search. This is one  http://www.dtidata.com/fast_file_undelete.htm I've never tried this so I don't know how well it works. Some one may know how to do it for free.

Our neighbour has a cottage in her garden that she used to rent out and she lent us her 'English' Guest book, so that we could read the comments (she thankfully  cannot read English). What a bunch of moaning minnies! There were complaints about the weather [Www], the lack of English food restaurants, that no one speaks English, that they had to drive 30 kms so that their offspring could have a Mac Donalds, the crepes in the local creperie were not filling enough and they had to have more than one and that the staff 'refused' to understand them! and that the Supermarkets were basic, Oh and there was nothing to do.

The Guests gave notice in June to leave in July but then changed their minds ( wouldn't this nullify the 'notice' ? ) and then decided to stay until August. I agree that if you have had nothing in writing from them, it would be difficult for them to prove that any notice has been given.  

There was a lengthy discussion about this company some time ago, some or all of it may have been deleted. But it may be worth a search. Have PMd you about something else though.

I see that Ryan air want the Government to help finance extra security, but I can't see that happening. Surely the days of budget cost airline travel must now come to an end to pay for it? Pan Am didn't last long after Lockerbie.

It's interesting this questioning orders idea. A few months ago a commissioned officer had been court martialed because he questioned his orders re Iraq (may have been Afghanistan) and the legality of the War. He argued that as he was required to give orders to sub ordinates, he needed to be clear in his mind that his orders were legal. His court case was thrown out and the court martial stood. The soldiers in the Third Reich were condemned for blindly following orders but.... Please don't get me wrong I am not comparing Britain with Nazi Germany, but to what extent should orders be unquestioned?

I believe from my limited knowledge that the person who pulled the trigger acted in 'good faith' , in what must have been stressful circumstances and had to make a split second decision to protect the public. It would seem that this officer was badly let down by his colleagues who carried out what can best be described as woefully inadequate surveillance . It was the team behind him that really got it wrong. I would like to see the Met Pol charged as a corporation rather than hang, the one officer who fired the shots, out to dry.    

There seems to be (judging from a map of expat locations in Brittany ) a lot between Rennes and south of Roscoff, mostly inland. I don't know whether the 'rolled eyes' of ,in all honesty ,just a few French people when talking about these areas is merited or not. As far as I gather, these were areas that were dying and have been rejuvenated so plus points for the Brits but I have heard and have no idea how reliable this is, that the Brits generally don't mix much, speak much French, work either at all or legally etc etc but this may well be an urban myth!  I get the feeling that the Bretons are not condemning these people but just think they are missing out!But I am new here. What sort of area activities etc are you after in your retirement ?            

I have lived in Finistere since the end of last year and I love it. The people, culture and coastline! Most people I have met are friendly and interesting. I found a plumber to be a little bit 'off 'when he was working on my house but he lives in a Brit enclave in the middle of Brittany! ? The village I live in is just the right size for me, big enough to be fairly anonymous in some ways but small enough to meet people and make friends  [:)] There are no other Brits in the village and although near the coast, its favoured by the Germans and Belgians rather than the South seeking Brits. The Celtic issue only really appears at festivals  etc, but many Bretons that I have met that go to the UK try and get to Wales too, but it seems to me that they welcome the Brits ( all of us) more than the Parisiens.    

My purchases have been painless too BUT that's not the point is it? It's the 1 in whatever time that it goes horribly wrong and I can only imagine how annoying , stressful it must be. I can see what Sunday Driver says about keeping things in perspective. But this thread is not about focussing on the good service received but about the bad.  

Are you going to do hair in France? Will you want / need a big expat community as you can't speak much French at the minute or will your husband be working? Have you got children to consider? I did reply to your first post about moving but can't find it now for some reason!  

I wish you the best of luck Painterman. I think it is admirable that you are not going to put up with the shoddy service you have received. Like you said it might save another person going through the same problems as you, at least with this immobilier. Things may well be different in France, but IMHO dodgy businesses anywhere should not be tolerated.

Well I am pleased that its normal practise, although I don't hold with this type of interruption. Perhaps I should get a sign 'my dog eats Jehovah's Witnesses and immobiliers'[:)] No offence meant!

I find that joints of beef are astronomical but beef fillet cheaper than in the UK, perhaps it's not a popular cut? I only buy lamb chops when they are on offer but a small joint (not a leg) isn't too bad. Pork fillet is plentyful and not too dear but what I would give to find some organically / humanely reared tasty pork [:(] Rabbit is a lot dearer here but then its more popular. I could buy one for practically the price of the shot in England.

I heard this for the first time today; Les vers verts levèrent le verre vert vers le ver vert. My neighbour loved the pained expression on my face.[:(]... and the fact I had to ask her to write it down for me! Still I will get my own back [:)]