Rosebud

Thanks all for the well wishes.... Actually, one thing we never got around to doing whilst we were here was make that trip over to the Atlantic coast.  Still, maybe we'll get a chance on one of our hols. Llwyncelyn, I fully agree with your sentiments about the UK roads.  We too struggle with the sheer numbers of cars on the roads whenever we visit.  I do love the UK, it will always be 'home' in a way, but we left there many moons ago, never to return. Home for us is Central Switzerland.  It's where we met, where our kids were (and will be!) born,  and it's where we've chosen to put down roots......Oh, we speak the lingo there too, it helps! [;-)] ....and to answer your question...YES, we have, for the most part, enjoyed France [:)]  

Our two year sojourn in France is now coming to an end.  OH's work here is done, and it's time to return to our chosen homeland.  We had thought we'd stay, but it turned out is isn't for us, so it's home we go...... What will I miss? Well, the weather of course!  and the lovely friends we've made.  The friendly locals and the lovely countryside..... What won't I miss? The banks!  Anybody 'official', the dogdirt & the urinating men (Toulouse is a public loo to them all!)  We'll be returning only for an annual holiday now, to keep up with our pals....... This board has been a source of much inspiration, information, and entertainment!  I may still pop back in from time to time, just to see how you all are...... Bonne chance everybody.......[:D][:D]    

That's an interesting and well written article. There's been a lot of media attention to this in the past weeks and months.  My OH and I watched a documentary called 'Loose Change' the other week.  It's made along similar lines to Fahrentheit 9/11 by Michael Moore, and presents some interesting and compelling material.  Obviously it's heavily biased, as the Moore movie is, but it certainly makes you think long and hard about the events of that day, and the reulting changes in the world. That aside, my thoughts are with the relatives today.......      

Speaking as a customer, I can't see anything wrong with asking the guests to leave the place in a decent state.  I would want to do that anyway!  I might be on my hols, but I couldn't stand to live in squalor for a fortnight....and YES, I'm BRITISH!!!! Obviously if you asked your guests to do a full spring clean it would be a bit much, but I think what Jenny was talking about was a family who had left the place in a dismal state.  If cleaning materials are provided, I have no problem using them. For most decent people, mopping the floors and cleaning the cooker and loo really isn't a big deal.  That's what you get when you go self catering! It seems to me you  people all work really hard for your money, I don't think it's too much to ask that your guests respect your property, it certainly doesn't mean you're not 'customer focused'.  Keep up the good work [:D]        

I'm not a gite owner, but I say charge them.  If it clearly states the gite should be left as it was found, then they should expect to be charged.  I wouldn't worry about it, just charge them the going rate.....   good luck!

Hope your dad feels better soon Chris.  Fingers crossed the paperwork sorts itself out too........

Nice to hear you are well, Ali.  Sorry to hear about Ben though....... What is it with France Telecom??? I only ever hear bad things about them........   Good luck with the house hunting!

I knew a family over here with several children.  The older ones in particular were very well integrated to the point of being totally French.  Their English language skills were almost non existant, as they rarely spoke any English at all.  My husband helped the eldest with his CV when applying for a job at an English speaking company, and was shocked at just how bad his language was. That's a real shame, given it's his native tongue.........

Hello everybody   Well, I did a bit of research, asked around my friends and came to the conclusion that I should not pee for one hour before the examination.  This I did and it was fine, if a little uncomfy!  I knew that a full bladder was necessary for the scan, but just couldn't understand why I had to have one for a full hour beforehand!  Anyway, I think I must have misunderstood the one hour business, as I turned up on time and went straight in for the scan. All is well, the little one is about 7.5cm long and all vital organs are working.....yippee!! Thanks  for all your reassurance and best wishes.......

To anybody who's had a baby in France..... I have to go for my 12 week scan later today. It's not at the doctors but at a special X-Ray/Scanning centre in town, and I've been told to turn up one hour before my appointment with a full bladder.  Does anybody know why this is? I've never been asked to do this before..... The thought of sitting for one hour with a full bladder is pure torture!!!![:-))]

Hi I think there has been some sound advice offered from all replies in this thread, including Collette's! The best advice being that moving to rural France is really what you make it, and you really need to have your heart in it!  We moved to rural France two years ago, my husband was out at work from 7am to 7pm (he did a one hour commute) and I was home alone with two kids under the age of two.  I made a huge effort in the beginning and via this and other French forums I made contact with other young mums and quickly developed a social circle.  However, life was very lonely for me, and I quickly became very depressed.  When I look back now I realise it's because my heart was never in it.  We came because of my husbands job and not to live 'our dream'.  You need to be very determined that this is what you want, and as long as you are you will be fine.  Of the friends I made, many were in the same boat as me, but equally, many were (and still are!) very happy and content.  Like I said, it's what you make it. You really need to concentrate on getting your French to a high standard, and when living rurally there are many opportunities to do this.  I found the locals to be warm and friendly for the most part, especially other mums.  Just be realistic in your expectations, it sure isn't a walk in the park, but it can be a dream come true for many. Good luck to you both!    

thanks!!! [:)][:)]

Harley, I've looked at your avatar every whîch way, but I just can't make out what it is.  Is it a pig spitting?? Please put me out of my misery! [:-))]

I would have been totally lost (quite literally!) without our satnav since we've lived in France, it's been a godsend.  Having said that, it does need to be used in conjunction with a bit of common sense.  That means if you're going somewhere very remote, always get some good old fashioned directions from your destination host first, including some landmarks to look out for,just in case! We have a map in the car for emergencies, but we haven't needed it (yet!)   [:)]    

my mum's been following this back in the UK.  She says it's compulsive viewing, if only to laugh at poor Lloyd Webbers pained expressions!  Do you think he was fully informed about what he was letting himself in for...?!  

In Switzerland it's illegal not to pick up the poo.  They provide bags and designated bins dotted along all public highways!  In some parts of Germany they do too. Here in Toulouse it's customary to allow your dog to foul wherever it feels the need.  Mostly that's in the middle of the pavement on a busy street , the more the better, then it can be nicely skidded on and spread about by some unfortunate passer by............Kids play areas are another preferred option......... You could be right about the thickness of the supermarket bags though......[+o(]  My advice would be the ASDA Smart Price, you get 100 for a quid.    

[quote]Why do the British do this? No-one else does. [/quote] I thought it was only the French that didn't do this!   Alas, no such thing as nappy bags here, but the thin freebie bags you get at the supermarket might be OK? [+o(]   

I loved 'em, mainly because my older sister did.  I remember seeing the girls on film video and not really getting it......especially the bit with the ice cube, I was only about 8 then though........ I also remember signing my name 'John Taylor's G-string'  Didn't undertand that either, but as my sister did it I thought it must be cool! [:$] Wham!  They were my passion.  I refused to believe George Michael was gay right up until the public toilet incident....then I was gutted!!

I wonder how many people will be getting drunk!! [B]

[quote user="Jon D"][quote user="Diva Star"] Whilst a large number of Brits of all religious persuasions may not agree with the Governments Foreign Policy, I don't accept that an ethnic minority can dictate foriegn policy and issue what appears to me to be a veiled warning not to meddle in 'Muslim' affairs or if you do accept the consequences. This letter, I feel also plays into the hands of Al Qaeda for similar reasons. [/quote] Yet it is an univited ethnic minority that is currently dictating, for example, foreign and domestic policy in Iraq. As far as half the Arab world is concerned, the West is crapping on them. That is why it is so easy for evil little scrotes like Bin Laden and all his horrible little gnomes to persaude people to commit violent acts. And at the root of all this is the West's dependence on petroleum. That drives our foreign policy. [/quote]   Well said Jon.......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4785893.stm This will be an interesting debate to follow.  Amidst all this anger and frustraion, we really need to be addressing WHY these people feel compelled to act in such an extreme fashion.  Until both sides can get a grasp on the root cause , it will just run and run, and I dread to think of what might happen. I for one feel a desperate need to understand this from the roots up.  I'd better get reading....... Difficult times indeed........  

[quote] Why not? You anyone special? Everybody judges/criticises/ questions the opinions and values of others on the basis of what they say and do. You yourself have no problem, it seems to me, criticising/judging/ questioning/ however you choose to label  it ...the security services.[/quote] I did not, in any of my above posts, cristicise/question/judge the security services.  On the contrary, I applaud their work, and I applaud the typically stoic reaction of the British public to todays events.  [quote]Maybe so. But I think thats a bit like Winston Churchill angsting over the effect on Britains economy while the battle of Britain was in full swing. Clearly it will have some kind of effect but that a) cannot be avoided and b) is secondary to public safety. [/quote] I wasn't 'angsting' over the ecomomy, merely pointing out another way in which the terrorists are succeeding.  Of course it is meaningless in comparison to public safety, but it is NOT secondary to the terrorist cause. [quote]If you allowed yourself the indulgence of a little thought you would conclude that intelligence gathering is complex and usually involving many locations and countries. They cannot simply go in half cocked and arrest people without evidence. The risk would be that they only caught a few minions and didn't nip it in the bud. And the only way to avoid the 'chaos' is to let the public know in advance...and of course that would tend to tip off the terrorists too. [/quote] Mozman, it's a shame the only way you can get your point over is to resort to personal insults. It's disappointing that you didn't allow yourself the indulgence of reflection before you reacted to my post. For everybody else out there, perhaps I should simplify my question: is air travel is less safe today than it was last week? and moreover, will it be safer after today?     

[quote user="Mozman"]Talk of share prices at this time shows a lack of real sense of values IMO. (Well clearly with the exception of Share values anyway.) Shares always react like this...and will bounce back quickly enough. [/quote] Please don't presume to criticise my values.  I was merely illustrating the global impact of todays events, which will no doubt reverberate for some time to come. If this 'plot' has been known about for months, then so why are we wtinessing such chaos and upheaval just today? Maybe somebody can elighten me?      

[quote user="andyh4"] Unless these were hand operated devises, can someone explain how a bomb in the hold is safer than a bomb in the luggage racks?   [/quote]   From what I understand, the explosive material is in liquid form and not detectable by X-Ray, and the bombs would have been assembled and detonated with a mobile phone or other innocuous devise by a suicide bomber once the aircraft was in flight.....hence the ban on all hand luggage now. Still, the chaos which has ensued, and the already detremental effect of the stock markets, is, in a way, a small victory for the terrorists, and another 'no win' situation for the authorities.......  

Absolutely Russethouse.  I do feel sorry for anyone travelling today or in the near future, but thank goodnes for MI5 .  It doesn't bear thinking about.............