phylisbide

Our neighbour has found morilles for the first time in her garden this year - she has lived there 38 years! Is it a funny season - or is there an old wives' tale attached?

Thank you. What a lovely old fashioned document - and what vast quantities! PB

Have you tried St Marc for cleaning the floor? It worked for cleaning some very greasy, smoky stonework walls - using a heavy duty scrubbing brush and St Marc in hot water. Wear gloves though - nasty stuff in prolonged use. PB

Door handle -brass anad china 'sausage' shape. Screw not poperly fastened - china part has fallen off and smashed. Can one buy new china 'sausage' ? If so, where? PB

Heard one, then a second cuckoo last week in 24 - am pleased because last year it didn't find a friend. My neighbour said that if you have money in your pocket when you first hear the cuckoo you will have money all year. Fat chance.  Also what are the night-time 'peeping' frogs - we are not near water - I think they are small and black - en masse they sound like wooden wind chimes. When I hear one I have perfected the call and I am sure they respond - their call gets nearer and nearer. OH thinks I have lost the plot. Would be pleased to know what  I am responding to... PB

I was told yesterday that the weather is going to be nice from yesterday ( the day we left for Blighty) until Sunday when its going to be 25 degrees in 24. But the weatherwill be generally grotty for the time of year because of the moon - it will not change until the ? think they said 4th May. I've come home to dry out. Nothing to do with the hospitality of our neighbours..PB

Have any of you any recipes for easy fruit licquers - pref eau de vie based rather than rhum - I thought as freezer space is tight I would put fruit to another use this year... that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it...PB

Hi - I have never seen knotting in France - and have askeed for it at the quincaillerie and met with blank look. Now I bring it over from uk. P

When do you need the scaffold tower - might be able to help. Phylis

An enthusiastic young woman, hopefully thinking about our ageing local population and how to encourage young people to live there permanently - also the process was really interesting - a huge turnout at the poll - is this normal in France?  That in itself is quite illuminating. Any ideas on where we might find info about her status age-wise vis a vis the the rest of France? Phylis

Our new Maire is a young woman (aged 29) - how do we find out if she is the youngest female Maire? Have searched on Google but there is lots of irrelevant stuff and I'm sure there is a better way - any ideas? Thanks, Phylis

The other thing to check is the colour of the sand because this will affect the finished look of course - making sure you have enough sand available to finish the job - our builder had  to go back to the merchant to buy an alternative sand because the first one he chose was going to be too yellow ...

Have you had the storms that we have been experiencing here in UK? We are travelling down to 24 on Sat and hope our roof is still in the usual place....Phylis

Don't forget that you can offset any invoices from registered artisans - including the cost of materials if they are included on artisan invoice only. If you have purchased any building materials yourself these are disallowed. Phylis

The sauce might be nice with pasta and perhaps some light veg to off set the rich-ness. The 'bloc' should be a very edible little pate (sorry no accents on this machine) which you can eat with toasted bread, brioche, or savoury bisbuits - or you could fry it in slices for a few minutes and serve with peaches - also warmed in the pan. Phylis

And in our village which has protected status, getting an appointment with the people from Architecte de Batiments de France is also helpful - they are the final decision makers. When we first purchased our house, I spent an hour or so wandering round with M Le Maire discussing the merits and demerits of different styles of roof tile - complete waste of effort as the Architecte had completely different ideas - which of course involved hand -made tuiles plats, petits sables; which in turn required new roofing timbers to support the extra weight .....and the original tiles were deemed unsuitable as they were (ordinary) reddish 'farm building '  tiles in his opinion! Good luck with the work! Phylis

As an update, watched a lovely documentary in French about Rio de Janeiro the other evening. So success, thanks again. P 

Thank you for all of your replies: very comprehensive. I will look at the remote doofer this evening  and will change the language setting - (didn't think about that). I have also looked at French news 24 and this has been in English every time I have checked - but maybe that is just that the language setting needs changing too. Phylis

I am sure that a year or so ago there was a Sky Channel with The News in French - but having spent an hour scrolling through the listing cannot find it. Has anyone any idea where I could watch the News in French while I am in the UK - it is an easy way of getting into the swing of speaking French prior to a trip  - because the pictures help with the context - any ideas would be helpful. Phylis

Sleeper seats work well - they are in pairs, and if it is quiet the staff will probably put you on your own rather than be in a pair with a stranger. There are small screens which drop down between you both too. They provide pillow and blanket - although I always take my own pillow - on busy nights it can be a bit noisy with people closing loo doors or talking - they turn out the lights quite early so not too bad. It is good being flat rather than scrunched up on a reclining seat, and better than the floor. There are also showers, coffee and croissants available. PB

Where is the store outside Bergerac with designer furnishings? Shan't be able to go past that one.... PB

Sorry - saw the last modified date on the article as 24 Jan! PB

An intersting tall plant is the artichoke - Jerusalem type, like a knobbly potato - will make a good screen if you plant lots - and you can eat them later - you could mix in some sunflowers for effect - neither are there in the winter though. Russian vine is not called 'Mile a Minute' for nothing - keeping it where you want it might be a challenge. Another evergreen climber is the clematis 'Armandii' - lovely perfumed flowers and good dark green leaves - have fun choosing. Phylis (a rose)

Thought others may be interested in this - unless this is old news and I have been under a stone...   French government's new decision on access to the French healthcare system for inactive citizens from other EU countries Last modified date: 24 January 2008 Following representations made to the French government, we can confirm that the French Health Ministry has modified its decision regarding access to the French healthcare system for inactive citizens from other EU countries already residing in France. According to a letter from the French Health Ministry: Inactive EU nationals who were resident in France before 23 November 2007 can continue to access healthcare via the CMU, regardless of whether they were registered in the CMU or an E106 holder at that time. Those people, not already in receipt of a UK state pension, who became E106 holders after 23 November 2007 will only be covered for the duration of the E106 and on expiry of that E106, will need to take out private health insurance unless on expiration of the E106 they have reached UK retirement age or they qualify as a French resident (after 5 years of "regular, uninterrupted residence") As previously, people already over retirement age who are holders of an E121 which is registered with the French authorities will remain unaffected. This information is based on what we have been told by the French authorities. We suggest people seek further information and advice on individual cases from one or more of the following: French Social Security website Information on entitlement to healthcare in France for economically inactive EU citizens (opens new window) CNAM -the French Health Service (English language service): +33 8 20 90 42 12 CLEISS - France's helpdesk for international mobility and social security: 11 rue de la tour des Dames 75436 Paris cedex 09 Tel: +33 1 45 26 33 41 Centre des Liaisons Européennes et Internationales de Sécurité Sociale (CLEISS) (opens new window) For holders of E106 and E109 forms: DWP Overseas Medical Benefits helpline International Pension Centre Room Tc001 Tyneview Park Whitley Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1BA Tel: +44 (0) 191 218 1999 (Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm)

Not necessary now, but in case he should get wanderlust again - our neighbours contacted the local radio station  - their dog had gone several miles and turned up at a tractor depot in the nearest town. Glad he is back though.