Judith

We put up old CDs on string to discourage birds from nesting under our "upstairs" terrace, as we sit underneath it .. seems to work, I can see the terrace as I type and there are no birds evident, nor have been ever since we put the discs up. Bits of aluminium foil would work as well if you don't have old CDs.

I have that problem too, Menthe, as I can touch type too .. yes,you need to learn to type with one finger only, sadly!

Writing frrm what seems to be the only place in France still under extreme drought conditions, and being no gardener either, plus being in the UK for most of March, all I can say is, that this year has been totally untypical ... one minute so warm I can put a T-shirt on, the next week, I'm back in winter woollies, and that has been happening all year! My drive both ways to the UK was wet, wet, and even wetter, I did manage a few nice days on and off whilst in the UK, but it has been just the same here, except for the rain, we just get grey skies, which are neither use nor ornament to anyone, since I got back. Winter woollies today, 3 days ago, T-shirt!!!

It makes forgetting where I put my glasses seem like child's play! But, yes, I suspect that more people than we'd like to think of have done some things similar ... and I must confess to checking passport location even when I know I have put in where it always lives when travelling! It's where I have put the house keys for safe keeping in the room, when I am away which I forget!

Menthe, I presume you can change keyboards (ie French or English, or something else) I find that helps .. also if you turn the phone on its side, the letters get larger!! At least they do on mine! Good luck.

I used 1.15, as advised by my financial advisor, who by chance, I talked to last week.

It was good, but sadly, I could find ways of improving it .. more seats, and a café, for example! A tiring place to walk around. Totaly agree, come on folks, POST!! Keep this forum alive!!

Thanks Dave, yes, it's good to get away from everything for one day. I went with a friend to NarboVia, a newish museum, in Narbonne, evidently, all about Roman Narbonne. She drives, which is so relaxing for me, we always find a good place to have a good lunch, and do something interesting. She's been to the museum several times before, but says she sees something new everytime. €9 entry, but as it happened, as I got my card out to pay, my carte mobilité incusion could be seen (NormanH will certainly know what one of those is), and when he had checked it was stil valid, said, it's free for you!! Such a pleasant surprise! Well worth a visit if anyone is in the area! What with travelling on the télépherique in Toulouse for the first time on Saturday, as well, I've been more of a tourist these last few days than I've been for some time. So nice!

Been out all day (enjoying myself, lovely weather too!), and came back to the news that we were back live! Thanks to those who kept us informed ... great stuff .. fingers crossed we keep going ..

Menthe, I must admit, I was working on our tax form last night and had got to savings, and on checking got quite a surprise how much there was .. not excessive, but after a miserable year before, like you it was a minor shock ...

At lunch with my ladies group today, one of the ladies was searching for her glasses .. she thought she must have left them in the car ... we told her she did have a pair of glasses on her head (hair not forehead .. but) was it those? It was! We all had to laugh (she has lovely thick hair by the way, so not entirely a surprise that she couldn't feel them). I couldn't carry them like hat even if I wished to do so with expensive prescription glasses as my head is the wrong shape to do so, but it does seem to be a popular place to keep them even if it can't be doing the fit any good I always think!

Gardian, I vey much sympathise with both of you. As you say, she looks as though she's been lucky and is getting some life to live still, but impossible to push trolley and wheelchair .. I've tried pushing a trolley with only one hand after a hand op .. impossible, so the fact that you've managed what you have for so long is amazing! Such excellent news, because it gives you both independence, as she will be able to do so much more with the electric chair, which is of benefit to both too ... I've been unable to walk any real distance without a stick for some time now, and yes, such seemingly trivial things (not being able to do the speed or the distance I once did without thinking about it), does becoome imcredibly important once you cannot do it!. Even slight improvements take on incredible importance too.

I've just mamaged to change the hour forward, twice now in 2 days .. as I'm back in France. Arrived at the hotel last night and said, what time is it please? Tunnel was late, which didn't help! Maybe by the time I'm home - 2 more days - I'll have sorted myself out!!

I'm in the UK longest, wettest spell I can rememebr for a very long time, in both countries. Maybe had 2 or 3 warm and sunny days, several cloudy but with no rain, though never warm, and like today showers and sunny spells .. I was hoping it would improve as I come south this week, but evidently not from what you are all saying. Botheration!

Suspect I joined in about 2004/5, when the idea of moving to France when retirement was close enough to make it viable, but it might have been sooner, as I'd been thinking of it for sometime before it became a feasible option. Since we came in 2005 (or OH did, I had to wait to retire so was behind him), in 2005, it was certainly by then. As for the names, they are to conjure wiith. SD helped with tax affairs as well as many other topics, Copperlola, RH and other all remembered fondly here .. but as to when it actually started, qui le sait??? I'm currently on hols and family visiting it the UK, so late to seeing, responding and even posting in my own right!. Tant pis!! Suspect other forums ie FB might have thought to replace this one, but do you know, it doesn't do the same job at all!