Judith

Menthe, I have MAC and ipad etc, and thre is a map app on there which will produce itinieraries .. not alsways possibel to put much info in, start and finish, but it does provide 2 or three route options, with timings .. which have to be taken with some degree of salt, but it gives you a ball park timing at least. Maybe you have such an app on your computer?? Worth looking anyway, and there are still free apps for navigation, if you can put with adverts, which I just ignore. Bonne chance.

Narbonne is good, a new hospital on the outskirts, gets good reports (i've been there, as I live locally), a second smaller hospital in the centre - sous-prefecture of Aude so you have all the usual services, tax office etc. Theatre which acts as a cinema, rail route (Spain, Bezeiers /Montpellier or Carcassone / Toulouse / Bordeaux), so 3-ways possible, bus services etc, canal etc, not too large, human sized, close to lovely scenery, and the coast but not on the coast, but can be windy .., but has most of the services you'd want. An hour to Spain by car (less by train). Montpellier has a good reputation too, also Bordeaux, both which I know a little. Only changed trains at Lyon so cannot say any more. I'm no longer a big city girl, but the only one of those I don't think I'd like to live in if needs must is Lyon. Have you thought of Toulouse, also fits the category you seek. Internet, with fibre optic being installed all over, is as good as you'd get almost anywhere now. I am in a large rural village about 30 mins drive from Narbonne, if it works well here, well it will work well in big cities too.

Been unable to stop watching, everyone did the nation proud. Agree about the bearer party, the naval ratings did a splendid job with an awkward load too, and seeing George and Charlotte behaving impecably did my heart good. I found the coffin descending suddenly a little scary too, until I remembered it did that with Prince Philip's coffin too. Been very proud to be British today.

When you get a good person, who delights in offering a service, even here in France, it can be such a pleasure, as though there is nothing they wouldn't do for you. Sadly, that attitude is relatively rare, these days!

MIne wouldn't let me do either, but that was because of the treatment he'd just done and not Covid .. said teeth needed time to settle ..

I understood that the room could only accommodate 200 so they were all put into a ballot!

This amended picture was being circulated yesterday ...I rather like it.

Filled up today in my usual Carrefour - E10 was 1.399 ... after the new discount ws applied on 1st Sept So why they were all queuing on Saturday I really do not know!

Was in Narbonne today. Long queue through lights, thinking it was just bad traffic .. oh no, queuing for fuel, as we drove through on the outside lane saw 95- 1.3~~, the next, probably 98- 1.4~~ . I couldn't be bothered quite frankly. But on special offer I would suspect.

I know Avocats who speak good English, but I don't think they specialise in health issues, nor are they close to you, Chessie. But it is highly probable you'll find one from the info already given. I don't think they necessarily need to be local, but specialised in the subject, and for you, speaking good English, would help immensely. Never worry about asking for help and advice, Chessie, we are all aware of what you are going thorugh and are glad to help when we can.

CAmden Lock was OK if you were on the canal .. cruising past. .. as I did once. Always avoided it otherwise, far to many people, besides which, for me, it was going out of town, but not far enough to be realy country.

Read about this, but no pic on the news item I saw. Holy Moses, as you might say!!

I thought it had been quite lively, and polite, as well, recently.

Only once in France .. coming back late Satruday night after collecting hubby from Barcelona airport. Drove both ways myself It's a least a 3-4hr job and as I did the very scenic coastal tour to get there so had set off in good time, stopped for a latish sandwich once back in France, so turned off the motorway at Narbonne ... and got stopped.I'm asmathic especially after a long day and no inhaler yet taken, was tired, and could not blow into the thingymy at all! Twice they tried. No puff. At which point I said, in English, I've been driving all day, I'm tired, explained where I'd been, and said, no way had I had anything to drink. They shrugged their shoulders, admitted defeat and I drove on!

Menthe, doesn't sound like the heat is getting to you .. I'd have never thought that one up .... mind you it is hot here and the heat is def getting to me now .. we could do with a groan icon!!!!

Don't tempt providence ALBF! Next you know, it'll be flooding all over - the usual breakdown of the heat into storms is most likely very soon I suspect!

Catalpa, it is seriously difficult to stay cool in temps such as we have down here in the deep south, though our house is not the best to keep things cool. 2 fans the norm chez moi, no air con .. shutters closed most of day, likewise windows, you get fed up of living in gloom. Winter can be just as bad, but the opposite, you don't go out still, but this time because it is too cold and windy - yes even in the deep south. And houses are difficult to heat and get warm. As you say, be careful what you wish for.

Quite, Menthe ... problems crossing between Spain and France yesterday too .. coming back into France .. huge queue yestarday, almost back to La Jonquera for those who know it, though I gather that was compounded by an accident. Today at about 1pm there were only two booths open, for both telepeage AND non ticket holders, so nearly everyone was having to stop and take a ticket. There was the 30 telepeage working, but only on the inside lane, where all the lorries were .. and of course I couldn't get into it. Queuing for about 2km, happily it did move, albeit slowly. Much more traffic than usual, I presume holiday makers (I went to see my dentist - not a pleasure trip at all), so if there problems on the French autoroutes, when there is no checking of passports etc (at least now Covid is over), translate that into having to check and stamp EVERY passport (or not stamp those resident, but they would be a small portion only I would suggest) on one of hte busiest departure days of the year, then it's no surprise it was chaos. But then, I don't understand why everyone must gon on holiday on the same day either!! I've come across at that time before and this is the first time is was so bad .. but then before it wasn't full holiday season!

LIke Nick P, I too cannot understand why they must all set off on the same weekend eimmediately when the hoidays start. They do get 6 weeks off school I presume, still. Idiots. MInd you, my nephews has just set off too, but seemingly he flew with no problems to an unsual (for the Britis) place and arrived as planned. It can be done, just don't be lemmings.

LIkewise, Menthe!

Mint, I hadn't realised you been in hospital again .. not the old trouble I hope! Keep cool and get well soon.

Mint! Hola! No, I've not been to Spain, but back to blighty - at last ! Saw all the fmaily and did lots of thngs I've not been able to do for ages, plus some I can't do here. Did I tellyou I got the good news I hoped for in April, hence the longer than usual trip. As for this forum, and this 'ere post in particular, I've popped in and out along the way, though I certainly had more entertaining things to do on my hols than pop in often .. so I missed most of the repartee .. as I have said more than once on this Forum, France, and anywhere else you might live, is what you make of it. Where you live depends on what you like to do, and how you integrate or not, also on you passions. Not everyone is politically minded to discuss all and sundry, albeit being politically educated as much as is required. For example, since I cannot vote, who is who in French politics is raelly not a great interest ... but I do keep in touch with is as much as I need .. Even if I lived back in the UK, I would get involved in those things I am interested in and not in the ones I am not. Likewise in France. C'est la vie.

Chessie, I's sorry you've had all this - complete shambles .. and not normal. Being unable to put wight on his leg is usual, we have a friend who fell and was 3 months unable to get ouf of bed, fortunately he didn;t have some of the other probems your OK has. However there should be some gentle exercises he can do to keep his muscle strength up - even in a wheelchair. Stretching his legs out - just low - bringing toes up, moving ankles around, that sort of thing. I do a class where the tutor give different exercises, same muscles worked, for chair bound, (we have one) those who can't get onto the floor(me) and those who can, so it can be done. Look for exercises to strengthen legs before and after hip replacement exercises .. online .. that's what I did. And no reason why he can't exercise his upper body in the chair as well, strengthening his arm muscles etc, which will help when they finally let him use crutches. I'll see if I can find anything online if I get a chance but busy few days here ..

ALBF - you can have some of our rain .. OK, it's dry now, but this year has been much wetter than usual .. even the gardeners down here are not wishing for rain ...

Lori, as a poor sighted creature, I would suggest you get your eyes checked. Progressives in France, varifocals elsewere, do need to be corretly fitted and whilst optometrists can now test, it is still very useful to get your eyes checked up by a opthalmologist. The puffs etc are nasty, but that is checking for glaucoma and such, and quite honetly, the older we get, it probably best done in spite of your disllike. The drops a necessary evil to look at the back of the eye .. to see the health of your eye.. They check for disease also. Since I've worn glasses since I was 3 years old, I got very used to having my eyes poked at etc .. better safe than sorry. If you were any where near to me, I would recommend my opthalmologist ... a caring person, he did both my cataracts, and understood my fear during the ops .. all happily perfectly done. The minimal you can do is to go to an optemistrict, or optician, and see if they will make a new pair to your old prescription, but he might recommend you get a test, and quite honestly, it's not the route I would chose to go with a prescription so old. Frankly, your sight is precious, it's not worth messing around with.