Adobill<P><FONT face=Arial>Bill <FONT><P><P><FONT face=Arial>Charente Maritime (17) & Northampton<FONT><P>

How many Manchester United fans does it take? 2 - 1 to change the bulb,  and 1 to drive him up from Surrey

My inlaws wanted a few days at our house, I tried to book them from Portsmouth to Caen using Owners Discount total cost 258 pounds, they booked on the phone for the same dates and the exact same sailings 210 pounds. Is BF treating it owners club with disdain or is there a point I am missing?

Last year, 12 year old daughter and I spent the summer holidays at our house. As husband only managed to get 10 days off work to join us at the end, one of my single, childless, friends "invited" herself to stay for a week even though she hates the heat. I'd bought the food for her visit, as well as lots of wine (she then told me she didn't like French wine!) - when tasting one homemade dessert she accused me of trying to poison her (hopefully a joke), so next day at the market she said she fancied strawberries - she asked me to ask for them as her french was non-existent, which I did but then there was an awkward moment when neither of us moved to pay, so in the end I paid. She also brought with her a list of the "touristy" things she'd found which she wanted to do - one entailed a drive to a town about one and half hours away to visit a chocolate shop so she could take chocolates home as presents - she spent nearly £60.00 on chocolates for other people and then realised we'd need to get back to our house straight away as they would melt! She did buy my daughter a one euro lolly though! For the whole week I taxied her around without her even offering to pay towards petrol. Finally on the last day she said she'd like to treat me for having her by going to our local restaurant for the 11 euro lunch. However, she said I'd need to pay for my daughter! I declined. A few days after she got home, I received a parcel from her - maybe this was a "small thankyou" - it was a couple of food covers to protect food from the flies - with a note complaining about the amount of flies in the house. She's been strongly hinting she'd like to come again this year, as she had a lovely time last year! I don't think so. Vee not

Thanks all for your replies - it's me, Vee who shaves my legs. I hadn't realised that my OH, Bill has obviously set up an automatic signatory thing on posts and I have no idea how to get rid of that so will try to remember to end posts in future with Vee NOT

My parents are staying for a couple of months at our holiday home in Charente Maritime - near St Jean D'Angely, Saintes, Rochefort. Mum's legs now need waxing apparently as they haven't lasted as long as she thought they would! Does anyone know of where she could go - I can't say I've ever seen "beautician" places to be honest but then as I shave my legs, it's never been a problem! She's tried asking the neighbours but they couldn't help - I'm not sure they would shave their legs, never mind wax! Thanks in anticipation Vee

Thanks all for your replies - I've no idea why we only get one bill per year. As I've always paid by cheque in the past I looked back through cheque stubs and the last bill we paid was in June 2004. However, this year's bill is much higher than last year's but I suppose as the house was occupied from June to September that would explain the increase. Under the column "periode ou cumul" it states 010105/311205 - perhaps 1st Jan 05 to 31 Dec 05. We are in Charente Maritime. Once again, many thanks for your quick replies - I'll get the bill off in the post now. Vee

We have some friends who will be visiting some of their other friends who live near Bergerac in August. They are flying to Bergerac airport. During this break, they are hoping to come to see us for a few days. Does anyone know whether it's possible to get a train from Perigeux (Ithink that's where the friends live) or Bergerac to perhaps Saintes or La Rochelle? Many thanks Vee

Hi I'm looking for advice please. We have just received our annual water bill sent to our address in England - this will probably have been our third water bill over the years and I have previously paid by cheque with no problems. I have just written the cheque and notice as I come to put it in the envelope that it states on the back of the envelope that it (the envelope) is to be used only for payment by TIP and neither cheques nor correspondence should be sent. I'm now not sure what to do - I can't recall seeing this information stated on previous envelopes to the water company and have always paid all bills by cheque with no problem. In order to pay by TIP what would I need to do - I'm assuming it's like Direct Debit, in which case how will the water company know my bank details etc if I haven't ever set something up before? Advise very gratefully received! Many thanks Vee

[quote]Had another experience of this subject yesterday. A friend came over to help us lay the floor in the lounge. Yes, not one, but two men asking me "have you seen", "I had it a minute ago, what have I ...[/quote] Is this just a "man thing".   Afraid not, on this usual monday morning I greet my male colleague with the usual "did you have a nice weekend", when he told me a tale of his wife out in the family car and breaking down many miles from home.   She phoned him at home - and her first words of the conversation were "where are you"

As well as Taxe d'habitation and Taxe Fonciere, we also pay something called Redevance Ordures Menageres - for collection of rubbish, etc - twice a year. This year it's 128E

When I'm in France Charente Maritime (17), when I want to be in France Northampton

Two quizzes, 100% both times, but still no prize! I can cope with being a genius, but consistent bad luck is a pain!!

My wife has reported from France and tells me that the problem was mice. My mother in law found three decaying corpses in the bin in the kitchen, they had fallen in and coundn't get out. Now we have to find where they are coming in from; a neighbour says it could be through the little hole that forms part of the charantaise sink. But at least it's better than having termites phew!! Thanks for all the help, replies and private messages. It just goes to prove to some sceptics on this forum that the reason for the forum's existence i.e. those with the knowledge and understanding helping those who haven't, is still strong. Thanks everyone.

Thanks all for replies - hopefully we'll find out more about what we've got when my wife goes back in March. I suppose mice are better than termites, so here's hoping we can rectify the problem without too much trouble (and expense!) Thanks also to those who've e-mailed - messages will have gone to my work e-mail so I won't get them until later on in the week, but thanks anyway Regards Bill

Hi I posted on Western France forum but have had no response, so here's hoping someone on this board may be able to help! We have a house in Charente Maritime which we visit quite frequently. We were last there at Christmas when we noticed some small brownish "droppings" sporadically on surfaces downstairs - we weren't aware of any upstairs. Before Christmas we were at our house at the beginning of November and there was no evidence of anything then. At first we thought perhaps it was mouse droppings but could find no other evidence that mice were around. I also thought they may be something to do with spiders. On returning to the UK, my wife has been searching the internet to see if she could throw any light. She is now panicking because she thinks they may be termite pellets. Does anyone know whether this is really likely? We bought the property 3 years ago and have the termite report to say there was no evidence of termites then. Any help or advice gratefully received! Many thanks