Gardian

tj ............. Sounds like a step forward.  At least you seem to be getting close to a definitive diagnosis, after which comes the treatment / medication.   Very best wishes with how things progress from here.  Keep us posted. 

That's your penance because your lot won the World Cup. Seriously, sounds dodgy .............. and all for a tin of confit.  You'll be able to dine out on that scar for the rest of your ......  No, until Italy win the WC again !!

How can I put this without causing offence?   Complete b****cks. 'Happy Planet Index' says it all.   Who on earth funds these people to produce so-called 'research' like this? 

Perhaps line dancing is 'big' in the Dordogne? Too exhausted afterwards to furtle around on the box like we saddo's?

I can smell KKK's traps from as far away as she is !! Perhaps that could do with re-phrasing, however .............  

Gentlemen ............... The problem is, that there's more than an element of truth here.

Actually, 'IHSM' has a certain ring about it.  Maybe a business opportunity ? In truth, the biggest dangers are: those tiny unlicensed motorbike engine 'cars' the Dutch (too slow) Parisians (too fast) anyone from the Vaucluse 84 (lethal) - don't know why, they just are the Mums (aged 25 - 35) driving home around 09.10 having dropped off the kid(s) at school    

Tresco ............ Best advice would be to do as the French: Stick to the middle Not less than 70kph, even on the most rural and windy roads Ignore the possibility of unexpected hazards, such as tractors, cyclists, or even other cars Be prepared (at any second) for a sudden manoeuvre, preferably, to the right  Tell your friend to follow that and she'll be fine. p.s.  If she's really that worried, maybe best to leave it for a later life.   

Tomato Slices If you can get those packs of Feuilletee pastry that come in squares (4), that's ideal, but you can cut any old shape you like really. Par-cook them on grease-proof at about 180 for 6 mins, and flatten down the middle bit with a spatula. Smear liberally with black tapenade, then 'spot' halves of cherry toms to more or less fill the void.  Dollop small chunks of camembert (or any other soft cheese that you've got lying around) over the top and whack back in the oven for another 6 or 7 mins.  Put under a fierce grill just to really melt off the cheese for 30 secs. Serve with a nice salad (and in my case) some Sweet Pickle. Hot I know, but you can serve it 'tepid'.    

It was actually a pretty boring game, with the Italians undeserving winners on the night. Hardly a save to be made by either 'keeper in the whole 120 mins. All in all, a bit of a disappointment, particularly as we were due to go round to our neighbours for lashings of champagne had France won! 

Anybody ringing during the day is French, so we don't break our neck to get out of the pool / off the chair to answer quickly.  If it's really for us, they'll ring back.  Otherwise, the recorded message that kicks in after 6 rings puts them off.  Pain in the arse. One (of the many) good things about being out here is that we don't get our (UK) bank ringing incessantly wanting us to drop by for an 'account review' (i.e. try to sell us some more insurance).

We're 'cheek by jowl' with a big forest here and the aircraft started going over around midday today. Two of them (Securite Civile) doing circuits at about 500' or less for an hour or so. Fire 500m away I reckon.  They went off (I guess) to refuel and were replaced by a helicopter for another hour, then the same again.  The pompiers were in the forest doing their thing. Wind from the north, so fortunately taking any fire away from us. A bit scarey. It'll probably get a minor mention in the Midi Libre tomorrow, but .............

[quote user="Aidy"] You are luck, up here in Yorkshire i have been trying to book a cheap flight from Leeds/Bradford to Bergerac or Manchester to anywhere south of Limoges and a) they are virtually non existent... and b) they aint cheap for Bergerac airport using Flybe the price was something in the region of £300 return and only on a Saturday and from Manchester the same price but only a little bit more regular. It seems to me that the era of cheap flights has not reached the areas north of Watford Gap and probably never will do.   Aidy [/quote] Ryanair, Liverpool & EMA to both Bergerac and Limoges.

[quote user="Tvcamdave"]This is a subject we have great interest in as my wife has MS and epilepsy so any infomation is useful. I have found some useful information on the Angloinfo.com website about disabilities and allowances. It gives addresses for only a few areas but the info is universal. Does anyone have any sourse of information on hospital specialities in different towns as we have yet to finalise an area to look for proporty. Having the right services available would be important. Dave Lawson[/quote] Dave ........ We moved here 21 months ago: one of the reasons for the move was that my wife had been retired on ill health having been diagnosed with MS a couple of years ago (it has affected her sight rather than motor skills). The consultant who she saw in the UK was excellent and had put her on Rebif (beta -interferon, as I'm sure you're aware).  She was given 3 months supply (as opposed to the normal 1 month's worth) prior to leaving the UK. We've been very fortunate. Our local GP is German and speaks fluent English.  She referred my wife to the Chef de Service Consultant Neurologist at Montpellier Hospital.  He too speaks English fluently, is charming, and readily put her on to the same medication which is supplied monthly at 100% (just as well, because the monthly cost is over €1000), together with any associated blood tests etc.  We see him 6-monthly for a review and his usual fee is €41 !!!!!!!!  The hospital is modern and efficient - can't speak too highly of it. He had an MRI scan done 12 mths ago and will probably want another one sooner or later: he had the one that she had done in the UK sent out to him (for comparison purposes). By the way, the process for obtaining 100% was instigated by our GP - we didn't have to do anything. If you want any more information, pls do not hesitate to post here or pm privately.    

Kieran .............. If you're too high (which you may well be), then just use the 'regular' lane and do as you said - hand the gizmo to the attendant.

SFA here OPAS.  Forecast for tomorrow though.  Need it badly. Forest fires not too far away over the weekend.  Water bombers (4 x Canadair aircraft) going over every 40 mins or so - back to fill up in the Rhone, then same again. Local paper said 250 firefighters from all over the region involved: 4 hospitalised.  

[quote user="Christine Animal"] Il-de-France is second, yet there don't seem to be many posters from there (I can't think of one).  Does this mean that the Ile-de-France are lurkers ?   [/quote] They're probably Parisien governmental lurkers checking up on what we, (the ex-pats) are doing  / talking about.

Our neighbour, who is a lovely 'over-the-top' sort of bloke, has addressed me (and my wife) as "Tu" almost from the off.  But he seems to do that with just about anyone who fetches up on his doorstep. His charming wife has taken a year to get to the same point, even after several dinners at each other's places. (No lack of friendliness, by the way, just "Vous").  Happily it's now "Tu" with her too. We'll be having dinner together over the weekend & I'll ask them: bet they won't be able to explain it. 

[quote user="Dick Smith"]Ah! All is revealed - Wallington Boys! Now the name makes sense. I'll have a look at the old class photos and see if I can remember the face - but posting a picture would make it easier... [/quote] Nope - you were younger than me and thus insignificant.  I've got the photos too and I reckon I know which spotty youth you were !! I was in 6Arts1 & 2 with Peter Teed (?) as our 'Year Master'.  I think: memory fades. Anyway, good school, with plenty of amazing characters. I did Latin with 'Bert' Scotcher - learned more about the English language & and thus a help with my reasonable command of French) than with anyone else.  It was Friends United that gave you away.  I checked up on you.

[quote user="Dick Smith"]"Occasionally used to watch 'The Robins' (Carshalton Athletic, for those who mighn't know, but Dick will, cos he's on their doorstep)." Used to live in Colston Avenue... [/quote] Bet you're wondering how I knew?

TJ ......... Have pm'd you.

Returning to the World Cup, I reckon that time will say that the loss of Owen (unfit, then crocked) was our biggest setback, over all the other things (Rooney's folly, midfield tiredness, Ericsonn's tactics). Think of how many chances might have been converted had (a fit) Owen been 'sniffing around' in the box like a true striker?

Might have known that with Dick Smith, he'd trawl up a Sutton Utd man. Very bandy legged was Ted Powell.  I used to watch the U's home & away in those years. A true 'chocolate & umber' man - or boy as I was then. Many years watching Corinthian Casuals, Walthamstow Avenue, Clapton Town, Hitchin Town, St Albans City, etc, etc. Roffey, Bladon, Howard, Mellows, Pritchard (the most gifted), Dario Gradi (still at Crewe?), et al. Alan Gane (to my memory) was never more than a substitute player (with the greatest possible respect to him).  Hated Wycombe, with their sloping pitch: then went to live there.  It's now a the hospital car park. Occasionally used to watch 'The Robins' (Carshalton Athletic, for those who mighn't know, but Dick will, cos he's on their doorstep). Good times.       

As promised, I 'collared' one of the cabbies (well actually, the only bloke there) and he pulled out a pre-printed list of destinations & prices, including Barjac !! Lots of muttering about about it being "Tres loin, mais faisible". Anyway, it would be €130 (and the same for the return).  It's along way, so not a stitch-up.  Decent 'people carrier' vehicle - seemed like an OK bloke. PM me if you want his details - I have his card.   

We didn't deserve to win, though Portugal weren't much better. No matter how many times I see it, I still don't think that Rooney's foul was deliberate, but we were better once he went off anyway. He simply wasn't better than 70% fit. As for C Ronaldo, his cynical winding up of the ref and subsequent wink to the bench, showed the worst aspect of football. I hope that MU dump him unceremoniously: bet they won't. Germany will win it & deserve to on the basis of the last few games.