Kitty

I have a black labradoodle (rescued via this Forum).  As a new breed (a crossbreed between a Labrador retriever and a poodle), they are lovely dogs.  They are just like Labradors - obedient and loyal - with the added intelligence of poodles.  Highly recommended. Here are photos of my labradoodle, Henry.  http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1630509/ShowPost.aspx I have adopted seven dogs in my lifetime and he is quite the kindest and gentlest of all of them.

[quote user="just john "][quote user="woolybanana"]Seeing his affected hat ! [/quote]I actually quite like it myself and just the job for this weather, I think I might get a cinnamon one for summer, what do you think? I guess you'd prefer the red one Wools?[8-|] Pachacuti Felt Fedora[/quote] Please permit me to thread drift on Christmas Eve.  While you lot are busying yourself silly, I am tucked up in bed reading books and occasionally reading this Forum.  All my children are at a friend's house preparing the Christmas Feast. I can't work out why our generation stopped wearing hats - too much time in cars, perhaps?  I reckon, JJ, you should get a Panama for the summer and a Fedora for the winter.  Cinnamon, sounds interesting.  How do you keep a hat on when driving an open top? Back to thread, Vince Cable is lucky to have held onto his cabinet post.  His problem was his indiscretion about revealing his thoughts to strangers.  You wonder how often he has briefed friends and journalists off the record.

My naval grandfather told me that he went to Australia in 1927 with King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on HMS Renown.  It was a royal tour that included Jamaica and the Panama Canal on the way there and New Zealand, Mauritius, Suez, Malta and Gilbraltar on the way back.  He was away for the a few months on board with them but told me that he didn't see them during the entire time.

Daughter back.  The family drove through Belgium and Northern France during the night.  Snow all the way and sometimes, they didn't see another car on the autoroute for an hour.  They couldn't see the edges of the road. As soon as they were past Paris, the autoroutes were completely clear.

[quote user="andyh4"][quote user="Cathy"]Anyone who knows the conditions in Northern France, please keep posting here.  I have a daughter who set off at lunchtime today from Northern Germany via Belgium and Paris.  [/quote] Cathy hope she is now safely with you.  Conditions in our part of Germany have been at best very bad with the same bans of trucks as in Northern france.[/quote] No she hasn't but I gather the family with whom she is travelling took a break in Koln (Cologne).  I am hoping that she will arrive sometime today.  Once she arrives, I'll report on the conditions.

Thanks Banana for letting me know.  I have cracked open a bottle of Lillet to celebrate.  Yippee.

Anyone who knows the conditions in Northern France, please keep posting here.  I have a daughter who set off at lunchtime today from Northern Germany via Belgium and Paris.

Amazing that he opened up and revealed so much to two strangers.  I gather that they were women posing as mothers?  Is there any more info on these journalists?

Vince Cable mentions in the sting operation that they are filling up the House of Lords.  The government decided to appoint 20 Lords and Ladies (A' Leaping [Www]), of whom 10 were Liberal appointees.  Democracy?

Two 90 year old men, Dai and Emrys, have been friends all of their lives. When it's clear that Emrys is dying, Dai visits him every day. One day Dai says, 'Emrys, we both loved rugby all our lives, and we played rugby on Saturdays together for so many years. Please do me one favour, when you get to Heaven, somehow you must let me know if there's rugby there.' Emrys looks up at Dai from his death bed,' Dai, you've been my best friend for many years. If it's at all possible, I'll do this favour for you. Shortly after that, Emrys passes on. At midnight a couple of nights later, Dai is awakened from a sound sleep by a blinding flash of white light and a voice calling out to him, 'Dai--Dai.' 'Who is it? Asks Dai sitting up suddenly. 'Who is it?' 'Dai--it's me, Emrys.' 'You're not Emrys. Emrys just died.' 'I'm telling you, it's me, Emrys,' insists the voice.' 'Emrys! Where are you?'    'In heaven', replies Emrys. 'I have some really good news and a little bad news.' 'Tell me the good news first,' says Dai. The good news,' Emrys says,' is that there's rugby in heaven.  Better yet, all of our old friends who died before us are here, too.  Better than that, we're all young again. Better still, it's always spring time and it never rains or snows.  And best of all, we can play rugby all we want, and we never get tired.' 'That's fantastic,' says Dai. 'It's beyond my wildest dreams! So what's the bad news?' 'You're in the team for Tuesday.'

Excuse me from interrupting.  Just John - I've sent you a PM with the info you wanted.  It's tacked onto a recent PM thread because I can't seem to find a way of opening up a new PM thread. Back to topic...

[quote user="Tony F Dordogne"][quote user="Hoddy"]It's clearly worse to be a fat woman than it is to be a fat man, otherwise why is the heading of this thread 'fat slags'. Bikes earlier in the week and now fat slags, what is this forum coming to ? Hoddy[/quote] Goes with the personal comments about politicians, the attacks on Frenchie, a racist comment that had to be edited and all the thread hijacking and other nonsense.  Perhaps some of the reasons why a number of the longer-term regulars aren't posting on here too often.[/quote] Anonymity allows people to make cheap swipes at others. It is a major downside of the Internet.  I say this with a degree of sadness because one of my young daughters is at threat because of an older man who was "grooming" her on F***Book.  Interestingly, when things turned scary, one of the things that he called her was a 'slag'. However, I truly believe that there are more people that are a force for good than bad.  Eventually, nasty Forum bullies go on their way or see the error of their ways. Anyway, I'm off for more emergency surgery now.  And no, it's not liposuction.  [Www]  I'll be under the knife tomorrow and far away from the horrid name calling.

Saturday night escapism.  Just like the Gladiators used to be.  Great fun - provided you have a British TV.

All national newspapers have dating sites, which include people in France.  So you choose the newspaper closest to your political views and then join up.  I have two (female) friends who have found lasting friendship this way - one through the Guardian (reader, she married him) and the other through the Telegraph.

[quote user="sweet 17"]I seem to remember, Wools, that when I was a rookie on the Forum, I suggested that we all started looking out for a mate for you.  And Twinkle (God, where's that girl when you want her?) sent you a picture of Clarrisa Dickson Wright. We know you'd like someone who can cook you nursery food like meat pies and deserts like Death by Banana and Banana Custard and so on and I thought she'd be ideal.  In fact, I saw her being interviewed by Fern Britton last Sunday and, now that she's sobered up, she sounds an eminently sensible and interesting woman. I think I mentioned that she'd keep you cosy and warm between the sheets by night and keep you fed and happy by day.  Would you like her contact details?[/quote] Clarissa is a LOVELY lady.  I have it on good authority.  A fellow wasp allergy sufferer of mine was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance after being stung by a wasp at an agricultural show, when C D-W was speaking  Clarissa took the time and trouble to write and find out how the patient had fared. Her good manners and her caring attitude are unquestionable.

Thank you, Clair.  One of the weird things about this adopted country of ours are the regulations stating that sales can only be at certain times of year.

[quote user="Bugsy"] As to moles, why not enjoy the fact that they have chosen you as their friend and let them live their short lives in peace. You will feel good about it. .[/quote] Better still, let them do their bit on your neighbour's lawn/field.  [:D] http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1329003/ShowPost.aspx

Aldi's salmon is a similar price and tastes good. [:D]

Men with white socks and open toed sandals?

In one week, Dave, your thread has had 1,500 hits.  Word must be getting out. Keep the installments coming ....

You could consider going straight to 'A' Levels.  Some home educated children skip GCSEs with no detriment to their university places. I home educated a number of my children - you can send me a private message (PM) or email me, if you wish, for further information.

Great photos.  Some of the mountain ones were scary.

In the meantime, NattyWatty, it would be a good idea to give a description of your dog and useful information e.g good with children? does he have a pet passport? etc. A number of us (including me) have rescued dogs from posts on this Forum and so it really is worthwhile spending a bit of time giving more information.  Photographs are the best thing and so emailing Coops would be a great idea so that she can post pics. Where do you live in France (you could give a rough indication)?

Thank you Clair.  I see that if registered, you lose your right to vote in the UK European Elections.  What about a UK General Election or a UK Local Election?

This is great stuff, Dave.  Makes me want to read more.