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Kitty

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Posts posted by Kitty

    Where to find small plastic bags online

    in Shopping

    Posted

    I need to find a largish quantity of the small plastic bags (about 2 inches square) for delivery in France.  They need to be self sealing (into which matching buttons will go).

    Can anyone tell me what is the French for these sorts of bags? When I search for them online, I can't find any.  I suspect that I am not using the right French.

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Procedure when absent from school because of sickness?

    in French Education

    Posted

    I've had a number of children in French schools and I have never needed a doctor's note for an absence due to illness.  I have always followed the procedure set down by the school (each one has been different) and signed a note upon their return.  However, first thing, I would telephone the Vie Scolaire to explain their illness and how long I felt that they would be absent.

    In one case, one of my chiklren was away for 3 weeks and I still did not need a doctor's note (even though one would have been forthcoming if they had wanted it).  I did keep them informed about what was happening.

    Bicycling tour

    in Sport, Leisure and Pastimes

    Posted

    I had a great holiday cycling from Perpignan along the coast to the Carmargue and then up to Chateauneuf du Pape in the Rhone valley via Aix-en-Provence (Cezanne country) and Avignon.

    I have checked on Google and it is 400 kms direct but easily 500 kms by using the minor roads.

    Snake in swimming pool - what was it?

    in Wildlife/Nature/Environment

    Posted

    I am trying to identify a snake.  Six inches long, it was thin and greeny brown.  It's head was much wider than its body.  It had a 'V' shaped mark on its neck in yellow and black.

    I was swimming in a friend's pool this afternoon when my 13 year old son spotted it swimming exceedingly fast.  At first, I thought that it was a slow worm.  I was going to get it out with a flip flop and then realised that it was something like a viper.  It was all a bit surreal because, as soon I thought that it could be a poisonous snake, it started following me in the pool.  My son was getting really distressed that I was going to get bitten because it was moving towards me quicker than I could swim.

    My friend managed to catch it in a net and release it into the scrub.

    But what was it? I have looked on the Internet, including Chris P's Planet Passion website.

    Do baby snakes not have the same markings as adults?  I can't identify it because it did not have zig zags on its body.

    Cooperlola 25.1.55 - 5.9.2012

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    Debs was a do-er.  She got things done.  I am thinking of her health website, for example - such a magnificent help to many of us.  I am also thinking of her Itchy Feet Tour that got many of us together.

    I remember the time of her dreadful car accident and can see the image of her Nissan Micra now.  It was remarkable that she survived that, only to be dealt the blow of the Big C.  In the face of that adversity, Debs was courageous as those of us who have followed her postings can testify.

    Ian - there are some people on this earth, who can really make a mark.  Debs was one of them.

    You are going to face very dark days ahead but, and I say this with conviction, those days will be eased by the knowledge that in Debs, you had a wonderful person, who touched SO many lives.

    Coops update

    in Other Topics

    Posted

    [quote user="cooperlola2"] unless there is some turnaround will not bore you with all the same dreary stuff. [/quote]

    It's not dreary.  I click on the thread to find out how you both are and so please continue posting, however trivial you think it is because it isn't.  (Does that make sense?)

    When to pick walnuts?

    in Gardening

    Posted

    We had a very large walnut tree in our garden in France.  We would wait for some of the nuts to drop and then knock off the others.

    BEWARE.  If you pick the walnuts too early, the green husks will stain your hands brown for weeks.

    After a few years, we lost our tree suddenly from disease.  One autumn, it was attacked by honey fungus on the base on the trunk.  We treated this and thought that it had survived.  It flowered in May and then within the space of two weeks, completely died.  It was amazing how a tree that was 30 feet in height could be blighted in such a short space of time.

    Money Transfer Recommendations

    in NEW - Money Saving Expat

    Posted

    Welcome to the Forum.  I have used MoneyCorp for many years and am very happy with their service.  You have to negotiate a rate them.  The larger the sum of money, the more competitive they get.  I check the rate on several websites before phoning them to negotiate.

    As far as I know, they are part of a banking group and so the money is as safe as it can be with any bank.  But no doubt someone more qualified will come forward to explain this more precisely.

    Buying en Tontine, or similar

    in Finding/Owning French Property

    Posted

    We have bought a house en tontine.

    When signing at the notaire's office, we asked to take out a document against insaisissabilte (assets being seized in the event of our business being sued etc).  When our notaire was out of the room, the vendor's notaire whispered to me that with a tontine, the house is protected against insaisissabilte (assets being seized in the event of being sued etc) and that I did not therefore need such a document.

    Does anyone know if this is correct?

    EDF problem

    in Finding/Owning French Property

    Posted

    Welcome to the Forum.

    From personal experience of dealing with EDF problems, I agree that, if you can wait until your next visit to France, face-to-face contact is much better.  Also go to the office as soon as it opens (usually 08h30 but check as times may vary) because you will be given more time than later in the day.

    If you don't speak French, you will need to take someone with you.

    Phoning to sort out the problem is possible.  I find that an opening line of  'Bonjour Monsieur/Madame, je suis desolee de vous deranger' works a treat.

    Good luck.  Let us know what the outcome is.

    Gite cleaning

    in Gite Owners Forum

    Posted

    Changeovers also always take far longer than you realise.  You enter the house and think that it's not bad but then you look inside the fridge and the oven and the swing bin and the barbeque and under the beds and shower pipes etc and all need a lot of TLC.  Two to three hours does not seem enough.  It is a big ask to get a house cleaned to a good standard in such a short space of time.  I can tell you that time moves the fastest that you will ever experience when doing changeovers.

    When the house is left very clean (rare but it does happen), you spend the time doing other jobs that need doing e.g. cleaning above door frames and outside window cills (sills?) that you don't have time to do usually.

    I pay a flat rate of 100 euros per changeover when I find someone who is very good.  It is not based on an hourly rate because someone cannot live on just a few hours' work a few times per year.  A friend who has a large house nearby pays 150 euros to her cleaner per changeover and works alongside her.

    It is also very difficult to find anyone, especially on a Saturday.

    Have a look on the Forum of www.laymyhat.com  You will find lots of tips about renting out your house for holidays.

    Roland Garros showdown.....

    in The Complete France Post Bag

    Posted

    I changed horses half way through the match because of something that happened.

    Initially, I was supporting Nadal, possibly because he is better-looking. [;-)]  But then Djokovic conceded a point to Nadal on a dodgy line decision.  Very sportsmanlike.  Even the commentator said that one is taught by trainers never to concede a point.  So I started supporting Djok from that moment (in the second or third set).

    I also thought that Djok's on-court words at the end of the match were very sporting - he said that Nadal was the better player on the day.  Not many players would concede that in front of thousands.

    So at Wimbledon, I shall definitely be routing for Djokovic.  He isn't that bad looking either...  [;-)][;-)]

    P.S. A note to Djokovic - the black socks and white trainers make you look as if you have turned up to play in the local park.  White socks next time please... [:D][:D]  (Let's see if he listens to me...)

    Thats it decision made!!

    in South West (Aquitaine, Midi-Pyrénées)

    Posted

    [quote user="Patf"]Tim - parts of Aquitaine can be very cold in the winter. The further inland you go, the colder it gets.

    Best to be near the coast. where it's milder. [/quote]

    I'm near the coast in Aquitaine and I can tell you that winters are relatively mild compared to inland.

    Until the 2011-12 winter, we hadn't much frost so geraniums survived the winter in a warm spot next to the house, for instance.  This winter was different and we did have frost for the first time since moving here several years ago.

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