Rob Roy

I have a fantastic crop of weeds, but I could have sworn it was once a veg. garden![Www]  Seriously though, I can still (just) see the courgettes (or should that be marrows the size they are?), the leeks are looking good and the tomatoes are hanging on grimly in today's wind and rain. I need to separate and replant my young lettuce but can't, and I think the local rabbits are feasting on the cabbages[:@] I'm sure the weather will improve next week - the schools open again[:)]

The old saying "The grass is always greener....." comes to mind![;-)] I was born and brought up in West London and can also vouch for many very completely grey days - but I have to say that I think London is a more exciting and beautiful city than Paris, it is just that when you live there you forget to look up at the architecture, admire the views down the Thames, appreciate the lovely parks etc., etc.because you are usually so busy 'earning a crust' and battling the rush hour. I moved away from London when I was in my early 20's and didn't live there again until a couple of years ago when I was there working for 2 years while my husband stayed over here. It was then that I really appreciated what a magnificant city it is. However, I'm a country girl at heart so came home with no regrets[:D]

I think it is artists as in those that paint pictures, but not sure about photography.

"I'm one of these people who cook everything from scratch.  Sauces are easy to do and scrambled egg done in the microwave is just disgusting.  My daughter does it like that.  Horrible.  With a nice non-stick pan, you don't even have to leave it to soak for a fortnight like in the good old days" Sorry Alexis, but I can't agree. I don't know what your daughter does to her eggs, but I would defy anyone to know the difference with mine, whether they were from a saucepan or glass bowl in the microwave [:)] They come out lovely and creamy and fluffy. (And by the way I also cook everything from scratch, not from packets.)

TJ, having worked as a practice manager at a large group of dental surgeries in the UK I would like to suggest you visit a Dental Surgeon with your daughter and let them have a good look at what is happening in her mouth. It is quite possible that they might want to monitor the situation and see how her teeth are developing before taking any action, possibly taking a panasonic x-ray (full mouth as Opas said) - unless this is what she had done at the clinic, in which case they will use that. Alternatively it might be decided she needs some work doing, whether taking out the wisdom teeth or some further forward to allow room for the 8s to descend. Maybe they will want to refer her to an orthodontist. No dentist these days will extract teeth for the sake of it, so be guided by them - after all they haven't slaved through a minimum of 5 years dental school for nothing! Just out of interest, I am curious to know why you decided to get the x-ray done yourself rather than visit a dentist first?

[:D] So how did they get in there?![:D]

When we bought we signed the Compris in Sept and the Acte was dated for December (15th I think, but can't remember). Due to the French bank keeping us waiting for a decision re.a mortgage, which they then rejected after 8 months (we changed banks and got one in 6 weeks!) we did not actually sign until the following May. Our estate agent was very good at keeping the vendor informed - this was also an inheritance sale so they were willing to wait. So it is possible to have quite a long period between the two signings.

Why not get it uprated? [8-)]

I find mine invaluable for defrosting when I have forgotten to get the meat out of the freezer in time for dinner! I also cook a lot of my vegetables in it as it retains the colour and flavour better (I don't have one of those fancy steamer thingys) and I couldn't live without it for making white sauces and scrambled eggs - much easier IMHO than standing at the cooker stirring what's in the saucepan. Also as you mention above heating up a cup of coffee when you have made a lot that's not been used.

A friend of ours is an artist. He paints commission pieces but also country scenes that he then has transformed into greetings cards which he sells to his established outlets in the UK. He does not have an art degree, or any college diplomas, and has been able to register at the Maison des Artists (based in Paris I think?). There are certainly very good tax breaks for artists in France.

[quote user="Pun"] Hi   Cassis we,ve fields of cows/bulls sheep but no horse riding I know of, "Idea maybe RODEO" BUT THE BULLS HERE ARE REALLY SLOW AND A LITTLE DAFT, So bikes it will be thanks CASSIS. [/quote] I would suggest Pun that there is no such thing as a really slow and daft bull - don't be fooled by their placid appearance. As I was told at Agricultural College "The two most dangerous things on a farm - (a) an 'unloaded' shotgun and (b) a 'quiet' bull.[;-)]

A decent carrossier (panel beater) should be able to get into the car without much problem, (my husband is one, so I know that [;-)])probably better than a car mechanic. But what will you do then anyway apart from hot wiring the car, you still have the problem of not having the keys. You will have to have the key barrel changed, and the door locks.

Or LD Lines if you want to cross to Le Havre. Still cheaper than Brittany Ferries even if overnight.

[quote user="Iceni"] Probably same as the French - look in Yellow Pages or ask the neighbours. John not [/quote]   [img]http://bestsmileys.com/signs16/16.gif[/img]

Whew! I thought for a moment you were going to try using the laurel berries Tony[:-))] I made some lovely sloe and apple jelly a couple of years ago - the colour is beautiful, like a dark amythist (?spelling) and tastes great, a little bit like bramble jelly.

[quote user="wildey"]Thanks for the replies, that clears that up.  You couldn't get away with bypassing the agents in UK - if only we could!! But then I suppose they have to make a living, and the French don't have expensive glossy brochures to pay for.  We're looking forward to looking for our French home.[/quote] They might not have the glossy brochures, but they spend far more time and fuel money running you around on viewings - especially in the country areas.[:)]

[quote user="Wozza"] Tony We also have loads near us, and were looking at Elderberry wine recipes. We shocked the neighbours by producing an old bottle of wine we made from strawberries earlier this year, so not sure if he has recovered enough yet to try elderberry wine! I,m also not sure where to buy yeast over here. Warren [/quote] You can buy fresh yeast in the boulangerie part of the supermarket, or dried yeast in the cake decoration/glace cherries etc section.

I don't know if this is any help: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/index.htm

It depends what part of the Limousin you are in, and what time of the year it is - just as it does in the UK![:)]. But in all seriousness, the Limousin is a big area so it is difficult to generalise. For instance we are in the west of the Correze, getting towards the southern most part of the Limousin and it is not usually as damp or wet in the autumn as in the Cruese or northern Haute Vienne. It certainly doesn't always rain in any part of the Limousin - here we usually have hot summers (up to 38-40 C for weeks, but more usually 30+ C), warm, sunny autumns, cold winters (it can go as low as -15 C for several weeks) and mild springs, although they can be wet - but you can't have all this lush grass and green trees without any rain! The summers are hotter than where we lived in England (Norfolk), there is a more definate spring and autumn and the winters are colder and crisper, but without the damp that seeps into your bones in the UK - and no East winds straight from Russia to cut you in half!(Called a lazy wind in Norfolk because it goes through you instead of round you[:)])  

Yes, we do.[:)]

When we bought we signed the Compris in Sept and the Acte was dated for December (15th I think, but can't remember). Due to the French bank keeping us waiting for a decision re.a mortgage, which they then rejected after 8 months (we changed banks and got one in 6 weeks!) we did not actually sign until the following May. Our estate agent was very good at keeping the vendor informed - this was also an inheritance sale so they were willing to wait. So it is possible to have quite a long period between the two signings.

[quote user="normandie"] Thanks for all your help ... It's easy to find what I need on English websites but not so easy on French ... Finally, I've found an example of what I need but at 944.84 e it's not my kind of price range! http://www.espace-aubade.fr/R-39-59-3-robinet-pour-douche-mitigeur-thermostatique.html (Sorry - not sure how to import the pretty picture). I tried BAO when I was in France but couldn't see any taps 'encastre' at all. If anyone knows/comes across the same thing but a cheaper brand please let me know ... Many thanks   Normandie [/quote] Aren't these the same type of thing as the photos Cassis posted earlier? As he said try Castorama, or we got ours from Mr Bricolage and they have been very good. Obviously not the same quality as those shown in your link - but you could replace them every year for the alternative of 944 €![:)]

And there is nothing like having helpful French neighbours who point you in the right direction[kiss]

Couldn't agree more Ian, although they appeared great to read when in the UK before we arrived - whetted the appetite for the move![:D]

I'm being bitten terribly just at the moment, but not so much in 'personal places' - on my left arm (why only left? [8-)]) and my legs. I thought we had three in the bed - me, him and a mossie![:-))]