Rob Roy

Don't worry about the rainfall - think more about the lack of the grey, dull, miserable, damp S.E. England weather that goes on for days and is so depressing ! At least when the rain stops here and the sun comes out you get instant warmth [:)]. And although it gets very cold it is crisp and fresh, and not a 'damp' cold like in the UK.

Tell him not to blink as they pass, or he'll miss it [;-)]

Did you ever find a home for your donkeys?

We rented a gite from a French couple for 8 months when we first came over - from October to May and got a better deal on the price because it was 'long term' for a gite. The only thing you want to be sure of is adequate heating if you are renting in the winter months. Ours had electric heaters, and a mobile gas heater, but even then it was sometimes chilly when the temperature dropped to minus 15![:(]

Good luck in your new venture, Jim - I have sent you an e-mail.

Hi Steve, I'm rather confused about where you are - have they moved Bourganeuf to S.E. France?[:-))]

What about contacting the English teacher at your local school - he/she might be willing to give you French lessons? Or put an advert in your local supermarket.

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall deals with smoking food, how to build a smoker etc in the River Cottage Cookbook - there may be some information on his River Cottage website too. Another place you might get information is on www.acountrylife.com - a site for smallholders and self-sufficiency.

One of our labradors had to have an operation earlier in the year because a blocked anal gland had formed a very nasty cyst, that developed suprisingly quickly. It caused him a lot of discomfort and became very raw and bleeding as he would not leave it alone. The vet did wonder at first if it was cancerous, but thankfully not.  We were worried about the anaesthetic though as he is 13, but all went well and he is fine again. Someone once told me that if you give your dog a piece of raw carrot every couple of days this helps to keeps the glands clear - unfortunately I didn't follow her advice [:(]

So do I, otherwise there would be an awful lot of stems sticking up between the flowers[blink]

"P.S. I'm nearly through stoning our latest batch of figs. It in't 'arf a bugger!" Mmm, that must be a first... Stones in figs eh?[8-)]

Cassis wrote: ".....so what is the point of that weekend! " The point is that I tell TOH that the gardens are open that weekend, he thinks it's a one off and I get taken out for the day [:D]

"Much less fiddly than the wax seal method by the sound of it (mind, it's not my job so I'll shut up now)." I suppose your job is to eat it?[;-)]

It's a Hairy Molly![:D]. That is what my mother said they called them in Ireland when she was a child- she tried to teach one of my boys when he were very small to say it, but it came out a "Haily Maily Moll" [8-)]

That's great, thank you both for pointing it out. There are 28 in the Correze to visit - now which to choose.....[8-)]

Does 'Dog Friendly' automatically imply that dogs are allowed to sleep in the bedrooms, or is it that dogs are welcome to run about the garden and given somewhere comfortable and dry to sleep for the night? If the dog is small (i.e. yorkshire terrier or similar) and has its own bed I would not object to it in the room, but if it is medium to large I wouldn't be keen. Our dogs (labradors) sleep outside in the barn in the summer. They have their own secure area and their beds, blankets etc and make no fuss about it.  We would be happy for other dogs to stay, and can accommodate them in the old bread oven (not in the oven itself!) which is warm and dry with beds raised off the floor against the draught. Would owners accept this do you think? (Would the dogs for that matter[:)])

http://www.foire-expo-limoges.com/ There is a Flower and Gardens show in Limoges at the moment for anyone wishing they were at Chelsea [:)]

Jo53, I am amazed that you don't think you would find rudeness like that in the UK - you can come across it any day of the week, especially in London. As for customer service - would that be the same customer service you receive in the UK when the assistant doesn't stop their conversation with a colleague while they take your money, or hold their hand out for the money without a word to you, while continuing a phone conversation? How many shops do you go into in the UK where they say 'good morning' as you walk in? Where in the UK can you get items wrapped beautifully for free and with a smile? Sorry, I think French customer service is far superior on the whole.  

It's not just a Nord thing - it used to be used in the UK in 'the good old days' too - not that I remember, I hasten to add! [:)] I made the mistake of just putting some waxed disks and the cellophane tops on some jam I made last autumn (marrow & ginger). I went to fetch one the other day from a cupboard and the mice have completely cleaned out the jars, the little b******rs[:@] They were so clean I thought I had picked up an empty one [blink] Won't make that mistake again!

Don't forget when doing your sums that you can't have more than 5 letting bedrooms to stay within the Chambre d'hote guidelines.

I have driven our neighbour's Peugot Partner (Diesel), which is very similar to the Berlingo and found it very comfortable, it handles well and sitting higher is nice when you are more used to a 'normal' car. We have always been Citroen fans - the old CX estate was soooo comfortable on long journeys, I loved them and still miss them [:(](we had about 5 over the years). A friend's C5 (diesel again), which I have also driven, is very good too.

[quote user="P"] Lola Best of luck with your change - sorry can't help there. What are the tax  credits you mention in changing to double glazing? Paul [/quote] Yes, I was wondering what that's all about, too!

Secondhand cars in France tend to be very expensive, and often quite 'well worn' to put it politely. The French don't change their cars every couple of years like people do in the UK (no 'keeping up with the neighbour's new registration' [;-)]) - if you can afford it consider buying new, and definately get diesel, the saving in fuel makes a big difference in country areas. Having said that, I bought an old VW Passat turbo diesel estate, LHD, in the UK advertised in Auto Trader and brought it over here, it was originally from Germany and had gone back to the UK with the owner who was in the forces. It's been a great work horse and owes us nothing.

This sounds similar to the rubbish a neighbour told me just before we moved here. She had taken her grand-daughter to Disneyland Paris and came back complaining that the French were rude and ignored her questions - she took that as a indication of what the whole of France is like! I wonder how many of those questioned ever look at themselves from  a visitor's point of view - sitting on the London underground or trying to find your way around while everyone rushes past you, when you don't know where you are going, can be the most depressing experience! We have met unending kindness and friendliness since being here, and have tried to reciprocate when possible.

Plenty of rescue dogs available in the local SPA Linda, unfortunately.[:(]