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Hello   Many thanks to you both for answering. Sorry I have taken a while answering this but as you both had things edited I was deleted TOTALLY and it has taken me two days of emailing them to be reinstated as when I tried to login I was being refused. All sorted now as you can see. Once again  thank you !!! 

  Meant FLU !!!!

My husband was eligable for the flue jab in UK as a medical condition warranted this. Is this available in France and what is the criteria if it is?  He was at the doctors last week and forgot to enquire  (men ! ) Can anyone throw any light on the subject?

I would like to thank you all for your helpful comments and I think we will decide to try Limoges to Southampton, not too far from the west country. Once again...Thanks

We were surprised to find out that Easyjet do not do La Rochelle to Bristl during the winter months so to go back for Christmas we will have to go further south to Bordeaux to Birmingham which is a pain as all our family live in the west country. We have checked the car parking cost there on line but reading other threads on Forum some say it is free. Does anyone out there know ?  One of the criteria in chosing an area to settle was reasonable access to La Rochelle airport to Bristol airport and I am sure there are folk who would use it in the winter months as well as people in UK who want to fly to France for Xmas.

We moved into our French house late June, the flies started in July. We could not even eat outside at times...it was so bad. Yes, we have farmers fields, stables down the lane and a goat farm at the end of road so no chance !!! Then the mossies appeared, I had over seventy  bites and very little sleep for a while, forty on one arm and now we are being bitten by what someone said was Oat flies ?...Is this what they call  LIVING THE DREAM !!!!  We still love France.

We have only been in France for six months and we were hoping to fly home for Xmas. We are not committed any particular times as we are retired but assumed we could fly from La Rochelle to Bristol as our family all live in the west country. After reading your thread do I take it that Easyjet stop their flights from La Rochelle for the winter months and I have checked their timetable on line but it only goes up to 29 October and I was waiting for the next timetable from them so that we could book the flights. It looks as though we may have to go from further south in France and then fly to Birmingham which is a pain in the neck. Come on Easyjet, consider your regulars and not just the holidaymakers.

Oh how we feel for you ,as ten days before we sailed to France for our new life ,our fit, strong healthy Boxer dog died in kennels suddenly. He was only six years old and we were away saying farewell to family so we were not even with him at the end. He had his passport and was going to be a big part of our new life. The pain does eventually ease and the lovely memories come to the fore but life will always have that little space that they occupy. We also have a very old cocker spaniel who was with him for most of his life as he was a rescue dog and was just over one year old when he adopted us...yes he took over ! We  have photo's of him in our French home so he is with us. We are thinking of you and we know that it will get slowly better and you will be able to talk about him without wanting to burst into tears. If you feel like "talking" lots of us are here for you.

We may fly home for Xmas and are reluctant to put our old dog into kennels as before we sailed here six months ago we lost our six year old boxer dog suddenly in kennels, nothing to go with the kennels they we superb. We feel that our little old dog would settle better in someones home as she is not really used to being without our other dog. She is quite elderly although sprightly, sleeps a lot and is very loving and obedient, just needs to be with people. Travels well in car, just sleeps for hours. If I must I will kennel her but hope someone can help. We live close to Lezay and Melle but do not mind apprx. twenty mile journey. She is a little cocker spaniel.

A ..BIG..thank you for all who responded to my question. I have taken onboard all your comments and will now go hunting for another tree.

Thanks for your help. I will invest in another tree.......not cheap are they ! Perhaps I could go out one night with a spade (only joking )  

Thanks for answering my query. Maybe more than one tree is required as I know some fruit trees only bear fruit if more than one of the variety. Better luck with yours next year!

I have just bought a cherry tree , very samll one. I have read my English gardening book and some cherry trees need a "mate" Is this correct or can I expect an abundance of cherries one day. For all you experts out there the name on the label is Cerisier Bigarreau Coeur de Pigeon. Any advise truly welcome !!!

Thank you for all the info...very helpful. Yes I agree with you regarding all the dogs left in rescue centres, Our dog in almost twelve years of age and I could never do that to her. Unfortunately, we lost our six yeaar old Boxer dog only ten days before sailing to France, he died very suddenly and although that was over six months ago his loss is still hurting us deeply and our old dog still misss him. I check the rescue centres in Niort and Poitiers on line and it breaks my heart to see such wonderful animals under a death sentence. I know we will get one eventually as all my dogs over the years have been other peoples rejects.  

We would like to visit friends in Spain taking our dog with us. Our dog has been microchipped, all inoculations are up to date including Rabies but we only had the necessary jabs to bring her to France from UK so for return trips to UK she will go into kennels. Is this adequate for crossing the border into Spain?

Yes, good idea. Just thought someone may have travelled with a pooch to Spain from this area. Thanks for replying.

We have just waved off some friends who visited us from spain and they want us to return the gesture and stay with them sometime. They have kindly said we can take our dog with us but can we cross the border with a dog easily. She has had the required jabs to come to France but not to return to UK so is this adequate for going to Spain?  Any help would be great.

Yes ! we have cards, scrabble and trivial persuit  but we thought one night out would be nice for them as they are "townies " and we live in a small hamlet. Thank you for the info, I will make some enquiries.

We have our 17 year old grandaughter and her friend coming to stay at the end of this month. Although I am sure they will enjoy day trips out with the "oldies" does anyone know of a disco or club within 30 mis. of Lezay. I am sure they would love a night out at some point during their stay. I have searched the internet but to no avail. I passed one near Pers called "Bluemania "but have since been told that it is for sale so not sure if it is still open.  Can anyone help ? 

Many thanks for that info, will give it a go.

Does anyone know if there is a hosepipe ban in Dept.79. I am being told different things.

Yes Chris pp we do have the ones that bite and they can give quite a nip when they have a mind to. Not too many around today as it is quite breezy and someone suggested using an elecrical fan when eating outside as flies cannot fly against the air from a fan.

I havejust found out that quite close by is a goat farm. We are also surrounded by fields and they are being harvested at present so all this does not help. Thanks for the tip  PeterG and we will certainly try it. Thank you to all who responded to my question.

Thanks for the tips Zeb. We intend putting in fly screens which will stop them getting in. Outside is the major problem and as we have visitors arriving soon I am open to all ideas.

Well, we are now in our new home and busy unpacking and gardening. Unfortunately, we seem to be over run by flies, I mean so bad it is sometimes impossible to sit outside and we tried to have a BBQ but had to take it all into the house to eat as they were in the food. Anyone know of a good remedy, tried the usual fly sprays, sticky strips but to no avail. We spend hours swatting them in the house as they come in when doors are opened momentarily. They are all over the house front and rear so any suggestions !!!!!