Rozmum

Whilst walking across our local stade with some friends one of them bent down and pointed out such a hole in the grass.  She said they were made by crickets  (insect, not game!)  .  When we looked around there were scores and when I got home I found them in our lawn also.

I had the same problem and also wrote to my MP to complain............zilch reply from him also!!! I agree..........I think we should arrive en masse at the office with our placards!!

How about Limoges to Southampton on Flybe? Its usually quite pricey but they do run through the Winter normally.

Hi, I often order clothing from the US to France and so far, touch wood, have never had to pay any duties.  It is usually delivered by La Poste and not a carrier.

Many thanks for that,Clair.  I, too, was worried about pig rearing in France.  I now know what to look for.  I'm sure it will be more expensive than normal meat but at least I'll know that the animals have had a half decent existence.

Does anyone know if its possible to claim tax credits restrospectively?  ie We had some work done - insulation of inner and outer walls - in 2005 which was billed in 2006.  We didn't put this on our tax form then as we were ignorant about such things.  I wonder if we could claim for that work this year? Many thanks   

There always seem to be plenty of frozen lamb shanks in Picards - the frozen food shop.  I've never seen them anywhere else so if I need them this is where I go.  They're delicious slowly braised in a tomato, garlic and rosemary sauce.

I watched a programme about growing veggies on the television this week which said that when beans of all sorts have stopped producing it is best to cut off the stalks about an inch from the soil and leave the roots in so that they can do their magic in the soil..  Hope this helps

My goodness..................many thanks for solving the mystery.  It was a Genet!!!!   We were walking just outside the village of Aizecq - Dept 16, Poitou Charente, Chris.    Is this a rare fine?  I'm so sad that it seemed to be a victim of 'roadkill'.  Such a lovely creature.

Whilst out walking yesterday with a group of friends we came across a dead animal by the side of the lane.  No-one had ever seen the like and I wondered if anyone knew what it could be.  I just wish that I'd had my camera with me.  It's coat was almost exactly the same as a tabby cat, with a bushy tail.  It had short legs, a smallish head with a long pointed nose.  It was around the size of a ferret.  I've looked up pictures of polecats, pinemartins etc. but nothing matches this creature.  We live in Dept.16.  Any ideas, anyone???

We did this a couple of years ago after we'd had various artisans working for 5 months on our house.  And a fantastic job they did too!!  We invited all of our neighbours..........for having put up with the lorries, noise and disruption and all the artisans and their wives.  We invited them for around 5.00pm then provided then provided 'substantial' nibbles and apperatives.........pastis, whiskey, beer, wine, pineau etc.  It seemed to be a huge success..........everyone enjoying themselves - and suprisingly, bringing with them the most gorgeous 'house-warming' prezzies.......this we did not expect!! We left it until around a month after all the work had finished so that we could get everything looking half decent.  I think it was well appreciated by the artisans, neighbours and wives and I would definitely recommend it...........we've also had no problem getting them back since for other jobs.      

I feel quite disgusted at the  10 Downing Street reply.  I received mine this morning and was stunned upon reading that they have given out of date information...........possibly causing more misery  and confusionto unsuspecting souls.  Good grief!!!  What is going on in that Government????  And I say that, even though I voted them in!!!  I have replied to the email............for what good it will do........and look forward to their reply!! Thank goodness for Health in France heroes!!!

That is really interesting.  Two years ago I was searching the net for this information but to no avail.  Still, its not too late and will be really useful.  Thanks!!

Last year I grew some potatoes in a plastic dustbin that I drilled holes in the bottom for drainage.  I put in five potatoes and let them sprout then covered them up with another layer of earth, then carried on like this until the soil got to the top.  I got about 7 kilo's of spuds and they were lovely.  No pests and dead easy!  I shall be doing it again this year  :)  For anyone who's interested have a look at this www.potato2008.org/en/index.html  

So, from what we can understand so far...........has anything actually changed from the statement on 27th November and the one issued today?

I think we're all out here - but waiting and watching is the name of the game.  Our E106 runs out on 5th January............which is the day we return from the UK - family Xmas.  We've just been looking at the Health Issues site 4 or 5 times per day!!  So fed up that the French authorities feel that its ok to leave us hanging in the air about something as important as health care.  We both have 'existing' conditions so we just don't know if we will be accepted! Mumble, mumble, mumble..............  

Sorry to pour cold water on the good people who have purchased 'Nespresso' machines.  Nestle have had a bad reputation for years because of their poor behaviour in developing countries.  Not least - marketing baby milk to breast feeding mothers who can not only ill afford to buy it but also are unable to sterilise the bottles efficiently.  The WHO has quite a lot to say about this.........however, if you want to read more  about their reputation with coffee...    http://redpepper.blogs.com/news/2005/10/fairtrade_nestl.html.   

We've had a phone only contract with Teleconnect for the last 2 years or so.  We've only had one problem with them during that time and that was resolved fairly quickly.  However, we did have a rather odd email from them at the end of August which said that 'Customer Service was closed for one week'.  Oh, ok then!!!!  But they are always polite and usually available.  We do not have Broadband with them, though - just a bit nervous about all our eggs in one basket, I suppose. Sue

Love the reindeer, Bugbear. My choice of guests at a Xmas meal would be Charles II...........for his sheer hedonism Jasper Carrott Victoria Wood Carol Thatcher......hate the politics but she is so positive

Just phoned Teleconnect and they are inundated with calls............as you might expect.  They weren't able to tell me when they were expecting to fix the problem...........hoping some time today  [:)]  However, I managed to extract from them the number to use which will over ride the Teleconnect line............Dial 1630 then the number to the UK.  I've tried it and it works.[:D]

Yes, we're the same.  We only use their telephone lines.   I'm sure I've read somewhere here on the Forum that its possible to use a code...........like #2  (only its not that 'cos I've tried it) and it gets you back onto the France Telecom network instead of the other provider??   Just can't find that particular thread now that I really need it!!![:@]

Hi there,  we have been having the same trouble since yesterday afternoon[:(]   We thought that we were just unlucky and all our friends were on the phone together.  Have just tried again with the same result.  We can call mobiles but not landlines.  We too are on Teleconnect!  Must be a major fault.  Can anyone remember the code to use to be able to use France Telecom lines???

Just in case anyone is interested...............having had problems with getting Aquillus to even telephone us for the last 6 months we had a visit from the boss man this afternoon.  I told his assistant last evening that we were now about to take legal action and as if by magic the boss man found himself in our area today......'just passing through'!  He thought he would let us know that despite the problems he is having with his Assurance company he is going to go ahead and order a new liner for us and have it installed within three weeks.  I think he expected us to be very very grateful whereas it is not actually our problem that his Assurance company is playing up!  Anyway, hopefully, we will have a fully functioning pool soon.........I'll keep you informed.  Interesting how things can change so quickly at the mention of an avocaat.[:)]

Hi there Marmite.........I will PM you. Rozmum

We had a pool installed last May by Aquilus of Angouleme and within months of the installation the liner went very wrinkly.  I won't go into all the details but Aquilus accepted that there was a problem and said that it would be changed by April of this year.  I phoned them today and they said that they cannot now do this because it is the subject of a judicial hearing - due to the fact that the Assurance company will not accept liability for the 7 clients that this problem has affected!! [:@] I just wondered if any of the other clients - who I assume are in or around Angouleme - are members of this forum.  A sort of 'United we Stand' gesture because this is not the only problem we have had with this company and have lost faith in them now. If there is anyone out there in a similar position please get in contact.