mint

will hold you to that!  poor old dog had to have 2 rabies jabs and 2 blood tests because the antibodies weren't enough!  awaiting the result of the second blood test so i am hoping it'll be ok this time.  thinking that probably we will take her on le shuttle because, although there will be more driving, it will mean she stays with us the whole time. will keep you posted

sorry, coops, a bit early here in the uk.  don't forget we're one hour behind!

i agree with 3 parts oil to 1 of vinegar.  NOT strong vinegar, however, white wine or cider vinegar.  then some mustard; i use good old colmans (powder) in the uk and any of the french ones in france.  salt and seasoning and my secret ingredient is a bit of sugar (quarter to half teaspoon depending on the amount of dressing).  the sugar seems to bring out the flavours of the other ingredients.  vinegar flavoured with herbs is also good; i personally like tarragon-flavoured vinegar. happy experimenting!

bernice, cooperlola & christine thanks for the timely advice.  i was in touch with petlog yesterday and they confirmed that they will change the address details and ownership here in the uk and then will be able to change to the french system at a later date. bearing in mind what you have all said, i will ask again about the french system and, if needs be, i will definitely take her to a french vet and get it done "properly" christine, thanks for the link also.  couldn't be clearer. here's to happy dog ownership!

christine thank you.  i have looked through roxie's documents which we only just acquired and she is registered with petlog.  so will contact them and get it all sorted.  hooray, feels like france is getting closer!

cooperlola many thanks.  will do that asap!

i know from christine's previous posts that it is essential, once we get to france, to get our dog's micro chip info transferred to the french system. however, what i want to know about is a bit nearer home.  we have a dog whom we have "adopted" as she was no longer wanted by her previous owners.  she was already micro chipped when we had her.  is it necessary for us to have the info changed in the uk before we attempt to take her with us to france?  what i mean is, is anyone going to challenge us at the passport controls as to whether she is really our dog? any advice, christine? betty? thanks

russethouse i salute you!  talk about hitting the nail on the head!  if this does not drive home your point, and those of others on this thread, then NOTHING will!

jeanne claire may i ask how much it was?

no, furryknickers, the iow is quite charming.  went there years ago for a long weekend and stayed at an hotel in shanklyn.  don't know about LIVING there though.  kathy, i have yet to visit mussidan and see that notaire you recommended.  just haven't really had the opportunity. good luck with your move.

sd, NOBODY can be in any doubt after your definitive post.  thank you; as ever, your expertise has settled this particular argument. bob t, you are right of course about saga; i do mean uk resident and not just a uk address. someone on this thread is also right about the tax dodgers not wanting to draw attention to themselves.  we know people who have kept a house in the uk which they have let out (NOT declaring the rent, of course) and use that uk address to justify not doing anything about their cars which they are driving in france. i just hope none of these people drive their car into me.  yorky, it's not about minding other people's business and a matter of live and let live.  this is an issue that could well involve you or me!

bugbear and cooperlola are right re car insurance.  we know some people doing just that; take the car back to the uk and mot and tax there and pay insurance.  BUT, as far as i know, most insurance companies (even saga) require you to have an address in the uk.  therefore, it will be tough t**** if you get hit by one of these people!  it's easy to turn a blind eye as someone else has advised.  i wonder whether they'll still be so laid back about it all, if they or members of their families are adversely affected by law-breakers?

[quote user="pugwash"] Sweet dix-sept, we actually were in Normandy just 2 weeks ago when they had enough snow to block the motorway, it's not a problem, in fact my wife commented on how it was more comfortable than here because the atmosphere was less damp.  I should also point out that over the last few years I have been working in the Czech Republic and Poland during the winter, if you think it's bad in Normandy you don't know you are born. [/quote] pugwash yes, it's true, i DON'T know about cold.  even in the uk, i have only ever spent time in the effete south  and anywhere north of the watford gap is a foreign country to me.  i do love devon (and somerset) but i still think that if it was a toss-up between devon or normandy, i too would opt for normandy.  discounting everything else, the romanesque architecture in normandy is to die for. as for your subsequent remarks about the bbc, i couldn't agree more.  lord reith would be spinning like a top in his grave now if he knew the sort of wall-to-wall reality tv programmes and the other sort of "chewing gum for the eyes" stuff that pass for entertainment on the bbc these days. sorry to highjack the thread, but just wanted pugwash not to think i was being some sort of smart know-all to question his choice.  pugwash, i wish you all the very best in normandy  

one word of caution, pugwash, if you will not think me cheeky and speaking out of turn.  have you spent winter in normandy?  i have spent winter in devon AND normandy and i don't need to tell you that normandy is several degrees colder and has considerably more snow. 

llwyncelyn did you vote for the asssembly and, if you did, do you think that devolution has done wales any good?  

would she consider letting the train take the strain?!

Chico I have just recovered from my fit, thanks.  When I was doing linguistics at University, it was suggested that "fish" should be spelt ghoti, that is gh like the "f" in enough, o like "i" in women, ti like "sh" in nation. There you go.  Who on earth thinks these things up?

laugh out loud

keni i just HAVE to reply.  i do hope your husband has more than a "short retirement".  my own husband is 75, still working; not because he needs to but because he loves his work. we hope to be in france full time very soon now and yes, we just want some time together (however much or little that might be) before we depart this earth. i wish i could believe in a life after this one but, with the best will in the world, i can't. all the very best

jo, i'm also taking my piano.  have to as we will be moving over "for real".  we are not quite sw france, just on the northern edge of the dordogne.  should be ok because i grew up in the tropics and we had pianos there!  mind you, i was only a child so i wouldn't know whether the pianos were affected by the heat and humidity and i wasn't the one paying for its maintenance! i don't know who will tune my piano, though.  but, that's something i will have to look into once we have the piano in situ

will, now i just have to KNOW what optipolygeneration is.  does the "opti" bit have something to do with optimum and then "poly" for "many" and generation as in "produce".  go on, tell; am i even close?

will, OF COURSE it's not like the peter mayle books.  that man worked in advertising, didn't he? (now, don't jump on me if you, or anyone else, are also in advertising.  just trying to lighten things up a little.

thank you, dz.  it looks really good and i am going to try it out toute suite!

danny i am sure you are right.  i am suitably informed and chastised.  i do try to use less cleansing stuff; eg, i never use as much washing detergent as the amount recommended on the packets. loos are a different matter, though.  they just look so horrible if they are not absolutely sparkling clean.  i think there is also the shame bit; you know, what a slut you must be not to keep your house properly clean. i am guilty as charged!

thanks, russethouse.  it's not anything illegal, immoral or fattening, is it?