icmenuiserie

Hi we raise pigs in France, got 6 at the moment, and more on the way. We have several choices of slaughter, including the butcher coming round to the house and doing it, the abattoir or taking them to the butchers house...he then keeps all the bits we don't want.... What dept are you in? Have you thought about asking the local farmers if there is pig rearer nearby who could do it for you, or there maybe some small holders who do there own..I can think of four people near me (all french) who slaughter their own pigs, including blood collection for boudin noir. I think killing the pig yourself may not be an option, since they are large creatures and very intelligent etc...imagine if you messed it up, heaven forbid...I would advise you get some experienced help to show you how to do it the first time and then you do one after with supervision. I have seen photos of a pig being slaughtered and there were four men holding it down, not stressed in anyway i add (all humane and calm), but you don't want it moving. As for rules, all animals (sheep pigs etc not chickens and the like) should be slaughtered in an abattoir as far as I know, but that rule is widely ignored...don't broadcast what you are doing. If you're selling the meat, there is a chance you need a certificate of health for the pig, before slaughter from a vet. pm if you are anywhere near my dept 16 and I can put you in touch with a butcher who'll do a home visit. Good luck and enjoy the meat, it's really satisfying to know where your meat has come from and that it's had a good life.  Lisa

Have you thought about Blanchon oils, they come ready coloured and you need two coats. I have a floor sander for hire, but depends where you are , also supplier for Blanchon oils (funnily enough..) but it really does look good as it's oil and therefore without that 'varnished' look. HTH Lisa

Yes they are the ones in the photo, and the nest thing is exactly the same sort of thing too. Thanks Punaise are those stinky sheild bugs. I saw a letter or article in French News last year from someone saying they were studying them and could people send them to him...wasn't you chris?? Well we get thousands of them here loads of shades from browns to greens. They spray a smelly liquid at you if you disturb them. I flick them really hard a quickly out of the window, and mostly avoid getting sprayed. The smell is a bit like soap, but worse... Lisa

I am currently teaching for several companies teaching english and business english and to children after school. I have the CELTA cert and I am a secondary school teacher from the UK. No roblem with CELTA, make sure your CV looks good and show all your experience of teaching, levels and age groups etc. If you want any more help just ask.

Just seen the wierdest thing, well I thought so. Like a nest of around 50 small black furry caterpillars with red/orange eyes...with a type of web around them forming a nest? this was on the ground within the grass, and closeby another 'nest' with same caterpillars but larger.....any idea what they are going to be?? oh and the punaise sp? (yeuk) are out again.

Not sure if anyone can help, but I'm looking for a large white female pig, quite urgently....our female dies four days ago and the male is getting very lonely...Thanks Oh I'm in 16 but can collect if not too far away....

I am looking to buy or even better, to be given a female large white pig around 2 years old. To breed with our boar....if you know someone or have one to sell/give yourself...thanks

You can bring them back on the ferry, got ours through no problem...just don't wave them about infront of the customs folk!

You could buy yourself a little white van, and park it awkwardly on the road edge by your house and stand next to it smoking all day, or just invite the chasse round to visit....they don't seem to have much luck round us, I think deer must have an innate sense or white van = chasse and steer well clear!

I think you have to make some sort of cut in the bark and possible bind the mistletoe to it, not too strongly I would have thought. As far as I know mistletoe only grows on certain trees and I think that's fruit trees and poplar, there are probably others.....good luck HTH not an expert...

Good idea, forgot about ebay and thanks for the reply.

Weirdly I am just trying to do my cv for an interview with anpe tomorrow and I have written concubinage...but not sure if that's correct, any ideas, since I'm def not célibataire

well done, what are you doing for a job then??

Thanks for all your replies, that's all great advice. Just have to get myself sorted out to send off my CV now! Thanks again. I am working in a Uni, so I have got some work, just fancied school kids instead of stroppy students!!

I am thinking of getting a TNT box for Christmas, where can I get a cheap one? Someone told me Auchan does one for around 35€ but can I get it for less? Thanks for your help, Lisa

We have only chatâigner and oak saw dust and the mountain is growing...hence the need for some way of getting rid of it. I knew about the soft wood, was warned by somone more or less as soon as we moved here...we were also looking into buying a large screw, grin, which slowly pulls the sawbust into a furnace and then heats a boiler. These are usually industrial, or for heating byres in the winter by farmers, but they are too expensive for us really, and to be most effective you need to mix the sawdust with an oil, and the nearest chippy is miles away!

I agree that the subjunctive isn't that bad..;for example try using 'il faut que j'aille (à la banque) (aller) i've got to go (to the bank). If you can work out how one verb changes into the subjunctive and then try using it, even if only in the 1st person, then you'll get more confident. I use it quite often, mostly aller, être, voir, prendre, venir...and for most of the others I tend to say the subjunctive like the present and hope for the best...most people understand what you mean and some may correct you. I had a look on the About site, and the section on avoiding the subjunctive was interesting, using d' infinitive...will have to try it.

You can buy a little plastic box from Kleeneze which you fill with cold water and then put your hose from your normal drier into it, and that condenses it for you...I find it really good and hardly any steam in the room. HTH Lisa

growing sausages is a nightmare, planted some cocktail sausages once and never saw them again LOL! Good tips about growing caulis, got loads of horse manure from my horses so will put loads in! Thanks Lisa

There is a vet near us who will write different dates on the forms, he's done it for a neighbour of mine, and I think he may have given them the treatments for them to administer once too. Worth asking or explaining your problem to them, you never know they may encounter this all the time.

HI, haven't brought them over, but have horses in the Charente. I find there can quite a lot of flies, but my horses seem to be fine with them. I have 2 shetlands and a trotter française. There are some really good horse vets in my area and farriers are not a problem either....there's also another company doing a holistic foot care thing, although I haven't used them myself. There are quite a few horsey associations in this area too, either for randonees, competitions, carriagedriving etc, it's quite active in y experience, and there are ferme equestres opening all over the place. Hope this helps in part, although not the moving them over bit, sorry. Lisa

You've written exactly what I was thinking. Surely only electricians registered in France can know the regulations from the consuel, and you'll need a cert of conformity surely if your house has been rewired...and the 10 year guarantee thing is very interesting for all those who are thinking of using non french registered workers and black workers too in any trade! Nice post Ian, Lisa

Have just found the Grue cendrée in my little promenades à la campagne book....thanks for the links, going to try them now.Lisa ...yep they work and very interesting...will be bale to add my sightings when they come back up...can't remember the exact dates etc for this autumn.

Where are they going to and from? Do you know what type they are and the names in French? Thanks

Cool thanks for that they're just what I'm looking for. Do you have any experience of using the machine or how well the logs burn?