Pommier

You do get a card (well, we do) which is useful if you go into hospital etc, but visits to the GP it all works automatically. CPAM refund the 70% then notify the top-up insurer who refund their part.

Gosh, that's been around the world a few times, certainly since 2009! On the whole I think there is more recycling these days than in the 1960's but I agree with Idun on disposable nappies - what a waste of resources and money.

[quote user="Quillan"] My point about the hospitals is that people going to A&E at some point have to be seen by a doctor and when you multiply all the numbers up there are a lot of people what I would call 'abusing' the system by taking time that would be better spent on those that really need treatment. [/quote] From what I heard on the radio, the people going to A & E many many times a year are those with mental health problems, drug and alcohol addictions.

We've had a 'BBC' house built and we moved in in March this year. The builder said it would be €30000 more expensive than if we hadn't had BBC, but we were working to a budget (and so therefore was he) and we achieved everything we wanted in the house for the original budget. Apart from the huge energy savings, I reckon that in future, with energy costs constantly increasing, it will be far more saleable than a less energy efficient house.

It seems a sensible precaution to me. After all, the donkey could easily be spooked and bolt leaving the child injured.

Leclercs fidelity scheme is a bit different to others. Firstly you often accumulate money on your card by buying particular items and that total is shown on your till receipt. As has been said , when you want to use all or some of it, just tell the cashier and input your 4 digit fidelity card number. You also gain points throughout the year (also shown on the till receipt) which have to be cashed in at the service desk in November. You'll be given a credit note to spend in the shop. If you don't cash them in then the points are zero'd at the end of November.

I looked up 'foutu' on line and it came up with a variety of translations; rotten, lousy, damned, but also (confusingly!) hunky (for a man) or shapely for a woman. Sounds like a difficult word to use! I also found this use of it in a newspaper today: http://www.macommune.info/article/hollande-tes-foutu-les-poneys-sont-dans-la-rue-91712

I don't think the thief can be very bright or she'd have replaced the stolen drink with a bit of water.

That's a beautiful pie. I'm always amazed at the fantastic creations in patisseries and charcuteries - they are real works of art. Sadly, hot water crust pastry doesn't seem to exist in France, so I (very occasionally) make pork pies at home.

[quote user="sweet 17"]Had to Google Gloria Gaynor (how's that for alliteration![+o(]) Clearly, I have too little to do with the younger generation! [/quote] Sweet - that's not a young person's song as it was released 35 years ago!

As a change from tartiflette how about the British version, homity pie? Cook about 3 sliced onions together with a couple of garlic cloves and some thyme. When they're starting to brown mix them with some boiled potatoes (not mashed, just broken together) plus any bits of cheese, cooked leeks (if you like them) cream (or creme fraiche), herbs, anything else you fancy. Leave it to cool. Line a dish with flaky pastry, pile in the filling, bit of cheese on top and bake it. Lovely with gammon or sausages.

[quote user="sweet 17"] I have bought some really dinky pie moulds, allows you to make various sizes of semi-circular pies with lovely crimped edges[/quote] Been to Lidl recently then?

You've got quite a big budget, so if I were you I'd spend quite a lot less and not rent it out - just use it for yourself or friends and family. You save then on the tax, the stress, the cost of changeovers/cleaning, plus if you decide to sell up you haven't put so much of your capital at risk - and the Dordogne being an area with significant numbers of UK owners, if anything goes wrong (closure of Bergerac airport, fluctuations in exchange rates etc) you could be in a position where values are falling.

Channel Islands Sweet 17!! I won't be held responsible for Canary Island orders! We get hide chews for our dog from Zooplus, and although they seem expensive, there are 100 in a pack so they last ages.

I don't know if this was the article you objected to http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/poppy-last-time-remembrance-harry-leslie-smith - I felt a large degree of sympathy for his thoughts.

We bought a Karcher pressure washer when we were selling the last house and wanted to clean the patio. It was quite cheap (about 60€ as far as I remember) and came with a circular brush attachment which was called a patio attachment (or something similar). It worked very well and didn't leave clean lines, but gave an evenly clean finish.

We've been very happy with Banque Postale. They do the full range of accounts and cards (and their insurance is significantly cheaper than the company we used previously) The bank should deal with standing orders, but you'll be cancelling those for utilities when you move. I only allow prelevements for broadband and mobile phone as they won't bill any other way.

Hi Victor, the problem we found with CA is that they are regional banks, so effectively you are dealing with a different company at the new address. We found that the bank at the old address (every time, so not a fluke) didn't want to transfer the accounts and messed around for many weeks. We're now with Banque Postale, but if we'd had the same situation again we'd close all but the current account, then at the new bank write a cheque to ourselves to transfer all but a small amount (enough for bank charges etc), then ask for the remaining virtually valueless account to be transferred. For everything else, this site is great https://mdel.mon.service-public.fr/je-change-de-coordonnees.html

Will that grease the cogs and make the mouse slippery?

I just Googled and found this official site http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/-Diagnostic-de-Performance,855-.html but from a quick look I don't see any mention of refunds. It's quite a cheap test anyway.

Do you mean the diagnostic test you need to have done before selling? If so I've never heard of any refund.

I've just had an email from Glasses2You offering free delivery within Europe and 10% off (with code OCT10) just until 31st October.

[quote user="Mr Ceour de Lion II"]That's because the government taxes too much. Stifles business. [/quote] If it was tax that was making glasses expensive then it would apply equally to on-line companies. No, it's excessive profits by opticians.

We've moved region 3 times and the only place which tried to mess us around (same each time) was the bank. We were with CA at the time though, but not any longer!

I've bought from Glasses2You and they were fast and inexpensive - plus you can upload your photo to their site to 'try on' various styles.