Pommier

Do you think that he isn't racist, NickP?

As no-one else has replied I will! We've just tiled the kitchen and used the tile fixative in a tub, but it wasn't the same as 'Fix and Grout' in the UK. For grouting we bought a powder grout, which is mixed with water. 

To reply to YCCMB's question, I was less pro-EU when we lived in the UK than since we've lived in France, because living in England you believe at least some of the anti-Europe/pro-UK propaganda (best in the world, envy of the world, straight bananas etc), then when you leave the UK you realise that the rest of Europe isn't actually that envious or even that interested in what Britain is doing. 

Congratulations on the bursary Master Betty!

I wanted to make some little cheesy aperitif biscuits today and decided to just make a dough as for cheese straws then cut them out with the top off a spice jar (only thing I could find which was the right size and which I could push out any which stuck). They came out lovely and crisp - much less faffing around than cutting dozens of cheese straws!

We're with SFR and moved into our new house on 8th March. We arranged with SFR for the phone/internet to be connected well in advance on 25th February (we've had problems on previous moves) and the technician turned up on time and fiddled around with wires (being technical here!). He said it was now connected but the phone and internet didn't work at all for weeks and even now it's intermittant. I'm on first name terms with the chap in SFR's technical support, but the problem remains, and no-one appears able to cure it. I think all the ISPs are as bad/good as each other, and it's pure luck if all goes well.

Thank you SO much Norman - I'll PM you the information.

Would anyone who is with Free possibly be kind enough to phone for me? (call is free for Free customers). I'd hoped to find some way of emailing where I could explain myself, but the phone is difficult for me, especially as my hearing isn't great. I'd be so grateful to get this sorted out.

Yes, I get that page and I can sign into my Espace Client, but once I'm there, there's nowhere that I can see for contact.  When I do suivi de commande this is what I get: Forfait associé : Forfait 2H / SMS illimités à 2 euros Type de carte SIM : Multi SIM Multi ' rel="tooltip" data-placement="right" data-content="#tooltipSimMulti"> Demande effectuée : le 23 avr. 2013 à 14:25. Portabilité : La portabilité a echouée. Infos portabilitéNuméro 07 62 98 89 56 R.I.O. 03P232351H1A " rel="tooltip" data-placement="right" data-content="#infosPorta0"> Infos portabilité Numéro xxxxxxxxxx (I've deleted that on here) R.I.O. xxxxxxxxxxx   ( deleted) Vous avez reçu votre Carte SIM ? Cliquez ici pour l'activer.     I'm stuck!!!

I've gone to Espace Client, but I still can't see how to contact Free. There's Accueil, Gerer Mon Compte,  Mes Commandes and Telephones, but I can't find a 'contact' place. Please would you have a look at your Espace Client and see where I'm missing it? Many thanks!

I applied on line for Free's offer of 2 hours of calls a month for €2 a month. I received confirmation of my order, confirmation of the creation of my 'espace abonné' and saying they'd ordered the portability of my number (previously with B&You until 19th April). The emails from Free were on 23rd and 24th April, since when I've heard nothing (and not received the SIM). When I look at following the order on line it says that the portability of my number failed. What can/should I do? There's no email address for Free - I've tried replying to the emails they've sent me, but with no response. Is this delay normal?

I agree with the reasons already given (especially grandchildren), but I think that the main reason why so many people are currently returning to the UK is because about 7 or 8 years ago there was a huge influx of British people into France, and they've now got bored and want to move back. Although prices here have increased recently (and still are, which is scarey!), prices are also rising in the UK, so I can't see a big difference in living costs between the two countries. As you've already got a holiday home in France, why not come over for an extended winter holiday before deciding whether it's the place you'd prefer to live full time? 

[quote user="nomoss"] So widows, nor widowers, after 2016, can no longer expect any support earned by their deceased partner unless they move back to the UK. [/quote] No, even if you move back to the UK, there's no support as the changes will affect UK residents as well as those living abroad. My mother who is 82 will be seriously affected if her husband survives until 2016, from which time she will not inherit his pension rights and will only be entitled to the small pension she earned herself. 

From what I've read Pickles, from 2016 the married couple's pension will be scrapped and widows will no longer inherit their husband's pension rights. The only pensions anyone will receive will be that which they have themselves earned.

I also clicked on the topic because of the title; with the weather so miserable I was intrigued - at the moment round here it's how cold, rainy or windy can it go?

Mrs Trellis, I think you are a remarkably kind and tolerant person. I think I would crack if I had to get up at those hours of the night to put the dog out!

I think you're right to help them Sue; after all it's not as if it's some test they've got to pass!

I was talking to a French man recently who thought that in England if someone doesn't leave a will everything goes to the Queen, and that debts die with the person. I explained that debts only die with a person if they had died with no money or property. He told me that the father of a friend of his had taken out lots of loans prior to his death and that the friend was having to pay them off even though he hadn't signed as guarantor.

I was unhappy to hear on the radio yesterday that there had been a street party organised in a part of London to celebrate the death of Margaret Thatcher. Whether you liked her policies or not I do think that people ought to show some respect, not just for here but also for her family and friends.

Years ago our car was rear ended whilst parked (legally) at the side of the road. The other driver admitted liability, our car was written off with a derisory payment from the other driver's insurance, then when our insurance came up for renewal, the premium had shot up "because we'd made a claim"!!!!

I'm late to the debate (and I don't know much about mobiles) but here are the bits I've found out. UK mobiles are locked to the provider and you have to pay to get them unlocked, but with French mobiles the operator has to give you the unlocking code free. We were with Bouygues and I saw a great offer with SFR so rang Bouygues to get the code which they gave me with no problem. They then said they'd got the same offers with their brand B&You so in the end I stayed with them. I'm on their €19,90 a month offer which is unlimited calls to mobiles and fixed in France, plus calls to fixed phones in the UK and lots of other countries. We're on this until (if ever) SFR get our phone line/internet working in our new house - they have lent us a 3G key which is better than nothing. Once we've got a fixed phone I'll change to B&You's offer of a SIM card for €4,99 which never expires and which has 15 minutes of calls, so ideal for emergencies. You probably all know this already, but it was new to me! Hope it helps someone. 

We've just returned from a week in the UK with crossings Caen/Portsmouth, night crossings with en suite cabin both ways for a cost of £250 which I thought was pretty good. The ship and cabins were clean, the crew were pleasant and departure/arrival were on time.

How about €1500 for a puppy? http://www.leboncoin.fr/animaux/431084127.htm?ca=18_s

I'm returning to this subject now that the house is almost completed. We eventually chose CABCL to build the house. They are a co-operative of local artisans who have designed and built the house to the budget we wanted and have made a lovely job of it. Here's a link (very boring I'm afraid, as it shows every last detail) http://s1138.photobucket.com/albums/n523/cherylfrenchphotos/Our%20new%20house/

[quote user="Frecossais"]I'm not talking about public gardens here, but the French people I know love and aim to emulate English gardens. [/quote] The French buyers of our last house thought the garden was wonderful, wheras it was really a bit of a mess with the dog burning holes in the lawn and finding it fun to run through the borders, but they kept saying 'an English garden!' I'm not struck on Monty Don, although I would never criticise his accent as it's bound to be better than mine! There are a lot of what I think of as not real gardeners on television at present (Carol Klein excepted) - just think how good Geoff Hamilton used to be!