Rose

Twinkle... when I hear this I think of you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjbRvm3svPc

[quote user="TWINKLE"]  I will be hooking up with JK at the end of this month and will also be seeing Pads and Chateau Miaou - very nice ladies indeed. [/quote] Really wish I could get there... fingers crossed I can make it next year! [quote user="TWINKLE"] Rose is gorgeous too - fantastic sense of humour! [/quote] I think you helped bring me out of my shell twinks xx [quote user="TWINKLE"]  have been brainwashed by Facebook I'm afraid. I've only been on here for 10 minutes and I keep looking for the Like button ;)[/quote] Excellent Idea... maybe we could have one!

[quote user="TWINKLE"]... This coming from someone who is very funny by the way...[/quote] ... and modest [;-)] xx

[quote user="idun"]Scary, surely not![/quote] [:D]

[quote user="Catalpa"] [quote user="Rose"]And... just to say I agree with the comments about UK v France... there is no need to compare... I love my corner of Britain, just as I love my little corner of the Dordogne. [/quote]And yet... [;-)] Having very happily spent the first half of my life (I'm thinking positive there!) in England, part of the fun of living in France is to compare and contrast - not necessarily in a negative way but just in an "isn't that interesting..." sort of way because the cultures are very very different. Whilst not wishing to ignite the whole DSK thing again, that is a quick and easy example of how two cultures, in general, reacted very differently to current affairs ([6]) and examining the foundations on which those different reactions were constructed was very interesting and I doubt I would have been as interested if I'd not been living here. [/quote] Yes, that makes sense.  I've change my opinion on lots of things about France since living here... simply because I'm better informed... and have had discussions which have highlighted the differences between France and the UK.   Bad wording on my part I guess... as you say comparisons can be interesting, the conversations that Will/Idun/Coops (Charly[Www]) mentioned are unhelpful... [:$]

penofmyaunt... Nice name by the way... I did read the full report, there is a link in the Guardian article; I also went onto the website and read quite a lot there too.  I actually felt that overall between France and the UK very few differences where found.  And yes, some results were better, some weaker and I'm sure different areas of both countries will imapct on the results. Do you  know what... generally I think I've been misunderstood a fair bit through this thread.  I am not saying France is better but I'm also not saying the UK is better.  If I could choose, I would pull the best from the UK system and the best from the French system and I think we'd be closer to an ideal.  What I have been saying is that there are good and bad in both countries.  For us it's been fine... I would have reservations about an older child.   I'm struggling to see what there is to disagree with... unless we're saying that France is universally poor and the UK is universally good... which I dont think anyone is saying?

[quote user="Sprogster"]What stood out from the first episode was the limited integration, in that none of the Brits featured seemed to speak the language that well and their businesses were reliant on the expat market, or employers. Which must be a bit of a concern in the current economic enviroment, where Brits in France are generally either tightening their belts or leaving.[/quote] Sprogster, I wonder what makes you say that?  I'm sorry if I'm mising something but I dont think that I could form an opinion either way on their language skills or the state of their business? Also, I think someone mentioned earlier that this is a TV programme and there is a certain amount of 'poetic license' at play.  I met some friends today and we were talking about the programme - one of them visits one of the restuarants featured in the series... apparently (I'm quoting someone else so I cant swear it's true) they are shown as Brits playing bingo but they have never before played bingo there and it was only done on the request of the TV programme.  If this is the case then I suspect it's more staged than we thought? And... just to say I agree with the comments about UK v France... there is no need to compare... I love my corner of Britain, just as I love my little corner of the Dordogne. And... Idun... sorry, I think I've been spelling your name wrong for ages [:$]

Normie... take care... will be thinking of you [kiss]

[quote user="Sprogster"]A recently published medical paper has suggested that blood pressure readings taken in the Dr's surgery are often misleading, being elavated due to patient nervousness, or what is called white coat syndrome. As a result some patients could have been put unnecessarily on high blood pressure medication. Therefore, best practice is to get a patient to take a series of readings at home on their own machine, which can be bought very cheaply these days in the UK.[/quote] Sproster - the medication I take to supress the cancer can result in high blood pressure so I have to have mine checked each month.  My GP has suggested we have a machine at home and I take my BP every day at the same time... he says that if I notice any changes I should contact him.  When I'm at home my BP is always around 110-120/65-75 and my pulse normally around the 60-70 mark... when I'm at the doctors it's always around 130/80 and pulse 70+-80... my doctor laughs as he thinks I'm frightened of him... it's good to know I'm not alone.

[quote user="just john "]If only I knew where his market is, once in a while I fancy trying a bit of organic, pork and beef, husbanded and butchered by the same small producteur where is he.?  [/quote] JJ - not sure if I'm allowed to post a link to his site?  But I have no connection with him, no idea what his produce is like ... so I guess it's ok?  He seemed a lovely chap... I'm tempted to place and order [Www] http://www.boucheriealaferme.com/index.html

OECD/PISA Rankings

[quote user="idun"]When we lived in France, we liked living parmi les francais, who never appeared to have a very relaxed life style, they worked hard and long hours and many were not well off. So yes, when we see expats going on about 'life style' I always look flabbergasted, because it doesn't look, I'm struggling for a word here, 'normal' 'real' just plain right. It is surely the other France and I am uncomfortable with it. Uncomfortable with many things on many levels really. [/quote] Blimey Idum, when and where did you live?  It sounds pretty dreadful!  You need to come to the Dordogne and meet some our of french friends and neighbours... perhaps you'd see a different kind of normal.

AnOther - it was also odd how they show the map of the Dordogne but two of the three main features weren't filmed here... the chateau is in the Gironde and the farmer is in the Limousin... I've also read somewhere that they filmed a bit in the Lot-et-Garonne too... but that's only hearsay.  I'll still be watching the rest of the series. Idum - I was only asking why you were flabbergasted... I didn't see anything that shocking so I couldn't figure out what you meant?  Would I hear English voices in the supermarkets - it depends where I go... local to us I'd be hard pressed to find an English voice, my son is the only English boy at his secondary school, and there are no other English families at the local rugby club where he plays.  There is a retired English couple in the village so we're not alone here, but it was two years before we met them... there is also a lovely Irish lady but she married a French man 30+ years ago and has been here ever since (I only met her when I was ill and she was having physio at the same time as I was).  However, if I was to go to Bergerac I'd hear more, and our local market, during the UK school holidays, has a very different flavour as the visitors arrive (which is a shame as they never get to see it as we do). I know it's easy to joke about Dordogneshire and talk about the 1000's of Brits that head to the Dordogne but are there really that many more than other beautiful parts of France?  Just how many Brits live in the Dordogne full time?  And perhaps how many live in and around Paris and the Ile de France?  Or the Alpes?  Or further south?  I hear English voices wherever I've been in France and I understand lots of places have their enclaves of Brits... is the Dordogne really that different?  Aren't we just talking about a difference of a few hundred people?  And, how many live full time and how many have second homes or simply own holiday rentals, or how many live here and own more than one property?   I dont doubt that there are are a lot of British who live here but I would be interested to know how many, in comparison to other areas. Sorry to harp on but does it matter if I buy fish and chips in a restaurant once or twice a year rather than cook them myself?  What does that say about me?  Not a lot I hope... apart from that I like the occasional box of fish and chips, in a restaurant in the company of friends and family.  Maybe I do see life as rosy - maybe I do see it with all its glorious colour... it's not just pink you know... there are blues and reds and greens and yellows... and sometimes there's even a bit of black and white.  Does that make my life more sad?  Or does it just mean it's more full and more the richer for the variety?  Do you think that sometimes we can all take ourselves a little too seriously... it was a light-hearted TV programme... intended to entertain... so I guess that's what it will do... and if it doesn't well, we all have the option of doing something else?

[quote user="KathyF"]I've never visited the Dordogne, but it certainly looked very pretty indeed, Rose. I thought the programme was better than I had expected and I'll probably watch again. Nothing very deep or insightful, but a pleasant glimpse of people trying to make a living in a different country and apparently succeeding quite well.[/quote] KathyF - yes it was better than I thought it would be too.  It's not all in the Dordogne but nonetheless very pretty.  When we lived in the UK we spent all our holidays in France for many years but we never visited the Dordogne as we assumed it must be wall to wall Brits.  When we decided to move we had to choose a location within an hour of airports that flew to the SW of England... Bergerac was one.  We visited the Dordogne for the first time whilst searching for a short term rental and realised how wrong we'd been... we'd been tricked by the naughty headlines and the stories of 'Dordogneshire'.    There are of course some places that have lots and lots of ex-pats but the Dordogne is a large department so I guess folks just choose what suits them best.  All in all I think that France is full of beautiful places to visit and I guess this is what attracts people to live in these places... I'll be interested to see what the rest of the series brings. Guardian - there is another fish and chip van that goes to Perigueux - we've been a couple of times and they were very good, but as you say, not cheap.  The last time we went was last summer... my in-laws arrived with a pot of clotted cream so I made scones and jam for afternoon cream teas... and that evening we took them for fish and chips in town... not very french but they loved it [:D]

[quote user="idun"]I think I ran away from the possibility of living in such a place/community 30 years ago and my original feelings remain. My husband shouted out 'ah good god' after a couple of minutes and we kept glancing at one another, as couples do, looking amused and flabbergasted. The Dordogne, looked nice enough to me, but, but, would I go there after seeing this, I would doubt it, unless I was visiting friends and then I would. I'll visit friends where ever they may be.   [/quote] I'm confused Idum... what was there to be flabbergasted about... and what did you see to put you off visiting?  The Dordogne is a very very pretty place and if you've never been then you really are missing out... it has so much to offer visitors.  Maybe if you ever get the chance you should come on a holiday and perhaps our lovely department can charm you and show you what we have grown to love and call home. 

[quote user="idun"] ...Now if at some central point someone had organised a bbq and cricket match, we would have gone. And I sometimes would get some good fish and make us all fish and chips, but french friends loved them so they were the first invités... [/quote] Sounds perfectly reasonable to me... sounds like a great balance [quote user="idun"] I don't know how success is measured, we had a good life for the most part and very good friends that we still have and a decent enough income coming in. If it isn't success, then it feels to me like it is. [/quote] Agree with Another... it sounds like you made a success... if you're happy and content then I think life must be good.

[quote user="idun"] And 'my' child has done well, great, good, where would we be if a system didn't work for any children at all, but if that is all people think of, well, good for them, I never have had such 'insulated'  thoughts, I was helping other parents at school well before our situation went to pot. [/quote] Idum, you're clearly passionate about your thoughts and I respect this a great deal.  I may not agree with you in this instance but I do understand your passion.... Which is why I feel your comment above doesn't do you justice.  I am simply trying to offer some balance to a debate by sharing some of our first hand experiences... I think you're shrewd enough to realise that... which is why your comment was so unnessesary.

[quote user="cooperlola"]Honey, I'm home! [/quote] [:D] x

I hate it when someone asks questions about schools and education and the same old replies (normally the same people) are brought out.  The only reason I reply is to try and bring some balance. I think there are two issues here - one is the original question...  it too late to bring a 13 year old to France... regardless of how good or bad the system is, there are big risks for the child (I think it's too late but I dont know the child)... perhaps it is best to wait until she has finished her education in the UK or move her to an international school where she can complete her education in her mother tongue.  This seems fairly clear - it has no bearing on what either the French or the UK system is like... I feel it's just common sense? The second is some folks have a bad opinion of French schools and others don't.  Before we moved I read these posts and some of the things said terrified me... and we almost called it all off.  I am so glad common sense took over. There are good and bad schools and teachers in France... just as there are in the UK.  The french system isn't perfect but lets be honest neither is the system in the UK... the French systems lets kids fall through the net... well so does the system in the UK. I worked within the education system in the UK and I have seem it's faults and there are quite a few... We've had two children go through the system in the UK and again can give testament to it's good and bad points... I have seen my son finish primary and he's now in secondary here in France and whilst it's not perfect he is getting a good education and he is happy... and to me this is what matters. I don't doubt that for some children the move is too much (and for some parents).  I don't doubt that some folks have not had good experiences from schools here. As a parent you have to decide what is right for your child and take steps if it's not working... and that applies to whatever country you live in.  For us, not only is our child happy, not only have we found the schools well equiped and the teachers supportive... we also now have a bilingual child who, having moved country at 8,  will be able to face most things life throws at him, has a wealth of knowledge gained from this experience and overall is well rounded, funny, kind, clever happy young man.  He's not unique, we have lots of friends here with children at school who all seem to be happy, normal kids... problem is normal doesn't get discussed often... it's usually bad that you hear about.  So, any prospective parents out there thinking of bringing young children to France... please take a rounded view on the situation.  And on a final note... my sons old UK primary school headmaster came to visit us for a couple of days this summer - he's retired now and we always said he should visit if passing... he hadn't seen our son for 4 years and wrote to us afterwards and told us that he had grown into a fine young man, the move had brought out the very best in him and that he felt in his opinion that it has been the making of him.... he wrote that we were very brave to do what we did, but in his humble opinon we absolutely did the right thing and we should be very proud of all our son has acheived. 

[quote user="The Riff-Raff Element"]@ Idun - what can I say? Schools vary. Ours is so utterly different to what you describe that it might be in a completely different country. I'm a parent correspondent too and I've never yet encountered the attitudes of teachers you describe. Having sat through several classes in different subjects (I asked - I wanted to see how it worked 'cos I hadn't been through the system) I've yet to quite understand what this business of everything being taught by rote is about, because I don't see it. I see things that look pretty much like the methods used on me - so perhaps a little outmoded - but endless rote? Nope. [/quote] oooohhh - I've been hovering and wondering if I should reply or not... but then Riff-Raff said it for me.   I guess just as there are good and bad schools in the UK, the same exists here? I would however have to agree with others that 13 is quite late to bring a child over.  I have heard of success stories but it does seem a risk.  What about Interhigh?  Also there is a group near Eymet in the Dordogne that offer teaching and the possibility of doing GSCE's and A levels... so maybe a mixture of interhigh and these classes could be an option? 

The wig looks brilliant Deborah... as do you!  Great choice!! xx

We get strawberries in May and pumpins in October... and then bread and horses and bands somewhere in between... and then truffles before christmas.  I think it's the same fete just different products... and always the same cheese man who has the most expensive cheese ever! http://www.frenchholidaytower.com/festivals.html I'm already looking forward to the pumpkin fete [:D]

[quote user="idun"]No I haven't yet, but I will. [/quote] I'll be waiting [:D] I had a go at a chocolate cake with very little four and lots of egg whites and it was horrible... I'd love to bake something for my neighbours mum as she's always doing little bits for us.  I've searched  but I really dont know which I should do.  I've heard so many good things about your baking skills so I'll follow your lead x

Idum - did you make any cakes.. I'd love to get any recipes that you've tried x

Coops - so glad that you have such lovely people around you.  Glad one of the horrid things is crossed off your list... onwards and upwards xx