les heureux

Hi, we have lived in France for 20 years.  We always wished we had kept our house in England, we have enjoyed working and living here and have made many good friends,  but now retired we do return to England more.  We love our times in England with the family and friends and have a very rich social life over there.  The winters in France are long and very cold, our French friends seem to hibenate and most of our favourite restaurants are closed.  There is nothing like Christmas in England.  We have very good English friends who spend Spring and Summer in France but winter in England, this works really well for them  as they agree France is dead in the winter months.  We do love France we wouldn't have stayed here for all this time otherwise but it's great to have a place in your home country as well. This is just our views, I'm sure others think the opposite but being honest we will move back to England when we are older, just to be near our family and close friends when we feel vunerable. Best of luck to you with your decision

Hi Jen, Thanks for the posting, you have really given me hope, I must speak to my doctor and get it sorted out.  Glad to hear it is working for you, you sound very positive and hopefully the rest of us will get the care we need also. Hazey

Hi, Thanks for your message, it's nice to know I am not alone, I know quite a few French ladies who have this but I haven't found any British.  I am not too happy with my doctor, I have asked three times to see a specialist but he always says he is treating me and there is no need to see anyone else.  I have a blood test every 6 months and the TSH is still not normal.  A French acquaintance has told me her doctor sent her immediately to a specialist and he explained everything in detail.  Apparantly the levo is not good for the heart and as my blood pressure is always a little high this worried me, my doctor has said there is no need to worry!  I also have problems with concentration and sometimes feel completely lost when I am trying to do something.  I'm sure there must be something which can relieve some of these symptoms.  I am dreading taking a higher dose of levo as I don't think it agrees with me. I feel for you suffering with muscle pain on top of everything else, like you my skin is bad and looks very thin, hopefully we will find some help.  I am going to ask my doctor once more if I can see a specialist and if he refuses I will either change doctors or make an appointment direct myself.  Thanks for the links I will have a good look through them and see what I can find. Let's hope we both feel better this time next year!!   friend has the Someone I know has told me that sh  

Thanks Clair, this looks like an interesting site, will have a read through the messages. hazey

Hi, Just wondered if anyone else on the forum has been diagnosed with this complaint, Thyroide Hashimoto or in French (Thyroidite d'ashimoto).  When my doctor diagnosed mine about a year ago, he explained it is like an underactive thyroide but the immune system turns on the body and attacks the thyroide.  I am now taking levothyrox 35mg but I think he will put the dose up next time as I am still very tired although I can't sleep at night.  Also my skin has been affected, it has become very dry and thin which is a little worrying. I go on the French forum and read about others who suffer from the same but wondered if anyone on this forum suffers with it and would like to know any tips you may have to keep it in check. The name Hashimoto is taken from the doctor who discovered the illness.

Hi Mike, We ran a B&B in Normandie for 17 years, about 10 years ago we received a letter from SACEM, they told us we had to pay a license for each televison we had in the guests area, plus payments for music  played also.  We were registered with Gites de France whom I contacted, they told me it was correct although I argued the point.  In the end I removed the television and stereo in the guest area, wrote to SACEM and told them there was no televisions or music in the guest areas of the house (we had six rooms), I received about three more letters from them warning that they could inspect the house, I invited them to come but they never did, in the end they gave up and the television and Stereo were put back into the guests area. I never had any other problems from them, it worked for me but you must do as you think, they will try and get money from you any way they can if you think you are a soft touch, take advice from your French friends, they have all the answers to get round these problems.  By the way we were classed as a business as we paid tax professional, so maybe this is why we were contacted.  Best of luck hope your B&B is a huge success!

Every other day or so when I sweep our 10 X 5 pool, I get clouds of what appears to be something yellow. I've had a local pool man round who tried to remove the top of the filter to have a look inside and change the sand but it's stuck solid. He thinks it might be glued on! His opinion is that it could well be chucking out sand into the pool. Any advice e.g save time and change it because it's becoming a bit of a pain.  Also, is it an easy job to do oneself?

Hi Chris, May be able to help you, can you please let me know what day is your changeover day, when date does your  letting dates start and finish.  Also need to know what you are willing to pay for the service of house cleaning, gardening, pool cleaning, etc.  We have been in the hospitality business for 18 years in France. Looking forward to hearing from you. Regards