plod

I've just re-read the posts and have to say I can't find any "bullies". Unless you mean somebody who is anxious to ensure that potential emigrants consider all the facts about another country before they move. There are many misconceptions about what it is like to live in France and people planning a move should understand something of these misconceptions.

My brother watched it; he said the scoreline flattered Wasps. Yes, he is a Glaws supporter!

It's just that some people think there's no nanny state in France; that they ignore EU directives; that taxation is lower; that there's no bureaucracy or Poles etc. It is often said on this forum - move to another country for positive reasons not because you want to leave something behind.

What is England "turning into"? Do you think that France isn't also changing?

Having written the title I find myself musing over the correct spellings - anyway, am I right in thinking that tomatoes are not a good idea to plant where we had potatos last year?

The quality of rugby in the H Cup has been excellent. I fear the Six Nations will be more like the RWC and teams will play safety rugby and hope to kick penalties. We definitely do not underestimate Munster, and we are creaking a bit at the moment with both our first choice locks out. Big game on Saturday against Pests who will be smarting after being booted out of the H Cup.

I now see that if we beat Munster we get Sarries or Ospreys (again)

Frankly, on this season's performances and away from Aime Giral I don't give Perpignan much hope. Having said that none of the teams in the quarters - including the Cherry and Whites are in good form. Sarries look a bit flaky at times; Ospreys blow hot and cold and without Mr Lewis reffing are very beatable. Munster were well outplayed at Clermont although their spirit kept them in with a shout. If you take Toulouse on up front they are not so hot. They need broken play ball to get their backs going. My semi predictions: Gloucester, Toulouse, Sarries and Irish. As I live in Albi a semi against Toulouse down this way would be nice.  

I reffed for a number of years and there were times when I though that a ruck was just a free for all. You can only look for the obvious - killing quick ball, coming in at the side, lurking off-side. You need eyes everywhere. I have to say I sometimes wonder what the touch judges do - didn't one of them see Flannery trying to take Bonnaire's eye out? Another bugbear of mine, not always picked up by the refs are those players whose teams have control of the ball at a ruck but who don't bind to it but hang about alongside making tackles very difficult when the ball comes out. C'mon Glaawwss!

I've just realised what rubbish I've written as I think he was born in the UK!

I have mixed feelings on this but your suggestion would be a bit hard on somebody whose parents emigrated when they were young. Effectively, they'd find it very difficult to play international sport. Monty Panesar would have to play for India, for instance.

It's all gone a bit pear-shaped for us this last two weeks, however, we should qualify for the quarters. A bonus point win against Ulster(!) would give us a home game, maybe against Toulouse.

With the benefit of hindsight - no!! Quarter finalists? Glaws, Cardiff, Toulouse, Sarries, Irish, then not sure. Munster if they get a result at Clermont.  

We Glaws fans are not sure about this. The chances are he won't be picked - bench maybe, and therefore we will be deprived of him. I'm not sure about the rest of the squad - Worsley, Cueto... what's Simpson-Daniel have to do to get a game?

It's still worrying to see your pension reduced - I'm 180 euros worse off this month compared to September.

I wasn't aware that Tom Walkinshaw played at all; certainly not for the Cherry and Whites. Questions were asked about our staying abilities by Bath last Saturday in the mud. We need dry grounds as we have outstanding backs - to think once upon a time our backs were such lumps that they could have interchanged with the forwards. I hope we can get a losing bonus at Ospreys (if not a win!) and a four try bonus against Ulster (sorry!). Then we should get a home quarter - against whom? Sarries? London Irish? Clermont perhaps. 

Useful advice in many cases but I query two points made - firstly, "don't worry too much about learning French". I think the exact opposite, you must have a reasonable knowledge to be able to survive here. Secondly, "the cost of living in rural France can be significantly lower than the UK". Well, we are in rural France and I doubt that there is much difference in our bills, and with the pound plummetting against the euro, in effect, our bills are rising well above the rate of inflation. Good luck with your "fantasy". 

Well you didn't win but they didn't get a losing bonus. We are the only unbeaten team in the Heineken. On reflection I'd better not start counting my chickens!

Didn't see any rugby this weekend as, foolishly, I took the wife to Perpignan for a couple of days - lovely place. Gloucester are still going well and realistically we should win the group and get a home quarters tie. Some of the other pools are very close. Biarritz are not the team they were and Sarries should have beaten them. The Irish might make a losing bonus point at Perpignan. I hope that Ulster can take Ospreys out!

We'll share more than one!

Heineiken again this week; unfortunately Gloucester are at Bourgoin which is about 350 miles from Albi. A win here and we'd be set up to get into the quarters I think. It would be very very nice if Ulster could beat Ospreys, wouldn't it?

They must like her a lot to keep her for so long.

I agree with SD - you'd never drive at more that 20 kmh if you thought a vehicle was going to come out of a side turning on to a main road. In many years of driving in France this PAD has never been a problem. It sounds terrible but in reality it isn't.

I've got a La Pavoni which is my pride and joy. They aren't cheap and, frankly, I can't think you could buy one machine that would make all the different types of coffee you want.

I am an expert on this having done a complete room and now doing - thankfully - only a wall. My second efforts seem to be more effective than the first. The top layer comes away easily then I have soaked the wall with removal solution, left it for half an hour, soaked again, left it and then scraped. It is coming off quite well. Some times you may be able to peel rather than scrape. The problem is that if you don't scrape carefully you get this "skin" left behind. I fully expect to have to do a lot of filling. I wish you well!