Christine Animal

If you can believe it, but I daren't say it too loud on here, we have a little dog called "Troll", because he looked like a little "chien nordique".  But he doesn't mind, he's quite happy about it.

Why not do a search for "Eleveurs Setters Anglais" ?

Yes, FK I shall keep looking for a giraffe, like that we have a project, something to dream of... because if we actually get one we shall have nothing more to look forward to and if you threw it out, melon colic Weedon would want the box to "sniff-in".  But I know you wouldn't do that, you are too sentimental. I have got myself into this giraffe thing and I shall see it through..as a project. Comprendez...?  

Welcome Albert, don't take anything that is said on here personally. 

Doesn't this confirm what Liz said yesterday?  So, also confirming what she said about "il fait meilleur qu'hier" is "meilleur temps". Bravo you two, now we just have to wait and see what the "grand maître" says when he gets back...

There is something in what FK says.  There was a Frenchman who had a passion for houses and doing them up.  But he said that once it was finished, it didn't interest him any more, so he sold it and went on to another project...  It's not what we have that interests us, but the project of something else   Like those funny people who have the urge to climb up mountains, once they have struggled up to the top under the worst conditions, what do they do - go and find another one to climb. Not much good me looking for a giraffe then...

Here I come again! I have just heard that there is a yellow Labrador urgently needing a new home in our area, Deux-Sèvres. I may have more details tomorrow as it is through the neighbour of someone who has to leave this weekend and as he has not found a home for his dog he will have to take it to the SPA. I don’t know yet if it is a male or a female, but it is a 3 year old yellow Labrador, used to children. Is there anyone ready to save him/her this weekend? We also have someone up in Normandy who wants to rehome their 2 year old male yellow Labrador. Once again, not the fault of the dog, their child (the doctor says) is allergic. Many thanks, Christine

Wyre Piddle, must be lovely this time of year when the sun and the hollyhocks are out. Though, with a name like that, you can expect it to rain sometimes

I don't know Liz...  I've taken my coat and my hat!  C'est peut-être mieux 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PET IN FRANCE If your pet has a British microchip number, until it is registered over here, which can take some time, make sure he has your telephone number on his collar (collar with an elastic for a cat). If you are in France on holiday put the telephone number of where you are staying, or a mobile. If your pet should go missing, act quickly. Inform as many people and authorities as possible: The mairie, the gendarmes, the local fourrières (dog pounds), SPA and other refuges (animal shelters) found in the yellow pages or by minitel. Print posters with a photo of your pet to be distributed in the local shops, supermarkets, etc., anywhere where it can be seen. Put ads in the local newspapers. A useful site is Animal Rescue http://www.animal-rescue.net/intro.htm where they have a list of some of the refuges http://www.animal-rescue.net/Refuges.htm and here http://www.viva-vous.net/services/refuges-fourrieres.php   If you cannot speak French, we are here to help. Contact us immediately, even all three of us, and we shall try to find the local authorities for you and inform them that your pet is missing. We can also put a photo on our sites. Please print this and keep it in case of need, it may even help someone else you know if they lose their cat or dog.   PHOENIX ASSOCIATION http://www.phoenixasso.com/index.html Email [email protected] Telephone Sheelagh and Richard Johnson 05 53 54 94 81   ANIMAL MATTERS http://hometown.aol.co.uk/animalmattersfr/animatterslostandfound.html Email [email protected] Telephone Tiffany Stacpoole 05 53 31 23 61   ANIMAL AID http://animalaidsaintaubin.monsite.wanadoo.fr Email [email protected] Telephone Christine and Jean-Pierre Aubertin   05 49 07 67 60   If you do contact us about a lost pet, we would be very grateful if you would kindly let us know the outcome so that everyone can be informed and ads deleted.  

Yes, Liz, I think you've got it. But what about, c'est mieux qu'hier, or il fait meilleur qu'hier?

This is a difficult one.  What a shame Vraititi is in Honfleur. When you go back to the dentist you could say "c'est beaucoup mieux", much better. Generally, mieux is better and meilleur is best. Best in class, meilleur de la classe. Perhaps your tooth is better because he is the "meilleur dentiste", best dentist. But it seems to me that sometimes it is said, it is "meilleur que les autres", better than the others.  Now I'm confused Pat, will have to try to look it up.  Hope Vraititi's back soon! I edit I've just looked in the dictionary and am even more lost, it seems both can be used for both, depending on the sense and if it is an adjective, an adverb or a noun.  I only know by hearing and speaking, but can't explain gramatically. "C'est pour le mieux" means it's for the best.  But you marry "pour le meilleur et pour le pire". Is there anyone out there who can help till Vraititi gets back 

That's good news Ant!  I am so pleased for you and the cats. Christine

What's happened to Mpprh's flamingo?  Didn't his wings used to flap? Maybe it's dangerous migrating through that 66 region...

Oh, FK, don't be sad. You usually make us feel so happy. It's lovely to have a parrot, we had one, and not only did he talk, but when he said things, he said them at the right time.  If we went to bed, but hadn't bothered with him, he would say "good night", and if I opened the door to call the dogs in he would whistle before me saying "come on, come on", and if they made a noise in the house he used to shout "will you stop it!"  He used to travel down to Spain with us on holiday, sitting on his perch in his cage, and on the motorway every time we went under a bridge he used to duck.  (That was before pet passports!). FK, you will soon be back in sunny France, where plenty of camembears will be waiting for you.      

Thanks Pat.  Oh well, I suppose they'll be everywhere now (at least where it doesn't rain too much) !

I can't find the thread "The Irish are Coming", wasn't it in the Post Bag? I wanted to add this: … and they are still coming. Have just received French Property News where they say the French Property Exhibition in Dublin attracted nearly 3,000 home-hunters seeking both boltholes and investment opportunities. I quote: It seemed that the majority were looking for investment opportunities, seeing no value in the Irish market. Some appreciated the benefit of being able to use the property as a holiday home, while others were interested in the investment side only, and didn’t even plan to visit their French property. Few people seemed interested in going the whole hog and moving to France. Unquote. Perhaps the term « home-hunters » is not quite suitable, but it was said of some « They wanted small second homes, a bolthole they could use to get away from wet Irish winters and the high cost of living. » It was also said « The Irish have been some of the nicest visitors I’ve ever met, everyone was really pleasant to deal with ».

Yes, maybe you're right!

He keeps coming back in all different disguises, but we always seem to recognise that "something", wonder what it is...  There was recently a fluffy pink near poitier, wanted a flamingo, no that's pink as well, it was a peacock.  Do you happen to know him Le Bouffon?  Or are you in the 66? I was wondering if FK could bring a bucket of rodents over here...   

We also went round Monet's gardens some years ago, and it was difficult to take photos there were so many people.  I loved the kitchen, wasn't it yellow and blue?  We had a lovely meal in a nearby restaurant, can't remember the name, and we had two bottles of wine, not glasses! Edit : I liked the inside nearly as much as the outside (Monet's house, not the restaurant)

Maybe better not to mention too much how good it is here  Aren't a lot of Brits going to Bulgaria and places like that, it's maybe still unspoilt

... and the rodents were in Normandy, which is in France 

I can see the mices now, but how come you could see them before and I couldn't Mrs. Tresco? No wonder mouse prices are rising with mice like that, you would need a big mortgage, especially for the one on the right with that lovely mosaic flooring. I forgot to ask you FK if on your trip to Normandy, apart from the mice, you saw any camembears at Ville Morin?  

  Mrs. Tresco, your picture has not come out.  You have to put it in Photobucket first.  Please see with Russethouse, who knows all about it. Sorry, I edit, it is not Mrs. Tresco, but FK, (I'm a little confused) we can't see your lovely mice, can you put them in the bucket first, you can't post a photo direct from your computer.

Glad you had a pleasant break with your squirrels FK. I bet its your pommiers that attracts them. While you were playing mouse with that big Lizyeux woman, the one with the great basilica like at Montmartre (and that you had a little poncho for), I was effectivement on the tail of Mistinguett (with the belles gambettes) the dancing giraffe, but I could not get hold of you. Little did I know that you were down by the river Took. I saw her, going ever so cheap, on eBay, as her back legs needed rewiring. She was quickly snapped up by a wrily Scot, said she could come in useful when retiling the roof of his gite in the Dordogne. Perhaps when he no longer needs her, you know how people are, she may be available next time you are hover…