runningdog

Many thanks to you all.  You have clarified several points including my needing a 'protocol'  from the doctor to claim my 100% and the expats web site.  It's a real bonus to know that I shall not pay any tax here in France and that would probably pay the cost of top up insurance if I decide to take any out. I have a problem with insurance - psychologically that is - in that insurance companies are there to make money out of people and, to accomplish this, they play upon the fears and insecurities of their clientele.  We have been quoted at €150 per month which I feel is excessive considering that in the four months we have been here we have spent less that €150 including the initial blood tests for both of us, an eye test for my wife and the odd prescription drugs an, we have recieved the bulk of it returned to our bank.  In 72 years I have never had a broken bone or serious illness in my life apart from my heart which has 100% cover.  My wife is similarly healthy except for thyroid problems for which the prescription charges are €1.40 per month.  The jury is still out on this one because €150 per month buys a lot of healthcare which in all probability we shall not need. Many thanks - David

Hi All I appreciate that those on the E106 and inactive and those on an E121 and disability benefit are the ones with the real problems but I am suffering from extended confusion syndrome after all the conflicting views on offer however I do realise that no one has an absolute answer on these questions at this moment. My own position is that I have been past retirement age for 6 years with NI contributions for 49 years in the UK.  My wife is only 50 this year and dependent upon me.  Our income is in the region of €1,350 per month, if that is relevant, and so am reluctant to take out top up insurance unless absolutely necessary. I have recently received my Carte Vitale but my wife has not received hers as yet.  I am told that EEC Directives state that both I and my spouse have 100% health cover because of me being retired and with full UK NI contributions and yet the authorities seem not to agree.  It is agreed that as I have had heart problems that I am covered 100% in that sphere. Can someone please guide me to a web site where I may glean some accurate information regarding what I can rightfully expect.  In fact any advice would be welcomed. David - Vendee

It's good to know that we realise that we are merely voicing opinions and that no-one has a monopoly on truth.  I asaume that being 500 metres from my nearest neighbour would qualify me for use of an air rifle should I choose to use one.

I agree with Bugbear that shooting is the best option; clean and efficient if you are a reasonable shot.  However I have a natural aversion to guns and lack the patience to sit in a hide/s - 3 in my case [in the cold!!!].  I also do not like cats, however efficient they may be, because their predatory instincts are not restricted to rodents. The electronic humane killer looks good - I had not realised that 'things' could be electrocuted by battery power!  The 'noose' trap also looks good but I feel less confident than with the former - for some reason or other.  I don't intend using live traps as I want something that kills them there and then.  I may well try one of the electronic devices. The trouble is with these devices is that they take a while to order and get to France [my mole traps took nearly four weeks] so, when confronted with an immediate problem I did not feel that I had that sort of time to play with.  I stand by my decision but will take steps to ensure that I don't have to repeat it.

That is a common way to kill unwanted pets as well but I have been told that drowning is a particuylarly unpleasant and painful way to die.

Hi All - I feel suitably chastised and mildly repentant.  I agree with all comments in principle but not necessarily in detail. Chris - I have, in the past, used the 'beating' technique and found it good in theory but more difficult in practice.  Rats are extremely fast at climbing and escaping and a small rat hasn't the mass to successfully beat against a wall.  Again cage traps are quite expensive and where there are multiple colonies the cost can be quite intimidating.  Rats can breed at an alarming rate so my excuse for using poison is that I felt the need to contain the problem before it got any worse. Cathy - I don't know whether they find their way back or not.  What I do know is that once a particular niche becomes vacant, provided there is a food source, something suited to that particular niche will fill it.  Whether it is an animal released previosly is difficult to ascertain because particular individuals are difficult to identify as particular individuals. Mamy thanks and a Happy New Year to you all.

I do take your point [and agree with it] about poisons and at 71 I can honestly say this is the very first time in my life that I have stooped to this level BUT I have also never come across ratsin these numbers before and it is not numbers that I am prepared to tolerate.  I have kept domestic livestock for much of my life and always tolerated the odd few rats even when I managed a farm I never came across such activity.  Much of the diet you, Chris, speak of is seasonal and not available at present. Usually there is a staple food source in the vicinity and in this case there is not.  If your list is comprehensive then they are eating each other and roots; in which case I would not expect them to be in a position to breed. and I won't have what I laughing describe as a lawn next year.  Many thanks.

I assume that rats are included as wildlife even though they are a pest and the only animal that I really do not like.  Ever since the frost lifted in the Vendee about ten days ago there has been an explosion of rats on my half acre property.  There appeared to be three distinct colonies each separated by about 40 metres, one on either side of the house and the other in the garden shed.  They were not particularly noticeable prior to this which is why I am so surprised.  What is more surprising is that there is no obvious source of food for so many.  We are 400 metres from our nearest neighbour, no livestock other than a dog and they certainly have not got to his food, no farm and no grain.  What do so many eat?  Is it possible that they are able to process contents / run off from the fosse septique?  Doesn't bear thinking about.   At the moment I have resorted to poison which I do not like and am wondering whether any other members have experienced similar problems and have found practical solutions.  I am even thionking of getting a cat and that is only slightly above poison on my list of dislikes.

I can now play UK radio from my Freesat through my radio tuner / amp.  The wife is highly delighted! To compound my ignorance; what is a TX transmitter?  Many thanks to you all.

Many thanks for all the advice.  The reason I'm not too keen on using the internet path is that I spend too long on the computer as it is and I'm keen to use one of the other rooms for a change.  Tomorrow I shall try the sat box to tuner and am already expecting positive results.  As you will have guessed I am a complete technophobe when it comes to tv and radio and know sufficient to be dangerous on a computer.  Anyway, much food for thought - thanks again.

Hi Tim Thanks for the info.  We inherited the French TV aerial in the roof space so I thought that I would try it.  I have a Sony tuner amplifier and a Triax satelite dish with Panasonic decoder that allows us to get all Freeview channels.  The satelite dish is on the chimney stack and beyond my reach - or should that be courage?  I cannot recall which satelite it is tuned in to but it was the usual one for western France - someting like Alpha 2.  What sort of transmitter are you referring to? - Many thanks!

[quote user="chris pp"] Now, much as I'm a great believer in the hidden "knowledge" that nature has, and to some degree the mystic nature of our cosmos, I really can't quite take in board the notion that earlier in the year when hips and haws were being formed, or for that matter when creatures were developing their winter coats, there could be any foreknowledge or consideration of what type of winter climate was in store. Chris [/quote] I always seem to think that trees and shrubs always produce more fruit / seed if they think that they are dying or threatened in some way - totally illogical!  Logically seed / fruit production can only be the result of surplus food / energy after survival needs are met.  Seed / frit production is not simply about reproduction or replacement, that is only a small part of it.  There is usually a vast surplus - the bounty of nature - that occurs to feed animals higher up the food chain. It could be said that in temperate climates such as the UK it is 'normal' to have 4 seasons and, if these seasons are 'normal' then plants will fulfil their full potential.  But the seasons are seldom 'normal' any more.   With regard to New Forest ponies; a genuine New Forest pony - as opposed to those that have been 'bred up' - that is the ugly ones with big heads and hairy mouths, always produce thick coats for winter and then shed them if it is too mild.  There are not that many cattle left out on the forest to fend for themselves during the winter - they don't do too well except for breeds such as the Galloways and Highland that are used to a much harsher climate but even they usually have supplementary feed.  In actual fact a wet winter is worse for all stock than a cold one.

Hi All - Has anyone investigated what it takes to get English radio actually on a radio rather than tv.  I have been told that Radio 4 is available on long wave 198 but none of our radios have long wave.  I have tried connecting to the French tv aerial and seem to get everything in France but nothing from UK.  Maybe I should try hacking in to the satelite dish - [I hadn't thought of that  before]- or maybe it isn't possible at all.  BUT, where does the BBC World Service go to?

About a month ago just after I had finished cutting a hedge a very large cricket alighted on the frame of my front door.  I would have said that it was a great green bush cricket apart from the fact that it was wingless.  It was very bright green, very heavily built, thorax abdomen and head abot 35mm and antennae a further 45mm.  It was a male and had no wings.  Any ideas???

That's much more like it.  The body colouring and contrast is exactly as I remember.  The tail in the photo on page "Le Lerot" is as I recall and the facial markings in the Wikipedia photo also are right.  Many, many thanks.

Hi Christine   Thanks for the prompt response.  Yes it could have been a loir - something new to me but it does not quite fit my recolection.  I watched it for four or five minutes and had extremely good views.  The facial markings seemed different and I certainly do not remember the bushy tail.  However, knowing what my memory is like, the loir seems a good bet.  Are they common/  Are they social animals?  Can you tell me more? Thanks!

I was clearing out a garden shed that I had inherited with the property in the Vendee when I disturbed a mouse in an old seed tray.  I am pretty conversant with wildlife in the UK but had never seen a mouse like this.  I was fortunate in that i was able to watch it for some time as it [almost] leisurely climbed around the inside frame of the shed.  I would say it was slightly larger than the house mouse, field mouse or yellow necked mouse, greyish on top with a contrasting creamy /white underside.  The most striking aspect though were the triangular blak markings extending from points at the nostrils, carrying on past the eyes to about the width of the ears.  Can anyone enlighten me or was it an aberation?

Yes, I tried it in the UK but i had two problems with it.  Firstly it always seemed to be raining on the days I was allowed to plant and secondly I bought two different books on moon planting both of which gave totally different data.

In the UK I always planted onion sets around mid November for harvesting in July / August.  The theory of planting is to be able to hoe between them when fully gtrown - so 8 - 9 " apart in rows aroung 15" apart.  Onions do not like competition from weeds so keeping them clear is important also for control of pests.  Great care needs be exercised when hoeing as the leaves break so very easily which then secrete a liquid so attracting pests.  This is why I plant 15" between roes and walk up between them very gingely.

Our  1/2 acre garden is infested with 'vole holes' and our deerhound/greyhound seems to relish negotiating around them.  We also have a bank infested with rabbits in whicxh he doesn't have the slightest interest but if he spots one in a neighbouring field he's gone!  Strange, it's as if he thinks that their prior occupancy gives them rights!!!

This may be of very limited help but I do have considerable knowledge of adders having lived and worked in the New Forest for a long while.  First of all the 'old forest boys' still differentiate between adders and vipers believing them to be different species whereas in reality what they consider vipers are the first / second year young of adders and are usually quite dark ior vivid n colour.  Whether or not this has anything to do with asp vipers in France I have no idea. Secondly there is no inherent malice in any small snake.  They always [with one exception] prefer to flee than flight.  It is when they are taken unawares that they may attack in, what seems to them, self defence.  Snakes rely upon vibrations to alert them to what is going on around them and normal walking gives them sufficient warning to get away.  The danger period in the UK is late July to end on August.  Adders, as opposed to any other UK snake have live young and the time of year mentioned the females are heavily pregnant and may lay in sunny areas of paths etc and, being hevay and sluggish, are reluctant to move.  It is this time of year that most dogs are bitten - and humans for all I know.  Adder bites are very seldom fatal, one has to be pretty poorly to be badly affected.  I have never been bitten myself [my dogs have] but i do know a few people who have been and their experience is that it is very painful - about twice as painful a a hornet sting. This  may be of little help but there genuinely is no reason to panicc because of the possible presence of adders.

We are ex[ecfting to finalise our move to the Vendee [near Challans] and be in residence by end September / early October.  I am a keen vegetable grower in the UK and plan on continuing when in France.  I am wondering whether there are many British growing their own vegetables and, if there are, would welcome any advice on the key differences between the UK and Vendee.  I am expecting the growing season to be a bit longer and a bit warmer, the soil looks very good - in my garden at least.  Any thoughts or advice welcomed!

Hi Benjamin - Thank you for responding.  I did do a search but didn't come up with the solution.  I was hoping that I might find someone who had come up with the 'best' alternative.  Maybe there is no solution as such but there must be preferred options even if it is only topping up small but often.  anyway thaks.

I have read - somewhere - that it is difficult to buy a mobile phone in france without a French credit rating.  Is this so?  Both my wife and I are modest mobile users with me being more modest than her.  In the UK we both use O2 Nokia pay as you go with me spending about £30.00 per year and my wife £50.00.  We are quite happy with the phones we have so, is it possible for us to buy Simm cards for France?  If not what is the most practical network to buy in to?  Our area will be the Vendee. Any advice welcome

Many thanks Pat - That clarifies things a bit.  I will do as you suggest.