tegwini

Anyone out there able to fit carpets, with the goodies (kick thingy)  and near Poitiers ? I  want to have a bedroom with its sitting area & walk in cupboard fitted with 'proper carpet' - Wilton, with hessian back, gripper rods, and a full thick underfelt.  I can't find this in France, but could bring everything needed, but need someone to do the work. We're very flexible on timing - next Spring, meals &  tea/coffee included. Regards & thanks Tegwini 

Yes R-H The article does say that they moved a lot, but since the violent abuse/rapes started whilst they were at school, even primary school,   I cannot understand how it continued for year after year.  The two girls were violently bullied, and perhaps were afraid to speak up and get their father into trouble, but why did their teachers, and the social services not question why such young girls were having sex and getting pregnant so many times ?    Moving around a lot shouldn't have kept this abuse quiet - how many maternity units in Yorkshire/Lincs ?- if under age - why were the Police not brought in ? Is this PC/ human rights taken to extremes? Sad for these two girls, and the babies too - mainly terminated. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/nov/26/british-fritzl-daughter-rape  

At the moment the news is vague.  BUT these 2 girls went to school, used the NHS for the birth of their 9 babies and NO ONE queried  so many pregnancies in 2 sisters in smallish towns,  in rural parts of Yorkshire & Lincolnshire.   This is worse as the Viennese rapist hid his evil deeds - the UK rapist did not. Tegwini

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7750000.stm awful news, hard to believe - and worse, imo, than the Vienna one. Tegwini

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=__VQX2Xn7tI   Another romantic old favourite,  takes me back a few years. What a shame Karen Carpenter died so young. Regards Tegwini

Hi Bill I can understand your reasons to want to change - even though the  English (sorry to leave the Scots out of this!) and French have a long history of war & antipathy things are different now and I have not really felt too much of an outsider and have a few French friends- and we don't yet live there.   There's lots we have in common, differences yes, but I always feel more in common than outside of Europe.  French and English, for example, have a lot of shared words, and at least we use the same alphabet - not so in Penang. Other similarities are derived from our history in Europe and shared Christian  history and values. You are quite correct wanting to learn  french,  and I also used the Alliance Francaise decades back to brush up my french prior to going to university in my mid 20s.   I am still working on it and find the following helpful and hope that you will too.  www.bitesizedlanguages.com    useful and free - with clickable sound.  Bitesized (not the one connected with the BBC on the web) , arrives daily with a very short lesson - a couple of minutes.  I'm very behind with mine at present.  The BBC web site is also good. As Sweet says it's also fun house hunting, and as present I expect mobiliers will be very helpful - more than usual.  Watch out for the presssure they will no doubt put on you sign - we got daily phone calls in the UK, too many, too early some days, and refused to sign even the compromis de vente until we were sure and ready. Regards & good luck Tegwini

On Thursday am I took the bus to Salisbury where I am a volunteer guide in the cathedral, and it is not unusual to see teenagers with their shoes on the (newly) upholstered  bus seats.  More than once I have politely told them not to do this,  but I am alone in this - no one else bothers.  The teens do listen and remove feet.  So why am I alone in doing this ?   Over 60 (hence on bus with bus pass) and not very tall or fierce-looking. OH says it's the SAfrican background in me - no one there, or few, or scared of the kids around- or they weren't when we lived there Regards Tegwini.  

Crumbs!  or what! Some of the blokes I know probably do this now & then.    Is this a bloke thing ?? But, no chance of connection to the mains where we are, and that's a relief.  Here in Wiltshire we pay as much as £400 pa for the sewage only, water used is similar, but costs more and invoiced from another company. The sewage is based on water used & really makes me mad that I have to claim a rebate for water not sent down the drain - eg topping up the wild life pond,  filling the pool in summer,  washing cars, (not that often)  garden,  cleaning driveway etc.   So we are greatly relieved to have a fosse septique which in nearly 3 yrs has cost about Euro 150.   But, I am still uncertain as to how what we have works, and what we will eventually have to do.  The French may be bureaucratic, but it sounds as if years can go by before we are legally obliged to do something.   I couldn't see an agency in this field in the UK being as patient or as tolerant. Regards Tegwini

Many thanks Maude, especially for your kind advice. Ours sounds a bit more straight forward since we have no neighbours. We have a large tank - concrete I think, certainly a large concrete lid which we have replaced with a galvanished metal one, the concrete one needed 4 large men to lift it!   We changed the lid as we had the tank empied in an attempt to solve the problem of an overflowing toilet.  It turned out that we had roots in the pipes. The man who sold us the house helped us here & told us that in over 25  years they had never looked at or emptied  the tank, but how does it not overflow ? and where does excess water go? Strange or what! We have no idea if the tank has filters etc and filters the water onto the garden - it doesn't look like it as the garden  is sloping away  from the tank is rather thin  unhealthy lawn, minus the verdant areas you'd expect from this.   We had such in S Africa which worked well and never gave any trouble or needed emptying.  Sounds different here, with grey water drains as well ? I presume at our house in France, since we slope down to the river Vienne, they might be concerned, but it's some distance, and some other houses are right on the river, and  I suspect others have more archaic systems than we have, although someone had clearly done an inspection, and thinks our system is non acceptable - the report  at least says they couldn't detect an 'odeur' when they did !  I am supposed to get a dossier from the Marie and make the changes according to that.  Makes little sense I think since we don't yet live there and only manage to visit 4/5 times pa and not for long visits either, and have- at the moment one loo, although we will have a second one by Christmas, and another bathroom.  But, no extra use of the fosse - just wanting bathroom nearer bedroom. Most interesting to hear the French opinion on this - are we too law-abiding?  Nervous of the powers that be? Anyone in SIVEER's area having received this letter? Regards Tegwini  

I have managed to speak to SIVEER in Poitiers & will probably have to re-do the fosse/septic tank & wonder if there is anyone out there who has done this recently in the Vienne (in SIVEER's) area and can give an idea of what was done & what it cost ? Many thanks Tegwini

We've just received this letter & questionaire,  'schema de l'installation' etc and I wonder if anyone else has?   I am a bit confused about it, especially since our fosse system seems to be 'non acceptable'. Anyone else in this position, or with knowledge of what to do.  We're in the Vienne, near Poitiers. Many thanks Tegwini

Watched the first lot,   some of the second ... that's how. Simple really.  And unlike you we have to pay for it. Tegwini

It's dull. Dull. Dull. My God it's dull, it's so desperately dull and tedious and stuffy and boring and des-per-ate-ly DULL!   And, especially since they milk it for all they can & put it on EVERY DAY!   Absolutely spot on Odile! We always change channels- or  switch off.  More resentment of the enforced tax/licence we pay!! Tegwini

Yes EMA varies according to parent's income, and there are lots of anomalies, and perhaps some 'fiddling' too.   BUT why pay it ?   few 16-18 year olds need bribing to stay on at school/college;  many waste this money - easy come easy go ...  And,  the gov'ment is once again taking power from parents as many would award pocket money according to behaviour effort etc - pocket money  is not needed now - £30 per week!  That's much more than most working parents can afford.  As a teacher I sign these forms & many in Wiltshire, in my (grammar) school qualify- about one third, much higher elsewhere.   AND can we afford it?      probably not ... Tegwini

Many thanks all for help  and advice ...   It's now sorted, someone local  will arrange it for me. Regards Tegwini

I waited nearly 5 months to see a 'consultant' podiatrist, and the x-rays of my foot were not even sent to him.  Five minute appointment and only advice given.   I hobbled around for  more than a year, and at the time was working full-time.   In  1990 I needed to see a specialist gynae - also waiting list for over 3 months.    Fortunately OH had BUPA so I saw the same specialist in Oxford, at the same hospital,   the same week,  but self funded - in spite of both paying NIC. And, our joint NIC contribution now is a few hundred pounds, excluding what our employers also pay for us. I know that this is supposed to include pensions etc.,  but my pension is not far off the EMA money that 16-18 year old school /college children get.   - hence I still work - and have to.  And this EMA money (is this a politically cunning bribe from Tony?) is not unusual, I sign many forms daily. Tegwini

How about when it became so easy  for young people to arrange their  lives so as to spend most of the day in bed/watching TV, funded by others,  and thus having excess energy and could be out on the streets until the small hours ...    And,   no fear of getting the sack for arriving late at work, or  fear of  anything  ... Tegwini

Many thanks Dave I'll have a go - French OK (ish) - trouble is I'm in the UK until near Christmas- so I shall have to rely on local man. Many thanks Tegwini

Sadly, the days of proper punishment are gone.  Scum such as in this report will doubtless get short sentences - or even community service.   And, some bleeding heart liberals will try to excuse such evil behaviour by claiming they had a deprived childhood etc etc... Tegwini  

How about when criminals cost the taxpayer more to house than staying at the Ritz ?                                                                                  Prison vs Work   @ PRISON @ WORK You spend the majority of your time in a 10X10 cell @ PRISON you spend the majority of your time In an 6X6 cubicle /office @ WORK You get three meals a day fully paid for @ PRISON you get a break for one meal and You have to pay for it @ WORK You get time off for good behavior you get more work for Good behavior @ PRISON The guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you @ PRISON @ WORK You must often carry a security card And open all the doors for yourself @ WORK You can watch TV and play games @ PRISON you could get fired for watching TV and playing games @ WORK You get your own toilet @ PRISON you have to share the toilet with Some people who pee on the seat @ WORK They allow your family and friends to visit @ PRISON you aren't even supposed to speak To your family @ WORK All expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required @ PRISON you get to pay all your expenses to go To work, and they deduct taxes from Your salary to pay for prisoners @ WORK You spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out you spend most of your time wanting To get out and go inside bars @ PRISON You must deal with sadistic wardens @ WORK They are called managers   I couldn't manage to put the pictures of a new luxury prison- but it's clear life isn't so hard 'inside' and therefore  there's no serious consequences for commiting  crimes - or fear or respect of authority figures, or fear of anything really. Tegwini

Thanks JR I have asked someone I know living nearby,  now awaiting their answer. Regards  Tegwini

I have looked at previous posts on this topic and also at what is available in the shops in France & wonder if there has been any progress & if it is possible to have 'proper' carpets in France - the kind with gripper rods, full, soft underlay and a Wilton etc carpet with hessian backing. I really want this carpet in a new large bedroom/bedroom sitting area, dressing room & don't accept the reasons given by some posters - bugs, fleas etc.  South Africa makes and sells Wilton & other fitted carpets & that is not a major problem there, in the land of  sometimes enormous bugs of every kind,  unless you have animals bringing such bugs inside.  And, obviously animals need to be kept free of fleas & ticks- we managed it there So, any changes, any news on carpet fitting ?  OR  Is there a retired and / or experienced fitter able to fit carpets near Poitiers?  ( 30 mins NE) We can bring to France the carpet, underlay, gripper rods ...   We would need some advice regarding quantity needed, and we are in no hurry-   perhaps in the Spring 2009 -  we are quite flexible about the timing. Please contact me if you can help. Regards Tegwini 

John I've just re-read & noticed you are some distance away from me- Ah well, back to the start... Tegwini

John Are you in the Vienne ? any chance  30 mins NE Poitiers? I still haven't found any ! Regards Tegwini

Julie Andrew in Camelot .....  I loved you once in silence a real favourite, beautiful, romantic ...- Tegwini   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnUJVuh7rEw