Gardengirl

Our younger son could write using either hand when young. Right was neat and legible, left was messy. I hoped he would opt for the right finally, but the left was eventually the one. His writing is still messy (although a slightly neater form of messy when needed - eg for work, birthday cards etc). He also uses his right hand for a number of sports etc. Interestingly, he's the only one in the family to use his left hand. Jo

Sorry, don't know of any in your area. I've been very surprised at the cost of having trees cut down or trimmed. In the grounds of our apartment block are a number causing a problem at the pool. It should really have been dealt with by the builders last year, and is a growing(!) problem. The quotes were astronomical, and it has caused a lot of bad feeling amongst residents. Some want several lovely trees cutting down, and others cut back a lot. They say that cutting moderate amounts would mean repeat visits over the next few years. It is said that calling them out to cut high trees is huge, plus insurance in France for this work is very high. We've had work done on trees in UK with fully insured tree fellers, but haven't found the cost prohibitive. Jo

double post, sorry

I'm like you, Clair - early mornings, but I don't have the cat and live snack problem! I can tell autumn is almost here by the condensation on the tomatoes when I pick them each morning. I've been picking cooking apples too- another sign. Roll on 2 weeks, back to the Gard, leaving behind grey days like today - it was windy, chilly and showery too - Bank Holiday Sunday! To be fair, the forecast is better for tomorrow. Jo

Re: fatsia japonica, I put it on the list as French friends have one in their garden down in the Drome, where it's hot and dry. Not much watering is ever done. After reading Thebiga's comment I checked it in my RHS Encyclopedia of Gardening. The first thing I saw was it was on the moist shade list , so I thought I'd better log on and apologise. However, it's also on the dry shade list, just above. Those I've said about are not in the shade! - however, maybe it's a doubtful one for the purpose. Thanks, Thebiga, for your comment. Jo

We don't know any bargain places to eat near our place in the Gard, so would love some suggestions. Most places are not bargains, although very good. One place we used to like for a bargain meal recently shut; it was usually very busy, so guess they'd just had enough, rather than went bust. Jo

The cotoneaster is very nice, and gives good ground cover. I love eunymous, which I have lots of; 'Emerald Gaiety' and 'Silver Queen' are my favourites. They form good size bushes, and if by a tree or fence, they can climb up, so giving some height, but are very amenable to hacking back if needed. Choisya is lovely, with shiny leaves and fragrant white flowers. They can grow qute tall if wanted, or trimmed back to keep under control. Ours are all on their second flowering in UK. Hebes have been mentioned; smaller-leaved ones would be sensible. Cistus (I like corbariensis and skanbergii) are drought resistant. Fatsia Japonica also thrive in our garden in UK; big shiny leaves, can grow tall, but again can be easily cut back when ncessary. Laurier rose are tough as old boots; we have one in a pot in the south of France, and it's very tolerant of being neglected. They can get quite tall and leggy, but seem to thrive when chopped back as and when. Of course, rosemary and lavender also need little care. None of those mentioned will need much care, and when cutting back is needed, ordinary secateurs will usually do. Jo

It might be to prove they didn't actually take the holiday. We were asked to supply a letter from Easyjet when my husband had ordinary flu while in France at the beginning of this year, to say we hadn't travelled on our booked date. Jo

It now makes sense! Thanks a lot for your very speedy reply Clair, Jo

Can someone tell me what this means, please. It was in a message received this morning. Thanks, Jo

Thanks for the answers, all. I gave it all in at the Uzes office, and it was for a refund on my EHIC. As you suggesr, Gardian, I'll give them another couple of weeks. We'll be out there again by then, so I'll put a second lot in - and yes, I did keep a copy, thanks. Jo

We have been able to withdraw and deposit cash over the counter at our branch in the Gard, but this will change in September. We will then have to pay for a card so we can deposit cash (we don't withdraw cash; it's for writing cheques to paybills etc). We were originally told it would cost about 30 euros, but it turned out that was for an international card, which we don't need; there is one just to use in the bank costing about 12 euros. Jo

Having originally asked the question, the answers to which have ranged far and wide, can I say that all of us untechnical people are very grateful for answers. I won't claim understanding of all or even most - but the fact that good people give up their time to help us is very much appreciated. Jo

We use Ecover products, but find they are very expensive in France. So that's something that goes in the car when it comes down and we keep it stored in the garage. By the way, I found 'Biological clothes' that shows as the title intruigeing! Jo

Following a fall I took all the forms etc and French bank account details in to our local branch about 6 weeks ago. There has been no payment into the bank yet. Any idea how long this normally takes - or is it along the lines of the length of a piece of string? Thanks, Jo

It's called summer! Where we are in the Gard we have rainstorms from time to time sometimes quite spectacular, but it never sits there and drizzles day after day, never just 'grey's at us. We really appreciate the blue skies and sun, particularly in November and February when the Thames Valley is so often grey. But we don't have a garden in France, just pots - so I don't have your problem. Jo

Well I'm a 0! Jo

I like Hoddy's suggestion, but I always head for the compost heap first! Jo

Clair, that's just how I cook it, I can't stand aubergines either - I thought it was just me! I made a big batch yesterday, and it was delicious; the rest will go today. Jo

Looking at Wikipedia, it says the European hornet sting in itself is not fatal except sometimes to allergic victims. Its sting is similar to a wasp's; is less toxic than a bee sting. All hornet stings are an allergen for people with an allergy to wasp venom. Those allergic to wasp venom are not necessarily allergic to bee venom as they contain different chemicals. They contain less volume of venom than a bee sting. I am allergic to wasp stings; I couldn't live near a hornets nest. I don't know the legal ins and outs, but in UK I would have the pest control people round. They come the same day if we have a wasp nest, as they did on Monday. I'm usually very keen on looking after all creatures, but with an allergy like this, there is a risk to life. Do you carry an adrenaline shot - epipen? If not, you should visit your doctor very soon and get 2; one to carry everywhere, and the other as a back-up. Good luck, Jo

Years ago we scattered lime to change the colour of hydrangeas. I also remember my father putting the used tea leaves from the teapot around hydrangeas; don't know which colourway he was trying to change, but have an idea it was for pink flowers; maybe there's aluminium in there! Jo

Thanks for the replies. I'm thinking a eucalyptus might be good. I started thinking about a bamboo after a recent visit to the Bambouseraie, Suzy - had a wonderful day out there, using the steam train. I also love the idea of a fig tree, hadn't thought of that either; we have very few neighbours from September to May/June, so the lack of leaves wouldn't matter quite so much. And if my neighbour didn't remember to water it much (or manage to hit the pot with water over the wall), they seem very cheap there; so a replacement wouldn't break the bank. Thanks again, Jo

Berkshire of course........ not! Jo

Our tourist office doesn't shut in summer - it's open right through the day in high summer, so even the lunch break isn't sacrosanct there! There is a good mix of people working there; young and older women and men. It's a little town with many visitors throughout the year, and is thought by locals to be much too busy in summer. The tourist office is very good - well-supplied with a huge amount of info, runs tours around the area, tickets for the music festival etc. I think we are well-served by it. Jo

Our neighbours go for 2 weeks, and it is covered as Patf says. Apparently it's not covered if for any reason they leave early. They stay in a self-catering place, and the car was so loaded up when they left! They took their cooking pans etc, plus microwave. They had loaned us their portable TV until they left, and just had room to fit it in when we took it out to their car! They were certainly on good form on their return! Jo