Gardengirl
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Posts posted by Gardengirl
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It seems like the sauce bottle saying - ''shake the bottle; none'll come and then a lottle!''!
How on earth did that happen? I don't think I'll ever get technology right -if smileys can be called that!
Jo
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We've met people who are plumbers/small builders/gardeners who have set up in areas where there are many people from UK. They seem to be kept busy either doing work for people living there or for those who rent out their properties - useful to have somebody who speaks the language of those renting. Others have joined French companies, who found it useful to have an English speaker for all their foreign customers who can't speak French. After getting all their qualifications, they have later set up on their own; they seem to be doing well. But key to all of these is that there is a big English customer base in the general area.
Good luck, Jo [:)]
Oh dear, I followed Clair's link from another post and thought I'd finally achieved a smiley - but it's only come up with words!
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Thankyou,Jo
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Manure put on in autumn will indeed be fine; I learned this from geoff Hamilton's programmes.Jo
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What steps can be taken against somebody who upsets a forum member so much that they feel the need to leave us?Jo
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You've been a good member of this forum; I'm sorry you've had this bad experience and are leaving.Jo
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They have both disappeared; can you magic them back please?Thanks, Jo
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That's interesting Velcorin; our neighbour is French, has worked abroad a lot, and hasn't one good thing to say about the French. She never tells anyone she is French; lives part of the year in Switzerland, drives on Swiss plates. Loves the English, thinks UK doctors are the most wonderful on the earth etc.Jo
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Oh, Will, you do sound grumpy today! I asked French people for their views just because they are French; you weren't banned! And even if you were, you took no notice!Norman, I'm not sure I agree with you on this; maybe big cities are like this, but not smaller towns in my experience. I never go for the places you name, nor steak/frites very often. I'd rather just have a snack in a salon de the if we can't find a reasonable meal somewhere.Jo
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We were just told that yesterday at a bathroom suppliers - we hadn't known about that! We mentioned that we had Grohe in France, and she said she could get them for us here in UK, but they wouldn't work as well, as our pressure in UK is not as good.You do learn lots of good stuff on this forum!Jo
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French posters, please let us have your views on this piece. I found it very interesting, and find myself in agreement with varous things. Certainly about sending meals back; some of our favourite places to eat meet with disdain from one of our French friends. However we don't consider ourselves tourists in this matter, as we eat weekly at one and regularly at another, during the 6 months we spend there. Lots of tourists do eat at them, but so do lots of locals. We think welcome, setting and ambiance are also very important to us, not just the food. I'm talking about fairly ordinary places here, which are usually full, and which are a pleasure to eat at. The food is fine, never bad, the service is usually very good, the ambiance lovely. We just shrug and keep on eating at places we like.I'd really welcome your views on the piece.Jo
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As you say, no sense of leaving the customer with any good feeling about things. Nice that they have so much work, as well as their holidays to fit in, but the bad times aren't over yet!We had an awning put up in July; it had been postponed twice from earlier in the year, due to a bereavement and also serious illness in the family. Rescheduling proved difficult both times, despite ringing a good way ahead from UK. The men who eventually installed it were scathing about people who waited until high summer for awnings. They apparently fit doors and windows in summer normally, and thought awnings should be fitted in winter. They also had more work than they could cope with. Same general area, too. Jo
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I also suffer from a bad back. We bought a new bed in UK about 18 months ago. The mattress has a layer of springs, then other, technical, things then memory foam. It's blissfully comfortable, can be a little warm, gives a really good night's sleep - and it never needs turning, apart from top to bottom.A year ago we tried to buy the same model to ship down to France, and found the model had changed - and it's even better! It has the same ingredients, but is even more blissful - getting up in the mornings is very difficult sometimes!
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I agree about the area being most important. We've known the area we bought in for years, often visited our little town, but never thought we'd buy there; too far south and too expensive. We had found our dream place in the Drome, in a hamlet near places we knew and loved. You know the sort of thing, old stone etc but beautifully restored. No large garden - just the thing to lock up and leave. But we lost it - and now we are sure it was for the best. We bought an apartment off-plan - we'd never even considered an apartment. We love where we are, enjoy our little town more than ever, warts and all (and everywhere has to have a few warts!) Be sure you love the area - you can change many things about a property, but not the location.Happy hunting, Jo
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Starter: MelonMain: Lamb curry, masala dahl and riceDessert: Fresh raspberriesI also thought I'd serve according to the weather. It's 1st August, and it's wet and chilly. OH is out helping till lunchtime at an international camp at Windsor, starting today for 5000+ Scouts. He's going to be very pleased with my food choice! I feel sorry for the poor scouts and their leaders!Jo
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That is just so true; thank you very much for that.Jo
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We have pizzerias in our little town, take-away or eat-in. They are successful. One of our favourite places to eat is a real Italian pizzeria - absolutely delicious food, very welcoming, not very expensive and always busy - they obviously have a winning formula!However, we have many restaurants and shops which open and don't stay long - if you really know your stuff, have the money and are absolutely determined - go for it! Good luck, Jo
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We live in an apartment block, and some of the apartments are rented out. Once summer arrived, renters, mostly holidaying for a week or so, have caused a lot of problems with their noise. One couple, French long-term renters, partied till 2.30 am recently mainly out on their terrace, despite being requested to be quiet. We have complained to them verbally and by letter, with no apology. We have been told that if they should make a noise after 10pm we should call the police immediately. In fact, their lease is in danger now.The agents managing the apartments have just sent out a letter to all owners, setting out the rules, andtelling people to inform those renting that any noise between 22.00 and 7.00 is totally forbidden.Summer there is lovely (just too hot for us, now back in UK till September), but roll on the autumn! Still sunny, blue skies etc, just more tranquil.Jo
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No professional knowledge, Frenchie, but I've read several times that definitely having this flu should confer immunity.We are told that the peak has passed in UK for now, but that the second wave in the autumn will be a more serious set of events altogether.Jo
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I had to laugh at this in the Travel section of last weekend's Sunday Times, which I've just re-read before going off to the recycling centre!'Ryanair appears to be losing its focus. The travel website 360travelguide.com found a way to get money for nothing out of the no-frills carrier. Ryanair's weakness, the site explains. is its on-board pricing structure: a cup of coffee costs €3 or £3, and passengers can ask for their change in either currency. The trick, therefore is to pay for your coffee with a €50 note and ask for your change in sterling. Instead of getting back €47 - worth less than £42 - you receive £47, making a profit of £5 and cancel out the online check-in fee. The airline was unavailable for comment.''Lovely! JoIn fact, I make that a £2 profit plus a cup of coffee!
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Well done you! It's certainly a good lesson to us all - be prepared with all paperwork, keep as calm as possible, and keep going. You must be feeling so pleased about it all. Now you just need the confirmation, so let's hope they don't keep you waiting long! Jo
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I have usd black stuff for years. The most successful has been covered with a good layer of gravel, then I've cut slits in it and planted small shrubs, which have now grown, and look good. Over the years weeds have come up, but if I can get to them while they are small, I just scuff them with my feet, and they die. Otherwise, I'm in for some hand-weeding!The black stuff I've used is a sort of woven material - not cheap, but works, and lasts well.For short term covering (maybe a season or two), I use carpet. This is rather unsightly, but is in the back garden, so not seen by many. It does a brilliant job, and is especially good for covering weeds and grass in the veggie patch - lovely to uncover it to find lovely crumbly soil, instead of a messy area. I don't grow as many veg as I used to, as we spend long chunks of time in France, so it's been very useful in helping to reduce the veg patch size. When the weeds and grass have gone I've been planting shrubs and ground cover plants.Jo
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I'm appalled to read about all the problems posters have had with things being stolen etc.We stay at B & Bs, and find bedrooms set out with all manner of attractive items. Similarly, one we have stayed at several times has a lounge solely for guests' use, with books, CDs, games etc. Awful to think of someone just walking off with any, or TV changers etc. I've always thought running ing a B& B or gite must be hard work, but didn't think about things disappearing. Hope none of you have this happen for the rest of the season.Jo
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Clair, thank you so much for your reply - and so quick! I had a vague idea, but that is superb.Thanks again, Jo.
Towel charges
in Gite Owners Forum
Posted
I had some bad stains on pale towels; they were soaked in Vanish overnight, then did a boil wash, looked promising. Drying in the sun completed the trick.
Jo