Gardengirl

‘On Your Farm’ on R4 this morning was at Wyke Farm, interesting programme. I haven’t found a Cheddar for eating rather than cooking here in France, so that Cheddar fermier sounds good.

? ? Quite so!

One of the greats for me, Norman, definitely more talented than Sinatra. I heard his last interview, what a marvellous way to leave this earth at such a grand age.

Bingo! I was certain that ALBF woukd appear, as if on a magic carpet, to respond! He rose like a trout to a fly. It’s not something I would necessarily enjoy, but each to his/her own, what harm can it do? Do you think that all the French people in the UK speak French in their leisure hours? Most don’t - they seek others like themselves to chat in French, so I’m told by the son of a French friend locally, who moved to France quite a few years ago.

I had no new anything, never mind a new router, just lost the ability to post on here and almost the will to live! Loiseau, I see you had to start from scratch - why didn’t I think of that?! Not sure that Gardengirl2 would have been better, but at least I’d have been in on all the scintillating conversations. ?

Hi, nice to see so many posters I recognise still around; I haven’t been able to get back in for months, but finally found a way. It’s been interesting reading some of the current threads, but didn’t venture very far back. For those who don’t remember me or are new members, I’m Gardengirl, live part-time in the Gard and used to garden a lot when I chose my name; I still wage war on weeds, slugs and ash seedlings but more gentle skirmishes these days. I couldn’t find a way to post as the forum opened in active threads and I couldn’t see a way to get just here - I even turned to Hoddy for help. I can’t for the life of me remember how I did it though. Looking forward to lots more interesting reading. ?

It’s a bit steep for pensioners! ? Apparently it will apply from 2021, applications online with €7 fee to cover 3 years if the new visa-waiver scheme is approved. It’s to be called Etias, will apply to non-EU citizens wanting to visit the Schengen Zone. It would apply to UK residents unless an exemption is agreed. Just like going to the USA, I suppose.

[quote user="suein56"]YCCMB wrote : I did! ???? Good grief .. how did you manage that ? What did I miss ? Banning ALBF I can understand (?) but you .. beggar's belief.[/quote] Just what I was wondering!

ALBF, did you get banned from the newfrenchforum?

YCCMB said about her UK lawn: That sounds awfully like my lawn you’re talking about! ?

Some people are amazing. My dear SIL had the same attitude, through bowel cancer, lung cancer and finally brain cancer. She returned to her daily 06.30 drive to the local town pool swimming many lengths once her op for bowel cancer was OK. She remained absolutely herself through all the chemo and finally cyber knife treatment, planned her funeral and wake down to the last detail. It’s very humbling to know people like your friend and my SIL.

So sorry to read about that, so basty. I’m glad that neither you nor your wife were the ones to find such a horror.

My husband spent too long in the sun yesterday, 50+ of us spent the day out in a friend’s garden hving a party, but most of us regularly sought shade some didn’t.............. he was fine after a siesta and drinking plenty of water. Looking in the bathroom cabinet for aftersun, I found one I’d totally forgotten about - Nuxe! He used the Green People one we’d brought down and I took a small amount of the Nuxe one. I didn’t like the smell very much, which is probably why it was almost full. Or the smell could have changed as we’d had it for at least a year. Time to give the bathroom cabinet a clear-out.

I’ve not noticed any in the north, but, as andy says, there are good numbers elsewhere. Our town of around 10,000 inhabitants has 2 new, shiny charging points, as has the nearest village, population 3,000. However, best not to count on using the latter on a Friday morning, as they are within the market area.

Mint, I’m not into technical terms, what with foundation, BB, CC - bewildering! Anyway, I use Clinique for Men moisturiser, SPF 21, (SPF 30 when it’s available) all year round, with Clinique Moisture Surge CC, SPF 30 on top when I wear makeup, which isn’t often. Don’t know if that’s of help or not. We get a lot of sun year round here in the Gard (been a bit of a wash-out early this year so far though, but gorgeous Sunday and today), so got in the habit of using the above wherever we are; my skin’s very fair and my brother has had several skin cancers. Started on the Men moisturiser to try to get Mr GG into wearing moisturiser and succeeded - smart grey tube helped, as did seeing it in front of him in the bathroom.

I hadn’t heard of The Rack either, Mint, but it sounds fascinating and the health parallels you mention would be of interest to me. Also, as a student I spent 2 summers teaching in the children’s ward in a TB hospital - only realising a couple of weeks into my first session that the children who looked healthiest, with rosy cheeks, were usually the most ill. Mac, I bought After the Crash on my ipad this week, having had it recommended. I haven’t started it yet as I already have several books waiting, but what a coincidence!

He’s definitely dfferent there, still outrageous at times, but under more control. Quite strict rules there, too.

You obviously kept very fit, Norman. Did you watch the boat race?

I’ve refused to have a particular surgeon in the UK, following an operation she performed on me turned into a bit of a disaster. For a further op, I had my operation stockings and op gown on, had taken the relaxant tablets the anaesthetist gave me and my husband had just keft. I was just about to go to theatre when I found that the same surgeon in the team was to operate........... So the third op was finally done by the head consultant, who had also performed the first op. My husband has moved from seeing private specialists to the NHS for treatment, without referrals letters from our UK GP. He had been mis-diagnosed with epilepsy in a French hospital and put on drugs there. After being repatriated, he just phoned the private clinic where the epilepsy specialist was based (also based at our local NHS hospital) and booked with his private secretary. Certain it wasn’t epilepsy, the consultant suggested seeing the heart specialist at the same private hospital, also a consultant at our NHS hospital. After seeing him and having various scans and tests privately, my husband underwent treatment in the NHS hospital, at the consultant’s suggestion as my husband ddn’t have health insurance. This was about 6 months later, having waited in the NHS queue, as it wasn’t an urgent condition. Mint, I’m so thankful that you have been able to change to a surgeon you can trust.

I’ll sign it Mint. It would be good if you were to pop in now and again Clair! I particularly remember you and your helpful posts when I cook recipes I got from you on here - and I think it was you who gave me the idea of buying a Remoska. I have two, one in France, one here in the UK. Such good, useful buys! Thank you very much. ?

I’m with Hoddy. I prefer jam first, so that I can pile loads of cream on top. Scones do seem to be heavy and dry nowadays, instead of being beautifully light. One of the worst is John Lewis restaurant, I gave up on them they were so heavy and dry - and their cheese scones were even worse. ?

The same as you Pat, and of course I know the two you added.

Good luck!

Harnser said: > I had to think about that for a minute there; in my mind he’s ‘stable genius’ - in his words. ‘The Donald’ sounds far too cuddly to me. Definitely no cuddles with that one- ugh!

I don’t know about in the UK, but lorries/lorry drivers on the A9 down in the south of France are definitely being blamed for the terrible chaos on Wednesday/Thursday. They apparently ignored police instructions (by radio? - I don’t know how exactly) not to drive on the A9 because there were no police stopping them. Presumably the police were extremely busy helping out with weather problems locally, or on terrorist or other essential duties. After the cars were all extracted from the ice and snow, I hope that lorry details were taken and used in prosecutions if warranted. The large amount of snow on Wednesday is quite a rare scenario (the last time we witnessed it was 7/8 years ago, but so many people were in great difficulties on the A9; thank goodness for the good Samaritans along the route.