Nickel

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/11/22/living-in-france22.xml Not sure where I should have posted this - quite an interesting little article and it certainly gives the "thumbs up" to this forum. I only joined recently and am staggered by the amount of information - some of it even useful ( only joking!). So thanks to everyone and especially regarding the recent health care issues.        

I know of doctors who do now routinely recommend/prescribe daily dose of simvastatin to male patients over 50 regardless of cholesterol levels. At present the  NICE guidelines are :-  dependant on an algorithm taking into account - age, Blood Pressure, smoking hx, having diabetes or not etc comes to a 10 yr risk assessment. If Coronary Heart Disease risk >15% or CardioVascularDisease  risk >20% then to take aspirin (unless contraindicated) and statins. Statin of choice: Simvastatin 40 mg at night. Total cholesterol should be 5 or below but ideally below 4  1 study, however, showed what ever the cholesterol reduction, just taking simva 40 mg in this situation reduces CHD mortality rate by 25%. The "wonder drug" had been tarnished recently with its  unwanted side effects, I am sure more time will need to pass and more trials undertaken before a blanket apporach is accepted.     

next thing you'll be suggesting the BBC would pass off members of its production team as members of the general public -- as if !!

Carole I hope you will go back to see your doctor about these things that are causing you such concern. The information you have given is very limited for anyone to make a well judged response. ( e.g - what type of diabetes - how is it controlled - is your doctor controlling your anticoagulants - who said your verruca has to be "dug out" etc etc.) I agree with  Helen's observations - you need to be sure you are getting the best care  but please see your doctor and if perhaps there is a language problem then try and take somebody with you who can translate. Make a list of the things you want to ask him - prescriptions - long term illness - verrucas and make sure you get the answers!! All the very best      

Break a leg!!!!! on second thoughts..................  

Sorry I was just correcting a typing  mistake - nothing else intended.

the condition is Atopy with a Y

Hi My builder (french) repointed an internal wall for me last week - He had to try and copy the existing pointing and he used something called: Lutèce Multic Plâtre polyvalent.   He mixed it with 6 parts "sharp" sand and the result is a cream colour  which amazingly does match the existing - he was a  bit worried as there are so many different colour permutations  -  Sorry it's not ready mix but the result is great!!  

I agree the effects of porridge would appear to be positive but I have to say from reading the medical journals that it is attributed with a "modest" reduction in LDL cholesterol - though that term is obviously not scientific the literature will give you the statistics.   I just wanted to point out that  porridge is not a "panacea" and should form part of a balanced healthy diet along with exercise and weight control. There is NO quick fix. http://www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=1474    

At the end of the day it is - eat a healthy balanced diet, keep the weight off and exercise!!! Porridge oats do seem to have a modest effect in reducing the 'bad' cholesterol but I shouldn't rely on that as a cure, however tasty they may be.( especially flapjacks with butter -yum) Find out your total cholesterol and the levels of 'good' HDL and 'bad' LDL then you have something to work with and know whether statins might also play a part. Now where did I put that foie gras.          

Might be worth reading this article and if you get to the end of all the correspondence (sorry it is a tad negative) and remain determined - then good luck! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml?xml=/global/2007/10/31/expats-returning-home.xml

Plavix, Warfarin and Fluidione are all antithrombotics but Plavix is very different in that it acts on the platelets (antiplatelet agent) in the blood stopping them clump together - just like aspirin does, the idea being that if the platelets dont clump together then a blood clot cannot be formed in the clump.  Warfarin and Fluindione are anticoagulants and are similar to each other,  they act on the actual clotting mechanism of the blood -  against Vitamin K which is necessary for "clots" to form. In France the anticoagulant of choice is Fluidione or Previscan whereas in England it is Warfarin. They each ( anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents - plus others oh dear!!) play their roles in different conditions I cannot see that there would be a problem in changing from one anticoagulant to the other as they act over a short period of time hence the need for frequent INRs I hope that hasn't confused you even more! maybe I'll try and re write it.      

And it depends how long you have owned the property , every year after 5 years ownership allows you 10% off your Capital gain - so after 15 years there is no CGT.

Hello Yes an INR is what you need but you may need to know what medical condition your mother has requiring warfarin,  what dosage she takes and what INR range they like her to be in. I expect she has a card? A visit to her GP and INR before she travels may be a good idea and of course just ask your GP. As others have said it is easy enough to get a blood test so I hope you can reassure her and that she has a wonderful time!!

Hi Yes I did buy the de Dietrich oven - excellent if a bit expensive - and also bought a 5 ring gas hob (also de Dietrich) - just in case of those dreaded power cuts !!

Ryanair web site shows flights from Rodez to London Stansted recommencing 30th .March 2008

I remember searching the internet 3 years ago - and although as you say not as common as in UK there is still penty of choice for double ovens Happily found a  De Dietrich double oven with grills in both but there are many other makes out there and easier than shipping one over Easily wired in, much as UK with own cable from consumer unit. Good hunting!  

When Clint Eastwood aka Dirty Harry says to the punk - "go on, make my day" the translation is  Vas-y, fais moi plaisir!! so maybe "ça m'a fait plaisir"  or perhaps you could use "illuminer" or "embellir "  

"l'instauration des franchises médicales"  slightly off topic but relevant as it is about health care change. Apparently, this was opposed by 70% of the population, there have been demonstrations throughout France and opposition from the unions but yesterday the députés (UMP)approved it. Now I am not sure it is in itself a bad thing but I just wanted to highlight the fact that the government didn't seem to take much notice of any opposition.  http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0,36-971839,0.html

Hi I would just give them a phone call - I am sure they can answers all you questions better than we can. As I said before I found them very helpful

Hello 2 years ago I bought a couple of sofas ( available to order on line  - disponible pour commande en ligne) from Ikea Toulouse. I dont seem to recall any problem regarding fixing a delivery date - just the expense! Recently I emailed them about something else and they were very helpful - so in my limited experience-  you should be OK

  This ones looks a little complicated but works well (although it does translate into 6 other languages as well) but it is very comprehensive There are others on google but I quite like this one. http://users.ugent.be/~rvdstich/eugloss/welcome.html

If you wish to live and thrive - let a spider run alive!!!! I hope the 1 - 2 million 'relatives' that are supposed to live in every acre of grassland do not get to hear of your plans!  

and machine means machine but machin/e (f) means a 'thing' 'whatsit' and machinerie is machinery and machiner - to plot .....  Thank goodness machination = machination!!

Oh I see - sorry -  you can tell I am not quite used to this forum yet. Although saying that, I have now reached post 20   and with a family history of glaucoma I had better be careful!!