Cendrillon

My little grandchildren are at schools in Leeds and I was really pleased to see their nativity plays included all the children of multi faiths who attend the schools. They celebrate all the festivals for the other faiths as well.

Last year when we stayed in our little gite, newly created but a barn conversion, we heard scratching. Also the light in the shower didn't work. Whatever lived (s) above that ceiling had made a meal of the wiring. We left a plug-in mouse scarer device and left the electricity on. I'm hoping that will scare the beast but not too confident it will work.

The Guardian link didn't work for me but found the information elsewhere on-line.

You could ask on the www.laymyhat.com/forum A forum for owners of holiday lets and B and B accommodation.

Less is more in my house this year which for me is just perfect. Holly and ivy from the garden on the mantle piece with candles in some Swedish holders I've had for years. Front door wreath made by me with holly and ivy based on a frame I have had for years. on the coffee table a small arrangement of greenery and a few white flowers in a basket. Spray of assorted holly and ivy on kitchen door and that's about it. Our small Christmas tree in a pot is in the front porch with a spray of stars (originally from Shaker)  bought in a charity shop for 99p. (My bargain buy of the year!) The little tree is still going strong after several years. If the tree is inside I decorate it with our collection of various decorations either home made or collected over many years....complete with their memories. JOYEUX NOËL [:)] tlm

I have only seen the pictures of them on the internet as am not in France today. There was a rather saucy photo (from Marseille I think) someone had hung 3 bras from their balcony,  colours, bleu , blanc et rouge! [;-)] A French friend of mine said she was not going to display a flag as she is very anti Hollande and did not want to support his ideas. Instead she said she would like a candle in memory of those that lost their lives..

I agree the Marseillaise is very moving. I have always thought the hymn "I vow to the my country" would be a good choice.

Early settlers in Quebec sailed from Charente Maritime and took their Charentaise Fr. language with them. Mint, at the Orrison auberge on the Camino we met a band of Fr. Canadians and I found their French totally bizarre and hard to understand, their limited English was equally bizarre.

Gardian the only problem with getting your specs posted to France might be if you had a problem like mine. Hopefully this would not happen.

Following routine eye test at my local Boots (previously Dolland and Aitchison) they recommended new glasses. There was hardly any difference in the prescription (their words) but old glasses wearing out so I decided to go ahead and order new one ones. When I received the new ones they were awful, so distorted I could hardly see. I was advised that I would soon adapt to them[blink][blink]. After several return visits to complain they did the test again, looked carefully at new glasses and found right lens had been put in left side and vice-versa!!!

In my experience when you use the EHIC you pay for each consultation and then claim by phoning the Newcastle office when you return to your U K address. how that works if you have no permanent residence in U.K I don't know.

If you go with the brand name Frenchy do not offer "something for the weekend Sir?" Some would find that hilarious!

I've just read a report saying that a 3 year old child died, he was travelling with the lorry driver, so very sad.

Horrific and such a huge loss of life for the two small communes who organised the trip.

The www.laymyhat.com forum is probably a better place to look. Lots of helpful information for owners of gites / B&B.s. etc.

I have pm d you.

[quote user="alittlebitfrench"]The debate is out about being fluent in French (no reference to anyone just run of the mill fluent type people) and customer service perception. I am fluent in English but I have not lived in the UK since the mid 1990's. I know how 1990's UK works but not 2015 UK. At easter we went to the UK. Whilst we were there we wanted to go to London which was 50 miles away. I went to the Station the day before to buy the the tickets. All I wanted was a return for 2 adults and 2 children. Half a bloody hour I was there trying to understand all the different permutations. The lady serving was very rude as she did not understand that I did understand. I was struggling she was struggling and it was a mess. The tickets were overpriced and I had to pay for the car park. Which was another ticket because the machine was broken. The train was not very clean and between woking and waterloo I thought the train was going to fall over. It was like being on a boat. I stayed clear of the tube as I had no idea how that worked in terms of buying tickets so we walked everywhere. Had a very horrible meal in bag type thing in a pub but apart from that it was a nice day out. Don't get me started about the local pub near to where I was staying. Even the language has changed. I speak 1990's English and not 2015's English which generally consists of speaking with a false posh accent and saying darling after every other sentence. I was probably the only local there LOL. I don't have any customer service problems in France and I am not fluent in French language but I am fluent in French....if you know what I mean. Idun, in terms of glasses mine are blue tinted. Also, I would never recommend anyone moving to France without a proper French cdi contract job and to those retiring only to a large town/city. Regardless to my advice, thousands are moving to France and thousands are moving back again. English people (probably fluent in French) seem only to buy houses of other English people and it is one happy circle of misery.[/quote] Goodness me ALBF what a terrible experience! For future reference you probably needed a one day travel card for your rail journey to London. This would enable you to use the train and underground in central London zones on the same ticket. The pub experience, I don't think you can tar all pubs with the same brush. As for the thousands moving to France and one happy circle of misery comment, what's all that about?!

If you want IPlayer radio make sure you sign up and have it on your phone / tablet device when you are still in U.K . I found to my dismay you can't sign up for this from another country. I managed in the end to get iPlayer radio via BBC media player.

claque de nancy (Clacton on Sea) was one that was mentioned when I was a French telephonist with the GPO.

"I tell 'em we live about halfway between La Rochelle and Bordeaux." Betty I say exactly the same. [:)] Mention Poitou-Charente and many don't have a clue. Have we been renamed yet and lumped in with the Limousin?

Don't forget to leave internal doors open and place dehumidifiers in the room when the house is closed for long periods.

I have sent you a private message.

As others have mentioned Jardiland on the edge of Saintes usually has a lot of choice. Chadeniers near Gemozac 17260 has a large garden centre, off the top of my head I cannot remember the name but once you reach Chadeniers you will see it.  There is also the pepiniere called Santonine on the Gemozac to Villars en Pons road however she specialises in water plants so may not have what you are looking for. edit: I've just found this address SARL Patrick Arrivé Route d'Epargnes Chadeniers 17260 Gémozac

I hope they all had a good time and enjoyed their stay. It's,a shame the O P hasn't had time to let us know how they fared.

Loads of rain and strong winds in our part of 17. One tornado to the south of us last Sunday classed as F2 . Yesterday one to the north east of Saintes F 1 both caused severe damage but thankfully no lives lost. We have escaped this time.