Cendrillon

Jamesdee "We are having a house built in 17 but we will be left to install our own kitchen..................................  For those of us who are at the beginning of our adventure and are quite challenged with even the simple things in french, as well as having zero DIY skills those are major advantages. But the question remains, are we wise or  indeed sensible to discount other suppliers? Any comments, be they positive or negative will be very welcome". James I have sent  you information via a PM

Twinkle It looks great but I couldn't get any sound to go with the pics, was I meant to?   I am tempted to order the dvd as it looks like my sort of thing. I am in UK at present and don't have a TV in France.

Frederic I can see that you and the volunteers feel hard done by but you are doing a great job and I am sure the patients are very grateful. Perhaps one day someone will be there to drive you to and from hospital appointments and maybe they won't be re-imbursed for everything but in the end, what goes around comes around. [I] I would be tempted to take my own sandwiches and have a hot drink in a flask then claim the full allowance for the petrol. 

The enquiry e-mails from "scammers" are usually easy to spot and often full of doubtful English. They often want to book rooms for several couples at a time and they seem to come from people who call themselves Doctors and church Ministers who reside in Nigeria, Canada, U.K. (dodgy address details and e-mail) and elsewhere. Some of the enquiries are quite entertaining but DO NOT REPLY ever, if you do they then have your e-mail address and as others have said never give your bank details.

"We are wondering if it would be better for us to look at an area on the outskirts of a big city such as Montpellier or Bordeaux. We would still like to be in the country but nearer to a bit of life for when we needed it. Can anyone comment on what it is like in these big cities in the winter - and would it give us the perfect balance" Yes I think it would, if you like to have some entertainment during the Winter months then you can still live in the countryside but choose somewhere close to a nice city. Other pluses: Good (year round) transport links if you want to go to Paris, the U.K. or  have friends to visit you. Good hospitals (hopefully you won't need them but you never know)   Bonne chance et bon courage

http://www.ski-flights.com/salzburgflights.html Just try looking on google, lots of options via the U.K.

Probably not a cheap option but try this:- BA fly twice a day from Bordeaux (BOD) to London (LGW) and have direct flights from LGW to SZG. If you stop overnight at BOD  take the early morning flight to LGW  I think you could do the trip in a day and BA would book you (and your luggage) all the way through and take care of the connection.   I haven't looked to see if there is a flight from Paris to SZG in which case you could take the train and then a flight.

[quote user="brianagain"]If I had to make this trip I would probably choose to go by train - TGV to Paris and then on to Munich via TGV/ICE and then on to Salzburg (about 12 hours from Poitiers) - details in the db (deutscheBahn) website Driving would also take about 12 hours assuming there is more than one driver (check viamichelin) As for flying you could choose Ryanair via Stansted or Flybe via Southampton but timing and costs are up to you to research. Brian (again) [/quote]   If you decide to take the train and are of retirement age you could get some good discounts on the tickets. If you were to book two flights i.e. Ryanair to Stansted and connect on to another flight to Salzburg make sure you have plenty of time to catch the connecting flight because if the first flight is delayed  it is highly unlikely  that a "no frills" carrier will make themselves responsible for you if you miss the connection.

DITTO Excellent reply Betty and I will join you so we can be a minority of TWO [:)]   Very happy to enjoy the best of both worlds!

I have sent you a PM [:)]

Sara and Phil Good luck with your move and living the dream. I feel that the OP is not in quite the same position as you as they have 5 very young children, from your posting it sounds as though you are older, closer to full retirement and sans enfants.

[quote user="Colonel Mustard"]The British carried out a massacre at Amritsar in the 1920s and the Americans at My Lai in the 1960s.  Inhumanity can wear any uniform.[/quote]   It certainly can, what about the burning of the people in a church in Kenya....................now why did that ring a bell when it became news?

Grey. Which just about sums up the UK. Well Nick It is beautiful today in my part of the U.K. here we have had a really heavy overnight frost and awoke to blue sky and sunshine. [:)]

re Knitting Terms:   Sorry I am not a knitter so can't help you. The person I au-paired for used to knit and she just took the measurements from an old jumper or cardigan and made up her own pattern.

Quote from Russethouse "Back on topic - maybe you should contact Cendrillon, she is an expert in the stitch bit !"   Stitch bit yes but not the other word which follows! For the record I hate this name for a sewing / quilting group,  I think the name has travelled across the pond from the U.S.A.[:(]  

[geek] British postal rates and envelope / package sizes changed last year so I suppose that someone, somewhere in Europe is trying to standardise the system.

Obviously the Bistrot 203 is a place to be avoided for the time being! No doubt they will conform in time.

A French "Jobsworth" doing  its best! I think the Fr. Post Office has a special training school for these people.[Www] [I] Edit: I expect they get bonus pay for each box they sell!

E-mail on its way to you.[:)]

[quote user="Quillan"]The Tabac was closed this morning but they sell fags next door in the PMU. No difference at all, they were all puffing away as normal. Perhaps they have not heard of the ban.[/quote]   They probably think it is one of those EU rules that does not and need not affect them! LOL

French Property News magazine has some good articles on making the move........pros and cons.

Good luck with your dreams, new year, new dreams and hopes, where would we be without them.[8-|] It would seem that you already have a lot of responsibilities so think about the following points: Career Finance Location Education Emergencies - if you have family in the U.K. consider the need for unplanned trips back to the U.K. to cope with any family problems, elderly rellies etc.   Bonne chance[:)]

Whatever you do make sure your face fits! (the requirements) they are very picky these days and please don't even think of smiling![:)]

I think the variation has come about due to staffing and scanning machinery available. Some aiports can cope with extra hand luggage and some can't.   Meg I think we both replied at the same time!

[quote user="Cendrillon"] "I'm just looking for your thoughts on the best place to start our search for our retirement home in France. We will have a budget of around 300,00 euros and for this ideally we are looking for a home ( old or new) that does not need renovating, is right out in the countryside and with a minimum of 1 acre of land - we also want to be able to enjoy more sunshine than we have in the UK"   If this is to be a retirement home it may be wise to consider what you will do when you can no longer drive, cut the grass on the 1 acre and live in a rural / isolated location. [/quote] Yvonne Further to my reply above I should say that I was thinking long term and to a time when perhaps you are no longer fit enough or able to do all the exciting things that you plan to do now. I guess when the time comes you can always sell-up and buy somewhere that will be easier to manage.[:)]