Cendrillon

Bugbear [8-)]since when was Poitiers near Vienna? The Vienne yes but Vienna (Wien) Austria ..............non! Was this a joke?[:)]

B.A. fly daily (twice a day I believe) from Gatwick to Bordeaux. If you check their website for the "right" days to travel you can get some good deals. Train connections to Gatwick are good.

[quote user="S"][quote user="Cendrillon"] or like most big cities, Polish and other Eastern Europeans I expect [/quote] Do you have a problem with Polish and Eastern Europeans? One thing about SW France, too many snotty English old farts! Have you thought about joining the French Police force? [/quote] No problem whatsoever, just stating a fact!

"Anyway, Liverpool[8-)]??  It's full of Scousers!! "   or like most big cities, Polish and other Eastern Europeans I expect

Katie said "anyone who shares their life with the M25 has a life that "isnt quite right". [:D]"   No, no Katie. The M25 is just there to challenge us all and so long as you can still master it then you're doing O.K. [:)]

Good idea SD [:)]

[quote user="valB"]I have just read all the replies to your thread and some really good advice given to you.  I am not replying to offer any advice at all as I stopped driving in the UK several years ago as I found a lot of the drivers very aggressive and some downright dangerous. My biggest problem is I have not got the nerve to drive in France albeit we live in a rural, quiet area and  OH is getting sick of having to go shopping with me so I admire you for attempting to drive in UK....BRAVO  !!!!!![/quote]   Val You must try and pluck up the courage to drive in France. What would happen if your husband was to be ill, in hospital even, how would you manage the visits, shopping and everything else? As others have said, start by going short distances, when the roads are quiet and then progress from there.   Do let us know how you get on.

[quote user="Renaud"]I am always worried by carpets on the walls of lifts - they imply that the manufacturer is unsure as to which way up it will arrive.[/quote]   LOL[:)]

  Re. Website Directions "Your in the centre ville, the Hotel de Ville is on the left the tourist office is on the right, go straight ahead past the Presse to the bottom of the road  as you come to the junction it is on the other side of the road on the right. Opposite the Hotel la Toque Blanche."   [8-)]Should that read     ................................."You're in the centre ville" ???   Edit I see it has now been corrected, well done[:)]    

"You will not be able to get any tax credit as you are not tax resident in France" However, if you have a property such as a maison secondaire that you rent out when you are not there you should be declaring the income to both U.K. and French tax authorities so presumably you would get tax credits.

then he insists it is high time now for me to drive there . ( I never dared ...) He says if I want to have something in the fridge, I WILL HAVE to drive to the local Tesco ( 4 miles away .......... )   It is good to start with a route that you know, choose your times carefully and avoid rush-hour traffic or driving at twilight. Each time you drive you will gain confidence and so be able to extend your journeys. All the others seem to have offered good advice apart from driving round the roundabout anti-clockwise!   Bonne chance[:)]

Sweet 17 Be warned...................................it snowed in the Charente-Maritime last winter!

Did you manage to find a needle to fit? Were you the person who was going to take up patchwork,if so how is it going?

Is this fiasco a peculiarly Croydon thing or is it perhaps an IKEA phenomenom?   I have to say that after our last experience I would be very reluctant to attempt IKEA again, and, I suspect OH would refuse to go with me anyway.   Croydon traffic system is enough to put anyone off going to the IKEA there. However the last time I went the store had been much improved. I have to say the IKEA Bordeaux is a completely different story, it's a good lunch stop and chance for a quick shop on the way from the airport to the maison secondaire.   Definitely it is a case of picking the right time to go.

Panda said "Personally I find the Bordeaux IKEA much more convenient, this being 'Living France Forum' and it being in France and all...."   Panda some of us have homes in two countries and so this information is very useful.   Thank you Frederic for keeping us informed. [:)]

Some of you may have seen the programme on BBC2 last night and the night before "The 800 Million Pound Railway Station" it was a really great insite into the conversion and I believe there will be more of the programmes next week.

" I think she is trying to pull a fast one, but she is not actually asking for money, and given that she didn't check the flat, she doesn't have a leg to stand on, but I am really annoyed, because the place was clean.  Would there be any reason she would claim this, when it is not the case." I too think she is pulling a fast one..........don't pay, she is only looking for extra payment.Write to her stating that you left it in good order and say that you will not pay. Reporting you to G de F I feel is an idle threat.

We tried to shop at Ikea Bordeaux last year on a Saturday in mid December,  we went round the car park twice and in the end gave up as there was nowhere to park. The world and his wife were there on a shopping spree.[:(]

FWIW I would be inclined to not start giving presents otherwise you may have to do so every year and it might become a chore. Why not send a really nice card thanking them for all their help etc. and I am sure this will be much appreciated, after all, it's the thought that counts.[:)]

One for the animal lovers:   The story of the Weeping Camel - just beautiful

"Also, did you get a  prof. to install your old stove and make a chimney flue etc, or did you vent it out of the wall.  Any idea of costs?  While I love the idea of reusing the old stove, I am reluctant to spend many thousands just to make best use of a ~50 euro buy..."   Yes we did, the exercise was not cheap but worth every penny not only for peace of mind. BTW be aware that you will probably have to pay t.v.a. at 19,6% as they will not be installing a newly purchased modern stove.  

Good luck and I hope it all works well for you

Yes I am sure you can, needles seem to have changed very little over the years. Ask at your local sewing shop. I have replaced needles on my mother's old sewing machine with modern needles, (1950s Singer machine - converted from Hand to Electric) ) no problem, a great machine, nothing fancy and very reliable.

Panda wrote the following post at 08/11/2007 17:21: Interestingly isn't stuff supposed to be much cheaper in IKEA France than the UK, (I've heard quoted 30% on some things)   No not always

Nothing wrong with an old stove but it might be wise to get someone in the stove fitting business to fit it and check it over for you. We too have had a very old woodburner fitted, it has lots of character and can certainly pump out the heat.