passiflora

Thank you to everyone who has helped with ideas for finding Bella a new home.  Bella has found a new home in the Gironde with Kees, Florence and their two tiny kittens.  We know she will be very happy there   Carole and Philip

We don't have a cat ourselves but Bella is of a gentle nature so would probably be more inquisitive than anything.  In other households I know the cat has always been in charge.  Several of the cats nearby seem to come into our courtyard and drink from her water bowl and she doesn't seem to mind.  

Please can someone help out there.  We are having to go to Cyprus to work from 6th February and are looking for a home for our lovely four year old border collie, Bella.  Regretably we are unable to take her with us.  Bella is very affectionate and loves her walks.  She is a great companion and loves to be with me when I am out gardening.  Bella had an accident when she was a puppy and lost the sight of one eye, however she is not disfigured in any way and it does not seem to affect her.  Her wonderful personality and smile more than make up for this.  We live in the Charente please send me a private email for more details and photos. Carole S  

Hi   If what you have is a larvae which is about 5mm long inside the fruit it is "mouche de la cerise"  You need to treat with Insecticide systemique arbres fruitiers which you will get from a garden centre or somewhere like Mr Bricolage. Also worth treating with anti-cloque which stops the leaf curl problems as well. Hope this helps

There is an awful lot of nocturnal activity.

Why not do what the French do!! 

Hi Fil If it is any consolation I got caught by this site as well but in a different way.  I received an unsolicited e-mail offering free advertising so thought I would give it a whirl.  Entered all the details plus access codes etc.   I was not requested to pay anything. However, my advert appeared on the site but without the calendar.  I then received an enquiry from a very poshly spoken woman making an enquiry and I was booked for the week she required.  She then got quite upset and said why hadn't I filled in the calender.  I then of course tried to get back into the advert to use the calender and discovered I had to pay for this.  Presumably this is how they make their money. - just shows there is no such thing as a FREE LUNCH. I decided I couldn't really be bothered with it so did just e-mail and ask for the ad to be removed which it has been. CaroleS (16)      

We had no problems with getting the E106 sorted but when that ran out a year later we had problems at Angouleme.  A total of four visits were required before they would tell us every document required.  They appear to be very helpful on the surface but I think are justifying their jobs in many cases. We speak good french but I understand when you book in at reception you can ask for someone who speaks English.   Good luck  

Maria If you read Philip's post carefully it tells you exactly that you can get insurance for this and we have done so.    

Hi Maria This seems to be a bit of a problem, and I'm not sure how many people realise it exists.  We only discovered it because we bought our gites as a going concern, and were able to take over the previous owner's insurance (we were with the same company for our main house anyway).  Like you, I was never asked for an attestation in the days when we hired gites ourselves, and I have never come across anyone else asking for one either, French or English. We are insured with Mutuelle de Poitiers and to get round the problem we have an endorsement "Renonciation contre les occupants" which effectively negates this provision (at least I hope it does!).  Basically it says that the owner has renounced his right to claim off the locataires, so the insurance will waive its right to do the same in return.  It was explained that this clause is specifically designed for this situation. It may be be adds further to the premium (I don't have a quote without it), but the amount involved is going to be a lot less than the hassle involved in getting attestations from everyone. It may be that AGF will do it if you ask them, otherwise you may have to shop around. Philip (standing in for Carole)

All the above comments are really helpful regarding the car but I also think you should follow up Teamed ups comment about the caravan.  The caravan will have to have its own registration document (carte grise) and its own insurance. Many people I know have given up trying to get this done in France and have sold their vans back in the UK.  They have not been able to obtain the correct type of conformity to obtain the carte grise. We went down a different route and purchased a second hand caravan in France which came with documentation.  Just something worth looking into.  

Yes I have to admit we too are not getting the enquiries through FC that we had last year.  In fact I have just checked my enquiries box and I have had three enquiries through FC since the change of site.  One was someone wanting a houseswap who I understand e-mailed everyone else I know as well and one has resulted in a booking. So being positive you could statistically say that 30% of the enquiries have resulted in bookings!! Fortunately I have plenty of bookings through my other advertising.  Just shows you have to be careful not to put all your eggs in one basket and also that what works one year doesn't necessarily work the next. It was interesting to see Karen's comments about the good response FC have had to their new site.  Is there anyone out there who uses this forum who is doing really well with FC bookings this year?

Hi The day after my whinge about lack of bookings through FC I got an early season booking through them.  However, have only received two enquiries since the new website but that is probably to do with everyone basically wanting the same weeks in the main summer season and those already been booked.  

Hi I think that watching soaps is really good for improving the lingo too.  Especially - wait for it - the old re-runs of Dallas.  Sad!!  

Hi Sue Just a couple of points that you might or might not be aware of. I have been doing a lot of research on cookers and four or five friends of mine who have these range cookers find them very expensive to run - they usually rate D or E on the economy list. Not a problem if you are always cooking for large numbers but if you are often cooking for 2 a bit expensive to run. Most of these cookers also only come with one shelf so something else to watch out for.  In the end my choice was an electric fan oven and a separate 6 burner hob. 

I think you are probably most likely to bring the ground elder with you with your english plants.  It is a pesky weed and the little roots seem to hide themselves amongst the rootballs of plants.

Hi Anna Yes I am now in the same boat as you with the new FC website as I have two properties on one site and I had originally been told by FC I could only advertise each one as a separate entity and if I wished to advertise the two together I would have to pay for a third page.  So like you my pool is down as shared.  I have now, however, been told on further quizzing that I can have the properties on one page so will probably change my entries accordingly. I renewed in December having been quite happy with bookings last year but unfortunately nothing since the new website. There is, of course such a huge choice for the consumer. Carole S (16)

Hi Yes Miki is right about quality of sunloungers.  Some of the regulars may remember my desperate postings last summer as my bargain sunloungers were collapsing round my guests.  I had one left by the end of the season and most did not last one week.  Needless to say I was unable to get a refund either so will  not be going down that road again.   Carole S  (16)

Hi I bought loads of plants with me too. The only ones you have to be careful of are  strawberries which are not supposed to be exported and lemon trees which need a certificate. Carole S (16)

Well I still think you can use the word "gite" And Micky - really "granny's old furniture indeed" you will be pleased to know my "gites" oops "farmhouse and barn" are nicely furnished and good value for money. You have such a great sense of humour However, Micky you are right about one thing - either way word of mouth and recommendation is the best way and I already have some of those for next summer. CaroleS (16)

Well this is a good one - how very french. Anyway I have just looked in my french Larousse de poche 2005 which describes "gîte" as a "lieu où on demeure où l'on loge" so can't see any problems there - show the mayor a copy of the dictionary - it is a word of general useage and make a joke of it. However interestingly a "gîte rural" is described as a maison située a la campagne et aménagée selon certaines norms pour recevoir des vacanciers" which rather implies it has to meet certain criteria so you might have problems using that one. I have to admit though with my advertising in the UK I tend to use the words 'farmhouse and holiday cottages' as the Brits generally think of 'gîtes' being outdated, poorly equipped properties with even poorer drains!! Bon courage CaroleS (16)  

Hi You could just have your savings account with CA.  I came across a problem with savings accounts as it appears to have a savings account you have to have a cheque account and pay for the card to go with it.  This was not my original idea and all the options AXA offered me for saving my money cost me money to do!  Interesting that! In fact the chap at AXA told me all the savings accounts rates were about the same and unless I wanted to move my current account from CA there was little point in having an account with them. It took me two and a half hours to find that out.  I do find this sort of thing so frustrating. CaroleS (16)

HI I think you leave them on the tree until as my dutch friend puts it they look like they are ready for the poubelles (rubbish) then they are delicious and ready to eat. Will be interested to hear as if you pick them too early they are supposed to taste revolting. CaroleS (16)      

Hi I too was very disappointed to leave my greenhouse behind.  However in the spring my hubby noticed an advert in Weldom's for a greenhouse equiv 10ft x 8ft at half price  about £250.  He went to the store in Angoulême and was told they were sold out but did not give up and at Sauzé Vaussais they found one out the back for him.  Eventually they found all the necessary bits and I was delighted and guess what IT WAS MADE IN KENT.  It has caused a talking point in our village as it is the only greenhouse! Good luck CaroleS (16)

Hi Yes I would agree with that sort of charge 13 euros is what I charge guests for extra cleaning and am told that is the acceptable amount.  Please take note of the advice to use the cheque d'emploi system it will cost you more money but if your neighbour has an accident on your premises you are covered.  Also the authorities take working on the black very seriously and I know of cases where people have shopped others - not just the british but the french as well. CaroleS (16)