lorna

The first episode of  'Midsomer Murders' aka 'Inspecteur Barnaby' that I saw here involved a search for some smuggled goods which were eventually found hidden in a well in the smuggler's garden. The episode finished with Inspector Barnaby standing at the well and commenting 'well, well, well'! The French translation was 'bien bien bien'! [:)][:)][:)]

[quote user="Albert the InfoGipsy"] Having looked at the (minimal) requirements for marrying in England we might go that route instead. [/quote] Hi Albert, After reading through this thread I was just about to suggest the same thing! [:)] Good luck!

This thread and SD's link in it give some useful information about the regulations: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/650765/ShowPost.aspx

fireworks: http://www.ville-perigueux.fr/SXagenda.asp?PK_agenda=639 follow links on this page for 14th July events in Bergerac including fireworks - it's in a little box down the left-hand side of the pdf. http://www.ville-bergerac.com/eva/spip.php?article3809

have you seen these sites Rose? http://www.ville-bergerac.com/eva/spip.php?article3863 http://www.ville-bergerac.com/eva/spip.php?rubrique29 http://www.ville-perigueux.fr/SXAgenda.asp There were lots of firework display near us last year as well.

JK,  this thread explains all: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/1212125/ShowPost.aspx hope all goes well for Ellie.

[quote user="Clair"]Not in my neighbour's house! She carefully runs it between her thumb and forefinger, which she licks before folding the Opinel against the palm of her hand and putting it back in her apron pocket [:D][/quote] Hopefully not after using it in the rabbit hutch.[+o(]

[quote user="odile"]miam miam - sounds like a great dinner.. French people always find it so funny that Brits pile peas on top of the fork and eat soup 'backwards' and with bowl lifted away from self! The one real 'faux pas- always remembered from childhood is 'knife NEVER in the mouth- put if you live in rural France, it is often done! [/quote] Thank-you odile and 5-element. I've come to think that the British soup thing is actually very sensible. Any spillage has more chance of going back in the bowl rather than on your lap or down your front! Interesting about the knives. I noticed one guest at our dinner hanging on to his knife throughout. He balanced the end very neatly on a piece of bread.

[quote user="oscar"]At last!  I've found written evidence of etiquette that my grand-dad taught me and OH always moans about.  I invariably leave just a tiny amount of food of my plate at most courses and OH asks why I can't clear the plate.  My grand-dad told me it was good manners to leave just a small amount (too much may indicate you didn't like the food) to show that you had been given enough to eat.  BUt no one else ever seems to have heard of this one.  I now see that this is Russian dining etiquette.  Don't know where he picked that up from![/quote] Hi Oscar, now that you mention that, I think my grand-mother used to do that as well, I have a vague memory of my grand-father telling her off for always leaving a little food. I think there was French ancestory but Russian is doubtful! Maybe the Victorians adopted the custom?

[quote user="Jo"][quote user="Just Katie"]Thats the beauty of it.  I live on top floor so no slugs [:)][/quote]             I wouldn't bank on that!!![:-))] [/quote] Don't they come with the soil?[;-)]

[quote user="Callie"][quote user="You can call me Betty"]If they don't come here to ask questions, they do come to chat, have a laugh and swap stories. [/quote] Hear hear, Betty, I have had many a chuckle at some of the postings - sets me up for the day or sends me smiling to my pit.   Have to confess, some of us have got a bit out of practice with the old banter - typing speeds not up to scratch.  By the time I come up with what I think is a really great comment.....too late, the conversation has moved on.....tant pis.... [/quote] I have similar problems Callie though with me it's my brain speed rather than typing speed, I'm definitely slow with the quick replies. I was amused by the following comment and wasn't sure if it was deliberate (as usual I'm several pages late responding) [quote user="Catalpa"] The thread on pea shortages proved to be of continuing importance to many mambas of CompleteFrance and reports continue to come in - most recently from the Vaucluse - of peas being unavailable from supermarket freezers across the country. It's a worry. [;-)] [/quote] and apologies to Chris if I've taken this further off topic. Edit: Just seen some of Catalpa's other posts and suspect it was deliberate.[:)]

OH says that flights from Paris to Lyon are also stopping and other internal AF flights. As Anton says, due to good deals on TGV and fast service. When we have looked for flights from UK to Lyon, for some 'flights' via Paris, AF have been providing TGV tickets for the onwards journey.

My SIL is booked on Exeter to Avignon in July, I hope that is still operating

Is it possible to put adverts in veterinary surgeries? Is that done here?

[quote user="cooperlola"] However, lager is really better than wine, imo, particularly if your guests aren't used to hot food, as it's more thirst quenching. [/quote] That made me smile. I would just love to see their faces when they are presented with lager with their dinner. I expect they'd give it a go though.[:)]

So this good rate is given for both debit and credit cards? Unfortunately we don't have a Nationwide account but I could advise visiting family and friends to get one. Also we have relations who will be moving to Spain presumably the same applies there? I will suggest they open a Nationwide account if they don't already have one.

[quote user="Frenchie"]I ve always taught my son not to say " it s not good/ beautiful ..." but " I don't like it " ...[/quote] I like that Frenchie. It is a similar slant on life as saying that someone has done a bad thing rather than saying that they are bad which is quite different. I agree with you about the taste thing, it is a bit like fashions in clothes.[:)]. The frilly edges weren't what I would have chosen but the replacement was not a like for like replacement and if that was a permanent mark on the seat then it was a very sorry attempt.

That's a very useful looking list, I've added it to my favourites. Thank-you.[:)]

[quote user="Clair"] What did you serve in the end? [/quote] We had four courses which is what we have been given when we have been guests. OH usually cooks when it's a special occasion and he did this time. We had red onion tart with goat's cheese and salad to start, lamb tagine and couscous (we did far too much couscous) for the main course. Then cheese, we had four cheeses including a blue cheese. We don't like blue cheese ourselves but thought that it was popular here - it was suggested in the cheese shop - but no-one touched the blue cheese so we gave it away today For dessert we had a fruit-topped tart which we had bought - the couple who had been at the do where we took a crumble asked us why we hadn't done a crumble! One lady had brought us some home-made chocolates and we had those with coffee. It all seemed to go down pretty well.[:)]

Hi all, Just taking a short break from the washing-up! It was all fine. OH had bought some champagne and we sat outside with that and some nibbles to start. A bit on the warm side initially (sunwise) but otherwise fine. One guest whom we knew would be a bit late was delayed further by traffic (she works in Lyon) and we waited for her before starting the main meal indoors. Probably just as well as it had cooled a little by the time we went indoors. Having checked out the dinner etiquette before hand it was interesting to observe that aspect.  Hands were not kept on the table at all times but when not eating, our guests tended to sit with arms crossed rather than on their laps. That feels odd to me, I think I tend to sit with one arm on the table and one on my lap when not eating. They did have elbows on the table, that may have just been between courses I didn't really notice. We tried to serve as suggested and I think I managed to once serve the eldest lady first but the helpful gentleman next to me started to hold plates for me and served the very attractive lady to his left first (rather than his wife). Really, as far as the food was concerned they didn't seem to have any particular expectations. It was reasonably relaxed, our guests were two very nice couples who hadn't known each other previously and they chatted away happily to each other when they weren't talking to us. Having got this first one over I think I would be more confident next time. Christine's comments were spot on. [:)]

Just read through all the posts since late last night. Thanks for all the good advice, I'm logging off now to finish getting ready. OH has just fixed up some temporary shade for our terrace, we get the afternoon and evening sun there which is lovely but a bit too hot at the moment without shade. Until tomorrow....[:)]

Thank-you Sweet 17. OH decided the French expect something hot for the main course - don't know if he's right. Everything else will be cold.

Yes, here is a link that explains the reason why - the king feared assassination! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Table_manners#French_table_manners Curious that this custom should have carried through to today. Edit: this was an answer to Cathy's post.

Thank-you Clair, those serving tips are really helpful, I'll have a look through the link you've posted although my OH's French is better so I'll pass it on to him as well.

We have been guests at lunch and dinner but tomorrow we will be returning some hospitality and will be hosts. I've found a thread on dinner etiquette and that has some useful tips - I didn't know about the hands on table thing, we almost certainly got that wrong when we were guests. We are doing tagine for the main course, should we serve this out or can guests serve themselves? Should we serve/offer to the ladies first, does it matter? We've got a reasonable idea of courses and drinks from the times we have been guests ourselves but any additional tips will be appreciated. I'm sure they won't mind if some things are done the British way but I don't want to do anything which would be considered rude