clarey c

[quote user="Tony F Dordogne"] Goodness, there are several of us in this Forum who are regulars on the Grapevine also. Small world [/quote] Funny, I was just going to say the same thing Tony.

Believe it or not, I saw one in Lidl yesterday - around 35€.  Don't know if all stores sell  the same thing at the same time though.  I think if you look at http://www.lidl.fr/fr/home.nsf/pages/i.home you might be able to find out.

That is realy useful especially when writing cheques.  Thank you.

Me too, I always use the normal stuff that I used to use in the UK and haven't had a problem yet (she says with crossed fingers)

I don't really miss anything from UK but... I do find Golden Syrup hard to get hold of and always stock up when I go back to UK.

We bought our two dogs and one cat from UK to France about 2 years ago.  No one even asked about our pet passports (although we had them ready).  We went under the Tunnel and it was obvious that we had pets in the car with us. The information about blood tests is correct as far as I know.  Our animals are not expected to go back to UK and we were told by our vet in UK that we didn't, therefore, need blood tests (a saving of £95 per dog)  I know that wasn't the original question but at least this may help to aleviate a few fears. One other piece of advice though is that in the pet passport the UK vet said that the rabes injection was valid for two years.  Here in France the rabies injection has to be renewed every year  - just something to be aware of. Hope all goes well for you, I know how stressfull the whole move can be.

Is there a chance that you could scan it in and photoshop the crayon out? I don't know how bad it is so excuse me if this is a stupid statement [:$]- good luck with it though.

Hi Steve, We are less than 2 hours North of there and I have just come back from Le Mont Dore with a whacking great bruise to show for it!  We went to Superbesse last year and, whilst Superbesse is great - Le Mont Dore, imho is a little bit better.  Neither resort is excessively touristy - which I liked and youngest daughter liked Le Mont Dore so much that she want back after 2 weeks. I guess it also depends upon your level of competence.  I am very much a beginner but I found the whole skiing "thing" at either resort very enjoyable. If you want to send me a PM and I can give you much more info.

Here are 3 recipes taken from my winemaking "Bible" CJJ Berry- First steps in winemaking.  I have only made the first one but it is very good though drier than it says in the book. My main problem with country wines is finding a good source of winemaking yeast here in France.   ORANGE OR TANGERINE WINE (Medium)  Sweet oranges 12 (I use 10 oranges and 2 lemons) Sugar 1.5 kilos Water 4.5 litres Yeast and nutrient Pectic enzyme Peel six of the oranges thinly; avoiding the white pith like the plague (it imparts a most bitter taste to the wine). Pour a litre (quart) of boiling water on to the rind and allow to stand for 24 hours, then strain off the water into a polythene bucket containing 3 litres of water and the sugar. Cut all the oranges in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Stir until the sugar is dissolved, and then add the yeast, nutrient and pectic enzyme. If you use a general purpose wine yeast, which is to be recommended, the liquor can safely be strained from the bucket into a fermenting jar, and fitted with air-lock, within two or three days. Siphon it off the lees for the first time when it clears, and re-bottle two or three months later. SEVILLE ORANGE WINE (Sweet) I haven’t made this but it does make twice as much! Thin-skinned Seville oranges 24 Lemons 4 Sugar 4 kilos Water 9 litres Yeast and nutrient Pectic enzyme Peel 12 of the oranges and throw away the peel. Cut up all the oranges and\lemons into slices and put in a fermenting bin with the sugar. Boil the water and pour on, boiling. Place in moderately warm corner and when tepid add nutrient, enzyme and wine yeast or a teaspoonful of granulated yeast; stir each day for a fortnight. Strain into a 2-gallon jar, filling up to top. Put surplus in dark bottles and use this for filling up large jar. Ferment to completion under airlock, rack when it clears, and bottle two months later. CHERRY WINE (Sweet) Black cherries:   2.75 kilos Sugar:                 2 kilos Citric acid:         1 teaspoon Water:               4.5 litres Yeast and nutrient Crush the cherries (without breaking the stones) and then pour the boiling water over them. Leave to soak for 48 hours. Strain through a fine nylon sieve. Bring the juice just to boiling point and pour it over the sugar.  Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Allow to cool and then stir in the yeast nutrient. Cover closely and ferment in a warm place for 14 days, then put into fermenting bottle and fit air-lock. Siphon off when finished and clear into clean bottles. Sorry about the wierd spacing issues - can't get them quite right no matter how hard I try  

I know how you feel!.  Yes, there are a lot of people here in France who speak very good French but it is difficult for some of us to get into casual conversations with people who they don't know, especially if, like me you are not very good at their language.  I can't help you with anything local but- keep looking. Well done for wanting to practice the language and keep trying, eventually you'll be as good as everyone else on this forum [;-)]

Oops, just realised this is the Western France area, sorry [:$]

Keith and Clare here, Moved from Durrington (near Stonehenge) to the middle of France - Puy de Dome (63) just over 18 months ago and loving it.  Near (ish) to Montlucon on the border of Allier (03) and not too far from Les Favets and Alan Zoff.

Thank you for that Lisleoise, We do have "normal" yeast in our local Intermarche and, failing that we often shop in Auchan so I'll give it a try. Thanks again, Clare

Does anyone out there know where I can buy yeast etc... for winemaking.  I hope I haven't missed a cruicial thread on here - my usual trick[:$] . I don't really want to buy it in UK and have it shipped over but I haven't yet found anyone here selling wine making yeast. Many thanks everyone  Clare

Many congratulations on your forthcoming anniversary. Sorry, I don't know of any disc jockeys but we do live in a small hamlet near Pionsat ( about 10 minutes from Marcillat) and are only 15 mins from you.  We often see the sign to your village on the way to our "local" large supermaket in St Eloy les Mines. Good luck with the search, I'll keep my eyes open.