newbiee

  Where's the "drool" icon when you need one???!  Great suggestions.   Cherry yoghurt sounds delish!  I never think to make things like this ... I could eat a tub of that on it's own (I'd wait until hubby had gone out!).   Lovely ideas ... keep 'em coming folks  [:D]

Thanks Cat, but I'm looking for ideas other than fresh cream (or other creams).   Anybody have any suggestions?   Thanks [:)]  

  My mother's brother had a humanist wedding about 12 years ago ... it was the  nicest wedding ceremony I've ever seen (apart from my own of course!)  I think it's lovely when those getting married write their own vows and promises, rather than just following what others have said before them just for the sake of it.    

  given an absence of fresh cream, what would you use to fill meringues with?  

Hi Mooky - what flavour of priest are you?

I love the Tour , my partner explained a lot of the tactics to me over the years ... so some of the following info may add to your enjoyment...   The riders are all in teams, some them won't be in with a shot of winning, or winning any stages or any jerseys, their job is to help the contender in their team.  A rider will use a 30% less energy when riding behind other riders (even more into a head wind) .. .think of Mark Cavendish .. yesterday he was supported by his team all day so that he had the energy to make that amazing sprint and therefore win the stage (which wins money for the team apart from the prestige) Riders go off the front of the peleton early on in the day sometimes in the hope that the peleton messes things up, or the wind changes, etc and they then won't be caught up and will win.  Normally they do get caught though, but sometimes tactics go wrong and the peleton don't catch them. There are unspoken rules when riding ... whether in the peleton or off the front .... riders take it in turns to ride at the front, this takes more energy so they do it in short bursts .. a minute or so .... sometimes you'll see the rider in the front jerk his elbow up and down which means "come and take your turn at the front" .  However, if a group break out of the main peleton to chase down the leaders, if someone in the group has a team member in the lead group, they will not (and not be expected to) take a turn on the front, because they don't want their team member to be caught.  So they will just sit on the wheel of those trying to catch up the leaders. With the mountain stages coming up, this will really change the general classification ...... the mountains often decide the winner.  The time trails are also very important stages, although they are a lot shorter this year than usual.  Riders must finish within a percentage time of the winners finishing time of the day. There is a group who will ride at the back called the Autobus or Laughing Group where most of the sprinters and domestiques rider together to help each other finish in time.  There is a lot of camaraderie within teams in this situation.  Although riders do ride for their teams on the whole, there is a lot of ethics and support between teams when needed (and it's not effecting the outcome). Do you have UK TV?  ITV 4 have a superb nightly roundup of 1 hour and live coverage at weekends.  Phil Ligott, Paul Sherwin are very good at explaining tactics etc, with Paul Sherwin being an ex pro rider of many years.  Chris Boardman also makes great contriubtions.   Does anybody know what's happening with the team time trials?  There hasn't been one for a few years.    

  I do have an Option B up my sleeve so I guess that will be the one ... very unusual in France I imagine, but at least it will give the guests something to dine over!   Thanks for all of your help and suggestions

Thanks for the replies folks. I'm not looking for anything which will change my legal marital status, obviously I'm already married and want to remain so - renewal of vows is a personal thing to do and has no legal ramifications.    I'm interested in having a dignified, official-ish ceremony, the type of which are common in the UK.  Perhaps it's not something that is done in France ... I can kind of imagine how the conversation would go "but Madam, you are already married!!".  I could go to the UK to do it, but it would have been nice to do something fairly formal in our home-town followed by a knees up at our home. If anybody has done, or heard of, something similar in France, please do let me know  [:)]

It isn't a dumb question, but it's a pretty personal question. I'm just looking for practical information of having a civil marraige ceremony for an already married couple, not personal opinions on whether it's a good idea.

No, no, no ... not a church wedding, I'm not a Christian.  I want a secular ceremony as mentioned in my original post.  The civil ceremony that would be carried for all weddings in France (or similar), prior to any religious one.  Is it the Marie who would carry out the ceremony?  (I live in a largish town if that makes any difference.)  

I've been advised that a CU isn't necessary for a buidling on ones land other than the house ... ie, a barn attached to the house. Can anybody confirm this?

Does anybody have any experience/knowledge of renewal of wedding vows in France?  Is it a common practice here as it is in the UK? Can one have a wedding ceremony in France (secular) if one is already married?  (to the same person  [;-)]  ) Would the fact that we are already legally married (in the UK) mean that we wouldn't have to have the mass of paperwork/blood test done? I'd be most grateful for any information   [:D]

I've looked under the search facility for the answer to this, but can't find owt....  how often do you change the sheets and towels?  If guests are there for just a few nights it's not necessary, but otherwise how long would the need to stay with you before the sheets were changed?    Thanks  [:)]

you can freeze courgette too ..... slice them and lay them on a tray, cover and freeze, then tip into a bag. The texture won't hold, so no good for sauteeing etc, but absolutely ideal for making soups in the winter.

Does anybody know if gingerbread men cutters are sold widely in France?  I haven't seen any on my travels. Maybe I could try Ebay .... Does anybody know what they might they be called ?   Thanks[:)]

  What a cracking tip!  I must stop using my bread machine and do it the "proper" way.

There will always be postings on forums that we don't appreciate. The worst are those who think they are funny but are actually quite a long way from funny and are just plain irritating and a little bit sad.  You know the type, cracking unfunny jokes at the pub and then looking around for attention, while the rest of us smile on politely while screaming in our heads "SHUT UP!!" The upside is that there are those who actually are funny and of course those who have loads of useful advice to give or a tender word here and here when needed.  There are a lot of very sweet and friendly people on this forum. So, sadly we have to take the badwith the good.  But I do wish that unfunny bunch would stop trying to entertain themselves!   PS .. Chris ... If I had to choose 6 people from this forum to have dinner with, you'd  be top of the list!  (Then comes Claire cos she's just so helpful and useful!)

  It's very tricky to match wines with curries ... I don't think they are ever entirely successful, certainly none of my Indian friends ever drank wine with curry.  I think you'd be better off sourcing a decent beer. Either way, hope they enjoy it [:D]

Blanching is necessary, otherwise harmful enzymes can give you a gippy tummy when you eat them after they've been frozen.

Anybody? [8-)] *fingers crossed hopefully*

I haven't seen it anywhere and am desparate for a Mojito! Is it available here in France?  

My pak choi has just bolted too  [:(]

I heard tales of a great cure.  You can buy thunderstorm soundtracks which you put on at a very low level with the dog in the room.  Gradually raise the volume over a period of weeks and the dog will get used to it. You shouldn't comfort the dog if it starts to take notice as the volume is raised .. .this will just strengthen it's feelings that something is wrong.  Act completely naturally.. perhaps have the dog at your feet and pet it just as you normally would. As the dog get used to the sounds, and realises that you're not a bit bothered by it all, he/she will start to relax.   I've heard that this method can work very effectively.

yes it means going (or bolting to) seed ... getting there much faster than it would in prime growing conditions.  My spinach is bolting and it's still tiny ... barely a few leaves per plant and now it's full of seed heads. Plants to it when they are stressed ... most often due to the soil being too hot and irregular watering.

Is there a way of "tricking" websites into thinking one is in the UK rather than France? Not for any dubiuos purpose I hasten to add!  I want to access some website info that is only available to those in the UK. Possible?