newbiee

[quote user="Boiling a frog"] It could be than on the expiry of the E106 you will need to take out private health assurance as CPAM may take the view that you were not registered with them on 23rd Nov 2007 so are not entitled to enter into the CMU system [/quote] Has anybody had experience of this, etither way?

quote user="J.R's gone native"  he told me in very strong terms that it was illegal in France to resell electricity so I would take advice if and when you do find the supplier of coin meters.     I was about to post the same information but just saw that JR's already done so.  (though perhaps that put out the original poster as she didn't ask for that info!) I too was advised that it is strictly illegal to sell on electricity... so all those who charge extra for electricity in their gites, based on consumption by the hirer, are in fact breaking the law. 

Wow... thanks for all of the advice folks.  Really helpful.   [:D]   (I am vegetarian!  But I've found some veggie restaurants there ... I'll check they haven't closed down before I go!)

Do anybody have, or know of, a nice B&B or small hotel in Lyon?  I fancy a short trip there. Thanks [:)]

I'm considering a short break to Lyon ... never been, don't know much about it. If you've been and have any recommendations, please let me know ... hotel (inexpensive), places to visit, places to eat etc.   Thanks[:)]

If you're growing brassicas you must net them, or the pigeons will get there first and they'll strip the plants before you get a look in.

[quote user="Russethouse"] how can they possibly afford the time to spend neuturing them [:D][:D][:D] Could you possibly mean nurturing them ? [:D][:D] [/quote]   It's amazing the difference an extra "e" can make!  I did, of course, mean nurturing. [:P]

It's interesting that such a big deal can be made about a vasectomy and those same people will think little or nothing of the health implications of a women spending years and years taking the pill, or hormonal implants, both of which can have a serious implication on her health. The world is greatly overpopulated and we're spending resources like there's no tomorrow - a bit more restraint on the ole breeding front can do nothing but good!  (there's a programme on UK tv shortly about people with 11 children and more!  How irresponsible is that?  Presuming they are earning enough to pay for their offsprings' upkeep, how can they possibly afford the time to spend neuturing them?  I'll watch the programme, maybe I'll be enlightened). I'm not sure what I think about the French practice of a man being forced to take his wife to give the OK to the procedure (if that still happens)  ... what happened to patient confidentiality.  I would be FURIOUS if my partner had snuck off and done it rather than it being a joint decision  .. .but I wouldn't want to take away his RIGHT to do it.

 It's a surprise birthday pressie .. I haven't told him about it yet. Do you think I should?  [:P]   Only kidding ... I've told him there's five crisp Euro in it for him if he has one.... who cold turn that down?? [Www]

quote user="woolybanana'sbrother" I am not sure that the OP was deeply offended by the points I made either, was he?     Firstly, I'm a she, not a he.  No, I was not deeply offended by the points you made as I rather ignored them.   I asked for information on obtaining a vasectomy in France, I didn't ask for opinions on the rights, wrongs or wherefores of it.  One can't stop people from siezing opportunities to voice their opinions (even when they were not asked for) ... so one learns to skip right over them. I barely noticed them, so certainly wasn't offended - I was too busy laughing at the funny folks' comments [:D]

Perhaps you could try it and let us know

My tatties are long in ... I want to buy some more earlies which I'll save until mid-summer and then plant in containers and protect over the winter and they are ready for Christmas [:D]  .....  give it a try.

Loads on offer at Gamm Vert et al at the moment , but what is what ... does anybody have a useful website which will tell me what are earlies, late earlies, maincrop etc.   Thanks [:)]

Thanks to those who posted useful advice.  And thanks to those who posted funny replies.

Does anybody have experience of vastectomy in France?  The non-invasive way of doing it (by laser). Is it readily available?  Would one visit a GP and take it from there?  Any idea how much it will cost to a Carte Vitale holeder? Any info gratefully received!

Well, it looked like  a  beetle. I was emptying out a 500 litre waterbutt today and in the bottom of it (in about 30cm water) was what looked like a huge beetle (4cm across, 2cm wide .. ish) ... I thought it was dead, but it was clinging to the interior of the tap and it swims... it had two little fins/paddles/flippers (type things!) .. it scuttled around the bottom of the butt, feeding presumably. I could take a picture but I don't think it'd turn out too well. Any ideas what it is?

Thanks for the replies folks, does anybody know how I can find out where my nearest CPAM office is.  I'm in Bellac, do I need to go to Limoges.   You are a helpful lot! 

I arrived in France in the summer of last year and went to the Marie to "declare myself".  They put me on the voting list and I received my voting cards recently, so I am in the system.  But I was not given a resident card or similar. I've not got around to registering with CPAM which I know I need to do.  I have nothing official to prove how long I've lived here, in order for me to join the health system.  Any suggestions?  I have my E106 papers dated August 2007 and live near Bellac.   Thanks

I want to use some slate tiles as table mats so need lacquer them first.  Can anybody tell me a brand name please? thanks

Well, I'm convinced - it's not safe to use.  I knew this deep in my heart, just didn't want to admit it.  I won't even allow a chipped or cracked cup to be used, so I doubt I would have chanced a glued on handle.... though it is a lovely teapot!  I'll put it in the garden with some bedding plants in it. JR ... you  did make me laff!

I have just found my grandmothers teapot in a box and the handle is broken off.  Although it's from the olden days (about 1950s) it's in absolutely perfect condition (apart from the broken handle!!). I absolutely love it and would love to fix it if possible.... but would that be mad??!  Are there any glues out there strong enough to safely hold the weight of a teapot of boiling water? I'll be so disappointed it it's not fixable.  But rather than than a scalded body.

[quote user="Hoddy"]I love Cherry Bakewells. I always count the cherry as one of my 5-a-day ! Hoddy[/quote]   In that case, you should be having 3 or 4 at a time!  [;-)]

I woke up this morning and HAD TO HAVE SOME!!!   [IMG]http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii254/Vegan_food_porn/DSCN0054.jpg[/IMG]

OK, I give in!  Although I garden organically I am beaten by weeds and nettles in certain areas on my land and have now decided to resort to weedkiller. Can anybody recommend a brand which kills the weed it is directly applied to please? Thanks

no, it's not correction fluid I'm after.  It's called liquid chalk and as dick says, it's used on blackboards in place of old-fashioned chalk sticks.