minnie

A result! The Citroen garage have finally agreed to put the correct lights on free of charge. It has taken quite a bit of complaining but we've got there. Thanks to all contributors, your ideas have been great.

Thanks for the suggestion. In the event, as we were travelling Northwards towards the airport we had a very nice meal at a restaurant in Bouniagues.

Anyone know of any fairly inexpensive ones convenient to the airport - preferably out of town.

This story is farcical...but how do we deal with it? In 2006 we moved to France with our Citroen C5. We duly had the headlights changed, paid about 500 euros at the main dealers and went for the Controle Technique. They station passed it. Again it passed in 2008 and 2010. This year it failed on the basis that we had English headlights and sure enough oh saw that they were dipping the wrong way. The guy from the Controle station came across to the dealers nearby with us and they confirmed to him that we had changed them so that he left us sort this out with the dealers and didn't fail the car for that. What I reckon happened was that the dealership used the chassis number to order the parts and that being English the headlights were English. Effectively our lights were replaced with exactly the same ones. Now Citroen are saying that we've had the lights for 6 years and they'll not pay for replacement with French ones even though it was their error (and I still have the receipt for the replacement). I would add that we rarely go out after dark and so didn't notice this. Any thoughts on where I stand on this issue as we've paid circa 500 euros for nothing?

We will sit quietly and think of you and Debs at 11am on Monday. No doubt many, many members of the forum will do the same. Bon Courage, Ian

Ian OH and I are so sad and sorry to hear this news. Deb worked so hard and tirelessly for all of us on this forum. Always down to earth and caring with her advice she will be very sorely missed. Deep condolences.

Have just got back from UK myself. I can only re-iterate that you are constantly in our thoughts Coops. Being so practical and down to earth I can't imagine that you are an Angel believer but I am and am asking for all the help that can be arranged in that direction! Debs and Ian stick with all your positive thoughts.

When I divorced in UK over 20 years ago my oh at the time wanted contact with our daughter but she wanted no contact with him. She was aged 14 years old and a welfare officer was appointed by the Court to report. Aside from having interviews with us as parents and extended family members she herself was given a rigorous one to one with the Welfare Officer. I heard later that he had tried very hard to get her to have contact with her father but she firmly resisted. The case went back to Court under the Children's Act (I think 1991) and contact was limited to letters to be sent to her via her school headmaster. Needless to say she never had any letters. I think that often the children are used as pawns in divorce cases.

Thanks everyone for your contributions. Using Norman's suggested formula the level does appear a little high. Before starting on the statins (already prescribed) I'm making every effort to lose the weight and eat the correct stuff before I have my next test (in roughly another month). If it works all the better - if it doesn't, I'll have a telling off from the Doc and I'' just take the statins. He said I need to lose 9kg to get to my ideal weight. Within the last 6 weeks I've lost 3 of these kgs and continuing

Is there a difference between French & English measurement of cholesterol levels? During my recent bilan de sante my level was just over 4 and the Doc has prescribed statins. When in UK, and many years ago, my reading of just over 4 was normal!! My French neighbours reckon my reading should be no more than 2. Can anyone out there explain the differences to me please?

When we were moving to France I got my hairdresser to do my hair exactly how I wanted it and got OH to take a picture. I produced this to the hairdresser and said in French that was how I wanted it. 6 years later and with the same hairdresser it has never gone wrong

Thanks all. Very off-putting! Does everyone in France keep all these up to date. I know that I had a host of these done in 1999 so must be out of date by now. I think, if possible, I'll take it in stages and have one every couple of months if I can get away with it....

When attending our Bilan de Sante we're asked to take with us our carnet de vaccinations. We never had such a thing in UK. I can roughly remember what vaccinations I've had, mostly in childhood. Can anyone tell me what vaccinations I'm expected to have as a French resident please?

We've just received our invitation to attend together with a comprehensive form to complete. Does anybody know what the drill is when we get to the centre? It can be quite comforting to know the "routine". We're in Lot et Garonne so it would be helpful to hear from someone who has attended the Boe centre.

As mentioned in my original post this was put to me after completing a telephone customer survey on behalf of CA. Throughout the call I indicated my satisfaction with CA but when it was suggested that there was a possibility of extra charges for the english speaking line I indicated that if this was the case then I would change my account to another Bank

It is handy to be able to carry out transactions in English and that is why they get my business. This has been carried out for free up to date. But my French is perfectly adequate and so I wouldn't hesitate to leave CA is they were to charge in the future. The staff in Britline are already there and have been doing the job for at least 10 years as far as I can recall!

I've just had a phone call from someone representing Credit Agricole and carrying out a satisfaction survey of the service provided by CA to English speakers. At the end of the survey I was told that CA are considering raising an additional charge for the English speaking service and I was asked if I would be happy with this....Obviously I said no. Has anyone else had a similar call? I didn't actually need to reveal any account details for the survey.

Can someone refresh my memory on this please. I am due to pick up my state pension this summer and have just received my own S1 from Newcastle. Currently I am added to my other half's S1. The form they have sent is in two copies both English. My recollection is that when I registered OH's S1 at CPAM Newcastle had also given me a copy of this in French. Am I right in thinking this. I foresee problems just taking the 2 copies of the English version to CPAM. I imagine they might ask for a translation. Has anyone recently received S1 only in English? Thanks in anticipation.

OH has done all of ours this last week. We have a ride on and a push for 3 acres. We do find that the ride on needs new blades each spring for keeping the grass neat. He sharpens the blades a few times during the season. When everything is looking unkempt giving the grass a cut makes such a difference to the appearance of the property

Our Goose seems to be in good health. Normally by now she would have laid some eggs (starting date usually mid-Feb). I'm assuming that the recent cold snap is the reason for no eggs yet. However this morning, while she seems in reasonable health, she tends to walk a bit and then just drop into a sitting position for a while. She'll get up walk a bit more and drop again. Anyone had this happen to a goose - Advice welcomed

Thanks for that - I'll look for it.

Does anyone know if this can be bought in France? It really does deal well with bad odours. I've tried all sorts of spray freshners (I'm not after the plug-in types as power points are very precious here). None of them are as good as Neutrogena and I'm just running out of my UK supple....

Have you tried this site? http://www.tonneins.org/

That is the point Polremy. Both Ceejay and I have children in New Zealand. I always enjoy the flight over more than the return because of anticipation, excitement etc. While it's nice to get home I always worry on the return journey that everything's OK with the house....What with possible illness and old age cutting short future opportunities (insurance is expensive enough now) I'm determined to save to go each year until I have to give up. Fingers crossed it's later rather than sooner!

Glad you had a great time. It was our 4th trip in 10 years and we love it. We live extremely frugally in France. Now that we're getting older (61 & 66) we're aware that time for seeing family is increasingly precious. For this reason we save our pennies and plan to go to NZ for a few weeks each winter - while health allows. We are fortunate in that we have wonderful french neighbours and friends who come daily to feed cats and chickens and geese. Looking forward to next trip in November coming back mid-December - flights are cheaper if it is not over Christmas.