woolybananasbrother

Yeah man.[6]

Waited all my life to have a banana shaped one on the left and a sausage shaped one on the right -windscreen wiper of course.

Nay, not these days. They all got IB for their bad backs and went to eat salty grass in Normandy.

This is a bit unfair. 'Vitriol' as you call it has been directed only at those who take unfair advantage of the taxpayer to skive and live off other people's efforts. All the posts here make it quite clear that there is great sympathy and support for those who are in genunie need. Those who are stealing from the taxpayer are depriving the needy of perhaps having a better level of benefit. Anecdotally there are a fair few (BUT not all) who have come to France on IB and yet who seem to be able to run run little businesses whilst drawing the benefit. So why do they need the benefit? Simple. Or whose back bad still enables them to do quite a bit of heavy labouring on their gardens or doing odd jobs for friends. As to the rich people you castigate, of course there are rogues, but look at Bill gates, he has changed the world for the better and also manages to contribute huge sums to good works every year.  

Down in the Valleys there is not a lot else to do?

Well it might not be a bad idea if you could shove £150000 in the bank on the way over by flogging your British house and then do up an old house which had cost you £50000 whilst living in a caravan for a year or so.  IB plus £7500 and you can just about live. Then maybe a little gite or two, or a B n B undeclared.

Warn the notaire immediately and see what he says and also involve the property agency if there is one. Emphasize that you consider that this has been deliberately hidden. Perhaps be prpeared to deduct the cost of the repairs or whatever from the cost of the property.

Patricia, nobody has ever said that many people do not deserve the IB and probably more, but it has been devalued by politicians using it to massage the unemployment figures and by the admitted huge numbers of idle scroungers who are taking advantage of it. In my experience which is limited admittedly, numbers of people who have stress from, say, teaching, are quiter able to run  gite businesses or succesful market stalls. So one asks why they need the IB too.  

Whoever said the English can read?

Point ten: happiness is very often grumpiness.

[quote user="Cerise"]Wooly - I know we need their money but, as OH points out, they are paying to stay here, not buying US.[/quote] Ah Cerise, would it were so. There is an attitude I am afraid which I experienced somewhat when selling my last home which says that "if we are paying you for something, be it a home or a gite holiday or whatever, you are there to serve us and we may behave as we please, and you should be grateful because either you need our dosh or because you live in Paradise and we live in Whereever." I used to think the kids were the worst, but I realised after a bit it is the parents mainly.  

she will, she is very nice. she has given my vegetable tarts a new lease of life I tell you

5th Elephant may have a special secret recipe though

They pay, you serve.

5th elephant may be alseep already so here is http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Baba-Ghanoush-2/Detail.aspx

DOZY TROLLOPE INDEED. And who took you in and sorted your keyboard when 'er indoors had had enough of you offshore excuses. 'It was a storm darling and there was nowhere else' 'she offered me succour when the powerlines were down', 'trains were on strike and planes were grounded and hotels were full...' . Huh Mister Ernie, unplug your keyboard and give it a good showering. Next time you got a virus on your harddisc, dont come to me for anything because there will be a sharp reboot in your motherboard.[6] And it is a corrugated iron roof you have!

Ooooooh Ernie you are so masterful. I'll strip it all off and go in the shower and see what happens. Should I leave it connected to the computer though? The cable is a bit short so should I take the computer in the shower too?

Hello, tonight I am Randy. Last night my brother, not the one we keep locked in chains, but the other who currently sleeps outside with the dogs, managed to spill wine or something horrible over my keyboard whilst I was out ministering to an elderly neighbour in need of relief. (He also libelled me beyond belief but I can deal with him). Should I just leave the keyboard to dry out or flush it out with water or acetone or something like meths? It  has behaved strangely today. Help please you technical and so clever guys. I'll be ever so grateful! Regards, Randy

There is an excellent recipe for rat in my naval recipe book. I wonder if aubergine would add a particular flavour? Better than ship's biscuit perhaps?

lack of water?

But it is a team race, so he does his best for his team and if he cant do the mountains would be of no use, so it is quite right he should drop out when he has done his bit

whatever, she got is about right I think.

Well, she found out quite a bit later and just hit me very, very hard in a bad place. It is OK, she is out somewhere helping with bloke who cant sort his house. You know, putting up walls, roofing etc. They have arc lights to work by night. That is what she says but frankly I think she is lying. probably pissed and being ****** knowing her. I really hope we dont have to warn this one off. Last bloke was quitye insistent until I whispered in his ear that she had a STD. That got rid of him. Well, who is going to look after us if she gets hitched?

Registrar of births marriages and deaths?

Nah, true, I knew a lovely little librarian once, but dont for Frith's sake tell Randy as it was her best friend.