odile

It is a fact that the Troc we visited is in an area where there are practically no Brits - and therefore  a lack purchasers for more expensive 'quality items'. I always visit charity shops when visiting Weybridge in Surrey! A big difference to what is found in central Leicester!

Génial! LOL - il faut que je m'en souvienne pour ma prochaine visite! Une autre vraie anecdote. Dans un hopital Suisse en 1970, où j'ai passé plus de 6 mois à la suite d'un grave accident de voiture. Les infirmières étaient des Soeurs d'un ordre protestant, les Soeurs de Saint Loup. Je partageais ma chambre avec une jeune Espagnole, Maria, qui s'était cassé la colonne vertébrale à 2 endroits, les 2 tibias et les deux chevilles (tristement en sautant du balcon du 2eme pour une histoire d'amour!) - Maria était dans un platre de la nuque aux hanches, et 2 platres du genou aux pieds, la pauvre. Un matin Soeur Renée arrive et lui demande 'Alors Maria, ètes-vous allée à selles ce matin?.'  Maria l'a regardée avec ses gros yeux noirs, et lui a répondu 'mais Soeur Renée, comment je peux faire du cheval dans un état pareil'.  Alors peut etre que 'faire caca', c'est plus simple à dire et à comprendre!

Of course you have to be cautious. The pewter jug I bought is properly stamped and a very good weight - but mainly a beautiful graceful shape. At £7.00 I really think I got a great bargain - whatever the date or provenance. Love it.

I really do envy those of you parents who are both bi-lingual and are able to bring up your children bi-lingually. In my case, as a French speaker in the UK with a husband who did not speak French - I had to make a choice. Having chosen and decided to live in UK I felt English had to have priority - and disagreed with other French women in the same situation who brought up their children speaking French only in the UK. 20 years later I still feel the same. Of course my English wasn't perfect and I did have a slighlty non standard accent, but my girls never picked up either - and both became bilingual later- although both have an English accent in French.

Comme on dit en Suisse  Bonne Fete  Clair 50 ans c'est pas si grave! Faut pas en faire une maladie !

Just found a fantastic shop near us in the Swiss Jura. A real Alladins cave of antiques and all sort of bric-a-brac. It is called   troc.com It is a huge warehouse where people can take all sort of stuff to sell - a price is agreed with the shop owners who then take 39% (steep!) of the sale price. I just couldn't believe the prices. I bought the most delightful large pewter water jug for CHFR12 (around £7), a beautiful large pewter bonbonniere for around £10, and a huge antique pewter jug with lid (channe) for £15. And then the pice de resistance, a huge copper poissoniere with steam insert and pewter handles for £40. I was dragged away from the shop kicking and screaming by OH - but both very happy and will go back soon!

Chris I suggested he asked for info from the LPO - not for action. Could you please give any links etc, so we can see what the legal situation is - so it can be quoted to get support. Merci.

What a shame. In the UK farmers and councils have really made huge progress re. pruning hedges in winter. Look up the LPO website for info and send them a message. How do you get on with the Maire? Would you be able to talk to him and try to get him on the birds side? Sincerely Bonne chance.

i don't thinks so. Both are fine. The imperative with -ez meaning 'do this' - whereas the infinitive with -er would mean 'this is what you do'.

It just depends on the owner and their reasons/desperation to sell. It has been on the market for a long time - so what is the story? Do they have a house to go to, a dream, debts, bridging loan, etc, etc? We bought our last 2 houses in the UK much below the market price by working these questions right and preparing well. And we sold much below market price because we were ready and committed to go. We are all different ... horses for courses and all that.

Et santé  à toi aussi Paw - une `Paw' avec des ongles cassés - bravo pour ton travail. Chessfou je m'excuse de ne pas avoir mentionné les boys! toute triste de savoir que tu as des problèmes de santé - j'espère sincérement que tu seras bientot de nouveau en pleine forme. Bonne chance - Ici, temps mitigé, mi figue, mi raisin (une drole d'expression) - mais la campagne est magnifique. Sweet - j'espère que ton pain ne t'a pas donné trop de fils à retordre (une autre expression rigolote). A bientot.

Où ètes-vous les girls?

I have to say that whenever we drive through Picardie we always wonder why people love it. Flat, huge arable fields - it just doesn't 'do it' for us - but each to their own, hey Woolie. Mind you he is just as rude about my beloved Jura!

why what?

Have you met the family? You need to suss out if they are really keen to sell, and indeed if they have to? We accepted 23% less for a quick sale. Show them the exchange rates and all the figures in black and white - and tell them you really love the house but you can't go above 'xyxE', and see the reaction. It isn't as though they have a queue waiting, so what are you risking?

your comment quoted by Big Mac on 03.05.  As I  have been away for some time, only just noticed it and thought it was unnecessary - so replied in jest.

alors on chatte plus ici? Revenus hier soir - l'Angleterre était de toute beauté - la campagne, les jardins - merveilleux. Notre appart. dans une petite (market) ville de East Midlands est très joli et bien organisé maintenant - calme et à 1 minute du centre. Parfait. bons petits restos et pubs - marché et boutiques sympas. On se réjouit d'y retourner regulièrement. De retour dans le Jura, le printemps est magnifique - mes tulipes et narcisses en fleur et je vais bientot m'attaquer a préparer le jardin potager. Youpiiee. J'espère que vous allez toutes (+tous) bien - envoyez des nouvelles. Bisous   Odile

Pwel - pwal - regional - both used!

Just returned from 10 days in East Mids. The countryside, gardens, etc, were just stunning. No trafiic, no crowds, everybody polite, friendly, helpful- just so beautiful. And I kept thinking, where is this overcrowded, nasty, ugly Blighty so many Forum people write about? Everyday, as I drove and walked through miles and miles of pristine rolling views, lambs playing Kind of the Castle, lovely villages, brick, granit, ironstone, thatched or Collyweston/Swithland slate - canals + colourful boats, great pubs, good food, +++++ Stunning and quintessential England in May. Arghhhhhh

How people have the time to look at how many forums people comment on - I don't know!

will I die - I am travelling today by Swiss trains and EasyJet?

Bon appetit. I really hope you find a good sharing strategy, both in veggies and knowledge + friendship with one local = possible friendships with lots of locals. A positive attitude to your neighbours enterprise could be the key to a happy life (that awful word.integration!). Tell us how you get on - would love to know how the story ends (happily I hope/.

Alors elle ne te manque pas beaucoup Woolie. La pauvre dame, je suis sure qu'elle est charmante...

Are your cats microchipped. If so there are cat flaps that can be programmed to only open to the specific chips.

Personally I think it would be great if you could get to know the gardener and  be friendly. Say you admire her/his efforts - but then explain you will soon be coming to live there permanently and always had plant to start a veg/fruit garden - and sadly will have to ask him/her to let you take over. If you can avoid confrontation, wouldn't it be fantastic - and lay good foundations for local friendship. Maybe the place is big enough to let him/her keep a bit of garden - perhaps in exchange foe help with French, or gardening, or pet sitting, whatever. Bonne chance