odile

Between Northampton and Leicester - typical Georgian market town surrounded by rolling hills. Our flat is on the second floor so hopefully it won't be flooded! Do you know which Estate agent Dog?

Thanks for your honest answer Chris and for dispelling myths. If ever I have some here, I will write to tell you and do ... nothing else. As far as the barn owl story - it is hard to believe such people still exist. Shame and more shame - thank Goodness you took them under your wing (it must have kept them warm and secure).

sorry for going off topic, but I have to respond to Quillan. I love the Jura, perhaps because I was born and bred here. Rousseau lived for some years nearby and waxed lyrical about the place. Gide wrote a novel based in La Brevine (La symphonie Pastorale - about a vicar with a dour wife, who falls in love with an adopted protegée) also nearby, which is also called little Syberia and where the winters are VERY cold - lanscape like a tundra with peat bogs and miniature trees and a lovely Lake used as a skating rink and windskating, dotted with old Neuchatel farmhouses (like ours, an old vicarage, date 1587). I would say 5 months of winter, 3 of which absolutely glorious, dry and oh so luminous- I just love it. Spring is short and Summer and heat come quickly - perfect for me in the 20Cs - can't stand the sort of heat above 28 where you have to hide most of the day. And autumns absolutely glorious, à la New England. We moved there 3 weeks ago - very happy - no drought, no floods and a lot less wind then the South of France, that's for sure. But the winter bise (east wind) can bite your head off. Oh, and VERY few Brits!

we have witnessed many a time French cars in the early hours going from one side of the road until it hit the other, and again! And of course no way of overtaking!

LOL - we stayed in a cottage in Islip another time nearby which was lovely- but as we have just moved can't lay my hands on details! make sure to go to the Slaughters whilst there - and don't get carried away in antique shops!

I am surprised Chris didn't explain the legal position, as the LPO is the organisation ot contact in cases of breach of the law. It is strictly illegal to destroy swallows nests in France - with 9000E and 6 months imprisonment penalty for breaking the law. (Decret du 10 juillet 76 + modification du 17 avril 81 - see LPO website) So a tarp would be a lot cheaper! It is estimated that a loss of around 40% has taken place during past decade - the destruction of nests and habitat (+pesticides) being the major causes.

do they deliver all over France? I live about 600k from Calais!

Chris what would YOU HONESTLY do if you had doormice in your walls/roof etc. I personally would hate to hurt them, but would have to get advice to protect electrics. Hope I never have to make a decision myself. Thanks.

Just French googled it   - see   http://actualite.acheter-piscine.com 3rd news item 01-04-2009       so seems it it true. Ooops now - it seems it was a 'poisson d'avril'?!!

Apparently the Minister for Ecology passed a decree on 29.03.09 - but it has not been made public yet- but was leaked (sorry!). the source is from another (new) Forum- I cannot guarantee its accuracy, sorry.

our next door neighbour has his own well - we have a huge (ex parish/sitting 40-45) entertaining room + kitchen at back of house which they want to rent for several parties - so we have agreed to swap. Pheeeww!

Just heard that a new decree will soon forbid the filling of pools, both above and in ground, due to forecast drought. So maybe building one is a definite nono.

PLENTY of water in the Jura - yet  CHF6 per m3! Arghhhh.

moved 3 weeks ago from UK - insurance, plates and registration all done for reason given above. Just not worth the risk.

not changed much|, I am glad to say. My last stay was at the YHA right in the centre - not really recommended for a holiday though!

[quote user="WJT"]Careful, these things quickly cause a house to lose value. [:)][/quote] Agreed - mammalian memorabilia really does put me off! Each to their own, as they say.

ah - poor Sweet. Just come back from 'a pair of teeth' and feel rather ... mellow!

ahahahahaha! LOL. France has so many parties to 'play with'  and people to discuss them ad infernitum!

Thanks all - in the Jura with water at 6chf per cubic metre - it is a total no-no! fortunately we have plenty of clean lakes to swim in - so for this Summer (and a long time to wait until they get to 18C+!) - I will be donning flippers and swim for miles (hm sorry, kms) in local lakes, before deciding what to do. Enjoy yours xx Odile

what do you think?

WIMP

I wonder about local hotels - perhaps if you stayed for 1 night they might let you leave the car for a fee, or free? We usually stay at the Kyriad Plage - they have a carpark at the back of the hotel. We usually stay there because they accept dogs - if you do ask for a romm on groundfloor with access to the rear car park. How about asking on the Nord?Pas de Calais section below in case any posters can offer a place on their property?

yes we have those here too - apparently as said above they are natural hybrids. Sunny tonight - the forest across the valley is bathed in late sunlight - snow all gone!

Le nouveau régime pour les ex-pats déçus  =  du vin et des brownies! Allez, pas de désespoir - ici il a neigé tout l'après-midi - mais le soleil brille sur la foret en face e nous ce soir. L'été reviendra tout bientot. Nous aussi on a fait un grand feu dans notre nouveau poele Hase avec pierre ollaire - très cosy.

have you read it Quillan?