odile

the neighbour who adopted Silkie always said he couldn't stand cats - so said our ex next door neighbour - but she has got them completely round her little tail and whiskers.

Are you Samson222. Did you e-mail the person who wants a cat on TF?

arghhhhhh - she has just brought tears to my eyes. She looks just like our Silky - who couldn't stand our frequent departures last year (my friend Georgia came to feed and cuddle her x2 per day) and moved in with neighbours - then decided to stay there. We had loved her so much for 8 years - but she is very happy there. Her mum, Pudding, has moved with us to the Jura and loves being top cat- or the only cat. Give her a good cuddle from mexx

so sorry to hear some of you are going through a very tough time. My thoughts are with you. Bonne chance. I am not sure if this will make you feel better - but here in Switzerland there would be no ambulance transport or reimbursement at all, for what would be seen as 'routine' treatment. My neighbour is 80 years old and had to travel every day for weeks to the hospital 30km away on small country roads- his wife doesn't drive - so afger chemo, he would drive back. Bless him - he is doing very well now and full of beans and good spirits (hmm and partial to a good single Malt, hence regular visits here).

... make sure everybody showers before entering the pool. So simple. innit!

LOL - absolutely fantastic .... how did you remember this bit just in time?  Clever u  xx

Well done you - and so happy to hear you have all recovered well, without any real damage. Bravo. Sweet17 - as you are British I would say that you gave all the lovely Megeve people British Swine Flu! (many of them are really snobby - but still, they didn't deserve THAT). So glad you are on the mend too - take it easy. xxxxxx

BRAVO VAL -  so glad Monsanto won't be getting your money -  and you will have a wonderful veggie patch full of healthy veg soon.

HURRY - somebody on    totalfrance.com    is looking for a cat right now . Perhaps they will agree to take 2. Hope mods will excuse giving mentioning other site here. Bonne chance.

Hope they will all survive. I have brought over from UK an 8ft oak tree and planted it here in the Jura at 950m - it is loving it so far- but our winters can be very hard, down to -30C- so the future is very unsure for that lovely tree. What is the best way to protect it this winter?

oh golly, Mme Poivre - I am thinking of you. Been through the mill and back again a few times lately - so I know how it feels. Our little granddaughter Cara was born on 9th - and we were there to help out - and seeing her and looking after our little grandson (3) - was wonderful. I am sure it will help you too. Good advice from RH though - make sure you deal with that abcess - perhaps you doctor/dentist will prescribe antibiotics first? Lots of TLC and xx     Odile

A con person, or une personne con?    Or both ?    Sincerely hope you are OK Frenchie. xx

Sorry - I do not know the answer. But blackbirds singing at dawn is the ONE thing I miss since we moved here to the Jura. Our UK garden was full of blackbirds and thrushes - and waking up to their song was wonderful. Enjoy.

Spelling correctly has little to do with this very serious subject, surely! Personally I would NEVER kill weeds on a veg plot with a weedkiller - then eat the veg! I have decided to take the slow and easy option. As advised above, I have covered the whole area with 1 tarp, cardboard then another tarp held down with old tiles, as soon as snow melted - then put lawn cuttings on top on regular basis to 'cook' the lot. I will then dig over in the autumn and be ready to plant in SAFE soil next Spring. In the meantime gathering and stock piling all the horse manure I can lay my peasant hands on!

as I have said above, Tesco workers were initially told they would have the choice - but after a couple of years this choice has been withdrawn. Once something becomes 'the norm' then choice goes. Doctors, nurses and police, etc, have to work round the clock due to the nature of the job - shopping is very different.

I am neither old, nor young - just at my peak       for the record born 1951 - but is this relevant to the subject?

if you want to read about 'my' area pre your visit here next Spring - read Gide's 'La symphonie Pastorale' (about a vicar who falls in love with an adopted orphan).

JUNIOR - moi?  Oh Thank you - made my day.  LOL xx

in Marseille in the 60s it was very probably immigrants - just different ones. I don't think desperation is an excuse, but perhaps -  an explanation. I heard last week that men hunting trips are illegally organised to take groups by boat to Somalia, lie in wait until attacked- then shoot. Pirating is a terrible business, that rises out of desperation. Going out to kill them is however 1000000000000000000000000000 times worse in my book. I felt sick when I was told by my SIL. it seems those 'cruises' are organised by Russian operators, who also loan weapons and ammunition, and guarantee at least 2 atttacks. It might solve the pirate problem - but it is sick, if true.

but they might be absolutely desperate?

whereas    'hopping mad' = absolument furieux

can't open the link.     Frenchie 'barking mad' is used as a quantifier + adjective    =  very/extremely mad. Example : my mother-in-law is very excentric! In fact she is barking mad- always going shopping in her pink fur coat and Wellington boots outfit.

drinkypoos did make me cringe too - but slapping her?

we always say to friends that they are welcome on a 1 in 3 basis - 1 night we cook, 2nd night they do, 3rd we go out! But of course we will adjust depending on situation - a friend who has lost his job came over last year and we did adjust the rules - although he and his wife cooked a fair bit. And we have financially challenged friends + kids coming in October- I know they will help with cooking, etc - but we will not let them pick tabs of course.

yes, in principle I agree. but there is a 'nuance' though, in as much as halal killing is not about sport or having fun, like a Corrida or bullrun.