Joffan

Most artisans, electricians and plumbers charge around 35 euros per hour, if they are working legally they need at least this much to break even and perhaps turn a small profit.

Well said Nick the only winner when it goes to court are the officials.

Hi Rose Have you tried www.holiday66.com They have a selection of about 17 lovely well priced Gites in department 66 most of them within the 30 minutes from Perpignan you asked for. Good Luck

GAZPACHO - Preparation 15 minutes, Chilling at least 1 hour in the fridge. INGREDIENTS - 500g Ripe tomatoes, skinned and seeded. 1 Green pepper coarsely chopped. 1 Cucumber chopped. 1 Onion chopped. 1 Clove garlic crushed. 4 Tbsp olive oil. 200ml Tomato juice. 1 Slice wholemeal bread crumbled. Salt and pepper to taste. Ice cubes. METHOD - Blend all ingredients together (add a little water if necessary)and chill. Serve really cold with an ice cube in the centre and garnishes in little bowls on the table for everyone to help themselves as required. Eat with plenty fresh bread. GARNISHES Selection of 4 or 5 garnishes all finely chopped, boiled egg, red/green/yellow pepper, cucumber, celery, black/green olives, croutons. ENJOY!!

When we moved here 8 years ago it was to follow a dream of living in a beautiful region, lots of good weather and living the French way. Like you we have 2 children with us in France (aged 9 and 6 at the time we arrived). We hardly had any money GBP20,000. No job. Very little French. I wouldn't recommend it but we are still here with a small business, the children are totally integrated and we still wouldn't want to live in the UK again. If it is your dream and you are prepared to be flexible and work hard - go for it - the least that can happen is that the children will become bilingual and you will have had an adventure.

It depends on where you are planning to put it.  We have our horizontal boiler under lower part of the stairs.  We installed it 8 years ago and have never had a problem. Joffan

If you do take wine to a French dinner party it will probably be put to one side and not used.  The host will have carefully chosen the correct wines to go with each course.  I usually take flowers or a plant, once a French couple brought us a fresh pineapple.  There are no hard and fast rules.

Thanks Clair and Andy - just what I was looking for Joffan

Does anyone know the name of a French Train enthusiast magazine? Joffan

Does it have to be Marakesh or just Morocco? In October this year we stayed in a newly renovated house right in the centre of the hustle and bustle of Fes (Fez) medina. The Guest House "Dar Houdou" has 3 comfortable rooms which have been sympathetically restored. It is clean and well looked after by the friendly staff. Only about 50 euros per night for a double room. www.propertiesinfesmedina.com www.fez-riads.com/dar_houdou

Hi Sweet 17 That wouldn't have been too bad, then my friend could have let them go. She just let them die of starvation - poor things. Don't get me wrong I can't stand mice in the house but I wouldn't want to harm them. Joffan

This thread reminds me of my friend who bought a humane mouse catcher. He caught several mice and took each of them off to the country and let them free. When he went on holiday is parents looked after the house, on his return his mother remarked that she thought the mouse catcher was cruel - "just leaving the poor things to starve like that". !!!!

It is not unusual to be asked for the long version of your birth certificate for other things in France so it would be a good idea just to get one. Then take copies.

Our experience of New Years eve with a French families is lots of courses of very fine foods, wines and champagne. Starting late evening and going on until 4 or 5 in the morning. Extensive aperos. Oysters - always on the menu - last year we had 2 courses of oysters - one cooked and the other raw! Fish or shellfish - gambas or smoked salmon or scallops etc. Main - Sanglier or duck or beef etc. Excellent cheeses Variety of desserts Coffee Interspersed with refreshing sorbets and amuse bouche. The supermarkets do packages of menus for new year but I've not tried them - they do give you an idea of what to cook though. Or your local traiteur could help but they are usually booked up very early. Good Luck

Best Nut Roast ever!! This is my veggie husband's Christmas Dinner instead of Turkey - I have to make extra because everyone else loves it too. Cashew and Parsnip Nut Roast It's from Sarah Brown's Vegetarian kitchen. 1 tbs oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves of garlic, crushed 8ozs cashew nuts 4ozs breadcrumbs 1 egg 3 medium parsnips, cooked and mashed with a little butter 1 teas fresh rosemary or half a teaspoon dried 1 teas fresh thyme or half a teas dried 1 teas yeast extract quarter pint hot water or stock salt and freshly ground black pepper 1oz butter 8ozs mushrooms, chopped butter for greasing tin Preheat oven to 350F Heat the oil and fry the onion and garlic until soft. Grind the cashew nuts, then mix with the breadcrumbs. Beat the egg and add it to the dry ingredients, then mix in the mashed parsnips and herbs. Add the fried onion, being sure to scrape the pan so that all the juices go in as nut roasts can sometimes be a bit dry Dissolve the yeast extract in hot water or stock and add to the other ingredients. Season well. Melt the butter in the frying pan and sauté the chopped mushrooms until soft. Grease a 2lb loaf tin with butter, then press in half the nut mixture. Cover with a layer of mushrooms and top with the rest of the nut mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. When cooked, remove the loaf from the oven and let it stand for 10 minutes before turning it out. Serve hot or cold.