connolls

Hi, IKEA freestanding looks great in our kithcen. And a hell of a lot cheaper than others we looked at, and the quality and service has been great. Good luck. Mel.

Hi smudge, We have just returned from a trip to the Aude region of france. Much more accessible for all the places you want to visit. ( Toulouse, Carcassonne, Foix, Narbonne, Limoux. Did you mean the Aude or the Aube region? As Brianagain said you will be a good few hundred kilometres from these places in the Aube region. We stayed in a little place called Alet les Bains in the Aude. Beautiful little spa village very close to all the places you describe. And only 20 km into the pyrenees. Anyway whichever region you go to I'm sure will be really nice. Bon Voyage. Mel.

Or you could just buy it from the supermarket ?? (LOL). Mel.

Hi, Same here tawney owl. Done the trip tons of times, never heard of the "address form", for fear of repeating what Fay has said.................take a breather, relax and just follow the advice. In your previous post you have it all figured out. Go to your local vet, travel as you have planned with the pet passport and you should have no problems. If you are still concerned get back to us but you should be fine with the correct advice you've been given. Best wishes, Mel.

YES, YES ,YES. Bon voyage. Best wishes Mel.

Hi Tawney owl, For fear of going over what others have said are you sure you've got to grips with the importance of the 24-48 hour rules ?? Don't forget that you will have to have the dogs tic and flea treatment and the passport completed by the vet 24 hours before you travel so if you are relying on a port vet then you will have to have an appointment before 5am the previous day (thats presuming you will have to be checked in at the port by 5am on your day of travel) timing could be an issue !!! i'm a bit worried that you may have missed the "timing point" that many have made. Please forgive me if I'm going on a bit but I'd hate you to miss the crossing because of the dogs passport not being correct. best wishes Mel.

Hi all, Just wanted to do a quick post to say that if anyone is interested in local french history we had a fabulous afternoon out in a small village, Montrol Senard (near Mortmart 87). The village is a "living museum" "Nostalgie Rurale" where you can visit maintained and restored village properties from the 1800's, what a fab afternoon, The village is very pretty in itself but the main attraction is all the properties you get to go into, ranging from the old school house to cottages and barns and forges etc. We loved it. You just go to the old school house to pick up a tour leaflet and off you go, what amazed us was that it was all free !!! (Altough you can contibute in a box in the old school house, which we did) Well recommend a visit. Mel.

Hi, Glad you are sorted out with the vet. Regarding the Tic situation, we are in the same boat, (as I suspect everyone else is that lives in a rural or semi-rural situation). We let our dog off the lead in the area's around us and have had little problems with Tics, we use Frontline on a regular basis. We are vigilant when we get home and pick off any Tics before they get hold just by brushing him down outside (and drowning them in a cup of water !!) If we do find any that are embedded we use the O'TOM Tic remover (bought from the local pet store.) It works really well. We choose to get our local vet (in the Limousin) to do the Tic and Flea treatment before we travel to Boulogne and tie it in with our ferry travel plans, it's just a matter of geting the timing right so that you are in the 24-48 hour rules. Hope that's useful. Bon Voyage. Mel.

Hi, As long as you have all the current stipulations in place, ie valid rabies jab (6 months since validation), usual dog innoculations, micro-chipped, flea and tic treatment from your french vet (no less than 24 and no more than 48 hours before travelling) and your pet passport all stamped by the vet before you travel there should be no problems. We travel regularly with the dog on the ferries and euro-tunnel and have had no problems whatsoever. If you need any more info have a look at the Defra web-site Re; pet passport scheme they have all the details on there. Safe journey. Mel.

Hi, Just wanted to know if Mambo is doing ok and has he been found a home ?? Thanks Mel.

Hi, Yep, same answer here, we had ours changed over to a bigger ampage by EDF, they said no rquirement to get any further inspection. Regards Mel.

Hi, Just to say as the original poster that I took the advice given (and gratefully received). Went on the hunt for Pre-winter bargains and got what I thought was a very well priced "poele a petrole" from Casteroma on sale at 189 euro's. Got all the fancy stuff people suggested from the "new type" e.g 24 hour timer, thermostat control, safety device, etc etc etc. Had to have a litttle try (despite the lovely weather) and it's "BRILL" Here's to some cosy nights in !!!!! Thanks Mel.

Wow, That was quick............thanks so much for the info. Will start to have a look around, especially with a little "nip" in the air this morning !! Mel.

Hello everyone, Not sure if this is the right place to post but couldn't think of another forum. We want to buy a couple of "instant heaters" as we only have the log burner at present (until the central heating is sorted out). We are contemplating either gas bottle type (Radiateur catalyse gaz) or one of the Poele a Petrole type. Has anyone got either, and what do you think of them, for ease of use , economy, smell, etc,etc. ??? If anyone has any thoughts or info we would really appreciate the recomendations. Thanks Mel.

GOT IT, DONE IT, WORKS A TREAT !!!!!! Thanks. Mel.

Go Callie............ If you've got the petrol, i've got the matches if necessary !!!!!!! EVIL LITTLE *^"*"^*'S Mel.

Thanks Teapot & Sundaydriver, I will be off to the shops today...............will let you know I get on with fixing it up !! Mel.

Good morning, I hope this is not a stupid question ???? I'd like to move my T.V. and with that goes the satellite cable.....i've not got enough co-axial cable to reach where i want to in the room. I know that RG6 cable and connecters are available to do this in the UK (only because i typed satellite "stuff" in google, i've no technical skills in this area !!!) but are they called the same thing in France??? (i.e RG6 co-axial) I only want about 4 metres extra and the connecter. So the question basically after all this waffle is what's it all called in France ??? Any information welcome. Thanks Mel.

Hi, Just wanted to let anyone know that if you're local to this area the racing days at Le Dorat Hippodrome are really worth a half day out. (they don't do many a year for some reason June/July/August). Not a horse or a cart racing fan at all really, but a really enjoyable afternoon........picnic,wine, a few little bets........more picnic,wine etc all for the entry fee of 6 euro. Well recommend it ! Mel.

Hi, just thought I'd post this info about France now recognising UK Civil Partnerships in terms of inheritance laws etc. since june this year. Certainly takes some of the headache away for us if anything happens to one of us. It appears there are "finer details" to be posted but it bodes well. Regards Mel. http://www.samesexconflicts.com/blog/2009/1/9/france-not-recognizing-uk-civil-partnerships.html http://searchwarp.com/swa515176-Civil-Partnerships-In-France.htm

Hi Guerriere, Thanks for the reply, and i appreciate that's it's now the august holidays but this has been going on since the end of june !! Thinking about re-training as a carpenter !! Best wishes Mel.

Hi again, I wonder if someone can help ??? Been searching for a carpenter that can fit a new front door for us..............you'd think this would be easy !!! Been on all sorts of artisans sites, anglo info included and been in touch with quite a few. We had carpenters come around to measure up and give quotes. Sorted......or so we thought. Not one of them has been back to us, despite saying it's the "perfect job for me". Don't know if this is allowed but if so can anyone PM me with the name of a good, reliable carpenter that actually wants to do a job. We are in Haute Vienne (87) Near Bellac. Thanks for any help with this.....in anticipation. Best wishes Mel.

Hi bobster, Good luck with the plan..............no help to you whatsoever, but can you do carpentry as well ????? Can't find a carpenter in my region, limousin (87) who will give a quote and then reliably get back to me with a yes or no..............thought it was a tough world out there at the minute, don't people want work ????? P.S. May need a plumber in the near future !!!! Best wishes Mel.

Hi, Thanks for the replies, get what you mean leo about the UK prices at the moment..............hopefully some good cheap pub lunches out then, and of course a decent fried shredded chicken with chilli and garlic (can't find this in france). Washed down with a couple of pints of magners pear cider................feel like i'm on my holidays !!! Cheers. Mel.

Hi all, Nipping back to the uk for a weeks holiday. Any suggestions about getting the best pound for my euro ? Thanks Mel