buelligan

You may have a point Frenchie, as they say in Britain; "...one man's meat is another man's poison...".  I am just glad that a significant number of humans are able to open their minds and hearts to accept the culture and taste of other nations.  Their lives are all the richer for it I am sure.  [:D]

Would it be provocative of me to assert that most of the best home cooked food I have eaten in France was cooked by a Dutch person?  Oddly enough, I was invited to eat there last night and we were all discussing the idea that French food is superior to that of other nations.  The people around the table came from a good selection of european countries (including France of course).  All of us could remember truly delicious meals cooked in France, but all of us agreed that, in general, French food is not superior to that of other countries.  Actually, I think I find the idea that any country's food, design, music, art etc is somehow "better" than that of another slightly offensive....hope I didn't offend anyone there....[:D]

I had a little google and came up with this http://www.fabulousfoods.com/recipes/article/15/17604 , hope it helps!  I used to have a recipe (Delia's Summer Collection I think), for pickled cucumber and onions (slices of cucumber and onion in a sweetish vinegar).  It really was fantastic!  Unfortunately, I have lent the book (and it's never been returned), I have tried googling for the recipe - to no avail.  Does anyone have a copy (and would they be willing to post the recipe here)?  I would love to taste that delicious stuff again..![:D]

Thank you so much for the advice parsnips!  I shall pass it on.[:)]

I have a French friend in my village who moved here several years ago with her two children (now 15 and 9).  She married a divorcee here and they set up home in his house.  He pays his previous partner (who also has a house in the village) money each month to support their two children (17 and 9).  These children live with their mother half the week and with my friend and her husband the rest of the time.  Last year he needed an operation and lost his job.  During this period they could not pay his ex and a debt arose.  He is working again now but even with both their wages, they cannot keep up the payments, run their home, support my friend's children and repay the debt.  His ex is now insisting that they sell their home to pay her.  My friend is under the impression that she (and her children) have no rights to their home.  She believes that the house belongs solely to her husband (even though they have been married and living there as a family for some years).  Is she correct?  Under French law can she and her children be forced out of their home like this?  

Sadly, no buelling for me in the foreseeable [:(], the twin constraints; endless diy and other house-type jobs (my home is rather lacking in comfort at the moment) and my consequent impoverished and exhausted state have rendered that little joy out of bounds to me.  The poor little beast has been left languishing (along with another vtwin), waiting for better times...[:(] I do envy your trip to Italy!  Where did you go?  BTW, is it permitted here to discuss riding on a thread about jam?[:D]

Ouch! 

Mmmm Kiwi Jam - great idea!  I shall make some this week.  I have a feeling that kiwis would also make a superb pickle, maybe with some sweet onion, nigella seeds etc.  Do you have a cherry pitter Dog?  I wished for one a couple of weeks ago and promptly found a lovely old one for 2 euro in a local vide grenier.  I was delighted and now cannot get enough cherries to satisfy my pitting urge![:D]

Poor you!  As far as I know all of the euphorbias can cause unpleasant reactions and they are best treated with caution.  Another plant which can cause a similar problem is Giant Hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_Hogweed   

What a shame!  But don't be downhearted DR, you could be growing tomatoes in the UK![:D]

Dragonrouge, I grow honeysuckles on horizontal wires, spaced at about 70cms and secured to the walls with smallish metal eyelets - they seem to approve.  [:D] May I suggest a Trachelospermum jasminoides as a suitable (indeed, superior [;-)],) replacment for the Halliana Hakunamatata?  I have grown several of these in large pots over the years, both in UK and France and they have always been delightful.  I am sure you will be able to find a good specimen of this beautiful, scented, evengreen climber in your local Jardiland. [:D]

My tomatoes are doing fairly well.  I have Roma, cerise, Cornue des Andes and Noire de Crimee.  All are fine at the moment but..as I had blight last year and am organic..even though I rotate my plantings I am a little worried.  Still, only time will tell and it is so pleasant to watch and wait.  I have just turned the last of my strawberries into jam, my courgettes and melons are making a fine start - life is good.  I should love to get my hands on some Tigrella seeds for next year.  They do not seem to be available here, where did you find yours please?

I know very little about winter pansies but I had a little google and found this; http://www.bbc.co.uk/herefordandworcester/content/articles/2005/07/19/gardening_diary_week29_feature.shtml  Hope you find it useful.[:)]

Thanks for all the info!  I have tried the Soya Sun burgers and they are quite nice but I really do prefer Quorn! Still, I suppose a Quorn-free life is a small price to pay for all of the other huge delights offered by this wonderful country! [:D]

I would like to find a supermarche (or other outlet) in France (Aude) that sells Quorn.  I have searched in Le Clerc, Giant and SuperU with no success.  Does anyone know of a stockist please..?[:D]

Thanks for the advice!  I now feel confident enough to move forward on this.  With regard to the tiling over tiles thing, I have always removed old tiles in the past.  However, here, their removal would do more harm than good and as I have so many other projects to complete, I thought it might be best all round to take the "shorter route".  Thanks again to you all for taking the time to help.  Debs [:D]

...mm...very interesting reading...at the risk of being accused of hi-jacking this thread, I wonder if it would be possible to help me with some PVA related questions I have;  at the moment I have two diy projects that (may) involve the use of PVA.  I intend to re-tile a shower (and surrounding area). Rather than spend days removing all the original (modern, glossy) tiles, I was hoping to tile over them.  I was told that the old tiles should be scratched up and primed with a PVA/sand primer to give a good surface for the new tiles to bond to.  Is this correct?  I am also putting down some self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles on to an exterior ply sub-floor.  Should I prime the floor with dilute PVA?  Finally, and most importantly, what is PVA known as here in lovely France please?  Any help/advice would be most welcome!

"...No I am a member of no club or association - what goes on in the Famous Five and Secret Seven?  I do so hope it's not Masonic..." ...said Dog rather firmly.  "Absolutely not old chum!" they all laughed.  "Thanks for sharing that tale about your jolly friend!  Sounds just the sort of scrape I like to get into.." said Buelligan, "...now let's hurry back to Auntie's for a slap-up supper and lashings of ginger beer.  I think she'll be very pleased with the lovely JAs we managed to collect...[:D]

...I have a 1200Firebolt.  I wonder what an Ami was doing in the woods?  Anyway, looks like the cheese mongers really will be "blessed" in this instance..[:D]  I am quite keen on wild garlic (Ramsons).  Haven't found it growing here (I suspect it is too warm and dry).  Might look for them in the Montagne Noir (not too far away), the climate is much more northern european there.   Have you been into the railway tunnel?  When I was in my teens I used to look for these on maps, then go (if they were near enough) and walk through.  Really used to enjoy it...[:)] 

...I enjoy going to garden shows and small independent nurseries very much.  Was a keen plant-luster in the UK for many years but, since moving to France, I have been too busy with fascinating activities such as plastering to do much more than make a reasonable but very straightforward veg garden.  Do you know of any websites or other sources of information on shows/nurseries in my area (Languedoc) please..? [:)]

...after I'd mentioned the vtwin thing I did wonder whether it would give offence [:)] and was a little worried, glad to see you didn't mind too much![:D]  And..thanks for the tip on quoting...I've only ever belonged to one other forum and was used to their system, so I didn't notice the "quote" option right next to the "reply" button - how very unobservant!.  What kind of wild onions did you find?  Where do you live?  I live in the Languedoc, where it is currently raining softly, don't mind too much as it's all good for the garden...[:)]

...mmm...asparagus is great stuff!  One of the true joys of spring.  I have been picking wild asparagus on the mountains around here for the last month or so.  Not quite the same as the cultivated variety, but a real treat none the less.  And great fun to pick and free!  My strawberries are already just beginning to set fruit.  Then there will be cherries, apricots, figs....[:D]

...mmm...I've always liked dukes - always had a bit of a thing for vtwins.  Practiced Vini yoga for a fair old while but, since moving here (and away from my teacher), I'm afraid I have gradually let my practice slip.  I am now inspired to go and find some JA's to plant and to return to my practice [:D].  Have a lovely day!  It looks absolutely perfect here..![:D] NB Please note I am trying to respond to Dog's earlier posting.  Unfortunately, as a noob, I have not yet got to grips with the "quote" facility!  [:$]

...thank you very much Dog - very kind![:)]  What do you ride (if it's not too much off topic to ask)?  As far as the secret to Le Petomane's success goes... I imagine it hinged to a fairly high degree on being able to get the right sort of appreciative audience [+o(][:D]  Are you also a bit yogic by the way..?

...please forgive me if this posting does not look "quite right", I am a complete noob to the forum (and am not yet au fait with the layout!).[:$] I love JAs, as Tony F says, they do spread and are hard to remove from a plot once established.  They are also fairly tall, so perhaps plant them as a "wind break".  Whilst on that subject, Winter Savoury (Satureja montana) is said to be a great remedy and may be included in bean and JA recipes both for flavour and to save one's blushes...[:D]