I know I'm an idle so-and-so but I used to rely on the Junk Warehouse - sorry "The Shed" - in Bussiere for my curry pastes.  Nipping over there and buying a few jars of Patak's curry pastes used to induce a warm glow and knowledge that I could whip up a curry of some description at short notice.

BUT, on my last two visits the curry shelves have been bare - other than a few jars of Vindaloo curry sauce.  Which I don't want.

A couple of people have told me that the Anglais bloke that got all this stuff shipped in has left.  And taken his English wholesaler contacts with him.

Is there any truth in this?

Will I now have to drive for an hour to the Asian supermarket in Limoges to satisfy my cravings for curry?

Insurance companies that is.

The French system seems to be worse than the UK.  They appear to base claims on the premise: "we ain't paying out on that matey."

We had several cracks appear in walls on one part of the building a year ago (June 2016) and I was told we couldn't claim against possible damage caused by heavy duty road mending outside because the bloke in hi-vis jackets were working on behalf of the local authority.  And they, apparently, are untouchable according to the  

I changed tack and said it was probably due to the hot weather and the house had decided to move.  I was told I can't claim on that one because the commune hadn't declared a Catastrophe Naturelle.

A year later the commune has now a declared a catastrophe naturelle for that summer, so I happily ring the inusrance company to be told I might have to wait a lot longer because; "Declaring a catastrophe naturelle after only a year is very unusual.  It usually takes longer than that."

Any clues anyone?  How do I circumvent the system and get these people to extract digit pronto or do I have to move back to Angleterre?

Rant over.

During my extensive reading of all things Francais, I've come across a little number you should be aware of.  Before, you ask, it is a nationwide problem according to the Gendarmerie Nationale.

It works like this:  our sticky-fingered burglar friends place a small piece on wood on/ in garden/driveway gates.  If the piece of wood is still there after a couple of weeks the property is deemed probably empty and then worth a go and breaking into.

If the wood has moved or fallen off then there is obviously someone in residence and not worth the effort.

As Shaw Taylor used to say back in the day; "keep 'em peeled."

Inspector Corner (of the yard)

The phone and internet are down at Le Bar Thiat, but they ARE open as usual for Friday fish and chips, and the ace Sunday lunches.

Saint Savin vide grenier.

Sunday 10th September

Set up from 07:00

Place de la Libération (In front of the Abbey)

Taking up new hobby (not for commercial purposes).Looking for motorised garden equipment.
Non starting motor mowers , strimmers etc. Must be very cheap or free !!!

Hello O Knowledgeable Ones,
Next week I have to go to the UK for a week - I'm flying from Poitiers.
I plan to get to the airport by motorbike but I'm having problems discovering the charge for motorbike parking at Poitiers.
So far I have:

•    Looked at the website - lots of info about hourly, daily, weekly, subscription rates for cars but I can't find any bike info
  
•    Emailed them (10 days ago) but no reply
  
•    Phoned them - whenever I phone either they are desolated that they do not know, or desolated that the person who knows isn't there
  
•    Googled - nothing useful returned
  

The annual Lathus Vide Grenier is on this Sunday 3 September

07:00 - 19:00

*Note: My understanding is do to the current situation it will not be held in the street this year. Which is a shame, but it will go ahead at the Stade Pierre Robert

Just north of Montmorillon on the road to Haims.

Tomorrow August 26th 08:00 - 23:00

Fête annuelle des Combes:

Vide Grenier.

Motorcycle rides.

Display of old vehicles.

Food.

Show.

Organised by: Les Amis des Combes

I know I wander around Leclerc / Super U/ the world in a dream but .....

Is it possible to buy fresh stock (chicken/fish/demi glace/beef stock in the Montmorillon area?  Yes I've seen the Maggi/Knor tablets but wanted the easy way of avoiding boiling bones for 3.5 days.  It's the fresh/frozen stuff I'm after.

Thanks in advance.
Chris

Watch out for the Carte Vital V3 Scam.

If you get contacted via phone or email hang up or dump it immediately. IT'S A SCAM!

There is no Carte Vital V3 and the Assurance Maladie (Aka Ameli / CPAM) will not contact you about it.

This is their official website: https://www.ameli.fr/

The annual vide grenier takes place this Sunday 27 August

08:00 - 18:00

Aire de Loisirs

Bussière-Poitevine

Following on from my thread Stop cold calls in France I thought I would also share a way of helping stop SMS Spam messages.

Have you ever got one of those annoying texts on your phone that you just know you didn't ask for or that you want?

Well you can help stop SMS Spam in France

Go to 33700.fr and follow the instructions.

If your are stuck try Google translate, but it's not to difficult to work out how it works. "Signular un spam SMS" will give you the information.

But what you do is send the spam message onto 33700

You will get e text back asking you to return

Return the message and Voilà you have reported the spam SMS

By doing so you will not only stop getting the spam but you will also be helping others get rid of Spam and help rid the world of the unwanted.

Hello,

Can anyone please tell me how to change my User name from the above to Linda.

Thanks

Linda (Goatlover123xz)

Annual Fete Saint Remy at the stade

19 August 2017

Car boot: 07h00 à 18h00
Kids fair
Dancing
Dinner 18:00
Live entertainment: 21:00
Fireworks: 23:00

Vide grenier in the streets of Thiat.

20 August 2017

07:00 - 18:00

Concours de pétanqueat 14:00

don't forget the grand braderie 19/20 August Montmorillon

The family is visiting us at the end of August and Futuroscope has been nominated for a family day out - we've been before (many years ago) so know what to expect.

A while ago, I was told that Vienne or Poitou Charentes residents can buy discounted tickets for Futuroscope. Does anyone know of this is actually the case, and if so, how to go about it? I have spent a fair bit of time on the Futuroscope website (both the English and French versions) but can't find any suitable magic buttons.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Brian

For some reason we only just recently visited Le Dorat. I know little Al has mentioned going there for fish and chips in a pub before, but we've only just managed to venture there last week. Nice place for a wander around. Seemed to be quite a few little cafe bars and found a great shop selling some reasonably priced gifts like soaps etc to take home, also a great selection of bottles, jars and other produce. Regretting not buying my daughter an ornamental duck for 23 euros, as she keeps ducks back here, but that's another story  Can't for the life of me remember the name of the shop, but it was opposite the church. Will definitely go back there next time we're over.

A lightening strike hit the CPA in Lathus and some children taken to hospital one after suffering with a cardiac arrest.

All parents concerned have been contacted and there is an investigation going on as it looks like the lightening struck a tree where the tents are as opposed to hitting the lightening rod.