Just a warning.... I advertised an item on Le Bon Coin, and received a genuine sounding enquiry. Emails were exchanged, and the lady (???) in question said she would send cash by DHL courier, and I should then send the items on receipt. Sure enough this was immediately followed by an email ALLEGEDLY from DHL with a link to click on.
NO NO NO; It`s a scam.
Be on your guard;there are some crooks out there!

If your water is turned off at a property and the house is empty why do we still have to pay water abonnement & assainissement charges? Or do we?

I have a house that is a ruin and everthing is turned off. It is not habitable but I still get a bill each year? 

Anyone else with this

Many thanks

Looking for transfers from Limoges airport to Montmorillon. Needs to be for 12 people returning 5 days later 

We've spoken to the local taxi company but wondered if anyone knows of any more options?

Thanks,
James

Is there a English Speaking person at the Tresoir here in Montmorillon? 
Never had to visit them before and wondered if I will be able to get though with My very basic French?
Thank you.

For sale a set of 4 matching REAL LEATHER vintage suitcases, but unused, so in amazing condition. Asking 120 euros for the set, so only 30 euros per case!!
Can send photos to an email address.
Collection only from Brigueil le Chantre 86290

Less than half price ,a new, unused, still boxed (and so great for a present!) Orva Yoghurt maker. easy to use, with full instructions.
Asking 16 euros. collection from Brigueil le Chantre 86290 ,or can meet in Montmorillon.

Wow..........that was some storm last night!!! We`d two medium sized trees down, and an extra 6" of water in the swimming pool. Was everyone else OK? I`d have hated to be camping in that!!

Morning,

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend the bast place to go rafting or kayaking please?

I contacted https://www.evasion64.fr/ but they've said that they're not operating this year (I believe due to water levels - but that could be my poor translation!)

I have also found this place https://www.cpa-lathus.asso.fr/ which seems to offer a couple of options .

I've seen people kayaking in the centre of Montmorillon, but not sure where they've come from. If you know of any more companies please let me know.

Thanks in advance!
James

It's started .....

Brexit: UK already removed from EU map in French school books ..... https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world...17981.html



Chris

Does anyone know about the Livebox 4 ?

We have a 3 at the moment and it looks like they have updated the software or something looking at the Admin panel. However it seems to be going a bit intermittent on WIFI lately, so I've been looking around and there is a 4 model out now.

We rent our box so I'm wondering if you can swap it from a version 3 to version 4.

If anyone knows, can you let me know how you go about it.

Thank you.

I'm sure I'm not imagining it but food prices here in La Belle France seem to be rising at an alarming rate.

I first noticed it at the end of May returning from a two week sojurn in Angleterre where I was under a three-line whip to join Madame Admiral launch her latest venture - a mail order egg white macrame set complete with all the necessary bits and bobs.

I've held fire until now but, having spoken to several people, they all seem to be of the opinion that food prices are rising in a rather unsavoury manner compared to Angleterre.  For example, beef, pork and chicken are much more expensive than England.  Lamb prices here are ridiculously high.

Of course, it could be my fault for shopping at Leclerc where extensive "innovations" and unnecessary changes have to be paid for - by us.

I thought one of the arguments for us staying in the EU was cheaper food all round.  Especially in France where farmers are molly-coddled by the Common Agricultural Policy.  Err.....

I could go on but I'm boring myself now.

Found these holes in the poly tunnel this morning near the base of one of the tomato plants. I'm thinking Frog or Toad, can anyone confirm?

Most of you probably already know this, but there is a new shop in Montmorillion selling all sorts of stuff very cheaply.

It's obviously not Poundland (or is it?) but the range of stuff is incredible.  And cheap.  And loads of brand names.  Obviously factory "seconds" or stuff where the label went on askew.

One of the servants mentioned it to me after he had been sent off to buy household cleaning items.  He was very impressed and recommended a visit.

Must say, I only hope it puts some competition into the market and the supermarkets, who have had it their own way for far too long, have to pull their socks up and start cutting some of their ridiculously high prices.

Goes by the name of ACTION, boasts that it is the Retailer of the Year (Europe) 2016-2017 and is located near Super U.

No fresh food but everything from gardening to motoring to interior deco to paint, to strangely-flavoured packets of peanuts, snacks, biscuits, choccy bars, really cheap Heinz tommy sauce, to garlic infused olive oil, salad dresings etc etc.

Hardly headline news I know, but the fact a new shop has opened in Monty - a veritable estate agents wasteland - is a great joy.  Well, it is to me.

A word of warning.

If you've noticed your pine trees/hedges going brown in places, it's not the heat.  Which is what I assumed.

It's a nasty little bug that burrows into the heartwood to release the sap - which it loves.

I thought our miniature pines were burning in places because of the intensity of the sun/lack of water.

Not so according to a French chum.

This little bug is rampant in this area at the moment, so he says.  Even more good news....... there is no cure.

He did tell me its name but the French/Latin pronunciation baffled me.

I'm easily baffled at my age.

Can anyone help identify this bug please? I've searched the internet and a couple of bug sites but can't seem to find an exact match.

It's on a creeping ivy weed thing, we haven't found any in the garden so I'm leaving them till I found out what they are. I'm thinking some type of caterpillar as he has 6 legs at the front, but I need to find out if they're good or bad for the garden.

Sorry not great photos but it's the best I could get with my little camera if you zoom in you can see them better.







Edit a zoomed in image.

Don't know if this is of any help but our printer always runs out of ink just when you want to use it. (Apparently they do dry up over time)

As I only make a couple of copies per year and the cartridges are far to expensive I decided to put a 3 page document I needed printing on a USB. There is a place at Poiters that will do them and we are going up there soon so I thought I would give it a try

But the other day we were passing through Lathus and there is a little Tabac shop next to the Spar and I thouhgt maybe they could do it, so I popped in and asked if they could print from a USB. And the young lady in there was very helpful and indeed she can print from a USB.

She printed my three crystal clear pages for 30 Cts  

So I won't be buying any more printer cartridges. I'll keep the printer as it scans too, but for my occasional printing I will go to the nice young lady in Lathus.

We are looking for a responsible trustworthy person / persons to housesit / catsit in the centre of Montmorillon from 2nd June -- 8th June  / 15th June -- 19th June. Must be a catlover and be prepared to water the garden.

We are paying 20 euros per day.