Be careful if you receive an email from Service-Public.fr it may be fake.

It will mention the "New Carte Vitale" DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS

You can read all about it here: https://www.service-public.fr/particulie...or=EPR-100

Here are the basics Google translated.

Quote:

---

Have you received an email using the Service-Public.fr logo and alerting you to a new version of the vital card? This email invites you to click on a page and enter your personal data to obtain your new carte vitale? Be careful, these emails do not come from Service-Public.fr and should not be followed up under any circumstances.

These are attempted scams called phishing. These emails, often alarmist, usurp the name and logo of Service-Public.fr . They encourage you to provide personal data (identity card, passport, driving license, vital card). This data will then be collected by the phishing author who will use it for purchases or banking transactions. For example, they can offer a paid online service for updating the vital card. In truth, the update can be done free of charge in most pharmacies and on terminals in health insurance reception points.

Service-Public.fr does not ask for money, does not reimburse it and never seeks to collect bank details. Service-Public.fr can nevertheless send you an email (subscription to alerts, follow-up of a process ...).

In general, be careful when you receive an email inviting you to fill out a form in order to change your health card where the sender:

   asks you for money or offers to reimburse you for a sum of money;
   seeks to collect personal information (bank details, marital status, etc.).

What to do with the message?

Do not reply to the email or click on the link contained in the message but destroy the message.

If you have already replied to a fraudulent message by giving your bank details, you must first of all make opposition to your bank.
How to report these fraudulent emails?

You can report these phishing attempts:

On the Phishing Initiative website: https://www.service-public.fr/particulie...its/R47282 This report will feed the reference databases of the main browsers to block access to these sites;
 
The police services on the reporting website (Pharos ); https://www.service-public.fr/particulie...its/R17674
   
At Info Escroqueries by telephone on 0 805 805 817 toll-free number (free call from France) from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

Where to get information?

   Info Scams

   By telephone

   0 805 805 817

   Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

   Toll free number (free call from France).

Brian was asking in the newsletter what we thought about Macron's speech last night, so I thought I would get you all started.

First off the restrictions haven't bothered us a lot as we tend to keep ourselves to ourselves, so I doubt this one will be any different for us apart from a few things I think are just stupid.

#1 You can't go into a neighbouring department, I find this so annoying as we are close to the border of 87 and Mrs Fred sometimes pops down to Bellac for a change to stock up but now she has no choice but to go to Montmorillon.

#2 We can't go more than 10 Km without filling out an attestation and having a good reason, whilst this does make it easier going out for a walk without a stupid form in your pocket I can't help thinking the people that came up with 10Km live in a city.

#3 The damned annoying attestations: It may be easy for those of you with a modern phone, but for us it's filling in a piece of paper to go shopping or pick up a prescription. Why can't I just show my prescription or till receipt.  

#4 Curfew: Why the hell is it 19:00 ? Am I going to get fined for walking across the road to water our vegetables, and does it really make any difference what time it is if nothing is open anyway.

Apart from that it's no big deal to us, but I don't know why he has chosen to apply the rules to the whole of France especially around this area where you are probably more likely to bump into a Wolf Wolf in Lathus than another person.

What about you, how do you feel about Lockdown #3 ?

I don't think it is possible, but we may have some knowledgable people amongst us.

We received a phone call and unusually they left a message instead of trying the mobile. We have a rough idea what the person is saying as we were expecting a phone call, but she has spoken so fast it's not possible to keep up. Well after a few plays we managed to get what she was saying, but it got me thinking how good it would be if you could translate a message left on your phone.

So far I have tried using Google translate using the laptop microphone to do text to speech, but it didn't pick it up.

I then tried a couple of apps on Mrs Fred's android tablet, but again no joy as it wouldn't pick up the recording.

Both worked if you speak, but they don't seem to recognise an answerphone message.

Just in case this happens again, does anyone know if it is possible to translate a message left on an answerphone ?

Has anyone noticed that Soregies has not debited their bank account since January? We have had a prelevement with them for about 15 years and until recently they have been swift with their debiting; the debits showed up immediately after receiving the emailed facture, if not before. Now - nothing noted in the bank account. 

Just wondering if it's just us or is it a more general problem. Whatever, it looks like the beginning of yet more letter-writing to a faceless org. 


Thanks if you can enlighten.

I need some sphagnum moss to help nurse a bonsai tree back to life. I've discovered it's called mousse de sphaigne but can't find any local stockists.

It seems to be easily available on Amazon - as long as you don't mind that it's shipped from China. I'd rather buy locally if possible.

Any suggestions, please?

Hi all, does anyone please have an English speaking phone number for the dept of Finance in Montmorillon please? 

Thanks

There has been talk for a while now that there is Wolf around this area. A few farmers have reported sheep killed by wolf, but it has often been dismissed.

Now though it has been confirmed that a canine found dead near the railway line at Lathus on Wednesday Is a Wolf

L’Office français de la biodiversité confirmed after examination that the animal was very probably a gray wolf and probably hit by a train. Further analysis will be carried out, but it does like the farmers were right.

Anyone spotting what they think is a wolf or find any damage to their own animals should contact (Service départemental de Vienne : 05.49.52.01.50 – [email protected]).

https://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/vien...t-confirme

hi , I’m Lesley, my husband and Down syndrome daughter moved permanently to Montmorillon in October 2019. We moved from Burton Upon Trent which is in Staffordshire. Once we can explore again we are looking forward to exploring the rest of Europe. 

If I could ask a question, does anybody know where I can get iron balcony railings?  
Thankyou

Help needed on work on a roof in Montmorillon at the beginning of April.    Please contact if you are interested in 2 or 3 weeks work.

Hello there, can anyone recommend a carpenter for a small job on our stairs.
Had a local company out and had a quote but they have now gone awol 

Does anyone on here know where to hire a Roof Tile Conveyor  around 4 1/2 metres long.    Thank you.

Hello

When exchanging a English driving license for a French one did you keep all your entitlement ?

I was talking to someone about the social rights French residents have, I thought I would post this here in case it helps some of you too.

This is an official website where you can run a simulation and get an idea of what you can claim: https://www.mesdroitssociaux.gouv.fr/dd1...simu-foyer

It's fairly easy to run, you just answer a few questions about yourself and your situation and at the end you will see your result with links on how to claim.

You have nothing to loose as you don't have to register, so give it a try as you could be missing out.

If you want to know roughly when you will be offered the Covid vaccine in France if you have not had it yet, there is a website where you can get an estimation.

Page 1 Put your age and tick any relevant box. (If none apply leave blank)

Page 2 Tick any relevant box or leave blank,

Page 3 You will see an approximate time when you will be offered the jab. *The result is based on 100% take up and you can change the % at the bottom.

I'm not sure of the exact take up, but I think it's around 50%

https://covidtracker.fr/vaccinplanner/

La Deuxième Chance 
Official stockists of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™, Fusion Mineral Paint and Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint.

Situated in Le Bois de Messé, 79120,our shop can be found very close to the borders of Vienne and the Charentes. 10 mins from N10.
La Deuxième Chance is a one stop shop for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ decorative paint in the Deux Sevres. We are proud to have been stockists in France since 2011.
We pride ourselves on personal friendly service. Our showroom boasts many "one off" hand painted pieces of furniture.
There is also a carefully chosen range of country style themed house wares and vintage accessories. Everything to make your French home one to be proud of.
 We hold regular Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Workshops as well as Milk Paint Workshops.
 Chalk Paint™ is not just for furniture. It can be used to transform walls, floors, wood, concrete, metal...…almost anything! With little
or no prep required you will save time as well as money. As well as Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ we carry a range of books, brushes
and complementary products.
  We also offer Miss Mustard Seed's Milk Paint. Ideal for use on natural wood and a must have to achieve
an authentic chippy look. Easy to apply and self-levelling this paint is ideal for both novices and those with more experience.
 Fusion™ paint is a high quality range of paints from Homestead House. This paint not only has a built in primer it also has a built 
top coat. This means that there is no need to wax! It is also suitable for interior and exterior use.

As well as our bricks and mortar shop you can also order from us on line. We deliver throughout France. (nb products are supplied from us here in France so no additional TVA or duties are applicable within France.)
 
So many people are now enjoying painting furniture combining the thrill of reinventing something with the satisfaction of not having
to pay a small fortune to replace existing furniture. In order to make this even easier for you we sell what is considered the best paint for
painted furniture. Namely Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™.
We like to spend time with our customers discussing their painting projects, advising on colour choices and finishes. Painted
samples can be viewed too.
For those of you who don't have time, or heaven forbid, don't want to paint, we offer a selection of carefully chosen painted pieces.
Our stock changes regularly so please make regular visits if you don't find something first time.
We try to stock interesting pieces, using paint, colour and texture to bring out shape and design, thereby creating 'one-off' designed
to inspire and please.

                      
Opening Hours:  Tues - Fri 10:00 - 17:30. Sat 10:00 - 13:00. Closed Mondays.
                                                            
La Deuxième Chance, 7 rue de la Croix Cholette, 79120, Bois de Messé

Tel: 05 49 27 12 62
http://www.ladeuxiemechance.com

How do you get rid of your ants ?

In the house it's no problem as we still have some old ant powder and it works every time, but the problem is in the poly tunnel. We've never had a problem before but last year we had loads of them farming aphids on the cucumbers and melons.  

Tried:
Various herbs and spices.
Chili and garlic juice.
Water both hot and cold.
Coffee
Lemon
Washing up liquid
Ant traps
Ladybirds
Lizards

The buggers are already coming back so we have got some new ant powder but it doesn't seem to be doing the job. We don't want to use the old stuff as I think it's very poisons and we don't want to risk it leaching in to the soil and our vegetables.

Suggestions ?

It's Spring so time for a recruitment drive!

The more active members we have, the more useful AroundMontmorillon will be, so it would be great if each of you could tell 1, 2 or 20 new people about the site over the coming weeks.

To help, I've produced some business cards.

Front:


Back


These can be given to individuals or, (with the permission of the owner) displayed in bars, shops or anywhere visitors and residents may gather.

If you'd like some, please leave a note in this thread or send me a PM (Private Message) via the link to the right of the top menu.

Thanks!

I've recently discovered Terra Aventura. It's a website and app that suggests walks in Nouvelle Aquitaine, including quite a few around the Montmorillon area. Walks are graded in terms of length, walking surface and climb/descent heights. It's also delightfully bonkers, in that uniquely French way .

You can choose a walk and either print out instructions from the website or install the app on a smartphone. The website and app are both offered in multiple languages including French and English. I recommend the app, as it's much more user-friendly. If you'd prefer to use the web version, you'll find you can choose your route under the tab 'The Caches/Les Parcours'. Scroll down the page and you'll find a map showing all the routes.

Using the app, you receive guidance while you're en-route so no need to bother with printed notes (although as a traditionalist, I always tend to have the appropriate carte randonée in my pocket).

Along the way, you are offered information about your surroundings, typically covering history, nature, geography and environmental matters.

It has a game element and it's all been designed to appeal to older children. However, you can ignore the 'quest' element (based on geocaching - at the end of the trail there's a logbook into which you're invited to add your details and comments) and simply enjoy a well-planned walk.

So far, I've enjoyed the ones based in Bussière-Poitevine, Lussac-Les_Chateaux and Montmorillon.
I'm planning the 8km one from CPA Lathus next - perhaps I'll see you there?

Brian

I wish I'd known about this years ago. The Institut français in London runs a very wide range of online courses, both for groups and one-to-one. They cover a range of levels, but there's no need to fret about which level to choose. They offer a free assessment of your current skills either in writing (online) or using a phone/skype call.

The trainers are all absolutely fluent in French, but also English which means that they are aware of the latest idioms and gotchas that crop up from time to time.

The courses vary in price and start at about £10 for a 1 hour group lesson.

Please post your feedback here...

Hi All,
Following on from successful post on micro tractor, can anyone suggest a good firewood supplier.
Can collect or be delivered 50cm logs ideally split.
Thanks