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

Found this information 

LES AUTOMOBILISTES BRITANNIQUES EXEMPTÉS DE PV DANS L’UE| Avec le Brexit, la directive européenne concernant les infractions routières ne s’applique plus; aussi, les automobilistes propriétaires de voitures immatriculées en Grande-Bretagne flashés sur les routes françaises ne recevront plus les avis de contravention correspondants. Seuls ceux interceptés par les forces de l’ordre devront s’acquitter immédiatement du montant de l’amende. Un «manque» à gagner d’environ 60 millions d’euros par an pour l’État français. En 2020, les Britanniques ont commis 444000 infractions au Code de la route en France…


UK MOTORISTS EXEMPT FROM SPEED TICKETS IN THE EU | With Brexit, the European directive on traffic offenses no longer applies; therefore motorists who own cars registered in Great Britain flashed on French roads will no longer receive the  ticket notices. Only those intercepted by the security forces will have to pay the fien on the spot . A "shortfall" of around 60 million euros per year for the French state . In 2020, the British committed 444,000 traffic violations in France ...

In short that means if you are speeding and grilled by a radar along side the road with UK registration plates NO WORRY


Just saying..

Hi All,
We have recently moved to the area, can anyone suggest local places to buy a micro tracteur with front loader, back hoe and mower attachments please. Used or new. Also a trailer 3mx1.8 or similar.
Many thanks

Does anyone want some wood ?

#1 Cherry tree just been cut down, in perfect condition for crafting or burning once dry.






#2 Some Walnut, which has been cut up to manageable lengths. Some is good but most would be for burning.




#3 If you bring your chainsaw you can also have a yellow plum that I want out of the way.



Price: Cut down the plum and take the lot for free, or take the cherry for a drink.

Post here or send me a PM.

*Note we respect social distancing, and you will need to collect and load it yourself as I'm not as fit as I used to be.

I was just reading that we have to wear masks outside, I didn't know it was compulsory in all areas, I thought it was just large towns.

There is a map where you can check Here

Not sure if we have to wear one to go across the road to our garden, but it does look like we have to wear one in our village. .......................................... Must be to protect the odd sheep we may bump into as it's not the people.  

I've been hearing reports of the cranes returning from friends in other parts of France but the first flock of the year has just passed overhead - about 350 of them.

It looks as if the winter may be passing - but there's always les giboulées de mars to look forward to!

Has anyone else applied for their Withdrawal Agreement Residence permit (WARP) card ?

https://contacts-demarches.interieur.gou...tre-sejour

We applied in October just after it opened, the process was easy as we have been here over 5 years. Within an hour we got acknowledgement and now just need to sit back and wait.

Anyone else ?

Hello everyone, I hope you are all keeping well.

It's almost 3 years since I stopped running the forum and apart from a little lurking I've deliberately kept away, but I decided to pop in as I wanted top use the PM system.

Nice to see some old faces still popping in, and I notice we have a lot more members now than when I was last here. I've not read all of your posts so excuse me if I missed anything aimed at me, but there were too many to read.

All is good here though we did lose my Sister and Mum just over a year ago about a month apart, but we new it was coming. Glad to see the damn Brexit thing out of the way, I felt like I was stuck in limbo for almost 5 years.

I think I will slowly ease myself back in, I've had my break and hope to catch up with the world Around Montmorillin.

Take care.

Fred.

Monty Protest in the news today!

Apologies for the enforced absence but there appears to some sort of virus going around and we're happily sitting it out in London.

Now.....the question is this; does the taxe d'habitation still exist?

I  only ask because all our forwarded mail from France has contained every bill from electric to internet to bins to mains drains and the taxe fonciere (joy) but no taxe d'habitation.

A couple of chums still in France say it does but I think they've "gone native" and therefore not entirely reliable.

Soooo.....answers on a postcard please.

Pip pip.

Hello   our friends in Montmorillon by the campsite have a problem with a swarm of bees.   
they are gathering by the back door of the property in a budlia bush.   Are there any Bee Keepers around who can possibly remove them please.

Hello All, how are you doing - there has not been much action on the Forum!
We are in UK but hoping this 14 day quarantine will be ditched so we can get to our house.
What do we need to know about being in France, Monty post lockdown  - are you queuing for the supermarkets (or anywhere else), do you need to wear a face mask anywhere? Is anything open?!
We do keep one eye on what is going over there but trying to keep up with changes and remember what we're doing here in UK - I'm getting confused.
Update us if you are willing and able

50 used paving slabs 

50cm x 50cm

30 euros

Montmorillon

Hi y'all 

for those who do not have it already : the link to download the latest bilingual "attestation de deplacement" https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/attestatio...re-en-docx

Also it's now legal to have it on your smartphone , generated directly form the official government site;  in french only so far :  https://media.interieur.gouv.fr/deplacement-covid-19/

hope this help !

Mike 

Stay Safe / Stay Home / S.D. everywhere anytime !

Thanks Admiral 
I have since found out that Leclerc in Montmorillon  hire all large electrical appliances - so I am hiring a washer for 6 euros a month on a years contract! I couldnt respond directly to your response for some reason, but perhaps everyone on this forum has been struck down with the big V which is why I havent had any replies apart from yours. I actually thought perhaps the forum had been closed down! Thanks anyway. Ros 

Just for your info, all restaurants, pubs, bars and cafes in France were closed by the government on Saturday night.

We only found out the hard way by turning up for our booking at La Voulzie on Sunday to be told the news by a distraught owner who could only apologise and call the whole move a "catastrophe" for France.

Feel sorry for all these family-run small businesses.

But, he did say tabacs would remain open.

Now, in my small mind, does a tabac in a bar/restaurant mean the grub menu is still on offer?

Answers please from those of you enterprising enough to find out.