Anyone in Normandy?

[Meggymoose]

Are there any Mumsnetters in Normandy?

Moving there in September with DD's 1 and 3 (oh and DH of course).

Love to hear from you - i have some general child-related questions that you may be able to help me with! Thanks!

[Meggymoose]

Can anyone recommend a van hire company that will allow us to collect van in UK and return it in France? Thanks

[Othersideofthechannel]

Reminds me of when I was giving birth to DS and the midwives were saying 'poussez Madame, poussez' and DH was saying to be supportive 'push, push' and I turned round and said 'I know what they're fing saying, there's no need to fing translate!'.

At least you'll know straight away where the hospital is. Up here there is a regular PMI clinic at the hospital. It has fortnightly outposts in smaller towns.
When DS was born they gave me info about a centre which did reading activites and baby gym.

[Meggymoose]

He's a cardiologist which means PMI clinics are totally lost on him. Also he doesn't speak a word of French although he is playing tapes in the car to and fro work. He will be working exclusively in the cath labs and the Prof there has told him that all he needs to learn to say is 'Breath in'!?!?!

[slalomsuki]

We don't live in France but have a place in Brittany which we go to for a few months a year and travel through Caen. In fact I will be there on Sunday on the way south.

I think you will do OK in Caen and surrounding area since whenever we have stopped there even in small villages we have had no problem with the French/English thing

Would love to live full time there.

[Othersideofthechannel]

Oh, well you won't have any trouble finding out about the PMI then!

[castille]

Ooh really, what specialty? Mine's a hospital doc too (assuming yours is a medical man)

[Meggymoose]

Othersideofthe channel - DH has got a one year secondment to CHU starting in September!

[Ellbell]

And if it rains, there's always the Bayeux Tapestry!

[Othersideofthechannel]

I'm curious Meggymoose, why are you just going for one year?

[castille]

Enid - It might be wetter than the rest of France but it's no wetter than the UK, honestly!

[princessmel]

oops. going to bed. I'm tired.

[princessmel]

Thanks guys (its brushetta- I've gone back to princessmel)

[princessmel]

Thanks guys (its brushetta- I've gone back to princessmel)

[KrustyTheClown]

(enid - I've made a limerick in your honour on the simpson's thread)

[Enid]

theres a reason why they call it the piss pot of france you know

[castille]

Not true! The weather is much the same as the UK, but usually a couple of degrees warmer. In Normandy that'll be just the one degree warmer

That said, it has rained almost every day for the past 2 months... but that's exceptional. Last summer it was boiling for all of June and July.

So there

[Meggymoose]

Of the weather in Normandy I have been told it rains just twice a year - once for 6 months and once for 3 months, so if Brittany is anything like - good luck!

[Brushetta]

Oh

[Enid]

rainy

it always bloody rains in brittany

[Brushetta]

Please can I just sneakily ask...whats the weather in fousnant/benodat (sp)usually like in May???

Sorry

Good luck meggymoose.

[Meggymoose]

Othersideofthe channel - thank you - I hadn't thought of the marie or clinics so those are two good ways that I can help my self a bit.

Ellbell - I am really excited in one way think it will be a great adventure and we don't know France or Normandy well so lots to discover. Having always been a working mum as sad as I am to give up work, I'm very much seeing this year as an opporunity to spend special time with DD's the eldest of whom will start school on our return to the UK in Sept 2008.

I'm really grateful to all of you for your (much needed) advice!

[Othersideofthechannel]

Sorry for the jargon, I did mean to explain but DD woke up. PMI is the baby/child clinic. It stands for Protection Maternelle et Infantile (I think). They have them in towns and they visit villages on certain days of the week. If the local GP or mairie can't put you in touch, then the social security will be able to.

I second what GGGlimpopo says. I speak French fluently but it takes time to get to know people in villages because French people are less mobile and certainly in this area everyone already knows everyone so there isn't much in place to help new people integrate.

[Ellbell]

Just have to pop in to say how I am! Love Normandy. We'll be on the Cotentin in August (and probably the next August and the one after that too...!).

Hope it all goes well.

[Meggymoose]

Othersideofthechannel - what is PMI?! (sorry!)

ggglimpopo - I did A-level French so whilst I would not call myself fluent by any means I know a bit. Going to France will be a great opportunity to improve my French and I would love to have lessons/conversation practice although I'm not sure how practical it will be with the kids. I'm hoping just the exposure will help. We are trying to secure a house about 20 mins south of Caen. Dh will be working in Caen.

Thanks both for your advice.

[ggglimpopo]

Do you speak Ffrench? If not, would strongly advise that you have a look for lessons or put up a note in your village tabac offering two hours of English conversation per week in exchange for French. Most formal lessons run from Sept/October to June/July.

France and village life in particular can be very isolating if you cannot talk to your neighbours and other mothers.

Whereabouts in Normandy are you going to go? I looked at Normandy years ago and found some lovely houses (changed my mind due to the weather and one particlar expat I met!!). Is your dh going to work locally or commute?