Alane

Dave A couple of questions as we will be doing something very similar next year with around 80 sq m. Did you use a compactor on the gravel and how deep did you lay it. Are you planning to use ready mix concrete or mix it yourself. I'm trying to get my daughter to round up a few of her male friends to come and help us with a mix and lay day. At 10cm thickness giving  8cu metres of concrete is a lot or 6.4 at 8cm. That much readymix frightens me a bit in case something goes wrong and I'm left with a large lump and if the spring weather is wet the delivery truck is going to make a hell of a mess of the garden. Best Regards Alan.

We've been members since September and made 3 return trips. I was concerned about the prospects of Eurotunnel going into liquidation but as someone on this forum pointed out if you pay with a credit card then you should be covered for that eventuality. There is, of course, the premium for travel at peak times to consider - £20 for most of the year with an added premium on summer weekends for morning outward and evening return trips. If like us you travel out and back in the evening then the cost of a return is £98 - not that good a deal compared to some on offer elsewhere. Beware that there is limited space available for tickets on the scheme. I tried to make a late booking just before half term and although there were tickets available on the standard booking system for the time I wanted there were no Frequent Traveller slots available. This might be more of a problem during the summer. One advantage over the old scheme is that it is possible to book a return as two singles giving flexibility on the time of return right up to the day before return travel. Best Regards Alan.

I see that Alis - the company operating this stretch of road are advertising discounted tolls and free telepeage badges for frequent users - see http://www.offres-alis.com/offres/particulier/index.php. Looks like you need to use the road at least once per month to qualify and 20 journeys per year to have the badge rent free. Best Regards Alan.

It may be that there are good reasons for the move - could be that putting the two drives adjacent to each other reduces the cost of kerb works on the road if there are any. From what you say it sounds like he's just drawn it like that because he hadn't checked. I'd certainly check with the builder and insist that you get what you want or at least understand why you can't have it. It sounds like you are pretty much committed to using him from what you say but if you aren't happy with all the compromises you are making even at the plan stage then if you aren't stuck with him for the duration of the works I'd start looking around for others. Good luck. Best Regards Alan.

In our area it wouldn't be a problem if they've only just been submitted as they will still be at the Mairie and not yet sent to the DDE so a visit to the Mairie would suffice. Things may work differently elsewhere. If the drive has to be in the existing location the plans are most likely going to be rejected anyway for that reason so it would save you time to amend them before they go any further. One thing that puzzles me is that if the builder is proposing to move the entrance 50 yards this would change the cost which you don't seem to have agreed to? Best Regards Alan.

It sounds like you are using the type that look like coal tongs and come in a silvery metal finish. I've not tried using those. The style of trap I use resemble the tongs used in bakers to handle cakes but are in a copper finish. Hard to describe but if you look for the copper colour are quite distinctive in the store. I leave new traps outside for a couple of weeks to lose their smell and always wipe the trap a couple of times in the molehill before each use. They come with a squared up thin wire spacer. The tongs are forced apart using either a special pair of reversed pliers or a lever style implement provided with the trap. The wire spacer is inserted roughly a third of the way up the trap to hold the jaws apart. When the mole pushes into the trap the wire spacer is displaced and the trap closes smartly. I use a slightly different technique to yours - I use a trowel and dig down through the mole hill to find the tunnel. I then use the handle of the trowel to locate the tunnels going down and insert the trap, prongs downwards into the tunnel as far as I can push it without setting the trap off - this takes a little practice. The tip of tying the spacer to the trap is a good one so that if the trap releases the spacer isn't lost. Then scrape the earth of the molehill back into the hole and cover with a piece of slate. This is all a little macabre but unfortunately they can cause a tremendous amount of damage and make it almost impossible to mow the grass. For a couple of years we left them to their own devices but one year came back to a scene that made us think of the Somme battlefield and realised we had to do something effective and this is the only method we've found that works. Fortunately this year we haven't had any underground visitors, so no need to use the traps, but this is the first year since we've been in France that we've been mole free. Best Regards Alan.

It's lucky (for me) that nobody took up my suggestion of opening a book on the opening date.... I look forward to using the northern stretch on my next visit - in December! Best Regards Alan.

Traps. Available in Bricos, garden centres and all good hardware stores. The ones that look like a pair of copper tongs. We've tried everything else and nothing works. Our sentimental attitude to dealing with rodents and moles lasted two or three years before we realised that either we did what was necessary or we would be chased off by the vermin. At the first sign of activity lay the traps and check them after two or three days. Remember to mark the locations where you have set them. The French seem to use little flags on a stick - I just use pieces of slate. I keep ours in a large flowerpot kept under shelter outside with a pair of rubber gloves that have to be worn whenever the traps are handled. Best Regards Alan.

It was officially opened on the 21st but not fully open to the public until the 27th. There was certainly no traffic in the Bernay area on Sunday when I crossed over it which was a pity as it would have saved me some time. Alan.

We are located just north of Bernay and recently had some work done on the house. The builders were absolutely delighted with the predicted, and already realised increases in house prices. They are looking for at least a 50% increase and were talking about doubled prices just because of the motorway. Primarily they are looking for Parisiens buying weekend cottages - plus they were expecting extra demand for builders etc as these people improved the properties. I asked about the problems for local people who wouldn't be able to afford houses and the response was basically well that's just their hard luck. When I asked about the extra noise to be endured by those living close to the new motorway I thought they were going to ask if I needed to increase my medication. A good area to buy just now if you haven't already missed the bus. Me, well I bought eight years ago for less than the price of a car so I'm all right Jack. I do wonder however what impact the influx of weekenders will have on the country life that we liked so much in this area. Already I see shops closing in the villages, that thrived up until very recently. I was recently looking through the old files that I kept when we bought our property and came across adverts for habitable houses in W. Normandy, Mayenne and Brittany for £6k! What happened to the people who bought at those prices I wonder. Best Regards Alan.

I agree. I tried a Friday night to Sunday booking in November with a cabin on the way out - would have cost around £80-£100 depending on offers with P&O and it came out at £230. To be fair their mail did say it was "The service is positioned as a low cost no frills operation with a simple pricing structure " so it is the same price for a two week crossing. The same 2 week crossing next July is £256. Oh well - back to the Tunnel Frequent Traveller scheme. Best Regards Alan.  

It depends on the weight limit of the trailer, the load you intend to put in it and the size of the tyres. If you have the typical small wheels of this size of trailer then you probably have one of the following: spec from the Towsure web site http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?t=60&p=0&d=28 "Trailer Wheel (400x8 /4ply Silver) Tyre Specification - All tyres are "E" marked, have 4 stud fixing with 4" PCD. 3.50 x 8" 4 ply crossply tubeless tyre, Silver rim, Max load 170kg @ 2.5 BAR. 4.00 x 8" or 4.80 x 8" 4 ply crossply tubeless tyre, Silver or White rim, Max load 590lbs/268kg @ 60 PSI. 400 x 8" or 4.80 x 8" 6 ply crossply tube tyre, Silver or White rim, Max load 745lbs/339kg @ 90 PSI." TY50 If you look at the marking on the tyres and they are 400x8 then the maximum pressure is usually marked on the sidewall. My similar sized trailer is specified for a maximum load of 500kg and needs around the 60psi. Pumping up with a foot pump is a real chore! You may have car sized tyres on your trailer in which case the pressures will be entirely different. If you look at the Towsure pages they will give you an idea of the pressures for different sized trailer wheels and loads. Regards   Alan.  

Thank you both for the response. Now why didn't I think of that in the first place? Catherine - I've usually had no problem with flexible tickets but for no apparent reason one Sunday night in June we were kept waiting over two hours due to the service being busy. We couldn't understand why as the service didn't seem very full but we had to accept the wait and in fairness we'd have waited as long or longer for a ferry. Best Regards Alan.

I'm considering buying 10 frequent traveller tickets from Eurotunnel that will cost me £390. I'm holding back to see if I can determine what the position would be with this scheme in the event of the banks foreclosing during the forthcoming face-off between the Eurotunnel board and the creditors. Does anyone know if these tickets would be covered by ABTA bonds or the like. I suspect not but I am far from being an expert. If that is the case then I'm concerned that members of the scheme would be treated as unsecured creditors. Anyone know what the situation would be or have any feel for how likely such an outcome is? Regards Alan.

Travel insurance will cover you for work on your house - at least my annual policy does. I checked with the brokers and restrictions are that I'm not covered if using machinery or am more than 5 metres high on a ladder. Regards Alan E.  

I looked into this but came to the conclusion that we were better with separate deals. I can't claim to have exhaustively tested the market but the cheapest car insurance I found was Eurotunnel at £79/year for the car but the annual travel insurance for us was cheaper with Direct Travel as Eurotunnel were considerably more expensive for the medical/cancellation insurance. Regards Alan.

Whereabouts are you in Normandy? In 27 we are finding it difficult to get work started within 10-12 months. Regards Alan.

Lapeyre have two wood grain effects for their Classic PVC range but it looks as though it won't be cheap as the brochure says it is available made to measure only. The option is marketed as "Pack Decor bois" on P68 of the current catalogue. They guarantee the PVC range for 10 or 15 years but give a 20 year guarantee on the oak range of timber windows although the oak is more expensive for standard sizes. Best Regards Alan.

Has anyone any experience of fitting these to the Lapeyre Tradition Chene range? We have bought two windows with the Oscillo-battant facillity (tilts and opens) together with the Petits Carreaux - the fake small windows that attach by hinges to allow the glass to be cleaned. A bit questionable in terms of authenticity I know but only way I could see to get double glazed windows for an old property. The Petits Carreaux frame appears to be about .5cm too narrow, height is ok,  to engage with the clip to secure it to the window surface. I'm wondering whether the Oscillo-battant windows aren't a standard size or whether I've done something wrong. Unfortunately I only tried to fit them yesterday (Sunday) morning and had to come back to the UK yesterday evening and I'm not sure if my French is up to a phone call to discuss this with the depot and I shan't be back for a couple of weeks. I'd appreciate information from anyone who has fitted these units. Best Regards Alan.

In case nobody gives you a better response, I am told that France Telecom shops have internet access available although I haven't tried myself. Also you might try the public library - some libraries in our area of Normandy do have access although it doesn't seem to be full time. Hope this helps. Regards Alan.  

Mochas I've just posted a separate topic in House Renovations specifically on cover for renovators but does your flexicover policy cover you for injuries sustained while working on the house (if indeed you have to do any)? Mine only covers me if I'm not using any power tools so would be interested if yours does so. Best Regards Alan.

This may not be the correct location for this question but it really relates to renovating. I've just been speaking to my travel insurers about the level of cover I might have if I'm working on the house. The response was that if I'm not using machinery and I'm not more than 5m up a ladder then I will be covered. So I'm covered for replacing the upstairs windows if I use a hammer but not if I replace the downstairs windows and use an electric drill. The comment they made, which was fair enough, is that these products are meant to be travel and holiday insurance - I would be insured for scuba diving! They couldn't offer cover for using any form of machinery in the house. Has anyone else managed to find an insurer who will provide cover? I'm assuming that if I injure myself while using a chainsaw for example that the medical cover will be covered by the E111, maybe I'd better check that.Obviously in that case the repatriation wouldn't be covered though. Best Regards Alan.  

Our local Hotel used to offer an English translation of its menu. One of the offerings was "Grilled Sausage with a mustard sauce". In fact it wa Andouillette in a Mustard Sauce. I dread to think what the passing English tourist, expecting the equivalent of a breakfast sausage thought as he bit into the steaming delicacy...... Alan.

Looks like they are having a job making there mind up when it will open - I didn't imagine a date of October so it must have been there some time ago and I haven't bothered to look for ages as we can see progress on the spot. Perhaps they just moved the date back to December for a while so that they can claim it is open early in October. It looks as though they will have to go some to get it ready by October though - they hadn't even got the central reservation in near Bernay a couple of weeks ago. Maybe we should open a book on opening date. The junction with the A13 is just on the Rouen side of the Bourg-Achard junction and location doesn't seem to make a lot of sense unless there will eventually be a western bypass for Rouen or they are going to improve the road from there to the Pont de Brottone (sp?)  One of our options is to join the A13 at Bourg-Achard and we've found that the Pont de Brottonne  is quicker than going through Rouen if coming back late Sunday afternoon in summer when the A13 is often slow moving towards Paris. Best Regards Alan.  

Suggestion sent to you via e-mail. Best Regards Alan.