Rowan

Thanks. I have had numerous Russian visas in the past, but always from the Embassy in the UK, hence my question about getting one in France. The Russian Embassy in London has outsourced all the visa work, and no one in the Embassy will answer the question, whereas the agency to whom they have outsourced is there to make money, so aren't helpful at all! And yes, I do speak Russian! Think I will just send off my docs to Paris and see what happens! They do their own visa work, as presumably fewer French citizens got o Russia than Brits....

Hello all I am a brit, living in France and needing to apply for a Russian Business visa. Has anyone done this and if so can they give me some advice,please? I am expecting an invitation to arrive, but how can I get the actual visa issued? Do I need to go to Paris to get it, and if so to the Russian Consulate or does anyone know if there is an agency who will do this for me? Any advice most welcome! Thanks

My Honda izy mower is in date for its service and it starts fine, the problem is that it will only run for about 45 seconds before dying. It will restart immediately but, again, will only run briefly before dying. I've filled the tank with fresh fuel, the fuel tap is ON, the oil level is OK and the air filter is clean. Has anyone got any idea what is causing this and how to fix it?

Swissie Sometimes people arrive at the SPA and if it were my choice I would not let them adopt at all. Some people want dogs for the wrong reasons, in my opinion, either to make themselves look tough, or because the dog is in fashion (!). I know a life behind bars is not great, but at least I know the dogs are safe at the SPA. There are certainly worse places to be.... Anyway, once again, if anyone is thinking of getting a new dog, please consider a rescue dog! There is a beautiful brown border collie at the Carcassonne SPA right now. Young (about a year, I think) and really affectionate. Clearly an abandoned family pet. Brits love collies, so come on guys!

Hi All I had my little beagle, recently rescued from the SPA at Carcassonne (where I also volunteer) spayed immediately upon adoption. It cost €180. This additional cost would put off most of the adoptees. I wish Carcassonne would negotiate a special rate with a local vet, and this is something Florence and I are going to try and work on. I agree it is an essential step. One big problems is that when we have a rare breed in the SPA we worry that a potential adopter is going to use the animal as a puppy machine. The animal is probably better off with us, to be honest! The volunteers at Carcassonne are really trying to change things there, but it is hard. I am sure this is true of all the SPAs, but I only know what I know!

Swissie I was not offended at all by your comments. If I had my way no dog would be rehomed without being sterilised, either, but it is far more expensive than the SPA can afford. Florence is pro castration, too, as are all the volunteers. All the dogs I have had have been "done" either by the rescue centre or by me (well, not actually by me, I mean by a vet!), and I would love it to be SPA policy. But it is better to rehome the dogs unsterilised than not at all, I think. I have just come back from the US, where I was with work, and one thing they do there is take shelter dogs to malls etc and get them to meet people. The dogs themselves are available for adoption, but it is also a good way to publicise the local refuge. I would love to do something like that here, but not sure how it would go down.....Will ask Florence. As for euthanasia, a remarkable number of dogs are able to adapt to life in kennels, especially if they share with another dog and are played with and walked regularly, which is why volunteers are so important.

Ref neutering at Carcassonne, it was the first thing I asked. I was told that it was a question of money. To adopt a dog costs €90, and this covers basic vet costs and tattooing. The feeling is that no one would adopt animals if they had to pay for castration or sterilisation on top of that. Better to have the dogs adopted "intact" than not adopted at all! Ref dogs left for years behind bars, I personally think it is best to keep them alive, in the hope of future adoption. We have dogs adopted after 3, 4 years who adjust wonderfully to the world outside and who definitely deserve a better life.

The SPA at Carcassonne is overflowing and they are planning on euthanising some of the dogs, which breaks my heart. PLEASE PLEASE if you are thinking of getting a dog from there and were putting it off till better weather, or if you think you can find room for another dog in your home, now is the time. Apparently it has been years since this situation has arisen, and with luck this will be the last time it happens. I am away in the States with work and so don't know which dogs they are looking at getting rid of, but all of them are lovely, and I am so scared about coming home and having to ask which ones have gone to new homes and which ones have GONE gone. PLEASE!!! Thanks to anyone who can help. They don't do Famille d'Acceuil, by the way. Rowan

Thanks Nell I will do as you suggest. Didn't expect things to be this complicated, to be honest. So much for Europe!

Hi All I have recently moved to France and am busy changing addresses with my UK banks etc. The Co-op have aasked for a TIN number, which is, apparently, issued by "the authorities" similar to a National Insurance number. Does anyone know where I can get one of these? I am set up as an auto entrepreneur but am waiting for the final paperwork. Will the TIN be in there somewhere? Thanks If I can't provide one I have to provide a certified copy of a passport or Id card. Who can certify such a thing and how much will it cost, please? I am quite angry, to be honest. So much admin. All rubbish!

Yay Sent him up to twiddle. 5 minutes later and bingo! All perfect now. Thanks so much everyone. Wish I could treat you all to a pint! Rowan

Well, I can't get access to my dish, but my husband can! I will send him up there and let you know how he gets on. Many thanks for all your help, everyone! Rowan

Thanks, both! I am not sure if it is the dish alignment, cos the other channels are still perfect. Is it still possible that some work and some not? Yes, it has been windy! What is the LNB, please? I am a technical numpty! Rowan

Hi Does anyone else have a similar problem or any suggestions, please? We have a HUMAX freesat box and a satellite dish and live just outside Carcassonne. During the day we can get all the UK TV channels no problem, but in the evening (about 1800 ish) quite a few of them say "no or bad signal". It's not a broken up picture, the screen is just blank. This applies to BBC1, (which we can get still from one of the regional variations, like BBC NI), but also ITV3, 4, ITV2 and ITV2+1. At first we thought it was atmospherics, but it doesn't appear to be weather dependent. And until about a week ago this didn't happen at all. Does anyone know if they change the frequency at night, or does anyone have any other ideas? Thanks Rowan

Oh, the ones that are left in the woods don't often make it as far as the SPA. Sometimes the police or gendarmes bring them in. Not may people seem to realise that if you phone the SPA and ask them to come and get your dogs, they will do so. They much prefer that than having the dogs left to roam and maybe get killed by cars etc.

Pads, I just read the story of Frankie. Yes, it is hard for the dogs to get noticed, and there are several dogs up there who are lovely and gentle but have been waiting for homes for 21/2 years or more. But they are fed and are safe and in some cases probably have a better life than before. An owner is perfectly entitled to say they don't want to keep their dog if they are called to say it has shown up at the SPA. As I say, most of the dogs there were left by their owners who don't want them any more. Very sad, but In England the owners quite often cut the dogs ears off to stop them being identified from their tattoos.

Pads I have only been helping out there since we lost our last beagle, just before Christmas. I was going there regularly to look for a companion for our other dog, and realised how short of help they are up there. I walk the dogs, brush them and play fetch etc. Plus I help out with any language problems if any Brits show up. People quite often bring in lost dogs, which is wonderful, so thanks for that. But most of the dogs they have there are just tied to the gates by their owners who no longer want them. Heartbreaking.

Their Gameboys had probably run out of batteries. I think a lot of kids can't differentiate between computer games and reality. Not that I am excusing them in any way, I would happily inflict all sorts of horrible punishments on them. But at the same time I do think it is something that has gone wrong with society in general. My parents would have beaten the crap out of me for doing anything like this.

Don't worry, guys, I will keep you updated. Can't promise any pics tho', unless Bugsy is around!

I volunteer at the Carcassonne SPA several afternoons a week and she is just one of many dogs that I would love to have brought home, to be honest. Sometimes I think I prefer dogs to people. Lily is so trusting and wonderfully affectionate, despite her horrid experiences. None of this "I had a bad childhood so it's not my fault I am a mass murderer" rubbish from dogs!! And thanks again, Bugsy! I wish I could make my mistakes in a less public manner. Won't be trying that again!

Rats! I am a moron! Sorry! More fishing lessons required!!!

In that case, here goes again. Teach a man to fish, and all that! [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/rowan1965/IMG_0223.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks Bugsy, where had I gone wrong? Yes, she is a sweetheart.

oh, that doesn't look right. Just take it from me, she is BEAUTIFUL!

Not sure if this will work, but here goes. Thanks for the help with the photos. She is asleep in the sun now, obviously a bit sore, but wagging her little tail like crazy. Yes, I think she is a beagle elisabeth, bred for their size. I guess that is the cause of her problems! [IMG]http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx153/rowan1965/IMG_0222.jpg[/IMG]