Richard51

The camp was organised by the Norwegian Labour Party and attract lots of young people who are interested in politics - particularly liberal politics (with a small 'l').  The killer held extreme right wing views.  His actions have effectively eliminated many of the next generation of liberal Norwegian politicians. Mrs R51

[quote user="crossy67"]Got a price for two 1600x420x4mm pieces of glass today.  £70!  I was gob smacked.  It seems there are very few places that sell glass round our way.  Are these prices the going rate round here or was the man that quoted me trying it on? [/quote] I just went to collect a picture which had been taken to have the non reflective glass replaced (teen sons and footballs...[Www])   Glass was 40cm by 45cm, cut to fit and fitted into the frame - cost me £3 (done by a picture framer / photographer at our local market in the UK).  I daren't think how much it would be in France. Mrs R51

Double post

The car my DH failed to mention was the Escort Mk II he sold me before we started going out (we were work colleagues at that point).  It was a lemon (despite his assurances that it was 'good and reliable' and would be 'a great first car').  I had to have a re-bore (brother and his mate re-installed engine - painted in very patriotic red, white and blue - but that is a whole other story!)  I had my moment of retribution.  Five minutes after he proposed and I accepted I pointed out that this, of course, meant he got his damn car back LOL [:D]   His face was a picture [:D][:-))] Mrs R51

If we all defaulted would they object or would we have to tow the line?

Wonderful thread. The car I remember most - an A35 van when I was a student. Bought for £35 (NB I was on a full grant then but that's another thread) and eventually sold for £5 in a morning and then I went out in the afternoon and bought a pair of shoes for £3.  The Mot had been introduced that year and it may well have failed - when bought the sills had been expertly covered with house drainpipes and the "respray" was with household paint. Then passing through a singles phase: including MGB and TR7 - the others were memorable for all sorts of reasons but not sporty . I loaned the MGB to a friend on the basis that he would take the car for an MOT in the morning and have use of it in the afternoon. He left it at my home at lunchtime as the garage described it as a death trap - eventually sold for scrap for £50, and my friend was not too impressed that his plans (definitely aimed to impress) were thwarted. The TR7 was also not that successful. Knew OH by that time and she wasn't that impressed with its failings. Since then rather mundane. We have tended to keep cars for long periods rather than swapping regularly. My current is a Skoda Fabia Estate 1900 TDi. New in 2001 and bought in 2003. Has given great service. OH has the "better" car. Currently a Toyota Auris which is extremely underpowered at 1400cc. She waxes lyrical about her previous Honda Civic (sporty version) which I totally agree with. Mr R51  

I've been listening , yet again, to the news describing the huge debts of the USA, Eurozone, UK. I'd love to get familiar with the people who have loaned all the money - who are they?

I guess the obvious first question for CGT (given the period and duration of ownership) is, is there actually a gain to worry about? Mrs R51

[quote user="Sashabel"]I think most people would pay a little more for better quality facilities, but I also think that the gite owners would benefit by having a fuller booking schedule each season because their gite would more in demand. [/quote] Totally the opposite Sashabel.  Outside the peak six / seven week summer letting period the weekly rental rates drop by 50% plus.  Add to that the weather becomes more inclement so the heating bills go up, renters spend more time indoors (and so more wear and tear on the furniture / furnishings).  As the weather becomes wetter there is also more chance of the muddy boots not being removed at the door and so trailed across the rugs. We consciously do not offer our gite for rental outside the peak weeks as the rental income doesn't cover the increased costs incurred - it simply isn't worth it.

If anyone feels strongly about the Murdoch media domination.... http://www.avaaz.org/en/murdoch_messages_2/?cl=1144738101&v=9510 Mrs R51

And you think all the above is laudable, Chancer????   I can see why you love life in France [:@] Mrs R51

[quote user="pachapapa"]Selected from my New York Times morning e-mail. Worth a read, definitely. Well for most people! http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/opinion/05nocera.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha212 You received this message because you signed up for NYTimes.com's Today's Headlines newsletter. As a member of the TRUSTe privacy program, we are committed to protecting your privacy. [/quote] Excellent article PPP. "To judge by his recent writings, Bernard-Henri Lévy prefers to live in a country where the elites are rarely held to account, where crimes against women are routinely excused with a wink and a nod and where people without money or status are treated like the nonentities that the French moneyed class believe they are." Mrs R51

PPP - you appear to be upset by "amoral immorality". In my book amoral equals not moral, immorality equals not moral. Therefore I assume you are upset by the assumption that the morals over sexual exploits of males in France, and other European countries (possibly Italy!) are perhaps less than in England (UK). All I can say is that whilst morals, whatever that means, of individuals are possibly the same, I can't envisage the situation where DSK or the entrenched Italian leader could survive in the politics of the UK. Your other posts on this thread seem, I think, to agree with this. I believe that its the differences in the developed "systems" rather than the morals of  individuals within that make the difference. Perhaps the less "moral" in the UK see this and either don't go into politics or keep their heads very low. I could, though, be very naive! Mr R51

[quote user="idun"]The more I see of this, the more disgusted I become. Tristane Banon is a young woman who, from what I have read was badly advised when this first happened. And now she has decided to do something is being attacked. Poor poor girl.   I just hope that if any woman who posts on here is ever a victim of sexual assault,  that it is not by a man who believes himself above the law of any country and too rich and powerful to make you feel not only violated but completely insignificant and worthless. [/quote] Excellent post, Idun!  I, too, am disgusted by the attitude of some on here.  TBH the opinions expressed on here just show how low French moral standards are...somewhere in the gutter.   Women are already subject to character assassination in rape trials; it is less onerous to be the defendant.  The offence doesn't need to have been committed by someone 'rich and powerful' - the average Joe in the stand will get more deference and consideration than the victim.   The 19thC, misogynistic attitude of French men is the one thing that has truly shocked me during the time we have owned a house in France.  The UK is, truly, streets ahead of France. Mrs R51

I thought the crisis was in the Eurozone [;-)]. 

Sorry that should have read a deterioration of sterling against the € - but I guess everyone (but Rabbie [;-)]) figured that out.  I didn't say that because it was in the ST it was true - I was just throwing another current article / opinion into the ring.   Are only anti £ / pro € articles permitted?? As I have said on here before, anyone who invests or borrows in another currency is gambling.  You just have to decide what aspect you'll try to hedge (viz cash flows or underlying value) and make sure you have enough (i.e. lots of!) head room...because currency, like interest rates, can fluctuate wildly.   Mrs R51

Since when were France big players in the international political arena?  Will anyone notice and, more to the point, will anyone (other than France) care?? Mrs R51

Sunday Times 'Money' supplement today is forecasting a deterioration in sterling against the pound in the short term (due to the increase in € interest rates) followed by a steady climb over the next three to four years back to the €1.30 to €1.40 to the £ of a few years ago.  The article cites 'leading money brokers' as saying the UK economy is stronger than the eurozone and that UK interest rates are expected to climb making the £ more desirable than the € in the longer term. Mrs R51

I am guessing then, Frenchie, that if your partner screwed around, you would still trust him implicitly in every other aspect of his life? IMHO, if a politician cannot be trusted to fulfil the solemn vows he made to his wife - why should the electorate trust him to be honest and responsible in his political dealings? Mrs R51

[quote user="Russethouse"]And that recorded phone call, openly wondering how much money she could make with that alleged rape story......  Just shows how well she fits in to the culture - [:)]  Do you honestly think its OK for a man in his position of authority and trust to go round having casual sex with any one who happens to be to hand ?[Www] (and it seems the proof of a physical liaison stands) There is private life and private life and frankly I don't give a toffee about the French press respecting privacy, the IMF is funded by its members, that's my tax money going toward his salary, whether he comes from France or Timbuktu he should some sense, some respect and show discretion. [/quote] That was my view RH.  I can't believe that he still has support in France.  He's a married man who, at the very best, had casual sex with an immigrant maid.  At worst, he is a violent rapist.  If he can't keep his **** in his trousers, then he deserves all that has happened to him.  French politics is at the same dire level as Italian politics.  First Chirac now DSK - sordid, immoral and fraudulent.  Yuck, what a slime ball! Mrs R51

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]One lot even wanted to know exactly how far from our house they milked the cows...[/quote] One of ours wanted the cows re-locating... 

[quote user="Nimportequoi"] Running gîtes is not very profitable, but you have to keep up with what people want or you lose bookings. [/quote] We are quite happily going with the lose all bookings option...and it will be bliss!

Boy do we know where you are coming from!  We have had guests who didn't wash a dish for their entire stay, ones that moved the furniture, those that bust the shower by forcing the temperature control (having problems getting a new valve so will probably need a complete new shower).  Then there were the ones that blocked the fosse - requiring a digger, new pipework and a large peg for the nose.   The new bicycles we brought were thrown around - seat punctured, dynamo and lights snapped off (then cunningly hidden).  Sun loungers broken, hammock frame snapped, muddy foot prints on rugs, red nail polish on bed linen, holes in the wall, water (from the hand held shower in the bathroom) sprayed all over the walls so that black mould grew, baths overfilled (by unattended children) so they overflowed and flooded the kitchen below - and fused the lights, thermostat on the cooker forced so we now have to buy a new oven (couldn't get a replacement thermostat)..... We have only rented for one summer (this is our second summer) and only used the place for ourselves for just a handful of weeks, most of which we have spent repairing and maintaining for renters. The final insult is that we only get an 'abatement' for expenses - when we have actually made a loss of over £4,000!!  Next year our holiday place will be for our use only!!!

[quote user="Sashabel"]So everyone who prefers a kingsize bed to a double is overweight?!!! How patronizing!! You can keep your old french beds - give me a modern, comfortable and decent sized bed any day.[/quote] There was a wink included - don't get so uptight!  Thebiga made a very good point.  Gites do not generate a massive income.  We rent out our holiday home to offset the expense of having the house (hence having old beds (our taste) with excellent mattresses (we both have back problems)).  We have a mortgage on our house and our accounts show that, even with twelve weeks letting, we still made a €4,500 loss.   For us the income was still worth having (just) as it contributes to our mortgage payments / utility bills.  We would never dream of buying a place just to rent it commercially - it simply would not make economic sense. We have never had a complaint about our beds - in fact most guests say how comfortable the beds are.  We have been asked for some weird things though - a filter coffee machine (even though we have a Senseo (with refillable dosette provided) and an Italian espresso maker), a large pasta pot...and a toaster.  The latter we thought weird as we predominantly rent to French holiday makers.  But maybe American style bread has spread to French kitchens too.  We have bought all the items requested. MrsR51

We have double beds - but that's because the beds are antique, period pieces - with new (top end) sommiers and mattresses of course.  Unfortunately, they didn't have king size beds in the 18th century. Edit - we are both quite slim so sleep quite comfortably in a double bed.   Maybe you just need to go on a diet? [;-)] Mrs R51