tonyinfrance

Thanks GG - that's excellent news!

Thanks SD.  Our normal routes are Rouen past Le Mans to La Fleche (no queues on that route) and Rouen via Versailles to Carpentras in 84:  we've seen some hefty queues on that leg and since we have scheduled 3 trips to Carpentras this year it's time to get myself organised. I'm even contemplating a Tom Tom type device to warn me of any major holdups on the route although I've heard the continental traffic alert service is not as reliable as the UK's...

My mother has a headset system whereby the TV can still run at any sound level and she can adjust her headset to suit herself - if you'd like the model number etc. I'll ask her for it. Cheers Tony

Properly breezy here in Brighton - the Newhaven-Dieppe crossing will be rough today!

Guys - many thanks for your advice.  I can't understand why the majority of péage users still use cash or card when the tag appears to be low cost and highly convenient.........are the tolls the same for tags as for cash/card? A further question: do you know if they will deliver to a UK address?  We've had a Britline account for several years so billing is no problem but if delivery to a French address is required I'll have to coordinate with my pal in Carpentras. Thanks again.

Time to purchase a télépeage device: can anyone tell me if there are any special offers available? My friend in Vaucluse has a contract whereby he pays nothing for the months he doesn't use it and I'd like something similar.... Many thanks

Can't escape from the reality of rising prices, but we usually look for truck stops where a reasonable meal can still be had for a fair price.  A regular for us is just off the A7 at the Orange exit (Café du Soleil I think).  4 course meal and a pichet for 13 or 14 euros - not particulary cheap but not much is these days.......

Quillan - a "must have" in the litany of BL cars might be the Allagro........... I spent a year going up and down the M4 in my company Marina - happy days indeed!

That's a much better service than UK isn't it? We used to get annual health MoTs when I was travelling a lot but it was done through BUPA and cost (then) about £350 each.........

I can (just) remember dripping. Unlikely to pass Health & Safety expectations today........

I remember complaints in Italy about the price of a cup of coffee shooting up after the euro was introduced.  On the other hand I used to travel extensively in my work and I ended up with a fine array of more than 20 plastic bags containing various currencies:  still have many of them as they are non-convertible or obsolete now: in that respect the euro makes sense as an international currency but on a local level I'm sure people prefer their own (especially the French?)

I'm a bit surprised there isn't a government or community website to clarify what benefits accrue at age 60 (and 65).  I got a free bus pass here in Brighton when I reached 60 and we have the country's best bus service so that's a cracking deal.  When my wife reached 60 she found she could not get one - the council have pushed the qualification from 60 to 61. Free prescriptions - dead handy!  Free eye tests too I think.  Must be lots of other stuff out there I don't know about and I imagine the same applies in France......

Growing up in Nigeria in the 1960s I used to eat salt sandwiches.  Excellent! 50 years later my doctor is deeply unimpressed with this explanation of my continuing love of salt........  

Hi Gardengirl: when we were here last in June we drove to  the top of M Ventoux:  quite a trek and I was greatly impressed by the many cyclists we saw on the way up - met a couple of English cyclists at the top who were looking forward to the ride back down the hill... We are the unpaid slave labour for our friend here in Carpentras so it's mostly gardening and some minor house repairs for us this week.  However, we went to the main market this morning and found some quite good bargains (much different from the tourist pricing in the holiday season) and enjoyed some excellent coffee in the sunshine so all in all an excellent day. The serious stuff starts tomorrow.........

I feel a bit of a fraud:  we decided this afternoon to take the late night boat Friday and push on down all the way to Carpentras in Vaucluse - weather looks great! Happy days.....

Many thanks for all of your comments. I guess the weather is a bit of a gamble now wherever we go so I might take the lazy way out and look at the easiest route:  since we always use Newhaven-Dieppe I suspect the Vendée region might be the answer... Thanks again

We'll be looking for a gite for this coming weekend* - any suggestions for best weather in the middle of the country? My friend in Provence tells me we have to get south of Lyon but it's a bit too far south (about 5 - 6 hours from Dieppe is our plan) so any advice appreciated. *looking for peace & quiet, probably a bit rural.  Again, any suggestions will be welcome.......

I spent 30 years visiting Dallas on business and the first time - in the mid 70s - I was amazed at how complicated it was to order toast (to go with the excellent crispy bacon!) at breakfast. There were so many different types of bread available it took the waiter 5 minutes to get my order on to his pad!

Last year I met the neighbours next to my friend's house in Vaucluse:  they are both elderly (he's over 80) and when I asked how long they'd been married she replied "we're not married - we're lovers". Perfectly reasonable, although it sounded a little unusual to the English ear....

We've seen this charge on our monthly statements for the last few months:  I believe you can opt for online service rather than paper statements but have not taken any action yet.                       

One of the many joys of being over 60 is that LDL give us an extra discount - excellent value!

I would like to share an experience with you.  It has to do with drinking and driving. As you know some of us have had brushes with the authorities on our way home in recent years.  Well I, for one, have done something about it.   The other night I was out for a dinner and had a few drinks -- and having far too much vino, and knowing full well I was wasted, I did something I had never done before.   I took a bus home.   I arrived home safely and without incident, which was a real surprise, since I have never driven a bus before.

Shame as it looks like a really nice vessel. We use Newhaven where the LD ferries are not as modern but carry a lot of freight so with luck they will continue with their daily crossings.

Hey little girl, comb your hair, fix your make up Soon he will open the door. Don't think because there's a ring on your finger You needn't try any more For wives should always be lovers too Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you......... I was tempted to print this out so I could hang it on the kitchen wall as a little reminder for my beloved. Then I thought about it again and concluded she would wrap it round a rolling pin and put it to good use........

This thread brings to mind a hit from years ago - 'ad a love affair wiv Nina In the back of my Cortina A seasoned-up hyena Could not 'ave been more obscener it gets a bide rude later on..................