Janb

Micro climate in 84 absolutely wonderful; summer can be bit hot but just keep the shutters closed during the hotest part of the day - perfect. Winter heating bills are also low - the house is well-insulated, energy-efficient.

Try Ruth Teale in Varages - she looks after lots of interesting properties in the Var; [email protected]    

'so var so good' is very good - actually that would make a great slogan for something I'm working on; I'll keep you posted!

Thanks for that - I really didn't get the Basil Faulty one though!

SAINTES, 29 - 31 October 2004: 'Rally for International Disarmament', timed on the eve of the US presidential election, is crucial in mobilising support for the UN meeting in New York in April 2005. It is also part of the 'mayors for peace' and the international elimination of all nuclear weapons by the year 2020. It intended to make French and European public opinion more aware of this fundamental aspect of international security: nuclear weapons are the ONLY weapons of mass destruction. If Bush wins, it will reinforce what has already begun: an encircling of the globe of military units ostensisbly to combat terrorism. However, another factor is oil, water, gas - resources that we all so urgently need, more so in the US as they are the biggest users and polluters. At a practical level, forecasts estimate a doubling of our bills for these very same resources within the next five years, or even before. Contact [email protected] for details. Jan

Does anyone know a source of wool & cellulose fibre insulation? Also need some info on underfloor heating in a cave. thanks, Jan

tradition has it that everyone in the Var uses the traditional terracotta tiles. And in most of the house this is fine except the kitchen where they are a pain to keep looking nice. Given that the wine manufacturers are switching to screw type bottles, wouldn't it be better to use cork tiles - easier underfoot, quiet and renewable and it would help the age-old tradition of harvesting the cork. But I've never seen them in any of the DIY shops. Have you?

'Renovating & Maintaining your French Home' (2004) by Joe Laredo, published by Survival Books, 11.95 and available from WH Smith; in France I suggest you check the web site: www.survivalbooks.net Chapters on buying, budgeting prior to restoration; planning & preparation; obtaining permission; architects & builders; safety & insurance; material & tools; the roof; external walls; doors, windows & woodwork; fireplaces; plumbing; electrics/gas etc etc It is invaluable with good explations and the French equivalent when referring to technical/building terms - like the word for solid oak, not veneer: chene massif.

Does anyone know of B&B's, gites in the Lorgues, Cotignac, Thoronet, Carces area?

Are there any Gite owners in the Var, specifically around Cotignac, Lorgues, Carces, Thoronet?

Sorry if this is something everyone but me knows about BUT ... have any of you logged on to www.0044.uk.com and bought their French sim cards/french telephone numbers BEFORE travelling to France. The cost is 29.95.

You might enjoy Jeremy Paxman's which is now out in paperback, I think its simply titled, 'The English'.

Silly me - I thought this was a simple question which required a simple answer. That is, for those outside the euro zone France is more expensive give the global exchange rates, especially North America. And yes, it also may have something to do with 'rounding up' the euro so that the perception is that traders are making loads more on the transition (which is probably not true). Would those of you hurling abuse do so as readily if you were not sitting in front of a computer but rather talking to one another face-to-face like human beings? I found some of the responses shocking, and sad, and unkind.

I need to travel from UK to Alicante, Spain for a wedding but THEN need to get back to my own place in the VAR without traveling back to the UK. I could ferry hop on Transmediterranea but that means going to Ibiza first! Does anyone know of a simple solution?

I'm not sure where you are - I'm in the Var and the local rag is the 'Var Village Voice', a diary, local events, adverts etc - a really useful publication.

Try 'Grannies in Provence' - Elayne has many contacts throughout the region; I'm sure she can help.

I'm looking for a book of GR routes, specifically for the Var. Any ideas?

Don't be too distracted. The US adminstration is busily encircling the globe with a 'family of bases' - in addition to the 742 that already exist. Iraq has always been about oil and what the US and the West need to maintain their 4x4s. It is also about corporate power; the biggest US base since Vietnam has been built near Kosovo - near the soon to be constructed Caspian pipeline; it was built by that US Vice President's company and his friends: Halliburton, DynaCorp, Bechtel. This is why we must not be blinded by indifference; fascism is knocking on the door.

Great news! But don't forget, Saddam Hussein, like Osama, was an ally of the west - even when he was committing his worst ever atrocities. As long as Henry Kissinger, who illegally killed many more people than Hussein, or Ariel Sharon are not brought to justice, a trial of Saddam will rightfully be seen around the world as 'the law of the jungle'. The rule of law globally is being eroded; look at those being held without 'due process' in Guantanomo, London and Washington.