Keelstow

bit more information, having googled the word  "Escargotière" from the previous post. intresting observations from the english guys site where he says french demand cannot be satisfied, so oppenings for producers? http://www.heliciculture.co.uk/index.asp http://escargot.free.fr/eng/links.html  

we visited this place as part of a "dimanche à la ferme" july 2006 (Jura/Doubs.) The  proprieter was giving a long talk to some interested visitors and we were getting the general gist of it. There seem to be a few producers locally so It might be worth contacting him or even staying at his auberge and seeing his set up in "action"  I hope posting links is OK http://www.valdamour.com/index.php3/id_structure/326/page/detail/type/608   seems like a laid back occupation

Where did you read it.?.......sounds more like living in the channel islands that a fellow EU state. There is no such thing as a burden on the state in my view.  At the same time one does not want feel in the situation "be a mouse eating another man's cheese". If I decide to live in France full time its my choice and if benifits are needed I have the EU laws to back up any unforseen circumstances. The recent moves to block health cover are enough nonsense for one decade

I have been checking out what’s available in my area using telephone numbers of the local "mairies" into www.journaldunet.com/adsl/ and remain unimpressed with the zero offering in most places! Even reasonable sized towns remain on dialup Is there any commitment as in the UK to roll out services to all areas of France. One of the locals in the village says people want it but the mayor has the final word. In affect the town underwrites the offering and without it can one goes without! I guess we had the same in the UK where people put names forward so that BT could assess demand before doing an unbundling of the local loop according to greatest demand. To be fair just about all of the UK is now broadband. For the moment the house in France is used for breaks (and this includes from TV and computer use), but when I go and live there I need broadband for an ever increasing list of uses. I would be grateful to know how others have seen services arrive at their houses and what pressures would facilitate access. Surely the rural  economy needs broadband, as some the villagers already testify, and implementation would provide a boost  

thanks for the quick reply..seems like a lot of peple are using this site online, must use more myself and hopefully to contribute info sounds promising regading card. especially interested in popular Nationwide debit card possibities

are uk issued credit/debit cards being accepted at these fuel pumps yet? until recently we were obliged to sign basic store transactions but can now use PIN just about everywhere. A freind claims his card is OK but my nationwide one has never worked at  a pump as it would in the UK have anyone managed to get fuel by PINing in on the forecourt I ask as this facility would be useful on sundays and during other store closing times thanks for any information as regards changes that have occured since I was last in france last summer martin

I am going to renew my house insurance in France towards the end of July and currently use an agent in a local town.  Although it seems reasonable priced it is not the way I do things in the UK . Like many others the internet seems the best option to shop around and find competitive prices I have looked at a couple of sites so far http://www.direct-assurance.fr/homepage/hp.aspx http://www.macif.fr/ and even with my limited french it seems easy enough to arrange on line at a price well below what I pay through the agent. They seem to want to know the surface area of the property and your profession to quote a price Does anybody else have experience of buying on line for a french property and any of the things to watch out for...are there any sites to recommend or avoid? I realize this may not be the place to post this sort of question and any help in getting a better response is also helpful martin

thanks for the information. I will be buying a set from castorama (or such like )for less than 100 euro and replace free to air box which is 3 years old. The FTA box is not that good and choice is quite limited.  I see BBC are about to offer a digisat package but will be much harder for them to find suppliers at this sort of price. Hope to post to let you know how I get on ..still not sure if I need to provide address on purchase. Colleague sugests buying in Calais as they will be use to selling to UK citizens martin

satelite for use in UK (where I am now) I consider my time in Jura better off without TV Video 'interferance' and will inform other English people who use set solely for vids the real situation thanks for advice supprised how busy and helpful this forum is martin

won't take set if not lawful but other residents in village seem to think they have a right(??) ....for the £70 annual fee cinema would be better option! set top box is for UK use only but purchase may require proof of addresss so that could be a limitation martin

local authorities seem to want to tax you for this as part of your rates I filled in a decleration saying i did not have set but not sure if watching videos without ariel is ok   martin

Intend to buy one of those cheapish 70 euro digital satellite kits when over for summer and wonder would it work in UK.   I have a dual band TV (pal-secam)but not sure of any other unforeseen problems.   Eventually it will be taken back to France, but would think its worth the price to see if its any good for German music programs I intend to see in UK during winter through Astra satellite   Any helpful information greatly appreciated   Martin   Jura

TV Licence for watching Videos in France   Do I need a licence if this is the only way I’m going to use my portable non ariel connected set.   I don’t need any TV news etc but kids would like to watch videos   Appreciate helpful any replies   Martin   Jura

just recieved e-mails from SeaFrance and Speedferries offering rediculously low prices for Dover crossings Feel sorry for anyone shelling out over £60 for a crossing this year this will be a battle to the death with the small guy going under as a consumer I will not be swayed by sentimentality, but will play safe by sticking with the big fleets for reasons of choice and protection of not losing booking when someone goes under hope this helps

no chance of service to brittany from donny!!! they only run Dublin from Leeds so wont bother from donnyhood ....in my estimation only trying to put off Thompson by increasing competition.   brittany seems poorly served by air but may be due to nearness of ferry ports new airport at Nantes may help otherwise KLM may have connecting flights from Humberside