Hectorsdad

Thanks NickP for the update. I looked carefully at the Lloyds website and their covid testing. At first sight it was wonderful showing all their branches offering appointments throughout their opening times. I visited our local one, half a mile away, and spoke to the staff. They checked that they actually had the correct tests but added that due to a shortage of pharmacists it was very likely that this store would be closed at the time I wanted. I then went to two other stores and found they were fairly clueless about how it all worked and they could not offer any help. Finally my wife got involved and phoned another store quite close to us and was greeted by a very keen pharmacist who agreed an appointment time that was mutually agreeable and told us not to bother with the online booking system because she would do it all herself. We went today and she tested both of us, put our data in her computer and generated the certificates. This was ten minutes away and took twenty minutes in the pharmacy. With the certificates in our hands I then cancelled the bookings at Boots in Portsmouth, 35 miles away. All seems well for the ferry in the morning. I don’t even feel bad about the reported imminent relaxation in the rules. We will benefit from no tests for our next trip in March.

NickP, I did not know before reading this thread that Lloyds offered COVID testing for travel. Looking on their website I have found test in store LFD tests for £29.99 and test at home for £20 - £25. Please tell me how to get it for free. Maybe it has changed since your good fortune. Lloyds seem to offer tests in all my local pharmacies but Boots are expecting me to complete a 70 mile round trip to Portsmouth to receive their in store test costing £19.99.

This evening there have been announcements that the testing requirements will be reduced from 11 February. I have not read the details but for us (fully vaccinated) we will not need to book and take a C19 day2 test when we return later in the month. Very relieved! There are changes for unvaccinated people who will lose the day 8 test if I heard correctly. I guess the full details will be in print very soon.

Marais, do you have a line connected to your building already or will the work involve a completely new connection from a nearby pole on the roadside? This might affect the timescale offered by Orange(FT). Your main requirement seems to be broadband for internet and particularly for UK TV. Others on this forum may be able to offer advice about the UK TV aspect but although we have Orange broadband we have been unable to receive UK BBC TV because we are in France. We have tried several VPNs without success as the UK companies are constantly blocking their attempts to hide. We rely on a satellite dish for Uk TV though that is dependent on your geographic position in France. We had to replace our 80cm dish with a 100cm diameter one which works very well. We are in central France.

Welcome to the forum and a happy New Year to you.

Exactly why we bought a second home in the depths of rural France 21 years ago and we have enjoyed it immensely. Regardless of the rights and wrongs of M. Macron’s approach to keeping France save we would like to visit our home as soon as the restrictions are reduced.

I have seen many recent references to failed fosses during the sale of houses. It would seem that the buyer will be given one year to rectify any problem with the fosse. It is a matter of negotiation whether you contribute by reducing your price. You could argue that the agreed price took account of the fosse failure.

I would not hesitate to simply replace the entire toilet and cistern. Accept that you will destroy the existing tiles and general structure and choose a new system that will satisfy your needs. Plan it carefully and expect to finish up with a highly desirable, modern, working toilet. I would try to design it so I had easy access for future maintenance.

I had trouble at the local Boots the Chemist and was cross questioned about why I needed iodine crystals. Nevertheless he relented and sold me a small, sealed box. I made the very unstable tri-iodide crystals, collected some in a tiny , plastic container and went off to school. They were marvellous causing mayhem and much entertainment in our classroom. Unfortunately, the next day I tried to repeat the exercise but my plastic capsule in my trouser pocket suddenly exploded while the class was lined up. I can still locate the small depression in my leg but the violet stain only lasted a few weeks. I think we have highjacked this thread which was a question about weed killer. Sorry OP! I usually resort to paying good money for a systemic weed killer such as Weedol. The drive and paths get a fine spray treatment when we leave to return to the UK and it definitely keeps the weeds in check.

Excellent advice! It was the first thing that came to mind when I read the method of construction. I survived without any premature ignition due to my lucky observation of hitting the unconfined “gun powder” with a hammer on a brick. I was ultra careful when building my bombs. We were short of bicycle frames so had to make do with old mortar shells. I can’t believe someone else knows about Jetex fuse. I still have my Jetex 50 with some fuse and fuel blocks. Thanks for jogging my memory.

You could investigate the city of Rouen, only 86 miles by direct train from Paris. It has plenty of history, architecture and cultural action. You probably would land at CDG, RER into Paris central and cross to Gare St Lazare. This would take about one hour followed by the leg to Rouen taking about 90 minutes. I like the entertainment schedule you are considering for Paris. Hope you enjoy it. Make sure you have access to UK/US television channels for your husband!

This year the numbers seem to be down and also spread out. Yesterday there were several squadrons passing overhead, probably amounting to a few thousand. Usually they appear at 5he turn of October and November but from the reports here they have been sporadic over a longer period. At least we are still in France so have not missed them.

Thanks for the link which gives an absolutely clear explanation. I forgot to bring our chains but we are not in or near any affected zone. Interesting to find one of the abbreviations comes from the English language. I.e. “3PMSF” (3 Peak Mountain Snow Flake)

It seems like you will have produced an ideal drive that is likely to be stable and attractive. What a lot of hard work! I have a similar situation with our weedy drive that did look good when we first spread a new load of gravel but I am not inclined to lay that amount of reinforced concrete and stone. You have already described the amount of work you have put in and the enormous cost so I hope you are eventually able enjoy the aesthetics of your creation regardless of the type of vehicle you own. Good luck and thanks for the interesting account of your (and your OH) efforts.

I have watched the first five minutes while preparing breakfast and it is very interesting. It deserves a full viewing later today. Thanks for posting it.

I don’t think she is more than a token candidate without any hope of making an impact. It seems that Socialism in France is unlikely to recover in the near future.

[quote user="anotherbanana"]Alistair, my feeling is that it is best to wait a couple of days ro see if this is confirmed, so I shall book a test just in case or at least be ready to do so. Guess we will have to watch the website and cross fingers.[/quote] We had a 75 mile round trip to Boots in Fareham for our antigen tests. All very efficient and we received negative results by email on our way home. That site was misleading us with a bit of mis-cut and pasting and has since been corrected so we are all back to testing bot( ways. On our way tomorrow night. Alistair

Good to see that Mark Cavendish has been given a place in the Quick Step team. It follows the withdrawal of Sam Bennett who is still recovering from injury.

I have followed your link, translated into English and can’t believe it! It seems very clear that I no longer need a test before leaving UK for France. Why has it not hit the newspapers with some force? Please, could someone confirm this is the new, true state of affairs? This would save us a trip to Fareham and the cost of two tests. Thanks for highlighting this change. Alistair

Realistically ALBF you should not be considering a family trip to UK at the moment. It is simply too expensive and as the other members have said, the ten days in quarantine for your family would take the edge off any holiday. It may all change quite soon if we are very lucky. Wait till then. With the same money you could have a luxury tour of some art of France that you know to be full of interest.

Thanks for your concern. I did get a booking on the overnight crossing the night before we wanted to go. Unfortunately this incurred an additional £85. It just fits in with the Covid test timing. The dog will find it very strange because he is used to the early morning procedure and he likes to stick to the usual rituals

BF have cancelled trips on the Normandy till some date in the middle of July. We received an email telling us our journey was cancelled and to choose again.

[quote user="anotherbanana"]Chessie, how old is the car battery?[/quote] Chessie, you say it is a new battery but exactly how new? It would also be helpful to tell us the make, model and year of your car. Some of us have detailed knowledge of specific cars and only a general understanding of most cars. We have all, probably, faced your non-starting predicament but invariably find a simple solution after many attempts to solve the mystery.

Following on from the suggestion that it may be a crossbill, do you have spruce or other fir trees near by? We have had plenty of crossbills in the Surrey Hills where we are surrounded by these forests and only see the birds when they come down to drink from our waterfall and birdbath. They do have very similar markings to the House Finches you referenced.

In the UK we have personal knowledge of about 20 couples and a few singles who have had their first jab with about 50:50 AZ and Pf. In every case there is a waiting time of 12 weeks for the second jab. This is just a policy decision made by the government and not based on the recommendations of the manufacturers.