Catalpa

[quote user="Bugsy"]Get yourself an electric fencing system. Low power with the wire set 10cm above the ground will work.[/quote] No it doesn't - they just hurdle it! I've seen them. Fence to the ground - or ideally 6 inches into the ground - with electric wire in front does work though, at about that height. We are having the same problem, H, and there aren't enough foxes around to deal with the rabbits. Which isn't a totally bad thing as we have free-range chickens. The rabbits appeared last year - for the first time in 10 years - and we are going to have to fence our veggie garden, which is irritating.

Maybe Baggy climbed in the back of a car and got out (or was ejected) elsewhere. But what a lovely story and it proves that all of us muppets who've wandered around roads and fields calling a missing moggy are doing the right thing and sometimes it works. [:D]

[quote user="Bali"]...I have played with these time wasters in the past, but these days I simply don't have the time. [/quote] Sometimes I do still play with them... yes, it wastes my time but I get a mildly warm glow when I think that I'm wasting their time too with my niggly little questions (dates of birth of all guests, please... and when those arrive I request the place of birth as well... then I simply must have the expiry dates of all passports...) and I keep asking for repeats of emails because theirs arrived garbled. Sometimes I change the dates they want in the subject header but then I don't mention it in the email... and they never pick up on it... [6]

What excellent news and what a lovely time of year to receive it - such a time of renewal and energy... [:D]

[quote user="5-element"]And has anyone mentioned the Millenium Trilogy yet? Such a shame that author Larsson died so early, so it will remain just a trilogy.[/quote] I really enjoyed the books, 5-E. Along with millions of other people. [;-)] And unusually (I think) the each book got better. Normally, the plotting / premise in a third book is stretched out and often hardly worth the effort but the third book in the trilogy was the best. I couldn't put it down. Fortunately OH bought them for me for Christmas so work was not beckoning as I sat in front of the fire with a box of choccies and read. Bliss. One of the best Michael Connolly books is Blood Work. Or maybe I think that because it was one of the first I read years ago - pre-movie. I've been re-reading a few of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone books recently and enjoying those. She writes the alphabet series of books and she manages to keep each story fresh and interesting. And I like Lee Childs too. However, a writer I don't bother with nowadays is James Patterson. I'm not surprised he heads the "most borrowed" lists at libraries... I wouldn't bother buying his more recent books.

It is interesting that you rarely hear of or read about (to pluck a few nationalities at random) Polish, Pakistani or Chinese expats working in Britain. They're always... immigrants. Whereas when British people migrate abroad, miraculously they become... expats.

I never got into B&S - Calista Flockhart was one of the problems... she irritates me. But I do like QT and the Andrew Neil show (I think it is "This Week", G.) I love Charlie Brooker but I think the 10 o'clock show has yet to find its feet... or niche... or something. And I really like Jon Stewart... but was surprised the Daily Show lasted as a daily show on UK tv for as long as it did. I don't tape much nowadays... because I just end up with tapes that I never get around to watching. Haven't encountered Eli Stone... But I might watch dirty rotting animals because while I know what happens I don't know how it all happens and I suspect there are all sorts of inter-dependencies and it's all more complex than a lot of flies and maggots. Which came first... the fly or the... [6] In fact, if I'm remembering the trailer correctly, something like 600 creatures get food or complete part or all of their life cycle during the disintegration... which is amazing... Sorry Coops. [:$]

I am enjoying The Good Wife, though Coops! It's the reason I'm over on More4 too. [:D] I'm not finding it as gripping as series one but can't wait for Alicia to find out that she's missing that vital message from Will.

I've only seen it trailed once but the impression I got was that the purpose is to inform people who're interested about how a dead animal benefits the wildlife food chain - how there'll be various creatures who'll "assist" in deconstructing the animal and perhaps have evolved in order to do so. And probably will feed off each other too during the process. Nowadays we know that ivy covering a dead or dying tree has enormous value as a resource for many insects and other beasties. So - depending on how it is presented - explaining the value of an animal carcase after death... as it transitions to skeleton form via decompostion and the wildlife it supports throughout is simply another facet of this amazing world in which we live. I'm not saying it's a "must see" but if the purpose is what I think it is, I feel it is potentially far more worthwhile from an education and a simple "nature is amazing" point of view than any number of man-related programs that show (glory in?) human operations, aberrations, etc.

[quote user="pachapapa"]Do you mean I will not be taking Schrödinger's cat on a gite holiday this year?[/quote] I suspect you may be asked for a higher than normal damage deposit which may be retained in full by the owner - radioactive cleanup being expensive and likely to result in severe allergic reactions in subsequent guests.

[quote user="Polly"]...I was just postulating a scenario (an extremely unlikely one) for the purposes of debate and general enlightenment through such a debate.[/quote] Reasoned debate and general enlightenment rarely comes through examination of extreme - and unlikely - scenarios.

[quote user="Polly"]If you did charge a fortune for cleaning, pet owners could rightly expect the place to be IMMACULATE on arrival and boy, could they make you work for that money a fortnight later (just by asking their kids to 'do your worst').[/quote] Putting aside the fact that many owners do provide IMMACULATE accommodation and that in itself can be a reason that they do not accept pets, proposing that a holidaymaker would choose to pay the "fortune" and then require their kids to trash the place during their stay rather lacks logic. More logical to choose accommodation that did not charge a fortune for cleaning in the first place. And apart from any higher than normal cleaning charge, renters of most holiday accommodation hand over a refundable damage deposit from which deductions can be made if the renters "do their worst". A vindictive holidaymaker could pay dearly for satisfying any urge for spiteful behaviour. But perhaps that's your experience of responsible pet owners, Polly. [6]

If this ruling is allowed to stand - the EU courts may challenge it as it is a French law not an EU law - it may be possible to make the property unattractive to pet owners by a) charging for the pet separately as you would an extra person - eg pets, 50 euros per night per animal, b) applying a separate and mandatory cleaning charge (say 500€) to return the accommodation to a pristine condition fit for those who suffer from animal-related allergies - thus convincing those who do that you take their needs seriously, c) requiring all pets to be muzzled outside the property and d) requiring them to be on leads on the property and suggesting that spot checks will be carried out during the rental period. As a pet owner, I'd go elsewhere. I recently tried to find accommodation via GdeF for acquaintances who were visiting the area with their dog. In an area with a high proportion of holiday homes, both French and British owned, I was surprised by how few took pets. I'd rather assumed that most French-owned rentals would. They don't. Accordingly, I think GdeF and Clévacances will fight the ruling and this being France, what chance does a mere consumer organisation have? [:D]  

[quote user="AnOther"]And if you want it reinforced: http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F16540.xhtml?&n=Transports&l=N18&n=Automobiles%20et%20deux-roues&l=N529&n=Contr%C3%B4le%20technique&l=N539 [/quote] I didn't, particularly, but I'm sure PPP did and is pleased and relieved you have done so. It doesn't alter the fact that cars can be and are sold without a CT that conforms to the letter of the loi. This is France and as we all know, real life often runs somewhat parallel to the rules, intersecting when convenient. As you observed yourself elsewhere quite recently. But as you also observed there, these workarounds are reliant on the participants understanding what they are doing. Or not doing.

Brilliant series. It really seemed to have the welfare of the participants at its heart, not the tv ratings. Although I think it probably achieved both. It was wonderful to see the kids grow in self-confidence - and self-esteem - as the weeks progressed. And they were praised on their real achievements too, it wasn't empty praise. You could see the younger ones growing up over the period. And unlike the Apprentice - which someone mentioned - these kids really worked well together (occasional spat aside) and seemed genuinely happy for each others successes...  it was perhaps the first time some of them had really encountered teamwork. I thought it was truly inspirational tv and Michel Roux, Fred et al were just wonderful.

No. But I'm sure you can Google.

[quote user="just john "]ie I believe that if it has less than 6 months the seller is obliged to put a new CT on the car (or pay the costs of doing so)?[/quote] It's not obligatory. A car can be sold with no CT at all. But in either instance (<6 months CT or no CT) it will reduce the value - sale price - of the vehicle in part because the state of the car is unconfirmed by CT but also because to re-register the car in the name of the new owner a "more than 6 months to run CT" is required. So s/he will have to go to the trouble / cost of getting a CT before re-registration can take place. A successful sale at an acceptable price is more likely to be achieved if the current owner gets the CT done. Edited to add: Some vendors only get the CT done when a sale is agreed - subject to a successful CT. Then they don't waste money on a new CT if they get no buyers.

Hello Soggy - There are solicitors in the UK who specialise in French property purchase. Whether they are worth consulting rather depends on how much you are planning to invest in your French property, whether you intend to buy as a holiday home or you intend to move to France permanently and whether you understand the inheritance laws in France which are fundamentally different to those in the UK. This is particularly important if you are with a partner but not married and have children either together or separately. If you are confident you know what you're doing and your French is good enough to read the sale paperwork and request any relevant clauses to be included, you can easily go it alone. If you don't... and your investment in the property is significant... then I would consult an English-speaking UK solicitor who understands the issues involved in buying French property. As part of your pre-signing research, don't forget to find out all you can about the village or town in which you are purchasing. For instance, most notaires (or immos) in my area won't tell you (unless you ask specifically) that a run of high-tension pylons are going to be erected between Cherbourg and the borders of Brittany. This will blight a number of very attractive villages in this area. Or there may be landfill site proposals, etc. Good luck with your purchase.

[quote user="Quillan"]Laymyhat is very good but it is for rentals only and not B&B's...[/quote] It covers B&Bs too... http://www.laymyhat.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=37

[quote user="allanb"]I don't see how a document signed by only one party could possibly be a binding contract, and I don't think I would trust a builder who wanted to work on that basis.[/quote] I'm not sure about this but... if an artisan composes a devis, gives it to a client and and the client signifies acceptance by signing it, a binding contract exists even if the devis has not been signed (as far as the client knows) by the artisan. Obviously the artisan is in agreement with the devis (if there are no significant changes) because he wrote it. As he has the signed devis, he could choose to sign it any time if considered expedient. Therefore, Dennis, the lack of response may mean nothing more than (further?) laziness on the part of your carpenter; if you do get additional quotes from other carpenters and sign a devis with one of them, you may find you are still committed to the original carpenter for payment. Which would be a bad thing.

[quote user="Dennisj"]I have received an estimate from an English French registered builder, he has sent it by e-mail in english and asks that I translate it into French... [/quote] Then he's likely to be lazy, unprofessional - as he risks (as Coops suggests) you putting all sorts of things into the devis that he didn't and I too wouldn't touch him with the proverbial. However, in the event of a dispute, any disparity between original English-language devis and the more inventive translation would come to light. [:D] Remember that if you are again asked to pay for work before you have seen it, in this glorious technological world you can ask for photos detailing the work either by email or hard copies sent snail mail. No photos, no payment. But you would be wise to set that up as a payment condition before signing a devis if you think you can't inspect the work personally.

There are rants - and highly defensive, testy rants at that - coming from only one person on this thread.

[quote user="cooperlola"] Hmm.  Fighting off guys you don't fancy in the name of work is not much fun. [/quote]And when you've successfully - and politely - shown absolutely no interest, you depart knowing that by the morning they're likely to pretend they were successful anyway.

[quote user="cooperlola"]Why is it that people feel they can get away with upsetting people and bandying offensive language and sexist slurs  about?  [/quote] Because some people have a deep seated contempt for those considered inferior - whether that be because of perceived station in life, dress... or the opposite sex generally. When it surfaces and they are challenged they bluster and bark defensive accusations such as (currently) political correctness or a lack of humour in the challenger but it doesn't disguise the fact that their views are judgemental, often not based on fact and plain offensive.

[quote user="Chancer"]I cannot believe the venom that comes forth on this forum regarding one or the other or especially the both of them, what is behind it?[/quote] I'm mildly surprised too - though some participants do have a long history of committing disparaging remarks about women to print. And of course, Ms Bruni quite likely never made the remarks  - I don't trust everything I read... even in the Telegraph. Still, as a launching pad for venting of spleen it obviously served a purpose...