JohnM

[quote]About a month ago I saw a Golden Pheasant - just walking about a field in Yorkshire (I was on a train at the time). I suppose it was an escapee, but it looked superb.NB Rabbits eat their own droppings...[/quote] I'd forgotten that rabbits eat their own droppings. Do I remember rightly that it's because the rabbits appendix breaks down cellulous (as ours used to) but the appendix is after the nutrient absorbing part of the intestine, so it has to eat the droppings in order ingest the goodness? Apart from the fact that our appendix doesn't work, I think the concept of eating droppings is a good reason for me not wanting to be vegetarian! (This is not to say others shouldn't be if they so wish, I'm just using it as a very good reason for me not being one).  

OK, I'm know I'm being Percy Pedant, but short sighted (Myopic) people can see close work very well. You are probably Hypermetropic (Long Sighted) or Presbyopic (Old Sighted). Twenty years ago I found that "Old Sighted" expression quite funny.... it doesn't seem so funny these days! Anyway, the real reason for posting. As long as web page designers have designed with the ethos of HTML in mind, you should be able to increase the size of the print on a web page. On Internet Explorer you do this by going to the "view" drop down menu and then the "text size" option. This doesn't work on all web pages as some (many) designers want everyone to see the page in exactly the same way instead of letting the viewer's computer make formatting the decisions.

I get fed up with football managers wanting a "Result" - I really can't understand why they don't hope for a win or a least a draw. A result is a foregone conclusion! Oh and "Scoreline" what's wrong with "Score". Oh and let's not forget those that want to qualify absolutes....almost unique for example... oh and Govment or Goverment instead of Government, people who don't realise that Ophthalmologist starts Ophth so is Off.... not Op.... Chiropodist pronounced Shropodist instead of Chiropodist (as in Chiropractor).... What have people got against the letter T, it gets dropped nearly as often as the humble H (That is NOT pronounced Haitch). Bet I'm grumpier than you. (But I bet Dick can correct me on loads )  

[quote]What's the difference between human waste and animal waste??? Well, outside of pigs, horses and other farm animals are not fed other dead animals. I for one am not interested in eating food that has...[/quote] Wind up or not, I don't particularly like the thought either, but it's nature so I don't think about it. I am not sure the analogy between, washing hands after using the loo and eating veg which has drawn its nutrients from decaying matter, is a very good one. A plant may absorb poisons (heavy metals) etc while it is growing, but I don't think it absorbs bacteria. As an aside (and an even more unpleasant thought) it seems that "usually" the bacteria in waste from healthy humans, will NOT cause illness in another individual. The problem only occurs in the case of unhealthy individuals - we actually only NEED to wash our hands when we are unhealthy... but as we sometimes don't know that we are unhealthy until it's too late, it's far better to always wash our hands. I shall continue to do so even when not being watched!  

What's the difference between human waste and animal waste? It's nature, just don't spend too long thinking about it.  

I'm not sure where to put this, is it travelling to France or Property owning? So I'll put it here. For those of you looking for property, you may find this email I had from Seafrance interesting (but then again, you may not). The opening lines say:- SeaFrance is holding a French Property Clinic on board the award-winning SeaFrance Rodin on 9 October 2004, so join us and find your dream property in France. Latitudes, our French property partners will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about choosing an area of France and purchasing a property. The Property Clinic will be held on the SeaFrance Rodin as follows Depart Dover08:0012:1516:15 Return Calais11:1515:1519:30 If you travel from Dover to Calais on the 08:00 or 12:15 it may be possible to view some local properties. Latitudes will try to arrange viewings for you with their agents in France, on the day.    

[quote]My reactions to this are: 1: 60 children!! and in a relatively short space of time (2 years). Worse than anything ever reported in the UK. How on earth was he able to carry this out? Very serious cri...[/quote] I know this is slightly off topic but the use of the words "No 'allegedly's -" interested me. I was taught that the contestants of "Have I got news for you" were advised not to use that phrase. The defence against a libel charge is that what you are saying is true.... if you say "Allegedly" then you obviously are not sure it is true, so why should a Judge or Jury?    

[quote]These contraptions are not for 'completely unnecessary items'. They are for your luggage on the return journey, when the car is too full of wine to allow anything else inside. However, I believe it is...[/quote] Oh? So what are those long boxes designed for if not to let the other driver have a proper kip? I know you can put skis in them but I thought they were designed as a sleeping compartment! 

I can't remember if I've asked this before, I know I've thought it! If I have asked, I've certainly forgotton the answer and worse still, can't find the question or answer in a search! As an "occasional" visitor who sometimes lets friends use the cottage, should I take any positive action re health advice. At the moment all I've done is copy the doctors list from the window of the tourist office and put in the "How to use and do everything in John's Alpine Hideaway" guide . Do you think I should:- 1. Contact one (or more) of the doctors and ask if I can use / recommend him / her / them. 2. Forget the GP's and just put the emergency number, hospital address and Taxi number by the phone. 3. Both. 4. None. What do you do?  

I guess the answer is "Don't just stick to one method". Every time I go/come back to France my friends say my French has improved through the lessons and every time I go/come back to lessons, the class say my French has improved. I find CD's tapes in the car very difficult as I want to look at the book, or find out what "that" word means, but they do help. I find listening to french Radio very very hard, but good when I've finally worked out what a news story is about (My french teacher says she has been in the UK for 10 years and still finds listening to English Radio very hard - so there is hope for me with French radio). At the moment I try to do a daily dose of www.Wordprof.com along with everything else. My favourite method has to be TRYING to converse with sympathetic french friends.  

Out of interest, how do you address a letter to the Mairie asking this sort of question? Should it be to the mayor by name (I've never met him) or a more generic, "The Planning Officer" (whatever that may be in france). I bet it's another of those things that change by department but I appreciate your views.  

The kitchen installation is going well then!  

So... Dick... are you saying that the story about:- Harold walking round his troops the night before to give a pep talk and boost moral; coming across swordsmen practising, and complementing them thus "with swordsmanship like that we shall surely win the battle"; then coming across lancers going through their paces and giving a similar speech "if all the lancers are as good as you then we have won already"; finally finding the archers, most of whom are good but one in particular is C**p, turning to him and saying "you need to be careful or you'll have somebody's eye out" may be in doubt as well?????? I hope not!    

Even though the course has started, conact the school. If they have only been going a week or two they will probably still bite your arm off to get you in the class. The first 2 / 3 weeks are not settled! I went to a class last night and found some people that I'd seen the week before, some new ones and found a few had already gone.  I expect the same next week as well. By the way, if you've not been to anything like that for years and you find the prospect daunting, then remember that 95% of the class probably found it just as daunting. AND if you don't understand, don't assume the rest do. ASK, the rest of the class will probably thank you! Good luck.  

[quote]I've not enough knowlege to comment I'm afraid. Just had to say I enjoyed the old ladies too - in fact the whole opening post by whoever it was (sorry, can't see their name on this screen).[/quote] I agree, the writting style really brought a smile to my face on this dreary morning.  

This might be of interest http://www.saveenergy.co.uk/gid/ (I know I could have edited my previous message, but I want to be a senior :whistling  

I can't find the web pages now, but last week I came across a great site that showed UK organisations that gave grants / discounts for new economical boilers - I was amazed to find that my local council is part of the Big Green Bolier scheme and would give money away. Do a search before signing the cheque and I'll try and find it again! Also, now may be the time to think about a bit of solar. A lady I was talking with yesterday says that she had two panels put on her roof in February had it has fullfilled all her hot water needs since - that's in Swindon! (Solar is my latest campaign... it takes a good 24 hours to heat my french pad up in winter... if I could let some solar panels "tick over" all through the winter.....)    

I can only comment on the annoying habit of talking during Theatrical performances. This is certainly not just a french habit. I have experienced it far too many times in the UK. Particularly in the overture of musicals (Despite seeing the show a number of times, I don't think I have ever really heard the opening of Blood Brothers without some prat bleating on about some trivial matter). I blame the TV. In the home it's OK to chat, f**t, cough etc, as and when the fancy takes - people forget (or don't care) that those same activities may spoil somebody elses night out when in the theatre / cinema.  

I certainly like the Villages Hotels.  Only ever used those at Calais and Troyes, but they knock spots of the Formule 1 & Premier Classe that I've used. Used Quick Palace once and that seemed very nice.  

I just want to take advantage of this particular part of this thread to say how much I appreciate Weedons, posts. They are fantastic, obviously written by a fantastic person....... what a shame Weedon will never read these words of praise! (He he he he)

It will be very difficult to give you any useful information until you know the location, what sort of heating you have, how long you intend being there, i.e holiday home or main house. Tax d'habitation and foncierre (I am sure I'll get told off for my spelling) are the equivalent of Council Tax. In the Savoie I pay about half what I pay in Wiltshire. Electricty is more expensive unit per unit Wood Heating is cheaper than bottled gas or electricty. Solar power even better! Telephone, will you be phoning back to the UK regularly or just use it for local calls? That will affect the price. To be on the safe side, I'd guess the same as the UK, then add on a contingency of 20%. With a bit of luck you will come in under budget!  

I know I've thought this question, but can't remember actually asking (I've not found an aswer in the archives so hope I'm safe in asking... again). Do the firemen do this nationwide? I've never been at the house when they've called, but am more than happy to buy one. If I go to the fire house and ask, will they know exactly what I mean?

Out of interest, how do the cheapo hotels handle this? What is their cut off time? (I know direct comparison is unfair as they've more rooms and more chance of passing trade, so can afford to swallow some late cancellations).  

I bet that as soon as I put "P&O" in the title you thought, "yes, I probably do believe it". For the next trip, we want to go via Portsmoth - Le Havre but come back via Calais - Dover. I can save about £100 by booking two singles instead of the return! Same boats, same cabin requirements. Would you bel.... Oh hang on, I've already said that!  

Time to prove just how ignorant I am. What is the difference between a chien assis and a velux? (and if anyone answers by saying "judging from the above posting it's about 1650 euros" I will sulk).   John