Kevinmc

La Poste. Massive network and extended opening times compared to banks Despite other's experiences, I've found them to be ideal   

There are plenty of lorries on the autoroute at the weekend. Most non french truckers ignore the rule, french fresh food transport is permitted and 2 weeks ago I passed a small convoy, including an artic, carrying 'pigeons voyageur' You'll be fine 

It's called diabetic neuropathy and cause narrowing and blockage of small blood vessels, which is why diabetics suffer limb loss, blindness and organ failure. It's a nasty, pernicious side effect of diabetes and the problem is it's happening unseen for 20 or 25 years. There is  a lack of sensation of pain or heat, which is why for example, people can scaled themselves in a hot bath and just not know it.   And guys especially, it can affect all extremities !!

As long as it's over a year, he's in luck. With Avis, it's one year and I assume the other major players will be the same.

Anyone recommend a bar in north 87 that will be televising this tomorrow night. It's too good to miss.

Opposite Gamma Vert in the ZI Nord in Limoges is a shop that sells end of line white goods, TVs etc. Always worth popping into. Sorry I can't remember it's name

My wife used a taxi last year from the airport to just outside Magnac Laval, so I imagine it would be much the same to Bellac. The cost - €80  

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4333417.stm Apologies but I can't activate as a link

Ah, sunny Girona. Never been there with Ryanair, but my baggage has. I ended up in Groningen, which is where I wanted to be. Luggage was a set of roof bars (don't ask) and I never did see them again.

Since there isn't a 29th this month, does anyone know when the next market is.

It's so quick, you can try it before tonight. You can score the breast to stop the breast curling. There's supposed to be a bit of the flesh you can cut out instead, but I've not tried it. Clear honey in a frying pan - nothing more. Cook breast fat side down for 3 or 4 minutes. Depending on size 10-12 minutes in 180 degrees oven. Most importantly, rest the meat for at least ten minutes. Yum1 In fact I've got one in the fridge for tonight. Except I can't use honey, but the remaining duck fat makes the perfect saute potatoe

Flyer left on my car at Limoges aiport - "South West France's only English building reclamation Yard" Terry Hutchinson Ansac-sur-Vienne Office - 05 45 30 72 04 Mobile - 06 76 41 41 21 Can't say much more as I've never been there. However, drop off the A20 at 27 heading north and head towards Razes. There's a big depot on the left that's full of 'stuff'. Root through the place. It's a bit like the first time you open a Screwfix catalogue. Timber, fencing, metal 'bits' etc.

Or try skyscanner.net for free. The "Month" tab highlights all available flights and a click of a button gives real time prices on your selected flight

Be prepared for delays if you're travelling via Calais in the next few weeks http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4259097.stm

Cheers folks, Managed to book for tomorrow. What with valentines and UK half term the fares are horrendous for new next week or two. I'll be intrigued to see how succesful the Liverpool flights are. I've not met that many people in the region from the north of England. But Ryanair don't often get it wrong when identifying new routes.

Looks like the Limousin may be full !!! Try booking a flight with Ryanair to Limoges. Nothing available until April !!!! And I've no choice, as that's where my car is. Air France here we come

I'm in north 87. Vines will never be commercially viable but yep, they'll grow. I've got one on a southern wall that's grown from a stump to about 10ft tall in 3 summers. I don't do anything with it. It produces bunches of tiny grapes but they're quite bitter. I'm sure when I get round to caring for it it'll wither!! Have a go with a few vines. If that doesn't work there's always wisteria, which grows abundantly here as well.

I seem to remember somebody else in the last year or so who was in the same situation. They'd assumed that the two transactions had to happen simultaneously. They don't !! And I think they had animals as well. And I think they found a rental that accepted animals. There must be plenty out there. So have a second thought before incurring the hassle of a bridging loan

And on the subject of TVA, if you buy the units yourself you'll pay 19.6%, whereas if they're supplied and fitted, the whole package attracts 5.5% (in most cases). It worked for me and the quality and ease of fitting was more than I could have achieved. More importantly, it opened up contacts to artisans that I might not have met otherwise.

Ah banking !!!!! Reality of banking with CA Britline isn't too bad. I have an account with them and top it up occasionally with a cheque drawn on another CA agence in the Limousin. They tend to credit my account within 24 hours. Alternatively, give the source bank an RIB and they'll credit almost straight away. Use any form of money transfer other than cheques and you'll be OK. I opened my first French account with them in the pre money laundering days, before the European banking system realised that we all earn a living dealing drugs and arms, when we're not on active service with al-Qaeda. With both CA and La Poste, the exercise was done and dusted within a week. Copy of passport and a bill was all it took. With the new legislation they want all sorts of evidence, so go armed with copies of passports, certificates, proof of earnings etc. and be prepared for a wait for your cards/cheque books etc. The big benefit with La Poste is the size of the network and the opening hours, far better than most rural banks. It's certainly worth getting things in motion at the earliest opportunity, if only for the benefit of a French card at petrol stations on a Sunday.

Cheers guys, back online en france

Thanks for the help Tim I'll be on to it first thing Monday

Help needed please. Pc crashed and I've had to rebuild hard drive. And of course I haven't kept details of my tiscali.fr account. Anybody out there with the details (phone number etc.) needed to re-establish my dial up account. I've tried the on-line help, but they've not replied yet (48 hours). And is it me, or has the search icon on here disappeared entirely. I'm using firefox now. Explorer is missing even more stuff, like IDs Thanks in anticipation kevinmc

David H The ferrysale site is Hoverspeed's own site. They've traditionally used it for selling surplus capacity at odd times. I've seen specific dates appear, disappear and appear again, all in the space of a week. I got caught out earlier this year when I had to book a single from Calais, the date disappeared from availability, so I paid £70 via the Hoverspeed site, only for the cheap fare to reappear the following day. If they can persuade people to pay the full published fare via the Hoverspeed website, they will. Meanwhile it's a handy way for Hoverspeed to bring in some money during a quiet booking month. Don't expect the ferrysale fares to be available after xmas.      Kevinmc

Check out www.ferrysale.com  They're now offering £49 return to Calais from 17 March right through to 22 December, with a £10 amendment fee. Shame they've dropped Newhaven/Dieppe though