[High speed crossing Brittany ferries]

The problem I find with the high speed jobbies is the very odd movement in less than perfect weather. It's not quite like the old hovercraft (which might be likened to being towed over a ploughed field on a tin tray), but the motion control system gives odd little lateral yaws and lurches which can knock you of your pins if you are walking about and can be rather vomit inducing.

[Water Pipe Left Embedded in New Concrete Floor]

Frankly no. But I expect somebody did it, or you wouldn't be asking the question. I suppose it could always be disconnected where it goes into the floor at the other end, but that will be an extra m'sieur (with gallic shrug).

[Going rate for a French Painter & Decorator]

Last time we criticised a painter, he invaded Poland

[Panel heater no earth.]

Oh b** you can

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/41950-multimeter-waterproof-st-9929.html

[Panel heater no earth.]

I wonder if you can buy a waterproof multimeter ?

[Going rate for a French Painter & Decorator]

Not Manet of them do ....

[Building regs]

The planning permission process doesn't really include what we in the UK would call an application for Buidling Regulations approval. Is this for a new build or for a conversion / modification to an existing building ?

[Wall costs]

A straw bale wall is possible, but you would need to stop the rain getting from above. Here in S Oxfordshire we have a number of earth (terre / masse) walls, but they have little roofs usually tiles. I suppose the way to go would be to have a little thatch roof on the top. My it would look dinky !

[Panel heater no earth.]

Do you have the mahogony fuse box to go with it ?

[Panel heater no earth.]

Yes the black wire is "fil de pilote" for remote control and should be left unconnected if the panel is just on local control.

[French brothels]

I am rather impressed with the point that brothels are legal in Geneva. Presumably there is a lot of cross-border trade (by working groups?). Huzzah !

[Brittany Ferries £66 return for 2 days]

It all depends on where you want to go and how much driving you want to do. I have just done Portsmouth - Caen and back in 36 hours to take a car load of stuff over from Oxfordshire to Central Manche and how else do you do it ?

[What's best to do with beams that have been painted a nasty, glossy brown?]

I used one of those to clean up our brick fireplace. Very effective, but wow the dust !

[You gota Laugh]

They charge what they can. A lot of business travellers book and go at short notice, and go with the big carriers as they book through travel agents. C'est la vie.

[Gap between ceiling plasterboard and beams.]

I like "bodging tool of choice". I love it: you should see the amount I get through, not to mention all the odd bits I trim off afterwards (by the sackful)

[Gap between ceiling plasterboard and beams.]

I think I would go for the foam, trim it off flush, then use some joint tape on top, and finish with enduit de joint. If there is a crack still left, that's for the flexible filler

[Zinc Gutter Repairs]

and practice first on some spare sheet at ground level before attempting the repair. It's awfully easy to make 'oles.

[gravel for fosse septique - drain field]

When in doubt ask SPANC what local source of gravel would be acceptable. Ours came from a local quarry in some very big trucks.

[If Harriet Harman was French....]

I am more interested in which brand of varnish they use on David Cameron

[fosse septic smells]

Sounds like lack of vent pipe, and the system is sucking the water trap out in the shower. May be possible to add a vent pipe, a small one say 40mm would do so it can be hidden somewhere, with an air admittance valve on the top

[ryan air]

MOL is a very clever businessman. He is in the airline business to make money. His motives are not altruistic. Therefore he will set up routes or close them down on a tactical basis to optimise his revenue.

Simples

[Fosse and SPANC]

We had a new 4m3 concrete fosse and lift pump and sand filter bed last year for about Euros 8K. The garden has not yet recovered from the shock.

[CDG Terminal 1]

Sounds OK for europe but a bit econ for US ? Check small print.

[CDG Terminal 1]

The interesting thing about T1 is that you have to walk about 300 degrees round it find whatever you want IRRESPECTIVE of the direction you start off in ....

[Land maintenance cost - any advice please?]

A lot will depend on the nature of the ground. If it's just an ex-field you may well find it's too bumpy for a normal garden maintenance type ride-on to cope with, and may need a few seasons of bashing down with more agricultural equipment.