Charlie Farley

Hi : I need to contact France Telecom in Montpellier to sort out an error on our telephone installation but the documentation we have received from them has only got a freephone line : 0800 1014 34.  Unfortunately it doesnt seem possible to dial this from England.  Any ideas?  Ive tried going to their website but there are no other numbers listed.  It would be great if I could speak to someone on a special number for people like us who only have minimal french.  Any help much appreciated.[8-)]

Hi :  I am currently studying part time (evenings) at a local college (so far I've done 3 years) which uses the BBC French Experience and would agree that for the absolute beginner this course would be very hard work working at home alone - especially trying to understand the french conversations on the CDs as they talk so fast!  Working at college under the supervision of a teacher is a lot easier BUT very focused on grammar.  However, I was lucky enough to be given a secondhand copy of Stephanie Rybak's Breakthrough French 1 which I managed to study at home and on holiday.  I found it much easier to understand and particularly liked the little questionnaires/quizzes at the end of each section - a way of assessing how well one had absorbed the work.  I found it so helpful that I bought the same book (updated to include the euro rather that the franc) with the 4 CDs as I wanted to hear the pronunciation.  I bought them from Amazon for £27.99.  So if anyone wants to study alone at home I would recommend Stephanie Rybak's course.  For the first time, whilst on holiday in France this year, I took the plunge and started using what I'd learned.  It was so successful that I couldn't resist having a go at every opportunity.  jo 

Hi : has anyone had a swimming pool cover fitted in accordance with the new AFNOR regulations - if so, what sort of cost is involved and was it fitted by a specialist or diy?  We have a very small pool which was fitted with a new liner last year and practically cost us an arm and a leg!!  so are anxious to keep the costs down.  We are in dept 34 - Herault.  Any info welcome.  thanks.

Hi : have just bought a secondhand sky digibox on ebay (price 33 plus postage). Works okay except that the box is tuned to BBC and ITV Yorkshire region. As we are based in London, we would like to re-set the default so that 101 is BBC1 London etc. Have tried numerous times to do this but nothing seems to work. Maybe when we receive our free2view card it will re-set it for us? any ideas anyone?