just john

Thornbury van hire (south Glos yellow pages) quoted 240 for ELWB (7metre) merc hi-top plus 50 for European insurance, plus 50 for Recovery insurance, Fuel & Tolls Bristol/Angouleme (1200mls) were 200, Speed ferries were 89, so total 530. If we had taken the car it would have been around 250, so since we had to be there anyway the extra cost was around 280, for which we transferred contents of about 3 rooms. Removers quoted part load cost 570. For the control and convenience we thought it worth the extra and will probably do it again several times, it ain't cheap, but if you want to transfer the stuff you have, then the comparisons made sense to us. Best to read the directions, even if you don’t follow them. no need for sunscreen yet [H]

Having just returned from the LD trip, I only wish I had been charged freight rates instead of the smoke and mirrors high prices for booking on the web site. When we arrived, booked in as a van, having paid £200 for our booking without a cabin, on the web site, I was informed that I was not freight and had been charged a private rate. I was informed that all freight was booked by telephone through their office, had I done so I would have been charged £185, and this would have INCLUDED cabin accommodation for two and dinner for two in the price! I was also informed that since I had booked on the web site that the booking was not changeable but I could discuss with the Purser on board. As soon as I got on board I did take it up with the Purser, who politely said that he would see what he could do, however he did nothing, [N] we did not get a cabin or free meal, the club class seats we paid for were so uncomfortable I slept on the floor and later discovered people could sleep more comfortably on couches on the bar. .[8o|] To cap it off there was a fight in Club class where drunks were arguing over seats (no e-tickets had numbered seat positions) and it ended up in fistacuffs while the staff avoided the altercation, even after one the people involved complained to them. I was not impressed and I think it will be a long time before I travel with LD again. It seems to be a bit of a game for the operators to disguise their rates to make it more difficult for people to pick the most economic rate or time to travel, in the expectation that people will fall into paying more than they need rather than encouraging people to get a good deal and repeat bookings. [H] More power to Speedferries and their ilk.

Hi Will still on the subject, (just[;)]), can you throw any light on reasons for differing vehicle costs?, we are using LD this weekend, (because Speedferries are inoperative), to take a van with personal possessions across on a 5 day trip, which for a car was around £50 (pretty good), but for a camper around £90, and when listing a van the cost was a whopping £200! (all vehicles entered as same length dimensions, van & camper same height). The trip doesn't include a cabin (none was available). we prefer the method employed by Speedferries, where you only pay for the space, irrespective of the vehicle type. [au] [:)] Get ready for the sunscreen [H]

But why are they £200 for a 5 day trip for a private Van trip, and why is a Motor camper the same size cheaper, and what happened to the super special 5 day rates. We are travelling with them with a van next week, but only because we are unable to use one of our trips on Speed ferries because they are in dry dock. (Incidentally I don't notice how basic Speedferries are? especially at their rates... How much do you need on a 50min trip?) [au][;)]

erhmm, so how come I still can't see my PM symbol? and do I need to adjust any settings? [8-)]

My PM symbol seems to have disappeared and though I have received them in the past I can't recall how to set it up; I checked under dedit your details but saw no info on private Message set-up

Their website says June when you first try to book the route, but as you get further in, it changes to July 21st onwards, Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri. I didn't see if it was seasonal. [8-)]

[:)] Bristol to La Rochelle is among the new routes easyJet intend to operate according the local news last night. John and Sue The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists [H]

[:)]We are planning to go down sometime end of march beginning of April, exactly how big is the item, and would there be someone there to receive it? WBR[:D] John & Sue 

Speedferries £88 return for hi-top van, 7metres long by 2.9metres high by 2 metres wide, check your dimensions but we took the extra LWB Hi top Merc in this category; with a load enough to make the steering light, cruising at about 70mph gave around 20mpg, mostly motorway via Rouen. John & Sue [:)] No need for sunscreen yet [H]

Try scrubbing with bristle and or wire brush and sugar soap solution (Wickes)[O], then rinse off with lots of clean water, when dry an electric sander with a rough 80 grit smooths and cleans.[:)] John & Sue  

The biggest disappointment I have had was using the train to travel back from Angouleme; apart from the cost, it took longer than my usual drive, (we did just miss the due connection cause of the station transfer mind you ) and was a lot more restrictive and inconvenient. however this palled into insignificance compared to the NIGHTMARE of crossing Paris with OH and two suitcases, to change stations from Montparnasse to Nord. Friends pointed out afterwards that it is just a platform change when travelling through Lille and that makes the journey a bit easier. I don't think I'm ready yet to try the journey again [+o(] especially not with tots.

Hi For what it is worth when we bought a similar parcel of land, our builder contacted the owners on our behalf and they wanted 0.5E per sq m. We agreed (delighted in fact) and when the notaire draw up the sale he happily pointed out that as farm land it was only worth a fifth of the price we had agreed but as an extension to our property was worth the price we had agreed. John & Sue.

Try Patio cleaner, but check out what it says on the container and try in a hidden area first, (sometimes a bit vicious, sometimes not) John & Sue, Bristol & 16

When we had our series of break-ins culminating finally in a loss of all the furniture we had transported down and stored in a newly secured barn (a very large van full); we found the local gendarmerie quite happy to give us a copy of the crime reference, which they said we would need for the insurance. (AXA had refused cover for theft and vandalism, since we don't live in the property; guess who won't be getting the renewal). However the gendarmerie did ask for photographs of all the items we had stolen, unfortunately we didn't have many and they quickly lost interest. The insurance broker also suggested that photo's would have been essential if we had been able to make a claim!. So when our renovation is sorted and we get round to furnishing it again we will be taking photo's of everything in sight. http://forums.livingfrance.com/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=288&MessageID=212149 If anyone sees an Edwardian Satin wood Double wardrobe with Tall boy and matching wash stand and full length dressing mirror drawer set up for sale, or some barley twist drop leaf oval oak tables let us know! John & Sue (Bristol & 16)

No experience ourselves!, but have just finished reading "More France Please We're British" by Helena Frith Powell, Sunday Times correspondent, for all sorts of other info and there is a Chapter about birth in France, she moved to France when she was 7 months pregnant, First thing is to get an E112 in the UK, and then in France fill in a "Declaration de Grossesse" try http://www.signaturebooks.co.uk/cgi-bin/ai.cgi?ISBN=1903933684 No connection to any of the above, just hope it helps John & Sue  

We use teak oil on our parquet flooring, (I think the UK brand is called 'Cedar polish') its easy to apply and surplus is absorbed easily; for an improved finish you can go skating with a couple of dusters on your feet, but afterwards you need to be careful for a day or two if you have made it too shiny John & Sue

It may not work for everyone, but we found our place by visiting the area we wanted to buy, we thought it would be crazy to pick something off the net without being able to spend time in the area and see alternatives. So we spent quite a lot of time just driving around our preferred area (which we found after several holidays) looking at agents and properties with an AV, for sale, sign up. Our french is not good but we were able to explain to a private seller that we were interested and wanted to deal through an english speaking local Notaire which they then found. Because the property was not on the net or with an agent we felt relaxed about the time we had to check it (and the price) out and contact a recommended local builder to look it over, and give us his advice. This turned out to be a good solution with mutual savings and no agent or other prospective purchasers breathing down our neck. The notaire was easy to deal with and we made an offer and bought the property (though it seemed to take forever, apparently that is almost normal!) Of course then the fun really begins but that is another thread!!

Hi, Great news, thanks for your info Motorhead, pity my poor french will take me ages to translate the site! and as its a pdf I can't cut and paste to a translation site! Is it good or bad news that the limit goes up next year? Is a 5 year CT tough? Is there a short english version of the classic registration route?, has anyone done it in 16 recently? Thanks again John & Sue

I agree entirely with Motorhead and Lurcher21, just to clarify 'VAT paid' was for the used car section, but their prices were something else, the Alfa sportwagen is TWICE the price for a LHD example of exactly the same age and model with less miles available through a UK dealer (RHD); demonstrating that LHD through UK dealers are not cheap. We currently run a variety of ancient cars (1970 peugeot 204 in france, which came with the house, and a 1977 stag and 1992 Rover 214 in the UK amongst others) but we have had our share of depannage!. MOH thinks especially since our visits and loads are likely to increase while we sort our property in France we should at least consider a more reliable bus, and this sort of exercise at least delays things and gives me more reason to use the Stag. While we're on, what is the classic car movement like here, is it possible to import things like Stags? I'm sure all this has not improved the ease of decision for you Kathy but at least it gives you a few more options to consider! John & Sue 

Take a look at http://www.afrenchdream.com/ which impressed us a lot and looks to answer your queries., The thread to the above is below Wear suncreen!  http://forums.livingfrance.com/shwmessage.aspx?ForumID=274&MessageID=212851   Quote: website for roof panels is www.efisol.comSteve

[quote]I don't know how, but the dealers offer the facility to register wherever you like, check out this link, (especially the prices!), All OF THESE VEHICLES ARE VAT PAID and are Registered in either S...[/quote] Oooops that should have been Has anyone ever bought a car from Belgium or Germany to France?

I don't know how, but the dealers offer the facility to register wherever you like, check out this link, (especially the prices!), All OF THESE VEHICLES ARE VAT PAID and are Registered in either Spain, France or UK.  Vehicles can be re-registered in any country of your choice. Is there import duty between countries in the European community? Has anyone ever bought a car from France or Germany http://www.lhdautos.com/   John & Sue

I hate to spoil any illusions you may have about cheap LHD in UK, but cheap they ain't;  we have been looking for some time now, in all sorts of places including belgium and german e-bay, Try the link below. http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk Certainly the cheapest and lowest mileage cars are in UK but of course RHD Next cheapest are belgium or germany, (though what I have seen so far is slightly higher mileage). I don't think I would buy off e-bay since there seems to be few with warranty. Without doubt the most expensive place to buy is France, but worse than price the mileages are usually much higher, and so are declared faults. UK 2000 Renault Megane Scenic, lots of choice around 5800 Euro Same spec, LHD in one of the Specialist garages 8800 Euro (but Uk reg so would need to be CT and registered BELGIUM e-bay.be same spec E8K GERMANY e-bay.de same spec E8K FRANCE e-bay.fr same spec E10.5K The above is just a sample, if you picked something like a Citroen C5 the difference is even more astounding. Has anyone out there has used dealers in belgium or germany who would assist with registration in France?. please let us know! John & Sue

Thanks everybody for the roofing info, sometimes  this forum is amazingly helpful ! John & Sue