Keni

Nice one T - but - when I tried to explain about the 13amps being too high a voltage for the machine, most of the older generation would not listen/could not understand. So when they came in about a year later and I said 'told you', they realised I knew what i was talking about! I was just confused, though, looking at a plug (I accidently said 2 pins - was looking at socket), I have never had to re-wire a french plug (yet). But will be doing so over the next few weeks.

You mentioned about the 13amp fuse in those adaptor things. Having worked on sewing machines for nearly 20 years, the first thing I did when the machines came into my shop with those adaptors on was take out the fuse and replace them with 5amp fuses.When customers bought their old machines into me for servicing, I always checked the plug and told them to take out the 13amp fuse and replace in with 5amp. It is one of the causes of machine failure, but the customers thought I was just trying to get money out of them. I often did in the end, when their old machine packed up because of them not listening to me and they had to buy a new one!

Cheers AnOther - always watching them on motorways, everyone slows down as if they were coppers, wondered if they could pull you for speeding or something like that.

Yeh, when I worked for Singer, we often had those covers for the plugs when machines came in with 2-pins. I am suprised no-one has invented something to go the other way, bearing in mind all those living in France who must have Uk plugs on things. Although it's far simpler to just clip in the European plug into the holder for the Uk plug.

Just a thought - doeas anyone actually know what powers the Traffic Officers have in the UK Highways Agency? See them all over the Uk motorways but don't know what legally they can do?

Just a thought - doeas anyone actually know what powers the Traffic Officers have in the UK Highways Agency? See them all over the Uk motorways but don't know what legally they can do?

Thanks guys - I just (stupidly) thought that as French plugs appear to only have 2 pins and a hole, the Uk 3rd pin (earth) would not be wired in, so I know now to look for the 3 pin version. We have a Uk dishwasher, Tv and freezer with 'fixed' plugs, which I am sure we can just cut off and change to a French plug. Now we know.

So, if I cut off the old Uk plug and re-wire it with a French one, do I just ignore the earth and then wire live/neutral either way around? Have managed to sort out ceiling roses and wall sockets, but that was with existing French wiring. Have always wired my own plugs in UK, so is that what I am working with now?

Thank you all for that - I never realised that adaptors were not actually designed for long term use. Theoretically you use them with hairdryers and they can be pretty high wattage?! Will change them asap. Thank you for the kind regards as well Sweet 17, it's taken long enough but we're here!

Sprog has just bought her first house, so who had to come over to UK to help her move etc? Bless! As if we don't have enough decorating/building to do in France - still it means that now we can really start spending their inheritance! (LOL)

Well there's a seamstress here now in the HV - could do with earning a bob or two (sorry cent or deux). I'll drop my e-mail over and ask if they need assistance..... Or big bruv has cooked for HRH dad, so maybe I could wheel him out of retirement and we could join up and do the whole shebang on the cheap in these times of austerity - any volunteers for waiter/ress -ing?

Like others, having just moved from the Uk, we have come armed with a load (!) of holiday plug converters and that has solved the problem! Apart from most plugs being upside down(!!), but I can live with that. The best bit is having the sockets all at waist height (and in the doorframes - what's that all about?), means no bending down to plug things in - great idea for us older people with stiff backs!

Getting the CT was the hardest bit - the CT place at Augignac said they can't do it, whilst the one at Chalus (same company!) had no problem. Even with the letter from DRIRE saying get a CT, the first place said no - it was only someone we met who told us where to go. The inconsistency as you say is great! Peugeot are charging for their Cof C, the DRIRE Type Approval works only if the vehicle is on the computer - the newer the better perhaps? The ladies in DRIRE were brilliant - they even put the paperwork through even though they close at 12 and we turned up in the afternoon! They sort of told us off, but put everything through. It was the Prefecture that lost all the dossier including our CT, and other legal stuff! Found within 2 days though and I had made sure I took photocopies of everything and kept a set at home! (I ran a business for nearly 20 years and copy everything). Just fill in the form, make sure you take everything they ask - including the passport and marriage certs if it is to be in joint names. The DRIRE Type Approval is for those without a C of C! Keep on plugging away. It was purely because of Peugeot's attitude in the Uk that made me go the DRIRE route - it is a photocopied piece of paper they charge you for, with exactly the same information that you get with your Certificat d'Immatriculation. Size etc. We got most of the information that DRIRE wanted from inside the car, on the manufacturers information plate - weight etc. If you can't get a CT then go elsewhere - which is what DRIRE told us when we said that the local bloke would not do it! Don't go to the Prefecture with the V5C - you have to go to DRIRE (DREAL) first with everything.

If you read another thread you will see we have just been down the DRIRE route (Limoges) and paid them 67.38 euros only 2 weeks ago - we got the Type Approval as our Peugeot Partner was on their website. We had to bring the original plus copies of the V5C, a CT, Quittus Fiscal from the Impots, copies of our passports and birth certificates - we registered the car in joint names. We filled in the form, they gave us another stamped form, whilst they took the originals and copies - I actually had another set of copies of everything as a backup - which was good because the Prefecture lost everything for 2 days! Peugeot quoted £100 in the UK for the Certificate of Conformity and 130 euros here. 67.38 euros was the better deal -also Paris apparently take up to 4 weeks to sent the CofC. Hope this helps. We have now received our Certificate d'immatriculation and number plates. Two weeks from DRIRE to Prefecture.

Thanks to all for that - going back to Uk for 2 weeks (our daughter has bought her first house and it's a case of - Mum can you come and do some DIY & painting for us!) - as if I don't have enough on here! Oh well - thanks for all that I will check out suggestions you gave whilst in Uk as well. I'm just glad the new roof has dried out the rest of the house!

Thanks Gluestick & all. Have looked at suggestions and working through them. Only really thought about painting it white originally to brighten/lighten the area up. F &* paint co suggested a distemper paint but have never tried that. Any other thoughts will be gratefully received.

Similar one here - on a packet of our dry roasted peanuts: Warning, Allergy advice. This product is produced in an environment that uses nuts.

Thanks for that everyone - will the pva solution be ok on a stone/unknown mortar//maybe lime cement wall?

Oh yes, I photocopied everything - I have been reading this site for a while and sussed that one out. But today, they phoned, appologised and said it was their fault, they have found the dossier, it's being processed - we had left them a blank cheque(!) and it will be courriered to us within the next few days! Then they sent a letter with a questionnaire, asking how good we felt their service was! That little piece of paper helped the woodburner no end.

Hi, thanks for all that - the sous-sol is underground, literally the front of the house, the 'ceiling' height is the pathway outside. We discovered that the soak away wasn't, so that now might be solved, I just want to paint it all sort of white to seal it and stop stuff falling off, so I can put shelving along the wall and make use of the room, which we aren't at present. It seems to be just 'ground' damp now, we have a bag of hay, been down there for a couple of years, but still smells sweet, if you know what I mean. But just painting it (with what) would mean I can use it for the washing on a rainy day etc.

You're not gonna believe this!!! We went to the Prefecture today to get our Certificate d'Immatriculation to be told that they have lost the dossier within the last week - our Original V5C, our CT, in fact everything! they acknowledge they had it on the 26th October, but by today it all has disappeared!!! So we can't get a French number plate and we ain't British any more - they say they will phone Monday and if it turns up will courrier the paperward back to us ! Yeh right! Take the paperwork, don't send it is the moral.

Ok, so I take it that's a big no then!

TG they got rid of Wossy! Now he is another pompous self-opiniated bore

Ours came with a 60 day trial of Windows Works & Office 2007, after 60 days it dies or you cough up. I uploaded my 2002 version and use that!

Thank you Quillan - will do as you say - we had some water through the ceiling and they started bowing after drying out, so will check & see that there are enough screws.