kip

I am trying to call Veolia from the UK - i left it too late to pay my bill on line and need to phone up and do so. Unfortunately the number 0033 811900800 doesn't seem to work, I 'm assuming it's because it's a local tariff phone number. Anyone got any ideas how I can get hold of them? My local office is Argentan (no number in yellow pages). Back over there on Wednesday and I don't wnat to arrive to find I've got no water. Thanks

So does anyone really know what was going on with Transmanche yesterday? We arrived 2 hours early for the 8pm crossing to be told 3 different stories by the staff there... One said there was a strike, half an hour later another said the whole of Newhaven had a powercut and could be without power for 3 days and half an hour later we were told the ramp in Newhaven was broken. In the end it didn't look like anyone was going anywhere so we left and headed to the tunnel. Did the ferry sail? what time? and did anyone get to the bottom of the problem? There is nothing on the internet about powercuts or problems. I accept they have problems but how come every member of staff was giving you a different story?

Did the same thing myself once - hence the question. Thanks

Do the clocks go back in France the same weekend as in UK? ie weekend of 28th/29th October.

Thanks for that. It was due to the bad drive from Calais to Domfront last year that we were considering other crossings. The point about getting a cabin is certainly very sound advice that we will certainly take on board (parden the pun). Given that the ferry is only £40 dearer than tunnel at that time of year I think we'll go for that and save ourselves a 4 hour drive! Thanks again!

I'm posting this request on behalf of my neighbour. We are in  area 61 close to Domfront. he is after some natural stone flooring. He said if he was in the UK he'd use limestone. Can anyone recoommend somewhere in the area he can get similar natural stone flooring from. Cheers

Just trying to decide whether to use the Tunnel or BF at Christmas this year. In the past we have used the Tunnel for fear of bad weather. Can any of you regular travelers advise me on the reliability and travel conditions on the Portsmouth Caen route around Xmas time. Does the weather tend to mean a bad crossing? Obviously no one can guarantee the weather but hopefully enough of you have travelled many years on the trot to give a rough idea of it is usually like. Thanks

Try sending them an email At address on website). I have found them very effiecient when using this method. I have even booked via an email. If I remember rightly they were very late releasing their Xmas crossing schedule last year.   Good luck

Our Grand Scenic has done 52000 miles in 18 months. Ever since we hit 18000 miles we have had trouble with the service light keep coming on and a 'check emmissions' message appearing. The car has been to numerous garages and now had 3 new EGR valves and umpteen resets of the computer but still the light comes on after a few thousand miles. I was wondering if anyone in France has had the same problem and if maybe the french Renault dealers have managed to rectify it. The warranty runs out in 6 months and we want to get it sorted before then.  

I have Renault Grand Scenic that needs 2 new front tyres. We're coming over to our plac ein Normandy (near Domfront) next week. Firstly, does anyone know if tyres are cheaper over there than here (last pair cost £100 EACH). Secondly can recomend a good franchise or local company? Cheers Kip

Travelling LD lines for first time next month. As we're going 'kid free' decided to go Club Class. Just realised  I don't know what the differnence is appart from bigger seats. Has anyone travelled Club class - is it like the P&O club class...free coffee, comfy seats and quieter?

Thanks Guys In the Uk at the mo but coming over to our place next weekend for 6 weeks. I'm going to bring my plant with me - sad but I don't want to miss the crop, besides I'm sure they'll taste much nicer ripened with french sun and a nice glass of wine in the garden. p.s Suze loved the piccies in your link your garden looks amazing...and Robbie doesn't look bad either (I'm off to Milton Keynes in September) !!!!

I'm growing tomatoes for the first time. I've got just one plant a 'red alert' which has got plenty of fruit on it. It was looking a bit tired with all the heat but stood it in a bowl of 'miricle grow' and it's looking much healthier now. My question is, when do you pick the tomatoes? Do you wait for them to go red on the plant or pick them and wrap them in news paper?

I'm growing tomatoes for the first time. I've got just one plant a 'red alert' which has got plenty of fruit on it. It was looking a bit tired with all this heat (I'm in the UK at the moment) but I trimmed off loads of leaves and stood it in a bowl of 'miricle grow' and it's looking much healthier now. My question is, when do you pick the tomatoes? Do you wait for them to go red on the plant or pick them and wrap them in news paper?

BF aren't listed as taking them - surprise surprise. Maybe we should start emailing BF asking if they'd consider it. After all 'every little helps' . Not sure if there are restrictions on how many you can use at a time (guess you'd have to ask Eurotunnel). No, it doesn't look like you can use Nectart points for anything.  

Despite collecting them for years I have only just found out that for every £2.50 of Tesco Clubcard vouchers you can get £10 worth of Eurostar, Eurotunnel, P&O or Stenna Line vouchers. They can be used any time just like cash when booking over the phone!! Aready saved £60 with just 3 months worth of normal shopping!!!!!! I can't recall ever seeing it advertised or perhaps I'm just slow on the uptake.  

I have been having trouble getting throught to Transmanche via telephone to make a booking ( I don't wan to use aferryto.com as I get a loyalty discount when booking with them direct) so I emailed using the contact link on their website. Got an instant courteous reply (as always) and booked my crossing via email in 10 minutes. Just thought this might be a useful bit of information if anyone else has been having problems.  

Thanks very much guys I think my simple mind has got to grips with this lot now!!! Thank goodness. Do not have telly so will get on to tres. with that info - after all my French may be dodgy but there's only one way to improve it........ Thanks again for your help!

Sorry chaps but you are totally confusing me now. Tax foncieres is done and dusted until October - when I assume it will come to me. We were the legal owners on 1st January 2006 but not 1st January 2005! Should I have had a Tax Habitation letter for this year or will it go to the previous owner? Perhaps I should just risk my dodgy french and phone up the tax office.  

Has anyone ever used Club95 to help with tax returns and translations etc?

Thanks for that. Is that the case for both taxes? We bought in July and were assked by the vendor to pay half of tax foncieres in October. It is the tax habitation that I am concerned about.

This is my first year of having a house in St Fraimbault. I know there is some sort of local tax due in January but we have recived nothing. I'm worried that it has got lost on it's way to England (as our water bills did). Can anyone from St Fraimbault or surrounding area let me know if you have recived yours yet. Cheers

We are spending our first Christmas/New Year in our new house near Domfront. Does anyone know of any events or festivals going on in the area? When we visited the area last November I remember spotting an advert for a festival of village illuminations. Where several villages in the area were illuminated and there was a map and route to follow. i can't find anything on the web about it. Does anyone know of anything worth a visit?

Was playing around looking at different routes using my favourite route finding website www.mappy.com and notice that they have added speed camera locations to the directions they give you!! Very useful! Unfortunately it still doesn't recognise the new A16 south of Rouen - not so useful!!!

We are travelling down from the Eurotunnel towards Caen and onto Domfront late on Christmas Eve and then back again late on Boxing Day. Does anyone know if it possible to buy fuel anywhere on this route on these days. It's our first year with a place in France and we have never travelled the Autoroutes at these times. Does the country completely shut down or will the petrol stations on the Autoroute be open?