Alcazar

Last summer I fitted one in a bedroom, it was bought from a local Briconautes and cost very little, but isn't bad quality as bedroom carpets go. Normally, I'd have liked to have wooden flooring, but the floorboardfs were in such poor condition that covering them was the only way, short of replacement, which I couldn't afford at the time. I did the job myself with a decent LARGE pair of scissors, a Stanley knife with a new blade, and lots of patience. Room was ROUGHLY rectangular, with a buttress where the chimney is and a bay window. Alcazar

[quote user="Ab"] wished you had'nt asked that question about how wet it is as it started yesterday to rain that light miserable cold rain you get near cleetthorpes and newcastle where i was born-i should have stayed in a job abroad in trinidad --at least it is damn wet or dry none of this in between stuff. anyhow now is the time to do all those things you promised to do when you cannot get outside.!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [/quote] Ah yes..........the North Sea-induced "sea fret". Known to all dwellers on the East Coast. I once spent an entire day in Skeggy (Skegness for you Southerners), in what I assumed was fog. Cold, damp, awful! On my way home I called for fuel at a little garage at Burgh le Marsh, about 4 miles inland, where it was blazing sunshine. I mentioned to the chap serving me that I could have done with it being like that earlier, and why did it always clear up as I went home? and he told me it'd been like that all day there. The sea fret stopped about 2 miles inland! As for the southern Haute Vienne bruines.............we're a bit far from the Atlantic, let alone the North Sea! Alcazar

[quote user="Christine Animal"] Watch out Ian, Alcazar may be right.  They were spotted practising on your lawn this afternoon...                                                                              [/quote] LOL[:D] What a brilliant photograph!

[quote user="Deimos"]For some time I’ve had a family living in the millpond too close to the house.  They are often on the lawn and I know there at least 4 of them (one large, two medium sized and one really dinky little one – as I have seen all 4 at the same time).  When I go outside they tend to disappear into the mill pond and will often wait in the pond just watching me.  I tend to see then several times each day and they are often out on the lawn during the day. I’ve been unable to establish their “paths” in and out of the river to set a trap, so the other day I thought maybe I should get a gun and shoot them !  Since that thought I’ve not seen them once.  Maybe they are telepathic and have decided to “move on” with such threats Ian [/quote] I wondered what that little family of ragondin, I saw in a local Decathlon, were doing buying shotguns, and discussing shooting some "English bloke"[:D] Alcazar

[quote user="Tourangelle"]It sounds hideous, Val, whereabouts are you exactly?[:(] [/quote] CANADA!! She just said! I mean, how big a place is it.......................? Dear Me! Alcazar[:D]

What gets up my nose about speed cameras is the lie about them being for road safety. In places where the number of accidents DIDN'T fall, or actually ROSE, the cameras weren't removed. Why not? Because they were making money. New cameras are going in on the M42, specifically tied into variable limits. Why? The enforcers KNOW that they will generate loads of money, which will be used to place cameras elsewhere. They have admitted it. Forward facing cameras are now the preferred norm. Why? It stops drivers from "getting away with it" by not knowing who the driver is/was. But forward-facing cameras CAN'T catch speeding motorcyclists, a group who make up only 1% of the vehicles on the road, but who are involved in 22% of the serious accidents and who are 44% more likely to be killed if involved in such an accident. If cameras were REALLY about safety, wouldn't thescamera partnerships be TARGETTING that group, not ignoring them? And if they were about revenue, they'd ignore motorcyclists, after all, what's losing 1% of the fines? Alcazar All statistics from DfT site.

[quote user="Frogslegs"][quote user="Alcazar"] Searching the Meteo website a year or so ago, I cam across a bit that you could look at the climates of your area. I was intrigued to find, as posted above, that the Limousin has about 8 micro-climates. I was not so intigued to find that we are located in the wettest of them[:'(] Thiose day long Limousin "bruines" really get to me, and I'v also been there when it's either rained or bruined constantly for a week at a time........and that was in August![^o)] Alcazar [/quote] Many thanks for the replies. So where exactly are you? [/quote] Close to St Mathieu, in the south of the Haute Vienne(87)........4km south gets you into the Dordogne,(24) and 16km west into Charente.(16) Don't get me wrong, it's VERY beautiful, we are in the Parc National Regional du Limousin Perigord, and it's definitley not built up. When the weather is kind, it's idyllic, but as mentioned above, when it rains, it really knows how: I've seen whole weeks of NON-STOP rain, and when it stops in other regions, a bruine sets in near us........OK if you like sea frets[:'(] I moved from Cleethorpes because I didn't! (Well, not really, I moved with my parents 'cos dad got a better job[:)]  I was 5 ast the time.) Alcazar  

[quote user="andyh4"] I have a somewhat eclectic mix: some UK OO - LNER and LMS a small amount of EM NER/GCR some HOe - French with portable layout some HOm - french - mainly still to be built and HO - French from 1920's to 1995 ish - with layout under construction for later period, and portable layout for 1930's [/quote][:O] Alcazar

[quote user="fulcrum"]I have observed that the Gendarms look at you through what appears to be binoculars on a tripod as you approach their checkpoints. I thought it was a speed detecting device but I'm now sure that it is a device to enable them to observe, at a distance, vehicle and passenger details as it approaches them. Of course it may detect speed as well. [/quote] Those are the new "Jumelles Laser", they use a laser beam to measure the speed of a vehicle coming towards, or away from the user. Fave place to use them too, just before peages, where the limit quickly drops from 130 to 110, then 90, then 70, then 50! A French mate has also been done by them once when LEAVING the autoroute, where the slip road speed is limited and often changes to 50 (try DOING 50 after long distances at 130), and once on entering an aire, same reason. In the UK there is a row brewing at the moment because it's been shown that they can be HIGHLY inaccurate, and when inaccurate, ALWAYS on the high side. In one test, a brick wall was shown to be travelling at 18mph! Of course, you could always buy a laser diffuser, which stops them from being able to get a reading...............not that I would, of course.[;)] Alcazar

Why are you shouting? [:D] Alcazar

[quote user="Will the Conqueror"]  I had that from the horse's mouth, so to speak, from somebody who was a friend when he was just an Inspector, but who is now a Chief Constable in another part of Britain, and, incidentally, is notorious for his pro-speed camera views.[/quote] Not CC in North Wales by any chance?[:P] Alcazar

I'd agree with the above, although I do find the southern Haute Vienne weather a pain when it sets in to rain for days on end........... We are JUST in the Haute Vienne, about 4km from the Dordogne. VERY beautiful countryside, but then, it is in the "Parc National Regional du Limousin-Perigord", aka, the "Pays des Feuillardiers". Alcazar

I'd have loved to, but infortunately, we are still UK based and only come over at holidays to continue to work on the house, which is also too far from you. Is your layout UK or France based, and what time period and area? I model UK modern image in both 4mm and 7mm scale, but STILL have no layout. Alcazar

Searching the Meteo website a year or so ago, I cam across a bit that you could look at the climates of your area. I was intrigued to find, as posted above, that the Limousin has about 8 micro-climates. I was not so intigued to find that we are located in the wettest of them[:'(] Thiose day long Limousin "bruines" really get to me, and I'v also been there when it's either rained or bruined constantly for a week at a time........and that was in August![^o)] Alcazar

I've bent 28mm stuff, albeit around a very gentle curve of about 3 foot radius! It was for the hot water part of a part pumped c/h system, and the boiler manufacturer recommended very gentle curves. Three foot radius was about the best I could achieve! Alcazar

BLAST!!! I REALLY WISH I hadn't read this: now I have to do the rather large roof and the outhouse/garage roof here in the UK[:@] Alcazar

[quote user="Gyn_Paul"]The rot starts with the fact that most of these programmes have been around for 3 or 4 years. The gulible hear only the (now) ludicrous prices, and never stay long enough to read "© Channel 4, 2001" ! [/quote] Exactly. The TV companies ought to have to retitle it "A place in the sun 2001" etc. Alcazar

[quote user="Russell 23"][quote user="Alcazar"] Ours came from "Ets Forgeneuve" at Tous Vents near Piegut-Pluviers in Northern Dordogne. M.Forgeneuve came to us, measured up, and the windows were made to measure, to our design, (to match others in the area), and to our specification as regards opening, handles etc. They cost an average of €250 each, fitted. Quality is as good, or better than UK ones. Alcazar [/quote]   Were these uPVC windows?  We need to replace ours sooner rather than later, but would like wood ones.  We are near Bourganeuf. [/quote] Yes, uPVC, but he does hardwood ones too, both in standard sizes and made to measure. He also does shutters and Persillennes. Alcazar

<<<If you are not currently in France either telephone or email your local office (Via EDF website) and make an appointment now for a date and time you will next be in your property. I have always found this method works and they have always arrived on time on the appointed date.>>> Ha! I'm STILL waiting for EDF to keep a SINGLE appointment. They have mucked me about from pillar to post. One of THE least reliable companies I've even dealt with. They tell lies and b*llshit you all the time. Alcazar

No, I don't think that drinking tea will make me lose weight, but NOT drinking the amount of alcohol I've been putting away recently, added to the small amount of food I eat, ought to do the trick. So far, coffee, (not too much of THAT either), pink grapefruit juice, and water have been all. I DID have to get up twice in the night though, but I DIDN'T sweat like I do when I've had a few......... And I actually dislike tea, (sorry), so I never touch it:D Alcazar

Been Tee-Total since midnight last night, one day so far![;)] This way, I might get rid of some of those extra pounds................not to mention the heartburn! Anyone else made any New Year's Resolutions? Alcazar

[quote user="Christine Animal"]Nice photos Suze.  It's lucky the wind dropped with the present temperatures.  When does Summer start   [:|][/quote] Give over[:P] We've only been in REAL winter for a week! And let's not all forget that global warming means winters are getting warmer.............[*-)] Alcazar

[quote user="sueyh"] When we were shareholders we often found that non-shareholders could get a better deal on early booking.  We therefore sold our shares about 5 years ago.    Suey [^o)] [/quote] That's true, we found it to be so for a long time, and seriously thought of dumping the shares. Then last year, they seemed to see the light, and assured shareholders that it wouldn't be so..........certainly, I tried using, and not using shares, and each time, using them WAS cheaper, even if only a couple of quid. Alcazar

[quote user="viva"] I put out a lard birdseed ball and the next day it was gone, net and all. Thought it may have been foxes so left bits of meat for them - found out it was a disabled seagull, who eats anything and everything! [/quote] I hope he has his own parking space with easy access? Two years ago, my sister in law bought me a bird feeder. This summer I was intrigued, ( I think that is the word I was looking for), to find cannabis plants growing in the border below it. Hmmmmm[ip] Alcazar

Ours came from "Ets Forgeneuve" at Tous Vents near Piegut-Pluviers in Northern Dordogne. M.Forgeneuve came to us, measured up, and the windows were made to measure, to our design, (to match others in the area), and to our specification as regards opening, handles etc. They cost an average of €250 each, fitted. Quality is as good, or better than UK ones. Alcazar