Jazzer

...who among others will also send out some Andrews.

I too can recommend allopneus

Thanks everyone for advice. I understand he will be getting the car across next week. He will then register and insure here,I am giving a lift for them to catch the TGV.to Paris.

A friend who has owned a house here for some 20 years, has decided the journey is too much for him, and has bought an 18 month old car which he intends bringing over to France, leaving it here and then travelling via plane or train. In the first instance his son will bring the car over. He tells me they have been "straight" with the insurance companies, but so far all have declined unless he guarantees that he will bring the car back to the UK.Apparently it is to do with avoidance of import duties. As I received this information via a telephone call I may have missed something, but has anyone else had any experience of this kind of situation? Any help would be appreciated.

I read about using it in Joe Laredo's book " Renovating & Maintaining your French home", Being a bit of a belt and braces man, thought it was worth doing. The bottle says Hydorfuge mortiers et betons-impermeable dans la masse les mortiers, betons,enduits et chapes. Ameliore la resistance au gel.

What does the plasticiser do? I use Hydofuge liquid-similar effect?

A normal part of account opening procedures is to obtain a credit reference, and search against the postcode. Neither of which is possible for someone residing outside the UK I seem to remember that a basic current account must be available to everyone,but again I don't t think this would apply to non-residents.

I do not know a lot about Ralph Miliband,but I think I would trust him more for fighting for Britain, including fighting in the Normandy landings than a newspaper whose owner toadied up to Hitler,with whom he was proud to be photographed with, and the Mail itself supported Mosley and the Blackshirts in the 30's. I think they should apologise for their own background before attacking someone else.

The last time I was in Wales (2005) was on the shelf at Tesco! The aged "Vieux" is worth looking out for.

The answer is you won't! I have tried all the prescribed methods,but they will persist. I no longer answer the phone- I wait to see if a message is left on the answer phone-if it's important a message will be left, if not then no worries!.

Just caught up with this thread. I don't feel I have sufficient knowledge to comment on the best novel. Phillipe Delerm is an author I think very much under rated- I have several of his books. A good starter is "La prèmiere gorgée de bière( et autres plaisirs miniscules).The stories are short-normally 2- 3 pages, sufficient to hold attention,learn about everyday French life and get to grips with the language.The title story makes me thirsty thinking of it- and ready to taste the delights if "Le paquet de gâteaux du dimanche matin"

...must be atmospherics or something happened locally-all now seem to be restored.

For a short time a rather pixilated version of BBC2 HD returned last night-gone again today. I See this morning,Channel 4,(apart from pixilated E4 and More 4)and the Channel 5 stables have disappeared.

I thought the recent stormy weather was the cause of a loss of BBC HD Channels.However I now see there is a problem with certain boxes: http://www.whathifi.com/news/satellite-boxes-lose-hd-channels-after-bbc-upgrades-signal Spooky- just noticed this refers to June 2011!

There was an announcement to say that there had been technical problems in some regions with the digital satellite.

Channels have now returned!

I understand there was some movement between the satellites this morning. All BBC,Channel 4 5 etc are still available on my Freesat boxes.

I seem to have lost local ITV,ITV HD,ITV+2,ITV3 ITV3+1 and ITV4+1. Anyone else affected?

Thank you-that's very useful. If you are interested in designer yarns and patterns try Nina Miklin at http://www.exclusiveyarns.co.uk

Not the first time, amongst the"errors" from the Government http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9722661/David-Cameron-ordered-to-stop-saying-NHS-spending-is-up.html

I can see what you meant now! I agree with your sentiments.

Not meant as "thread drift", just a response to those who feel that UK nationals may not understand French politics and those who have have not kept up with UK politics,

... but this is the whole point-we do not have the right to vote either in the UK or in the country in which we pay taxes. As to the UK how many people for example know the difference between the European Court and the European Union? And yet they will be able to vote in a referendum.

None of us are "moaning" about it.. Yes, we knew what the situation was/is. I will continue to live in France,enjoy French life, and it will not eat me up. However it does not alter the fact that it is a basic human right that so many have fought for over the centuries. As to a point made earlier that if the vote was granted in French elections, many may not know who or what they were voting for, would preclude a great proportion of the UK population from voting, if put to a test.

We have an arrangement with our Doctor. He practices his English on us and we practice our French on him- and the same with our Vet. seems to work well for all of us and both sides are starting to develop humour.