Deimos

I see that the police do not intend to change the guy with fraud now.  They are looking for some lesser offence he might have committed (as it seems he has not committed fraud). Ian

I don't know about kittens and cats but a puppy in quarantine for 6 months would be terrible.  the puppy's development would be very badly affected and a high chance it would become a problem dog.  Maybe cats are different - others would know more about cats. When I was a student it was the cleaning staff that complained about my pet.  Didn't like it they didn't, complained to the administration who then gave me a right bo****ing and told me to tell it to go and that I was lucky not to be going as well. Ian

Kiloutou.  Nationwide and they have branches in most cities. www.kiloutou.fr.  You can check what they have available, the price and even book it in a selected store via the web.  Whenever I've hired anything from they I've just arrived and taken it away. Ian

[quote user="Sunday Driver"]The fact that you possess an EHIC is immaterial - don't even bother to mention it.  [/quote] Except in that, if you tend to visit other European countries you might like to ask CPAM to issue you one (i.e. a French one).  When I registered at CPAM (covered by an E106) I asked them for an EHIC at the same time and was given one no problems.  I actually still have my UK one but I assume it is worthless as UK authorities know I'm resident in France (e.g. HMRC because I don't pay UK tax, DWP because the issued an E106, etc.) and a UK issued one is no good in the UK. But as SD says - having a UK issued one is not worth mentioning.  In my (limited) experience, if you tell a French bureaucrat something they will record it, consider it, try to act on it, etc. even if it is not relevant.  Thus telling them irrelevant stuff just complicates things as they might select a different set of rules they might decide to interpret differently, etc.  Don't withhold info, but give them only what they ask for - and life gets easier. Ian

[quote user="Cathy"]I want to find an agricultural gate in the UK for the cheapest price possible.  I also need to search for other UK stuff. Which UK Forum do you recommend posting on?   [/quote] "Cheapest" is a difficult consideration as delivery of such an item might be quite high.  Thus supplier to client distance might affect the total cost.  Somebody "down the road" but more expensive might work out cheaper. Ian

Re: the kitten As I understand what happens in practice in the UK - if you are looking to rent somewhere it can be very difficult to find anywhere that will allow pets (as in dog and cat pets - I'm sure things like goldfish are less of an issue).  I know my brother recently moved into rented accommodation and his cat is having to live elsewhere as he could find nothing allowing cats.  Similarly, although a long time ago, my own experience with University accommodation is "no pets" - even small things in cages are not allowed ("I had to rehome my small thing in a cage). I agree about the kitten going home as even if it does get through you will probably end-up having to look after it long term.  Maybe that is fine for yeu, but do be aware of the potential problems. Ian

[quote user="Eos"]Sky News suggested Soc Gen's offloading of excess shares over the past week or so may have contributed to the decision to cut interest rates in the US. If this is the case then Nick Leeson is only in the halfpenny place compared to this rogue.[/quote] Either Channel 4 or BBC1 news (I cannot remember which) said that the recent stock market turmoil was caused by his antics - at least in part (ignoring the fact that what the guy had done was discovered after the turmoil actually happened and all those "in the know" attributed the stock market behaviour to completely unrelated economic (and behavioural) factors).  Of course this was just a statement the newsreader made, no source, no justification, nothing to back-up the comment).  I cannot remember their exact words as I dismissed it as tripe immediately. Ian

[quote user="Boiling a frog"]I would thank Mr Murphy,The British Ambassador to France and all of their staff for working on our behalf to obtain this result, which would never have been achieved without their diplomatic efforts[/quote] And not to ignore all those at FHI, MEPs, people who spent loads of their own time researching and campaigning.  Many of those who put in so much effort were not directly affected by the regulations, were not paid and it was not "their job".  So thanks to ALL Ian

i believe it was not that long ago that you were meant to remove your towbar when not in use.  i dont know if this was a "law" or and insurance company requirement - insurance company i suspect.  i was told about it and checked with my insurance company (agf) and they said "yes, you should remove it when not in use".  surprised i explained it was sort of bolted-on and they said "not their problem", then she checked with a colleague who said that they don't tend to worry about it these days. ian

[quote user="cooperlola"]As PHI is open to new residents, I imagine you will be able to do either, but I'll find out.  Have to rush out sadly, but keep an eye on the website. Mods : I've been having PC trouble and this has multiple posted - sorry! [/quote] in relation to all the work you and others have been doing and the important questions related to the announcement my thought is trivial and should be at the bottom of the pile. ian

excellent news for those with existing illnesses and i appreciate it is hot off the press but, does this mean it is compulsory to join the cmu or are we allowed to still get private insurance ? ian sitting here with a crushed hand after a tree cutting accident yesterday so typing is a bit tricky

[quote user="Boiling a frog"]What has yor nationality got to do with the incompetent builders and their delays in completion[/quote] Sorry, seems I'm being too cryptic.  The builder thing was an analogy.  I'll avoid them in future as they seem to confuse. Ian

[quote user="Boiling a frog"][quote user="Deimos"]Re: Jim Murphy and the FCO (Paris) If these guys were builders working on your home you would be asking how to get your money back.  Its a complete comedy, "I'll get the job finished next week", "waiting for parts, expected any day now", "I should be round tomorrow to get it working safely", etc.  Were a builder to prove this (un)reliable then you would be well pi**ed-off whatever the reasons.  Always a new reason/time-scale/something but the result is the same - "we are expecting clarification this week/next week/soon/whenever/maybe this year/..." This can be sorted.  It is quite within the capabilities of mankind.  So why isn't it.  It does not take that long for governments to make decisions. Ian[/quote]   But Jim Murphy and the British Embassy are not the ones who are doing building work on your house,it is the French Health Ministry/Government. Jim Murphy and the FCO do not have any sort of contract with you to build your house however out of a sense of duty because you have asked them for help they have approached the builders and are trying to sort the mess out. If It was me I would tell you that I am fed up with your constant whinging ,I am trying to sort it but not only am I getting  no thanks I am now getting the blame for the builders incompetence and I would tell you to stuff it and sort it yourself as it was none of my doing .    [/quote] I probably did not make it clear in my post/profile but I am  a British Citizen (but no way I could expect others to know that). Ian

There must be a lot of variation in Sarthe Gendarms as all the ones around me are very very laid back and a good laugh.  I did ask one about lighting on my boat trailer ages ago (as it is nigh on impossible for it to comply with the French lighting requirements) and he looked at it and said it looked "really good", and he seemed totally unconcerned (or unaware) of the regulations and thus was not in the slightest concerned about it conforming. And then some sunny afternoons they have a wander around and you can tell they are all but asking for a cold beer.  Never yet come across a Gendarme who gets too worked up about thing. Ian

Re: Jim Murphy and the FCO (Paris) If these guys were builders working on your home you would be asking how to get your money back.  Its a complete comedy, "I'll get the job finished next week", "waiting for parts, expected any day now", "I should be round tomorrow to get it working safely", etc.  Were a builder to prove this (un)reliable then you would be well pi**ed-off whatever the reasons.  Always a new reason/time-scale/something but the result is the same - "we are expecting clarification this week/next week/soon/whenever/maybe this year/..." This can be sorted.  It is quite within the capabilities of mankind.  So why isn't it.  It does not take that long for governments to make decisions. Ian

[quote user="Gyn_Paul"][quote user="Deimos"]What are your Attenuation and Noise Margin figures like.  They can have a major effect on performance. Ian[/quote] Well re-booting the modem has had some effect: down speed is now 121kb - nearly as good as the ISDN service I had 4 years ago! Attenuation (I assume that's affaiblissement) is 57dBs. Where would I find the noise figure? Actually, the odd thing is that now that I look at the degroup listing, the estimated max download for my number  (in ordinary ADSL) has gone up from 602kb, which has been for a year or so, to 940kb, and yet the actual performance is worse  [8-)] p [/quote] Noise and attenuation should normally be available in your ADSL box.  Different boxes have completely different user interfaces (for configuration, diagnostics, etc.) so I cannot make any "do this or that" suggestions. That attenuation is quite high.  An FT engineer who came round to diagnose some ongoing problems I had last year (where they eventually replaced the phone cable between me and the next junction box 1Km away) said that Noise level must be >4db and Attenuation level must be <70dB. Mine runs well at 1MB with Attenuation (dB) up/down =  29.5 / 45.0 Noise Margin (dB) up/down = 27.0 / 27.5 (and would apparently run a lot faster with those figures if I paid for a faster service).  When I was having problems I found the noise was the main one that changed and the 1MB link got a bit "iffy" (intermittent) when the noise got down to around 10.  In fact in my case (which was a "worn cable" it tended to be the noise that changed and caused the problems).  I am listed as being 4Km (cable distance) from the exchange. I have noticed that whilst my ADSL box would set a lower speeds when the line became poorer, it always seemed to select a speed a bit to fast with the result it because intermittent rather than slow.  I expect that this might be a function of my ADSL box.  also, 1st time the FT engineer came round he changed a capacitor in the main junction bow where their cable first enters the house.  Apparently loads of older such boxes have the wrong capacitor and this can affect ADSL quality. One of the issues with rural lines is where they run through trees.  Apparently as the tree moves it wears away the insulation and eventually lets in water.  If this happens you will notice that a heavy rain storm or damp spell will make things a lot worse and things get better as it dries out.  However, in my experience (or rather in my case) I found FT very reserved about replacing the cable.  They would come round, say "its a cable fault and the cable team will call round to change it) but then 2 weeks later when the cable team arrive we have been through a dry spell and it works great and they test it, find nothing wrong and go home.  It took real persistence to get them to sort it out.  But now its been done the connection is excellent and rock solid. Ian

[quote user="groslard"]One problem that the activists on this issue have is the refusal to accept the history and origin of the CMU. [/quote] I don't see how this is relevant.  If the history and origins are significant then surely they affect the French as much as the EU (non-French) and presumably the non EU nationals  (e.g U.S.) as well.  and is it not the case that the history and origins of the CMU were the same when everybody was forced to join ? [quote user="groslard"] In fact it was taken up by many British people who previously would have had to have PMI. [/quote] I understood that the "many British" were actually forced to join the CMU by the French government, not that they decided it looked good and they would join.  they had no choice in the matter. [quote user="groslard"]The politicians in France who brought in the CMU are no longer in power. [/quote] Same applied with income tax.  The politicians who started income tax are no longer in power but we still have to join in. Ian

[quote user="LanguedocGal"] Why would they/should they care?  If you move from area A to B within the UK, your MPs change, so why is a French resident the responsibility of any British MP when they have their constituents’ interests to deal with? [/quote] It depends on which constituency your vote for the MEPs is in.  I have been resident in France for several years now (pay tax here, etc.) yet my theoretical vote is still in my ex UK constituency ("theoretical" .as the returning officer where I used to live does not agree with overseas voters and refuses to give me a postal vote - though that is a "local" issue).  However, even though you may be resident in France, your vote might be elsewhere and it is where you vote that is important rather than where you reside. You elected them to represent you (even though you might have voted for somebody else).  It is then their job to represent you. Ian

What are your Attenuation and Noise Margin figures like.  They can have a major effect on performance. Ian

Just in case you are still considering their use: (the device on the "fence" system is the same as on the "barking" system and the "remote control" system - just different triggers). http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/rufus.pdf (vet report on an injury cased by one of these) http://www.apbc.org.uk/article2.htm (UK Association of Pet Behavioural Councellors) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/744922.stm (Police ban their used after RSPCA state their objections to them) http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/pressoffice/show_issue.asp?id=23 (UK Kennel Club's statement) http://www.the-kennel-club.org.uk/pressoffice/documents/KC-ElectricPostcard-060223.pdf (Kennel Club poster) There are loads more - but just because they are available in France does not make them right or humane. Ian

Absolutely do not touch them.  They are inhumane.  The UK government is considering making such devices illegal.  I have heard a dog who was normally friendly and reliable wearing one savagely attack a nearby dog  when it went off (I had not yet arrived in the field but it was really loud).  They can cause all sorts of behavioural issues. In some regards the fence ones are a bigger risk as they can go off.  In fact they have to in order for the dog to learn the "fence".  This can (and has) cause ulceration on dogs necks and scaring.  Should they go wrong (which does and has happened) it gets too gruesome to discuss here. Also, some dogs learn that if the rush fast they can pass the "fence" without it going off.  However, these individuals are tougher than most. Many years ago in my innocence I purchased a remote control one for one of my dogs but decided to try it on myself before the dog.  It never went near the dog and was never used. I can put you in touch with people who have 1st hand experience if you are still considering using one of these things. Ian

I had some experts round a few years ago to advise on environmentally friendly energy systems I could consider.  One of their thoughts was aerothermal heat pump - though they were talking about the type that extracts heat into a wet system and heats domestic hot water and central heating systems.  anyway, their comments were that it works well even in cold external temperatures unless the air is moist.  Basically they do not work well in mist and fog (damp conditions) so if you are in such an area they might not achieve the performance you might hope for. I am no expert and am just repeating what there experts said (a local ADEME approved plumber brought them in as he was new to such technologies and it was a learning curve for him as well - thus they were not the "install anything we can get the customer to pay for" types of people as they were basically advising the plumber as well). Ian

[quote user="expat paul"][quote user="Deimos"]I don't know the Veissmann Vitopend 222 but I do have a Veissmann boiler and it is excellent.  Never had any problems with it, cheap to run, plumbers all comment on what an excellent make it is. Ian[/quote] Thanks Ian, could I be nosy and ask what model do you have ? and how long you have had it ? [/quote] I think its called a Biferral (or something like that).  I don't know the model number but it is quite a big one with the "external" burner (i.e. you bolt on a gas burner or an oil burner, etc.). I don't know how old it is because the previous owner installed it.  However, it looks in "as new condition" (if I cleaned the dust off and gave it a wipe with a damp cloth).  No signs of rusting, etc. The controller (a Viesmann one as well) - that looks specific to the boiler) is quite smart as well (at least I think so).  For example, when the frost stat safety thing switches the boiler on (to stop pipes freezing in winter when the external temp drops low), the boiler runs the water round the heating system at a much lower temperature than normal saving fuel and cost.  Loads of adjustments on the internal sensors as well (but I don't touch those as I don't understand them). All that said, I have no experience of the model you are looking at.  My experience with my own boiler is such that I would certainly put Veismann high up on my list. Ian

I don't know the Veissmann Vitopend 222 but I do have a Veissmann boiler and it is excellent.  Never had any problems with it, cheap to run, plumbers all comment on what an excellent make it is. Ian

[quote user="spg"][quote user="Ron Avery"]... you have to claim the tax deducted back yourself.  If its for 2005-06  you only have a few days left to get your self assessment in which is the easiest way of getting it back.[/quote] I think you have nearly 6 years to claim back tax.  http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/faqs_general.htm#11nr  Q11. What is the time limit for making a claim to repayment of UK tax? If you want to make a claim for any tax year there is a time limit within which you must do so. Each tax year ends on 5 April. For any particular tax year you have up to the next 31 January and the following 5 years to make a claim. For example, a claim for the tax year ended 5 April 2001 must be made by 31 January 2007. Hoping this is right as we have only just downloaded our form R43 for 2005-2006. Sue [/quote] It is not always as easy as this suggests.  UK HMRC owe me a fortune as they kept charging me tax despite me paying tax on the same interest in France.  They owe it back (not the French).  They have now started the "you only have ONE year to make a change to a tax return and after that it is at our (HMRC's) option (if they feel nice that day).  So they may chose to "investigate" or not.  I believe that in my case they ultimately will as they are trying to double tax me for loads and loads more money (which they have no right to). In my case I know they owe me the money and they are just wanting to keep the money.  It is just a matter of me maintaining the pressure and not accepting their "no" as the final answer. Ian