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Liz

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Everything posted by Liz

  1. We had a problem a few weeeks ago with ridiculously slow speeds on dial up.  We noticed that, as we drove up the lane past out neighbour's farm, the electric fencing was making ticking noises on the car radio (long wave) and we eventually pinned the problem down so something he has done to extend his fences to a new area.  He was very reluctant to admit it was his fault and for a few days swore that his own ADSL was OK.  Eventually his wife told him that she had been having problems with the computer as had another neighbour so he was convinced to move the fence further away and now, of course, the cows are in for the winter so problem solved.  We await developments next spring with interest. The joys of rural life! Liz (29)
  2. Just a small point, if Rob is in a rural location he may find that there is a large bin or bins (containeurs) at some convenient point for a number of houses in the area.  In that case they are provided. Liz (29)
  3. [quote]I have now asked them to check the bill prior to the mega 2500 euros, that was for 900 euros! Admitted that was over winter, but three little electric wall heaters do not clock up 900 euros. We moane...[/quote] What a nightmare!  If all you have is 3 heaters and very little else electrical it should be possible to do an estimate to demonstrate whether 900 euros is a likely figure.  It sounds as if you are getting your bills 6 monthly so, I am inclined to agree with TU, it could be correct. For future reference you might like to sign up to the EDF scheme where you e-mail them your readings, I think it is called 'relevé confiance', and it is easy to find how to set it up on their web site. That way you will know that they have the figure right. Liz (29)
  4. I am afraid I feel as negative about this as most of the other postings. AFAIK we don't have any english places around here but there are so called Irish bars or restaurants. In this case it comes almost to the same thing except that there is a lot of goodwill towards Irish things here in Brittany which doesn't necessarily apply to English. We went in an Irish pub recently, the nearest thing I have come to a pub in 6 years here, with bar food. The special of the day was, of course, Irish stew. We chose it, none of the other customers did so far as I could see, although a number asked what it was (it wasn't very good btw). This place is in a large town and attracts office workers although it wasn't very busy. I cannot imagine something like this, or a more formal restaurant would get much trade at all, if it were not in a big place with a high proportion of youngish people. The French have a very traditional way of eating and lunch is paramount. It will be a set meal of 3 or 4 courses and may include wine. In the week it will be about 10 to 12€ and if the car park is jammed full of lorries, vans and cars from 11 45 onwards the proprietors are probably doing OK. They may well not open in the evening. I agree that some of these meals are not all that good, but I have had quite a number that were both well prepared and excellent value for money. French people who have visited England always remark on the thick greasy chips, meat served with jam and would not touch british beef with a barge pole. I cannot imagine any restaurant that plays up its Englishness is going to get the customers through the door. I bought a chilled Lamb Roggan Josh in the supermarket the other day, when I read the labelling I noticed that is was 'elaboré en Angleterre'. Now that could be a niche market! As these things go it was very good. Liz (29)
  5. [quote]We are in the process of closing the HSBC £ account we have had for years because we are fed up with certain things...but this leaves us without a sterling account. What are the chances of us openin...[/quote] If you can put aside your differences with HSBC and keep a current account with them I am sure this is the easiest and cheapest way to go.  There should not be a problem in using a french address with them.  I had a relative who has lived outside the UK for some years and wanted to open a sterling account in the UK, it was impossible.   You could try off-shore, but there are often quite high charges. www.moneyfacts.co.uk will tell you what accounts are available. Liz (29)
  6. Liz

    Turf

    I would have said no to this question.  I have never seen it in our area, but, this has been asked before and I know someone said that you can get it and also that it was a firm near Paris that supplied Wimbledon.  So I think the answer probably is that it is available commercially but most unlikely to be found for the amateur gardener.  Have you tried www.pagesjaunes.fr  and 'gazon'? Liz (29)
  7. 2.20€ doesn't sound bad considering a Daily Telegraph or Times costs 3€.  Any way I'm just of on a quick trip to England so I'll be sure to buy a copy.  Thanks to all for the web site suggestions, I'll ckeck them out when I get back. Liz (29)
  8. Now we've got these new FTA channels how do people find out what's on?  The Electronic Programme Guide (at least I think that's what EPG means) doesn't help much.  We usually check on www.ITV.com which at least lists all channels but often seems slow to load.  Where do other FTA people in France get their UK programme listings from? Liz (29)
  9. I'm not sure I can be much help on this, particularly in the area of packed lunches.  I have a friend who has coeliacs and a year or so ago she wanted to visit France and asked me what the prospects were for her finding something to eat.  I posted on here but got no replies.  I had a look on the Internet and there were a few french web sites I think.  In the end my friend managed by being very selective in what she ate, avoiding patisseries to her great regret!  In the UK she gets bread by prescription from the NHS and the big supermarkets seem to have a few suitable products.  But this is very little understood condition in the UK and my friend has been offered the most unsuitable things when staying in NHS hospitals for other reasons.  I hope you are successful in finding more understanding in France. Liz (29)
  10. Thanks for the additional info.  My mind is at rest.  All I have to do now is to convince pussy that he is really going to love a trip to the vets, not to mention a trip on a boat in due course. Liz (29)  
  11. [quote]Well I'm delighted to report (and I HOPE it's not premature) that ITV is at this very moment in the process of going free-to-air. ITV2 went FTA a few minutes ago and ITV 1 Anglia (10.714 GHz, H, 220...[/quote] Martin, you are a STAR.  I rely on you for this sort of info.  I was just thinking today how ghastly the recent programmes on BBC have been recently, it will be a real treat to get an even wider selection of ghastly programmes from ITV   I'm off to retune/rescan or whatever is necessary this minute. Liz (29)
  12. You can get a chip resetter but frankly I wouldn't bother.  I got an Epsom C44 'free' with a lap top.  Unlike any other printer brand I have come across it has this tricksy software that insists on telling you you are about to run out of ink (when you've still got about 25% left) and flashes away at any excuse.  You cannot easily refill the cartridges without the chip re-setter, nor will it work on, say black only, if the colour cartridge runs out.  All in all we've had it with Epsom and have treated ourselves to a Canon Multifunction whose cartridges are relatively inexpensive and can be bought on the net for under £3.  I once asked a man in a shop that sells only printer cartridges which were the cheapest and he recommended Canon. Printers are so cheap these days and are often on offer in hypermarkets, generally a bit cheaper or the same sort of price as the UK.  I'd cut my losses. Mr Russethouse's printer sounds similar to the one we got which was 139€   The Canon ip2000 Mrs RH mentions has been on offer in the Geant hypermarket last week but I'm not sure it will be under 40€! Liz (29)
  13. We are just about to organise a passport for our cat to travel to England (he's never been there before) so I have found these posts really helpful and am now printing it all off to remind me to check that the vet has filled in everything correctly.  One thing that is not very clear to me is where the passport gets checked.  Is it on the departing side only, which means that once Pussy has passed through the ferry check-in there should be no problems in entering England?  It sounds that way from Ian's description of procedure but I have a nightmare scenario in my head where some official on the English side doesn't like our French passport/paperwork and poor old puss either gets bunged into quarantine or sent back to France.  Any clarification would be much appreciated. Liz (29)
  14. This sounds like Crépi which is as you have described it - a thick paint finish.  Assuming the wall is now sound and dry it should stick without use of PVA.  It is widely available in DIY shops or paint suppliers.  Make sure you pick one that is for exterior use, it is sometimes sold for interiors only.  Method of application will depend on the finish you want to achieve to match the existing. Liz (29)
  15. Welcome to the Forum, Amy.  You are in the section for posting links to other useful sites so you might not get much of a response here.  Could I suggest you post your message in the Food section which you will find if you scroll down the page a bit or in the appropriate area of France right down the bottom of the screen.   I'm afraid take away food doesn't exist in France in the same quantity as it does in the UK.  There are places; pizza is quite popular, Chinese (or vietnamese) tends to be served up cold to be taken home and re-heated and Indian doesn't exist much at all.  Fish and Chips with nice fat chips and loads of batter is considered so revolting by many French people that they wouldn't touch it.  Liz (29)
  16. [quote]Are french stoves usually multi fuel?[/quote] No idea if it is usual but we inherited two grotty old stoves and they were both multi fuel as was a Godin we had once. Liz (29)
  17. [quote]Have had the rammonage done and got the certificate. Have tried the woodburner with well seasoned dry oak bought locally and with the air inlets fully open (no flue damper fitted) the fire roars like ...[/quote] It has been very windy just lately which causes our stove to burn with more enthusiasm than it does on still days.  Nevertheless this sounds horrendous particularly the glowing flue pipe.  I am wondering if someone has used aluminium rather than stainless steel or enamel.  Whatever has happened I wouldn't use it until it has been checked and rectified by a pro.  If you have good dry wood, smallish bits to start with, one firelighter should do the trick and you should then be able to add larger logs and keep it going for some time, at least all day if you want it, and some will stay in all night.  You will need to add additional logs from time to time and toping up every hour or so doesn't sound too excessive to me;  it will depend on the size of the stove. One other thing that occcurs to me.  Is it definitely a wood burner you've got?  Wood should burn flat on the base of the stove, no grate.  Some stoves are multi fuel and you may need to make alterations to put it into wood burning mode. Liz (29)
  18. I'm glad the clocks have gone back, I hate it being so dark in the mornings and always think the last few weeks of October are the gloomiest time of the year. My radio controlled clock is still waiting to pick up the signal though, I believe it comes from Hamburg (the signal not the clock) and it can take a couple of days to get the message I'm glad to see, for the first time ever AFAIK, that this Forum is now showing the correct time. Liz (29)
  19. [quote]I have looked in vain over the internet to find out what sort of tax paid return you can get on say a deposit of 250,000 euros, something that would provide some access but not immediate in a French b...[/quote] I'm not sure what we're doing in the Health section either so if you don't get much info from this you could try re-posting in the Finance section which is higher up the screen. French interest rates are not good, I think we get about 2.5% on our Livret A which is the equivalent of an instant access Building Society account and the amount you can put in it is very small, no where near the sum you have.  Many products are long term and I am guessing that you perhaps want to put money in and take it out reasonably quickly to  purchase a property.  ING sometimes get a mention, I'm not sure what they are paying at the moment.  If you do want something long term and are french resident there are products available that are said to be tax efficient but to get a better idea of these you are probably going to need a financial advisor that specialises in this market.   If you just want a Euro account you could look off-shore - see www.moneyfacts.co.uk for an idea of what is available.  Liz (29)
  20. [quote]Probably been asked a thousand times, but can I bring all my electrical appliances to France? Will they work by plugging in through a simple adaptor plug. I know about TV (SECAM/PAL) and that the pho...[/quote] You are right, this has been asked, if not a thousand times, certainly many.  It is such a pity the search facility on here doesn't work very well.   Everything will work but beware of using adaptors paticularly for high rated stuff like washing machines.  Make it a priority to change your plugs as soon as you can. Liz (29)
  21. I have just received a brochure from the Centre International d'Etude des Langues which is near Brest (29).  They do lots of language courses including the opportunity for total immersion staying with a French family.  The one that caught my eye is called Survival French for Foreign Residents and offers 7 to 12 'workshops' for a couple of hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays.  It says it is especially useful for those settling down in the country or intending to make a living here. It will also 'save you much struggle and misunderstandings, making your journey with French bureaucracy and daily life a breeze' - I love that bit!  If it is true the course must be worth every penny .   Details on http://www.ciel.fr/english/residents.htm   Liz (29)
  22. I entirely agree with TU.  In fact, I wouldn't make it a suggestion I would make it an essential. I am frequently appalled when I hear people in the local DIY store trying to make themselves understood, most of the staff can attempt a few english words but many of the British don't even try.  Surely they could check the dictionary and make a note in advance of the things they are likely to need.  I was in the queue the other day to order something, this particular shop works by catalogue numbers, two english chaps in front of me, one who was the customer and the other who was along to do the translation.  The translator asked the customer if he knew the catalogue number. The customer replied no he didn't, he never bothered with that rubbish, let the staff sort it out.  I was disgusted with his arrogance.  On the other hand I was in the post office and a British chap on the next counter asked in very correct french for two lots of stamps.  He clearly wasn't a fluent french speaker but he seemed to have made a lot of effort to learn the phrases he needed;  I was impressed. I know it isn't easy and one thing that doesn't often get a mention is that 'learning french' is not a one off occupation.  It often sounds as if you can have a few lessons in advance of a move to France and you are then set up speaking passable French for life.  Any learning that is done in advance has to be built on for years and years and if you happen to go away from France for any length of time fluency in the language is very quickly lost. I also agree with Tresco about the opportunities for learning in a rural setting.  I have had several conversations lately with a neighbour whose electric fence was causing interference on my computer.  My OH admitted after the neighbour had gone that he had not understood a word that had been said but, if only the neighbour would speak a little slower he would be in with a chance of following what was going on - he won't of course his only concession is to lapse into his own, not very good, english. Liz (29)
  23. [quote]Apologies to everyone if these queries have been answered before but if they have, I can't find where. If for reasons of convenience (ie. time to look and to be supplied) I buy my baths / Showers / B...[/quote] I go along with everything people have said about sanitary ware being cheaper here, to the extent that we are considering taking french stuff to the UK to do a makeover there.  So far as compatibility of french fittings is concerned, in general you won't have any problems.  Taps are OK (half inch is half inch in both countries)  and I would definitely buy taps in France, so much cheaper and so much more stylish.  Outlets are OK, you might have to do a bit of fidddling but 40mm (nominally   ) is 40mm in either language.  The only thing I know that tends to be different is the outlet for the loo which, I think is generally 110mm in the UK and 100mm in France but there are connectors that cater for this. Copper pipe is different, 10, 12, 14mm etc but I have known people use UK sizes and found ways of connecting.  It just takes a bit of ingenuity. I have just noticed that the title of your post says "French plumbers".  If you intend to bring stuff over and then look for a local plumber to fit it you could have problems.  As I have said it can be done but a local person might not be too keen to do it for you. Liz (29)
  24. Have you tried the IGN site?  http://www.ign.fr/affiche_rubrique.asp?rbr_id=868&CommuneId=46677  should help you to find the correct sheet for Sourdeval. Liz (29)
  25. I have noticed in the last week or so that all the wild bird foods, including very large bags of seeds and fat balls have arrived in the shops.  Magasin Vert seemed to have a paricularly large stock.  Liike many other things in french shops there is a season - Christmas cards are not on sale here in August Liz (29)
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