Mikew

Ecologically speaking - a spade plus hard work! For the gravel courtyard at our previous holiday home I used a Bayer 'desherbant total, tout l'annee'. It kept the gravel clean most of the time, but I was not totally happy with it's use. MikeW (from the Charente, where it rained today!)

I agree with the 2 week delay, but I was using another PAYG service so I lost no service. I used all my gear that I bought over from UK, Plugged in and away it went, no problem!. I use Wanadoo 1K sevice and find it reliable (looks for wood), my modem/router + Wi-fi box is permanantly connected at the phone entry in the sous-sol, and I can get good reception anywhere I want it in the house. MikeW

When I had my campervan I always used the Caravan Club French sites book. As well as giving opening and closing dates, the book gives a short site description, noting good and bad points, and a 'how to get there' from a major road. The book served me well for the many years that I used the camper. Because it is based on members reports, there is no commercial bias in the book. If you don't want to join, perhaps you could get a member to sell last years copy!! MikeW

We had this climber, known locally as 'vigne' climbing all over the end of the house. It was a never ending battle to keep it getting under the tiles, I found I needed to keep a 'no climb' zone of about 3 feet between the plant and the roof. Even then it was a fight to tear open the shutters and fasten them back. Me have now moved permanantly to a modern house and I did NOT take a cutting of the stuff with me! Picturesque but impracticable for a house visited occasionally. MikeW

No problems and free. Send off the form on the back of your statement. Done, no questions asked! MikeW

It seems that if your money is transferred through the normal banking system, then there are no great problems. Only question was from my (CAg) bank on the transfer of our house money etc., to my current a/c, they asked for a 'justificatif', I gave them a copy of our solicitors bill, as that was the only real evidence of having sold up! other largeish transfers no questions. (Although one does not know what goes on behind the scenes....any conspiracy theorists out there!) MikeW

For the rope seal, ask for a "tresse", make sure you get the right size otherwise you may not be able to shut the door! Don't forget the special fire resisting cement to fix it. My woodburner, an insert of unknown provenance, kept in well if there was a good ash bed, was topped up with the largest most solid log I could find, a few bits of dry wood were essential to rekindle in the morning. Ah, the ash... thank goodness we moved and have now got central heating! MikeW

Try using this forum: http://www.thefreemason.com/forum/default.asp Eveyone seems to be there! MikeW

Are you trying to read your CD on the same machine that you used for writing? Sometimes there may be a difference between CD decks that may cause these sort of problems. MikeW

ARGUS, available at all good newsagents. The trade uses an on line version to work out all their trade-ins. Lots of car sale adverts quote "prix argus". MikeW

When we bought our house recently, the notaire was reading through the acte and something came up regarding the lotissement that the house was built on. She (notaire) dismissed this saying that the lotissement rules had run out and we did not have to comply. I think 10 years was mentioned, so, depending on the age of the house, you may be lucky. Take advice.   MikeW

I have a FT lead to connect to the computer, I tried to use the lead from a phone that had been fried by a storm (lead checked out ok!), but found that different connections were used on the small transparent plug, had to go out and buy the correct one. Look carefully at the plug, BT uses connectors 2 & 3, FT uses 1,2 & 4, (or 1,3 & 4, never know which way round to count!)...   MikeW

Is Aigre any good? Both lady doctor and lady dentists available. PM if you want a personal recommendation.   MikeW

Don't forget, your computer should change it's own clock automatically (assuming it is not too old!) Who is going to sit up waiting for it to happen?   MikeW

The Belkin surge control multiways that I use have, telephone, television co-ax and/or satellite connections built in according to model. There are both French and English versions. After a mains power break last night, I sorted out an UPS (uninteruptable power supply) to run my ADSL modem and wireless network box. This box also protects the phone line. Now I can check my e-mails on my laptop whatever happens to the power supply.....I hope!   MikeW  

Reading the ads in our local paper, it seems to be the season for Lotos, Belote, and Tea Dances! Also autumn fairs, (Food and produce) seem to be popular.   MikeW, next door in 16.

To share an ADSL connection between 2 computers, 1. You could ( if your laptop and Pc have ethernet facilities built in ) use a single crossover cable between them and set up a network that way, but both computers would have to be on! Usable if you only have a USB modem. 2. Best way is to have a stand alone modem, with a built in router to serve the 2 computers by cable, or to buy a modem with router and wireless networking built in. You could then run a cable to, say, your PC, whilst surfing the net from the lounge, by wireless, when a boring ad comes on TV. A lot of laptops have wireless networking bult in, (i.e. Centrino), but a card to slot in the side, or a USB dongle is not too dear. 3. You can have up to three ADSL filters on a phone line (says my provider, Wanadoo). Obviously one to filter off the ADSL signal to the modem, but all phones (on any other sockets) need one to keep ADSL out of the phone itself. MikeW

Has anyone upgraded from the previous standard 802.11b, to the new 54G faster wireless networking? Is it noticeably faster, and a worthwhile upgrade when connected online (I use a 1024 ADSL net connection with a wireless linked laptop as well as my my main (wired) PC)?   MikeW

Has anyone upgraded from the previous standard 802.11b, to the new 54G faster wireless networking? Is it noticeably faster, and a worthwhile upgrade when connected online (I use a 1024 ADSL net connection with a wireless linked laptop as well as my my main (wired) PC)?   MikeW

Have always used Belkin surge protectors, they promise to replace if damaged by surges, and also pay for damage to any connected equipment. I had one of their under monitor protection devices, it died with no other problems, and one phone call and several days later a replacement arrived, free. no connection apart from satisfied user! (they protect modems, tv and satellite connections as well as mains supply) Mike

I own a steamer and have used it successfully on plastered brick/block walls. After one experience with stripping plasterboard I would say that you will have to be very careful not to damage the skim coat. That is why I am painting over vinyl wallpaper at present, with changing colour from very dark blue to a creamy gold making it more difficult. As does the fact that the original artisan who put the paper on was very sparing with paste around all the edges, calling for a lot of fiddly sticking down.    Mike

Thanks for reply. the pond is basically a hole in the ground, the level varying with the groundwater (fairly high here, and we have a small stream at the bottom of the garden also). I have to top the pond up frequently during hot weather, there is a 'forage' some 12 Metres deep in the garden piped up for this, and an hours running usually is ok. I'll do nothing, then, except some cleaning, we've got a lot of overhanging willows, and a lot of their root growth is coming thro' the bank, so i'll clear that away and get out some branch debris that has accumulated.   Mike 

I have inherited a pond with the 6 year old property that I have just purchased. It seems to be little more than a large hole, up to 2 metres deep in places, possibly excavated to provide for the banking around the house. There does not seem to be much plant life in it except for several of the basic yellow lilies. Problem is that it is scummy and looks cloudy. There is a large shoal of voracious gold and other similar pond fish, so it cannot be too unhealthy. I presume it should have some oxygenators, so that is my next step, but is there anything else I should be doing?   Mike

If you are visiting you have reciprocal licencing agreements, but living here permanantly needs a permanant licence ttbmk, www.rsgb.org may help, there is some info on the members only part of the site, but if you are not a member, a phone call to them should help.French equivalent is http://www.ref-union.org/ Mike (G8AWE)

Did you read your own meter - to enable you to check your bills? It is always worth it gives you an arguing point when EDF get it wrong. Their computer seems to estimate bills from previous usage, how much did the previous tenant use? MikeW