marc62

Hi Rascalb We very rarely travel between the 1.30pm - 4.00pm slot as it would cost extra (we buy the minimum 10 trips for £39.00 a trip). Now I would never dream of doing this myself - "But" - when you make frequent trips keep the printed cards with the letter on. When they are very busy they just look out for the letter, I am informed that all trains are under subscribed by 20 cars to allow for the length of car & the go anytime tickets so it is not as if you are pushing in & if they are running late it is not your fault. Not that I would do this myself of course.   Marc PS - Anyone want to swap a letter D - F & G for P - S - Z (ha ha)

Hi Living in Kent & travel to our little holiday home in The Vendee, I know this trip well. It is all about timing. The way I would go is as follows. 4.50am - Leave Cambridge 7.00am - Arrive Channel Tunnel 7.35am - Train 8.15am (9.15am) - Depart train 12.15pm - Lunch in Caen   This will be a door to door trip of 6:40 hrs. Remember that if you drive to Portsmouth you will be going with the traffic & you would need to arrive early for the ferry, I think it is far easier & enjoyable to do the mileage on the French side if you live in the South East / East. At an airpot you will need to park & check in etc which once again takes time. With the Channel Tunnel the only potential hold up will be the Dartford bridge but you should beat the traffic anyway, weekends will be straight forward. Like all trips, only you know the speed you will travel, the number of stops for a T or P & how reliable you car is.    Hope this helps   Marc

I use the tunnel for approx 6 / 7 return trips each year, you are clearly advised not to arrive more than 2 hours early. On times when you arrive within the 2 hours early (or even late) they will tend to get you on the next available train, I think arriving nearly six hours early on a peak date as well as a peak time you could not expect them do have done much more. It would be interesting to know how much you paid for the ticket in the first instance & how much a "turn up & go" ticket would have cost for the exact same time. I am pleased to see that the tunnel is being used more which makes it more effiecent, I tried to book some dates a few weeks ago (June & September) on to find certain times already fully booked!. I have also noticed that security is now far better both sides of the channel, it still gets me that people moan & create if they are pulled over for a spot check!!- would they rather be a sitting target? Marc (Would rather be in the Vendee)

Thank you - All sorted & transferred now   Another question if I may, we have an account with Britline which we had to pay 32.80 Euros for the bankcard. As the card was for two years we thought it would be a one off payment but we have been charged again this year. Does anyone know if it is an annual fee?   Many thanks   Marc

Hi All Has anyone made a transfer recently via Moneybookers? they have a new website & are asking for an IBAN number. We have not been asked for this before, we have our Britline account number etc but have no idea about an IBAN.   Many thanks in advance   Marc

When we first got our little home in the Vendee it was in March at Easter, the weather was very hot (not just warm) & we had a BBQ. We thought we had purchased in the best location going!   Marc

What is going on? I have just booked up the train to come & open our little holiday home up ready for the summer. I have checked the long range forecast on accuweather for Apremont & Nantes & they both predict snow on 16th March!   Marc

Hi Missy It is not very easy trying to find places to take my inlaws, they are both 79 & I have to allow for walking, natural breaks etc as well as trying to show them the beauty that is France!. We have our own little place in the Vendee but like to use a few day's each May to explore. Last year we went to the Pyrenees & the kind people on this forum suggested plenty of places to go & see. I do my own searching but you can not beat those who have been & seen with their own eyes. Oradore sur Glane has been suggested which we will visit, my Father In Law is an ex Captain in the Army, all of my searching would never have found this place, but thanks to Bugbear & Tresco we have one less day to worry about.   Regards   Marc

Re-Search

Many thanks for your sugestions Alistair, I have also been surprised by the number of suggestions. Maybe we have found a gem for a quiet area when we start looking to re-locate from the Vendee!!   Regards   Marc

Thank you for the info Sola   Marc

Jumping to the top again

Jumping to the top

No luck anyone?

Hi All   I am trying to find the village which has been left un-touched since being invaded during the second world war. I am sure I have seen details on the village & seen it mentioned on the forum. We are taking my Outlaws for a visit in May & it would be a good place to take them. My father in law is an ex Captain in the army & has expressed an interest. Any suggestions for other places to visit would be appreciated.   Many thanks in advance   Marc

Hi All We are taking my "Out-Law's" for a visit to our holiday home in the Vendee in May & we have booked a three night stay in Creuse on the way down. We are staying at Le Moulin De Sansonneche which is near Felletin Can we please have some ideas of where we can take them to visit, they are unable to walk long distances but like good scenery, rail trips etc. The forum came up trumps when we took them to the Pyrenees last year, lets see if we can do the same this year!   Many thanks in advance   Marc

Might get away with this - Evan Goligone (gooly gone) sorry for lowering the tone, too much beer

I know one - David Lloyd

Tennis - thats me out until later!

Youngers Bitter

Theakstons Old Peculiar

Plymouth Steam Bitter

Lowenbrau - the best lager in the world!!

herlimans or as known in Kent "Holligans"

Amstel