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cheminot

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Posts posted by cheminot

    Ferry prices on the up?

    in Travelling to/from France

    Posted

    [quote user="Will"]Cheminot - being on holiday in France I am trying to forget about work, but the Lloyd's List article is slightly misleading. Although, as it say,s the tighter limits for fuel sulphur content do not universally enter into force until 2015 and 2020, the Channel, North Sea and Baltic are all emission control areas where a 1% sulphur limit applies now - which means ship operators have to pay a premium for low sulphur heavy fuels, or use distillates. More importantly, ships are required under EU law to use 0.1% sulphur fuels in EU ports now. This effectively applies to generating set engines rather than the main propulsion engines, but even so because the normal heavy fuels and distillate fuels are not directly interchangeable, the gensets have to either burn more expensive distillates all the time - which has in turn meant costly changes to fuel pumps and associated equipment - or shipowners have had to invest in changeover equipment so that both fuels can be used. This is just one of several increases in operating costs that shipowners are having to face, so rising ferry prices are inevitable.

    http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge-developments/industry-developments/marpol-annex-vi-air-pollution/ - the text of the EU legislation is also available online.

    [/quote]

    It is several years since I was an engineer on the cross channel ferries. Ignoring shaft driven generators, all the ships in the fleet used distillate fuel for gensets. Principally because the sets were running for comparatively short periods which does not suit residual fuel engines but all the ships were able to run thier main engines on both heavy and distillate fuels and were equipped to allow a quick changeover. Whether that is still the case with the modern ferries I do not know.

    Ferry prices on the up?

    in Travelling to/from France

    Posted

    [quote user="Will"]Before the conspiracy/cartel theorists get too worked up, don't forget the fuel restrictions which have recently entered into force, and which effectively mean that ferries using EU ports and travelling in designated emission control areas (of which the Channel/North Sea is one) can no longer burn comparatively cheap heavy fuel oils and have to use the much more expensive distillate diesel fuels.

    [/quote]

    This is not yet an issue for the ferry companies but could well be in a few years. 

    http://www.lubmarine.com/lub/content/NT0008E51E.pdf

    Butternut Squash crop

    in Gardening

    Posted

    I planted 3 plants last year which produced only one butternut, so this year I planted 6 plants and have ended up with over 80!

    I think my neighbours will soon be fed up with me trying to get rid of them but it is a shame to waste them.

    CT findings

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    [quote user="dave21478"]Any independant garage will sort out a service and timing belt for you, but it will still be pretty pricey. A Hyundai dealership will be very expensive.

    The brake readings look ok to me. Assuming it passed the tests ok, I wouldnt worry too much about them.

    [/quote]

    Can't agree with this, at least regarding the Hyundai dealership at Cognac. Their hourly charges are no more expensive than my local independant garage.

    I recently had some major repair work done there for which they gave me a devis before they started. When I collected the car the bill was €200 less than the devis because they didn't have to do so much work on it as they expected.

    They could have charged me the full amount and I would have been none the wiser.

    Mole

    in Health

    Posted

    No need to be nervous.

    It is done very quickly and you only feel a kind of tingling sensation while it is being done.

     The area will feel a little sore for a few days afterwards.

    Anyone registered a Mercedes in France?

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    I had to do this with my Smart car.

    Mercedes do insist on an attestation from one of their dealers. I bought the headlights online, fitted them myself then took it to the dealer in Angouléme.

    They took it into the workshop then 20 minutes later I came out with the attestation.

    It would seem that it depends on which dealer you go to!

    Tiers Payant cards

    in Health

    Posted

    We only get one card. I just photocopy it and carry the copy which I have used at the hospital, clinics and pharmacies.

    They are only interested in the name and numbers on the card, not whether it is an original.

    Self build trailer

    in Driving in France

    Posted

    I am thinking of making a trailer to tow our large canoe as I have been unable to find one to buy at a realistic price.

    Combined weight of canoe and trailer is unlikely to exceed 150 kg. Does anyone know if there are any regulations I must follow in its construction please?

    Noisy music

    in French Legal Issues

    Posted

    Can I suggest that when the music is playing next time that you invite your neighbours in to your house so they can hear it for themselves? If, as you say, the music is not played particularly loud then your neighbours might be thinking you are overreacting somewhat.

    If they hear it for themselves they might be more accomodating.

    cheminot 

    onions

    in Gardening

    Posted

    Put the garlic in the fridge for a few days before planting. This is to 'fool it' into thinking (if vegetables can be said to think!) that it has been planted in winter. The onions should grow OK as long as they are still firm.

    cheminot

    Masonic Lodges

    in Sport, Leisure and Pastimes

    Posted

    To get back to the original question.

    There are three main masonic organisations in France. The biggest is the Grand Orient, the next two, which I believe are roughly equal in membership are the Grand Loge de France (GLF) and the Grand Loge National Français (GLNF).

    The latter one, GLNF is the only one recognised by the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) and as such is the only one that members of english lodges are authorised to visit.

    They will undoubtedly have lodges in the Chinon/Saumer area. A visit to the Hotel de Ville in either town would probably be the best way of finding out where they meet or you could contact the headquarters in Paris.   http://www.glnf.fr

    Hope this helps,

    cheminot

    Piggybacking onto spouse's E121 based cover - advice pls.

    in Health

    Posted

    A couple of months before your cover expires, say october 2010, contact the DWP at Newcastle and ask them to supply your partner with a new E121 which includes you as a dependant.

    You will need to take this to CPAM to get cover. Make several copies of this E121 as the impots will want one as well to prove you are not liable for social charges on your pension(s)

    cheminot

    Nuisance noise from a neighbours pump power oil heating!

    in French Legal Issues

    Posted

    Below is an extract from this site: http://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/-Bruit-de-voisinage-.html

    Qu’est ce que les bruits de voisinage ?

    Ce sont les bruits gênants (parce qu’ils durent

    longtemps, qu’ils sont très forts ou qu’ils se répètent fréquemment) ou

    agressifs de la vie quotidienne, provoqués par les comportements

    désinvoltes de personnes, directement ou par l’intermédiaire d’objets

    bruyants ou d’animaux qu’ils possèdent.

    The part that says 'directement ou par intermédaire d'objet bruyants' seems to cover your problem.

    You may have to bypass the maire and go to the prefecture to find out exactly what part of legislation covers this.

    cheminot

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