Nick Trollope

I'm very confused now as to what and where to go from here. What do you want to hear? Surely this is a descision that only you & your family can make and surely you can't base a descision of this magnitude on one conversation with one friend. On this forum, for every pro, you will find a con, so I doubt that anyone here will be able (tho' some will try) to make your mind up for you. FWIW, we based our (original) descision to move on gut instinct alone. However, all our plans were thrown asunder by circumstances, so we moved early. ie. you never can tell. Whatever you decide, good luck.

The sat and TV are, and must be kept seperate (as David says). To combine them, you will need 2 things; a satelllite switch (actually a new LNB, too, so thats 3) and as many outlet plates (duplexed or triplexed) as you need. The switch will combine the (Horizontal & vertical) feeds from the satellite and the TV signal into each of the outlet plates. Frankly, it is going to be alot easier to put a splitter in the TV feed and install a second dish and LNB and use twin input (sat & TV) outlet plates. If you want to add FM radio signals this is equally easy/impossible! All the bits are available in France, usually from larger DIY stores or specialist TV stores. Let me know if you want an actual "design".

Anyway, the real reason for posting. As long as web page designers have designed with the ethos of HTML in mind, you should be able to increase the size of the print on a web page Although that only works for exverything except the default font, is that not so? (Try it).... I get very confused by HTML.... My video card can zoom any part of the screen, as can Windoze, I believe.....

[quote]I worry about the cross-gender posters. These people who pretend to be men, when they obviuosly are not. Sorry John (aged 79?). So that was a windup or tease or what? I have never thought that any...[/quote] Ok, OK, I'll come clean.. Jokes, especially mine, rarely survive critical analysis, but; I was alluding to the fact that some (for example, "jackie") have female logins and are obviously male (as in "John", as in "Sorry John"). The "aged 79" was a Private Eye reference. OK? Sorted now? Good. Sorry John

[quote]Nick, What about the fiasco this summer with the Pont Aven, many people felt terribly let down and the excuses pedalled out by BF were rather poor. Then there is the tie up with Condor from Poole to...[/quote] As someone else has said, it is all a matter of personal experience. I have never travelled Plymouth-Roscoff, so I was not affected by the PA failures. However, I have travelled Pompey-Brittany plenty; P&O failed 100% of the time (for a night crossing, a late departure I find more irritating than a late arrival) - honest, of (perhaps) 6 trips 100% were "failures". On BF (40 trips?) I have been late once ..... Sorry to all P&O supporters, but there is a reason why BF are succeeding where P&O failed, whether it is "unfair competition" (whatever that is) or whatever, BF are still here & P&O aren't.

[quote]Put me out of my misery, who on earth pretends to be a man? I can't think of anyone who does that....... is that naieve of me?[/quote] Ah well, now there's the rub.... You never can tell, can you? This is one of those chat-room scenarios, no? I'm afraid that your misery is of your own making, I doubt if I can help you......... Even if I was willing to name and shame.....

I'm sorry for the employees, but; Ta ta P&O. I for one won't miss your unreliability, high prices, surly staff and stupid sailing times. I switched to BF some time ago and just pray that they don't let us down. Only time will tell.

I rather doubt if it would work. Mopeds here have to be specifically type-approved and I guess that you will not be able to get (compulsory) insurance on a UK one. Since 1/7/04 all mopeds in France have needed registration - existing mopeds must be registered by 2009 (?). There are plenty for sale around here (22) - and judging by the rate at which the local yoof sling 'em up the roads around here, the turnover in s/h machines is high....

[quote]Over on TF a lot of posters have their own picture as their avatar (like me). Does that help or hinder? If help - how about it some of you?I know I bang on about this a lot, but I also find it difficu...[/quote] I'm sure that we have discussed this before, have we not? I can't believe that someone that good looking can produce some of Dicksmiths' posts ........... I worry about the cross-gender posters. These people who pretend to be men, when they obviuosly are not. Sorry John (aged 79?).

[quote]Once you have your pool installed and filled complete with safety fence etc, what are the costs of regular maintenance and any other expenses? I've tried doing a search and nothing came up. Pat.[/quote] Perhaps 150E (still can't get the symbol, as we could before..) in chemicals. A few m3 of water to replace losses. The sand in your filter should last a couple of years (and, as I've never had to buy any, can't tell you much it is/year!). If you do the maintenance yourself, then not much else, otherwise perhaps a fewhundred per year?

[quote]Your attitude leaves me in despair. Stay in England![/quote] Who's attitude? This forum layout does not make it very easy to know who you are referring to (unless you "quote").

Theoretically you should, if you have a clear view over the sea. But, as Idealfrance says, it probably isn't worth the effort because; a) You would need a UK TV (or UK compatible French TV - not guaranteed) b) The "path loss" over the distance would vary greatly with conditions/rain/snow etc etc. Meaning that an aerial set up today may not work tomorrow. c) For licencing reasons, national transmitters (those run by NTL, eg.) are designed NOT to broadcast to forgeign territories (for the same reason that you can't receive sky legit in France). d) Big aerials are expensive and tend to fall down unless you spend an awful lot of money on mountings for them. e) Even if you get analogue (ordinary?) pictures, you will not get DTT (Freeview) signals because they are transmitted at considerably less power than analogue.

Bouquets and brickbats? There are a few posters (you KNOW who you are) who post only to make silly comments, a contribute little (NO, I don't mean any of the present company). They really **** me off. And our resident racists, see above. (No point in complaining to FA - FA indeed, as they seem not to care).

I can get my counter up by saying; See my reply to your last posting... Good eh?

I can get my counter up by saying; See my reply to your last posting... Good eh?

I can get my counter up by saying; See my reply to your last posting... Good eh?

To answer your questions in order; Lots Lots Lots Lots Sorry, couldn't resist that. I hired from a company local to me, simply because they were the cheapest. I got several quotes, including from the big boys, all of whom were quite happy to insure for continental driving. I would be very suprised if noone in your area will hire to you. Is this the real reason or are you too young/old/too much of a risk (nothing implied!!) for their insurers? Where are you?

My wife and I do. At least we work in the UK, via the internet & telephone. On the occasions we need to visit the UK, we fly & drive (airport is about 20 mins from us). Regardless of the expense, any more frequent visits would be impossible or impractical. Unless you live in sangatte (?sp) and work in Folkstone or at a push London I doubt whether it is practical to "commute". I know of a few people who commute weekly (mostly to London), but they don't really qualify, as their place in France is just a weekender and they are "resident" in the UK. If you work in the UK, then it is best to live in the UK (you will pay alot less tax!).

[quote]It's very much pot luck.Also you could ask the sender to put a low value on the customs from in the U.S. for you. Under 22 euros is best. Plus make sure that you are not paying local (U.S. state sales...[/quote] I wouldn't recommend undervaluing items for customs. Customs Officers the world over know what things are worth and if they reckon that an item is undervalued, they will a) Confiscate it and/or b) charge the appropriate amount of duty and VAT and c) a hefty penalty. They actually charge the carrier, who will come after you for the money..... That said, it is usually cheaper to buy books and CD's etc from the US, with the customs & VAT charges than it is to buy them in the UK or France. What does that tell us?

[quote]How do you chew a wall?[/quote] You wanna watch more Discovery Home and Leisure, you do. Then you would know, you would.

Thanks Paul, I knew you would come up trumps! My local (at age 16) MOD research establisment turned me down for an electrical (engineering) apprentiship - it appears that my Mother was considered a security risk (that is a long story). Which is why I ended up in Electronics, which provides me with no useful knowledge whatsoever, for renovating a French house. C'est la vie....

Hello Paul .................... Can anyone tell me:- What is the difference between a Disconjuncteur Differential and an Interrupteur Differential (apart from 50E!!)? Are "Intermediate" light switches (as in 3-way circuit) available & what are they called? My vieux maison has very thick walls, making it almost impossible to run upteen cables back to a central point. Can I use lots of fuseboards, fed from a single ID/DD? (We are now monophase, thank the Lord/EDF!) Can I add a contactor to a C-E circuit, so that I can run 2 C-E's (individually isolatable), or must I use the auto type DIN-rail normal units? I already have the control switch, but it is a long way from the C-E's & the cabling is not up to running both of them. TIA!  

I believe that (and I may be wrong...) all bikes new after 1/7/04 need registering (or it may be some time in the future). 50cc bikes were not registered, but must be type approved and can be ridden at 14yrs (jeez!), once some training had been undertaken (usually at school). Otherwise 18? <125cc's similarly did not need registering, but you had to be 18+ I think. I also read somewhere that mopeds were the single largest cause of death in the 14-18 age bracket. I am a lifelong biker but there is no way that my youngest is getting a moped in 10 years time. Hopefully the French government will see sense by then.

We always wander into the office and speak to the young lady behind the reception desk, who seems to know everyone/thing and always says "If he says otherwise, tell him to talk to me". Other than that, you should write to the Mayor as, I believe, this is the accepted thing. Most Mairies only seem to have a few staff, anyway.

[quote]I googled 'removing lead paint' and there is a huge amount of info, mostly USA. Tryhttp://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/lead/leadbroc.htmThis document seems to say that only children of 1 or 2 years n...[/quote] Ah yes! Americans. IIRC, ALL lead paint below 4' from the floor must be removed as it is defined as "mouthable". ie. the little darlings may take to chewing the skirting .... sorry, base... boards. Gawd bless America! (Noone else will....)