Lautrec

Thank you Christine, we shall go and check it out. It is only about 25k from where we are! Will report in due course! Regards. Lautrec.

I have been advised by someone, that if you take out a standing order with your bank, in France, which I understand is a called a 'prevelement', there is no way that you can ever cancel it, even if you wish to discontinue the service that someone has been providing for you; in this case an internet connection.(Tiscali) Can anyone enlighten me! Lautrec.

We have been asked by some friends, if we could enquire if there is anyone with a van, who is returning to the UK empty. They wish to take a small load of household possesions from Laval (53) to Torbay in Devon in September.. We would pleased if we could to help them! Lautrec.

When I was building wooden window shutters I appealed for help on this forum. I had many helpful suggestions and the project was completed quickly and easily with this information. Now I am wanting to built two matching five bar gates to close down an opening of four metres. It would appear on the surface to be a not too difficult task but if anyone has knowledge of this sort of project and could give me some helpful information, I would be very grateful. Thank you! Lautrec.

Hi Nightie, I live in area; near Ruffec; that Tiscali does not cover for broadband. I read about ONSPEED in The Conexxion newspaper. So I paid for and downloaded the programme. It really does the job! Not quite broadband speed, but a least 4 or 5 times faster than norm. It cost about £25 for a year! You can contact them on www.onspeed.com. Look it up and read all the details. It is a good way of speeding up the downloading process. Lautrec.

As we shall be taking a holiday in the UK in September, we need to find a good home from home for our Burman Cat. We live 10 ks east of Ruffec and would be grateful if anyone could recommend a nice cattery in this immediate area. Merci! Mde Lautrec.

Hi Andy, You need to purchase some chlorine tablets and a floating disposer. You can get quick dissolving ones for rapid treatment and the slow ones, which release the chemical slowly over a matter of days. You can buy them in E,Leclerc or any other super market. This will get rid of the Algea! Good luck! Lautrec. Ps. You can also buy anti-algea liquid if the algea is really dense!

Dear Ian, Straighten up and swim right, with the Bungee Swimming Method! It won't make you so dizzy! Lautrec.

I have a inflatable rubber swim pool 16'x 4'. It is now in its second season and in the hot weather is indispensible! I immerse myself in it many times a day to keep my cool. The big snag is that you can swim across it with three or four strokes and then about turn and back again. This can be quite frustrating! I investigated the 'endless pool' principle; a current making machine with which you can keep swimming in the same place, but these are more of a permanent fixture and are much too expensive. Then I had a very good idea. With a length of cord; three bungees and a suitable growing tree, I have solved my dilemma. I tie the cord in the tree about ten foot above the ground. Attach the three bungees; the last one in a loop; get into the pool with the loop around the waist and start swimming. Believe me it works a real treat and you can really get in some very good exercise in this way. If you dont believe me, give it a try! If you need any further information, email me and I will send you a couple of pictures. Happy swimming! Lautrec

I am afraid that even if you use anti-algea clorinators, it will only turn your green algea into grey algea. It would then have to be filtered, to make the water clear. I bought my 16 foot rubber pool from Lecelerc which included all chemicals, skimmer, net and vacuum cleaner for E199, which I have now realised to be a real bargain and I don't know how I would have managed this Summer without it! I think you can buy the filters separately for about E69, as I have seen them advertised in someones promotional catalogues. I do think in the long run that you will have to get hold of one! I think you mentioned 3 weeks use! Think more like 3 months'! Regards Lautrec

Can anyone inform me of a really good cattery, in the Ruffec/Confollen area, where we can leave our cat when we vistit the UK for a week's break. Madame Lautrec

I have had an acount with Tiscali for 18 months. In this area of the Charente, they do not cover for ADSL, but Wanadoo do! So I would like to switch servers! How does one cancel the contract with Tiscali? Do I have to wait until the month I originally took out the contract; ie October, or is there a formal and safe way to go about it before then? Any advice would be very appreciated! Lautrec.

An older friend of ours when living in the UK, would correspond with her friends with a Email machine. Although it was not in any sense a computer, with it you could send and recieve emails. It cost in the region of £75. She tells me that she has not seen them for sale in France but was wondering if she imported one from across the Channel, would it work in France? Is there anyone over here using one? Lautrec.

Hello Les, I have found the answer to most problems is to go on to <Control Panel> < Performance and Maintenance> and initiate Systems Restore.  Pick a date when it was working ok and then restore your system to that date. It should do the trick, but maybe only temporarily. Regards Lautrec

Hi Dubna, I have tried your suggestion to improve my sound  on Skype.(Make it louder!) Went to knowledge base, but could not find any reference to 250 255 etc. Could you make a more fuller description for me. Thank you! Lautrec

I have an unlimited account with Tiscali. (Non-broadband) I now have been advised that our area can now receive the broadband service! At the moment I am paying 30E/month. Now I am advised that the broadband service is similarly priced! The question I am raising, does this means that I can upgrade for no additional cost, or do I have to pay another 30E? Need to know! Thanks! Lautrec.

Thank you John!. Yes! it was the Glis Glis name that I was trying to remember. We shall see what transpires!

For the past couple of nights we have heard this quite loud gnawing sound emulating from behind our chimney breast. Now I seem to remember earlier postings of a small rodent; the name of which escapes me. (Was it called the chi chi, or possibly the edible dormouse!) I would like information on this occurrence and how one can rid ourselves of our non-paying guests without any undue cruelty! Thank you! Lautrec

I don't want to be accused of not integrating with the French way of life, like refusing to learn French;  playing cricket and meeting other Brits in groups etc, but I do like to watch premier league football! No criticism please, my wife has the priority on that one! I have a SKY set up, but cannot afford their exorbitant monthly fees for a full package! But I was told that for a more modest fee, you can install a French satellite dish, connect to a decoding box and watch some of the top matches in the UK over the weekend in the Winter here in France! Any information would be very appreciated. Regards, Lautrec.

Thank you Diemos,that was really helpful.! Regards Lautrec

I am grateful for all the information on Maitre Ferrant.  We have arranged a rendezvous with him this coming Wednesday. I am sure he will be just the one we are looking for! Thank you again!

Thank you Chateaud,  I will follow through on this information with my vet! Regards Lautrec

Sorry Micky, I am afraid that I got it all wrong. The URL is in fact     www.specs4less.com Better luck this time. Lautrec.

Hi Micky, I have obtained two very good pair of spectacles from www.specs4u.com . They were bifocal and cost £30 a pair. I am very pleased with them. If you on to google search and dial in 'on line spectacles' you will find many more such sites! Here's looking at you! Lautrec

Does anyone know of a proper English style Osteopath practising within a 40 kilometres (approx) distance of Ruffec - Charente.   We have found in France that the only treatment that you can obtain is Physiotherapy, which is not quite the same. If any fellow sufferer has any knowledge of this sort; please inform me of the practitioner. I would be very obliged. Thank you!