P

Coming over to France for two weeks but may need to also do some work and send some data back to the UK. Does anyone know of an Internet café in the Saint Gaudens / Boulogne sur Gesse area where this can be done?   Thanks   Paul

Many thnaks for all your replies - been very useful, especially the bit about loading the plasterboard first [:D]. An additional thing. The house that we have just bought has just a simple timeswitch controlling the boiler. I shall be installing some low temp thermostats so that the boiler comes on only when the temperature drops low enough for there to be a danger of frost (when the house is unoccupied). In looking around the Brico Depot, I saw programmable thermostats but did not see a boiler programmer - do they exist in France? Paul

Have carried out a search but found nothing. To replace windows, does consent have to be obtained or can they just be replaced? Paul

Cathy Would be interested in you PMing me the details Thanks Paul

Had a wonderful time on Saturday in the Brico Depot at Montauban trying to work out exactly what I needed to make up socket outlets and light switches. Eventually got what I wanted? Something I did see (and this was in the Legrande Mosaic range) were plates (into which you insert the socket outlets and switches) with hooks on that you turned a screw to bring the hooks in to play. I thought that they might have been used on plasterboard but it did not seem quite right - can someone enlighten me. Also, we are going to need some plasterboard. Now, back in the UK it has struck me that we did not see i in the store. Is this something that they tuck away or will I need to go elsewhere.  Finally, the OH is keen to have either granite or marble worktops in the kitchen. Now, I am thinking both weight and price. I know that the bst place is a funeral supplier. Any one any idea of the price per square metre? Paul

[quote user="BJSLIV"] Its partly the effect of hedging. Many companies are tied into contacts at higher than current market prices as they thought they would save money against ever increasing prices. [/quote] Presumably, they would have been tied in to long term contracts BEFORE the price rose and therefore continued to buy, under the contract, at below the market rates of the time. Yet, they still felt compelled to place a fuel surcharge for costs that they were not then incurring. The old 'heads we win, tails you lose' syndrome. Paul

Just hired a LWB van with tail lift for 15 days from a company in Sussex for £695 to bring items over from the UK to France. However, it was down to me to organise breakdown recovery in France. As I am in the RAC thought lets try them. In addition, will need some for the car for trips down. Obtained a very reasonable quote but it was for vehicles up to 11 years old. Mine will be 11 later this year. ‘How much more if over 11 years’ and the reply was ‘about £100’. I was then asked what the vehicle was to which I replied ‘Land Rover Discovery’. ‘Ah, if you join one of the Land Rover clubs then you will not need to pay the additional £100 (the theory being that they look after their vehicles). ‘What is your membership number anyway’ ‘Ah I see that you have Arrival Membership (via the Camping and Caravan Club), so the additional £100 does not apply to you, nor does maximum vehicle length and certain other things’. The moral of the story? If you are still UK based, have an older car and cannot join an appropriate car club with links to the RAC, join the Camping and Caravan Club – about £30 – and save on your European Breakdown (as well as ordinary membership). Have not got a tent or caravan – the club makes no checks. Paul  

This revived thread is of interest. We were of the opinion that we should buy furniture in France. However, when we looked around the various stores, the items on display were certainly not to our taste - that was even before we saw the price tags[:-))]! In addition, we could not find the sort of fitted wardrobes that you can get in the UK. We therefore decided that we would buy in the UK and take it over. The reasoning being that it would be to our taste and that th difference in price would pay for the transportation. We now have a house that is packed with furniture. We did get some quotes for transporting it and these varied quite a bit. However, it was always in my mind to do it ourselves. We have hired a Luton van from a major company that is costing us £724 for two weeks hire and it is with the essential tail lift and includes breakdown cover (they have new vans and is only costing about £20 more than a local company who hires vans that are very elderly so no doubt the more modern engines will be more fuel efficient). The ferry costs are the same as a car. Having it for the two weeks means that w will be able to go and get things such as plasterboard, bath, ride on mower etc. So if you do the sums you might find that it is a lot cheaper than having the furniture transported, you can unload at your pace and driving a van or a 7.5 tonner is not very difficult provided you take note of the increased dimensions. Paul

Within the next two weeks we should complete on our property in France – it will be a ‘maison secondaire’ until we retire there permanently in a few years time. Now, I know there has been a lot of postings on Fosse Septiques and searching for them turned so many that I thought the best thing to do would be to start another post. My question is: How do we look after it and keep it functioning – apart from the obvious. Which products should we use when cleaning etc and which should we avoid. I can remember in a post talk of adding something to keep the bacteria at a sufficient level. So any info would be most welcome. Paul

Well Plee, I do not know whether you are going along with them (they are in control of this situation and manipulating you) because you do not like confrontation or whether you think that they are very nice people who you would not like to see upset. The question is are they nice people? I always think of films and TV programmes. There will be an actor who, in one will play the sensitive loving role and in the next the cruel villain who will think nothing of torturing someone. If they are a good actor then they will be convincing in both types of role. Exactly what they are like in real life who knows. The same with your two. They seem to have convinced you that they are very nice people - is that the real them or is it one of their 'acting' roles. I agree with the others - if they are broke how did they get a loan - and if they are staying with you whilst they look to buy a house that means, if they were truthful, they have money. One scenario that I can think of is that they have money but their little ploy has got their rent reduced by 90 euros per month. You may be thinking that any income is bette than no income. However, what happens if they do not leave. I know for sure that if  property that I was renting for a holiday suddenly was not available because the owner already had a tenant in it I would be telling all and sundry to avoid renting from you. Wake up Plee - kick these two out before, in a little whiles time, you are posting here again about the nxt problem that you have with them. Paul 

Slightly off subject but...... Need to take a Luton van over to France next month. Newhavwen would be more convenient so searched for a fare. The following came up when I tried to get the cost for the van: "Currently only non-commercial, car based vans can be booked over the Internet. Due to customs regulations, transit-style vans are charged at a higher rate." No problem getting a cost from SeaFrance or POSL for a Luton and very much cheaper than Transmarche and they do not seem to have problems with 'customs regulations'. Do these regulations apply to Transmarche or is it just a way of getting more money. The message also states that: "Failure to do this (book via email or phone for these types of van) may result in an additional payment at the port." Paul

[quote user="Jonzjob"] Shame they don't do Bristol - Carcassonne? It would save the horrible journey to Toulouse. Not too bad collecting people, but the return hits the rush time traffic on the way back and I ain't in to that sort of carp now! Used to be, but not now!!   [/quote] John Come on now be positive. Think to yourself 'this is why I moved here to get away from this sort of traffic, oh how I pity those still in the UK'. And then place a very smug grin on your face. Paul

Thanks Wozza have pm'd Paul

Ryanair don't operate out of Bristol, yet! Strange then that they have been quoted in the media that they will cary on flying from Bristol prior to any work on the runway. Also strange that a seach on their booking website will give flights departing from Bristol today! Paul

We are planning to bring over furniture etc mid February from near Gatwick to 31 and the van will be returning virtually empty. Is anyone interested in space on the return leg? Paul

Interesting item on BBC TV news last night - 10 airlines were boycotting Bristol so the owners have closed the airport and are cutting grooves into the runway surface. And the picture that they showed of the runway illustrated that it was on quite a steep gradient. So the claim that aircraft sped up when aquaplaning would seem to support rather than be against the laws of physics. If 10 airlines boycotted the airport what does that say about the ones that were still landing there attitude to safety, especially that of their passengers? Paul

Went to Chertsey with the caravan yesterday afternoon - Chertsey is on the flight path in to Heathrow - and it was fairly quiet. During the night I heard the couple of flights that come in during the small hours. Got up at 06:15 (had to come in to work today) and it was very quiet - just a few planes. The fog was just as intense and, listening to the radio, they are predicting a few more days of fog. They did say that a couple of domestic flights have operated using 747s so as to carry more passengers. Can't help feeling that BA is more interested in long haul passengers so s*d domestic and short haul ones. Apparently, BAA have erected 2 marquees that are heated - unfortunately, they turn the heating off at night! Also there is not enough capacity and passengers are having to wait outside in the cold - they are not ltting them in to the terminals. However, the bottom line is that the media is quoting Heathrow as normally operating at 98% capacity and, with fog, aircraft separation has to be greater (the worst aviation accident happened in fog) and yesterday Heathrow was operating at 40% but they are hoping for 60% today. Paul

Afy You got 3 right.....     1.    Who wrote the first draft of the American Declaration of Independence of July 1776? Thomas Jefferson   2.    How many American colonies, soon to be states, approved it on the day? Twelve of the 13 colonies reached agreement; New York approved the declaration a few days later   3.    Which founding father of the United States has his portrait on the $100 bill? Benjamin Franklin   4.    Under the ‘Articles of Confederation’ of 1781, who was the first president of the United States of America? John Hanson. Eight men served one-year terms. George Washington was the first president under the 1787 constitution   5.    What was remarkable about John Hancock’s signature on the declaration? He had very large handwriting   6.    How many words are there in the US constitution? 4,440   7.    How was the word “Pennsylvania” miss-spelt in the US Constitution? “Pensylvania”   8.    What is the relationship between the 18th and 21st amendment of the constitution of the United States? The 21st, in 1933, overturned the 18th, of 1919, which had prohibited alcohol   9.    Which famous American political document sought to establish “a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity – invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God”? The Constitution of the Confederate States of America 1861    

[quote user="Gardian"] Paul ............... Best thing now is to look forward to the finalisation of your purchase and resist the temptation to keep checking those rates! [/quote] Gardian Will not be able to resist looking the rates. However, hopefully I will be gloating unless something major happens and the euro tumbles. Paul

Thanks everyone for your replies. We have now taken the plunge and ordered our currency for the 'big bit' of the purchase price. Saw the rates high yesterday morning [:D] and then fall greatly as the day went on [:(]. This morning I called up the BBC website that shows rates and changes. It then started to climb and when it was at 1.49something I thought 'let's go now otherwise it might fall'. So the phoning around of the dealers as well as having an online one on the screen that shows the actual rates that they offer. A call to one dealer (incidentally the one we used for the deposit and that went without a hitch). I was quoted a rate which was lower than the online rate. I said that I needed to phone a few more. 'Are you just researching at the moment' I was asked. 'No, intending to buy today'. I was then asked what I had been quoted and by who. I read out the price on screen and told him who it was. 'Just a minute I will talk to one of my directors - sometimes we have some large deals going on'. A minute of so later he came back to offer a far better rate than the online dealer so the deal was done. For the rest of this morning I have been watching both the BBC site and the online dealer site watching things go down and then back, just a little, but the rates not getting near what I got this morning. We had taken a gamble (and I do not like taking gambles) - we had not gone for a forward deal but had made enquiries. We ended up with a better deal than we were quoted for a forward deal. So, if you have got this far through his post, and you are in need of currency exchange, certainly with one dealer they can do better - I saved over £1,200 on the original spot that I was quoted[:D]. Paul

Just found this document on my PC and thought it might make a nice quiz for those of you from the US of A. An American friend of mine did not do too well with these questions. (I will post the answers in a couple of days time). Paul 1.    Who wrote the first draft of the American Declaration of Independence of July 1776?   2.    How many American colonies, soon to be states, approved it on the day?   3.    Which founding father of the United States has his portrait on the $100 bill?   4.    Under the ‘Articles of Confederation’ of 1781, who was the first president of the United States of America?   5.    What was remarkable about John Hancock’s signature on the declaration?   6.    How many words are there in the US constitution?   7.    How was the word “Pennsylvania” miss-spelt in the US Constitution?   8.    What is the relationship between the 18th and 21st amendment of the constitution of the United States?   9.    Which famous American political document sought to establish “a permanent federal government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity – invoking the favour and guidance of Almighty God”?    

We obtained a passport for our dog this year (UK). The vet said every two years for the jab. When we sai that at sometime in the future we would be moving to Fance she told us that in France it is every year for the jab. We opted to go for an annual jab in the UK so that when we do eventually move to France (was going to be next year but plans change) she will be up to date as per French requirements. As for the ferries - they seem to charge £15 each way for a pet - sometimes it is half the cost of a car and passengers! Paul

[quote user="Ian Horn"] - that is unless the airline is able to write some software pdq to allow you to pay it in advance online. Happy days!  [/quote] You watch how fast they can write the software if they can charge a 'handling fee'.

Afy   Only just discovered this thread and read all the posts.   Cannot agree with the hostile responses that you received.   My Mother is an alcoholic – her words even after being dry for 16+ years. She joined AA and for her it was the group thing that did it. As someone said, they are amateurs – just as they are / were amateur drinkers. She has now found that she does not need AA – she is now in control. So there is light at the end of the tunnel.   You seem to have hobbies starting, and that should lead to friends.   You said that you wrote ‘pulp fiction’ but it had no success. I would have thought that success does not matter – but it does provide you with a means of doing something different. Perhaps writing technical books is a little too like work.   Someone did suggest contributing to other topics. As you are clearly very knowledgeable about computing matters, contribute to the computer / phone etc section. There are always people seeking help. Whilst it might be like work hopefully people will be grateful for your help and post messages to that effect, thereby raising your self esteem.   You also do not like France. May I suggest that you try a different mindset. Thinking ‘I hate this place’ will only bring you down. Try, as hard as it might be, to find some good things about France (hopefully there are some) and dwell on these. Perhaps also try to do something about learning French so that you are not so isolated.   Marital problems are never easy. I wonder if the feelings that you have are also felt by your wife. Which would mean that you both have the same problems. I know it can be difficult but is there any way in which you can look at the difficulties and try to find a solution. Could something that you do jointly be teaching / learning French.   Do try to become more positive thinking – just think of all the contributors to the thread that you started and their support for you.   The operation also seems to be a big thing playing on you mind. One way of getting it off of your mind is to get it carried out and I will then be that problem out of the way.   Best wishes   Paul

Dog - thanks for the advice that most speak some English. Pat - thanks for the contact, always useful to have a contact who does have good English (would be better though, if we had good French) and an hours journey is not too bad. Should complete on a house at the end of January and a few weeks later we will bring some items over and the dog and spend a couple of weks there. So of immediate need will be to get her the jabs so that she can re-enter the UK (does she have to go up to passport control on her own or can I go with her and she will only be able to carry her passport in her mouth and it might get a little soggy?[:D]). However, we are also keen to know where to take her if something serious should happen. Paul