Paulal

hi just planning our first trip over to france this year, next week, does anyone know if the ban oning bring meat and dairy into France, which was in place when we were over lasti n Nov 07 is still in place? we were told at the docks last year we couldnt take anything connected with meat and dairy into france as it would be confiscated. we wont be arriving until late at night and everywhere will be closed, so we wanted to bring something to eat with us until we can hit the shops the next morning any help would be gratefully received thanks Paula

Thanks for your reply. the card is a normal debit card with the master card symbol on it.  I wonder if this now includes the moneo feature.  I have never come across this before.  We have had our previous card for five years and it is only a debit card, when we use it money comes out of our french bank account. I suspect from the replies that Credit Agricole have included the Moneo facility on the card for smaller purchases then.  I will see if I can find anyone in my village with this type of card, they may know whats happening thanks for your help Paula

Can anyone help me with this question. I have just received a new carte bancaire from Credit Agricole.  The accompanying information seems to be telling me I need to load this card with money to use it. Is this the same as just registering a new english card (i.e. that you just put it in the cash machine, use your pin number and register it as a new card/) also, if this is so, can I do this in England? I suspect it is not that easy and I am going to have to go to my branch in France to do something with the card? hope soneone can help. looking forward to hearing from you thanks Paula[8-)]

Hi, only just read this post so sorry for delay. I havent visited Oradour yet as every time we go to france we seem to have someone with young children with us and we also feel it would be disrespectful to take them to this really sad place. What I am writing for tho' is to tell you there is a really good booklet about the village which was written by a survivor of the atrocity.  I cannot remember the name of it but I do have a copy somewhere.  You can buy it at the village but I got mine off Amazon. It really is worth reading you cannot believe someone would do this (but then, I suppose you would) So sad!! Paula

Is anyone else fed up with the budget airlines taking services off at times when we need to use them? My husband is going out to our property to do some work and close up for winter, he is self employed so can go anytime he likes.  I on the other hand have to work and dont have any leave left.  He will be in France over the Armistace weekend and will be able to join the village armistace repast.  I would love to join him for the weekend but unfortunately Easyjet have remove the service from Bristol to La Rochelle at the end of October, as do Flybe on Bristol to Bergerac which is an alternative.  We also cannot get over for Christmas because of the leave situation for me, if we could fly out we could enjoy our property a lot more than we do. I know the Airlines are not in business to accommodate me personnally but I cannot be the only one who wishes she could get across to France more often but is restricted by committments. I know the service to La Rochelle was very popular this last summer as I have spoken to several people who have used it, some even making the effort to get to Bristol as they prefer that airport to some of the other regional ones. Come on people of the Bristol area, maybe we need to be complaining in bulk to Easyjet to try to get them to run their service for longer Paula

Hi, have just read your message I thought the St Malo-Portsmouth route was running all year do you mean St Malo-Plymouth which isnt running until late November?   Paula

Hi, can anyone tell me -  My daughter had her car MOT'd today and was told she needed a new front tyre.  She mentioned she would be taking her car across to France in the summer and the garage told her she would now need TWO front tyres as the French regulations state the tread has to be the same on both tyres.  I have never heard of this and cannot find anything anywhere which backs up this claim. Does anyone know if this is correct or has she been ripped off? thanks Paula

Does anyone know if there are any good online french courses for children?  I am looking for something for a six year old which will keep him amused as well as teach him the language.  thank you, Paula

We got ours in February, used it for the first time outwards in March and back over the Easter Bank holiday. It was great, no queuing.  We have a Chrysler Voyager which is a bit taller than normal cars but we found by putting the doofer holder lower down the windscrean (just below and to the left of the mirror) it worked a treat.  No more acrobatics out of the car window to pay etc. We bought ours on the SANIF website, it was easy and we asked for an extra holder for our second car, no problems at all. wish we had bought it years ago. Paula

We were members of the frequent traveller club but found out last month the set up has changed from 2006 and now you only get a discount on your 5th crossing in a year.  For us, although owners in France, we have to work to pay for this and cannot make five crossing a year so feel the price of the membership does not make it cost effective for us to cross with Condor.  This is a real shame as we have always enjoyed crossing with them and St Malo is much better situated for us to get to our house in Charante. If we want the shortest travel time in France we now have to travel Portsmouth/St Malo with Britanny which is overnight and therefore more expensive.  Club Class on Condor has always been our preferred sailing but alas will be no more unless we pay full price. Perhaps Condor could take into account those of us who would like reduced prices but due to work commitments cannot travel the required five times a year. We would also like to be able to pick where we sit in Club Class when making on line bookings, with modern technology surely it is possible to put a seating plan on the website so those who are travelling in two cars and need six seats can book to sit together.  At the moment, if we want to book this we have to telephone and it isnt always convenient to do this. Sorry to go on a bit. Paula

Got my results now, passed but not got a distinction, still, got through and thats what matters. Results are on student web page and a bit of a breakdown on the ECA marks are also there for a couple of weeks. thank goodness that is finished   Paula

Just been looking at Condor Prices for a quick trip in November and noticed that they have now introduced a fuel surcharge on cars as well as per passenger.  I queried this with them and they said they had to because of the high cost of fuel now. Seems a poor excuse to me as they are already charging per person, now an extra cost for your vehicle so those not travelling as foot passengers are hit twice. I wish someone could come along and sort out the ferry companies operating on this route as we are really stuck with Condor and Brittany.   PaulaL

Did anyone else finish this course?  I have just completed my oral exam, and had confirmation on the OU website that my ECA1 has arrived.  I hope to pass but that will be it! Did anyone else find it hard for a beginner?  comments on the course welcome Paula

I also found TMA5 easier than I expected and it was a bit boring I agree,  I have to start TMA6 early as I will be away on holiday when it has to be handed in so now frantically rushing to get some of the course done. I have struggled with the course a bit and not looking forward to the oral assessment, I can manage quite well at home on my own but even forget my own name (in english) at the tutorials when my tutor speaks to me in french so am now really worried I will fail. (Could also be because the tutor is an attractive french man with a wonderful accent!!) Anyone else feeling a bit scared? Paula

[quote]Can anyone offer any advise please: We have a Charantaise stone wall which needs pointing, we dont know whether we need to use a cement mix or if there is some special mix. Does anyone know or can o...[/quote] thanks to everyone for their suggestions, its been most helpful.   PaulaL