PossumGirl

[quote user="Teamedup"]Possumgirl there are bicycles that cost more than that. I just hadn't realised that trikes could too. I would not like to be so low down if cycling on french roads.[/quote] I honestly hadn't realized they were so expensive.  And, you're probably right that with the windy roads being that low would probably make you practically invisible to traffic coming up behind you.  As it is, I think it's a wonder there are more flat cyclists than there are! PG

[quote user="Teamedup"]I have seen someone on one of these, I hadn't realised that they are so pricey though.   http://www.france-scooter.com/c71.html [/quote] All I can say is "EEEK!!!" I think that's worth more than our Toyota! PG

But, just in case you've not been good about keeping it up-to-date and still insist on opening attachments that come in your email, you should probably read this article from the BBC http://tinyurl.com/82aqd. PG

[quote user="Ssc"]Hi, If you have French car insurance recovery is usually included. Unsure about roadside (repair at scene) breakdown though. Tony [/quote] We do have auto insurance, so I will go and speak with Mme. Groupama tomorrow and ask her about it.  Thanks. PG

[quote user="toni"] As regards the 3 wheelers, I haven't seen them being used in France and i do notice that a query similar to yours from another contributer has no replies so it doesn't look too hopeful.[/quote] Clearly, my husband is right about it being too dorky for the French.  On the other hand, I'd rather be dorky than have a broken hip... PG

[quote user="Dicksmith"]This seems to be someone who just joined to cause problems, as I posted elsewhere either a troll or a sock puppet - a false identity used by someone already registered. Either way, ignore them, or dish it back (preferably amusingly!). Don't let it put you off.[/quote] We used to have one of these on the Border Collie list I moderate.  He would keep joining, then re-joining under false names after we would ban him.  We always knew it was him though, because for some reason he always used a Scandinavian anonymous server, so, it was what we in the FBI call a clue! PG

[quote user="Christine Animal"]Don't take any notice Possumgirl, leave him with his thread and himself.  Did you read his first line of his blog (after the "About Me")?   [/quote] I must admit that I was afraid to go and read his blog, Christine.  I didn't want the top of my head to explode!! PG

[quote user="Inca"]PGirl Don't be put off by such a responce.  I suspect, many of us would be more proactive on this great site were it not for such (occassional) unnecassary attacks. Mike     [/quote] I've never belonged to a social organization, nor an online list, where there haven't been a few people who just seem to enjoy making everyone else miserable.  I suppose it's compensation for some other lack of something in their sad little lives... PG

Has anyone seen any "adult" three-wheel bikes used here?  I never learned to ride the "normal" kind (too many cars in our neighborhood and an over-protective mother), and I just can't get the hang of it now.  But, I know that those adult trikes existed in L.A.  My husband tells me that if I use one here, everyone will laugh at me.  But it's either that, or no bike at all. PG

[quote user="Tresco"]I was wondering whether it would affect people, the mods being 'invisible' or not. I don't think this particular guy would have behaved any differently if he has known Gay was a mod. Credit to Gay for her restraint in the face of such rude insulting behaviour. [/quote] I, for one, truly appreciated Gay's response.  I came close to tears this morning after seeing his post and was about to leave for good until the rest of you stepped in.  I did actually wonder if  I'd unwittingly broken some rule by posting on his thread.   And, of course, committing the hideous sin of having been born in the U.S.... PG

Has anyone joined this, and if so, what have your experiences been. I belonged to AAA for 30 years in the States, and, although I didn't need them frequently, did find that it was always worthwhile whenever I did.  However, I lived in a big city, so it was always pretty easy to call and have someone show up quickly.  I'm just wondering if country living negates the benefits of belonging to a similar set up. TIA, PG

It does exist at our local library for "members." However, since joining the library is 5€ per year for the entire family, I pretty much consider that free! PG

[quote user="adrianpmills"]I find you can switch off the french subtitles with more than 50% of the films.  Some foreign language films are available with english subtitles, but not many.[/quote] I don't mind the subtitles on a film in a language I don't speak (Chinese, for example), but when you speak both languages fluently, it's very bizarre to have subtitles.  You can't stop yourself from reading them, no matter what you do, and, for me, I find myself second guessing the word choices.  Very frustrating! PG

What an incredibly rude and uncalled for attack.  Personally, I find myself shocked by your attitude. PG

[quote user="adrianpmills"]  I have now switched to Cinesnap and I have found their service to be very good.  I pay Euros 37 a month and get three DVD's in rotation (sent back individually).  When the post is good, this gives me around 20 DVD's per month. When you mean English language DVD's do you mean foreign language films subtitled in English?  All English language DVD's are available in original version in France. [/quote] Yes, I meant original versions. I hate watching American/English movies and television dubbed.  Of course, it would also be better if I could turn off the French subtitles, which I find distracting and usually annoying, because I disagree with the translation so much of the time! But, I'll check out Cinesnap.  Thanks. PG

[quote user="Dicksmith"]That's a pity. Might still be worth a try, robots have blind spots...[/quote] In this case, their form to become a member ONLY has the UK in the country field and does not allow you to change it.  However, I've contacted a couple of the other online rental services and am awaiting a response.  If I find anything out, I'll post it here for anyone else interested. PG

[quote user="Dicksmith"]Will Amazon extend their mail service to France? Might be worth a try.[/quote] Well, here is the answer, direct from their website: Amazon.co.uk DVD Rental by Post can deliver rental DVDs to addresses in the UK (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales). Unfortunately, we cannot deliver rental DVDs to BFPO addresses or addresses in the Channel Islands. PG [:(]

[quote user="Dicksmith"]Will Amazon extend their mail service to France? Might be worth a try.[/quote] I've wondered about that.  I might try writing to them and see.  Although, I must say that attempts at "human" communication with Amazon in the past have been less than successful! PG

The problem is, I really need to do this by mail, the way that NetFlix works in the U.S.  Carcassonne is 45 minutes away, which I don't feel like driving just to rent a couple of DVDs. I know that it's not that expensive to buy them these days, but I hate buying something I'll only watch once. PG

Well, I climbed up and gently swept the snow off the dish.  So far, so good.  Signal is all back to normal.  Luckily, I was able to reach with a broom and didn't have to actually climb onto the roof, otherwise, hubby might be a wealthy man today... PG

Does anyone know of a service that rents English-language DVDs by mail to those of us living in France?  I know that there are several French services, but I'd much rather rent the original versions of thing whenever possible. PG

We've actually had very little trouble with signal loss since we've had our dish.  I believe that we do have a larger sized one; I know it's a mesh thingy and is bigger than the mini-dish we used to have for DirecTV in California.  We had a bit of alignment trouble several months back, but our installer came and rectified that, with no trouble since. Last night, after the snow had stopped for a couple of hours, the signal on all channels came back.  I haven't checked this morning though.  I do think it's snow on the LNB thingamajig.  I might try climbing up on a ladder and sticking a broom out through the trapdoor in the roof a bit later if we still have a problem. PG

I think the problem is probably the LNB.  Apparently, I may be able to reach it with a broom through the trapdoor in the roof.  But I think I'll wait until tomorrow to do it. If I'm lucky, enough snow will melt off tomorrow during the day, because I want to see LEWIS on ITV.  I'm a sucker for sequels! PG

We've had snow since yesterday, although it's stopped for now.  We seem to have lost the signals for BBC channels and ITV channels, although other channels (Four, 5, Sky Movies, etc.) seem to be fine.  Is anyone else having this problem, or is it just snow blocking part of the signal?  PG

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] Quick correction - its the accompanied driving bit that is not valid outside France.  The PP is OK.  Got mixed up in the cut & paste.  Sorry [/quote] Well, because this wasn't an "exchange," I still have my valid California license, which I think will still be a very useful item to have! PG