Baz

Panda you may well be correct, but P&O are currently stating that their sailings to Calais are on time and space is available and no reports of delays from Sea France. You would expect these big organisations to keep travellers updated if there are delays, but that's life. Baz PS. BBC Travel are not reporting any disruption to any ferry services to France timed at 9.20BST. although I believe there is now a problem in Boulogne

Welcome to the forum Paisleyface. I would more concerned about the lack of the Chlorine reading and at this stage do not worry about total alkalinity. I would start adding Choc Chlorine until you get a correct reading, this is essential for safe swimming. Baz

According to the Port of Dover all ferry services from Dover to France are operating normally at the present time. Baz

Didn't understand the first time what was required, but second time around managed three. Phew!!! Baz

I use Hotmail.com many times a day and have had no problems. Baz

I saw this device advertised at the weekend, it may be worth trying if you are hay fever sufferer. This is not a recommendation but an observation. http://www.enjoymoresummer.com/Pages/Page.aspx?PageName=LloydsAllergyReliefSpecialOffersNasalReliever Baz

[quote user="sweet 17"] I have used my NW credit card on line and I did have to use the card reader. [/quote] Sweet 17, this is very strange as the card reader is not used for NW credit cards but only for NW FlexAccount Visa debit card customers. Also it is only used for internet banking transactions with NW and some other banks and I am not aware of any card readers being used for on line retail transactions. If I am wrong perhaps you could confirm your posting as the card readers were only intended for bank account security. Baz

Clair, congratulations on your 6000th posting. I hope everyone appreciates your sterling work and informative responses, I certainly do. Many thanks for your contribution to this site. Baz

Lollie, I have sent a PM to you with a non-premium number to the Ryanair Eire Booking centre. Before anyone asks I am not going to  publish the number on the forum. Baz

[quote user="Ron Avery"]I did actually say this about HD boxes a year ago when a SKY engineer told me that was the plan.  But people as they can, said that it was SKY bull shite and they would get HD in France. So, has anybody actually achieved SKY HD in France through a UK based SKY subscription?[/quote] I would not be surprised to see Sky having to reduce their subscriptions and removing their £10 per month charge for HD. As Freesat are offering Free HD (although limited at present) and TV manufacturers now beginning to include Freesat and HD built in to their TV's.  The markets changes are immense at the present time and unless you want programmes like sports or specialist subjects then  subscribing to Sky in France now seems less attractive. Baz

[quote user="Ron Avery"]As it only affects Shell cannot see much of a shortage developing, and most people in the UK seem to use the supermarkets anyway,  perhaps its a ploy by Shell to get the British to buy more fuel before the price drops next week, after all Shell need the money don't they [Www][/quote] Ron, what makes you think fuel will drop next week, especially as a barrel tonight is over $136. Fuel costs rise quick enough but always appear to drop slowly, I suspect it will be a couple of months if at all before we see the lowering of the price. Baz

[quote user="Sharkster"]I use the aquachek tru test digital meter for testing the free chlorine, total alkalinity and ph and it cost me about 50 euros from my local big mat.  It seems pretty reliable and easier than using strips along where you have to guestimate the levels. [/quote] Sharkster, I agree with your comments, I have been using one for the last few weeks and I am very pleased with the results. What I also find is good, it also indicates next to the reading whether it is High, Low or OK. Although it does not test cynauric acid , but as this really only needs testing possibly every 2-4 weeks there are other cheap methods of testing for this. From  a cost point of view, I agree it is very competetively priced especially if you compare it against other similat testers. Baz

[quote user="Barbel Bob"] The pool is costing us money that we dont have! [:D] Julie [/quote] Julie, Believe me pools always cost money, I have spent thousands pounds on my pool over the last 7 years. I am sorry to say that having a pool IMO is a luxury and you really need to  have an emergency fund available for repairs. Of course Chemicals are an every day expense. But if you are not in a financial position  to maintain a safe water regime and all that goes with it, then closing down the pool may be an alternative safer option. This is not meant to be a negative comment but reality. Baz

[quote user="andyh4"]quote user="J.R's gone native" We can blame China and India for the oil price hikes because it is their new demand that has pushed us from bliss to misery, but the reality is that it is all of us. [/quote] One further blame to both China and India is that their governments give subsidies towards fuel, so keeping the prices artificial low.  Until these government remove all subsidies the demand in these countries will grow and this reflects in the price to us and the rest of the world. Baz      

In past years I have got my Pages Jaunes from my local FT shop. Baz

Sunday Driver (Dave) is  such a respected contributor to this site, let's hope it will not be long before we once again here him here. I would like to wish him and Brenda speedy recovery. Baz

The holiday trends in the UK are changing not only due to the strong Euro and the high fuel costs, but also  many people have given up flying due to all the additional costs and the hassle of restricted security regulations. This situation has been highlighted by airlines cancelling unprofitable routes, only yesterday American Airlines announced the cancellation of all flights from Stansted to the USA and three other US Airlines operating out of the UK going bust in the last few weeks. The most interesting change has been the Cruise operators who make a great play with success of the no flying, no restriction cruises from  the UK ports. These are operating from Ports all around the UK and this without doubt it is where the future growth of the cruising industry lies. I do fear that in the current climate that the number people travelling from the UK to France for holidays will be greatly reduced and the ongoing effect may well be seen this autumn when the likes of Ryanair, Flybe, Easyjet, etc permanently close some routes to both France and other EU countries. I feel that anyone operating in the French hospitality industry will need to be thinking on their feet to maintain high occupancy over the next few years as the current problems are here for the time being.  I hope I am proved wrong but sadly current trends are not very positive. Baz

You may find this connection wizard of help: http://www.dtg.org.uk/consumer/connection_wizard.html Baz

This idea has been around the UK for at least a couple of years. But as far as I know it has not worked as you need a huge percentage of drivers to support the idea. Baz

There is a new digital tester from the USA which I recently purchased and I am very impressed with the ease of use and the results. The price is extremely good and certainly is available in the UK with  prices  discounted as low as £33, making it far less than other similar testers. I have no connections with the company, but it gives fast accurate digital results in seconds and  tests for free chlorine bromine pH and total alkalinity. It is called Aquachek Trutest Meter and can be seen at this site http://www.aquachek.com/default.asp, for suppliers and prices use Google. Baz

It may be all well and good trying to find fuel, but with a barrel of oil reaching 135$ this afternoon an all time high, will you be able to afford it in the weeks to come? Baz

[quote user="Gastines"] If everyone in UK is now "supposedly" struggling to make ends meet.................[/quote] Who says so? I would believe everything you hear or read. Baz

[quote user="Coppola"]If you're trying to respond within a quote, Martin, try using a different colour font for your response, then it shows up better.[/quote] Cooperlola, I do not know whether it is your screen, but the quotes  show up very clearly on mine inside a defined box on a grey background. Baz

Why not try semding him a PM. I think the easiest way is to put Sunday Driver into "Search" and then PM  him from one of his postings. Baz

This is very common practise. The hotel booking companies are allocated a certain number of rooms and they are only released back to the hotel if they are not booked at the last minute. It is always a good idea if you try to book direct with a hotel and there are no rooms available to use a search engine to look at the hotel booking companies. Baz