Department71

Received the below back from eurotunnel after my comments were sent to them re the change in times. Steve Thank you for your e-mail which has been forwarded to Customer Relations for response and we have noted your comments. Whilst we acknowledge your disappointment with respect to the recent changes to our Frequent Traveller scheme, it is important to bear in mind that these tickets, and the applicable Peak travel supplements, are sold at a fixed low price unlike our other tickets which are dynamicallypriced. Therefore, Frequent Traveller tickets do offer excellent value and not surprisingly the scheme has been very popular. With limited shuttle capacity and over 12,000 Frequent Traveller account holders, there have been certain system requirements which have necessitated an adjustment to the Peak and Off Peak travel times. The recent changes to Frequent Traveller accounts opened from 15 December 2005 have been introduced in order that we can continue to offer the same exceptionally low fixed-rate fares and supplements, under the scheme, rather than introducing a fare increase. Thank you again for taking the time to contact us and for your loyalty to the Eurotunnel service. We hope you will continue to enjoy the excellent benefits of the Frequent Traveller programme and we look forward to welcoming you onboard one of our shuttles very soon.

Would be interested to know of the sites that show the high risk areas  of clay soils or any soil type. Anyone know? French not up to try and search on my own. Thanks Steve

Just read in the newspaper that Virgin is hoping to enter France with its mobile phone system next year ( spring time 2006 I think) Lets hope they jiggle up the French operators and this thing where you lose credit if not used in a month etc will be a thing of the past. We can only hope. Steve

There was a thread a year or so ago about a certain plant that the little blighters can't stand, we were interested but couldn't plant them as we have clay soil and it seems the plant in question won't survive in that type of soil.And no sorry can't remember the name of the plant and can't find the thread but it was under the gerdening section and the title was about moles. Steve

I am also interested in the hard solder query. What is hard solder called in French? does it look the same on the shop shelf as "soft solder" thanks for the info so far. Steve

Nick, That's fair comment about not using a UK cylinder in France, I have also heard you can blow the thing apart. My argument is the difference in the cost between putting an electrical element inside one against a heating coil. Surly it can't be that more expensive? I know you can get stainless steel ones that  I assume are the same spec as the unvented ones available in the UK. The one we have at the moment is a metal one (not stainless or copper) purchased second hand from the local plumber but the bottom has gotten weak and small holes are being made by the water pressure when full. We have tried to get a plate welded on the bottom but its got to a stage where I don't trust it hence my quest for a replacement and noticing the difference in cost. Steve

To change the subject slightly, why can you buy one of these that heat the water by electricity for about 100-150 euro's but if you need one with a heating coil to run from the boiler they cost about 500 pounds. Or does anyone know who makes them in France and makes/sells them at a reasonable price. We have an old one that runs off the boiler  that is coming to the end of its life.   Steve

Dale, I suppose the nearest big town to you would be Paray or Charolles, not to hot on that area we are up near Montceau. Have you tried the local phone book for any tv related dealers they might be able to point you in the right direction. From memory the phone book covers all of 71 I think ours does.  Saying that it's not hard to install a dish, we have done it at our place, one thing that helped was a sat locator, it squawks when a signal is received, you have to check if the signal is from the correct satellite but if it speaks english out of the TV you should be there.   Good luck Steve

You can also get them at Brico Marche and Castorama that I know of. Yes they are well worth the money and effort of putting them in. They not only stop the flies they also stop the moths etc invading the house in the evenings when it's dark outside. Don't forget something over the door opening . Go for it. Steve

71 is a big department, where abouts are you. Steve

Martin, Thanks a lot for your full and helpful reply, I will have a look when back in France in August. Yes the aerial is a wide band type I made sure before purchasing it, there are quite a few elements think 18. Funny we seem to get a better picture on M6 then on France3. One other area I was thinking about, the tv is at the cheaper end of the market ( for a holiday home I didn't want to buy an expensive one to be nicked) maybe the afc circuit is not as good as it should be. Anyway thanks for the ideas. Steve

To the kind person who said let me know where you are and i'll try and help ( sorry don't know who you are as the forum omits the names) We are outside a village called Sanvignes les Mines, (Soane et Loire) with a direct line of sight to Mont St Vincent, it has a bl**dy big mast on top of it with red lights going to the top. The locals say that is where the transmitter is, but the picture on the tele could be better. Sometimes its not too bad, but other times its horrible. The tv was purchased in France, was of the cheaper variety. The aerial was also purchased in France about 18 months ago. There is a new down lead put in the same time as the new aerial. I can't look at the aerials of the neighbours as I don't think they have a tv, well at least there are no aerials visible!!   Thanks again Steve

Am trying to check if we are pointing our aerial at the right transmitter, is there a web site with the location of UHF transmitters in France?   Thanks Steve

Have you tried Maplins, they have shops around the country (UK) they also have a web site where you can order online.

Interesting, can you get the Brico-Depot catalogue delivered then? If so how can I go about it. Is there a form to use or do you talk to them nice at the shop. Thanks for interesting posts.   Steve

Further to my e-mail that started all of this I have also found out that you can't have joint members as on the POc. Therefore I have booked a few crossings under the old POc terms for travel during 2005. (you don't have to book in a block of 5)  Have looked at the Speedferry site and some dates we were looking at are fully booked with them hence playing safe for the and time WE want. Although they are dearer then Speedy they are flexible and I don't have to worry or get grief from the other half   Steve

It looks like Eurotunnel have issued the new fares, terms and conditions for the "new property owners" frequent traveller offers they have promised. Look on their website under frequent travellers, looks interesting.   Steve

Racer, Like you I have not used them for a few months ( before all the problems they seemed to have) but I shall have to transfer cash over to our account in the new year and I don't want any problems. I have some cash in their account but want to be sure everything is A oK before topping up.   Steve

Anyone know if the problems with Moneybookers have been sorted out, either all is ok now or people don't use them any more.   Merry xmas all   Steve

We have a current account plus a savings account with C.A but we have no card. we were once charged 3 euro to take cash out of our current account via the hole in wall machine in the bank.(they don't dish out money over the counter anymore) When we queried this with the bank we were told yes there is a charge for withdrawing cash out of your current account, but if you draw the cash out of the savings account it is free!! Guess what account we use to draw money out, plus we complained in writing to the bank and got the 3 euro refunded.   Just an idea for anyone else   Steve

A while back some-one said they had purchased a pump for the well from Castorama that was self priming, did they have any success with it. Am looking for a new one as ours went walkies when we had uninvited quests. We used two pumps one was submersible and lifted the water half way the other was about half way down the well pushing it up the rest of the way (a bit Heath Robinson but it worked)now am looking if we can use just one pump when we claim. Thanks Steve

We have a king size bed in our home in France, took it down there on top of the car on a roof rack (base and mattress), I admit the rack was modified somwhat but it worked, we also had a Honda C70 on the back. My didn't we get some odd looks. Steve

Thanks for the comments and support. Don't want to upset anyone BUT, I said in the first message about the other family who got a visit last Saturday night. Wanna tell you a story.....1am their phone rang (they live just outside Paris (disney side)it was their burgular alarm saying "help" I am being attacked, they jumped out of bed phoned the local police (Dept71 in Burgundy)hightailed it down the autoroute, arrived before the local police!!. What did they find, shutters forced off the wall with crowbars, stonework all smashed where the hinges were forced out, window completely smashed, door off its hinges (it fell down as he tried to open it) best bit was the alarm, they had smashed the orange flashing light, and put foam into the alarm box to muffle the noise. They took the usual tv, video, rad/cassette, lamps Just to say if they want in they will. Found my tractor yet?? Steve

Just got back from France after a phone call from our neighbours saying we have had visitors. Had to call into the Police and the bank re the house insurance.(now the fun starts)They didn't get into the house but cleaned out the workshop.It seems they are doing the circuit and second homes are favourite targets English and French. Some people down the road got done Saturday night Sunday Morning and they are French living in Paris. We were lucky no damage was done to our property but we are still trying to work out how they done it. If anyone is visiting brocantes etc and they see any power tools with english plugs on (red devil) and a red Autoporte with the grass box and a towing ball at the front IT'S MINE. Oh well back to the translations for the items lost. Steve

Looking on the net re this plant it seems it likes sandy soil, so my good ole clay stuff is lets say "off limits" Oh well back to the spade. Steve