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virginexperiencedays - what the hell is this forum coming to? Have I been set up? I'll get my coat...... Steve

Not trying to be Frenchified or anything, but we'll be treating our Mum on Sunday. Surprised the Queen tried to upstage it really...... Steve

Thanks, all booked - bleu nord, access circuit and Chinetti tribune. The official website says that paddock passes are sold out but the link that Cooperlola gave me says "tribunes and paddocks" therefore I'm not sure if my tribune passes include the paddock, so I may or may not have the pleasure of introducing myself! I'm not sure how I would recognise you anyway, would anyone like to describe Cooperlola and Loirette please? Now for the dress code bit - my OH never throws anything away and thinks there's a cravat around somewhere, and my son says he'll wear a smoking jacket and sport a long cigarette holder, so, with his trendy stubby beard be on the look out for something similar to the meercat on the tv ads. All we need now is sunshine on the weekend so that we can bring an open car and a tiny tent...... Steve      

Thank you for that! Steve

Can anyone offer advice as a result of their experience of attending the Le Mans Classic?  I want to attend Saturday and Sunday and camp overnight at or close to the circuit. Thanks, Steve

http://www.headlamp-shop.com/   for new lights. I picked the link up from a post regarding personnel in British Forces in Germany. You may need to change your rear foglight to the other side of the car too. Steve

James wrote: Basicallyrit is a French chain of DIY! Yes and here are some links: http://www.bricodepot.fr/selection_depots/ http://www.bricodepot.es/ http://www.bricodepot.com/en/accueil.php Here's another one: http://www.kingfisher.com/index.asp?pageid=35 Steve

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[quote user="woolybanana"]JR, has it crossed your mind that the wood is filled with... well, just yellow?[6][/quote] So thats where it went. Steve

I use http://transferwise.com/ and because I "joined" some time ago I only pay a £1 fee on transfers up to £2000. That fee only covers up to £300 now and on for example £1000 the charge is £4.50. I've always got the rate it says on their website (interbank rate) or better and the only downside is a delay of some five working days to funds arriving in my French bank. The matching delay is (obviously) short when the pound dips and long when the pound rises. Something they don't mention is that they need a copy of your passport when your transfers will exceed £5000. For me it has worked very smoothly indeed, but I keep the sums transferred relatively low, waiting for one to land before making another. Steve

There is possibly an issue with the rear foglight too if only one is fitted on the UK offside. Steve

It is only a box with vent holes and a fan. Why so expensive? Steve

Celebrity witch!!!!!!! Perhaps it'll be translated and shown on TF1. Steve  

Just putting my oar in as this is a flame gun post. Anyone who hankers for a gas weed gun may be interested to know that you can buy a long big gas blow torch with squeeze control (but not piezo ignition) at Leroy Merlin for under 20€ in the soudrage section. Unfortunately there's a further cost and a hunt for a high output regulator, but this applies to gas weed guns too. http://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produits/chalumeau-avec-levier-diametre-45-kemper-e66653 Works for me. Steve

We bought a Supra over ten years ago and have been very satisfied with its performance, I am bathing in its warm glow right now....... Judging by its size and output it may have been the forerunner of the Alsace 3. We replaced the grate grill after about 7 years. Any competent workman who can weld can make a new one from steel bar at minimum cost in an hour or so. The rest of the stove has not apparently degraded. The fact that it is manufactured from steel or cast iron doesn't really have any bearing on the performance or longevity of the stove provided it is properly specified and manufactured. Cast iron does of course offer the possibility of a more decorative and traditional appearance. It does suffer by "pretending" to have fancy hinges etc., on the other hand those cast iron stoves from the Fred Dibnah school of engineering have a perception of performance and quality that may disappoint you. Steve.

Russethouse said: "What happens on a hill ? Would he have to keep the revs up and the clutch engaged enough to keep the car static ? I learned to drive 40 years ago, I think I'm with you on this ....." They're taught to quickly swap their foot from the the brake to the accelerator. The result is that most French drivers slip back when starting from fairly gentle slopes. Our daughter was was told not to pass the steering wheel through her hands as I had shown her, but to slap it on one side or the other like a circus seal, as the instructor did........ Her driving school parking was positioned on one corner of a busy cross roads with traffic lights and learners entered and left. Each time the learner drivers entered or left they  made manoeuvres that they would have been fined for in Britain. Steve

Hey, I'm in the wrong thread! :) Steve

SD said: "do you really imagine the French authorities would consider raising the national speed limit on the basis that a handful of drivers in your neck of the woods prefer to ignore the limits?" Seems its not just our region: http://www3.letelegramme.com/ig/generales/france-monde/france/securite-routiere-les-limitations-de-vitesse-revues-et-corrigees-28-12-2011-1550677.php I'm not holding my breath for the changes that I would like to see, but at least the government is examining the possible link between the disrespect of speed limits and inconsistencies in their deployment. Steve

Paul wrote: "I believe that is what is happening in the UK. A large number of motorists ignore 30mph in built up areas so there are now an increasing number of 20mph limits and pressure for 20mph in most built up areas." So then a larger number of motorists will ignore the 20mph limits. I cannot argue about 30 and 50kph limits in built up areas and I do my best to stick to them. The breed of motorists that knowingly and willfully break them will not be put off by altering the numbers on road signs. I was under the impression that the UK government was intending to raise the motorway speed limit to 80mph in 2013? This will make it similar to the French autoroute dry limit which being realistic, only a small percentage of motorists seem to break (in my experience). If the French were to raise their general single carriageway limit to 100kph and dual carriageway limit to 120kph (that would, incidentally, bring them closer to the UK limits) reflecting, everywhere that I travel in France anyway, reality. France is after all by and large a pregmatic nation. No red flags needed, Idun...........cars are already emerging that are connected to the internet and in the not too distant future will no doubt have their speed (and driver? and range?) governed by gps.  Steve

SD wrote: "You intend driving at 95kph in a 90kph limit, yet you are not advocating that anyone exceeds speed limits." I'm not advocating that anyone else exceeds speed limits and certainly will not do so myself in built up areas. But how do you address the fact that the motorist who observes the 90 and 110 speed limits is in a minority? I drove up and down to St Malo this morning, and at 90kph actual on the single carriageway and 110kph actual on the dual carriageway I was virtually a moving roadblock; 80% or more of the cars overtook me as well as a coach, a couple of campers, and plenty of white vans. On the way home I went with the flow and had a much smoother and less stressful drive despite being outside the law; whats more I suspect that I was contributing to the safety of those vehicles around me by doing so. When the speed limits are ignored in the way that they are (ie nearly everyone driving at 100 in the 90 and 120 in the 110) in my opinion its time to rethink those limits. So that its clear where I'm coming from I've driven more than 1.2 million miles and been fined for minor speed excesses on two occasions, 24 years apart. Steve

SD said: "What's the point in using a satnav to discover what you already know - that your true speed is a few kph less than what your speedometer reads, which is what it's supposed to do?" What your speedometer is supposed to do is show your actual speed, not a vague approximation of it. The point is to make full use of the limits and application of the law. A satnav shows your actual speed and the difference between that and your speedometer reading will vary at different speeds. SD said: "To clarify when a fine is applied, the speeding ticket shows the actual speed of the vehicle, from which a 5kph tolerance is deducted, leaving the net speed (vitesse retenue) which determines the offence. Where the speed limit is over 100kph, the tolerance is 5%." I made a mistake in assuming that the tolerance was 10%. However I'm not sure that what you say (5kph) is exactly correct because quoting from an actual avis: controlé à 104, limit 90, vitesse retenue 98? So what I will do in 90 limits is drive at satnav 95 kph, which is 100kph on my speedometer. Most other cars will be overtaking me of course.  As I said before, I'm not advocating that anyone exceeds speed limits. 　 Is this a windup Benjamin? its unbelievable that anyone in touch with reality can think this!! : Benjamin said: "for any experienced driver to not know within 5% what their speed is without refering to the speedo calls into question their suitability to be behind the wheel." Steve

On the back of your avis de contravention in the information section it says that you will be notified regarding points deducted by the central driving licence service. Just pay the fine quickly and keep your fingers crossed. Use your satnav for your true speed rather than your speedometer which will usually be surprisingly optimistic. (in a 90 limit then you'll get a fine if you're driving over 99, which may be when your speedometer shows 105). I'm not advocating speeding, but speed cameras only take speed into account; the same speed can be dangerous in some conditions and harmless in others and as far as I know cameras don't take into account whether it is raining or not (90 limit becomes 80). It also seems to me that the speed limits are decided by the same teams that decide on which junctions should be stop and which should be give way, presumably also with a throw of a dice. Steve (puts on crash helmet and flak jacket..........................)

>A sheep farmer friend, who lives in Cumbria,...................................Just over a year later I was up in his neck of the woods and popped in to see him. No Diahatsu, but a new Defender outside the farmhouse.< Just farming sheep?  Steve

>Well call me cynical if you want but aren't the French elections in 2012 for both the President and the National Assembly (April to May and the June respectively). I am sure if the boot were on the other foot we would be seeing some 'lively' comments coming from Cameron and the Tories. This is not about EU politics it's French politics pure and simple. I am sure Merkel would be much more active if it were election time in Germany but at least she is showing some effort to hold out an olive branch, just unfortunate Cameron has so firmly closed and bolted the door. I don't recall the Brit politicians having a go at the French Economy before Uk elections. Not least,  because it wouldn't have meant much to most people in the UK. Steve  

Jacques Chirac so wanted everyone to like him, and this has probably hit him very hard. I like him as a character, mostly because he was the first french person that I could understand 100% - when he gave a presidential address. He always spoke so slowly and with such long pauses that you got the impression he thought that his audience were all as thick as me. "Chers compatriotes.........." I read somewhere that he has always "vousvoyed" Bernadette as a mark of his respect for her.  I like that too. Steve