pouyade

I recently trawled through local and national firms, finding quite a few who were happy for the van to go abroad albeit at extra charge. The best for us was ‘1van1’ - £518 for 8 days/ 2 drivers for a hi-top lwb - they are a national firm. Also, there is a London firm (WVC or some such) who seemed ok but the nearest pick up to the west was Heathrow and so too far for us, but they had a number of other London pickup sites.  I can confirm that size does matter! The van we really wanted (Merc sprinter lwb) was classed as freight (over 6.5m) by tunnel and ferry and so crossings proved prohibitively expensive. We opted for a Renault Master instead. Pouyade

I suggest that a search on google on reputable uk sites may assist - I spoke to an expert I know, who said that IF fleas, skin irriation/allergy/mites/injury/splinter etc have absolutely been ruled out then boredom is a hghly likely explanation. If not that, then some cats apparently just do develop odd behaviours which lead them to needing a cat 'shrink'. Honestly!. Pouyade  

I guess the issue here as ever is the LEVEL of chlor. Too much could reek havoc with hair; I guess that other hair treatments (perms/colour) will influence the extent of its impact. My daughter is asthmatic and has indeed reported wheeziness after using some chlorine pools in the past - but these have also always been poorly managed, manually fed/ checked and also led to ear aches/ red eyes etc. She has also had probems with a bromine (?bromide) pool, and has never used a pool chlorinated through salt. To me that is not an argument for or against salt or chlorine, but an argument for a properly regulated and cleansed pool. Salt based methodologies can also produce an imbalanced pool and chemical levels in traditional chlorine pools need not fluctuate. Pools need managing! Pouyade

See the thread 'Updating toll doofah details' which covers this. I had same problem and completed the change of details over the telephone using the number in the thread.  Sorry that I am inept and so unable to create an automatic link to this thread - perhaps a mod could? If not, just search for 'pouyade' and you will find it! Pouyade

Have no real experience of salt pools, but must underscore the point that with a well regulated chlorine pool (we have an automatic liquid doser) ther is no chlor smell or feel. Our pool water is odourless and tastes drinkable. My daughter has had some severe skin complaints which led to her being unable to swim at school because of the chemicals. She has had absolutely no problem with out chlorine pool, nor has anyone had any eye irritation etc. Pouyade

One day I am going to describe to you all the challenge/trauma/project that is, or by then has been, my attempt to re register my vehicle in France. Without boring you, I’ve started so I will finish. One way or the other. But, can’t help wishing I had never started!   Any road, could the more fluent of you translate the following techie terms for me so that I can call France and have a discussion. You might imagine what that will be like ‘male mechanic (French) receiving suggestions from female (English) as to how to right a problem which has been baffling him’! The terms are: Oxygen sensors Engine manifold Exhaust manifold   Many thanks in advance Pouyade

Apologies for the apparent laziness, but I have tried a search (or three!) and ended up with nothing. I seem to remember in discussions sometime ago that Dick mentioned the deterioration of photos kept on CDs. He suggested a portable hard drive as an alternative. I am just beginning (really!) this digital lark and wondered:   Is a memory stick classified as a type of hard drive or is it as vulnerable to deterioration as a CD?   If I buy a portable hard drive will it automatically compatible with my Dell PC or are there ‘types’?   Oh, and separately but as you’re paying attention, my daughter has a new macbook. She would like a mouse, are there specific ones for apple machines or are they all compatible?   Thanks for your help,     Pouyade

Should anyone ever have owned/looked after an American spec Samurai, could he/she contact me by pm - I need a little techie advice!! Many thanks Pouyade[kiss] spelling edit

Phoned today on this number, to give new card details. Bit tortuous getting through the automated menu but once speaking to a human, no probs at all (I think - suppose I should wait and see if all works!) Pouyade

Right. We went to Lille this last weekend, had a good time and enjoyed ourselves despite the teeming rain. We stayed in the Mercure Opera, whcih was very raesionable at £36.50 each incl breakfast.  I enjoyed mooching around the shops but the market itself was poor and very small. Sunday, the sun came out and we went on the wheel – super way to see the lovely architecture. Easy journey via tunnel (except for ‘rain stopped play’ M25!). Others in party want to return, but in the spring. I will be happy to, too, as long as I am allowed several trips to the ‘Chat Bleu’ choccie shop……………….   Pouyade

[quote user="Frenchie"] I love the idea of heart shaped crêpes    ( pancakes are thicker) Merci !! [/quote] Not necessarily.................... rather like  'pudding', in English, pancake has a wide variety of uses both generic and specific. Including thin, thin 'crepes' and thick 'drop scones'. All depends. Pouyade

[quote user="Frenchie"] I love the idea of heart shaped crêpes    ( pancakes are thicker) Merci !! [/quote] Not necessarily.................... rather like  'pudding' in English, pancake has a wide variety of uses both generic and specific. Inclung thin, thin 'crepes' and thick 'drop scones'. All depends. Pouyade

Sure - we do cook/eat pancakes!!! Any decent cookery department has them in a variety of sizes; try John Lewis (you might consider ordering over the phone or on the net and have it delivered to wherever you are staying in UK. I have never had a need for a special pan, I just use a good quality frying pan of whatever size suits my purpose at the time. Pouyade

[quote user="londoneye"] Decided to try some mince pies this year.      Thought of making my own, but got bored just reading the amount of ingredients [/quote] If you did, you'd never accept the ready made mincemeat again!! Pouyade

Sebo, sebo, Sebo Cats and dogs (and tots to teenagers) have failed to undermine it. Now 19 years old. Pouyade

Could you post the details of this contact? I am soon in the same boat. Thanks Pouyade

Here's my findings so far, as per one of  my previous posts: Well. Thanks to a kind neighbour, who pretended to be me and spoke to EDF from France, I now have the instructions for what I have to do to get them [EDF] to give me a devis. Bearing in mind that I want the main box moved 12" to the right of where it is now and it is staying on the same external wall in the same room, I was surprised that I need to furnish: Plan de situation Plan cadestrale Schema de la situation actuelle Scema de la modifictaion souhaitee Photos BEFORE they will make an appointment to view. Aaaaaaaaah!

[quote user="Colonel Mustard"]Where I live the nearest town has an English bookshop, and an English grocery, and there are people organising cricket clubs and Guy Fawkes nights and carol concerts etc etc. I know that in theory we should be able to do all this, but the French are in for hard times under Sarkozy, and they are going to look for scapegoats. I do sometimes think that as a community we should keep our heads down more.[/quote]   I went to Auschwitz this week. Imho, no community should keep their cleective head down nor adopt this as a stance. The next stage is victimhood. Pouyade

Well. Thanks to a kind neighbour, who pretended to be me and spoke to EDF from France, I now have the instructions for what I have to do to get them to give me a devis. Bearing in mind that I want the main box moved 12" to the right of where it is now and it is staying on the same external wall in the same room, I was surprised that I need to furnish: Plan de situation Plan cadestrale Schema de la situation actuelle Scema de la modifictaion souhaitee Photos BEFORE they will make an appointment to view. Aaaaaaaaah!

The write-ups that I have found of travellers to the Belgian markets have expressed disappointment at both the small scale of these markets and the goods on offer. I did try to find out about Boulogne, without success, and Amiens. Anyone any other experiences? Thx Pouyade

Have decided we would like to pop over one weekend for a Christmas market. Thought of Lille; but wondered if anyone had exeriences to share of that or other markets? Did a search but many ideas were too far for 1.5 days. Thanks Pouyade

Thx for the hints. Jetlag - the land line number you gave me is different from the ones on my bill, so will give it a try. Baz - I can't get the edf site to load! Have tried numerous times at home and at work, 30 mins later no joy.............   Pouyade

Dear all, Will probably feel a right plonker when someone points out where to find this, but I have searched the EDF internet site, pages jaunes/blanches and this site, alongside the edf bills to hand here in UK. I need to telephone them to discuss moving our 'compteur', but the previous 0033 normal number is no longer in action, replaced by new ones, which fail to work from UK - presumably because they are numero vert/prix appel local. Anyone got a working contact number? Many thanks   Pouyade

Thanks - good starter for ten! Pouyade

Odd query, but................ Am in process of trying to decide how to lay out tiles in main hall way - they can come with a feature big, big tile and /or frieze. Have been surfing in vain for a site which has any pictures of similar, particularly in conjunction with a staircase, so as to get my few creative juices flowing. Any ideas? Ta muchly Pouyade