pouyade

I would be very grateful if anyone who has had a pool liner supplied/fitted by the above named company could contact me by pm/E mail as there is an issue that I would most welcome exploring with a fellow customer. Many thanks   Pouyade

Christine Have sent you a pm Pouyade

[quote user="Renaud"] Pouyade I am impressed, bet you don't even get lost in Rouen. [/quote]   Ouch! Since I have been going through Rouen for over 10 years, I would be an unsafe driver if I still did, though this was always the worst part of early forays. Still let's see what August brings, eh?!

"The Via Michelin website thinks that one can drive from Calais to Mirambeau in just over 7 hours - I think that Richard Hammond had his crash whilst test-driving a machine that might just manage this."   Renaud Have done this route to within 10 miles from you  so, so many times since the new motorway opened. Without stops, 7 hours is what we allow for a pleasant, legal drive. My last flights via Luton/Bordeaux and Stansted/ La Rochelle have not been so very much quicker with the travelling each end/security and waiting for car hire. The Tunnel is our preference for all but 3 day visits. Pouyade

Speaking merely from my own direct experience, I have found SD's posts on a number of issues most informative. They have obviously often taken some trouble to prepare. Indeed, speaking as someone (hopefully) halfway through re-registering an unusual vehicle, I can state that his private message assistance has been impeccable. Pouyade

Grovel Pouyade

Thanks - will pass on info/link. Any more additions very welcome! Pouyade

I have been asked by the father of a teenager if I can find out what are the current in vogue teenage slang/ commonly used phrases are in France. His daughter is arriving for a term long exchange trip and would like to know the equivalents of whatever 'like' french teenagers pepper  'like' their sentences with 'like' such as the dreaded 'whatever'  or  'innit' , 'like'. I'm sure they are not direct equivalents, but I cannot believe similar irritating misuses don't exist! Pouyade

The way to our (cognac producing) neighbours an artisans is Bell's 8 yr old blend. Worth every penny! Pouyade

Thought we would take our visitors to lunch en route to Bordeaux airport in a couple of weeks time. Any recommendations (or warnings off) for restos in Blaye or nearby? Thanks   Pouyade

An additional thought - our dog is so much better (but she wasn't as bad as some described here) after she started having sardines in sunflower oil (olive too dear) for one of her 2 meals most days. I guess adding oil to other food might assist similarly . Pouyade

Have sent you an E mail with dets and contact number pouyade

A neighbour has had terrible problems with his dog - leading to her (the dog!) having to wear a surgical collar for weeks to stop her attacking herself. In desparation and penury, havong exhausted all other suggestions and medicaments, the neighbour put the dog on aloe vera - 100% juice. I am VERY sceptical about all such alternative prodicts and have rarely seen the wonderous results that others claim for so many such products. BUT I am humbled by the success this has had, with no other changes being tried at the same time. Collar free, the dog has been irritation/ sores free for 12 months now and has a coat that is an example to all us dog lovers. This juice was NOT one available over the counter, I am sure that if I mention it the mods will forgive me as I am trying to help and have no connection with the product, not even as a consumer. You could trace a supplier over the internet - it is from 'forever living products'. I am sure I could put the OP in touch with the neighbour offline if that would help. Pouyade

I believe you are correct - I have just checked this out with Defra and our vet, as the expiry date of the latest rabies vaccine for our much travelled and France-preferring spaniel is 3 years. There is no UK passport driven maximum life for rabies vaccine, just the maufacturers 're-do by' date.   Pouyade

What's the odd zero between friends?! Pouyade

Purchased a Huskie 200w 16" electric one for OH Christmas present - was used over the New Year break to render our logs small enough for the smaller of our woodburners. Excellent. I bought it from a northern company whose site name is www.chainsawspecialists.co.uk/ Their presales service/advice was very good. If anyone would like details of their aftersales service then please feel free to E mail/PM me.   Pouyade

I have found their service excellent, though I recognise the potential for 'issues' due to a relatiive lack of resilience. One thing really really niggles though. On such offers, for the whole of the period of validity, one can only change the car number OR the lead passenger name (ie the one who must be in the vehicle) once. So, if we assume that I am registered at the time of booking as lead passenger and we buy a new(er) car during this period and therefore have to change the details with Speedferries,  my husband cannot use a ticket without me being in the car and I couldn't use a different car. I have written and phones to ask that this be altered to allow more flexibility, to no avail. I cannot see why a particular car has to be nominated as long as the size is acceptable. No-one really knows when a car may unexpectedly die or when 'car fever' may hit! For a two car couple who travel down separately at times, we decide who goes and when and in which car when we know what type of trip we are doing - length; load; weather patterns etc. So, having rambled on, I merely point out that this bargain cannot work for all of us, unfortunately, and Speedferries have lost our family's business.   Pouyade

I have found their service excellent, though I recognise the potential for 'issues' due to a relatiive lack of resilience. One thing really really niggles though. On such offers, for the whole of the period of validity, one can only change the car number OR the lead passenger name (ie the one who must be in the vehicle) once. So, if we assume that I am registered at the time of booking as lead passenger and we buy a new(er) car during this period and therefore have to change the details with Speedferries,  my husband cannot use a ticket without me being in the car and I couldn't use a different car. I have written and phones to ask that this be altered to allow more flexibility, to no avail. I cannot see why a particular car has to be nominated as long as the size is acceptable. No-one really knows when a car may unexpectedly die or when 'car fever' may hit! For a two car couple who travel down separately at times, we decide who goes and when and in which car when we know what type of trip we are doing - length; load; weather patterns etc. So, having rambled on, I merely point out that this bargain cannot work for all of us, unfortunately, and Speedferries have lost our family's business

Thank goodness! Thought it was just me! I find semi skimmed french pasteurised/homogenised fresh milk to be overbearingly rich compared with that I buy in UK. As for long life..................................................ugh. Pouyade

Have had a sneaky look - it seems lovely, what struck me most, however, was the price. Are you average for the area? It's just that around us, in Charente-Maritime,  I would expect August prices to be nearer the £800 a week mark woth a shared pool. Even at that level, all the ones I am aware of were full during the peak times this year.   Pouyade

I also bank with Natwest and use HIFX. I do check rates (incl charges) between them from time to time and HIFX have always been better on sums around £5 -10,000........................   Pouyade

I suggest you stick to the rules as you published them, and do whatever you would do for a.n. other customer. Give him an official letter explaining the charging regime and detailing what he has 'lost' because if he has been recalled to duty he can use it to claim reasonable costs. If they don't pay, then that's his issue, not yours. Pouyade - who has some inside knowledge of the issues!!  

Peel, core, slice (v thick), rinse, dry, freeze in box. Freeze well in pies (partic if both apple and pastry uncooked on freezing). Thaw before cooking.   pouyade

Round here (17) Cognac together with schweppes (ie tonic) is the norm.................. Pouyade

The french police operate on a different basis to the British - they are for example caught up in the tax collection regime and empowered/expected to enforce rules such as the display of  builders' signs outside properties being worked on and other trading standards/environmental health type issues which fall to local councils in UK. They are also supposed to keep a dossier on all foreigners, EU or otherwise, and to know who lives on their 'patch', particularly in rural areas. The FIOA does not appear to have an equivalent in France and I have not seen mine but am assured it exists. We get regular visits for tea (earl gey) and chats; they check our house regularly when we are  not there and have challenged a chap who was on our land in case he was not authorised (he was and they were most polite to him). Wages of gendarmes are low and our local ones are not living in houses as large as our a maison secondaire, many still inhabit the police barracks at their base.   Pouyade