tenniswitch

[quote user="Colin"] Can anyone help please? I am trying to use thunderbird for emails, went through the set as shown on the screen and can receive mails with no problems.....but as soon a I try to send one, it just gives an error message and says it cannot find the server and the configuration must be wrong. Have checked and checked, i can only send emails through the Orange mailer....must have doen something wrong, but what? Colin [/quote] From the "Open Source Articles" site instructions for installing Thunderbird:

[quote user="Quillan"] These sort of stories are funny but the other side is that people in America may well read them and think them true. The only thing I have found that has been up and down price wise is diesel. Our bread has gone up once in 8 years by a couple of cents. Our local tax's have gone up by just under 2% this year as has electricity which I think has only gone up once in the last 5 years. The thing is Americans thinking of coming to France for a holiday will first be hit by the exchange rate and then think that the prices have gone up by extreme amounts and simply not bother coming. Mind you the English papers have come out with some outrageous comments about France over the recent years as well (The French having their electricity subsidised by the high prices charged by EDF in the UK comes to mind as a starter). [/quote] Nah, Americans are much more focused on the exchange rate and what's going on with the US economy.  There will be fewer Americans travelling to Europe this year, but it won't be because they're worried about French inflation.  It will be because they're worried about the US recession.

Actually, my Orange email account works in Outlook (using Port 110 for incoming and 587 for outgoing) with: Incoming: pop.orange.fr Outgoing: smtp.orange.fr FWIW

I see a lot of spam with spoofed addresses (mine included) in the spam folders of my gmail accounts, but as they don't get downloaded to Outlook and none of my contacts have complained of getting spam from me, I just ignore them.

Thanks for the links.  I'm apparently having an attack of stupidity, because I can't seem to find any link on the vinogusto.com website that actually allows you to buy the wine.

Granted that we're in the boonies, but I've been a bit surprised to find absolutely no vendors of sherry in our part of France (much less my fav, the Emilio Lustau Papirusa Manzanilla). Anyone more or less near 43 able to buy sherry?

[quote user="sweet 17"] Yes, got to get hold of this stuff to make couscous. I have bought and tried to use proper couscous but, must be my ineptitude, couscous all soggy and yucky.  Not helped by the fact that I couldn't find any instructions (no quantities such as so much couscous to so much water). In the UK, I always used bulgar wheat to make couscous but I haven't been able to find this product in France. Does anyone know a) what bulgar wheat is in French and b) how you get hold of it? [/quote] I've bought bulgar wheat in France, but can't remember exactly what it's called (I use if for tabouli).  Try looking for blé concassé or boulgour. As to couscous, it's very simple.  I like to use the whole wheat kind that Champion sells in a box, but you do the same for all.  Add 1 cup (250 ml) of couscous to 14 ounces (450 ml) of boiling chicken stock or water (you can season the stock with cumin, turmeric, saffron and a cinnamon stick if you like).  Add 1 tablespoon  (soup spoon) of olive oil.  Stir once, briefly (I like to use chopsticks for this), cover the pot, and remove from heat.  Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.  Remove the cinnamon stick, if you used one, fluff the couscous with a fork or chopsticks, and voila! (Edited to add: Oops, I somehow missed page 2 when I posted this!)

Haven't owned a Renault, but for the cars I have owned, the radio code was always on a separate card (about the size of a credit card).  Before you call the dealer (I can't imagine why they would charge for this, but...), have you tried going to the Renault website?  There may be a link for getting this; it might require registration and you will probably need to have your vehicle number (in the US, that's posted on the driver's side door). Good luck!

[quote user="Dog"] [quote user="tj"][quote user="Clair"][quote user="ali-cat"][...] the new president [had] to retake the oath of office after understandably fluffing the first attempt? Mr Cat[/quote] I thought Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts had fluffed the oath and Obama had followed his lead... http://www.washingtonpost.com/ [/quote] Robert's fluffed it in his attempt to prompt Obama, after Obama missed the oath, correctly read by Roberts the first time. [/quote] But the second time he did not use a Bible - is this his get out clause?[/quote] A Bible is not a requirement.

[quote user="Quillan"] [quote user="tenniswitch"] Either your guests were a bit sloppy in their language or you misunderstood them. [/quote] No they definitely said Native American which is what I found amusing. In a way you could say I misunderstood them because I always thought Native American meant Indian. I suppose its like rubbers and erasers I guess. You have to be a bit careful in my line of work not to offend people. For example some Catalans get very upset if you call them Spanish, a thing I learnt in my first 6 months. I also had an American called Bob who I had already spoken to on the phone before he arrived. He had what I would call a good Californian accent. When he arrived I gaped a bit when I first saw him for no other reason than he was a Sikh. I had to explain to him that my jaw dropping was not racist but more out of ignorance because of his perfect American accent and him turning out to be Sikh complete with turban. I felt such a fool especially as he was a very nice chap. Fortunately no harm was done and we got on very well. [/quote] I would have expected his accent to be English, too.  [:D]

Could be.  Lots of people at work, etc., have been watching live coverage via internet.

Given that many of the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were descendants of Englishmen and Europeans who had left their countries in search of religious freedom (as well as, economic prosperity), it would be surprising if they were not conscious of the inherent dangers of a government intertwined with any particular religion. But it is also not surprising, given their backgrounds, that religion often was an important part of their lives.  What they were concerned about was preventing government from interfering in their practice of religion.

[quote user="Quillan"] Funny enough I was talking to some American guests last season about American politics and who they thought would make a good president. Jokingly I said perhaps Arnold Schwarzenegger on the basis that he would be the first 'A' rated actor in the White House. "Oh no, you have to be a Native American to be President". Did I miss something in my history lessons as I can't think of any. Personally I don't care what colour, race, sex or religion a President or Prime Minister is providing they can do the job which I think is the most important thing. I do wonder if those nice white rednecks down south are celebrating tonight [Www] . [/quote] Either your guests were a bit sloppy in their language or you misunderstood them.  The US constitution states "No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this constitution, shall be eligible to the office of president".  

[quote user="LyndaandRichard"][quote user="KathyC"] [quote user="LyndaandRichard"] And why was there so much religion put into the inaugeration if the US constitution is supposed to be a religion free zone? R. [/quote]   Freedom of worship isn't the same thing as a "religion free zone". [/quote] I meant it in the context that I understood the original constitution was written by atheists. It is secular in other words. This being the first ever inauguration I have seen, was expecting it to be secular throughout. [/quote] The US Constitution (we've had only one, although it has been amended) was not, in fact, written by atheists.  It was, however, written by men who felt strongly about a need for separation of church and state.

[quote user="Lollie"] Can anyone tell me if the english speaking France Telecom line also deals with Orange mobile queries,  ??   Lollie  44 [/quote] I can tell you as I called them about a problem with my Orange mobile last year.  They don't deal with mobile queries at all.  You'll have to contact Orange direct.

[quote user="sweet 17"] Great minds think alike, Osie.  I, too, use the vinegar in one kettle and then re-use in another.  I have one electric and 2 hob kettles so the vinegar always gets used at least twice. But, I don't half feel like a Scrooge (there's topical for you!) [/quote] Another Scrooge chiming in.  I use the vinegar 1st in kettle, then in coffee-maker.  Just make sure to stay out of the steam! Vinegar also works well on shower doors and tile in hard-water areas.

[quote user="tegwini"] Hello again - another senior moment ? I had a look again, just to see how to turn it on again, and couldn't find out how!   Could you explain that to me Tenniswitch please? Many thanks & regards Tegwini [/quote] First, remember that you cannot turn it on again for at least 1 month! You'll do the same thing that you did to turn it off.  This time you'll see a link labelled "Demander l'activation de la ligne".  You'll click on that to order the activation of the line. Note: It generally takes a couple of days after you put in the order to turn the phone off before that is reflected on the website.  That doesn't necessarily mean that it hasn't been turned off, just that you'll still see "Demander la suspension de la ligne " for a couple of days.

[quote user="Herbie"] Yeah this is what I am starting to realise. We are in contact with an English speaking immobiler and have a couple of contacts a bit further out, so am just trying to put the feelers out a bit. I guess that is the draw back to having a home in a wonderful but rural part of France, that the English haven't invaded yet! Thanks for the reply. [/quote] But if you make friends with the locals, you may well find someone who wants to make some extra euros.  Are you quite sure that you want to rent your place out?  You may find it's not worth the trouble.

[quote user="tegwini"] Thanks all for the help. Not difficult to get onto this system - we did it at the Orange/FT shop in town.  I am still trying to turn the phone off - almost giving up now. I tried again today via the phone - told yet again, by a machine, that they are too busy - 'call again'.   Also logged on & registered - but couldn't find a link, or means to turn the phone off.   And, I also can't find FT's email - looked everywhere for that. Help !!! Regards tegwini [/quote] 1. Go to France Telecom website and sign into "Espace Client". 2. Click on the telephone number under "Ligne Fixe". 3. Click on the link "tous mes services" (in the column at left under "mes services") 4. On the "mes services" page, you should see something rather like this:            adresse  : 1 rue tegwini abonnement  : Ligne résidence secondaire Demander la suspension de la ligne 5. Click on the link for suspension of the line.  

[quote user="Martinwatkins"]This is of no help, but we had a basic Epson ten years ago and it drove us mad.   In the end I was going to take it out to France and ceremonially DROWN it in the pool while we supped wine watching it go under. Sadly Wendy (who's much kinder than I am) vetoed this idea and in the end we got rid of it on an elderly long-winded man in Devon. Of whom we've seen less subsequently! [/quote] Brilliant!!!  

Wow, Herbie, I'd be very surprised if you find any English-speaking services in this area.  Most people that I know (a bit north of Brioude) have private arrangements with locals. Have you been in contact with any English-speaking immobiliers?

[quote user="Andy. F"]looking for a manaul in English for a Alcatel 630 telephone[/quote] Andy, try posting your question in the "French Satellite TV, French Internet and Telephone" subforum.  You'll get a lot more answers.  This forum is for technical issues with the website. Meanwhile, have you tried Googling?  

[quote user="Department71"]We are looking at having a phone installed at our "holiday home" we went to the local FT/Orange shop to enquire, we didn't mention a second home line but they knew we were English, I asked if the line could be turned off when we weren't there, his reply was no problem you can do it via the internet and the fee is about 9 euros to stop and restart the service. Only problem I have is the scare stories you hear about them screwing up our account, but may bite the bullet on our return in May. Good luck Steve [/quote] I've been turning the phone service for our French maisons secondaires on and off online for several years- never had a problem.  I order the turn-on a couple of days before leaving the US & turn it off after leaving France. France Telecom charges 4,69 euros (including VAT) per time to turn the service off, nothing to turn it on.  Remember that you must turn it off for a minimum of 1 month (and I think you must turn it on at least once a year to maintain the same number- it might be once every 2 years, I'm not sure as the issue has never come up for us).  There may be a maximum number of times (6?) that you can turn it off and on per year. I think the base charge when it's turned on is now about 16 euros/month.  

Excellent, clearly written article.  Thanks, Ernie, for posting the link.

An American friend who has lived in France for more than 30 years (and who loves fried chicken) claims that it is difficult to make in France because the chicken are processed so differently than in the US.  (She and I both agree that French chickens are far superior, BTW, but somehow not for deep-frying, American style.) Anyway, if you can get hold of buttermilk (or make a reasonable facsimile thereof) and let your chicken pieces soak in it overnight before draining and flouring them, it seems to help.