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Hi the question of available discounts depends on desirability v availability. In UK, the Prius is currently in demand and relatively little is available by way of discount. Not sure how desirable it is in France, or availability. New car discounts are generally lower in France than in UK. Worth visiting several dealers to get quotes. Bonne chance Peter  

Hi have to agree that I run into people who seem to think it is like moving from Harrow to Brighton. They seem surprised when everyone speaks a funny language ?   Peter  

[quote]Exactly whereabouts is the Montpellier one, coming from Nimes direction? Make it simple please, only been there twice, first time in the dark and got lost..not a happy event and second time was with ...[/quote] Hi Take the A9 into the free section around Montpellier. Turn off is marked Carnon, Airport, Frejorgues, Montpellier centre. At the roundabout follow Montpellier centre. After about 1km take the right turn marked Odysseum & tramway parking. Follow the signs for Odysseum, and you will pick up the IKEA signs. oh, yes .................... it is big and blue with a yellow IKEA sign ! Peter  

Hi I've been following this SAGA. Perhaps admin could make a sticky of factors that can cause problems : Cars over 10 yrs old Non EU specification Models never sold in France Modifications DRIRE Carcassonne etc Peter  

Hi Grey & dismal, scattered showers for the last few days in 34. Peter  

Hi just to note that our local caves are holding tastings of this years Primeur. From memory, it is about the same time as last year, but later than 2003. Word is, that 2005 will be a good year. Peter    

Hi Email me directly with more details, and I will share my suffering. I've been through the legal process, so picked up a few things on the way. Peter  

Hi my experience has always been that you need about three times more than you originally thought. 1 ton of gravel goes nowhere ! Peter  

Hi just to note that many of these birds stop for a rest here in Languedoc before departing for N Africa. The Heron Cendre has noted the change in the climate and increasing numbers winter here. And some love Languedoc so much that they are staying here year round to raise chicks. A bit more about local bird life here : http://www.conservatoire-du-littoral.fr/front/process/Content.asp?rub=8&rubec=101&site=1968   Peter    

Hi Deimos Don't worry : it should leak when the cumulus is heating. But if it continues after that, then you have a problem that needs to be sorted. Peter  

[quote]Has anyone else noticed a fall-off in 419 or 'Nigerian' scams recently? If so the reason may be explained here:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4343926.stmMicrosoft and the Nigerian government ...[/quote] Er, to be honest : NO ! And I've also lived through the telex/fax/internet history. Another one received today : From: "daniel obudu" <[email protected]>    Save Address   Block Sender   This Is Spam <script language=JavaScript type=text/javascript></script>To: [email protected] CC: Subject: Obudu Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:06:12 +0200 (CEST) <script language=JavaScript type=text/javascript>

Hi you are right about the name : Groupe de Securite . We have had exactly the same problem and changed one of them 3 times in six years. I thought the drip that arrived after a few months was due to calcaire. My tame plumber told me that, that was only partly true. The water pressure, increased by the expansion caused by heating the cumulus, was resulting in too much pressure. I was sceptical, but installed an adjustable pressure valve, and it seems to have sorted the problem. Even better, the reduced pressure isn't noticeable in the shower. Peter      

Hi As far as I know, the couple of cheap French airlines that used to exist have gone bust. So, sounds a bit silly, but Toulouse - Venice may be cheaper via Stansted ! This list is due to be updated for 2006, but may give you some ideas : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/tourism/languedoc-tourism-air.htm Peter    

[quote]Isn't it odd that it costs so much to own a TV, compared to the cost of owning a house? We've just got our taxe d'hab demand in, 707 euros, 116 of which is for the TV. It makes the TV about one-six...[/quote] Hmm I got mine today too. Mine is house 753 + TV 116 = total 869. Thank god I live in a low cost agglomeration. What does the TV license cost in UK these days ? Peter    

[quote]I like a good storm too and nice to see that the SE have a good sense of humour. We live in Turkey where there is 300 days of continuous sunshine, then comes autumn with it's fabulous storms, sheet...[/quote] Hi might be worth reading this : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/articles/languedoc-articles42.htm Bonne chance Peter  

Hi we grew corriander in UK so that we could powder the seeds to make the Afelia Greek dishes. Why not do that in France ? Peter  

Hi In theory you should dispose of the lead paint dust at the authorised disposal centre. I had 20 kg, so took it seriously. Partly because I'd had a recorded delivery letter from the prefecture telling me I must sort out the lead paint AND dispose of it in the authorised disposal centre. My local dechetterie said " nah, put it in tout venant" ! The prefecture in Gard said that no disposal facilities had yet been provided. Eventually I made an appointment to deposit the dust in a specialist dechetterie in Herault. Peter  

Hi a couple more addresses : http://earth.google.com/ http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/ Both free and could be interesting.   Peter  

Hi It is starting here. Leclerc St Aunes do not supply plastic bags. I was in UK last week and all the supermarkets I visited still have a free plastic bag policy. I'm afraid this demonstrates how far behind France & UK are with ecology. Ten years ago, I arrived in Sweden and was surprised that no supermarkets had free plastic bags. They were SEK1, 10p,  FF1, Euro 0.60 each for the normal flimsy item, and 5X more for the long life variety. Ever since, I always go shopping with empty plastic bags in my pocket ! But every cloud has a silver lining. All supermarkets had a machine where you fed in your aluminium cans and got credits. I discovered that my Belgian bought beer cans were worth more empty in Sweden than full (in Belgium) due to the low price of beer in Belgium ! Then they changed the machines and used a bar code reader, which meant that I had the embarrasment of rejected cans being noisily spat out onto the floor. Just worth noting that for the last 10 years at least, you couldn't buy beer in aluminium cans in Denmark. You bought a crate (with a returnable deposit) and they had an automatic conveyor belt that read the bar coding and gave a credit voucher. And in 1991 I used to buy crates of beer on the same basis in Belgium. Peter        

[quote]One of the problems about playing this UK vs France game with children is that they may get the impression that their answers matter and/or will change the country in which they are educated. But I ...[/quote] Did I see SB in the Toyota dealership negotiating prices on an Amazon ? Peter  

Hi I'm also interested in this. Does " CGT roll over relief " exist in France ? What are the requirements to qualify ? Peter  

Hi The eclipse is still underway here : It was a bit hidden by hazy cloud here, though easily visible. In full sunlight, you can look at it through a CD. It is still rather grey and gloomy. And feeling a bit chilly. The last one I remember was in Aix en Provence in 1999, and I remember it felt chilly then, too. Peter

Hi Brico Depot has a range of these foil insulation solutions at lower prices. Search on Google for your local branch. Peter  

This is shamelessly copied from another board. It was originally titled "A MORAL VIEW" : MORAL QUESTION This test only has one question, but it's a very important one. By giving an honest answer, you will discover where you stand morally. The test features an unlikely, completely fictional situation in which you will have to make a decision. Remember that your answer needs to be honest, yet spontaneous. Please scroll down slowly and give due consideration to each line. =============================================== THE SITUATION You are in Florida, Miami to be specific. There is chaos all around you caused by a hurricane with severe flooding. This is a flood of biblical proportions. You are a photojournalist working for a major newspaper, and you're caught in the middle of this epic disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot career-making photos. There are houses and people swirling around you, some disappearing under the water. Nature is unleashing all of its destructive fury. =============================================== THE TEST Suddenly you see a man in the water. He is fighting for his life, trying not to be taken down with the debris. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar. You suddenly realize who it is. It's George W. Bush! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him under forever. You have two options--you can save the life of GeorgeW.Bush, or you can shoot a dramatic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, documenting the death of one of the world's most powerful politicians. =============================================== THE QUESTION Here's the question, and please give an honest answer: Would you select high contrast color film, or would you go with the classic simplicity of black and white?  

Hi It is available here in very small jars at high prices. You can find it in local supermarkets with a normally small exotic & foreign foods section. If all else fails check here for mail order of British foods in France : http://www.bestofbritish.fr Peter