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Just a slightly sideways view of cycling enthusiasts. I was once eating at a restaurant in Domodossola (Italy near the Swiss border). Struggling with the menu, a Flemish couple helped us out. I asked where they were staying. The answer was "we are staying on the other side of the alps in Switzerland, but it is better & cheaper to eat in Italy. Also, my husband is a cyclist. We put the bike on top of the car, and at the bottom of the pass he rides his bike to the top, then we put the bike back on the car & drive down the other side. We do the same thing going back to Switzerland after the meal." I said " Are you sure you have this the right way round ?" On another subject, aren't there some pompous gits around these days ?   Peter        

[quote]Les Deux Alpes? Doesn't surprise me. It was there that I bought the worst hot dog I have ever, ever seen/tasted in my life. The sausage appeared to be one of those 'knack' things, which are pretty art...[/quote] Hmm..... Which part of the dog did you get ?   Peter  

Hi I think it is part of the construction of the new tramline intersection. Details are here : http://www.montpellier-agglo.com/tam/page.php?id_rubrique=13&id_zone=3&fichier=description&id_travaux=12 There are sporadic roadworks, diversions, etc all over Montpellier. I think the new line is due to start around end 2006. And you will find the terminus more convenient than Odysseum. More info here : http://www.montpellier-agglo.com/tam/page.php?id_rubrique=13 Peter        

Hi you need to do a bit more research. Tiles are categorised 1 to ? and each category has different wear characteristics. The least hardwaring have a thin glaze over terra cotta (OK for bathrooms ?). The very hardwearing ones have the same material throughout the tile (OK for pubs, restaurants, etc ?). There are similar categories for outdoor tiles. I guess wall tiles just have to look pretty. Don't know where to buy in your area. Worth remembering they are very heavy (up to 15kg / m2), so you probably don't want to transport them too far. Peter  

Hi I used them (then trading as Degriftour) for a late trip to Morocco. Everything was fine, no problems for me. Peter  

Hi there were some postings and explanations about this a while ago. At that time, there was one weather site that the Wanadoo ISP couldn't access. I do come across odd things that won't load since I changed to Wanadoo, but I can get into both the quoted sites..   Peter  

Just an amusing point. The lavoir at Chaudes-Aigues has running hot and cold water and is still used. There is a hot (82C) spring in the town that is used for central heating, hot water and the lavoir. Their website is :  http://www.chaudesaigues.com/ Peter  

Hi The Ozzies have a saying : If you were a bum in England, you'll still be a bum here. Kinda rings true ? Peter  

Hi Will is correct. I use a free FTP software called coffee cup (available here : http://www.coffeecup.com/ . As well as using it for uploading websites, you often need it for transferring large image files. NASA offers a free photo service ( http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/sseop/clickmap/  via FTP and has pretty good instructions on how to use it. Peter     

Hi it is worth checking here : http://www.americansintoulouse.com/ Bonne chance   Peter  

Hi it is worth checking here : http://www.americansintoulouse.com/ Bonne chance   Peter  

Hmm methinks there are more unwashed little islanders still there ? Peter  

Hi I show visitors the lavoir in our village. It is still in use by a couple of rather elderly local ladies, and some residents secondaires who don't have a washing machine. Don't have a pic of ours, but here is one in a nearby village :   Peter    

Hi just worth saying that once the compromis is signed, the deal is pretty well done subject to clauses suspensives. It is not a rather casual "exchange of contracts" as in UK. The vendor can sue for completion if you back out. A notaire will check it out free before you sign if you are worried. And to use both belts & braces, that must be better than signing an agents "standard" compromis ? The agents "standard" compromis says that their fee will be paid upon signing the compromis. I've refused to sign that 3 times and insisted on "the agents fee will be paid on completion". Worth saying that in this area the fee is deducted from the sales price to reduce taxes on maisons secondaire, so the usual procedure is reduce the sale price and the buyer pays the fees. So, do not sign if you are not sure you will complete for any reason. Peter    

Hi just worth saying that once the compromis is signed, the deal is pretty well done subject to clauses suspensives. It is not a rather casual "exchange of contracts" as in UK. The vendor can sue for completion if you back out. A notaire will check it out free before you sign if you are worried. And to use both belts & braces, that must be better than signing an agents "standard" compromis ? The agents "standard" compromis says that their fee will be paid upon signing the compromis. I've refused to sign that 3 times and insisted on "the agents fee will be paid on completion". Worth saying that in this area the fee is deducted from the sales price to reduce taxes on maisons secondaire, so the usual procedure is reduce the sale price and the buyer pays the fees. So, do not sign if you are not sure you will complete for any reason. Peter    

Hi I keep a pretty close eye on sites in English selling French property. Will is correct. The link he gives is long established (well at least 3 years !). I've not come across the other one before. Doesn't mean they are dodgy, but CAVEAT EMPTOR ? Peter    

[quote]AOL - we phoned their Paris number one Sunday afternoon. A lovely lady cancelled everything on the spot. Possibly the most painless piece of admin we've ever had in France.[/quote] Hi Same for me when ADSL arrived, but I did mine over AOL IM.   Peter  

" I hadn't realised how flat it is around Montpelier." It is only flat between the hills !   Peter  

Hi in view of the enormous costs of signing a long term lease with a bad tenant, agents take every possible precaution on behalf of owners. The agent I used was clued up on what she was entitled to ask for, and what was interdit. The pack she presented me for tenants included pay slips, bank statements, tax returns, a statement from the employer that the pay slip was genuine and the employee still employed, a list of tenants outgoings, references from previous landlords etc. Peter      

Hi In my experience : In many areas grants (and tax relief) are available : subject to many conditions. The possibilities vary by region, departement and town. The main condition is that you create additional rental property (conforming to prescribed norms), that must be rented for 9 years. In my area, the grants went like this (%'s from memory)  : Grant 25% of artisan invoices : You choose the tenant (who must have low income  at a prescribed rental Grant 45% of artisan invoices : you choose tenants (who must be receiving RMI) at a prescribed rental  Grant 75% of artisan invoices : The CAF choose the tenants at a rental around 50% of prescribed rental The "prescribed" rental is below market value (but not too much here   If you are doing the renovation work yourself, it doesn't make sense Some older properties will not conform to the required norms (try putting 2 doors between a kitchen and a WC in a studio) Most of these grants are taken up by aged people inheriting property, who need to restore it to add to their pension. However the scheme has been a failure in terms of regeneration of rental property. You need to discuss it with your Mairie Peter        

Hi Eslier has got the same answer as me. Just a tip ............ When putting the flexible pipe and vacuum head into the pool, insert head first, then the flexible pipe ensuring it goes underwater, before attaching it to the pipework. This minimises the air in the system. Peter  

Hi just a point : Full no claims bonus may not be full no claims bonus ! French NCB goes up to 10+ years. It is transferable, but you need a statement of years earned, rather than a % discount. Bonne chance Peter  

Hmm I can't see they will get very far with litigation unless there is more to the story. Car sharing is well established in France. You can check on who  is going your way here  (amongst many other places) : http://www.covoiturage.com/ Peter  

Hi It is for 10.5m, 28hp & 15 years old. Bit of a puzzle. I'll look at the papers next time I'm aboard. Peter  

I received this email today : Good news today from my source at the airport, the Assistant Director. She told me in fact that all the money has been found to keep the airport open in 2006. So I would like to thank all of you who have supported the petition and other actions that we have done towards keeping the airport open. So next year we will see another route from Ryanair & possibly this winter 7 days a week to Liverpool!! Please send this message out to your friends and family! It\'s time to celebrate! So, perhaps you could make it to the wine tasting, or perhaps the restaurant review club, to help us celebrate this good news!! best regards, Robin Boxall More info at www.britsnimes.com