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Hi Essentially everything will work OK except : 1)Washing machine (you need to buy a U pipe adaptor for a few Euro) 2)TV is a different system, but - a)modern sets may be multi system b)modern sets can be driven through satellite / VHS connectors when they work as a slave. However TV kit is so cheap today, it is not worth bringing it over ? 3)Telephones need a cheap adaptor 10 years ago electrical kit was sold without a plug, and you could buy a 10 pack of French plugs cheaply. Now everything comes with a plug, so replacement French plugs work out more expensive if you need 20 of them. I have a mixture of replaced plugs and stuff I still use with an adaptor ............... and that is after 15 years ! BTW the cheap adaptors don't cope well with high current (e.g. fan heaters etc.) Learned that the hard way ! Peter

Hi I'm not quite sure how the cheap rate periods work. We've got approx 23.00 - 07.00. But in another property 3 km away it is 23.00 - 06.00 and 12.30 - 14.30. The standing charges are based on the maximum supply. It also costs more if you have the 2 rates. We inherited 12kw and when I did the calculations, it didn't make sense. I think you need to be a bit smart here : You will never have pool & central heating on at the same time? How often will you run the oven, dish washer, washing machine, cumulus and heating at the same time ? So do the calcs on a 'most likely' basis rather than 'worst scenario'. Today, I was sorting out paperwork with a new tenant in a small 1 bed appt. His abonnement was Euro 7.50 every 2 months. He has washing m/c, cumulus, electric heating, electric oven, electric hob, etc. No problems so far. And another who has 1 rate only pays abonnement of Euro 4.33 per 2 months. And tempo seems good for holiday homes. Quirky ? Peter

[quote]Hi call me an old cynic, BUT ............... lets count the people who have complained about the current site and go into "I preferred it as it was " mode. Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com[/quote] Hmm Rings true ? Peter

Hi http://tlp.netfirms.com/flamant.gif a few comments : 1)Because latest posts always appear at the bottom, posters will need to be more disciplined. The old board could cater for splinter discussions within one post, but that is now more difficult. 2)I've lost my animated signature. And how can you insert an image ? Can't see how to do this. 3)Looks cleaner & more up to date Peter Got the birdie back, thanks !

Hi Ryanair are switching some flights from Stansted to Luton next year. Details are on their website at www.ryanair.com Peter

Hi Just a point. The garage can supply you with temp plates (valid 14 days in my case) whilst the registration process is completed. They then phone you, swop the plates and give you the carte grise. Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi I thought it may be a good idea to link the many websites of Brits in France into one webring. A webring is an automated link manager, grouping together websites with common interests. I've put together a webring called Brits in France with the intention of providing a one stop source of links to the websites of Brits based in France. In time I hope this will develop into a catalogue of professional, artisan, artist, information, homepage, diary, property and holiday links. Membership of the ring is free. The ring requires the addition of some html script to your website which will create the webring logo. The script will add this logo to your site. Here is an example of how it looks : http://tlp.netfirms.com/clivefrancis.htm Joining instructions are at : http://s.webring.com/wrman?ring=britsinfrance;addsite Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi I thought it may be a good idea to link the many websites of Brits in France into one webring. A webring is an automated link manager, grouping together websites with common interests. I've put together a webring called Brits in France with the intention of providing a one stop source of links to the websites of Brits based in France. In time I hope this will develop into a catalogue of professional, artisan, artist, information, homepage, diary, property and holiday links. Membership of the ring is free. The ring requires the addition of some html script to your website which will create the webring logo. The script will add this logo to your site. Here is an example of how it looks : http://tlp.netfirms.com/clivefrancis.htm Joining instructions are at : http://s.webring.com/wrman?ring=britsinfrance;addsite Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi When I lived in UK I had loads of French visitors (French wife to blame !). I found fish & chips, english breakfast, best back bacon, tea with milk, stilton, traditional sunday lunch, soho chinese food, to be pretty popular. General surprise was that British food was actually edible. Xmas pudding, spicy Indian food, rum butter, English sausages, marmite, sage & onion stuffing and mint sauce received mixed reviews. We took people to the usual London sites, but they loved the cotswolds, devon, cornwall, kent villages, old village pubs, etc Most thought the 30's semi detached housing estates of London suburbs were awful. Best attraction was Waddesdon Manor. A replica chateau built by the Rothschilds and furnished with many objects picked up for a song from newly impoverished aristos during the French revolution (some with original invoices). Many of the French chateaux have little original furniture because it was lost during the revolution. Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hmm best you plan your winter wardrobe very carefully ? Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

An amusing snippet I spotted : http://uk.news.yahoo.com/040811/140/f02fn.html ------------------------------------------------------------ Have We Got Nudes For You... Now for the nudes... a new programme is promising to reveal all. As well as reeling off the latest news, sport and entertainment, the female newsreaders will be peeling off.Naked News launches in Britain on Monday after a runaway success in the United States, Canada and Australia. It will be screened live every night on Get Lucky TV, Sky Channel 235. The news and infotainment segment includes News At The Top, Sports Buff, On The Web, Naked At The Movies and Talk Is Cheap. Pat Bird, of Get Lucky TV, said: "It's high time British viewers were treated to a taste of Naked News which has satisfied Americans and Canadians for five years." Naked News broadcasts to more than 172 nations daily and reaches a potential weekly audience of 34 million in the United States and many more in several countries around the world. Samantha Page will front the programme along with a team of other girl presenters, while glamour model Samantha James has signed up as the Naked News weather girl. Peter ------------------------------------------------------------- http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi Here it is approx (in Euro cents) : Supermarket : 85 Garage / Autoroute : 95 Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi I've been very happy with Dulux Valentine Brillante for the interiors. I've used Dulux Valentine Satin on the exterior with success. I've also learned my lesson : Buying cheap paints in France does not pay. After the 4th coat of monocouch it is crystal clear ! Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

LAST EDITED ON 08-Aug-04 AT 09:39 PM (BST) Hi the paper version says that the series will continue with "Brits & property" tomorrow. Should be good for a few words about Brits driving the prices up, and dodgy Brit agents ? Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

From Midi Libre : http://www.midilibre.com/actuv2/article.php?num=1091909581 Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Article from The Guardian : http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,11882,1277343,00.html Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

What I don't understand is how 8 huit closes at 7.30pm ? Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi I was pleased to hear that a former (flooded) furniture shop in Sommieres would reopen as a convenience store. Seven to Eleven I thought. Useful for the odd forgotten items. Well it is an 8 huit ............. not quite so convenient, but may be useful. So, I checked the opening hours : I'm not sure this is in keeping with the business model ? Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi Are there two rear boxes ? Did it need both rear silencers replacing ? With parts, labour & TVA it quickly mounts up. Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi The programme is here : http://tlp.netfirms.com/sommieres2004.htm Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi it is worth surfing this site for various stats by Country : http://dataranking.com/English/fo03-1.html For total alcohol consumption (kg/yr), it gives : 1 Ireland 214.6 2 Czech Republic 168.5 3 Denmark 156.1 4 Austria 155.6 5 Germany 144.0 6 Belgium 132.0 a 6 Luxembourg 132.0 a 8 Croatia 127.3 9 Portugal 127.0 10 United Kingdom 116.6 11 Hungary 112.5 12 Spain 107.9 13 Slovakia 101.9 14 Switzerland 97.4 15 Finland 96.2 16 France 95.7 17 Netherlands 91.8 18 Estonia 89.3 19 Bulgaria 86.8 20 Italy 83.4 21 Slovenia 81.5 22 Romania 80.5 23 Poland 79.6 24 Serbia and Montenegro 79.0 25 Sweden 77.2 26 Lithuania 76.4 27 Greece 68.0 28 Norway 67.6 29 Iceland 61.3 30 Cyprus 60.8 31 Latvia 60.1 32 Bosnia and Herzegovina 51.2 33 Malta 39.4 34 Macedonia, The former Yugoslav Republic of 35.6 35 Albania 21.1 Note a. Data for the total area of Belgium and Luxembourg Source FAO, Food Balance Sheet (as of February 2004). Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi you could try mine ! But also, Brits around Beziers : http://groups.msn.com/BritsaroundBeziers is local to you. Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi Not in the same league as the canicule last year, but today was : Air temp 38C Pool temp 29C Humidity 40% (high for us) Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi Prix - Monthly rent Charges mensuelles - normally for refuse collection, communal lighting, etc Honoraires la charge du locataire - charge for agent, preparing lease, etc Dpt de garantie - Refundable Deposit Unfurnished leases are normally 3,6,9 years. The tenant can give 2 months notice at any time. Furnished leases are less controlled and vary. Utilities are the responsibility of the tenant. Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com

Hi I think there are 3 varieties : Police Municipale responsible to Mr le Maire and limited to parking, traffic, petty offences etc Police Nationale (gendarmes) responsible to Mr le Prefect (ultimately the President ?) carry out normal police duties including CID CRS are the heavily armed riot squad Peter http://tlp.netfirms.com