WendyG

What a great thing the France Forum is thanks to all you kind and knowledgeable people. I shall look into the FT option of free calls to UK etc. as suggested.  Aso the new Free mobile offer. Again many thanks to you all. Wendy 

Thank you both so much - I will put into practice later today.  A weight off  my mind. Hope you are not too badly affected by the snow. Wendy  

I am more than willing to admit I may be wrong - please could you suggest the right number for making France to UK landline calls as it is all very confusing ti me. Thanks for your help. Wendy

 Thank you for your help - have found the 0811 65 81 81 seems to be the replacement number.

Can anyone help, please. I have happily being using 0811 310 310 to make cheap calls to the UK from France (landline) and now suddenly this evening there is no longer a service. Does anyone have a replacement number please. WendytG

Hi everyone Hope everyone is ok. We are freezing cold, ice on inside windows, frozen up doors and door locks, despite sunshine.  Thank goodness for woodburners. Interested to hear other peoples experiences. WendyG

Hi Have just had major clear out and have come across a 200 french franc note (eifel tower picture).  I have seen that this one is still exchangeable up until 17 Feb 2012.  Is this true does anyone know, and where do I exchange it? WendyG

If you are only going to use the property in the summer it would be much cheaper to put in 1 or even 2 "ballons" a bit like electric immerson heaters.   I have two in quite a large property, one for ourselves and one for guests, each heats the water for the kitchens and bathrooms.  They are easy to install and not too expensive to run. WendyG

Hi Thanks everybody - will keep it in the foil bag. WendyG

Hi Am shortly flying back to France carrying my doofer (Telepeage machine) and am wondering if the x-ray  equipment at the airport could harm it in any way. Apparently sat navs are ok but cannot find any info on doofers. Many thanks WendyG

Hi Thanks for replies.  The floor has large "concrete" tiles/slabs, which have been grouted - the grout is absolutely dry below the very top surface.  Reading posts think it is likely to be condensation as has been very mild and muggy here. Appreciate you taking the time to answer. Will have to air as and when possible and look forward to the summer. WendyG

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE Having had the property for 10 years and lived with the odd "damp patch" on the floor of a large outbuilding attached to the kitchen (used as utility with fridge/freezer and washing machine (dryer is in another building across the yard) and all the dross necessary to carry out constant repairs to an old neglected property.  There are two radiators but these have never been used for the last 10 years and are turned off.   No heating. The building was used as a "shop" some years before by the previous owner and has a floor comprised of large concrete slabs.  Very recently we have noticed varying size areas of "glistening" wet rather than smaller dark slightly damp patches.   The roof has been replaced so not coming from above and not coming from below as we first thought, as a small hole drilled through the grout produced dry material.  Most of the floor is bone dry.  The walls are not damp apart from one or two minor areas of a few inches. If anybody has any ideas we would be most grateful as at the moment we are totally baffled. WendyG

I keep getting pop ups trying to get me to install Java on my PCs - should I install or can this cause me future problems.   I am loath to dowload programmes which then alter my present settings. I have Google and use AOL as my e-mail provider. As you will see I am not computing "savvy". My attitude is normally if everything is going well don't change it! WendyG

Yes, please - certainly would be better entertainment than the tv over the Christmas period. WendyG

  HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE AND A HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR     WENDYG

Thanks to JayJay, Araucaria and Hoddy for their help - the Sheila Maid is now up and working! and that is where it is staying.   HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE    

Hi everyone Not sure if this is the right place for my query, but here goes. I had a wonderful Sheila Maid clothes airer in my old house in the UK and it has been sitting in the utility room out in France for 10 years, with the persistent damp weather I thought it might be a good idea to put it up. I have all the parts but cannot for the life of me remember how to "cord it up".  There is one single pulley and one double pulley, plus the iron ends and the wooden slats and cording, so all complete, except for the know how to put it all back together again.  When I took it down I should have taken a photo but in the stress of the move failed. If anyone can help I would be most grateful.  Have looked in internet  but they only show the slats and not the working bit. WendyG

Thank you to everyone who has explained the situation re freeview and freestat so clearly.  Both my boxes are freeview so I will take them back to the UK and bring out 2 freestats. I really am most grateful. WendyG

Hi everyone Hope someone can help a novice in these matters. I have two free to view boxes out in France and a dish with two lnb outlets.   The fitings for the "aerial" on the box are for an actual aerial - can I put an adapter - which I think I have and connect to the dish. If I can do this are the TV channels the same - ie BBC1, 2, ITV 1, 2, 3 and so on and also Channel 5 for the dreaded Neighbours. This must seem very stupid to those who know but have no-one to ask. Thanks WendyG

France is definitely getting very expensive. My local Premier Inn in the UK charges £7.99 for a buffet breakfast - help yourself, plus massive cooked breakfast - wonderful bacon as many rashers as you want, likewise egs, sausages, beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, tea/coffee. WendyG

Thanks will try it. WendyG  

Hi Surely this is a case for the gendamerie if there is no access to properties for the pompiers and ambulances. Hope it all gets sorted out swiftly. WendyG

Hi To add to Bob's post - a friend joined a clay shooting club by going along with his UK gun licence and was enrolled and insured and can now shoot at any of the ball trap events. To join in the chasse I understand it is necessary to take a written exam in French. Target shooting clubs exist and again it is necessary to go along and register. Any good gun shop should be able to give you advice.  WendyG

Hi Clair Thanks for the reply. I knew about the 3103 to hear messages, but have forgotten how to retrieve the messages I have saved.,   I rarely save messages but did save an important one with a telephone number (by pressing 2 after 3103) which I need to retrieve, but efforts so far have failed to access retrieving messages,. WendyG

I have totally forgotten how to access my saved calls on FT. Obviously I need to put in a number and then press other number/s.  For some reason I have completely forgotten which ones. Any help would be appreciated - old age catchinbg up|   WendyG