wizard

I know this subject has come up before, and I did add my penny worth then, but I do believe most people, with a little bit of help could build their own website. It is interesting to compare the two 'web services' sites listed as both are totally different, yet both seem to have faults. One trick I use when looking at websites is to view the source, as this will tell you a lot about the author, and any software tools being used. There may also be some useful code(javascript usually) which could be useful. I am just as guilty as many others at trying to be too clever, with too many gimicks(eg flash) so have now re-engineered my own website so only those who want to be taken through a flash intro need to, and the number of mouse clicks has been reduced. It will probably not suit everyone but at least I am trying. I am trying to talk my local college into setting up a web creation program for local businesses, as there is still only a very small percentage of local businesses with some type of website, and search engines such as Google work better if there are more websites with some type of link, which not only helps the businesses but also helps the town itself. For webspace for the beginner I definitely recoment Geocities/Yahhoo.com as this has a very good simple to use online website software, and assuming you know roughly what you want you can have your first page up and running in less than an hour. It can also be created/amended on any computer linked to the internet including cyber-cafes etc. Simon (http://www.wizlist.com)

There have ben a few French based G gauge layouts in the model press over the past few years. As LGB don't produce many items of French origin, there are also a number of specialist firms in France. The best place, apart from internet, is to get hold of some of the French model railway magazines, some are availlable in UK. As for cost I suspect that it might be getting cheaper in France with the current state of the pound versus euro. Simon

Could not find website. Came up with AOL Hometown screen with website not found message! Simon

I was in Leeds last week and spotted one of the 'spare' Eurostar trains being used for 'local' service to London. I am sure that some of the changes to the station were put in for a potential direct service to France, so why are there still no direct Eurostar services to France. Obviously any survey that has been carried out must have been done at some ungodly hour. The new low cost service from Leeds/Bradford has proved there are people who want to travel from this area, and Liverpool has proved it can provide a service to Nice. No wonder Eurostar is losing money when they only cover a small part of Britain!!!!!!!! I have also read bad news about long distance international travel in Europe, with Belgium cancelling a number of international services to be replaced by long distance coaches - and just at a time when there have been some bad coach accidents on the road to the south of France. Simon

Does Living France accept potential articles from anyone, or dpo you use a selected list of prefered writers. I am not interested in any financial reward, but might like to put pen to paper sometime. Simon