Cassis

And you wonder where all your taxes go ... [:)]

Perhaps my original post got drowned in the stupid argument over leaf collecting (sorry about that): " Essentially the same models can be found as Mr Bricolage, McCulloch, BestGreen and Husqvarna - and probably other labels as well.  Made by Electrolux in America. " If you look under the seat you often see an Electrolux label, regardless of the brand on the paintwork. SHOP MODEL HP BLADE GEARS PRICE MR BRICOLAGE MCCULLOCH M12592RB 12,5 92 MANUAL 1559 MR BRICOLAGE MBA12592BRK 12,5 92 MANUAL 1559 BRICOMARCHE BESTGREENBM135B92 13,5 92 MANUAL 1599 LECLERC MCCULLOCH M13592RB 13,5 92 MANUAL 1859 MR BRICOLAGE MBA14592BRK 14,5 92 MANUAL 1969 BRICOMARCHE BESTGREEN BM155H107 15,5 107 AUTO 2149 MR BRICOLAGE MCCULLOCH M13592HRB 13,5 92 AUTO 2199 MR BRICOLAGE MBA165107HBRK 16,5 107 AUTO 2599 MR BRICOLAGE MBA20107HBRK 20 107 AUTO 2799 MR BRICOLAGE MBA16107BRK 16 107 MANUAL 2389 MR BRICOLAGE MBA17107HBRK 17 107 AUTO   Some of these may be  a bit too small for what you need but it gives some idea of price.  The smaller ones are supposed to be for 3000 - 4000 sqm.

Maybe these guys can help put you in touch with a local Buddhist group, if they are not close enough themselves? http://www.zen-boulay.com/ The site does not look very up-to date, though - next session 2005!

What?  The thought of how you and Squidge keep warm? [:D]

Did you pick the daffs before they got buried? (EDIT: see pics 1 and 2) Have you installed your woodburner in the past couple of days?  I thought not.  So how are you and Squidge keeping warm?

Interesting question, John. As regards the pipes, they should not be affected as nothing I can think of in the veg garden puts down roots that deeply (not among your usual annual veg, anyway). As regards what the roots draw up, I deliberately manure our patch every year! [:D]

Grand - thanks, Sunny.  The one I've started is coming along nicely.  What should the back look like?  If I post a couple of snaps tomorrow would anyone be able to tell me if I'm doing anything wrong?

Phew!  That's okay, then.

Here's the reply, then: Hello Alice Here is our address.  Re. payment, we can only take cheques on a French account.  Alternatively, can you make payment by Paypal? I confirm the total payable is 630€.  We will accept a deposit for 50% of this amount – no need to pay the full amount unless you really want to! Phil Graham La Basse Cour 72610 ANCINNES France I've not bothered sending her our phone number.

As Tommo said, I've no problems giving name, address and phone number as they are all public knowledge anyway.  But I think I'll ask if they can make the payment via Paypal first - I may hit lucky and get the most cretinous scammer in world, like the one Quillan was fortunate enough to find.

No probs.  But wait for this - I have this minute received a reply from Alice! [:D] [:D] [:D] Dear Phil,   Many thanks for your cordial message. I'm glad to hear you have availability covering the period of our stay. I'll take your accommodation which you are offering for 45 euro per night,and I'll pay you in full to hold it.The total comes to 630 euro for the 14 nights.   UNESCO pays for my flight, accommodation and holiday expenses, so payment will be sent to you from our head office. I will instruct our finance department to send you a Money Order on my behalf covering the total cost of my stay. For this I would need your Full Name/Address/Telephone Number and also the Grand Total Cost, which is : Cost for the accomodation + (plus) All Taxes Payable so payment can be posted to you as soon as possible. I've been looking forward to this trip for a long while; I do hope it will meet my expectation. Thank you and I look forward to a wonderful holiday.   Best regards, Alice Ford. Okay, Chris, Miki, Bugs, Loiseau and everyone else - how should I play the fish? [Www]

Well, knock me down with a feather, Loiseau - who would have thought it. [:)]  Nice one.  Only thing is, the example they give says: Hi, My name is Kathleen Reynolds; I got your details from the Canada Tourism Directory and would like to rent a Room. I will be going on my annual leave on the 30th of January and my husband & I will be coming to Canada on holiday for 3 weeks. We would be staying from Wednesday 31st of January 2007 to Wednesday 21st of February 2007. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts and recommendation on a suitable accommodation if you have availability for 21 nights and the costs for 2 persons. Any discounts for long stay? I'm 37 years old and a senior accountant, working with UNESCO here in the United Kingdom. I look forward to hearing from you, many thanks. Kathleen Reynolds, 80, Romford Rd, London, E15 4BZ  United Kingdom That differs from the one I got in several respects.  I suppose there's a 60% chance they could be related, though. I am still awaiting a reply from my own senior accountant at UNESCO.  I'm hoping she will pay me by Paypal and then forget about the whole thing.

This is appalling.  Where's a Moderator when you need one?

 [:D] [:D] [:D]

[quote user="Mark"]12 posts is relatively meandery given some of the participants.  Will you let me have 'meandery' Dick?  I rather like it. [/quote] Ooh, not sure Dick would allow that.  Does 'meandery' mean 'meandering'?  In which case I reckon it was no more meandery than usual given the participants!

[quote user="Pun"]if you have a garden of interest ie trees / bedding area's/ etc that a ride on lawn mower is not the ideal way of cutting the grass due to the fact that you cant get around half the area and you end up using a much cheaper hand powered lawn mower and you may find you get a better job done. [/quote] Indeed - and if you've inherited a French lawn you'll probably find it already has plants and shrubs randomly dotted all over it!  [:)]

[quote user="Quillan"][quote user="Cassis"]Of course it's not as good as a sweeper.  Did I say that?  I said you can use the mower box for collecting leaves so you don't need to buy a sweeper. [/quote] Glad you agree. Yes you did by implication. "can use the mower box for collecting leaves so you don't need to buy a sweeper." [:D] [/quote] I think you must abide by rules of logic unknown to the rest of the world, Quillan.  I actually said the mower has a "collector box which you can use for gathering leaves - no need to buy an additional attachment for that task". That does not mean it makes as good or efficient a job as a separate sweeper. You don't have to defend your purchase.  Spend your dosh on whatever you like, for God's sake, I was just giving a tip for collecting leaves.

My sympathy over the rotavator - it can be a bit like greco-roman wrestling with Superman unless you're gardening on sand. If you use a bed method for your potager you only need to dig it once, then manure it in autumn and let it rot in naturally.  I cover the beds with thick black plastic sheet over winter - means you don't have to wait for it to dry out in spring and it is warmer than uncovered soil so you can plant earlier (weather allowing).  Straw mulch is pretty effective against weeds. Also grass clippings, but not too thick a layer as they can get hot. Rosemary, thyme, sage all do well in containers and don't mind a bit of neglect.

Of course it's not as good as a sweeper.  Did I say that?  I said you can use the mower box for collecting leaves so you don't need to buy a sweeper.

I used to start ours off in the airing cupboard.  Not having one here, the next best place is a boiler room.  Failing that, a small, cheap heated propagator.  They need constant warmth 24 hrs a day for several days (about 10 days usually, but longer if the temp. drops at any time) to germinate reliably.

You can't reply to a PM via email.  [:)]

I think I know the Bricolage model you are looking at - we were looking at it last week as well.  It sounds like it should be fine for what you need as long as the ground is not bumpy - we got a lower powered model (16 hp B&S) by the same manufacturer under a different label for 2149€ from Bricomarché and it was recommended for anything up to 6000m2.  Essentially the same models can be found as Mr Bricolage, McCulloch, BestGreen and Husqvarna - and probably other labels as well.  Made by Electrolux in America.  It has automatic transmission, rear ejection and large collector box which you can use for gathering leaves - no need to buy an additional attachment for that task.  It also has a mulching facility.

Happy birthday, Gay - at the end of the day, have a nice soak with a bottle of bubbly at your side. That bath is fitted now, isn't it? [:D]

I know it's a scam - that's what I said at the beginning. [:)]

I put the odds of scam at 98.99% - trust me, I'm a statistician - would I lie?  [:D] I'll let you know if I get a reply. [:)]