BIG MAC

[quote user="AnOther"][quote user="Russethouse"]On the other hand this car has an electronic hand brake[/quote]Is that supposed to be a good thing ? IMO it's just another 'modern and efficient' convenience you can take and shove in the same useless bin as the auto wipers and lights [blink] Still, if you're happy nothing else matters does it, but then you were presumably happy with the C3 when you bought that  hey ho [;-)] [/quote] That's progress ...the concept of a useless bin...just think we could dispense with the intermittent wipe or the wiper altogether...traffic signals they are automatic too get rid of them!...as for air conditioning, ABS, stability control, common rail engines, limited slip differentials get rid of the lot..clearly the workl of the devil..... Durrrrrr  

[quote user="AnOther"][quote user="BIG MAC"]Doors which lock once moving - less chance of the Mrs getting her bag snatched at the lights or the laptop pinched out of the boot etc. (More common than one may think particularly in motorway services) Err, somebody attempting to open a door or the boot as you are moving off at a motorway service station, where is this, The Gorbals or Soweto perhaps ? Try parked up while enjoying a cup of coffee or a call of nature...last time I checked 'Gorbals Services' didn't exist however as you are clearly out of touch with modernity in general ...the little darlings use a smart phone to detect active bluetooth devices and will open a car boot and disappear on bikes in the blink of an eye. 'Driving off' isn't the ideal scenario for them as many cars doors will lock automatically...but then you know that. Rain sensitive wipers which adjust to the volume of rain...no more 'juddery' wipers over a screen that's slightly too dry and no fiddling with adjustments when making an overtake in the rain and the lorry 'bow wave' comes over. The aware and involved driver will have already anticipated that and adjusted his/her wipers accordingly and in fact is safer driver because they have acted proactively to a danger and not relied on their car to automatically respond reactively, a split second which potentially could make all the difference And a 21st centrury driver will have the luxury of being able to over-ride their convenience features if they should choose to do so...in 3 years of ownership (or 95,000 miles if you prefer)  I have needed to do that errr....never   As for auto lights..I never switch mine off..If its dark the car is illuminated and if it isn't then it isn't...A better state of affaris than Mr or Mrs Fog lights on sans fog or no lights on on a fast dual carriageway in poor light /spray. So what need would you have for automatic ones. Your reference to Mr or Mrs Fog lights serves to reinforce my comment about brain dead drivers. Similarly to the wipers automatic lights will come on reactively when the ambient light drops to the point where they become necessary when actual condition may demand that the be on long before that. I have an efficient dynamics vehicle it uses power sparingly and recharges the battery on decelleration and has stop start technology and has automatic radiator grille shutters. It works efficiently...I could use and Archimedes thousand sheild mirror and the power of the sun..BMW in thier wisdom decided to make the job easier and got my custom...so shoot me. So rather than 'Brain in neutral' I would suggest that perhaps myself and RH simply like to avail ourselves of modern conveniences when they make life simpler/safer. Yes, by all means make use of modern conveniences but also recognise them for what they are. If you insist...I recognise them as being both 'modern and efficient'    [/quote] [/quote]

I am with Russethouse in every respect here. I am not a lazy gett but do appreciate some features of my BMW which (to me at least) make perfect sense. Doors which lock once moving - less chance of the Mrs getting her bag snatched at the lights or the laptop pinched out of the boot etc. (More common than one may think particularly in motorway services) Rain sensitive wipers which adjust to the volume of rain...no more 'juddery' wipers over a screen that's slightly too dry and no fiddling with adjustments when making an overtake in the rain and the lorry 'bow wave' comes over. As for auto lights..I never switch mine off..If its dark the car is illuminated and if it isn't then it isn't...A better state of affaris than Mr or Mrs Fog lights on sans fog or no lights on on a fast dual carriageway in poor light /spray. So rather than 'Brain in neutral' I would suggest that perhaps myself and RH simply like to avail ourselves of modern conveniences when they make life simpler/safer.  

I had a Ford S Max 7 seater and loved it, only an 1800 Zetec but 50ish MPG and loads of room plus an almost Germanic feel. Wife currently is in a 2008 Zafira which we have had from new - decent but needs to be used or EGR valves can be an issue. Previous car..Seat Alhambra 130tdci...brilliant and over 120mph with a roof box and 7 up...on a private test track allegedly. My current wheels BMW320DSE...can't argue with 60mpg and 170 ponies. Ford Transit 280 (love transits and have had most body types post 1978) and just one Yamaha fazer now. I did look recently at the Hyundai iload crewcab and haven't dismissed it just yet.

Hello Franco collective, I am looking for a stockist of reasonably priced Volets pliant in steel or Aluminium but looking for 1200 wide x 1000 high. Can't seem to find anything in 53 (The Mayenne) Also I hear tell of a mythical fibre reinforced concrete which both self levels and is waterproof...does it exist and if so what is it called and who sells it? Thanks        

What about running in armoured SWA cable cleated at high level perhaps to rafter tails then catenary cable to destination?

If you stand on the west coast of Ireland and test the atmosphere for asbestos fibres ....you may well detect them ....really depends whether there have been many forest fires in Canada.

Is THIS what you were looking for I wonder? I have used the SIKA stuff as 'PVA' prior to ceramic tiling and it was better than PVA in my opinion  

If it is a Genie you get ...I believe we are not using them at work at the mo because of a potential problem with the basket tilt ram. If it fails then the basket can rotate! worth checking the equipment has been checked.

How about putting a dummy parapet wall in with the sun tubes running through the middle so that a) They are up and out of the way b) The walls below get 'light washed' and as round the periphery least likely to be in the shade of the building above?  

Hi Mark, While the sentiment is appreciated - the blocks I have already have 'holes' which can align into an internal reinforced concrete chord so no buttresses or piers required. I have rebar and can get the cages to space the reinforcement however have noticed the French using steel in bed joints etc...be good just to see some footage of them actually 'doing it'  

My Father didn't wear one and I was with my wife for 17 years before we got married. We had our wedding rings made from 'scrap' jewellery from my other half's jewellery box...earings I had bought here  and one maybe missing - bits and pieces of stuff she had got from her grandmother but would never wear...etc. So I guss some may say wedding rings - others may say treasured memories... I don't like jewellery per-se apart from watches but am proud to wear my wedding ring.

Random thought and hoping I am within the rules. I am thinking of spending much more time in France while I am fit enough to carry out renovations and get on better when I can get on on my own without distractions. It would be handy to garage a  car or motorcycle France side (matriculated and legal obviously) rather than trundle back and forth on the tunnel. Does anyone have any space to accomodate a vehicle for consideration in kind? Just a query at the mo. Thanks  

I wasn't thinking 'You tube' neccessarily ....I wondered if maybe a manufacturer or supplier had a good guide? thanks anyways

If anyone knows of a  link to a good guide to using the 'hollow' concrete blocks to build retaining walls it would be appreciated

What's the accepted wisdom re mixing using a cement mixer? I have shedloads to do and am thinking that if entire walls are raked out I could repoint larger areas ...Its a question of how much chaux to sand and will the mix go off too quickly?

I am going to get some outward opening shutters but as I like the light I think I will order some glass ones ;-)

Our metal shutters get white hammerite...lasts about 4 or 5 years before you get the odd bit of rust. They definitely 'reflect' heat in the summer and radiate it away ...not in!...As for insulation I hadn't given it a thought  but with double glazing and heavy curtains...and liking the daylight in winter...I dont see a significant advantage in wood other than aesthetics. They shutters dont rattle and you may occassionally hear heavy rain hit them....(One of the loveliest things about France..the smell and sound of a summer cloudburst!) In the Uk we rarely have shutters on our homes...I wonder why

Excellent Yonner...do bear me in mind as I have a couple of chimneys need work and the thought of using a ladder fills me with terror

We have the steel predecessors to the ally ones....they are ancient and rusting in places (ally shouldnt do that) well made and no problem at all. If I had the money I would replace them with the same in ally in a heartbeat

I need the same and am thinking of  asking our commune's digger driver if he could do us a favour I dont know if you are in a commune with such a facility?  

Ta Salty Sam...appreciated!

Hi Sam....by all means send me a PM too...I have just bought an 8.5 metre 3 section ladder for £125 its only rated DIY use though same site sells TITAN ladders economically to....but I would like a tower for when I get round to repointing. First dibs on Yonners maybe? ;-)  

[quote user="nomoss"][quote user="BIG MAC"] [quote user="nomoss"]Google search "slate tingle" for suggestions[/quote] 'Crochet inox' in France.   [/quote] "Crochet ardoise" yields a more helpful result. [/quote] I was aiming to prevent getting the galvanised mild steel version which is about as much use as a handbrake on a canoe...but point taken and of course the are the double hook or pointe versions  

[quote user="nomoss"]Google search "slate tingle" for suggestions[/quote] 'Crochet inox' in France.