Kitty

Suze - I would only buy a Kindle in France (or in the UK but living in France) if you are absolutely sure that you don't mind if you are only allowed to buy books from Dot Com.

Over the years, I've owned a number of Labradors.  I also used to foster for Labrador Rescue Society until homes were found. They come in all sizes.  But generally speaking, I found that those bred as working dogs tend to be more muscular and those bred as show dogs tend to be more petite.  Maybe the labradors that you have seen in France have been bred from hunting stock, given that there is a very large active hunting community in France?  Just an idea.

It got crowded in heaven so, for one day and one day only, it was decided to only accept people who had really bad day on the day they died. St. Peter was standing at the pearly gates and said to the first man, "Tell me about the day you died." The man said, "Oh, it was awful. I was sure my wife was having an affair, so I came home early to catch her with him. I searched all over the apartment but couldn't find him anywhere. So I went out onto the balcony, we live on the 25th floor, and found this man hanging over the edge by his fingertips. I went inside, got a hammer, and started hitting his hands. He fell, but landed in some bushes. So, I got the refrigerator and pushed it over the balcony and it crushed him. The strain of the act gave me a heart attack, of which I died from." St. Peter couldn't deny that this was a pretty bad day, and since it was a crime of passion, he let the man in. He then asked the next man in line about the day he died. "Well, sir, it was awful," said the second man. "I was doing aerobics on the balcony of my 26th floor apartment when I twisted my ankle and slipped over the edge. I managed to grab the balcony of the apartment below, but some maniac came out and started pounding on my fingers with a hammer. Luckily I landed in some bushes. But, then the guy dropped a refrigerator on me!" St. Peter chuckled, let him into heaven and decided he could really start to enjoy this job. "Tell me about the day you died?” he said to the third man in line. "OK, picture this; I'm naked, hiding inside a refrigerator...."

I have a large box (plant) in a tub that has gone brown on the outside with some green shoots in the middle.  Should I prune the brown bits off?  They started to go brown when I went away during a hot period last summer and my husband forgot to water it.

Just back from hospital again (going every day).  BUT where are Amazon?  Two working days, they said?  I shall telephone the number given in Garden Girl's post when I get the chance - thanks for that. I have been taking my Kindle (reading the few books allowed) and the advantages are: * unlike a book, you can easily read it one-handed and so it's good while you are having a bite to eat * the screen is really clear in the blazing sun that we have been having in Bordeaux * no reading glasses needed as you can set the type face * it is great to read whilst waiting to be called in the hospital waiting room because when you switch it off, it automatically saves your place I shall return it if it doesn't get sorted.

[quote user="Quillan"]We also get a lot of dust just as you describe, this may be from your OH cleaning out in the morning, it's a pretty nasty job and I have taken to using a mask. I tried one of these 'dustbins' you connect to your cleaner to (to provide the 'suck') and hoovering up the ash but that does not seem to work very well either and quite frankly I think produces more dust.[/quote] You don't have to clean out wood burning stoves every day.  They work better when there is a bed of ash.  I have my stove going all day every day but I only take out some of the ash about once per week.

I bought my Kindle from Co Dot UK (not Dot Com) and I got it delivered to the UK.  I downloaded a couple of books when I was there in the UK.  When I arrived back in France, I had a message saying that I had downloaded while in the UK and that I would need to provide some proof about being British such as passport, military card etc. I tried to download books in France on Co Dot UK but was prevented from doing so (documented on this Forum).  I contacted them and they told that they would let me buy 5 books only and I am STILL awaiting the investigative team to contact me.  They promised me it would only be 2 days some time ago last week.  I have been having daily radiotherapy and so it's difficult, at the moment, to be in touch with them to find out why they haven't contacted me. When Amazon do contact me, I shall find out why this has happened to me and not anyone else.  So, Coops, I don't really know what to advice.  What you are doing sounds sensible.

Thank you for sharing this.

[quote user="Simon-come-lately"]Cathy Hi - that just can't be right.  It's got to be something to do with how the Kindle is ordered and registered. Simon :-)[/quote] It was delivered to a UK address and registered to a UK address.  I started using it in the UK (buying books and reading them) and it was only when I arrived in France and tried buying books that the problem started. Frustratingly, I am still awaiting a call from the investigative team for both of my accounts.  I was told 2 working days and that has now expired for one of the accounts and so I assume that I shall be contacted tomorrow.  When they phone, I shall find out more and let you know. I have looked at a number of Internet sites and the application of the rule does seem inconsistent.

[quote user="Mr Coeur de Lion"]I thought of a proxy server too, it might help. I don't think you have to put your card details on though do you? If it's only the free books you're after? Just buy the regular books via .com or obtain them elsewhere.[/quote] Coops and CdeL - what is a proxy server? Pommier - the problem seems to be that Amazon picks up that your computer is in France and so having a British delivery addess or debit card or billing address does not work.

[quote user="Russethouse"] I looked through the forums on the links I sent yesterday and I suspect (its just theory from what I have read)  that you would probably be OK if you down loaded 4 -5 books at a time, then a few days later another 5 etc. Downloading more than this red flags the account and problems occur - then you have to go to the .com site.[/quote] I was initially blocked after two books. The problem with the Dot Com site is that (a) the books that you are going to get are going to have American spellings and (b) you have to buy in dollars.

At the moment, my advice to everyone is not to buy a Kindle if you spend a lot of time in France.  I would never have bought mine if I had known this was going to happen.  I now have two investigative teams looking at the two accounts that I created - my original one and a new one I created a couple of days ago.  They take two working days before they contact you, I understand.  An email explains that I might have to fax information to them. Amazon's emails and telephone call service have been exceptional but the blocking message, which comes up when you try to download a book, does not have a correct link. All this is a nightmare, bearing in mind that I am just about to have six weeks of hospital treatment and needed my Kindle to while away the time.

Amazon has rung.  You cannot live in France and buy from the Kindle Co Dot UK site.  It's to do with licences. An investigative team are going to be in touch in the next couple of days.  I have told them that I have a British birth certificate, passport and driving licence. All my information is based in UK - the delivery address, billing address, I-Click info (a British credit card).  Some books have been delivered to France in the past, including one outstanding order.  But my computer is in France.  It must be like the National Lottery that detects where you are logging on. In the meantime, I have been given permission to buy 5 books. I shall let you know what happens.

[quote user="Mr Coeur de Lion"]Just create a new account in the UK and attach that to your kindle.[/quote]  Good idea, CdeL.  I just did this - created a brand new account and re-registered the Kindle to this account.  I started to download some books.  But guess what?  Frustration again.  After a few books, it has stopped me again with the same message.  And again the link to customer services in the message does not work.  So I am back to Square One.  I cannot buy or download any more books.  I assume that this is because my computer is in France? Does anyone on this Forum who has a Kindle have a computer in France?

[quote user="AnOther"]Easier when you are starting from a low base ![/quote] Yes, it has been from a low base.  Their service was abysmal for a long time.  But they really have improved and they seem to have learned lessons.  This deserves to be praised.

[quote user="Loiseau"]Simon mentions how he swapped from US to UK on page 9 of this thread. Angela[/quote]  Thanks for finding this, Loiseau.  I checked and I had already done what Simon had suggested but I still have the problem of being refused books.  As the link to customer services iss not enabled, I have now written to Amazon.

This is the message that I get every time that I try to download a book on my Kindle account.  I have updated my country to my house in the UK and that has been accepted when I click on the link (have you moved to a new country).  When I click on "contact customer service" (are you travelling outside your country), a message says that this service is not available.  Result: I can't buy or download books.  Perhaps it has picked up that my computer is in France? I shall try to get to the bottom of this as it will affect anyone buying a Kindle when in France. Please contact us or change your country to complete your purchase. You attempted to purchase an item while in a different country than listed on your Amazon account. Are you traveling outside your country? Please "contact customer service" (link) in order to continue purchasing Kindle items. Did you recently move to a new country? You can easily "update your country" (link) for your Amazon account.

Thank you RH so much. I clicked on some of the links in the article and started shopping for free or non-expensive books. In order to continue, I have been trying to sort out the US dollar / UK pounds problem.  I do not want to buy books in dollars.  So I have transferred the Kindle to my UK house.  I started downloading some interesting titles and after about three books, I was asked to contact Customer Services.  But the service is not available.  I have clicked several times - it is so frustrating.  Not good enough Amazon.  I am not a happy bunny. What is this Co Dot UK and Dot Com problem?  Why the difference? 

I've got mine!  [:D]  It's good.  I picked it up from a friend in London when I was over in the UK for the weekend.  I have been 'playing' with it as much as I can.  I'm pleased that I bought the wallet with light as I have been able to read at night time without disturbing my children.  Some questions: 1. Where are the free books? I couldn't get onto my laptop over the weekend and so was trying to download free books from the Kindle.  I spent so much time searching but only found Alice in Wonderland and Christmas Carol.  Everything else was at a cost, even the Bible.  [Www] 2.  The prices are in US dollars.  How do I change this to £ sterling. Loads more but I'll save that for later...  It's the submission date for UK tax returns tomorrow ...  [8-)]

I thought that I couldn't be the only one who felt that things had got better.

[quote user="gardengirl "]Are you all excited? And did you go for the powder blue cover?[/quote] I did go for a powder blue cover in a moment of madness - it was £50 or something like that but it has a light.  When I'm in the tiresome queue for the 23h30 Caen to Portsmouth ferry, I thought the light would be useful. I could have done with the Kindle (with light) on the night train from Paris to Berlin.  I was sharing a carriage with my 17 year old daughter and 4 strangers and the hours were interminable.  It was difficult not to fall asleep on the shoulder of the (young) bloke next to me.  I bet that he wished that he was sitting next to my daughter. GG - I am SOOOOO excited.  I don't often buy new technology and so this is fun.  I think that I shall try subscribing to a free 2 weeks subscription to a national newspaper - but which one? Simon - thanks for starting this thread and being so enthusiastic about the product.  It inspired me to get one.

My Kindle (the more expensive one with 3G) has been despatched and is on its way to an address in the UK.  Does it come with any books?

Well, I never thought that I would see this day but I can tell you that Teleconnect have improved.  I was incensed during the upgrade fiasco but stayed with them partly through an inability to understand much about new technology, partly due to inertia and partly because I looked at other products and wasn't sure who to move to. I have had to contact customer services and technical services a few times recently and the phone is answered promptly.  The English speaking staff are polite and helpful.  The all important thing - my connection seems to be effective and my phone line works. I would be prepared to recommend them once again to friends.  I would be interested to hear if any of their other customers think the same. If Teleconnect read this post (and I understand that they do check the Forums about France), I would ask that they keep up the good service.  It would be great if they changed the tune when you hold - it reminds me too much of the bad old days when I was holding for ages and ages.

Elamessa - are you a boy or a girl ?

Simon - You are a star.  THANK YOU SO MUCH.  [kiss] It is about to be ordered with a Powder Blue leather wallet.  It's VERY important to get the colour right (as JustJohn knows).  The Burgundy red didn't appeal as it should be Bordeaux red [Www] and the Apple Green didn't grab me as I like my apples red [:$]. I am having so much fun today.  I even spoke to Rose on the telephone for the first time [:D] ....