Just Katie

The  newsreaders from my childhood.  I remember them all.  Kenneth Kendall lives on Isle of Wight now.

[quote user="Christine Animal"] Sorry about that Panda.  Odile has her way of expressing herself, we can accept that, can't we?   [/quote] Of course we can Christine, but it gets a bit tiring when others, who reply in a similar tone, get more or less accused of being bullies. Anyway, back on topic.  I think the answer to Odiles original post came in the first reply from Jaqui. 

I can explain how it happens, it's because men hoard junk because "you never know when it will come in handy love". I have also noticed this "junk" is usually of the metal variety for some reason and is also unidentifiable in name or form to women.  My mate made her man take all his junk to a car boot sale and sell the lot.  Which in fairness he did but he used the money he made to buy new junk because "you never know when it will come in handy love".

http://www.doguedebordeauxclub.co.uk/breed.htm Here is a link in English.  Tom Hanks starred in a film with one and sadly they gained alot of popularity since then.  I say sadly because many people buy dogs such as these on a whim.  They are a right handful and take alot of time and handling, isnt that right Bones?

A good natured dog mostly depends on it's owner Lori.  If I am correct in that she is a D de B, they are excellent guarding dogs and companions.  

I think she is a Dogue de Bordeaux?  Lori, I also think Bones is having a bit of a sarky laugh with you.  [:)].  Give him a slap!! 

That is more or less what I assumed RH.  If you really feel you need to do work to this, I would contact a building surveyor who specialises in PWAct 1996.

[quote user="Jura"]This thread should be mandatory reading for those who accept dogs in their B&B's/hotels...[Www][/quote] I whole heartedly agree with you there Jura (for once [:D]) Fleas will leave a dog, then look for him again when they are hungry.  If the dog is no longer there, they will make do with human blood, although this makes them sterile. I remember surveying empty houses in summer and the little critters who were in famine would attack you the minute you walked through the door.  I always wore light khaki combats when doing this job solely for the purpose of spotting fleas.  Great eh?  A cross dressing fleabag for a wife [:D]

Personally, I love a good storm with power cuts and thunder and lightening.  Have you got anything planned WB?

[quote user="Russethouse"] The twin banes of my life - we want to remove our chimney breast at the back of the house, I need the neighbours written permission plus have to have the work inspected. Who owns this house ???? [/quote] I read it that if RH needs a neighbours written permission, it is because an external flue abuts a neighbours wall.  If the neighbour refuses this then an application to carry out works to the chimney can be made Via PWA. 

Full belt and bracers BM!!  You are dead right about the amount of shoddy workmanship out there.  I wish they would mandatorily regulate builders where they would be anwerable to a governing body. I needed a degree to do the work I do and to give advice. Plumbers who work on boilers need CORGI,  and yet, 'we' let these 'apes' into our home with sledgehamers and expandable foam with no qualifications whatsoever. Yeah let,s make them all get registered.  That will sort the craftsmen from the apes!! 

And another thing, when was your planning for an extension refused.  I believe there is a new law out now whereby you no longer need planning permission for residential extensions because the LA's have such a backlog (they need a day in private sector if you ask me).  Anyway, I think that so long as your extension meets a certain criteria, you can just go ahead. However, I am not 100% on this as I no longer work in residential so perhaps someone else can throw more light.

If this chimney is detrimental to your property, you will need to consult a Building Surveyor who can force you neighbour to allow you to undertake works to the chimney via the Party Wall Act.

[quote user="Russethouse"] My daughter sleeps in the room below, believe me she lets us know if there is damp on the ceiling !! [/quote] It is all too common Gay, showers and chimneys are the blight of a home and need constant checking to keep this problem abay. I have a friend in the tarn[;-)] who had the most wonderful exterior shower hidden around the back of her house.  It was delightful to shower there on a warm day overlooking rolling hills of sunflower. Now that would bring a bit of excitement to Reading wouldn't it?[:D]

Showers are a pain in the arse.  I am a building surveyor and used to undertake residential surveys.  So many times I have seen stained ceilings, usually in the kitchen, where the shower sits above.  The most common cause is where the mastic is failing or has not been applied properly. You need to do a thorough investigation here.  If the water has soaked behind the tiles, it needs to escape and dry out otherwise it is likely that it will to lead to a more sinister problem.  As thunderhorse mentioned, ideally the tiles need to be removed.  If this wall has been affected, personally I would investigate beneath the shower too, especially if it is timber. Water is the biggest enemy to buildings in our climate and should always be allowed to dry out thoroughly.  Sealing a damp wall is asking for trouble.

[quote user="sweet 17"]Katie, have you finished with Swansea forever?  What no more cockles from Swansea market?[/quote] I don't know Sweet.  I am going home this weekend and I am dreading it.  It feels strange being away but it is still a novelty to me, a bit like being on holiday.  Even my new job is a novelty.  I am learning French from my colleagues and learning about the different techniques and procedures in France.  However, I do feel a little lump in my throat when my visitors leave for home so I suppose I miss the people rather than the place. Besides, my mum told me it has been cold and raining in Wales the last month whereas the weather here in Paris has been mostly warm and sunny, with the odd day of rain. [:D]

[quote user="Sprogster"] Sadly, retired expats and drink can tend to be synonymous, due to boredom more often than not and can be found in any country and with any nationality where expats congregate. Generally, having too much time on your hands is not good for your health and a long life expectancy!    [/quote] I think this hits the nail right on the head Sprogster.  Personally, I can open a lovely bottle of cold rose saturday lunchtime and drink it with my husband because we are in a good mood for example.  Then it could go to another bottle, then something else.  However, I am working so this will only occur on a Saturday but I can easily understand how easy it is to get a drink problem in retirement. I met some retired friends a few weeks ago who have bought in Spain.  They were telling me about a German neighbour who used to be very smart and well liked.  He fell into the boredom trap, and maybe connected alcohol with happiness (as I often do).  Two years later, he is a very sad soul, scruffy with very little bladder control.

Yes that is an excellent post.  It reminds me of the millionaire who bumped into a lay about on the beach.  He said that such a young man should get work.  The layabout replied "why",  well you know the rest.  The millionaire told him he could then afford to retire and travel to lovely places such as this beach.  The layabout smiled.  The ultimate time millionaire. The housing market affects different people in different ways and Bob and Suzy must be in enviable positions to make such comments.  My thoughts go with those trying to sell and move back to UK for whatever reason and also for those relying on incomes linked to sterling.

OK seriously,  my friend actually went to the doctor for a similiar 'complaint' but with cider.  He told her to try lager instead.  Gods honest truth

Christine, they owe me an apology [:@]

Katie, would you apply that to slavery or apartheid? Of course WB, this is where I am coming from.             Jeeps, as a white Brit, I think I have a hell of a lot of apologising to do.  [:(]

[quote user="dr orloff"]You need more practice.[/quote] [:D] Or a Proplus!!

Claire, I watched the film deux femme a Paris the other night  OK so the writer was a Jewish Tunisian, the same as the leading character but the screening of such a film indicates the French acknowledgement of their history.  But, it is history.  It is a shame many (including me) feel the need to apologise for the actions of their forefathers. 

Pétain and the Vichy regime willfully collaborated with the German occupation to a high degree. The French police and the state Milice (militia) organized raids to capture Jews and others considered "undesirables" by the Germans in both the northern and southern zones. Source...........Wikipedia NOT the Daily Mail.

I often choose not to drink too but I end up being easily lead. When I go out and DON'T drink though, it seems to make no difference.  I kind of get 'drunk' with the crowd.  I also feel a bit smug that I am independent with my car, I won't have a headache and I can remind everyone what they did [6][:-))]