Rob Roy

Sorry for the delay in replying. This is a Sony Vaio model PCG-F403 and I found the website for this model which is: http://support.vaio.sony.eu/computing/vaio/specifications/index.aspx?l=en_GB&m=PCG-F403 It seems that this laptop was loaded with Yamaha controllers for the sound, according to the above site so I've looked for information on those but as there are several different ones and I don't know which ones I had and at this point I was getting rather bogged down in technical stuff! I have phoned the guy who ownes the machine (who lives in Dublin) and he's not sure whether he still has the original disks, but will look.  

Personally I wouldn't give you a thank you for champagne, or any sparkling wine, but I hope you enjoyed it and Merry Christmas!

[quote user="Payrac-man"] Hi Find the device manager in the control panel, it's a sub menu so hunt for it. Look for question marks especially the audio driver If its got one you will have to re-install the driver. If it says the device is working Ok it's something else. Check volume not turned down in speaker settings. If it has USB (will be only USB 1) try plugging in something like a usb headset and then some speakers into that (win 98 will require drivers for such a device) If you now have sound it may be a hardware fault but it is rare. How old and what spec laptop unless it is very low spec it will run XP. Merry Xmas   [/quote] Thanks everyone for suggestions and I hope you all have had a lovely Christmas day; however the above advice I've put in red seems to have found the problem. In the device manager there is a yellow question mark against the 'PCI Multimedia Audio Device' and tells me the Multimedia drivers are not installed, but when I follow the directions to re-install the driver it says it can't do it. Any further advice please? The laptop has 64MB SDRAM, 6.0 GB hard drive and Intel Pentium III processor 450 MHz.

I seem to have 'lost' the sound on this laptop. It is an old one that was lent to me as my computer has died, and is still running Windows 98. Recently I haven't been able to find any way of getting the sound to work - it was fine and I wonder if I have deleted something I shouldn't have done! Can anyone suggest (in simple steps please) what I should do to restore the sound. I've looked at various 'Help' topics, but am still no wiser.

Have a lovely Christmas and if you see my son - who lives in Tooting - tell him to ring his mother.[;-)]

[quote user="NormanH"]Don't live in a village, and don't be part of the car-dependant culture. [/quote] I have no wish to live in a town and I'm in the process of teaching one of my donkeys to pull a little cart so I'll be able to drive to the local village in a more eco-friendly way.[:)] 

If we are really brave (!) and take the card out will the annoying message disappear from our screen?

We have a car each - his is the one with all the rubbish and fag ash in, mine is the smart (and bigger!) one - the one that he's not allowed to smoke in and the dog is not allowed to ride in. [:)] So his is the one we took today to buy the Christmas tree because I don't want pine needles in my car!! [:)] ( In spite of my user name I am female! ) Seriously though I agree with the OP that women should keep up their driving, with so many couples living in rural areas it is very difficult if only the man drives.

Well, what a load of rubbish. Ryan Giggs!!! No doubt he is an excellent footballer (so my OH tells me) but Sports Personality of the Year......give me a break! He hasn't achieved anything this year that he hasn't done other years so why not wait until he retires (which must be soon) and give him a Lifetime Achievement award. David Hay was much more deserving of something, as was Mark Cavendish. I'm pleased for Miss Ennis and Mr Button though. Hiss, Boo, Humbug[:@][:@][:'(][:@]

[quote user="Théière"] [quote user="Scooby"]Did anyone see the recent episode of 'Homes under the Hammer' where the Welsh builder said he was sourcing his bathrooms from France - £150 for a complete suite?  He was very cagey about where exactly he was buyng them... [/quote] Not really a bargain when you consider the fuel, toll, ferry (van not car) and extra time. [/quote] That was a repeat from 2008, if not before so the exchange rates were a little different then.

I'm no expert but I wouldn't have thought that eating lying down would be a problem - as Allycat says above this is what dogs in the wild would tend to do. I love the comment about the Camemberts [:)] and what is the 'little labrit' please? Fi, it sounds as though Eco has been taught well. We did the same with two labs we had; we got them at 7 weeks old and taught them to wait to be told to eat their food from the first day. When they were adults my son got distracted one day and forgot to tell them to eat - 15 mins and lots of dribbles later they were still patiently waiting!![:-))]

Congratulations Fi, he looks lovely. This is just a suggestion but something we learnt through bitter experience. When you feed him place his bowl on a low stool, or a step or something, so that he is not bending right down to eat; labradors being (naturally) greedy dogs will gulp down their food as fast as they can and swallow air at the same time. Last year one of ours at only a year old got a twisted gut as a result and died in agony within 2 days; placing the food bowl higher can help to stop this problem. He looked very like your new boy, I hope you and your son have many happy years together and it looks as though your old boy approves of him too!

As far as I'm aware taxe fonciere is payable once you own the property as it's based more on the land and number of buildings than the state of the house, but taxe d'habitation is not paid if the place is uninhabitable, and that doesn't mean having sanitation and hot water on tap! More likely if it hasn't a roof and four walls.[:)]  

[quote user="sweet 17"] Hi, RR, how are you?  Funnily enough I have been thinking about you  since posting this thread as you are someone who has done it ( moved within France that is) and I wonder whether you are still pleased you moved? Of course, you didn't move far away and I am coming round to the idea that perhaps I, too, shouldn't move too far away. Yes, I have heard about Brive (by which I am presuming you mean Brive la Gaillarde)? I am truly looking forward to a move but I am also a little apprehensive because it seems a very big project at this time especially with market conditions the way they are. Do come back and tell me how it has worked out for you.........please?[:D] [/quote] Sweet 17 I have only just read this posting as I haven't been on the forum for a while, so my apologies for not replying sooner. We have been very pleased with our move (which happened nearly 18 months ago now) even though it means we are doing renovations all over again.[:-))] We have more beautiful views, a better garden area and enough land for our 2 donkeys who used to be in a borrowed field not attached to the house before - in fact since June this year we have 3 donkeys as my jenny had a foal [:D]. The best thing though is that the move left us mortgage free, which we were very grateful for when everything in the financial world went pear shaped last year.

  [quote user="Edward Trunk"]I've never worn any special clothing when using a chainsaw, and the grimpeur and elageur who took down several large trees for me didn't wear any either. Well more fool them is all that I can say. I'm sceptical about what kind of clothing would protect you from a chainsaw going full blast, The whole point of the kevlar is that it does stop the chain from ripping into your leg and I think it probable that you would be more likely to make an arror when padded, gloved, earmuffed and goggled. The gloves are padded to help absorb the vibration, the ear protectors do what they say - protect your hearing - and the shield attached to the helmet protects your eyes. When you are working all day with chainsaws you are glad of the help they all give. Of course chainsaw companies will sell you lots of "protective" clothing. But they don't make you buy them. You do that yourself if you have any sense. I am sure that in the UK the Health & Safety people will soon turn their attention to chainsaws, and you will be able to use them only having undergone a month's training and be accompanied by two paramedics. Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first drive mad.[/quote] Well, I'm sure you know best

[quote user="Edward Trunk"]What are "chainsaw trousers"? And "helmet, gloves, etc?" Are you a man or a mouse? Squeak up![/quote] Chainsaw trousers have a kevlar lining to help prevent accidents if the saw slips or bounces off the wood. The helmet has an eye shield and ear protectors, and the gloves are large gauntlet style Our son was a tree surgeon and told us some horror stories of mistakes that people had made when using chainsaws. Anyone who thinks they don't need to wear protective gear when using one of these leathal machines is an idiot, so I applaude the OP for his sensible attitude.

Have you tried Google? I found loads of inspiration when looking for songs for teaching in Ecole Primaire.

Araucaria wrote: "Our barn conversion is now just about done (meaning, there's still a lot to do, but only comparatively small jobs now - it IS habitable)." Don't be too hasty to comply! We were told by a French advocat that until the work was finished we need not complete any forms so keep some work in progress for as long as possible, and our (French) neighbours have been living in their house for about 4 years now, but it is still not 'finished' ....... I'll leave you to decide why not!

Have you ever been to Brive? A very attractive town with an excellent rugby team, national Foire des Livres every October, great popular and cultural events throughout the year, and nearby Aubazine also has a lot of classical music events. Next to the A.20/A89 so easy access to Limoges or Bordeaux. There is a very good hospital, railway station (TGV access) and Brive-Souillac airport opens next year with flights to UK. The shops are lovely and a market on Saturdays to die for!

Sweet Peas are readily available over here, so not too exclusively British. You can buy parsnip seeds here but most French people don't know them as I was told they are considered an 'ancient' veg that went out of fashion and are only just now returning. Runner beans sound a good idea but perhaps make sure he knows they will be climbers and need some space. (And don't forget to tell him how to cook them too!)

Suninfrance said it was a nut that was planted - the castor oil plant grows from a bean, I started three off this year.

I did that - booked our Citroen C5 in for the CT then asked the guy if he would be kind enough to align the headlights before doing the test. He did and got an bit extra for his trouble when I paid the fee.[:)]

I have been teaching English in primary schools in France, perhaps there will be some things that will help here: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/index.htm http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/color-by-numbers/ http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/  http://www.britishcouncil.org    

[8-)] Why has this suddenly appeared in the recent replies?

11,000 euros sounds a lot to me - is there something involved that is going to make it less than straightforward?