Bassman

First time I've tried it and I'm 6th with 8 correct so far ......I'm amazed [:-))]

[quote user="Grays"] Same situation for us, we are booked solid in high season, yet  Sept has not even had a week booking yet, and June is half full !! and the crazy thing is over half of those peak season bookings do not have children...or at least they haven't declared them to us !!........and therefore could be having cheaper / slightly quieter  holidays in June & Sept,   I don't understand the mentality that everyone has a holiday in July & August when prices are max, places are at their busiest and the sun is almost too hot and uncomfortable. Moan over! myself...I shall be looking forward to a nice break in June and Sept , and as you may guess.. these months are my favourite times of year for weather and avoiding the crowds. [/quote]   Have to agree with you there Grays[;-)] we don't have children and have always taken our holidays in May/June and Sept as it's cheaper, quieter, easier to book time off work, less crowded on the ferry and as you say the weather is less uncomfortable oh and the roads are quieter as well [;-)] As we now have our own place we have been over a week in May  then a week in June ,2 weeks in July(for a change) then a week in Sept[:D]

[quote user="Mikew"]Just been to the garage and switched on the lights on my French Picasso. There is a definite bias to the nearside, with a kickup to the light pattern. There is no definite mark on the plastic headlamps, other than a dot, to indicate where any deflector should go. When we drove to UK I just lowered the beams until I did not dazzle oncoming traffic. I keep a small roll of white tape in the car in case of need as well. When I owned an English Piccy the dealer could not supply deflectors, just gave me a couple of half scale headlamp outlines purporting to show where to mask the beam, not much use! Mike [/quote]   I have the same problem with my UK 2004 Scenic.... where to put the converters [8-)]  it's guesswork TBH [:(]

Done that many times over the years so I hope it's OK [:)]  We have come across some that have hook up points for motor homes so I can't imagine it's a problem[;-)]

[quote user="Harley"][quote user="catalpa"] You're lucky it wasn't simply deleted, Harley - it's rare to see a locked thread 'over there'. [/quote] Now I'm really proud.....................[:-))] [/quote]   I got my first ever post there deleted and got banned for it [:-))]  I'm chuffed to little mint balls [:D]

Ours does it as well, we sometimes hear it dripping [;-)]

[quote user="Christine Animal"] Could it be something to do with horse harness, for a carriage or cart, where a rein or some sort of strap passed through the loop, hence the chaffing?   [/quote]   That's what it looks like to me as well [;-)]

I just wonder how many who voted have ever been to France [;-)] My wife's boss is always having a go about the French but the only place he has been is Cannes for the film festival[:-))]

I have a couple of dodgy discs and am currently driving a 2004 Scenic which I don't find very comfortable after about 100miles[:(] and a '97 Ford Probe which I can drive all day without a twinge, it's lowered 30mm and on 40 profile tyres with uprated suspension (i.e. stiff) but it is still OK on French back roads, My next car is a Jag XK8/R in a couple of months (replacing the Scenic) another low sports car......OK I'm a masochist [:-))]

Thank you folks[:$] We got the house last June and have managed to redecorate all the inside and fit new kitchen  and bathroom etc using just holidays and weekends, lay carpets and laminate flooring upstairs, new lighting etc.It's been hard work but very much worth it, once we start on something we just like to get it done, some days we were working till 10.30pm and for two days after laying the laminate in one room I could barely move [:-))] . Just got 3,000sqm of garden to sort out now LOL   I can't take credit for the pictures.. they are done by my wife Patti it's one of her hobbies, the snow ones are stunning aren't they [;-)] a friend of mine on a car forum saw them and is having one of them blown up and an HQ print done so they can frame it [:D]

[quote user="Christine Animal"] Paul, what a beautiful job, you don't mean you've done that all yourself have you?  It was well worth taking that other bath out after all. Sorry you're leaving us Steve, but we'll have less Teddies to save.  A bientôt...   [/quote]   Thank you Christine [:$] Yes all our own work took out the old bath, basin and bidet, capped the bidet pipes off and fitted new bath and basin, painted , new cabinet with lights and shaver socket, medicine cabinet, new 3-way heater towel warmer, tiled splashbacks and skirting and new ceiling light. The same week we re-decorated the games room  put up shelves etc we even had a couple of days off and went out to the coast  for lunch LOL Oh yeah and cut the grass, planted some roses............. we need a holiday LOLOLOL[:D] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/Bassman/Kerblezic/may2006086a.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/Bassman/Kerblezic/may2006088a.jpg[/IMG]   http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v69/Bassman/Kerblezic/?start=0   ..........

[quote user="aliards"] Bassman, If you haven't got the forms & details for transfering ICB etc. give me a shout & I'll let  try to help with anything else I can. Ali. [/quote]   Cheers Ali , It won't be for a few years yet  [:'(] not until Patti can retire.... unless we win the lottery (bit tricky as we don't do it [:-))])

[quote user="painterman"] I believe there is also something called 'minitel' but I'm not sure what this is. Good Luck.  [/quote]   Explanation of minitel here>>>>   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3012769.stm

[quote user="Christine Animal"] ... , got any French plumbing ones?   [/quote]   I have some of plumbing ...well a bathroom [:-))]   BEFORE   [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/Bassman/Kerblezic/may2006022a.jpg[/IMG]     AFTER   [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v69/Bassman/Kerblezic/may2006090a.jpg[/IMG]   That's what we spent the week before last doing [;-)]

[quote user="aliards"] Sorry for not trying to reply to this query sooner - but I'm not 100% sure if this is right.  I'm hoping it is - but if not, I'm hoping that someone will reply & let us both know!! We recently had a discussion with advisors (Siddals) about our situation moving abroad.  My husband and I are both receiving medical retirement pensions from the Civil Service;  receive incapacity benefit; and would hope to receive some income from savings invested.  I have to admit that the information was coming to us thick and fast so I hope we picked this up correctly.  In our circumstances the Incapacity Benefit we receive (tax free) will use up our tax free allowance under the French system.  Our Civil Service pensions,  like all government pensions, will be taxed by the UK revenue at the standard rate (it may be that the rate would have been more favourable under the French tax bands?).  Due to the Double Taxation Treaty no further taxes will be due on the Civil Service pensions under the French system.  Any further income from investments however will be taxed under the French system probably within the 5.5% and 14% tax bands. In your circumstances, if your pension is required to be taxed in the UK,  this is likely to continue and the Double Tax Treaty applies. As for transfering funds - we have found that currency conversion through the banks is very expensive (exchange rates are derisory).  Foreign currency exchange brokers deal in very large volume and therefore can afford to work on very small margins hence their rates are very close to the standard exchange rates.  Not only can you transfer lump sums but you can arrange to have regular payments converted and transferred.  We also understand that you can 'buy ahead' even on regular income to take advantage of favourable exchange rates (or hedge against unfavourable rates).  One thing you (and we) would need to check is the possiblity of any charges from the receiving bank. Hope this helps and apologies if any of the information is incorrect.  We were very happy with the service provided by the advisors who to their credit didn't try to sell us any unsuitable products.      [/quote]   Very useful thanks Ali [:)] as I am in exactly the same position receiving medical retirement pension from the Civil Service and  receive incapacity benefit and was wondering about that when we eventually move over full time [;-)]

It's probably an automated dialing system, we get this a lot, those irritating calls asking if you want double glazing, you have won a prize,want your walls sealed??? etc.etc they have a system that dials lots of numbers at once and the first one picked up they speak to.... the rest?....well left hanging [:@] they don't care that they are bothering you 10 times a day for no reason do they[:@] and the numbers withheld because they don't want you phoning back and bothering them now do they [;-)]

As a social outcast....oops sorry smoker [:-))]  I personally would not book a gite that was advertised as non-smoking, so you will lose a certain number of bookings that way, but I would imagine non-smokers outweigh smokers these days.... unless we are being fed a load of bull by ASH [;-)] When we were house hunting one B&B we stayed at was non-smoking and it was a pain having to go outside to smoke(it was freezing) the next one allowed smoking in the bedrooms but not in the breakfast room[:)]

There was a car forum I was on for three years and I racked up 10,000 posts [:-))] it's easy , mind you a guy that came on 18 months after me is up to about 12,000 ...but he posts a load of old cobblers just to get his posts up [;-)][:D]

[quote user="zeb"]I'll go a step further than retread and say - you must get a professional in!! We did one opening for an internal door in a metre thick stone wall 3 years ago and it was so scary. We carefully made holes right through above where the lintel was going to stick the suppport joists through then propped them with accros back and front - one at a time, three holes, 6 accros. Then took stones out where lintel was going - err 3 reinforced concrete lintels were needed for a metre wide stone wall. Fitted lintel and cemented in both sides. When set and strong we removed all the stones under the lintel for the doorway. At this stage I was wearing motorbike crash helmet, just in case....... The accros were left in until the door with frame was fitted. Then sides were shuttered/made good and all plasterboarded (as our stonework in that room was crap). All very, very scary as there seemed to be lots of creeking and groaning but OH reckoned I was imagining that. Even he was a bit unnerved by it though so...... .......Got a guy in to do all the other openings - he did them all in less than 2 weeks - 3 veluxes, two normal sized bedroom windows, a port-fenetre, and a service door into the barn and charged 1000 euros!! Think it probably costs more now. Anyway, it was fascinating watching an expert - he took so much care. Mind you, we had absolutely tonnes of rubble to get rid of which seemed out of all proportion to the size of the openings. Please get an artisan in, or experienced help - folks have been killed doing this sort of thing.[/quote]     What retread and  zeb said [;-)] this bears no relation to knocking a hole in a brick wall, my father was a master builder and I grew up around building sites, I do pretty much all my own work but I wouldn't attempt this in any way shape or form [:-))]  Good luck if you decide to go ahead mate [;-)]please be very, very careful !

Well I'm certainly no expert but if the seller took more than seven days from signing the compromis to change their mind and are now no longer selling to you , you get back your deposit plus the same amount from the seller [:(]

Ah the wonderful world of eBay [:-))]   I once bought  a bass speaker cabinet 2ndhand from a local music shop for £120 after useing it for a year I bought some better(read expensive) new ones so I bunged the old one on eBay starting at £50 (fair I thought) well it went past £50 and £90 and £100 and £120 ......             It sold for £201 !!!!!! and the buyer was chuffed [8-)]         But not as chuffed as I was [;-)]LOL

Here it is[;-)]   http://www.ebay.fr/   

Hi Gyn_Paul found this on a Google   http://www.refina.co.uk/pdf_spray_Sept05/p78_mortarguns.pdf   http://www.refina.co.uk/spray.php This????   http://www.quikpoint.com/ 

I read Labyrinth a couple of months ago- really enjoyed it, could almost be called a French interest book as well[:D] Have read just about everything Stephen King has written but could never get on with the Dark Tower ones[:(] Just about to read the new Nick Hornby one and May Contain Nuts by John O'Farrell was brilliant another recent read as was Atlantis (can't remember the author at the mo' [:$] Managed to get MOH into reading Dean R Koontz books after years of trying she now likes them as well [:)]

I remember doing this a few years ago and I seem to remember coming out as a benevolent autocrat as well [:)]   My experience of recent years seems to indicate there are 2 management training schools out there.. one is run by Frank Spencer [:-))]   the other by Attila The Hun  [:'(]