Babbles

Glad you like it Sweets, maybe you have to be a Northerner to love it, but it has to have sultanas in it, hardly ever eat it when I'm in the UK but really fancy a piece now with a nice cup of tea! It is different to cottage cheese (see link to another post), but I don't really know why or how

I've got a recipe for Yorkshire curd tart but have no idea what to look or ask for for curds, anyone any idea?

When we got our current mortgage with BNP Paribas, it was very straight forward and all done in English, the only thing they ask for that might take the IVA into question was a copy of your Experian credit rating, you can only borrow repayments of up to the equivalent of the 30% of your monthly income this has to include any mortgage or credit card debits or loans you have in the UK, i.e. if you earn 2000 Euros a month your repayments have to be less than 600 Euros.

that is just the saddest thing, my heart goes out to you

They seem to keeping Liverpool open , its the Carcassonne end of things thats the concern, hopefully the worst case scenario will be a diversion to Perpignan, only trouble is the cars at Carcassonne :-) but all the other times I've been diverted we've been bused, so fingers crossed . We're near Pezenas so I'm hoping that it will be snow free and the heating hasn't tripped out, its going to operation toasty getting the chambre d'hote ready for guests as I think they'll be spending lots of time round the house if the weathers pants !!

I see that Carcassonne airport is shut due to snow, I am meant to be traveling next wednesday, what are your thoughts on the likelihood of it happening? I have to get back as guests are booked in and as Liverpool Carcassonne is the only flight from the north to south/ south west of France I'm a bit stuck for ideas

You can always look for parts on ebay, I've bought various bits and bobs that are often hard to track down, as said new sewing machines are very cheap but probably a bit plasticky compared to the Bernina but chances are it would have more features.

Photoshop? her coats reflected in the glass [:)]

Oh well, that put pays for any sale shopping!!! oh and New Years resolution no 2 to spend less, ooooh not even made to the end of day 1[;-)]

Hi Anton It didn't happen after a thunder storm just after there had been a power cut in our street, so not actually sure if it was a power surge but I assumed something must have happened after the leccy came back on. Sue, unfortunatly I'm in the UK and the freezer is with the kitchen fitter in France so I can't get the serial numbers that I need, I called Leibherr uk who said that differnet things are cover by the warrenty in different countries, Leibherr do give the 2 year all singing version in the UK but I couldn't find out if that was the same in France, my french isn't up to calling leibherr but did you see it on the french website that it would be covered? Thanks in advance Abi

We keep the house at least 12 degrees even when we're not there so I don't think it would be that and Liebherr have said it needs a new compressor and re gas it but no mention of the digital display bit (but what do I know :-) ) I have had another email off the kitchen fitter turns out that the parts are covered but not the labour, still seems a bit steep to me but it looks we're between a rock and a hard place with it and it would cost over 600E to replace it so we'll just have to get it done. Could someone explain what we need to do to the consumer unit and roughly what it would cost to get done by an electrician and just what I'd need to ask for to sort out the surge protection bit, many thanks. I to was brought up in Preston, went to Fulwood high, I don't spend much time in the Ribble Valley now but it is very pretty, right now am a bit fed up with all the snow and ice and am climbing the walls a bit!!!!!

Hi Anton, it seems I'm not alone, but was your washer covered by the warranty? Is there something that you can add to the main consumer unit to deal with power surges or do you have to find something for each appliance? I try to remember to unplug everything when I go away for any significant amount of time but in this case I'd only been out for an hour and frankly its not very practical!

Possible further developments from a pessamistic outlook , if it has failed due to a power surge it wouldn't be covered by the warrenty? surely that can't be correct, anyone had anyexpereience of anything similar with electrical goods?

We bought a non intergrated Liebherr stainless steel freezer at hugh expense in April through our kitchen fitter, it now doesn't work 8 months later, called the kitchen fitter told him whats wrong, asked him to take it away (which he did)to get it fixed ( I said and assumed under warrenty) he's now emailled me saying that it will cost 191E to get it fixed, surely this can't be normal for such a new freezer? I don't know where he bought it from but we don't have an invoice from the supplier only the kitchen fitter, My french isn't great and I struggle to undersatnd himas he waffles quite a bit. I now don't know what to say to him as I have already asked for it to be fixed under warrenty but he doesn't seem to have grasped that idea. Is there someone out there who could explain it in french and I can send him an email, thanks in advance

I was told Intermarche has its own fishing fleet, so their fish is normally good and fresh as it doesn't have to go via a market and distibutor, but they don't have deliveries everyday and I'd still avoid Mondays

It's a winter wonderland in the Ribble Valley, but not much fun stood outside doing Christmas flowers and wreaths, bbbrrrrrrrh

Thanks Q, I'll have a proper look after Christamas as things are crazy here at the shop doing flowers and wreaths for Christmas !

Hi Sorry for the delay in answering, I was travelling back to the UK. After a long talk with Mr Babbles we think it would be a bit unfair on our old Airedale Toby to not only make him move to another country but to have to get to know and live with another dog, it would be too much for him in his old age and he's not good with change. She looks delightful and I'm sure there will be on this forum somebody who can help out, good luck,

Hi How is she with other dogs ? we have an old Airedale who is old and but grumpy and a 7 year old Jack Russell who will be moving to france in the spring and it would be essential that she'd fit in. Great if you post a photo.

Is the Manchester Avignon a direct flight? I could only find it with a change in Southampton, but I dodn't check many dates, so would probably be better using Liverpool Nimes, on Ryanair

It looks good but is only for PC, do you know of any that are good for Mac ?

thats dogs for you !

Our old house in in Northen Gers cost 17,000E to put the fosse in, it was a difficult site, steep slope on very heavy clay so although the actual fosse didn't cost that much the size of the gravel beds need was enormous and expensive. It was a 4 bedroom house and needed a totally new system.

Devon, I think thats the truth of it, but I wonder how the election will affect it

For design and price I'd say Castorama (also owned by B&Q) and you can order on line so it could arrive when you do. Mr Bricolage also has good design and marginally better quality but lead times, can be long ( 13 weeks for 4 sinks) Lepeyre are also online slightly more expensive again probably better quality but we were happy with Castorma and Mr Bricolage. Porcelaosa is also available in France if you want to push the boat out a bit more. If you had more time I'd suggest find your nearest independent plumbing suppliers but lead times can be long and you probably have to order from catalogues but you'd get the best choice.