Salty Sam

Brian, Forget going with an English company. It is likely to cost you a lot more and you won't get the same level of cover. I can recommend Bruno Sellier for all your insurance needs, AND they speak English! http://sellier-insurance.com/

With 25 years involvement in security matters in one form or another, I feel I must offer comment. The current security threat is in place for a reason. It is nothing to do with the government gaining brownie points, it's down to intelligence gathering of the security services - in place to safeguard our future, and yes - that includes you Judith! Some of the comments I've seen and heard today make me want to throttle some people. For example from a young mother at Manchester Airport, "The kids can't have their Playstation! What are they supposed to do during the flight?" A disgruntled passenger at Glasgow Airport, " How can my bottle of water and mobile phone be a security threat?" IED's or Improvised Explosive Devices, come in all shapes and sizes and guises. The current situation suggests a liquid fuelled device with a secondary substance acting as the catalyst. Security devices in place at airports 'sniff' for explosives or parts thereof. If they were programmed to be able to sniff for everything and anything that could be used in a device, we would never get beyond the check in and girls, you would have to forsake dousing yourself in that expensive perfume! Electrical items including key fobs, phones, toys, etc could be the trigger to detonate a device or could be used as the detonation device itself. I don't propose going into further detail but the one good thing that should come out of today is the fact everyone is made fully aware of the possibility of a terrorist strike and to be prepared andexpect the hassles of transport delays and extra security checks be they at airports, ferry ports or other transport terminals.

"Ron Avery" wrote:- If you had checked the whole of the DVLA site Sam you would find that it is only an offence not to notify the DVLA of a change of address if that change is in the UK. All it says which is quite straightforward as far as France is concerned is:"Moving to another country If you move to another country, you should check with the driving licence authorities tere for information about driving and exchange of licences". The rules in France are: You can continue to use your UK license with old UK address. It is NOT necessary to change it for a French License unless instructed to by the French Police. Ron, The DVLA may state this but in reality the police may show some additional interest in the event of getting a pull within the UK. The system is subject to abuse and is likely to be changed within the next few years. Secondly, there are benefits in exchanging a current UK licence for the French equivalent. A French licence is for life! Finally, as far as I am aware the police can only insist on an exchange to a French licence if under certain circumstances, there has been certain violations or the holder has a non-EU licence. The issue of driving licences is outside the scope of the police and I know of one instance where the holder of a UK licence was given an official letter to produce to the Police informing them they were wrong and a French licence exchange was not called for.

Ah but!!! It is also an offence NOT to provide the DVLA with a change of address, and just to add more confusion - it must be a UK address. There may seem little point in the need for a notification of address if moving permanantly to France, and if this is the case I would suggest exchanging your licence for a French one. If not a permanant move, in the event you return to the UK and get a routine vehicle check from the Police, they will expect the relevant details to be accurate as per the legal requirements.

Leptospirosis or Weil's Disease is transmitted in the main by contaminated urine entering a break in the skin. It poses a risk to anyone likely to come into contact where rats have urinated, from dog walkers to anglers to fresh water sailors. The risk is as great in the UK as it is in France.

If you want a good example of how much Orange is bothered about spam, get an Orange mobile phone and take up their offer of a free email account. Within 24 hours your inbox will be filled with crap and very conveniently, if you download this effluent via your mobile phone - you pay Orange for the honour of doing so!

Wait until the fruit turns from green to brown and when the fruit is hanging from its stalk, gently twist the fruit. If it's ready for cropping it'll come away quite easily. If not - it'll stay put! Hope this helps.

No amount of insulation will stop the inside of a vehicle becoming an oven. The only good option as adopted in several countries, is a roof mounted air conditioning unit.

Alcazar I don't want to sound a killjoy but the removal of ANYTHING from battlefield sites is not only an offence, but can also be extremely dangerous.

.NET is where the future lies - or so my brother-in-law tells me!  BUPA, British Airways, NatWest, the list is endless. However, there is a shortage of .Net authors and the good ones command high fees.

Loire, You're going to need to be quick. I think the offer you refer to expires 05/07/06. It includes the Livebox rent free for 12 months (normally 3euro p/m), 1mb ADSL connection, free line update, and the virtually cost free calls via a telephone connected to the Livebox. You will still need to pay your line rental in addition to Orange's charges. Go to: http://www.orange.fr/bin/frame.cgi?u=http%3A//abonnez-vous.orange.fr/residentiel/hd/Internet1MegaMax.aspx On the right of the window enter your telephone number and Department number, click OK and Orange perform a line test and open a new page with the options available. The TV add-on, assuming the service is available, requires an additional modem which is purchased from Orange. Channel choice is a bit like Sky - you get the basics for nowt, and pay extra for what takes your fancy! Hope this is helpful.

[quote user="Loiseau"] Thiepval Memorial, N of Albert (French and Commonwealth cemeteries, and thousands of names of the missing ont he pillars of the massive memorial which is visible above the trees for miles around; also excellent new visitor centre about British involvement in Battle of the Somme) [/quote] Anyone contemplating a visit to the new visitor centre should be aware there has been a spate of vehicle break-ins, especially targetted are Brit registered cars. If using the car park, avoid parking near the embankments.

I've recently assisted a colleague of mine who was experiencing similar problems. 1. Are you running 2 Firewalls? If so, get rid of one of them. 2. Are you running any McAfee software? Despite what some say, McAfee can cause more problems with regard to accessing sites especially those that are password controlled. 3. Do a search for "Cookies". Open the folders and delete all cookies appertaining to Wanadoo or Orange. Reboot and go to the Orange site and see if you can now enter your details in order to get access to your account. Hope this helps.

Keep it Simple! [;-)] Have you tried  the "Restore" feature?

If you can manage a reply without the insults and sterotypes, i will happily explain my level of training, I await with baited breath! the stupid accidents (2) i had that were definately my fault (No other car or pedestrian involved and both within the speed limit).  Ahh, skill level and experience - or lack of?  You finish off with the statement 'Morons' and yet your very mentality in the response you have made is not only adolescent, moronic as well.  IAM course takers, 4X4 Drivers, Saxo Boy Racers, I do of course refer to those whose arrogance and ignorance of the Road Traffic Act befits the term. god mate, if your intelligent theres no hope for England or France. Firstly, I'm not your mate! Secondly, what has football to do with it? Why not chuck in a few stereotypes about women and blacks, may as well go for the full house. Strangely enough, women make safer drivers than the male of the species. Now Mr Chief, back to providing us all with details of your wide level of training. But please don't rush as I must go out shortly in order to assess some professional "Blue Light" drivers. Oh dear, I've just noted that you have chosen not to offer further comment. How sad[:(]

I have Orange internet and mobile both in the UK and France. If using a mobile, Orange offer you the free option of having an email account which can be accessed both from your mobile or via the web. Don't bother is my advice. You will get bombarded by very suspicious emails offering complete and utter c**p. All they want is for you to reply, ideally from your PC, and you then open the flood gates for all sorts of scams and phishing. As a rule, anything to do with your account with regard to method of payment, will come by letter. The exception to this is when you access your account to make any changes on the Orange web site. With regard to Deimos's entry reference security. Orange in the UK have been tasked to try and sort out a problem with regard to me not being able to access my on-line account. Their security is so tight, even Orange technicians cannot after 6 months grant me access. It is a problem they are aware of but hopefully will have sorted within the very near future. Finally, don't forget that any on-line dealings with regard to payments, accounts, etc, should be secure. If the little padlock isn't showing - don't give out any details you might regret later.  Hope this helps.

[quote user="chief"]  A couple or so crashes, some my fault as a younger man, some not. Experiecned drivers, who think they are good drivers, can get away with breaking the law & speeding, are only deluding themselves.  Unfortunately it's the other road users, misfortunate enough to meet them, who have to pay the price.  I speed all the time and no one has met me yet.  I am not the worlds best driver, but have advanced training, sound judgement about where i speed, and a healthy respect for the people who also use the road chief [/quote] It appears you are somewhat deluded! If ever there was a conflict of statements! You say you have advanced training, I take this to mean you have Police Level One training including Pursuit & T - Pack? Or are you yet another one who has attended a IAM course and mistakingly thought that by attending, you were given some exemption from the Road Traffic Act? You probably think the legislation appertaining to the use of mobile phones while driving also doesn't apply to you! You admit to not being the world's best driver, you speed all the time and yet you appear to think you have sound judgement and healthy respect for other road users. By the time you get round to meeting someone, it is highly unlikely you will know much about the event! What is this moronic culture that thinks they are expert drivers and have the skills to react at speed. From the boy-racer in his Saxo with go faster furry dice, through to the £60,000 4 x 4 arrogant "Get out of my way the road is mine" attitude. Are we now seeing a new generation of ex-pats who when asked why they are moving to France, their answer is "Because I can break the French road traffic laws with little chance of getting caught - although I might die or kill someone in the process, what will be will be". Morons[:@][:@][:@]  

 I think the general concensus being that it is less expensive in France than in the UK. My UK dealer is quoting £250.00 just for the cam belt change! Thank you all very much for your valued comments.

Could anyone provide me with an idea of the price difference between having a Renault Scenic serviced in France as against taking it to an incompetent Renault dealer in the UK? It's also due for a timing belt change and I nearly collapsed when my UK dealer informed me of the price. Many thanks

[quote user="mark24"] I speed When I feel its right to and have done for some 23 years And almost all the time I go out on the bike I exceed 221kmh But that is my choice to brake the law and  I enjoy it But I am one of THEM that decide for them self’s that its ok to   And have never had any points on my license   (just my 2 centimes worth)  [/quote]   And your "2 centimes worth" is most probably all you consider a life to be worth. Come to think of it, the most probable reason why you have no points on your licence is because you don't have one!   While you're demonstrating your obvious superiour knowledge of illegal high speed driving, spare a thought for the elderley motorist in her 2cv who pulls out from a side road into your path. You plough straight into the side of the vehicle, and most likely fatally injure the driver and anyone else in the vehicle. You of course will die - but then you won't give a damn how many others you take out with you! Or how about your 221kmh and a deer jumps out in front of you - but of course, you are one of THEM, and I bet you can walk on water as well! Please inform me where you obtained your skills, and over what period? A close colleague of mine, riding a high powered machine within the requirements of the law, received fatal injuries after collided with an earth moving truck. He was a traffic police officer, and police driving instructor on motorbikes as well as cars, and qualified to a degree far higher than what you are ever likely to achieve.    Your type are a cancer on society with little disregard for the law, or for the safety of other road users.  One day, your cocky arrogance will be your downfall, and the sooner the better![:@][:@]