Jo

Available in the garden centre in l'isle jourdain 86, can't remember the name but did note the fact that they were the first ones I had seen advertised as 'sans pepin'.

Forgot to mention the 2 visits and all the work, cost us 55 euros which,  as there hadn't been a live line here for at least 6 years, I thought very reasonable.[:)]

France telecom were absolutely brilliant when we moved out and needed a landline and internet access, there had been a landline here in the past so I rang France Telecom to have it re-activated. No problem they turned up 3 days later to connect us[:D] The technician tried but thought there was a problem further down the line, he'd done all the work in the house but couldn't dial through, said he'd have a word with head office and we would have a line in the next 4 days[:(] At 9 am the next morning a gentleman from France Telecom turned up on the doorstop and explained in excellent English the problem: my English neighbours who had bought their property two years after us, but had moved out the year before us, had "borrowed" our line rather than go to the expense of having a new line fitted[:-))][:-))] Once they realised the problem they had it sorted and within 3 hours we had a phone line and internet[:D] We were well impressed!

Thanks very much for the advice, will try the acid taking good note of the safety precautions[geek] Used to be the health and safety rep where I worked last so at least I have a bit of training around hazardous substances! Presumably any of the regular sealers will do to protect it afterwards?

I have a tiled kitchen floor, "old stone tile effect" from Bricolage, it has been laid for about 4 years, and we finally moved out permanently over a year ago bringing 2 dogs and 2 cats. It was fine to start with, but with the increased traffic and dog drool[+o(] it has started to get stained in places. A normal Flash type product cleans the overall dirt but not the stains, and everything else I've tried, including my trusted Bar Keepers Friend[:(]has no effect. I'm now beginning to wonder if the tiles were ever sealed[I] What could I use to 'strip' the floor back? I have a bottle of Acide Chlorhydrique but didn't want to try it until I'd asked for advice[geek] Don't want to make it any worse!!

[quote user="HoneySuckleDreams"] I'm sorry, but I can't get my head around this. Does this happen in other countries? It just strikes me as being, well... wrong [/quote] I know it happens in Hong Kong as well, but that's usually around giving the dead person spiritual freedom, as any betrothed person wouldn't have peace until the wedding had been performed.

You are SO not getting that back[:D][:D][:D]

Would definitely not be able to use the Advantix on our dogs then, as one cat in particular gets very up close and personal with the dogs[:$] prefering to sleep on top of them than on a chair[:-))] so it looks like advantage for both the cats and dogs with an additional tick treatment for them all.

Despite using Frontline regularly on our cats and dogs the largest dog still gets fleas[+o(] We have made sure we are giving the right dose for her weight[geek] but she still has them, the house is treated on a regular basis but the little perishers are still on her, but only her[blink]We are going to change to the Advantage/Advantix to see if that makes a difference, but does it treat ticks as well? The only reference I can see on the 'blurb' refers to fleas.

[quote user="Bellac87"]pull the unit out note the serial number on it, if it starts with M followed by 6 numbers send it (the serial number!) to me and I'll check the code using the same software used by sites that offer a paid service   Mike [/quote] Many thanks Mike, the code worked[:D][:D] I now have no excuse not to listen to my french lesson cds[:(]

My OH has a couple of leather jackets and in the UK I used to buy leather 'wipes' to keep them supple, any idea what they are called here and where I can get them? Have looked along the cleaning aisles and can't find them.

Also have heard of a group called specs4less.co.uk ( or .com-can't remember! ) prescription lenses and frame for £35!!

Got the impression that rather than testing yourself before driving, it is for when the Gendarmes stop you they will use your breathalyser first, therefore saving the cost of sterilizing theirs should your test prove negative[blink] After a positive result on yours, they will then use their own, more accurate ( hopefully!![:D] ), one in the event of needing a prosecution.

My ceanothus is partly sheltered by a wall, some parts are distinctly crispy, but I'm leaving it until I can see how much has survived. My Lavetera has really suffered, but when I cut back into that the stems are still green inside despite everything else being black so I have pruned that and will wait and see. Just out of interest I have stuck some of the prunings into the veg patch to see if they take[:)]

Our rainwater from the roof goes directly to the well, anything else into ditches, none whatsoever into the Fosse septique.

[quote user="Pickles"] Yes. They need to be marked "NF" and there is a specific standard referred to in the French law. According Halfords, theirs (retailing at £4.99 for a pack of 2) are NF marked. [/quote][:-))] Intermarche super at Savinge has them for sale with the motoring supplies, "NF" marked and 1 euro each[geek]

Even worse are the secure codes you have to use with certain credit cards, I always forget it[:$] it's more than I can do to remember the password I use[:-))] so I have to log in each time and create a new one, fine, but it won't let you use one you had before[blink][blink] I'm fast running out of various aunts maiden names[:-))][:-))]

[quote user="Sprogster"]Where can you buy them in France, as my search has been fruitless so far![/quote] At the motoring aisle of Leclerc at St Junien they have them on the aisle end at 1 euro a go.

We've had the same problem, with temperatures down to -17 and a lot of newly planted trees and shrubs, I'm almost dreading spring[:(] It looks like I have lost my Hebe Veronica, my Lavetera looks really poorly as does the Honeysuckle. Last year I planted a Potato vine, it grew beautifully and draped itself across half the veranda, now it's leaves have all withered and gone dark but none of them have fallen[blink] I was thinking about pruning back as the stems are still green inside, but is it possible that it could shoot from the dead leaved areas? I would love it if it could make it to the other side of the veranda this year[:-))].

Ditto Chancer, I'm of the.... if it's not broken don't fix it, mentality[:-))] why would I swap it for one I have to renew every 10 years if it's still valid[blink] and no, Idun, I wouldn't be able to swap it with a foreign address, but would have found some way to if it wasn't valid. Though I suppose you could argue it's not legal with an out of date address....[8-)]

While discussing licences, I happened to mention that I still hold the old paper licence. I was told that they are no longer valid[:-))] and should exchange it for a photo card one ASAP. I have been on the DVLA website[geek] and while they explain how to change to a photo card they don't say you have to, just list the advantages. Surely they would have informed holders of the old style ones if they were no longer valid?

Thanks Mike, [:)]I will leave changing it until this cold snap has finished as we can't get out anyway[:-))]

[I]Many thanks for that Big Mac.

[quote user="Racerbear02"]IF the original battery is not totally dead, [/quote] It is SO dead we've had the funeral[blink]......Good idea ClarkKent but the original sale documentation was on the back of an envelope[:-))] private sale!

Many thanks Charlie, the gentleman who used to help me out with the system and knew it quite well, a retired heating engineer, is no longer with us,[:(] he said it was a 'closed' system and told me how to top it up,[geek] it was also he who told me he thought the pressure gauge needed replacing. Now we are out here permanently I have asked a plumber to come along in the summer, drain and clean it and replace the gauge so I should have a better idea then[blink] It was just with this very cold weather I wanted to try and get things working as well as poss!!