PaulT

Down here in the Haute Garonne every July and August there are a series of events called 31 Notes d'Ete during which the department put on a series of free events - billed to commence at 21:00........but never do. At the start the Maire will drone on and on and then normally someone from the department will drone on and on with the audience silent so perhaps 31 is different to elsewhere or the audience has given up the will to live.

Obviously the CT is a French test but I do know that with the UK MOT if the spare is present it is part of the test if it is not then it is not - or at least it was 40 years ago

Would not have thought that having a bottle of gloop would be part of the test - it will only repair certain punctures, others it will not.

Came across to France via the Shuttle yesterday (Saturday). Glanced at the Travelex kiosk and they were selling Euros at virtual parity - it was something like 1.0006, certainly for all intents and purposes it was parity.

11.5 years on the same tyres! The recommendation, due to degradation, is to change tyres at 6 years old.

Have used Allopneus and was very happy with their service and also the fitting agent, who was superb in ensuring that the wheels were perfectly balanced. There again, Allopneus merely supplies the tyres and providing they arrive on time the important part of the chain is the fitting centre chosen.

Three years + ago I brought over a load of Wickes own brand masonry paint and external wood paint (for the shutters) and all still looks as though it has just been painted.

All the French employed in one way or another with agriculture will vote pro EU for all those lovely subsidies they get.

Anyone owned an older Rover 2000, 2200 or 3500? They have aluminium bonnets and boots and they corrode nicely under the paint. Remade all our shutters in summer from wood. Painted them with Valspar paint from B&Q - very very nice to apply.

Totally agree with Chancer. In the domestic environment like try to power your kitchen kettle using bell wire.

I dare say that taxi driver is now saying to all his passengers: 'You'll never guess who I had in the back of my taxi the other day, none other than WB' :)

Remember that different channels come from different satellites and they are not all at 19.2 degrees so the dish is not pointing 100% in the direction of some of the satellites.

Many thanks for the replies and useful info. The plan is not to sell now just so that we have an idea of what its value might be so that we can formulate plans for the future. Do realise that sometimes a lot of time is needed to find a buyer.

Lindal1000 wrote: 'In fairness all they have said is that they are considering a visa system between the EU and non Schengen countries as a way of improving the security of their borders and in response to the current refugee crisis.' Got it - so instead of the refugees entering illegally they apply for a visa, get turned down and do not come. Problem solved, so simple. :)

Starting to think about future plans and how the French house fits in and, obviously, a good idea of its worth would be useful so that we can make informed decisions. Will a French immo do this and would there be a charge? A some point we will want to sell it and will then more than likely sellvia an immo.

So they will just move further down the road to where the wall ends to cause disruption. Do not see why the UK cannot send them back to France telling them that they needed to apply for asylum in the first safe country that they came to, not in the one where they will get most dosh.

I think it was Mints dog and our dog that was in the restaurant for the meal on Cooperlolas tour - no trouble at all. Our current dog would be though - a rescue dog that had been used as a bait dog in dog fighting. Far better now than he was but damaged by humans. And yes, some children are well behaved whilst for others abortion is not too late for them - unfortunately, adults lacking in bringing up their children.

I am always horrified by some of the people on the TV relocation programmes who are going to run a Gite business and make their fortune or even some who do not know how they will live.

Yes, Coops certainly was an inspiration, coping with what had been dealt to her with good humour and it was a privilege to meet her on her Itchy Feet Tour.

Fitted reversing sensors to a friends Dustbin....how do they make them for the money? Simple lack of engineering, extremely basic. He had to take it back after about 8 months because the paint on the edges of the panels was rusting. The dealer told him that they were repainting lots.

So in petition 1 it expects those paying tax in the UK to pay for the healthcare of those who do not pay UK tax. The French living in the UK will be paying UK tax so entitled to UK healthcare. Seems like the train fare dodger being caught and those that have paid for a ticket having to then pay for the dodger. To the argument 'if we living in France were to live in the UK then we would be entitled to UK healthcare' - completely true but you would also be paying UK tax. If France pays for the healthcare of the French living in the UK then fair enough - it has to be reciprocal to be fair.

When we drew up our French Wills with a Notaire we wanted to leave money to a couple of animal charities. The notaire thought that one of them was not allowed to accept money bequethed to them which he checked and that was the case. What would happen if there was only a UK Will levaing money to this charity?

So the rich western countries, i.e. UK, France, Germany and Italy who have high debt to GDP are pouring money into the eastern block countries with low debt to GDP - my brain hurts.

Not my experience of French Wills being expensive. In the UK my and my OH mirror wills cost £180 and our French Mirror Wills cost 90 euros.

As LBF this viaduct is a very tall one. Looking at a map there is a way to avoid actually travelling across it. You can come off of the A16 go through Boulogne and then back on to the A16 but close your eyes think you will still see the viaduct. The other option is off at J30? St Omer, inland a bit and then down to rejoin the A16 which will be quite a distance but you should avoid seeing the viaduct....this one is very high. Further along the A16 are a couple of viaduct where the road passes over a couple of small lakes - the road does not rise and the water is a couple of feet below the road. Best of luck.