tracteurtom

[quote user="Jackie"].John not Jackie (Caught 25 last year, all in the loft and released some kilometers away)[/quote] Daft fools, should have knocked em on t'eads

[quote user="Simon"]One of the problems with changing ISP to get improved charges or benefits is the loss of your email address.  You might want to consider an independent provider for email and or webhosting.  I use 1&1 who are excellent and operate happily through both my UK and French ISPs. Simon [/quote] or google mail for the emails, its very good and the best bit, its free!!

RH, I've  never heard of a landscape sleeper before - is it just a copy of a railway sleeper for landscape gardening?  All the treatment a pucca railway sleeper gets means it should last a life time, and of course they are made of very expensive hardwood, money no object.  Maybe landscape sleepers, just have a pressure treatment and a 10 year life span??

Catherine, It crossed my mind that the wall was not flat, but its no excuse, a pro would have refused to to the job until the wall was sorted.  Also, there's that plumbing.........................

[quote user="Clair"]Me Clair has been gushing (verbally) about the V33 paint he used for our shutters: thick, one coat, and very very good coverage... [/quote] 2nd that, I've found the v33 stuff very good - it aint cheap though.  But, I always get our visiting English to bring tins of Dulux along with the Cheddar Cheese.

At 2 e a bail, no its not worth even thinking about making your own.  It was just if you couldn't find the right size, but it seems you've sorted that one now.  Where abouts are you BTW?  Anywhere near Correze 19?  I would like to order a few of those bails.

[quote user="Gabe"]Any advice, albeit subjective, on best makes. I have about 4 acres to cut, very undulating and would like a larger cut around 48". I am prepared to pay up to £2,500 max and up to now have only really been considering a Honda ? Also anybody recommend a good supplier in or around 32 (Gers). Gabe [/quote] Get a tractor and topper, I think 4 acres is too much for a low end ride on, you need to be looking at the bigger and much more expensive stuff.  An old tractor is the way to go.

As I noted in another post, Electrolux owns so many names these days (Husqvana / McCullock / Roper / Lawn Boy / AYP etc etc) you are basically buying the same thing just in different colours and with different stickers.  Look under the seat of any of the low end / belt driven ride ons and you will see Made in America for Electrolux, even the Brico own branded machines!  Look at the chassis, steering / cutting decks etc, there are all the same.  The differences are in the engines, the better ones have a B&S or a Honda engine.  But note that there are different qualities of those engines - standard - commercial.

Straw bails have been taken over by either the round types (barely managable by hand) or the hugh rectangular ones (impossible to man-handle) these days.  I've been tryng to source a few of the traditional rectangular ones for a while now to build a pig shelter with and I cannot find anyone to supply.  Seems the old bailers have been replaced with the hugh new ones and hugh tractors to match (who said there was no money in farming).  Assuming you're after the smaller bails, you need to find an old bailer.  Check the local Smallholdings who may still have one in commission, although its doubtful that they would have surplus straw.   If you  find a bailer thats not been used for many years it will probably need a far bit spending on it to bring it back into service, but could be worth looking into?  All you would need then is a friendly farmer with a spare field!   [:D]

OK thanks for the info and the stories along the way.  My plan of attack will be to wrap said pipe in plastic, taped it up and get to to a Decheterie before it mates with another one.  Funny how there's only 1 pipe............................[:D] Cheers Phil

Thats awful, just awful.  I can see now why you're making a fuss.  I have no training in tiling but always do my own and I can honestly say the end job always looks fine, IMHO.  So however did that job must have been drunk and / or in a rush to do more vandalism elsewhere!   I would also say that those tiles must come off, dont think about tiling over them.

I've found under a hedge on our property what looks like an asbestos pipe.  It measures over 2 m in length and around 200mm diametre.  I could simply push it back under the hedge but would prefer for it to be removed and disposed of.  Can anyone advise on how I may achieve this?  I dont want to put it in my car for obvious reasons,  but I could trailer it to the decheterie, would they accept it?  What would happen if I spoke to the Mairie about it - an imposition of head to toe white suited "experts" ending in a hugh bill maybe??? Any advice (apart from the safety dont touch blah blah stuff) would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

[quote user="Clair"][quote user="pcwhizz"] Do NOT use a normal bottle to get the sample to the Chemists as all that will do is cross contaminate the well water with the water that the bottle was washed in.[/quote] That is completely at odds with what the lab told me when I rang them to aks that very question! [/quote] Well (pun intended) thats the Lab for you  vs the Chemists.

[quote user="Nicos"]Anyone thought of contacting bosch and asking their advice???? [/quote] Why??????? I'd be interested to know if Bosch would give you a sensible answer  Probably along the lines of that product is not for the French market and we advise to buy a new machine in France.  Bosch is now just another faceless organisation, badge marking products.  Not sure but Bosch maybe part of the Electrolux group?  If you want a shock, have a look at all the names Electrolux owns...........

Go to the Chemists, ask for a Well Water Test, sorry, I cannot remember the french but something along the line of "analyse de l'eau du puit".  They will provide you with a sealed sterile bottle.  Fill with well water and return to Chemists.  Takes about 4 days and costs around 40€ and they will tell you if its potable or not, listing all the key tests, nitrites, nitrates, etc.  Suggest you run plenty of water off first (maybe many weeks worth?????), and try to fill the bottle quickly from the centre of the water flow - avoiding contact with the pump body.  Do NOT use a normal bottle to get the sample to the Chemists as all that will do is cross contaminate the well water with the water that the bottle was washed in.  If all you want to do is water the garden, then why bother, just check its clear (not absolutely necessary?) and that it smells OK?????? save yourself 40€.  I say this because, the analysis is only good for the water tested, not the water thats pulled up tomorrow or 12 months later.  If you drink the water, you will need to have tests regularly and its expensive.  By my calcs 40€ is approx 40 m3 of water from the  mains, quite alot.

[quote user="powerdesal"]Yes, if you are of suitable education and are in a position to make a sound judgement on whats safe and whats not, then go for it. Unfortunately its the "rules" that the insurance companies go by. No matter how technically competent or qualified you (or I ) may be, if there is an 'incident' and you have not followed the rules irrespective of how strange, nonsensical or irrelevent you may consider them to be you will not be paid out by the insurance company or you will be considered liable etc. Thats life. [/quote] Agreed

[quote user="J.R."]I have a tip for pulling cables through gaines, in fact two! The first is to pull the cables through before running the gain through partitions etc, or indeed to use "gaine prefilee". The second is regarding the difficulty of pulling the cores through the gaine which tends to bunch up and create curves which further hinder efforts. - Tie off the one end of the draw-wire to a door or window handle, the other end secure to the cables and then pull the gaine over them, in this manner the cables are stretched into a staright line and the gaine is extended and straightened as it passes over them. My business for some 10 years in the Uk involved a lot of cabling in ducts (gaines) and in all that time I never cottoned on to this, I found it in onew of my french electrical books. [/quote] Good tips.  Trying to pull cables through a fitted conduit , even if its a reasonable straight run is a non starter.  If you do manage to get the cables through, you will probably have damaged them in doing so.

Bob, We are of like minds, although I would have perhaps not written it down (don't le the IEE catch  you!).  Yes, if you are of suitable education and are in a position to make a sound judgement on whats safe and whats not, then go for it. Standards, Rules and  Regs are only there for (I may get in trouble for this) people who cannot make sound judgements and of course to make everthing equal so that the likes of the insurance companies can make their own judgements.  An  Electrical Fitter, may call himself an Engineer, but  in the true sense of the title he/she is not, he /she is a Fitter working to the common standards laid down by the committees and written in the first place by the Engineers - the likes of you and me who understand the detail, not just its got to be green/ yellow of this that size etc because it says so. However, that said, I would (and urgh you to) always use the standards applicabile in the Country.  At the very least, it gives you peace of mind and saves silly arguments with all those annoying Fitters who dont know a I 2 R from a P/R!

Before you disconnect in the UK, test it out by turning off the hot water.  If you are worried about the overheating thing, take the cover off the machine and have a feel (if you know what I mean!).  You could even disconnect the wires to the solenoid....... Alternatively, you could provide a hot feed in your French house?  Simple!

Brilliant analogy Clair re Mailwasher  [:D].  However, can you, or anyone, detail why you use Thunderbird rather than Outlook?  Is it just a I hate MS thing, or is there a real plus?

Good info re Acer quality, thanks guys.  My experience is mainly IBM / Compaq and Toshiba, all top makes for quality,,,,,,,,,and price, ouch!

Great pics Chris, also just ventured into your web site, I'm on dial up so its a bit slow for me but great info on the French wildlife.  Like the snakes bit, I'm told there are asps on our land and I always tell the kids and visitors to wear wellies.  I now know how to identify them, great, thanks[:)][:)][:)].

[quote user="chris pp"] Generally it is reckoned, in most regions that aren't up mountains, that the 1st May is safe from frost, but in reality it's unlikely even with changes in weather patterns that there would be an actual freeze in April. Chris   [/quote] Tell that to my wife who planted 30 tomatoe plants the last week in April, last year.  We had a 1 night hard frost at the end of April, and they were all but 1 dead. Re  Bee Hives, Gastines, find your local Bee Keepers store (pages jaune) and have a look there as they often have a For-Sale board.  However, be careful with 2nd hand hives.  Your hives need to be all the same type (in France the Dadant is popular, 10 frame hobby, 12 frame pro) and the Dadant is not compatible with a Langstroth or what ever commonly found in England or other older types /  DIY versions.  Also, be aware of diseases - why are the hives for sale?  Yes, you can sterilise them, but I my view its best to buy new.  Dont forget, the frames are consumables and they make up the most cost of a hive.  A flat pack 10 frame Dadant is around 50 €, not bad?  Unless, of course,  you can drop on a unmissable 2nd hand bargain.  The hives are just the start.................  Get your  nucs order now and with a bit of luck you may have some honey this season.  BTW French bees seem to be very agressive, it may be just my stock, but the black bee is not a nice lady when upset!

Never done an Acer, but many others.  Just keep going at it, carefully, it'll give eventually.  Recommend you remove the battery and drive/s first.  Open up / remove all doors and check carefully for screws, there's always one hiding somewhere.  Problems are the plastic bits with barbs on, easy to snap in place for the manufacturer, pain in the **** to remove without damage.  Make a note of the various screws sizes  / lengths and where they came from.  You will also have disconnect various bits / cables / connectors to gain full access.  Tread carefully, ensure you are earthed and use a digi cam to track your progress.  I always say to my self, it'll only go back one way - yeh right!  I am assuming you are familiar with this type is work??  If not, leave it alone, otherwise you'll end up with a pile of useless bits................[:(]

So long as the tap fittings end in a 3/8 or 1/2 BSP you will be able to connect them to French plumbing.  BSP - British Standard Pipe - great init! For the drains, you need to find out the OD of the pipe required.  The French waste plumbing is all glue together stuff and for a sink it is normal to present a 40mm OD pipe.  So the drain connector needs to be able to connect to this.  Other sizes are available - 32 and 25 mm (if my memory is correct) may be fitted. I recommend you get the Ikea fittings as Ikea tend to do their own thing and it may be that the holes in the sink are non standard.