ThomasD

Yeah, I notice that too Ernie. I did smile inwardly thinking that if I had £5K to sit languishing in an account I probably would not be wanting another account anyway [:)] But, I did not think the verification process was any more onerous than what I went through to open my first French bank account - the positive point was that the staff spoke English, this they did, but clearly they did not know what they were talking about. Now I did tell them where to stick their account. I found the the local French Bank to be very helpful, honest and friendly - and opening that account was as easy as falling off a bike.

[quote user="jxedwards"] Sorry does not help you but just highlights the problem to others who may be tempted to close their UK accounts. [/quote] DONT DO IT [:-))][:-))]

This looks promising Gluestick! Thanks [B] They are not 24/7 so will let you all know if .......

[quote user="Gluestick"] What about an online bank? http://www.smile.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?pagename=Smile/Page/smView&c=Page&cid=1023953608805 [/quote] Thanks for the thought Gluestick - but I can now confirm.....one has "to be a UK resident and have a UK address" to open an account with Smile ...I kid you not[+o(]

[quote user="ErnieY"] Not wishing to be nosey but why do you suddenly feel the need for a UK account ? [/quote] [:-))] Nothing sinister or dodgy ... I assure you! It would make a few things easier. When I left the UK I was all for being in France, and everything that that entails. After three years - I wish I had not been so naive! [quote user="ErnieY"] I'm fairly certain others will be watching this thread with interest. [/quote] Why?[:D] [quote user="Benjamin"]I take it you're looking to reopen a current account as opposed to a savings account which you could easily do with an Offshore branch of one of the UK banks. You could try looking on the British Bankers Association website (www.bba.org.uk) or there is a student website (www.ukstudentlife.com) which has a useful section on the type of documentation required to open a UK based account. [/quote] Thanks for this - I shall investigate and report back ...if, as Ernie says, a lot of people will be interested[geek] Yes, its a current account I want. [quote user="Benjamin"] Depending on how long ago you closed your UK bank account it may be possible to reopen it with them without producing any identifying paperwork. That's of course if you didn't tell them where to stick their account when you closed it. [6] [/quote] I was not happy with my bank ... and was only to happy to close the account. No, sadly I did not do it with any melodramatic flourish! Maybe that was a good thing[;-)] I am intrigued with Gluestick's remark. While I do not doubt that there are procedures now required to be followed (re terrorism and money laundering etc), the way in which these tend to be operationalised is idiosyncratic to say the least.

I made the terrible mistake of closing my bank account in the UK shortly after I arrived in France (it seemed the right thing to do at the time). Now, with the wonders of hindsight I wish I had not. Has anyone tried to open a bank account in the Uk from France? I have seen a few discussions/posts about opneing an account with one or other bank account before leaving the UK, and the giving a French address - but nothing about opening one from within France. Thanks [:D]

Hi Samanta

[:D][:D] Great one! I suppose 'they' thought anyone looking for 'directions' from New York to London must be looking for a laugh. Which does beg the question, Cooperola, how did you find it? [;-)][;-)]

A family arrived on Saturday (around 7 pm) for a week's stay in my gite. I leave 2 rolls in the two holders, and six spare. I thought that would be enough for 3 adults and one young boy. Monday night at 5 pm I get a knock on the door ... Mr comes to tell me they have run out of loo paper, please could I give them some to tide them over until the shops open the next day ... 8 rolls in two days, that has to be a record I thought. But I only said "have you finished all those that I left?" "Yes," came the reply. "You know what its like with two women and a young boy."  I could not even begin to imagine [8-)] About three hours later when I was out watering the garden, they all came out of the barn "shall we tell him?"But they had already decided they would. Mr had recounted my surprise, and they were a bit bemused that I should comment on their consumption of loo paper. Apparently after asking for more loo paper they found the 6 spare rolls! ... oh well I suppose my guests do not break the record then [:(][:(]

Where the **** is Alice .....'s cheque?

[quote user="Russethouse"] Jade Goody in the Navy - now theres a thought ![;-)][;-)] [:$][:$] [/quote] Well, she is the 25th most infalential (I think thats how she said it) person in the world [;-)] But in her defense, she did not know what that meant [:-))]

whose head will roll ... I wonder [Www]

[:$] I hate to admit this, but I also thought you were a man Tresco  .... I am sorry [kiss]

quite right Cooperola ... particularly as it was P who changed the thread from cherries to pips [:)] Edit: But hey, the posters on this thread (delete: is) are scraping the barrel [:D]

The recipe (from some trendy jam/preserve book recently produced) that I have for apricot jam suggest you should crack open the stones and use the 'nut' in the jam - my neighbour calls them apricot almonds and said her mother used to do that, but she could not be bothered because cracking the pip was such an effort. While paging through her gasronomy larousse, I noted their recipe suggested the same. The apricot 'nut' does have an almondy taste ... I have wondered if that is where almonds come from??

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="ThomasD"] [quote user="Meg and Mog"]Oooh is it the brackets round dog?? I know i had an & sign before and that caused probs. Ohhh go on try one and see..............[6] [/quote] Not a cherry in sight [:D] [/quote]How did you manage to quote her, Thomas?  You must be better with cherries than me.[/quote] Take out the (dog) in the square brackets. Does a quoted cherry count?

[quote user="Meg and Mog"]Oooh is it the brackets round dog?? I know i had an & sign before and that caused probs. Ohhh go on try one and see..............[6] [/quote] Not a cherry in sight [:D]

P, I am not sure it has come up. I have not heard any specific comments myself. But Sarkozi is said to be very impressed with the Brits' work ethic.

A guy walks into a bar with his pet monkey. He orders a drink and while he's drinking, the monkey starts jumping all over the place. The monkey grabs some olives off the bar and eats them, then grabs some sliced limes and eats them, then jumps up on the pool table, grabs the cue ball, sticks it in his mouth and swallows it whole. The bartender screams at the guy, "Did you see what your monkey just did?" The guy says, "No, what?" "He just ate the cue ball off my pool table - whole!" says the bartender. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replies the patron. "He eats everything in sight, the little jerk. I'll pay for the cue ball and stuff." He finishes his drink, pays his bill, and leaves. Two weeks later he's in the bar again, and he has his monkey with him. He orders a drink and the monkey starts running around the bar again. While the man is drinking, the monkey finds a maraschino cherry on the bar. He grabs it, sticks it up his butt, pulls it out, and eats it. The bartender is disgusted. "Did you see what your monkey did now?" "Now what?" asks the patron. "Well, he stuck a maraschino cherry up his butt, then pulled it out and ate it!" says the barkeeper. "Yeah, that doesn't surprise me," replies the patron. "He still eats everything in sight, but ever since he ate that cue ball he measures everything first!"

Thanks Opas [:D] I think I am going to have a go at drying cherries this July if I can get to them before the birds do this year [:@] I managed on on of my trees ....

have we got to stick with stone fruits[:)] Seriously, does anyone dry cherries? Not sure I have ever seen or heard of dried cherries.

When I posted about my using Paypal I was aware that there are other websites that offer the same sort of service as Paypal. I could not find one at the time. Having just renewed my advert with Owners Direct I note they use Worldpay. Has anyone got any experience with them? I have read somewhere that Paypal fees are high in relation to some of the others, but they have a good reputation.

My website states that by paying for the accommodation agreed with me you accept the terms and conditions there. I have been advised this is as binding as someone signing a statement to say they have read and accept the T&Cs. There is another discussion forum where these T&C forms have been discussed quite a bit.

Ron I find your repsonse incredibly patronising and condescending ... bit like the man you used to work for ... you do not know anything about me, what I used to do (I dont think I have ever told you), or my intellegence ... I am a British citizen, albeit living in France, I do not feel I have to account for why I continue to follow Bitish politics. I have a bit more intelligence than to buy into the desperate Labour Party line that everything you read in the newspapers is little more than a conspiracy against the current British Government. I saw enough proof in my job, which is why I moved to France. On your list of JPs achievements ... how many of these do Blair, Brown, etc etc also take credit for having achieved ...

Picture the scene Ron JP at Downie Wood: I have just been left in charge of the country ... the main man Tony is off to Cliff's house for a much needed break  ... the press have been having a right go at me this last week ... totally uncalled for, again ... of course ... my grace and favour mansion (for which most MPs do more for than I ever will) is surrounded by photographers ... what am I going to do today ... I know I will have a game of croquet on the lawn with the boys and girls who usually do all the work for me [:-))] That in my book is acting before thinking ... dont need no back issues of any newspapers to work that one out ... maybe having a game of croqet is not the crime of the century where politicians are concerned. But, there is a time and place for everything ... and he asked for the grief he got over that one ... which shows (just to repeat myself) he acts before thinking ... anyone with a brain cell would not have given it to the waiting photographers on a plate ... the man lacks judgement. Re bus lanes, Ron you clearly do not know JP as well as you think you do - best you go and look through those back issues of the Mail and Express you got and find out a little more about JP ... the issue over the bus lanes was not that he brought them in ... but that he thought they were meant for him in his jag [:-))] ... again the man lacks judgement. Millenium Dome ... bidding for the Super Casino ... trips to Texas Ranches ... gifts ... declaring nothing ... no conflict of interest ... there is a pattern ... lack of political nouse I responded to your challenge knowing you would not be impressed by my examples [;-)]