barbu

[quote user="Mel"]Sorry, I know we are going off topic here, but quality means something to me as well and that is a word that does not sit easily with Tesco...[/quote] Mel, I can only follow up Fay's comment... Tesco simply would not survive if it did not provide quality. Sure, like any other retail outlet, it offers the general dross that too many families regard as a staple diet. But if you want quality, you can find it quite easily. We regularly buy a whole salmon for beans when it's on offer and, as something of piscean connoiseurs, we know quality when it smacks us in the face (see Monty Python sketch for reference). But as I said in an earlier post, it's horses for courses. If you don't like shopping at Tesco, that's your decision. But don't take those of us who do to task because of your prejudices, particularly if we are getting cheap cross channel travel while you are dragging your car across on a raft with a rather salty rope in your mouth! Hey Ho, Barbu

[quote user="Mel"]I think I would rather swim the Channel, towing my car behind me on a raft, than shop at Tesco to save a few quid![/quote] Yes, Mel, I can appreciate your position. However I went to an optician and managed to get some marvellous varifocals (not cheap) which magically cured my myopia. Tesco isn't our exclusive 'shop' (we use all the bad guys and, hush my mouth, a few good independents as well!), but our savings on Channel crossings alone amount to around 70% overall... hardly a few quid, but again, each to his/her own. Usually for the longer trips we use P&O, mainly due to the availability of a massive farmhouse breakfast which keeps us going to Tourville-la-Riviere. And yes, that's where we dive into Carrefour (La qualité pour tous!). Yours aye, Barbu

[quote user="tom"]Ever thought of shopping at Tesco and using club card points to put towards the cost.Every £10 in vouchers is £40 of the price of a crossing,in the past few years we have only had to pay a nominal amount .You may not like the shopping at Tesco but it puts a smile on my face when i cross for free.[/quote] We've also used Tesco points for years, I don't think we've ever paid full price. One tip however, always leave a few quid to pay on the debit card, then at check in, all you need to do is bung the card in the machine... no frantic prodding of the machine! Yours aye.

Hi Pierre, Yes, I entirely agree with the principle, especially in countries where public transport is so dismal. But, as you infer, the principle would be a whole lot more sustainable with cleaner technology. My son has finally started to learn to drive as job requires him to, but I fear his heart is set on something a touch more 'sporty' than a Tata... something in the VW Golf area I suspect![:(] Yours aye, Barbu

Does anyone remember the Peugeot TV advert where an old, Indian-produced, Morris/Austin (I think) was changed to a Peugeot (well almost) with the judicious use of hammers and an elephant? I wonder what the engineering standards of this little baby are... if memory serves (and at my age it frequently doesn't) the latest City Rover (or similar name) was produced in India and got a general thumbs down raspberry on all counts. Apparently the Tata was produced largely to try to stop whole families travelling on a single moped. however, until some serious quality and safety checks are carried out independently, I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole... or stick my family in the back! This may sound a touch negative, but my native Celtic caution has been thoroughly aroused. If it sounds too good to be true… Yours aye.