[Is a Certifcate of Conformity necessary?]

Chancer,

Merry Christmas btw

 From the point you are making about putting things in writing, am I right in thinking that if I include comments like " unless I hear from you to the contrary within X months I will assume that the statement in my letter...... is correct" will stand up if I am challenged at some future point, say after I go ahead and install a Pool

John

[Virements]

Nomoss, you just beat me to the same reply, so that must be it

Best of luck Norman

John

[Cutting Boards]

Thanks for the comments

I wanted to make sure I didn't poison anyone or impart any horrid tastes in the food

John

[Cutting Boards]

Are there any woods that should not be used to make cutting boards for preparing food on

I've some off-cuts that would make nice chopping boards etc but I'm not sure if they are suitable

John

[Farewell to Sundayland]

[quote user="Aardvark"]Good Luck!  And thanks for all the help based on facts, not hearsay.

[/quote]

Well said,

John

[Cleaning a woodburner - recommended products]

Hi,

Only thing to add is to use it while the weather is mild and you can leave the door and windows open when you first light the fire.

The fumes and smell are bad until the fire's been on for a while, even if you've applied it months before.

[Paying for CH Gas]

Thanks Sue and idun

Never thought to Google the question

I'll do as you suggest with the savings bit, rather than leaving the cash in our general savings and post off a cheque

The tank belongs to Antargaz but I'll enquire about Totalgaz and see if they just swap ownership of the tank ( buried in the garden)

Thats if the cost per litre is cheaper ?

[Paying for CH Gas]

Thanks AnOther

They offer,

Prelevement Bancaire

Service Propamatic

TIP

Cheque

Service Propamatic appears to let you pay monthly by DD but is there a sting in the tail ?

The formula to work out the payment ( set by them ) seems complicate

[Paying for CH Gas]

I would welcome any advice regarding the best method of payment for buying Gas from Antargaz

They seem to offer several ways to pay

We only need gas for hot water and to supplement our Log Burner.

The central heating is on just until the stove fires up in the morning and when its mild but not cold outside

We have the tank filled up about every 18 months now but it cost over 1400 euro last time it was re-filled to the limit

[Orbital Sander in hand luggage at Stansted?]

Clearly you've seen to many Bruce Willis films.

Mind you my OH thinks the people on Coronation Street are real

[Orbital Sander in hand luggage at Stansted?]

I came back through Limoges (Bryan- air ) this morning with a roll of wallpaper ( ran out with 1 drop to do, always the way ) and exhaust pipe clamps and brackets in my hand luggage. The bag went back in again and stayed in the machine for a few seconds but I wasn't asked to open it.

Mind you it would take a lot to club someone to death with a roll of paper

 

[Blood tests]

My OH has epilepsy and needs regular blood tests to monitor drug levels, kidney function etc, and we have never had problems with getting costs back

This involves sending samples off to Limoges so costs more

Try asking why and see what answer you get

Best wishes JB

[New ruling on Winter fuel allowance]

You're both right, NormanH & EmilyA.

How can you second guess what will happen in a few weeks time.

I know sadly only too well how things can change virtually overnight, having recently lost my Sister after less than 4 days of illness.

What makes the form even more confusing is it says "Will you be or were you in hospital .........."

In a way asking you to predict the future.

Mine's being filled in and ready to post after the "qualifying week"

JB

[New ruling on Winter fuel allowance]

Address it to,

International Fuel Allowance Team

Room TC 109

Tyneview Park

Whitley Road

Newcastle on Tyne

NE 98 1BA

UK

from a very nice lady on the helpdesk, and yes its the right form even with no Ref numbers etc

Even BoF doesn't know everything

[New ruling on Winter fuel allowance]

Don't get too excited, EmilyA

The form below, the new claim form, for earlier years backdates only up till 2007/08 so its not been amended to allow claims for recent years

[New ruling on Winter fuel allowance]

Never mind the sunscreen, get the PC on and fire up the printer

Its arrived at last,

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@over50/documents/digitalasset/dg_202418.pdf

Best of luck

JB

[New style Driving Licence]

Thanks for the information regarding the photocard licence

I'll be changing mine before November then

11247.pdf being filled out now !

I'll put up with the fact its paper and bigger

Thanks to you both

JB

[Renting while house hunting]

Some of the best things about renting while you look around are,

You get to experience all the seasons, not just the sunny days

You can come across some real bargins being sold privately and avoid massive agents fees being rolled into the price. We did !

You can make your mind up about committing to this "new life"

Best luck in whatever you decide to do

JB

 

[New style Driving Licence]

I read somewhere, a while ago, that the old style French Driving Licence is being replaced this year with the same size laminated plastic style licence as in the UK

I'm about to change my UK Licence, because it runs out in November, and I'd prefer the smaller plastic version.

I know technically it doesn't run out but it has a valid till date so I would have to apply for a replacement and not having a UK address etc.....

Anyone know if its available yet ?

Thanks JB

[The Genius of Mutual Indebtedness]

I had hoped, for our sakes, that some of it was spin

[The Genius of Mutual Indebtedness]

Lots will have seen this Youtube item, but if not its worth a look just to see the faces of the MEP's listening or in most cases not listening

Check out the guy on the mobile, I think he's ordering pizza

The Genius of Mutual Indebtedness - Nigel Farage

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN_1mF-3JTI

What's frightening is some of it makes sense

JB

[Help, and quickly please.]

Time was when you could buy a "good" make and get quality

Normally we go for cheap as chips and if it lasts more than a year or two its a bonus. Last one lasted 7+ years until my OH parked it close to the fire and melted the side out. Still says she didn't ! It just happened.

We "invested" in a good make this time, a Bosch ( good German engineering ) only to find hidden away somewhere on the leaflet, made in PRC

Time will tell ?

[Help, and quickly please.]

Hi Q,

I like "The more you complain, the longer God makes you live"

Thats me and you ( and a few others on here ) that will live forever

Hope you are busy

JB

[On line banking, becoming too secure?]

[quote user="NormanH"]It sounds as if Crédit Agricole isn't secure enough!

There is an number to type in and another to tap in on an online keyboard to access the account.

On the other hand for online purchases  sometimes I have to verify by means of a code sent by SMS, but not for all retailers.

[/quote]

Norman,

My understanding with CA is that clicking on an ever changing on-screen keypad cannot be hacked because its six mouse clicks, not entering or keying numbers, on a secure site and the theshold value amount that triggers a SMS message being required changes daily

I guess that's right because some transactions I've done of the same value have and then have not prompted a SMS (adding cases with XXXXair )

ps Don't ever try changing your mobile number with CA, its murder

[On line banking, becoming too secure?]

One of the earlier posts refers to passwords

A scam that was nearly played on me was a guy emailing saying he had the same surname ( not Brown ) and wanted to do his family tree

Could I give him the details of my family?

He would have got dates of birth, childrens names, grandkids names, mother's maiden names etc, etc

All of which we might use as passwords

Turned out to be a guy from Nigeria sitting at his PC trying his luck

John