Nell

Auchan - Save it all year, then use at Christmas for goodies [:D] Super U - Save up all year, then ask the girl on the desk to take it as a charity Donation.... Good system

Labeling is fine when you can write on the bag/carton/container.... But how many times have you stuck a label on said container and gone back later to find all the labels stuck to the bottom of the freezer and not the container ..... Grrrr [:'(]

I have also had a letter telling me I will have a new number and last night's email, but I am sitting tight until I am sure things are okay (Though how I will be sure on that one is anybodies guess [:D]) I have Internet and FT for now so that will have to do until Teleconnect have sorted themselves out. I can't help thinking Thank goodness I didn't take up their offer of taking over my France Telecom line at the back end of last year. Just hoping that once this is sorted, we can go back to carefree Internet/telephone use just like before [Www]

[quote user="ErnieY"] I wasn't accusing or criticising Nell, just asking, and it appears that you have just been unfortunate on this occasion. I like Teleconnect also. What it seems to have done than, if I understand you and from the fact that you are still online, is kill your VOIP. That being so it would surprise me if this were not easily fixed by a one or two minor tweaks in the router and perhaps someone else who has one could take a peek and let you know what the settings are, there is certainly no harm to be done by trying. As I said I'm not at home so unable able to help you with that at present. You have tried the reset again BTW ? [/quote] The VOIP is stills on (I think - as it is lit). By no telephone as such, I can dial out to a UK number but it does not connect... If I dial a French number, I get through, but only manage to hear about every third word. It's a bit like that comedian with the broken mike from a good few years ago [:D]  I can't remember his name but I am sure someone will tell me [Www] Yes I have reset - many times!! and Teleconnect have checked the settings. Thanks for the thoughts anyway....

Sorry - forgot to mention on my last post, I like Teleconnect, I know things can go wrong. all I was trying to do with the original post was warn others not to follow the instructions yet as the upgrade it still a bit flaky !!!!! and you cannot get through to them on the telephone as they are so busy.

[quote user="ErnieY"] They also gave a link to the software which I duly downloaded which is the same update but gives you the chance to reinstall it if something happened to go wrong, i.e. power cut mid install for instance. There was also a warning not to do anything with it unless neccessary so did you follow instructions or just install it off your own bat I wonder ? [/quote] If you downloaded the upgrade software 2 weeks ago to your PC as requested by Teleconnect, yes I agree this was all that was to be done. If you followed the instructions 1 week ago (as I did) you will find that the instructions now tell you to download the software to your PC AND then proceed with the upgrade.... It is when you have installed the upgrade you get the problems. So in answer to your question Ernie, Yes I did follow the instructions and No I did not install it off my on bat.... If you would like to check the PDF instructions again here's the link http://login.btadsl.fr/Default.aspx?brand=TC

[quote user="pachapapa"] But you are nevertheless exceedingly fortunate in being able to make contact in your own language. Can you imagine the hassle trying to do all that in french; the mind boggles. I am sure that it must be a minor programme code bug which the fluent french speaking Teleconnect technicians protecting your service will quickly resolve to your complete satisfaction in synergy with their french collegues on Orange.  [/quote] I agree with you - but - if Teleconnect can email all it's customers about the change, then surely they can also email when they realize things are going wrong. I think what annoys me is, they know the software is not bug free, but they let their customers continue with this upgrade knowing it is going to bring their systems to a standstill. Also, I worked in a software house for many years, releasing software to major blue chip companies on a regular basis. If there was an error, those companies were told in advance, not left to fall off the cliff.....

If you have Teleconnect you will gave received an email asking you to update your livebox. If you have not attempted this yet - don't try yet as it doesn't work !!   I tried to do the update last Wednesday, The result - the livebox did not recover. I phoned Teleconnect (via France Telecom, because my Teleconnect line was goosed) A very nice guy twiddled something and told me all was now good.... Yes my Internet connection was back. About an hour later I tried to make a call to the UK - result - NO teleconnect telephone line. After trying to get through to Teleconnect since last Thursday, I eventually got through yesterday. The response " Oh you're lucky at least you have the Internet, lots of people don't even have that. As for your telephone line you will have to wait a few weeks until we can get the software sorted out" After lots more somewhat heated discussion, I have now been told that I will receive a CD in the post to sort out the problem in the next couple of weeks and because I pay for "Unlimited calls to the UK", if I forward my FT bills they will refund the cost of my calls.   Has anyone else fallen into this fiasco ?? My advice to anyone who still needs to do this update - Don't do anything until you can be sure it's going to work

Thanks for all the comments. I opted for flowers and chocs. But if I get asked again I will do a trifle, that sounds good. I only read the trifle idea after I came back from the shops....[:D] Cheers all...

Hi - We have been invited to Sunday Lunch by some French friends. Arrive 12 o'clock. Been to other French friends for dinner in the past and normally take flowers and chocs. Would it be the same for Sunday lunch? What would Sunday lunch be in a typical French household (do I skip breakfast on preperation [:D] ) When do you leave? Just asking all these questions so that I don't offend. Any advice would be much appreciated Thanks

If you belong to a Randonnee club, they provide the insurance cover (Some or your annual randonnee fee pays for this). The doctor's letter is just a note from the doctor to say that you can walk basically. We went to our French doctor and get a note that says something along the lines of Yes he sees no reason why we cannot walk. No exam, nothing. It is probably just a requirement of the insurance company, but there is no examination. Just another bit of French paper !! [:-))]   beaten to it by one minute !!

Clair - You are absolutely genius at finding all these helpful sites. Added to my Favorites Off to my French class soon, so I am also taking a note of this site for all my fellow class mates (Got to do something to try and be Teachers pet for an hour [:D] ) Thanks

From Champagne Charlie to teacher in 6 months. Do you think they will teach kids how to save money or just how to shaft their parents [Www]

Last year the Connexion posted the exchange rate at 1.35 and I used this for my tax forms. As it was mt first year of tax I took my forms to Nontron tax office and had them checked. The man asked what exchange rate I had used, I told him and he sent me packing with a new set of forms and told me to use 1.42 [8-)]

Phone Britline (Credit Agricole Normandie) English speaking bank and you don't have to live in Normandy [:D] All my banking is done by internet or telephone. If I have any questions I ring and ask. If I need advice I ring and ask. If I wanted a loan I'd ring and ask... All the staff there are fantastic. I can't think of a single bank in the UK that I would say that about. Now if you want me to rant about banks, just mention Halifax or LloydsTsb Grrrr. (oops that's one bank now, not two [6] )

I have a large floor area to build up level. I have seen a product called Granumix that seems to be a good substitute for concrete (not as heavy). Has anyone used this? If so, can you please tell me what you thought of it. I have seen it on sale in Leroy Merlin, maybe you know somewhere else I could buy it, or a least do some price comparisons. Thanks Nell  

If you are going back to the UK, stock up on Dorest Cereal "Really nutty Muesli" - Fantastic. After this you will never eat Jordans or any other make again!![:D]

We got new number plates from Norato 2 weeks ago and Yellow was not an option...

Phone them - tell them you want a discount, because you are a Speedferries customer (They advertise a discount for these customers but you cannot book on-line, you need to phone because their software is not set up to take care of the discount!!). When he/she asks say you want to pay sterling. When he/she gives you a price you reply, "but it's less than that if I book on-line - but of course I can't because your system doesn't like it. I calculate it to be x.xx GBP and see what happens. I say this because I booked for Xmas after losing my speedferries booking. Like you I noticed it was more expensive to cross France to UK rather than UK to France. I calculated the UK/France return and when asked how much I thought it should be I gave this figure and explained why (because I was paying sterling). This was accepted and the discount was then applied. Even if you don't wish to say you are replacing a Speedferries ticket, I think if you speak to them and explain that the prices are more favorable from a UK point of view, they seem to have some discretion to-wards pricing. It's worth a phone-call - Internet is fantastic, but sometimes there's nothing like talking to somebody [:D]

We had lots over Brantome (dept 24) yesterday afternoon. Really high up in the sky. What a fantastic sight in a beautiful clear blue sky [:)]

I agree with DerekJ. Don't like the person, have no interest in her and I don't want a blow by blow account of her illness every time I turn on the news. Yes I feel very sorry for her, just as I feel for all those families coping with the same situation, but everyone else is probably going through it with dignity and courage, NOT trying to screw as much money as possible out of  the crazy media circus..... (or having a big splash of a wedding for free [8-)] ). It is said the money is for her children, what about all those other children losing a parent?  Who is going to boost their bank accounts?  I lost my younger brother to cancer 3 years ago and nobody stepped forward to help his wife an kids (No such thing as a Widows pension anymore - but that's another of my rants, that I won't start on now[:@]). Also, surely she should be financially secure selling all the other dross about her life, to leave her children a long way from the workhouse door

Another Northern Ireland person who has been cut off  here... I went for a medical and all the guff. Got a "no longer eligible" result, so asked for an appeal. I was told this would take 4 to 6 months to come through, but money stopped immediately.  So thinking I had months to wait I came on holiday to France. While away for 4 weeks (2 weeks after the decision), through the post there had been an appointment for appeal, a notification that I had not turned up for the appeal and that was it - No more DLA. After a lot of arguing I eventually managed to get another medical. This one came back, Yes I was eligible (always had been, always will be), but because a 2 year period had elapsed (fighting for another medical) and I had not claimed !!!! or signed on [8-)] - that was it I was no longer entitled to anything except stamps being paid toward my OAP only. Firstly I have enough stamps for my old age pension, secondly there is no way back from this situation ever.... So that's it, I now have to wait and live on fresh air until I am 63. I have only just looked at this thread (thinking about the DLA is not somewhere I like to visit very often, it winds me up too much), but a least now I know I am not the only one who has been s**t on from a great hight [:@]

where are you coming from in the UK?? where are you coming to in France??

[quote user="Pierre ZFP"]If you have the cough I have at the moment, and can't seem to shake off, you would have no problem at all getting 'em to stick [+o(][/quote] Tooooo Much Information [:-))]

How do you lick 'em and stick 'em ??? [:D][:D][:D]