confused of chalus

There's a lot of it about round here! (have just driven neighbour to airport in the nick of time after he realised his flight to uk was today, not tomorrow)

Our ancient top loading French washing machine is about to give up the ghost. Has anyone any views about whether an english-type front loader, which seems more available here now, or a French style top loader is more efficient/quieter? There's only the two of us so an increased load capacity is not really needed. We are about to fit out a new utility room so need to make a decision on the basis of width of machine. I must say that I find it ironic that the best looking place to post this comes under 'leisure and pastimes'! Neither shopping nor laundry are my idea of fun! Kathy

My four cherry trees ( ancient and enormous, you can't get your arms round the trunks) have decided it's autumn. This year there are no cherries at all after frost at the wrong time in the spring (what spring?). Now the leaves are turning yellow and orange and falling off. Can I assume that this is because the tree thinks there's no point in holding on to the leaves as there are no cherries, or am I looking at some kind of horrible disease? Can anyone reassure me? Thanks, Kathy

With hours to go before the deadline I have done my first online tax declaration. All finished. And I think it's right. So as I open a bottle of best plonk I just want to thank everyone who has posted advice, prepared and updated FAQ's, (take a bow Cat!) without whom life would be much more difficult. Another thread has given me the impression that some of the regular posters are feeling a little unloved at the moment. I read the forum most nights, storing little snippets of useful information and news in my head for when i need them. I don't often contribute, I've only been here 5 years and don't feel expert enough to dive in. But I just want you all to know you are appreciated. Kathy

It's a contraction of 'Charity muggers' and yes, I have encountered them extensively in Kingston High Street on visits to the UK. But all I had to do was say I didn't have a UK address and they move on. They are mostly well meaning, polite youngsters and I feel sorry for them trying to earn a living this way.

Idun's recipe sounds about right. For me the 'secret" is making the batter at least 4 hours before you cook it. This allows the gluten in the flour to develop and strengthen and so it holds up once it expands. Sometimes I'm glad I did O level cookery 40 odd years ago after being thrown out of the Latin set!

Satellite box is very basic Morgan's X35. (happy to upgrade as these seem quite cheap) We have iMac Mac OS X version 10.7.3 with 27" screen and can take a disc, plus several plug in ports. it is operating wirelessly. Bought January 2012. Thanks for your interest. kathy

Is there an easy and not too expensive way of getting our tv satellite feed to show on our vastly superior wireless AppleMac screen? Thanks to any techies out there with an answer! Kathy

Sorry Sweet. Same here - and Britain appears to be having a heatwave! Oh - the sun has come out. Must dash, it won't last long, showers forecast after lunch. Again.

Sorry to be so British about this - but the weather is really getting me down and my little squash, melon and cucumber plants are waiting to go out into the wide world. I tried putting out the courgettes last week as they were getting so big, but one had all the leaves knocked back in the cold/wind overnight last week, so I am wary. I haven't put many seeds in either, as the soil is cold. This is our sixth summer and I've never known it so cold so late. Do you think things will catch up? Looking around some neighbours have planted out - other veg plots are still empty. I have exactly opposite conseils from neighbours either side of me so I wondered what you thought. What do you think? Kathy

Cheered me up while OH watched the cup final. Men are so stupid! LOL

We're not in your area, but for what it is worth we've just sourced our floorboards and after a lot of visits to timber mills and bricos we found that the cost of plain pine boards was about 2/3 the price in the bricos compared with timber mills. In the end we got ours on special offer very cheap (but don't touch the déclassé packs, they're cheap because they are damaged/knotty). Anything more exotic - oak, chestnut came up about the same price in each place, but had to be done to order. All the timber mills round our way are happy to deal with particuliers. Just walk in and ask. Do remember they will quote without tax.

As the owner of one of these ( though I bought it just before winter so haven't been on it a lot) my understanding is that as long as it one that you have to keep pedalling to make the electric assist kick in and not a motor that will move the bike on its own then it is classed as a bicycle and can be used just like a bicycle. whether you choose a cycle helmet or not is up to you. But thats not definitive - just my understanding of the situation.

Or you could get an induction hob if you don't fancy the gas bottle - it uses considerably less electricity than conventional ones.

I usually buy from Lidl - last week I found they had changed brands and I could only get sunflower seeded ( very nice!) and wholemeal (fine) but no white or multi-seeded. But they did have a decent stock. Can you get to a Lidl?

We asked for our S1 in December in advance of my pension date in February. We had it within a week from newcastle and CPAM in Limoges processed our application within a fortnight. We had our attestation within a week of my pension being paid for the first time and today got the final piece of paperwork to get our cartes vitales in plastic - four weeks later. We've found it very efficient - sounds like someone out there has decided to pxxx you around, idun.

I seem to remember a thread here some time ago about breadmaking which flagged up the need for more yeast at a higher altitude. But I must admit to rather a lot of 'senior moments recently, or so my family tell me.'

Hello Chris Welcome to Chalus. e-mail me if you need any help in the local area!

Thanks everyone, especially Bugsy, Tony and Clair for your suggestions which we will look at when back in France next week. Not sure our antiquated TV has has the necessary sockets, so will need to look. Were the wireless headphones infra red or bluetooth (which I neither understand nor have the tv or satellite reciever to support, I dont think)? Will also do the Otex and have my ears syringed - But I dont think its that. Still at least back in France I can put tv on as LOUD AS I LIKE! KAthy

Happy New Year everyone. So here I am in the UK staying with family for christmas and new year and it appears than my OH has been overlooking the fact that I have been turning up the telly and radio to excruciating levels because I am getting deaf as a post. My children are not so kind and so I have heard hardly a word on the tv or radio for a fortnight. Settled down and read a book instead. OH went out and bought me some head phones thinking that I could turn up the sound on them and not annoy everyone else. Unfortunately it cut out the sound for everyone else! Have got refund - but wonder if there is a product to keep everyone happy? Do feel free to shout your answers!!!!! Thanks, this is my first loony question for 2012. There will be more. Kathy

Thanks for the link pp - a fun Sunday morning read once I had reclaimed the netbook from OH who has been surfing every computer store and comparing every product for three days. And the comments below the article show what I had always thought - there are two camps and they both believe they are right. In the meantime we are off to blighty for Christmas next week and will make our decision there after a little tryout in Apple shops and PC world If we go MS we will only pay for software were havent already got. Made that mistake before! And after the debacle of setting up the last one we'll avaoid Norton security like the plague. One decision has been made - once we have a new set up the 'dead' pc will be stripped and we will have a go at Linux but we havent the nerve to rely on it first off. Many thank to all contributers. Lots of advice, some a bit too technical for the likes of me, but all read. As a side issue, all you good people have made my OH interested in the forum for the first time. He may even join up himself. Although I may never know! Merry Christmas. Kathy

Thanks for everyone's opinions so far. We are taking everything on board and having a think. Where do you get naked computers? I must say the whole idea of DIY installation is quite scary. While I can use quite complex programmes (I had one of the first PC operated Pagemakers) our experience of loading new applications on to our erxisting pc has rarely been trouble free. We are thinking aesthetics too, as the new house is open plan, and have been quite struck by the Dell all- in-one systems. But the Luddite in me is worried about relying on wireless connections. Living up to my name, and still confused........

for what? (that was a reply to the pink suggestion = not the one above)

Thanks Devon. My OH is a bit alarmed that I got very excited at all the different colours - but I'm fairly sure I'll calm down and go for black! Good to hear that a professional recommends the product. It was so cheap that I was a little concerned. But then I'm conditioned to French paint prices. Good of you to add this perspective to the thread

Following the sad death of our main computer we are planning to get a new desktop while in UK over Christmas. Is it now time to move over to a Mac or stick with a PC? Can of worms opened - but seriously want to make a choice soon! Pros and cons please. Kathy