CeeJay

Thanks for the replies, feel a lot better now I know the likely cause and that there is probably no problem hidden in the appliances.

Woke up this morning to find that the bedside clock had reset itself which indicated that the power had gone down at some point. Also noticed that the clocks on the oven and microwave had also reset. Checked the switches on the fuseboard and everything was alright, none of the switches were down, also checked the main EDF feed in and that too was alright. The mystery is why there was a power outage but with nothing to show there was. Is it possible for EDF to cut off the power for some reason which would have triggered the main in switch (?) and then it switched itself back on when normal service resumed? I have checked all other appliances and there is no problem now.

Thanks for the replies, solar powered sounds really interesting so will do a bit of research.

I have an allotment which is fed by a small canal and I take off water via a 80mm pipe to my garden which is about 30metres long. I would like to irrigate by a small petrol pump instead of lugging watering cans about but am a bit confused which one to get in terms of size of outlet although I think a 1" one would be sufficient, or even the difference between a 2 stroke and a 4 stroke. I would appreciate any comments from users.

Minnie, just checked the paperwork and their is no mention of it being a comparison site. The actual policy was issued by Mondassur in their name and the policy is called Mondaccess Option Classic. I might add that the premium was 122 Euros each person. They operate from Paris and in fact have english speaking staff.

We did France to UK for a few days then to New Zealand from 21st Dec last returning on 13th March, nearly 3 months. Insured with French company Mondassur (www.mondassur.com) for a premium of 122Euros. Checked with UK insurers and couldn't get near that price.

Thank you Kong

On a paper return I always write in that I hold a Form S1 so as not be charged with social charges, but where can I make that comment on an online return?

As far as tax is concerned I don't explain anything!!! All I have done is copy what the local tax office have given me, if that makes sense then fine, if not then we are back to square one. Personally I have yet to make a judgement!!!!!!

I emailed our local tax office over the weekend asking for an explanation of the equivalent sections that I had completed last year. I received a reply this morning and I quote:- "Les rubriques sont identiques, seule la présentation et les tableaux ont été repensés pour faciliter l'utilisation de l'imprimé." Hope this clears things up a bit!

Thanks for the video cajal, similar system but ours is Ikea and the fittings look a bit different, and I might add a bit better! Chancer, it is as above, an Ikea unit with 270 Degree shelves. I have managed to find the fitting instructions so will try to reverse the process. Thanks for the replies.

After a few years of good use I noticed that the bottom holding part which screws into the cupboard carcass base has come away from its fixing. Problem is, of course, that it is impossible to take off the work top and remove the carousel vertically for repair. Maybe someone has had the same problem and been able to repair without taking the top off, if so I would love to hear how it may be possible.

Well, can't really think why this has been bumped up but just to let everyone know that because we enjoyed it so much last time round we are off again next week to NZ for a couple of months!!!!!! (Sorry if I've picqued anyone, ha,ha) Also, as we are on Tempo electricity tarif we could also miss all the red days!!! Last time I just disconnected the battery and on return the trusty old Kangoo started first time.

Having lost several things in the past I would never trust La Poste again. Best to use a carrier as in the previous post.

Well put Q.

Thanks for the replies, will have to do a lot more research me thinks!

Got a quote from UK based S******e Travel Insurance for 2 people staying for 74 days in New Zealand with restrictions on claiming for current health problems, at £502 to and from France. Thought I would check French Travel Insurance firms and came up with Mondassur, no age restriction and no declaring health issues 132Euros each person to and from France. Additionally, the benefits are almost identical, am I missing a trick here or do French firms never take into account health or age issues and quote much lower?

Bit skewed I know but at least posting about an electric driven car is 50% of the question!! Coming across on the Tunnel last weekend I noticed the car behind me was a Tesla, never seen one before so I started chatting to the guy driving. What first struck me was the absolutely enormous sat nav screen, it was about 40cm long and 20 wide, anyway the point is that it is an all electric car, which even drives itself no input from the driver, and the guy reckons that he can go 300 miles on a charge and only take 30minutes to fully charge. Now if that is the norm for charging cars then enormous strides have taken place recently as I understood it would take at least overnight to do the same. Very interesting!

Quillan Sorry havn't replied before, been on retail therapy in UK for a week. Just checked the circuit and found that there are 6 sockets in all off the fuse, a double, a single and a triple. The triple is where the freezers are plugged in, the others are use on occasions when I am working in the cave.I do have a spare fuse so will split the triple up.

Thanks for all the replies, very helpful, I will try to separate the feed into the three freezers as that seems the much more likely cause.

Quillan Thanks for that, it has given me food for thought in that you are right all three freezers are on the same breaker so maybe I should split them up. Unfortunately I don't know if it was lightening, I was merely surmising as that seemed the likely culprit.

Quillan I thought that question might come up!!!  The answer is I can't remember, but I think it was just the trip to the freezers, I don't recall having to switch the mains back on. From the replies so far I guess it really is a matter of taking a chance or getting someone in to check every day!

Beginning of the year we spent two months in New Zealand and on our return found that all 3 of the freezers had suffered a power failure and obviously had lost all of the contents. From what I remember it was a mains failure possibly through a lightning strike rather than an internal problem. I have read the most recent thoughts about this on the Forum and other sites but I cannot glean from anywhere if my problem would be solved by fitting a parafoudre. Some say, because it is now mandatory in parts of France and mine being one of those, that it must be a good idea, but others disagree very strongly. I have even asked the local electrician for his views and he thought it was a waste of time and money! As we are trotting off again next Jan and Feb I would like to get it sorted out now. What is the consensus of opinion?

We have been sent a questionnaire by the Mairie inviting us to a meeting to discuss the formation of a Mutuelle Village. This seminar is being run by Mutuelle Generale d'Avignon and generally means that the more people join it the cheaper it will be and will be overseen by the Maire. This company, I understand, have schemes runnning throughout France and in one particular large village which is about the same size as my own the premiums are 47 Euros per month for a typical cover. Has anyone any experience of this sort of Mutuelle?

Received from my local tax office (Montpellier) today 2 Avis Rectificatif for years 2013/2014 showing that no social charges have been levied. This after having emailed the tax office about the 10th of this month explainig that I have an S1 and had been charged a small amount of social charges on UK investment interest and would they explain why. Albeit the charges were under 61 Euros so not actually levied.