RicandJo

[quote user="GSman"]but setting the LNB skew if not so, as you need to get the best compromise between v and h quality. I don't know how you do that without a meter[/quote] http://www.ses-astra.com/consumer/en/how-to-receive-astra/installation-assistant/index.php Piece of cake........

Joking aside I wish your OH good luck for the morning.  I'm sure a magistrate with half a clue will sort this out.  

I know of a stock of 'free Dierdre' T-shirts. Shouldn't be too hard to doctor them........

[quote user="joidevie"]Hi all.. I'm about to re-wire my sat setup in order to ensure the best possible signal (I'm right on the edge of the satellite footprint  in the South)[/quote] I don't think you'll have any footprint issues unless you're using a minidish.  I have an 80cm dish and normal co-ax and I get a super reception........in Italy.........[:D]

A couple of years ago I was standing outside the Brymon hangar at Bristol and heard that spine tingling sound - turned to look down the taxiway and there was a Spitfire going full bore 30ft above the taxiway, right past me.  just past the hangar she went near vertical and did a victory roll. Fantastic sight, and sound.

I need to think about setting up a French pension - anybody out the re paying into one?  What kinds are available?  How does the 'state' pension work and is it worth it? Any thoughts would be appreciated - is there such a thing as pensions advisors in france??

Same goes for me too - it was good to meet up and put nales to faces. Back to work now and it's a filthy wet night, according to MSN it's gonna rain here (Milan) for 10 days.  10 DAYS????!!! [:(] Anyway I'm sure we'll be seeing you all again!

Sorry but I wasn't trying to give wrong information, just telling it the way it was for us.  Maybe the vet was wrong, but at the ferry they made sure the test was done, maybe they were wrong too.  If it had not been I could stand there and argue, not be able to call any professional body because it's after 5pm, miss the boat and wait 12 hours for the next one.  No thanks. I took the belt and braces option and I'm glad I did - our crossing went without a hiccup. [:D]  

We brought our cat over 2 weeks ago.  No intention to return to UK.  We could not get the passport issued without the blood test.  When checking in for the ferry the staff checked the blood test was signed up. However after his rabies jab the blood test was taken three weeks after, result returned a further two weeks after that. I believe DEFRA do not get involved anymore - the bloods go to a DEFRA approved lab and passport is issued by DEFRA approved vets.

Just thought I'd share this with you. A French colleague of mine asked me to try and get hime some marmite as he had heard of it from a friend, who had some in England and liked it (weirdo...[;-)]).  But when this friend went to a shop in England and asked for some 'Mermaid' all he got, surprisingly was blank looks. So, I brought some marmite to work for him which I obtained at a shop close to home (I love being able to call France home now...). He tried some and remarked in his very French accent "Ughhhhh Rich, 'is 'ORRIBLE" All I could get out as a reply was 'oui!'  

Bugger.  Just looked again and it's completely changed.  Now only a couple of good days in the next 10.  Tuesday isn't one of them. Hey ho.

Your cats won't be allowed on the boat or the plane without a passport.  If they're going on the plane the airline will probably need a certificate of fitness to travel also.  My advice is take them on the boat.  Much less traumatic for them. Remember also they have to be treated for worms and ticks, by your vet, before they travel.  Your vet must enter into the passport the date and time when it's done.  This must be done more than 24hrs but less than 48hrs before the travel time. Apart from that microchip. rabies vaccine and satisfactory blood test - but that's all part of the passport procedure. We just did all this ourselves.  

According to MSN weather it's going to be nice except for just a couple of days in the next ten.  I find MSN very reliable, in fact you can pretty much set your watch by it's hourly forecasts!

Just putting this to the top to remind y'all 1130. Cafe Felix, 13th.  [:D]

LOL - Stefan you have a PM!

If you buy a machine which has Vista professional installed, microsoft allows for it to be reverted to XP free of charge. At least that's what happens in Italy, I presume it's the same deal in France. Read this......http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9040318

I flew with BA to Sydney in a rear facing seat recently......didn't bother me in the slightest. [:D]

Who said they weren't planning to work? The only way to figure out what you can expect to be able to buy is to come on a few exploratory trips.  Go to as many estate agents as you can. You lookin for country/city/village life?

We signed two days ago, the agent took us for the pre signing inspection just beforehand.   Normal practice.

Well now he's running about sniffing every nook and cranny.  It was a long drive from Cornwall to Bristol, to Newhaven and on to Carcassonne but he was as good as gold.  We let him out of his box in the car and he curled up behind the passenger seat, in the footwell, and stayed there most of the way except for a few ours on Joanne's lap. He's fit and well except for a bit of dandruffy coat, think he needs some oily fish to restore his omegas to a proper level, he probably hasn't been getting all his vitamins in the cattery.  No mice either...... Seems happy enough and beginning to settle ok. [:D]

[quote user="trevoraki"]If you go to Ebay UK and look up item 260229874113 they may have what you want. I use the boot shown in the second picture. Although steel capped, they are extremely light and comfortable. Driving in them is a pleasure because of small footprint size and rounded edges. The sole also absorbes a lot of shock due to the tread pattern. The brand name varies. Mine are called "Groundwork" but they are the same boot. [/quote] Thanks for the info, but steel caps are just a non starter for me.  I have to pass through airport security 3 or 4 times a day.  They always make you take off your shoes if they bleep, and walk through everybody elses dirt on the floor in just your socks.

Between vets and cattery fees ours has a new name too.....Empty Every Pocket.

I stayed at the Hilton lake Geneva once.  Very very nice but no idea how much - BA paid [Www] Geneva is a beautiful place - expensive but hey push the boat out!

If he still knows us.  Poor sod's been there since August..........[:(]

He's waiting patiently in the cattery in UK for us to collect him on Monday and drive hime to France.........can't wait.