RicandJo

Well now........ Sorry I didn't reply to this before there was too much stuff going on and I didn't want to jinx it.  After looking at several places, some ok, some bad and some you wouldn't put your dog in we found a lovely village 20 minutes E NE of Carcassonne and whilst looking at a rental place there the agent also had one for sale which she showed us and we fell in love with it.  Needs some work but not a huge amount. So we bought it [B].  Been a bit fraught lately with surveys, compromis, mortgage applications and paperwork etc but now we are waiting for a date to go and sign the Acte.   Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet [:D]

There is absolutely no way of telling what will get through and what will not.   I went through Frankfurt not so long ago, through the first security no trouble.  Got to the second check point just before the gate and they discovered I had in my bag a 9/16 midget spanner.  Open end one side, ring spanner the other about 4 inches long.  Not a sharp edge on it.   It got put in the bin. [:@] against my protestations of "what the f... do you think I'm going to do - take the plane apart whilst I'm sitting there???"   [:D]        

I don't think it's such a bad idea.  I also don't think you're any more likely do drive on the wrong side of the road just because you're in a right hooker. I drive a RHD for me but when I drive the works vehicle it's a lefty.  I'm continually jumping from left to right hand drive.  I've been working in Central Europe now for nearly 18 months, the only time I've ever driven on the wrong side is back in UK, in a RHD!!!!    

I had trouble last night.  Couldn't get through all night (I'm on the night shift). No trouble now though.......except being back at work and looks like I'm going to get a drenching tonight.........

Excellent reply poolguy - what's your take on Copper Ionisation and Copper (mineral) treatments?  Are these any good do you think?  Is it expensive to install the Ionisation equipment, when installing at construction stage?

Well we'll be bringing all our stuff from Uk soonish, to the Languedoc.  A lot of it is from Laura Ashley, who do lots of kind of French style stuff anyway but with UK quality.  I'm pleased to see there is a store in Barcelona, which isn't too far from where we'll be (3 hrs).  There is a store in Paris also though........   As for what to bring from UK we're bringing everything.  Even the kitchen sink (not kidding......LOL).

I was recently told if you eat Bananas regularly you won't get bitten so much.  Something to do with the potassium and mosquitos not liking it too much. I did also discover a neat little toy whilst in Australia recently - http://www.mosquitoclick.com/  It works by sending a tiny electrical charge through the bite, preventing the build up of histamine and thus stopping the itch.  I was dubious but went to the pharmacy and bought one.  You know what - it REALLY works.  I was amazed.  Strongly recommend one to anyone who gets bitten.  Funny thing is if you look at 'where to buy' it's all in Australia.  The things are made in Italy though........ This is where to get them from UK, they're called 'Zanza Click' http://www.auravita.com/products/AURA/ECOB10008.asp?refid=300&adid=ECOB10008&kwid=23546 I'll be trying the nana thing this year too..........    

How to cook Asparagus.......   Simple.  Put into a bowl, squeeze some lemon juice over, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, salt and fresh ground pepper.   Leave for 10 minutes then sautee in a frying pan or better still put on the barbecue.   Serve warm with shavings of parmesan on top.   to die for....

If your laptop has a PCMCIA slot you can buy a wifi card to slot into it and have wireless connection to your livebox (if you go down that route). http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=136500 You then have the added benefit of being able to access any wireless network available not just at home but at friends houses, hotels, airports etc etc.   By the way the link is to Belkin's home site in USA - just to show you what to look for.  They are widely available both in France and UK (Currys, PC world etc)

Google 'Tinnitis masking devices'

There is a 'hearing aid' type device I know of (one of my former colleagues had one) for tinnitis.  Whilst it is not a cure it greatly reduces the problem, to a wholly bearable level.  Tinnitis is quite common in my line of work - working around higher pitch turbine engines and stuff - though I have not had any problems, I think mainly due to my religious wearing of ear defenders! I'll see if I can find anything out - all I can remember is that it wasn't covered by NHS and he had to buy it himself at a cost of something like £600.  Changed his life though.      

The only restriction for EZY flights is that you must be able to lift the bag un-aided into the locker.  The responsibility is then on the cabin crew to ensure this is so.   If the girls (or boys....)  see that you cannot lift the bag into the locker they are supposed to insist it gets put in the hold.  I've seen some business men on BA flights get rather hot under the collar when the CSD quite rightly tells them their 20+ kg 'cabin' bag must go into the hold. [:D] Ernie the common weight limit is 84 lbs not kgs.  38kgs.  The placards are their because the regulatory authority makes the manufacturers put them there before they can be granted a C of A.  They also make the operators ensure the placards are visible and maintained thus and there are penalties for non conformity.  

[quote user="mooky"]I am as thick as two bl**dy planks. I thought you meant surfing in the sea !! Well maybe you do, but a bit cold off Brittany for any activity  in  water...........blessings M[/quote] I thought the same............[:D]

Actually the weight issue is nothing to do with security......security are just stepping in to try and clamp down on it a bit.   If you can recall the Kegworth disaster (B737 landing across motorway) many of those passengers were killed because the overloaded lockers broke away from their attachings and broke the necks of the passengers sitting below them.   Weight restriction impositions are normally from the regulatory authority such as CAA.  Some airlines I know have a 'reasonable' weight policy which I do find a bit strange - how can they get away with that [8-)]    

Before the draconian introduction of one piece of hand luggage was introduced by the government and therefore controlled by security, every airline had it's own cabin baggage restrictions - which usually varied depending on class of cabin.   As of Jan 7 we will be back to that arrangement, whereby it is the duty of check in agents rather than security staff to check what you are taking on board.   The liquids thing is still in place though, which is fair enough.

Does sound like a dish alignment issue to me.  I get no trouble whatsoever, and I'm down in Italy at the mo.........[:D]

I totally agree with Chezstevens.  Setting up a satellite dish really is child's play.  It's a doddle. If you go onto the Astra website you'll even find an idiot's guide to exactly where to point the dish then all you need to do is fine tune it. It really is a piece of cake.  Once you've done it you'll find yourself amazed that so many people pay somebody to do it!  

In 30 years time I will be..........[:P]

My paper licence (which I'd had for 10 years) was exchanged for a photocard one when I lost it in 2002.   It expires in 2010 [8-)].  Valid for 8 years and 5 months.  What's that all about??? [8-)]   Not that I'm bothered - just pointing out they weren't necessarily issued for 10 years!

Try this one........   http://www.seethru.co.uk/zine/south_coast/helicopter_game.htm   Even more addictive.........

In the interest if science [I] I'll try it this week. Hey if it screws uo the dish it's only 28 Euros........[:)]

Solid dishes are very prone to picture weakening in heavy rain.  The water runs down the dish and 'distorts' the signal being received by the lnb.   You could try and get a mesh dish which was designed that way to overcome that very problem.   I have a solid dish too and I was thinking about using some 'rainx' on it - you know the stuff that makes the water bead off the windscreens on cars.   Never got round to trying it though.........    

Is it a mesh dish or solid??

It will also apply to some (re)registrations of second hand vehicles, namely 4*4's of american manufacture JR where did you read this bit??  According to my translation of the page posted earlier it will "be restricted to the purchase of new cars, says the Ministry of Ecology"   [:D][:D][:D]

I also am a member of a Jeep forum which runs along the same lines as this one.  Nothing but helpful thoughts and good banter.  Occasionally we look round 'other' forums and come across an obnoxious argumentative thread.  In this case we tend to go to that thread en masse and give them some back.   So come on........links us to some threads [6]