Scooby

 [quote user="sweet 17"]Dordogneshire doesn't count, Pickles, cos' Dordogneshire is only Home Counties, innit?[:P] Apologies to dwellers of Dordogneshire but there again, you've heard the jokes before, haven't you?[;-)] [/quote] We picked 24 because 17 was full of Brits Sweet...oh and we preferred the scenery [;-)]

As others have said the other discount airlines are no better - all of them have additional charges and frustrating web sites.  Even Thomas Cook now charge for checked baggage - £30 per case. The BMI credit card is the worst rip off ever.  Spend £3000 for a free flight - except that only the flight is free, all the other taxes and charges still apply and you can't choose from any of their flights - only pre-selected flights of which there are...b*gg*r all.  Unless you want to fly to Newquay or Belfast in November of course. On the subject of additional flights - has anyone tried to book two seats on the flight to get 10kg extra baggage allowance?  On the cheap / free flight offers it would be much cheaper than buying one seat and paying to check a bag in.

We have used them a couple of times for B&Q deliveries - very good, I can recommend.

[quote user="Chancer"]Well it touched a nerve with me re my neighbours, they were both (in my view) alcoholics, very little different from most of the neighbouring populace[/quote] It is the same where we are - it is a small village but with a disproportionate number who have alcohol problems.  As in your story there isn't the same anti-drink drive attitude we have in the UK.  I have often seen my neighbours get into their cars after an evening on pastis, wine etc.  When we have offered to drive them - we just get told they are fine and are going the safe way (i.e. the back lanes where there is less chance of being stopped by gendarmes).

I can't say we miss anything as we don't live in France but we get asked to bring: cheddar cheese, mint jelly, yorkie bars, mint imperials, dolly mixtures, sherbert fountains and, if we're coming by car, irn bru.

And how many people on here have opened a Nationwide account to access their good exchange rates?  If your own bank doesn't offer an electron card, open a new account with a bank that does - it isn't rocket science.  (The Co-op bank offers them) Re travelling for a longer trip - you could maybe wash your clothes?? Sorry I just think the excuses are whinging.  If you don't want the inconvenience of getting an electron card, washing undies etc then you just pay the extra - simple.  Personally, I'm more than happy with Ryanair.

It's not the 'retirees planning months ahead'.  We both work and travelled to Ireland on holiday at relatively short notice (a last minute short break) and at a time of the year when the weather wasn't exactly brilliant - if the weather ever is in Ireland!  We managed perfectly well for a week with just hand luggage (I even managed to fit my hair straighteners in). I was talking to my hairdresser about cheap flights and her immediate response to my suggestion she travelled with just hand luggage was that I couldn't, I just couldn't - what about all my shoes, my going out clothes, my hairdryer, straighteners, all my make up etc!  I need my 20kg and my hand luggage!'  The reality is, most people taking checked baggage bring most of it back untouched and unworn.  I think MO'L is right.  Those of you with checked baggage put extra strain on the earth's resources and slow up the whole process of embarking and disembarking for the rest of us (who have more self control when it comes to packing a case).  Should you pay extra?  Absolutely!  With regard to the electron card - it took one phone call to my bank and it arrived within three days - so that whinge is just ridiculous.

[quote user="Dog"]I did not enjoy the book the review or the subject.   [/quote] LOL Dog you have some major jealousy issues!!

[quote user="just john "]When I buy a bottle of wine I don't expect to see it advertised exclusive of tax for example. Sure I can do the maths, but I have been misled by the offer. [/quote] But you'll buy the same wine you can get in Tesco for under a fiver for £15 in a restaurant! 

But John, you can buy at the headline price; Stan Streason did and I did.  So the price quoted is correct.  If you want the extras then you pay for them. 

If someone had asked most of the people on here 10-15 years ago if they were prepared to jump through those hoops to get a return flight to Europe for £2 I'm guessing most would have bitten their hand off. I remember my first (paid for myself) package holiday to Greece back in 1984 and I paid nearly £400 for two weeks half board.  That was a month's wages for me then.  As I mentioned in the other thread - the concept of owning your own home amongst the kids I went to school with was rare.  The concept of a second home was for the mega rich.  My grandparents lived in rented accommodation - as did many post war families.  We have become more and more greedy, demanding and materialistic. The whingers on this thread being a great example of those who have, perhaps, forgotten what we have now. I completely agree with Stans Streason - it's a simple cost benefit choice.

Ps anyone wanting to book now may be out of luck as the web site booking system has just crashed!!  Good job we only wanted to go to Dublin - which is pretty much guaranteed to be in the cheapy offers list next time around!

[quote user="Chancer"]I had a phone call last night from an English ex-customer and friend who had lived and worked in France for over 30 years, could speak more of the local Picard patois than the locals and who visited me here in my second week here. I was telling him what life was like now that I really know, and more importantly, speak the language well enough to understand the people in my village, the local town, and their values. He said that he had tried to warn me that I had moved to the ar5ehole end of France, if not the world, but played it down a bit as he didnt want to dispirit me at such a crucial time, and in any case he said that I was wearing inch thick rose tinted glasses. I reckon that it took me a good 3 years to stop wearing them, I might still be wearing them now if I didnt speak French. [/quote] One of the lovely old ladies in the village married an English guy...back in the fifties.  Their children and grandchildren have grown up in the village but he is still referred to by his nationality.  I reckon you have to be third generation before the rural french recognise you as a 'local'.

[quote user="P2"] As for bags, yes, he might have a market for people with virtually no luggage - those who have homes in France. [/quote] We have travelled to the west coast of Ireland for a week in very cool, indifferent weather and we managed very comfortably with hand luggage.  Stan Streason is spot on - most people travel with way more stuff than they need.

[quote user="Mel"]Same 'super' offer... Stansted to Tours return in October (not the holiday period)... just over £100 with taxes! Rip-off![/quote] Maybe you should start costing the trip by alternative means of transport...?  Methinks some people are just plain greedy.

I'm with Gemonimo, Sprogster and NormanH on this one.   Human beings are human beings - I think your rose tinted specs are deceiving you...  However much they hug you, you will still be 'les anglais'...and will be for, at a guess, the next 50 years or so...if, of course, you're still alive by then!

We use the 'Sleep tight' linen spray here http://www.likisma.info/ukcat.pdf (p16) oonly needs a couple of squirts and it works brilliantly.  We've given (or been asked to get) so many bottles of the stuff now (after guests have smelt and loved it) that I have lost track!  (Btw I don't work for, or have any connection with, Likisma other than as a customer).  I don't think the spray is pure lavender as lavender on its own is quite a harsh fragrance - this smells softer than that.  Not sure if it contains Clary Sage, Bergamot or maybe Patchouli oils as well (they all have a similar relaxing effect). 

[quote user="woolybanana"]Scooby is a bint? Great Bobo, they get everywhere these days[6][/quote] This is Kathie's "OH" here. I have kept a passive involvement in the forum and have found your previous comments enlightening and extremely useful in terms of our commitment to our  future lifestyle in France. However, although we live near to Birmingham, I think that this comment is totally unnecessary and I'm surprised that you, "woolybanana", have not yet publicly apologized. PS: Dog - you certainly seem to have a forthright opinion on bankers - they aren't all bad and, like everybody else, work within the constraints imposed by our elected representatives. For such people, I have always smiled at Churchill's comment - "the biggest argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter", or words to that effect.  

Of course! ("....alertés par un appel téléphonique d'un voisin, Michel Vigne") The thing is our french neighbours are building a new house next door using the same barter system...but, funnily enough, no gendarmes yet....

[quote user="AnOther"]Can anyone (would anyone) actually choose to live in France solely on a UK state pension which is what, about €5600/annum ! Isn't that below the self sufficiency threshold for legal residency ? [/quote] My parents live on a state pension...and save £2.5k a year - so it is possible.  Having said that, they live in the UK where the cost of living is a lot lower.

[quote user="NormanH"]This case about bartering ("Services d'échange local" or SEL) among British immigrants is what I was thinking of . It is considered as 'working on the black'. [/quote] ...also known as beware of your anti British neighbours [;-)]  Vive la protectionist society!

[:D] [:D]

Sounds a brilliant idea Tony.  When we finally get to spend more time in France (1 year 11 months and 21 days..not, of course, that we are counting!!) we'll definitely look it up.

I read it perfectly well and understand that you agree with me [:)]  This is why, I guess, you are in support of the 'liar' mortgage applications.

[quote user="Dog"]at one time I made 50p for every Barclaycard stolen in the UK and I could have saved them money but why bother. I used the money to help charities and natural health societies.[/quote] So that makes fraud and theft ok then..?