DerekJ

Just tried calling a French 09 tele number (Groupama) from our UK landline but the recorded message we got seems to be saying we can't be connected...  any idea what the problem is, or workaround? Thanks

[quote user="woolybanana"]Well, educating oneself means knowing how, say, sex toys work and telling everyone, whereas cultivating oneself is becoming an expert in their use and telling noone.[/quote] Magic.... the best reply I've seen in ages.[6][:D]

A bit like Emirates Airlines have an icon on their seatback displays showing the direction of Mecca.

We bought and brought all our furniture  over from the UK (spread over several hire van trips).. this included our kitchen, TV, HiFi etc. We bought our white goods in France. We never found any furniture that appealed to us in French shops.

The detail on compatibility with Nikon bodies/lenses can be found in the attached chart.  Bottom line, some will, some won't. http://www.nikonians.org/reviews?alias=nikon-slr-camera-and-lens-compatibility

Guilty as charged.... although I usually vote in all elections I never this time. Who was I to vote for???? I never fancied any of them. In fairness the Conservatives did at least put a flyer through our letterbox... zilch from everybody else.  Although usually a Conservative voter I really can't stand Cameron. Yes, I know this was for local elections but in no way did I want to show any support for Cameron.

Perhaps I've missed it but what is the definition of "wealthy" that keeps getting referred to?

Reminds me of a Jimi Hendrix song ........  Purple Haze [:)]

Apart from splitting public opinion I find my own opinion is quite divided but I think on balance I have a positive view of her. I just look at the competition at the time and think would I have preferred the alternatives?... those in the frame I think were: Callaghan, Foot, Kinnock, Steel, Owen, Ashdown.  No, sorry, I can't believe any of them would have done a better job.

I don't see (from your description of events) that you could possibly be to blame. You weren't making a “un arret non-autorisé" as you had simply obeyed the rules of the road and "cédez le passage". Additionally, you weren't stopped at all at the time of the impact... you were moving. Or am I missing something?

Thanks for both posts Danny. I don't think I'll go down to VPN route but it's good to know just in case. My TV and laptop can both handle the HDMI connections and multi-monitor solution. However, it then becomes a bit of a drag to start cabling up just to watch iPlayer. But again, at least a solution if I got desperate. The real shame is that other than the VPN solution, it degrades the functionality of the new Humax boxes with their ability to "go backwards" through their programme guide. Thanks again...

Thanks Sid. No problem about your feedback. This was the area that had/has me confused and with no practical experience of using ExPatShield I can't work out if it can be used in conjunction with Humax type devices or not.

Thanks Sid. You've confirmed my understanding of the general functionality and setup. The bit I still don't understand is how ExpatShield could be applied to Humax box. Presumably Expatshield is installed on a PC but then how is this applied to the Humax?  at the router?

Thanks for the feedbacks.... useful. I went over to Richer Sounds in Weybridge this morning and had a chat with them. It appears that I can do most of the things I need without the need for an internet connection... recording, pause, rewind of a programme I'm watching. It also appears that I'd get access to the Freetime/EPG menu but wouldn't be able to use the backwards looking function or the various iPlayer services. On balance that is probably all I really need. As I have no experience with ExPatShield and similar programs I don't really understand quite how they run. My presumption has been is they run on the PC you are using to access iPlayer etc... so how that would or could work with a device like the Humax isn't clear to me.

Thanks for the reply JJ. Not very encouraging though[:(] Tbh, I'm not so worried about iPlayer, 4oD but it's things like the Freetime functions, Pause, going backwards from the EPG. I'm not sure what are satellite transmission functions and which are internet reliant. If the box is overall unstable and unreliable I don't want to shell out that kind of money

We've currently got a Sony TV with inbuilt Freesat at out house in the Lot. This works very well but we'd like to be able to record programmes and we're considering buying a Humax Freesat+ HDR-1000S. At present we don't have an internet connection but this is something we will have put in place. A lot of the functionality of this particular Humax box (iPlayer, catchup etc) seems to be predicated on internet connectivity and I'm hoping to understand  bit more about this later today. My question is, does anyone know how the workaround for out of UK services using programs like ExpatShield and similar work with devices like the Humax?

[quote user="sweet 17"][quote user="Chris"]My wife and I enjoy MD's programmes, especially French Gardens. As we live in England, it's a nice way to 'tour' France.[/quote] If you want to "tour" France, I suggest that you watch the Tour de France this summer.  Believe me, it's better than any travelogue, especially if you watch it on French TV.  I don't know what your French is like but, even if it's no better than mine, you'd understand enough to thoroughly enjoy it. [/quote] I totally agree. Apart from loving to watch the racing (which I do as a keen cyclist) the TV coverage of France is usually spectacular and some of the helicopter shots are fantastic.

I don't now if France has any of the mobile scratch repairers that exist in the UK? I've no idea if they are any good and whether your particular scratches could be resolved by them. I have used a (recommended) mobile car interior repairer and he was excellent and not expensive.

You notice the common denominator in so many of these scams... "WESTERN UNION".

Betty. That sounds perfect and definitely VERY useful. I'll make a note of the details you give and take it with us. Many thanks indeed.

Nick. That's great... thanks a lot.

Thanks Anton.  Yes, that route uses the Pont Mathilde. So from what I can see that is still closed and the opening date looks a bit vague. Nick. When using the route (northwards) that you describe I presume that after crossing Pont-de-L'Arche you go along the N15 (Route de Paris) and then end up going through the tunnel?  Do you go southwards using the reverse of that route and is the turn off after the tunnel for the N15 fairly obvious?

Having last travelled through Rouen last October I've rather lost touch on what has happened there and the fire? Can anyone advise me on the current situation and whether my usual route (detailed below will be effected.... Coming from the direction of Calais - A28 (E402) - Tunnel de la Grand Mare - N28 (E402) - Voie Est de Rouen - Cross river - take 2nd right exit and loop down onto Avenue du Grand Cours - continue straight on onto Bd. Industriel - Bd. Lenine (Railway yards on the right - through multiple traffic lights) - straight across Cows Roundabout - follow D18e onto A13 (E05) in the direction of Louviers - turn off onto N154 On the return we use the reverse of the above. We are travelling again in early March. Many thanks

[quote user="sweet 17"]Alas, our satellite dish was covered in snow last night and we couldn't get a good enough signal to watch. Is there a repeat during the week? [/quote] This Thursday (14/2) at 23:00 UK time.  BBC4 btw. I recorded it and played it back tonight. I found it very interesting.

BBC4 Monday 21:00 UK time - start of new series on The Hundred Years War...  if you are interested. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00yjy5r