brianagain

As long as Farage and his party keep bandying around statements like "Britain paying £40 million a day to the EU" without any figures to prove this, I take anything he says with a very large grain of salt. Brian (again)

Towards the end of 1995 the £ dropped to just above 7.50FFr the equivalent of approx £1 = 1.15€ - todays latest rate is 1.1688€ (BBC Market data at 2055 UK) Brian (again)

[quote user="Gardian"] It was interesting to look at the schedule for the Mt Ventoux stage.  It's an hour for them from Bedoin to the summit.  It only took me half an hour the other day. Two minor differences: I was in a car and descending!   Don't know how they do it (nor where they're going to put all the usual media infrastructure - there isn't much room up there).   [/quote] Starting today in Nancy is the Dauphiné Liberé, a one week race which many of the leading TdF contenders use to build up their stamina and fitness. This Thursday, 11 June, it includes a stage from Valence via Nyons and Bedoin to a mountain top finish on Mt Ventoux and which will be shown live on France3 Med. so will be a good rehearsal for the Tour a few weeks later. Probable TdF winner Alberto Contador will be in this race as will be Britain's David Millar. Brian (again)

[quote user="Iceni"]I thought that even NormanH would know that tax avoidance is legal. [/quote] Tax avoidance is of course legal - just as many UK MP's expenses were also within the rules, but we know the fuss caused there (esp. by the Telegraph) I don't have a problem with tax avoidance as long the individual or organisation uses  a tax relief in the manner for which it was intended. Brian (again)

[quote user="Tandem_Pilot"]Why on earth does it say no information in the 'Route' and hide it all in the 'Time Schedule' - must be a French thing [/quote] Another visit to the website tonight - seems like maps have been added to replace the no information, so should cause less confusion. Hope this now makes more sense. Brian (again)

Having selected the stage click on the heading  "Time Schedule" Brian (again)

With only a few weeks to this year's Tour, the organisers have now posted the full itinary for all the stages. Get ready to boo /cheer the return of Lance Armstrong*. www.letour.com/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/le_parcours.html edit- you will need to select a stage and look under "Time Schedule" * published today is an interesting new book by Pierre Ballester (formerly of L'Equipe) Le Sale Tour, which seeks to expose Lance Armstrong's past. www.lemonde.fr/livres/article/2009/06/03/le-sale-tour-de-pierre-ballester-et-david-walsh_1201779_3260.html Brian (again)

[quote user="Clarisworkz"]Smoking in a french cafe etc was the norm not so long ago. It was part of the french culture. [/quote] I still remember a quote many years ago on a tv travel programme about Normandy by the late Pete McCarthy. "They should have a fag on the flag" Otherwise I echo Cendrillon's comment about Gardian - if only all smokers were so considerate. Brian (again)

You've obviously not heard of the (in)famous Madame Claude then. Brian (again)

At the moment I am also on a alcohol (and caffeine) free regime for medical purposes for a few weeks. Back here in the UK I can get Erdinger Weissbier alkoholfrei easily in Tesco. All the major German wheatbeer brewers, Paulaner, Franzikaner and Erdinger produce an alcohol free versions which I believe are widely available in Europe (eg available in Malta last year). While not quite the real thing I find them fairly acceptable (even as a long-standing member of CAMRA and Les Amis de la Biere), See review below (in French) Brian (again) http://beijo.canalblog.com/archives/2008/07/10/9866565.html

I know that several members here have discussed these coffee makers and should be aware of a possible recall by Philips (mine falls into this category). Check out your product number and production date on the Senseo website (www.senseo.com) Brian (again)

An exciting race this afternoon, eventually won by the best man on the day, Tom Boonen, but sadly spoiled by an accident in Orchies when an official motorbike veered off course into the crowd - all shown live on FR2. I believe there were 16 taken to hospital, three of whom are reported to be serious. Brian (again)

From the press release "le bouquet FRANSAT™ sera accessible sans abonnement aux seuls foyers résidant en France métropolitaine." In other words restricted to viewers in France only - I wonder if this means they will not be as easily available in the big electrical stores / hypermarkets as is the case with TNT Sat receivers currently (no proof of place of residence is required at the check out). Brian (again)

This weekend sees France's toughest ever bike race (even Lance didn't dare) with the race also known as the Hell of the North taking place this Sunday.  The race is one of the oldest professional bike races and is famous for the many dreaded cobblestone sections such as the Trouée d'Arenberg. It's being shown on France 2 from 1330 on Sunday and far harder  and more exciting than watching someone driving round in circles or just kicking a ball for an hour or so. Brian (again) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8uyPnIveJo&feature=related

I note from the Guardian that Ryanair have been reported to the Office of Fair Trading by the Air Transport Users Council regarding the online check-in fee saying that it may breach consumer protection regulations. Teapot stated that "Ryanair also run on time 90%+ not something the rail networks can boast" However independent research (Flightontime.com) shows the latest figures for Ryanair punctuality (less than 15 min late) to be 76.44%. The most recent figures for rail punctuality in the UK are 89.9%. Brian (again)

Just a small observation - are you looking at a transcript of the census or a copy of the original census form? I recently found a confusing spelling error on one of my ancestors details in a census transcription. (Carrick island - which is in Antrim - had become Carnish island - in Cork) Brian (again)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/cartoon/2009/mar/11/steve-bell-cartoon-nicolas-sarkozy-nato Any offers for a caption to todays cartoon?? Brian (again)

... or even Paris-Nice now showing on France4 all this week (Vichy-St Etienne this afternoon). Yesterday's stage won by French rider Chavanel was a real cracker although the weather in the Auvergne looked pretty wet and miserable. Even if you don't watch the race you get to see the local scenery as well, so looking forward to tomorrow as the finish passes through Ruoms into Vallon Pont d'Arc. Brian (again)

[quote user="Gluestick"] The sheer nonsense that has inevitably emerged about global finance and banking since the beginning of the crisis astounds me! I was simply pre-empting the inevitable............................................   [/quote] I agree! Thank you for your incisive analylsis. Brian (again)

[quote user="Gluestick"]It's all the fault of the Illuminati: Bilderberg: Davos: Alien Invasion: The New World Order: Freemasonry: The Priory of Scion. etc Groan............................. You are not a member of the David Icke Fanclub are you by any chance? [/quote] I'm mystified as to where the above form part of a constructive criticism? Brian (again)

I'll second Will's choice of the Miele Cat & Dog - not cheap but IMO the best on the market (we replaced a Dyson). Brian (again)

LTI Vehicles - the manufacturer of London Taxis? Brian (again)

If you are missing the sunshine, views of vineyards and an international cycle race check out the Tour Down Under with lots of video footage of each stage here: http://www.sbs.com.au/cyclingcentral/ Brian (again)

[quote user="powerdesal"]I have just been involved in a 'discussion' (argument) regarding the value of low energy lightbulbs ... Discuss..... [/quote] Actually so far I don't think I have expressed a personal view regarding low energy lightbulbs other than providing a response to Steve's original post (plus a dig at the daily mail). However, I have installed these at home and am happy to enjoy a slightly lower bill for electricity and, apart from a slow start on the older ones, find that they are more than adequate, especially in areas such as the outside porch - that said, my wife does not like their immediate effectiveness. Living in the west country there is no major problem when recycling;  any that fail are put aside to go to our local recycling centre (there are 18 in Somerset that accept them) every few months along with batteries, tetrapaks, etc. (hardly a chore).  The WEEE directive means that this should be available throughout Europe. My only recent experience is in Freiburg, but that of course is hardly a typical European city. Back in the dark ages (1960s in the FAA) when calibrating aneroid aircraft instruments we often blew the mercury out of the top of the test equipment and had to chase it around the bench tops by hand before cleaning it through a chamois cloth - all done without any protective equipment. Brian (again) « la bière c’est de l’amitié liquide » - Ronny Coutteure

Gluestick and Ernie Sorry to be a pain but perhaps we are confusing efficiency (quantitative) with effectiveness (quality). Brian (again)