Richard T

[quote user="Jacqui Too "][quote user="cowoman"]Hello anyone know how or where I can get an electron card,to save the booking fee on Ryanair???[/quote] I have sent you a PM [/quote] Why? Is it a secret? Richard T

[quote user="Nell"]I had some emails returned when I had a .fr email account.... The main ones were to organisation email addresses rather than private email addresses. I think some companies filter out emails comng from abroad so to speak (UK companies don't want French emails if they don't normally deal abroad) I changed to a .com email address and had no further trouble[/quote] I doubt that companies who filter out emails would bother to "return" them - they'd just delete them. Normally it would be your own service provider's server which,  being unable to deliver the email to the intended recipient's server, would return it to you (or more accurately send you a notice that they had been unable to deliver it). The reasons they could not deliver to the recipient's server would either be that they could not match the address you used with a valid user, the recipients mail box is full or that they apply a policy which simply bounces any mail from specific servers because they perceive the server to be a vehicle for spam. This has happened to me in the past where the BT mail server refused to accept any mail from the provider of my mail service - a small and perfectly reputable provider who hosted my web site domain. This was a real problem as, at my request, my provider was automatically forwarding emails addressed to me @ my domain to my BT acccount (because it was a cheaper option for me than having my own space on my provider's mail server) so anyone who sent emails to me had them bounced because of BT's mail policies. It became so bad that I had to take all my email stuff away from my provider and find a new route for it to take (via a mail server in Germany which provides an excellent free service). Eventually I stopped using BT altogether because it was just refused to reconsider the way it handled my email. Don't know if this helps at all. Richard T

Thanks Clair, you're a star. Richard T   [img]http://media.bigoo.ws/content/smile/winking/winking_48.gif[/img]

Anyone know what the French for the herbal remedy Valerian is? Also, is it widely available in France? Cheers. Richard T

[quote user="Frederick"] I dont have one but I should imagine the cool boxes that plug in the car cigar sockets must help as well  . [/quote]It's a good time to buy them too as the summer is drawing to a close and shops are selling off stock. Just picked up one in Woolies for 10 quid - originally priced at 49 pounds. Richard T

[quote user="Gastines"]Whilst I can appreciate that Condor can't control the height of the waves,I do find it a bit annoying that the staff seem unable to give out correct arrival times.[/quote] I don't think this is limited to Condor. It seems endemic in the travel industry as a whole that when things start to go wrong the information given out is always to make the travel company look as good as possible. For example I travelled from Dover to Boulogne on Speed Ferries recently. Normally they're excellent but bad weather earlier in the day had led to a knock on effect so each subsequent crossing was delayed. Now you would think that with their years of experience they would be able to judge pretty accurately the effect that any particular weather condition would have on their departure and arrival times but apparently not as they initially announced that the ferry would be half an hour late leaving even when to the untrained eye it was already clear that they wouldn't be able to load all the vehicles in time for it to be only half an hour late. In the event the ferry arrived at Boulogne an hour and a half later than the scheduled time. Of course the captain apologised for the "slight delay" and trusted that we hadn't been inconvenienced so that made it all right. In my experience of years of travelling by boats and trains and planes it has become clear to me that whatever delay is initially announced by the transport company is always a gross underestimation. Never believe a word of what they say and always double the estimated delay! Richard T

[quote user="Jacqui Too "]Online check in is open between five days and 4 hour prior to your flight.[/quote] This is what I don't quite get about Ryanair's online check-in. It's easy enough to do it for the outbound flight before leaving the UK but it's not always practical to check-in online for the inbound trip when you're out in the middle of nowhere and have more imporatant things to do than look for an internet cafe . Last time I flew by Ryanair to Limoges I selected the checked in online option. This option seems to cover both inbound and outboud flights as you can't select them seperately I think. So I checked in online for the outbound flight and printed the boarding pass. On the way back I hadn't already checked in so I went to the desk where they checked me in without asking for any additional charges. Was this just a slip up on their part or is this normal practice? I used to fly regularly to Amsterdam on Jet2 and often booked tickets a month in advance. Their system allowed me to check-in online as soon as I had bought the ticket so why does Ryanair only allow it up to 5 days? Richard T

These little inflatable pools measuring 3 metres by .76 with a filter pump - are they any good or are they more trouble than they're worth? OK, I know you get what you pay for but I'm just looking for something cheap and cheerful for the moment but my local Woolies in the UK is selling them off at £15 but Castorama is listing them at 79 euros. Richard T

[quote user="krusty"]You could have a look at the "on line banking demo" from Britline , I know CA branches differ but getting on line should be the same. http://www.britline.com/g1/currentaccount/using/online_banking.asp [/quote] Thanks for that. It's almost the same as the Centre Ouest one except the password box is on the other side of the grid. Richard T

[quote user="nectarine"]You've probably now been locked out, if you tried more than three times and were unsuccessful, so you need to contact the bank and get them to reissue you with a 6-digit pass number.[/quote] I've been quite careful - I'm now on my third number but I'll order one more as, oddly, the third number was exactly the same as the second. [quote]It's also possible that you entered the account number incorrectly - internet access requires only 11 digits but if you look on the bank statement or cheque book, your account number is usually 12 digits long.  That threw me at first, until I realised that the first two digits of my account number are '00' but - when entering the number on the internet - you leave off the first '0' and make sure that the final 11 digits are what you have put in.  Actually, that might be the reason why you couldn't get access, as you probably entered all the digits but the final one wouldn't get entered as it was too long.[/quote] My account number, as advised to me, is 11 digits long although it has three leading zeros. I've tried enterng it without the zeros but it advises me the account number is not recognized. I'll get there in the end[:)] Richard T

[quote user="odile"]piles Pierre! or batteries-    One French student on exchange with my school went to a shop to buy batteries for his camera and asked in his best English, perfect pronunciation 'have you got any piles' couldn;t understand why the shop owner wasn't very pleased! [/quote]The student was obvioulsy a regular on France Forum where it seems de rigeur to insert French mots into English sentences. Pourquoi do they do that?[8-)] Richard T

Just out of interest I looked at the Bravofly site and it allowed me to (pretend to) book a Ryanair flight from Liverpool to Limoges at a cost of 301 euros with no mention that the ticket would be worthless! The same flight on the Ryanair site was 262 euros! On the Ryanair web site they accuse screeenscrapers of  "...levying unjustified and unnecessary handling charges (in some cases up to double the Ryanair fare) on Ryanair passengers." Seems that may be true but the words kettle, pot and black spring to mind. Richard T

Or you could just buy a generator. If you're living there you might need lights - consider solar power. Works for me. Richard T

[quote user="Bugbear"]CA issue you with a code for initial access and setting up purposes, it is not a password to access your account! Once your online account is set up, you access it with your account number and the password you created when you set up the online service. [/quote] Presumably you mean the 6 digit number which was sent to me when I first registered online which is entered via the grid. Are you saying that once passed this stage (which is what I can't get passed) you then have to create a password? Cheers for all the help. Richard T

CA ask for the account number unless I am misunderstanding. The login screen is accessed here and then click Accédez à Vos Comptes. Richard T

Yes it's 6 digits. Richard T

I opened an account with CA Centre Ouest and asked about internet access and was given the URL. I went to the web site and registered and received my PIN by post. When I tried to access the account using the 11 digit account number and inputting the PIN by the funny grid thing I got the message "Votre saisie n'est pas autorisee pour la conexxion, veuillez contacter votre agence." I went into the bank the next time I was in France and they said they needed to make a modification. They completed a "Contrat de Acces Essential" and assured me that with 24 hours everything would be OK. Just tried again and I still get the same message. I don't believe I have locked myself out as I've actually had a new PIN sent so I'ved tried the same thing very carefully quite a few times. As I'm in the UK at the moment it's a bit awkward to contact the bank other than by email but before I do I just wonderd if anyone out there had had a similar experience and might be able to tell me if I'm doing something wrong. Any advice gratefully received. Richard T

I agree. Buy a wok from a Chinese supermarket as not only will you get the real thing but it'll also cost consdierably less than branded varieties. While you're there get yourself a bamboo wok brush which makes cleaning a doddle. Richard T

[quote user="Jonzjob"]You don't drive a Ford Fiesta or Ka by any chance do you Mr T? Cause if you do then I really believe that you know what you are talking about when you call  any TVR a tossermobile! As an after thought, or a Ford Crapie, sorry Crapy, sorry again Caprie? Or a Fiat Polo peut etra? I mean anyone who can tell a tossers car from a google search is one to be admired me-thinks? [:-))][:D] [/quote] OK, OK, this is what I drive. Pretty cool eh? And you know what? I get lots of admiring glances and I've never had the valve caps nicked! [img]http://www.migweb.co.uk/gallery/data/501/45gaznova1.jpg[/img] Richard T

[quote user="Jonzjob"]I mean anyone who can tell a tossers car from a google search is one to be admired me-thinks? [:-))][:D][/quote] Duh! It's not "a tossers car" but "a tosser's car" - with a frigging apostrophe! Do try and get it right! Richard T

Are we talking bid, offer or mid-price? Richard T

[quote user="Quillan"] I do find guests amazing especially those that proudly tell you they are house hunting because the UK is such a cr*p hole and that they are going to do B&B or a few Gites to get a bit of pocket money. I think there are a lot more easy ways of earning money than this business in fact there are probably a few thousand.[/quote] Two questions spring to mind: 1) If it's so difficult then what persuaded you to start a B&B business and why continue it? 2) Can you name just a few of those "few thousand" ways of earning money for the sort of (British) people who see running a B&B as an easy way to earn some pocket money? Richard T

[quote user="Jura"]Richard, I think that these days most establishments place them on the beds with the complimentary toiletries displayed upon them - this is what people usually expect to see when they first enter a room. It looks 'nice' and you would have people asking 'where are the towels?' if you place them elsewhere.[/quote] My knowledge of B&Bs in France is somewhat limited but in the UK my work demands that I spend half my life living in B&Bs. Of course my needs may be different from your average holiday maker but nevertheless after years of experience I have decided that there are a) very few bad B&Bs b) many good ones and c) very few excellent ones. What differentitiates the excellent from the good can sometimes be difficult to articulate but it's definitely not "nice" touches (which to me often seem twee) but much more to do with the welcome, the atmosphere and a feeling of mutual trust. However what is truly essential to even a good B&B is a super clean bathroom (much cleaner than mine at home [:)]) and a toilet seat that doesn't wobble when I sit on it. You would be amazed at how often this basic comfort is overlooked by B&B owners. Richard T

[quote user="cassis"]Ironically, they are described as anti-theft valve dust caps.  [:D] [:D] [:D][/quote] Then the thief should be tracked down and made to work for the company that manufactures them: they clearly have no idea whatsoever about security. Alternatively the thief (or thieves) should be immediately extradited to the UK, tried and found guilty by the Daily Mail and made to serve a 60 year gaol sentence or, failing that, be given 10 minutes of community service - that'll teach 'em. Richard T

[quote user="Cathy"]Back to towels. At first, when we opened our B&B (in the UK), we placed towels on each of the beds.  It was dilemma time every morning, wondering whether they had been used and having to wash them anyway.[/quote] As a very frequent user of B&Bs (in the UK) I have often wondered about this towel on the bed thing. Why not put them in the bathroom where they belong? Many B&Bs these days won't change towels daily and often have a notice up saying that if you want it washed leave it on the floor or in the bath - if not put it back on the rail. Richard T