ventodue

[IMG]http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr42/Ventodue/CachorroMutley.gif[/IMG]

Nice enuf, I guess, altho' personally I'm not too keen on reincarnations.  That's some price tag, too... Craig

What ticks me off is that this kind of stupidity just provides ammo for those people who want to ban motorcycles, period. We all get tarred with the same brush ... Craig, Motard en colère [:@]

Ta.  Could be useful  (I'm trying to rent a couple of Trans Alps in Corsica in May - can I get anyone to answer the phone or e-mail?  No - guess they may all be 'en vacances' ...) Here's a reference site for anyone looking further afield, btw. http://09.com/motorcycle-rental/ Cheers Craig  

Like JustJohn said, powerfloat is a great finish for something like a garage, being smooth, hard and impermeable. (I've used it in warehouses, distribution units etc - its relatively quick and cheap and allows the use of forklifts etc without the surface being damaged).  Depending on the skill of the operator and the time taken on the polishing, the finish ranges from matt to a semi-gloss.   Whether you want it as a finish in a house is a matter of taste - I've seen it looking ok and I've seen it looking horrible. But it does need to be done by people who know what they're doing - there's no going back if you muck it up ...  If done properly, no, it doesn't need sealing afterwards, but you can apply a cement wax which will make it shinier and tend to darken the finish colour. HTH Craig

[:)][quote user="BIG MAC"] Kind of assumes that we can ascertain that a highway is unsafe... [/quote] Good point, Mac.  FWIW, when I was working for an organisation that organised guided walks, we always ensured that the route was walked by the walk leader a couple of days before the event, and that this fact was duly recorded. It kinda makes sense to do this anyways; but it was, in part at least, also a defensive preparation against an accustion of, "Well, no-one told me that the path was slippery" [:)] Cheers Craig P.s Thanks, Sunday Driver and Josa, for some clear guidance.

Gotta agree, ErnieY. Asbestos roof sheeting is only a problem when it's broken or deteriorated as this is when the fibres can become airborne.  For example, here is the current UK govt's advice (my underlining) (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/Planning/DoingWorkYourself/DG_10022562) "What to do if you think you have asbestos in your home It is very hard to identify asbestos, but if you suspect that you are living with asbestos: don't panic and leave asbestos alone, it's safe unless it's damaged or disturbed." Removing it is when it becomes dangerous - it breaks and flakes and fibres can start flying about.  Which is why this is meant to be done by a specialist following the correct work procedures and taking it to a licenced site for disposal.  (Btw, I see its use wasn't completely banned in France until 1997 - 1er janvier 1997 : L'usage de l'amiante est interdit, par le décret n° 96-1133 du 24 décembre 1996). As regards having to remove asbestos as a result of a diagnostique, you are only required to do this if the asbestos is already degraded.  For anyone who wants to know more, details here http://www.bmiconseil.fr/index.asp?id=356. Abestos surveys also help in that they warn you, the owner, to not go and interfere with it, and also so that you can also advise any workmen of its presence. P.s. White asbestos is not the main concern, anyway.  The real killer is the blue and brown asbestos that was used, for example, in pipe insulation, mainly in commercial buildings (and submarines). Cheers Craig

Here's a good 'un ... http://www.amazon.com/Playmobil-Radar-Patrol-4/dp/B0002YM17Y/ref=pd_sim_t_2 Read the review, too. Craig

[quote user="pouyade"]All such are hang overs of the misguided notion that what happens in the private sector works and is automatically better than in the public sector; and that it should be imposed on the public sector. Having had senior experience of both, I disagree!! Pouyade[/quote] Yup, you're preaching to the choir there! [:)] Cheers Craig

Yeh, last I remember was Fillon saying things weren't ready ... "Le Premier ministre a tranché, mercredi 13 février 2008 : « Le contrôle technique moto ne paraît pas aujourd’hui techniquement prêt. » " FFMC has organised a petition against: http://www.motardsencolere.com/spip.php?rubrique53/, one argument being: "En effet, avec seulement 0.7% des accidents de 2rm directement causés par une défaillance technique du véhicule, on ne constatera pas d’amélioration du risque moto par la mise en œuvre d’un contrôle technique". Me, with 5 bikes all in GWO, I'm saying nothing ...[:)] Craig

[quote user="pouyade"] The bonus scheme was imposed upon the Police service most senior ranks by politicians whom the cynical might think hoped thereby to influence police activities more closely than many would be comfortable with.<snip>  Pouyade [/quote] Obviously I can only speak for myself here, Pouyade, but what I still have trouble getting to grips with is the notion that senior public servants should receive any bonus payments at all. At one level, this is a matter of political philosophy which others may naturally disagree with.  But at a practical level, my reason is as you indicate in your statement above - it can be used as incentivisation to pursue centrally set targets, potentially at the cost of other equally or more valid activities. Apparently, a number of senior police officers were of the same opinion.  Good! Craig

[quote user="cooperlola"][quote user="Dog"] I cannot get too excited about Modern F1, Grand Prix for cars finished in the 1960s for me. [/quote]Pretty much with you there.[/quote] Yeh, stick with MotoGP! This year should be hot, very hot ...!

The idea of Globish is a good one.  Been done before, of course, e.g. various forms of pidgin English. Taking the thread down a slightly different road, have you noticed how the French - and the Chinese, Japanese and others, I'm sure - take English words and give them an entirely new meaning?  For example, what the hell does a 're-looking' mean in English?  Diddly squat, but ask any French woman and she'll know exactly what it means! We had some difficulty persuading our French neighbours that 'relooker' doesn't exist in English ...[:)]  (And when did le brushing come to be used for blow-drying?) Brilliant!  Isn't this how all language develops?  After all, English is about as mongrel a beast as you could find ... Ciao Craig

And even when they're 'caught out', they're so stupid ... "The Association of Chief Police Officers denied trying to block the release of information to The Times. A spokesman said: “Generally speaking openness is encouraged as much as possible.” "Generally speaking ..."?!?  And there was I thinking these people were public servants. Nah, don't even go there ... Hey ho Craig

LOL [:D]  You wouldn't be bored, waiting for the biking season, by any chance? Great photo, btw Cheers Craig  

Excellent and congratulations! And remember: size isn't everything [:)]  I have as much fun on my 350 as on my 1000 ...  As always, 'horse for courses'. Cheers Craig

[quote user="Bugbear"]Beemer, have a look here to get some idea of current pricing. [/quote] "Wot, no Laverdas?" Tsk ...[:)] Craig

[quote user="splishsplash"]<snip> Do you know at what age the juvenile's head turns from all red to red nape only? Also, the juvenile I assume would be last Spring/Summer's hatching? [/quote] 'Yes' to the second question and ... "Ah, that's a good one' to the first [:)] Don't know for sure how long woodies take to grow up; however, the general rule is the bigger and/or long-lived the animal/bird the longer they take to mature - and thereby (in the case of birds) acquire full adult plumage.  A Golden Eagle, for example, will still be wearing kiddie's clothes until he/she is 5 or more and, likewise, some of the larger gulls can take up to 4 years before acquiring full adult plumage. That said, I expect your woodpecker will probably be in adult plumage later this year, albeit possibly a drabber set than the older birds.  However, I'm sure a woodpecker expert will correct me if I've given you the wrong info, tho'! Cheers Craig

[quote user="ErnieY"]. Furthermore there are already enough horror stories of the DVLA denying receiving SORN's ...[/quote] Do it on-line.  Instant confirmation. Craig, with 5 bikes currently SORNed in the UK and looking for a garage to rent in/near Montpellier ...

[quote user="Dog"] Ducati Darmah 900 1976 Still got it.[/quote] Ah, excellent, another Dramah Queen - and an early one, too.  1979 SSD, me ... (Plus Ducati SCR, Ducati Vento, Laverda RGS Corsa and Laverda 750 Formula). First bike: a Moto Guzzi 250 TS.  Looked nice - go http://www.maier4all.de/Grafiken/Moto%20Guzzi%20250TS_1.jpg - but only went well on Belray and if I remembered to bounce it up and down on the front forks to mix the oil and the petrol.  Put me off 2 strokes for life, really ... Ciao Craig

[quote user="splishsplash"]Can anyone (Chris?) tell me the difference between these woodpeckers. We have three regular visitors to the tree behind our house. I thought they were all lesser spotted but... They are all black & white, not too big & all three are red underneath.[/quote] Not Lesser Spotted, then.  Lesser Spottted is also very small, btw - about the same size, altho' not shape, as a House Sparrow.  They are also pretty inconspicuous and have fairly particular habitat preferences, typically old orchards and river valleys, especially with Alders. [quote user="splishsplash"]However, one has an all black back to the head,[/quote] Not Middle Spotted then, which has red head, both male and female.  Also, altho' larger than Lesser and therefore nearer the size of Greater Spotted, Middle always looks smaller than Greater.  Middle favours mature oak woods, most often high up towards the canopy. [quote user="splishsplash"] ...one has all red & the other has a small amount of red to the back of the head & the rest is black.  I thought that the all black was female, the mostly red was male, but what's the other one?[/quote] Which leaves us with Greater Spotted, in which: Black head  = female Black with red nape = male Red head = juvenile (male/female) Plus, Greater Spots are the least 'habitat-specific', and are the most likely of all 3 species to come to garden feeders. HTH Craig

I seem to remember being taught in college - a long time ago now, so don't shout at me if my memory's playing up - that 'in days gone by' oak used to be seasoned by laying it in running water, i.e. streams and the like ... Just an observation ... Craig

[quote user="Bob T"]<snip> The bikeclubfrance site has some info but so does the bike section on this forum. [/quote] Ah, yes, this is also true [:)].   Mea culpa ... Craig (4 re-registered, 1 to go.  Ever tried getting a certificate out of Piaggio for a Laverda?  Yeh, right ...  'Hell, chance, snowball' etc ....)

Pretty much all you need to know here: http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/684121/ShowPost.aspx If you want bike-specific advice, join Bike Club France here: http://bikeclubfrance.com/forum/index.php and go here http://bikeclubfrance.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1359 Ciao Craig

Hi JohnRoss, You can get 2-pack floor varnishes which are harder wearing, but that might be a little OTT unless the stairs are going to get a lot of use.  I used it in an office building some years back - the architect shouldn't have specified wooden treads in the first place, really.  Hellish noisy.  But I digress ... Is the staircase inside?  If so, might be better to just make sure people take their outside shoes off first [;-)]  But no, seriously, a normal varnish should do and will only be slippy if the base wood is really, really smooth.  One of our student lets has a varnished wooden staircase and that's still ok after 3 years - and, to the best of my knowledge, no-one has yet fallen down it [:)] HTH, Craig