ventodue

Hi Ceejay, [quote user="Ceejay"]... because the micro will be integrated I shall not use a prise but a fixed connection, although on the prise circuit.[/quote] Same difference, I reckon.  However, I do think a 3Kw micro should properly be on its own circuit, not on the general prise circuit. [quote user="Ceejay"]The four is rated at 3Kw also, so is there a need for it to have its own circuit? [/quote] Yes, according to my understanding of the NF. [quote user="Ceejay"]I understand also that a dishwasher has to have its own circuit?[/quote] Ditto:  "Prise 10/16 A + terre specialisée pour lave-vaiselle alimenté par une ligne indépendante depuis le tableau de protection". HTH Craig

[quote user="Ceejay"] ... connect them to fused connection units or ordinary switched sockets ...  but I am not sure of the French regs on this. [/quote] I'm sure someone will correct me here if I wrong ... but, as suggested by a previous replier, I think one of the problems is that your concepts here are a bit too 'British'  [8-)].  You see, FCUs and SSOs don't really figure in 'La Norme Français C15-100, Installations électriques à basse tension' ... [:)]   To the best of my knowledge, in France socket outlets ('prises') aren't switched and connections units ('sorties de cable') aren't fused - or switched, for that matter. So using either will be outside the competence of the NF. That said, you can probably use a prise for the micro - after all, micros normally come fitted with a plug ('fiche'), right?  And for the oven ('four'), a sortie de cable.  To conform to the NF, the four should be on its own circuit taken straight from the tableau. Btw, the 'plaques de cuisson' need to be protected by a 'interrupteur différential' rated at 30mA, Type A, the other circuits by a interrupteur différential rated at 30mA, Type AC.  Again, cooker control units are a UK thing. HTH Craig

I guess you know what happened to (most of) the French fleet, i.e. Mers-el-Kebir ...? Cheers Craig

[quote user="nectarine"]when do squirrels have and rear their young[/quote] Spring, so pretty soon now (we hope!). [quote user="nectarine"]and at what time of the year would it be safe to assume that all the young have left?[/quote] Late autumn. Me, I'd set to blocking up now ... Cheers Craig

[quote user="suein56"]  It was this: from here that prompted my thought. "Grey squirrels are also thought to steal nuts and seeds from red squirrel winter stores. This results in weight loss in red squirrels and therefore reduced breeding success, as red squirrels need good body fat reserves in order to produce and successfully rear young in Spring." Sue [/quote] Ah, but note the use of the weasel words, "... are also thought to ...".  To which we must always reply, "And your evidence of this is what, exactly?" ( I ain't saying they do, and I ain't saying they don't - but "are thought to" can't be given much credence, I hope you'll agree! [:)] Cheers Craig

[quote user="suein56"] <snip> The nouveaux arrivés being more agressive than the 'red' native. SueUSA in the late nineteenth/early twentieth century. Their success has been to the detriment of our native red squirrels.detriment of our native red squirrels [/quote] I hope you don't mind me saying [:)], but it's not quite that simple, to be honest. Certainly, to quote the Scottish Biodiversity Action Pan for Red Squirrels, "the presence of grey squirrels is detrimental to the local red squirrel population"; but the exact reasons for this continue to prove somewhat elusive. Current research points to a number of factors: 1.  Greys are better able to use certain food sources, particularly acorns and, critically, hazelnuts before they mature. Jessica Holm was one of the people to work this out (she has written a monograph on Red Squirrels, btw.) 2.  Greys carry the parapox virus, but they seem to be immune to it while Reds are not.  It's possible that the virus came in with the Greys. 3.  Greys are much more at home in small areas of woodland or in patchy habitat.  However, Reds like bigger areas of woodland - which is one of the reasons you see Greys in suburban gardens, but not Reds. As I said, I'm not trying to be a smart guy - just hoping to contribute something useful.  Go here for more info http://www.snh.org.uk/ukredsquirrelgroup/default.asp Regards Craig

[quote user="dos-urbane"] <snip> We then received an email from Orange informing us of a 09 telephone number but are a little confused as to what this number is for. Thanks, Rob. [/quote] Hi Rob, It's your VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) number.  Works thru the Livebox.  Basic service is free calls to land lines in France, I seem to remember.  (We also pay a fixed amount for free calls to UK land lines (except 0870 etc). Sorry - can't now remember if you have to wait for it to activate or not.  Might be worth disconnecting and re-connecting the Livebox. HTH, Craig

[quote user="NormanH"] <snip> On this site it says that the length of the contract and its conditions are fixed by the Police, but either side can cancel in respecting due notice. [/quote] Woops. Another bit of mis-translation, I'm afraid ... In this case, 'police' en français = 'policy' in English, not 'Police' [:D] Also, 'résilier' does not mean 'cancel'.  It means 'terminate'.  I think all Axa are doing is telling you they won't be re-newing your insurance when it comes up - they have to give you written notice of this by dint of the Article that they quote. But I stand to be corrected ...[:)] Ciao Craig  

[quote user="Pickles"]I was looking at the French Post Office website (www.laposte.fr) this morning and noticed that (for a fee, naturally) you can upload a letter and they will print it, put it in an envelope and deliver it using the "Recommandée avec avis de reception" service that you need. <snip>[/quote] Thanks Pickles - and Clair, later, for further links - for this.  Could be very useful ... Amicalement Craig

[quote user="chris pp"] It France it's almost totally Serotine bats that carry rabies ...[/quote] Thanks Chris.  So, Daubenton's in UK and Serotines in France ... any idea why? (Btw: To put European rabies in context: According to the WHO, "There are an estimated 55,000 human deaths annually from rabies worldwide, with about 31,000 in Asia, and 24,000 in Africa".)

Hi JR, Your comments on the rabies thing have inspired me to look a bit further (which is one of the things I like about forums like this: they can lead you into all sort of curious byways and backwaters). Incidence of rabies in UK bats is reported as being very low, altho' it is generally held to be higher in European populations (I don't know what the evidence for this is).  In the UK, it seems to be mostly confined to Daubenton's bat (I wonder why?), with "about 2%" of the population having been found with the virus or its antibodies.  Pipistrelles, on the other hand, you'll be glad to hear [:)] have, to date, a 100% clean bill of health. Go here for more info: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/rabies/bat-research.htm. http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/rabies/handlers.htm I remember the case of the field worker in the UK who died of bat-contracted rabies and I seem to recall that he refused any treatment, a point which is made in the papers mentioned above in relation to the 5 other rabies deaths in Europe.  All the UK bat handlers that I know are, of course, aware of the problem, but generally reckon the bigger risk comes from falling off any ladder they might be using in the course of their work [:D] (I notice that Eurobats, the secretariat for bat conservation in Europe, considered whether it was worth setting up a working group to look into the issue - and decided not to). Cheers Craig  

[quote user="JohnRoss"] Well my concern would be if they were ill and that might raise issues for our cat and us[/quote] Hi JR, Don't be too concerned about bats and rabies.  This from the BCT: 1.      Bats and Rabies Some bats in Europe carry a rabies virus called European Bat Lyssavirus (EBLV).  EBLV is not the classical rabies which is usually associated with dogs; classical rabies has never been recorded in a native European bat species. Bats are quite docile and will avoid contact with humans. This means that as long as you don't handle bats, you do not need to worry about bats and rabies. The rabies virus is passed on via a bite or scratch from an infected animal, or from its saliva coming into contact with your mucous membranes (your eyes, mouth or nose). If you do need to handle a grounded or injured bat, always wear gloves to avoid getting bitten.   [quote user="JohnRoss"] ... and am well aware of the benefit of having bats around if only for the number of mozzies a bat eats in a day. [/quote] Well, in that case, I won't let on that, according to Bristol University, pipistrelles' main prey is non-biting midges (Chironomidae) .. Woops! I just did ...

Ah, ha - thanks, Chris, that's good to hear [:D] I wasn't sure about Pips, but I had noticed that BCT draws this distinction between summer and winter sites (http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/how_and_when_do_bats_use_buildings_.html) "Pipistrelle species Both Common and Soprano pipistrelle are crevice dwellers that use many features on and in a building but relatively rarely enter the roof void. Features used in summer include soffits, fascias, barge-boards, weather boarding, between roof felt/membrane and tiles/slates, around window frames, in cavity walls, under hanging tiles and lead flashing. In winter pipistrelle species may use cavity walls or crevices deep in solid walls. I've also found this on the site of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol. (http://www.bio.bris.ac.uk/research/bats/britishbats/batpages/sopranopipi.htm#Life).  Given the present weather conditions, I particularly like, "Relatively insensitive to cold" [:)]  "(Pipistrelle) Roost Sites and Patterns Summer roosts: in cracks and crevices in new and old buildings, behind panelling, shutters and eaves. Also found in bat boxes and trees. Winter roosts: trees, buildings. Exposed groups in crevices in walls and stonework. Rarely underground. Relatively insensitive to cold. Soprano pipistrelle roosts in houses are often unwanted. Lourenco and Palmeirim (2004) investigated the possibility of providing Mediterranean populations of soprano pipistrelles with bat boxes of suitable temperatures as an alternative. Bats were found to prefer the warmest regions in roosts, unless they were 40°C or greater. Black boxes were found to be at the correct temperature more often than white or grey boxes. However, bats left black boxes if ambient temperatures were particularly high. Females are found in nursery roosts of 25-50 individuals from April which they may share with Nathusius' pipistrelle. Barlow and Jones (1999) found that soprano pipistrelle nursery roosts were significantly larger than common pipistrelle nursery roosts. Males occupy territories year-round and defend them during the mating season when special social calls are emitted and the bats smell strongly of musk.

Thinking about this a bit more - you see, I like bats, me - I think your little furry friends may indeed have a problem ... When I wrote that bats chose cool places to hibernate, that was only part of the story.  What they really seek out is cool places where the temperature doesn't alter a lot - caves and the inside of old treees, for example.  That way, they avoid being stimulated out of hibernation by a few warm days. So this doesn't really fit with the fact that they're behind your shutters where the temperature will alter a fair bit.  Bats are also very 'site-faithful', tending to use the same sites over many generations (which is one of the reasons why they are very vulnerable to the kind of drastic changes that humans tend to effect). So, unfortunately, I suspect an old tree has been cut down, or someone has blocked up the entry holes to their hibernation site, or the site has otherwise been destroyed or modified.  But I've been wrong before, so could well be again! [:D] Do post a few updates during the course of the winter, if you can. Cheers Craig

Hi JR, Bats usually hibernate in a different place to either their summer (maternity) roost sites or their rest sites (most species spend a large part of the night not actually flying). For hibernation, they normally choose somewhere that is undisturbed and cool.  While each species has different tolerance levels, many can survive in temperatures below freezing by regulating their metabolic processes and by huddling up (they actually move around, even in torpor).  That said, - 4 degrees does seem to be taking things a bit far ...[;-)] - but, then again, I'm  not a bat [:)]. It may, of course, be that their winter roost has been destroyed or altered in some way since last winter. Go here for more info http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/bat_roosts.html.  If you want more info, I have a friend who works at the Trust who may be able help. As I'm sure you know, it's important to not disturb them.  Waking up from hibernation is very energy demanding, energy that they may not be able to replace if there's no food about. All bat species are protected throughout Europe.  All species are in serious decline, largely due to changes in agricultural practice and destruction of roost sites. HTH Craig

Mian advantage will be no diesel spills :-) (I do know someone who once filled his bike up with diesel ...) Cheers Craig

Hi John, Do you know Bike Club France, http://bikeclubfrance.com/forum/index.php? Cheers Craig

[quote user="Sunday Driver"] Our old cat lives with our daughter back in the UK and she phoned the other night to say he was wedged up in front of her woodburner with a cloud of steam coming off his bum!  ....[:D][/quote] We had a cat -  fairly long-haired it has to be said - who used to sit so close to the fire his fur would start to smoulder.  It was the smell that would alert us ... he, of course, wasn't in the least bit bothered. But then again, he never was the sharpest knife in the drawer ...  Another trick was falling into the water butt and coming in soaking wet.  He seemed to find it all quite normal ... Cheers Craig

[quote user="Bastet"] <snip> One evening recently a blue tit keep dashing itself against the back windows and then just sat on the windowsill, looking in for about 15 minutes. It didn't seem injured or stunned at all.  I thought it was attracted by the light so I turned it off and the bird still sat there.   We turned the outside light on, went out & moved the window box a few inches and it finally flew away. We left the outside light on for about 10 minutes and thankfully, it didn't return. What would have caused this behaviour?   Can they lose their bearings? [/quote] Great Tits are also well known for doing this sort of thing. Lots of ideas have been put forward as to why, but in practice each is no more easy to prove/disprove than the next.  Personally, I rather favour the idea that they see a reflection of the sky, or a tree, or whatever and are trying to fly towards it. Some avoidance ideas here http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4578 It's actually quite a problem - have a look here http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1046354.ece HTH Craig

[quote user="cooperlola"] Skoda France refused to provide a CofC so I got it from the UK.  No probs at prefecture.  Landrover UK refused to issue CofC so I got it from France.  No probs at prefecture. (both vehicles originally registered in the UK.) [:-))] [/quote] LOL!  [:D]

Interesting.  Hyundai (France) have told us to get one from Hyundai (UK) a) because it will be free; b) because a certificate from Hyundai (France) will be written in  ... English, anyway! Will be interesting to see how this plays out. I understand that the Préfecture has the right to ask for translations of foreign language documents; but, based on experience so far - this will be the 5th vehicle I've re-registered - the Préfecture here in l'Hérault has a relaxed and efficient approach to the issuing of cartes grises. Craig

[quote user="LyndaandRichard"]... and very recently a Jay has been spending much time in our garden. I understand they are very shy birds (the jay) and tend not to venture out of wooded areas much. We have woods probably a km away in the distance and a series of paddocks seperates us from it. Today we had two of jays in our garden, hopping along and looking for whatever they look for. Absolutely gorgeous looking birds. R. [/quote] A very important bird, the jay. Have you ever wondered how acorns, a rather heavy seed, get distributed away from the mother tree?  The answer, to a remarkably great degree, is - by jays.  During the autumn, they purposefully seek out and bury large amounts of acorns (to provide food during the winter); and they chose open areas, rather than the wood itself, to do so.  Inevitably, they don't recover all of them and in the Spring, up comes a new oak sedling ... This relationship between oaks and jays was first commented on by Henry Thoreau, a 19th century naturalist, in the States.  But here's the synopsis of a more recent study conducted in Holland:  http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/brill/beh/1979/00000070/F0020001/art00001 In fact, it has even been claimed that without jays, an oak wood will never expand (squirrels, the other acorn hoarders, tend to nip out the growing shoot and also store the acorns within the wood). So, next time you see a fine young oak wood, thank the jays! Hoping this entertains ... Regards Craig

Yep, 10€ too, here in l'Hérault ... (I'll admit there was a bit of guilt money here.  One of our former tenants used to phone up les pompiers threatening to kill himself every time his flat mate locked him out.  And les pompiers are required to respond, of course.  A right little B88t**d, that tenant - only too glad he's gone ...) Cheers Craig

[quote user="chris pp"] Brambling tend towards forming their own groups, frequently in poplars near rivers for winter. They also seem to follow rivers quite often and can be seen flying along them in groups. Have you noticed that? [/quote] Interesting observation, Chris.  I haven't noticed it myself, but will now pay more attention in future [:)]  (Wonder whether they use rivers for migration?). I did notice how early they arrived here in the Midi compared to UK. Cheers Craig

[quote user="Patf"] Thanks for that, ventodue. I'll have to go back and have another look, try to see them again. But I didn't think they were as colourful as that. Just a dull brown with a splash of white. And as they flew up, startled, a loud cheep cheep cheep from all of them. Actually the french link does seem to describe their behaviour and call. [/quote] Ok, most likely chaffinches, then.  I'll admit to being a bit uncertain when you said they were mainly brown ... but a white rump is diagnostic of brambling, chaffinches showing white only in the wing and outer tails.  And the two species do form mixed flocks at this time of year - they're reckoned to be closely related. Cheers Craig