dave

I had to have my cat put down last week.  She had suffered a mild stroke which affected her back legs and she seemed not to know what was going on anymore.  She was a 21 year old 'Heinz' variety, with a good life behind her so we decided that a battery of tests was not an option.  Although we miss her, it was the right decision. Sorry to waffle!!  I am in the UK at present and have been buying the Whiskas fishy food in cans, as that is all she would eat.  I have been complaining for some few weeks about the smell it gives off.  It is really vile, goodness knows what is actually in it. Would love to know if you get an answer from the company. Regards Dave

How I laughed to read about your dogs.  I live in the country and got mine, Brandy, from a local gamekeeper.  Everyone said that he would be completely bonkers until he was about 4 years old.  Of course I just laughed because I have had many dogs, why should this one be so different.  But he was exactly that.  Sooo much energy, he could run all day.  He had a habit of finding carcasses and odd bones from the fields ( just for fun you undersand) and bringing them to you.  One must have been poisoned bait for foxes and he died a week later. He was just 5 and calming down into the most affectionate and lovely dog.  That was a long time ago, but he made tremendous inpact on everyone we still remember and wonder at his antics that could drive us mad.  So keep going if you can it's very much worth it in the end.

Not sure why this should happen to you.  I have tried to log into my account and all seems to be working as normal.  I am in UK though... Dave  

Sorry to hear you're a bit chilly.  I'm in Kent this week and it's been brilliant.  Wall to wall sunshine 18 C; although the days are getting noticably shorter and the house martins are gathering on the telephone wires. Regards Dave    

 I know this sounds peculiar, but I got travel insurance for my 86 year old mother from the British Moutaineering Council.  They were very co-operative and not expensive. She did have a couple of medical conditions - nothing serious- but they didn't seem to worry.  I don't think they have any age limit.  I presume that they consider all the older generation to be a better risk than a person doing extreme sports or, climbing moutains.  Hope that helps. Regards Dave

I have been using PC Pitstop for a couple of years.  They seem legit and the site has some very useful information in it.  I have never had any interference, popups etc.from the site during that time so I think maybe you have picked up some malware.  I would take the advice to run the spyware scan before anything else. Regards Dave

I would make this plea to anyone considering putting poison down anywhere. Please don't.   I had a beautiful 4 year old springer spaniel - mad as a hatter - always picking up odd bones, or carcasses from the fields during his walks.  He thought it was amusing.  One day he chose the one baited for foxes by the local farmer.  He never ate or drank again and died within the week despite visiting the vet on a daily basis for injections.  It was a very nasty death,  please don't cause that in any other animal. Regards  Dave

She looks fantastic. Do you know her history ?  Is that a brand on her neck, or just an old injury ?  Top marks to you for saving her, at eight she is just a teenager... Regards Dave

We are coming, at the end of July, to our house near St Hilaire with two small children.  They specially want to see fireworks !!    Does anyone know if there are any displays on locally at that time?  We have been before to a very good one in St Hilaire and an excellent one in Heussé. Many thanks for any info. Dave

This little tool has been running for a few weeks now.  It is an easy way to sort through some of the exchange rates running at any given time. It is simple to use and you don't have to join or anything.    Here's the link (hope it works) http://travelmoney.moneysavingexpert.com/ Dave    

JR-- Yes I realise that they usually work on opposite sides, but this time it was definately a burly Yorkshire man doing the chatting at Folkestone and a lady from London doing  the swabbing.  I haven't used Eurotunnel for some time so am probably a bit out of touch. Anyway, it all seemed to work very well on that day.... Regards Dave

Wandering through the Eurotunnel web site about a month ago I found that a day trip would cost £42, cheap I thought, and booked it.   We live in Kent so it's very easy to get to the terminal.  We travelled last Sunday.  First time to try the automatic check in.  Everything worked perfectly. Check in easy, trains on time both ways, no long queues. Had a great day in Arras.  I have travelled with Eurotunnel when things have not been thus.... but Sunday was good. I'm still puzzled tho' that on this side of the channel my passport is checked, my car door handles and steering wheel are swabbed for explosives, a burly Customs guy has to chat to me whilst casting ten eyes (in different directions) around the car interior before I can get in lane.  On the French side a decapitated hand waves us past Customs and that is that........ c'est la vie. Happy travelling  Dave    

No! It's full of adverts.   Why wont my canna lillies come up ?  Is it possible to put those tuber things upside down? ( 2 questions in one 'cos I haven't had a go before....) Dave

a secret pair..... in her greenhouse, but she would'nt show them to anybody until the day of the competition.  Patrice the local taxi driver happened to wander past at that moment.........

nice fireside chat with Doddy.  He is raffling one of his cast off tickling sticks where would you like to ...............

I watch the Dog Whisperer on television - not sure which channel, lovely guy called Caesar Milan.  He recommends siting the collar, not a choke chain, high on the neck just under the jaw similar to the position of a show dog's collar.  Apparently you are missing the strong neck muscles further down and it should be easier to control the dog.......  Well it's just a tv programme !   By the way you need positive energy too !!!! 

Watch out for drivers flashing you...................................   Hi Bugbear   It wasn't you in the people carrier who flashed us  about two minutes before we got stopped.....  We made some inane comments about French drivers at the time......  and then we took it all back.  Why we didn't recognise the signal I have no idea-- quelques gens sont stupide. Anyway my OH  has arrived without incident this time.  Nice talking to you    

Coming home from our house in Normandy last year my husband got a speeding fine from a handheld conveniently situated with it's owner behind a bush.  He got three points and paid E90.  Not sure how that equates to your table Bugbear.  Perhaps they were only short of coffee money.  Anyway it was his own fault and I must say it has concentrated his mind; he will be more careful in future, so it seems to work. In fact he should be halfway back to the house today  ----- He did send me a text message this morning to say that he had been chosen for a visit to the customs shed before embarking,   I hope that the last uniform he sees today........ Dave's BH [better half]

I'm in east Kent UK, not far from Pas de Calais. The sun is brilliant, the breeze is a bit chilly so you have to keep moving.  It' s a super day. Dave

I have an  MG and whilst it is a super car the given 'skinny' spare wheel is a joke.  If you have a puncture on the front it wont fit because  the brake discs are too big.  So you need to take a normal tyre off the back and put on the front, then put the 'skinny' on the back !!  When I bought it I made the salesman put in a normal sized spare.  There is plenty of room in the well. Dave  

I am in the UK at the moment and can log in as usual.  All seems OK now, I'm using Madasafish ...

Yes, I booked a flight to Dinard yesterday for 1p, but the taxes were £23.??.  I think today flights are going for 99p.  Be careful when you are booking they have a nasty habit of adding charges for baggage, insurance, credit/debit cards etc.   Dave

Just to clarify I am Dave's better half !

Hi all, Thoroughly annoying isn't it.  My birthday is in October, so I just miss the new 30 year rule.  I also have to work until I'm 60years 6 months and 16 days old because they are gradually raising the age for women to 65. I've started counting......  

Wittington