Braco

Have any members purchased granite setts. Any pointers would be useful. I am looking for 100mm cubes to resurface the drive in the Bezier’s area.

The real problem is that successive governments have created an immense number of unemployable and under employed people. I for one have no problem with any number of immigrants; they are generally hard working, honest and respectable. Without them the economy would be much poorer. The real issue is to wean the indigenous population off the nanny state. This will take at least as many years as it took to train people to think that the only worthwhile job involves sitting in front of a computer. I travel frequently through Calais, and am pleased to see the rising prosperity of visitor workers. The greatest irony for the knuckle draggers must be that while they are perusing their imperialist wet dreams the BBC is reporting that hundreds of Afghan’s are camped around Calais waiting to get across.

Hi Dexter If you are paying for a survey I suggest that the value would be having the surveyor’s professional indemnity insurance, and this can only be relied on with a written report. The need for a survey depends very much on your own skills and the type of property. I did not use a surveyor.

Hi Bob T It all depends on the value of the property you are purchasing. On more expensive properties £1500 is peanuts when compared to the potential pitfalls. Taking out near 100% mortgages with out substantial reserves to handle unforeseen expenses/currency movements/redundancy in this climate would be not unlike playing roulette.

Immigration has to be controlled - good luck The best form of control is no control - you need to tackle the demand not the supply. Think how successful the control of drugs, pornography …… and anything else has ever been. What is required is correct government policies. Free housing/support should not be available period.

Hi We are a few months ahead of you. It is unlikely that a bank will allow you to include the agency fee. My advice is to seek out and use a good UK based lawyer. Holidays and house viewing trips do not generally mix. We set aside a week and managed to view less than twenty properties.

Try http://www.foch-paris-hotel.com/ We were there over the Bastille holiday - I think that they are running special offers over August Tripadvisor is also a great starting place

I think that markets will be flat at best for the next 5 years with potential for further loses as this recession/depression deepens.   I would not bet on the market as a whole. There are still many companies that are worth taking a punt on.   I like the look of Barclays – BA on the other hand I would not touch.   Cash will certainly not be king once the printing presses kick into top gear.

In my opinion markets are at presently fully valued and likely to remain volatile for the foreseeable future.   My strategy is to buy the dividend. Growth at present like is a lottery win – nice if it happens, but not very likely.   The criteria I use are to judge the value against the threat from the current conditions/competition.   Every segment will have winners and losers – In retail for example, taking a long view I back Tesco rather than M&S.   Outside of the markets I see good long term property opportunities.  

Hi Frenchie I am by no mean an expert on religions. I think that you will find that Orthodox Jewish ladies along with others also have restrictions during the time of month.   If as you say a burqa is religious attire and not cultural, then how in the sense of equal treatment will we stand on skull caps, turbans, nun’s habits ……… the slope is long and slippery.  

Iceni   Which rules in the UK are you referring to?   Is this a competition to become the most repressive?   You either have freedom or you don’t. The minute some one decides what you can or must wear you are in the repressive list.   Totally agree with the French decision to ban all religious insignia at school. To keep the same standard for banning the Burqa would require too many other cultural items to also be banned.    

Scooby I would tend to agree with you up to a point. Similar examples can be found in almost all religions Hindus/Orthodox Jews/Sikhs/Mormons …….. the list goes on. The bottom line is that any parent who values one child over another is ignorant plain and simple – what religion they follow (if any) is not the prime reason. PS I hold all organised religions in as high regard as I do racism/nationalism.  

Scooby Ignorance in all its forms should be attacked and held up to ridicule. Are the examples you cite the actions of ignorant people who happen to be Muslim, or people made ignorant because they are Muslim?   A few decades ago a group of ‘freedom lovers’ produced a hit film called the Eternal Jew. Their descendants are promoting the latest sequel – the Eternal Muslim.   Politicians always need a bogy man to scare the electors, and to cover their short comings.  

Hi Clair Is it really her choice - I have no idea, but would guess that it is a mixture of choice, ignorance of alternatives, fear, herd mentality, desire to conform, and peer group pressure? Much the same as every years fashion changes.  

Hi Frenchie The Burqa is the contrary of liberty and equality. In your opinion and the opinion of others maybe. The only opinion that should matter is the individual that choose if to wear one or not. Ditto tattoos, piercings, union jack shorts.......................... The freedoms of the masses are built on the rights of the individual.   There are a number of things that I also find repulsive, but I do not seek to ban any of them.   Just to put this into context there are many people who find the idea of wearing any swim ware at a beach absurd. Would you also support the banning of swim ware and the introduction of compulsory nudity at the beach?        

Liberty, Fraternity, and Equality – they probably ran out of ink and did not include a long list of things to ban.   In my view beware of any politician wishing to ban things as they are at best ridiculous and at worst counter productive.   Banning drugs gives them a certain cache to some and increases consumption …….. banning the Burka will probably have the same effect.   Leave it to wither and die much the same way as the use of snuff.

The show at the Lido.

The only problem with built in systems is that you cannot use them easily in the US.

I have a TomTom 920T, and am very happy with it. I update every week on line. Another plus is that it acts as a hand free.

We are at the buying stage where even a 0.1 cent movement (in either direction) educes a mood swing. I am sure many members have experienced similar feelings.

Angel Fish If you are looking to start a small retail business. My advice would be to research setting up a stall within a number of markets. The advantage of this is that you will reach far more potential customers, and not tie yourself down to what at best will be subsistence living.

Beware any group trying to impose their views on others. At best they are counter productive, and at worst destructive. Pubs are closing because they cannot make money while a lot of their dwindling customer base is standing outside. While others are spending a fortune trying to provide heat to their gardens.   We have for some years spent fortunes trying to stop people from trading and using recreational drugs. Any success?   As a libertarian I respect the rights of all individuals. If some one wants to open a restaurant that allows smoking that should be their right as is my right to choose if I want to eat there   As a side issue – in my view the greatest curse in life is extreme old age.    

First they came for the smokers......................................................... 

Hi Gluestick I am not naïve enough to believe that we will ever get there. I just see it as a compass that points to the right direction. The current financial situation is rather like a man stuck in quick stand. The more he struggles (politicians interfere) the deeper we sink. This recession was a long time building, and brought to a head by the high oil prices that followed the Iraqi crime and the threats against Iran.. The fallout and long term strategic decisions that will be required are far beyond the comprehension of the current crop of cretins (of all parties).

Looks like its time to borrow money to buy shares in De La Rue then.