Braco

Hi Debbie The Big Mac index is a very simplistic tool that is meant for fun rather than for serious analysis. The reason that the Big Mac was chosen is that it is identical in all markets where it is sold. Which part of France do you have your eye on?  

The Economist Big Mac index is showing the Euro 20% over valued against the $ while it is showing Sterling as 2% undervalued.

My comment was that the bakers in Herts concentrate on selling sandwiches as opposed to bread. I for one would never buy a ready made sandwich.

A very interesting question. . I would say that in general the quality of food in France is a little higher than the UK. We live in a town in Hertfordshire which has two bakers mainly catering to the lunch time sandwich trade. Pezenas which is the third of the size has at least fifteen. I exclude supermarkets as I feel that even Waitrose cannot produce bread.

Why bother? - I am already 0.0000001% into my challenge of teaching the good people of France Greek.

Any word on this years (2011) rise?

Good news on the Larnaca front

Could be the start of some serious new obsessive-compulsive disorder behaviour.   While I think about our house in France daily, I never worry about its condition between visits.   This changes about 20 miles before arrival to have we been burgled/vandalised and to is it still standing just before we turn the last corner.   Having escaped the allure of wall to wall soaps I don’t want to risk spending hours each day watching the house.  

Not in the slightest. I believe strongly that the freedoms of the masses are built on the rights of the individual. There are many things I find repulsive, the difference is that I do not seek to ban any of them.   At best it is a non issue at worst it is politicians pulling the strings of the insecure and fearful.   I would guess that there are probably tens of thousands of women that are forced by partners to work in the sex industry and to attend swingers clubs. Where are the campaigners?

Interesting how the charlatans that represents us use fear and wasted education budgets to control the masses. The current flavour of the month is Muslim.   I totally disagree that we are living in an age of global terrorism. What little terrorism that exists is promoted to a far higher level than justified, and I am sure that it would dwindle to almost zero if we stopped invading and occupying foreign lands. 9/11 was probably a protest against US troops in Saudi.   On the woman’s rights side of the issue I have no idea how many wear theses garments out of choice but even if the answer was only one I would support their right to choose.

Great video – it is the duty of everyone who loves liberty to ridicule politicians.

My view for what it is worth is that the economic future for most of Europe will remain bleak with a steady and irreversible decline. The centres of wealth creation are moving East, while we carryon thinking that we can create vibrant economies by working for councils and government departments. . Governments of both parties while well intentioned have only succeeded in creating a dependency culture,.

A sensible debate about poverty can only be had after agreeing what constitutes poverty.   Using 60% or 50% of median income is as silly as comparing Warren Buffet to Bill Gates and classifying one of them as poor.   My definition of poverty is one who regularly goes hungry.   The relative wealth between groups within the UK/France are broadly the same. People that know how to budget do well those who don’t struggle.

Another option is the addition of pigments to the final layer. CONCRETE PIGMENTS Here is a list of our most popular concrete dyes. Also refered to as cement dye the powdered pigment is packaged in 25kg bags and is used to colour precast concrete by adding it to the concrete as it is being mixed. These Iron Oxide pigment blends are inter mixable and are the professional choice for colouring concrete. Order total (Any combination of colours) COLOUR 30+BAGS 10-29 BAGS 1-9 BAGS   £ P £ P £ P YORK BUFF 18.00 21.00 23.00 BUFF 21.50 24.50 26.50 DEEP BUFF 21.50 24.50 26.50 YELLOW 24.00 27.00 29.00 STRONG YELLOW 27.00 32.00 34.00 NUT BROWN 20.00 23.00 25.00 LIGHT BROWN 32.00 35.00 37.00 BROWN 24.00 27.00 29.00 RUSTIC BROWN 31.50 34.50 36.50 DARK BROWN 33.00 36.00 38.00 ORANGE 31.00 34.00 36.00 PLUM 27.00 30.00 32.00 RED 24.00 27.00 29.00 TERRA COTTA 24.50 27.50 29.50 STRONG RED 130 26.50 31.50 33.50 STRONG RED Y101 27.50 32.50 34.50 STRONG BLACK 27.50 30.50 32.50 STRONG WHITE 81.00 84.00 86.00 CREAM 42.00 45.00 47.00 YORK GREEN 30.00 33.00 35.00 SAGE GREEN 26.00 29.00 31.00 OLD YORK GREEN 32.00 35.00 37.00

Hi JohnRoss I am a highways civil engineer by training - though I have spent the last thirty years on the management side. What exactly are you building -size/depths/use? The best way to start is to design your mix/formwork/joints. We will shortly be concreting an area near the pool - 50m2 x 0.175. As this area is only to be used for sun beds I will use a C15 mix for the first 100mm and top off with a 75mm mix of white cement/white stone chippings/sand. The slab will have two expansion joints.  

Bricoman have white cement @ 10.11 per 25kg bag (under 4 for grey) 

Just another nasty little story - Halal and Kosher are premium products produced in small numbers by specialist butchers. The chances of it being palmed off as cheaper cuts are next to zero. As a meat eater I realise that animals suffer and die. The method of slaughter makes only a marginal difference. Of more interest is how we have descended to the level where people are happy to purchase any processed rubbish as long as it is well packaged and advertised.

We have also used a LWB Sprinter to transport new purchases. A little tiring but no problem at all. Toll roads cost about 50% more than when we use the car.

While I like Carrefour they have a long way to go on getting the price right. Cucumbers were 1.5 e each last week in Pezenas.

My UK Sky card did not work in my box in France.

I use 4xcurrency http://www.4xcurrency.com up to now I am very happy with the rates and the service.

Democracy has not existed since ancient Athenian times. What we now have is representation with a pretence of choice.

The support of the vast majority of citizens is a poor argument as to the validity of a position in most cases.   I am sure that the gassing of Jews had wide spread support in parts of Europe during the war. He Ho the majority supported it so it must be right.   Freedom of expression includes the right to wear whatever fashion garment you choose. My support is for the right of the individual to choose not for the garment.   And to the people who will argue that all wearers are forced I will say that the same people that groomed us for Iraq and Afghanistan are already working on episode three.

[quote user="Swissie"]Sorry for being a bit dim Braco - but I do not understand your post. Thanks if you choose to enlighten me. [/quote] Hi Swissie My post was in response to comments comparing standards in some Muslim countries. I for one aspire to live in countries with far higher standards and freedoms. This latest law I see as a very retrograde step that was enacted purely to pander to the uneducated, insecure and bigoted - aka racists.

That is why we choose France - a sad day for liberty and enlightenment.