[A revival in French detectives and thrillers]

We watch the Tunnel, Le H,  its become “ must see” for us. Well acted,

interesting plot and a good chance to practice French.

Enjoyed Wallender too, both the English and the Scandinavian

versions. Similarly, enjoy Montalbano. Always thought the subtitles would be a

faff, but not at all.

Didn’t see The Bridge, Spiral or the others mentioned,  but would if the chance arose again.

[Un faire-valoir...how would you say this in English?]

Stooge, patsy, fall guy, wingman?

[External pointing]

Wils, I’ve done almost exactly as you describe over the last

couple of years – although in summer, so I can’t speak about the “time of year”

aspect mentioned in the other posts.

Our Mortar was the original stuff and pretty soft, so raking

out was done with an angle grinder and finger rake – although in places where

concrete had been used as mortar, I used a vibrating drill. The joints were

then hosed out and kept wet.

I used a 3:1,  #2  Sand to chaux mix,( I’ve used #4 sand too, but

on balance prefer the look of the # 2) but with a plasticiser,  bought from the UK,  added. Brushing off was done with a  copper brush at anything from 30 mins to 2

hours after applying, based on drying time. Its wasteful, without doubt, but so

far I’ve spent around €1500 on materials, including €1000 on scaffolding,

compared to €14k from a local company, so I can afford some waste. I’m also re

using some of the brushed off mortar to recover a pounded earth floor in an out-house

The results are just what we wanted in terms of maintenance,

and appearance.  

Get plenty of pairs of good rubberised gloves!

[Has anybody had a new bin??]

Thanks Cof C, that sounds similar to our expected setup, so lets hope my cynicism is misplaced. I'll have to look into a wormery ( so to speak) and our compost "system" is currently just a heap, but well loved!

[Has anybody had a new bin??]

'zakkly as I suspected Betty. we live well out in the sticks, and the worry is that folks will dump rubbish in woods and fields, as they did decades ago, prior to communal collections. We'll see.

[Has anybody had a new bin??]

We’re having a new wheelie bin !!

A letter has arrived from a local/regional body which tells

us that shortly we will be given a new bin, a wheelie.

The idea is that we will be charged for the size of bin we choose

to have, and the frequency with which we put it out to collect.

In theory that should benefit us – second home, very little

rubbish, plenty of recycling etc.  BUT,

only if the cost of the tax fonciere/d’habitation is reduced to take account of

the change in payment structure.  My scepticism

is that this will just be an additional “tax”

Question is/are, has anyone else been through this?  Has the tax been reduced? Has it benefitted?

[Any advice please on insulating a floor with electric underfloor heating]

I too installed electric u/f heating in our bathroom and

shower room here in France.

The key thing I would consider if I was in your position

HSD, is the level of insulation below the electric heating pad/webbing.

We lose a significant amount of heat from the system

downwards, because we were limited to about 10 mm of hard foam insulation

beneath it – beneath that is a thick concrete plinth over a cellar. I removed

the old tiles and adhesive to give me that 10mm “gap” but if I was to install

again, I would want much more insulation and a reflective surface below the

webbing.

With regard to cracking, we have suffered from that, but now

I’m more experienced, I know that there are much better flexible adhesives

available, and having used these on other projects, know that they would solve

the problem – Porcelanosa do an excellent one for example.

If the u/f heating was our only source of heat in the rooms,

we’d be disappointed  in winter months. I’m

not sure if its simply because of the lack of insulation underneath, but the

tiles are warm, not hot, and it takes  a while

to achieve that. So I’d encourage lifting the tiles, insulation as much as

possible, and getting the benefit.

[joke-of-the-week]

excellent work Pierre

[EDF English speaking line]

Wise words Q, never thought of that from over here in Blighty.

Thanks

[EDF English speaking line]

Hello all.

Does anyone know if the two numbers usually given for EDFs

English speaking helpline are still current? 

05 62 16 49 08 and (05) 56 17 40 70 both

give an answer machine message confirming it’s the international line, but then

disconnect.

I’ve emailed them, but could

do with a chat.

 

Ta in advance!

[Bongo Bongo Land]

Ref Q's comment ( Can't seem to post the paragraph)

You’re nearly right, I meant many in society, as I said But

those groups would form a subset of that, along with those in work, those who

pay tax, those who give to charity  etc

etc…. Society.

The performance at elections is, I think, explained by two

possibilities at least. Firstly, as a party they are largely a one trick pony,

and secondly, the public loves a protest vote. It rattles the two main parties

and shows the microcosm of society principle in operation

Your comment on the numbers issue is spurious in

this context,  we’re discussing views on

a policy, not debunking obviously flawed numbers and information. I support

your right to make the comment, however, its democracy

[Bongo Bongo Land]

Just “ parking up “ the rights and wrongs of his  Bongo land comments for a moment,  Its right that he raises the aid issue  and the sentiments  get air time. Politics, ideally, should be a

microcosm of society for it to have any hope of being democratic. Much of what

UKIP say may be poorly delivered, but it represents  - to a greater or lesser degree - the thoughts

of many in society, thoughts which are not properly aired by the main parties.

So keep it up , UKIP, and other minority parties for that

matter.

On a side note, It was interesting to hear David

Cameron on the news this morning saying that the overseas aid promise was ” a

promise we should keep.”  Could do with

similar diligence on some of the other promises Dave aid

[Eurotunnel - you are having a laugh]

We’ve used the tunnel 9 times out of 10 ever since we’ve

been regular travellers – 9 years. We buy 10 crossings at a time  - at £ 43 each way now- and unless its for a

specific reason we travel off peak.  We get

offered similar options at check in on occasion, but never with that much of an

overcharge. Where’s the incentive in that.

FWIW, travelled by Ferry last time, because I had to travel

in peak, and used MyFerry Link at £37 outbound, ( would have had to pay £30 supplement

on the tunnel)  I understand the

restaurant, relaxation, shops argument, but on balance, the tunnel  simply suits better.  From a time perspective alone:  we can often time it so that we are off the

M20, through the tunnel and onto the A16 in less than 1 hour 15. The Ferry was

over double that , even after being “just in time” to check in because of Mway

traffic, and standing in lane for less than 5 mins.

‘orses for courses, I s’pose

[Paris for New Yr]

HI Jimmy,

we did the same a couple of years ago. We stayed in the Hotel Europe St Severin, just off Bvd St Michel below the Isle de la cite. We don't mind a decent walk, and walked up to the Arc de T from there, and back, but give yourself time. The city was buzzing at midnight as you can imagine, and the characters on the streets were "interesting" ! All good fun. We'd stay there again. Ask for a balcony room if you like to chill with a beer and watch the city go by from a couple of floors up.

[Channel 4 to Broadcast Muslim call to prayer]

LOL Pommier. 

I'm with Wooly, when I've experienced it, on holiday for example, its a beautifully restful sound.

Wonder how we'd feel if the Iranian or Arabic stations broadcast the morning service for Christians.

 

[Electricuty tripping]

Thanks Clair. I'll check it out.

[Electricuty tripping]

Here’s a curious one 

- at least to me – for any electrical experts on line…..

We had our main fuse changed by EDF when we got here 8 years

ago because of the circuit regularly tripping in winter months. Since then we

have installed under floor electric heating in the bathroom and shower room,

electric radiators in some rooms, extractor fans, yada yada.

 In winter we have

most of these running, plus fridge freezer, water heaters and the usual  lights TV computer etc, all with no issues

with a trip out.

It’s now late June and although not the usual summer

temperatures, we haven’t got anything like a full load running, but have had the

electricity trip twice and flick off momentarily on another occasion – I think  just as the fridge kicked in, but that could

be coincidence.

We have had high winds and heavy rain here and our trip

switch and meter  is in a brick built box

out doors. Could rain get into the trip/circuitry there ?

I think I read on here some time ago about a  surge control device. I can guess what they

do, but  do they help eliminate trips

caused by self switching appliances.

Any advice welcome. Thanks  

[RAIN, RAIN]

We received an email last night from our neighbour to

say that they’ve had 3 days of rain  hail

and heavy winds in the  area ( right at

the top of Yonne  89). He took photos of

our orchard which is at the opposite side of the village to our house, and  we’ve lost three substantial plum trees – maybe 8 metres high and 25-30 cm trunks – snapped off about a metre from the base.

We’ve also had a branch from a 20 metre Ash tree break off

and land on the house roof. Again he took loads of photos and it appears damage

is minimal  -so far. Weather is better today

and for the next week. I’m scooting over on Friday night to asses and repair as

necessary.  

Never mind, soon be winter and sunny!!

[Anchor bolts in French brick]

Think Pierre might be referring to Fischer. I can vouch for their production quality.

[Fosse inspection]

We had ours done last August, and had a similar experience to Nick P.  Ours was new in 2005, and we live well out in

the sticks on the edge of a village. Spanc-man wanted to check size and spec

etc, all the regards were lifted for viewing – I don’t recall him wanting to see

water flowing in or similar – and he asked questions about occupancy. Our

pendage is well buried under a lawn now, but the regards showed this was

working. He offered advice on pump-out intervals, the bac a grasse being

cleaned, and took photos. There was no enquiry-other than looking at a hand

drawn plan- about gutter run off and collection under the lawn.

All done in 30 mins and report duly sent. Passed. 40 Euros

all in and pretty painless really.  

Hope yours is similar.

[Petrol in Diesel car!!]

I did similar-  although with significantly more than 2 litres

of Petrol!!  - with a 2003 Audi some

years ago. Even  though a modern engine,

it coped after I brimmed the tank with diesel, the occasional sputter with the

first tank, then fine. As Chancer says, you should be safe.

As it happens, I recently put 45 litres of diesel  into an all but empty 21 year old petrol golf.

That took a lot more “ fixing.”

[SPANC query]

We had ours inspected in August last year. It took substantially

more than 15 minutes mentioned above. We’re a village of about 30 dwellings,

and our mayor negotiated a group price with the SPANC contractors. We paid 45 euros,

and luckily were only 1 of 4 in the village who passed, although the price was

quoted before the inspection, so wasn’t “ pass “ related.

Point is, there must be plenty of scope for communal deals,

or individually,  based on the high

prices given.

[Deer]

Consider squirrels too! They love the sap under the bark,

and “ring” the tree for it. If the bark is stripped downwards, then it's deer.  We’ve lost

small fruit trees in a similar way, and are going to use the heavy plastic wrap

initially, that fixes deer and squirrels. We’ll move to fences as the trees

grow if necessary. Good luck.

[June - warmth and variety]

What about Burgundy?

Very relaxed, very rural, warm to hot, but not ridiculously so.

Loads of history, from Roman and Gallic at Bibracte and Alesia, right up to recent

at the Resistance Museum in the Morvan forest.

Great scenery, rivers, lakes, forests, chateaux etc. Cycle

tracks along the canal de Bourgogne – which are flat of course – and around the

vineyards for the more energetic.

And as luck would have it, they do wine too!!

Personally I’d drive there – and often do. Taking in the Champagne

areas at either Reims/Epernay or Les Riceys,  further south, on the way. Then Chablis, and

down the “wine route” to Dijon, and Beaune, and on to the Beaujolais areas if

you feel inclined. ( look at any map and you’ll recognise the wine names of the

villages on the way). Or just spend time in one place and explore.

Once there,  the roads

are quiet – it’s the second least populated area in France if memory serves, so

easy to get around.

Avoid the Autoroutes, meander down the N roads, check out

the villages, markets, and wine caves for a “degustation,” and its stress free.

If you prefer to fly, then Dijon or Lyon offer options, but

you miss all the scenery. Eurostar to Paris then TGV on south is an alternative.

[Plasticiser query.]

Thanks for the links and advice.chaps.