David

I changed my account from Britline to the local Credit Agricole branch.  I found it easy and hassle free, and I have not regretted it. I simply went into my local CA branch, smiled at them and told them how wonderful they were, and how awful Britline were, and how I wanted to integrate into the local community, gave them the details of my Britline account, signed a few forms, and all was done very quickly. I was not even charged for closing the Britline account. Result with a smile.  The local CA still welcome me with open arms every time I go there, and cannot be more helpful.  I have now placed all my insurances with them.  They have even cancelled a cheque for me over the telephone when I was in the south of France and had a problem.  Again no charge. A very friendly and helpful banking experience, much better than the impersonal UK. David

I have my Incapacity Benefit paid in France, and I bank with Credit Agricole. Both my October and November payments have come through without problem from CityBank Ireland. Good luck, David

Benjamin, Many thanks for your helpful reply.  A), B) & C) are clear. With regard to the 80% disability, I am a French resident, and I have been seen by French specialists.  It is a long story, but the French have mucked up three operations on my right knee.  They wish to operate again, and state that they can improve my condition.  Since my last operation in January my knee has got worse, however, I was reluctant to have further operations in France without a second opinion. Therefore I had an MRI scan in France and then last week privately saw two of the best knee surgeons in the UK.  They both said that the French had mucked up my knee to such an extent that it was impossible to correct it.  They both said that the operation suggested by the French would only make matters worse.  Their separate and independent advice was no more surgery, except in case of dire need (one offered to try if the brace did not work, but he was not optimistic of the result, and I would have to agree to become part of a training program for his students as he had not seen such poor surgery, or such a poor condition knee and tendon before), and to try an external brace.  These were verbal opinions, based on visual examination, x-rays and an MRI scan.  No tests were done in UK.  Thus the French specialists will say that improvement is possible, but the UK say not possible, and degeneration will continue.  My French GP will fully support me, but I can see that any appeal to the French authorities will be difficult, especially as you say they are tightening up.  That is why I wondered exactly what the 80% requirements are.  Can you point me in the direction of the thread where the tightening up is discussed? Many thanks, David p.s.  If any Moderators are reading this, I wonder if this thread should be transferred to the health section?

Good news.  After applying to Cotorep last April for a parking badge, invalidity card and an accompanying persons card, I finally received a reply today!  Only seven months plus a little bit. I had understood that in order to receive a blue parking badge I had to be assessed as 80% or more disabled.  However, in the letter today, I have been assessed as "Compris entre 50 et 79%".  I have been refused a "Carte d'invalidity", but a blue parking badge was enclosed with the letter.  I also note that the parking badge does not seem to have a date of expiry.  The blue badge was a simple blue badge parking permit, with no other permits or disks. I am now looking forward to parking in blue badge spaces, which will make a big difference to me as my UK blue badge ran out in 2004. This may also give other people hope who are not 80% disabled, but who would benefit from a parking disk.  I was not aware that less than 80% disabled can still get a blue badge. However, this leaves me with some questions. A)  There were no instructions with the blue badge.  Can anyone explain the entitlements this badge gives in France?  E.g can I park on yellow lines, do I pay in pay and display car parks? B)  What entitlements will this give me in UK?  Do I need to get a UK time disk when in the UK, and if so how? C)  What benefits would the "Carte d'invalidity" give me in case I wish to appeal the judgement.  I ask this because when I first applied I only wanted the blue badge, but my disability has become worse, and after visiting specialists in UK last week, I now know that my disability will be permanent. D)  What exactly is meant by "80%" disability, as I am in a wheel chair, and use crutches for short walking distances?   Hope this helps some people, and I would be grateful for answers to my questions. Many thanks David

We found A. W. Wheadon & Sons to be really excellent for our move from Essex to Deux Sevres.  They could not have been more helpful. Not the cheapest, nor the most expensive.  They are a family business, and were recommended to us by the people who bought our house in UK, so that is two satisfied customers. Address Snowhill Cottage, Crawley Down, West Sussex, RH10 3EG Phone  Copthorne 01342-712354             Haywards Heath 01444-413331 David

Martinwatkins, I fully agree with your sentiments about Mazan.  I think that his departure was a great loss to this forum. As I understand it, but I may be wrong, Mazan withdrew from this forum after a very heated and personal exchange on a post concerning hunting. I too miss his expertise, and I would very much welcome his return to this forum, as I think that he contributed far more than most to the knowledge base here.  He usually discussed technical subjects of which I had little or no knowledge, but he made it understandable. Please come back Mazan. David  

Thanks all, I have checked the license agreements, and they seem to say that I can only load the products on one single computer.  There seems to be no allowance for loading them onto two computers, even if both computers are mine, and both are used at home.  Could this be correct? At different times I bought two lap tops, both with windows xp, and I use one and my wife uses the other.  I loaded the word and publisher which had come with a previous computer onto my lap top and they both work well.  The previous computer is now out of use. After reading your posts, but before reading the license agreement, I loaded both programs onto the other lap top, and they work well.  That lap top is not connected to the internet, but I was planning to connect it. It seems to me that I should be able to use the programs I bought (that is, I did not buy them separately, but they came with a new machine that I bought, on their own separate disks), on my own personal machines, even if there are two of my machines.  It seems that the license agreement does not allow this. Must I now remove the programs from the second lap top? If I did not, and I connected it to the internet, it seems to me that even though both computers are registered to me, and use the same e-mail address, microsoft could identify that there were two different windows xp systems using the same word and publisher programs.  Would this cause me a problem? Many thanks, David

My lap top is connected to the internet by broadband, and I run Microsoft word 2003, and Microsoft publisher 2000.  Both are fully legal programs which were supplied with my Dell computer, and are registered to me and my e-mail address. I have bought my wife a new lap top from Dell, but it did not have the above programs with it. Can I legally load my fully licensed copies of the above programs to her lap top, and then connect her to the internet through the livebox wifi connection (same e-mail address), or would this be a breach of the Microsoft license? Thanks, David

Johnv, You say that you installed the livebox soft ware, and then removed as much as possible.  I suspect that you have not been able to remove all the software, and that that is your problem.  As I said, when I installed the wanadoo cd for a dial up connection, my computer did not work.  I managed to remove most of the wanadoo software, but I was never able remove all of it.  I managed to manually install the dial up connection, but it never worked properly.  My problems only stopped when I bought a new computer. However, I learnt a lot, and when the live box arrived I did not use the cd at all.  I simply turned the live box on and followed the instructions.  I did not use any adaptors, cables, cds, or anything.  I presume that my pc spoke directly to the live box by a radio connection, using a radio in my computer to connect to a radio in the live box. As you can see, I am not a computer buff. Hope this helps, David

When I changed to broadband, I too fell for the 3 euro per month rental for a live box, and I am waiting for the years subscription to expire in order to change. However, after suffering enormous problems after installing the wanadoo cd for a dial up connection, and eventually having to change computers, I did not allow the livebox cd anywhere near my computer. I have windows XP and I connected manually using wifi to the livebox following the instructions supplied with the live box. I have to say that I have had no problems at all with this wifi set up, which is why I am not in a great rush to get rid of the livebox, even though it costs me 3 euros per month. David

Hi Chris, Since you put me on the track of Phytophthora I have been trawling the net, and if not cambivora, then another phytophthora may be involved. I could not find a simple laymans site telling me how long the trees might last, or what action can be taken to help them. The best I have found is that trees can last up to 2 years after infection, and that little can be done to save an infected tree. Thus I think we have to fell the second tree soonest as it is looking rather poorly, and trim the large tree near the house.  This trimming will have two benefits 1) If the trees does fall suddenly it will do minimum damage, 2) The tree is large and near to the house, so trimming it in half will reduce the water requirements of the tree, and hopefully the tree will last long enough for the foundations of the house to stabilise somewhat before we have to fell the tree - that is if we have to fell it.  Perhaps trimming will allow it to fight off the infection, but I doubt it. Phytophthora does look pretty terminal for infected trees. Thanks for your help. David

Many thanks for your kind message Chris. We are rather worried when we look up at the large tree over the house, knowing that another tree fell down without warning. I do agree that having lovely old trees cut up for firewood gives me a headache also. Kind regards, David

Alternatively does anybody know of an excellent knee and tendon reconstruction surgeon in France?  I have tried Bressuire, Cholet, Angers, Thouars, Poitiers, and Tours.  Bressuire and Tours mucked up the operations, the others said it was too difficult. Many thanks, David

Hi Chris, Please bear with me while I explain our position. I agree with you that to burn the wood would be a crime, and that is why I am on the forum about it.  I am trying to think of something constructive to do with the wood.  However, unfortunately it is a little urgent.  I know that the wood will not rot quickly, but we are waiting for devis for cutting the trunk up into 45 to 50 cm lengths, plus felling the second tree and cutting that trunk up, and also plus severely trimming, or felling the third tree.  We have had difficulty in fnding tree fellers (or surgeons?), and it seems that they will only contemplate coming to us if they get all the work on all three trees. As the second tree looks rather unhealthy, we are worried that this tree might also fall, causing damage, so we are approaching all work as a matter of urgency.  We have also been told that the third tree is unsafe.  If that one falls it will take out the bedroom and living room of the house, plus the electricity lines.  Others have told us that it has many years of life left.  By many they say 2 to 5 years, which in the life of an oak is not a lot.  They also say that it may fall in the next "tempest".  As we are not tree experts, we must plan for the worst, and trim or fell both the second and third trees as soon as possible, and before the autumn gales, and that means contracting to cut up the trunk of the first tree at the same time.  We are trying to do this soonest, but being France we have no idea how long it may take for the trees to be felled.  At least we can prove to the insurance company that we have tried if the third tree falls and demolishes the house.  We must just hope that if any tree falls nobody is hurt. It seems that all three trees may have the same disease or infection which caused the first tree to fall in a mild wind.  We were very lucky, and the first tree fell in an ideal spot, with no damage.  However, I had been working under it the day before, and my children had been working under it 5 days before it fell.  Thus we will undertake all the work immediately we have the agreement of a tree surgeon. I have corresponded with Trescoletto (?) and she has kindly offered to post the photos for me.  As a pennance I have to learn how to do it after I have sorted out whether or not I have surgery in the UK in November (on me not the trees). If I do have surgery in November in the UK, then I doubt that I will be taking much interest in oak trees for a couple of months.  Thus I am trying to sort this out quickly.  If all else fails, I will tell the tree cutters to chop the lot up for firewood. Tomorrow I will take some photos, and then ask Trescoletto to post them for me. Hope this makes sense, David  

I am resident in France, and am on the CPAM register with incapacity rating, which means that I have 100% cover with CPAM, and no top up cover. While gardening in France in April 2004, I tore the main tendon from the front of my right thigh off the connection to the kneecap, and I am now unable to walk.  I have had three operations in France on my right knee, all of which were failures.  I am now going back to the UK for further opinions, but as I am no longer on the UK health register, having transferred to France, I am told that I must do this on a private basis. While this will be expensive, for the initial consultations I am prepared to accept that.  However, if the UK decide that another operation is viable, this will become very expensive what with hospital fees, MRI scan costs, hotel fees, surgeon fees, etc.  I will try to reduce costs by leaving the UK hospital as soon as possible, and coming back to France for follow up treatment and physio etc. Does anybody know if CPAM will reimburse any or part of the UK hospitalisation and surgery costs? Many thanks, David  

We are trying to find an English speaking dentist in the Bressuire area - any ideas very welcome. David

Hope you survive the anthrax Dick, would hate to lose you on this forum.  Somehow, I suspect you have little to worry about with horse hair buried in lime plaster.  Good to see yo wearing a mask though. Is that you in the photo? If so you are a man after my own stomach, although I may have a few years, and pounds, extra over you. Good luck, David

I have read the excellent post by opel fruit about boilers/burners, and realise that we need an expert to look at our system. The particularly appropriate passage is:- Quote  What if you leave the boiler alone and don’t try and set the output with both the injector or the adjustment? It will probably work, after a fashion. At best you will get a phenomenon that makes the boiler continually fire up and down at regular intervals, which is wasteful on fuel and the burner longevity. At worst you will have a very inefficient, smoky, noisy and possibly dangerous boiler. Unquote. We had a new boiler system installed about two years ago, and the make of boiler is different to that of the burner.  Since reading the post by opel fruit, I have asked several so called heating engineers to look at the boiler and burner.  Without exception they have asked who installed it, and then we hear nothing more.  One person, before finding out who installed it (the person who installed it is quite a forceful local French plumber) said that we had a rolls royce boiler, but a Citroen 2cv burner.  He was to come to take a proper look, but never re-appeared.  When the guy who installed it tested the system out, he was very proud that the burner continually fired up and down at regular intervals.  Precisely (or rather approximately), burn two minutes, rest twelve minutes, etc.  This did not matter whether the boiler was only heating hot water, or was heating the full central heating system. Unfortunately being in a wheel chair, I am not able to get down to the ground to inspect the burner flame, and also I am totally ignorant of central heating boilers. Last winter we went through close to 3,000 litres of fuel for a four bedroom house, even though we tried to keep the boiler turned off as much as possible, and had all the radiators turned down as much a possible.  Over the summer we plug the boiler into the mains electricity for about ten minutes every two days to produce hot water.  If we left the system plugged in for hot water only, it would continually fire up, regardless of the water temperature.  However, recently it has become rather erratic, and we wonder if the controls need adjustment. Can anyone help with recommending a competent central heating engineer who would come to North Deux Sevres near Bressuire.  We fully expect that nobody near Bressuire would come, therefore we are prepared to pay for someone to come from a distance. Does Opel Fruit have a company that could send a competent engineer? Please, please help. Thanks, David

Chris, Thanks for your post. I agree that it seems unlikely that the capricorn beetle caused this tree to fall.  Unfortunately the tree fell in a light wind, and the soil was not soft. The exposed root system was almost non existent, and the exposed roots were either a soft fibrous material (rotten), or were hollow.  We suspect a bacterial infection, perhaps combined with an insect infestation of the roots. We are now concerned that the other two trees may have the same root problem, but no one we have spoken to can give us a proper answer. We are therefore going to fell the second tree which looks poorly, and trim the third tree to about half height, so that if it does fall, it will cause little or no damage. We have also found a large hole in the centre of the trunk on the third tree, at the level of the pollarding.  I cannot get up to see it, but I am told that it is about 0.5 to 1.0 metres diameter, and about 1.5 metres deep.  It is full of soft rotten wood, acorns, and other damp or wet mush.  Some say this is not a problem, others say that because the tree is so large, it may split at the hole.  If so the larger part would fall across the house, flattening the bedroom and lounge, and taking the electricity supply out.  Thus we will trim the tree to a safe height, so if it falls, no one will be hurt, and minimal damage will be caused. On this post, others have asked if the cost of this might be covered by house insurance.  A very good question, but no answers.  I suspect the insurance would pay for damage if the tree fell, but would not pay for preventative treatment. Thanks, David

Chris & Dick, Many thanks for your helpful replies. When I said transverse, I had thought of a simple 90 degree cross cut.  However, a 35 degree angle sounds much better, and would produce an oval table top. The trunk seems very sound, and it would be a pity to use it only for firewood.  I don't suppose you live anywhere close to Bressuire in North Deux Sevres Chris?  We have one large oak tree fallen, we intend to fell another large oak which looks sick, and we have a third large oak which we have differing opinions on.  Some say to fell it soonest, before winter, others say to trim it to about half size.  Whatever, there is a lot of good oak in the third tree which must be cut. We have thought about selling it for furniture or oak barrels, but we are told that this would not be commercial.  Thus chop it up for firewood. I could take photos of the trunk and trees, but I have not managed to solve the problem of posting photos on this forum. Many thanks, David

Hi Dick, Thanks for your reply. We had thought to simply cut the trunk across the grain, or in the round.  Thus when I said 8 to 10 cm lengths, I was thinking of lengths along the trunk. Once this was cut, the slice of trunk would be turned 90 degrees and become a table top 8 to 10 cms thick. No builders blocks, no butchers blocks, no parquet flooring, just a simple slice taken transversely across the fallen trunk.  Thus we would end up with a slice of oak about 8 to 10 cms thick, round, and when turned over would make a roundish table top. No cutting and splicing. We plan to leave the resulting table outside on the terrace in the garden all year, for dining, coffee, and aperitifs.  We thought it could replace the plastic tables which take off in any sort of wind. We thought that Sikkens was a microporous type of finish which would protect the wood, but allow the wood to breathe or dry out, very definately not a stain.  We thought a varnish or paint which seals wood would not allow the wood to dry out. Hope this helps, David

We have a fallen oak tree with a trunk of about 1.5 metres diameter.  We hope to get a tree expert to slice up the trunk for us, as well as dealing with two other large oak trees. As well as slicing up the trunk into 45 to 50 centimetre lengths for firewood, we had thought about slicing part of the trunk across the grain into 8 to 10 centimetre lengths to make table tops. Question 1.  If this can be done, we would eventually like to coat the wood with some finish such as what we knew in the UK as Sikkens, in order to preserve the visual appearance of the timber.  Should we leave the sliced lengths to dry out before treatment, and if so for how long? Question 2.  Once the wood is ready for treatment, what would be the best treatment to apply?  Should we apply any treatment at all? Question 3.  Any ideas for table legs? Thanks, David  

Tresco, I have just sent you a pm. Kind regards, David

Tarngranny and Iain, Thanks.  I think we may have worms and fungal growth, and I have looked at the internet for sudden oak death, and this seems to apply to my trees also. I am hoping that chris pp can diagnose the problems with my trees so that we can make them safe.  We were very lucky when the first tree fell in that it caused no damage.  However, I had been working under it the day before, and my children had been working under it the weekend before.  This makes me very sensitive about the other two trees. The remaining two trees could do a lot of damage if they fell, and one could go through our bedroom where we would be if it fell at night.  If it fell during the day it could take out any visitors including the post lady, in addition to our lounge where we might be sitting. I am waiting for chris pp's reassurance.  

I am very sorry to hear thet you are not keeping well, I hope you have a quick and full recovery. Please do not rush on this matter on my account.  It was very kind of you to offer to help and I value your help and assistance. I have been looking at the trees again, and I think that you may be correct that, although we do seem to have capricorn beetle, the main problem seems to be a fungal or virus infection.  We are told that London is also having problems with trees suddenly falling down because of "bleeding cankers" caused by infections. I am less worried about the two remaining trees suddenly falling as they both survived the first of the autumnal equinox gales which we experienced last night.  However, I would prefer to ensure that they are safe before the winter sets in. Get well soon, David