mint Posted July 26, 2015 Author Share Posted July 26, 2015 Have had a long, tiring day, clearing up the mess but then we have been doing that for the last 10 days so nothing new there.BTW these poseurs are English and not French. Had a French guy from the kitchen shop and he was unbelievably good with putting many things to rights and I could hear him shouting "no, no, no!) several times and then setting about doing things the recommended way[:D]I filled in a form to say what he had done and how he had gone about his work. I had one copy to keep, one copy went to the shop and one to the manufacturers in Germany.The porch light thing has now been corrected, apparently it had to do with the new hood and how everything was wired.Had a go at the induction hob but, unfortunately, it didn't like any of my best Meyer circulon pans but did like the le Creuset ones. I also have some ceramic, some Tefal and some Tesco's own. No time to do a systematic survey as we were hungry and, because I have been deliberately running down stocks, I could only manage a fried egg each, some boiled potatoes and some frozen green beans.I was fascinted by the induction hob as, once I got it to "like" the pans I put on it, it went merrily on its way. It has 14 levels and I worked out the controls after consulting the manual (all in French but no probs).So............might be going on a bit and asking questions. Come tomorrow, I shall be shopping to replenish stocks and having another go at trying out some pans[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 26, 2015 Share Posted July 26, 2015 I thought, rightly or wrongly, that if a magnet will stick to the pan, then it'll work on induction? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 That is correct, Idun. However, not everyone has a magnet to hand, so putting a small amount of water into each pan and switching 'rings' on is another way of finding out. I understand that most modern pans seem to have a small amount of iron in them even if they are called something else, so can sport the for 'use on induction hobs' label.Happy cooking, Mint! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Mint,It won't like ceramic, unless it is one of the new ones with a coating of ceramic rather than the whole body. If the pan doesn't like it (eg aluminium ones - easy to confuse) it will "pip" at you and turn off ... trial and error may be the only way to find out ..If you really want to use a pan which is not induction proofed, as I said, I have a plate, which I now use rarely, but it does the job.Glad that you have the porch light sorted .. what a pain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 I just thought everyone ended up with at least one fridge magnet. My timer clock is magnetised and is on my fridge, the handiest I have ever had and these days, I like to have a little reminder that something needs to have some attention, as time seems to fly by, no idea how that works, just does and I hate ruining food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 Thank you les filles for all your informative and helpful advice and comments[:D]Me, I'm still working like stink to get rid of the dust and, of course, every time I need to use a new machine, microwave this morning, I have to first of all read the instructions.All our old machines are so ancient that the new ones seem very clever but also need getting used to. We haven't had a dishwasher for more than 10 years but I set the timer and it seems to be miraculously full of dishes in the morning!Oops, reminds me, must go out for some dishwasher tablets later. Also, for those "multi-tab" ones with the plastic wrapping, do you need to unwrap it completely?Not as silly a question as it sounds because I seem to remember clothes detergent sachets from the distant past where you don't unwrap the contents and the plastic surround just sort of got dissolved in the wash.Yes, I know, I sound a bit doddery but certainly, a lot of modern technology leaves me floundering[:(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 In France, the only thing that worked in my dish washer properly was the powder, no idea why, but had lots of problems using tablets. Since I have been back in the UK with the same dish washer, I use Fairy liquid tabs, as you said, with the liquid inside a 'plastic' cover, been using them for at least 5 years and no problems at all.Incidentally, similar plastic covered liquid tabs for clothes were a disaster for a family member, who had bits of plastic stuck to her washing. I will never have a fancy microwave, I always get one with dials and not buttons. Friends have a very expensive micro wave (about 1000€)that has a proper oven too, and that is all buttons, but I have to say works very well, and no soggy bottoms unlike my useless Canon gas oven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 [quote user="mint"]Oops, reminds me, must go out for some dishwasher tablets later. Also, for those "multi-tab" ones with the plastic wrapping, do you need to unwrap it completely?[/quote]If I run out of tablets for my dishwasher then I just get her some aspirin and tell her they're special. for breakdowns then a little slap and she's OK again normally [Www][Www]Seriously, we got rid of the dishwasher that came with the house and I fitted something useful, a wine rack [8-|]A dishwasher in our house would be about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 [quote user="mint"]We haven't had a dishwasher for more than 10 years but I set the timer and it seems to be miraculously full of dishes in the morning![/quote][:)][:)][:)] Well at least it didn't eat them or break them. Nice, clean dishes what more could you ask for ![quote user="mint"]Oops, reminds me, must go out for some dishwasher tablets later. Also, for those "multi-tab" ones with the plastic wrapping, do you need to unwrap it completely?[/quote]Depends which ones you go for; the Lidl all-in-one ones are good but you do need to remove the wrapper as they are not all dissolvable. I have borne witness to finding them, in their little tray, completely untouched at the end of a 70°C wash cycle. The dishes were reasonably clean too !Sun tout-en-un tablets are very good - I buy them when they are on offer - and they have a dissolvable wrapper - hydrofilm.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Oh!! All of those wonderful petroleum plactiques floating around [:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 Mint - wrappers on dishwasher tablets - some do dissolve, some don't, I find I have to read the packet to be sure. Never can get the same sort whenever I go, but tend to by all in one, and never needed anything else - we are in a soft water area ... but check the packet.Over the years I've on and off had a dishwasher - mainly because they never survived the removals and I didn't have much money then to install one. Our house came with one, it leaked, friends had just bought a new one after burglar took theirs (I ask you!), and bought a Bosch .. very happy with it, and it does what it says on the packet. Unlike Jonzjob, I always had the washing up to do, so very glad I can set it going and leave it to its own devices. Means I can come on here and answer all your questions.Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 [quote user="Judith"] Unlike Jonzjob, I always had the washing up to do, so very glad I can set it going and leave it to its own devices. Means I can come on here and answer all your questions.[/quote]Apart from a lean period from 2005-2008, when we came to France and were not totally 100% convinced we would be staying as we couldn't find a house we loved, in our area, within our budget, we have had a dishwasher since 1985 and I love it. Frees me to do other/different things.Bring it on, hydrocarbons and all !As Shirley Conran famously said, 'Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.'Though, being always of a mathematical/scientific bent I did, once, stuff some mushrooms then cook and the family ate them - just so we could discuss and quantify how much of a waste of time the whole episode was.Result : the jury was divided on the issue.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 [quote user="suein56"]As Shirley Conran famously said, 'Life is too short to stuff a mushroom.'Though, being always of a mathematical/scientific bent I did, once, stuff some mushrooms then cook and the family ate them - just so we could discuss and quantify how much of a waste of time the whole episode was.Result : the jury was divided on the issue.Sue[/quote][:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 27, 2015 Author Share Posted July 27, 2015 OK, next question about multi-tab: does the little red ball face up or down?[:D]There, thought I'd get some differences of opinion?Also does "multi tab" mean you don't need rinse aid?OH, who was tasked to buy "some dishwasher tablets" also came home with a large box of dishwasher salt. Anyone uses those?Needless to say, apart from 2 slabs of Cantal, he'd bought nothing else. So it's the 12th day since les poseurs first arrived and deprived me of all kitchen facilities since we last had a proper meal with veg[:-))]Couldn't go out in the day because they had questions which apparently I was the only one who could answer and there were deliveries or I had to go out and sort out the paint or get the cold water or make the tea. Couldn't go out in the evenings because the dog had been avoiding people all day because of the bangings and disturbance and anyway, I would've been too k@@@ked to eat anything.Had use of a grill for the first time in a few years so the obvious thing to do was cheese on toast. Normally, I grate the cheese coarsely and mix in mustard and some mayonnaise but not tonight because I was so tired, I just cut both bread and cheese into thickish slices. But, of course, before using the grill, I had to wash the grill pan, etc as always instructed with new equipment and then I had to read the instructions on how to use it!By the time I got to eat, I didn't care that perhaps I should have set the pan at a lower level because all the sides of the toasts were burn't and the cheese nowhere near as bubbly as I would have liked......sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted July 27, 2015 Share Posted July 27, 2015 [quote user="mint"]OK, next question about multi-tab: does the little red ball face up or down?[:D][/quote]No idea; don't use those ![quote user="mint"]Also does "multi tab" mean you don't need rinse aid? [/quote]Absolutely ![quote user="mint"]By the time I got to eat, I didn't care that perhaps I should have set the pan at a lower level because all the sides of the toasts were burn't and the cheese nowhere near as bubbly as I would have liked......sigh. [/quote]Look on the bright side; things can only get better !Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Wash up when I don't have to, not on your life. And my dishwashers' in France saved water, my bills went down after we got our first.I know people with them who don't use them, no idea why, as if there is something of merit in standing there washing every last thing and then rinsing, because that drives me mad when people put stuff straight from the mucky washing up water to drain and then someone picks it up, as if the things were actually 'clean'........ and dries it with a wet tea towel, because it is after a couple of things. So pre dish washer days, after the washing and rinsing, I would leave everything to drain for at least an hour and often over night, to avoid soggy tea towels.Yes, sometimes I have to wash up, but IF there is a dishwasher available that is what I use.In theory those multi tabs should have all the products in them. IF I was in a hard water region then I reckon I would use the salt too, but I have never ever lived in a hard water area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 An English woman in our village got a new dish washer a couple or so years back and she was telling me just how wonderful it was and that it saved on her water bills too. I didn't laugh out loud or ask her if it saved any water in her swimming pool each winter when she 1/2 drained it [:-))]We always use bio washing up liquid and rinse the items after washing for the same reasons Idun. It's a bit like having a bath and steeping in the muck you've washed off init [Www][blink] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Well, we did save money and we never had a pool. I use enormous amounts of water when I wash up myself. I change the washing up water a couple of times as well as rinsing. Baths and showers are quite another thread.[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 [quote user="idun"]Well, we did save money and we never had a pool. I use enormous amounts of water when I wash up myself. I change the washing up water a couple of times as well as rinsing. Baths and showers are quite another thread.[:)][/quote]Ugh................so I wasn't the only person who had to run the water until it was almost too hot to touch even with rubber gloves and who changed the water several times especially when there are greasy baking tins to be washed?Don't know about you, idun, but I was taught to wash all the glassware first, then the crockery, then the eating irons and lastly the pots and pans and baking trays!I assure you that OH spent hours washing up and I spent even more hours washing up all the stuff he'd washed up because they'd not be done to MY standards[+o(] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 [quote user="suein56"]Look on the bright side; things can only get better !Sue[/quote]Sue, you clearly do not live chez nous!Alas things are getting from bad to worst. The double sink is leaking badly. Can't even put a basin to catch the drips because the installer has butchered the top drawer to accommodate the plumbing and so the drawer no longer accommodates anything deeper than a very shallow saucer.The original German made design allowed for 2 lovely deep drawers under the sink, the top one being less wide to allow a panel to be cut off the back of the unit to accommodate the plumbing of the sinks. This wasn't done and the top drawer had 2 areas hacked out of it and now that there is a raging leak, I am unable to use the sinks without flooding the kitchen.Also, I am not exactly sure that the glass of the oven door has been put the right side in (the door was re-hung from right to left opening) so OH has warned me not to use the oven until he has rung Belling technical dept.So, Sue, thank you for your encouraging words but, for the moment, I fear the worst is yet to come[:-))] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 You could always put a very shallow saucer under there to catch the drip Mint. In fact if you got a very heavy one you could frizby it at the drip who installed it and indicate your displeasure [:-))]If I remember correctly you said that you had used expat installers? Perhaps, with hindsight, French ones wouldn't have been so bad [Www]Good luck lass, you sound as if you could use some at the mo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mint Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 Dear JonzHere is what happened. This installer chap was chosen because he said he could do everything, paint, do the flooring, install the kitchen units, do the electrics and the plumbing. OH, as you would know has not been himself since his almighty fit 2 years ago and he was anxious that the works took as little time as possible.Anyway, said chappie recommended the specialist kitchen company, French owners, German kitchens. They could have installed and done an excellent job and at MUCH less.However, you know me, Jonz, because said chappie recommended the kitchen shop in the first place, we wanted him to get the job. So we told the shop we couldn't use their man because we had to use the expat as it was only fair.The shop agreed and, in order to get us the 10% TVA, they said they'd send a man to do the work tops and the finishing touches. We gladly agreed but the expat fellow clearly was not a happy bunny as he wanted to do the lot himself.Anyway, and it was OUR fault, we gave him his reins and we put off the French installer until the kitchen was nearly finished. Because it was a VERY special kitchen with different bits and pieceshe average, many things were missed by the time the French installer came to spend a day with us.French man was brilliant, corrected as many of the faults as he could but obviously not all as some of the units and work tops were fixed so that they couldn't be taken off without removing the whole kitchen and re-starting.Again, we could only blame ourselves, much too soft and too easy-going but that is our essential character and we seem unable to learn from past errors! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonzjob Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 Absolutely no sympathy with you for being as soft as me [kiss][kiss] No cure for it I am afraid to say [:(]I hope all is well soon [B] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 [quote user="mint"]The original German made design allowed for 2 lovely deep drawers under the sink, the top one being less wide to allow a panel to be cut off the back of the unit to accommodate the plumbing of the sinks. This wasn't done and the top drawer had 2 areas hacked out of it and now that there is a raging leak, I am unable to use the sinks without flooding the kitchen.Also, I am not exactly sure that the glass of the oven door has been put the right side in (the door was re-hung from right to left opening) so OH has warned me not to use the oven until he has rung Belling technical dept.So, Sue, thank you for your encouraging words but, for the moment, I fear the worst is yet to come[:-))][/quote]Oh gosh I am so sorry. What an awful thing to happen; you must feel like strangling the expat person.I wish I could think of something encouraging to say but I am in shock at such wanton carnage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idun Posted July 28, 2015 Share Posted July 28, 2015 mint, I have never had a kitchen sink that has not had a leak or at best slight incontinence, and needed a bowl underneath. I have no idea why this is so, but it is just how it is. I have had professional plumbers come and do the jobs and then sort it out, but still my sinks have drips. So there you go, I sympathise, and hope that they get you sorted out. Be nice to hear that such a problem can be 'cured'[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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