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Thanks again, cajal. I did look at the link you have kindly provided but, as explained, I will wait a day or two and see if I can somehow get the blades elsewhere. Certainly, the ebay ones look the best as they are specific to the machine. Just need to ask a friend in the UK to have them sent to her and she will send them to me. Don't want anymore disappointment.

Lori, you are right about the changes over the years. Just when you think you have settled into a new format, they go changing it again....for the WORSE! I think the present format is the pits. I couldn't log on for months and months without going through a 5-step procedure. If I wasn't so sentimentally fond of the forum and if I didn't still find loads of ready help and lovely friendly folk, I'd give it up altogether. For all its faults, however, there are still many familiar "faces" and "voices" and I always feel that I am amongst "friends" when I open the forum to find out what's new.

Thank you, cajal. I still have my Panasonic which does still work (except the bread does not turn out as formerly, high and fluffy) and tried that paddle which doesn't fit the Arebos at all. Actualy Harnser, it's not that the paddles are nowhere to be found. The point is that a very large company like GmbH should have spares for their machines. They are playing silly b*****s and this morning have repeated that they have no spares. Frankly, I think the bar stewards are lying. Hey ho, what can you expect these days? Will return to Amazon, just to annoy the vendeurs and then speak to the extended guarantie😜 company, also just to make it obvious I am not happy with this company's after sales non service. Will do a few more things until I myself am so annoyed that I give up

Wow, you found paddles, Harnser, thank you for your efforts. I have already emailed the UK company and the bidding for those on ebay is now closed. But now I do know that paddles are available. I have also contacted Amazon to complain about the company and awaiting results from the link that Lori provided. It's good to see that the ready help and generosity of their time of our forum community are alive and well. This feels so much like old times. Does anyone else think that the forum did indeed have a "golden age"?

Yes, I do think an animal could have carried it away. It is unlike OH. I expected him to break up the bread before discarding it. If he had done that, he'd have found the blades but there we are. I still think it unbelievable that a big company like this would in such a cavalier fashion say sorry we have no spare parts. For a machine that is not even a week old, for heaven's sake!

DL, yes, I too have come across people pretending a maison principale et unique when they have moved out and already moved and/or bought another house. As I have remarked on another thread, honesty may be the best policy but often it is the expensive option!

Lori, what a useful link! Thank you. Have sent all the info on their request form. Before I read your link, I had also written to Arebos UK asking if they could advise or help me. I said I knew it wasn't their problem but that if they could help, it would be appreciated. Do you get frustrating days when everybody/company/bank etc etc that you ring are for one reason or another unable to help? I've just had one of those days and I have set this afternoon aside to "sort out a few things"! If only.....

ssomon your link is just about the business structure but nothing about company policy on its environmental credentials?

It is an Arebos, German, from GmbH which is a pretty big worldwide concern. Huh, so much for being environmentally friendly.....🤢

Lori, I wish he'd thrown the bread in the trash! Unfortunately, he threw it over the hedge and we simply could not find them in the next field where he said the bread landed.

Wooly, he threw the bread, without tearing it up, over the hedge into the orchard next door. Been round looking but no luck so far. Does anyone know whether I am right in thinking that all new equipment of this sort now have to be legally reparable or the parts available for replaceme

Excellent link from Harnser. When we came (2007), the period for registering was 6 weeks and, during that time, OH refused to let me break the law and drive around in it. Had to have lights changed and pay for registration and new number plates.

Martin, it was only bought last week. Tried it on the same day. Just feel a bit miffed that the manufacturer was so offhand. I accept it was our own fault and will pay for replacements. Thought that surely, with our eco policies, it would be possible to replace detachable blades? Disappointed as I'd bought a lot of things from this company. Will try the extended guarantie next, it is after all a "sinistre" and not intentional.

Hmmm where do I start? OK at the beginning. After my bread machine questions on this forum and considerable reflection, I decided on a new one. Bought a German machine via Amazon and even took out an extended guarantie. Tried it with my usual recipe, bread was uncooked and inedible. Had to go out and leave it to cool. In the meantime, OH took the disgusting results and threw it out. Only thing is, he threw the whole thing out, bread with embedded blades (2 blades). Wrote to the manufacturer (and seller, Gmb) via Amazon, asking to BUY 2 new blades. Back came the answer, no, we do not have spare parts, sorry. So, I have a brand new machine that is of no use at all, not even for kneading, that I might have to take to the déchetterie. I thought all new machines had to be reparable and have spare parts? I should have just said the blades were missing and I'd have got a new machine. Honesty might be the best policy but it's certainly an expensive one. Anyone has any suggestion for my annoying problem?

France is a very big country (don't know if it's bigger than India!) so to get a more useful answer, tell us what region/s you plan to visit.

Two delicious-sounding recipes, Jamessmith. We are not keen on goat's cheese so will try with a soft cheese like Reblochon or Brie or Camembert. Now the weather is cooler, I will make some pastry and make that tart to take to a friend's for l'apéro on Friday. Thanks for your post.

There is a throwaway question that has been puzzling me for weeks. It's about smartphones and their security updates. Can I just ask: if after 4 years or whatever and there are no more security updates, do you then have to throw away your phones? I ask because I am thinking of all the phones that must be having to be thrown away?😳 Where does all this equipment end up? I myself have a computer and probably a couple of dumb phones to dispose of and haven't as yet found out what to do with them. As for reusable plastic "couverts", you just know that has to come. As for people stealing, there is just so much greed around, it's unbelievable.

Oops, sorry Lori, I see you WERE able to read it. I am late to the party. It feels very much like cheating to me as the price is probably the same or has even gone up?

As Wooly has said, no problem reading the article. Have had a tin of Quality Street given to us by visitors from the UK. Not only is the box plastic instead of metal, the contents only filled half the box. Apparently, some products have even had their "recipe" changed.

Agree with most of what you have said and I am soooo happy you are here, Gardian, as I always enjoy your input about RWC. Ntamack, yes, I was pretty devastated, I can tell you. Pity France and All Blacks are playing the first pool game. Should be the Final! Have relatives coming over to Bordeaux next Sunday to watch Wales and Fiji; OH was offered a ticket but even he doesn't fancy it's worth the bother of going to Bordeaux!

Bravo, Judith! Et bon courage😄 Hope everything continues well.

Thanks for the map, Lehaut. Looks like an enjoyable cycle ride. Makes sense to site the stade to the north like that, more easily accessible.

Indeed, Judith. There are in fact several "host" cities. Toulouse is one, Nantes too, then Nice, Marseilles, etc etc. Les Bleus first match will be in the Stade de France in Paris. Here are all the delicious details! https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/2023/matches

Lehaut, is this (literally) up your street?😏 Are you a fan? Whereabouts in Nantes is the Stade de Beaujoire? Don't worry if you have zilch interest! As you see, I am just trying to get a head of steam going for RWC....sneaky but it would be nice if some would come along to endlessly (and doubtless boringly for non-interesteds) and dissect it all😄

Yes, poor old Morse and his code. Nowadays, it's not so much morose as" mental health issues"; glottal stop and th-sound optional😕