alan h's activity

Questions Asked

Driving to ItalyÌý

Just driven down.Ìý No longer cheap petrol in SwitzerlandÌý - fill up in France.Ìý

Even ½ûÂþÌìÌà petrol is appreciably cheaper than SwitzerlandÌý

(There was no petrol available in Mulhouse for some reason)

Wed, 09/14/2022 - 06:49

IMU Tax

Ìý

Don't forget the first payment is due by 16th June

Sat, 05/14/2022 - 06:35

DRIVING TO ITALY FOR CHRISTMAS

Ìý

You've got until Saturday to enter France, before the entry ban for UK citizens comes into place.

Thu, 12/16/2021 - 04:33

European PET Passport.

Ìý

Anyone had experience of getting a European Pet Passport for a dog in Italy (or possibly France, whenÌýwe drive down)

Thu, 08/26/2021 - 05:40

As a Brit with a holiday home in Northern Italy, its been over a year since I have been able to visit it.Ìý Last time was in February 2020, when the highlight was a meal out with ½ûÂþÌìÌà friends in a crowded restaurant in Bergamo!Ìý Luckily, no ill

Thu, 05/06/2021 - 04:55

IMU etc Due Soon

just a quick reminder to those not living in Italy,Ìý that the IMU etc on your ½ûÂþÌìÌà property requires payingÌýthis month.

Tue, 12/01/2020 - 14:48

Travelling through France - UK QuarantineÌý

Ìý

Looks like people travelling through France to the UK could well be soon required to quarantine themselves for 2 weeks on their entry into the UK.

Fri, 08/07/2020 - 03:27

Are there companies in Italy that just change kitchen units doors and worksurfaces, rather than a complete replacement of the units?

Thu, 12/05/2019 - 17:37

My house has a semi-underground store room that was nice and cool during the recent very hot weather - the dog and I spent a lot of time in it - me reading and him asleep on the floor.Floor is just old concrete slab - lots of dust, and the walls a

Wed, 07/03/2019 - 10:50

Car Driving to [and in] Italy on a UK Licence- post BrexitÌý IF No Deal reached.ÌýI am driving down in March, and have had to plan for a 'No Deal' Brexit, just in case.If No Deal - all UK Driving Licence holders

Tue, 02/26/2019 - 10:34

Comments posted

Thu, 03/10/2011 - 09:54

" .. geological surveyÌý .....Pools literally weigh many tonnes when full, and our 'pool people' reminded us to get this done prior to digging the first hole in case we had to have vv expensive concrete pilesÌýdug down to the bed rock.ÌýIf this was required then weÌýwould have scrubbed the idea as it would not have been economically viable." I was taught at Uni that when you dig a hole for a swimming pool, the weight of the soil excavated normally exceeds the weight of the pool plus water when completed - and as the soil doesn't collapse under its own weight, it shouldn't collapse under the weight of the pool structure plus water.Ìý [unless a lot of the pool is above water].ÌýÌý Localised soft spots can cause problems - differential settlement leading to cracking, but these are easily sorted out, without using piles [mind you =- there's a lot more profit in piling!!!]

Tue, 03/08/2011 - 18:23

According toÌýÌý ÌýÌýÌýthe Furka is open June – September, so it might shut when you want to traverse it ÌýThis site also gives infoÌý [in German]Ìý

Sun, 03/06/2011 - 18:26

double posting - see below

Sun, 03/06/2011 - 18:25

What you describe "Ìýlooks like the rubble from building crushed up" sound a bit like what we call 'hardcore' in the UK. Hardcore, which is literally the old building broken and used for ground 'stabilisation'.Ìý Crushed hardcore is useful, when spread and compacted as a base on which to build [usually as a base for casting concrete flooring/foundations on]. Ìý hardcore usually consists of any part of a building excluding the 'organic' parts [timber etc] that would rot and cause voids.Ìý The "white/cream looking mush" stuff you mention is probably things like plaster rising to the surface during compaction, and shouldn't cause too much of a problem - the strength lies in the crushed stone/bricks/concrete below For more details see - try Googling "hardcore building". BUT, don't just Google hardcore - you'll just get porn

Answer to: LPG Gas bottles
Sat, 03/05/2011 - 07:41

You could ask customer services at Calor Gas;-ÌýÌý

Answer to: rain
Sat, 03/05/2011 - 06:46

"Lighting by candles is not the best when trying to cook though!!" You might want to consider buying a cheap 'inverter ' for future power cuts.Ìý They convert 12v DC [car battery] up to 240v and can supply enough power to run a few lights etc Typical example [in UK] is;-Ìý ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý which supplies up to a max of 450WÌý [but continuous use of 150W]Ìýand costs about £40.Ìý Assuming energy saving bulbs, you could get plenty of lights going, although its best to just have 1 or 2 to extend the battery life

Thu, 03/03/2011 - 09:29

"AreÌýEnglish electric blankets safe in Italy or can you buy them locally?" Yes and Yes

Thu, 03/03/2011 - 05:38

“Can anyone help me withÌýan idea of how much it might cost to heat a small 2 bed apt over the winter, Ìý……………………….All suggestions to maximise efficiency and reduce costs will be welcomed.†I’ve been thinking about how to make the place warmer, and would suggest that you consider the following points, to see if they apply to your place’-

  • Doors– are there any draughts from these? – if so, try stick on draught sealer [sponge on a roll]
  • Windows– as above
  • Windows– are they double glazed? – if not, consider;-
    • Secondary double glazing,
      • fitted as a second window – fitting an aluminium frame around the window recess to hold glass panes that can be slid or tilted to open
      • fitted to the existing window – see Ìýsecondary-glazing/as an example
      • Probably the cheapest option is a plastic film fixed with double-sided tape and shrunk to fit with a hairdryer. These are only intended for a single season's insulation [I did this to the window in a very cold bedroom in a house in UK– very effective]
    • Fitting heavy curtains in Winter to cut down heat loss
  • Floors– are your floors cold? [tiled or timber] – consider putting rugs down in the winter – the more floor you can cover the less heat loss [and you’ll feel its warmer if your feet aren’t freezing when you walk about]
  • Radiators ÌýÌý[if you have any] – do they have heat reflective foil behind them
  • Walls & Ceilings Ìýnot a lot you can do about these – in the old days polystyrene ceiling [and wall!] tiles were the answer, but now considered a fire hazard
  • Which rooms to heat, and when? –
    • Bedrooms-you don’t need to heat the bedrooms in the daytime – just for an hour or two before you go to bed
    • Lounge/Kitchen– the reverse – don’t heat at night
    • Bathroom– get one of those low power towel rails and leave it plugged in all the time [you can put it on a timer if you find it too effective] see Dimplex-Electric-Towel-Rail-.htmlfor examples [We bought ours in Italy – free standing or wall mounted – about 50W – you'll probably need a stronger one [say 100W],Ìý as we have CH as well]
  • Clothing– Wrap up warm, and wear thermal socks – if your feet [and head] are warm – you’ll think you’re warm all over

Ìý Hope this helps

Answer to: rain
Thu, 03/03/2011 - 04:59

Snow causing problems elsewhere

Tue, 03/01/2011 - 11:26

We use 'bog standard' convector heaters at our place - we have ones that can heat at either Ìý750W, 1250W or 2000W.Ìý This allows you to run 2 or 3 at a time to heat more than 1 room, but also allows you to 'blast' a room you want heating quickly Most effective in Winter to help heat the place up until the CH takes over on its own