alan h's activity

Questions Asked

I'm planning my route down for a months visit in July.

Mon, 06/04/2012 - 08:13

I logged on this morning to my local webcam, to look at the snow on the ski slopes.

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 04:47

Loved the note about changing the locks!

Wed, 09/21/2011 - 09:20

I have just got back from my latest trip to Italy, and thought some of you might be interested to hear about a Swiss hotel that we stayed in on the way down.It is the Hotel Engel in Stans [near to Lake Lucerne, a few minutes from the motorway

Mon, 07/25/2011 - 05:21

For many years now I have used the likes of 'mappy', 'via michelin' etc for calculating different routes down to Italy - for us its a part of our holiday, so we don't always want to take the quickest/shortest route down.  We prefer to vary the rou

Wed, 06/01/2011 - 09:25

Today I received an email from the Swiss Travel Centre.  The relevant portion is;- "The GBP price for a Vignette will increase from 01 June 2011 and we wanted to give you the opportunity to purchase this years’ Vignette before the pric

Mon, 05/23/2011 - 09:45

I've just driven down and back for a [much too] short holiday, and feel that an update on how fuel prices look on the way down would be useful to fellow travellers The following is a good site for seeing what prices have been like  

Mon, 04/04/2011 - 05:02

P&O have introduced a new ferry on the Dover - Calais route - its called the Spirit of Britain. They seem to have a special offer on at the moment [on this ship only] I've just booked a return crossing [car + 2] for £60 - significantly less th

Sat, 01/29/2011 - 06:08

Does Tomato soup exist in Italy? We were feeling a bit under the weather when we went out to Italy 2 weeks ago.  As part of the R&R process, I fancied some soup, and looked around the supermarket.  There were lots of different soups, but I rea

Mon, 01/24/2011 - 08:29

The route/timings for next years Giro d'Italia have been posted   My son rang me up to inform me that the route passes about 100m away from

Sat, 11/06/2010 - 07:04

Comments posted

Mon, 05/17/2010 - 05:00

Why not build you own - to see whether they are effective?

Sat, 05/15/2010 - 13:43

There is time to pick up some of the language - I'd suggest the Michel Thomas CDs [you can usually get them on eBay for about £30 on the 'Buy Now' system] Its suprising what you can pick up from the CDs, just listening in the car or at home. Good Luck

Thu, 05/13/2010 - 04:19

the 'map of user location' [terrible title] shows some people in your area You could try a PM to them

Wed, 05/12/2010 - 11:02

"our contract is for two years and then we will probably return to the UK. " - I wouldn't bother for two years. "My husband would like to buy a car here for work as hire costs are extortionate - is it right that you have to be resident to buy an ½ûÂþÌìÌà car?  Is there any way around this?  I have a UK car which we bought over.  Unless I become resident and nationlise my car here, I think I have to bring it back to the UK before the end of the year for it's MOT?" - just buy a newish car next time your in UK - then no MOT required until you return to UK - and as you have a UK address , you can get uk based car insurance that covers being abroad all the time

Mon, 05/10/2010 - 18:35

"This has always been the case. The notary will not permit a non-½ûÂþÌìÌà speaking person to sign a contract in ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ." Not when I bought mine about 8 years ago - at least, not for my purchase [perhaps its one of those ½ûÂþÌìÌà laws that's ignored more than adhered to]

Mon, 05/10/2010 - 04:24

Sun, 05/09/2010 - 18:16

Unfortunately it is American - but some good info anyway  

Thu, 05/06/2010 - 04:10

Wed, 05/05/2010 - 10:21

I've had good experiences with geometras, picking them by local recommendation.  They are good 'hands-on' people, who [in my opinion] know what they are talking about I trained as a Civil Engineer, [back in the last Millenium], and I believe what you are looking at is non-structural  [ie - if the render fell of, the building would remain standing and you could just re-render it].  In which case, and experienced local geometra could easily look at it and say the render is OK. If you are worried about what is under the render, then its a different matter - you'd possibly need an Engineer to strip the render off to do a survey - but I don't think that's what you need [you say there isn't any cracking in the wall]  Anyway, I would expect the Geometra to pick up the need for any such intrusive survey.  If he recommends such a survey - I would walk away from the house

Answer to: election
Wed, 05/05/2010 - 09:18

Here in the UK many of us can't wait for it to end!   If World War 3 broke out - it might just make the last 5 minutes of the News programmes   All there is to look forward to [whoever gets in] is cuts and raised taxes - Wonderful !!!!!!!!!!!