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

Tue, 03/30/2010 - 13:31

da di da di da di da tumpty tumpty toodle

Tue, 03/30/2010 - 13:27

La tah tada da

Answer to: Flowering shrubs
Thu, 03/25/2010 - 06:37

 I found on line catalogue    .   or this search on the old forum might help        

Answer to: Woodstain
Wed, 03/24/2010 - 08:14

 From the little I know about staining floors, many [all?] wood stains don't really soak into the wood that much. If I remember correctly, you apply the stain, leave it for about 10 minutes or so, and then remove the excess with kitchen roll.  If not dark enough, you stain again after a day or so So  'Impregnata'  may have been working properly

Answer to: burglary
Wed, 03/24/2010 - 05:27

I'd choose a place that is not on a main/busy road, that has neighbours nearby, preferably in sight of the house.  Put bars on windows [ground floor at least] and fit a burglar alarm [from UK] - and a good set of doors and locks.  

Answer to: Just an Idea!!!
Tue, 03/23/2010 - 18:05

 It might be better with 2 Groups " Articles Wanted"  and "Articles For Sale" It would probably make it easier for the users

Answer to: Google Maps
Mon, 03/22/2010 - 06:22

But it bypasses the small village my place is in

Answer to: Housebuying
Mon, 03/22/2010 - 06:15

 You might find it well worth doing a 'search' of the old forum 'Property Sales and Rental Advice Threads I think you'll find some good advice there, once you start digging into it

Answer to: Housebuying
Sun, 03/21/2010 - 17:51

 My tip would be - don't forget the extra 15% - 20% that's needed to cover fees, taxes etc   [I didn't realise that the buyer also pays the estate agent a fee - caught me quite by surprise]

Sun, 03/21/2010 - 17:47

"I think its great idea,  alan h but I couldn't afford to to that you must be rich !"  It doesn't need that much cash - if you do the maths, you need to cover the gas and electric used whilst at the house, if you allow say £70 for each winter week and £40 for each Summer one that you spend there, it isn't a lot that you have to top up each time you visit [but do allow a 'float, and for the iniquitous ½ûÂþÌìÌà bank charges]   I reckon to pay in no more than a couple of hundred every other visit - often less