I think the groups now exist [at least - when I go to the 'make a new post' section, there they are, in the "Audience" section] Â Hope someone uses them soon - after all the time its taken
alan h's activity
Questions Asked
Anyone used the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry service? I'm hoping to drive down to the holiday home later this year, and was thinking of using the service.
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 04:45
By chance I went on the old Forum yesterday - found that someone had PM'ed me from that forum only a few days ago.  I hadn't got any notification of a PM, but obviously the old Forum PM system still works  It might be worth doing the odd visit
Sat, 05/15/2010 - 12:15
Hopefully they may start flights to the North soon ?
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 12:40
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 04:33
what else can one say?
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 05:00
I can't beleive that its 17+ hours since the last post - or has my PC taken over and hidden everything?
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:24
 Hopefully this will kill Blair's ambitions off.
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 12:05
There is an interesting article in today's G2 section of the Guardian newspaper by a woman who moved to Italy, founded a successful business, and has now moved back to the UK [but still has the business] because she missed LondonÂ
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 04:55
Comments posted
Travelling with a dog is easy peasy - but not sure about a pet passport issued in France [should be OK] Best way to cross tha Channel is on Eurotunnel - quick and easy. You add the dog to the passenger list [charge about £18 each way] and thats all you need to do, going out from UK. No further checks are carried out. Coming back, they check the passsport and worming treatment at Calais [Follow the signs with the dog on it]Travelling through France - look at the Logis de France website - tells you if dogs are allowed in bedrooms, and alsi if they are allowed in the Hotel restaurant. Many hotels allow both. The IBIS chain also seem pretty OK with dogs, but its worth checking by email before booking.French motorway services are OK for walking dogs for 'needs breaks', as are the 'Aires'Switzerland - we use the IBIS at Sion Est - dogs allowed everywhere and there is a big walk through orchards nearbyHaven't needed a hotel in Italy, so can't help you there.We tend to limit driving to about 250 miles a day when we have the dog with us - seems fairer on him
"........... can anyone recommend a bank in Aulla ? which doesn't charge you extotiante bank charges !!  ........." You'll be lucky! Chances are somewhere between Zero and Diddly Squat
As I understand it - non residents do not pay. See this discussion at another place  http://italy.forumotion.com/t1010-tv-licence-news?highlight=TV+licenceÂ
".............. I also need to be able to buy, insure and register a car ........"No chance without gaining Residency - and you won't get that by visiting Italy for 4 or 5 months a year. And if you did get Residency, the tax implications could be horrendous.
Well ......................................".....  I dont plan to have a car in Italy so that's why I'm thinking I'd like to be a walkable distance to the train station. ...."Places close to train stations may not be in areas you want to buy into. As an example - Bergamo old town [beautiful, quaint etc etc] is nowhere near the station in Bergamo, which is in the new town - a 20th Century dormitory town [bit harsh, I know], although there is a bus service twixt the two. Reinforces the need to visit the area before choosing where to go, as well as a detailed web search prior to that
My advice is as follows;-
From personal experience the area to the North of Milan is [for me ] ideal. Coming from UK it has 3 Milan airports [we us Malpensa] plus Turin, and at a push Geneva.  Our fall back option is we can drive home to UK in 15 hours - obviously not applicable to the US. Also, ½ûÂþÌìÌà kids learn English from the age of 6 - so the need for an English speaking es pat area is less than it used tpo be.  Good luck
aside from the Trump joke.......Will you need to move much over to Italy, apart from clothes etc. Its often not worth moving furniture,as its cheaper to buy locally. Also - as electrics in Italy are 220 volts - you'll need to buy new anyway
I'm sure there's a company called 'Trump's Household Removals' - although they may just concentrate on moving people to Mexico
Utility Bills - I have direct debits set up with my ½ûÂþÌìÌà Bank for Gas, Water and Electrcity
I use the same calculator site as LargeLewis. I use it to print out the F24 form [for paying the tax], sign it and Scan it so I can email it to my ½ûÂþÌìÌà Bank with a request for it to be paid from my account. System works well - BUT, you do need an ½ûÂþÌìÌà Bank account to do it. Good Luck Â