alan h's activity

Questions Asked

My place is between Lakes Orta and Maggiore, and I have used Flybe in the past to fly from Birmingham to Milan Malpensa.Looking for flights in Sept/Oct, I was disappointed at the high costs - so went to the Easyjet site to look at the Luton to Tur

Thu, 08/20/2009 - 04:27

I have often advocated swinging up through Belgium when travelling from UK to Italy, on the grounds of the cheap petrol in Luxembourg and toll free motorways.ÌýI did this route again a couple of weeks ago, but found the roadworks on the Dunkirk-Lil

Tue, 07/28/2009 - 09:32

ÌýI thought it might help people not break the law [or get caught breaking it] to some info on speed cameras they might come across in driving down to Italy.Ìý[This really applies to people like me who don’t have a sat-nav that tells them all the in

Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:03

When driving to Italy, [Lake Maggiore area],Ìýfrom Calais, I almost always drive up towards Dunkirk and then head East towards Luxembourg.ÌýÌýÌýThe reasons for doing so is simple:-

    Fri, 07/03/2009 - 12:52

    If you are driving down to Italy, this regularly updated AA site gives you the latest info on fuel prices across Europe.Ìý Its useful for deciding where to fill up.ÌýNote - in Luxembourg, [where I always fill up - its worth the minor detour from Cal

    Thu, 07/02/2009 - 05:32

    Terrible accident in Viareggio.Ìý

    Tue, 06/30/2009 - 04:50

    .ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýI heard this today on Radio 4.ÌýÌýI take it you already know of tough and bough and cough and dough?Others may stumble, but not you,On hiccough, thorough, lough** and through.Well done!

    Sat, 06/20/2009 - 16:58

    .ÌýÌýÌýI'm considering handing over ownership of my ½ûÂþÌìÌà Holiday Home to my kids.ÌýDoes anyone know

    • How easy this is to do, and how costly?
    • Whether this can be done in the UK - or do I have to do it in Italy?
    Fri, 06/19/2009 - 04:54

    Egypt 1 - Italy 0ÌýÌýÌýÌý.

    Thu, 06/18/2009 - 18:08

    Comments posted

    Thu, 08/19/2010 - 13:45

    "Melbreak, what dish have you got? I want BBC Entertainment again!" Ìý This site will give you info on where to point your dish - it works for Italy as well as for UK Ìý Ìý Ìý This site will give an idea of the recommended dish size [Though many will say they manage with smaller ones] Ìý Ìý Ìý Hope they help

    Answer to: digging a well
    Thu, 08/19/2010 - 13:29

    "We have water about 5-7 metres under our garden, so we intend digging the old fashioned way, buckets and spades" Ìý I hope you know how difficult and dangerous a self-dig well would be - hopefully you are experienced in such undertakings - there are extreme safety risks from the collapse of excavations, possible gas/breathing problems, drowning [if you ever get deep enough], etc etc etc I'd be amazed if any designer/geometra/Engineer would touch such a proposal with the proverbial 10 foot barge pole. It would be interesting is you would give us feed back the comune's response to your proposal.

    Answer to: digging a well
    Tue, 08/17/2010 - 16:25

    I'd be amazed if you didn't need approval[s] - talk to your commune, or a geometra, etc etc

    Answer to: Fogolar
    Fri, 08/13/2010 - 14:21

    .... this website? It has a bit on Fogolars, with couple of links.

    Answer to: Mosquitoes
    Mon, 08/09/2010 - 08:38

    DEET works for us - we use Jungle Juice spray [make sure it is the one with DEET in] - very effective

    Sun, 08/08/2010 - 14:46

    Ìý deleted - repetition

    Sun, 08/08/2010 - 14:43

    You'd be lucky to get more than 6kW - most houses manage quite easily on 3KW - it just means no electric kettle, and watch what you plug in when the washing machine is on. Ìý I think you'll need to review your proposed heating method

    Mon, 08/02/2010 - 17:17

    What's this about the 'regime we were married under'? - I do not believe that makes any sense for an English marriage - at least, not to me ------------ When I bought our holiday place in Italy, about 8 years ago, both my wife and I were present at the purchase. She told the Notary she did not wish to be an owner of the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃÌýproperty - so I bought it, and paid for itÌý- and she signed each page of the paperwork to signify she was happy with this arrangement. Makes it easier with things like ICI - I pay the lot, rather than us both paying half each Also, if we decide to sell the place [not something that IÌýexpect to do - I hope to pass it on to the kids]Ìý- I'm the only one needed to be present at the sale.

    Mon, 08/02/2010 - 07:50

    I'd reckon on about 16 hours driving timeÌý[plus any stops] to Genova Ìý Mappy gives about 12 hrs 15 minutes - I think that's optimistic

    Mon, 08/02/2010 - 06:34

    If as you say "We will not install a stufa until next year " Now is the perfect time to cut it down, cut it into logs, and let them dry out for next year when you'll need them