alan h's activity

Questions Asked

Tesco and Eurotunnel[Copied from another Forum]If you shop at Tesco you'll probably be rewarded with Cash Vouchers.  What you may not know is that you can exchange these for 3x their value with Eurotunnel.

Sun, 03/18/2018 - 16:50

ITALIAN GENEALOGYI am researching my family tree [all UK based], and belong to a Genealogy Group here in the UK - its part of the U3A [an organisation for 'retired persons who want to do things rather than sit at home all d

Wed, 01/04/2017 - 05:24

Cancelling a Eurotunnel Booking I have had to cancel a return trip on Eurotunnel [Car + 2 + Dog], as I have to go into hospital for an op.The booking was 'non-refundable'.I rang them to cancel and they confirmed it was non-

Thu, 05/26/2016 - 08:00

IMU - Its still around I thought this had disappeared in the new tax system, but my Comune website says the first payment for 2014 is due by 16th June Paid it via my bank today - emailed them the F24

Fri, 06/13/2014 - 08:56

Looks like the days of the easy/cheap trip to italy through Switzerland are numbered. Apparently, the Swiss government has decided to raise the cost of the vignette to 100 Swiss Francs for 2015. They are introducing a two month vignette for 40SF,

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 15:58

Petrol prices in France are now comparable with the UK, except on the French Autoroutes.One option is to fill up at the L'Eclerc superstores with their SP95 E10 petrol [its a petrol with some ethylene in - generally used in France - which is OK fo

Thu, 07/11/2013 - 04:25

For a change this year we drove down to Italy via Besancon  [avoiding most tolls by taking some good french non-motorways.]However - Besancon roads are in total chaos as they are digging them up to lay tram routes - this will take about 2 more yea

Wed, 07/10/2013 - 16:44

Can you help?I've just completed making a 'variation' of Limoncello. The only change is that I dispensed with the lemons, I and substituted Sloes that I picked here in the UK at the end of last year.

Sun, 01/20/2013 - 09:10

In today's GuardianRyanair have announced their credit card will now be liable to the same charges as other credit cards - so the end of no charge bookings

Sat, 11/10/2012 - 09:07

Comments posted

Tue, 09/03/2013 - 09:51

Suggestion" .......... I assume I was bitten on my upper body at night as I sleep with my arms wrapped around my pillow, my arms were covered in bites!!!! ................."How about sleeping under a mosquito net?  Used them in Uganda - very effectivehttp://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=mosquito+nets&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=32602634225&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12709846101099308193&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1k45lqouvc_b

Tue, 08/27/2013 - 07:40

Buying a LHD Car in UK.Sir TK said"... My original intention was to replace the car every 3 years but that's hassle too, as UK dealerships tell me they can't supply an LHD model because of the European spec for lights and instruments. ......" There are companies that do supply new LHD cars, like this one;-   http://www.1stcarimports.co.uk/.                 [But for some reason they don't do Fiats, so you might need to change the make you choose]

Mon, 08/26/2013 - 12:37

Really???? Tyco say" .........    Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) for vehicles entering and leaving the facility We have provided these solutions to major airports and ports including London Heathrow Airport, Dublin Airport, Manchester Airport and the Port of Dover."

Mon, 08/26/2013 - 06:27

Depends where you are going. See;- http://www.lowemissionzones.eu/In Detail for Cars - http://www.lowemissionzones.eu/lez-quick-guide/cars  Must say - having read some of the website pages - am totally confused, especially when it comes to Italian cities with LEVs

Mon, 08/26/2013 - 04:25

".......... When you return to UK you must book a MOT test for that day. It can be anywhere in UK and you can drive to and from the test centre on that day without a road tax disc and an out of date MOT."I suggest what cardi meant to say is that before you return to the UK you must book an MOT for that day ........  and carry a print out of a confirmatory email of the bookingThe  authorities will pick up the fact that your car is not Taxed or MOT'ed from the ferry/train booking and/or the vehicle number plate recognition cameras at the port/eurotunnel terminalI would recommend that the MOT station is as close as possible to the point of landing - anything farther away [say near your 'home location' might be considered by the police as 'stretching a point' - i.e. getting your luggage home.  Also stopping for petrol/drinks/toilets is not 'solely for the purose of the MOT'] As an example - Avon and Somerset Police website  http://www.italymagazine.com/comment/254736/edit  says;-"A vehicle can be driven on the road without an MOT certificate :

  • When the vehicle is being used solely for the purpose of taking it for examination for a test certificate. The test date and time must be pre-arranged 

.                   [my underlining/emboldening]Good Luck 

    Sat, 08/24/2013 - 15:05

    "Does anyone know if we can get UK MOT renewed in Italy without returning to the UK?"I don't think it is possible - although some may suggest you don't need an MOT [Personally I think an MOT is essential - so an annual trip to Uk is needed].There are some firms in the UK that will give all year foreign insurance [Saga is one] - although most limit it to a max of 180 days a year, with a maximum stay of about 45 days at any time [I think] If in doubt - ask your insurer [but don't tell them who you are, just in case] 

    Fri, 08/23/2013 - 13:30

    We use Castorama - buildings and 3rd Party insurance, but not contents [our italian friends advised against contents insurance - because of the cost]Small place in the hills - 91Euros/year

    Thu, 08/15/2013 - 03:53

    If staying near Colmar ...........Avoid the Novotel at Colmar airport - we didn't enjoy our stay there.  [except going into Colmar for an evening meal]

    Wed, 08/14/2013 - 06:35

    Finding Hotels .....................The Drive Alive website has a map  http://www.drive-alive.co.uk/hotels.asp   that shows the location of Hotels, plus details etc. It could be worth looking at to get some idea of what is availble, and where.[Website has lots of other info as well]

    Tue, 08/13/2013 - 10:16

    Well ......................... Its about 760 miles, so assuming a two night trip [250ish miles per day, a leisurely trip] Night 1 – overnight near Colmar  - we stayed at http://www.deux-clefs.com/  very nice place.  Alternatively, Mulhouse has plenty of hotels - we use the Accor websiteNight 2 – overnight in the area around/south of Milan – not an area I’ve stayed in, [we are North of Milan, in the Lake Orta area],  but the web should throw up plenty of options. I would avoid stopping overnight in Switzerland, it can be expensive [but the petrol is cheaper than France, and a lot cheaper than Italy - especially if you get off the Swiss motorway to fill up]