Thanks to Bewick, Buzzer, essexpete, DIG and Ray Smyth for the photos 
OZ and other craic also going well .
Oily
Coneygarth customers couple of weeks ago.
oiltreader:
Ray Smyth:
I was thinking of going back " Behind the wheel " with my HGV Class 1 licence when I saw the amounts of wages
on the back door of this Volvo 6 wheeler which was delivering to the little Tesco at Pemberton, Wigan.19/08/2022.
Ray Smyth.
Hi Ray, Agency advert today off FB page of Highlands and Islands Trucks.
“Class 1 Drivers needed tomorrow
Eurocentral trunk run from Inverness £18.00 per hour.
Drivers must have CPC and Digital Tacho”.
Cheers
Eddie
I dont have a Digital Tacho, but I have some old discs and an old logbook, and my CPC certificate from 1979.
Ray Smyth.
Ray Smyth:
oiltreader:
Ray Smyth:
I was thinking of going back " Behind the wheel " with my HGV Class 1 licence when I saw the amounts of wages
on the back door of this Volvo 6 wheeler which was delivering to the little Tesco at Pemberton, Wigan.Ray Smyth.
Hi Ray, Agency advert today off FB page of Highlands and Islands Trucks.
“Class 1 Drivers needed tomorrow
Eurocentral trunk run from Inverness £18.00 per hour.
Drivers must have CPC and Digital Tacho”.
Cheers
EddieI dont have a Digital Tacho, but I have some old discs and an old logbook, and my CPC certificate from 1979.
Ray Smyth.
Tell you what Ray, I’ve just got back from deepest Dorset on holiday, journey down was excellent though I did set off just after 4am, journey home was different, temporary traffic lights just a few miles outside Lyme Regis for a hole the size of a bucket! Over 2 miles of queuing traffic each direction, anyway journey after that was excellent thanks to Deans advice regarding major roadworks at Ringwood and we made good time, I opted for the M3 M25 M1 after Salisbury as opposed to the A303 A34 to Oxford/Bicester and A421 across country to mk as it was getting dark. Got as far as Fleet and 2
Lanes closed, bit sticky but moving slowly, what for? Nothing! Nothing there whatsoever! Onto the M25 and as always very busy despite now being 9pm, got to Heathrow area and of course the highway agency morons (or whoever) were doing their usual as they do every day by setting the compulsory overhead variable speed signs at various different speeds, the lowest down to 30mph. Needless to say a motorway which was previously running absolutely fine was then stop start virtually all the way to the M40.
Anyway onto the M1, thought everything would be fine from here as now 9.30pm but no! Again their favourite toy for messing up free flowing traffic was deployed, the variable speed signs, from Hemel Hempstead all the way to J13 Bedford down to 50mph with the signs saying “reports of a lane blockage “ and of course you guessed it, nothing there whatsoever! And of course the results were bunching up and having to brake every 100yds to around 20mph, now I’m all for safety but Hemel to Bedford! There’s cameras every 100yds for the morons to check for problems. So in conclusion Ray even for the rates some are offering today I really couldn’t be doing with this crap every day.
Kempston:
Ray Smyth:
oiltreader:
Ray Smyth:
I was thinking of going back " Behind the wheel " with my HGV Class 1 licence when I saw the amounts of wages
on the back door of this Volvo 6 wheeler which was delivering to the little Tesco at Pemberton, Wigan.Ray Smyth.
Hi Ray, Agency advert today off FB page of Highlands and Islands Trucks.
“Class 1 Drivers needed tomorrow
Eurocentral trunk run from Inverness £18.00 per hour.
Drivers must have CPC and Digital Tacho”.
Cheers
EddieI dont have a Digital Tacho, but I have some old discs and an old logbook, and my CPC certificate from 1979.
Ray Smyth.
Tell you what Ray, I’ve just got back from deepest Dorset on holiday, journey down was excellent though I did set off just after 4am, journey home was different, temporary traffic lights just a few miles outside Lyme Regis for a hole the size of a bucket! Over 2 miles of queuing traffic each direction, anyway journey after that was excellent thanks to Deans advice regarding major roadworks at Ringwood and we made good time, I opted for the M3 M25 M1 after Salisbury as opposed to the A303 A34 to Oxford/Bicester and A421 across country to mk as it was getting dark. Got as far as Fleet and 2
Lanes closed, bit sticky but moving slowly, what for? Nothing! Nothing there whatsoever! Onto the M25 and as always very busy despite now being 9pm, got to Heathrow area and of course the highway agency morons (or whoever) were doing their usual as they do every day by setting the compulsory overhead variable speed signs at various different speeds, the lowest down to 30mph. Needless to say a motorway which was previously running absolutely fine was then stop start virtually all the way to the M40.Anyway onto the M1, thought everything would be fine from here as now 9.30pm but no! Again their favourite toy for messing up free flowing traffic was deployed, the variable speed signs, from Hemel Hempstead all the way to J13 Bedford down to 50mph with the signs saying “reports of a lane blockage “ and of course you guessed it, nothing there whatsoever! And of course the results were bunching up and having to brake every 100yds to around 20mph, now I’m all for safety but Hemel to Bedford! There’s cameras every 100yds for the morons to check for problems. So in conclusion Ray even for the rates some are offering today I really couldn’t be doing with this crap every day.
On the M1 Sheffield an Air Pollution speed limit, can’t remember if it was 50 or 60mph, inner lanes bunching with outer traffic paying no heed, does it get any dafter.
Oily
I`m not a German speaker, but this caught my eye.
youtube.com/watch?v=QfPwx0pcjno
(Would be illegal in France I`m 99.9% sure.)
Why would a car and caravan be illegal in France?
stu675:
Why would a car and caravan be illegal in France?
The French love to standardise, I’m not sure it would be illegal but it might be a helluva job to get the spec recognised in that form.
I once knew a man who had a Volvo car which had a slightly different spec to those sold to France. Frustrated with all the stonewalling he fronted up at the place were such things are done (it has a different acronym now). The man looked at his computer and said ‘your car does not exist’. 
Our friend said, if you don’t believe that come outside and I’ll show if it exists or not because that is where it is parked.
He did get his documents, but not straight away. 
Spardo:
stu675:
Why would a car and caravan be illegal in France?The French love to standardise, I’m not sure it would be illegal but it might be a helluva job to get the spec recognised in that form.
I once knew a man who had a Volvo car which had a slightly different spec to those sold to France. Frustrated with all the stonewalling he fronted up at the place were such things are done (it has a different acronym now). The man looked at his computer and said ‘your car does not exist’.
He did get his documents, but not straight away.
A friend of mine went to live in France, took his old Jap imported Landcruiser. As it was not first registered in EU it was going to require a ‘‘special’’ inspection to ensure fit for France to the tune of about 4k Euro, plus remove the back row of seats and probably the tow hitch as well as there was not any towing weight on the manufacturer’s plate (or similar).
essexpete:
Spardo:
stu675:
Why would a car and caravan be illegal in France?The French love to standardise, I’m not sure it would be illegal but it might be a helluva job to get the spec recognised in that form.
I once knew a man who had a Volvo car which had a slightly different spec to those sold to France. Frustrated with all the stonewalling he fronted up at the place were such things are done (it has a different acronym now). The man looked at his computer and said ‘your car does not exist’.
He did get his documents, but not straight away.A friend of mine went to live in France, took his old Jap imported Landcruiser. As it was not first registered in EU it was going to require a ‘‘special’’ inspection to ensure fit for France to the tune of about 4k Euro, plus remove the back row of seats and probably the tow hitch as well as there was not any towing weight on the manufacturer’s plate (or similar).
Sounds about right Pete, on the other hand, when I arrived here to live permanently in '99 I brought with me our Spanish built UK RHD Saxo. I was told all sorts of stories about what I had to do including getting it weighed on the village weighbridge (sliding bar type, meant for weighing agricultural carts) but in the end found my own way through the maze. The last 2 steps were getting it inspected at the DRIRE (no idea 
) in Perigueux and then to the Prefecture with all the gathered documents. At the DRIRE they stamped everything and sent me on my way. ‘But where do you want me for the inspection’ I asked. ‘No need, on your way’.
It was only at the Prefecture that I had a problem. I took a ticket and went to the window when called. The miserable bloke on the other side looked at them all, gathered them up and shoved them back at me ‘all wrong, go back, start again’. He wouldn’t explain precisely what was wrong so I sat back down for a while and had a think. Then I took another ticket and this time went to a different window. A pleasant, smiling, young female face took my papers and poiltely stamped and returned them with a ‘Bonnne Journee’.
I think the moral is if you don’t at first succeed try try again. Obviously I was prettier in those days, but I don’t think it was that that swayed it.
BTW, that Saxo went through no less than 2 biannual CTs (MOTs) without a murmur with its headlights showing dipped to the left on the wall. I only changed them in the end because I couldn’t see the verge at night on the country lanes round here.
I was thinking that set up would be illegal purely on the paint job.
When F1 was widely sponsored by tobacco companies, those transporters getting off the boat had to obscure all tobacco related adverts, names etc.
I dont know if "Gauloises" still exist? But that lovely blue colour on the packaging certainly doesnt (in Europe).
Don`t all trailers over 500kgs need brakes and a CT (MoT test) and reg plates in France?
So some sort of Certificate of Conformity would be needed I would think?
Being German reg, it should be legal to use in France? But not with that paintwork, I would think.
Spardo:
essexpete:
Spardo:
stu675:
Why would a car and caravan be illegal in France?The French love to standardise, I’m not sure it would be illegal but it might be a helluva job to get the spec recognised in that form.
I once knew a man who had a Volvo car which had a slightly different spec to those sold to France. Frustrated with all the stonewalling he fronted up at the place were such things are done (it has a different acronym now). The man looked at his computer and said ‘your car does not exist’.
He did get his documents, but not straight away.A friend of mine went to live in France, took his old Jap imported Landcruiser. As it was not first registered in EU it was going to require a ‘‘special’’ inspection to ensure fit for France to the tune of about 4k Euro, plus remove the back row of seats and probably the tow hitch as well as there was not any towing weight on the manufacturer’s plate (or similar).
Sounds about right Pete, on the other hand, when I arrived here to live permanently in '99 I brought with me our Spanish built UK RHD Saxo. I was told all sorts of stories about what I had to do including getting it weighed on the village weighbridge (sliding bar type, meant for weighing agricultural carts) but in the end found my own way through the maze. The last 2 steps were getting it inspected at the DRIRE (no idea
It was only at the Prefecture that I had a problem. I took a ticket and went to the window when called. The miserable bloke on the other side looked at them all, gathered them up and shoved them back at me ‘all wrong, go back, start again’. He wouldn’t explain precisely what was wrong so I sat back down for a while and had a think. Then I took another ticket and this time went to a different window. A pleasant, smiling, young female face took my papers and poiltely stamped and returned them with a ‘Bonnne Journee’.
I think the moral is if you don’t at first succeed try try again. Obviously I was prettier in those days, but I don’t think it was that that swayed it.BTW, that Saxo went through no less than 2 biannual CTs (MOTs) without a murmur with its headlights showing dipped to the left on the wall.
You have now had quite a few years in France then. How have you found it and are you good at French language?
essexpete:
You have now had quite a few years in France then. How have you found it and are you good at French language?
Best move I ever made, especially now that I see, and take no shadenfreude pleasure from, what is happening in Blighty. After 3 strokes my wife is in an ever advancing state of vascular dementia but the help we get from the health service here is 2nd to none and there is as much concern for my health in coping as there is for hers. My French now is worse than it was. In my 1st 3 years working for Gauthier all my instructions for reloads etc came by phone in the cab and I never had a problem although the Freteuse (Traffic Clerk) assigned to us frigo drivers could be heard by me sighing because I always asked him/her to spell everything. Never put a foot wrong except for once and that was mainly his fault in not giving me a clear address. I went into the office the following Saturday prepared with all guns blazing and found Paul Gauthier and the office staff in stitches over it, my guns were definitely spiked.
French comprehension is worse because of age (I simply forget words, but that happens with English too) and a certain problem with hearing which makes distinguishing different speakers difficult.
Franglais:
I dont know if "Gauloises" still exist? But that lovely blue colour on the packaging certainly doesnt (in Europe).Don`t all trailers over 500kgs need brakes and a CT (MoT test) and reg plates in France?
So some sort of Certificate of Conformity would be needed I would think?
Gauloises certainly do still exist, they were my wife’s 20 a day habit until September last year when suddenly her dementia made her forget she was a smoker. Yes, really, a bizarre single plus from her illness. As I used to buy them weekly for her and hand them out, one packet a day, I still have a secret stache of the bloody things. The colour is now black with lots of horribly gruesome pictures on them. Towards the end of her addiction she used to complain to me ‘I don’t like that picture, give me another one’.
Trailers, including caravans 500 kg gross + do need brakes, registration and insurance, but not testing apparently. But the stumbling block for imports is still Conformity.
Spardo:
essexpete:
You have now had quite a few years in France then. How have you found it and are you good at French language?Best move I ever made, especially now that I see, and take no shadenfreude pleasure from, what is happening in Blighty. After 3 strokes my wife is in an ever advancing state of vascular dementia but the help we get from the health service here is 2nd to none and there is as much concern for my health in coping as there is for hers. My French now is worse than it was. In my 1st 3 years working for Gauthier all my instructions for reloads etc came by phone in the cab and I never had a problem although the Freteuse (Traffic Clerk) assigned to us frigo drivers could be heard by me sighing because I always asked him/her to spell everything. Never put a foot wrong except for once and that was mainly his fault in not giving me a clear address. I went into the office the following Saturday prepared with all guns blazing and found Paul Gauthier and the office staff in stitches over it, my guns were definitely spiked.
French comprehension is worse because of age (I simply forget words, but that happens with English too) and a certain problem with hearing which makes distinguishing different speakers difficult.
Franglais:
I dont know if "Gauloises" still exist? But that lovely blue colour on the packaging certainly doesnt (in Europe).Don`t all trailers over 500kgs need brakes and a CT (MoT test) and reg plates in France?
So some sort of Certificate of Conformity would be needed I would think?Gauloises certainly do still exist, they were my wife’s 20 a day habit until September last year when suddenly her dementia made her forget she was a smoker. Yes, really, a bizarre single plus from her illness. As I used to buy them weekly for her and hand them out, one packet a day, I still have a secret stache of the bloody things.
Trailers, including caravans 500 kg gross + do need brakes, registration and insurance, but not testing apparently. But the stumbling block for imports is still Conformity.
David thanks for the insight. I am sorry to hear about your wife’s health, my Mother suffered from similar following an anyuarism
Spardo:
essexpete:
You have now had quite a few years in France then. How have you found it and are you good at French language?Best move I ever made, especially now that I see, and take no shadenfreude pleasure from, what is happening in Blighty. After 3 strokes my wife is in an ever advancing state of vascular dementia but the help we get from the health service here is 2nd to none and there is as much concern for my health in coping as there is for hers. My French now is worse than it was. In my 1st 3 years working for Gauthier all my instructions for reloads etc came by phone in the cab and I never had a problem although the Freteuse (Traffic Clerk) assigned to us frigo drivers could be heard by me sighing because I always asked him/her to spell everything. Never put a foot wrong except for once and that was mainly his fault in not giving me a clear address. I went into the office the following Saturday prepared with all guns blazing and found Paul Gauthier and the office staff in stitches over it, my guns were definitely spiked.
French comprehension is worse because of age (I simply forget words, but that happens with English too) and a certain problem with hearing which makes distinguishing different speakers difficult.
Franglais:
I dont know if "Gauloises" still exist? But that lovely blue colour on the packaging certainly doesnt (in Europe).Don`t all trailers over 500kgs need brakes and a CT (MoT test) and reg plates in France?
So some sort of Certificate of Conformity would be needed I would think?Gauloises certainly do still exist, they were my wife’s 20 a day habit until September last year when suddenly her dementia made her forget she was a smoker. Yes, really, a bizarre single plus from her illness. As I used to buy them weekly for her and hand them out, one packet a day, I still have a secret stache of the bloody things.
Trailers, including caravans 500 kg gross + do need brakes, registration and insurance, but not testing apparently. But the stumbling block for imports is still Conformity.
David thanks for the insight. I am sorry to hear about your wife’s health, my Mother suffered from similar following an aneurysm in the brain.
Do you get health care via insurance?
I know our friends pay a reasonable amount in insurance. They got to France by the skin their teeth. Completion at French end had to wait till UK house sold. Then French agent /legals dragged it out to just before Christmas 2020. They had trouble with ferry dates (strikes iirr), got a date, then caught Covid. That pushed them past Brexit and a whole new set of hoops. They had to tie up clear Covid tests for themselves with various tests for their pets. They were also nervous of the 90 day rule but have been granted the tempory ticket for a period.
All these residency problems (not to mention all the others!) thanks to Brexit! What a foolish decision 52% made… Just my opinion.
Dipster:
All these residency problems (not to mention all the others!) thanks to Brexit! What a foolish decision 52% made… Just my opinion.
It is also my opinion. If we were still in the European Union, I would be living in Mojacar in Almeria, Spain by now. Cheers, Ray Smyth.
essexpete:
Do you get health care via insurance?
I have to pay for my own health insurance which, along with a contribution from the state, pays all my health bills. My wife, as a non-French pensioner would have a substantial portion of hers paid by the UK NHS under a reciprical agreement. But in fact because of her original disability which caused her retirement as a care home assistant in England, along with her present situation, gives her 100 % cover. So things like her wheelchair, medical bed and the energy foods which are almost all she consumes, are totally free. It is complicated but I think that some of her support comes as the wife of a French pensioner.
In addition she gets 3 visits a week to help her with showering etc and cleaning duties in the house for which we pay 10% of the total cost, varies around €30 a month, but, for some bizarre reason we have a grant from the Departement of more than that coming back in directly to our account.
@Ray and Dipster, you are not alone in that, but it hardly affects me now apart from it not being worth the hassel to buy anything from UK anymore. All my purchases now are made within the EU. The fact that so many feel the same way in the Union must be having a marked affect on the economy of the UK and thus the extraordinary inflation that you are all now suffering. 
