alan h's activity

try  http://www.ryobi-direct.com/index.html

The only problem will be the capacity of the power supply.  In Italy, this is often only 3kW  [equivalent to 13 amps] so all you have to do is make sure you don't have more than 3000 Watts running at any time.  In practice, this means;-

• ditch the electric kettle  [it takes almost all of the 3kW]
• don't run your electric oven at the same time  as the washing machine etc

Its easy peasy really  - or you can  pay extra for a stronger supply - but that's not very 'Green' is it?   .

What also worked was the 'mark forums read' button that allowed you to avoid having to open a posting  just to get it off the 'new' listing. God - how I miss that one!   .

"It feels a little strange and unfamiliar but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon" Some of us are still struggling

If you look at the 'mappy' website, [or multimap. via michelin etc etc],  that will give you

• approx petrol cots,
• autoroute charges,
• tunnel costs and
• Swiss motorway vignette

Ferry costs vary on route etc - the obvious crossing is Dover to France - costs vary between £60 return [Norfolk Line - weekday] to £200+ [Eurotunnel, P&O, Sea France - peak booking]. From Manchester, the Hull - Rotterdam overnight crossing looks expensive - but it saves about 250 miles driving each way, plus an overnight stop.  Driving distance from Rotterdam is similar to that from Calais/Dunkirk Motorways in Belgium are free - so it can pay to pop up from Calais - travel distance increases by about 12 miles only Cheapest petrol is Luxembourg [Belgium route takes you there] -   see - http://www.theaa.com/onlinenews/allaboutcars/fuel/2009/may2009.pdf Overnight stops vary from about £30 a night - Formula 1 up to whatever one wants to pay Allow 400miles/day max driving - so you won't feel completely knacke*red  [I try to keep it down to 300 - 350 max] "You pays your money and takes your choice"  .

If you want to see what its like on the autostrada - go to http://www.nextsa.ch/nextcam.htm    [scroll down page to see  relevant webcams If the road looks busy/stopped at the tunnel - leave the autostrada at the Varenzo exit and drive 'over the top', rather than through the tunnel  .

We have a copy of this book in our Italian place - for friends staying there who don't speak the lingo.  We came across it when it was recommended to our GCSE Italian evening class. You can see it here  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/0860207684/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-page  - click the page tags to turn them.  .

Try 'Googling' You get things like    http://www.lefthanddriveleeds.co.uk/usedcarsales.php  .

Daft as it sounds - one of the easiest options is probably to buy the small car in the UK, insure it with a company that will do extended periods abroad [there are a few] and drive it down  -  bringing it back once a year to re-tax, insure and [if necessary] MOT it  .

There is a through train [mon - fri] from Aulla to Rapallo - leaves 09.20 - arrives 11.00 The only through train back leaves at 20.00 [arriving at Aulla at 21.25  [Both trains stop at other points along the CT] For all other options look at   http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en  its the best site for train times  This give plenty of time for 'sightseeing' and walking. For walking suggestions - look at sites such as the ATG and Inntravel websites for their Cinque Terre walking holidays - these will give you an idea of what you could do in a day. The walk along the coast is easier than the 'higher routes', but is full of Americans doing the '5 cities' - [ they don't know where they are - but they just know they've got to do the '5 cities']. Front page of the Forum site today -   http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy-featured/liguria/famous-five-0 .