rachel68's activity

Nothing's happened fast....it's a year later nearly and only now I'm mid treating my cotto floor!I'm scrubbing the small rooms with acid by hand with a decking brush but wondered about hiring a machine scrubber for the two bigger rooms? Any advice? Also will I be able to remove wax drips from unsealed cotto and odd bits of oil from food dropped by my four year old? Last cry for help is that despite using Fila's highly rated water based range and applying HP98 water repellent and HP68 oil and water repellent followed by Filajet and then a liquid wax seal I feel my tiles are still quite porous....could it be poor quality tiles as much as anything perhaps? Thanks 

Thanks so much. It seems I simply wasn't waiting F or the programme to fully load!

Completely innocently I bought a phone from Phone4U (or is it Fones4U?) in the UK with a contract to orange but because I didn't buy it from Orange directly it's been brilliant because it was unlocked frm the first! I slip my Tim SIM in as soon as I get to Italy and can add internet for the grand sum of 3 euros a week ! I can tether it too to a laptop or tablet. Bargain! On another note I've just bought a high speed Huawei portable modem from EE in the UK fro £49.99 rather than 200 euros in Italy which was unlocked instantly for £1.50 online (even an idiot like me could follow the instructions) and when i start livingin Italy full-time (next week- after 18 months of renovating!!!) I'll be free to try out all providers of data sims and see which works best on my area before committing to a long term plan. The strongest signal seems to change every time I go to the Sabina - anyone else experience this type of inconsistancy of reception? To return to the post, Phones4U are an internet provider too so might be worth a try...or eBay does a great line in unlocked phones!

Thanks David - will take a look at the Honda. Strickly speaking we are Rieti....Casaprota in the Sabina Mountains. Really happy with this area, kind neighbours and and just can't believe Rome is so close but this area so unspoilt!

Thanks so much - especially for the advice about watching out for a viper or two! I'm not a serial weed killer - hate the thought of being considered the type who sterilises everything! - it's only for the overgrowth really close to the house and as much as anything I'm trying to clear areas where moquitos can breed undisturbed. Believe you me, we have donated much of our land directly over to the wildlife and am pretty sure enough brambles will remain to provide for plenty of jam making! Would late March/early April be considered too late to plant olive trees in Lazio do you think?

Thanks for the help. I really need to try and find where the point is that the water is rising from. Has anyone found out how you work out where the flow is actually coming up from? The puddle is pretty dispersed so it's not obvious! The french trench idea looks great and would give me a way of at least bringing the water to one point so it can be collected and made useful rather than a mosquito breeding ground!

I'm just looking in to that now. A conversation this morning with 'Sheila's Wheels' told me that this is not going to be straightforward. They have even said they are not happy to issue a green card if I can't clearly say when I'll return...They ave suggested i should cancel me insurance with them when i leave and start up with another insurer at this point. Bizarre! Is it so odd to take a UK registered car to Europe fro 6 months?  

  I should begin by explaining, since the 1st January 2004, the Continuous Registration legislation became effective. Under this legislation, the registered keeper of a vehicle is legally responsible for ensuring his/her vehicle is currently taxed or a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) has been made at all times.   Registered keepers will continue to be responsible for their vehicle until DVLA is notified that the vehicle has been scrapped, sold, exported, or unless a SORN has been made. Please note that as quoted in the Vehicles Registration and Licensing Regulations 2002, SORN declarations are only valid if the vehicle is kept off road in Great Britain or Northern Ireland.   If a vehicle is temporarily taken out of the country (for less than twelve months) but remains registered in the UK, the vehicle must be taxed.   European Union (EU) vehicles which are circulating temporarily within or between community Member States are allowed under EC Directive 83/182, to be used on public roads without the need to register or pay duties in the host country. These provisions limit visits to six months in a twelve-month period and the vehicle must comply with the registration and licensing requirements of its home country.   If you have a Registration Certificate (V5C) and are registered as the keeper of the vehicle, you should take the document with you. If you do not have a V5C you should apply for one using a V62* application form. The V62 should be returned to DVLA Swansea and will take up to 30 working days to issue.   However, if you are in possession of the V5C/2 "new keeper supplement" a DVLA Local Office may be able to issue a V379 temporary Certificate of Registration to cover the period the vehicle is out of the UK. You can obtain this by filling in an Application for Temporary Registration Certificate (V379/1) available at any DVLA Local Office. The addresses of the DVLALocal Offices can be found on the website www.gov.uk/dvla-offices . If you make your application in person to a Local Office you will also need to provide proof of identity e.g. Passport, Driving Licence or a Utilities Bill, which clearly shows your name and address, and also proof of purchase or Bill of Sale for the vehicle.   If your tax expires and you need to renew it while you are abroad, provided you have a V5C, you may apply for a new tax disc by post using the application form V10. The application should be sent to a Post Office® listed in the booklet V100 or to a DVLA Local Office. The V10 forms are available from the Post Office® or can be downloaded from the website. The V100 booklets are available from DVLA or a Post Office®. Your application can be made up to 6 weeks in advance. All applications will require an original V5C or V5C/2 "new keeper supplement".   However, if the V5C or the V5C/2 "new keeper supplement" is not available you can submit a V62* application form. Provided you are shown as current keeper on DVLA records or if the previous keeper has notified DVLA of the disposal of the vehicle. You will also need to provide a valid Insurance Certificate/Cover Note and an original MOT Certificate to your Local Office. If you give a despatch address abroad the tax disc of the vehicle can be sent to you there. Please note a V5C will be issued within 6 weeks days after DVLAreceive the V62 application form to your UK address.   Please note a valid insurance certificate also includes a downloaded or faxed copy.   Remember that it is in your interest to check with your insurer that your use abroad is properly covered. You will also need to fix GB plates/stickers on your vehicle to identify the country of registration.   *If you do not have a Registration Certificate or the V5C/2 "new keeper supplement" there will be a charge for a replacement V5C of £25.   Please note the V62 form can be downloaded from https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration-certificate-v5c-log-book   The V10 form can be downloaded from https://www.gov.uk/car-tax-disc-vehicle-licence-using-form-v10   If you are the registered keeper of a vehicle you may also use our website to pay for your vehicle tax disc or call our dedicated phone number on 0300 123 4321. The website address is www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc   You can use our website 24 hours per day, 7 days per week*. Within 5 working days of filling in the application, you will receive your tax disc by first class post.   When you re-tax on the Internet or by telephone we will electronically check your vehicle is insured on the motor insurance database run by the Motor Insurer's Bureau.   If applicable, we will also electronically check if your vehicle has a valid new style computerised Test Certificate (MOT/GVT) on the database run by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)   All you need to do is follow the steps by quoting either the 16 digit reference number on your Renewal reminder for a tax disc or Statutory Off Road Notification SORN form (V11) or alternatively, you can quote the document reference number on your V5C.   *subject to essential maintenance.   I should explain when taxing using our website or telephone service, the tax disc must be issued to the name and address on our records. Therefore, you would need to arrange for a friend or relative to have access to your UK address so the disc may be forwarded to you.    Do not reply to this email. If you wish to contact us again about this response then please use our Reply Form or copy and paste the following URL in to your browser:   https://emaildvla.direct.gov.uk/emaildvla/cegemail/directgov/en/reply_form_vehicles.html   When filling in the form the email reference number 1164623 will be required.   Regards

Good point Penny re RHD! How does it work out for average motorway use? Do you have to clock up a certain amount of usage to make it worthwhile? I'm assuming you have to pay to have the device? I'm assuming it's only valid for Italian tolls?

Dear Panner, Thanks for more help! You mention 'if you are letting a property then it might be excluded' from IVIE charges. Under what circumstances would this letting have to be? I have a long term let investment flat in the UK which will be my sole means of pension in 20 years time. It has been let out for years now. I had always envisaged his would be liable to IVIE as well as our family home which is also let out whilst we are renting. I can't imagine why these would be exempt so am curious (ever hopeful!) to know further about your information that certain let properties are excluded from IVIE. Thanks!