Posts by Sarran1955

  • Milei's first year

    Hello everybody,

    Speaking from experience here.....

    Last visit I had my faithful travel notebook computer, plus a microcomputer for my son. I was stopped at the customs, where the agent checked online for the value of the 2nd computer, less than 300 USD, so no problem.

    I was really looking forward to coming over in January, but with my operation, I have postponed until Sept 2025.

    Cold but sunny here, plenty of snow at the ski resort, it will be packed with tourists this weekend...

    Cordialement,

  • What you doing for Christmas/New Year?

    Hello everybody,

    Thank you for your replies...:)

    We are starting to have some snow here, and the ski resort has opened part-time.

    I live in the Massif Central mountains, my house is at 750 metres, and the skiing is at 1800 metres

    My VW camper has a diesel night heater... so nice and cosy, it even has a remote control to start it without getting out of bed... 8)

    So here is wishing you all a very Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year

    Cordialement,

  • What you doing for Christmas/New Year?

    Hello everybody,

    As my French family will be working over most of Xmas, just the 25th and 1st as days off, I will be going to them in the VW camper for the traditional Xmas eve celebrations, then some outstanding jobs on Xmas day.

    Due to my illness, I have had to postpone my Jan/Feb hols in Argentina, so I have rebooked the flight for Sept/Oct 2025

    Les deseo a todos una muy feliz Navidad y un próspero año nuevo.

  • Mercosur signs a trade-agreement with the European Union

    Quote from aficionado

    I understand that Mercosur has signed the agreement. Next step is the EU Parliament. “where France’s steady opposition to the agreement will be one of the main hurdles to overcome”

    Hello everybody,

    Interesting and important to my family on both sides of the Mercosur/EU agreement.

    Argentina needs to improve its exports, my expert friend in Misiones says, 'put simply, we need to have 5 containers going out for every 2 coming in'.

    Argentina infrastructure development, e.g. for shale oil and gas, will need foreign investment...why not from Europe??

    Europe will benefit by simplified export rules and taxes, with good markets for the industry heavy countries like Germany with car production.

    Then there is France... sigh...

    The French electorate, myself included, have been too complacent about the rise of the popular far right since at least 1996. Marine Le Pen, under investigation for corruption as an MEP, has her sights firmly set on the 2027 presidential election. She is using the farmers to topple the government, always for more power. The call to action is over imported meat quotas and fears over standards.

    However, looking at the bigger picture, France is in a good position to be an infrastructure provider, particularly if the USA puts up trade barriers on domestic imports.

    Cordialement,

  • All about cars

    Quote from Rice

    Nice to hear from you, Sarran1955 . I hope your winter in France will not be too cold.

    Hello, I know it has been a while, I have been ill with prostate cancer, but things are improving. I saw the doctor at my weekly hospital visit, and he is much happier. As for the Winter, still 3 weeks to go, but there has been a bit of snow. My#1 son lives near the resort, which will open some time after the 05 Dec. I hope to visit Argentina again, but instead of January, it will be more like September.

    Hasta pronto...

  • All about cars

    Hello everybody....

    Aah yes, a Jaaaag..

    Nice if you like rust and overheating...

    Just on the car importing topic, I went into this in some detail, and since there is no longer a Ro-Ro ferry, plus all the hassle of getting a port agent, I abandoned the project.

    As said above.. Buy a car in Argentina...mostly Renault, Citroën and VW

    From a wintry Europe,

    Cordialement,

  • Watching the dollar

    Hello everybody,

    Back in Nov '22 our accountant in Misiones explained to me the strategy of the dolar MEP and time is proving him right, By disincentivising tourists and others bringing large amounts of USD cash with the attractive card rate, much more of this money entered the domestic economy. Hence the slide in the Dolar blue.

    While Argentinian exports are still largely agricultural and mineral, there are active foreign investment projects that make use of the Argentine situation. For example Finlays, a Scottish company, part of the Swire group, is fabricating high quality tea conditioning machinery from its manufacturing base in Northern Argentina, which is subsequently exported to Columbia, Kenya and India..all markets with high demand but low budgets, ruling out competition on price from European, especially Italian, machine manufacturers.

    I found this video interesting, long but comprehensive and AFAIK accurate:


    In Central France we are in the last gasps of Winter, I'm going to the Snow jazz festival next week

    SANCY SNOWJAZZ, Festival de Jazz en Auvergne, Jazz au Mont Dore


    Cordialement,

  • How Are The Mosquitos?

    Hello everybody,

    In Misiones Dengue is an important matter.

    The vaccinations are free if you are in the health system, you use the app and book your appointment.

    The vaccination is compulsory at several factories I know.

    Our part-time gardener/handyman went down with it over Xmas and though a solid chap, was out of service for 3 weeks.

    Cordialement,

  • Are forums a dying platform?

    Hello everybody,

    I am on several VW forums and what keeps them alive in face of the competition from FB Insta and the rest is the archived information, typically stored on Wikipedia.

    Plenty of idle chat and newbies, but I am regularly dealing with 3 newenquiries and topics weekly.

    A niche market I know, but still there.. my YT channel has a 1/2 million views on VW aircooled engines that stopped production 40 years ago..

    Cordialement,

  • Christmas 2023

    Hello everybody,

    Well, we are really into the festive spirit. The grandchildren are in school for this week, then the first week of next term. It is suitably cold and crisp here with brilliant sunshine. The log stove is doing sterling service..

    On Friday the children have a Xmas meal with the passage of Père Noél.

    We have decorated an enormous tree from my land and have bought seemingly a huge quantity of presents.

    My other son with his little family will come on the 25th.

    Very frosty on the roads this morning.. gently gently...

    Cordialement,