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[Varche]

Come on Theresa. Get the Frenchies to have some more staff at the port. Fair enough to check passports etc but not at the expense of many hours of delay for thousands of people. It is 2016 when all said and done. It would be interesting to see how many people if any, were refused entry.

It will put people off going abroad on holiday! maybe that is the plan?

[biggriffin]

O dear, so a few holiday makers, and day-trip fag runners have had to sit and wait, to board, le-shuttle and les-boat, Ha-ha welcome to my world, try sitting, and waiting every time you cross the channel, 2 hrs is the norm now,just to reach check-in then, there's the wait in the boarding lanes.

[Varche]

Well there was a time once when the country would be outraged at less. Now we just put up with it.

No one costs the lost time to business or travellers. If they did they would put more resource on the job.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

From what Ive heard it is the French who are making very stringent checks on everyone entering, thus causing the backlog.
Personally I have little sympathy. Anyone who is daft enough to want to go to French France, had it coming.

[redelitev6]

  The start of the Brexit revenge ?

[Sir Tigger KC]

Buy shares in British holiday companies Haven, CentreParks and the like! 

[Steve B]

think they are wasting there time looking at who is coming through the front door.....Its the back door and within, the french and germans need to worry about.

[Nick W]

think they are wasting there time looking at who is coming through the front door.....Its the back door and within, the french and germans need to worry about.

They have to be seen to be doing something. That it is utterly irrelevant and ineffective doesn't matter.

[Sir Tigger KC]

It's a complete French Farce.  France has only 3 effective borders where checks are made and these are between the UK, Switzerland and at international airports.    If you are driving into France from Spain, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg or Belgium it's as simple as driving from Devon into Dorset. 

I wonder if there are massive queues of traffic in Switzerland?   

As said earlier maybe it's a bit of French pique over Brexit..... 

[biggriffin]

It's a complete French Farce.  France has only 3 effective borders where checks are made and these are between the UK, Switzerland and at international airports.    If you are driving into France from Spain, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg or Belgium it's as simple as driving from Devon into Dorset . 

I wonder if there are massive queues of traffic in Switzerland?   

As said earlier maybe it's a bit of French pique over Brexit..... 

.
Isn't that the same place ya silly wurzel.

[Varche]

There was a time when our government would act on a matter such as this. Calling in the army for example. I know it wouldn't be appropriate in this case.

At the very least May should have been on TV saying she has phoned Hollande and asked him to provide more staff immediately. The cost to business and individuals is huge compared with a dozen more Frenchies. I suspect you are right Tigger. It is a show of action by Hollande to his people and a finger to the British.

It is a sad idictment of the times that we just accept holdups, channel tunnel blockades, Europe wide delays due to air traffic controller strikes. We are good at mitigating the effects (ordely queuing on M20, dropping off water etc) but not so good at tackling root causes.

Big Griffin (they do both begin with D!)

[Sir Tigger KC]

It's a complete French Farce.  France has only 3 effective borders where checks are made and these are between the UK, Switzerland and at international airports.    If you are driving into France from Spain, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg or Belgium it's as simple as driving from Devon into Dorset . 

I wonder if there are massive queues of traffic in Switzerland?   

As said earlier maybe it's a bit of French pique over Brexit..... 

.
Isn't that the same place ya silly wurzel.

No.  My county still exists! 

[frostbite]

Dover is right mess. The roads are closed and or blocked off

[ronnyd]

Buy shares in British holiday companies Haven, CentreParks and the like! 

Think they are Dutch owned.

[TheBoy]

"We" decided we wanted this, so its just a reminder of what to expect in the future.

In the short term, use other ports. Simples.

[Doctor Gollum]

"We" decided we wanted this, so its just a reminder of what to expect in the future.

In the short term, use other ports. Simples.

Nothing to do with 15 million people all going on holiday on the same day then...

[Nick W]

My parents were booked on the 07:30 ferry and as I haven't heard from them, I assume they made it without too much trouble.


Although it's just as likely that Mum forgot to charge her phone

[TheBoy]

"We" decided we wanted this, so its just a reminder of what to expect in the future.

In the short term, use other ports. Simples.

Nothing to do with 15 million people all going on holiday on the same day then...

Unlikely. How many people, realistically, go to French France compared to elsewhere?  And out of those, who would be insane enough to do Dover <-> Calais ?

[Nick W]

"We" decided we wanted this, so its just a reminder of what to expect in the future.

In the short term, use other ports. Simples.

Nothing to do with 15 million people all going on holiday on the same day then...

Unlikely. How many people, realistically, go to French France compared to elsewhere?  And out of those, who would be insane enough to do Dover <-> Calais ?

Lots of them, because for many of them it is still the quickest, easiest, cheapest way of getting to France. Living 40 minutes from Dover I'd be crazy to go to France any other way. Now that she's retired and the advantage of a night crossing after work doesn't apply, my aunt considers Dover Calais a better route than Plymouth Roscoff. And she lives about 3 miles from Plymouth docks.

[Mister Rog]

"We" decided we wanted this, so its just a reminder of what to expect in the future.

In the short term, use other ports. Simples.

Nothing to do with 15 million people all going on holiday on the same day then...

Unlikely. How many people, realistically, go to French France compared to elsewhere?  And out of those, who would be insane enough to do Dover <-> Calais ?

Lots of them, because for many of them it is still the quickest, easiest, cheapest way of getting to France. Living 40 minutes from Dover I'd be crazy to go to France any other way. Now that she's retired and the advantage of a night crossing after work doesn't apply, my aunt considers Dover Calais a better route than Plymouth Roscoff. And she lives about 3 miles from Plymouth docks.

I go to France quite a lot. Dover or Folkestone is a 5 hour drive, but still cheaper and more convenient than the long sea journey alternatives. My preferred option is Eurotunnel, a bit more expensive than ferry but quicker and more convenient.

Came back from France last weekend on Eurotunnel, over an hour to get to the terminal after checking in, so the security checks are not only UK > France direction.

[TheBoy]

"We" decided we wanted this, so its just a reminder of what to expect in the future.

In the short term, use other ports. Simples.

Nothing to do with 15 million people all going on holiday on the same day then...

Unlikely. How many people, realistically, go to French France compared to elsewhere?  And out of those, who would be insane enough to do Dover <-> Calais ?

Lots of them, because for many of them it is still the quickest, easiest, cheapest way of getting to France. Living 40 minutes from Dover I'd be crazy to go to France any other way. Now that she's retired and the advantage of a night crossing after work doesn't apply, my aunt considers Dover Calais a better route than Plymouth Roscoff. And she lives about 3 miles from Plymouth docks.

Isn't Dunkirk often cheaper?

I guess it depends where in France you want to be, as to whether its worth the hassle of Dover (the vast majority would have to suffer M25 and M2) and ending up in the worse shithole in all of France (Calais). On the upside, its easy to get a safe distance from Calais within 30 mins or so from driving off the ferry - depending on whether their Passport Control plebs could be arsed to turn up for work.

I used to be a fan of the tunnel, but grew weary of their delays and invalidating tickets on a whim, and forcing you to pay full price for a new, valid one ( > €200 each way), which makes them bloody expensive.

Done Portsmouth <-> Ouistreham for the last couple of years, which although a 5hr crossing, actually saves a bucketload of time and driving - not that driving in France is tiring, as you know - if needing to be over that side...   ...even if it does mean dealing with all the retards on the A34. And if a daytime crossing, the cabins are only about £15


Having been forced to spend a night in Calias once, I'd be delighted to never have to go anywhere near that place ever again.

[Nick W]

Isn't Dunkirk often cheaper?

I guess it depends where in France you want to be, as to whether its worth the hassle of Dover (the vast majority would have to suffer M25 and M2) and ending up in the worse shithole in all of France (Calais). On the upside, its easy to get a safe distance from Calais within 30 mins or so from driving off the ferry - depending on whether their Passport Control plebs could be arsed to turn up for work.

How is the M2 bad? Even during the rush hours the traffic is moving. The M20 is worse due to heavy traffic around Maidstone using the badly designed junctions. And quite why anyone would use the M20 to get to Dover Eastern docks is beyond me, that must be the hassle you mentioned. Using the M2/A2 means you drive off the end of a dual carriageway, around a roundabout and about 1/2 mile later you stop for passport control.

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Every time I've booked a crossing in the last ten years the tunnel has always been more expensive; twice as much out of season. The minimal time saved simply isn't worth that to me.

[Kevin Wood]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

[TD]

Don't know why anyone would want to go abroad on holibobs, unless a 4+ hour flight is involved....

Plenty to see/do in this country 

Weather has been ok this last couple of weeks and if wasn't the fact I had 6 weeks off work earlier this year...I would have been in Dorset last week 

Thinking about going camping to the Isle of Wight next year .... don't get 12 hour delays trying to get there 

[TheBoy]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

And if you try Sat Nag, it takes you right through the centre, ignoring the bypass 

[Varche]

Fantastic.

Don't you just love how people drift off onto minutae e.g. which is cheaper, where is better to holiday.etc

I take it that you have all just accepted that there is nothing anyone could do to improve the situation and that it is acceptable. Terrorists win again.

( Rouen - I agree the place is a hellhole to negotiate.)

[Nick W]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

I just follow the signs for Le Mans: through the tunnel, over the bridge, turn right and back under the bridge, go past the railway sidings,straight across the roundabout with the concrete cows, up the hill and rejoin the motorway. Easy. Takes about 15 minutes at lunchtime.

[Sir Tigger KC]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

I just follow the signs for Le Mans: through the tunnel, over the bridge, turn right and back under the bridge, go past the railway sidings,straight across the roundabout with the concrete cows, up the hill and rejoin the motorway. Easy. Takes about 15 minutes at lunchtime.

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

[Mister Rog]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

I just follow the signs for Le Mans: through the tunnel, over the bridge, turn right and back under the bridge, go past the railway sidings,straight across the roundabout with the concrete cows, up the hill and rejoin the motorway. Easy. Takes about 15 minutes at lunchtime.

Ah yes, of course that's spot on   

Well actually very recently my SatNav tried to take me through the city centre. I ignored and followed signs. Better.

[Mister Rog]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

I just follow the signs for Le Mans: through the tunnel, over the bridge, turn right and back under the bridge, go past the railway sidings,straight across the roundabout with the concrete cows, up the hill and rejoin the motorway. Easy. Takes about 15 minutes at lunchtime.

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

So, not quite the same as the Hotel B&B just outside to the North of Alencon where I stayed then. Some people are so posh 

[dbug]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

That takes me back - used to use that place regularly years ago - as you say good steaks cooked as you like it, and friendly owners.  Remember owners wife playing with my daughter as we ate, and chatted to the owner.

[Sir Tigger KC]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

So, not quite the same as the Hotel B&B just outside to the North of Alencon where I stayed then. Some people are so posh 

I used to work for a 'posh' company that were generous with expenses Rog.     I'd be at the local campsite if it had come from my pocket! 

[Nick W]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

And if you try Sat Nag, it takes you right through the centre, ignoring the bypass 

I think you're using it wrong 

[Kevin Wood]

I just follow the signs for Le Mans: through the tunnel, over the bridge, turn right and back under the bridge, go past the railway sidings,straight across the roundabout with the concrete cows, up the hill and rejoin the motorway. Easy. Takes about 15 minutes at lunchtime.

Yep, easy enough in theory, kept passing those rather concrete cows in an endless loop.

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

It was the fact that one of the main drags through Alencon is called the "Avenue de Basingstoke" (their twin town) that made me laugh. Probably sounds exotic in a French accent.

[Kevin Wood]

I just follow the signs for Le Mans: through the tunnel, over the bridge, turn right and back under the bridge, go past the railway sidings,straight across the roundabout with the concrete cows, up the hill and rejoin the motorway. Easy. Takes about 15 minutes at lunchtime.

Yep, easy enough in theory, kept passing those rather concrete cows in an endless loop.

Probably didn't help that we were normally in a convoy of three. One guy had a map, one guy had the directions and I was tail end Charlie with the smallest petrol tank and the only one with a mobile phone, or any glimmer of a sense of direction.

[Doctor Gollum]

Here's a thought... OK, the ferries have gradually been getting bigger, but there are fewer of them, serving far fewer ports than they used to... There are also many times more trucks coming and going through Dover...

My suggestion is simply this:

Keep Dover/Calais as a freight and coach only crossing and  have Folkestone/Boulogne and Ramsgate/Dunkirk as dedicated car/caravan routes...

Less stress on the infrastructure on either side and a better travelling experience all round.

As for the tunnel, that simply needs flooding 

[Nick W]

With 16million passengers per year passing through Dover, using the Tesco have a bigger carpark port of Ramsgate won't help much. Folkestone isn't much better.

Perhaps we could waste another couple of million quid on the Medway Queen and pretend that's viable as a ferry? Chatham does still have a pier it could use 

[Doctor Gollum]

With 16million passengers per year passing through Dover, using the Tesco have a bigger carpark port of Ramsgate won't help much. Folkestone isn't much better.

Perhaps we could waste another couple of million quid on the Medway Queen and pretend that's viable as a ferry? Chatham does still have a pier it could use 

[TheBoy]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

I have yet to have an edible steak in France.  The French simply have no idea how to cook steak...  ...or anything else for that matter.

[TheBoy]

Rouen is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calais docks. Less if you hurry.

Why anyone would hurry is beyond me. Every time I've passed through Rouen I've ended up lost.

And if you try Sat Nag, it takes you right through the centre, ignoring the bypass 

I think you're using it wrong 

Can't remember if that was the one that I subsequently mislaid at the end of the Aston Expressway, or another one.

[Entwood]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

I have yet to have an edible steak in France.  The French simply have no idea how to cook steak...  ...or anything else for that matter.

The French cook steak perfectly, unlike the UK that burns it to a cinder useful only for using on boots. 

"Entrecote Bleu, s'il vous plait" 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

I have yet to have an edible steak in France.  The French simply have no idea how to cook steak...  ...or anything else for that matter.

The French cook steak perfectly, unlike the UK that burns it to a cinder useful only for using on boots. 

"Entrecote Bleu, s'il vous plait" 

I like my meat well cooked.

I don't want to eat something that looks like a good vet could get it back on it's feet again.

[Gaffers]

From what i can gather from my french sources, the french police are on their arse after the overtime post various attacks, Euro 2016 and subsequent leave bans.  Eventually something has to give and the result is queues at Dover.  I hear that the policing at airports is under strain too.  I dont think that it was intentional as the last thing the french want is for brits to not spend their holidays in france/on the continent.

[TD]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

I have yet to have an edible steak in France.  The French simply have no idea how to cook steak...  ...or anything else for that matter.

The French cook steak perfectly, unlike the UK that burns it to a cinder useful only for using on boots. 

"Entrecote Bleu, s'il vous plait" 

By my reckoning, that roughly translates to "Wipe its ass and shove it on my plate, please"

So no 'cooking' required then 

PS Its probably not cow steak anyway 

[TheBoy]

There's a fantastic steak restaurant next to the Mercure Hotel in Alencon, which is about 35 miles before Le Mans on the A28. 

They cook the steaks over a massive log fire in a big old inglenook fireplace along with various pots of sauce! 

Highly recommended! 

I have yet to have an edible steak in France.  The French simply have no idea how to cook steak...  ...or anything else for that matter.

The French cook steak perfectly, unlike the UK that burns it to a cinder useful only for using on boots. 

"Entrecote Bleu, s'il vous plait" 

No matter how you like it, the French cannot cook steak. They should supply a good chainsaw.  Knowing they can't prepare steak properly, I normally ask for rare (same as blue here), but even fillet is still harder to eat than my workboots.

They only hang it for a couple of days, unlike UK that usually hang for 3 weeks, which helps making it more tender.


Even the posh Michelin starred, €90 per person sliver of meat with a drizzle of jus poncy wank places, its bloody awful.  Even Beefeater can make their cheapo rumps better.


Trouble is, being a steak and chips man, I never learn 

[Nick W]

If you're getting wank jus in a restaurant, then you have seriously pissed off the waiter

[Doctor Gollum]

If you're getting wank jus in a restaurant, then you have seriously pissed off the waiter

TB does have a way with with management... Can't see chefs being any different

[Sir Tigger KC]

Does anyone know what the current situation is around Dover?  I know someone heading for the ferry on Friday night.  Ta. 

Can't see any up to date news... 

[TheBoy]

If you're getting wank jus in a restaurant, then you have seriously pissed off the waiter

TB does have a way with with management... Can't see chefs being any different

Last curry night I had with you, Dr Gollum, the waiter gave me something far worse than what the evil of Mordor can muster...

[biggriffin]

Does anyone know what the current situation is around Dover?  I know someone heading for the ferry on Friday night.  Ta. 

Can't see any up to date news... 

Think be a repeat of last Friday, take a drink and food, and a copy of war-n-peace 

[Doctor Gollum]

If you're getting wank jus in a restaurant, then you have seriously pissed off the waiter

TB does have a way with with management... Can't see chefs being any different

Last curry night I had with you, Dr Gollum, the waiter gave me something far worse than what the evil of Mordor can muster...

Ah yes...

Man flu

[TheBoy]

If you're getting wank jus in a restaurant, then you have seriously pissed off the waiter

TB does have a way with with management... Can't see chefs being any different

Last curry night I had with you, Dr Gollum, the waiter gave me something far worse than what the evil of Mordor can muster...

Ah yes...

Man flu

Man flu?  Oh, I've had man flu in my time. Even near fatal man flu.  But I've never, ever caught Death before.

Not even the spices off a lamb naga could kill the infection.