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Some timely tips from Jill Penton-Browne
As Bob and Lucy, the disillusioned couple I interview elsewhere in this issue, were complaining, the winters here can be quite chilly, especially in the country. But then you can offer yourself the comfort of a crackling open fire. Nice — but keep an eye on your chimney. You’re supposed to have it swept twice a year, including once during the winter, and if there’s a fire and your insurer suspects this wasn’t done you could have trouble over the pay-out.
“A lethal omission”
There’s another risk, too:fireworks. I hate them in any form (almost as much as my dogs do) but I’ve got British friends who like to put on a Bonfire Night display, explaining the Guy Fawkes story to their puzzled French neighbours. If you go for that weird ritual, be very careful. In the U.K. around a thousand people every year get burned or otherwise injured on the night of November 5th and there’s often damage to property.
I’ve got nothing against Christmas, though, but it’s worth remembering it’s a bad time for domestic fires. Why so? My friend Aldo, a retired fireman, says it’s the drink — people get careless — and the presence of incendiary items such as candles, ciggies and cigars. And so again be very careful … and make sure your smoke detectors are working. Aldo says people often forget or just don’t bother to replace the batteries. This could be a lethal omission. He recommends the mains-linked variety or the use of ten-year batteries.
Winter driving can be a dodgy business, as we all know. Rain means slippery surfaces and poor visibility. Don’t drive too fast and respect the rules on distance between vehicles. Make sure your windscreen wipers are working properly, also that your lights are clean. If they’re not, you won’t see so well and other drivers won’t see you so clearly. From the end of October the official advice now is to keep your lights on always in rural areas in winter. For more tips on driving at this time of year see www.zerotracas.com.
“A notably dangerous place”
Finally, a word to pedestrians. The Côte d’Azur is a notably dangerous place for those getting about on foot. From November to February they are especially likely to be involved in accidents. Reduced visibility is the main problem. According to official stats, the riskiest time is around six o’clock on a Friday evening in December (you’re safest, by the way, according to an official analysis of accident stats, at 10 a.m. on a Wednesday in February). So when you’re doing that Christmas shopping keep your eyes open …
From Reporter 106 - Dec 2004
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Bits n Pieces 
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