Whilst not exactly a viewable resource, there’s usually pre-war “touring” maps (Michelin etc.) on Ebay – search under “Map France”. IIRC they are pretty cheap too. Not as useful as an online reference admittedly.

This may be of use too.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=93121&item=7326096744&rd=1

For what it’s worth…..

Having only just made the switch to a digital SLR from 35mm, it’s all still a bit baffling to me although I do understand the RAW concept and have switched my camera modes to shoot in RAW+JPEG.

Even to my simple little technophobic brain I feel that this is scare-mongering. The analogy of 8mm cine-film is a good one. Whilst the film itself is long “out of date” in popular parlance, there any any number of ways to “convert it” as has been mentioned. Similarly, should you really wish to run an old MS-DOS program, there are ways and means readily available to do so.

On the basis that the 2 largest-selling manufacturers (Canon & Nikon) use the format, it’s unlikely to fade away suddenly without warning. The other point well-made is, if the images are printed out and multi-stored, I would think that even in our fast moving world, we can keep apace for all our storage/survival needs?

In the meantime, can anyone recommend any particular distance-learning (needs must) photography courses?

Some years ago I was running a fledging aviation group in the Isle of Man (now fully fledged!) and met a “Guinea Pig” named “Tommy” Thompson, ex-222 Sqdn Spits. He’d been shot down by “friendly” fire and became a POW before being repatriated early and thence on for McIndoe’s magical touch. He told me how he’d lost his Guinea Pig Club badge whilst watching the Red Arrows over Douglas bay during one TT festival (TT Motorbike races). Fast forward several years to a committee meeting of said aviation society and a new member buttonholes me to ask about a badge his mate has found – a winged Guinea Pig. I told him what it was and asked the story behind it – his mate had been walking along the promenade in Douglas, having just watched the Red arrows one TT festival….you can guess the rest! Whilst the badges are not named or numbered like Caterpillar Club badges are, the chances of 2 people losing their Guinea pig Club badges on Douglas prom whilst watching the Arrows is pretty remote! Needless to say, I was able to reunite Tommy with his badge and we made a special presentation of it at our museum. The presentation finished with him turning to me and saying – “Would you like this badge?”. My flabber was gasted and I was truly humbled by such a generous act. The badge is now deservedly displayed with all due honour that such a man deserves.

As has been said, to each I raise my glass!