maude

We have 14 stupid chasse dogs near and a million coqs,so cant be bothered with to mow or not to mow!Maude

In view of the mounting revolutionary pressure on all and sundry to suddenly after thousands of years upgrade drainage of houses to acceptable levels,i have a couple of questions from people in the know!Not complaining about the upgrading,just concerned about the formidable bureaucratic costs in "conforming",i.e soil surveys etc. Does anyone have a self contained micro station system,and what happens to the run off.? I am trying to avoid the costs and certain destruction of the garden with a huge sand filter and all that it entails.Can the run off water be used for irrigation of non food plants without the filtration soak away?Any advice or experience very welcome before I disturb the colloqial hornets nest and shell out for the soil survey etc.Many thanks-  Maude

Hi folks.We are thinking of installing a woodburner with attached hot water boiler.However I have noticed that header tanks and fittings do not seem to be readily available in France.Are these not allowed?Whats the alternative means of ensuring adequate head of water and more importantly means of expansion for solid fuelled heating boilers.Only want central heating not hot water generation.Pleased to hear from anyone with experience. Maude            to clarify, heating only,sorry for the confusion.With the amount of residual heat in a closed loop circuit,I would be concerned about the circulation in the event of power or pump failure.

Yes we have.Used insulated plasterboard,with the plaster type adhesive mix.Old tiles were "nailed" onto the thin clay insulating bricks-trying to remove them(I tried) just resulted in large holes and would have benn a rebuild.Very successfull after 3 years.  Maude

Mais oui,alors ,donc! Should be renovation-Merci !Maude

Tried a search, but came up with nothing.I understand that for certain improvements such as insulation ,double glazing etc,new fosse septiques and such, that some things can be offset against French tax.How does this work?I also understand that some form of loan or grant even, can if successfully claimed ,be obtained from A.N.A.H. Has anyone any experiences they would like to share.Would like to install good double glazing as we have a rash of noisy dogs moved in along the road with new neighbours, and everyone local(French) seems to be collecting cockrels,not sure that they know that eggs come from hens,not the coqs.  Many thanks, Maude

We have  georgeous pot grown lemon tree which also produces the most delightfully sweet lemons.Survives winter in a completely un heated porch.Will this grow successfully outside in the garden as a small specimen tree and what about the winters here in the sud vendee?.Any info or fellow experiences welcome.Maude

We need to repaint previously laisured windows and shutters on part of our house to match up with replaced white windows and roller shutters.Can anyone recommend a method,as France seems short on sous couches etc.Many thanks, Maude 

just to digress on door sizes.Our last life new house in UK,had UK "metric" internal doors as standard-what a poxy job it was to either get furniture in,or replace doors-they are narrower than standard uk door,but higher?No one could explain this most stupid idea,and the builder was a national name to boot.Also found the kithen units to be narrower than standard,so washer and cooker stood proud.Not something I would have thought on measuring THEN-definately would now.Glad to get rid!! Maude

Not from your area,but in S.E.vendee.About the same costs as mine ,which seems to be average,but again all communes have differing charges. Just to be "funny" there are a million people from largeasse in our local supermarket judging by the hip sizes!!! Maude

Hi folks.Last spring/summer our mixed  country type hawthorne hedge had an infestation of gossamer type cobwebs full of small caterpillars.Anyone know what they are and a treatment.Cant afford to lose the hedge.Thanks, Maude

Yes bought one for the garage from Castorama about 2 years ago-BUT expensive.Plugs into French socket,and has a protected outlet socket.   Maude

I.ll drink to this also-mines a Rose!Unexpected costs and unless with a pension or other income,forget trying to earn a living here- it is definately NOT the center of entrepreneuism.Good luck _ maude(on small works pension)!

I dont know about how much living  he makes.There is a wooden cabin arcade near us in Mervent that opens everyday,all day ,sells everything from paint,knickers,condoms,gifts etc.Only been in a few times-never seen anyone else inside.I think that he must just make enough to cover costs,just,but would probably  open on the off chance than sit at home unemployed.Very French attitude it seems.      Maude

Had a RED squirrel in the garden frollicking this morning-thought the reds hibernate.good to see though.temp this morning at the time 6oC outside,but sunny!    Maude

We had no problem finding a doc,and no problem if you wish to change-just a bit more paperwork.Appointment system is very good ,usually the same day if necessary.The doctors seem to be pro active themselves in that any blood tests(quite common) or xrays are prescribed immediately,or any other test deemed necessary .We find the system generally very good,but do seem to find a simple treatment results in a large prescription.Have heard that the French use this as a guide to how good the doc is,being on the side of hypochondiasm.System varies from uk in that all is paid at the time,but it depends on your ststus within the health system as to the level reimboursed.Repeat prescriptions seem almost unheard of even with an ongoing condition such as hypothyroidism which only gives 2 monthly prescriptions without another doctors visit.At 21 euros a throw it is pocket money for the doc! Maude   ps yes you can see any doctor within the registered practise

I would certainly keep some form of property in the uk if possible.Been here 4 years plus,love the space etc, but would like to turn the clock back and to have stayed in our last uk house.Would not want a holiday home here in any circumstances,but would have come for 6 months at a time and either rented short time in either holiday caravans or brought my own tourer before making the final decision on whether to move "permanently" or not.I would have toured many areas (as we do now) without having the boredom of being captive in one area .Have seen many gites in all sorts of area and  they are either very expensive,or rough to say the least.Prefer my own body fluff without paying for someone elses.House prices are now so avariciously greedy,that we certainly couldnt afford to return.Miss the grandchildren obviously,and certain cultural things such as being more easily able to converse with doctors and officialdom generally.Other points mentioned in other replies about losing a loved one etc seems to increase in proportion to the increase in birthdays!If only we had lived in the south,we would have been able to do much more than we are doing with the larger equity .Preferably to have had a holiday home in the uk . C,est la vie !

Had our inspection 2 weeks ago,for which we are being billed 45euros for the pleasure in all the village.Just had the report Friday last.Present fosse emptied 3 years ago just after we moved in.The report says it is not big enough,and the filter bed to be replaced and or refurbished.The seperate  prefilter under3 feet of soil and gravel also has to be replaced and in any case,the pozzolanic medium has to be pressure washed 3 monthly and replaced every 2 years.Seems like another revolution is due to start with the locals-they are all up in arms.Public meeting soon for all the class1 failures  like our report implies.I have heard rumblings about the possibility of some form of financial assistance!Will believe that when it happens.The man from the "ministry" said that to go onto mains drainage(non planned or likely) would cost each resident an anual bill of 8 to 9 euros per cu,meter of water consumed as read from the water meter,plus the water cost.This would give us an additional bill of 800-900 euros annually. Which is why the local French have no interest whatsoever in mains drainage.They much prefer to either pee in the garden,or flush it into the next field or neighbours garden.It will be interesting in the near future.We have been told by the local Water inspection company that the report has to be made available to Notaires in the event of selling up.Alors,donc,mais oui!    Maude

Hi folks.Ive just been asked a question by a newl arrived friend which I cannot answer, so am seeking anyones advice.What is the implication or difficulty in making appointments with a specialist direct,or does one have to go through the routine of explaining to ones GP here in France that one would prefer to see the specialist,and arranging to see the GP first just to make the specialist appointment in the end.The specialists are listed by name and phone number in the local hospital directory.Hope this is clear! p.s. the friend is already in the French health system,and fully armed with the Carte Vitale.Thanks,Maude

I recommend Oxydrene bt St Marcs-available from all brico,s and hardware stores-but wear gloves Grett stuff!   Maude

Hi folks.Looking generally around France whist holidaying away from the Sud Vendee,we are not surprised at the property reductions.Everywhere seems to have a rash of new build lotissements of the standard beige bungalows,and looking at the new build prices,they are many euros below a "character" house ancienne with all their faults.Dont know where "they" are all coming from to buy these.I,m certainly glad I dont have any rental property as a dubious  investment- I would be seriously concerned about the future.It will look very bland here in the future.C,est la vie!     Maude

Hi folks.I have a300mm thick stone wall part dividing our garden from next doors,aprox 1.5m high in stone.I would like to build up this wall to aprox 2.5m high using parpaing blocks to allow a conservatory to be installed at a later date-with the correct declarations etc.What is the best mortar mix for this in view of the age of the original stone wall. Thanks for any info-Maude

Some very good replies!Just wish we had the muns to have a holiday retreat in UK!We settle very easy both sides,but find life somewhat boring this side of the Channel in France,in that outside of August,it is difficult to find many things to do, away from supermarkets,or attractions that are open.Unless the highlite of someones existance circles around a somewhat cheaper lunch meal with mediocre wine, we still find life on the boring side.Love the space ,hate the town graffitti,and drab suburbia,like the pace of life,although it is very difficult to form French friends due to their tight familly comittments,but dont want to be continually in the early day aperatif club.Still here after 4 years,but still havent made our minds as to permanence!Any slight savings re cost of living.council taxes etc are more than lost visiting offspring and grandchildren and the ferry costs.All food for thought!The rural living is not as peacefull as we imagined due to,outside kennelled dogs by the million,cockerells in almost every garden,large volumes of tractors etc,and the daily chain saw massacres of anything  looking like a tree.Must laff and retire for a coffee.looking forward to the government regulated Soldes,but wont buy anything as the quality of  most clothes etc is extremely poor.,Appy New Year to all,     Maude

I have used this for the past 4 years of living here and find no problems at all,and there is an English assistance page  on their web/internet access.Havnt used any other bank,but when I asked around,the charges seem to be very favourable.   Maude 

Inser the word cookingafter French,last line.Apologies