maude

Can anyone tellus about the bright green grandaddy lizards we are finding occasionally in our garde,Dept 85 Vendee.The locals tell us that if we have these-we have serpents.Would have thought that the type of terrain for the local snakes and the lizards is the same,especially at this time of such high temperatures and humidity.The myths increase along with the sizes of snake! Final question for interest only.Our garden which is all brown and hard due to the weather,is undermined with 20-30mm diameter holes.No droppings near,nor can any movement be seen either evenning or dusk.Wouldnt think they are the moles.Can someone point the possible info to me on their possible ownership.Thanks Maude 

Hi folks.Over the last few months or so,we seem to have HGV,s taking a short cut route through our commune,starting very very early in the morning.I am under the impression that HGV,s are prohibited,allegedly,from using non trunk or motorway roads in the "quiet" hours and weekends.Can anyone confirm this.Thanks,Maude

Hi, Tyres seem to be a bit cheaper than U.K but not much.However what I have found is that the French do rate the tyres both load wise and speed wise,and if the tyres all round do not have the same rating,heavy fines can be issued by the boys in blue.I found that when I replaced my elderly caravans tyres,which had been fitted in the uk by a popular " proffessional" nationwide dealership,they were under rated for the load,and not rated speed wise to the car(no towing speed limit in France).Could have been expensive if stopped!!!Buy a matched set in France.Maude

This is purely a feasability study.We are considering dividing our garden up so as to convert our excellent double garage with an extension into a bungalow for us,partitioning the garden to allow the current house to be sold with a 1000m garden.Has anyone sold off or also divided a garden and could explain simply the method of obtaining a C.U to allow residential use of our unused garden,and or planning consent,and or costs involved.Obviously we dont have the money to waste on unnecessary whims.Many thanks,Maude,85

Look in Leroymerlin.fr catalogue in the paint section,there is an equivalent but alors more dosh than UK supplies.Dont know why.Maude

I am trying to sort out the legal sizes of our patch as shown on the legal cadastre.I note that the "contenances" have 3 columns-1) Ha,2)A,and finally 3)Ca and then the areas noted underneath.Can anyone tell me what dimensional areas in sqare meters these mean.For instance Section B is shown as 18 under A,and Ca80 .Hope someone can understand this blurb-Thanks maude  

It appears that we may have to connect 2wc,s with broyers and an occasional used shower room to a collecting point,i.e a sewage pumping unit to transfer the "eau usee" to either a new fosse septique,or some form of self contained treatment plant such as by Stoc environment.However we have been informed by local French assainissement experts trying to sell us an expensive treatment plant that we could have problems with the effluent from the broyer w.c,s., and no guarrantees can be given.The practicalities of changing the broyers (40mm) pipe through 3, 650mm  thick walls just escalates costs beyond realities.The only solution to me seems to pump the effluent into a Stoc type treatment plant,and not have  any type of holding tank such as a fosse septique.Has anyone any expereiences or advice they would like to share?Maude

I would forget removal and either lightly skim,or fine crepi over the top,after a light sand down just to rmove the lumps.Dont the French just love these uk 1960 tiles,or even carpet on the ceiling-alors-donc,mais oui!    Maude

Yes but these just mash up the nasties and pump them away.Its the away bit thats the problem unless you are French!

Hi,I would forget the electri refidgeration types of de-humidifier.Apart from the cost of leaving them runningand any attendant problems,we have had excellent results from the crystal type moisture absorbers,obtainable from just about any store or supermarket in France.This was yet another panic purchase when we first arrived in our house,september,and by feb,all the beams etc were coated in mold growth in our empty annexe.the de-humidifier is still very usefull though,but only after showering etc.We have no chance in fitting a VMC.The cost of the re renovation would make this a complete waste of money-wasted enough already!   Maude 

Hi.I have recently seen a demo at the local "cheminey" sales room.it looked o.k but not very pleasing to look at,certainly sounded noisy in view of th fan and feed screw drive.I also thought very expensive for just a room heater without boiler.Dont know what the position is re the fuel,but knowing France ,if its not on promo,it wont be in stock.I personally would go for a poel a bois with a back boiler.I have been impressed on the web looking at  www.cashin-france.com.I dont have any axe to grind with them.Good luck-Maude

It sounds like a very similar problem to ours. Maybe the water table is too high to allow the sand filter bed to drain.I  dug a 50mm diam hole in my garden yesterday,and hit water about 500mm down.I then filled the hole with water,which then sat there for 4 hours before draining down to the first water level .Obviously we have a general drainage problem on our land.There is also an underground spring in one part which makes the grass grow over this area troup vite!My dowsing rods also go berserk over this part!Havent decided what to do yet,as I dont want to raise a hornets nest by enquiring at the mairies! Maude.

We may have to instal a station de relevage to pump discharged waste from a shower room and toilet(with macerator) aprox 40 metres horizontally to meet up with our fosse septique.However,we are also having problems with this in that the water table is so high,and the ground seems to be clay/shale that the drain off is very slow!It may mean putting in a mini station d,epuration,and not having a usual sand filter bed.Is there a reimbursment part of the costs we may have to pay credited against the French income tax?We are not displaced southern uk property millionaires,just extremely concerned about our low works pension income!Gulp!Any thoughts would be helpfull, Maude

Has anyone experience re free standing woodburners against an  (elderly) insert which we find very dirty with the circulated air outlets.We are thinking of removing the insert and replacing with a free standing stove.  Not much point if there are no benefits,but we do find that the heat output seems to disappear upstairs from the high level air outlet.Just had to redecorate the stairwell-and not to be sneezed at due to height and  access .Finances certainly have to be considered.Have thought about a replacement insert with turbo air blowers to distribute the heat,but again not much point if it only distibutes muck.Any answers- very welcome.    Maude 

try St marc,s cleaner,diluted but very strong.Called oxydrene. Gud stuff!Maude

Hi-we had the similar problem except the plonker who sold us the house had connected the rainwater from one roof,to drain into the fosse septique! he said it kept it sweet!French too.After getting no response from the maire,I trenched out on my land at the roadside and laid a land drain which now puts the rainwater into the road drain manhole!25 metre long,18" down,done in one day before the locals snitched!maude

Chic!-alors,donc.mais oui!We have been wondering if there is still some punishment for colaboration still being carried out locally to us(85)The number of mainly middle to elderly aged ladies that have the head almost shaved,and sometimes dyed bright ginger/red makes us think we are living in a swan vestas factory!!Only someone with divine features could even contemplate this look,especially coupled with multiple overalls or smocks.one has to laff,but it doesnt do one,s morale much good!!Still like it here though-but for how long is another one.Maude

At the moment we have back up heating to our wood burning insert which consists of wall mounted electric convectors.These are  plugged into the local  wall sockets.Has anyone experience of the all singing and dancing,but very expensive,French heaters,either "cored" similar to the old fashioned storage heaters,or the fluid filled, chaleur douce type.could they be also plugged into the local sokets without the expence, and damage to the walls by installing dedicated heating supplies.The cost of installing oil heating,and the ever increasing hike in oil prices,coupled with our ongoing decision on wether to stay in our present house,rules this out.Would be interested in any members comments regarding this type of electric heating.Many thanks-Maude 

As a prospective free range chicken keeper,I have a large paddock,are there any common garden plants or herbage to be aware of that would be detrimental to this project.Many thanks,Maude

I use the pate eau potable from any of the bricolages.Bon chance!!!maude

[quote]make sure your insert is designed for coal which burns much much hotter than wood - most are not. The support will need to be made of cast, not wrought iron and you will need to check fire bricks etc....[/quote] My friends bank up their poele de bois with anthracite bought from Mr Bricolage/Bricomarche to keep it in while out visiting,however when I tried this the botton draw plates have severely crackedand warped (Godin 14 kw).New plate being made locally due to difficulties obtaining service.Suggest stick to wood!

Hi Folks,can anyone please enlighten me as to a wiring diagram for this type of water heating.I have a jour/nuit timer swith,and two fused isolators.a cable connects from the main swithboard to the fused isolators,and cables connect these to the timer switch before going out to the water heater.At present the systemcauses the differential switch to operate when the timer operates at about 11.30p.m.The differential interupter is new and recently fitted.The jour/nuit has terminals A1,A2,1,2,3,and 4. Many thanks for any forthcoming help-    maude

Hi folks-Cant find in archives two queries:a) for a house sale only,what is the current percentage notaires fees.    b)if selling privately,what is the best and legal way to raise the Compromis De Vente.      Merci beacoup,    Maude

As anyone any reasonably successfull methods of removing the attachments that ivy leaves behind on walls.I need to repaint the garage wall and have removed an ivy,which as usual has left its fine tendrils behind.Any solutions that can be used?It makes just as much a mess of the wall wirebrushing or flame gunning,than overpainting them as they are.any suggestions welcomed-Maude

Sounds stupid but cannot find the horn for this 1993 vintage run about!Searched hither and thither,under and over.If its dropped off,there should be some loose wiring -mais non-pas klaxon!!!If anyone can tell me where to find the said offending item,I will do a Billy Connelly dance round the garden.Heres hoping ! Maude