f1steveuk

We have had our home in France now for ten years. We were advised on our insurance the day we signed for the property, which we have been paying for the entire ten years. We stay with relatives in the UK, where we visit often, as that is where we earn our money. We recently went from my mother in laws to my brothers in the UK, and told Credit Agricole. Suddenly (well four months after as it took them that long to manage to change the address) they CA contacted me to say I should not have insured my house as my primary residence, even though it's the only one I own, and it's where EVERYTHING I own is, and that I must reduce this cover to one for a "maision secondaire", pleased as punch, telling me it would cost less. Trouble is, it doesn't cover me for the loss of anything of value. like my guitars, or jewelery, well, anything, and it reduces greatly my contents cover. I told them I was happy to continue paying full whack, as I do with my property taxes, but they tell me  I can't, but nor will they sort me out a policy that does give me the cover I require. So, anyone else in the same boat, and how and where do you insure?  Is it correct? Is there a British company that will cover a home abroad? Any, and I mean any help gratefully received, because I am at my wits end with them!!

Nico's super softs looked about shot at the end of quali', but to be honest if he wanted to ruin anyone's ;ap, he wouldn't have gone down the escape road, he'd have "done a Schuey", and left it on the track, the clerk of the course could have let those last laps go with the Merc down the escape road and off track, can't really see why he didn't. I had high hopes of Kevin when he was signed. He's shown flashes, just needs to be more consistent, especially as the big money is on Alonso making a return to the silver cars with Honda engines next year!!

I think Nico made a genuine mistake, he was braking slightly to the right, just where the bump is, plus Lewis wasn't going to beat his time. I shall check out Kiloutou, cheers

I'll check them out, thank you!!

Does anyone know where in the area I could hire one of these, as near to Belves (24) as possible [URL=http://s161.photobucket.com/user/f1steveuk/media/picker_zps16dd9383.jpg.html][IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t215/f1steveuk/picker_zps16dd9383.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Cheers

Does anyone know of a company, preferably in 24, that hires one of these [URL=http://s161.photobucket.com/user/f1steveuk/media/picker_zps16dd9383.jpg.html][IMG]http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t215/f1steveuk/picker_zps16dd9383.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Cheers!!

Well I didn't put my idea, as I didn't want to put a slant on things, but everyone as more or less agreed! I had heard of this sort of thing in the UK, so it was the first thing that crossed my mind, but, being rural it might have been the local hunt. The sticks were well down the drive, nearer the gate than the house, but you could see the house from where they were. Quite chunky bits of wood (half a broom handle in width), there in the first two weeks, nothing for the last two weeks, so!!! I was aware there had been an increase in theft, hence the two alarms, something visible, a flashing light and visible sensors, though ultimately, if "chummy" wants in, they get in! Sadly, we go back to the UK the end of the week until mid August, but you have to drive past our neighbour's to get to ours (we are at the very end) and they kept an eye on the house for us.

I have posted this here, because I can't think of what heading it should be under! We have quite a long drive, which looks a bit like a country lane. Twice in the last three weeks, while strimming the grass, I have found sticks, quite obviously stuck vertically into the ground, about a third of the way up the drive. My thoughts are it's some sort of signal, but by whom, and to who?  (Funnily enough, just fitted two very visible alarms systems, which gives me an idea!!

Ah, that was what I was looking for!!! Sounds like I will be partaking after all, many thanks. There are a few Roku's on "Fleabay" starting at 99p, just need to make sure it has the right leads for the TV you want to connect it to, but it seems I have my new project, many thanks!!

Sounds like I'll be sticking to a digi' box then, ta!

Just wondered id anyone has managed to get one of these working in France (proxy server etc) and if so, was it worth it, and how difficult was it to get up and running? Ta

I have, bit by bit, been tidying up the wires that are near the fusebox, and it has become a little more easy to see, and I can also see  where he was attempting to put in extra lights etc, but as I say, all been pulled through, not connected at either end, and all in red, purple and orange. The only wires connected are the ones at the lamp, but only at the lamp end, so no voltage!!. It's all quite close together so trailing a wire back from each connection is the likely way forward, and then label them all!! Not having a tester could I (baring in mind none are connected!!!), connect these wires in a circuit with a 12v car battery (which I do have a spare one of) and just use a 12v bulb ?

So, just so I understand, the two wires connected to the lamp will show a resistance, because they form part of a closed circuit, connected to a source of resistance (the bulb), whereas wires not connected at both ends will show nothing? Though that would mean every disconnected wire could be my third wire!!

Here's one for the electrically minded. We have a very useful "dusk 'till dawn" lamp at the bottom of our outside steps, which isn't connected!. Having taken the front off, it is wired up, one orange wire, one red wire, one purple wire. Going into the house, and to the fuse box there is a birds nest of unconnected wires, and it would appear the old French owner brought a job lot of, yep, you guessed it, red, orange and purple wire. So I have a lamp, connected at one end, and no way of knowing which of the very many tails at the fusebox are connected to it and to connect to get the thing working. Suggestions please!!

True, but 25% poor reviews is enough to make me think!! Good idea though!!

The reviews of that camera don't bode too well do they!!??

So far, much of what has been written, is what has been discussed with my other half and myself. So to set some criteria; 1] We at the very end of a lane, no passing traffic. 2] There are a few other houses off this lane, so "chummy" would have to go past other houses to get to ours. 3] Our's is a "modern" house (15 to 20 years old), double glazed throughout with shutters (solid and recessed into the window/door apertures) on all but six, small windows (mainly there to give light to the downstairs garage/cellar area). 4] I also had problems with people turning up, and not knowing they were there, and fitted a drive alert, so half way down our drive is a PIR which flashes a red LED when activated (and rings a door chime indoors) 5] We're outside a fairly small town, and unless you have visited, it's not likely you'd know our house is there. 6] We are sometimes away from home for up to three months I have one wireless and one wired alarm system. What I am considering is installing the bell boxes, both of which have a strobing warning light when the system is armed. I was then going to attach the door/window sensors to the inside of the window/door shutters, garage door, and too some of the six small windows only. Any PIRs would be indoors to monitor inside the garage (contained within the house, no  wildlife!!!) and behind the remaining un-shuttered small windows, meaning they would only activate the alarm once the window had been forced or if there was movement very close to the outside of the glass. As I say, I understand it's really only a deterrent, nothing is 100% Finally, I have located some flashing LED kits, that when connected to a battery flash once a second for three months, and thought about fixing these in the corners of the six small windows as well? My thinking is, I have the alarm kits, might as well use them!! Your further thoughts??!!

A friend of ours in France was recently robbed, and it's spurred me into thinking about an alarm system. I understand they tend really only to be a deterrent, if "chummy" really wants in, he gets in, but the old adage of the harder it is to get in, the less likely "chummy" can be bothered. So, I'm interested in thoughts and comments!!

Thanks, I shall be taken note of the comments, and leaving the VMC on!!!

Just curious, but I know that VMCs are designed to run 24/7. We seem to be spending less time in France currently, and I turn the thing off when we go back to the UK, so I am wondering now if I should leave it going, fit a timer, or continue to switch it off when not here??  Also, I recall reading these cost less to run than a light bulb, is this true? How much per month say, would the running costs be? As I say, just curious.

The 2T works for lubrication, not so good on  breaking down soot deposits. I use Redex Diesel additive each time we travel to or from the UK, as it uses about a tank to get home. Single rail systems don't clog the injector as much, but the EGR (Exhaust Gas Re-Cycling) valve is very susceptable to clogging up, and sticking (as any Renualt Espace owner!) killing performance, and like any engine, it's the short, sharp runs the do for engines!

Excellent, thank you chaps, good starting point

Hello all. I have found a nice W reg, RHD Renault Megane convertable. 43,000 miles from new, been stashed in a garage (long story), which is now tucked in my garage in France. Didn't cost a lot, and only a few, very minor jobs to do to it.  The intention is to leave it in France as out run around. For that, it will need French plates, and as such I will need LHD headlights. No longer available from the Regie, so I'm looking at scrapyards. Is there a French equiv' of the UK "Find-a-part" system, that scours the country, or am I looking at buying the "Boys Big Book of French Scrapyards", and starting a long safari!!!

What it the terrace floor, bathroom ceiling made of? If it's concrete, you could use spaced glass blocks,  In a similar vane, I have an area under a terrace (concrete) that is dark, but as it was there when we moved I cant use glass blocks. As it's only storage I use a solar light kit, solar panels outside (less than 4 sq inches each, and the wires extended to the lamps inside.

Breath tester, I have two in each car, because if you have one and use it, your instantly breaking the law. The cynic in me says that's a deliberate ploy to catch people out! As for the fines and declaration of trusts, it doesn't affect me, and the Daily Mail scare mongering, isn't new, but I bet it catches a few out.