Saucedecochon

I just posted on "Legal" regarding a possible crisis with capricorn, termite etc It's not proven I have it, not done a new diagnostic yet, at least for termite, as we have wood worm I know, and all the visible wood has been treated with Pyrethrim every 5 years. I'm a bit dubious about traditional " Rentokil" style spray on treatments, as I want a proper job done if I'm going to pay out mega Euros, so looking for folk who may have had recent experience of top belt and braces protection. Something called Sentri-tec looked promising with a slightly better attitude to the problem, with traps and chemical, but the one that really floated my boat was Termidor, which, like some new wasp nest destruction makes the insects the vector of their own demise by taking the active ingredient, back to the nest before dying, thereby totally destroying all, and comprehensively too. I wonder if any one has used this, even if its available in France, and if so a pointer to companies would be good, should our worst fears be realised.  Even if not I think it provides a much better barrier to possible infestation as its put in the ground, outside and around a property so any scouts are sorted before they get to a sprayed loft!

We have had a place in SW France for 12 years now. When we bought, as most I'm sure, we were keen but green, and went with the flow, in our desire to rapidly buy our dream home. We've had some fun and games along the way, some stress as a result, but hey its France, we love it and accept the laid back nature when we visit. Its a learning curve, sometimes almost vertical and we love it.  We did the plumber who can't plumb, (see elsewhere) which thankfully has resolved in our favour, since he accepted my offer to pay him more provided he came back, with staff who had SIRET's and fix the bodge he'd done, and make good plaster paint etc. We've renovated and done the gites thing. Ho ho what fun!  We are having fun currently with the sewage system which all along we said was autonome, but were continually factured for as collective. This is working in our favour as the company who were supposed to do entretien ( if it was assinissement collectif) and didn't,  are now actively fixing a blockage, they made while doing works external to the property, before the new company let us go autonome, meaning lowered bills ( an empty of tank and clean every 5 years, much cheaper than bills twice a year. Latest fun, and the reason I'm here is to do with termites. We haven't got them but we did have, or at least at time of sale, in our deeds we got a document, one of 1000 pages, which given our poor French we read in a bit of a cursory way, which said "presence de termite". Straight after that in our dossier from the notaire, are factures from a treatment company. Job done - we thought, and good for 10 years. While stripping out the house door frames for new, and plastering, I removed plenty of "rotten" wood, and didn't think much more about it, except to curse the treatment folk for not filling in the holes they made properly, another job to do. I treated much of the dependances woodwork with wood worm killer as a belt and braces as powder was everywhere, and did that again, 5 years ago. Hell we are in a forest, its a "hold until relieved" situation. Fast forward to last month. We have 2 houses and dependances, formed in a C shape around a central courtyard. We have renovated one (the gite bit), the other, an old menuserie at the opposite side which we call the grenier, is barely habitable, roof needs a total replace, clean, gut out, plaster plumbing etc. Last month we priced roof tiles, my brother is a roofer, good local sawmills for timber - bosh bosh, job can be done without a lottery win. Good we thought as retirement beckons, when we can move in properly. However since time has passed we thought it prudent to look at getting the diagnostic folk in again, re treat all the properties if necessary, ( we know we have wood worm), before construction and deep treat all new going in timbers, a couple of rafters and lath, floor boards etc. We dug out the contract, from the notaire, had a look for the guy who'd been before, and read, with our new excellent understanding of French.  Uh oh! The diagnostic report noted presence of termite in all properties ( house 1, house 2, and dependances), but, BIG BUT, the facture from the treatment only lists a treatment in one house - obviously the one we've done with the accursed holes. We don't panic, but its a bit of a concern that years have elapsed when thinking the whole gaff had been done, we could have had a sizeable part of our property silently munched from under us. I spoke to a French treatment chap off the internet, who seems to think all wood/buildings in the diagnostique should have been done, and while surfing treatments, termites diagnostiques, noticed an upheld claim, over a failure to treat wood, which was made many years post purchase, as the buyer had believed that a treatment had been effectivly done, it wasn't and it became encumbant upon the vendor, even with passage of time, to stump up the cost. My question then is, if we now find that the termite left the treated house and are munching the rest, can we backtrack and get some, if not all of the cost of a treatment, fom the people who sold us it all half treated?

Would anybody know if the French have legislated in this field ( you know a bit of UK law taken on by Europe - he says chuckling under breath). Reason is we have one, a loan protection, which I gather is a legal requirement with a French mortgage, which we took out to safeguard us both against illness or death ( first death pays off loan entirely - I'm suprised I'm still here!) Anyway, last year I had a stroke, nothing too severe, but was laid off by the medicos for a month, no driving etc. I filled in and sent all the hospital/docs reports to the bank in France, and after an age got a negative reply - "sorry you have to be off for 90 days to qualify". Brilliant. When we took out the loan/insurance I was employed; I now work for myself, in the UK, so get nothing in the UK, not even ESA, and being like many a bit close to the wire most months financially, paying for 2 houses, all I needed was a month being ill, and was hoping at least a fraction of the thousands we'd paid, might offset this loss of earnings. I tried to point out to the bank that with my financial position - being off work for 90 days is not an option - ever.  Therefore I'm just wondering if anybody knows, of any cases, anything ruled in European legislation, which overules the 90 day trip wire? Thanks.

Now see what happens when you read the Daily Fright - 4 pages of fear follows. Most of this required motoring stuff is just common sense, sadly not abundant in devotees of Fleet Street. I am frequently stopped by Douane or Gendarmes because I travel in a van - not once have I been asked about triangles, bits of sticky on headlights, or my reflectives, which are very evident on the seats, and its only good sense to bung one on if exiting the vehicle, especially at night though of course one exits the right from a UK motor, and I would never let a passenger exit the left, high vis or not! I've tested my blow in bags, while not needing to drive, and now have a useful idea as to my limit, which is a pint of London Pride or a glass of wine - but I have my own rule to NEVER drive once I have imbibed Same as with the EU rules which strikes fear into those at home, the British are best at implementing and jumping into bureaucracy the moment it exists, whereas Europeans know it exists but try not to let it overly impinge on life if possible. Perhaps the Europeans could pass a law that requires home British drivers to prepare for winter, with a shovel, blanket, flask of char, good battery, charged phone, suitable clothing, breakfast, - before venturing out into an eggcups worth of neige. Or maybe that requires a press led campaign.

If I were you I'd start by getting down the Mairie and hiring the driver and tractor de commune. Ours is a nominal cost about 28Euros for a morning which will sort out the grass for starters. Once its cleared and shortish it won't rip the guts out of an ordinary 105 cm cut ride on. I have about 2 acres to cut with mine, and I get in a highest cut 1st part of season, then another once its dried a couple of days later, both on firing the mowings to the side, leave it 5 days then do it slow on mulch, and before long we can play cricket on it.

We stayed at xxx, St Junien, last year prior to an early morning visit to Oradour. Awful. We booked long distance (we were at Millau Bridge), and asked for a quiet "luxury" room. Got there at after grub time, by 5 minutes, room was on the main route and sweltering. No rear rooms?? Opened windows while lugging baggage half a mile from the car park through the internal labyrinth, searched for the aircon (in the room guide but not in room!) while rustling up a cuppa and sandwich while waiting for the mopeds to go home - room still sweltering. Dozed off till 3am when the local factory staff started rolling, close windows, room swelters further. Open windows, refridgerated transport arrives and parks under bathroom window, running for an hour. At le bonheur, we pack and go to reception to complain. Madamoiselle is un-interested, patron on holiday. I pointed out that sleep was largely the requirement when booking a bed for the night, and that it was nigh impossible in our unventilated cupbard size room. Paid full price and contacted the chain, from whom I am still awaiting a response. Avoid. A plus though was that we got to Oradour before opening, had a coffee and croissant, before being first in, and seeing it in all its awful poignancy, without any company. Totally moving. Post edited by the moderators in accordance with the forum Code of Conduct: "There is to be no 'naming and shaming' on the site. If you have any complaints about particular individuals/companies then contact the relevant parties or authorities." Please contact the moderators of you have any question regarding this edit.

Just noticed the "response". Yes teapot, all very true and scientific. However beware of part quotations. Full sentence was " Since I am never down at the right time, mine goes green for a habit." I largely live in the UK, and so cannot adjust and test on a daily basis once the pool is opened up.When I am in France the pool has never turned green. Sadly, deity that I am, controlling rainfall, wind, sunlight, evaporation, leaf and animal ingress, power interruptions,etc etc are only just beyond my limit even on site, let alone at 1000 miles distance.

To stick to the original question, I have a peripherique IR alarm system, plus an immersion alarm. For a temporary (5 years now) measure and to keep out deer and boar, I bunged up a 1.5 metre green link fence with padlocked gate. I have planted a hedge, a metre out from that, which once grown, will enable removal of the wire fence, although I may, move it to outside to definitely keep "dem varmints out, dag nabbit". Rustic enough?

I think you will find the Douane are very much the law and decking them might result in difficult travel long term!!  The more crud you have in the motor and the worse its packed/chucked in may result in a pull. But so may a completely empty van/car. Its random so don't take it personally. A strip search is normally conducted indoors, so I presume yours was not a personal but rather a look in the baggage.Pants are pants, or knickers, perhaps a bit fay to get upset about them unless they made you run along the quay topless?? Having travelled since I was 17, much by road, hitching, and over some of the worst borders of the world (Iran - Turkey perhaps), with long hair, and now a beard, a mere hiccup at a channel port phases one not a jot. And whats to smuggle these days. Fags, wine? Not enough supermarkets in the UK? I used to get p****d off and rant when turned over. I have started disrobing and pointing out my duration of travel, over sanitary facility availability  ratio, whilst reminding them my bags contain a good duration of dirty washing, and also reminding them the smart dude with the Samsonite brief case is more likely to be a mule. Fuelled by an arduous trip from Portugal in one stint and mucho caffiene my very best friend got down to his socks on the quay at Caen, much to the mirth of Les Femmes Anglais on the departing bateau, who congratulated him on the performance once onboard, and drinks were accompanied by at least one compliment on his "nice a**e!". I have sat beside my van - empty save two bags and a picture, while a diligent fellow went to get a cordless screwdriver to remove ply panelling from wheel arches, grinning over my mush, secure in the knowledge I was entirely legal. One of the best ciggys I ever enjoyed watching that charade. I've has a car on jacks, wheels off. I've had dogs in the back sniffing and drooling over my kit ( hate dogs). In Germany I watched a fellow  young long haired son of somebody take a kicking at the customs, for cheek, before they ripped my new haversack to shreds. Douane -pah. My tip is if you are legal, relax, open the doors if asked, explain the whys and wherefores politely and the customs boys and girls are just fine and dandy. I could give them all a big kiss.

Not wishing to start a price argument but I just looked Easy up for end August, £234 return including 2 and half days car hire. From Bristol about 8 quids worth of fuel for me. BA came in at £252, no car hire, from Gatwick, a good half tank of gas each way on top. Flybe to Pau not checked yet. Great airport for me with new A65 autoroute about 55 mins away.

[quote user="Clarkkent"]I have not used it but have met and despatched visitors theough it. I believe it is modelled on a similar facility at Marseille, which was judged to be a great success. Incidentally "Billi" is short for Bordeaux Illico, which can be traslated as "sharpish" - not apparent in the example given above. [/quote] I think the "sharpish" is evident in the practice of treating paying passengers like cattle and hoping to get away with it. I repeat my thought on trying a swap with Air France for a month and see how long it survived.  Mouton brulee anyone??

Thanks for that Kitty. A contact from whom I received a reply at Bordeaux Airport was Laurence Ortiz, Operations Department, Customer Services Manager. The reply e-mail came from a Veronique Godrie, her mail being [email protected] I wrote to main budget carriers through their contact addresses on respective websites, so Easyjet, Flybe, and Ryanair are all aware, and I think should be kicking up a fuss on our behalf. Please mail them. Being a good boy, and having listened to my mother, I always try to "go" before I travel so was largely unaware of the lack of toilets, which just adds more grist to the mill.

That is probably the reason for this as I got the idea that we pay low prices therefore get substandard facilities. There are however acceptable levels for ventilation, surface area per person etc, which as I pointed out to Merignac's admin, are surely a health and safety concern. Having managed livestock for many years I can tell you that the high stocking density would cause closure of any farm in the EU. They will improve the facility if enough people complain, to either them or carriers who use the airport. I will look up and post some useful contact details for those of us who care to protest.

I just noticed you say you are running at 80% and an incredibly low 20%. If your water temperature and pH are that far out, your cell has no hope at 20%, and may struggle at 80%.  I always run mine in high summer at 95% - !00%

Firstly I notice you are talking about a 30 degrees water temp. Thats approaching danger temperature for algae as far as I'm concerned. Your pH seems all out of kilter too, and as it's pH level which is kind of important, if all the other pool mechanisms and chemicals are going to perform to spec I would get that right 1st.  Run on chlor for a day and if your cellule is removable, take it to your local dealer, or who you got it from, and ask them to run a test. That'll establish which is at fault, cellule or coffret. You may have overcooked the pool temperature for the max output of an electrolysis cell.  Losing some contaminated water and replacing with fresh tap water, as much as you can stand financially always helps with pH.  Flocculation should be done before you filter and pump to waste, as the algae might look dead but theres always a few little b*****s hang about to start multiplying again. Not sure what your test was about. Did you say what level of saline the solution is?? Presume you have enough salt ppm?Hit the new water with a chlor choc to bolster the electrolysis effect after you've added salt if its in deficit. I'm never at my gaff at the right time so mine goes green for a habit, but I can normally turn it round in 4 days. If any of this makes any sense or helps, or if you want a chat, pm and I'll bung you my fon number.

I have now had the displeasure to have to use this joke facility quite a few times since it started operation. Several of my family and aquaintances have also used it and found it to be a less than edifying experience. Those who have used it will know it is a giant black painted corrugated shed, with limited facilities, including sub standard ventilation, let alone any  aircon, which causes it to warm up inside very quickly. Once a flight is called "for boarding" people pass through into a lairage (cattle pen in a slaughterhouse), through customs, so no return if delayed, where it is almost exclusively standing room only. It is deemed suitable for low cost travellers to use so Easyjet, Flybe, and Ryanair passengers are the most likely lambs to the slaughter. My patience ran out on my latest transit when a full aircraft worth of souls was kept in "final departure" for over 45 minutes, standing, no drink facility, no air. Watching elderly ( even older than myself) persons who had obviously started the voyage fresh and relaxed turn into cooked sweaty frazzled and frustrated wrecks, I was moved, after a further flight delay due to a ladies collapse, to write to the 3 aforementioned carriers to inform them of the effect of Bordeaux Airports decision to use their passengers in some macabre survival experiment. They have responded favourably and have contacted the airport authorities to make changes, allegedly.  I also wrote to the airport administration, who glibly informed me that it was a direct result of us desiring to travel cheaply that Billi was such a success! I would urge fellow travellers to monitor the situations improvement (I am transferring travel to Pau), and if you experience these unacceptable conditions, or have previously done so, to write to the 3 above carriers or the airport itself, perhaps urging the airport to try its successful format out on Air France passengers for a trimestre, and see how swiftly it changes.

There are any number of fine luncheon experiences to be had in the area. Thoroughly recommend mid day eating, just look for any roadside restaurant with plenty of vehicles outside - the locals recognise good food and good value, and you will probably pay 12 Euros for what would be 40 in the evening.

Wouldn't it be worth opening an English savings account just in case you need to cash a security? Also, how many of your English guests will be able to provide you with a Euro cheque? Our English guests used to give us an English cheque, which we held until departure. Any extra money would have to be paid, before we returned the cheque to them. That "caution" alone focussed the mind and led to us never having to demand money with menaces.

Goes with the territory I'm afraid. May I refer you to the excellent thread " I'm thinking of giving up the Gites" You may find some solace from the like minded. Thankfully now out after 4 years! My best one was the guests who rented our "Gite Rurale" because of the flora and fauna, who then called me down from England, to sort out a Pipistrelle bat, all of one inch big ( we have bigger beetles there), before promptly leaving and demanding a refund as it had "terrified" their 12 year old son. Or the one who demanded his extra sun lounger as they had had 4 the year before, but he could only find 3. Or the p****d up father who on return sent me an unpleasant e-mail saying it would be nice if there was a shop in the village. It happen's to be adjoined the bar in which he was frequently worse for wear. As they used to say in my boozer years back, at closing time. "We've had all yer money, now **** off" Don't forget there could be mileage in a "It shouldn't happen to a Gite Owner" book.

Er? Interesting people on here. Never assume anything I think. Not that I feel the need to explain my life in minute detail but....... The reason it was left was that I took a trip down to collect the keys from them and prepare to close down. 3 day round trip therefore not much time to complete green pool work. It was green when I arrived!September! Quote - "when time allowed me to get over to it in November" Like I said (quoted elsewhere), I'm not stupid, neither would I apportion blame sans certitude. Hope thats clarified things, for An Other.

[quote user="AnOther"][quote user="Saucedecochon"]Sorry but I could not resist that pun. Last summer my final guests left a formerly beautiful clear pool, filthy and en route to green. Following an "ete Indien" in September and early October, I was presented with a right pea souper when time allowed me to get over to attend to it in late November.[/quote] To return to the OP, If you knew the pool was in trouble when the guests left you really should have attended to it then, either yourself or by employing someone. If you were not actually there then how do you know they left in a state but even if they did, if you then knowingly left it for a further 2 or 3 months, it's eventual state can hardly be blamed on the guests can it ? [/quote]

Wow. I never new there were so many experts here. Fantastic replies too. Reason the electrolysis never worked was probably low level of saline in the water. Just reopened and its still as clear as a bell, despite warm weather. Added more salt, after usual opening up procedures, then re-covered it until we can struggle into it in our wetsuits and woolies. Mind with a bottom of "bassin" temp of 10 degrees even the algae can't function. Last year was final year as gite so the group pool thing is an irrelevence - we are going to enjoy it ourselves from now on, rather than paying a company my life savings to visit once a week, and sit in it for a couple of hours annually. With reference to responsible actions when disinfecting pools for "guests", I think it should be encumbent upon the guest who wants a pool holiday to pay for a 24 hour pool supervisor/lifeguard. My visitor who let it cook up a pea soup was no surprise. He had actually been to us for 3 weeks annually 3 years running, but it came as a big surprise when I met him last summer and he had never even opened the pool building door, never used the pool testing kits (3 offered), never used the robot, net, or brush, had no idea about filtration, backwash or any of the other management tools to ensure his own childrens health was maintained. He obviously just waited for our pool team to arrive on a Friday, to muck out after him. Just a note, but when I am there the water is not only blue, but bang on all parameters for hygiene - I've taken the water to be tested for organisms, yes regularly! I used to farm pigs, I don't want to live like them. I am however aware that everyone has their favourite system, normally to the exclusion of all others. I am also aware that tap water is chlorinated/fluorinated, hence engaging its help with cleaning and Ph-ing. Like I say to my neighbours, "I may be English, but I'm not stupid"!

Quite a few people, including me sometimes! We are about 25 clicks the other side, near Roquefort (not the cheesy one). You'll love it, best area of France (says ducking)

Sorry but I could not resist that pun. Last summer my final guests left a formerly beautiful clear pool, filthy and en route to green. Following an "ete Indien" in September and early October, I was presented with a right pea souper when time allowed me to get over to attend to it in late November. What to do? Chuck loads of Ph + Ph - Chlor choc, Salt (its an elecrolysis system normally), or any combination thereof at it? Nope. Just thinking about it and the costs of the above, I had a brainwave. (not too usual). First I applied a heavy dose of algicide, and left overnight. I took out just over one third of the water that was in the pool, down almost to the shallow end floor, without compromising the tension of the liner, filtering and backwashing as it emptied, and gently brushing fallen algae into the deep end drain Next day I over refilled with fresh tap water , working on the basis that the stuff we drink is as good as perfectly balanced (in fact our ph sample from the tap is better than ideal). After another 2 days of constant filter and back wash. I had a virtually clear pool, which I then adjusted chlorine and ph, with the minimum of costly chemicals (about one mixed bucket of each), before covering and shutting down for winter. The point being to all this is that balanced fresh water and four days electricity,is far cheaper and effective per cubic metre than any number of 50 Euro buckets of chemicals, once your pool has turned, and this new water will probably "unlock" the pool for the whole season ahead.

Its the old Captieux airbase, which is as already stated a firing range etc, used largely by aircraft from the airbase at Mont de Marsan. There are lots of circular shapes in our area.Its les Pivots or the irrigating machines which water the fields nearby, and which rotate round a single well point.No lil green guys about making circles.