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People will go to any length to avoid paying their fee !

And a bit more info (sorry in french only). En l’absence de cave, le vide sanitaire isole le plancher du rez-de-chaussée de l’humidité du sol sur lequel la maison est bâtie. Pour qu’il puisse jouer correctement son rôle, une ventilation est nécessaire. Les constructeurs proposent régulièrement une hauteur de 50 ou 60 cm entre la sous-face du plancher et le terrain. D’après des architectes consultés, la hauteur minimale conseillée est de 80 cm. Dans la réalité, il n’y a pas d’obligation légale mais plus le vide est haut, plus il est efficace.

On one of the Freeview channels last night there was a program on “New builds from Hell”. In it, a couple from Essex/Sussex had sold their lovely UK property to buy an old Spanish building they wanted to extend. Once the new house purchase completed, they applied to the local town hall for the written document giving them authorisation to renovate/expand. A document (in Spanish) was issued by said local authorities and our two Brits went ahead with the renovation work using a local builder…….A little while later, the Brits were astonished when they were told by the same town hall officials their new house would have to be knocked down !!!! The document in Spanish they had originally received was not an authorisation to start work but an official request for more information/documents etc. In front of the camera, the two Brits acknowledged they couldn’t speak Spanish and “thought” they had received authorisation to go-ahead…… Now I am asking, who in their right mind would entertain such level of building work without speaking the local language or at least get the documents translated?

I must admit, French people in general are very much "old fashioned” with the deco in their house and they tend to follow trends (a bit like the dreaded avocado coloured suite of years gone in the UK). The problem being that most French people stick to their deco for years and years. I have found Brits to be much more active on the subject of redecorating their houses. My own father was very keen on sticking light weight carpets to the walls and doors….. …….and 10 years after his death, the same carpet can still be found on some doors. We must all have neighbours still with rooms entirely covered in varnished “Lambris”. This is probably why the DIY market has developed so much more in the UK than in France. All the well known stores (Casto, Leroix Merlin, Brico-machin etc) stock what I see as “outdated” furniture and equipment.

Basically yes.

You can also make a Dahl (with lentils) easy to cook and so nice to eat. As for your Indian potatoe salad : Title: Indian Potato Salad Yield: 4 Servings Ingredients 1 1/2 lb red or new potatoes -scrubbed, cut i; n 1/2 dice 1/2 ts toasted cumin seeds 1 tb garam masala 2/3 c non-fat yogurt 3 tb (to 4 tb) lemon juice 1 tomato, seeded cut in 1/2 -dice 1/2 sm onion(s), finely chopped 1 salt and pepper 3 tb cilantro, coarsely chopped 1 tb mint, chopped (opt) Instructions 1. Place the potatoes in a large saucepan with cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until tender but not soft, 8-10 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then transfer to a mixing bowl. 2. Lightly toast the cumin seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Set aside. 3. Stir the garam masala, � cup of the yogurt, and the lemon juice into the potatoes and let cool completely. Shortly before serving, stir in the tomato, onion, salt and pepper, half the cilantro and the mint. Correct the seasoning, adding salt, lemon juice, or garam masala to taste. 4, Transfer the salad to a platter or bowl. Spoon the remaining yogurt in the center and sprinkle the salad with the remaining cilantro and the cumin seeds.

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Sweet, remind us why you want to move away from Charente?

.....Rouen is very very bad, especially for British drivers. Please do take time to visit the place where Jeanne d'Arc was burned alive whilst you are there...... I need to explain that Jeanne d'Arc (Joan of Arc) was burned alive in Rouen by the British Occupation Forces of the time (our King did not have any balls that day so a few years later, we cut their heads off!!!!) I agree that Rouen is fairly ok to drive through.

Shame that Krusty failed to notice the humoristic reference to days gone. It made me laugh for a good while.

......... Is Rouen that bad.Thankyou........ Rouen is very very bad, especially for British drivers. Please do take time to visit the place where Jeanne d'Arc was burned alive whilst you are there.

Take the train ! Bordeaux St Jean to Rennes via Nantes (Nantes-Rennes by bus) or via Paris Montparnasse....travelling time 6h on both routes. www.voyages-sncf.com

Surely not. This would be a house with loads of potential offering a blank canvass to work on.

.......I mean, apart from wrecks just about every house has a bathroom, toilet and kitchen doesn't it ........ Well not exactly. Some houses still have one large living area with a sink in the corner and a cooking place next to it. Toilets unless recently added are still found outside That's why you buy these houses for next to nothing and do-them-up nicely.

One of them being vaulted cellar will definitely be filled with local gaillac and other good stuff (i also have a friend wine producer in Cahors). The other cellars are what used to be the stable (No1 = 34m2) a wood reserve (No2 = 29m2) a general purpose one (No3 = 25m2) a vaulted cellar (No3bis = 25m2) and No5 serving as summer kitchen, lawn mower parking = 34m2) I could store yours in perfect conditions ...for a small annual fee.

Just accepted a €5000 devis (down from €5700 with a bit of cash-in-hand biz) to completely rewire 165m2 of cellars and living quarters, entire new distribution board, earth etc (distribution board will be 20m away from EDF meter). This includes various power and lighting points in 5 cellars, ouside lights to porch and entrance gate, 6 rooms, removal of old 3 phase system. As an example a double 16A was €60 on the original devis (all to be chased in wall) Oven power source @ €53 Light switches @ €57 Electric radiator points @ €43

This link will help you understand: www.micimmo.com/dico/le-dico-de-micimmo/definition-des-types-de-logements-en-france.html

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Thanks all for some great suggestions, and not so good worrying comments.... As a Frenchman living in the UK i find all those necessary "I want them when i am abroad" tit bits amazing..... I would agree with bacon and tea-bags (my wife always takes her own supply of Tettleys when we travel...(however the water makes the tea and unless you bring your own water with you, the quality of that cuppa has never been the same using non-UK water imo) When we come back from France we bring: Wine (of course), saucissons, radis noir, lardons, fromages, endives (in season) as they are soooo expensive in the UK, Harissa (very strong chillie paste) for the couscous, sirop de menthe (can't find that in the UK), chorizo (the UK version is made of cardboard), Danette !!!! et praline creme Mont Blanc.....!!! And who would miss their morning squirt of Marmite ??? the stuff is revolting!

Brit size Condoms................ .......Size small !

Thanks all for your replies and suggestions. Brother has been living there for 4 years and is married to a local, it helps.

I am opened to corrections but i started speaking Verlan when i was 10 years old....fun at the time as people around us would understand "qeutchi" !

Intersting le Verlan. C'est sa-come quon laipar quand j'etais lardon et les yeuv pigeaient queu dale! Pour cette traduction verlan du diable, j'avance cette proposition: A febou avec le bledia, la chetfour n'est pas trop guelon !

Hi all. My brother is setting-up shop (small supermarket and bar) in Almeria (Southern Spain) and wants to store a few British goods for the tourists. Could you help him with a list of what you think should be kept on his shelves should you be living/holidaying in the area? I suggested newspapers to start with. MAny many thanks.