[sat dish movement]

I'm also looking to buy a Humax box through Amazon and get it delivered to France, but what happens if I'm not at home when the delivery arrives? Being a new French home owner, I don't know how the French postal/courier system works...

[Using UK electrical equipment]

So, when Steve says "Be careful with UK table lamps that have single pole switches on the cable - change them to bi-pole", he is referring to the 'in-line' switches which, if I understand correctly, are typically single pole in the UK, whereas in France it is advisable to buy 2-pole in-line switches?

Sorry to sound so thick, but DIY never was a strong point!

[Using UK electrical equipment]

I'm still not quite clear, ventodue. Is this in relation to the "inline" switches that people typically have on table lamps?

[What ride-on mower?]

Thanks for that tip-off, Steve - might be the answer!

[Using UK electrical equipment]

Sorry about the last post, not quite sure why it contained all that gibberish - was perfectly okay on the preview; then when I posted I couldn't edit it out!

[Using UK electrical equipment]

Many thanks to everyone

that has contributed to this topic – it has certainly been entertaining reading

the different arguments. I think I have learnt more or less what I need to

know, but I do have a couple of questions:

Firstly, what is meant

by 'single pole' and 'bi-pole'.

Secondly, I now understand that it is okay putting

French plugs on pretty much everything I'm planning on taking over, but what

about large, high-power items, such as microwaves – is it okay to put French

plugs on those too?

[What ride-on mower?]

Totally appreciate your concerns Steve, and Woolybanana, about using sheep to do the work, but I'm not new to this amount of land - I have a similar acreage in the UK, so I know how long it takes - and it's not that long to be honest. Also, I have used sheep in the past and they have a number of drawbacks.

I've used other machines in the UK - currently a Club Cadet - but I'm just not aware of what models are available in France (nor the best places to buy): the Toro is certainly new to me. I appreciate the comment about rear and side ejection - my last, rear-ejection, mower did get blocked  when the grass was long and wet; the current, side-ejection, machine doesn't get blocked as much but sprays all the flower beds with grass as I go by. So it's always going to be swings and roundabouts.

Thanks for the heads-up about E.Leclerc- I'll check them out. Thanks also for the advice on regular maintenance, but what is a karcher?

[What ride-on mower?]

We will shortly take possession of a house with a three acre garden, so I need to buy a ride-on mower.

Ideally would like a mower that mulches/recycles so that I don't spend most of my time emptying the collection box.

I've seen the Toro DH210 on the Bricomarche website, but it's quite pricey at 3,500 Euros (more than I think an equivalent model would cost in the UK). Does anyone have any experience to share of this model or one of similar 'muscle for the job'?

Thanks

[Using UK electrical equipment]

I appreciate that the different electrical set-up in France (two-pin as opposed to three-pin) means using adapters for example when on holiday, but what about taking electrical items across permanently. I'm guessing that it is advisable to buy new items in France for those that have three pins in the UK. What about those items though which have two wires in the UK (such as table lamps) - is it okay just to change the plug to a French two-pin or is that not a safe move?

[Adive on where to buy furnishings]

Many thanks to everyone for your comments. Sounds like there's a fair bit of choice, but also may be worth considering taking stuff from blighty...

[Out of season travel]

Many thanks to everyone for your comments

[Salt pool maintenance]

Thanks Theiere and Chem Geek for your answers.

Don't have all the pool details as yet, except it's 10x5 metres and is located south of Perigueux. When I get more info, I'll post again.

Cheers

[Out of season travel]

I'm not making any assumptions, nor am I intending to buy purely on current airline schedules. Just trying to get a feel or possible 'out of season' flights

[Salt pool maintenance]

We're in the process of buying our first property in France. It has a salt swimming pool - can anyone advise on how easy these are to keep clean and what sort of maintenance regime should be employed?

[Adive on where to buy furnishings]

We're on the verge of buying our first property in France would appreciate advice about where to buy furnishings etc. Obviously we'd need to buy electrical goods in France, but what about beds, sofas etc - would you buy in France (Bergerac would be our nearest big town) or would you buy in the UK and ship over?

[Out of season travel]

We're in the process of buying a property in the Dordogne and we've noticed there are very few flights into Bergerac in the autumn/winter months - is Southampton the only airport flying into Bergerac at this time of year? Airports don't seem to like publishing timetables, so would appreciate knowing your experiences. I guess it's the ferries otherwise. (We'd be traveling from south west England)