Floodfamilyagain

Hi The kittens are in Sainte Hermine. I can email some photos to anyone that may be interested in the kittens. Just PM or email me. Natalie

Hello We found a mother cat with 3 kittens living under a hedge near us yesterday. After checking with neighbours it is apparent they are strays. I would estimate them to be around 6 weeks old , they are eating well and are quite lively. The are not too nervous around humans and as we cannot home them all would like to know if anyone else is interested in taking in one of them. Please PM for more info if interested. Thanks

Hello Thank you both for the directions. I managed to find it! The photographic exhibition you mentioned Angela was very good,  displayed on lit boards around the perimeter walls of the grounds. Some of the pictures were remarkable,  the images captured really are amazing. We  purposely went to see the dressage displays given at various times during the day.The display we saw was very impressive with both the horses/ riders displaying great skill. A guided tour was also given with children and adults being shown around in seperate groups . This was lovely for the children , they were given the opportunity to see the horses and foals close-up  and the adult group were given more information relating to the history of  'Le Haras'. We felt it was well worth a visit.

Hello Where in la Roche Sur Yon is  'Le Haras National' Thankyou

Hello Our side entrance door opens inwards but is restrcited from opening more than around 65/70 degrees because the hot water boiler is fitted just inside the door - behind it. Do regulations exist in France which state the minimum degree of opening for a door to allow full access? If so,  does anyone know where I can access the information? We are not happy with the door as it is and will be speaking with the building company about this but would like to have some information to back up our concerns.We feel on the issue of safety it cannot surely comply but have no guidelines to check against. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Please can anyone advise me on what to do next? The pool was very green after winter so I gave it a big dose of the anti algue, and the usual chlori shock treatment. The water has gone from dark green to a very nice milky aqua blue colour but now it is not improving further. After  a week of filtering,vacuuming etc... The chlorine levels are showing as nil unless I leave the reading for half an hour and then it only reads as 0.5 , This is after adding what seems like a ton of chlorine  throughout the course of the last week or so. The ph is on the lowest level at 6.8 Please help I am sick of this pool already and it is only April.........! thankyou

Hi We too are having problems over our new build property which is near completion although it has been nothing but a fiasco from the day the builders went on site last September. The first day on site,  they rang to say our land was the wrong size...?! They had measured from the wrong boundary marker. They marked the house out 3 times, dug foundations, dug them up again and redid them when they realised after 3 months that they were too big. We still have the first set of foundations left showing at the moment. We are dealing with a solicitor at the moment over an issue of them delivering what they advertise on their website and within their brochure .Only time will tell if we get anywhere with it. The latest call this week was telling us that the bath we had supplied , which they had fit had been broken by 'someone' and we would need to claim off our insurance which does not cover interior items until we are living in the property.....and so it goes on.......... I think the company will be glad to finish our property . We are not popular at the office and they are 'surpised' that we are not happy. They made the mistake of giving us a key so we have seen exactly the comedy of errors that has been played out on site. We have seen more than their project manager which is where the problems stem from. We had a technical day to discuss exactly what we wanted inside, what would be extra etc... which was a complete waste of a day as the project manager does not communicate with his subcontractors nor do they read the information they have been given. We are now withholding the next payment of 20% until things are sorted out favourably as there are now just too many things wrong to leave it until the final 'snag' list with the last payment of 5%.  Our only saving grace is that we do not have to move out of where we are living by a particular date. Time is on our side if nothing else! 

Hi Yes we are positive it wasn't just the chimney through the roof that was included. The web-site and literature that we were sent included the full range of fireplaces and the 10 fitted kitchen units (plus extractor) from which you could choose plus the bathroom suite (all at no extra cost) Our plans show the location in the lounge of where the fireplace would normally be located ( just not ours!)[:(]

Hello Our new house is currently under contruction due for completion in the next three months.Advertised on the builders website and literature (that was sent to us at the time we ordered the house 08/2004) was the inclusion of a fireplace/chimney within the base price. It is still detailed on the building companies website along with our chosen house model.The website is still advertised on all the company literature . Our house however does not include the fireplace/chimney . We did query it at the time (but not enough on hindsight)[:$] I would just be interested to find out if anyone else has commissioned the same building company in the last couple of years and had the advertised fireplace/chimney included ? The company name is Vi****  et Dem***** de France. Many thanks

Hello, My son has been studying Latin since September 2005. He is one of just six students out of fifty that have opted to study Latin in year five instead of having extra study periods. Having asked him about Latin he says that he mostly enjoys the lessons . His averages for Latin are matching his averages for English which I think is mainly down to the pupil numbers being so low for the subject. It has enabled the  teacher to spend more time with the group and to relax more with her teaching methods. As a result she has a much more varied means of teaching rather than just the board copying regime .That aspect of french schooling (regardless of the subject) my son has found to be really boring and he has missed the practical work that was included much more frquently in his English Catholic school.He has found the history/culture aspect of Latin interesting. They do have a book covering the subject ( probably the same one as your son) but the teacher brings in other ' fun' sheets for the group to complete. It is a shame that some of his other teachers aren't in a position ( or maybe  just dont have the initiative) to use the same approach. I am sure my Sons averages in other subjects would be much improved.

Hi If anyone knows someone that will be travelling over from Southern Ireland ( Dublin area) with empty load space suitable for a three piece suite ( anytime in the next few months)  please could you let us know. many thanks [:D].

Hi My husband is employed on a permanent contract and works Mon to Fri (total 39 hours)but when he books a weeks holiday he is required to book 6 days (to cover a Saturday aswell )  even though he doesn't work on a Saturday. My husband has queried this but his employer maintains it is perfectly normal practice? Does anyone know differently or can you point us in the direction of someone who may now one way or another? Thanks           

Hello Does anyone know if there are any restrictions in place that state you cannot build above a domestic garage? We are having a new bungalow built and have a double garage included on the plans ( domestic use only) but we have decided we would like to have extra habitable space built above the garage as a self-contained studio flat but as our builders are on shutdown until month end along with the chap at the planning dept, we cannot find out about the feasibility of this and would like to know as soon as possible. We realise the foundations will need to be suitable for this and know the area allows for single or double storey houses so it is just the question of any possible restrictions relating specifically to accomodation above a garage. Any knowledge anyone may have relating to this would be appreicated. thanks

Hi Can anyone suggest a plumber in that area that can speak some English. The problem my parents have with the plumbing is not straight forward for me to explain and my french isn't up to it. Thanks

sorry posted twice!!!

Hello, Does anyone know........ 1.) If it is possible to buy 'real flame effect' gas stoves/fires in France that will run off bottled gas? ( - NOT the freestanding box type heaters where the cylinder fits inside and :?: 2.) If it is possible, how effective they are for heat output, consumption, cost etc... many thanks Natalie

Hi It is the international bac that Jooles is talking about. I don't know a great deal about it but I know that the head of the Lycee ( who is quite forward thinking apparently) saw the increasing number of english families moving into this area and could see within the next few years this would bring with it an increase in bilingual 'lyceans' so it would be beneficial to both parties to have it introduced. Natalie

Hi My father is having problems with his laptop and needs it checking over but has no idea where he can take it where he may make himself understood ( having only moved over in the last few weeks and having very little french ) Her is near Moulleron on Pared - does anyone know of anywhere reasonably local to him that they could suggest ? thanks Natalie

Hello, We are here in Sainte Hermine - not far from Chantonnay. I would agree with everything said by Angela and Jooles about The Vendee and its people. plus some of the English here are pretty nice too! This forum has been great for getting to know who is around the region aswell as how to deal with the bureacracy that is just part of living here in France. It is the first anniversary for our move over here on the 10th January and we have no regrets. Natalie

Another thing to be aware of is the extent of the insurance cover attached to the mortgage.It is quite normal with french mortgages for cover to be split 50/50 between the couple so if one partner dies only 50% of the mortgage would actually be covered by the policy. Reading the very small print with Abbey France this was also the case and we have had to specifically request for joint cover of 100% each so the initial quote wasn't as competitve as it first seemed.

Another thing to be aware of is the extent of the insurance cover attached to the mortgage.It is quite normal with french mortgages for cover to be split 50/50 between the couple so if one partner dies only 50% of the mortgage would actually be covered by the policy. Reading the very small print with Abbey France this was also the case and we have had to specifically request for joint cover of 100% each so the intial quote wasn't as competitve as it first seemed.

Hello, Bring your winter woolies with you - Woke up to our first frost this morning! Natalie (Sainte Hermine)

Hello. It is sorted out now thankyou. The Manager admitted he was at fault for transferring money before the date de valeur and has reimbursed the charges to both accounts. Natalie

Hi Thanks for the translation and responses. It is becoming clearer now that this does relate to the 'valeur'/'operation' dates. The bank manager himself transfered a lump sum of money into new savings accounts for future house purchases ( in my case and 'Homers' case ) before the date of valeur which would account for the theoretical deficit. I suppose this would have been picked up by the computer which would not make allowances for the (twit) manager who actually initiated the transaction. It will be interesting to see how he deals with this. thanks again Natalie

Hi, I am 'Homers' daughter and this is the response I had to the email I sent to query the 'charge' which was also taken from our account aswell. ''........Bonjour Il s'agit des intérêts débiteurs calculés au cours du 3ème trimestre sur votre compte bancaire, lorsque celui-ci enregistre un solde débiteur.'' I have tried to translate it but am still none the wiser, we have stayed permanently in credit with the account so other than the normal charge for the bank card / setting up a prevelements etc..did not expect to be charged for anything else. Can anyone shed any light on this..........? thanks