Freyjabear

Eurolines usually have a coach that runs from Victoria to Rennes, via Angers, Tours and Nantes. My parents came over on it last week! They have been having problems though and the journey is a lengthy one. Did you call Eurolines? My mother tried to book through National Express and was told that there were no coaches.I booked on line in the end and there were coaches, so that might be the best option. For some reason NE don't seem to be bothered about booking tickets for EL. Another thing I started to investigate was taking the a ferry as a foot passenger and getting the train to Nantes or Cholet. It worked out at about 30£ for the ferry and 32 € for the train one way. The train stopped at Le Mans. Good luck!

b&b hotels. www.hotelbb.com. Cheap, cheerful and basic, but comfy and they do a good breakfast. They give you a code to access you room, so you can arrive at anytime. Any you get your own shower. We stayed overnight on a long trip with 2 cats!

Friends of mine are buying a 7 bedroom chateau in March and are looking to rent it either short term or long term while they meet commitments in New Zealand. Does anyone know of a good way of marketing this type of think? Estate agents who rent out such things? Also any change over managers, caretakers in 79 close to Thouars that they could recommend? They are flexible regarding when they move in and rental could be up to a year.

Thanks for the answers. Will have to find some other wines for the wedding. Any recommendations for reasonable white, red and rose? I am buying for 100 guests for a june wedding on a beach in Devon! Barbeque reception, so I thought I'd get a variety and some beer. Meannwhile, we are eagerly anticipating next week!

For the last couple of years we have found a supurb Merlot Nouveau in SuperU, tucked along side the Beaujolais. I want to buy some and take to my friends wedding in June. Does anyone have an idea how long you can keep nouveau wines before you need to drink them? Must admit that they don't stay undrunk for very long chez nous!

If the accommodation market is so flooded in France, why then are many conseil generalles and offices de tourisme handing out up to 30.000€ for a gite and 5000€ per room to help people renovate and provide accommodation? They are in the Vendée and Deux Sevres! They have stated that there is a shortage of holiday accommodation, particularly at the luxury end of the market. If some of the British gite owners marketed to French tourist, they might find that they were more successful? I think we ought to email the Mail with comments!  

[quote]These old houses can get quite damp when it has been raining for a bit. I suffer from AS and find that our Zibro Clima deshumidificateur makes a real difference. When we first moved in, the house had ...[/quote] I have AS too John! I also live in Deux Sevres. I have found that the drier climate and shorter winters have meant tat I haven't had so many flare ups. Also, I have had fewer colds since moving here: 2 in 2 years as opposed to 5 per year on avaerage. That has helped too. I find I am generally healthier, but could that be less stress perhaps, as I was very stressed at work in the UK.   Have you seen www.nass.com ? Bit gloomy at times but can be very informative

does any one know of a formula for average yearly occupancy for chambres d'hote and gites please? I need one to use for a business forecast/plan. Have looked in the archives, but no luck. Thanks in advance.

Just to add that a notaire generally adds a negotiating fee of 3-4% of the house price for drawing up a compromis and handling the sale. This is charged to the buyer, so people don't save as much as they think by buying through a notaire as there is still the extra charge. agents handle the compromis as part of their business and if you get a good agent, they can be a god send to both parties. We bought through a notaire and a second house through an agent and the agency experience was easier: no chasing the notaire, all services sorted etc. But the house through the notaire was cheaper. Not by much

Can recommend some good agents in charente and vende if you want to pm me. Don't want to post, incase I'm advertising. We have used a couple of them and the rest have been excellent when taking us out to view. Can also tell you about the not so good

We have had cats go missing and they have always been found alive and well. Unfortunately, recently one of ours disappeared and I feared the worst. We called vets, asked around, put posters up etc. She turned up in the neighbours well, as he had moved the cover to put his pump down to water his garden, put it back and he found her the next time he watered. A timely warning to well owners to be careful, but not much comfort and I am still heart broken. The only 'good' think is that I know and my imagination isn't working overtime. I really feel for you and know the torture you are going through. It is worth keeping on asking neighbours to check buildings etc. Really hope it turns out ok and you are happily reunited.

Anyone know the words? Going to the village celebration on 14th and we need to sing it! I would like to try and get the words right and not look like a footballer in the line up at the beginning of the match.

You could try John Collinson at La Baudonniere, Monsireigne. 0251664379. He store caravans in a secure unit, has a small camp site, bed and breakfast and lots of people have said to me that he is very good. gets caravans ready etc as part of the rent. Tell him Caryn sent you

We use Mme Dubois. Le Clos du Chataignier, La Toutaire, 79300 TERVES 0549725136. She does speak some English and has access to a very nice vet who speaks English too. Our aged 19 year old came out with a new lease of life. It was the first time she had been to a cattery. The other baby didn't want to come home. They loved Madame, who is very eccentric. Nice and clean, heating an option, good quality food and lots of love! It's not too far from Parthenay, about 20 minutes and the rates are reasonable. Good luck and welcome to the area.

pret relais!

You could try ANJ Madame Martin 0549720117. They are based in Largeasse

You can buy Le Chineur magazine, which covers the whole of France for vide greniers, brocantes etc. Vende Matin and Nouvelle Republique and the Courrier have things to do sections 'on sort' is where to look. Hic and 79 the free papers also often have vide greniers, problem is that these are announced weeks in advance, so you need a diary. www.pointsdechine.com has things listed. Just don't buy all the bargains! Save some for me. On the subject of Brittany, we visit friends there and they have very good vide greniers in 56

It may be that the seller does not want the house surveyed. This can sometimes happen. It doesn't necessarily mean that there is anything to hide, just that surveyors aren't the norm in France. The compromis can contain anything in the clauses suspensive, as long as it is agreed by both parties. It is after all an agreement between 2 parties. Hope that it all works out for you

have sent you mail re my friend!

www.postoptics.co.uk are good too. They will post lenses, but not solutions to France.

www.postoptics.co.uk are good too. They will post lenses, but not solutions to France.

Hi I have a couple of friends, who have cleaned for me in the Uk and are moving to the area very shortly. they are looking for some work and may be interested. Could you let me have your details and I will pass them on?