alnmike

For smaller amounts, www.moneybookers.com we've found them very reliable and very reasonable.

Hi Anyone else had an email offering free advertising for a year with the above?

We use CA Britline, www.britline.com . we find them ok, I know others have different experiences. We opened the account from the UK before we bought our house.

Hi! Anyone know why we circled Poole Bay for an hour tonight before docking now, an hour late? Technical problems they say - but it's just been refitted?

Whilst it is a little costly, we use PayPal from our website for deposits/payments which does give an element of protection for both! With this and your own machine should cover? Or you could receive payments via Moneybookers.com?  http://www.moneybookers.com/app/ 

Our cottage is about 120 yrs old, and was originally one room, with thick stone walls. At some point in the past it was divided into 2 rooms with the thinnest partition wall I've ever seen, but that's another story! Currently the walls have wallpaper on, and the external walls also have an underpaper of sort of polystyrene (I think it is called certina?)  The house suffers a little from damp and condensation. I want to re-decorate, but have no idea of the best treatment! Stip all and paint stone walls, and paper the partition? Strip and re-paper all? If you suggest paper which is the most hardwearing? Many thanks!

Hi! My version of Outlook Calendar has no holiday dates after 2005. I've looked for Microsoft update/add-in, but there doesn't seem to be one for version 2002. Anyone else had this? Thanks

We were told by the previous owners to put a sachet of 'Eparcyl' (dont know spelling) down at least weekly. This seems to help keep the balance. Available from the supermarkets!

I do exactly what you want to do, and i use Wanadoo, www.wanadoo.fr. I set it up on via my uk internet, configuring the dialler details myself. Although they did send me a CD to France.With the laptop, I just use the French 'user' when in France, and everything else works as normal, just abit slow compared to Broadband. I'm sure it's not the cheapest or largest space, but I don't use the email address, and only use occasionally so it suits me.

thanks

When we bought our cottage the notaire presented us with test results from the Government approved lab, which was in St Lo (we are in Manche). this showed the water was not fit for drinking as it contains Cryptosporidium. We use it for the lawn only. Our papers also showed that we have exclusive rights to the well, just as well as it is under the house. (Which causes another set of challenges, but we won't go there) Was anything mentioned in your paperwork? if you have clean, safe water then I guess you would have to get permission to put a pipe under the road to you house to access it?

Hi! Can you tell me how to get my web page as the www icon at the bottom of any posts?  

We have probably been lucky, as so far after a couple of seasons we have only had 'wear and tear', but do need to replace/refurbish most things. we have recouped enough to pay for basic bills, but as mentioned, there is not much profit! It would probably cost you less to just employ a keyholder/caretaker to check the house regularly. Hope you enjoy the time you are there!

As above, all made very straightforward now. My only observation is the return to UK between 24 and 48 hours of tick and worm treatment is not negotiable, certainly by BF! 5 mins early and you will be turned away. Good Luck!

Dick Dug the last bill out - and all it refers to is the Tresorie and the Mairie, La Haye du Puits!! When we go for a cycle along the old railway we get lots of inspiration from other crossing cottages!

Mairie is spot on, as that is where we signed up for our water - literally, in an exercise book! And the previous owner had already been in and given their last meter reading.

we paid €100 for a fantasic gourmet meal for the 2 of us, as a treat. Included aperitif and wine, 7 courses! Not for everyday of course!

I too advertise our cottage as 'non smoking'. We don't smoke and we received many bookings from others who don't. Also, with the increase in respiratory disease, no pets and no smoking does seem to be becoming a regular reason.

I did get through, and advised my change of UK address, to be offered their on line internet billing service at no charge. (Email bills I guess) does anyone else use it? Thanks

great, thanks for prompt reply!

Hi! I've tried the search, but no luck. Can anyone please tell me the Paris number for the English speaking France Telecom helpdesk? (not the free one, as I want to ring from UK) Can you advise of change of address by phone, or do you need to write? Thanks

Another good hosting company is Lycos, and again you can buy your own domain name. As previously mentioned, being a large company is a good point, as if your hosting company goes bust it is a nightmare trying to get your name back! As happened to us once. Good help too with metatags, and testing your pages!

try this for info : http://www.debtadvicebureau.org.uk/bankruptcy/bankruptcy_pros_cons.html,and take professional advice as bankruptcy is different in France and England.

We did this at the same time we bought our house, after taking advice from an english speaking French lawyer,which was invaluable. Suggest that this is well worth the money and happy to let you know who we used if you PM me!  

What happens (and this is also true about cars,motorbikes and boats)is that you agree a price for the item, and the cheque payment you receive turns out to be more. You are then asked to send the balance to a hire car /shipping/storage company.Being prudent you wait for 5 working days and your bank say that the cheque has cleared. you send off the refund and your cheque gets cashed. THEN your bank say ooppss - cheque has bounced, you're overdrawn. Reason for delay is usually it is foreign check/account. Hence a statement saying 'refunds after 60 days' is spot on. For us the email was very poor english (mind you so's toh's) and asking for a months rent.