Gigi

Does anyone have any experience of having their ventilation motor either serviced or replaced? When we returned to our second home in Normandy before Christmas, and switched it on - we stopped leaving it on while away, because of the cost of running it (possibly a false economy! - the fuse for that particular circuit blew and we tracked it down to the ventilation motor. The system has been in place for about 15 years ago and has always worked really well, airing 2 internal WCs.

We visit our house 6 times per year and always draw euros from our UK current account to deposit in our CA account - usually using the Conde-sur-Noireau branch - for bill paying. The last time we were there - October half-term - the branch had been completely re-designed (in common, according to the staff, with all other branches of CA and banks in general) and had no "caisses". Deposits are now made using a machine and a "card", which I don't have. An employee of the bank allowed me to make the deposit (on this occasion only) and then took my details. I have since received a PIN number and forms to complete. When I have carried this out, I will receive the card, which I now discover is a Eurcard Mastercard. There is an annual fee of 34 euros for the first applicant and 17 euros for the second applicant for 2004. We didn't particularly want a debit card - although can see that it would be occasionally useful for out-of-hours petrol. Is there really no way that we can deposit cash the way we used to? Gigi (dept 14)  

[quote]I've tried and I've tried and I've tried. Now I realise why I have always come back to LF when I've visited other Forums. They are all in this style and it is NOT AS GOOD (imho) as the old layout. ...[/quote] I used to log on to LF at least once a day. Now, 'though I log on at least twice daily, I am no longer motivated to access LF, unless I am looking for an answer - and even then, I am considering the other options - for the first time. I hate to be negative - and wouldn't be, for the sake of it - but involvement in LF is no longer a pleasure.

[quote]I am sure that I have seen this stuff at Monsieur Bricolage but when I put in a new shower room upstairs I just screwed 15mm plywood down over the floor boards. Lots of screws so it does not move. Sea...[/quote] Many thanks for all the replies / advice. Will probably go with the ceramic tiles. I was quite surprised that the bathroom was carpeted rather than tiled, in view of the fact that the previous owners (and all those prior to them) were French.

[quote]This is rather negative but I have never seen this stuff in France, and we do keep an eye on what's what in the French DIY market. I remember seeing it in the UK and thinking at the time that it is n...[/quote] I agree that ceramic is brilliant - and normally the best solution. We're just wondering whether, for an upstairs bathroom, there might be any problems about using the real thing. The current flooring is carpet, which we don't like, over chipboard which is covering oak floor boards. The chipboard must have been laid over the oak floorboards to make the floor level enough to accommodate the bathroom suite. Would you anticipate any problems with laying a proper ceramic tiled floor, given the surface Ihave described?

Has anyone has ever seen - in French DIY stores - sheets of simulated ceramic tiling, like the Floormaster Tile Loc laminated flooring range sold in the UK? I have just found wood laminates (at a price) on the Castorama website but not the ceramic effect. I would be grateful for any information.

Can anyone please tell me the French (and English!) name of the gadget you can buy, that can detect - and therefore help you avoid drilling into - wiring, pipes, beams etc.??

Just in case I have missed anything, can you fly from UK direct to Caen? If not (as I suspect) which is the nearest airport to Caen to which you can fly and could anyone provide me with an email address for it? (I've tried surfing but get no closer than trave agencies).

In a nutshell, can we legally bring back fruit veg plants to UK via BF in our car?

1) We are catching the BF ferry from Ouistreham to Portsmouth at 9am on Sunday 6/6/04. Does anyone know of any Caen area travelling restrictions, due to be in place, which could make life difficult for us (due to 6 Juin commemoration)? 2) Are there any restrictions on transporting plants / fruit / veg to England from France by ferry? Many thanks for any replies!

Hi anyone in Calvados / Orne, Do you know of any food shops / markets open on Sunday or Monday (Pentcote)? We are crossing late on Saturday and have just realised that most shops are close until Tuesday!

Any Questions is coming from Caen on Friday 4th June. Tickets are available by emailing Radio 4 at [email protected].

Our house (second home, for the moment) is in a terrace of six houses in a rural community. The other owners are French. Three of the six houses are owned by one person and rented out. There is a communal "cour" in front of all properties, used and maintained by all owners. One of the tenants has parked (for 6+ months) a decrepit caravan in the communal "cour", against the rules. (Occupants may park cars there but not park long-time caravans. Our closest friends amongst the neighbours (French owner-occupiers) are very miffed about this - as are all other occupiers (tenants and owners alike). We would prefer if the caravan weren't there but would rather remain on good terms with its owners, who live next door to us, than make waves. We have - under suffrance - signed a petition against the caravan and visited the gendarmerie, with the other owner-occupiers (complaining about the caravan). The gendarmerie does not want to know - it is a private "cour", therefore a private matter. Neither the landlord nor the agency (letting the house concerned) have responded to any registered letter of complaint. What is the situation in France regarding "legal aid"? Private prosecutions? etc. We are trying to maintain equally good relationships between the owners, who have to put up with the grotty caravan all year and our neighbours (the caravan owners), who are normally very considerate to us. Any suggestions?