melwest

We have an old herringbone parquet floor in one of the bedrooms. The floor is quite springy and sags a little.  It is also starting to crack the plaster ceiling of the sitting-room below.  I wondered if it is possible to lift the parquet and replace or reinforce the original beams, then relay the original parquet without damaging the ceiling below.  We have had 2 menuisiers round for quotes.  One said he could do it with no problem, whilst the other said it would be impossible without smashing the plaster ceiling!  So a dilemma.  We have yet to receive their quotes after 3 weeks.  I shall have to try to get a third opinion, but in the meantime wondered if any of you had any experience of this type of problem and could give me some much needed advice!

The TV aerial on our house is attached to one of the chimneys.  Several stones are starting to dislodge from this chimney and are only being held in by the aerial.  I had a stonemason round for a quote and he said "no problem fixing the stones, pointing etc but the aerial will have to be moved and fixed onto the side of the house next to the chimney"  According to him this is a legal requirement.  Has anyone heard of this before?  I am extremely reluctant to move the aerial to the (highly visible) side of the house, but fear he will refuse to do the job if I don't comply.  I should receive his quote this week.

I have recently arrived to live in France, and would like to send my 3 1/2 year old to school so that he can learn French and make some friends.  In England he went to a nursery 3 mornings a week, and I would like to continue with these timings.  I was wondering if anyone knew whether this is possible in France.  We have an ecole maternelle (private) in the village.  Does anyone know if schools are quite flexible and allow parents to chose which days they want their pre-school children to attend and possibility of mornings only?  I feel he is too young to attend all day every day especially as he does not know any French.  Please help!