JeanS

We will be spending around 5 months in France this year & will need a PC/laptop to keep in contact with family/ for Banking etc. Can I use a PC bought in the UK - was thinking of just un-plugging the one we've got & using it in France. I know I'll have to arrange for a broadband set-up & thought I'd use France Telecom since we have a landline with them. Any suggestions??     We're in 36      

Thanks for your suggestion. My mum has a wheelchair, it takes up quite alot of space.  I'm going to phone the local pharmacy tomorrow.  

I'm briniging my mum to France at Easter and need to hire a wheel chair for a week.  I won't have room in the car for her's. Any idea's - our house is nr. La Chatre.

We are having the same problem, although we now have the permis de construire.  She has just sent us the devis to change the attached hanger(barn) on the side of our house into a 2 bed house.  We are still getting over the shock at the price.  It is rather higher than we expected. So - we are going to get an extimate independantly.  Anyone know of a good reliable builder in 36??   JeanS

I've been reading this interest. I've just looked at all our paper work for our French house and, eventhough we regested a Tontine clause, I can't see that one has been added. From this thread, I think I'll need to find an english speaking notaire ( I'm not confident enough to trust my French) to sort us out.  We bought our house in January 2004. We're both divorced and have lived together for 15years. We both have children from our respective marriages, but whilst I'm quite happy to let my half go to my children, my partner does not want to leaven anything to his.  So any one know of an english speaking notaire in the La Chatre (36) area??    

I think the person we bought our house from, must have had shares in the people who make these things.  They are on all the ceilings. We successfully removed the ones in the living room - took ages.  We gave up, tried using the crepi stuff - just fell down.  Then heavy duty ceiling paper - same result. Ended up painting over them - quite a good result. 

I posted a thread on the same subject last October/November. The guy that does our garden got us a truck load ( about 5 steers)  It was just dumped in the hanger. When getting prices - the bigger the pieces the cheaper - go for 1 metre lengths. Also, if you want it stacked, you will be charged extra.  He lives in La Celette.  

Deos any-one know of a good TV Aeriel engineer near Ste.Severe?? We have onlu just bought a TV but can't get a signal or picutre.  There is an aeriel on the roof which worked for the previous owners.    

I've recived my Telepeage doofer today - when I thought they'd lost my order.  I ordered using a UK credit card and went for the annual option plus I can view my account on-line - well I think I can because they've sent me a user ID and password. We have a heater front screen - so will need to fix it on the black dotted section by the rear view mirror.  We off to France on Saturday so hopefully it will work.

Wish I'd never started to read this thread.  We have a small etang at the bottom of our garden which is owned by the local farmer.   My partner, being a keen fisherman, fishes on it when we visit.  There are quite a few coypu there. We've asked our neighbour about them. He said that the local farmer trapped quite a lot of them a few years ago. He also said that they are nice to eat - but then he is a bit of a joker. Tony shot three at Easter with his cross bow.  Maybe I'll visit the local maire next week when we're over.

We know Jeremy & Ruth.  I contacted them when we first bought the house.  They introduced to M.Marsais who project managed the partial renovation of the attic, plus renewing the floor in the downstairs bedroom and also, the installation of the fosse septic.  He only uses local artisans and the standard of work is very good. A point to note they arrive somedays at 6.00am. Rgds   Jean

I applied for one of these via the web. about 2 weeks ago but have not heard or received anything yet. How long do they take to come - silly me diidn't print off the final page so I don't have the reference number. I've not been charged anything on my credit card, so hopefully I just pressed the wrong key..  We're over again on saturday, so I might try the office near Boulogne.  

We have a holiday home not far from you, near Sazaray.  Last summer we had a French artisan round to quote to replace some of our barn roof tiles.  He was more expensive than 2 others but the work he was going to do, appeared far better - also he was recommended by neighbours.  He recived his 'devis' and i faxed it back.  To date he has still not done anything. We're over next week, so if I don't get a more postive response from him, then I may need to call upon your services. We have a good gardner - he is English and lives in La Cellete. He's in the process of levelling the back garden after we have a new fosse installed.   

As others in this thread - I've been attending French classes at our local college. I'm now at level 6.  I've tried the conversation classes which are considerably more expensive but have found that they still teach at the same level.  The classes are funded, and at the end of the year we get an ONC qualification - no exam, just course work through the year.  Whilst it is good to speak French at least once a week, I find that I become bored because we are learning isn't what I need. I feel there is a need for classes in eveyday French - like understanding the electricity bill - how to fill out tax forms etc. Still - once I'm in France, I just go with what i know, I find that the Franch can be quite accommodating if you at least try - you know you've got the wrong word or tense of the verb by the look on their face.    

As previous post - we've used this service - a good one in Chatearoux in the centre. We had all our shutters done, plus 3 interior doors, which we've waxed ( had lots of admiring comments made about these) and just recently the back door. It's not cheap - but very good. You have to be careful because the wood can shrink.  

Thanks for your comments - we did ask the neighbour.  I'll think I'll give this idea a miss this time. We've got quite alot of wood around the place which we can use.    

I have a house near St.Severe - we'll be en famille over Christmas & New Year & I need to find somewhere to buy some wood for the fire.  I've had a quote of 30Euros per stere with a minimum delivery of 10 steres ( I only really need 5).    Anyone know where I can get some?   

Hi Daryl We're over again from 14-22 October -  like you, playing M & Mme Les peintures. We're further South, near Ste.Severe.  We did look at two places near Levroux prior to buying our 'pile'. With regard to the new crossing.  I had a quick look at the website.  Prices were more than I'm paying with Brittany Ferries.  Hovever BF's prices are creeping up.  I looked at prices for my daughter on Sunday & when I booked tonight, they had gone up by £30.00    

As Daryl we prefer to use the Western routes to travel to our maison secondaire in 36 ( maybe we're neighbours)   We tried speedferries - but hate the longer drive both sides of the channel. I have booked 2 crossings with BF - one for October and one for Christmas. I was surprised with the cost of the Chrsitmas crossing, with the BF owners club discount, it was alot less than I thought it would be. So - who is in the running for the Portsmouth - Le Harve route??  I haven't seen anything in the press ( maybe I take the wrong daily).      

We've received the same forms - after I'd spent about an hour reading the French side, I realised that there was an English translation on the reverse!!. I called my Tax office in the UK - they've sent me a letter confirming that I am a UK resident and that I pay tax in the UK.  They suggest that I send that together with a copy of my last P60 to the bank in France.  So I'm going to give it a try. There isn't anywhere on the form for the UK Tax office to sign.

We have the same idea - althought not started the project yet. We are looking at using The Light Pipe company - may not help you because they ared UK based.  I think prices start at just under £200 for a 10" pipe. Have a look at their web site: www.lightpipe.org.uk  

The guy we used could possible help.  He's a good project manager and knows lots of local artisans.  He's not an architect but would know were to find one.  Also he lives near to you. I'll mail you his details    

We've also received the form H1 - and like Ian, we were confused as to what to do with it -  I'll be interested in your response. In our letter there are asking for the 'permis de construire' or declaration de travaux. We had the work done last year, after buying the property in January. The attic already had two bedrooms, and one unfinished room which we made into a bedroom and bathroom. I've faxed our project manager for these details but haven't had any response as yet.  I intend to take my form into the office and will fill it in there - I've made an appointment to do this when next in France.  Hopefully my French will be good enough to understand what they ask of me.

Does anyone konw of a webiste where I can find economic/geographical information regarding the Indre area.  I have to do a small presentation on the area for a French assignment tomorrow.  I have lots of infoformation regarding tourism etc.   Help!!!!!

We didn't have any problems when we opened our account in November 2003.  We had to take proof of residence in the UK -Phone & electric bill plus passports/birth certificates/divorce absolutes.  We find Linda (who speaks perfect English) at the Credit Agricole's branch in Saint Gaultier really helpful and approachable. We've just taken out our house & buildings insurance with them.  Got a 6% discount because we opened a savings account at the same time.  The insurance was cheaper and the cover better that the one we already had.