Alcazar

Here in the Uk, the cold snap just goes on and on.[:(] Snow here last night and this morning, although it's cleared again now. No sun to speak of for days. The snowdrops are up, birds are building nests, (two in my garden, a blacky and a wren), but the daffs are on "stop"[:(] Alcazar

[quote user="Jonzjob"] Hi Alcazar, I got a problem? Are my fuses single or double pole? Sorry mate, just being a silly sod!!! Our house has a fuse box, so I would like to think that all the sockets and switches are on the line side of the fuse, but I have just replaced all the switches and most of the sockets for posh new types. Some were switched or plugged line, but some were not. I have a U.K. type socket checker that gives you the line/nuetral set up and if an earth is present (it doesn't give the earth quality). We got it when we started to come over to France on holliday wth our caravan. In our local OBI 'shed' they do French/English convertors, so if you have one of these tester plugs you can plug it into the converter and check all of your sockets. As I pointed out in an earlier thread, I bought a French flush double socket. One that fits into a single round hole in the wall (sorry to anyone that hasn't seen the French 60mm flush sockets). The top socket has the earth pin at the bottom of the socket and the bottom on has the earth at the top. They are not pre-wired together, but the connectiions are marked by 'L' and 'N' markers and if you look at the back of the socket both of the line connections are on the right and the neutrals are on the left. Remember that the top is a mirror immage of the bottom, so if you follow the makers instructions then no matter how you wire them on of the plugs you plug in is going to be line/neutral reversed. None of the new switches that I have just bought switch line and neutral, none of the appliances we have bought here switch both, the fuses in the main box only break line, so how is this system safer than that of the U.K. as the officialdom here claim. Oh yes, my T.V. is protected by a 13 amp fuse as is my electric kettle (3Kw) John. [/quote] Hmmmmmmmm, double pole fuses?[8-)] seriuosly, when I first investigated the electrics we bought our house with, there was ONE 16A fuse in the live side, and a second fuseholder, in the neutral side, but containing a barette, a sort of solid brass bar, the same size as a fuse, so that neutral could be isolated too. Strange system, I thought. I've got one of those things for checking sockets, somewhere in the caravan. We used to use it on every French site, as the van battery charger didn't like reversed polarity, so I carried two adaptors, one normal, one reversed., the reversed one clearly marked in paint as such. I've NEVER had a problem with campsites using the blue 16A connectors though. Alcazar

[quote user="Frogslegs"] Just a few flagstones required for a firehearth! We are near melle and do not mind travelling. thanks [/quote] Most builders merchants sell flagstones in various sizes. If that's not what you're looking for, you could try a local quarry. www.pagesjaunes.fr is very useful. Alcazar

[quote user="fulcrum"]Two points I'd like to make . 1. Don't assume all French breakers are double pole. Look for a small symbol on the breaker itself that will indicate whether it's single or double.[/quote] Yes, sorry, I ought to have said. Mine are all double pole, since this seems to be the norm now, and I've never seen single pole ones for sale in France. But, as stated, that's NOT to say that single poles ones were never available, or were brought from the UK. [quote user="fulcrum"] As one of the earlier posters suggests.  It is worth investing in a few books if your going to do things yourself. [/quote] Two I'd recommend are: Maitriser L'Electricite, and L'Electricite pas a pas, Both in paperback, both available for about €5 from Leclercs, both in French, but with many easily followed diagrams, pictures etc. Both contain good tables with number of lights, sockets etc per spur, cable diameters required, conduit sizes required etc etc. I use both books at times. Alcazar

Not that it really matters, since all French breakers are double pole, breaking the phase, and neutral feeds, but there is a sort of unwritten rule that says that the live, or phase cable is connected to the right hand side of the socket, as you would see the socket on the wall, ie: from the front. Oh, and FWIW, I'd spend a few Euros extra to get named sockets, Legrand seem to be top notch stuff. Alcazar

Best of luck Lori. DO PLEASE be careful for your own safety too..........I've read FAR too many accounts of avbusers who go on to beat up the friend who helped, once the wife is no longer available for a punch bag[8o|] Alcazar

[quote user="thunderhorse"]Rigourette isn't in the dictionary, but rigour is, and has generally the same meaning as in English - harsh, strict, disciplined etc. Add the ette to render small or feminine and you may start conjuring up a meaning. The house may represent the previous owner's idea of a little piece of hard work. Just a thought. [/quote] Or that the small lady who lived there was into "discipline"?[:$] Alcazar

[quote user="saddie"]According to today's paper Haute-Vienne has had more rain in thr first 7 days of March than it normally gets in the entire month![/quote] And I bet our neighbours are still moaning there's not been enough for their cows.......... Alcazar

According to my local washer repairman, Ariston are now part of the Merloni group, and as such, to be avoided at all costs. Downgraded internals, dear to repair, difficult to source parts, all-in-one parts, (needing replacement of bits that are Ok because they all come in one bit), were just a few of his complaints. I have an Ariston washer here in the UK, but I pay a small sum every year for a service agreement. Once it gets too old, I'll go with a Tricity Bendix. In France, I've got the cheapest washer and drier I could find, BlueSky, from Carrefour. They do their jobs, and will not cost the earth to repair, according to a friend. Alcazar

Funny you should mention what might grow under a bird feeder........I had some large cannabis plants there just last year...........nowt to do with me occifer[;)] Alcazar

[quote user="Jonzjob"] Cock chafers????? EEEEEEEK ! If I find any of THOSE B8ggers they will be SO dead! Alcazar Hi Alcazar, I think that you can put your shotgun away for now.As I had a bit of time I did a search on google and it appears that they aren't cockchafer but rose chafer.P.S. The rose chafer beetles look beautiful, a lovely metalic green.[/quote] Sounds OK to me, I don't particularly want my private parts chafed[:D] Unfortunately, however, my wife's name is Rose-Marie, and she sometimes answers to "Rose". I pity her if they get near her, then.   Alcazar

AFAIK, Thos Cook still publish, but timetables are updated monthly, so work out dear if you need to travel at different times of the year. Having said that, a) most trains DON'T alter.........but what would you like to bet that YOUR connection would be one that DID? b) Thos Cook will almost certainly post you a timetable, or I could if you really want one? Jeff

[quote user="Loiseau"] Less than a week for it to be sent to me in the UK after I had ordered it on-line. In another thread, Joem seems to have had about the same delivery time on his too. Angela [/quote] No problem, It came this morning. I've told the wife when I ordered it that it's a present for her....................well, she does have to wake up to pay tolls[;)] Alcazar

My local garden centre here in the UK (sadly) has started stocking mixed seed for wild birds at £13 for 25kg. Not bad, I thought. Alcazar

[quote user="Rayring"]These sound like cockchafer or maybug larvae. They are quite harmless in compost where they live for 3-4 years before developing into the adult beetles which fly about in the evenings in early summer. Regards Ray[/quote] Cock chafers????? EEEEEEEK ! If I find any of THOSE B8ggers they will be SO dead! Alcazar[:D]

[quote user="Fiona"] We have recently bought a house in the Var (Dept 83) and the villa is called "La Rigourette".  Does anyone know what this means as I cannot find it in a dictionary etc.  The immobilier thinks it may relate to something Provencal but is unsure.  Can anyone help?   [/quote] If it needs any work doing on it, the name probably translates as "The Money Sump" or "The Money Black Hole", something like ours[:'(] Alcazar, (who used to know what a few quid in his pocket was like)

I've found EDF hopeless to deal with, broken appointments, no-one available, everyone on strike when I needed a change in power...........just like the UK then[:^)] Our system was basic to the Nth degree: ONE 16A ceramic fuse "protected" everything. They eventually did come and change us to 9kW from the old 3kW that tripped every time we had more than one heater going.............INCLUDING the one in the caravan heating water for showers! There were no problems with wiring when it was changed, but that doesn't mean yours will be OK. Ours had no earths either, but is slowly getting renewed. Alcazar

..............is a piece of string?[:P] No, sorry, how long does it take SANEF to send my Telepeage badge thingy, please? Alcazar

[quote user="Deimos"]Compared to the previous two winters I seem to have very few shield bugs in the house this winter. Normally they are a bit of a nuisance but relatively few. I remember there were loads and loads around outside early Oct. Maybe my memory is fading and they are active in the house later in the winter but I thought in previous years they were through most of the winter. Anybody know of any reason for this or is it a “local thing”. Ian[/quote] We had to eject several over the half term week in February. The weather didn't seem to make any difference to their activity, either, they were equally as active at 0 degrees as they were at 8 degrees later in the week. They do smell odd when you pick them up, don't they? Alcazar

[quote user="Mpprh"] I had to carry them up a circular staircase two packs at a time. Bad back for a few days. Peter    [/quote]   I think I'd have been inclined to make more journeys, with one pack at a time[;)] Alcazar

[quote user="Deimos"] However, dog owners should definitely dispose of their pets waste in an appropriate manner – its their pet, their responsibility, etc. (as the same should apply to people who chew gum, people who smoke, etc.) Ian[/quote] Ah but surely that would come under the usual French idea of "everyone else but me.........." Alcazar

Last time I was over there, the local paper had an interesting interview with a Gendarme accident investigator. He said that of all accidents caused by overloading, tiles were the biggest culprits by far. Be careful out there! Alcazar

I suspect that may people who have, like us, only a holiday home at the moment, made the decision to buy it somewhere that is driveable in one go, so as to be able to visit as often as possible, and spend as much time as possible there, rather than "on the road". I reckon Southern Haute Vienne/Northern Dordogne as being just about far enough.[:P] After all, those of us who have to work and continue to maintain a house in Bliar's UK, can't ALL afford to have a house in France that needs no renovation. However, I'll think of you when I can still water my garden, and wash my car, come summer[;)]  Alcazar

............bought us a Telepeage doofer, that is[:)] I've read all about it, took the advice, went onto the SANEF site and I'm awaiting it's delivery. The site offered English, but I couldn't get the form to apply for one, etc to come up in English. Good job my French isn't too shabby[;)] Alcazar

[quote user="jond"][quote user="Teamedup"]Jond it is indeed La Chipie, a typo in this case, although I can and do have difficulty working out the gender stuff. A friend once gave me some crap advice, if it is beau et utile it is feminine......... believe me it does not work.[/quote] I won't disagree. I would have been more certain myself, but my leading consultant on matters of gender in French nouns (Adeline, age 6-and-a-half) was too busy watching Scooby Doo this morning to be much help. Still, I'm ahead on grammer...for the time being. [/quote] If not totally ahead on spelling[;)] Alcazar