Linnorton

Hasn't this been the case each year since the scheme started? Due to end on the 31st December each year and then a continuation announced closer to the end of the year.  I would have thought the balance of probablities is that the scheme will continue because it's been very popular. Personally I wouldn't rush to order work earlier than planned.  I wouldn't bet money on the continuation but I don't think that the French economy is in such robust health that the government will risk upsetting French builders. Only time will tell.

It's a brilliant definition of middle-class crisis.  My best was throwing a hissy fit because the new espresso machine wasn't frothing milk for my cappucino as well as the old one.  Why oh why, do bad things happen to good people?  Any other examples?

For bathroom suites, I would seriously recommend taking a day trip to UK, or better still choosing on the net before you go, picking up what you want and bringing it straight back.  We're part way through installing an new bathroom and it has been a nightmare.  Every part has to be chosen separately, it's very time-consuming and we've ending up spending much more than we intended.  I could have bought in the UK during my last visit and I wish I had.  B&Q, Homebase, Do It All and MFI have some brilliant stuff at the moment although with MFI you do have to order in advance but do take a look at their website.

I couldn't agree more Ty.  It is paranoia and urban myth.  Last weekend I spent an interesting half an hour looking at French friends photos of their house renovation and they happily named all their friends and relatives in the pictures as they demolished walls, cut in window openings, re-roofed etc. I accept there are new rules on electric installation as there have always been for gas but to imply friends and family can't help with d-i-y seems ludicrous.

Yes, you can, I do.

You could advertise on TEFL.com or TEFL.net

I don't think we were talking about the odd packet of teabags or grocery item; my suggestion was a regular run for bulkier items with a designated pick-up point.  The idea may or may not have any merit but it could be worth exploring, if the only cost is the posters time.  That is market research, albeit in a limited fashion, and market research is "listening to what people tell you." Personally, if I was doing MR for myself I'd be looking at the possibility of back loads as well.  A friend has just saved £2,500 moving his stuff to France by having a Bulgarian tramper wagon deliver from Hull to Normandy on their way back home.  Similarly, I know of an English antique dealer who does regular runs from the UK empty, returning from France with architectural salvage.  He is always open to offers from people who want to shift stuff from UK to France. You'll never know what peoples' needs are unless you ask the questions and all credit to the original poster  for exploring his potential marketplace.

Re: the E-bay suggestions, France may not be the best country to register in with E-Bay. I don't know much about them but I do know that when I wanted to sell some books and tried listing on Amazon France, they add-on TVA even for second-hand ones.  Difficult to make it worthwhile and I would suggest checking to see what E-Bay do re TVA.

Whilst on the subject of factory shops; does anyone know if the JB Martin shoe factory shop is still open in the ramparts of Fougere castle?  I have fond memories of excessive spending in there.

Whilst on the subject of factory shops; does anyone know if the JB Martin shoe factory shop is still open in the ramparts of Fougere castle?  I have fond memories of excessive spending in there.

Have you explored the possibilities of regular runs between France and UK by lowest possible price crossing, bringing must have items back for ex-pats.  At the moment I want a sofa bed I've seen in MFI and  flat pack kitchen units from B&Q. I will need copious amounts of paint as well.  If you have an address in UK where deliveries could be made from internet orders there may just be some sense in having a collection point in France; You couldn't cover it all but I'd be happy to drive for a couple of hours with car and trailer to pick up the stuff I need as long as the cost is less than a ferry crossing for car and trailer on the Western Channel. I live in Manche (50)  

Apparently, it's loads of money.  We had a visit from a historian employed by the local region, who said 15k euros just to do the front of our house, approx. 15 metres long by 2 stories.  There may be grants to do this but I think they are means tested. Don't know where you live but we are in Dept. 50, the house is masse and has been concrete rendered at some time.  That would need to be chipped off, then they wait for the masse to dry out and then apply the chaux.  It looks wonderful on all the local houses that have been done.   I intend to address the issue once we have done all the other major jobs.

At the moment I can book a 3 day, although you're not really allowed a full 3 days, with BF going on the 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. I wouldn't normally expect availability this late in August.  You would think that market forces would prevail on BF pricing and it has to a very limited extent this year. However, French culture and mindset does seem to be very different to UK and I have no great hopes anything much will alter unless the Manche region starts subsidising the routes. There are hardly any wagons using Cherbourg. We'll reluctantly start using Calais-Dover soon because the savings are too big to ignore. It's all a shame and I think it's damaging to the Manche economy but we are powerless to affect change.  If BF are content to operate at less than capacity it's their decision.  It will be interesting to see how many sailings and destinations they're planning to operate this winter.

[quote]Strange isn't it? The many little things that add to the charm of France, that people frequently quote when listing it's attractions , such as peaceful weekends, limited shopping on sundays etc etc, ...[/quote] You misunderstand my point.  We don't cut lawns/strim or use other noisy equipment on a Sunday and wouldn't dream of doing so but the family of our elderly French neighbour do. I take the view that it is their only opportunity to tend to her garden and I certainly have no intention of telling them that a load of ex-pats on the LF forum want the laws rigidly applied so they'd better hire a gardener to do it during the week.  I know we all think the world would be a better place if we were running it but we are only in charge of our own behaviour, not other peoples'.

For anyone shopping on Le Toquet market or surrounding towns (can't remember which ones) there is a brilliant lady with a lingerie stall. Can assess your size by looking at you, no problem exchanging if necessary and for me and my sister it wasn't needed, lady had been spot on with her assessment.  Really good quality bras and pants and very well priced. 

Are you seriously suggesting that someone should employ a gardener to do jobs they could do themself in order to preserve a tomb-like silence?  If you are would you like to be the one who tells my nearest neighbour that I don't want her family and grandchildren to visit on a Sunday when the sons always mow the lawn and the kids play in the garden and sometimes, horror of horrors, they play music as well. For goodness sake, get a life. 

I'm not comfortable with this thread.  Do you not feel a need to be discreet about your guests, whether famous and unknown?  If I ran b&b/gite and had a famous or well-known guest, I probably wouldn't be able to resist telling my friends and family but to post on a public website?  It feels wrong and unethical somehow.

[quote]How can you buy your daily shopping without a french cheque book or carte bancaire unless you have a suitcase of euros that you changed in the UK first? Don't say use a UK credit card because you can ...[/quote] I didn't say don't have a French account, I said that in my experience one isn't necessary to pay for utilities or rates and that is a statement of fact.  Obviously it makes a difference if you are not in France when the bills come in.  As for shopping and reference to social security payments, some people on this forum make far too many, rather unpleasant assumptions, about other peoples circumstances. Yet another example of prejudice and half-soaked opinions getting in the way.  That's it for me for two weeks, off to the UK, where I can assure you I am gainfully employed.

With all due respect Dick, I don't find a French bank account necessary for paying utilities.  They can all be paid for in cash at the post office and for taxe fonciere, etc. they can be paid at the local Tresorie.  It sometimes costs a couple of euros more to pay at post office but not enough to worry about.

I think the Forum is for the exchange of facts and fact based opinion.  Most of the time it is but when people deliver their opinions based on absolutely no knowledge of the subject they get shot down in flames and rightly so.

Sorry Coco but I don't think your arguments begin to stack up.  It's quality of service and value for money that should dictate the price you pay.  I'm sure your bed and breakfast/gite business or whatever is wonderful but don't you build your investment and running costs into what you charge? If you don't it's a very odd way to run a business. You may be intested to know that thousands  of people get paid travel time and expenses or if self-employed build the costs into their quotations.  I certainly couldn't get anyone to work for me in the UK if I wasn't paying their travel time and mileage.

Think it's chaine de distribution, if anyone knows different I'd be interested to hear the correct term

But you can't beat a good conspiracy theory.  I thought there was interest in the service.  We met one flight in April and a good number of passengers got off and a good number got on.  I would have thought it would have been worth persevering for a while.  I don't fly normally but I would have given it a go. Certainly, I know people who wanted to use it and there was a fair amount of interest in this forum.

Does anyone know what really happened to scupper BMIbaby and their flights from Southampton?  There seemed to be two theories. That the airport weren't willing to upgrade passenger facilities and/or that BF put pressure on them.  If either are true, it seems to be a spectacular own goal as far as the Cotentin Peninsula is concerned.  What really happened?  I think we should be told.

Doesn't it all come down to a choice between working for wages or trying to run a sustainable business? It's fine to try to price as a business allowing for depreciation on tools etc. but if there is insufficient demand then it will soon come down to pricing your work in order to put food on the table.