barnabebear

Hi Les, yes we have checked that and covered all the usual  options, and we had plenty of rain through the winter without a problem, so any more suggestions, it might just be the one we are missing, thanks. Barnabebear

Hi, has anyone ever had a problem after leaving the clearing of a grease tank too long, it was a job that nobody wanted to do, so after being here a year we finaly emptied it. But it has since given us a problem, or thats what we think it is, a perfectly dry wall  for a year, now has rising damp.  Could this have been where the water backed up because it couldn't get through the grease, and there's now a mini lake under the floor level. Does that sound feasable, has it happened to anyone, or are there any other idea's. By the way we don't beleive it's the fosse itself, as loo's are not backing up, thanks if anyone can help. Barnabebear.

Hi, just been looking at the seed potatoes in the shops, I don't recognise a lot of them, so some help needed please? I saw, and will buy, unless you know a better one, Charlotte, for salads and cold eating, but I would like the bulk of my crop to be a floury potato, for mashing and roasting, is there anything similar to a King Edward, although they boil away, they are my favourites. Is there any variety that anyone bought last year and can say, yes a good all rounder, thanks for any help. Barnabebear

Hi, we got quite a shock when we got our asbestos report, it nearly put us off, I started to do a lot of searches, but came to the conclusion that most older houses in France have it. If the report say's it's okay if left alone then do just that. Our main concern was the re-sale at some point, our buyer will feel the same, shock, horror, and start doing the same as we did, read up about, then shrug there shoulders. Unless you buy new build, you probably won't avoid asbestos, enjoy your buy if you go ahead, we have. Barnabebear.

Hi Porth, sorry I can't help with your question, but just to say that my mother-in-law has just started this course funded by her local authority in the UK, and has shown an improvement after 3 months, although with a few side effects. If this is to be such a wonder drug even though highly exspensive, I will watch to see if anyone replies as to if it would be available in France, where we are living at the moment. Good luck. Barnabebear.

Thanks for the replies, I have taken everyones advice, I have taken cuttings, bought some new, and next spring will cut back the old bushes hard as Pucette says,when the saps rising. So just see what happens, thanks again. Barnabebear

Hi, can anyone tell me if it's okay to cut old lavender bushes back realy hard, and I mean hard, back to old wood. They flowered great last year, so I don't want to loose them, but there just too high and obscure the view of the garden. I am re-planting new ones nearby but would hate to loose these ones, the butterflies on them this year were amazing. So has anyone cut lavender back that much and they survived? Barnabebear.