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Monika

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Everything posted by Monika

  1. Just tried to book a crossing with Brittany Ferries on the Internet and I am now confused, Poole Cherbourg with Bretagne? Can this be right? What happened to the Barfleur? And it seems very expensive for this time of year. Also, perhaps you could help me with this, we have a Vito Van, (not high top) measurement wise it would fit into the Car Category, would I have to declare it as Van?
  2. I would think, if you have the money available, it would be a very good time to buy in France, as it is a buyer's market and you could "make quite a low offer" somethings the French are not too keen on and far removed from the days when we bought in 2003 when you had only a chance to secure a property if you payed the full asking price and signed there and then on the dotted line. I would love to be in a position to buy now, there are some amazing bargains around.
  3. Thank you Clair and BJSLIV for your answer which helps us to make a decision.
  4. Is it a good idea to employ an artisan (certain types of handy work is allowed) who works under that scheme. As I understand it you pay him with a cheque you get from your bank and you the employer pays his tax. Is this only worthwhile for an employer who then can deduct it from his tax? Or if the devis is low enough and takes this into account  could it also be worthwhile if you don't pay tax in France?
  5. I wonder if this copy of the Artisan's insurance is an actual 10 year guarantee which would be acceptable by the notaire for the sale of a renovation project, perhaps it is just to insure against accidents on the building site and things going wrong during the build? I have just sent an e-mail to our Project Manager/Builder to ask him, he seems to know the French laws well and I will let you know what he said. But Will you are so right with both your postings, doom and gloom stories sell and yes, why worry?
  6. Does this mean the Artisans have to give a piece of paper with a 10 year guarantee once they finish a renovation? We have only detailed invoices and receipts but no actual documents saying we have a 10 year guarantee. I once read on this forum that some firms drag their feet to finish off the works so they don't have to give you a guarantee, which I thought was not correct as no actual guarantee is being given anyway.  Perhaps Val2 or BJSLIV have the answer?  
  7. This might be getting a bit too technical but how do you access this Word Reference via a tab or add in? Is this to difficult to explain to a computer novice?
  8. This thread might just have saved our lives! I will be looking out for the x signs from now on! I bet we have been guilty of not giving way!
  9. We paid 90'000 Euros for very similar work Val 2 has mentioned, we needed to rebuild one side of the house and have a small extension added and have a completely new roof with 3 Apexes.
  10. I would imagine Will is right, nobody could sell a house if all these papers need to be on the table. We have just finished our renovation/new build with a project manager employing the various artisans. We have no certificates of conformity nor an actual piece of paper with a guarantee on it. All we have is planning permissions, workschedules, detailed invoices and signing off the work document. Unless the house is new I would imagaine the buyer (possibly together with a surveyor or a builder) has to form his own opinion as to the state of the build. Also surely if you would need these papers nobody could renovate their own property any longer and all the DIY stores would have to close.
  11. That's it, I did not give it a title, so it was imcomplete! Thanks Dick and Deimos.
  12. Well, I just can't post a PM. I go with my arrow on the post button, I press: an orange outline appears, but nothing budges or "whirrs"! I definitely do get a bit of a "whirring" sound on my computer, when somethings happens, you might not Dick!!
  13. Monika

    Spaying cats

    I admire Mrs. Will, because I know it is not easy to persuade French people to spay their cats. I am now afraid to mention the subject, because my husband thinks I have upset our neighbour by nagging him about it.   When is the time cats fall pregnant again (apparently in the winter month they don't)? I would not be surprised if we have 4x 6 kittens in May/June. Cooperlola, your cat looks so lovely, that is such clever alternative to the "collar".
  14. Monika

    Spaying cats

    I was very interested what you said about spaying the semi feral cats Will. So you just let them out lets say within 24 hours of the operation? Without collar or bandage? I am now getting "cold feet" about it and think may be my french neighbour is right and I am being cruel, and we should just let nature take its course (as my neighbour always says). Just imagaine if the wound would open, or they would get infections then my neighbour could blame me!
  15. It did not send Russethouse, when I clicked it there was no "whirring" sound and the square just stayed outlined in orange!!
  16. Monika

    Spaying cats

    You are quite right Joy, neither our 3 cats nor two dogs had ever collars when they were spayed, nor did we have to keep them in for such a long time. There is an interesting french article on Spaying on: www.borta.org/asso/article.php3?id_article=3  As I understand it (but better read it yourself) they can resume normal activities between 24 and 72 hours after the operation. If I have our 4 semi wild cats at our holiday home spayed (if I get my neighbour's consent!!), I could never leave them in that long, never mind putting them in collars. I would take the collars off but keep an eye on them, that they don't lick the stitches.
  17. Sorry, Karen, I was unable to post PM or E-mail, perhaps if you try and send me an e-mail or pm, we can do it that way.
  18. Hello Karen, I know of a very good english Artisan (he is a general builder), near Alencon (he is prepared to travel 1 hour). He has installed the woodburner for us and he was so helpful, answered all the e-mails, was there as promised for a devis and then the work. I am not sure if I am allowed to name him on here but I send you a PM
  19. Thanks so much Cat, that clarifies it and I will make an appointment to see our notaire as soon as possible. Perhaps, after all, it would be simpler just to change our "marriage regime", which as far as I know would not involve the children (signing etc.)?
  20. I have just been reading in the Living France Magazine (article by Bill Blevins) that since 1. January 2007 chilren can now renounce inheritance from their parents in advance, allowing parents to freely leave property to each other under the terms of their wills (if they have not adopted the community marriage regime). Has anybody looked into this already. Would a handwritten statement and signature of each child suffice to renounce their inheritance or does it have to be written up by a notaire? Also: Is a handwritten and signed will in France legal?  
  21. The same here Val2, looking from my window towards Durlston Head and the Channel.
  22. You are quite right Big Mac: We were adviced to have a meeting with the Project Manager/Builder and all the sub contracted Artisans on the Building Site and ask each individual Artisan if they have been paid, so as to safeguard ourselves. But what a logistic nightmare to get them all there and of course in the end we never did as adviced. We also felt that it would be very embarrassing for the Project Manager to have so little trust in him. I wonder if anybody has ever done this?    
  23. Don't worry Languedocgal2, your reaction was the reaction of my best friend, and we are still "best friends", as you say, it's good we are not all the same! Regards, elderly parents, all her life, my mother was a stoic woman, she "forgave" me that I married an English man and never complained that I only saw her twice or three times a year. Towards the end of her life, she started to complain more and more, she suddenly could not understand that I was not there, like my sister, and she became very hostile towards my husband.
  24. I could not have said it better, Blanche Neige and it is true it is just like a "second life". I am also a very bad tourist, I have a very low "boredom" threshold, I like my own pillow and I like to cook in my own kitchen. I like the feeling of belonging to a place. The next best thing to a holiday home is a Camper-Van!
  25. I have tried to search, but there seems no thread regards this! What cards do French Motorists use on the machines in Petrol Stations (Super U etc.) Could we get a card like that, sometimes it would be really handy, especially when they are closed for Lunch.
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