Parrfam

  Thanks for the advice, Patrick, I will pass it on to my husband!! Liz

Hope someone has experience of this.  The granite sides at the top of the fireplace, holding the mantelpiece, have been painted over with grey paint for some reason.  Are there any suggestions?  Thank you. Liz

Actually it was our translator, who warned us, as she bade us goodbye after the signing, that we should be on the alert for higher prices because we are English.  We always keep an open mind and it is ridiculous to generalize.  Our carpenter friend and my husband work to the highest standards,but maybe many English tradespeople working in France are there for a reason.  It might be harder for them to earn a living in France and perhaps they cut corners?  We have been warned that their reputation isn't good. However, the staircase will be excellent and better than the 'off the shelf' Lapeyre ones. I suppose we could give the dimensions to a Menuisier as it may well turn out to be an expensive option because we will have to pay for his time out there and the fare as he lives in England.  He will be able to advise us on other matters, too, like the fitting of a kitchen, which is the same anywhere you go and he may well be making us the shutters as well.  We will be glad to use the French artisans and will use them as much as we can,  as  it  does  make sense.  In fact we know a young French lad (my eldest daughter's exchange partner from 6 years ago),who is training to be an electrician but he lives in the Vendée.  He  came out to stay with us in August to  practise his English.  They, apparently, have to learn all the technical words because all the instructions on electrical appliances are in English. Can you imagine that happening in England?? Our chap isn't Charles Walker, by the way, I won't name him (without his permission) here but he is doing a good job so far.  However, he has a concern about the electrics as he met the local electrician on site this morning and has emailed us asking us to  call tonight. Something to do with EDf apparently. Hope it is not bad news. Liz

Many thanks for all the replies: hope all is plain-sailing for Paul and Gyn with the sale. It is very helpful to be able to swap ideas and information on the work involved in renovating, the surrounding countryside etc...  Presently, we are concerned that quotes for rewiring and a septic tank are going to be quite steep, and much higher, in any case, because we are English. Most of the other work will be carried out by ourselves (during the holidays !). My husband is a Plumbing and Heating Engineer in the UK, so we are fairly well-equipped. He has a carpenter friend, who is going to design an oak staircase , but I feel that the damp in the house ought to be dealt with before much else is done. Most artisans are not too happy to travel far, apparently, so I don't suppose recommendations are relevant(?). An architect won't be needed until we start on the adjoining barn - also when funds are available and that won't be until we decide to make a permanent move. My husband cannot speak any French, but I have been studying it with the OU, so at least I feel able to converse to extent. The previous owners invited us for coffee etc... and are very friendly - they were very keen to show us the boundary, despite the poor chap's dodgy knee and will mark it with stones. They also gave us a number (from the commune) for the door. It was interesting to hear that lots of 'Parisians' have bought up places in the surrounding hamlets, plus they told us the nationalities of some of our neighbours. They asked us where we lived in England so we have sent them a post-card of Dorset to thank them for their welcome. We managed only a few smalll repair jobs before leaving (and planted a few bulbs) - hope the tarpaulin on the bread oven roof will hold in the strong winds. This week I am going to look for people to give us a quote on the septic tank and just hope that the property really isn't sitting on a block of solid granite! Doing a letter and diagrams for the electrics was bad enough.......... Thanks again, we will, one day, have a house-warming and if any of you are around at the time, you're invited! The 'No Going Back' programme (Haute Vienne) was very watchable last night - it was staggering to see what some people take on as projects!  We are looking forward to exploring the area in between working on the house and so far know more about the southern part of the Creuse than Berry, which is so near to our house. À bientôt!   Liz and Mike  

We had to make last minute arrangements for the signing, even though it was on schedule - we were led to believe that the date was optimistic.  The place we stayed at was in St. Vaury, which isn't far from Guéret.  It is a small gite, ideal for a couple with a sofa bed downstairs (child's bed also in same adults room too).  The people, who run it are very friendly and offer B and B as well as total self-catering.  They are very helpful as regards to advice on area, renovations  etc... They are not expensive and I think they still have vacancies, as it is the end of the season.  Their email address is:  [email protected].  Their names are Jamie and Rachel Rattray.  Good luck with your househunt - we fell in love with the area immediately. 

My husband and I signed for our property near La Celle Dunoise on the 8th.  We have asked for a devis from a local electrician for a re-wire and are hoping to arrange the same for a fosse septique.  Luckily, we have the services of a resident English chap nearby to liaise with artisans. We expect to be back in the spring to do lots of work ourselves, providing that at least the electricity is on etc....  Met an English couple, who have taken on the local auberge (very brave).  Are there any other people in the area?  We hope eventually to retire there plus may move in a few years' time but it depends on 'children' at university etc.