JP1

Want to know how much you will be paying in notaires fees for your house purchase http://www3.meilleurtaux.com/calculatrice/default.asp in the left hand column click on frais de notaires (neuf) for new houses frais de notaires (ancien) for old houses    

"You will need to do a manual search with the following parameters: Freq 10906 MHz, Vertical polarisation, symbol rate 22000 FEC 5/6 "   Tried that on my tps decoder and just got an insufficient signal message down here in SW France. I guess it must only work in the north regards. JP

Thanks for the replies regards. JP

Hi there, We are in the Hautes Pyrenees, in the center of the areas you are looking at. I posted a reply in the sw france section yesterday, re income and weather in the hautes pyrenees, you may want to take a look at it. There's certainly plenty to do in this area and the tourists as well to give you an all year round trade, but in the winter if you're more than ten minutes drive from the ski slopes forget it. And as Quillan said doing transfers, well, we only had one couple in two years take us up on the offer so........   I've also sent you a pm   regards JP

These electric leaf suckers for sale in nearly all the garden centers the ones for arround 40 euros, any good ?? Can anyone recomend what power to buy some are 1500w ,1800w and 2000w. Not interested in buying a petrol one as I don't want to spend that much, if it lasts two years then thats fine at that price. regards. JP

Hi  S&S   We’re in the South of the Hautes Pyrenees.   Yesterday, it was 26 degrees, clear blue skies and lots of sunshine. It has been like that for most of October, although I must admit that this year is exceptional. The snow has just started to fall in the mountains, and hopefully our local ski station will open about mid November, with the other stations opening by Xmas. During the winter, it’s normal to have a mix of weather. Crisp, sunny days with blue skies and sunshine, or grey, wet days. What we don’t have, is the biting cold wind that makes England cold. Here, if its cold, its because you are surrounded by snow – dress up warm and its wonderful! Snow should stay around til April, in the mountains (above 1,500m), melting through May and June as temps warm up. Summer weather can be mixed too. It’s rarely cold (below 20 degrees), but we do get grey and wet days mixed in with hot, sunny days. Hot days are mid thirties. July and August brings the thunder and lightning storms. Usually last about an hour, around about 6pm each evening. Good for clearing the air. Autumn is beautiful – this year has been amazing as the weather is so good. Still waiting for many of the leaves to turn red!   Income – high season in this area is July, August, Xmas and New Year, and February. June and September are also very busy. Low season is May and October, other months are mid season. In high season, everywhere is full – all accommodation, restaurants etc. If you haven’t booked in advance, you don’t get in! Low season produces very few tourists, and mid season brings people to the area, so if you are good, you’ll get the business! Restaurants in our town come and go very quickly – they seem to be around for the high seasons, then disappear on the mid/low seasons and a new one appears next year.   Property – you need to find a business in a ski resort if you want to benefit from the winter tourists. People don’t like to drive on a winters evening, so you have to be close to them. Being 15 mins out of the mountains will be too far! Isolated properties in the mountains also suffer from being snowed in for weeks on end. Buy at an altitude below 800m (the normal snow line) or in a ski resort where roads will always be kept clear.   As you are looking to run a gite and a restaurant, perhaps you should consider combining the two and running a chambre and table d’hotes. Find a big house – offer accommodation to 10 – 15 guests, serve good food every night, and you will have a business than can be comfortably run by two people, and can support a couple or small family. You can always expand into a restaurant later when you have studied the demand.   I have also sent you a pm   Regards and good luck, JP

Have sent a PM to your inbox so that I don't contravene the advertising rules!

Pamela, I have sent a PM to your inbox.

Thanks for the responses, its for an inside floor and its 3cm thick. regards. JP

Anybody know how long to leave a newly laid concrete floor before its ok to tile. thanks. regards JP

Have you tried Nick and Francoise at Belle France in Oradour sur Vayres they are very helpful and speak english. check out their website on www.bellefrance.com

Hi Steve, I have sent a private message to your inbox as we may be able to help. regards. JP

Hi There, The best advice I can offer to purchasing an existing business is to make sure that you study their accounts before making an offer, I know this may sound obvious but ............ I have also sent you a private message to your inbox as we know something that may be of interest. regards. JP

Thought this might be appropriate   God was looking down on earth one day and decided that things were not going to get better, in fact they were getting worse every day. He said to himself thet it is time to start over again with a new batch who might be able to do better than this bunch of humans are doing. So he called up three men, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and Micale Gorbachev. They are the three best media for getting his message across. He told them that he was disapointed with mankind as it is and that he was going to destroy the earth in 30 days. They had to go back to earth and tell everyone this message. Bill Clinton called a press conference and said I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is that our belief in God is true, I met with him this morning. And the bad news is that he will destroy the earth in 30 days. Micale Gorbachev went back to his people and told them he had some bad news and some realy bad news. First the bad news, our denial of God is not true, there is a God and I met with him this morning. The really bad news is that he is going to destroy the earth and we only have 30 days to repent. Bill Gates went back to his people and told them that he had some good news and some great news. First the good news is that our belief in God is founded, I had a talk with him this morning and the really great news is that we will be able to stop releasing security patches for WindowsXP in less than a month! regards. JP

Yes, location is all important but to make a living, in my mind you really need; 1. 4-5 Rooms 2. Table D'Hôte I must say, you really will be cream crackered if you open all year round and are full for a fair amount of the time but having said that, the best of luck, it's good to hear of success stories. How many rooms do you let and do you do meals?   Hi Miki, In answer to your questions 4 rooms yes we offer table d'hôte Thanks, it is hard work but well worth it and we reap the benefits regards. JP

hi All, This refers to our b&b , not gites sorry. Well we've had a great year and its not over yet, still got bookings in place till the end of september, we started the summer season this year on the 4th June (closed in May for family visits) and been full pretty much every night since then. We've decided to close in October again to have some sleep and a rest before the ski season starts in mid November. You can make a living from this it just depends on one important thing (well, three) LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION !!!! regards. JP    

Hi Ann, Have you tried your local tourist office, as the majority of people needing accommodation would probably ask there for anywhere that has rooms available. They should (if they have one) put you on their website and in their hebergement guide. Also your department should have tourism based websites try a search using www.voila.fr enter your department name and you just have to spend the time trawling through them and getting your details registered. Good luck JP