PeterCD

Hi I replied to a similar post by "American" - see forum under Legal as this may help you. PeterCD

Not sure if this will help because the company are actually UK based but with a fully independent French Department staffed by French lawyers.  The name of the company is Blake Lapthorne Linnell and their UK phone number is +44 (0) 2074211632.  Their www is: www.bllaw.co.uk and the head person is Philippe Piedon-Lavaux. PeterCD

Interesting this.............we booked Portsmouth/Cherbourg on 18th November for 27th March 2006 leaving at 0800.  On Monday this week - 21st - a lady from BF calls to say that this service is no longer avaible as they are revising all their schedules and if it was OK they have booked us the same day Portsmouth/Caen which leaves Porstmouth at 0845. Seems like BF are moving things around because in the Portsmouth Evening News last night they announced that the only services from Portsmouth to Cherbourg in 2006 would be High Speed only. PeterCD

Can anyone tell us if there are French lessons and/or conversation classes available for Brits close to St Jean d'Angely (17).  Thanks.......... PeterCD

Does anyone know of availability of lessons in the St Jean d'Angely (17) area? PeterCD

You could try Guy Siddons on (0) 5 4697 7483. A few years ago he sorted out a large fir tree for us very successfully. PeterCD

We have a joint account with Credit Mutuel in Charente Maritime and for a cheque book and two bank cards we pay EURO 7.61/month. PeterCD

Was there a demonstration and/or cars burning in or near La R last night (Thursday)? PeterCD

This may not directly answer the questions but it's from personal experience in the last six months. We live in a small commune in the Charente Maritime (17) about 12 miles east of St Jean d'Angely.  During the ground works for a new in-ground pool earlier this year it was discovered that our fosse was not to the correct current standard as only bath, handbasin and toilet water went through the fosse.  Sink, dishwasher and washing machine water all went - we thought through the fosse but it actually went out into the garden through a long black pipe (15m) with slits layed in sand (1m deep) and it was clear to see that it had not worked properly for years!  There were two additional problems - the soil is very chalky/stoney and therefore drainage might have been an issue and because of the pool location the fosse would require moving!! The French guy in charge of the groundworks told us about all the new fosse regulations (there is no sign of us going on mains drainage for years) and suggested we call in the Syndicat des Eaux from Saintes - who duly came and inspected our site and after approx. four weeks came back with their recommendations in order to make our fosse "legal".  This entailed moving the fosse (as we expected), connecting and ensuring ALL the waste water went through the fosse and (wait for it) the construction of a filter bed - 5m x 5m x 1.5m which had to be built in strict accordance with the specs issued by the SdE. This bed is a network of pipes layed on various levels of sand, ballast, scalpings and more sand and acts as the filter from the fosse.  We also had to have a "stink pipe" installed - which goes from the fosse up the side of the house to approx. 1m above roof level with a static extractor.  There are two manhole covers - one is actually where you can see all the waste water entering and the other reveals a chamber with a basket of what looks like moon rock and this is what they call "Le bac decanter-degraisseur".  Once finished and EURO5000 later the SdE returned to inspect the work/installation and provided a full report - we passed but there are a number of points that we had to ensure were complied with as follows: The fossse must be emptied at least every 4 years, the degraisseur must be cleaned every 6 months, the 2 inspection covers must be at ground level and exposed, the "moon rock" was insuffiecient and we had to add a quantity and nothing is to be planted over or close to the filter bed (roots are a problem).  There were a number of other points that had to be complied with but our groundworks man took care of these. We now have a fully compliant 3000L fosse - no smells and one we presume is happily being filtered. PeterCD    

At our house in the Charente Maritime we have exactly the same - pool enclosed by 3 walls and one side of house with small entrance which requires a security gate.  We purchased a self closing gate from www.piscine-barriere and it cost approx EURO500 delivered.  If you visit this www just click on "self closing gate".  I understand that the gate will have to be fitted by 1st Jan 2006 in order to comply with the regs.  Reagrding the wall I can verify that the outside finish (in our case it was the roadside) must be smooth render (crepi) so it is not possible for a child to climb. PeterCD 

We live in the Charente Maritime (17) and tax d'h arrived 10 days ago with the TV section included for the first time.  Back in March we were asked by the Hotel des Impots if we had a receiver - which we had just purchased.  Also understand that the place where you purchase a TV from in France is obliged to pass on your details to the local aithorities. PeterCD 

Heard this morning from a friend in Charente Maritime that 8 communes in France would have their water supply turned off from today and water would only be available between 2200hrs and  0600hrs.  Tankers would be providing a water supply and they would be i neach commune for approx. 2 hrs/dat only.  Anybody else heard the same............?? PeterCD

Looks like the Charente Martime has a real problem?  Can soembody confirm that please.............thanks. PeterCD

Hi Try this mobile number (06) 2195 3691 - Robin Bailey.  He did our barn roof and not expensive. PeterCD

Advice please......... My wife and I are planning to spend an extended period (July/Sept) at our house in the Charente Maritime - near St Jean D'Angely. For a number of reasons my wife is taking a daily dose of warfarin and needs to have blood tests every 2/3 weeks to ensure the warfarin dose is OK.  Can anyone tell us the procedure for having blood tests in France - and what should be our first move? Thanks in advance.............PeterCD

Guidance please............ Approx. 3 months ago we returned the form to the local Hotel de Impots saying NO TV (true at the time).  On our last visit we decided to buy a TV (from LeClerc) and it was deliverred to the house by them early May. It will not be operational until mid June when we have a dish, etc installed.  The question is - do we rely on LeClerc advising the relevant authorities that we now have a TV or do we have to contact the H de I direct to tell them - in order to get the licence fee added to the Tax de H??? PeterCD

We are in the Charente Maritime and were told by our pool installer this week that for new pools (ours is) that for all contracts signed before 1st April the pools could be filled using the mains.  For pools signed after that date - sorry no water for 2005.

Hello Can recommend Socover - from St Jean d'Angely.  I have sent you an email to your private address.

I can also highly recommend Valorme - spent two separate weeks with them in 2001 and 2002 and as a complete beginner it was quite amazing how much I learnt.  The fact that it is virtuallly total immersion is what appealed to me and the first week was "one to one" with Corine and the second time there was only two of us with her.  Would definitely go back.

Not sure where you are in 17 - but we purchased 20cu.m from Point. P in St Jean D'Angely for our house near Nere. It was called Gravier Jardin. PeterCD

Have heard that there maybe water restrictions imposed in the Charente Maritime very soon which may affect filling of pools, etc.  Can anyone enlighten me?  Thanks......

Confirm that no regulations apply for above ground pools.

I have a number of Southampton/La Rochelle/Southampton bookings for April - business and pleasure.  FlyBe called me one week ago to say that they would be using Rochefort Airport for the month of April only due to runway repairs.  They also said it would not be a problem because they would be running a bus service from Rochefort to La Rochelle Airport.

Ours was installed approx. 3yrs ago - cost nothing.  We live in the Charente Matitime. PeterD

Would concur with the Campanile comments - we used them all over France for years while house hunting and always felt they offered good value for money