James2

Thanks to you all for the helpful responses to my query on lintels, food for thought and no doubt will resolve the problem.    Thanks again  Ray

Hi, I am in the process of fitting a pair of french doors to the rear of my cottage, and I need a concrete lintel (linteau) to span the opening. PontP, Reuseo Pro, Mr Bricolage  do not stock lintels, So if anyone on the forum can help me to find a source in the Charente/Dordogne area (24) I would be a happy lad.        Regards Ray.  

Where are all the BRICONTES and reclaim material yards in the area 24? Anyone has a list I would be grateful, unfortunately the Eurotroc in Perigeaux has closed down! So where do we find those bits of wood, tiles etc?                               HELP..................Ray

    Thanks to all for the help on pumping water from a well, the plants are are watered and unless there is a ban, I will keep using the well water for my garden.                         Regards  Ray.

Hi, Can anyone advise me as to whether I need permission to pump water from my well? Having recently purchased a small cottage in the Charente region of France, I have, in the garden, a well which I use for watering the plants. I am connected to the mains water supply and on a meter. Not knowing French laws, it occured to me that I might need permission to pump water from the well !                      Regards    Ray Barrington[8-)]

Hi, As a British citizen recently retired, I find I am spending more time down in the south of France in my `Mason Secondaire`. Although my wife and I enjoy good health, we are concerned that if one of us were taken ill and required a doctor we may have trouble finding one. Could anyone advise us as to whether, as a British citizen, we can register with a doctor or what is the best procedure to prepare for any eventuality in the future? We have, of course, the E111 ( plastic card ) but no other medical documents for France.               All comments would be appreciated,                            Regards  Ray

Hi , Thanks everyone for your input, will now consider all the options ! Checked out the " tlk2.com " website, looks viable, but do they incur connection charges on the first minute ? AS24Telecom/Primus however claim no connection charges are made. The bottom line is, which telephone supplier is the cheapest in practice for the user?                                              Regards         Ray

Hi, Anyone experienced a telephone provider called " AS24 Telecom / Primus " There is a good discription of their service on their website, apparently, no connection charges !   Most are cheaper than FranceTelecom, but are there any hidden costs ?                           Regards    Ray    

Hi Paul, Thanks for your advice, full details were given to the mairie when I applied for planning permission, which is now given the go ahead, so providing I stick to normal building standards, all will be OK.                              Thanks again for putting my mind at rest,                                          Regards  Ray

Hi As I have not received any response from my post of the 20th, can I try again ? Having received planning permission to install a rear window and door in my cottage in the Charente region of France, I am concerned as to whether I need " Builders Regs " approval ( ie certificat de conformite`)                   Any advice PLEASE                                  Regards .........Ray    

Hello!   I intend installing a rear door and window in the wall of my cottage in the Charente region of France. I have received planning permission from the Mairie, this has been granted and I can go ahead with the work. However, does anyone know if I require " Builders Regs " approval ( ie certificate de conformite` ) as it would be required in England?                                regards Ray[*-)]

Does anyone know whether it is possible to adjust the RF frequency on a Pace 2500 satellite decoder? as I have problems with co-channel interference. Regards Ray

Hi, I am looking for a Peugeot 406 saloon (diesel)LHD  used and about 5 to 6yrs old. I am keeping my eye on all the usual car dealers and newspaper ads but I thought the forum might help. I`m in the Charente region but happy to travel.                     Ray

[quote]AFAIK you need permission to knock holes in external walls. But why not ask them what knows - the DDE and/or Maire. John not[/quote] Thanks for all the info, looks as though I will need planning permission?????? So I must apply to my local marie for a form and send it off to the DDE????? Can you give me the full name and address of the DDE? Sorry to be a pain, but my french is limited.               Ray

Hi, I intend to knock a back door to the rear of my " mason secondair " which is in the Charente region. The external wall is constructed of concrete block with a cavity to a pot brick inner liner. built in the 1930`s and is of standard construction. My question is, do I really need planning permission to put this doorway in, as there are no neighbours to effect or overlook any road? The cottage is not in a village of outstanding beauty or near a church or a building of an ancient monument. Any thoughts appreciated                              Ray  

Although I live in England, I have a " mason secondaire " in the Charente region and I am looking for a car to keep there for future visits. I am interested in a Peugeot 406 saloon about four to five years old, problem is I have scanned the internet but cannot find lists on Peugeot dealers in France. Anyone have any ideas, as Iam returning to France in a couple of weeks.                        Ray    

My Thanks to "val douest" and "hoverfrog" Invaluable information like this underlines the need for a great forum like Living France. These instructions will assist me in securing a car, as I intend returning to the Charente next month.  If I purchase a car through a dealer or privately depends on where I can locate a suitable vehicle. Just a thought if anyone knows where I can buy a decent used Peugeot 406 saloon (diesel) anywhere from San Malo to Bordeaux, all details, gratefully received.            Regards Ray

  Hi, Anyone advise me on collecting emails from my Outlook Express account via Yahoo? I have signed up for the Yahoo email, and have configured the instructions for collecting external " pop " mail, but unfortunately it fails to collect any mail from the "pop" account. I have been through all the ` Help ` pages but to no avail, Information on the problem or any other ways of collecting emails while in France from England would be appreciated.                  Regards  Ray

Many thanks to WILL, VAL_2 and LOISEAU for the response to my post. The information is a great help and as I am returning to the Charente in Feb I hope to negotiate a car. A couple of queries though:- What is the  (controle technique)? is the same as the MOT? What is a carte grise? What is the CV rating? If I purchased the car privately what other documentation do I need and from where? I think insurance would be ok as the cottage and contents is insured in france and covered by DD!          Any further advice would be most appreciated.                       Regards  Ray

  Can anyone put me right regarding owning and running a car in France. I live in England but have a small house in the Charente region, used as a " mason secondair " and spend about five months of the year there. I would like to buy a french, lefthand drive car and leave it at the property for use on visits. THEREFORE what documents do I need and is possible to own and run a car under these circumstances? I have checked a few posts on the forum but most info refers to registering UK cars in france.                  Regards ( confused ) Ray    

[quote]My original "Free to Air" card, has lost all ITV channels and recently BBC1 has gone, so I am well pleased, BBC1 requires no card, ever, under any circumstances. Your dish is badly aligned or you ha...[/quote] Hi Mazan, Thank you very much for the tip on my loss of BBC1. You were right about alignment of the dish, a slight tweak and BBC1 was back. Thanks again and a merry christmas to you.                       Ray

[quote]I have just found a dead easy way to get sky viewing cards... No Dodgy questions... All you need to do is phone 0870 606 1111 and choose option 1. Ask for just a viewing card. Sky will then take ...[/quote] ads52   Hi, Thanks for the information on the "Sky Freesat" My original "Free to Air" card, has lost all ITV channels and recently BBC1 has gone, so I am well pleased, with your post I have contacted Sky on 0870 606 1111 and paid my one off payment of £20 and the card should arrive in time for Xmas. So thanks again and a merry Christmas to you and all readers of the forum.                                Ray

Hi, Anyone suggest away I can send about 200kilos of walnuts from the Dordogne/Charente area to Bristol or Southampton(keeping the costs to a minimum)               all info would be helpful,                                     Ray.

[quote]card in and i still get bbc 1 +2 but no itv or channel4+5.why?perhaps someone is trying to educate me from some of the junknon commercial programmes.[/quote] Hi again ab, Just a quick reminder not to confuse the cards, The normal Sky card Marzan mentioned ,works OK. The £28.50 ( Free to Air ) card issued on a special offer by the BBC is the problem. ie all ITV channels are nolonger available in the UK.                  Yours   Ray

Hi ab, I have the same card, it seems that if the card is used in England there is no ITV channels at all. However, I used the card in France ( only temporary testing ) and managed to receive all channels, including the ITV channels. I contacted Sky and they confirmed the ITV channels are no longer available on this £28.50 card ( which I thought was a bit off ) they then suggested I bought their basic package!                           Yours Ray