Katy

Are there any laws regarding neglected swimming pools. The pool of a neighbour very close to our house has been uncared for, for nearly two years. It has a foot or so of stagnant water in it and is unfenced. In summer we have mosquitos and it is very close to our bedroom window. It looks pretty disgusting too. Any advice anyone? Thanks

We urgently need two small chimney caps put on our chinmey pots. The house is 3 metres to the eaves and another 2 to the chimney pots. We are nr Sauze Vaussais in South Deux Sevres. Can anyone help at a reasonable cost please. Thanks

This is not my first post about this problem and unfortunately we are no further on in solving it. We have two bees nests in our chimneys. They are very high up 10 metres to the top. We have had several bee keepers look but wont touch them, because of the height. My husband who unfortunately is recovering from three fractures in his pelvis, after falling of a step ladder, did try last year to spray them from a tower but to no avail. They will have to be destroyed as there is really no alternative. We have them in the house and our neighbours and family are bothered by them in the garden. I tried the pompiers but they do not do it anymore. We are considering getting professional help but really can't afford to pay a lot as funds are very tight. I really have no idea how much it would cost but have been told it will be expensive. Does anyone know of anyone we might get an estimate from, to remove them please. Thanks

Hubby is painting the outside of our house and we desperately need to find a tall tower. He is scaring me going up on the ladders. We need a tower, min 5 metres platform height, (7metres working height). It's a very tall house! We can't afford to buy one and wondered if anyone might have one, we can borrow for 4 weeks max. We are just outside Sauze Vaussais on the Deux Sevres, Charente border. Katy

Approaching Poitiers on the N10 from the South, Auchan is on the left. Cross the junction, towards Poitiers centre (Castorama on the right). Carry on past two mini roundabouts and look out for it on the left hand side. It is a smallish shop but stocks everything.

Does anyone know of an Asian food shop in the Angouleme area. I know of the one in Poitiers which is good but looking for something a little nearer. Thanks

We have just bought a second had car and wondered if anyone knows where we can get a good value valet, with upholstery clean as well. We live near Sauze Vaussais, in north Deux Sevres, on the Charente border.

Can anyone recommend travel insurance for French residents. We need an annual policy. The flights are already booked so can't use credit agricole card. Have been searching on the net but some are ridiculously expensive compared with travel insurance for UK residents. Katy

Does anyone know where I can buy peroxide 40 or 60%. Its for hair colouring. I just need the peroxide not the bleach. I wondered if its possible to buy in the pharmacie. Thanks

Does anyone know what time Emmaus in Poitiers opens today? Thanks Katy

Thanks that is very useful. We have used the acrylic colourants before and they work quite well but this is going to require a lot of paint and we do not want to get it wrong. The colour we are looking for is more a stone or off white and not the clotted cream colour which the ton pierre we used, made. We want it to contrast with the white but not so yellowy. Have seen a couple of other stone colours but no way of trying them unfortunately.

We are about to paint our house and wondered if anyone can recommend a colour for the crepi. We are planning to paint the shutters dark blue. We have used Ton Pierre before but don't want to use it this time, as it is a bit too yellow. Can any one suggest a better colour. We will be painting the corner stones and round the windows white. The house is a small maison de maitre. Thanks

Does anyone know of any Brocantes this Sunday within easy driving distance of Sauze Vaussais. North Charente, South Deux Sevres border? Thanks

I would love to find a beekeeper to take them but they are too high up. Our house is quite tall. I really don't like the idea of killing them either. Apparently a friend phoned the Pompiers for us and they said they don't do it anymore but they have a list of folks that do. We havn't done anything yet as funds are tight at the moment. We will go to the Marie and see if they can give us any advice. Kate

Well we tried the slow smokey chimney routine, as we now have a woodburner next to the nest, which we believe has been there for about three years, before we owned the house. I think they have got a bit miffed and today they swarmed and have now settled in the chimney, on the other side of the house. Bees in the house, big time. Not sure what to do next, as we have no fire on that side and have no way to get to them. I have nothing against bees. In fact I know they are getting endangered but they are a bloody nuisance in the house. We thought we could just ignore them and let them go about their merry way but they are really becoming a problem, that we have to deal with.

Forgot to say, we are on the border of Deux Sevres and Charente. Nr. Sauze Vaussais. Katy

We have a bee's nest in one chimney possibly two. They are too high up for us to reach. We left them last year but they are really becoming a problem. Keep getting them in the house. We have been told the Pompier don't come out any more. Does anyone know of anyone who will give us an estimate for removing bee's in a chimney. Katy

Thanks Clair I will look out for those. Katy

Can anyone tell me where I can get some good Mozzarella cheese. Preferably fresh. I tried some pre-packed from Super U once and it was tasteless. Katy

Does anyone know where I could buy a DIY For Sale Board. It's a square board of the corrogated, waxy type, to make your own sign to put on a property. There are a couple of blank places to place your own details. We have seen them and wondered where we could buy one. We live in the Ruffec area. Thanks

I need to get a number of doors dipped, to strip off the paint. I know of one guy who does it in Chaunay. Does anyone know of any others, maybe a French company. We are in 79 on the Charente/Deux Sevres border. Katy

Could anyone please recommend a dentist, in or around Ruffec. English speaking would be good but not essential. Thanks

Could anybody please recommend a dentist, in or around the Ruffec area. English speaking would be good but not essential. Thanks

[quote user="Katy"] We are looking for a long term let within a half an hour drive of Ruffec. Unfurnished as our own furniture is in storage. We have been here three and a half years and can provide good references. We require a minimum of two bedrooms and preferably central heating as we know it can be cold here in the winter. We would like some outdoor space as we both enjoy gardening. Broadband is essential. Not too isolated and not too close to busy roads. We are both non smokers and have no pets. If anyone can help it would be good to hear from you. We require this let for 1-2 years.   Katy [/quote]

We are looking for a long term let within a half an hour drive of Ruffec. Unfurnished as our own furniture is in storage. We have been here three and a half years and can provide good references. We require a minimum of two bedrooms and preferably central heating as we know it can be cold here in the winter. We would like some outdoor space as we both enjoy gardening. Broadband is essential. Not too isolated and not too close to busy roads. We are both non smokers and have no pets. If anyone can help it would be good to hear from you.   Katy