Ewa

We have a PAYG Orange sim which we have given the number of to ERDF for them to contact us regarding a temporary electrical supply, however we cannot seem to access the voicemail using the shortcut whilst in the UK (which makes sense!). Does anybody know what the full length number we should use to access the voicemail is - and if we need a pin number to do so? Many thanks in frustration!

Thank you, all beginning to make sense now!

We've finally managed to get ERDF to send us a letter of engagement for us to sign and return prior to them calling us to make an appointment, presumably to give us a devis, rather than actually install the temp supply requested? However the thing that is confusing and worrying me is what we actually have to have in place before they come out. Do we need to supply a box on the edge of our property, or will they do this for us? Or does the temp supply get connected to something closer to the property itself (which is only about 15m from the property boundary,and we've had underground piping installed for all services from the boundary up to the barn) as the overhead cable crosses our property close to the barn we're converting. If we must supply a box on the edge of the property, where can we get this and what is it called? Having looked through various brico catalogues we can't see anything that looks like the boxes our neighbours have on their boundaries. Thank you Ewa

Hi Willow Did you ever find out about boundary issues and ownership of trees? We popped over to check our barn in Normandy two weeks ago and found a tree fallen down into our garden. The tree was growing on our neighbour's land (just) and has taken some of the fence with it. We need to find out if our neighbour has to remove the tree and put the fence right, or if we have to (which would mean free fire wood, but don't want to upset the neighbour!)

Try a mix of citronella oil and lavender oil in a spray bottle (the gardening type, small hand held ones) in water.  Usually about 25 drops of each - sometimes I add other oils such as tea tree (but only about 5 drops in this mixture as you can't use it too strong on dogs).  Or put this blend into aqueous cream or aloe vera gel and smear it on.  I'm a trained aromatherapist for animals and these oils are ones we use a lot.  I have specific recipes for insect repellants as well as things like mites or bites if you want them?   Ewa Devon & 27

Pah - I suppose we'll be stuck with our own grassy knoll then.  Ho hum, when in France.... Thanks Tj.

Thank you Sweet 17 - will do that! Ewa

Thanks TJ - we've done that (about 18 months ago) and have put it to one side as we were horrified at this huge bunker they were proposing. Can we appeal/object? We have the report in our possession but I didn't realise the fee covered multiple visits!. Ewa

We've had a report commissioned by our builder about 18 months ago which came back saying we had a clay subsoil so would need a raised bed of 7x7m, 1m high. We were horrified and didn't even bother getting a quote for this as we positively do not want it (we do have the land, albeit only 3000 sqm). A new house has just been built on the other side of the field we are in (on the edge of a hamlet) about 100m max away (house to house distances) and they do not have any sort of raised bed. There is no mains sewage in the hamlet, so they couldn't be connected to this - what's happened? Was our builder trying to get the max possible from us? What are our options? Does anyone have this type of fosse, if so, what sort of costs are involved (just in case we have no options) and how does it look? We're slowly renovating the property and have ignored the fosse for the moment (having a portapotti instead for when we're there!). Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Ewa Devon & 27

Good advice! I had a bit of a heart attack in Le Havre on Tuesday afternoon, trying to check in for the LD Lines ferry to Portsmouth. My dog's passport does not show the date the microchip was inserted as we were given him when he had just turned 1 year old (and it had been done by the previous owner). They refused to check him in and sent me to the main terminal for the supervisor to ring DEFRA for clarification. I had all his previous documentation with me, but of course as he was a rehomed animal we didn't have anything relating to the microchip insertion! Finally, after half an hour of palpitations and worry, he was allowed to check in and everything else went fine (apart from getting out of Portsmouth whilst BF was offloading too - but that's another tale...!). Good advice to double check everything is correct - even though in our case the date of insertion had never been asked for before (it was his 3rd time of travelling abroad) but you never know what will be questioned. Ewa Devon & 27

[quote user="Ty Korrigan"]Ewa,  Contact via the Yellow pages a Paysagist or Entretien Espaces Verts or Travaux Agricole...  I used the latter as I am good friends with the local contractor and for the last job of 4 acres it cost my client 150euros and took 30min to mow down 4ft high weeds and grasses... I have a sythe bought from Point Vert... Alternatively there are plenty of muppetts at the local brit bars crying out for such work at 10euros cash per hour...    Ty [/quote] Ty Thanks for your advice on both this and the efficacy of weedkiller.  I suppose I'll use up what I have, be disappointed and go out and buy what you suggest!

I've just bought a 3kg tub of sodium chlorate at B&Q and used some of it on the nettles, thistles and docks we have been surrounded with in Normandy (the rest of the 3/4 acre is just grass (albeit 4 ft high!). I'm hoping it works as we feel very hemmed in on our little bit of concrete we call a patio. I was advised that you cannot plant anything into the areas treated with this for 6 months, so it must be retty harsh (but desperation strikes!). Any ideas where we can get a scythe to chop the rest of the field down?!? PS Sodium chlorate is very cheap in comparison to the other weedkillers I've tried (under £10 for the 3kg tub).

Wonderful advice J.R. - thank you! Our French isn't too good and our village has no facilities so we neither can communicate with our neighbours (when they're here as not all live in the village full time) nor pass the time with locals in the bar... however, we have a lovely neighbour who may point us in the right direction of a helpful electrician! I think your advice will give my husband some helpful guidance as to what he may expect and will tackle a fair bit of the wiring himself (it's amazing how your French mproves when all you have to read is an electrical book purely in French!! Our first bathroom is appearing gradually, which is exciting, and hopefully electrics will follow very soon. Thanks once again.

If you do the electrics yourself, does everything have to be 'open to view' for the consuel to approve it (eg plasterboard not put up on one side of stud wall)?  My husband isn't an electrician, but a very able engineer, who plans to do the first fix electrics, or even the full works.  What do we need to do to comply?  Electrics is an area he is very cautious of so may only go as far as first fix and get an electrician in to finish off. Thanks for advice Ewa

Pads,  We had the same problem 18 months ago where our agent turned up at the signing with the notaire with insurance documents!  We had asked him for a quote, repeatedly, he didn't reply so we organised our own (I think with HIFX).  Told him at the signing we didn't need it, he was fine.  However we kept receiving reminders from the insurance broker for payment until I curtly wrote on one of his reminders to talk to the agent as we hadn't authorised the insurance and we've not heard from him since.  One other thing to consider, and it may be just us and a glitch, but French insurance renews itself (and your liability to pay) every year unles you give them something like 3 months notice that you wish to cancel.  We didn't receive a reminder from HIFX when the insurance expired last December and I've only just found out we're uninsured.... so many minefields to deal with - lucky our's isn't a habitable home yet! Ewa Devon & 27

Thank you for your advice Ecossais. I returned from France early this morning and read your post and promptly rang Vodaphone to get his phone registered to Passport (he's already a Vodaphone monthly customer). I have subsequently also found his monthly plan was pretty useless for us as well, so have changed that too! Wonderful bit of advice which will keep us going for this trip and for the forseeable until we get a landline installed. Thank you once again. Ewa

Thank you Jayjay, sounds like the one for us! Where can we get it and what would we ask for? Our French isn't too brilliant so is it easy to activate once purchased? Thanks for your help! Ewa

I very stupidly let my SFR sim card expire (bought from 0044 last year and haven't topped it up since!) so will need to get a replacement when we go to France on Tuesday. Any pointers as to which is the cheapest one you can buy (in Normandy)? We really need it for my OH whilst he is in France for the next 6 weeks for me to call him from home in the UK. Thanks for any advice! Ewa Devon & 27

Thank you Gastines - will keep your kind offer in mind. I think he may be persuaded to try what appears to be the preferred option in France!

Methinks we'll have to seriously consider this option. If there is so much strong feeling about the metal method there must be some good in it!

Ahh, thank you for this added info Gluestick. Will find our local caravanning shop and see what they've got (just a good excuse to go to Lyme Regis for an hour or two - much rather do a 30 mile round trip in that direction!!). Ewa.

But Gastines, I have heard so much about the flimsiness of the studding (albeit before boarding) and what about attaching things to the stud wall after boarding (eg heavy fixings for cabinets or mirrors)? Can the metal version be as 'flexible' in terms of attaching things to it? Ewa

Well done Zeb! A great achievement - and now you can continue passing on all that knowledge you have gained to use newbies in the game... thank you! Ewa.

Thanks for your advice Zeb. I understand about the when in Rome scenario, but my OH (who will be doing the work) has only used the timber version so is understandably reluctant to go in cold again with a new method. Can you combine the two? For example, upstairs we have a bathroom and two bedrooms, one with an ensuite. If we use the timber version for the bedroom with the ensuite, could we use the metal version at the other end of the barn to do the other room? Or would it be inadvisable to mix the two? Just a thought as he's doing it in stages! Re the foil sandwich, not sure if we need to worry about keeping heat out in Normandy, more a case of keeping it in!! Last visit just before the new year we had 18 inches of snow to contend with - fun trying to get over the Pont de Normandie in that with a fully laden car, I can tell you! Ewa

Fabulous - just what I was hoping to hear. I won't bother with my little trip to Calor in Exeter later then (round trip of about 30 miles)!! Thank you.