Bones

I own a rhd Defender in the Montaigne Noir, the rhd aspect is no problem at all for me. Parts for land rovers in France are very expensive, propshafts and universal joints tend to go often, so get them sent over from an independent dealer in the uk (though you'll pay for shipping) and any half decent French mechanic can replace them easily. Better still find out what might need changing over the next year or so and bring spares over from the uk. Go and get your new vehicle checked by an independent garage in the uk prior to leaving for France and buy a Haynes guide for the vehicle, you'll find a lot of things are easily fixed by yourself. There are loads of Landies around our parts, I think I'm gonna set myself up as a parts dealer 'cos the prices are outrageous!! Unless you live up a mountain and need towing power/space for diy and such I wouldn't bother with a 4x4, they can be expensive to fix, espescially certain parts for toyota landcruisers (so I'm told).

Sure he wasn't winding them up?? (the staff not the vibrator_oh dear...) Are you talking about Chadderton in Oldham? I lived there until I was 4, on Skipton Avenue if I remember correctly. Memories...

Heh Heh. Keep em coming!

According to a caller to LBC97.3 radio yesterday, a secular ruling in France has precluded anyone wearing any obvious symbol of their religion in state premises, or if they are employed by the state since 1905. This is simply being extended to schools. Personally I do not believe that schools should have to bend their rules regarding dress to suit all the religions that exist these days. In the UK the government seems to be on a mission to please everyone in this sense and one only has to look around at the kids on their way to school - they are a motley lot to say the least. I believe that if parents send their children to a school they should have to abide by the rules of that particular school or send the kids to a school that suits their own religion.

As long as you are intending to rewire and plumb to French standards you should not have a problem - I have found that Bricomarche stock everything that I have needed. Even the local hardware has a large range of bits.

It is great to see that other French Property owners are prepared to put a little effort into this Forum. We can all learn about the projects that we undertake and as a sideline compete for the best web-site - I for one will take advantage of yours to enhance mine and OUTDO you!!!! Great start - hope to see a lot more of your place.

We are busy rearranging the photos and captions will be forthcoming - this is a mission as we have not built a website before.

We only built the site over the last few days so there are changes being made every day - absolute novices at website building though. I suppose we will learn as we get along.

Feel free to comment!! http://www.btinternet.com/~justin.brash/

Feel free to comment!! http://www.btinternet.com/~justin.brash/

Depending on who you use for your mortgage you need your life history plus three months Bank Statements. (We used Banque Woolich) We also had the implulse and only spent two weeks in France with an idea of what we wanted - could not find anything that matched our ideal so bought a habitable house in a Bastide town that was cheaper than some of the dilapidated farmhouses that we first saw. We are very happy with our purchase and look forward to moving as soon as finance permits.

We use Euro travellers cheques made out to Credit Agricole - we purchase the cheques from the Post Office (commission free) and post them (recorded) - there is no charge for depositing them so the only cost is the postage.