Ty Korrigan

Ah, the old sea dog!

MMM... Please tell me which one is Kerdrain...

Hello, A question about main switches.... I have 3 phase overhead 30amp supply which goes to EDF's 500mA RCD/earth leakage trip/ main switch. I am renovating an outbuilding  which will require the same 3 phase supply to a new fuse board. Question is... Is there a requirement for one main switch to each building as in the U.K or is it O.K to have 3 separate 30mA RCDs/ earth leakage trips on each of the 3 phases?

Oh, I forgot to add... I am an Entretien espaces Verts (gardener) and charge 192euros minimum for 8 hours for works requiring small petrol or hand tools. For tractor work its anything from 36euros upwards. At the end of the day, I had to buy the professional tools to do my job and they are not found in Mr Bricobananrama. In my experience there is always some-one cheaper and I generally  get around 90% of works quoted for so I believe that my price is competitive.  A bit off thread, sorry! 

Hello, When I calculated my hourly rate I did so by working out what it costs to invest/re-invest in equipement, assurances, publicity etc therefore knowing how much I need to recuperate before I even begin to allow for my wages, allowing myself just above the SMIC. As I am paid by any profit I make, I must allow for the amount that is taken in social charges. I have no 'cash' rate, as if I need to obtain future finance I will require a healthy balance sheet to justify any loan. I was once a builders labourer and know just how 'little' investment is required to set up as such. Many machines may be hired for the job. However, a good tradesman may charge a premium rate, he may have invested in plant... Take a man with a digger... he could have invested 6k in a trailer, 25k in a van and 40k in a machine. So he must charge say 50euros an hour to cover costs and earn a living.  

You could rent or buy a wall chaser, its a kind of circular saw with two cutting disks that cut a tramway into the wall that you can then knock out by hand without destroying the wall too much.  

AH! Ta Alk'

Hello again... the little red book 'Pas a Pas d'electricite' shows cartoon of a man being electrocuted because his metal pipes are live... and clearly states that it is not permited to earth via these. The only very good reason that I can give you for for only following the French way of doing things is that not doing so can invalidate insurances and when you come to sell the place you may be forced to rip it all out as its an illegal installation that does not conform to the french norm. U.K wiring may be in your opinion better but its just not allowed here. I fully intend to sell my place in the future and so toeing the line and conforming are very important to me. Wiring up this coming weekend! Let there be light!  

Ministry of information may be found here...!

Alcazar! thats the fellow! Please give me a correct response as I wire my place this week!

Hello, in my little book 'Pas-pas' d'electricite it clearly states 'do not earth you metal pipes' Sooo, why does the author of the earlier statement in this thread say you must do so and if he is wrong, will he retract the statement if incorrect...? This must not become 'Angloinfo', a forum of misinformation and people searching curry...

I have just recieved a free issue of a magazine through the post called Brit'mag. What do you lot think about it...? P.S I am on the front cover and page 42 wearing an orange t'shirt... Ugly weasel!

Ah! Yeh but no but yeh but Zeb... you... you who exposes breasts to clients... who are you to comment on dress standards!  

There are proffessional comedians you know so watch it! You may not have the SIRET for humour...

 A helpfull and informative thread, thanks chaps!  

Hello, Le Jardinier Anglais drives a U.K bought French reg van with all pub written in french. All devis and facture are highly detailed in the appropriate language and I have not once been asked for my SIRET as yet. Information gives the client confidence as does a proffessional image. Scenario... You are greeted with a U.K reg van without pub or just magnetic signs and only a mobile number, ith a fat smoking driver with a builders arse and scruffy T'shirt. Is a confidence giving image to portray...?

I don't understand the last reply...      

Hello, I am just about to face this task myself and I have assumed that you cut a chamfered edge with a sharp blade... enlighten me too!

Hello, does it produce berries on new or last years growth? I confess I have never noticed them before unless its because the birds have got there before.  I even examined two customers vines today for signs of fruit and could find none, so I am wondering, when it is cut back every year in order to control it and therefore only has new growth in abundance if that is the reason for a lack of berries...? 

Hello, Its back to my old Horticultural college notes for this because I am not aware that Parthenocissus tricuspidata or any of its cultivars produce berries...the clue is in the latin 'tricuspidata' It could be a joke...? Like the time some fellow glued 3 colours of flower to the same stem to fool Alan Titchmarsh on telly! I don't know what it could be, sorry. Le Jardinier Anglais

NO! I am a member of the FFCT and have raced and toured here for years and can assure you that there is no rule about carrying lights during the daytime. Have a look around you if you don't believe me when you arrive. Of course only an idiot would ride after dark without them. Tunnels and mist are a different matter. You could always leave lights on your bikes at the gite and also new cheap batteries which the guests can use if they choose. You can then charge them for the opened packets...? L.E.D lights are economic and cheap to use and run. You'll be asking next if you need a SIRET number to ride a bike as there are already people who do this for a proffession... HA HA HA!

O.K, As much as I love a deal/bargain/discount... There is no way on earth I would ever deviate from my hourly rate if asked by a client. I don't want to set a precedent and I also haven't budgeted for any remise/escompte in my pricing. All the best books and advice tell me not to sell on price but on quality and to get your pricing right in advance. Crazy though, the number of clients who think I pocket all the money for myself and so believe I live like a Gypsy King.    

NO! Really the Gendarmes have other fish to fry. Another panicky Brit paranoia thread...?

Teamedup is so very correct with this observation. 

According to my French father in law, 2% is a normal discount if a cash payment is offered. He is often amazed at the discounts I am able to negociate back in the 53rd state and also the low prices of many goods in comparison to France. Yes haggling is unknown here. Even when I proposed to spend 40k on materials at a builders merchant there was no better discount than if I went to 'Brico-mat' I also proposed to spend 10k of my entreprise start up budget with one supplier who just offered to throw in oil and blades when I asked him "What can you do on the price?" Playing one supplier off against another doesn't seem to have any effect at all!