kiwitk<P>Kiwi in Cognac<P><P>[email protected]<P>

Hiya, In NZ the top loading washers are the norm, so spent most of my life using them and find that the ones we've had pretty much last forever!  In fact my mum had hers for 20 odd years before deciding to buy a new one!  At home you can buy them in different drum sizes depending on whether you need small or large load capacities, you can fit heaps in if you want to!  In my experience between the washers back home and the front loading one we have here in England I could get much more in my top loader at home! Happy appliance shopping! Tris

Hi there, My commisserations!  We have had a very similar problem with our roof (also in Charente).  Our roofing company took the whole roof off our house, chainsawed up the lovely old beams and dumped them in the backyard and then proceed to ****** off leaving the house totally exposed, no tarpulins or other protection, which has caused damage throughout three floors.  This started february last year and we are STILL in dispute over them fixing the interior damage.  It's held up any other work on the house too, so we are a year behind in the renovations. We did the registered letter thing as recommended at the time (as I note you have been told to do on your other link) and to be honest it only seemed to make things much worse.  Perhaps your guy will be different.  For us we are at a stalemate and lawyers are now involved, I totally understand your wifes grey hair situation - I felt almost into nervous breakdown territory at one point (what with sick family etc at the time also!). We have a friend in the area who can handle project management work if you are not too far from Cognac.  If so let me know and I can pass your details on to him. Best of luck - hope it works out for you! Tris

Cognac (16) Tris and Paul - Kiwi's in late 30's.  Love to hear from anyone else in the area!  

Thanks Jmp! Would be interested to know which company it was with the 70% conversion - perhaps you could pm me if you think it'll be conflicting with forum policy to mention them on here  Tris

Thanks guys excellent advice!  Fingers crossed we pick the right ones!  Hope you have a good 2005  Tris

Hiya, Our place in france has old wooden floorboards, is underfloor heating suitable for floorboards?  I have always thought not but have heard of it being used recently in the UK.  As our rooms have quite high ceilings it would seem to be the most cost effective way of heating the home.  Regards, Tris

Hi All, we want to advertise our gite for the 2005 season, would love to hear from you all which sites you have found useful for getting bookings, there seems to be quite a few to choose from.  We are in the Charente area. Also - if anyone has any recommendations for decent plumbers, electricians etc in dept 16 that'd be lovely too. Many thanks for your help! Tris

thanks for that - I re-registered under this new name as for some reason I wasn't getting the option to use my mailbox under my old registered name.  Will give that control panel a go now 

Hi All, We were the unfortunate couple on that programme where they took our roof off and then just left it open for months.  This happened in March, we did eventually get a roof but are still in a mexican standoff with this Cognac roofing company about them fixing the damage they caused. The whole thing has been a bloody nightmare and nearly put me off france for good.  We thought we did everything correctly, got recommendations, used a company that was a subsidary of a supposedly well respected larger company.  Had several meetings before work began to make sure everyone understood what was expected, but just goes to show even when you think you've done everything right it can still all go horribly wrong! Anyway - we still have the total renovation of the inside to do and naturally now have to find other artisans to do this.  So if anyone can recommend anyone that will return my faith in France that'd be great.  We need plumbers, electricians, general builders, the lot really.  Heaps of work to do.  Don't care if they are english or french just so long as they are reliable and HONEST. Thanks all    Suggest replies are emailed as I haven't worked out how to get personal messages yet! Tris