Orion

Hi Miki I have been using phoneexpat.com ifor a few months now - no problems and it is chaeper than FT. Iif you are recommended by someone who is already a subscriber you and the person recommending can get 240 minutes free calls each e.g to UK.  I haven't seen anyone cheaper with no catches but if you do find one please let me know. Bill

Hi Charlie When did you make your Screwfix order?  I have ordered for French delivery in the past but after a number of problems thay suspended all foreign deleiveries. have they restarted then - I hope so. Thanks Bill

It may not assist you in the circumstances,if you don't know or know of any, but all Barristers in England & Wales are Commisioners of Oaths. Good luck Bill

I am a litlle confused by the Regs for electricity in the bathroom.  I understand that a seperate circuit is required. Does this mean that I need a seperate circuit for each bart/showeroom or can I put more than one on the same circuit. Do I have to have this a seperate circuit only if I have an electric socket or electric heated towel rail in that bathroom or do I have to have a seperate lighting circuit as well? Any electricians out there able to help (e.g Punch)? Thanks in advance Bill

Has anyone any suggestions for improving the signal to my mobile phone inside my house - it varies from poor to non-existant from day to day. Just outside at the back of the house the signal is strong as is the first floor which is effectively a converted loft area (without stone walls). At the front of the house the signal is weakish until I move 10 or more metres away. Unfortunately I seem to miss a lot of calls when I'm home. Thanks Bill

Whilst doing some work on my roof it occurred to me that I would be able to do a lot of the work more than twice as fast if there was someone helping me e.g getting mortar to roof level is very time consuming if I have to go up and down the ladder for each bucketful etc etc. I have a whole range of different jobs in the pipeline other than roofing. So does anyone out there want to swap some days of labour.  I am able to do most types of work (including roofing) and basic labouring and would be willing to do anything reasonable for a day or a few days in exchange for the same time helping me. It seems to me that all concerned can benefit provided there is not excessive travel involved.  There is no money changing hands so no black labour, tax or any of the normal issues raised many times on this forum. Bye the way I am near Castillonnes. If you are interested please reply to my inbox. Thanks Bill      

Thanks for all the replies.  Alliance Francais is too far away! Cle in Miramont seems just the ticket.  I have registered and wil start next week - thanks Nig T. Bill

Thanks for the replies - food for thought! Bill

Has anyone out there opted for an infra-red perimeter alarm system? I have a quote from a pool company for a pool and paddling pool.  Leaving those quotes aside they also quoted for a 4 'post' with repeater system  for some 2,400€. I think is a bit steep all said and done. I have considered the aqua sensor type but I would need 3; 2 for the pool and 1 for the paddling pool and overall I would prefer a system that warned of the presence of the pool area intruders than one that warns when they enter the water.  I am installing a fence, hedge and locking gate around the pool area but this will not be an attempt to meet the norms - just an attempt to keep unauthorised kids out. Any ideas, comments or advice is welcome. Thanks Bill (47)

I have contacted our water company, SAUR, to give a devis for a larger water pipe to supply all the future development of our buildings.We currently have a 15mm pipe supplying one house. This is a 80 metre pipe run and the pressure is moderate. Our plans (we hope to get there one day) include in total 6 seperate properties total of 22 bedrooms and 2 swimming pools. Has anyone any advice or comments on the optimum way to supply all the properties and the pools. We envisage having the compteur just inside our boundary line close to the road and  then do the trenchs and  pipework ourselves. Cheaper costs of installation and abonnement? We have in mind isues about size of supply pipe and the best way to reach all the properties hopefuly without the usage in one property affecting the pressure in another The buildings form an L shape with a pipe run of about 160 metres to the furthest house. Is the cost of a single large diameter supply likely to be cheaper than the individual supplies by the water company to each property? Thanks in advance Bill (47)

Hi everyone I want to find French language tuition in the North of Lot et Garonne or Southern Dordogne (I am close to Castillonnes). Can anyone out there help me please? Thanks Bill 

I am looking for an architect to do plans and submit an application for a permis de construire for a fairly large conversion and renovation project (house and 3 barns). The buildings are close to Castillonnes (47) which is some 25 kms South of Bergerac. Any recommendations? I am of course concerned about the final cost but there is also the question of how long it would take to submit the application. I have heard of delays of up to a year for a local architect; maybe because he is English and, it seems, as a result very popular. Bill (47)

I am looking for an architect to do plans and submit an application for a permis de construire for a fairly large conversion and renovation project (house and 3 barns). The buildings are close to Castillonnes (47) which is some 25 kms South of Bergerac. Any recommendations? I am of course concerned about the final cost but there is also the question of how long it would take to submit the application. I have heard of delays of up to a year for a local architect; maybe because he is English and, it seems, as a result very popular. Bill (47)

Is there any reason that soil and waste pipes always seem to be installed internally? Is it permissible/advisable to mount soil pipes and/or waste pipes either partly or completely on the outside. I have a couple of holes through a 800 mm wall already which would save a lot of work but involve some pipes being outside. Any comments or advice welcome. Thanks Bill (47)

Hi nice offer. what type of tiles are they? tuiles canal - tuiles plat? Bill

I am considering the finer points of the installation of a new oil fired boiler and fuel tank. I need some help/advice on possible sites for the above. 1. can the fuel tank be installed in a 'cave' below habitable rooms? 2. or, can it be buried in the ground right next to the house with only a filling pipe showing? 3. is there any problem having the fuel tank lower than the boiler (i.e. not gravity feed)? 4. Can the boiler be sited in a cave next to the fuel tank? I would also welcome any general advice on the subject as I have only had experience of U.K. natural gas installations to date! Thanks in advance Bill

We have submitted a Permis de Construire which includes our 'request' to use a mini station d'epuration instead of a fosse septique (or FTE) due to future increased demand (gites). At present SPANC 47 the office dealing with this aspect of the PDC application have requested a soil study. A prospective supplier of the station d'epuration (Neve) have advised me that a soil study is not necessary as the system produces in effect clean water that can be put into a watercourse (if I have got this bit right). Has anybody experience of this type of installation in Lot et Garonne or indeed elsewhere. There is also, it seems, a requirement to get permission from my neighbour if I put the treated water into a fosse (ditch) that runs from a point d'eau across our land onto his land. I will make the assumption that if I ask him he will say no which leaves me the option of directing into the roadside fosse. Any help, giudance, recommendations for suppliers or advice gratefully received. Thanks Bill