Val1956

I know this thread is years old, but I came back from our French house today and swore I saw him in a battered van, while waiting to board the ferry. I didn't tell my husband as, after all these years, he's still number 1 on his 'most wanted' list! Anyone have any news of BB? Last I heard he was being chased across the north of France by the police!

Just to say that I looked at the postings then found info about the town and am glad that we didn't know the name of it when at our French house in August. My son and his family were with us, as was the rest of my family, including my two 5-year old grandsons, and he had wanted us all to go there, obviously not knowing the true reason why the place is deserted. Not the place to take bouncy, noisy little ones, I think.It was very sad just reading about what happened there, so to actually go there must be much more so. Thank you once again for the information and link.   Regards   Val

Wow!That was quick. Thanks very much.

Hi I wondered if anyone knows about a village that someone in France told my son about and he wants to visit it when he's out next in November. It's supposed to have been evacuated in the second world war, I think, and has been left untouched. I think it begins with an O and may be somewhere around Limoges. All very vague, I know, but maybe someone has info Thanks   Val

Thanks to all who have replied to this and thanks for the research. Have also received email from member telling us where there is a garage near to us for the fuel needed.

I do feel for you. Coping with the French bureacracy when language is a problem is daunting.We obtained a Permis De Constrius last November to convert our Charentais barn into a residential dwelling and did the whole application, forms, plans etc. ourselves, because the total area of the living space (excluding areas of less than 6' height, which was most of the mezzanine area) was under 140 sq. m. (i think ). However, we would have needed to have an architect to do the plans if we were proposing to add or change sizes of existing windows/doorways, especially those facing the road (we have no near neighbours). We got around that by proposing to instal windows in the existing openings, a huge window where the barn opening is now and then put Velux windows in the roof. It was agreed in about 6 weeks from start to finish, which was amazing, we thought. Expected a much longer wait. Only trouble we had was getting over to the Maire that the barn was to remain separate from our original house attached to it. He couldnt seem to understand we weren't knocking it all into one! Hope you get your window soon! Val

Husband just informed me it's a 1.5 ton digger and he has now said he'll get diesel in France, which is a relief! Still need clarification as to towing plant trailer.

Thanks for the replies. I too had doubts whether they could take drum of diesel on ferry and didnt like idea of them travelling 300 miles with it in the van. It is a mini digger. Didnt know about the need to have 4x4 to tow trailer. My son has both transit and 4x4, but was going to use transit as they need to take bags of plaster as they dont get on with French cheap stuff, and the good stuff is far more expensive than here apparently. While on the forum, does anyone know roughly how much ready mixed concrete is? Any advice re towing trailer will be useful. Thanks. Val Phillips

Hi My first posting after a break of about two years. Some may remember me from the postings re the infamous 'builder' (not Bob, but same initial) who took the money and ran, leaving us with a fosse and no hole to put it in! As we had handed over more than half the money already we didnt have enough to pay someone again so we decided to go for a self-composting toilet, which was better than the traditional hole in the ground out the back, but not really satisfactory. We are now about to start work on converting the barn next door to our farmhouse. Having learned from past mistakes and being in a better position both finance and skills wise, have bought a digger in Britain so that we can do most of the work ourselves and also install the fosse for the original house (which is now, after 3 years of toil, nearly completed). We would be grateful if any other forum members could give us the location/name of outlets for red diesel to run the digger. We are in the Charente (Le Roule, near Montembouef/Montbron/La Rochefoucauld/La Rochechouart/Angouleme). My husband and son are taking the digger over next week and were planning to buy a 45 gallon sealed drum to take with them, but if they can get it easily enough in France would rather do that.   Thanks in advance Val Phillips