Kevinandval

Why do people buy old properties and then ask about grants? We have an old (300 years)  farmhouse and when the roof needed replacing we paid for it with our hard earned money, we wouldn't expect to receive a grant or even think about asking about one.

I think we were on the same train as you but we all fell asleep. I thought it was funny when we went backwards but it seems that there was a train broken down in the tunnel so we think that  we went towards Ashford to change lines. We drove on about 11.50pm (UK) drove off  3.45am (French) not bad for a 35 minute crossing but as I said we did nod off.

We are coming down the N10 heading for southern Charente this saturday (13th) if this is any help. 

There is a reclamation site on the outskirts of Royan, on the N150 you will find a large LeClerc, to the left of the car park is a road that takes you downhill to a trading estate, at the T junction turn left follow this past another LeClerc (building items and other outdoor things) follow this until you come to a turning on your righthand side take this and keep going until you see an airplane! at about 10 foot high (this is the entrance to the site) I would advise that you allow yourself hours to wander around and they do close at lunchtime.

We have a plug in noise emitting mouse scarer and I was quite surprised to see a mouse sitting on it whilst it was working! Now I know someone will answer this and make out that I'm barking mad but I read somewhere that if you have a cat you should brush it and collect all the loose hairs then scatter them around and you will not suffer with mice again, every time we pack up and come home I now leave cat hairs in little clumps around the house and the mice seem to have moved out.

Try: gites-de-france.fr, we have used the site before and have found it very good, or you can buy in WH Smith "B&B in France" a book with over 3000 B&B's listed, its an AA and Gites de france book.

Can anyone help? I got to the site, put in our commune name up comes the page but picture does not appear, I have tried different years but still nothing.

We bought an old french china sink in france to fit in our french house, we could not buy any of the fitting (s bend etc.) in france, we bought the sink home to england went to the nearest plumbing merchants and got everything we needed! so I think you are best taking all the parts you need with you.

My husband is a fisherman and after much searching we have found a very nice lake at 'Oriolles' in the Charente, he spent the day there at Easter with my brother in law and they were the only 2 people fishing, for the sum of 5, if you think its within travelling distance for you let me know and he will contact you when we are next out.