Wozza

When areyou moving to the Charente? We live near Vitrac and our local vet was trying to re-home a 3 legged goat (previously looked after by another vet, now off to pastures new). Apparently, someone asked the vet to destroy it after an accident, but they decided to amputate its leg and keep it. If interested, I will ask them if they are still looking for a home for it - it is currently penned with another goat, apony, a sheep and a donkey (they all have something wrong with them!). Warren

I've just posted a similar question, but for a cheminee from a boiler. No responses either. Not sure of the answer to your question exactly, but I do know for a woodburner, the flue must be at least 16cm from combustibles (eg wood beams etc in floors and roofs). Not that easy with a new installation, even harder with an existing one. Warren

Sweet17 We used Fox & Sons to move usto Poland a few years back. This involved them storing our stuff for a couple of weeks in Cardiff, then re-loading and delivery. They used a Polish contractor to drive it over and unload it the other end. Sadly, our swimming pool went missing and there were a few breakages - the service by both companies was excellent (packing and then unpacking), but we really felt that the insurance company was a rip-off when we went to claim for the loss and damage - like trying to get the proverbial blood from a stone - and it wasn't cheap either. I would really question whether the insurance is worth it after that experience, but we have still taken it out on the two moves since. Good Luck Warren

The CE mark is a 'European Certificate' and everything manufactured in Europe is supposed to bear a CE mark to enable it to be sold, whatever it is - from a kids toy to an oil refinery! It is supposed to ensure that all manufacturers have carried out a design review to ensure that the goods being sold are safe and fit for purpose. There are two options when selling goods - they must either be stamped with the CE logo (generally used for mass produced goods) or provided with a CE certificate (smaller batch processes, or where the same goods are also sold in the non-European market), or both (common with electrical appliances and machinery). You should not be able to buy any manufactured product in Europe without one or the other.

I am sure most gas cookers come suppled with the different nozzles required for Butane. Ours did - the shop even asked what gas we were going to use and changed the nozzles prior to delivery. Just tell the store when you buy the cooker to make sure. Warren

I am currently building our utility / boiler room and am putting in a terracotta brick cheminee for the boiler exhaust to go through the roof. I believe that for these cheminees installed on a woodburner, the cheminee must be at least 16cm from any timber in the floor and roof - does anyone know if this is the same for an oil fired boiler flue? Thanks in advance Warren

is it still allowed to use timber as a lintel ? I think so - our builders just used some for some window openings they put in for us. I have also used them for french doors and other doors in the house, both with and without the above ladder frames. However, on all the above, we have cast concrete lintels in the middle of the wall, with a beam visible on either side - a plank was laid horizontally on the doorway between the two oak beams and the reinforced concrete cast on top - props needed to stop the plank bending under the weight whilst the concrete dries. Our builder advised us to use a minimum depth of 150mm concrete. Warren

Dotty I think the French call a cattery a 'pension chats' or 'hotel chats'. Warren

Sorry - the website I use is www.meteofrance.com not meteoconsult (which may also be good). It is meteofrance that gives the free 24 hour forecast. Warren

You can get a free 24 hour forecast from Meteoconsult - also does the wind speeds, which is handy. You can also go to BBC homepage and reset your hometown weather to one of many weather stations in France - ours is set to a station less than 20 miles away. However, I don't find the BBC one that accurate, but it does give a five day forecast. Warren

I would definitely go to the vets - cats can get very ill if they haven't eaten for a few days. We have at various times had the same problems with our cats, and the vet has been able to either change medication, or even give them an injection that makes them feel very hungry and eat. If only I could have an injection that did the opposite... Warren

They sell them at Castorama in Angouleme (and Limoges), and probably most other large bricos and garden centres but it would have to be 360cm by 240cm. Beware - you need a permis to erect one in many (if not all) areas. Warren

I,m sure Cassis is right. You could take the DG panel out and replace it with a single pane of glass, which can be cut for a cat flap, or even a thick sheet of perspex, which you can cut yourself. It all depends on the design of the door - if it is a single DG panel door, all of the above will look awful. We will be buying a half glazed door where the cat flap is going. Warren

Try Haven 'La Reserve' at Gastes, south of Bordeaux - they deliver nationwide. Tel: 0558 097479 Bad time of year to buy, I think, as most of the sites selling of mobile homes are now closed. We are just starting our second winter in our mobile home and would advise you to buy some additional heating (oil filled radiators) and a good electric blanket. Insulating under the van also helps. Warren

I think they are called Pepinieres (?) and there arequite a few near us - look out for the signs at the side of the road. Thereis a huge one locally that wont sell to the public, but most of the smaller ones do - not much cheaper than the brico garden centres, but look in much better condition and a much larger choice. Warren

You could try Flybe's Southampton to Limoges. Did it myself last week after staying in Bath - took less than an hour to get to Southampton airport. Limoges is then about an hour to Angouleme when you get here (without the road rage) Warren

Jamie We did exactly what you have described to our house in Wales - dug out the back and installed land drainage. This exposed both the water and the oil pipes leading to the house (water pipe was MDPE black plastic). We insulated the water pipe and buried it about 300mm and it never froze. Ironically, the oil pipe did - a bit of water/condensation from the tank got into the pipe, and being heavier than water came to rest at the lowest point of the pipe. As the pipe wasn't insulated, the water froze, blocking the oil supply. Took ages and many plumbers visits to figure that one out! Not really relevant, but maybe of interest to someone out there! Warren

If you are referring to the < and > symbols, then the arrow always points to the lower value e.g. 1<5>4; one is less than five, which is greater than four.

Dear Norris I just got my Carte Gris for our RHD toyota today - took about 15 minutes at the prefecture. Is this a record? Warren

Fougasse Might be worth checking out the international cartoon festival that takes place in Angouleme, Charente every January (I think) - I believe it is quite famous!? Warren

We have always been told that even though there are jabs available that can last two or three years, the pet passport people at border crossings will insist that a jab is given annually. Maybe check the DEFRA website to get this confirmed? Warren

I have a manual tyrolean projector you can borrow (the type with a handle you wind to chuck the stuff at the wall). PM me if interested.

We have been living in a mobile home for about a year now (with two kids, this may be better than a caravan, as has two separate bedrooms) - it has been great for us, as it has enabled us to live on site. Water is mains and is connected to the van with a standard MDPE pipe and compression fitting. Bottled gas is used for hot water, cooking and heating - one connection for the lot. We had a fosse septic installed before we sited the mobile home, so just connected all the wastes to the fosse. If you arelooking for one in about six months, then you are timing it about right. Ours is for sale for delivery about then. PM me if you are interested and I will let you have more details. It is 30 foot by 10 foot. Warren

Try Agence Robert in La Rochefoucauld. There are also a lot of the large chains about: ATImmo, Century, ERA and all the others whose names disappeared from my mind the moment I started to write. If you pick up a flyer outside most agents, they often list all properties for sale in the region with all agents. There are some excellent English ones about too!

When does he need it? We are still using ours, but it will be empty early next year. There is also a transportation company near us who would move it. It may be a bit big - 30' by 10', two bedrooms, lounge, bathroom, toilet, kitchen etc