Wisey57

Poor you Helen, hope you are feeling much better now and your mental scars are healing along with the physical ones. There is nothing worse than being made to feel even more vulnerable in a situation where you are already scared. Lets hope their attitude isnt contagious! All the best. Carole (87)

Anybody got any tips on hiring a scooter to get around for a few days? I have my son joining us on holiday for a few days in August and can see myself ending up as chauffeur unless he gets sorted with some wheels. Car hire is quite expensive for him at 21 and with the high excesses I figure he might be better getting two wheels instead of four but I havent seen much advertised and a trawl of the french yellow pages hasnt revealed anything. Is it feasible? Can he ride with pillion passenger? Is it reasonable and, if so, any ideas of where I can hire one between Bellac and Limoges? Thanks for any input. Caz

Am looking for advice on a potential dispute with our french neighbour over a shared wall in our back garden. We have had our house for nearly a year and previous to our ownership the neighbour has built up his soil against the concrete wall to raise the level of his land. Unfortunately there are no drainage holes and the pressure of the soil has created a high leaning concrete wall our way with increasing movement and large cracks. It is very worrying and very dangerous and our path runs alongside the wall so we have to keep our children from playing that side of the garden. I know that this neighbour has caused problems in the past with the previous owner although we dont unnecessarily want to make an enemy out of him and would much prefer to resolve it all amicably. He appears to only want a cheap job doing to sort the problem out but we are sure there is no cheap way out of it and although the wall might be shared ownership (or even ours) he has caused the problem in the first place. Another neighbour/friend has made some enquiries on our behalf and says it is a private dispute and we should get a report done proving that he has created the problem. What then though? I am really worried about getting involved in a prolonged possibly legal dispute costing a fortune and still not getting the job done. Has anybody had a similar type of problem with neighbours before and can offer any suggestions on possible ways forward? Caz

Would be interested in members opinions on property management companies. When we first bought our house 12 months ago, we felt it was probably more people just after your money and homing in on your insecurities of lack of language, ways of doings things etc. However, I have to say that 12 months down the line we have realised that we have to face the fact that we live hundreds of miles away for the majority of the year and work full time in the UK. Any small incident such as an electricity problem or renovation job seems like a major headache and we are now considering coughing up the money to have somebody take care of this for us. Its usually suggested on the forum to 'ask a neighbour' and our neighbours are great and have done this but experience has proven that you wait considerable lengths of time for artisans to show up which when you are out of the country proves very difficult. We are near Bellac and have spotted a company who appear very helpful and willing but I guess they all do when they first want you to join them. Are they worth it or not? Caz

I was wondering whether anybody with second homes in France who would like to spend more time there than their annual leave affords (who doesnt) have changed their jobs in the UK? Obviously teachers get a decent deal in terms of holidays for having a second home but surely the majority must struggle to get enough time to make it worth their while sometimes. I am not in a position to move full time over to France yet awhile although please if Im a really nice person can I do it one day type of thing. However, my job allows me 6 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays a year and I guess compared to some jobs even that isnt the worst. Since we bought our house, it is really grieving me that I cannot spend more time there and am trying to eek my allowance out in as economical a way as possible to get as much time out there as I can. My question is how have others solved this problem? Are there any good working at home/internet/flexible working hours opportunities here in the UK? Carole

Id go for the two twins and one double myself as well. More versatility in my opinion in that you can always push twins together if necessary

Im sure something similar must have been posted before but for the life of me I cant find anything on a search. I am thinking of buying a moped/scooter, call it what you will, for the short trips to the supermarket, local town, that account for most of our journeys while in France. Can anybody give me some advice on what I am able to get without too much expense, trouble, complications etc. I would have gone for a pushbike but it really is too hilly around us (Haute Vienne) so it needs to be something motorised and Id just like some advice on the best way of dealing with it. I have seen a couple of shops in Bellac and Limoges but darent pluck up the courage to go in without knowing a bit more information. Many thanks all. Caz

Can anyone give me some information about getting around without your own transport when you have a house in a rural backwater? My husband would like to do a short visit to our house on his own but I am the driver as he is partially sighted and I am wondering about the logistics of the exercise. I read on a recent previous posting that there are always taxis at Limoges Airport so that gets him from the airport to our house but once he is there although he wont want to go out hardly at all he wont want to feel a complete prisoner. Is it feasible/cost effective to get the number of a nearby taxi service and use it whenever necessary? How expensive are taxis in France? Would be grateful for any suggestions. Caz

We will be visiting our property for the first real (working) holiday the week following Christmas. I wonder if any of you that are more 'in touch' know of any interesting markets, restaurants, social events, including New Year, that might interest the family? We have loads of jobs to do but want to promise our 11 year olds that if they let us get on with working in the mornings we will take them out in the afternoon (its worth a try). Thanks. Carole