WJT

Hopefully my post won't get overlooked by those of you that recommended Credit Agricole.  Perhaps I should start a new tread? [:)]

Getting back to all of the good recommendations for Britline may be perfect timing for us. I would have recommended CCSO but have had a few problems with them and one I have just found out about today. I know this last one is an error on my part but very disappointed with how it was handled. I realised the other day that the checking account was low and called the branch and had them transfer money from savings into the current account. I have just received a letter from Tax d'Habitation saying the bank refused the prevelement to them so they are charging a 10% penalty. This will amount to €130. I won't go into how much is in savings but there is more than enough to cover this and am very disappointed they did this and they didn't even tell me when I phoned to enquire and transferred funds from one account of theirs to another account of theirs. I would be interested in knowing how those of you with Britline think they would have handled this situation?

Don't know where you are planning on moving to in France but regardless the below site may be a good place to ask your questions. Good luck http://www.americansintoulouse.com/index.php

Unfortunately there is no laughing smilie because if there was I would post a line of them in response to Molly's post regarding American woman having a hold over American men since pioneer days! HAHAHAHA!!   That is good work 5-element! Perhaps it is someone in disguise!

How wonderful! He really does look like a gentle giant and those sad eyes. I so look forward to hearing how he gets on. Well done Merlin you deserve the best night sleep ever!!

Thats a relief. So happy to see he finally found you! [:D]

Perhaps this is a good example of why American45 needs advice in reading messages. [:)] No offence American45 because I think it is the same with many if not most men [Www]. But I think you misread Molly's message of which (being an American woman) took it as very kind advice from a French womans view point. Molly if I am wrong about you being French I apologise, it really is easy to misread the written word. [:D] PS There are many that may disagree with this but my opinion would be that unless we are talking about LA or perhaps New York, I would say there is less of a difference between the way an American young woman and French young woman would act in a dating situation versus those in the UK. Do please let us know what happens on your "date", it does in the end come down to the individual but I for one would be very interested what her intentions were. Good luck. [:)] 

I used the 3V3 Natural Huile product with a bit of stain added. Keni, chances are the mineral oil would have produced the same results, thinking about it all oils probably have similar results. I will be putting more down this week in a few rooms so may experiment and try some varnish. P.S. I agree about the curtains. [:)]

Really gorgeous!! You must be so proud NuBeginnings, well done! In regards to the floor I assume vitricator is a varnish? I am amazed that you have that result with a varnish. We sadly have pine boards, in fact they sound similar to the ones you removed! I wanted to have oak boards put down but we decided to keep ours and have them sanded down. We had a stain added to oil to make them darker. It was hard to decide between oil and wax but never thought that varnish could ever look like yours. I did see some of the other photos in regards to the thread on insulation. Your renovation is beautiful. Look forward to seeing more! [:)]

Happy New Year!! [:D]

That is very sad but I can understand how addictive it can be so perhaps cold turkey is the easiest way. [:)] Good luck in the future and Happy New Year!!

Amanda61, Tony looks gorgeous well done! If he only knew. [:)]

JohnFB and Russethouse, I cannot believe I've had it wrong all those years!! Thinking about it, it's just common sense. [:$]

My brother became very very ill after eating  bad oysters years ago, we had to take him to the emergency room and it was very serious. I have always heard that oysters should not be eaten in a month with an "r" in it. I have only had oysters a few times since my poor brother's experience but felt very nervous about it. But I wouldn't risk eating them this time of year because of the "r" rule.

Thanks for pointing out that I don't know what I (she) is talking about, it is just something that I have read. I read something recently that said in a lot of cases solar has been a waste of money. I read in the Connexion (I believe) a few months back that particularly in France where the government has rebates of renewable energy that there has been a lot of poor installations. There was also a warning to say that solar may be good (if installed correctly) in the summer months to heat water but will highly unlikely be used to heat a house and is quite expensive to install. So it is just something that I read certainly not something I have experience with. [Www] It was something I was quite keen on when I first saw the discussions on the forum and I even sent you (Poolguy) a PM about our situation (as you suggested on the forum) and I never got a clear answer but had assumed it just wouldn't work! Regards, WJT.[:)]

[quote user="Théière"][quote user="Quillan"]  As somebody pointed out 12k to have solar heating installed would put a log burner in just about every room and pay for all the logs you need probably for the next 25 years. [/quote] As long as it's only 3 rooms. 3x log burners and correct flue pipes + ramonuer 6000 euros 6 stere of logs per winter (2 each burner) at 50 euros/stere = 300 euros/year (you'll run out in 20 years) [/quote] But solar heating isn't sufficient on it's own to run central heating is it? So you still have to include some running costs?

Yes and that is just "free" hot water if he's lucky! No way can solar heat a house on it's own, it needs help in cold weather for just the water.

Out of interest Poolguy, for an existing property with radiators what would you suggest?  The only alternative I can see is the wood pellets and that is something that personally doesn't appeal to me so I just can't see an alternative. For a new build I would imagine the best solution would be underground heat source but perhaps the OP has an existing property like me.

Hi Theiere, yes it was flexible glue and grout. It is difficult to describe what he did but he put boards between the beams and filled up with cement mixed with polystyrene balls called chape leger. So the structure was part of the floor versus being on top of the beams. The floor dropped by about an inch and there was a diagonal crack running through the tiles. Funnily enough the flexible grout was fine, the crack ran right through the 40 x 40 cm 12 mm thick tiles.

Hi, we have just had to have a newly tiled floor taken up because of movement. I am certainly no expert but because of having to go through this I have sadly learned a lot as well as having to take advice. I would say that if the floor is plasterboard you would have a problem. Unfortunately the plumber cut channels through our floorboards to run pipes so had to take the floor boards up. Upon having to rip the first attempt out that was done by a tiler it was advised to use two levels of tongue and groove OSB boards minimum 22 mm each layer running in different directions. However our floor is 3 meter wide by 3.5 meters long on beams that have movement. So perhaps depending on the size of your floor space the 22 mm thickness (x2) may not be necessary. But in any case after my experience I would highly advice you not to use plasterboard as a substrate. The Ditra mating in addition to waterproofing also acts as a decoupler for the tiles. So they will be less likely to crack if they are laid on top of the mat versus directly on the wood. Ours was just finished this week, so fingers crossed it will work! What are the dimensions of your floor?

There is a sign that shows $5.00 so definitely not the UK but why do you think it is Ontario? Edit: Sorry I am slow today just saw Eric's and Christine's responses. [:$]

I am embarrassed to admit that I never realised the UK was worse off than most all of Europe, even Spain until I saw the map at the bottom of the page on Gluestick's link. Very scary times. [:(]

Aargh not again! In recent times as soon as there is a threat the pound will increase against other currencies they do something like this. They are trying very hard to keep it low. [:(] http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20101213/tuk-uk-britain-bean-fa6b408.html

[quote user="Rob Roy"]An alternative might be the London City Airport to the new Brive Souillac, started this summer and will resume next year. Unfortunately only Friday and Sunday so far, but there are rumours that a lost cost airline will start next year.[/quote] Cityjet are offering flights during the holidays that start Friday the 17th and I believe may run through February. I find the website very difficult to use to find out what dates they do run. You would think they would show some sort of timetable but you just have to keep entering dates until it finally shows one. Just wish they flew all year round.

They sound lovely would love to see a photo. [:)] My biggest concern with the marble is not only the staining but the damage that acid can cause or the etching as described in the link. Can you say what product you are using to seal them?