Froggy Lou

Can't help with a recommendation as am too far away but we had ours done last month and it was 50 Euros.  But, I think some of the other posts are a bit worrying - I have checked with our house insurer - if we have a fire and don't have a current ramonage certificate (just the receipt is fine as long as it's dated & signed) our insurance is invalid!!!

Wher are you anyway? - but you said yourself that it's very hard work and time consuming so I just see euro signs.............  

It's basically in poor condition - I don't think it was ever done properly/grout made up properly etc and great lumps are falling out making it look very tatty!   I just want to do it in patches ás to do the whole lot would take AGES - the tiling is pretty much throughout the ground floor; when that's done I thought of re-colouring the whole lot - is there special stuff for that?

We've got some floor tiles which needs re-grouting in places - what's the best way to do it?

I think that covering with wood seems to be an idea worth exploring further so I shall start investingating - many thanks to all who replied!

Yes it was...................

Yes, I agree with you, carpet is not a great idea, it's just difficult to come up with others - the tiling idea doesn't really appeal - I'm keen to avoid anything too hard as I have young children.  I'm a bit worried about how noisy and durable anything wooden would be but it's worth exploring.

Hello Leo The house is approx 45 yrs old and the ground floor consisted of a garage and then various other 'rooms'.   The stairs open out into the garage which is now the lounge. Froggy Lou

We're nearly at the end of a complete renovation of our maison nantaise and shortly will tackle the stairwell area.  The steps are concrete and I really want to make them more attractive as they open out into our new lounge.  Carpeting seems the answer and we've had a devis of E600 for the purchase and fitting of a jute coverting suitable for stairs (15 treads).  Before we go with this option are there any others we can consider?

Use your internet and chack all estate agents, looking for the same property - we saw a house two weeks ago - 176k (on the market for 8 mths and originally 200k), then after a 2nd viewing (and also knowing that the vendor had already signed a compromis) the price came down to 169k, so we were going to offer 160k & hopefully get to 165k BUT after checking for other propterties and seeing the same one listed with other agencies, at different prices - the lowest being 160k we went back to our agent and said we'd make an offer but based on the lowest price we'd seen - 155k - of course she wasn't pleased but of course understood we didn't want to pay more than necessary, anyway, we made an offer and agreed at 157k.    From what our agent told us, lots of people put their houses on the market and are prepared to negotiate so I would suggest you do that.   As ever it all depends on if you really want the property - if you do then obviously you have to be sensible, if not then you can afford to make lower offers to start with.   Are there any similar properties you can compare with?  Remember you have to live in the house not the view!

I have been here for about 8 months and although I'm doing as much as I can to improve my spoken French, I feel as though I've reached a plateau and am continually using the same vocab.  I have decided toplace an advert locally offereing English conversation for French or even just for French alone.   Please can someone give me some suitable wording - I don't want to offend anyone and know how sensitively the French perceive their language. Thanks!

I am completely stunned - have just returned from La Poste having sent two small padded envelopes to the UK - gifts for children, nothing expensive or heavy.  My bill - 30 Euros!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The contents cost me just 12!   This is completely ridiculous and has stopped me dead from sending anything else in the future - I did question it at the time but was told that was it, not other choice - if anyone can help it would be appreciated, I hate sending cheques as presents............[:@]..

Thank You - when I go to the anpe, am I supposed to be genuinely looking for work?  I don't want to claim any benefits etc.  I shall go & visit and see how I get on. Thanks again..

Yes, we do try and speak french at home but we are very lazy and easily laspe into English!!  My husband is french and I have tried to learn with/from him but it does become very frustrating as he's not always very good at explaining 'why' and I feel as though I need to know to understand!!   I'm finding I'm better when out & about and seem to be coping ok an a day to day basis.  We are going to approach the apfa and see how they can help - does anyone know if I have to register as unemployed first in order to qualify for help? As with everything, ther are good days and bad days - most of them are good!! Thanks for your help - will keep you informed!

I had hoped that this would have been my 'gateway' but so far it hasn't been.  I am quite friendly with one Mum and have done a lot there - we were both new to the school in Septemeber so that helped, we also both signed up for the APEL but this has been a nightmare - it's currently run by others who've been doing it a while and they've been less than receptive to us so far!!  A big problem for me has been the smokers - I don't and this has cut out a lot of Mums outside the gate as there seems to be a big smokers corner.  Have volunteerd to help at school - teaching English!!  but talking to the staff etc will obviously have to be in French.   Think I'm suffering from a loss of confidence at the moment which hopefully will pass.....   Thanks for your help & support.