Cassis

I've just come across our household insurance quote - public liability in running a B&B added 16.50 euros per guest room per annum to our general household insurance. Phil

I just had a call today from an acquaintance in the Comité Départementale de Tourisme de la Sarthe.  Apparently Living France want to do an article on the Sarthe and want to interview any British people who have moved to the département - doesn't matter when or why.  I said I wouldn't mind and she asked if I knew anyone else who might be willing to do a little interview with the Living France journalist.  I immediately thought of the Living France forum as the obvious place to start!  If anyone is interested, can you phone or contact Sonia Renault at the CdT of the Sarthe in the next few days, please?  Here are her details: Sonia RENAULT Relations Presse /Promotion Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Sarthe 19 bis, rue de l'étoile 72 000 LE MANS Tél. 02.43.40.22.66 Fax : 02.43.40.22.51 E-Mail : [email protected] Phil

I just had a call today from an acquaintance in the Comité Départementale de Tourisme de la Sarthe.  Apparently Living France want to do an article on the Sarthe and want to interview any British people who have moved to the département - doesn't matter when or why.  I said I wouldn't mind and she asked if I knew anyone else who might be willing to do a little interview with the Living France journalist.  I immediately thought of the Living France forum as the obvious place to start!  If anyone is interested, can you phone or contact Sonia Renault at the CdT of the Sarthe in the next few days, please?  Here are her details: Sonia RENAULT Relations Presse /Promotion Comité Départemental du Tourisme de la Sarthe 19 bis, rue de l'étoile 72 000 LE MANS Tél. 02.43.40.22.66 Fax : 02.43.40.22.51 E-Mail : [email protected]

I can thoroughly recommend an architect by the name of Patrick Chave who drew up the plans for our conversion, submitted plans for approval, drew up a work spec. for builders to quote, got quotes from three each of masons, carpenter/roofers, menuisières, plumbers and electricians, drew up a plan of works, oversaw the work and kept everyone on schedule.  His office is based at Alençon 61000.  He does not speak a lot of English but does his best and tries hard!  He is unfailingly cheerful and helpful.  Here's his telephone number and address: 02 33 26 02 40 17 rue 14ème Hussards 61000 Alençon If you'd rather email let me know and I'll give him a call to get his email for you. Phil

It's 'assurance au tiers'. Phil

Many thanks, Chris, I will save this for a rainy afternoon .... [:D]

Ah, but if you click on your forum details it reveals you're number 1 on the forum!!!! 

[quote user="sid"]I don't know why you think you have different saw requirements to me... you didn't ask what I want it for [:)] [/quote] I think Chris's requirements are a bit different to most of us - perhaps he should have mentioned he carves wooden sculptures, totem poles, gates etc. with his chainsaw - have a look at his website, it's great!

Chris, I wonder if you have any idea why my chain saw (only used for cutting logs, petrol engine, McCulloch) curves slightly from left to right as it goes through the wood instead of cutting straight down?  Fortunately my log cutting season is over, but I want to get it fixed for safety reasons before I use it again, as I am concerned it could jam.  The chain has been sharpened and I have tried turning the chain guide upside down (it is symmetrical) but it still curves the same way as it cuts.  Is it just me, or is it the guide or the chain, do you think?

You could ask your comité départmentale de tourisme or its equivalent in your departement.  I know the Sarthe committee gives grants for this as long as you sign up with Gites de France or Clévacances.  They do it for both gites and B&B.  You could also ask Gites de France - it was they who put us on to this when we converted our upstairs to bedrooms and they were very helpful. 

Holiday autos also appears to operate as http:/www.carrentals.co.uk , the one I was going to recommend.  Their online quoting systems are so alike and their prices are identical - it has to be more than coincidence! Phil

[quote user="Russethouse"]If you hold you mouse over the balls ([:$] carefully !) you should get a little message like 'top 500 posters', top 50 posters, etc.[/quote] Thanks, Gay.  I see you're actually number 1! Phil

Does anyone know what do those little coloured balls under each person's name and picture signify?  They look like something to do with the number of posts made, but I can't see what the purpose is.

I think being underwater drowns out the noise.

Our parish priest also has a 'round' of about 6 churches that he covers in turn in our area.  The number of Catholic priests dying ooutnumbers new recruits by about 5 to 1, I was told.  Are they turning to recruits from Africa to boost the numbers, like the UK?

At the risk of teaching granny to suck eggs, if you are planning to draw water then unless you're into carrying buckets you will need a pump.  You need to know from what depth you want to draw (drop a line to the bottom of the well) and how high you want to pump it above the surface.  Check the water depth at the same time.  Surface pumps are the easy option regards installation as all you need is a reinforced pipe to draw from the bottom of the well and you can connect the pump up to an extension cable for power.  Reasonably powerful surface pumps will draw from a depth of 7 metres.  You can then pump the water directly into a sprinkler system if you want, but after a while using a pump this way can become a pain in the bum as you have to prime surface pumps with water each time you use them.  An alternative is to install a submersible pump which sits at the bottom of the well, in which case you may want to think about getting an electrician in to make sure the installation is safe.  Or in our case we decided to use a surface pump and we bought a couple of 2000 litre cisterns which we fill with water from the well; we then connect the cisterns to trickle hoses - less wasteful of the water and no need to rig up the pump every time you need some water, just refill when they are empty.  Depending where you locate your cisterns you can also use them to collect rainwater from the roof.  Make sure the botom of the cistern is at least a metre above the level you want to irrigate.

I don't have to get used to you at all, old horse!

Message to David - what's wrong?  Are you just on a wind-up or have you really got a problem?

With team mates like that ...

I'm also multi-tasking, in that I'm listening to the Test Match Special on LW.  It's teatime at present.

Good God, noooh, I'm a merguez, married to a chipo.  Not a smelly chitterling in sight here. I should explain I'm only in the lounge cos I'm doing a bit of messing about on the website at the same time - updating links etc.  So I'm working really.  Not just 'playing with the computer' as Jude puts it. Phil

Do you think my new image will make me more popular now that the BBQ season is upon us?

Don't worry about it, Dick.  I like your dry humour, but maybe not everyone gets it.  Not sure what the problem could have been with your recent posts here - I thought you were just saying not everyone's in the Lounge all the time, we have real lives as well! Phil

Third party liability, i.e. your liability to third parties, guests, during their stay with you.  Like third party insurance on motor cars.  Also known as public liability.  It covers you against claims they may make for injury etc. during their stay, like slipping over in the bath or shower.  Nothing to do with damage that third parties do to your house, I'm afraid! Phil

Hi Mike We just told our existing insurer and they added on a small additional premium to cover the additional risk associated with B&B - like increased third party liability and theft risk.  It was so much per room - can't remember exactly but not a lot.  Why not check with your current insurer before you go looking for special policies? Phil