tetley

Just to be on the safe side, I would try to get some references from clients up together.  Try to prove he has been doing his trade for at least the last 3 or if you can, 5 years.  The clients don't have to point out the quality of the work, just something on paper that has the dates/year and what he did.......and if you can, get it translated.  My husband did this, and he asked his old french teacher to do the translation, and all was accepted at the chambre de metiers.  None of it was 'official', apart from a couple of headed letters from the clients.  You can never bring enough paperwork with you! they will love you for it, honest[;-)]  also, it might help with insurance too.

They suit us great, we have learnt not to rely on their food though.  We were all looking forward to having our first fish'n'chips in a year or so, it was awful, and we didn't see the childrens meals until it was too late, so paid full price for our childrens uneaten meals.  Next time will make sure we eat before getting on the boat....a nice menu du jour somewhere en route.  That is my only quibble with LD Lines.

Can I just add too, that it seems to me,a misconception that artisans are expensive in France...my hubby was a brickie back in UK and just over 2 years ago was charging £150 a day.  Two years later and this will have increased. Also, plumbers, electricians etc, he knew were on at least that.  I  honestly do not think that 200 euros a day is expensive, when you consider that the euro becomes your 'pound'.  Living expenses are about the same, when you look at it like that.           Not sure if I have written that clearly? Linda, don't take the comments to heart, it is mind boggling when you are first starting out, it is a huge learning curve.....my husband is just in his second year since registering, and we still find some things confusing.  If you are registered and insured, you cannot afford to charge any less than 200 euros a day.  And once you are registered, unfortunately you will have to pay your cotisations, work or no work.  As said before, artisans who charge less are no way registered.

aaah, he looks like a real scamp!  I hope someone can help.

Hello, I have sent you a pm.

I second Catalpa's suggestion.   

I believe 200 euros a day for a man and digger is very reasonable, I think it is probably just below average.  I would think average would be more like 250 to 300 euros a day?  I am sure others will have different experiences for you.  As with all tradesmen, make sure he has relevant insurances.

[IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/labadias/19.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/labadias/floodedriver4-2.jpg[/IMG] look at this little tyke!! she was drinking out of the gutter.  This was taken Sunday, and it was a glorious 20C,....must be nice and warm up on those tiles.  The other one just nipped out of shot. There must be others of you who have adopted an animal through seeing pleas on here....show us your pictures...please!

  [IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/labadias/rainbow1.jpg[/IMG] last spring,

[quote user="andyh4"] Tetley, the simple answer is no he is not permitted to drive between 22:00 Saturday night and 22:00 Sunday night (unless carrying a permitted cargo).  During the summer months this is extended to include Saturdays as well, and all jours de fete have bans. In addition there can be local specific bans - for example on the A7 during the summer holiday migration - which go even further. Fines are steep and can be imposed on the driver, the haulage company and the shipper.  If OH is an owner driver and is running empty then he cops for all 3 - time to practice catching books. I am sure the gendamerie are in no way biased and only focus more on foreign plated trucks because they maybe don't understand the rules. [/quote] [:$] whoops, he left on Sunday....due back this sunday.....will let him know, thankyou.

Hello,  I have done a search on this and found a thread from 2004, but can someone please just clarify for me, that it us legal for my husband to travel in a 7.5 tonne lorry on Sunday?  he is travelling to start a new job for Monday morning.  Thanks very much.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t285/labadias/philandlindasvisitoct06-1.jpg following on from christine's suggestion, I am kicking off this thread with a piccie of our lovely little kitties we 'adopted' last summer. We met a couple in a car park, a fair way from each of our houses, on a boiling hot day in the summer.  I saw the thread on here, the people who found the cats on a roadside, couldn't keep them, but were obviously very attached to them.  I was looking for one cat, but thought they looked so gorgeous I couldn't resist...had kids and husband looking over my shoulder at the photo posted on the thread...lots of ooohs and aaaahs. The couple who found them are still in contact with us and like to be updated on how they are doing.  The kitties are roughly about 8 months now, and have just been sterilised (had their stitches out today).  We all love them, they are unbelievably affectionate.....I wanted them partly to keep the rats and mice out of my storage shed...but they spend all day upstairs lounging around enjoying our new central heating (bliss!!),  and then when everyone is home in the evenings they like to wrap themselves around your neck! There, that's my living france pet adoption story..................so far....I have been very tempted lately by a couple of those lovely looking dogs.[;-)]

Oh he is very handsome,  I wish I could take him, but we are too far away.  I have a 1 yr old female german shephard cross, and I would like to have another dog, but am waiting for one to find us, if you know what I mean.  He has a lovely face though....really pulls on your heartstrings doesn't it, when you see a dog you like!!  I really hope someone can give him a home soon.......or if someone would like to leave him on my doorstep [:)]

Christine, you have had enquiries....do you think you have found the husky a new home?

Sadly, you are too far away from us.

HI Razor, depending on where you are, I have a recommendation for you.  The person I am thinking of comes from just over the border in dep 24.  If you are still interested let me know and I will email you his details .

sent you a pm

Where are you collywobble?  if you are in Dordogne, I have a number of someone to help you.  She speaks very good english, and is in a department specifically aimed at helping brits start up their businesses (non profit making government thing).

[quote user="tetley"]Hi Cat, I have just ordered Delia's kitchen garden, from amazon.  No idea if it is any good, but I am a novice veggie grower, and then wonder what to do with the produce[8-)]...so am hoping this book will be a good basic book for me.[/quote] Just receive it, and I really like it.  Surprisingly it really is more of a gardening book than cookbook, and it is very simple too [blink] ,I recommend this, it would make a nice pressie too.  It is only aimed at beginners.

wow, I had no idea.  My  Dad was from bonchurch and Ventnor was his local haunt. 

[;-)] what are you trying to say furryknickers???? I heard that when they opened the BHS store in newport a few years ago, it caused a great stir as there is an escalator...but it only goes up, people travelled from all over to have a ride [8-|][Www]........and yes I have been on it!!!   I am not an islander either...my Dad was born and raised there...went into the RAF for about 20 years...and then decided to take my family back over there with him...I was just 18, new boyfriend, new job so stayed put in England as my son calls the mainland.....

My post seems to have disappeared?  [8-)] I have been looking at crossings again this morning.  And for those of you who are interested, you can book directly a 'landbridge' ticket with LD lines and save 5%.   Where'd the post go? I have spent the last 5 minutes looking for it? am I going bonkers? Have found it now...sorry[:$]

d'oh furryknickers!!!! now I am feeling guilty.  Yes of course. My little bro is getting married and of course we want to go, but, we feel we have only just been (went for christmas), and the whole trip can be expensive just for 4 days....but he is marrying an american, so people will be coming alot further and paying alot more than me!  I'll get mum to look out for the vouchers in the county press. I did see on the wightlink website, that they did all in one tickets last year....france to Iow...did anyone use them?  they were still advertising it when I saw it, but I couldn't book it online, then when I phoned they didn't know what I was on about..apparently they did this last year, but they couldn't tell me what the savings were.

I have stumbled across solent tv...had to do a doubletake!!  nothing much happened? what about the garlic festival every august!![:D]  it always fell on my birthday weekend, but we never went.  When we went over once to see mum and dad, I dragged everyone over to the garlic farm, and left very disappointed!! It is very annoying how they can charge so much to get over the water though!! when the kiddies were smaller, I used to go alot.  Parking was free on the side roads and kids went free on hovercraft.  Then a few years ago, they started putting pay and display meters everywhere and kids reached 6, and going over became alot more expensive, so I went less frequently.  

I don't know if you mean the decannale?  The artisan takes this out and it guarantees all his work for 10 years.  My husband has one, but he keeps the actual certificate and gives a photocopy to his client.  Don't know if this is what you mean though?