tetley

Have you tried advertising on the justcamper forum? Also, on the road to Perigueux from Nontron, there is a tyre garage, but the guy obviously loves vw's, he has got loads of beetles in various stages...and on his forecourt he has some type 4s, and pick ups.....I don't know the name of it though...is he too far? I could take the name down when I go by tomorrow.

[:D] I grew up on RAF bases, and then council estates in the 70's/80's and we had the freedom to go out and play in the road, and the parents would all watch out for each others kids.  You learn alot from having that little bit of freedom, and I guess that is what the social worker meant?  One of the factors we moved to France for was, our eldest was due to start secondary school in the next couple of years, and although we lived in quite a nice area, we just don't like the culture anymore.  It seems to us that as soon as your kids turn 11 and start secondary school, they have the mobile phone, they are allowed out on their own all day, they have a decent amount of pocket money to do with as they please, everything is so expensive and they all want the latest thing.  We don't feel we mollycoddled our kids, but we always drove them to friends houses, or friends came to us, they played with toys, went home again, they weren't allowed out on their own.  But, I do feel there is pressure to conform, and as soon as your kids hit 11....that's it, they do as they please.  And we didn't like that, so we chose to get out.  Here, they have the freedom to go out locally and explore and use their imaginations, unfortunately, there aren't any kids the same age as ours around, but my son has a much better relationship with his sister than he would have had because they spend so much of their time together.  His friends seem respectful, they all have interests and go to various clubs, the family tradition of eating together here is something else we like, although we always did that before (we know people who don't even have a dining table back in England).  They are learning about nutrition, purely because we aren't having the amount of takeaways we were[:$], and I have a veggie patch they have to help with now and then. Things go in cycles, and I am sure that eventually, things will change in UK...but these things take time,  attitudes need to change.  This is just my personal view on things.

I noticed on a different thread that KathyC comes from the good old IOW, I didn't know if I should have posted you privately, but there may be others of you out there too?  My family are from there, but we haven't travelled back much and find it SO expensive just to get from Portsmouth to Fishbourne!! Have you got any travelling tips you can share? we have got a trip back for a wedding this year...we have the problem that my In-laws are on the mainland so have to go and see them too, so will only have a couple of days at each place....and it is so annoying that you have to fork out about £50 for the car to sit on the drives at my parents!!!!!!  There are 4 of us, so it is usually cheaper for us to take the car over.  Be grateful if you know anything that I don't [;-)]

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.

We have just recently had a visit from a representative from Perigord development, this is a new department (from what I gathered) working as advisors, helping us expats who have registered at the chambre de metiers or commerce.  I was given a name of Alexandra Thevenet to contact if there are any problems or things we don't understand to do with business.  Unfortunately, this is only for the Dordogne....I wonder if you have similar thing in charente? Marielle, please keep us updated on your insurance quest, we for one, would find it interesting.

Oh poor you, your post sounds really sad.  I have a year old pup and am so tempted to get another dog as a playmate, but I really don't feel that it is the right time now..... I hope someone can help you/Boo out.

Thanks Marielle, for bringing this to attention.  We did not realise this, and unfortunately I don't think we have not taken out any insurance against  injury, to be honest, it would be yet another bill to pay, and in the first year of working within the micro enterprise it would be a nail in the coffin....what with the cotisations to URSSAF, AVA,Mati-Camon and the decannale.  We are going to look into this now. I hope your husband gets better soon, and sorry to hear you have had a rough few months.

I have sent you an email, but don't know if it will be helpful to you, if you are looking for electric heating?  Anyway, good luck  

Hi Lyn, we bought the stove from a company in the UK (I can thoroughly recommend them, don't know if I can advertise them on here?). To buy the stove,an electronic thermostat damper, delivery to france and longer legs (my husband felt that the stove was too small as it was, and size matters apparently!!) from memory it was about 1600 euros.  You cannot claim anything back as it isn't registered as flamme vert over here (although I have heard that they are trying to go through that process at the moment).  The installation to date (5 radiators and all pipework, pump, etc) is in the region of 1800 euros.  I don't know where you are, but again I can recommend a great plumber for installing such a system.  Not too much work left apparently, all the main pipework has been done.  We had to open my daughters bedroom window for 10 minutes last night as it was too hot for her, you can turn the thermostat down on the rads, but as our system is not fully complete and we are learning how to run it at its most efficient, we are leaving things as they are.  It takes about an hour to get all the radiators hot.  This is definately one of the best purchases we have made, we were very cold last year, and we are very comfortable this year, just the rest of the renovations now!  I believe Villager stoves have a similar burner, but we wanted a flat top stove and villager only do the canopy style with the built in backboiler.  We haven't gone for the water heating option...yet.  We may invest in a water heater with an element in it ,so that we can switch it in spring/summer, but we will see. Hope this helps?

Hello Lyn, we have just (thank goodness!!) had phase one of our heating system installed.  We bought a Hunter stove (English) with built in waterjacket, and currently have 5 radiators running from it.  Today is the first full day we have had it running, and we are toasty, despite the snow outside.  The radiators are in the bedrooms and bathroom upstairs with one downstairs for something technical [:$] .  There is a pump installed, but we are not using it at the moment, the house is a really nice temperature, don't need to keep upstairs doors open to gain heat, am keeping them shut to keep the animals off the beds!! We tried to find a stove similar in france, but weren't able to unfortunately.  But, very, very pleased with the Hunter.

If you don't mind me asking, how much does it cost for spaying?  I have two kittens that are around 6 months old now, both females, we have just had the dog spayed which cost 158 euros......so hoping it isn't going to cost that times 2!

Can you place a board up outside your property without permission?  I see lots on my way to the supermarket, but don't know ifi you have to apply for permission first?

sorry Karen for hijacking your thread slightly.  We also are going through a 'quiet' spell, lots of quotes out, but everyone wants to wait for spring. We have put cards up in local bricomarche, and have handed them out to people we know.  And we have advertised on the business pages of the forums.  Have been thinking about going along to the local mairie and speaking to the scary lady at reception!! This is only our second winter season in france and my husband registered for work Jan 06, he has had steady work for most of last year, but work has come to an end until March.  Is Jan/Feb generally a quiet time for those of you in the building trade out here?  Back in Uk he worked all the time, except for weather conditions of course.  I am going off thread again!!!!!  

can I ask  those of you with english plated cars, how do you feel about being 'leafleted'?  We are thinking about putting flyers on Brit reg cars in super/brico marches.  Don't know if it would offend to be targetted?

I have sent a pm, to both of you who have requested details of a builder.  Let me know if you don't receive them. [8-|]

In the meeting with the bank, my husband was informed that it isn't mandatory for someone on a micro-bic to have a business account, but of course, he highly recommended it as it would be easier to get credit if he needed it for his business etc.  From what he said, it doesn't seem as though it is as expensive as we first thought, so will look into it in the new year, as my husband may possibly be changing tax regimes anyway.........one step at a time!!!

congratulations........enjoy!!

can we see some photos?

Ask him for a copy, I'd be interested to know if you get it.....if he told you he has one, then I am sure all is fine. But, you really should ask to see tradesmens insurances and registration cards before you agree to anything. Glad to hear you got everything finished though.

thanks Zeb, yes I think I do see what you mean!....thanks again

hello all, can someone help as my husband is being railroaded into opening a business bank account by banque populaire,  he has an appointment tomorrow afternoon.  He is just coming to his first year under the micro bic system, and believes he is not obliged to open a separate business account.  His earnings is purely for labour, he does not charge TVA and customers pay the building suppliers direct, he would prefer not to have to open another bank account, as that is yet another outgoing to take into consideration....We would be very grateful if someone could shed some light on this?

9 euros isn't bad actually is it?  but my husband had his translated by a friend before we left the UK(not an official translator, she was our old french teacher in england) , the chambre de metiers accepted these no problems....

double posted [8-|]

oh, I think she is lovely.  I hope you find a home for her soon.  I would love to take her, but the timing is not right for us this year [:(]

I have sent you a pm.