tetley

Buckingham

Ynysybwl

there was an old man from washington who only drank cans of boddington when he was dry he had a good cry that ******old man from washington[:)]

Washington

Sorry Peri Winkle, can't help you out, I have already rehomed 2 kitties this year.  Hopefully someone will help you though......I like the name Arbuckle!! Good luck

another thing to try is using less salt than stated......my bread used to come out heavy, but I read somewhere about salt making the bread dense....and in my case it seems to have worked.

I have a 10 year old son, who I thought was allergic to cats and mainly dogs  (he used to suffer terribly with his eczema and asthma when we visited his grandparents who had a dog).  We had cats back in UK, but his eczema was under control.  His eczema and asthma vastly improved since moving to France.  We got a dog earlier this year, and that didn't seem to upset him at all.  Then a few weeks ago we got two little kitties, and his asthma started playing him up....so I thought...uh-oh, he must be allergic to cats.....went to the doctor, who referred him to a asthma specialist, who did an allergy test......and nope, not allergic to cats or dogs.....he is highly allergic to pollens and.......DUST!! [:$], we are currently renovating our house, and have been doing alot of woodwork hence all the dust...(that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it[:D])

Dave, I am not meaning to be unhelpful...I am the wife of a tradesman.  We do not have a website,  my husband sources work mainly through 'word of mouth'..  He has photos of previous work, and written recommendations,  which he takes to meetings arranged with people who have specific work in mind, and together they discuss time frames materials etc...he will then go away and work out a devis, pass it on to them, if they are happy, things will go ahead as previously arranged.  He has to book work in advance, and try to predict weather or any problems with planning permissions or 'unforseens', which could delay a job, and then in turn delay other jobs.  I am sure he would be happy for me to pass on his details to you, but, I know he would be unwilling to discuss at any length a hyperthetical job, as he does all his meetings with clients in the evenings or weekends....and I consider that family time (and of course I have a list as long as your arm of jobs for him to do in his 'spare time'!!) Also, I know,  you can appreciate France is a huge country, so I agree with previous posts...decide on an area, then start chasing quotes and recommendations for tradesmen.  If it is prices you are after, I am sure there is enough information on this forum alone to go by. 

[+o(][:)]

what a shame, bit too far away...you sound like a family that tries to enjoy life!!! happy surfing [:D] [8-|]

I have been looking for some too....given up, my mother in law is going to bring a cutting for me when she next comes over.

when we moved departments, we decided to change banks.  We had an appointment with the new local CA (were with CA in neighbouring dept), they expected us to do all the writing re;prelevements....so went to another bank...banque populaire and they offered to do it all for us.  So, looks like it depends on who,what, where...same as everything else!!!!! [:D] ...but, I guess if you ask them to do it, if they want your business they may do it for you?  seems you don't get anything if you don't ask.

instead of seeking out people who advertise as veranda specialists....could you not try a local menuiserie?  if it is a wooden conservatory you are looking for...they could knock up some frames, order the double glazed units to size....they make external doors and windows...it could be a challenge for them to come up with something to someones design if kept simple?

thankyou Lollie, very interesting.

I have always assumed that you would have towels and bedlinen provided, and looks like I have been lucky on that score.  I guess if you don't provide them you need to clearly state so.  I wouldn't pay a surcharge for using them.  You could limit to 2 towels (got to be bathtowel size) it wouldn't hurt to let the guests wash them with their own washing.  I hadn't thought about beach towels before, always taken my own, but if I hadn't I would have used the towels from the gite [:$]

if there are alot of youngsters near you and they don't have the service at a library...I'd go for the cyber cafe....but would it be cost effective?......could you offer something else like indoor bowling or big screen tv (dvds only) maybe for cultural films or to do with subjects at lycee.....juke box.......the odd organised event such as nail painting..or head massage or pottery painting...somewhere they can get together and play music......I don't know, something that is sociable and they pay a fee for.

Unless you had previously agreed to this, then I wouldn't pay until job is completed.

I can't remember who it was who said that us brits come over and expect things to happen as they did in the Uk...this is very true I see.  You do have to chase up the 'registered' workers...do it at lunchtimes, evenings and Saturday mornings..ie. when they aren't out working, they are mostly small scale guys who don't employ a secretary.  My husband is a registered maçon and drives me mad when he doesn't get back to people the instant I give him the piece of paper with a message from a client, because he has 'just got in', or 'hasn't got all the pricework done for a quote'.....but I get chased, I chase him and things happen.....much the same as it did back in UK actually.  I would say that on the most part, customer service isn't what it was back in England, sometimes it annoys me sometimes it doesn't, something always goes wrong at the supermarket checkout with one customer ahead of me [:@] (with no 'sorry to keep you waiting ') and in my opinion it seems the same with the artisans.  I look on the bright side!! gives me time to change my mind about things.  I agree that there is nothing wrong with having a helping hand here and there....but I honestly think that you should at least get quotes in and contact local workers before you write them off.  I am writing this from the point of view of the wife of a registered tradesman who works very hard, and always tries to stick to deadlines, but can be very difficult if you get late deliveries, bad weather, clients who don't pay up, clients who change their minds or who want extra work taken on (not a bad thing...just affects the workload), or want to change start dates, there is a huge list of things that can put things back, but if you are a one man band,one setback can really mess things up for a while.....but again, this is where customer service comes in isn't it? they need to keep you informed, and being 'manual' workers, they aren't used to the world of communcations via a telephone or email....they always want to pop round and see you face to face....in my experience [;-)]  don't get me wrong, my hubby works hard and to deadlines, I am just trying to speak from the 'other side of the fence'. I don't want  to turn this into a discussion about working on the black, but I honestly don't see anything wrong with powerdesal's roofer doing the odd cash job, but I do have a problem with people paying the going rate to unqualified 'friends of friends' not based in France, likewise, I am not opposed to the idea of having a mate who is a plumber coming over for a weekend and helping put in a new bathroom, but I am opposed to people getting their builder buddies coming over for months at a time, rebuilding a house and getting paid the going rate, there is plenty of work for them back in UK.  If you try local people, you can do some networking and find yourself some friendly builders near you. Back to hamlets shrinks question.....everything is ok, if you don't get caught, noone hurts themselves or damages anything, you don't upset the neighbours or local builders merchants.

I know I accidentally double posted and asked for it to be deleted (there's your missing 2 posts?)

[:D] , only heard rumours...ie; uk voices regularly heard in builders merchants...find themselves being watched, neighbours can be curious and can't miss regular noise and deliveries......and you know they get a little something for tipping off the authorities?, passing gendarmes (?) can check your workers documents at anytime..presumably you will have your board outside telling the world what you are having done.  Have you tried asking the tradespeople if you can labour for them? tell them you need to keep costs down and would like to do the work yourself...are you talking about knocking out windows and making openings? a registered worker will have a decanelle (a very expensive insurance) that will cover you in case of a wall collapsing etc., what happens if one of your friends hurts themself? are they using E106? they would have just 'fallen down the stairs'? no matter how experienced your friend may be....stonework is very different to brickwork, same with the electrics and possibly plumbing.  If you go for individual tradespeople here (I think it is difficult to find a 'jack of all trades' as it is very expensive to register to do so, people are more specialist), you can break down your costs, and do alot of work in between ( get your mates over for a weekend) you know what you are paying your maçon, electrician, plumber,  they know their materials and regulations, you can sleep soundly at night! ....the only problem you will have is getting a start date for works!! they are all so busy...but winter is coming....phone around, get your quotes in, have you had any quotes at all?  If you are talking about a big project, I promise you, working with local people as much as you can will save you time and money!   ask around.......ask for ballpark figures on here!

this is my personal opinion, ......if you have a friend or two coming over to help you with a project that you are working on  for a few days here and there, in my opinion  that is fine....but if it is a big project, and in fact, you are employing your friends from england...then why not use people who are registered over here? meaning local tradesmen (french/english/polish/timbuktooan),  if your friends are qualified in what they do over in uk, I am sure they will be too busy to give you their time (and will be losing money by doing so, unless you are paying them their uk rate?)...and if they are coming to you for a 'holiday' I think they may go home disgruntled at having worked 2 weeks solidly and getting their bed and board, no matter how good a friend they are.  If you  use local tradesmen, you may save yourself time and money in th longrun, because they will be familiar with the local materials, builders merchants and regulations etc, and have the vans and equipment for doing the work, collecting materials, and getting rid of rubbish.  I do not know the legal side of this, but I am guessing that your paid work should legally be declared to the authorities......and the guys who are registered here in france will do that........ and don't be afraid to ask the builders if they put all their money into the moneypot [;-)] . (please don't shoot me down for saying that!!  I am not suggesting working on the black) I am aware that taking on a project is daunting, but once you get started and involved, you will enjoy working with the people in france.

I would love to take them.......I live 20 minutes from Nontron....is that too far?

each time we have had a french neighbour to us, they have bought biscuits for the kiddies, wine for the meal and a pot plant for me,, none of it wrapped....hope this helps?.......our neighbour has a very sweet tooth, so I decided that next time we go to them I will buy him a bar of cadburys chocolate  and a pot plant for the lady of the house,

ooooh, where are you located Alec?

 congratulations.....one step closer!!!!!!!!!!!!!