Nick Price

Hi trevorJ Is the van big enough to carry ten 1000x800 cast iron rads (with feet)? My plumber is trying to source in France at the moment, but I'm not sure we will be able to find something appropriate or affordable. Will know by 04 Oct. It would be useful to have a UK option if the van would handle the weight. I am happly to pay reasonable transport costs. Let me know. Thanks Nick

I have a Viessman Paromat-Simplex boiler with Viessmann Trimatik Confortrol controller (www.advancedradiant.com/htmldocs/controls.com). Both are around eight years old. Would anyone know if it is possible to control (off/on/temp/water etc) this system remotely via the Internet? Thanks and regards Nick

I frequently rent from Hertz at Angouleme and arrive out of hours (lunchtimes/evenings). The friendly folks in the office opposite Angouleme rail station either meet the train or leave the keys for collection in one of the adjacent hotels. Very pleasant and genuine people all round and a good service. Let's hope the same philosophy extends to the agency at the new airport. Nick 

Hello BP. I use a collection of old Godin wood burning stoves around my house. The newest is at least thirty years old and the oldest is probably seventy odd years. I do not have any problems and they seem to work well. Nick

I have exactly the same problem, plus I would like to lay about another ten sq metres to match an existing terrazzo/granito floor . Coincidentally, I am in Charente(16) too , so not far away from you. It seems that the knowledge to lay terrazzo/granito has all but died out in France during the last ten years. I have found a few companies near Paris or down south that seem to be the last remaining in France capable of working with granito, but unfortunately none near Charente: http://www.granito.fr/entreprise/index.html http://lepinay.fr/htfr/0003.htm http://www.france5.fr/questionmaison/W00415/60/ http://www.mosaiquecontemporaine.com/terr.htm   Do let me know how you get on. Nick

Thanks for the pointer to the Wiki. You might also want to check: http://www.lgvsudeuropeatlantique.org/ The Wiki seems suggests that there will be no new station serving Angouleme, or in fact any new station between Tours and Bordeaux. This is contrary to information that I have heard. I wonder if anyone can confirm/deny? Nick 

I am going through the same set of issues. You may find this document useful: http://www.poujoulat.fr/poujoulat/fr/guide_dtu/dtu_2006_lr.pdf Poujoulat is the manufacturer supplying Castorama, and as you will see supplies a broad range of products to meet most requirements. The website is awful however (which is why I provided this link directly). If you cant find what you want at a Casto or local brico - normally out of stock in my experience, I suggest calling Poujoulat directly and asking for details of a retailer carrying what you are looking for.   Good luck Nick

Concerning the new LGV line Paris-Bordeaux: Does anyone know:    1. Whether there has been any provision to link Bordeaux airport with the LGV station better than the current arrangements with the TGV?    2. Where the new Angouleme LGV station will be? I have heared both Nersac and Asnières-sur-Nouère both mentioned as possible sites. Nick

Thanks to all of you for posting such excellent ideas. The week went vey well except for the awful weather.... To the list suggested, I would add the Paleosite (http://www.paleosite.fr)  between Cognac and Saintes. Very interesting for a few hours and mostly inside should it be raining. Best Nick

I have ordered two new single beds (metal ends, slatted base and no mattresses) from a shop in south London. Looking for transport pick up with delivery to Angouleme region. Any offers? Thanks as usual Nick

Must engage brain before I post next time....   Location is Dept 16 - Charente, between Angouleme and Jarnac. Thanks for your help. Nick

My nephew and his best friend are visiting me from the UK for four days on Friday this week. One is just fourteen, the other thirteen. Does anyone have any suggestions for outings / trips / activities to keep them occupied. Both are outdoors'ish kids... Many thanks.. Nick

Does anyone know the rough price per hectare / per sq metre / per vine for vines in the Fin Bois area near Cognac? I am looking at buying a couple of hectares and want to be sure that I make a sensible offer. Thanks Nick

Do also check that you have installed either a central DSL filter on the incoming line prior to distribution to phones around the house or have fitted filters at each phone point. Missing or broken filters are common causes of DSL modem disconnection. Nick  

The use of incorrect materials is indeed one of the primary causes of damp in walls - or so says my brother who is one of the very few specialist building surveyors qualified to work on major UK National Trust properties. Over the years that I have owned my French house I have had many worthwhile discussions with him concerning appropriate building techniques for my 1849 Charentais Logis (Large [lime]Stone House). I'll summarise a few related to this topic here. 1. Use traditional materials. Lime and local sand. Do not use cement: Lots of people have commented in this forum on this before but something that I have leaned from my brother is that a "creppie" i.e. a lime/sand based wall render is actually a sacrificial material. Its job is to extract water from the wall by evaporation rather than to prevent it entering in the first place by being impermiable as a cement render would be. The continuous process of water evaporation causes the creppie to fail regularly - every 50-80 years - during the lifetime of a house. Why is there water in the wall in the first place? Many reasons, but principal would be lack of DPC. Why not use cement? Because, being impermiable, it doesn't let the water that is already in the wall evaporate out. There are other reasons such as material elasticity which I won't detail here except to say that old buildings move slightly so use an elastic material - lime. 2. If the wall was creppied or butter jointed (more lime morter than stone left showing), do not replace with small joints between the stones. Renew the jointing/creppie as it was done originally. The original creppie/jointing method was a functional decision not an aethetic one. 3. Do not allow water to accumulate at the exterior base of a wall. Don't plant shrubs next to the wall and do encourage rain water to flow away from the wall base. 4. Repair guttering and/or make sure that roof overhangs do not allow water to drip down the walls 5. Install exterior drainage to take water away from the house. 6. Keep the house warm in winter. Yes, it costs money, but that is the price you pay for owning an old house. In summary, and to agree with cooperlola's previous post, allow the wall to breathe to extract the water that is already in the wall rather than covering the wall to prevent water from penetrating or by trying to prevent water from rising via synthetic methods. And yes, you may have to live with a slightly damp wall from time to time.  Two points of clarification:  (i) The points above refer to traditional stone houses built prior to 1900'ish and the introduction of 'modern' building methods and materials.  (ii) I am by no means an expert, but these few rules have helped me turn a fairly damp house into a reasonably dry one over the last four years. Nick

Thanks to both of you. I will let you know how I get on... Nick

Can anyone provide an update on the proposed Ryanair service to Angouleme?  After the initial newspaper reports a few months back things seem to have gone a bit quiet. Thanks Nick

Hello All My elderly mother will be visiting in early August. She likes gardening so I am hoping to take her to see a few nice gardens and/or houses that might be open to the public. Any pointers to anything open at the beginning of August would be very welcome. Thank you... Nick

Thanks for a very interesting article. I have a question concerning radiator connection. Can you please tell me why the French use top flow, bottom outlet on radiators? I have some old cast iron radiators and recently purchased some very good looking chrome radiator valves from the UK expecting the plumber to fit them bottom/bottom. He was clearly bemused by these valves and tried to fit them on the top inlet at a particularly impressive 45degree to vertical angle. End result - it looked awful and so we reverted back to 'French' plastic valves. I am just about to start on a gym project and want to have another go with the same chrome valves. Do you think I would have much chance convincing a French plumber that bottom/bottom fitting is OK? thanks for your help. Nick

Does anyone know of a professional service that will re-surface the enamel on an old cast iron bath tub - preferably in situ? Alternatively, a DIY resurfacing kit would work if I could find one. I live near Angouleme in the Charente (16). Many Thanks

Thanks to you all. I have in fact now moved my things as my mother was fussing about having boxes in her conservatory. Hmmm . Anyway, nice to know that there are other people who make this journey regularly. All the best... Nick

Is anyone driving a part empty estate car or van from UK Wiltshire to Charente (16) anytime soon? I have some things that need transporting and can't find a courier to take such a small load at a reasonable price. I will happily pay for the transport and ferry costs etc. The pickup location is Pewsey Wilts and I can collect anywhere in Dept's 16 or 17. Thanks Nick