Ysatis

Thank you everyone. We did wonder if it was only the concrete pilars available. Regards.

Evening. I've been looking at both Broco Depot and Leroy Merlin websites for gates and we are interested in one like this: http://www.bricodepot.fr/dissay/node/1398591 Does anybody know if / where you can buy metal gate posts to go with them as I'm assuming they don't come supplied with the gate. I have seached both websites and can't find any. Regards. Ysatis

Evening. Does anybody know what those metal things are called that you quite often see supporting vines on the front of houses. I don't know what they would be called in English let alone french. Regards.

Evening all. Thanks everyone for you replies and my apologies for being late getting back to you. Thanks fluffy, will certainly call in there. Regards.

Evening all. We are located near Civray (86) and will be needing large quantities of timber, for example, floorboards. Could anyone point me in the right direction of a timber merchant in that area. All we have seen is the blister wrapped flooring in Brico or similar places which obviously is an expensive way to buy.  I have seen a timber place just outside Sauzé, but I'm not sure if they sell to the public. Kind regards.

[quote user="Quillan"] Start a conversation with one neighbour, ask them if they know the chap and perhaps explain that you think you might have untentionally upset him when you planted your first hedge because you didn't understand and how sorry you are. Chances are it will 'leak' back to him which opens the door for you to speak with him, explain to his face that you made a mistake due to ignorance and different custom's, explain what you want to do and ask him for advice. I have also discovered that the French chaps quite like a little snort of Whisky from time to time.[;-)][/quote] I like this approach and will try and do it when I'm there next. I also think a chat at the Mairie to be clear on what the rules are might be a good idea too. Thanks for everyone's advice.

My french is reasonable. I nearly did Hoddy but bottled out. He used to walk by 3-4 times a day but now, due to his health I think, it maybe once a week. But he looks so unapproachable. To be honest I'm a little scared of him. I have no reason to be other than he intimidates me a little just by his look. I feel like I'm walking on egg shells and worry constantly that I'm doing something wrong. Perhaps I'll pluck up the courage the next time I see him. It did spoil my holiday to start with because I thought it was quite harsh way of telling me something. Especially as he had walked by whilst I was actually planting. I would have been more than happy to have been told what I can and cannot do. Perhaps he thinks I'm unapproachable.

Thanks Sue and Quillan.  I'm aware now of the maintenance issue and guessed that I'd done something wrong regarding my planting. I'm also assuming that letting weeds and stinging nettles grow near his property are also a no no, that's why they got a zapping. I hope that when I get round to seeding grass in that area it won't get the same treatment. I did consider approaching him to see if he would agree to us putting a gate, possibly with a lock (both of us having a key) between the hedge and his wall. Somehow I don't think he will agree to this. We always say hello and we do get a forced grunt back. I think he either doesn't like us or he's very suspicious of us. We have tried to be as considerate as possible as neighbours but perhaps our ignorance to the rules annoy him, not that I think we have broken many and certainly not intentionally. I am also aware of the height rules, but it was planting up / near property I have no knowledge. So thanks again both of you.

Evening all. I'm really hoping someone can help. The rear of my neighbours house backs directly onto our front garden. Quite literally my garden goes right up to his wall. The gable end of his house is on the road as is the rest of my front garden. Last April I planted hedge cuttings along my boundary and up to his wall. He saw me do this. However, in October last year we returned to find that he (I'm guessing) has posted and roped off a 1m from his house down the length of his house and weedkilled everything within this area including my new cuttings. Friends of ours informed us that you have to keep 1m 'free' so he can maintain his property. Why he didn't have a quick word with me when he saw me planting I don't know. I'm also hoping he hasn't done this to make a claim on the land. I'm sure he's just making a point that I can't plant up to his wall. So now I have this hedge growing 1½m in from the road along my boundary (a gap for some gates) and the hedge continuing towards his house but stopping 1m from his property and a few metres in from the road because it was planted on an angle. This has created a 1m opening so any animal or person could wander into my property. It looks so odd having a hedge and then a gap. I have photos but I have no idea how to get them from disc to this forum. Does anybody know the rules for planting near property please. Is there anything I can put / errect there to stop wandering feet? Kind regards.

Thank you idun. Sorry for the late response.

Evening all. Does anybody know what the french equivalent is for " eyes down" in a game of bingo / loto? Regards.

Yes, my mistake Norman. Thanks all for the info. I was beginning to panick.

Sorry to be so thick, but profit of what? Are we definately talking CGT? Your confusing me WB...which is not hard.

Sorry to butt in, but what is the new tax?

Never thought about taking the video camera. We were planning on taking lunch but didn't think it would stop long enough and was going to find a spot by the river. Thanks for the tips and the link. Your grandchildren look like they were having great fun. It's a shame if they are closed but will phone just to check.

Hello again Sid. We too were considering the Confolens one but decided on Chauvigny because it's closer. I took down the phone number already to give them a call but I had 5 mins to spare so I thought I would ask on here. I will certainly let you know if it's open and what it's like on my return. Never done a véloriail ride before but have been meaning to do one for ages. Thanks for your reply.

Morning. Does anybody know if the vélorail is open between now and the 27th October. Their website says it's open during the school holidays but a) not sure if the french schools are on holiday the same time as UK schools and b) maybe it's just the summer holidays. We are off to France tonight and would like to do this while we are there. Thanks in advance.

You are quite right Loiseau. I've since found this snippet of info: CHATEAU (vestiges) Xe et XIe siècles Route de Ruffec Le château de Civray est attesté dès 1010-1020 sous le nom de castrum Sivriacum. Constitué sans doute à l'origine d'une simple tour, le château a été construit par les comtes de La Marche qui, d'après le cartulaire de Montazai, ont siégé à Charroux du Xe siècle à 1177. Dressé sur les coteaux peu élevés de la rive gauche de la Charente, le château surveillait un gué de la Charente. Sa situation aux confins du Poitou et de l'Angoumois en faisait un ouvrage avancé de la marche poitevine face au château ou tour d'Aizie en Angoumois.

Wow, thank you Sid. This info is great. I looked at a street map trying to see if there was a road name connected with castle but couldn't see one. I saw Carnot but missed Vieux Chateau. Yes, I know where the pool is. I'm surprised it's not located in a more elevated place. I agree. We have had a place near Civray for 6 years and have not really explored the town so I'm going to make a point this trip of doing just that. Once again, thank you for going to so much trouble to help me.

Yep that's looks like the one. Thanks Sid, that's kind of you. I'm over next week and was going to ask locally but it's been bugging me that much I haven't been able to contain my curiosity until then. Web page is working now. Hope it works here. http://en.tourisme-vienne.com/office-tourisme/14/tourism-office-of-civray Just in case it's useful to others who maybe able to help.

Yes, I've googled that much I do feel a bit goggled!! Thanks for all your suggestions but it's definately my Civray (86400). I read it on the home page of the tourist website that won't load for some reason as I would have added the link. I would add the pic's I have found but not sure how to do that. I'll keep goggling, no googling, or possibly both.

Evening. I have goggled my socks off trying to locate where they are and have had no luck apart from finding two images but they aren't giving me any clues. Does anybody know where they are? Regards.

It baffles me that one the way it's the opposite to the we say it in English. Thanks everyone.

Evening all. Just a quicky. I want to write 'we have missed you both'. Is it 'vous nous avez manqué tous les deux'. I know you say it back to front for 'I miss you' but I'm not too sure if this pattern follows. Thanks in advance.

I am really enjoying this threadand it's giving me food for thought. We have only just started our renovation on our house. A two up, two down. At the moment it's an empty shell but we were thinking of installing a shower room with toilet in each (two) of the bedrooms. There wouldn't be a 'main' bathroom. Are shower rooms classed the same as bathrooms? Also, would it make a difference tax wise if the loo was seperate to the shower room with basin? By how much does the tax increase? Is it quite a significant amount?