Pun

Hi   LanguedocGal2, What a name, I bet you have a good secrete behind it, But back to the black labour thing, I agree with you and until the system is sorted in france "if ever" black labour will be used. Only 1hour ago the pool people arrived to point the edging slabs they 'd spent all day laying yesterday, (2 men started at 8-30-until-5pm) laying the edging. it was a very very drawn out job and when they said we will return tomorrow to point the edging I said to my wife no wonder having pools fitted cost so much, the labour cost alone really is over the top, As Ive said in the passed I did employ, and run my own company and like anyone who has worked for them selves you tend to put more in than an employee after all its you who has the profit after all out going /wages etc are payed, and so you have that get up and go thing and not the "I'll drag this out" And as you said, no matter what way you do things here in france you always seem to have a problem, I wonder how many french people would like work done but say to hell with it, its just not worth the bother? there must be millions of euro worth of work chucked away every year and the big boys like EDF and the local council type people are paying well over the odds for labour because of the way work is drawn out and taking for ever to do. The french employers pay a hell of lot just to employ a worker in tax's alone and they all seem to have waiting list of people who want employment and if a job comes up these on the list have to be offered the job, or so Im told, so the employer has his problems.

The first thing is to ask yourself who's name are the bills going to come to? if  your own get hold of the verious concerns ie edf, your, rates dept insurance ect and make sure they know whos living in the property and whos using the services, if  the bills in your name its you these service people are dealing with and you they want payment off. The advice ref going to the mairie is good advice thats what these people are here for ,to know whats going on in the dept , they will ask your tennants questions, lots of questions. I.d also have a good long think ref the customer who think they have a holiday booked and  think alls well when infact they may not have a holiday. at least give them time to sort themself's out it no fault of their doing. and next time you take long term lets, think about insurance ref this ever happening again. good luck I hope by the end of the year all this mess is sorted out for both you and the renters. and thanks for sharing this with us all it helps no end to see just what can go wrong and how to deal with these situations.

It also depends on your location in france, we live in the heart of france (limousin) and we do not use much lighting /no heating/ no dryers/ etc in the summer and we have a long summer here and so if your not using it your not paying for it, its like the food question, if you shop and not just pick the first thing that comes into sight, ie it was pionted out to us that fish (cod) was very costly here in france and so we decided this week to see the price difference, on the open saturday market, 34 euro per kg in the freezer at two seperate sup/markets one was 24 euro and the second was 12 euro per/kg. now thats one hell of a saving and by the way the locals bought the freezer fish it must be good. the same thing with veg, have a look when your next at the open markets how the prices change from display to display and you'll be amazed at how much you can save if you shop and not just arrive with wallet open and fingers pointing. The same goes for when you shop, friday/sat/ things will not be on offer as much as mondays monday is a good day for certain bargains ie fresh goods that have a short shelve life but can be frozen of used for that evening meal.

gooden tag, her bugbear, nice bit of reading that history of the triumph, I did look at the list of history's No, B.M.W. NO,L.E.200, NO A.J.S./ Bugbear what are you trying to do to us english bikers??????? .p.s. I did try to reply to the best memoury thing, it was a good one you wrote, enjoyed very much,its nice to know Im not the only one to come off in front of a crowd of mates.

Hi  bugbear Its funny really just look what you spend today on bikes and the cost and effort spent years ago, the thoughts that spring to mind? yester year. Smashing look back I really enjoyed it, nice to know Im not the only one to come off in front of a crowd of mates and live to tell .

Hi IONDONEYE, Nice to hear your doing the pool thing, almost completed but still waiting for the pool to be seen working, Ive read your bit and was wondering where are you? what dept. the reason I asked is if your not worlds away , we could see the two pools etc develop together, We're in dept23 limousin. the  pool we're having in is a roman ended one (no romans provided with the pool) but Im thinking of one of thoses concrete maids with the big baskets and flowers hanging out, and for her in doors a statue of a gladiator nude with a big hanging fig leaf, or thats what it looks like, "could be wrong my eyes are not what they once were, anyway let us know your dept. as we do have a smashing place here that has hundreds of statues and water features.

Hi  J.R., We bought the place or should I say we signed for the place last september, and started the manual work then, ie making the place winter proof, centrial heating, and little things you dont find until you've signed, like gaps under badly fitted windows and smells in the bath room every now and again (no funny remarks here please) I mean we'd be outside all day repairing this and that and then come inside and then after maybe an hour "the smell" the dreaded pong, I found after going down every avenue just what it was, the soil pipe at the rear of the loo was fitted with the wrong fitting and secured with scotch tape, I can tell you when I removed this pipe the first smell was nothing, infact it could be compered with roses, It just knocked you out how anyone could do a job like that really makes you think. and it was simple to buy the correct fitting, but it led on to the bath/shower/ sinks, all crap workmanship all needed sorting all taking untimed time, but at least now I know they're all done properly. After the centrial heating was fitted (1 week over the said time due to (a) bank holiday (2) day off for flu jabs (3) just didnt turn up, (4)did turn up but had to finish early, christ only knows why. The outside area was just like a forest and we had to make a plan ref parking , clearing the drive so you could drive up it, supplying and fitting secure gates so that the customers children are in our space and not wondering down miles of country lanes and also to keep the deer out at night. We needed lighting and sockets in the barn/stable/workshop. and I had to make barn doors ect. To day as I speake the pool people have arrived after going away for christmas 4 days pre christmas for the dinner time 2 hour break and not seen until now I did go into the pool shop on saturday and have a customer satisfaction talk and let the boss man know how many brits could be seen watching the pool be removed if he didnt get his finger out, it worked as I said they are here today. and doing the edging and as soon as the electrics are fitted to the house supply and the pumps working it will be goodbye to them. I wouldnt mind the slow bit if they'd be honest and let you know whats going on. I have a patio to lay and a small wall around it in april or when the weather turns, Ive fitted the awning in september so thats a job done.(by the way if anyone wants to get an awning they are good value here in france, and very simple to fit, mine has 2 wall mountings thats it, job done, and very safe. the 1.3/4 acre of grass seed to sow, and with a bit of luck and the help from above it should look nicer than the soil look Ive got just now, I really do want the lawn to knit well befor the customers get here, Ive bought a horse topiary and a few bear shapes but they look lost in just the soil. the pool area patio, this is a good size area.and will be paved around the complete pool to allowe for seating, loungers and Ive lighting to put on this area. the borders have bushes/plants/and egding to be sorted..and a what we call view area (a place for the adult to sit and see the complete garden area and see the childs play area and have a bit of peace at the same time. A kiddies safe area to make, sand pit, climbing frame etc. the bar B.Q. to errect. Inside the complete house redecorated, +chimney swept.+one more smoke alarm to be fitted in the childs bedroom, The complete outside repainted. and the Inter net, sorted+ adds in the verious places. And then we,ve friends who are going to give it all a trial and an honest "what they think" the goods and any bads.. so as you can see we,ve given it a good spread out and this next october it will be ready for next years bookings starting from easter and up until sept 08. after that it will be rest time and then re-decorate and that next spring we 're having a hot tub put in as an added attraction, so if this ends up pear shape it wont be for lack of interest or trying I do agree what you say ref the t.v. and the programs, I'd like to see the mr, average doing it from day one the buying, the problems but once a camera appears people change they 're not being honest, if we could walk into some of the peoples offices who are letting us down with a camera with b.b.c on it "Well " you know all these companys would be on the ball, wouldnt they?. 

Hi  Cooperlola, Nice to hear from you , I agree we've only got one near neighbour and just pre christmas she was all excited her bath was being changed for a power shower, (she'd seen our shower, not a power shower) anyway later that evening I was taking the wife for a walk "and the dog" when our neighbour came out all tears, she'd ordered this shower in august and all the work was to be done via the builders she'd bought the complete shower ect from, well they'd turned her water off for the day including the two hour break and at 5pm told her they'd gone as far as they can and it was now up to the tiler to tile the wall and he was 3 weeks behind, so he'd see her sometime in the new year, she's no bath no shower and the bathroom looks a mess, she's using ours at the minute but it just goes to show even french have this same problem. I think its called tough.

Hi  richyich, for any information such as this your local mairie has the details of all local trades persons, having had your wood burner fitted you'll want a wood supply, again the mairie's dept, even if you have a wood supply it's always a good idea to check out the local prices one against one. If by some strange chance your mairie can't help, then the local builders yard will have a list of trades people, after all these people buy goods from them and they know who does what trade. If again the builders cant help, then your local insurance broker will also know who's who in this dept ,as they have claimes to sort out and indeed use the verious trades,   regards Pun.

I was 16 years of age and living in Liverpool, it was the time when no head ware was needed by law , I had an ariel leader bike and a plug in ear piece for my trany/ radio, I was on the Birkenhead side of the river mersey just entering the mersey tunnel as the song hang on snoopy came on the radio, I went like the clappers through the tunnel and just as I was coming out the end the song was finishing, I think the group was the macoys, Happy days, free days ,not a care in the world days, I sold that bike and bought my first big bike, B.S.A. road rocket, faster, no smoke, and sounded great.

I was told when I bought the L.E.200. the reason they called them noddy bikes was because the police couldnt salute an higher officer as the bike was not made with a frame but the engine was the main construction and this made it very light on the front end and if you tried to salute most police offers tended to whobble, so to show the required respect, they just nodded, hence noddy bikes. Nothing to do with Noddy and big ears, he had a car, with big red mud guards and a yellow body, and a smokey exhaust pipe (like triumphs) but noddy  was'nt taken over by anyone "not like triumph" (ask bug bear he'll tell you)

Hi  Frederick, Ive read your reply and I feel its only a matter of time and the customer who wants a job doing in good time and a good job will give the work to the person who gives the best service no matter polish english or  who ever. I have a plan and its a year long one to have this gite ready, and I do mean ready both inside outside and all the legal side, now to do this work I have to work job for  job, as one project finishes the next one starts and if I employ someone to do a job and then try to book the next person to continue the train of work and the very first person decides to not keep to any time of finishing scale, how the hell do you go on and have any idea of a completeion date? Hence this year long plan, why a year? because of the time gaps between the jobs   I myself cannot do, If I could rely on the times I was given when I asked for quotes ect by the company I was asking, I'd do this project in 6 month no problem. Thanks for your reply it was very interesting reading.  

Hi' The correct way of doing this is to make sure you state in your terms/conditions just how you want to deal with it, ie if your not returning any deposit then say so if on the other hand you are having a scale as to the notice of time given, again say so in the terms and cons, Im in the middle of sorting this side of my gite, and having recieved very good legal advice Im told no matter how you run your gite, ensure the customer knows and has a copy of all the terms and conditions pre taking any firm bookings, this way everything is above bourd, every one knows just what they are getting into and all concerned have an interest to keep to the terms/cons and its all in writing, no I thoughts or you said. it's all in your hand in writing and on confirming the booking both sign. .  

hI , When did you have this pool put in? or was it already in when you arrived?

This ones for the more experienced bikers, (not bugbear "joking only joking) Why  was the L.E. offten called the noddy bike??

Nearly, mine has metal panniers and the full weather screen, but very simular, Dont you just think it was made for those lazy hot summer afternoon ride to the village bakers, ???

Hi  Chris, A happy new year to you and yours, I was reading the ex-pats paper "French news" (august edition) and I came across a piece about Limousin Id missed when I bought the paper in august and it was about verious english people appearing in court for not having any reg/ number at all, one was acting as an estate agent, one a solicitor, one a roofer. all these people are taking good money from the people hiring them and paying no tax ect, I ran my own company pre early retirement and found the same thing time and time again and it was this, It's o.k. to take from the comany thats not theft but if anything goes wrong with the person working for you it soons became a thing of  "what about my rights, are you insured ?"If  I'd not had all the Insurance ect and the attitude I'll take that chance and couldnt meet any claimes ect, Im sure I wouldnt be here today enjoying the rest of my life in peace and not scared to look over my shoulder. I dont think it will be many more years until the french way of doing work ( ie taking for ever once they have the contract,) will change, just give the Polish people and turks ect a chance to get started in the verious trades they have to offer and the willing to work and please the customer and the french way of work will be in serious trouble, I was again reading that the lavender in provence has lost a lot of growing space due to the fact that china has produce lavender and is selling it to france at approx 50% cheaper than the provence area can produce it, So I feel that now more countries are now in the E.E.C it must have a change in the future but we'll see.  

Hi  Ruonglue, I agree 100% , I was watching the u.k. news a few weeks ago and the topic was ref how much money was made by hospitals charging for parking, this woman was near in tears saying that her husband was long term ill and she had to decide how long she could spend with him by how much she could afford parking fee's.the hospital boasted over one million pounds made from its parking scheme. In france we dont have parking charges in most towns and villages let alone hospitals my feelings are if you go into hospital its not the best time of your life  and if it's a long term thing it's enough worry for everyone without the added worry of can I afford to even visit. ref cost of living! well we own 2 houses here both in good order and we couldnt run the size of houses we have here in france for anything near what it would cost us in the u.k. "rates, insurance, heating, cost of motoring, and the eating out speakes for its self just have a look at the cafes/restaurants etc any working day and see how many people use them and the age group, and if the food wasnt good they wouldnt last 5 mins. Yes france has problems but Ive always felt living in the dept I live in is 25 years behind times in some ways and I hope it stays this way, I still to this day see the old iron wheeled barrow full of plants all year round and in the middle of the fork in the road, not only looking good but never damaged or moved, We first saw this barrow 4 years ago when we viewed our first house and I couldnt help but think inspite of living in a so called sort after area in the u.k. that barrow wouldnt be there very long until it was taken for a ride, damaged or put in the middle of the road. Its those little things in life you want as you get older that mean so much, feeling safe at night, not having any worry if you decide to go for an evening walk around the town or village, seeing flowers growing in the public area's ie round abouts, shopping mals, hanging baskets all summer, old people , no graffiti Ive not seen any for ages. All this may sound like im looking through rose coloured specs but in this area alone 2500, english people moved to this area  in the last 12 month and Im sure they all didnt decide to pack up and move away from the u.k. because they were having a wonderful time there and both myself and my wife didnt have to come here, we looked at the time 5 years ahead and thought what would the u.k. be like then?? One small bit of advice I would give to anyone that was thinking of doing what a lot of us have done by coming here and its this, you get what you put in, the more you try to live a better life in a new country and remember why and what you liked in the beginning and dont bring the old ways you tried to get away from with you ,.  

Hi   BOB, See what you mean ref brighter lighting, Ive noticed the traffic lights here in france are not as bright as the u.k. ones, Ive offten been comimg up to traffic lights and find it's not so clear when on red as it could be but again I do think the lower light on traffic lights are a good idea, you dont have to break your neck to see if the lights have go on to green as you can see the changes without moving when your the front vehicle.

I wonder why the powers to be put a stop to the yellow head lamps we use to see on car/vans etc years ago< they didnt dazzle you and seemed safer . anyone any idea on this one?

Going back a few years now I purchased the headlight deflectors (that was the correct title) and after 8 hours driving on the french side of my trip i arrived at my last paybooth, the police pulled me over and said my lights needed looking at, the deflector on the left light was missing and the right hand one had slid down the lens and was no good, all due to the heat of the lamps causing the sticky backing to melt, (transit van lights( I was let off by the police as france had just won the world cup, After this I always used black masking tape and had no trouble. and france hasnt won the world cup since.(it's so long since england won i just dont have that kind of memory.)

Hi  COCO, Nice to see your still around, We've not spoken for a year or two, I do agree ref the remarks from people about "oh you could have got joe soap to do that for a fraction of the price, and as Ive said befor so many people come to buy buildings here in france and back in the u.k. they didnt manage to change a light bulb but having arrived here can now do every thing from electric/ fast brick work "no need for footings" to roof work "oh Ive a pile of slates over". Like you coco, Ive no fear ref the work done and who done it, thats not to say Ive not learnt and done things myself but the like of this last upset (the pool and free lake saga) was a time I was glad I'd employed the right people and checked the insurance details and that they had the reg, number etc. I still at times have to remind myself why we came to live in france when the work people say they will turn up and dont or I think christ they''re taking a long time doing this or that but as Im sure you and yours have got to the stage when all the serious big stuff is now done and you dont have to have half these work people at your  home again ?? you like us think thank god thats over. nice talking to you have a wonderfull 2007.

The very best way to stop taking any chances of both having your home smelling of the smoake that just returned down your chimney and fumes killing you would be to fit one of the spinning type cowels, this in a stainless steel device and it stops any kind of animal or bird making nest in it as it cant get in, but more important is the fact that the design enables smoke to be drawn out and wind etc cant be drown into the chimney breast when you dont have a fire lit, also rain cant get down the chimney and in the summer when you dont have a fire lit the inside of the chimney is being aired due to the cowel spinning action. Ive found that having fitted this type of cowel this year that we're not burning as many logs as the last year and the only thing to be aware of is when cleaning the chimney, is not to push the device off the chimney pot, It.s a well worth while device and a safe way of being sure no nest no blockage. I purchased mine at the local brico and it cost me  124 euro. (a small price to pay for a reduction in the fuel bill and a safe nights sleep.)

Gastines, A first class reply well said, now im off for a coffee.  

Is this stanley the norm solid fuel or has it been converted to gas /oil.