Nearly Retired (I am now)

As I said guys - my knowledge only comes from this site with its, shall we say, cautious, rules abiding style. I know what I'd do and have done in UK. I only wanted confirmation of the correct way in France. Whether that's followed is another thing entirely. Thanks for the input.

Referring to the parallel thread about a guide, it's probably time I got a book too. All my scant knowledge of how electrics are done in France comes from this one forum ! 

Thanks for the ideas so far. When I get back I'll take a look at the existing wiring size and then match it - that bit shouln't be difficult. Does the gaine (trunking) need to be of specific type or will a bit of white plastic surface trunking do? I've got plenty of that.  If I have to I will, but I don't really want to be buying a minimum amount (guess a few metres?) when all I want is 15cm at the very most. Another thought - I've got some off-cuts of black plastic sheathed cable for external wiring - subject to size, will that comply I wonder? I'm guessing that will still need to go in gaine. Right?

I have an existing socket on one side of a 100mm or so thick lightweight block partition and need another socket on the other side of the wall (i.e. in another room) in around a similar position. In UK I wouldn't think twice about poking a 6 inch length of twin and earth through a 1/2 inch hole in the wall and fitting a spur socket. In France, can I just drill a 12mm hole and use 3 lengths (20cm) of separate coloured wire to connect the spur? I might possibly fit them in gaine if there's enough room.   

Many thanks. That's sorted that out then. February / March it will be.    

What I know about gardening rivals my indepth knowledge of nuclear fusion (or is it fission?). I recall that the local fields in 17 seem to have plenty of folks cutting back the vines around February time. Last year I followed them and snipped away ruthlessly in February - when in Rome etc. No harm done and we had a good growth later on. It would suit me to get on with a good vine trim around now - late November. Is this OK or a bit dodgy?  

Guess what? The roof work was put back to 20th November due to the gutter glitch. I now have a revised date of 27th November (if it doesn't rain). Watch this space  -  if the work actually happens this side of 2012, I'll let you know how we got on.

Well, it looks like 101 people have had a quick look and not one has bothered to say: Thanks, I took a look and stored in my favourites for when I know I'm back in France. Thanks again for your time.

Un even plus grand condeScending smart ar**.

It's been a while since we've been in France and I haven't seen the lovely chap for some time now. Progress. We did get a revised devis for the TILED roof and another devis from a local firm doing "zinguerie". Coincidently, I'm off to post both of them off to France today and will chase up both contractors when we return next week. Don't suppose anything will happen now until spring.The village does a little Nov 11th ceremony with a few drinkies after - we plan to be there then.

I've no idea if they're any good, but I've found this hand-holding service and so passed on details of www.grannynetwork.com

Chief,   I think I'm with Ron Avery on this one - I thought I was bit obsessive with forward planning but this is just surreal. Chief, you are so much barking up the wrong tree, in the wrong forest and in the wrong country. We've had our maison secondaire for over two years now. I had visions of getting 3 quotes for jobs, knocking down prices and so on. Two years wiser I'm finding even artisans recommended personally need 3 or 4 chases simply to turn up and visit. Don't tell anyone, but now I don't bother getting 3 quotes - one on its own is so damned hard to get. In one case of a plumber he eventually gave a devis but when I wanted a couple of small alterations he was too busy to even find the time to respond. Result: Devis timed-out and now he's not interested at all. I've paid 30% up front to a properly registered brit electrican but 4 months on I often wonder if he's ever going to turn up.  I just might get my roof done though! If I knew then what I know now about how hard it is to get things done I may well have kept my money under the mattress at home - as it was, we bought at the top of the market and would have done better buying now - but that's another story altogether.    

Cat 46, It could be the hopper that connects between the gutter and downpipe. Where the water is "born" (originates) and needs to be channelled away down the tuyau de descente zinc.  

Thanks Paul, The down pipe it is. That bit at 13m long now makes sense. It's  €350. As for the "birth zinc of 80" who knows? I suspect 80 is the trade way of denoting zinc thickness, such as code this or code that for lead thickness. It's an item not a quantity and at only €13.81 out of a total bill of around €1000 so I don't suppose it's super critical even if I don't know what it is   

I would appreciate a little help with just a few words. Finally we have our devis for the mid-roof gutter (regulars will know all about this). We've now missed our November slot (grrrr) and have to wait until Spring as the house gets wetter and wetter. Anyway the devis I want to accept has the following phrases that I am struggling to fully comprehend: ml de cheneau coupé à 0.50  (cheneau ?) naissance zinc de 80      (birth ? er, no) ml tuyau de descente zinc de 80  (mid descent?) Any help would be gladly received.  

Thanks Peter, That's just the kind of thing my friend needs. He can give them a call, look around a few houses, get a feel for the prices with guidance in English, make his own judgements and move on from there. It's a start.

Thinking about it, I don't suppose we're allowed to name and shame - or in this case name and applaud. Perhaps a PM from someone who's had good service might be the way to go. This case really shows what a disablity it is if you can't / won't use the web.

My house (in the Charente Maritime) is nowhere near here but I have been asked by a non-internet-savvy friend to find some good immobiliers who can help him find and buy a house (for cash) in Sète (34) or that side of Montpellier. English speaking would be helpful. The net is overflowing with agents but which ones are better than others?.The plan is for his brother to talk to a couple by phone from UK, then do a basic bit of research on the ground and then report back with a selection of appropriate properties. Someone may have a good word about one or two maybe? 

Yup, the colour printed flyer I'm looking at for "l'autre carte" shows a green card clearly with the word Maestro spread over a blue circle and then a red one. So it's a debit card of sorts, but nowhere near as useful as my UK one. I'll pass up the €14,90 offer. Thanks for the assistance - I'll blow £10 on lottery tickets instead !

Now I am confused. It states in the contract and the CA branch has said it doesn't work - but it does. Is it a ploy by the banks to get us to use the more expensive cards? I, too, have a wallet full of (free to use) UK credit cards which I'm quite happy with. I just want soemthing for fuel and any other emergencies that might crop up where the UK cards just won't do.  If I have the confidence it'll work OK then I'll get one.

We posted at the same time and I didn't see the motorway bit.

Ho Hum! And there was I thinking it would be perfect for autoroute tolls and fuel fill ups in obscure places on Sunday afternoons - shame.

We have a CA current account in Charente Maritime and manage quite well with the cheque book and free cash machine card only. The other card options looked pricey when we first opened the account a couple of years ago, so we didn't take them up. But, to be honest I do miss not being able to use the non-attended fuel stations. Anyway, yesterday I got a mail shot telling me my old card was outdated and I need to collect a new one. The mailshot includes details of   "l'autre carte"  at a cost of 14,90 euros a year - basically a tenner. Reading through the hype of what wonderful things it can do for me, it looks to be identical to the UK bank's debit card which is free in UK and nothing special. Anyway has any body got one? Is it really only €14,90 a year? Can you use it in petrol stations? Could be useful.  

Does this uncertainty explain why Speedferries seem to not allow any bookings for travel next summer?

A fresh scandal has hit football:  A body, perhaps Sophie Ellis-Bextor, has been found found lying in the hotel room of a famous footballer. French police are saying little, but zey have confirmed zey are treating it as "murder on Zidane's floor."