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Matelot

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Posts posted by Matelot

  1. I have worked in both the private and public sector.

    In the Private Sector I remember working bl--dy hard to get good results, but being rewarded on top of my salary/commission with financial bonuses’ or ‘Employee of the Month’ goodies like a Ferrari for the weekend or luxury hotel breaks, etc. Did I stop to consider the plight of the lower paid Public Sector in Maggies ‘Golden Days’ – did I hell!

    Serving some years later in the Public Sector, I also worked dam’n hard with long hours and also got good results. Did I receive a bonus or any extra ‘bunts’? No, not a penny. But I carried on doing a worthwhile job that – although moderately paid – came with the contractual agreement of a decent pension at the end of my working life

    Re last Wednesday’s strike, consider this: Francis Maude's publicly funded pension is £43,825 a year with a pot of £731,883 David Cameron's publicly funded pension is £32,978 a year with a pot of £550,725 George Osborne's publicly funded pension is £32,978 a year with a pot of £550,725 Nick Cleggs's publicly funded pension is £28,404 a year with a pot of £440,000 Eric Pickles' publicly funded pension is £43,825 a year with a pot of £731,883 Vince Cable's publicly funded pension is £39,551 a year with a pot of £660,507 Andrew Lansley's publicly funded pension is £39,551 a year with a pot of £660,507 Danny Alexander's publicly funded pension is £26,404 a year with pot of £440,942.

    The average public sector ‘Gold Plated Pension’ pension is around £4,000 a year.

    All In This Together?!?!? I think not!

    Of course there are people on ‘cushy’ jobs in both sectors. But the majority of workers – both private and public - are hard working ordinary folk who just want to be treated fairly.

    There should be decent, fair pensions for all. Not just for Bankers, CEO’s or Civil Service /Town Hall bosses. (Or MP’s!!)

    I know many people like to bash the unions, but think on this. We can thank the unions for weekends off, eight-hour working days, maternity leave, retirement ages, occupational health and safety, workplace pensions, paid holidays, equality laws, the right not to be sacked because you got married, had a baby, or became ill, pay increases, the minimum wage. No wonder the current Government is attempting to convince you they're evil!

    And if you think I’m in a public sector job for life – wrong! After more than twenty years working in a job that had a direct impact on the security of the community, I was made redundant last summer!

    We all make career choices - right or wrong.

    Rant over!

  2. Hi,

    I plan on fitting some new windows in our cottage later this month. They will be ‘Bois Exotique’ or hardwood. Can anyone recommend a good quality wood stain/varnish product to seal and preserve the wood?

    I don’t mind if it is French or English as long as “it does exactly what it says on the tin!”

    Any info would be gratefully received.

    Many Thanks

  3. Hi there!

    Has anyone managed to pre-order and pay for items using the Brico-Depot website?

    I have created my account online and have reserved some items (hardwood windows). I would like to pay, or at the very least reserve for collection when I arrive in France in a couple of weeks.

    For the life of me, I cannot seem to find the equivalent of: “Go to checkout” on the page. Any ideas?

    Many thanks

  4. Indeed! I remember many a good run ashore along the 'Hard'. Then going for a few more wets at the Mucky Duck or Yorkshire Grey followed by a take-away from Manns Cafe before going back on board and being tucked in all safe and sound and snug by the Chief Stoker.

    Unless of course, I'd have trapped a 'gronk' at the Widow's Hop at Joanna's!!! Then who knows where I would have laid my boyish, tousled head! Ah memories!

    Oh, er, Sussex... South Downs, nice villages and towns, good beaches - basically it's very nice!
  5. Good points Cooperlola! Regarding the tax situation, we would be taxed on our pensions here in the UK. But you are right to suggest that we err on the side of caution.

     I think we could get by with spending five months of the year in La Belle France!![:D]

    Just out of interest Garden-Girl, do you have to inform your UK house insurer if you are away from any length of time and do they 'load' your premium in any way? 

    Thanks again for all replies!

     

  6. Hi there,

     I am hoping to hear from forum members who are retired and resident in the UK but who take the opportunity to visit France for extended holiday periods throughout the year.

    My wife and I have a cottage in Loir-et-Cher which we use for holiday visits. Because of work we only manage to visit three times a year. However, we are well established in our little village because we have had the house for 22 years and we have a large circle of (mostly French) friends and neighbours.

     Because of the cuts in the public sector I will find myself redundant at the end of the summer and my wife will possibly face redundancy early next year. We are in our mid 50’s and will have our occupational pensions and no mortgage on our UK property. We will be what the French refer to as ‘inactifs’.

     The idea is to visit France for several periods of between 4 – 8 weeks throughout the year. Basically more holidays and for longer![:D] [:D] [:D] I am trying to find out the pro’s & con’s of this: i.e. legal length of stay, reciprocal healthcare, car insurance for longer stays, unoccupied property insurance, etc., and would like to hear from anyone who has a ‘foot in both camps’ and their experiences – good or bad.

    I know there is a wealth of information on the internet (and in this forum), but it is always good to get practical information from individuals already doing this.

    So thanks in advance to anyone kind enough to reply.    

    Amicalement!

  7. Shhhhhhh! Be very very quiet! Can you hear that faint humming? That's the sound of Nelson spinning in his grave!

    It would be interesting to serve on a Anglo/French ship though. Better scran (grub) and prettier Wrens! (Got to be better than the old HMS Hermes!)

    It's true though, that whatever agreement our Gallic cousins sign up to, they will always put their country first. About bl**dy time we did too, instead of always 'playing the game' and getting our noses rubbed in it!

    Vive la France and Remember Nelson!
  8. Hi there,

    As sterling loses more and more of its value, I am looking at ways of saving money with our maison secondaire in France. In particular the dreaded phone bill.

     

    The situation is this: We have had a ‘bog standard’ land line with France Telecom for over ten years. We get over to the cottage several times a year, but there are gaps of several months between visits, and I am starting to begrudge paying in the region of €50 every two months for the telephone line rental when the cottage is closed.  We have no computer at the house and the phone is used just for calling French friends or phoning home from time to time.

     

    Cunning Plan A:

    I have read that it is possible to suspend the line rental for periods of a month or more when the property is vacant and thereby save on rental charges. I have looked at my France Telecom online account, but the facility does not seem to be there. It may be because our contract is over ten years old. Is it fairly straightforward to change to a new contract where the suspension service is available?  If so, what should I ask for?

     

    Cunning Plan B:

    If the above proves to be a huge pain in the derriere, my better half has suggested that we ditch the land-line altogether and purchase a French pay as you go phone that we leave at the cottage.  I have read that Leclerc are doing some good deals on pay-as-you-go? How easy is it to cancel a phone contract with France Telecom?

     

    I value any suggestions on the above and thank you for any advice.

     

    BTW – What is the French term for Pay As You Go?

     

    Many thanks

  9. After cooking, strain the hot duck (or goose) fat thru a fine seive or cloth & put it in a large kilner jar. Let it cool and bung it in the fridge (or cave) and it's good for months.

    BTW - Charlotte spuds sautéd in duck fat, sprinkled with sea salt and served with a nice juicy medium-rare steak, a mâche salad with a walnut vinaigrette and a bottle of Buzet. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!  

    Now that's good eatin' mes enfants! [:D]

  10. Thanks everyone for your replies.

    I must say that I prefer Campanile if arriving early evening. Ensuite bathroom, decent restaurant and nice rooms. However, I shall only need somewhere to 'crash out' for the night and Formula1 is just the job. There's only me and me doggie to worry about as 'Senior Management' is staying at home.[;-)] [:-))] [B] [B] [B]

    Formula1 may be a bit basic, but they are clean with plenty of hot water. Having served in Her Britannic Majesty's Royal Navy for several years, I can assure you I have slept in places that are a lot worse! [+o(]

  11. Hello there!

    Has anyone had any problems with getting access to the Formula 1 motels in the wee hours?

    I shall be going over to France next month but my crossing is late in the evening and by the time I arrive at my planned stop for some much needed beauty sleep,[;-)] it will be about 1 or 2.am.

    I have a motel in mind and plan to pre-book online to get my reservation number. However, the last thing I want to do after a long day is to stand there like a lemon punching numbers and no access. [:@]  

    It all looks straightforward in principal, but with my luck.....

    Thanks for any replies! 

  12. Hello Everyone!

    Many thanks for all of your replies and ideas. Methinks I shall go for the 'Belt and Braces' approach with Eucalyptus scented cotton wall balls near any mouseholes, crushed moth-balls down the mouseholes, conditioner sheets under the furniture cushions and some of those ultrasonic gizzmos plugged in!

    It's war!  

  13. Hello there,

    I'm not sure where to post this, so here goes.

    Can anyone give me their experience with pest control – namely the problem with pesky mice!  

    We are not overrun, but sometimes when our cottage has been closed for a few months, mice have caused some damage to furnishings and it’s not very nice to open up the cottage and discover dead and decomposing mice as a result of the poison we put down doing its deadly work.

     Has anyone had any success with the plug in electronic ultrasonic rodent deterrents? Although I am slightly wary about leaving devices plugged into the mains for a couple of months at a time, I am willing to give them a go if they work. I have also seen a battery operated ultrasonic rodent scarer, but I do not know if it would be effective or not. Has anyone used one of these with success?

     Any information or advice on combating these little furry b*******  would be very welcome!

    BTW - I won't have the mouse problem when I eventually retire to France 'cos I'll get myself a big old Tom Cat or a Jack Russell.

    Or both!   

    I HATE THOSE MEECES TO PIECES!!!!!!!!

  14. Hi Foxy!

    I took out a flat-pack kitchen from Ikea from the UK to our cottage last Easter. It was very reasonably priced, well constructed and if I can put it together – anyone can! Also, all the units, hinges and drawer fittings come with a 25 year guarantee! (Not the doors, for obvious reasons). The oven and hob was purchased from local guy, but all the cupboards, worktops, sink and taps came from Ikea.

     You can go online and download a brilliant kitchen design tool. All you need are the dimensions of your kitchen area.

     Now that Ikea are expanding in France, check out your nearest store. Prices are similar and if you buy in France, you don’t have to lug umpteen boxes hundreds of miles!

     Really pleased with Ikea stuff – go for it!

    I've tried to add some photos, but failed miserably! Drop me a e-mail if you want to see the finished result.

     

    Cheers! 

  15. Hi there,

    (Blimey - I've had my moneys worth on this Forum in the last few days!)

     

    I have recently had a new kitchen fitted in my French cottage. As well as new cupboards, units, etc, I had a new built in electric oven installed and a combination gas/electric hob set in to the worktop above. Gas is supplied by bottled gas in a cupboard next to the cooker.

     

    When I went to our local Catena DIY store to buy a connection pipe for the hob, I told the salesperson (who was not some spotty youth) exactly what I was looking for and what it was going to connect. He handed me a packet containing a reinforced rubber tube, pointing out the date markings, which meant that I should change the tube by that date.

     

    I took the pipe home and that afternoon a local supplier delivered the oven and hob. Together, he and the plumber installed both and connected everything up.  “Job’s a Good’Un” - we celebrated the completion of the kitchen with a glass of rosé all round.

     

    It was only upon my return to the UK, that I read somewhere in this forum that the pipe connecting the bottle to the hob, should be of the metal flexible variety. I am surprised, because neither the appliance supplier (a well-recommended local guy) nor the plumber/heating engineer mentioned anything at the time. Also, the gas cooker I replaced also had a date stamped rubber pipe connecting the burners to the gas bottle.

     

    Can someone enlighten me please as to the why’s & wherefores of this, as I do not relish the hassle of dragging out the oven unit and changing the pipe, regardless of the expense.

     

    Over to the experts!

    Many thanks!

  16. Hello there!

    We have had Nationwide accounts for nearly twenty years.

    We are thinking of upping sticks and retiring to France next year. We won't have an english address anymore, so will we still be able to use our Nationwide a/c for the receipt of interest, pensions, etc? 

    (I seem to remember reading somewhere in this thread, of a forum member receiving his N/W statements in France.)   

    Cheers!

  17. Hi everyone,

    Thanks for all your replies - very useful.

    Gyn_Paul - actually I asked the plumber about putting in a 100 ltr tank. He recommended the 30ltr one as:

    • It heats up very quickly, so is more economical. (We turn the electricity on when we arrive at the cottage. By the time we have unpacked the car and had a cup of tea, the water is hot.) Appparently the larger tanks can take ages to heat up.

    • we can easily get three good showers out of the tank as the water is so bl--dy hot!

    I'll try turning it down and see what that does.

    Thanks again folks.

     

     

  18. Hi

     I am considering putting a conservatory on the rear of my French cottage. To make optimum use of space I would ideally like a conservatory that is 4m x 6m making a total of 24M2. The only thing that is daunting is because the size is 4M2 over the 20M2 limit, I am going to have to apply for planning permission.

    My questions to the forum are as follows:

    1. is the process of obtaining planning permission such a pain in the derriere that I would be better off building a smaller conservatory and keeping within the 20M2 limit?

    2. Or is it fairly straightforward for a simple project like a conservatory?

    What are your experiences with obtaining planning permission for such a build?

    I don’t necessarily want to employ an architect, just for an extra 4M2! As I say to my wife - size isn't everything!

     Any help and advice please!

    Merci!

  19. Bonjour! 

    Last year I had an electric water heater (Chauffe-eau) fitted in our French holiday home. This replaced an old and potentially lethal ascot type gas heater. I'm very pleased with the new appliance as there is virtually nothing to go wrong and although only 30litres in capacity, it supplies ample hot water at a very high temperature. When showering, for example, approximately only 10litres of hot water is used, as it has to be mixed with about 20 litres of cold for a comfortable shower. It is wall-mounted and sits quietly in a corner of the bathroom and we just leave it alone - brilliant!

     

    However, when it was installed the plumber said the appliance should be left switched on all the time when we are at the cottage. He said the thermostat would ‘kick-in’ every so often to keep the water at the maximum temperature.

    We just turn the heater off when we leave and close up the cottage.

     

    My question is this: Generally we only need hot water in the mornings and evenings, for showers and washing up, etc. Therefore, would it not be more economic to fit a timer so that the water heater comes on twice a day? For example, 0600 to 0800 and then again at, say, 17.00 to 19.00. The heater only takes about 40 minutes to heat up (from cold) and once the water is at maximum temperature, it remains quite hot for a good 8-10 hours if the appliance is switched off.  

    It would not be heating from cold twice daily. Just from hot to very hot.

     

    Does anyone have any thoughts or advice on this? I’m just looking to cut down my electricity bills!

     

    Thanks for any info or advice.

     

  20. I think you are right Nick. Once bitten........[:(]

    Still, hey-ho! It's all experience. After 18 years I'm still learning!

    I was just glad to get the kitchen fitted in the two weeks I had over there.

    More importantly, She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed-In-All-Things has seen the photos of the finished project and has voiced approval, so Matelot lives to sail again!! Huzzah! [;-)]

    Salut!  

  21. Hi FA,

    I must say that I have had no problem with the quality of French wood preservative or outdoor paint products - excellent, but very expensive. But I agree with you, if they do a good job, it's worth paying the price. 

    French interior paint, however, is another story. It is expensive and I find generally inferior. I can get a better finish from Wickes trade range (and certainly Leyland) than the dearest paint from Brico Marché.

    Eur80,00 is exhorbitant when I could have done the same job by mixing trade brilliant white silk with a pot of PVA.

    I just wanted to let folks know of my experience to avoid possible heart failure of any Forum Members! 

    I think the trick is to load one's brush according to the job in hand!

    All the best! 

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