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Claire

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Everything posted by Claire

  1. Does anyone know of a shop in the Clermont Ferrand, Brive area that specialises in cooking ranges (not wood or oil fired) We have seen plenty on the net but want to look at one before we decide to buy. Many kitchen showrooms have one or two but we want to look at as wide a slection as possible under one roof.
  2. I have received a credit note (yes that’s right!!!) from Ryanair due to them changing the time of my flight. However, before you all get too excited I am having problems redeeming it.  I have been give a number to phone which is +353 1 249 7791.  I assume that as I am phoning from France I should add 0044 at the beginning but the number does look a bit strange.  I have six months to redeem the voucher against another flight but I think it will take that long for me to get through.  I have been phoning off and on for four weeks now but unsurprisingly the number is constantly engaged.  I tried to redeem the voucher at East Midlands Airport but they said I can only use it via the phone number.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated
  3. My husband will be 65 in April so we have sent in the forms to Newcastle to apply for the UK state pension.  We are currently paying into the French system, the amount being based on his private pension.  We have been paying for three years.  Does anyone know what we need to do, what forms to fill in to advise CPAM and URSSAF that we will no longer be required to pay into the French system from April 2009. We are assuming that our contributions will not cease automatically.
  4. Thanks - everrything I need to know.  I am going shopping tommorow so wish me luck!!!
  5. Does anyone know of a carpet fitter in the Correze who is able to fit carpets usuing gripper rods and underlay??
  6. Do the French use the same sort of terminology as in the UK when making up curtains.  i.e drop x 2 widths, fully lined, 3" pencil pleat heading? What is is the exact vocabulary please?.  I have used Google but the French looks wrong somehow. We need 5 pairs made up as unfortunately we have had a burst pipe in the loft and water has ruinied 2 bedrooms and the lounge. We also have fabric on the walls in the lounge. Is this usual in France??
  7. We supply bed linen towels tea towels and pool towels (on request)  We don't charge for any of them. We also offer a complete change of all linen and towels for the second week and don't charge for that either.
  8. Hi   There is a fantastic lake at Neuvic which is apprently the cleanest inland waterway in France.  There are several campsites I think and loads to do
  9. We don't put any thing in our arrivals letter about cleaning as we expect to do it ourselves.  However, we have been pleasantly surprised that most guest leave the gite in a very acceptable state, beds stripped and laundry either left by the door or folded neatly on the chairs, fridge and cooker clean and mostly crockery washed and put away. We always do a deep clean for our next guests anyway but it gives me a lift when I walk in and I think "this isn't too bad". 
  10. We got married in France last year and it was all a bit complicated with all the paperwork. However, worth it in the end.  Our Mayor was prepared to marry us anywhere within the commune. We elected to have the service at the Mairie as it was a bit more formal and it was on a Sunday too!!! One small point, to get married in France do you not have to be resident for a certain amount of time to qualify?
  11. We have been told that if we install a new boiler we will receive 50% back through our tax declarations.  We have to pay tax in the Uk (no choice) but declare our income here. As we do not pay tax in France will we be eligible for the refund? We have had various answers to this one from both French and English friends.If we are eligible will we get a cheque like everyone else?
  12. Claire

    Fly poo

    Does anyone know of a product that will remove fly poo from non washable lampshades
  13. We live in South Correze near the Cantal border between Bort Les Orgues and Ussel.  We describe it as a cross between the Lake District and Scotland but much prettier and warmer although probably just as wet. The countryside is absoulutely stunning and the villages extremely beautiful. We have travelled to other areas of france but for us this is the place to be. Yes there are few ex-pats, shopping can be a nightmare as there are only a couple of large towns and these are up to an hour away, and it is very, very quiet. There are no busses, the nearest airport is an hour and a half away, and there is no direct train route to Paris. This said we wouldn't change it for the world.
  14. Does anyone know where I can hire a carpet cleaning machine like the ones you can hire in the UK at large DIY stores? I have tried a general plant hire store and they said to try a dry cleaners.  Is this correct? We live in Dept 19.
  15. How do I insert a picture then ????
  16. No, unfortunately not a chateau. [:(] It sounds as if Clair and I live in the same house. [:D] Sounds like it.  Our house is a large stone house and has a massive stone staircase which we don't heat right in the middle separating the house into two halves, kitchen on one side and lounge on the other.  We also have tile floors, exposed granite walls and no damp course.  The house was built circa 1732.  However, despite the expense and the cold we love it !!!
  17. We get through about 2500 to 3000 litres per year plus wood for the long burner.  Our house is anything but warm.  We only have the heating on for about two hours in the morning and live in the kitchen and lounge for the rest of the day. We are investigating double glazing this year and also changing to gas. Roll on the summer.
  18. Does anyone have a B&B in or around Aurillac. My husband is having an operation in Aurillac hospital and it is too far for me to drive back and forth. We need a double room for 26th and 27th March Please PM me
  19. We never got a letter saying that we had been excluded probably because we have been here for four years and having being paying into the system for two and I think we are up to date with our payments.  However we have just had a letter advising our payments for the coming year, November 2007 to October 2008 and note that our contributions have nearly doubled despite only having declared a small increase on our income (less than 1500 Euros) for 2006. We await our first invoice with baited breath. In the meantime we will try and query the demand.
  20. We got through yesterday after waiting for about half an hour. The lady listened to the problems that had actually been caused by them in the first place (the line to our holiday home should have been diconnected on 1st November 2007 but they arranged disconnection of our main line instead and then we had to pay 55 Euros reconnection fee) It now appears that both lines are still connected although the engineer that came to rectify the error did check at the time and the gite was definitely not working.when he left. She told us she couldn't help and that we had to phone the French speaking line.  We explained that our french was not good enough to explain such a complex story and she said "well get a french neighbour to help" and put the phone down !!!
  21. Fantastic news - Birmingham Limoges would be perfect for me !!!
  22. Hi everyone.  I have lost 2lb this week and finding it easier than the first few days. My worst time of day is the afternoon at about 4pm so am eating loads of fruit and raw carrotts to carry me over to supper time. Next week will be difficult as we are going to the UK for a week to visit family but I will be taking my weight watchers points book with me so I can keep on track (hopefully) The main things I have given up are bread, cheese, potatoes and alcohol and of course chocolate. We were lucky this Christmas as my mom forgot to buy us any chocolates and as I only like Cadburys (mom worked there for many years) I have not had any since our last visit to the UK in early December !!! I hope I can resist next week but her fridge is always full of chocolate.
  23. Hi everyone.  Can I join too?? I began the weight watchers point system healthy eating plan ( I also don't like the word diet) on 2nd January 2008.  I weighed myself this Tuesday and have lost 3lb. It really works for me although I know it doesn't work for everyone.  I want to lose about 12LBS in all so will keep at it for now. My problem is excercise - can't stand it !!!
  24. Does anyone know of a clarifying shampoo available in France that will combat the effects of hard water ie cleanse the hair of the build up of chemicals. 
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