Bing Creuse Bear

or "sous ce pli" ?

As a beginner in the maison secondaire world, I appreciate all the posters above who have shared their tips and experience. It is invaluable. Thank you.

I like it! Very clever.

Sorry didn't realise it was an emergency!

Why not ask them?

Wow Derekj - great picture. The clouds look so dramatic behind the town, almost larger than life. Have you been tinkering in Photoshop? A skilled photo either way.

Good grief! Tho' to be picky, I don't see the Limousin in the list (or would that be covered by the Basse-Auvergne)!  Many thanks for all the detail, The series sounds just what I'm looking for. I shall go away and do some research. You are a star.

Thanks for your pearls of wisdom Gastines. I detect the experience of many years in the trade. I know it snobbish of me but I just shudder at the thought of fake wood worm holes and polyeurothane (spelling?) varnish. I'd take an honest modern piece of well made furniture any day. Could you give me the details of your trusty manual and maybe I can hunt down a copy for myself. I love old, functional furniture but would like to acquire a more educated eye.

Any furniture experts out there? What are the signs of age and quality in french furniture and are there any differences in construction techniques to english furniiture from a similar date?  Is it 'what you see is what you get'? I don't mean the high end of the market but your basic farmhouse armoires, tables, chairs and benches etc. Is there any literature out there on the subject? 

I've been looking them up in the HF-G's River Cottage Cookbook. If you have the foreigners then the endangered ones are likely to be long gone. Also their favourite snack is fish eggs.He has several tips for trapping them and also some recipes! Yum!

Can you catch them ( the foreigners) or are they a protected species? I've heard they make great eating. I'm sure I read somewhere that the UK River Conservation people even sold traps in the UK. Anyone know?

That's a very interesting site. Thanks for telling me. Might be just the thing.

Brilliant response! Thanks for all your suggestions!

We are on the Creuse/Indre border and want to camp out in our 'dream home' (translation = ruin) this summer to start some of the renovation work.  Can anyone recommend where we can buy such sundries as: inflatable mattress, camping cooking equipment, portapotty etc. I don't know the area well enough to know where to head for, Chateauroux? Limoges? Gueret? or somewhere else? And what to look for, a big Intermarche? Mr Bricolage? I'd welcome some advice from older hands. Many thanks in advance

Round here (Creuse) there's a shoe repair guy at the market every week that does key cutting and engraving.

Being new to home ownership in France I have really appreciated the practical tips given on this thread both from holiday home owners and gite owners. Please continue to share your experiences and tips with us!

Gives new meaning to the term 'tailgateing'. What about a caption competition?

Mea culpa - I should have qualified my posting more clearly.  Neighbour suggested we should pump out some of the water which had probably been stagnating at the bottom of the well for 20 years to allow 'fresh' (I use the term loosely) water to replenish the well so that the water test would be a fair investigation of the quality of the water in the water table. There, hope that is clear (relatively, of course, and not referring to the water!)

In similar situation. Advice given so far: Chemist does 2 tests: first to check basic water quality - ordinary bottle 1.5L - takes about 2 weeks, second is only done if first is OK and is for human drinking quality - sterile bottle- don't know how long it takes. Talked about it with neighbour who also suggested we empty well first as unused for 20 years. His idea was to call the fire brigade to do it, either for a fee or even as part of one of their training exercises. Another neighbour, who happens to be a part time fireman thought this would be quite possible and is going to talk it over with his chef.  Which is as far as we have got. Hope it helps.

Thanks Chris I enjoyed seeing your work on the website- especially liked the totem poles. Great fun!

Many thanks for the kind words and good advice but surely I would have to know someone before wishing to wind them up? I am a mere novice on an honest quest and now that I have located the chainsaw carver not so well hidden in Creuse... are there any printmakers out there?

I am an enthusiastic amateur and am interested in finding out a little more about the artistic landscape around the Creuse area of Limousin and over the border into Indre. I hear there are lots of painters around Crozant and Gargilesse, ceramicists around Les Tuilleries de Pouligny, a chainsaw sculptor and a knife maker too somewhere in the hills.  How about printmakers? And photographers? Any other art or craft? Are there any specialist fairs you would recommend? And do any of you run workshops/ holiday courses etc? Many thanks.