[Really good tiler.]

The posting is a genuine 3rd party posting. We have no connection to the artisan other than he did some work for my parents and we thought others might find it helpful.

We always prefer to use someone that is recommended rather than just hoping they are good as we have had our fingers burned in the past.

[Really good tiler.]

I have spoken with Maurice the Tiler and he has given me his wife's mobile number who speaks some English. She is called Maguy (tel number deleted by the moderators).

The work he did for us has been fantastic and he was contracted by a local builder who constructed the house for my parents. Regarding certification, if anyone is interested they would need to discuss this with Maurice.

Regards.

Edited by the moderators:

To contact Maguy, please send Scooter a PM. Please do not post personal contact details on the forum.

[Where do you look for holidays?]

Excellent news - really pleased it has worked for you.

Scooter

[Really good tiler.]

Hi

If anyone needs an artisan for floor or wall tiles we had a gentleman do all the flooring in our parents house and he was excellent.

He is new to the area and asked if we would mind letting people know. He lives in the midi pyrenees but is willing to travel.

If anyone wants more information, please email us and we would be happy to give you his details.

Regards. Ron and Carole

[Where do you look for holidays?]

Excellent.

We have found this site great and the guests have been fab too.

Helps if you have basic tools for them and facilities for them to wash their bikes (and clothes if on a long journey).

They have been really helpful with my own bike too giving me lots of tips and ideas.

Ron

[8 cyclists with bikes, large mini bus or sprinter hire toulouse or carcassonne airport]

Thanks for the advice, I will have to check with the guests, it could be they are willing to travel into Toulouse.

Best wishes.

Ron

[8 cyclists with bikes, large mini bus or sprinter hire toulouse or carcassonne airport]

Hi

We have 8 or 9 cyclists arriving in Toulouse with their bikes wanting to hire a vehicle large enough to fit them all in - can any one advise on what to hire and from whom either from Toulouse or Carcassonne aiport.

Thanks.

[Cost of staying for a month]

Hi

We have a bed and breakfast in the midi pyrenees. Single cost for a bed with breakfast varies from 30 - 44 euros depending on the season.

We also offer one night free for every week booked.

Hope that helps to give you an idea of costs.

ron

[Where do you look for holidays?]

Hi

Hope it works for you. We work on the basis that if the bookings cover the cost of the site and a little more it is worth it.

Then word of mouth from guests after that.

Best wishes.

[Where do you look for holidays?]

Hi

Yes, we advertise on it and have had 3 bookings so far which has been great.

You can have a look at our advertisement and see what you think. It is Chalet le Chapeau Bleu in St Beat in the Haute Garonne, Midi Pyrenees.

It has been worth the money and effort for us.

Good luck with your new enterprise.

Ron

[Where do you look for holidays?]

Bike Stay France is an excellent site and not that expensive.

Hope this helps.

Scooter

[Official Translators]

Hi

 

I needed to translate my fathers driving licence.  Used the following official translater and she did it all by post very quickly and I thought cheaply.

[email protected]

Hope this helps.

 

 

[EDF Tariffs]

Thanks for this.  We must be doing something wrong I am sure.

Ours is much more expensive.  Going to have to check our tariff I think and phone the English helpline and see if there is anything we can do.

Great forum, really helpful.

 

Ron

[EDF Tariffs]

Gosh that was quick.  Thanks for the number - will give it a try.

Ron

[EDF Tariffs]

Thanks for the help.

Is there an English speaking helpline do you know for EDF?

 

Ron

[How to sweep the chimney of an inset fire?]

Hiya

We have a Jotel wood burning fire.  Would always recommend getting a professional once a year because of insurance.  You are generally not covered if there is a problem by your insurance unless you get the certificate once a year.

Ron

[Phone...landline or mobile?]

Hi

We live in St Beat in Haute Garonne (31) and have a landline.

Got a package from UK Telecom which now offer you a landline, wireless broadband, free telephone calls to other landlines in many countries.  Comes in at around 43 euros a month.

Also got friends who swear by neuf.fr.

Hope that helps.

Ron

[EDF Tariffs]

Hi

Electricity in France is not cheap.  We have been recommended to go on the tariff where you have I think blue, green and red days.  Blue I think dead cheap but red really expensive (and always when there is snow or low temperatures).

Having a B&B means we cannot always dictate the usage.  Anyone on the tariff and if so, have you found it a lot cheaper?

Be interested in your thoughts.

Ron

Chalet le Chapeau Bleu (31)

www.lechapeaubleu.com

[Anyone near Boulogne sur Gesse in the Gers?]

Hi

We live in St Beat, about 20 minutes from Bagneres de Luchon and 7km from the border of Spain and love it.  Lots of walks, lakes.  Get in touch if you want to know more.

Ron

Chalet le Chapeau Bleu

www.lechapeaubleu.com

[Anyone near Boulogne sur Gesse in the Gers?]

Hi

We live south of the motorway and Boulogne Sur Gesse.

Had a guest stay with us in our B&B who has bought in Boulogne.  Depends what you want, he said there are quite a few English people with houses or who live there.  Usually find more English North of the motorway than you do South.

We also have a friend who has a house at Bazordan, cant say the weather is that much different if I am honest.

So, if you want to be near the mountains to ski, get a house there.  Summers are red hot, winters are on the whole sunny.  This year February was glorious, lots of snow and sunny days.

If you want more English people around you, go north of the motorway.

We live in St Beat which is on the road from Montrejeau to Lerida in Spain.

If you want to know more by all means get in touch, happy to help.

 

Ron

Chalet le Chapeau Bleu

www.lechapeaubleu.com

[Does Anyone Have Any Experience Of Buying Online From IKEA France]

Hi

Yes, we live in the Midi-Pyrenees about 1.5 hours from Toulouse IKEA.

Ordered a chair and it was delivered within the week, no probs at all.  Great service.

 

Ron

[Health cover via chambre d'hote and 2 furnished holiday apartment rentals]

Yes you are right.

That would be helpful as if she has to give up work it is our main income.

Do you know.  If she had a E106 for two years, would it cover me too or would we be classed as separate?

Scooter

[Health cover via chambre d'hote and 2 furnished holiday apartment rentals]

Thanks.

Yes please, the name of the company would be really useful as it is probably short term cover we need.

Scooter.

[Health cover via chambre d'hote and 2 furnished holiday apartment rentals]

Thanks Panda

She is/was paying NI but applied for a working E106 to be told not entitled and will have to come out of NI  and to write to French SS to join.

She phoned them, got a personal email of the lady to write to - got a read receipt all early December but has heard nothing.  In the meantime she is continuing to pay NI becuase what else can she do.  The problem they say is that she does not do 100% of her work in the UK - even though the only work in France is for UK via intranet - no trading or anything with French.  This will mean that her company have to contribute to French SS and they made it clear when she came out here to live that they wouldn't do that so could mean the end of work which would be a nightmare.

Thanks again.

Scooter

[Health cover via chambre d'hote and 2 furnished holiday apartment rentals]

It isn't either of our main income unfortunately so dont know where that leaves us.

One of us has a pension (around 10,000 Euros a year) - early retirement

The other works full time for UK company.

We are setting this business up so that my wife can give up work in the UK and we can top up my pension to perhaps double.

It is this interim period that is the pain and we haven't a clue what to do - thinking of using Siddalls initially - has anyone got experience of them?

Ta