tracteurtom

My too, dont wish to sound condescending but please don't mess with such an old clock as this, not unless you know what you are doing (and if you did you wouldn't have asked the question  here).   It would be a shame to spoil something so old due to lack of knowledge.  My guess is that the clock also needs  a full service (clean and oil).  So do yourself a favour (and your hiers) and talk to some local clock makers and get it a proper seeing to. Do NOT think that a quick spray of WD40 will sort out  the oiling.   All that will do is make a fine grinding paste by combining with the old dust and grease and will distroy the mechanism.

No sparks, you need to check the interlocks are working.  If you disconnect the wire at the engine that the interlocks connect to does it start then ?  If it does then the problem is in the chassis wiring or switches/connectors, if not the problem is in the ignition system on the  motor - is it electronic or does it  have points (will need cleaning etc) ?  You will need to remove the  flywheel to investigate further. BTW if it does start when you  have the interlocks disconnected stop it by applying full choke - tout de suite !!

By heck,  3 hrs there, 3 hrs back all to save - maybe - a handful of euros !  You're mad !!  If you're short of something to do, come here and I'll find you something to keep you occupied..................

Hah Chris, best buddy, I knew you were but I didnt want to fall out [kiss] (x2 here in Correze) Actually, after looking at the ebay totem pole I got to thinking, thats quite nice and an  ideal garden  focus point, and I even thought its not very titmarsh - way too expensive!  Then you tell  me that  you think that the ebay one is rubbish and you can do better ????  Photos please ! Know what you  mean about burning out, it took me nye on 2 years to clear my mind of all the work crap I used  to do (IT Project Management).  I just didnt realise how stupid it all was and how involved I was in such ridiculus things, Stress I guess, but, stupid me never took the time off, until they made me redundant........... Why do people insist on trying to do english gardens in France ?  When you buy a property here, you most likely get big space, even the OPs garden of 250m2 is big by UK standards.  People, leave the titchy space mindset behind.  I have more space lost under hedges than my whole plot including the house had in the UK !

The buggers don't drown (I assume you mean  in water ? ).  You need to kill them when you have the chance, do not let them out of sight.  Never tried the petrol / vinegar thing and it'll probably  work,  but that costs and if you spill petrol on the plants, it'll  propably kill the plant as well !

[quote user="Chris Head"]Are garden gnomes really naff? I thought they were all the rage...need to get out more. Hey PC, we don't all have your wild imagination or landscape design eperience [6], totems and decking are cool, you can buy rooobarb in the shops but you can't buy totem in the shops so HAA.[/quote] I'll take that as a compliment Chris - wild  imagination and landscape design experience - wow,  thanks. Totems and decking  are not cool and you can buy anything these days via the interweb if so possessed, except just picked fruit and veg, so stick that on top of your totem  !  Actually, I think we had better call a truce as we are obviously of opposite minds, Friends OK ??? PS, I actually quite like garden gnomes........................[:)]

We use what we call the killing stone.  Just crush them with another stone against the killing stone, you end up with a paste of Colorado, yuk !  Thats what my wife uses, I generally just crush the bugs and eggs with my fingers, and use the stones for the larvae as they are just too messy for your fingers !

This pest is a causing me so much extra work at the moment, it makes you think thats growing pots is a waste of time.  What God was thinking about when he wrote the blueprint for these things, goodness knows (or should that be God only knows ! )  one for the Bible pushers next  time they visit me thinks.  Anyhow, after spending the previous 2 years using pesticides I concluded that this action is a waste of time.  The only way I know of (and I've spent hours on t'interweb looking  for solutions) is to pick them off and squash them.  It takes me hours to go up and down the rows, checking each leaf for bugs, larvae and eggs, but its the only way and  the more through you are, the better the (temporary) fix.  But dont think, oh I've got rid  of those 'orrid things now, because as soon as you turn your back , they will be back.  They seem to live in the soil and if you look carefully around the stems at soil level, you can quite often see one or two, just lurking around waiting for you to go.  They also have wings, but I dont know when they use these.  They have an annoying habit of just dropping off the leaf as soon as you move the plant, this seems to be their only defence. Dont forget to check your toms and aubergines also, as they have a liking for those as well.  I think there is a lot of money to be made by anyone who comes up with a proper fix for these things. [:@]

CH, You talk about asthetics etc and are not prepared to grow Rhubarb - very strange ??????? and a totem  pole, well if thats not titmarsh I  dont know what is ! Get real CH  [:P]

You are very brave (or dare I say foolish ? ) buying a car on ebay.  It is a haven for getting rid of junk and in particular dodgy cars.  Be very careful.  Before you bid try and see the car (not always possible I know), if not get the seller to make statements like:  there  is no rust; never been used by a smoker; no dents; seats like new;  full service history etc, that cover the sorts of things that bother you.  Then when going to pick up the car it is obvious that the cigar lighter thng has been used or there is rusty patch somewhere, you have a legal ebay get out - not as described.   You can then default on the deal without - in theory - getting bad feedback.  If the seller does you, you do him, do not give feedback until you have received your's. Ther are many great deals in cars to be had on ebay, but  you need  to  be very careful.  When searching for a certain model save them and just watch how many that are supposidly sold get relisted, its amazing  !  Just proves my point, there is a lot junk for sale on ebay, and we havent even mentioned stolen cars and those without paperwork ?

Whats all this rubbish about, and not one welshman, sheep and wellies joke ! To get back on track, don't forget to include in the plan what I consider the essentials:  a compost area, a bonfire (oil drum type maybe) area and a shed.  Also (IMHO of course ! ) a garden without rhubarb is a missed opportunity, Englands best pudding, rhubarb crumble  yummy.................  [kiss]

JK, Bindweed needs to be dug out by hand.  If you use your digger then all you will do is spread it around and what was maybe 100 roots will be 1000 roots next  year !  Cut the tops off the bind weed, and then trace them back to the roots,  its surprising  just how much top one root can feed.  When you have the root, just fork it up, but be very careful to get ALL the root.  Just keep at it, as a previous poster said, and you will win in the end.  Easy said, I know, but a lot of hard work.  BTW, Decking is decking, call it want you want, make it out of what you want, but it is still decking and will be referred to by others as decking, is that OK ?  To me, it just smacks of suburbia UK, people trying to make something out out a tiny space.  Gardening on a large scale is relatively easy, getting it right in a small patch is very difficult.   I just worked out that if your patch is 250m2 and assuming a spade depth (say 250mm) of top soil you  have a gross total of over 60 m3 of top soil - thats alot of digging even for a mechanical digger, keep the top soil where it is and work around it.  Spend this year, sorting out  the weeds and finalising the plans.  Its not a race and time spent thinking about the area, where you want to sit, sunny spots, shady areas, ugly bits etc is time well spent.

Weedkiller, Round up seems to be used alot around here, there are others, maybe speak with the sales person in your local suppliers and tell them what you need it for. I know that some weed killers have a anti germination chemical in them  and are used by the councils etc in communial parks and gardens.  So if your planning on plants in the cleared area then its best to stay away from these types; again, speak with the person selling you the stuff, if you dont like the answer, go elsewhere.  Good weed killer is expensive, so don't be shocked  at the price.  It may (probably will) take a couple of applications to kill the weeds, particularly with the likes of bramble. Brushtop - umm Brush cut - is simply a blade on a strimmer, or more accurately a  Brush Cutter.  Nylon line is no good for brambles as it  just snags and  breaks, use a blade, or if not such a large area, simply use scatateurs (how do you spell that ???). The fruit is next year's new plants  and spread - I think ? by birds etc, so just keep them under control, no flowers, no fruit, no seeds, no new plants, remember you're the chef  !! I didnt know there was a French area of Wales, or a Wales in France ??  Please explain, and no sheep and wellies jokes !

Decking is so 90s and titmarsh / changing gardens inspired.  Forget it not unless it solves - ecomonically - a  level problem.  But you have a digger and only 250m2 - wow -  I think ponds and serious landscaping is a goer here. Brambles are a real pain.  Weed kill first, leave for a couple of weeks and then brush cut the tops (they are even worse when dead and insist on attacking you whenever you go near them !!)  then burn the waste.  Do NOT let them set seed anymore. Why do you  live in Wales - thats not very French ???????????

Chris pp, I've been reading  this Forum for some time now and always respect your posts, if  anyone knows his wildlife its you.  So please could you expand a little on the  asp / viper venom thing.  I was told you need to get to hospital ASAP if you get bitten and you must get a dog to the vets in under 2 hrs after a bite.  Are you saying  thats rubbish?  Being  a Beekeeper I've been stung what must be 100s if not 1000s of times and yes it can be unpleasant (the swelling is the worst bit and if its on the face or neck its not nice) and it takes 72 hrs to clear, but I thought that the snake  asp venom was on another level ? For anyone living in and around stinging / biting  insects I recommend getting  a suction pump from the Chemist.  You apply to the bite / sting  and it sucks the venom out, leaving a round red mark on your skin!  It hurts a little but much less so than that caused by the subsequent swelling if left unchecked.

[quote user="ErnieY"][ There's good and bad everywhere, you hear tales of buyers in the UK entering their new house only to find things like the light fittings and wall sockets have been taken, or sometimes worse. [/quote] Laugh, they took the bath and sink plugs out of our house - very strange and most annoying.  It meant a trip to the local Brico, and I was amazed at the range of sink plugs available, all different sizes.  It must be a common French thing ? But they left a dish washer umm, why did they do that ?  I soon found out, it was plumbed in with one of those dodgy clamp / pierce the water pipe things, evil they are, as soon as I tried to unscrew the pipe from the dishwasher, the tap fell off and we had water everywhere !  The joys of buying a run down property.  [:'(]

If its under 5000m2 then there shouldn't be too much of a delay, so long as you haven't specified certain conditions (subject to plannig permission etc) - but this is France and they do like to ensure every bit of paperwork is copied many times and distributed to as many people as poss and each bit of paper seems to have 2 weeks plus turn-a-round! However, if its over 5000m2 then it will have to be posted with SAFER where the locals are first offered the land at the price you are prepared to pay.  The locals have priority I understand over you.  Also its a check to ensure that you are not paying under the odds (amount declared) for the land.  This process took over 3 months in our case, most frustrating but no matter how much pressure we put on the immobilier, we were told its the system and we must wait. Thats as it was 3 years ago, it might be different now ?

What mount do you need ?  I have a genuine Nikon 80-200 f2.8 autofocus f mount, with box and case, as new that I'm thinking of ebaying.  Its a big glass !  Interested ?

To  keep the weeds under control I put an old tractor tyre around the rhubarb.  I dont have to worry then when I strim around the plant and by adding more tyres, its acts as a forcing pot.  Practical, but not pretty.

Umm, not a Border, but if you would like a Parson Russell Terrier, email me.  We had a litter of 4 in March, 1 male left, LOF registered, chipped and vaccinated, superb linage, a handsome chap !

Treat yourself to a nice coq-au-vin and get over it.  There are plenty of chickens here.  Then again she maybe a rare, endangered breed ? Perhaps you could get someone to take her on on bring some of her fertile eggs over?  Each to his own.

You wont see many pedigree (LOF) registered dogs under 400 euro, and 500 - 1000 is much more typical, just depends on how well the  dog meets the breed specs.  Just had a litter of 4 Parson Russel Terriers, LOF/chipped and vaccinated.  Excellent linage (elite classifications in parentage). Only 1 male left, he's as handsome as they come.  Not allowed to advertise on here so if interested email  for pics and price.  and we are not far from you  ??

Quick, there's english in town looking at houses, show 'em that pile of rocks over there, tell 'em its a bargain with lots of interest (oh and dont forget to double the price)   Some fool will buy it !!!  [:D]

GS, Any auto lecky will tell you that when trying to fault find starter motor problems, to feel the cables and connectors for hot spots.  This is a sure sign of a poor resistive connection that is stopping the motor from drawing the current it needs.  Yes things will get warm, but should not get too hot to touch.  You must not try to crank for too long as I pointed out before, the duty cycle of these starter motors (and indeed those on many cars of today) is very short (5 secs in 60 secs) and they are easily damaged though over use and the resulting overheating. So thats a bit more drivel then  !  Bet the problem  is no more than  a flat battery   [:D]

Spot on M Keeping Alpacas reminds me of the keeping Ostriches craze that hit the UK in the mid 90s.  Its just a big con, a form of pyramid selling, because the only people making money with these zoo animals are those selling supposidly prime breeding stock to the towny smallholders.  These animals are of no practical use (unless someone can enlighten me) on the smallholding over anything sheep, goats, poultry can do.  They are fashion statements,  rich peoples toys, oh look, they must have a lot of money because they keep alpacas (and no doubt there is a BMW X5 on the drive also).  But its your money and if you want to set up a zoo, then go ahead.  IMHO sheep are far more sensible,  they will do all the grass eating you want and you dont have to overwinter them,  just put them in the freezer and enjoy.  Now that makes sense if you are trying to avoid spending  money on someone to cut your grass, does it not ?