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Misty1

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Everything posted by Misty1

  1. We got one from Argos in UK and installed it fine.  Works great no problem (better half is an electrician so knows what he is doing).
  2. It was probably mine that you got!!  How did you get them to agree to deliver to you?
  3. It seems to be pratically impossible to get a brico catalogue unless you are just lucky enough to go on the day that they are putting the new season's issue for the first time!  We have one that a friend gave us 2 years ago and its getting very tatty now but despite asking every time we go (every 6 weeks or so) we never manage to get another.  Also while in the shop we left our catalogue on top of our selected purchases in the trolly and believe it or not 3 separate people tried to take it!!  When working on a renovation from the UK its really handy to have a reference point to materials/prices etc., I would be prepared to pay for one!!
  4. Hi We've got these too in Department 66 PO are they harmless on the outside of the house?  I panicked last year thinking they might be some member of the termite family - phewww!!!  Had all my relatives in UK looking on the internet trying to identify, even brought a dead one back with us - eventually thought they must be some kind of ladybird, you're right, they are beautiful, thank goodness for this forum.  
  5. That's excellent! I think we can meet all counts and we have to go into Perpignian on our first day anyhow. Thank you. Steve
  6. Hi. We coming to France tomorrow for a few days and would like to pick up and send email, pehaps some browsing. We can bring with us an old Win98 laptop with an internal modem and have a standard French Telecom  phone line at our destination (I pay the phone bill). We don't have a French ISP or a UK to French telephone jack converter. I can understand Klingon better than I can French . Is there an easy way of doing this?  
  7. Hi Mac   What a brilliant idea - thinking ouside the box is obviously the way forward!  I will let Steve see this tonight and discuss - thanks so much!
  8. [quote user="pcwhizz"] umm!!!!!! Voltage between any line and neutral 230V  Single phase and 3 phase. Voltage between phases 400V.  3 phase delivery only.  Note the 3 ph is delivered with 3 lines (phases) and a neutral. [/quote] At risk of being shot down in flames...Yes I agree, for a 400V three phase and neutral system. But, if, as an earlier poster suggested, there are still some parts of France with a 110V single phase supply, the phase to phase voltage would be within the permitted tolerance of a 230V supply. These 110V supplies could have been "converted" to 230 volt at relatively low cost by dropping the neutral, introducing an earth impedance, and distributing 2 phases as a 2 wire system. I stress that I am no expert of French electrical systems, but it  virtually follows that which the "EU harmonised" UK electrical regulations refer to as an "IT" wiring system in which terminology like "2 or 3 wire" could be used. - I don't know if it is used in France and AFAIK we don't see it in the UK, but as it's still in the "harmonised" regs, someone could be using it somewhere in Europe.- It came to mind because another forum thread were discussing an apparent lack of a polarity at socket outlets which would be commensurate with this system. Just a thought...
  9. Hi I couldn't get the link to work!  Anyone know where I can hire one in Dep 66 around Ceret area?   Thanks!
  10. Thanks Sid that is very helpful, I think we might ask for some quotes to be done and as we have about the same amount needed I imagine it will be the same price - but I think its going to have to wait for a long time while we save up!  The other alternative is that we get hold of the metal and a welder and do it ourselves rather than buying the pieces already fabricated, I agree that the ones we saw in Leroy Merlin did look a little flimsy and probably suitable for decorative fencing etc. I would be interested to hear from anyone who has actually done this themselves and any tips you could give, my other half has done a bit of welding in his time.... Kind regards      
  11. We bring paint (never found a paint I liked in France yet), tile adhesive (only because we coudln't understand the technical language on the side of the bags) wood filler and sheet glass (incredibly difficult to find where we are) also cheap kitchen equipment from Wilkinson's like pans, casserole dishes and cutlery.  Also brought bed linen from Ikea (but could have got in France I know). Things we have taken back include bathroom vanity unit set from Brico (unbelievably cheap compared with UK prices), floor tiles and general plumbing items, and food/wine (UK can't hold a candle to French food). Very interested to read posts about kitchen units B&Q v Leroy Merlin - we are in this dilemma at the moment - to take or not to take and we are in the very far South (66).  
  12. I saw that programme too and was amazed at the Lawyer's actions in buying the house without even giving his wife the courtesy of an option!!  He is obviously a man who is used to getting his own way and riding rough-shod over the feelings of others - this is borne out by his amazement that the house was not selling!  However I do think the Agents were not doing anything to sell his house and the French Estate Agent was not exactly the most genial and sales-orientated person we have ever seen - I would certainly not have appointed them to sell my house!  I was also amazed that the couple did not have 'the time' or money to wield a paintbrush themselves, it was obvious what needed doing, I think they just couldn't be bothered.  I thought it was a lovely house with loads of potential and wish I could have had a go at it.   I don't agree that the Estate Agent liked the house as it was - she agreed it looked much better after, I think she was trying to justify the Agency's lack lustre performance.  If they don't know the market they shouldn't be doing the job.  I do agree however that the presenter did harangue her rather nastily, but selling houses is a cut-throat business in any country as it always is when there are thousands of pounds at stake, and surely people know this when they take up the job? Its also my view that the 'house in the sun' programmes always show property at far less than the price you would find on the internet - it never seems that cheap when I look for property.  It could be that to get on the programme Agents are discounting prices in order to attract buyers to the areas featured and making a special 'deal' or simply trying harder to find appropriate property than the services that we tried.  Or its possible that the programmes are filmed months/years in advance and prices have gone up by the time we see them.  Even so it is disappointing to see such viable prices on the shows then realise you can't get anything for that in reality.  When we saw 'real' situations like this programme, the prices were much more what you would expect ie. real prices. I loved the programme and can't wait to see it next week.
  13. Thanks very much for your informative reply, it sounds like you had to do what we have to do but you are much more creative!  My other half will be looking closely at your posting - it might give him some much needed inspiration! To the person who kindly posted previously, I am not wishing to imply that the quotes obtained were falsely high, its simply that we could not afford to pay the going rate!!  It may well cost that much to do the job and there is probably a very good reason - it takes, as you rightly say, skill and expertise and people have to make a living afterall (we are self-employed and know how hard it can be to run a business).  Many thanks to all who have taken the time to reply, if anyone else has any comments, I would be really grateful to have them.  
  14. AFAIK It is also permittable to have a socket in a UK bathroom (or "room containing a fixed bath or shower") providing certain criteria is met, although this current criteria would be difficult to satisfy in most UK bathrooms. The UK regs are gradually being "harmonised" with EU regs and  I believe the next edition of the UK regs in 2008-2009 will relax some of this criteria. I'm not sure if this reduction will be suficcient to make UK bathroom sockets as common as French ones, but it may indicate that risks of socket outlets in bathrooms are not as high as we in the UK believe.  
  15. I'm not a French electrician and this situation does not normally exist in UK but I'll chuck in my 10 pence worth... The OP may have meant 2 or 3 WIRE installation. This, with your comments about 120 volts still existing in parts of France, may suggest the installation is either a 2 or 3 phase 240 Volt installation with no neutral. In this case, a third phase would help to bring more power into the house with no increased risk. All lights and appliances would work correctly, but the installation, or at least the consumer unit, would need to be adapted. The risks associated with this arrangement are not as  severe as 380V Three phase (and neutral), but in any event, if the wiring is installed, and used correctly, to standard, these and other risks will be minimised to a "satisfactory" level. 
  16. Hi Thanks for the link, this is the sort of thing that Leroy Merlin sold but I am not sure its for balconies, rather for fencing (defense?).  Its the fixing that I am most worried about!  If you know of any other links I would be delighted to hear them. Many thanks.  
  17. Hi   If you want a smooth finish try Polycell 'Smooth Over' we used it at home and its very good but a bit expensive. Good luck its a messy job!  
  18. We want to replace our horrid old rail with a nice black wrought iron style railing which will have to also go down a set of marble faced steps.  The terrace is unfortunately made of concrete and we have no idea where to buy the parts from or how to fix them.  Our friend got a rediculous quote in the 1,000s of euros to have it done so we have to do it ourselves.  In UK B&Q sell a range of black wrought iron stair rods and hand rails and I have seen something like this in Leroy Merlin.  My other half says they are only for grilles and decorative fences however as there are no fixings available. Anyone got any solutions - everyone has a terrace with a rail surely!!!  Does anyone know where to buy component parts to make balconies & railings yourself - do you all know what I am talking about? Many thanks if you can help      
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