Aly (used to be Charlotte3)
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Posts posted by Aly (used to be Charlotte3)
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I know a brilliant one in northern Mayenne. PM me if you want her number.
Being a fan of everything French and always telling others to integrate etc. I have to tell you that I did try our local hairdresser. The result was horrific! I came home (much to the family's merriment) looking 10 years older and indeed feeling at least that. As you say, she wouldn't listen to what I wanted and when I showed her a picture said no problem, and then just carried on as before.
I came home and recut it myself and even I could do better!
Aly (it's like visiting the dentist, isn't it?)
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We don't "get away" with anything actually.
There is no legal requirement to have seperate personal and business accounts. Naturally an accountant would advise seperate accouns...it makes his job simpler!
Anyone with basic bookeeping skills can work out which deposit/payment is business and which is not, it's hardly rocket science!!
Having had businesses in several countries we always adopt a policy of using the service which is the most economcal (and also legal) for the business. We don't use an accountant, and yes, my OH has been in business here for several years now.
In actual fact, in a microbic, it is you personally who are the business anyway.
Aly
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We don't "get away" with anything actually.
There is no legal requirement to have seperate personal and business accounts. Naturally an accountant would advise seperate accouns...it makes his job simpler!
Anyone with basic bookeeping skills can work out which deposit/payment is business and which is not, it's hardly rocket science!!
Having had businesses in several countries we always adopt a policy of using the service which is the most economcal (and also legal) for the business.
In actual fact, in a microbic, it is you personally who are the business anyway.
Aly
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Rog,
If you contact a local central heating and plumbing firm they will repair them for you.
We've come across this problem often in work (we have to dismount them to paint and on moving they mysteriously spring leaks) and have never had a problem getting them fixed for clients.
Aly (one of our apprentces managed to drop one, breaking it literally in half and it was fixed no problem)[:)]
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Rog,
If you contact a local central heating and plumbing firm they will repair them for you.
We've come across this problem often in work and have never had a problem getting them fixed for clients.
Aly
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[quote user="Jo"]I've just met a decorator who has worked in the south of France for 15 years and has recently moved near me, the Vienne, and swears by PVA, mind you, he is Welsh!
[/quote].....and there I rest my case. That just rounds this discussion off nicely!
Bon soir,
Aly
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My OH uses our joint account wth Credit Mutuel. Had no problems so far...
Aly
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Chocccie,
I was told the opposite.....that if you charge anything for it, it can be construed as a tenancy and therefore you could have problems when you want the use of your land back.
This was from a French estate agent when a friend wanted to let her neighbour use a field. He told her NEVER to accept money for the use of it. That does seem to make sense when you think about it.
Personally I would draw up a short document giving use of the land without charge until such time as you want it back and stipulating the period of notice you are willing to give (you never know when circumstances may change) etc etc. and as Cooperlola says be aware of the perpetuity problem too.
You need to be very careful.
Aly
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I didn't say you couldn't use it to seal walls, I said there is a British obsession with it. There are other products on the market which do the same job. Time served decorators tend not to use it, especially for sealing damp stains on ceilings as it's totally inappropriate for this.
Of course you could always use the traditional professional method of "sizing" your walls, much cheaper and just as effective.
Buy wallpaper paste and mix to a thin consistency (most manufacturers give the relevant quantities for sizing). If in doubt mix to the thinnest mix given and then add some more water, it doesn't have to be exact.
You'll find this method much cheaper and less frustrating than trying to find the apparently elusive PVA.
Of course if you find this too easy, you could always start a frustrating and possibly expensive search in France for traditional Size but it's not much used these days as it's made from chicken's feet....well, they had to do something with them.
Aly[6]
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[quote user="Monika"]What is PVA? [/quote]
PVA:
Polyvinyl alcohol has excellent film forming, emulsifying, and adhesive properties. It is also resistant to oil, grease and solvent. It is odorless and nontoxic. It has high tensile strength, flexibility, as well as high oxygen and aroma barrier. However these properties are dependent on humidity, in other words, with higher humidity more water is absorbed. The water, which acts as a plasticiser, will then reduce its tensile strength, but increase its elongation and tear strength.
PVA has a melting point of 230°C and 180–190°C for the fully hydrolysed and partially hydrolysed grades. It decomposes rapidly above 200°C as it can undergo pyrolysis at high temperatures.
PVA is an atactic material but exhibits crystallinity as the hydroxyl groups are small enough to fit into the lattice without disrupting it.
Some uses of polyvinyl alcohol include:
- Adhesive and thickener material in latex paints, paper coatings, hairsprays, shampoos and glues.
- Carbon dioxide barrier in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
- Carotid phantoms for use as synthetic vessels in doppler flow testing.
- Children's play putty or slime when combined with borax.
- Feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products as a biodegradable plastic backing sheet.
- As a mold release because materials such as epoxy do not stick to it.
- As a water-soluble film useful for packaging.
- As fiber reinforcement in concrete
- As a surfactant for the formation of polymer encapsulated nanobeads
- Used with polyvinyl acetate to make Elmer's glue
- Used in eye drops and hard contact lens solution as a lubricant.
- Used in protective chemical-resistant gloves
Nothing there about a stain sealant!
Hope this helps y'all, Aly
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My doctor, a lady by the way, says there is no such thing as peri menopausal. Your periods just stop and then you are menopausal, just like that!
She was a bit flummoxed 2 weeks ago when I went to see her after haemorraging madly (luckily not at work....just imagine, painters whites, all male workers, no toilets etc etc...).
Turns out I have serious thickening of the lining of my womb and have too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. The consultant at Gynae dept has put me on progesrerone for 20 days per cycle....has anyone else had this treatment? Did it work for you? Doctor says I'll have to have progesterone supplement until I reach menopause. Anyway, needless to say I'm seriously anaemic. At least now I know why I've been so tired and depressed recently. Still doesn't explain the hot flushes though......'cos there's no such thing as peri menopausal!
This a brilliant thread, I've been following it avidly, it's wonderful to be able to get everything off my chest, as it were.
Aly
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"All your accumulated coolness is lost if you wave at a scooter.
![Wink [;-)]](/cs/images/emotions/wink.gif)
"But what about big scooters.....even I won't acknowledge those horrible little 50cc machines that try to cosy up to me at traffic lights. Mind you, I do so love to blow them off though!
I've been acknowledged by lots of bike riders, maybe they're French though (have more manners than Brits?).
By the way, today coming home from a weekend in Dinan I saw a guy on a goldwing driving while smoking a cigarette ( he was using an open faced helmet, mind you), but a bit weird all the same.
Aly
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[quote user="cooperlola"]
Benjamin, one has just to be grateful that the French friends one has made, do not share some of the views on that forum. Some are ill-informed and I guess only certain individuals who harbour resentment to those whom they perceive as being more comortably off than they are, have felt moved to post. They also forget that our retirement age is 5 years higher than that for many French employees who get to go at 60 - and in some cases earlier!
[/quote]
I wsh I could retire at 65......I reckon I'll just keel over from old age while on the job.....if you know what I mean...
Aly
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From what I could make out the forum members seem to think that foreigners don't contribute at all rather than pay cotisations based on their (unearned) income. In fact, one of them points out that 8% of 0 is 0, so as usual some one's got hold of the wrong end of the stick.
Aly
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Should also have said......I'm a big fan of head collars too and have had success with Halti.
Aly
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I found a lot of help watching "The Dog Whisperer", Sky3, today (on in the background now, actually), started at 6pm our time.
It's on every week, and we never miss it. I think it's on during the week as well in the evening.
I have learned some really usefull techniques for my dominant but lovable (and impossible to walk) dog.
Give him a try.
Aly
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Exactly, Nick.
I work (as I'm sure you all know by now!) for a very successful French decorating company and we use oil based impression (undercoat or sous couche), but to be honest we often make our own by mixing any oil based paint with white spirit, thinned down to the consistency of milk. You need to seal the placo because it is too porous and will just absorb all your paste.
We NEVER use anything else................ so I do wish people would stop banging on about PVA (and how they can't get it here, live without it etc). I know no one has mentioned it on this thread yet, but give them time.....
Also, any oil based paint will block damp stains on ceilings etc.....ie, not PVA as was recently dictated to me by an English (unqualified) decorator who apparently knows better than French decorators!!.
Sorry for hi jacking your thread, but some people make me so mad!!!!
Good luck,
Aly[:@]
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Just thought I'd add...
Vinyl silk...........acrylic satin
Vinyl matt..........acrylic matt
Non drip gloss.. is a lazy man's product and not really generally used in France
Branded French paint is of good quality just the same as paint bought in Britain, but more suitable for the climate and building materials and methods here in France. Needless to say if you buy the cheap stuff the quality may not be great, just the same as in Britain.
Aly
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One of our cats, Daisy Bird, has been on the cat pill for 5 years now. She has never had any side effects and will actually let you know that it's time for her next dose.....but then she is exceptionally clever.[:D]
Aly
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A man with muscle-tone and dark brown hair.......[Www]
Aly
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....or nearly chopping your leg off on your first day out!!!
[:)]
Aly
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That's just so sad, thinking of them both.
Aly
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oops, sorry Russethouse.
There I go offending people again.
I'm sure yours are the exception to the rule and look wonderful!!!
Humbly,
Aly
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The BAC s the equivalent of your 'A' levels. The main problem with this is that most French kids sit about 10 subjects at this level, not 3 or 4 like in Britain. But sick to your guns....they ARE equivalent.
Your proof is your certificate. There is no legal requirement to have it translated into French.
Let us know how you get on,
Aly
Paint Names
in Shopping
Posted
What?
You know, French brands of paint like in Britain we had Dulux etc., here we have Nuance etc., ie. not store branded.[Www]
Aly