Christian

My son would like to train as a traditional plasterer and is looking for a maitre to take him on.  He is keen to learn and a grafter and we can provide references to that effect.  He will be 17 in September. He is fluent in English and French.  We are based just south of Maricac (32).  He would spend one week a month at the Chambre de Metiers in Auch.  Please let us know if you know anybody who might be in a position to help – French or English. Thanks, Christian 0562 08 26 10

Where can I found out about possible help with private school fees? We have twin sons who are at a private school because of Epilepsy.  The Médecin Scolaire said that they couldn’t go to our local college.  The fees are not much, but they are stretching us something rotten.   Thanks, Christian

I have just set up a forum on the internet for makers and owners of swimming ponds to share information and swap ideas.  It’s divided into a making and maintenance sections. It’s really intended for self builders, but I am sure one or two pros will contribute. The address is:  www.swimpondcentre.com/phpBB3/ I hope that it is OK to post this here, the forum is not a business, it's just a place to swap expertise. Christian

Hi I would like to set up a forum.  Does anybody have any sugggestions on the simplest and cheapest way to do this?  I have reasonable amount of IT experience, but almost not database experience. Thanks, Christian

I have searched high and low for Boules de Napthalene.  I have tried several hardware stores, Gammes Vert, Super Markets, but all I can find are the modern equivalents that don't smell.  Does anybody know anywhere that they are sold?.............as close to Marciac as possible. Thanks.

Does anybody know of a good fuine deterrent?  I think that I heard somewhere that there is a preparation available from chemists.  It's something like they can't stand the smell.  Anyway does anybody know what it is and whether it works? Thanks, Christian

We can't get broadband in our commune.  A company called Alsatis has just offered a 2GB wifi alternative, bundled with a telephone deal.  It all seems very reasonable, but has anybody had any experience with Alsatis and does it do what it says on the side of the box? Thanks, Christian

I have been registered as Proffessionale Liberale for the past 5 years; I pay full cotisations and am registered for TVA.  However my work is beginning to dry up, so I need to make plans.  I would like to set up a business in which I can continue to do what I am doing now (furniture and product design), but supplement it with other things.  i.e.  Cabinet MakingBuildingGardeningExport I hope to earn in excess of the limits set for a micro-enterprise, so I am thinking of setting up either a SARL or an EURL.  I have visited the APCE website, but I still have some questions. What is the simplest way to set up?Apart from the initial administration costs, is it any more expensive or tax inefficient than being a Proffessionale Liberale?Does anybody know the advantages/disadvantages of SARL/EURL’s?  Do I set up as SARL/EURL and register it as doing as many different activities as I can think of?I know that different departments treat this is slightly different ways, does anybody know about the Gers in particular.  Many thanks, Christian

I have an old JCB digger that I will want to sell in a few months.  Does anybody know the best place (apart from Le 32) to find adverts for these?  I want to start looking at other adverts now to get an idea of the value of the digger before I advertise it myself. Thanks, Christian

We have had a mobile on SFR for 2 years now and the telephone is now getting a bit tired.  Does anybody know how you go about getting your phone upgraded?........or don't they offer such a thing in France?

If a UK resident, who owns a house ‘En Tontine’ in France, dies leaving debts to a UK bank and to the Inland Revenue, are the bank and the Inland Revenue entitled to claim against the property?  Or is the surviving partner in the ‘En Tontine’ quite safe from any claims? Thanks, Christian

We are trying to get a digger down from Wales to the Gers.  Can anybody recommend a haulage company?  It would be best for us if we could get a part load on a truck coming down anyway. Thanks.

Try Pete Atkins at 0562 66 71 99

VOIPbuster now charge for calls to UK landlines. No warning, they just started charging. There is a link to VOIPcheap on the VOIPbuster website and the pages of the 2 sites are very similar. Peculiar

We use Patrice Reigler and have done for 3 years. He speaks English and when we had a claim, dealt with it efficiently..... and he's a jolly person to deal with! I can't remember where his office is, but we do everything over the internet or via telephone, so his geopgraphical location is irrelevant. [email protected] 0243 052 182

Does anybody know what the French equivalent is to EasyJet / RyanAir? I want to get some tickets from Toulouse / Pau to Venice and to Bratislava. Christian

Does anyboby know if there is a French equivalent of EasyJet/RyanAir? I want to fly from Toulouse or Pau to Venice and also from Toulouse or Pau to Bratislava. Thanks, Christian

Gabe If you are just about to get a wood burning stove, you are going to need a chainsaw, unless you plan to buy the more expensive cut firewood. The promos for chainsaws are just beginning to start now. You could ask a neighbour to do the actual felling and cut the rest up yourself. Green Oak is much easier to cut than seasoned Oak. Christian

Gabe I have just ben told about a place called RECURT down mear Lannemezan which apparently has very keenly priced EFEL stoves, which the same source tells me are superior to Godin. Yoou can find them on the internet and the site has a road map. Gamme Vert are a sort of rural supplies depot, I can't think of a British equivalent. They sell farm supplies, gardening stuff, wellies, coats, food processing equipment, concrete mixers etc, etc. There seem to be at least one of them, or similar in all the local towns. There are two in Rabastens (....on the way to Tarbes from Mirande), both of which stock stoves. Christian

Try Batifeu in Tarbes. Just past Bricodepot on the left side going south. There is also a Godin centre in Tarbes. It's at the retail park at Ibos, on the way to Pau. Opposite side of the road to the big Leclerc. Some Gamme Verts and their equivalents stock them and their promos should start in the next couple of weeks. I also want to buy one. Christian

A local farmer has about 300 bales of straw at €1.20 per bale to be collected from Blousson Serian area before the end of next week. Drop me a note and I will pass on his number if anybody is interested. Christian

We usually only watch TV in the evening, I will test it this afternoon. thanks

Anton Thanks for the advice. Christian

I have a problem with our satellite receiver. I don’t know whether it is the dish set up or the box itself, or both. When we change channels the satellite box regularly turns itself off and loses the signal and we have to wait will it re-acquires the signal. It has got to the stage where we hardly dare change channels. When it rains we either lose the signal entirely, or it is very broken up. Yesterday we stopped receiving ITV1 & 2, channel 4 & 5……….they were not even in the TV guide section. Signal quality, Signal Strength & Lock on all look fine to me. If anybody can give me an idea where to start I would be grateful. Christian

Does anybody know a good Osteopath in Marciac / Trie area? English speaking would be great, but it's not important. Christian