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Etoile

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Posts posted by Etoile

  1. 'Get an expert in' is such easy advice to give and allows a lot of people on these forums to have a voice, but the fact remains that questions are raised in the first place because the member cannot afford to hire an expert or they just fancy doing the job themselves. It reminds me of the time I went into a rural post office in Sussex, miles from any town, and asked the lady where she thought I might be able to buy a car battery. 'Try Halfords' was her useless reply. Why are some people completely incapable of just saying 'I'm sorry, I cannot help you'?
  2. For what's it's worth, my opinion, all cars are just so expensive in France. Better to buy in the UK then do the paperwork for France. I know it's a chore but it can all be done in one day provided you have to certificate of conformity. Personally I rather like driving RHD here, I feel very safe in the gutter.
  3. We are happy running our B&B in the Charente as all of our guests to date have been pleasant. However, for every Euro you can earn in this country you have to pay a doll scrounger and a civil servant a euro as well so money does not go far. We buy as much as we can from the UK but it is a struggle, and we are quite high in our price-range with the business.
  4. Probably the best car Peugeot have made to date. I have had two, both '97 diesel estates. Of course the petrol won't have the economy but they are well built and reliable. I went on to buy a 407, which is a definite case of style over substance, lots of warning buzzers and gadgets including a crude DVD based sat. nav. A lot more expensive to maintain and service than the 406.
  5. I will probably be considered unworthy to write here, but I am delighted with the 'Best Green' electric chainsaw I bought from the Bricomarche last year. I needed to cut up a silver birch that had come down in our garden, and did not want to invest in a serious saw.

    For 35 Euros the saw came with an Oregon bar and chain and so far I have not had to sharpen it. The tree I cut up was around 16" diameter at the base. I must say I am impressed with the cheap saw, although I would not dream of mentioning it in the pub back in Sussex!
  6. Just make sure you will be able to obtain a Certificate of Conformity; if there is not one already it may cost 1 - 600 Euros to obtain, and be a bother. If you buy from an importer in the UK be sure to press them on this. This aside, you will certainly save money buying in the UK. All vehicles are amazing prices in France: 'Deal of the week' here in the Charente - 1996 Peugeot 305 diesel - yours for just 3,500 Euros! (This car would be circa £800 in the UK.)
  7. Hello. I would like to know who did your eye test in Niort, as I now live in the area and need a check up.

    Thank you in advance, Gerard Saunders
  8. Certain people of little intelligence on this forum are rather missing the point here. The fact is that senior civil servants have offended a church leader who has been invited by our government to visit this country. As expected the government has done little about it - the offending person simply being relocated to another job. It has nothing to do with ones religious views or lack of them. The are as many non-believers appalled by this as there are christians. If the slur had been made against a leader from any other faith our politicians would now be lining up to grovel and apologise.
  9. I have decided to carry on with RHD. Cars in the UK are so much cheaper and the reregistration process is not difficult once you get the hang of it. I will either run the car into the ground or sell it to an English person who also likes hugging the kerb and is not to bothered about overtaking.

  10. Moving somewhere is of course different than just visiting. A lot of people tell you to 'get stuck in' with the France and we are doing our best, but sometimes the only way to feel human on a Friday night is to go and have a few beers and speak English for a bit. I would not want to live somewhere where there were no English - they are the first introduction to the locality.

    The market is excellent in St. Jean, and I know the patisserie you refer to. We are a bit too well off for them - not a good town for a diet.

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