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Post by WillowTheWhisp on Jan 22, 2012 22:19:05 GMT
Thanks Peter, I couldn't find any more info than that on the internet so not sure if it refers to a town/ village/ hamlet or even region. This house is actually one that took my fancy (it's on the site you linked to) - I think it reminded me of New Orleans or something ;D. I notice that the one next to it is also for sale. The two together would be quite interesting. We're planning on visiting France again in May and just having a casual look round but this time we've opted for an area we don't know at all so that should be quite interesting. I still like Limousin though.
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 23, 2012 7:46:47 GMT
Why not make a list and spend a couple of days with JB looking at houses. There is no substitute for being there ! I'd also try and spend some time in a different area for comparison. Weather - Sunshine hours : (Manchester = 1070 hrs) Rainfall : (Manchester = 800mm) Average temps : (Manchester = 16C) (Manchester = 4C) Interestingly, the UK west coast may be grey and wet but it isn't cold compared to Europe. Peter
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 23, 2012 18:31:02 GMT
I was in hospital just before Xmas, and have been recovering. I am now back at work. After severe procrastination, I've started to renovate an apartment. So, new walls built, rewiring finished, new kitchen and bathroom purchased, old stuff junked, plumbing started, water will be connected tomorrow, hope to get it finished in a couple of weeks. I'll get some photos when I remember to take the camera ! Some old pics from the same building. The stairs and staircase (finished in 1380) had been painted with leaded paint and I had to take it back to the stone. The walls had about 30 layers of paint and plaster. Big stones were pointed, then left and rubble walls were covered with medieval lime rendering. I'd already started on the spiral support here Big stones Finished stonework Peter
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Post by accykeef on Jan 25, 2012 9:49:13 GMT
What fantastic stone, I bet it is cool in there too. Reminds me of the crypt in Ripon Cathedral where we hid some microphone wires in the pointing, what a filty job that was. The wall is looking good now, please keep us in touch with progress. I have had a Winter of not working on the house but I think that may be about to change.
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 25, 2012 20:34:33 GMT
Still no photos of the the apt I'm renovating in this historic building. Some stuff I prepared earlier : They are from from the new house we finished last spring. Pics are "nearly finished" so haven't put in microwave or removed protective film from stainless steel extractor. Much easier than working on old properties ! Peter
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Post by accykeef on Jan 26, 2012 8:56:22 GMT
Oh come on Peter, where is the fun working with level floors and straight walls?
I wanted to make our bathroom into a wet room but being on the 1st floor, I didn't risk it. It would have saved a lot of hassle.
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 29, 2012 16:51:50 GMT
The new property had a vide sanitaire ( a sort of shallow cellar taking all the pipes and electrics) so the wetroom type shower was no problem. My problem with the historical building was that the bathroom was on the 2nd floor, but the drain was high and allowing for the shower base, trap and fall would have needed a couple of steps up to the shower. The solution was that I bought one of these - www.saniflo.com/product-details-for-sanishower . Interestingly, I bought it in UK when the UK£ was low and it worked out at exactly 50% of the price in France. We'll see how it works shortly. Today I cut the kitchen work surface including holes for the sink and hob. Always a bit stressful, but everything worked OK. Next week I'll fit the top kitchen units, sort out the extractor chimney, and tile. That will leave some redecoration to finish the kitchen. Peter
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trevnhil
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Post by trevnhil on Jan 29, 2012 17:30:34 GMT
I love the pictures of the kitchen Peter. I assume that because you said you cut the worktop that is is not marble or granite. We had post formed timber ones purely on a cost basis. Keep the pictures coming.
Regards. Trev..
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 30, 2012 8:54:57 GMT
Both this one and the one in the modern house were 30mm thick laminate work surfaces.
It is slow, but relatively straight forward to make templates, apply and cut out the holes for hobs and sinks. Measuring is all important - get it wrong and the replacement is costly. And Mrs mpprh is a strict site manager.
Peter
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 30, 2012 9:38:52 GMT
We've seen snow in the mountains behind us and have had a very slight frost on the lawn a couple of times this year but for the first time a cold spell is forecast. We will catch the end of an Arctic front that is moving South via UK and North Europe. Daytime temperatures will drop by 10C with a minimum of -3C overnight next weekend. Our local forecast is : www.weather.com/weather/tenday/FRPA0616Peter
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 31, 2012 10:57:15 GMT
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Jan 31, 2012 18:03:21 GMT
We had a few flakes for 30 mins but it hasn't stayed. I live about 2.5 miles from the Sommieres webcam above.
The snow has been north and east of here.
Nimes, 25km east, had snow inside the roman arena.
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Post by accykeef on Feb 1, 2012 16:40:25 GMT
Our weather has been much better than last year. How strange that areas South of us have been much colder than us. This effect is due mainly to the Gulf Stream which flows from mid Atlantic to the Irish Sea bringing warm water to what would otherwise be arctic temperatures.
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Feb 1, 2012 18:26:30 GMT
Getting worse for a few days ...
Orange alerts all round me, here.
1) Temps down to -14C in Lozere 2) Up to 10cms of snow in Gard
However our local forecast is hazy sun, max 2C, min -2C, for the next 2 days.
Must remember to put an old jacket over the pool filter.
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mpprh
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Post by mpprh on Feb 1, 2012 18:44:31 GMT
Our weather has been much better than last year. How strange that areas South of us have been much colder than us. This effect is due mainly to the Gulf Stream which flows from mid Atlantic to the Irish Sea bringing warm water to what would otherwise be arctic temperatures. The Gulf stream extends to Scandinavia which would be impossibly cold without it. Ottawa is about as far from the equator as Bordeaux but much colder in winter. Equally towns in Norway at 65°N are at the same level as central Alaska. I used to live in Sweden and we regularly had -25C made worse by the very short Northern winter days.
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