Je suis un rockstar

[Oldpinkman]

I thought it was time to be cryptic again.

Although if you know your 80's pop, not that cryptic. With Nodrog running a competition I thought I'd play too.

Je suis un rockstar...

Who will be the first to offer the appropriate congratulations?
:cool:

[Gordon Steadman]

Lets kill Bill

[Firebottle]

Bill Wyman, quite an amusing ditty.

:cool: Marstons IPA, yummy.

[Oldpinkman]

You two frenchies clearly have the key.

[Gordon Steadman]

You two frenchies clearly have the key.

Probably B flat:doh:

[walpurgis]

I haven't a clue what you lot are on about. Even though I'm a real Frenchman (well, half anyway).

[Gordon Steadman]

I haven't a clue what you lot are on about. Even though I'm a real Frenchman (well, half anyway).
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYHZUlf_z6o)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYHZUlf_z6o

[struth]

Sound devices have disappeared from me pc :eek:

[Roy S]

Sound devices have disappeared from me pc :eek:

Probably ran screaming didn't they Grant?

[Barry]

Lord - how the 'mighty' have fallen! :(

Utterly pathetic! Now if Ian Dury had sung it, there would have been a certain amount humorous sarcasm and irony, but Bill Wyman? No.

[Gordon Steadman]

Lord - how the 'mighty' have fallen! :(

Utterly pathetic! Now if Ian Dury had sung it, there would have been a certain amount humorous sarcasm and irony, but Bill Wyman? No.

It does take his deadpan persona to the edge of parody which I suspect was the idea, however........:doh:

[Oldpinkman]

Ok
This wasn't supposed to be album of the month. For Geoff sake I'll solve the puzzle using the lyrics

Je avais un résidence
Je habiter la
Dans le south de France...
:D

[Gordon Steadman]

Ok
This wasn't supposed to be album of the month. For Geoff sake I'll solve the puzzle using the lyrics

Je avais un résidence
Je habiter la
Dans le south de France...
:D

And jolly pleased we all are for you of course. Just didn't want to indulge you too much:lol:.

When do you take résidence?

[Oldpinkman]

This is France we're talking about Gordon. Currently we are on schedule for collecting the keys on 20th August, but that needs a valuer to get off his arse, and a final mortgage offer to be received in time to not accept it for 2 weeks, before...

you know how it goes.

We have won the planning appeal, and our house goes on the market next week. Market over here is on fire just at the moment (although August is usually dead) so could be permanent move before Christmas. If I could be choosy, March next year would be very nice. January is out of the question.

Yeah - chuffed :cool:

[Macca]

Got any snaps of the new place?

[Oldpinkman]

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/DSC_2845-1_zpsqjobgdvp.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/DSC_2845-1_zpsqjobgdvp.jpg.html)



http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/DSC_2852-1_zpswygasjgh.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/DSC_2852-1_zpswygasjgh.jpg.html)


http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/DSC_2839-1_zpsmickotgb.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/DSC_2839-1_zpsmickotgb.jpg.html)


http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/DSC_3819-1_zpsekys7kso.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/DSC_3819-1_zpsekys7kso.jpg.html)

[Marco]

Nice! :thumbsup:

I hope your good lady and you will enjoy spending many happy years there :)

Marco.

[Firebottle]

+1
Well done Pinkie :)

[Oldpinkman]

Nice! :thumbsup:

I hope your good lady and you will enjoy spending many happy years there :)

Marco.

Thanks Marco. We hope so too. Big adventure for us both - and we are looking forward to it :)

[Gordon Steadman]

Thanks Marco. We hope so too. Big adventure for us both - and we are looking forward to it :)

When you get to be as old as I am and look back, you will realise that the whole thing was worth it and any problems just one of those things. We haven't regretted a moment of it in spite of the inevitable setbacks.

Sure will be a change for you. Earning pennies sorted?

[Oldpinkman]

Thanks Gordon. Yeah - sort of. Sue needs to find a new income, but has been approached by the estate agent we bought the house from - so might have a (fairly low paid) job there, but I'm keen on the idea even if she doesn't earn much, because it will be the best way to learn French and integrate. We have a couple of other plans for medium term, including TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language, which she is getting a recognised qualification for (made easier because she is a qualified teacher), and ebay trading with the help of a client of mine who has been very successful.

But we need to be able to survive on my few pennies, and Sue's money be a bonus. The exchange rate helps. And a lovely French accountant called Sarah and I have worked out how to structure the business to actually keep some of the money I earn - made easier because, as a question of fact, the business is carried out for UK clients based in the UK through a UK limited company dealing with UK accounting matters. I will have a small french practice which provides services to my UK company for a fee, and then also pay us through the UK company payroll, which gives me health, pension and social security benefits in both countries, regardless of the reciprocal agreements. It will be a bit odd paying another accountant for accountancy and tax advice!

So yes - hopefully, we won't starve. Earning in sterling and spending in euro's means Alexis is my best mate ;)

[Macca]

Looks like a beautiful place. Very quiet and secluded.

[Gordon Steadman]

Thanks Gordon. Yeah - sort of. Sue needs to find a new income, but has been approached by the estate agent we bought the house from - so might have a (fairly low paid) job there, but I'm keen on the idea even if she doesn't earn much, because it will be the best way to learn French and integrate. We have a couple of other plans for medium term, including TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language, which she is getting a recognised qualification for (made easier because she is a qualified teacher), and ebay trading with the help of a client of mine who has been very successful.

But we need to be able to survive on my few pennies, and Sue's money be a bonus. The exchange rate helps. And a lovely French accountant called Sarah and I have worked out how to structure the business to actually keep some of the money I earn - made easier because, as a question of fact, the business is carried out for UK clients based in the UK through a UK limited company dealing with UK accounting matters. I will have a small french practice which provides services to my UK company for a fee, and then also pay us through the UK company payroll, which gives me health, pension and social security benefits in both countries, regardless of the reciprocal agreements. It will be a bit odd paying another accountant for accountancy and tax advice!

So yes - hopefully, we won't starve. Earning in sterling and spending in euro's means Alexis is my best mate ;)

I assumed you would sort that out. I always find the bland assumption that people can just move to another country and automatically survive financially, if not amusing, somewhat surprising.

Our local Google group which supports the UK (or any English speaking) community here, is always full of people having to sell up and go back to the UK. This is not to put you off of course but it shows how important it is to be very sure indeed before such a venture is undertaken. I had a 'guaranteed' income when we came out that lasted about a year of the 'forever' promised (not that we believed it but a bit longer would have been nice!! After that we were on our own. Nine years on and we are only just getting comfortable:)

[walpurgis]

I always find the bland assumption that people can just move to another country and automatically survive financially, if not amusing, somewhat surprising.

OK if you're on a livable pension I suppose. No doubt the likely eventual collapse of the EU will throw a spanner in the works for some people.

Mind you, the droves of penniless migrants that have arrived in the UK make the assumption you mention and seem to survive comfortably enough.

[Gordon Steadman]

OK if you're on a livable pension I suppose. No doubt the likely eventual collapse of the EU will throw a spanner in the works for some people.

Mind you, the droves of penniless migrants that have arrived in the UK make the assumption you mention and seem to survive comfortably enough.

The French are a totally different proposition of course. Financial aid is extremely hard to get and you have to have been living here for quite a while to get it at that. As far as work is concerned, to do anything, you have to be qualified. There is no such thing as a general builder for example. The only way to get away with that is to register for each trade and prove you have the paperwork. The French seem to think that knowing what you are doing is important - strange lot. This is why so many British builders work on the black out here - you have to offer a ten year guarantee on any work you do!!. If you stay small enough you can get away with being a one man band but if you want to earn a reasonable sum it ain't easy.

[Oldpinkman]

The other killer that drives business into the black market, or just puts people off so they do low paid government jobs instead, is the eye-watering levels of national insurance, coupled with a low VAT registrations threshold. It is seriously expensive to be in business in France, and hence things like building work are relatively expensive to buy. France's taxes are not too bad - it's a great place to retire to, just a rotten place to work in and be a contributor. Hence the incentive for young wealth generators to emigrate to Belgium, the UK or USA, and return to France for "La Retraite" - and for businesses like mine to locate themselves elsewhere in the EU.

There are a few English builders in our area who have quoted us for work who have registered Gordon. There is in fact , yet another quango, which has the responsibility of recognising equivalent EU qualifications - although even so I would have no chance of practicing as a French accounant - but Sue might be able to teach.

But yes - regarding your core point - about the " a place in the sun" brigade, I have always been aware of that. People who think they will make money out of supplying services to other english ex-pats, property management for absent property owners, and working-from-home estate agency. There is only so much demand for that. And we have the advantage that Sue has decent O level french, and a vocabulary way beyond O level - so she understands more than she speaks. And I am pretty much fluent (depending on your definition of fluent - I struggle with written french, and recent correspondence with the mortgage lender and Notaire have highlighted how hard it is to be "fluent" in technical language areas

But yeah - its been a 5 year plan, not a spur of the moment thing. We already know half the village, and we have prepared. Still brown trousers stuff - but we have prepared :cool:

[Gordon Steadman]

The other killer that drives business into the black market, or just puts people off so they do low paid government jobs instead, is the eye-watering levels of national insurance, coupled with a low VAT registrations threshold. It is seriously expensive to be in business in France, and hence things like building work are relatively expensive to buy. France's taxes are not too bad - it's a great place to retire to, just a rotten place to work in and be a contributor. Hence the incentive for young wealth generators to emigrate to Belgium, the UK or USA, and return to France for "La Retraite" - and for businesses like mine to locate themselves elsewhere in the EU.

There are a few English builders in our area who have quoted us for work who have registered Gordon. There is in fact , yet another quango, which has the responsibility of recognising equivalent EU qualifications - although even so I would have no chance of practicing as a French accounant - but Sue might be able to teach.

But yes - regarding your core point - about the " a place in the sun" brigade, I have always been aware of that. People who think they will make money out of supplying services to other english ex-pats, property management for absent property owners, and working-from-home estate agency. There is only so much demand for that. And we have the advantage that Sue has decent O level french, and a vocabulary way beyond O level - so she understands more than she speaks. And I am pretty much fluent (depending on your definition of fluent - I struggle with written french, and recent correspondence with the mortgage lender and Notaire have highlighted how hard it is to be "fluent" in technical language areas

But yeah - its been a 5 year plan, not a spur of the moment thing. We already know half the village, and we have prepared. Still brown trousers stuff - but we have prepared :cool:

Ah retirement!! At last....as of next month, Ronnie gets her pension and suddenly our income goes from Micawber dodgy to Micawber Plus. Not rich but as safe as living on a pension can be hopefully.

We didn't have the advantage of selling a place in the UK to see us over. I think that is where so many come unstuck. As property here is so cheap, they live the high life on the proceeds of the UK sale and then find the value of the house they bought has bottomed out and if they have to go back, they can afford a rabbit hutch if anything at all. More encouragement:lol:

For us, the hi-fi shelves might fill up a little more although buying second hand out here is a bit eye watering. Great life though and the people are great. Very friendly and welcoming, provided you join in and realise you are now effectively French. The area you've chosen looks fine. You like the heat so will no doubt enjoy it down there. Bit hot for me though, I find the 35 degree summers to as much as I can stand.

[Oldpinkman]

It isn't really hotter than your place Gordon - just be virtue of being further south. There is a fair wind blows off the coast a lot of the time there, and we are a little bit into the hills. If it gets stifling, its a 10 minute drive to get to the plateau de sault which is at about 1100m altitude, and nicely cool. In the winter it is snow covered for several months, as we discovered when we tried the local ski resort for the first time in February this year.

I plan to install one of those "cooling mist" systems on the patio, and we have aircon in the bedroom if needed! :cool:

[Oldpinkman]

Looks like a beautiful place. Very quiet and secluded.

Thanks Martin. It is pretty - and Mountains! The garden birds are a little different - we have Eagles and Vultures soaring overhead :)

(And I should have no issues playing the HiFi at night!!) :D

[Macca]

I am quite jealous. I would love to go back to living in the countryside, in this country or another country, I'm not fussed. When I was a student I had a forest literally on the doorstep, owls hooting in the trees at night and in winter fog so thick that it would roll in through an open door or window like smoke.

[Firebottle]

- we have Eagles and Vultures soaring overhead :)

I think you will probably find they are Buzzards, but I stand to be corrected.
Fabulous birds to watch in flight/soaring.

:)

[Oldpinkman]

I think you will probably find they are Buzzards, but I stand to be corrected.
Fabulous birds to watch in flight/soaring.

:)

It could have been an example of "fluent but not quite". However, on this occasion I think not http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/return-of-the-vulture-to-the-french-pyrenees-554246.html

My stepson George has just returned from Cameroon (french speaking) where he spent 8 weeks doing research for his Masters degree, and was enthusiastically describing how one of the local men invited him out to the prune trees. After about 10 minutes it dawned on me. "Hold on george - how many tins did you pick?" - The french for plum is "prune" - so they were plum trees :lol:

[Firebottle]

Oh wow, enjoy the spectacle when you get there :thumbsup:

[Gordon Steadman]

It could have been an example of "fluent but not quite". However, on this occasion I think not http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/return-of-the-vulture-to-the-french-pyrenees-554246.html

My stepson George has just returned from Cameroon (french speaking) where he spent 8 weeks doing research for his Masters degree, and was enthusiastically describing how one of the local men invited him out to the prune trees. After about 10 minutes it dawned on me. "Hold on george - how many tins did you pick?" - The french for plum is "prune" - so they were plum trees :lol:

The birds are another part of the joy of living out here. In spite of the number of cats, the birds are overwhelming in their numbers (:ner: to the knockers) As Alan says, buzzards, kestrels abound. All the song birds, finches, hoopoes, swifts and the swallows gather on our garden structure and dive bomb us in the evenings. Pied wagtails are always stalking around our patio, sticking their tongues out at the four cats lying in the sun and the damn pigeons go on and on about their bleeding toes but for some reason the ones out here don't tell Betty!

We also have flocks of jackdaws who are cheeky buggers and steel the chicken's food if we don't stand there and make sure it's gone before the buggers can descend.

All in all, a twitcher's paradise.

[Oldpinkman]

Thanks. When we go to the coast (about an hour to Port Bacarres) then both south of there in the lagoons at St Cyprien, and North in the Etaing de Bages are hundreds of wild flamingos :)


http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/DSC_0368-1_zpsdbtclv82.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/DSC_0368-1_zpsdbtclv82.jpg.html)




http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/t582/oldpinkman/DSC_0365-1_zpsell2iw21.jpg (http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/oldpinkman/media/DSC_0365-1_zpsell2iw21.jpg.html)

[Oldpinkman]

Looks like we've sold our house in the UK after 4 days on the market :D

[Gordon Steadman]

Looks like we've sold our house in the UK after 4 days on the market :D

Oh gawd, another one is on the way!! The French mafia expands further:)

[BTH K10A]

]

[Macca]

Looks like we've sold our house in the UK after 4 days on the market :D

That seems to be how it is at the moment. Friends of mine have their very lovely house up for sale for two weeks and have 4 cash buyers fighting over it. Good luck with the completion and the move.

[Oldpinkman]

Thanks Martin. The buyers have sold their house and are going to move into rented until we are ready. They would like to move next week. I think it is going to be October half term however. Ideally I would like to have my office and garage built at the new house before we move. It has been a 7 year slow burn project and suddenly everything is happening frighteningly quickly :eek:

[Oldpinkman]

Gordon. You knew it was coming. You are not quite close enough to pop round for a cup of sugar, (actually kevins is a fair tonk for a cup of sugar) but there is no longer water to cross. You can come down and hear a decent pair of quad speakers. And an awesome turntable. No shortage of local wine. Bring your own rabbits if you want to feed the birds. :cool:

[Gordon Steadman]

Gordon. You knew it was coming. You are not quite close enough to pop round for a cup of sugar, (actually kevins is a fair tonk for a cup of sugar) but there is no longer water to cross. You can come down and hear a decent pair of quad speakers. And an awesome turntable. No shortage of local wine. Bring your own rabbits if you want to feed the birds. :cool:
:lol:

[Oldpinkman]

As if the tyre burners in Calais weren't bad enough French bureacracy is driving me up the wall. We have been struggling to achieve mortgage funds for a completion on 21st, held up by life cover and a dippy lack-a-daisical valuer. Everything is lined up, so I contact the notaire to ask for the balance of funds he requires, since the French banking system is by carrier pigeon and it needs plenty of notice.

Only to get one of those beautifully crafted french replies to the effect that due to the pre-emption rights of SAFER ( a french land agency which gets first refusal on every rural sale in France - 2 months to make up their mind) the earliest we can complete is 3rd September.

I abandoned polite French. Actually I abandoned both polite and French, and in English asked him why he had only just bought this up now. It is possible to pay for an express service, although that information hasnt been volunteered by the French Notaire - I have had to tell him, and he is investigating.

Seriously pissed off :steam:

[Marco]

I feel your pain, Richard. I can't abide 'farter abouters', or folk who display that lackadaisical attitude in life, which sadly appears to be the way they do things abroad. Trust me, it's the same in Italy.

I like dealing with folk (and systems) that are proactive and 'switched on', and where things happen quickly and efficiently. It's one of the reasons why, so far, we haven't moved abroad, as I would lose the plot [in a spectacular way] dealing with the sort of shite you've described!

Never mind, in a few months time you'll be sitting inside that beautiful new house of yours in France, sipping an Armagnac (or whatever), and sticking two fingers up to those waste-of-space [most probably impotent] bureaucratic bastards.... ;)

Marco.

[Oldpinkman]

Thanks Marco

I knew what I was letting myself in for, but underestimated the possibilities for it to go tits up. The HUGE difference between the UK and France is that in France the standard response is to say "Desole - pas possible" and expect you to give a Gallic shrug and take it on the chin. They look astonished when I ask for suggestions for solutions - more so when I provide them.

Yes - looking forward to some booze :cool:

[Marco]

Thanks Marco

I knew what I was letting myself in for, but underestimated the possibilities for it to go tits up. The HUGE difference between the UK and France is that in France the standard response is to say "Desole - pas possible" and expect you to give a Gallic shrug and take it on the chin. They look astonished when I ask for suggestions for solutions - more so when I provide them.


Lol - I know *exactly* what you mean, as I've experienced the same thing in France. It's almost as if suggesting a solution is considered as an insult! :mental:

When I had sales guys working for me, I used to tell them that if they come to me with a problem, then be prepared to offer a potential solution, or otherwise shut up, as I want to hear solutions, not just problems. I can't stand whining/moaning f*ckwits.

The other classic was when they told me that, when selling, they would 'do their best'. My answer was always, don't do YOUR best, do my best! ;)

Marco.

[Firebottle]

Oh dear, welcome to the 'French' world.

Hope you get it sorted soon Richard.

:)

[Oldpinkman]

Thanks guys

I have paid E180 for the Notaire to get a response within 2 days from SAFER
In spite of being told that courriers in France don't collect from remote locations like Quillan, (quite a big town) - I have arranged online from the UK for TNT France to collect our mortgage offer from the estate agents in Quillan on 18th August for delivery to Lille BNP Paribas by 10.00 am 19 August.

I can see the wide open gaping mouths in the offices out there now. "but its not possible" - ROUND OBJECTS!!!

(Another quote from "Yes Minister" I'm afraid - Hacker as PM was fed up with civil service code, so he used his own code for "bollocks" and wrote "ROUND OBJECTS!!!" next to a paragraph he rejected. The Permanent secretaries response was "who is Round, and to what does he object?) :lol:

I have my fingers crossed, lucky heather and rabbits foot, and am touching wood... :cool:

[Gordon Steadman]

Thanks guys

I have paid E180 for the Notaire to get a response within 2 days from SAFER
In spite of being told that courriers in France don't collect from remote locations like Quillan, (quite a big town) - I have arranged online from the UK for TNT France to collect our mortgage offer from the estate agents in Quillan on 18th August for delivery to Lille BNP Paribas by 10.00 am 19 August.

I can see the wide open gaping mouths in the offices out there now. "but its not possible" - ROUND OBJECTS!!!

(Another quote from "Yes Minister" I'm afraid - Hacker as PM was fed up with civil service code, so he used his own code for "bollocks" and wrote "ROUND OBJECTS!!!" next to a paragraph he rejected. The Permanent secretaries response was "who is Round, and to what does he object?) :lol:

I have my fingers crossed, lucky heather and rabbits foot, and am touching wood... :cool:

I touch wood most days and shit still happens. The cats eat the feet along with the rest of rabbits and shit still happens. Our friend Heather just got divorced as her husband ran off with their notaire.

Still, I'm sure it will all go swimmingly now. I take it the amounts you paid were half cheque and half cash in the normal manner:eyebrows: Ain't France grand:lol:

[CageyH]

Glad you have it sorted.
If you still need help, give me a shout when I am back in Tls.

[Barry]

Thanks guys

I have paid E180 for the Notaire to get a response within 2 days from SAFER
In spite of being told that courriers in France don't collect from remote locations like Quillan, (quite a big town) - I have arranged online from the UK for TNT France to collect our mortgage offer from the estate agents in Quillan on 18th August for delivery to Lille BNP Paribas by 10.00 am 19 August.

I can see the wide open gaping mouths in the offices out there now. "but its not possible" - ROUND OBJECTS!!!

(Another quote from "Yes Minister" I'm afraid - Hacker as PM was fed up with civil service code, so he used his own code for "bollocks" and wrote "ROUND OBJECTS!!!" next to a paragraph he rejected. The Permanent secretaries response was "who is Round, and to what does he object?) :lol:

I have my fingers crossed, lucky heather and rabbits foot, and am touching wood... :cool:

Originally ascribed to Churchill upon spotting "Round Objects" written in the marginalia of a war-time memo. Churchill knew perfectly well what it meant: he, however prefered plain, if pithy, speech.

[Oldpinkman]

Well, its been a miserable week on the currency markets, but nothing I can do about that

We have a provisional moving date - 19th February. Our buyers have asked us to book removals, and we have, on the basis that if they fail to exchange in time, they will pay any cancellation charges. I am going to be running round like a blue-arsed fly trying to move in time. Our buyers are very keen to move in here ASAP - although they still have a couple of legal hurdles to jump

Be nice to finally get it done - its been a bit stressful since the first buyers let us down, and Mrs S has longings...

Fingers crossed

:cool:

[Macca]

If you are moving to or going to visit a foreign country the pound will immediately begin to tank against their currency the moment you have passed the point of no return.

I think it is the law or something.

[Oldpinkman]

If you are moving to or going to visit a foreign country the pound will immediately begin to tank against their currency the moment you have passed the point of no return.

I think it is the law or something.

Murphys law of foreign exchange :(

[CageyH]

Yes, it does happy.
Luckily for me it was not the case, but I lost out on the sale of my house in the uk, so it's swings and roundabouts.

[Oldpinkman]

We have signed the contract. We are due to exchange today - completion 19 February. That's a lot of packing to do

Super Mario bless him is doing his best with the Euro printing press. It just needs the pound to get some slightly less miserable sentiment, and Janet Yellen to recognise the boob she made raising interest rates too soon, and put them back down again, and I might be able to afford the shed in the garden

Look out France - here we come :D

[CageyH]

:cool:

:wave:

I look forward to hearing the PT through the quads.

[Firebottle]

Yah, a real Bonne Annee 2016.

Don't envy you with all the packing.......

[struth]

We have signed the contract. We are due to exchange today - completion 19 February. That's a lot of packing to do

Super Mario bless him is doing his best with the Euro printing press. It just needs the pound to get some slightly less miserable sentiment, and Janet Yellen to recognise the boob she made raising interest rates too soon, and put them back down again, and I might be able to afford the shed in the garden

Look out France - here we come :D

My birthday lol

[Floyddroid]

Lord - how the 'mighty' have fallen! :(

Utterly pathetic! Now if Ian Dury had sung it, there would have been a certain amount humorous sarcasm and irony, but Bill Wyman? No.

I got some to agree Barry.

[Oldpinkman]

Just looking at the post before last. What do they say about "assume" - makes an ass out of you and me?

Anyway, finally we have arrived. Lots of boxes to unpack. Lots of building work needed. But we are herr

[Firebottle]

Bien venue et bon chance Richard.

:D

[Oldpinkman]

Merci Alan
Ça va être intéressant. J'espère que nous pourrions faire un "bake off" (ou plusieurs verres de vin / bière avec de la musique) avant trop longtemps

:cool:

[CageyH]

Ce serait génial.
Oublier pas - il y a un peu de place chez Cagey aussi.

Bonne chance pour tondre le gazon. J'espère que ce n'est pas trop difficile d'utiliser la tondeuse auto portée et que vous n'avez pas besoin d'une debroussailleuse.

[Oldpinkman]

Le gazon etait Borneo. Heureusement j'ai apporte le X540 de l'angleterre et le Stihl debroussailleuse. Mais il devrait cesser de pleuvoir...

[Oldpinkman]

Why is life never simple? We have unboxed the home cinema and hifi(s) - I had to admit somewhat sheepishly to sue that I have a complete reserve system comprising ventricles, 405-2 and pip 1with me.
We have agreed the room layout, kept the fireplace, utilised existing furniture (bought one KALLAX unit for record storage, kept it uncluttered, got a TV and projector, and achieved perfect position for the esl 63.
And I've gone to put up the turntable shelf and encountered a 2m wide plasterboard sheet with no battens. I'm going to have to build a wall to put up a bloody shelf for the turntable!!! :doh:

I have a couple of long cable runs to contend with too, but that's small beer by comparison

:cool: