Is anyone able to recommend some reliable, local trades people?

We need,

- an architect
- a builder - for structural work involving beams, laying a new floor
- a carpenter - for the creation/installation of new windows and doors
- a chimney sweep - and for installation of a wood burning stove (think I may have seen a post on this somewhere, I will check...I checked and will try Beauchesne in Montmorillon - Thanks!)
- a plasterer - external rendering and internal lime render

Any comments will be greatly appreciated

Just wanted to share a bad experience from Chronopost's agent in Montmorillon "Le Temps Des Livres".

Thursday received a text from Chronopst you parcel is at Le Temps Des Livres awaiting your collection. I don't know why it went there, but apparently the book shop acts as an agent and takes parcels if the Post Office is closed. I don't know why it went to Montmorillon either but that's another story of Chronopost being to lazy to deliver to the address on the parcel.

Anyway the text also gave a tracking number and said I should check on Chronopost's website, on checking it said go to Le Temps Des Livres with your tracking number and proof of ID to retrieve your parcel.

Mrs Fred arrived at the book shop with the tracking number her ID and mine as the parcel was addressed to me, and asked the lady for the parcel. She told her the parcel was not there and they had no record of it, she said can you check the tracking as Chronopost say it is here. Non was the reply and she refused to say any more.

Mrs Fred phoned me and asked me to check it out, so I phoned Chronopost and after the usual wait finally got told your parcel IS at Le Temps Des Livres and they sent me an Email to prove it. They also said ask the book shop to go on Chronopost's website and put in the tracking number and they will see it is in their shop.

Phoned Mrs Fred, she went back into the shop and this time there was a man behind the counter. So she asked him for the parcel he was the same as the woman and said No it's not here very bluntly, Mrs Fred then asked him if he would go on Chronopost's website and enter the tracking number. He refused point blank to do so and started serving another customer.

By now Mrs Fred was getting a bit upset with the way she had been treated, and phoned me again. I said go back in the shop and let me talk to him. As she walked in the shop he came up to her and said are you talking to Chronopost? I heard him and said tell him Yes.

Suddenly it went quiet for a while and Mrs Fred said "I have it" The man decided after thinking she was complaining to Chronopost that he did have the parcel after all.

So all in all very poor service from Le Temps Des Livres Montmorillon and I won't be shopping with them, and I recommend if anyone has a parcel waiting for them at the book shop to insist they check the internet or make out you are phoning Chronopost.

I wasn't there myself but Mrs Fred isn't prone to lying, and if the owner of the shop is reading this please feel free to comment.

Fred gets off his soap box.

I also give good revues of local businesses:
Puncture repair in Montmorillon
Banque Postale Montmorillon

For Sale, Ride on Mower, hardly used, less than a year old. Original price ticket on mower, and date of purchase on receipt. 550.00 euros.
Mig mate pro 170 welder 65.00 euros
Domestic scaffold tower, approx 5 mtrs high, 100.00 euros
Tel 0549830424 or PM for more information, photos available.

French electricity suppliers have been officially labelled naughty boys and girls by a European court in Brussels.

If you live permanently or have a holiday home in France, this may be for you. The ECJ have decided that one of France's electricity taxes is illegal - the CSPE (contribution au service public de l'électricité), a substantial tax that appears in the breakdown of your bill. You're entitled to claim this tax back for the last 2 years, by recorded delivery letter (LRAR) - so find your bills, do the math and CLAIM A REFUND!



The following blog, is where all this information originated, all completely legal and verifiable.
https://blogs.juridique.wengo.fr/node/56336

And this is the format your letter should take with the usual best wishes to M. Faceless Bureaucrat and his family, hoping he has many grandchildren etc etc included.....


https://www.france-info.co.uk/PDFS/Elect...202014.pdf

Before you shower me with money, gifts and crates of St Emilion Grand Cru, my heartfelt thanks to Willow17 for cracking the case in the first place and La Brasserie.

My registered letter is now on its merry way to Poitiers.

I now look forward to many a happy month thrashing around in a bureaucratic tumble dryer. BUT.... if you don't ask, you don't get.

Bonne chance.

Just wondering if anyone has visited this site at Angles-sur L'Anglin?

What did you think?

I am considering reserving an English guided tour there this summer - although 'les nuits' visits look really good but I don't imagine they'll be up for translating on these nights...'places limitees'

Also, has anyone visited Le Musee de Prehistorie at Lussac -les -Chateaux?

Yes, I'm all lined up for some Prehistory!

We are in Montmorillon and have been to many
Brocante sheds looking for a second hand
Leather sofa, more old style to fit in with
house furnished with older furniture.
Hoping for darker colour. Happy to collect
and pay depending on condition.
Thanks Rosie and Huw

I am selling a massive collection of card making/scrap booking supplies.

There is a huge stack of good quality card and paper stock, patterned and plain - loads of stickers, toppers, brads, punches, a hammer and pad, felt and metal embellishments, cut outs, Disney products, all sorts of stuff.

€65 - collection from Bellac.

Masses of photos available - let me know if you'd like to see them (I don't seem to be able to post them here).

I found this odd wooden thing yesterday tucked in the back of an old cupboard. It looks very old and well used it's made of hardwood and has a hole in the bottom about the diameter of your small finger, the handle on the top has what looks like a broken spring attached to a piece of dowel which goes up and down.

As above you will see we had bathroom
Fittings. Vanity toilet bath etc to give free
to a new home. For anybody thinking of using
this site to sell or give items away we can say
it's been a very easy and rewarding experience
for us!
Not only did we make space and pass all our
old bathroom fittings to a new home we
also enjoyed meeting Fred and his wife
and swapping some stories!
All went like clockwork thanks Around Montmorillon!
best wishes
Rosie and Huw

We are in Montmorillon and have a transparent
Green glass bowl for use on bathroom vanity,
Size 42cm diameter. It's still in the box we couldn't
use it as needed to purchase smaller one.
Builder had opened box so we are unable to
return. We paid 49 euros last week so
Make us an offer if you can use it. Anything
considered.
Cheers Rosie and Huw

Noticed tyre on my 4x4 was looking a bit low the other day and pumped it up, unfortunately whilst in Montmorillon yesterday it had gone down again. So I headed up to Norauto and asked if the could have a look, I had used them last year to fit my tyres I purchased on-line and they were very helpful then. Car Tyres In France

No problem he said and took it straight in, and said it could be repaired for €26.90. Within 15 minutes he handed me the offending item (a piece of rusty old wire fence) and I was back on the road.

Another vote from me for Norautos service.

Hi All,

My last visit to the forum was rather rushed, so I apologise for not being back since. I now have a bit of time around working to provide you with some more information about the association Les Dames de FER. I am the group coordinator for the Montmorillon area and we are looking for any women who are in business who are looking for some support, or who would like to learn new skills, or have skills which could benefit our members.

Here is the blurb from the website:

Our association aims to create a social network, training and coaching for self employed women or in process of setting up a business, in a rural environment in France. To encourage women to set up their own business, to help existing businesses to develop, to network with other women and to improve language skills.

Les Dames de F.E.R. anticipates having several meetings each year, which will include business workshops, guest speakers, social and networking events.

We are holding our next event on Tuesday 13th May in the morning (venue TBC), and hopefully there will be an option to stay for lunch afterwards. This is open to members and non-members and will be a chance to network and tell everyone about your business, and for you to learn about other businesses in the area. Of course the meeting is only open to women.

If you or you know of anyone who would be interested, please do get in touch with me by email (or PM on here) so I can add you to the mailing list for future events, and if you'd like any further information. My email is [email protected]

Thanks

As we are installing a new bathroom we
have the old fittings out and ready to go
to be picked up if anybody can use them.
All are white and in good order just a little
Old fashioned. Pedestal basin and taps, basic
Flush toilet, bidet, old style bath 140cm x 65
All free just need to be picked up from
Montmorillon.

We know there are places to buy new mattresses
in and around Poitiers but is there anywhere
In or closer to Montmorillon that sells new
mattress and base sets. The delivery charges
from Poitiers are huge. We need to purchase
two queen size beds.
Any advice much appreciated
Thanks Rosie and Huw

I wonder if anyone can help? I have been asked by a guest the cost of a taxi from us [La Brasserie] to a wedding in Montmorillon. I have never needed a taxi before, so any ideas. The other thing is the wedding is in July and obviously a Saturday, so I presume a more difficult time to find one. All feedback will be appreciated.

We have seen lots of posters about to advertise
Montmorillon Carnivale on Sat 15 March.
Does anybody know what time it kicks off?
Also where is the best vantage point. We also
saw signs to say some streets will be closed off.
The lady at the tourist Info is lovely but
speaks only a little English and as we are
new comers with little French it's hard to get information.
Thanks Rosie

Just thought I would share this with you in case you're fed up with your French Bank as I was.

A couple of years ago we got fed up to the teeth with our French Bank and decided to go elsewhere, so we had a look around and decided to give La Banque Postale in Montmorillon a chance as we thought they couldn't be any worse.

Well after being with them for just over two years I can confidently say they are excellent, yes you still pay for an account (this is France after all) but we can not fault them. And last week we was even more happy with them as we had an appointment with Monsieur Yohann PRODHOMME and he has just saved us well over €200 per year on our car and house insurance.

La Banque Postale have certainly upped there game in my opinion, and Monsieur Prodhomme speaks very good English and is very helpful without being too pushy. Yes he did ask if he could quote for our insurances and I'm glad we said yes, but when he tried to ask about Mobile Phone and I told him he couldn't beat Leclerc at €1.50 a month he said ok we will leave that then.