Move France house build thread
#31
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Re: Move France house build thread
Hey Pulaski
Lets see your wheels then. Mrs P sounds like my Dad!
Lets see your wheels then. Mrs P sounds like my Dad!
#32
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Re: Move France house build thread
Hey
We've bought a Luton. It makes sense for us as we have stuff stored in different places and we can then leave when we want.
She won't win any beauty prizes but when that Vtec kicks in she sure can haul!
We emptied our storage in Orpington, our flat is 90% empty. Where i've been on the go for the last couple of weeks I managed to reverse into my landlords fence post with my van, not content with that the next night I reversed into the same post with the luton, that really made a mess of it!.... I then put my van onto the drive to load something else and left the rear doors open and reversed into the wall. Must get more sleep...
In other news the Vette passed it's MOT today, plenty of sideways action in the rain today. I'm going to a breakfast meet tomorrow morning with Dad at The Bull in Warlingham.
We've bought a Luton. It makes sense for us as we have stuff stored in different places and we can then leave when we want.
She won't win any beauty prizes but when that Vtec kicks in she sure can haul!
We emptied our storage in Orpington, our flat is 90% empty. Where i've been on the go for the last couple of weeks I managed to reverse into my landlords fence post with my van, not content with that the next night I reversed into the same post with the luton, that really made a mess of it!.... I then put my van onto the drive to load something else and left the rear doors open and reversed into the wall. Must get more sleep...
In other news the Vette passed it's MOT today, plenty of sideways action in the rain today. I'm going to a breakfast meet tomorrow morning with Dad at The Bull in Warlingham.
Last edited by Dordogne Roofer; Nov 4th 2017 at 10:46 pm.
#33
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Re: Move France house build thread
We have a keen potential buyer for the Mini coming today, fingers crossed.
Cat said she'll shed a tear if the Mini sells, she's had it since 3 years old.
Doing the last bit of loading up today. I've decided to take the Luton to my local tyre shop to check the tyres and replace if need be. They look in very good condition but I can't take any chances with the weight in it.
Going out for a last meal with Dad tonight. We're going to look for properties for him in France once we get there.
Cat said she'll shed a tear if the Mini sells, she's had it since 3 years old.
Doing the last bit of loading up today. I've decided to take the Luton to my local tyre shop to check the tyres and replace if need be. They look in very good condition but I can't take any chances with the weight in it.
Going out for a last meal with Dad tonight. We're going to look for properties for him in France once we get there.
#34
Re: Move France house build thread
It would be a good idea to have an inventory of what is in your van in case French customs enquire.
I don't mean item by item - but just for each box e.g. kitchen utensils; crockery; cutlery etc.
I don't mean item by item - but just for each box e.g. kitchen utensils; crockery; cutlery etc.
#35
Re: Move France house build thread
That said it's a totally stock metallic silver 2002 Mustang GT coup with optional stove-enamelled alloy wheels. In other words, just like this one:
ETA. I have attached one taken on 8/21, when I traveled with my daughter down to SC to experience the total eclipse. The guy in front of it was someone we met who was taking pictures of the eclipse using his computer.
Last edited by Pulaski; Nov 9th 2017 at 9:27 pm.
#36
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Re: Move France house build thread
We finally got out of our flat! I've never had to get all my tools together and transport them in one go, I have quite an epic amount of them...
We're popping back there to do an hours cleaning, leave envelops of post and pick the Mustang up, not sure what to do with the Mustang at the moment, we can leave it round a friends house till we pop back to pick it up if need be. My Dad has been using it and he's grown quite fond of it, even though he's a Chevy guy.
We sold the Mini! i've never had so much trouble selling a mint, low milage car before...
#37
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Re: Move France house build thread
I'd be happy to share some pictures, when I find some, or take some more.
That said it's a totally stock metallic silver 2002 Mustang GT coup with optional stove-enamelled alloy wheels. In other words, just like this one:
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/18261011.jpg
ETA. I have attached one taken on 8/21, when I traveled with my daughter down to SC to experience the total eclipse. The guy in front of it was someone we met who was taking pictures of the eclipse using his computer.
That said it's a totally stock metallic silver 2002 Mustang GT coup with optional stove-enamelled alloy wheels. In other words, just like this one:
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/18261011.jpg
ETA. I have attached one taken on 8/21, when I traveled with my daughter down to SC to experience the total eclipse. The guy in front of it was someone we met who was taking pictures of the eclipse using his computer.
#39
Re: Move France house build thread
I don't know if it's a Tag Aquaracer because that isn't my wrist!
Thank you! I bought it new, custom ordered (manual, alloy wheels, 400w sound system), delivered direct from Detroit, in December 2001.
I haven't been to any shows, I really should make time, as a viewer, not a shower, as I don't think it is that special, at least not yet. I also need to make time to get the right side cosmetic scrape fixed.
I haven't been to any shows, I really should make time, as a viewer, not a shower, as I don't think it is that special, at least not yet. I also need to make time to get the right side cosmetic scrape fixed.
Last edited by Pulaski; Nov 10th 2017 at 12:46 pm.
#41
Re: Move France house build thread
Just guessing.......
Last edited by Chatter Static; Nov 10th 2017 at 7:57 pm.
#42
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Re: Move France house build thread
Hi guys,
Quite a bit has happened since my last update.
We Stayed at my friends Waynes in Ashford (Kent) for the weekend, plenty of drinking and trying to squash stuff in the vans.
Wayne had the joy of the Luton, the van and the Mustang on the drive. We've left the Mustang with him and insured him on it. His son insisted he took him son to school in it today. He loved it, just what the cars are for.
The van's starting was getting progressively slower, I initially put this down to using the tail lift a lot and short journeys but it happened at the services near Ashford after a 60 mile run so no option but a new battery from Euro Car parts. She's spinning over like a beauty now!
We got the 11pm ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, we aimed to leave Waynes at 7pm (Luton is unwieldly when loaded) we didn't finally leave til nearly 8pm in the end. We got about 15 minutes down the road when I realised I didn't have my wallet! A frantic call to Wayne who then found it in the Mustang (it fell out of my pocket whilst putting it on the drive...
I headed on to Newhaven and Cat went back (not happy) to Wayne's to retrieve the wallet.
The crossing was fine, we went to sleep for a bit and woke up about 2am. We ended up driving to Carlux in one go (save me falling asleep in a lay-by for an hour.
We got here around 4pm, got lost a couple of times, stopped a few times to stretch our legs etc. The vans were quite good on fuel considering how much weight they were carrying.
We got to our Gite but couldn't get the power or lights working in most rooms, apparently in France they don't wire lights on one circuit, sockets on another etc. They wire anything that's near something else together. So one side of the room had a light and a socket working, the other side had nothing....French sockets are total crap, nothing fits snug, either plugs want to fall out or they're really tough to get in, i've had to wedge a table up against a plug to stop the plug falling out, arching much....
So with no way to figure out any logical trouble shooting path we went to sleep with no hot water, one heater working and a couple of lights working. It was cold!
The problem was an isolator by one of two fuse boards, you have to push it up twice, all rather odd but just glad everything working now.
It was a glorious sunny day today (and yesterday), I was nearly in a t-shirt, I would have been if I was working.
I went to see a friend who is building in the village and I have stored a few things with him.
Tomorrow we'll pop over and see the land (1 minute away), do more sorting of our stuff.
Cat's going for a drink on Friday with some girls she met on a facebook page, I'm glad she's met a group so quickly as it can be easier for men to meet people as were often tradesmen or we'll get chatting down the pub.
Must register as self employed asap, we have got a cubic meter of wood already but i'm going to scavenge around as we'll fly through it.
Quite a bit has happened since my last update.
We Stayed at my friends Waynes in Ashford (Kent) for the weekend, plenty of drinking and trying to squash stuff in the vans.
Wayne had the joy of the Luton, the van and the Mustang on the drive. We've left the Mustang with him and insured him on it. His son insisted he took him son to school in it today. He loved it, just what the cars are for.
The van's starting was getting progressively slower, I initially put this down to using the tail lift a lot and short journeys but it happened at the services near Ashford after a 60 mile run so no option but a new battery from Euro Car parts. She's spinning over like a beauty now!
We got the 11pm ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe, we aimed to leave Waynes at 7pm (Luton is unwieldly when loaded) we didn't finally leave til nearly 8pm in the end. We got about 15 minutes down the road when I realised I didn't have my wallet! A frantic call to Wayne who then found it in the Mustang (it fell out of my pocket whilst putting it on the drive...
I headed on to Newhaven and Cat went back (not happy) to Wayne's to retrieve the wallet.
The crossing was fine, we went to sleep for a bit and woke up about 2am. We ended up driving to Carlux in one go (save me falling asleep in a lay-by for an hour.
We got here around 4pm, got lost a couple of times, stopped a few times to stretch our legs etc. The vans were quite good on fuel considering how much weight they were carrying.
We got to our Gite but couldn't get the power or lights working in most rooms, apparently in France they don't wire lights on one circuit, sockets on another etc. They wire anything that's near something else together. So one side of the room had a light and a socket working, the other side had nothing....French sockets are total crap, nothing fits snug, either plugs want to fall out or they're really tough to get in, i've had to wedge a table up against a plug to stop the plug falling out, arching much....
So with no way to figure out any logical trouble shooting path we went to sleep with no hot water, one heater working and a couple of lights working. It was cold!
The problem was an isolator by one of two fuse boards, you have to push it up twice, all rather odd but just glad everything working now.
It was a glorious sunny day today (and yesterday), I was nearly in a t-shirt, I would have been if I was working.
I went to see a friend who is building in the village and I have stored a few things with him.
Tomorrow we'll pop over and see the land (1 minute away), do more sorting of our stuff.
Cat's going for a drink on Friday with some girls she met on a facebook page, I'm glad she's met a group so quickly as it can be easier for men to meet people as were often tradesmen or we'll get chatting down the pub.
Must register as self employed asap, we have got a cubic meter of wood already but i'm going to scavenge around as we'll fly through it.
#43
Re: Move France house build thread
An enjoyable & fascinating move/travel blog.
However pls don't fall into the trap - as many new arrivals do - of comparing French goods with UK products, and giving the impression that the former are generally inferior. The broad statement, "French sockets are total crap, nothing fits snug", can be very misleading. Our property is certainly not new, 15 years old actually, and the electrics are first class, and that includes the French sockets. Now whether they are Lexman, LeGrand or whatever I'm unsure, but the previous French owner purchased them here, and they both look and fit perfectly.
Didn't they have a recall on the british-made guillotines at one time..........
However pls don't fall into the trap - as many new arrivals do - of comparing French goods with UK products, and giving the impression that the former are generally inferior. The broad statement, "French sockets are total crap, nothing fits snug", can be very misleading. Our property is certainly not new, 15 years old actually, and the electrics are first class, and that includes the French sockets. Now whether they are Lexman, LeGrand or whatever I'm unsure, but the previous French owner purchased them here, and they both look and fit perfectly.
Didn't they have a recall on the british-made guillotines at one time..........
#44
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Joined: Jan 2017
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Posts: 57
Re: Move France house build thread
An enjoyable & fascinating move/travel blog.
However pls don't fall into the trap - as many new arrivals do - of comparing French goods with UK products, and giving the impression that the former are generally inferior. The broad statement, "French sockets are total crap, nothing fits snug", can be very misleading. Our property is certainly not new, 15 years old actually, and the electrics are first class, and that includes the French sockets. Now whether they are Lexman, LeGrand or whatever I'm unsure, but the previous French owner purchased them here, and they both look and fit perfectly.
Didn't they have a recall on the british-made guillotines at one time..........
However pls don't fall into the trap - as many new arrivals do - of comparing French goods with UK products, and giving the impression that the former are generally inferior. The broad statement, "French sockets are total crap, nothing fits snug", can be very misleading. Our property is certainly not new, 15 years old actually, and the electrics are first class, and that includes the French sockets. Now whether they are Lexman, LeGrand or whatever I'm unsure, but the previous French owner purchased them here, and they both look and fit perfectly.
Didn't they have a recall on the british-made guillotines at one time..........
Don't get me wrong i'm not some Londoner who expects a fish and chip shop on every corner. I've been here many times and I just don't like their outlets, they just don't feel convincing like UK outlets.
I've moved here for lots of reasons, i've never felt at home in England. I feel the cold really bad, I rarely ever need to wear suncream. I feel more like this is home already and knew it would before I got here. I don't miss home for a second and know I never will.
I won't be one of those people saying i'm lonely or bored because i'll go and make friends, only boring people get bored.
There are many things the French do that are better than England does, 'better' is subjective. The rampant commercialism in the UK drives me nuts, I hate TV and the lying media. There's too many people in England and the whole combo makes people aggressive and intolerant, me included. That's not how humans are supposed to live.
I was rummaging around collecting kindling last night, in a rural area natures banquet is just lying on the floor, Just how it should be
'Total crap' might be a bit harsh, the place i'm staying in was built on the cheap, there's no insulation here either so it's not the best example to comment on. Even the owner thinks it's pony.
Every country does things in different ways for different reasons, the American cars we have have great drivetrains but the steering setups can be really complex and convoluted, where a MK1 Escort would have rack n pinion, a '69 Camaro has rear steer steering box with complex arm arrangement, Inferior to the Escort but that's just how they did it. So it's more of an observation rather than a criticism.
I'm glad everyone does do things differently or there'd be no culture (which is my main criticism of the EU trying to 'harmonise' everyone, it's about making us all the same and eroding culture).
I went to San Fran ten years ago and it could have been London, same shops, same everything, we took bikes across the bridge to Salsalito, a quaint boating village north of San Fran, much nicer than San Fran.
Sorry if this post is a bit rambling, I've just woken up and quite a few things going on in my head, more boxes to unpack I guess and watch the sun come up over our lovely village
#45
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Re: Move France house build thread
I was enjoying this thread right up to the EU 'making us all the same and eroding culture'. I'll leave you to it