BV87 - Bricolage

23/09/2024

Another tip ref wasting time waiting for on-line deliveries. I ordered a scythe from Germany - got to Limoges last Friday no problem... DPD did not send me update emails and when I logged onto their site it told me it had been transferred to Chronopost, The Chronopost site said on Friday the address was incorrect and impossible to leave a notice - rubbish as I have a letterbox! I was then able to reprogramme the delivery which I did and yet again was told (on Saturday) it could not be delivered - I contacted Chronopost and told them the address was correct! Thus on Monday it was 3rd time lucky. I checked the original DPD label and yes the address has been printed correctly but cut incorrectly so the address is not 100% clear - house number could be 5, 15 etc- don't they check it and why not phone or email me when in Eymoutiers???
Also I had to explicitly ask for Chronopost and DPD to automatically send me updates. For all such deliveries I leave the front door wide open with a note to leave the delivery in the hall and to call me if needed. As I have said before I prefer to get my items delivered to a local shop and pick it up from there as all this pratting around is just wasting my time,... guess the thing to do is check the delivery asap at the courier site and ensure you automatically get updates. Chronopost uses a bot (don't get me started) but they did add an additional label with my comment that the address which I repeated was correct....I was worried it was going to be sent back to Germany!

02/09/2024

This is funny (not violent) - part of great French site Boulets du bâtiment
https://www.facebook.com/reel/915721360572313

13/08/2024

Not for the first time I have been really messed around and wasted well over a day due to spectactular incompetence from haulage companies. I am so sick of this I am using UPS DHL etc and if it costs more than so be it. I bought a sack trolley from Toolstation France which I find a good company however they farm out heavy items. Firstly I was told Heppner tried to contact me - no messagel or email of course, Then they said I refused it - you what! Then they said Friday, never arrived phoned them again and they said Monday - never arrived and they said the lorry broke down (deal with it!) ,Phoned again and they said it was being dealt with by MRCI in Limoges. Phoned MRCI - first they said tomorrow (Wednesday) and then they said this afternoon! Neither Heppner or MRCI have email so you need to speak French for MRCI. Checked MRCI out - terrible reviews. We will see - also I really don't like the ebay global shipping - (not so) cheap and nasty. Has anybody else had these problems from Tool Station France? Also now I always check when I order things who is actually going to deliver it - lost 2 days over a sack trolley!

11/06/2024

I have had my offer for a French house accepted - it was sold by the State as the former occupant was intestate and had no family. It is in a lovely hamlet Mazaud (Neuvic-Entier) - it has 2 bedrooms but also a large mezzanine area with room for 2 more, a stone barn (2 levels with 73m2 footprint) , garage, front garden and a rear field. I will be looking for a private sale in about 4 months so if any questions or interested in viewing (in 4 months time) please contact me. See below

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

03/04/2024

Question for my millions of French followers. I have made a formal offer on a house which was really cheap but really disgusting - there are 3 derelict "micro" cars in the front garden which looks a right mess in lovely hamlet - Le Mazaud Neuvic Entier. Has anybody any advice for getting rid of these things - I think I should take them to a VHU centre - nearest one is 30km away or maybe just cut them up and put in a skip. Skip hire here is very expensive and not sure how easy they would be to dismantle. Maybe best to hire a dedicated trailer lorry or a car trailer... all comments welcome - I thank you

14/10/2023

I am now posting every week on my Instagram account useful items for the ex-pats in France. This week "droit de préemption" if interested please follow me

6 Followers, 29 Following, 3 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Adrian Carter ()

30/04/2023

Latch update : I used to have a superb carpenter on my books but sadly he returned to the UK. Since then I have started legal action against one and sacked 2 others for gross incompetence. This is why I do my web site see below https://petitbricoleur.wordpress.com/ Ref this latch . job done and OK but took about 3 hrs whereas my original chap would have done it in 20 minutes. What I learn: be very careful when working out where to drill the holes as the latch loop and lock base need to be correct of the latch will not close and I used a template and did it very slowly. Also as always don't use cheap tools and fittings especially screws and drill bits. See my web site for special offers.
Also the 2 doors do not close exactly in parallel so ultra careful, the quality wood was very hard so I used a pilot drill as normal and then screwed a small screw in first before replacing it with the final one. Not for the first time the screws with the lock were total rubbish, one head became badly chewed and I had to use a lock wrench to remove it and then damn me another screw head snapped off so I had to move the lock up a tad. I was annoyed with myself for not doing it at the start but I had to replace all the original lock screws with trade ones. However I was pleased with the result and although rubbish for a professional better than what most local 'carpenters' would have done. If interested in some PZ2 see https://www.ebay.fr/itm/185621159632 and I will knock off 10 percent

25/04/2023

I need a new lock for my garage , can I get a carpenter within 6 months, can I Hades. Thus I have bought a hasp lock to fit myself, Master Lock 723D, un moraillon in French. I used to import a lot of stuff from the UK before Brexit but now we have to pay import duty. Had a quick shufty and amazed how much the price varies. One of my favourite suppliers is Screwfix France where this cost me 25.85 Euro ,as they have a current 15 percent reduction. This has free delivery on orders over 50 euros On eBay this costs up to 98.34 with delivery ex UK and from France 54.99 inc delivery. It just shows you need to shop around... How much you it have cost fitted with a carpenter I would guess 200 euros minimum. Will put a few photos etc on my web site

Helping ex-pats with their French renovations

19/01/2023

I am renovating my bathroom and due to cost decided to add a lino floor - can anybody recommend a good fitter to do this in Eymoutiers 87120. Tempted to build a metal guide using rails (of rail-montant) to trace it out and do it myself but might be a tad ambitious or am I being a wimp? Thanks a lot

10/01/2023

My plasterer's wife is currently sick thus can anybody recommend a competent plaster in the Eymoutiers area - thanks a lot Adrian Carter

26/12/2022

Here is a useful French video about unblocking a tap - 2 words planning and caution. When buying a house I also ask to see the stopcock/rising main and see if it is seized. Also see if you can find the exterior feed to your house. When renovating you will need to turn the mains water off and on. If you lose your temper or not sure what you are doing you will risk cracking the water input so will get a bill for the water wasted and an emergency plumber so if possible turn the exterior feed off , have a cup of tea and go slowly, slowly, slowly! You can use heat carefully - see later videos
Few bits of vocabulary for the video
stopcock -robinet d'arret
valve seat - siège de clapet
to unlock - deserrer
nut - écrou
chasser - chase - here to flush away
nettoyer - clean

Un robinet grippé, bloqué peut être débloquer avec une certaine technique. Voici comment...