alan h's activity

Seat61 is a great website for train travel in europe.Also - the German Railway route p=Planner is very very useful for seeing details of any journey you wish to make       https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml[In my opinion, its the best there is]Good luck Alan 

There should be no reason why you don't move in - I've seen many houses where external works are being carried out with people still using the house.

You could ask your geometra for his advice, in case there are any legal reasons

One way of getting a good price is to use one of the websites that put prospective customers in touch with 'removers' who have an empty van going back to the UKGoogle should assist - such as;-https://www.google.co.uk/search?ei=8CaSXNuFG6TDxgPbmq2wCw&q=return+loads++italy+to+uk&oq=return+loads++italy+to+uk&gs_l=psy-ab.12...41723.45348..48894...0.0..0.725.5946.3-3j8j1j1......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i8i7i30.vZ9K_0GgTno 

Would be useful for others if you would say which car hire company you used

The only successful challenges to hire companies taking charges on your card, that I am aware of, have been done by people who have involved the 'Personal Finance Experts ' of the newspapers.
I'm aware that both the Saturday Guardian and Sunday Observer readers have had success this way - the involvement of the newspaper and the risk of significant bad publicity has energised some car hire companied to review theiractions, find an 'inadvertent error' on their part and a refund happens

Good Luck

"Will Leroy Merlin carry such a thing? "  My French isn't that good - but these seem to show boilers.  However, I'd suggest ypou buy one locally - your plumber will advise https://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/produits/chauffage-plomberie/radiateur-seche-serviettes-chaudiere-regulation-et-climatiseur/chaudiere/chaudiere-gaz-l1308217086

Get a gas combi boiler fitted - size depends on number of rooms to heat. It will do central heating and hot water for sinks, showers etc. Very easy to use

Cost - depends on size - get a couple of quotes from local heating engineers/plumbers.

If you are going to bring large amounts of cash into the country, I would make 2 suggestions;-

• Do not bring in 500 Euro notes - they can be incredibly difficult to use - even banks are not keen on them
• Don't carry the cash in a wallet/puse handbag etc - use a money belt strapped around your waist, under all your clothing

[That's how i did it]

My other suggestion is, if you have a little time to spare, is o go via Luxembourg. It costs about an hour [max] in travel, but is toll free, and you can also fill up in Luxembourg at the services with very cheap fuel

You shouldn't have any real problems if you stick to autoroutes/main roads.  I see you go via Colmar, I'd get there on the main route [autoroute via Strasbourg] rather than 'over the top' [Nancy to Colmar.Otherwise, no probs  

If you 'Google' something like "Part load Sardinia to Cambridge" or "Part Load Italy to UK" you'll get info on a couple of websites that the Haulage trade use to fill empty vans on return trips, and also little one off trip companies Good luck