I think the groups now exist [at least - when I go to the 'make a new post' section, there they are, in the "Audience" section] Hope someone uses them soon - after all the time its taken
alan h's activity
Questions Asked
Anyone used the Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry service? I'm hoping to drive down to the holiday home later this year, and was thinking of using the service.
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 04:45
By chance I went on the old Forum yesterday - found that someone had PM'ed me from that forum only a few days ago. I hadn't got any notification of a PM, but obviously the old Forum PM system still works It might be worth doing the odd visit
Sat, 05/15/2010 - 12:15
Hopefully they may start flights to the North soon ? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8630455.stm
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 12:40
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 04:33
what else can one say?http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1232160/Italian-police-manage-write-15
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 05:00
I can't beleive that its 17+ hours since the last post - or has my PC taken over and hidden everything?
Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:24
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8307267.stm Hopefully this will kill Blair's ambitions off.
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 12:05
Wed, 08/26/2009 - 04:55
Comments posted
"i'm off to try and scratch a living in the less salubrious areas of Birmingham" ......is there a 'more salubrious area' in Brum?
You ask ;- "Any advice?" I think you may well have just about answered it in the penultimate sentence of your posting, where you write;- "Our lawyer is being rather inconclusive on this matter and we don't want to spend hundreds of thousands on a restoration only to discover 10 years down the line that the legal title wasn't as good as it should have been!" If you cannot get a definitive answer [in writing] from your lawyer, I think you have 3 options
Me? - I'd plump for option 2, with the fall back of option 3 [unless you are prepared to accept the possibility of losing the house, and your money, at some time in the future, in which case just go to option 1] Good Luck
twice apparently!
edit - I hate it when I press the wrong button, and post a blank!
"how do you sleep under a roof that bakes to plus 50c in the summer or drops to minus temps in the winter...holiday home??? sounds more like hell" Mine has 4+ inches of concrete ceiling below it - so there is no problem [although, I could lay 6" of polystyrene on it if I lived there all the time - but only as a heating cost reducer]
When I started this thread I had no idea where it would go [if at all]. During its life, my feelings have swung between hope and despair, depending on how it began to mirror the previous Forum in its later life. I recognise the forum isn't perfect [none is], and it is less exciting. Thank goodness it lacks most of the backbiting and vitriol that the other Italymag Forum suffered from. I'd just like to echo what Jinty said - but apply it to everyone - not just some "just let us get on with our non thriving community life." Some of us quite like it here
Re-fixing ridge tiles is a relatively simple process - but be careful of the risk of falling! This video ......... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTkocnWCl3c........gives an idea how to do it yourself. Chat to your neighbours - they may know a local 'handyman' who will do it. My roof is unlined [just tiles and battens], and I have easily replaced broken and missing tiles They are the interlocking tiles - they look a bit like these http://www.cunialcyprus.com/marsigliese.html but are not nailed in position.I replace them from underneath the roof - the tiles just slide in and out easily, with a little lug that catches on the batten that stops them sliding 'down and out'.
"What do you do about your clothes and bedding?" We are pretty lucky - the house is relatively dry and we store the bedding in wardrobes - its cold [but not damp] when we get it out for use.If you are worried about damp you can use something like this............. http://www.caraselledirect.com/_/vacuum_storage_bags_chests/ .................... which will ensure the clothes etc stay dry [and they reduce the space requirement].We get over the cold sheet problem by using hot water bottles for the first night - although you could take over an electric blanket if your a real softie................."Do you suffer a damp bed the first night?"No - I just make sure I don't drink too much
For me the answer isgas - offelectric - offWater - off and pipes drained [open up lowest taps and also flush loo after turning water off]Central heating system - don't drain, but make sure plenty of antifreeze in the system Benefit - no chargesDis-benefit - a cold flat when you arrive [for us it takes 24 hrs to warm it up properly if we do a winter visit]
I totally agree with Capo's comments - a local geometra is an essential - they know the people that matter and how to 'work' the system to your advantage - timescales for approvals by the commune will be less [although still long]. Some people will recommend using and architect - but I'd suggest that unless you are doing something really 'fancy', a geometra is what you want. Ask your neighbours/estate agent/commune for recommendations - then ask to see some of their work [drawings/plans and actual works] before making up your mind which one to use. [and check what he/she will charge you] The geometra will draw up the plans, get the various estimates [haggle when you see them - it works], make the submissions to the commune for approvals, and supervise the works. A good geometra is worth his/her weight in gold.