We Have Our Completion Date! (April 2018)
Yesterday was exactly one-month before the completion deadline - and we'd still not been given an actual completion date. Whilst this isn't really a surprise, it would be nice to have some lead time for the booking of leave and flights so, I dropped the immobilier an e-mail to see if she's heard anything from the notaire and, to give a bit of motivation, I did enquire as to what would happen if due to the need to book leave/flights, we missed the deadline.
Cassandre replied quickly as usual saying she had spoken to the notaire and would 5pm on the 19th April be OK? Aaagh! It is suddenly very real and rather exciting.
I checked the flights and we could fly in that day but not land until 16:30 - then there was the time to get through immigration, collect luggage and drive down to Uzerche. The drive alone would be an hour so there was no way we could be there by 5pm. To get there in time would mean flying in on the Tuesday which would mean three wasted days and the need to pay for two nights in a hotel. "Can the notaire do Friday 20th?" I asked. "Yes" was the reply. Great 😊.
So, now to plan the journey. Do we fly or did we get the ferry? If we took a couple of cases over but brought none back, the flights were going to cost around £150 and then there would be car hire on top. Or we could get the Ferry for around £250. We opted for the latter as it would give us vastly more capacity to take things with us.
The original 'flying' plan was to take the bare essentials to allow us to live in the house for a few days, get specific measurements (to allow us to plan things like the kitchen and the rewiring) and get things like utilities arranged. A flight with a couple of suitcase would have only allowed us to take such things as an inflatable bed, toiletries and clothes for a short stay.
The decision to take the ferry opens up a whole vista of opportunities. The plan is now to go for a full week (and a day), to take tools, paints, some linen, a couple of folding chairs and even a folding wooden futon-cum-settee. It won't be luxury, but it will be far better than the original plan. And our stay can now include starting on the decorating - at least the woodwork.
We've decided to go for an overnight sailing and have opted for a cabin both ways - so this has pushed the price up to just under £400 - but it means we can have a leisurely and (hopefully) enjoyable drive through France to and from Uzerche.
So, today has been all about figuring out what we need to take, including what we want to buy in this country to take. You may be surprised that I said we'd be taking paint with us - but it is twice the price in France, so that sort of thing makes sense. I'm also wanting to take a fairly comprehensive toolbox as there isn't a local B&Q or Wilko type shop that I can just pop to. Power tools I will buy in France - rather than using adaptors.
Need to get the car ready too, kitting it out with headlight deflectors, GB sticker, breathalyser kit, etc. And check the RAC and insurance cover me in France. Lots to do, but 3-weeks to do it all in. Should be no problem (he says).
Cassandre replied quickly as usual saying she had spoken to the notaire and would 5pm on the 19th April be OK? Aaagh! It is suddenly very real and rather exciting.
I checked the flights and we could fly in that day but not land until 16:30 - then there was the time to get through immigration, collect luggage and drive down to Uzerche. The drive alone would be an hour so there was no way we could be there by 5pm. To get there in time would mean flying in on the Tuesday which would mean three wasted days and the need to pay for two nights in a hotel. "Can the notaire do Friday 20th?" I asked. "Yes" was the reply. Great 😊.
So, now to plan the journey. Do we fly or did we get the ferry? If we took a couple of cases over but brought none back, the flights were going to cost around £150 and then there would be car hire on top. Or we could get the Ferry for around £250. We opted for the latter as it would give us vastly more capacity to take things with us.
The original 'flying' plan was to take the bare essentials to allow us to live in the house for a few days, get specific measurements (to allow us to plan things like the kitchen and the rewiring) and get things like utilities arranged. A flight with a couple of suitcase would have only allowed us to take such things as an inflatable bed, toiletries and clothes for a short stay.
The decision to take the ferry opens up a whole vista of opportunities. The plan is now to go for a full week (and a day), to take tools, paints, some linen, a couple of folding chairs and even a folding wooden futon-cum-settee. It won't be luxury, but it will be far better than the original plan. And our stay can now include starting on the decorating - at least the woodwork.
We've decided to go for an overnight sailing and have opted for a cabin both ways - so this has pushed the price up to just under £400 - but it means we can have a leisurely and (hopefully) enjoyable drive through France to and from Uzerche.
So, today has been all about figuring out what we need to take, including what we want to buy in this country to take. You may be surprised that I said we'd be taking paint with us - but it is twice the price in France, so that sort of thing makes sense. I'm also wanting to take a fairly comprehensive toolbox as there isn't a local B&Q or Wilko type shop that I can just pop to. Power tools I will buy in France - rather than using adaptors.
Need to get the car ready too, kitting it out with headlight deflectors, GB sticker, breathalyser kit, etc. And check the RAC and insurance cover me in France. Lots to do, but 3-weeks to do it all in. Should be no problem (he says).
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