After you've selected your appliances in Darty or wherever Elaine check out the same articles on the Ubaldi website. We saved about 30% on a new induction hob last year.
Paint is tricky topic Sheila. Average interior paint in Ireland is much better that an average brand here. We found that out when we had the interior of our house redecorated with local rubbish. But exterior paint in Ireland isn't up to the weather here. A pal of mine brought down an Espace full of Farrow and Ball from Dublin to paint his (many) shutters. Same stuff that had lasted a decade on his house in Dublin. The shutters turned out very nicely but now the paint is tired after only a year due to sun, wind and sea air. I think the only solution is to buy top quality paint here for the exterior. Tollens for example. Anyway, that's our plan for our shutters.
A French dish will do fine Elaine. You need to be careful that the decoder (i.e. the box) you buy before you come is a "FREESAT" box (not Saorview). I eventually bought a Humax combined Freesat decoder and recorder from Amazon.co.uk (free shipping to Ireland) and it works perfectly with my French dish. Like Celeste we use a normal roof TV ariel for French TV.
Beds are a different size too so no point in bringing fitted sheets :-) Bathroom fittings are also different so you might have a problem getting a plumber to fit Irish connections etc.
.......even FIGURE out!
Hi Celeste, which is the system you use to watch the Club Rugby? That is the one thing I haven't been able to fugure out here. Doesn't really matter if it is French Club Rugby or English - I just LOVE my Rugby!
Thanks
EMMAÜS is a Christian charity of some sort run by devotees of a French 'social' priest called Abbé Pierre. People give them stuff and they sell it on very cheap to the rest of us. A lot of it is without interest but as they clean up and repair most of the items you can find extraordinary bargains. Furniture mainly. And, as I said, you've always got IKEA next door for the up-to-date version!
Yes Simon,
I can confirm that's why they are in such good condition! Is EMMAUS a market? Sounds very interesting!
Elaine,I am staggered to find that they now sell - and you own - garden furniture in Ireland. Gone are the days when one dragged a kitchen chair on to the pavement for a few rays of sun before whipping back in as the rain started. Bring it with you by all means: I shall be the first to visit you in the Ariège to have a look!
Otherwise, I wouldn't bring anything except a couple of suitcases. You have one of the best EMMAUS in France at Labarthe-sur-Leze on the outskirts of Toulouse where you can buy anything from second-hand crockery (some lovely stuff) to wardrobes, tables etc. And the only IKEA in the South-West is just a mile away.
Yes,
Whatever about the rain, I'd say even the humidity here is torture!! We have garage, cave and spare rooms :)
Oh wow Kate!!
Lots of edibles there!! Sounds like you're a bit of a chef? I will be referring back to that list I think, a couple of things there I would like, lentils, oats, spices and soy sauce
Yes, everyone is agreeing about the paint and varnish.
Thanks!!
I presume your road bikes are legal too Henry ;)
thanks for the tip on synthetics
great tips thanks Nick
Definitely a consensus about the paint and varnish in particular
We've just been doing the same - a total renovation project - and brought [or wished we had!] the following from the UK for reasons of choice or cost:
Paint -- can be 3 times the price for the SAME product (like Dulux Magic £19.00 in UK, 72 euros here), particularly outdoor paint or 'metal' paint. Wallpaper likewise --- and a very limited choice here.
Tiles, light fittings -- choice and price. If you want a rangecooker they are double the price here (or more) for the same product. Small electricals, like kettle or toaster etc all much more expensive here, but the larger items like washing machines are very similarly priced.
I would also bring bedding as there's more choice in the UK and I think it's a bit cheaper. And you can't get UK sized pillows here (the 80 x 50cm size).....closest here is 70 x 50.
Otherwise my UK shopping list consists largely of stuff you can't get here: good teabags, spice mixes, red lentils, barley, oatcakes, ham stock cubes, horseradish sauce, haggis (yes, I come from up there), dried porcini mushrooms, rice and pasta in bulk bags (just so much of a saving), porridge oats, meusli, paella rice, seeds for breadmaking, lemsips, mango chutney, big bottles of soy sauce, green tabasco, oyster sauce, golden syrup, dark marmalade, kippers, mixed crackers for cheese, dry sherry and marsala for cooking, Pimms, Tanqueray gin (NOT for cooking!).
All the best, Kate
It is my experience that paint and varnish are far more expensive than UK and poor quality. Most DIY and gardening stuff seems to be more expensive over here. We also buy sun-cream and mozzie spray on the internet as its far cheaper than in the shops here.
Yep, point taken Sheila.
I have different "tog" duvets and yes they will be utilised during the move!!
I have an electric blanket - I just send him to bed 10 mins before me ;)
I also have various motorbikes, some offroad (legal) and road. It's a much, much nicer place to own bikes here.
You can buy fully synthetic oils in the supermarket. (If I had a 'cool' smiley, I would add it here).
I do love Marmite, but never buy it anymore as I don't eat bread anymore, and now just don't miss it! If it's available on toast when visiting a B&B here, I demolish it :)
Hi Fiona,
You made me smile - with all the modern beds available now, and different mattresses, even here at home I have mismatches - double bed seems to have about 3 sizes!!
Thanks for the heads up! Am bringing whatever good quality stuff I currently have.
Good suggestion Fiona. However, beds and mattresses are measured in centimetres in Ireland, so shouldn't be a problem. Elaine, I'd bring extra duvets as well - they are horrendously expensive here. You can probably use them in transit as protection for fragile items. One item I'd hate to be without is my electric blanket. They do not seem to be commonly sold here, so if you like and use one, bring it! Hopefully it will only be needed for a couple of weeks each year!
Bedding, especially English style oblong pillows are difficult to get and very expensive (but M & S online a godsend) measure your beds in Ireland as mattresses etc are different sizes here, and Ikea also different. However there are some lovely bedding to be bought, just check fits!