water rat

Has anybody received any communications yet from the powers that be?

I just wish people would say something. It can be a bit of a shock when one is'nt prepared . I went into a room after guests vacated and it looked like a lot of blood had been mopped up using our towels! It turned out to be red bean salad. It was still pretty unpleasant to clean up ,but would have been easier if I'd been forewarned. Please, those of you who visit us ,say something if you have an accident.

Our tariff will actually work out a bit less than that as .we will provide free stays for the horses in our field.

The form we filled in was from the CDTE and we have just got our first booking for 2 in Aug. Much like yourself, Cathyw ,we have a "normal" B&B so it's just another way of broadening our market. I wasn't looking to becoming a paid guide ,the idea was to just accompany our guests on their next leg. I usually hack out solo ( apart from the dogs) so it would be nice to have some company and give them a bit of knowledge about the route.

Exactly the same happened here when the 2  entirely unlovable daughters of a belgian family folded up their linen on the day of departure. After they'd gone I found sunny delight -like stains over everything. They spent their days curing boredom by tormenting our 2 patient dogs who unfortunately didn't bite. Now ,when families enquire ,I point out all the dangerous water courses and drops we have. I've spent too many worrying moments with toddlers while their parents are relaxing. So far I seem to be putting them off.

def no subsidies round these 'ere  parts!

Thanks for the advice ,Swissie. We've been sent a form to fill in by GdF so hopefully they've had some enquiries. I would be tempted to offer myself and steed as a guide ,but they'd be too much work to do with the B&B. Can't leave it all to the manservant!

Does anyone provide this service? For riders and their mounts. We are ideally set up for this and have experience with horses. W Rat

Sorry, I saw your post a while back ,but didn't have time to reply. If you have an agent in UK stick with them,If not try to get one. The UK is the Illustration centre of Europe, if not the world. In these technological times it doesn't matter where you are based. I was working as an illustrator for 30 years  and gave it up when we moved to France,but I can see it would be difficult here. I'm still painting and get commissions when I want them. We also have our own Gallery. I could never give it up completely!

The Manservant will do some experimenting and let you know.

Well, Gluestick , the manservant is positively inspired by your breadmaking and has an idea forming ........... Making a big batch of dough for the week à la professniol bakery and then freezing the aportioned dough . Presumably we'd get out the required amount the night before and we could cook it in the morning when we're up about an hour before the guests. At what stage should we freeze the dough?

Thanks for all your comments and ideas. I like to make my own bread from scratch , but need a machine for the chambres d'hote as I don't relish the idea of getting up at 5am to prove dough then not getting to bed ,sometimes 'til after midnight. My manservant won't get out of bed to buy loaves 'cos the nearest boulangerie is too far,maybe I need to replace him,rather than the bread machine.

We're on our 5th or maybe 6th in just 7 years. It's usually the pan that goes and the cost of replacement inc packaging is ridiculous. We decided to go for a more expensive model ,but it hasn't fared any better than the cheap Lidl one which is around 40 euros. The cost of a pan from Russell hobbs is 40 pounds inc p&p. Our carbon footprint is massive concerning bread machines ,but the manufacturers don't make it easy. It's used every day ,but shouldn't it be designed to be? I'm looking for a whole different design,anybody out there using one?

Can't stand ikea ,but succumbed to their beds after trying one or two at friends. We have a sultan mattress with a soft pad on top and iron bedstead with sprung slats. Couldn't fault it.

Yes it's an automated system run by GdF. You get a phone call every morning during peak season to check availability for that day. Don't think we ever got anyone from it, forgot to ask the last minuters! It's no good if you want a lie-in.

I was about to try your method Wicce when a miracle happened and our new neighbours arrived with 2 jersey cows. I hope this will happen to all of you searching for cream, if you wish for something hard enough.............! it's not helping much with the waist-line tho!

Thanks ,that's good advice for us as we're not bikers and don't go anywhere, anyway! My main mode of transport is push bike or horse,so everywhere seems far away.

Has anyone visited the Brenne National Park  and what do they think of it? W rat

Thanks ,Gary. We know Oradour ,but  wasn't sure if it wasn't too close  at 1 hour and a half, then again, we could suggest a v winding route. Also, thinking about the Da Vinci parc at Amboise ,but may be too far. Maybe  The Brenne National Park, I'll ask Chris pp if it's worth a visit! W Rat

We're a chambres d'hote/ B&B in central france and are a useful overnight stop for bikers heading south. We have just got a booking from 4 bikers who will be staying for 4 nights. Any ideas for rideouts from you bikers out there? We're just south of La Chatre 36. W Rat

Yes, Gastines hit the nail on the head. You need to look in your locality for the availability of restaurants/eateries to guage if its worth doing t'd'h. Our nearest restaurant is 10 min drive and has changed hands 3 times in the last 6 years so we have great demand for meals. It often happens that guests who arrive late presume there are restaurants nearby so usually we keep T d'H on standby. Once ,guests arrived late and hungry so as it was a friday sent them to our nearest town which has a pizza van, only on fridays!  To be honest, like many on this forum ,we wait for any authorities to contact us ,regarding any red- tape. You don't want to go searching for it. A good accountant is worth his/her weight in gold. Bon Courage

The Gdf meeting  was interesting........... The hygiene course will be obligatory for everyone serving TdH regardless of how long they've already been doing it,but they did emphasise this is being brought in as the result of lobbying by the Hotel/restaurant brigade. I agree,Quillan, it is a good idea,but if it truly concerned hygiene it would apply to anyone serving food ,even breakfast. The rather more vociferous Ch d'oters agreed this was the slippery slope and soon we won't be allowed to serve our own produce ,even tho this is at the centre of td'h. We will wait and see as "they" may backtrack,perhaps a shorter and cheaper course for all will make common sense. The new grille classement......! that's a whole new story!

If my post was deleted ,I'd best not repeat it. If anyone wants to know what happened at the GdF meeting,contact me.

Don't know where my post has gone. Havn't got time to go through it all again at the moment.

we're going to a GdF meeting next week, will let you know what happens .Last year the main outrage amongst the french owners was having to advertise prices outside the property. We went to the douanes when the Grand licence was first announced and they knew nothing about it,but they gave it to us anyway. We have been doing Td'h since opening in '04 so are hoping we can continue without probs or expense.Watch this space........