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Suandpete

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Everything posted by Suandpete

  1. When we first started three years ago we decided not to supply towels and until this year were never asked for them.  We supply everything else - even fruit and veg from the garden and weather forecasts - but when we were first asked about towels we decided that it was an extra service and therefore should be charged as extra. However that is under consideration and we may well change the policy for next season.  We have just decided to charge for electricity used during winter lets as our rates are so low in winter that we were actually losing money with some groups.
  2. We've done towels for the first time this year - and since maybe three times.  One face flannel, 1 hand towel, 1 bath towel and 1 pool  towel  per person - 5 euros per week.  Difficult isn't it.  We can do one group no worries - but if we had a second group with no gap would be seriously challenged - maybe would be forced to use our own towels which are white - and so not ideal for rentals.
  3. We live in St Varent in the north of D-S and my husband recently did the trip to UK and back twice in 2 weeks using Speedferries.  He reckons on between five and five and a half hours (without stops) if you use the new A28 which has made the trip a lot quicker.  He did have a problem in Rouen on the first trip but Sunday Driver sorted him out with a good way through Rouen - http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/730031/ShowPost.aspx which worked fine.   One thing to bear in mind - particularly if money is a bit tight is the cost of tolls - a bit over 60 euros for a return trip.  And of course its much cheaper to top up with fuel at a supermarket off the motorway - eg Leclerc at Boulogne as you join the A16 (first right at the roundabout when you get off the ferry). Whereabouts in Deux-Sèvres are you based?
  4. Perhaps you might find it easier to find a home if you say whereabouts you live.
  5. Pool gates are supposed to be self closing - part of the basic requirement - ours has to be tightened up every few months but normally closes firmly (and noisily!)
  6. Yes - it definitely should open outwards - just one more thing to prevent small children accessing the pool on their own - they need to pull it against its spring rather than just push it.
  7. Well that worked SD!  Thanks very much.   South to North next weekend.....
  8. Unfortunately not - too dark.  The adults are extremely noisy though - not in the nest but we have a large cedar and a redwood in our "back yard" - so it is ideal for them.  They're not calle dscreech owls for nothing!
  9. We have a Maison de Maitre with 4 chimneys - several of which split into two.  We permanently have jackdaws living in three of them (the fourth has a woodburner with an internal steel flue and cowl).  Last year to our surprise we had barn owls sharing a chimney with jackdaws - one in each section.  Every morning the jackdaws all sit on the top of their chimneys before they fly off to wherever - and at night we actually saw the baby barn owls sitting on the top of the chimney that they shared with the jackdaws - a day shift and a night shift.   It was the distinct sound like someone raking gravel that first made us look up there at about midnight - and the babies were up there - probably just before they were old enough to actually leave.
  10. We imported a few hundred from Tescos - extremely cheap and very light.
  11. Many thanks - should save my bacon for his trip back tomorrow and then again next weekend!
  12. CONGRATULATIONS!    Can't offer any advice I'm afraid cos I came here far too old - but bon courage.
  13. As I've said before, our Molly is a rescue dog - rescued by a vet in the Dordogne during the rabies problem of 2004 only because he thought she was "mignonne"!!  Although she should have been put down as she wasn't chipped or tattooed and was found starving he fell in love with her.  Even after two years she still responds best to French commands.  We have another dog (male) we have had for 4 years who we have had since he was about 9 months old and he also responds best to French.  Interesting isn't it - maybe we use a different tone of voice when speaking French?
  14. We just use "bonne chienne" for good girl.
  15. She'll be fine and frisky again in no time.  We have a rescue dog who is probably about 6 and she had had litter after litter - as soon as we got her we had her done and she is fine.  It certainly hasn't slowed her down - she has caught one adult bird and taken three babies from their nest in the last few days......  You've definitely made the right decision so don't worry.
  16. My OH is currently en route from Deux- Sèvres (motorway from Saumur almost all the way) to Boulogne.  He is using the new part of the A28 and left it at the junction (23) suggested by Viamichelin to make his way around Rouen.  He has just rung to say that it was obviously the wrong exit to take as he ended up in the middle of Rouen and it took him 40 minutes to get out. Is there anyone who uses this road regularly and can give us advice for his return on Sunday - and also for repeating the journey next weekend (ie directions on the best way round Rouen in both directions).  Thanks in advance.
  17. The pre-made circles - usually pate feuillete!!!!   A cop-out I know - but they are cheap, taste nice, are easy to use and freeze well!
  18. That's so sad........  our dogs hate getting wet (only from the rain - ponds are different) I don't think they would wait for any one!
  19. I'm beginning to get worried.  I used to be a civil servant as well...................
  20. Oh no!  I'm so busy.  Can I fit it in?
  21. Just managed to get on now - I was even told that the BBC site wasn't recognised!   Glad it isn't just us...
  22. Our normal car insurance ( with MMA) includes breakdown cover in Europe (and Switzerland - not in the EU)....   I believe this is standard with French car insurance.
  23. This is an excellent site - you can input the name of your commune and it tells you exactly what the situation is. http://info.eau-poitou-charentes.org/
  24. It's the immature buds that follow the sun - once the flowers are open they do just face east http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunflower  - but ours are just facing down to the ground now (we have them all round our veggy garden).
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