Jump to content

Val_B

Members
  • Posts

    18
  • Joined

  • Last visited

    Never

Val_B's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

0

Reputation

  1. Hi We are looking for someone who can do a small mural or trompe d'oeil at our place in Chateauneuf-sur-Charente... possibly exchange for a stay at our accommodation (hotel). (yes, we've blown the budget!!!)
  2. Glad you raised this - on a smaller scale, I have been short-changed at the local tabac, overcharged at a toll booth (18 euros instead of 3.50!!) while we were still UK-based, I should add, and twice overcharged at Castorama (which I managed to get back later). Those are just the things I know about!!
  3. Hi Sounds almost identical to the place we live in, at Jonzac (17) which will be rented out in October. If anyone is interested, please send me a private message! Val
  4. Hello My son (nearly 3) has a place at the local ecole maternelle at the end of August but I am worried that he occasionally has accidents, even at home (both kinds!!) He was "expelled" from a local holiday club because of this problem, even though I have tried to get him to say "je veut pipi" or "Toilette" etc etc, as advised on this forum. Sometimes he's OK, other times he hops around, just saying "Mummy!" His older sister is very good at taking him to the toilet, and luckily she will be at the same school, though in a different class. However, she was at holiday club too... If this problem persists, how will this be viewed by the school? Does anyone have any suggestions please? thanks in advance p.s. we moved from the UK nearly 4 months ago, but I was hoping that would give him long enough to stop doing this!
  5. We are with Wanadoo and very happy with it, but a local friend of ours has told us he gets unlimited ADSL with Tele 2 for only 19 euros a month, which is cheaper than our deal! Val
  6. I can recommend a place in Charente-Maritime - www.chateau-de-clerac.com. The setting really is stunning.
  7. I think you'll find that HIFX has a minimum of 5000 for each transaction... maybe someone else can verify that amount?? Val
  8. Hello - was anyone at the Hippie Festival at Matha yesterday - hubby reckons about 40% of the audience were Brits... was a great night out with groovy sounds which perfectly represented the covers they did....! It's on again tonight if anyone is interested, though not sure the weather will be as perfect.
  9. No, but we are worried as we found out yesterday that the place we are buying next month has been robbed of a tractor/mower, which we had hoped to buy... The problem is that the house is empty now, but was inhabited by gypsies until earlier this year and the current owner thinks they came back... Our first task will be changing locks and putting in lots of security, I think! Val
  10. Hi Was going to post a message on this anyway, to see if any artistic people would like to exhibit at our new venture (hotel, bar/restaurant in the Cognac region. I know it's a long way from you, but may be of interest. We hope to start next month! Your pictures look great, by the way! best wishes and good luck, Val
  11. Thanks everyone for your helpful replies - plenty of "food for thought" there!! Will be keeping all your advice in mind as we plan our next step - I have seen the programmes you have mentioned - i.e. the hotel in Wales and the Nippi and Nigel saga, though I left UK just after seeing the Indian chef arrive! I was shocked at their expenditure for the restaurant lease and summer season only! Difference is that we won't be playing for the TV audience, though we may consider it, as the Tuscany couple have totally booked out their accommodation this summer, following the success of the programme! The tea room is definitely worth considering, and may take a trip to Ruffec to see what they are doing there... a meal out in the name of research! Could also do a deal for our hotel guests to eat-in, as a package... the other restaurants are often reluctant to open in the evenings - sorry forgot to mention that.... Sounds like roast dinners and fish and chips are a non-starter! However we may do special evenings with national themes etc. We are relying on the experience of our friends who are also keen to offer couscous (as in their other business) which apparently the French are very keen on. I suppose we are guided by their optimism that this thing could work...!
  12. We are settling into our new lives and now thinking that with help from some new friends (already running a cafe with their many grown-up family), we could maybe manage to work a hotel/bar/restaurant with them. We already bought an old hotel not far from Cognac in the centre of a town of 3000 pop, originally to turn into self-contained apartments, but now that we are France-based, we are thinking to make a business there. The hotel hasn't been run for 2 years, and closed due to the owner retiring and his grandson didn't want the hassle. The other hotel in town has just become apartments upstairs, but still a busy restaurant downstairs. We appreciate that this is our main competition, so therefore are thinking an English style establishment may be a good idea, with roast dinners, perhaps fish & chips? Visiting the Chamber of Commerce this week, but hoping all will be straightforward, as it was a hotel before. Any advice about how long it all takes to clear red tape appreciated, with summer around the corner. I have some experience of bar/cafe work, a long time ago. We are both fairly young, and looking for a new start with a young family - are we mad?? Does anyone have any thoughts, advice or menu ideas for a bar anglais? Many thanks in advance!
  13. Dept 17, just outside Jonzac - St Germain de Lusignan Kids of 4 and 3 but don't let that put you off contacting us, anybody!! Val
  14. Moving to Jonzac (south 17) end of April - daughter will be 5 in Oct (similar character to yours!) and son will be 3 next week... Would love to meet you all - they don't really speak French yet.... Val
×
×
  • Create New...