betoulle
-
Posts
214 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Never
Posts posted by betoulle
-
-
Probably same family we had stay with us last year - Mum is highly allergic to soap powder & conditioner smells, so would wash in her own powder every day until the smell of my powder etc had passed..........takes all sorts. Out of interest, this year in our welcome guide we have included a sheet about 'Helping to Save the Planet' to encourage our guests to recycle etc, including the statistic that an average washing machine load uses 60 litres of water. Now into our 8th week of the season & have had very no guests do daily small washes, in fact the majority have done no washing at all......could just be luck, but food for thought....
-
I bought one of these fridges from a friend recently who is 'downsizing' & am already very impressed with its performance. We run a B&B & in the 3 months we have had the fridge I am already finding that cheese, fruit etc keep fresh far longer than in my other fridges, so less food wastage - highly recommended.
-
[quote user="Wilko"]
Lastly we had a US guest in April, a MD late 50's early 60's, and we were chatting about changes and advances in medicine over the past 40 years. he said that one of the things that he had noticed was an increase in the number of brain tumours, around 3 a year when he started to practice with over 30 last year. I asked him if he thought the cause was linked to mobile phones and he replied that there appeared to be no concrete proof but both he and his wife had ceased to use them more than 10 years ago.
Regards
Wilko
[/quote]
Feel I have to reply to the above having working in neurology both abroad & at a leading UK Neurology centre scanning brains for the last 30 years think I have a little experience.....the reason for the above quoted 'apparent increase in brain tumours in the last 30 years' is purely because the diagnostic technology has advanced so much since the 70s so the pick up rate is far higher, plus clinicians refer more patients than they used to - same goes for any major medical condition which can now be diagnosed by advanced techniques......comments like that cause major health scares which can cause untold problems of their own. A small percentage of brain tumours are life threatening & many are benign & easily removed.......many more die from malignant melanoma from sunbathing, lung cancer from smoking, liver disease from excessive alcohol..... No tumour is good news but many are avoidable by living sensibly - there is no proof that mobile phones or WiFi causes any increased risk.........
My husband was the MD of a company which erected mobile phone masts in the UK & also has extensive knowledge on this matter - again so much is scare mongering.........the mobile phone & WiFi technology is here to stay - if we all reacted as some of the above posters we would still be driving around in horse drawn carriages & reading by gaslight - the whole of life is a risk - make the most of it - this is not a dress rehearsal....
Rant over - back to cleaning toilets & ironing sheets
-
The ultimate Vanilla Ice Cream (apart from home made) is Haagen Dazs - available in all big supermarkets......
-
Ah yes - maintenance......you have just described our December, January, February routine, then magical March when we start cleaning up the pool area, grass cutting, landscaping, pressure washing, opening up the gites etc - we have a mad splurge of gite decorating March/April - have learnt from experience not to do it prior to closing them up for the winter - you can get a nasty surprise come spring....so now wait for it to warm up a bit before painting, wallpapering etc... Our happiest month is probably October in that the pool is off, the grass has stopped growing & all our friends start appearing, so just as much work with washing, ironing & feeding them - enough said on that subject...lets just say I REALLY need that holiday by the end of the month......November is our time when we put our feet up occasionally, visit the tourist attractions off season, go to cinema, have lunch out & head off somewhere completely different for a couple of weeks - ideally sunny, so we can be the guests for a change - bit of a busman's holiday usually, but does us good to be on the receiving end & remind us of why we keep doing it year after year. As from tonite we have guests every day till mid-October - no more lie-ins, & completely full-house for July & August - that's a lot of breakfasts.......still as Jeremy Hardy would say 'musn't grumble' - we are doing a lot better than some near us this year.
Have a good season Quillan
-
ah...spare time - something our guests have in abundance - we too could sit & read a book all day or spend hours on end doing Sudoku, relax by the pool, have tennis lessons.....go out for a long leisurely lunch......something we can only dream about during the season..........roll on November. If no washing & ironing to do then would probably do more gardening, spend longer doing the cleaning, pool maintance, shopping etc, but maybe could slip in the occasional leisurely lunch
-
Now that's what I call a reasonable price - in fact taking Quillan's figures I think it would be virtually the same as doing it yourself..... Any chance that you are in the Charente? - would seriously consider sending out particularly on a busy weekend like this one with double gite changeover, a wedding party tonight + a whole load of new B&B arrivals tomorrow..........
-
Have solved the pillow & quilt cleaning problem by buying a Bosch 9kg washing machine - not only can I do 2 single quilts in there, or a king size quilt & a couple of pillows, but during our busy time can do a really huge load together with the 2x 6kg machines - would Quillan like to work out the saving for me please??? I do need to wash the duvets on a warm sunny day off season though as even the large tumble dryer tends to make them clump...... As to keeping pillows for longer - buy the pillow protectors in Tesco in UK - cheap but really good quality, anti allergy etc & can be washed every couple of weeks - have zipped covers, so a guest would have to be really bloody minded to go to the trouble of unzipping those as well as taking off the disposable pillow protector & pillowcase.....
-
little tip picked up in New England last year - regarding the make up removal on white towels. Place a black wash mitt decoratively in a pretty basket near the sink with a discreet note saying that although you provide cotton wool balls for make-up removal if the customer would prefer to remove their make up with a flannel/towel please use the black mitt provided - it appears to work as have had no problems since we started the system 8 months ago. We await the arrival of our first guest of the season with fake tan which will no doubt test our patience.... We also use all white towels & bedding - have to confess that we buy it all in John Lewis/M&S/House of Fraser sales in January - good quality, great bargains & the French always remark on our lovely linen & towels.
-
The secret to ironing the fitted sheets is all in the folding..........if you get it right they come up a treat....you do need the metre wide roller iron though for it to work, but it saves an awful lot of time.... confess to splashing out & buying a brand new one in Metro 3 years ago, but have seen them on eBay at a reasonable price. Currently cheaper in UK if you are planning a trip back or have a friend driving out - approx £700 in John Lewis. Sounds pricey I know, but the first couple of years when we regularly did something like 12 bed changes over a summer weekend with 1 nighters & gite changeovers we were swamped & I paid a lady to come in up to 10 hours a week to cope with the ironing - worked out that I was paying out near enough 1400 euros over a 15 week season just for ironing, the last 3 years that iron has more than paid for itself ......... Also, an added bonus it is the only time I get to sit down from May to October..........have a TV/radio nearby & it can be quite relaxing, well as relaxing as anything can get in this business at this time of year. I can understand the need to send laundry out though if you are providing evening meals every night as the OP is - I don't know how you manage what is basically a dinner party every night with all the cleaning, washing, breakfast preparation, gardening, pool maintenance, shopping, meeting & greeting etc..... lucky we have some great restaurants nearby.
Have a good season everyone.....
-
Quillan I am overwhelmingly impressed by your calculations - have copied them to give the accountant for next year's tax calculations...couldn't have done a better job myself... Would you by any chance be going through a quiet period due to the football??? 6,614 euros is 120 room nights at the original posters room rate (from his website)..........I know some B&Bs where that is annual takings........
-
That seems like a lot - by my reckoning that lot would have cost you the equivalent of a couple of room nights (I presume approx 20 pillowcases were also sent....) The hotel in village near us send their laundry to the CAT & are charged €1.50/duvet cover/sheet............ The price you are paying seems excessive - call me mean, but would rather buy new IKEA bedding in the sales (last year saw king duvet sets for 3.99euros in Bordeaux - 1.99 for single sets..)than pay that amount for laundering.... If the weather is good no problem for us doing the washing/drying in the high season (4 rooms + 2 gites = max of 17people/night)- its the ironing which is the problem (buy yourself a Miele roller iron - a real lifesaver + you get to sit down for a spell...) However, as you are doing evening meals as well can appreciate that time is at a premium.
I would try negotiating a price if you are using them every week, especially if you have a lot of 1 nighters..........Gool luck & have a good season.
-
We also went to the open day & were told by airport staff that at present only Hertz will be open for the Ryanair flights - they have exclusivity apparently. Avis & Europcar are available normally but only during normal working hours............ Obviously depends which horse you speak to, currently you are unable to book online - we were given a phone number for our guests to call (in Angouleme) during normal working hours
-
Hi
This is our 5th season & we have 2 gites - yes, the family gite is fully booked for the 7 weeks school holiday period, but they are all returning families coming for the 3rd year running, so good news, but have had no enquiries for any other weeks during the year. The 2 person gite has just 7 weeks booked (some returning couples) & again no new enquiries now for almost a month... this could be our worst year to date. Normally by early March we have at least 12weeks/gite booked & I start to offer discounts on the remaining weeks at Easter. There is another forum for holiday landlords which I shall pm you the link - it appears that Spain & Bulgaria are having good years, but France is not - could be because of the dreadful summer we all had last year, could be the falling exchange rate but more likely due to the current economic climate in the UK. Like you, we are hoping for the late bookers, but think this could be the 'difficult year' - the 'boom' couldn't last & the falling number of house hunters this year indicates that there is a possible recession on the way. We all just have to hang in there till things improve - look on the bright side, we might actually get to enjoy the summer this year with less washing, cleaning, grass cutting etc to do. Haven't had the chance to get in our pool for 2 years as have been so busy 24/7 (also it was just too cold & wet last summer) maybe I can get the swimsuit out this year......
-
[quote user="Magnolia"]
Dear me, you're all putting the fear of god in me! [:'(] I'm like many people in that my mind goes completely blank when i'm in stressful situations. However, my husband is the opposite. He is expertly calm. I think i'll just leave everything to him and i'll just bake cakes and keep the garden nice! At least if a stressful situation arrises we'll have a nice garden to sit and be full of chocolate cake. That alone will help won't it?! [I]
Right i'm off to put the oven on!!!!! Anyone for a muffin?! [:D]
[/quote]
It is a good idea to have a basic knowledge of first aid before you open your doors. I am a retired radiographer with over 30 years of medical experience behind me & since we opened have had several medical emergencies to deal with including the usual heatstroke, chronic D&V, asthma attacks, colds, flu etc as well as more serious emergencies where we have had to call out local medics in the early hours - be prepared to accompany the guest to hospital if they do not speak French - its bad enough being ill during the night, but even worse in a foreign country.....also they are unlikely to be capable of dealing with the formalities of paying the doctor, ambulance etc.... Equip yourself with a good first aid kit, anti-venom from the pharmacy & maybe think about a short First Aid course. Also build up a good relationship with the local GP, Pharmacist & Pompiers - then for all the minor ills you will have advice & medication readily available - if nothing else it will impress your guests......Have to confess that I think I would have blanked momentarily if faced with an unconscious guest in a pool blood - I am sure the medical students did not expect to come across such an emergency during their stay with Quillan, who I think coped very well.
A word of caution - if you are already medically qualified, don't let your guests know - you will be amazed at how much time will be spent giving advice on all manner of ills.....
-
Hi again
Our post crossed in the ether, so to answer some other questions - we decided NOT to do table d'hote something which our local GdF office encouraged as she said it can open a can of worms with all the new regulations - our ex-President of GdF has just opened a B&B nearby & also does NOT offer Td'H.........We have some excellent restaurants nearby & we were told that if we offered T d'H we would alienate the restaurant owners who can be most helpful in sending us work - have to admit the amount of work our local gourmet restaurant has sent us with wedding parties & 'do's the last 4 years far outweighs the amount of money we would have made from offering evening meals..... GdF also informed us that if you offer T d'H for B&B guests & have gites as well it is a service that must be offered to all your guests - for us this would mean catering for up to 17 people/night during the season, so we would then be liable for VAT ....... another tax minefield, so we are NEVER going to offer T d'H - OK we lose out on the househunters during the 'off' season but in our region these are a dying breed... as to your question about the pool we have our pool available for ALL our guests - we know of others who only offer access to the pool to B&B guests for 2hrs/day - this to my mind is unfair & if I saw that rule on a website I would not stay there.... all your facilities should be available for ALL to use & make it plain on your website & marketing that the pool is shared - we rarely use ours as we find guests have no objection to sharing the pool with other guests but feel that they are being 'watched' if the owners use it...... There are 3 different types of gite clients: those who want total privacy with no other guests/owner on site either; those who are happy to share, but again prefer no owner nearby & those who are on holiday to meet others, rely on an owner being onsite for those problems & queries which crop up (especially when it comes to broken down vehicles, accidents & illness in the early hours) Our market is the last category & the number of repeat bookings we get each year is testimony to the fact that we offer a relaxed, no restriction environment for our guests.........
-
having just spent 2 months with a tax inspector going through all our accounts we have it on good authority from her, our accountant & our local GdF office that Taxe de sejour is payable by the guest & must be itemised on their invoice/receipt whether or not you include it in the rental price for gites/room rate for B&B. You are basically a collection agent - the local Tresor office give us a form which we are supposed to complete & give to the guest on departure. The French are fully aware of the tax & happy to pay it. Like Quillan we take all our guest details for both security & marketing purposes, but the Tresor have never asked us for guest details, just number of guests/night which we note on a form/month & hand into them in October together with the cheque.
-
Have pm'd you - agree with your replies so far......
-
A lot of our French guests like hot chocolate especially in the winter & it is a must for children of all nationalities - I ran out of the French Poulain variety last year during a busy French wedding party weekend so used Cadbury's drinking choc instead & what a success - got through a couple of litres of milk the next morning as everyone wanted some.......it also dissolves better than the French variety - no powdery residue in bottom of cup. Currently have an Israeli family staying & the kids will drink nothing else so far. Agree with Quillan about the big cups - the French & Belgians love to dunk & it makes less mess on the tablecloth with a big cup, but I do mix it in the kitchen prior to serving - again makes less mess.
We are with GdF & our local inspector insists on a choice of tea, coffee or hot chocolate especially for 3-4 epis, but it depends on your region & expected clientele. Good luck with the inspection.
-
If you missed this event in 2005 then make sure you get to the 2nd International Music & Art Festival in St Claud, Charente next weekend 19-22 July - the exceptionally talented classical guitarists The Katona Twins are returning together with Digby Fairweather & His Half Dozen for the main concert on Saturday night, but there is a lot going on over the 4 days including a Rock & Pop Night on Friday, Opera & Piano recital in the Church & Folk Music in the salle de fetes on Thursday evening. Many of the groups & artists live in the region - both French & English & there is an exhibition of work by local artists, World market & activities for the children over the weekend - something for everyone. see www.lescinqsens.eu for more information, programme etc.
-
we stayed in a great place near Perigueux 2 years ago www.chateaudesiorac.com There is also the Chateau de Tennessus near Parthenay which does B&B but may rent part of the place to a group - very authentic...........
-
If you are with Gites de France it is obligatory for ALL B&B & Gite Owners to register their pool with the DDASS - we have ours inspected twice a year - you never know when they are coming, but they usually phone about 1 hr beforehand & they charge you for the testing..... A good idea to keep a daily record, but not insisted on.
-
Hi - have emailed you
-
Hi there
The easiest way is to have one of those security locks on the front door - that way all you do is give out a number & guests can come & go as they please - especially recommended for French wedding parties who usually come in the worst for wear at 5am....You can go to bed at the usual time secure in the knowledge that the door is 'locked' Less keys to lose & replace too.....
Piégut-Pluviers: good place to buy or not?
in Finding/Owning French Property
Posted