a little about our family life in France....
Whilst on holiday in France during the summer of 1999 we were introduced to a very helpful local estate agent who showed us Les Touches, a derelict Manoir....It was love at first sight. Reality went out of the window and before we knew it the property was ours.
We had lived in a beautiful part of the Lake District, Brigsteer near Windermere, but it always seemed that we had a constant "pull" to live in France.
A few weeks later our three children, Tom then aged 9, Nicholas aged 6 and Saffy aged 4 were placed into the local French primary school, so they were literally thrown in at the deep end
.The first day turned out to be more nerve wracking for us than them, I might add :)We started the job of renovating the house with local builders and decided once it was finished we would open a Chambres d`hotes. ( .. little did we know it was going to take over a year before even the main house became habitable !)
1st August 2004 we were officially registered our Chambe d`hote and opened to our first clients and we have not looked back... Sharon came from a hotel and catering background, so it was an ideal opportunity for her to use her culinary skills for the "Table d`Hote evening meals"
Now a few years on our three children are all fluent in French
(unlike myself and John!) and have completely integrated with many French friends. Our eldest, Tom started `college` this September and is loving it....
Saffy on her quadbike and their cousins from Singapore..
FAMILY UPDATE...May 2008
We are now into our fifth year of running the Chambre d`hote and have found it not only to be very successful but fulfilling also.
The main idea is to offer our guests a `home from home` experience where comfort and relaxation for the whole family is possible, and we do believe we have created just that, as many guests return year after year and we now have a wide circle of new friends from all over the world.
It sometimes feels like one big social whirlwind.
Saffy and Jessica painting by the pool.....
The children have moved on in many positive ways, Tom, our eldest son has now finished college and is off to Lycee to study IT in Vitre. He will be boarding during the week as this is the “norm” in France but will be greatly missed by the family,however we will enjoy picking him up at the weekend as Vitre is a beautiful town with a lovely Chateau!!
Nicholas, our middle son has recently returned from the French National Athletic Indoor Championships in Paris and we can say he has not only broken the college record which had stood for 14 years but is now Brittany Champion at 50 metre sprint !!
Saffy, our daughter, has many friends, most of whom are French and we regularly hear chattering and giggling in a language we will never be as accomplished in as her.
The "Bobster" 1997- 2007
Unfortunately we lost our beloved Bob last year and after much lamenting decided to get another so we are now the proud owners of “Baggy” an eight month old rescue puppy. We are not quite sure as to what breed he is, but all we know is he is cute and lovable and that’s all that counts!!
Family update... June 2010
We have been busy with the bed and breakfast and continue to make new friends and acquaintances.
Saffy has just visited London for 5 days on a school trip which she thoroughly enjoyed. Nicholas is off to Paris again for the French National athletics Championships and Tomas continues playing his football in the 1st team at St James.
Elsewhere we have carried on with lots of gardening and improving the property,including hand build chestnut barn doors,so we can now provide dry accommodation for motorbikes and the Classic car enthusiasts.
The barns & secure garaging.
Anyone who wants to join our Facebook group is very welcome indeed.... and if you have stayed with us in the past please make a comment or review on the wall.
...and if anyone is interested in enjoying a holiday on the Cote D`Azur we have an apartment in Nice
www.niceholidayapartment.com
and to all LFC supporters alike ...welcome back King Kenny..YWNWA