Queens Jubilee Celebrations

Our many French friends need little excuse to turn any occasion into a dinner date and in the 40 or so years we have been visiting France we can recall being invited to dine in celebration of a wide range of events. This summer however we need little reason to invite all our French neighbours and friends to celebrate the Queens Jubilee. We are planning an 'English' afternoon tea in a large marquee we have bought for just such an event and we are sure everyone will flock to number 20 after receiving the invitation. The text below is in English but this will be translated for the printed invitation.

 INVITATION

Diamond Jubilee Weekend

John and Maureen Hindhaugh would like to invite our neighbours and friends in Le Breuil aux Gittons to an English afternoon tea and a vin 

d’honour to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth 11.

Sunday 3^rd June @ 16.00hrs

20 Le Breuil Aux Gittons

On the Monday we are planning another event that will include a big screen projected programme from the BBC so if you are staying at Les Deux Platanes during the Queens Jubilee weekend you can join everyone for the celebrations. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am sure Maureen will have to produce some Cherries Jubilee

Both the UK and France could have some serious water shortages this summer unless we have rain in abundance in the next six to eight weeks and that is unlikely. Our well is always a good indicator of ground water levels and last year the water level dropped 2 metres and a friends well dried up completely. I think we will have to treat our water supply with some respect this summer rather than taking it for granted.

 

Spring 2012 news

February at last, I hate to wish my life away but I do so look forward to the spring and summer and 2012 promises to be another wonderful year at Les Deux Platanes. The reorganised garden for the cottage and new flower beds will be in full glory this year building upon the planting from previous years. The two large Plane trees received a top cut last year and I am sure this will assist in filling them out further and providing great shade on those hot summer days for the cottage residents. As you will know from looking at the website the cottage is completly self contained with its own parking, gated entrance and gardens so guests are not bothered by other gite users as is the case on so many shared gite complexes. You can all make full use of the garden be it for a barbecue, sitting reading or whatever especially enjoying a nice glass of wine with a good book.

NEW WINE BOOK: The gite has a good selection of books including some excellent books and guides for wine lovers plus charts and maps for those wishing to visit vineyards in all sectors of the Loire region. For 2012 I have bought a new book specifically about the wines of the Loire. Written by award winning author Jacqueline Friedrich and entitled 'Earthly Delights from the Garden of France'. This text, full of background and easy reading for the non specialist provides an insight into the wines of the Sauvignon Blanc category, specifically Sancerre, Pouilly Fume and all the Sauvignon satellites. It also provides guidance on where to visit etc. Jacqueline is so impressed with the wines of central France she intends to write another two books eventually covering the entire region. Winner of the Wine & Spirits book of the year.

WEBSITE UPDATES: We are constantly updating the cottage website with new information and links to help plan your holiday, Maureen has also added some new favourites to the menu for 2012 and provided desciptions for all the main courses available. You will see that we now have links to the L’Hermitage restaurant at Buzançais so you can see the menus before you come on holiday and maybe plan a visit.

CROSS CHANNEL FERRY OFFER: I see that you can now book cross channel crossings for £39 in high season with DFDS and LD lines and remember you can use TESCO vouchers to pay for channel tunnel crossings.


More news soon!