She Landed by Moonlight!

St Nicholas has been very kind this year and brought a copy of 'She Landed by Moonlight' the story of Pearl Witherington the WW2 SOE secret agent who was active in our area of France.

As those who follow this BLOG will know, we were introduced to Pearl Witherington by two of our past guests at Les Deux Platanes. During part of the stay at the cottage they undertook some detective work and visited some of the places mentioned in the book. Once I have read the book it will go onto the cottage bookshelf and future guests can follow the story if they so wish.

Photo taken in France, Pearl is second on the left.

We hope you all have a great New Year and hope to see you in 2014

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all our past and future guests, friends and neighbours we hope 2014 brings you all health and happiness.

In the 21st Century

I have spent the majority of my working life emerged in technology and emerging technology but things move on so quickly it can catch your breath!  The youth of this world take the internet and mobile communication for granted but I can remember 1990 and the arrival of the first mobile satellite phone at work, we were amazed. Here we are, only 24 years later and everyone including the dog appears to have a mobile device that delivers 1000 times more that that massive 1990 mobile.

During the summer of 2013 I was working in the garden of Les Deux Platanes when I noticed a Google photo car drive slowly past the cottage.

Today I have noticed that these images are now available on Google 'STREETVIEW' . Using the wonders of the internet and amazing technology you can now travel through Le Breuil and past Les Deux Platanes. You cannot visit the beautiful and colourful cottage garden but you can pass the garden and explore the area.

www.instantstreetview.com

Those of you that have been visiting France for years will remember that choosing a gite or holiday cottage in the 1980's and most of the 90's required a book containing photo's and associated details. We have been visiting France for more than 40 years and remember that it was impossible to ensure the location was not next to a motorway or some other carbuncle. Our website already provides extensive information and detailed location information, with 'Street view' you have the opportunity to further confirm any details you require.

But remember that past guests comments are also a great source for recommendations, we have included many of these on this website.

Merry Christmas to all past and future guests.

Human travel guidance tips!

In the cottage we keep a comments book. This is of great value in that new guests read through the hundreds of comments left by past guests. Not only do they find comments about the cottage (we put many of these on this website under 'Guest Comments' ) but they also find these comments a treasure trove of first hand guidance into the many places to visit across the area.

In 2013 we had two guests who spent part of the holiday tracking down the places and locations mentioned in the recent book about Pearl Witherington the WW2 British spy (featured on BBC television) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-23845199

Eventually they managed to track down the remains of a chateau that was destroyed by the German SS, they were also lucky to find a local French guy who took them down a track into what is now a forest and there were the chateau remains. So these guests along with many, many others over the years have written in the guest book so providing a source of first hand guidance to area.

Before guests arrive for the 2014 season we will as usual be preparing the cottage and ensuring everything is 100% perfect. After 14 years use the chauffe-eau (water heater) is ready for some TLC. I have recently stripped out the electrics and removed the access plate exposing the inside. As expected I found a good quantity of calcaire (lime crystals) - about half a bucket. May seem a lot but that's not much for the time period so I think the electronic water treatment device I fitted 10 years ago is having some effect. The renovation will also help the water heat quicker especially with a new and more efficient heating element.

OK, its back to work!