First of all we'd like to thank all of the guests at Les Cygnes Gites (http://www.lescygnes.net) and all those who have taken an interest in us. In this newsletter:
The Past Year
Planting Trees
Charities and Good Causes
Holidaying at Les Cygnes
The Past Year
The past year has been one the best, we finished building the gites in 2006 and were able to enjoy the fruits of our labour and share it with others.
Our guests have all been fantastic with no exceptions and judging by the results of our "Customer Satisfaction Form" very happy with what we offer - we achieved a 95% satisfaction level!
Generally it's been a lovely year a part from the bad weather at the beginning of 2007. Fortunately it was nowhere as bad as in the UK and after Bastille Day (14th July) the weather was mostly good.
This winter has been exceptional weather-wise, and spring has raised it's head already, the forsythias are starting to bloom and if the grass keeps on like this I'll have to get the mower out soon. Ideal weather for a Spring break at Les Cygnes!
There have been numerous memorable incidents in the past year but one in particular stands out:
The Night the Ponies Escaped
About 9 pm one June night we were relaxing with a glass or 2 of wine when the dogs started to bark - a lot - to the extent that we had to look outside. In the courtyard were 12 ponies that had escaped from the local stables and had decided that of all the gardens between the stables and the countryside our garden had the tastiest grass.
What to do? Graz having more equine experience went out to try and corral them whilst I waved my arms around hoping it would help, which it didn’t. Guests at the time Carole and Clive, popped their heads out to see what all commotion was about and ended up helping out - thanks chaps - Carole with keeping the ponies on our land, Clive (farmer that he is) protecting the crop in the next field from being eaten!!!!
Finally the herd decided to stampede and were found much later, after some mad driving around the countryside in the dark, trying to stare down a 40 tonne truck on the main road to Chef Boutonne, Graz threw herself in it's path and after getting it to stop. Caro (the stable owner) and Graz then managed to tether and lead the bewildered ponies back across open fields and forest and in the middle of an oncoming lightening storm!
Oh the joys of country living!!!!
Planting Trees
In April we were watching a news piece on the TV about Carbon Offsetting and how it can help soak up carbon dioxide emissions and what we can do to help. The main thrust was charities that plant trees in developing countries, and it crystallised an idea which had been running around in my head for awhile. Why not plant trees here at Les Cygnes to help offset our own footprint and our guest’s travel Carbon Footprint?
Now we are not "Eco-mentalists", as Clarkson would say, just ordinary people who are trying to make a difference. This set off a train of ideas which lead us to taking a raft of measures to help the environment.
In late January we planted nearly 100 trees a mixture of:
Chataignier - Sweet Chestnut
Erable de Montpelier - Montpelier Maple
Frene commun - Common Ash
Hetre commun - Common Beech
Osier - Willow
Chene - Oak
Cormier - True Service Tree
Nearly 30 trees were donated by our guests and we'd like to give them all a big “thank you”. (http://www.lescygnes.net/carbon-offset-wood.htm)
Charities and Good Causes
Another thing we decided to do was to try and aid good causes by donating gite holiday accommodation to charities and good causes for auctions and fundraising exercises. So far we have helped:
The Shooting Star Children's Hospice: http://www.shootingstar.org.uk/ - A children’s hospice in Hampton, London.
MT3OneVision: http://www.mt3onevision.com/ - A group dedicated to assisting young performers run by old school friend Calum Campbell.
St Anne's Hospice, Manchester - http://www.sah.org.uk/index.htm - Aiming to improve the lives of people living with life threatening illnesses.
“Hier et Aujourd’hui” – “Yesterday and Today”
Is an association set up by neighbour Jean-Pierre Goursot set up in 2007 to help protect and preserve the history and character of our village - Le Breuil Coiffaud. We were invited to become treasurers of the association to help raise money to pursue good works in the village.
The first project was to raise enough money to repair the village church bells, which used to chime out the hours and were heard for miles around. They had been struck by lightening causing the mechanism to frazzle. The insurance company ironically claimed “Act of God” and slapped on a heft excess, the diocese refuse to put hand in pocket.
Through a lot of begging and pleading many of the local businesses and residents donated sums to the association, helping us to raise enough money not only repair the bells but also enough to start thinking about other projects
Holidaying at Les Cygnes
2008 bookings are going very well, but we have a few weeks still available, so please get in contact with us if you are thinking about getting away from it all.
If you know of anyone who may be thinking of a holiday in France please pass on this email or our details
Au revoir et À bientôt
