Lots of useful information for you!

MUST READ!! Instructions on how to use the oven, fire, etc. AND
Hints, Help & Answers about pets, disabled, children, plugs, etc.

Pictures and description of our gite. What do other people say about it? All sorts of emergency and general information (the first "at gite" page). A whole inventory!

Instruction booklets for things are in the folder which is in the lounge (together with a print out of this web site). Many instruction booklets are in the leftmost big drawer in the kitchen dresser though.

Doors

(No seriously - people ask!) Front door
The key needs to turn twice. It should be under the mat or nearby when you arrive - which is where you put it when you leave, please.

Cave

The key goes in upside down and turns the wrong way. What can I say? It lives in the dresser.

Windows

The windows are great fun. Personally I only close the bedroom shutters at night. They have little turney things that hold them together. Then getting the bar in place is the main thing. To stay open each set of shutters lock into place against the wall with little tiny Napoleons. Shutting the windows is a bit of an art. The handle opens ANTI clockwise and then to shut you may need to lean on them and turn the handle clockwise til it points down so the bolts shoot shut top and bottom. If they blow open in the night, you'll have more than kittens. But it is easy once you've understood it. Honest!

Oven

1  The clock needs to be working for the oven to work. It doesn't have to be right though! Try not to fiddle with the clock!!
2  Then choose with one knob which part of the oven you want to work (all of it, the center of the grill or all of the grill. The setting that just heats the bottom is for reheating)
3  Then with the other knob select a temperature. It's not that difficult!
The important thing is if no light comes on, check in the little window in the clock that a hand has appeared. Just turn the knob round (don't push it in or pull it out - just turn it) til the little hand appears. It's now on manual and will work. Possibly some person has been timing their cooking, in which case, of course, it wont work til that time comes round again. So turn it til the hand appears.

Fire

It is supposed to have a bed of ash, but you can clean it out when cold and scatter in the hedge behind the cottage if you want. There's usually a little wood underneath or more round the back in the open store room behind the dining room.
There is a slider on the fire that allows the air in and helps it draw. Left is open.
There is a plug on the right side of the chimney. If that is plugged in then a fan will automatically start when the fire gets really hot and suck air over the top of the fire inside (there are special tubes that heat up) and out into the room. It's an odd noise! A rocker switch on the front switches this off and does two other things which I have forgotten.

Fridge

Switch is behind it on the wall. You shouldn't need to touch this.

Lights and other electricalities

Lots of bulbs in the dresser, also a few batteries (please replace!), english-french plug converters and so on.

Hot Water

The switch is on the left of the door from the kitchen into the hallway. It should be on all the time.

Bathrooms

The toilets work by pushing or pulling knobs - and a strange little set of levers inside flush it. Sometimes you must push the knob down again after pulling up - otherwise it floods the field, the septic tank overflows and the neighbours down the valley flood gently towards Vire. If it isn't working it's because someone has pulled it too hard or lifted the lid to look and it's come off. It's fairly easy to put right! Occasionally people say it isn't working - but it is - hold the knob up/down longer!
The bath takes an age to fill and you've got to be pretty thin to get below the water level. Leave doors open after a bath or shower, please, to let the damp escape. Everything you've heard about French plumbing is true as th egurgle in the kitchen when you empty the bath testifies.

TV, DVD, Hi Fi!!

Black remotes - only gets French TV. Silver remotes - DVD.

Phone

Don't forget to dial the country code (00 44 for the UK) then drop the first 0 of your number. The dialling tone is different in France, single long tones. Lots of little fast tones when you pick it up means there's a message. Dial 3103 to hear the message. There is an internet lead. Plug one end into the phone socket, then the phone into that - and the other end will reach the sofa. So you can pick up your emails or read these instructions from your laptop!