NEWS FROM LE PARADIS - JULY 2007
We have had a busy Spring and early Summer so far. A particular joy and satisfaction is that virtually every client and friend, who has stayed in the Chambres d'hotes has rebooked.
Particular highlights have included the Fete du Village de Criteuil la Magdeleine, which was held for the first time ever in our parc. Much tidying, weeding and mowing took place ahead of the weekend of 17th June.
Our 5 Chambres d'hotes were filled for the long weekend of this event and we feel that a good time was had by all.
We hope the weather Gods aren't permanently angry at the presumption of the English for hosting this auspicious event, but they made some kind of gesture of protest this year, as we had to curtail the displays and cancel the 40 artisans that had been booked, because rain and high winds were forecast. In the event we had the former in bucket-loads but not too much of latter.
However the Comité des Fetes worked like demons and transferred the repas du midi from the big marquee outside into our large chai. In the event we fed 140 people in the chai at lunchtime and what with the impromptu singing of the Basques during lunch (Poulet Basquais, of course) and given a slight spirit of the Blitz, there was a great atmosphere.
There was a good turnout of 20 or more British cars for the Parade that Nick had organised with Patrick Saffier, plus some French cars that found their way in as well. The ladies Jury (equally composed of French and English), chaired by Sally, made their 5 selections and presented Pineau and Cognac kindly donated by the Mercier family. Curiously there were both French and British winners, as well...
However the picnique a l'anglaise we had planned carefully around the pool for our mainly French friends and neighbours bringing their English cars was hastily transferred to the distillery where 30 odd people managed to lunch at long trestle tables in a convivial spirit. So this room was also baptised as a place for social gatherings.
The Basque strongmen performed their feats of great physical prowess in the parc and managed to pull the two local tug-of-war teams over without a huge problem... They demanded a shower afterwards before boarding their bus back to the Pyrenees, so we sent them to use the pool, despite the fact they had forgotten their 'cozzies, and the solar shower nearby.
Although they were a bunch of fairly fit young chaps, I was still a bit shocked to find a bunch of the English ladies who were staying here gathered at a particular spot on the terrace for quite a while, and then I realised they had a clear view of the pool and the comings and goings at the outside shower - disgraceful! The Basques were clearly revived after this cleansing and the entire team insisted on kissing Lucy goodbye by their bus. Eventually she was becoming exhausted by this, when she suddenly realised they were boarding the bus by one door and then exiting by the other to rejoin the queue to bid her a fond farewell...
Also in this Newsletter is an article by Rob Wallace, poet and diarist in residence during both the recent GTC Rally to Pau and for the village Fete, describing his trip down here in Ray Parrott's immaculate V12 E-Type roadster, which is now resident here for the Summer. Enjoy his thoughts on driving through France and arriving at Le Logis du Paradis.
A Bientot
Nick & Sally.
Images of Paradis
Since we arrived here in 2005 we have had visits from many talented photographers. Have a look at their take, as well as ours, on life at Le Logis du Paradis, La Grande Champagne, the river Charente and the surrounding regions, our range of cars...and so on.
Many thanks to: Rupert Bravery, Lies de Mol, Ailsa Penny, Andrew Thomas, Rob Wallace, Martin Woodhead, Christopher and Anthony Austin, Edgar Wells, Thomas Brimblecombe and others
View our new Photo Gallery
Grand Touring Club Newsletter
As usual the latest issue is available on our website
The French Driving Experience : en route to Paradis.
A travelogue by Robert Wallace (01255 852634)
Whether navigating the empty N and D roads of Normandy and Brittany, or exploring the vineyards of the Poitou Charentes, the French driving experience is always complet.
The Grand Touring Club are clearly devotees of both and I was fortunate enough to be a part of it. The reason? I was driving a classic E Type Jaguar down through France to a destination of utopian tranquillity, at Le Logis du Paradis in the Charente. Their philosophy is simple: relax, chill out and enjoy. Your journey may end there with a short break, or be a springboard for ever further travel into le Coeur of real France.
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