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ON ARRIVAL Our house is set back from rue de l’‘etoile. The green letterbox with our name marks the drive. The front door is double locked and there is also a mortise lock. If it is dark when you arrive ... you may need the torches that are just inside the front door. SHUTTERS When you arrive the roller shutters will be down and bolted. Turn the window handles to open the windows and slide the bolts at the bottom of the shutters before attempting to open them. The direction for opening the shutters using the rod to the right or left of the window is marked on the rod handle. There are stops on the shutters, but they can break if the shutter is wound too enthusiastically. ELECTRICS When you arrive the electricity should be turned on. You will need to plug in appliances or extension cables into the wall sockets, including the cooker (the plug and socket is under the sink. The water heating and central heating has been left on a low heat, so you will not need to switch on electricity for this. If you do need the main switch, this is situated in the garage near the roll-back doors. The switch can be triggered if too many appliances are being used at the same time, but this is unlikely to happen. The fuse box is above the garage door. There are spare fuses next to it but I have yet to need one. There is a number of 13amp converters around the house and you may find more (plus a shaver adapter) in the bedside cabinet. HEATING The boiler controls are in the garage. You should only need to adjust the temperature. There is a summer setting (hot water only) and a winter setting (hot water and radiators). When you arrive it will be set to winter (to air the rooms and protect from any possible frost) so please change it as required to ensure you are comfortable. Adjust the water temperature using the control on the boiler (see right) and the control on the outlet pipes (see left) to control the proportion of hot water to the radiators or hot water taps. Both will be set at 1 or 2 when you arrive. As a general rule, when using the central heating both controls should be around the same setting. Unless it is desperately cold you are unlikely to need to set the dials beyond 4 and 4. There is no separate hot water cylinder ... this is a pressurised system so you will have plenty of hot water. WATER - There is an ‘outside’ tap just inside the garage door. I do not envisage any problems, but the mains stop-tap is at the bottom of the drive (a round concrete cover). Please note that the water supply is metered in France. GAS The gas oven runs off propane and the bottle is under the sink. Use the switch on the cooker to ignite the rings. Please take care when lighting the oven. There are matches, but there is also a gas lighter in the drawer next to the cooker. In the unfortunate event of the bottle running empty, there is a full bottle as reserve in the Abri (the tool to fit the regulator is under the sink). Please let me know if you do have to swop the bottles over so I know to replace the empty one in good time. Using the cooker hood will reduce the effects of condensation when cooking. WHERE TO FIND THINGS KITCHEN Microwave & coffee maker & kettle & electric frying pan are ready to use. There will be a jar of sugar, milks and tea bags ready for immediate use. Plates, bowls etc. Are in the cupboard opposite the sink. Cutlery is in the right drawer of the same unit and table mats, linen etc. in the left drawer. Glasses are in the unit to the left of the sink. Kitchen utensils are in a pot on the work surface, with knives, cutters, matches, lighter etc. In the drawer below. Serving dishes, measuring jugs etc. are in the unit next to the gas stove. Table linen is in the drawer of the unit. A colander & assorted BBQ equipment is stored beneath the sink. There is a small box for plastic bottle tops that a local supermarket collects for charity, so do add to our collection. A box of general cleaning materials and bin liners etc. can be found under the sink, together with washing up liquid, brushes, dishcloths etc. The fridge freezer may be in the kitchen or in the sous-sol depending on the time of year. Please empty it, clean it and switch it off before you leave - with the doors ajar. In addition to using the fridge, you will find the sous-sol very practical for keeping food cool. You will find collapsible food covers for this purpose and to cover food when eating on the terrace.
SOUS-SOL
(basement) Light switch to your left at the top of the stairs and second light switch in the back and side room downstairs. In hot weather please open the sous-sol window. Additional kitchen equipment is kept in the sous-sol. This includes a steamer, food processor, saucepans etc. There is also an iron, ironing board and the usual supply of household spares and equipment. The spin dryer is housed in the sous-sol. Empty into a bucket and use to water the grass. There are tables for cool food preparation in the sous-sol, should you wish to use them. SITTING ROOM Television & DVD player with remote controls, double bed settee (lift front of spring base to open out) and arm chairs. There are plenty of boxed games in the set of drawers under the television. There is also a CD player and a radio set to Radio 4 for those of you who depend on a regular fix of the Archers. You will find a selection of books, Cds and DVDs, along with tourist information and maps. BEDROOM The wardrobe has additional bedding as required. There are quilts and pillows for the king-size bed. There is also a quilt and pillows for the bed-settee. The electric sockets for the bed-side lights and radio/CD player are behind the bedside cabinets. BATHROOM & W.C. Waste from the bathroom and W.C. runs to a septic tank. Please only dispose of toilet tissue in the W.C. There is a shaver socket in the casing of the mirror light. GARAGE Courtesy door to garage. Please make use of the bikes, games, beach equipment, garden furniture, BBQ etc. The cycle helmets on the top of the shelving. ABRI At the back of the house is a lean to shed, useful for drying clothes. You may find garden furniture and sun loungers in the abri. It will be locked and bolted. The key is in the kitchen drawer. There is also a rotary drying rack that locates in a housing under a concrete slab outside the abri. LOFT We have yet to develop the loft. It will eventually provide three additional bedrooms and a shower-room / w.c. You will see that it is not available for guests as there is no staircase!! GARDEN There is a walnut tree and various apples and pear trees in the garden as well as slow. Around the perimeter are sweet chestnut, yew, oak and holly amongst others. We hope the grass is not too long during your stay. In Spring we only cut the perimeter as a local farmer takes the first cut early in July for meadow hay to feed his animals. Feel free to water any plants in the pots on the terrace or on the ‘rockery’ if there is any sign of life..
Please feel free to search for anything you may need. The house is well equipped and there is likely to be at least one of everything somewhere! |
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