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July 8 - 15, 2006

Kiitokset Johannalle ja Tedille muistorikkaasta, hyvin toimivasta lomasta. Nautimme joka hetkestä. Jo tullessamme upea ruusu-laventeli ympäristö hurmasi kauneudellaan. Miellyttävä, rauhallinen miljöö, poissa liikenteen hälystä; mitä muuta voisi talven töitä tehneet toivoa.
Huoneistot olivat upeat, petit hyvät, keittiössä kaikki tarpeellinen ja lisäksi oma terassi grilleineen.
Savustuspönttökin löytyi, kun sitä tiedustelimme.
Iso uima-allas kruunasi helteiset päivät.
Kiitos vinkistä lähteä keskiviikkomarkkinoille lähikaupunkiin. Sieltä löytyi vaikka mitä ja teimmekin hyviä ostoksia.
Lähiseudun viehättävästä pikkukaupungista löytyi myös historiallinen, upea vanha linna, jossa vierailimme.
Oli hienoa, että saimme apua kun etsimme jotain paikallista mukavaa ravintolaa.
Sellainen löytyikin - ja aivan mahtava paikka; maalaistalo, joka toimii myöskin ravintolana.
Ruoka oli erinomaista, samoin palvelu.
Viinitiloilla vierailimme ja hanhenmaksaa ostimme. Kesätapahtumista lähiseudulla sai valita mieleisimmät.
Nyt jo olemme alkaneet laskea päiviä seuraavaan lomaamme ensikesänä tai ehkäpä vierailemmekin syksymmällä, koska mukavia ilmoja riittää. Tedin kertoi, että kohtapuolin on saunakin valmis. Seuraavalla kerralla saunomme ja uimme "kuunsillalla".
Virkistyneinä ja levänneinä lennämme kotiin - lämpimät kiitoksemme.
Kaarina ja Matias, Vantaa.

July 22 - 29, 2006

Dear Ted and Jo,

Thanks for a wonderful week we had in Le Ruisseau, it was perfect for us. With two kids (8 & 10 years), entertainment was high on list of priorities and we found plenty to do in and around here. Swimming pool, canoeing and karting being the most popular ones. The cycling was also great fun for the boys and us alike, the off-road tracks are safe (no cars) and clearly marked. The maps and brochures in the house were very helpful when we had to decide where to go for a day out. The local town has couple small restaurants and they were all very child friendly. The food was great and they even did some sausages and chips for our young one who was not so sure about mussels!

The weather was great, the gite absolutely beautiful and the location just amazing, what more can we say, other than we will definately come again!

Bon courage for the restoration of the watermill, we can't wait to see it finished!

Richard, Jane, Harry & James, London, UK

17 - 24 June, 2006

What a splendid holiday, thank you so much Jo and Ted!

The French countryside showed its best sides during our holiday. The weather was just perfect, neither too hot nor too cold. We spent lazy mornings by the pool and in the afternoons we visited nearby surroundings.(VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!) In the evenings it was time for some wine.

Jo and Ted, you are perfect hosts! You always had plenty of suggestions what to do and what to see and you wanted to make us feel home. The old barns had been converted with a good taste into charming holiday houses. They were very cozy and comfortable. Kids loved the animals and the gardens.

Thank you very much. It was this holiday and the beautiful environment that made us decide to spend a sabbattical year in this region some time in the future. Hopefully we will see you then!

Best regards,

The Kalliokoski family from Finland

September 2 - 9, 2006

Nearly time to go home after a wonderful fortnight here at Le Moulin de Grolhier.
Kids absolutely loved all the animals, the pool and especially the games room. We were somewhat apprehensive to start with as we wanted to book a cottage on it's own, not with shared pool and neighbours, but I must say, it has been one of the best self-catering holidays we have ever had.
Next door to us were staying a wonderful family from Paris (Hi J-P & Michelle!) with whom we spent many evening on the terrace and as our kids were roughly the same age (no common language though, but that didn't seem to stop them!!!) they were happy to play together, and we had some time to unwind as we didn't have to constantly be entertaining the kids. There was plenty to do and see during the days we wanted to leave the comfort of our pied de terre, lazy lunches on sunny terraces (The auberge in St Barthelemy de Bussiere is worth a go) and some obligatory sightseeing (and wine tasting ;). We can sincerely recommend this place to everybody and we are looking forward to our next holiday here as we are going to meet up with our friends again!
Sarah, Tim, Gerry and Georgia Anderson, Glasgow

13 August 2005
A fantastic holiday with fantastic sunny weather (which Ted claims to have arranged for us). We found it hard to get Sam out of the pool - but when we did, we went canoeing at Brantome (excellent - with wonderful dragonflies and butterflies). Also nipped down to the caves at Villars. Well worth a visit for some non-mobbed cave art. A couple of lesurely huge lunches at Le Bistrot and Perigord Vert in Piegut. Perigord Vert is fantastic value, 10E per head for a 5-course lunch!
We also did a bit of mountain biking, lucky enough to be here for the annual Busserolles mountain bike test and did the 25km marked circuit (this is left marked all year round and is a very well chosen route). Also took the kids on the bikes a couple of evenings when it was cooler -4 4/3 miles around Etang Grolhier Lake via Guy de Bost, Chez Noyer, Le Moulin de Chez Noyer & Clargourt. You can do it all on skinny tyres if it's dry. Thanks Jo and Ted for all the thoughtful details in the house - we have had wonderfully relaxing holiday.

Rob, Caron, Amy (13) & Sam (9) - Winchester, UK

15.09.2007
Nous avons passé une excellente semaine.
Vos gites sont trés beaux et le paysage est magnifique. Merci de nous avons si bien accueilli. La soirée avec vous et vos amis a été super!! (Dommage que l'Angleterre ait perdu...). Nous sommes heureux de vous avoir connu. Merci encore, Carole et Dominique.

02/09/06
Thank you very much for a wonderful holiday. The swimming pool is very well and the boys love it very lot of. Kiss to Rosie, the dog. Kiss to Jester the horse and big kiss to Manky the cat.
Encore merci pour votre gentilesse et votre accueil. Les maisons sont fabuleuses.
Laura, Sylvie, Dominique, Gaulhier et Loic - Dunkerque (59)
P.S. Merci aux lizards et aux grenouilles pour leur patience!

03/08/07
Two weeks of total relaxation, thanks Jo and Ted for making it so easy for us. So now it's time for "Town Boy", the best Finn (2007), Derry (who smuggled Rosie into the car), Siena (who made it to outside in the end) and Suzanne the chief tanner, to leave and say a BIG thank you. Alan

A Great place with great people, Thanks Jo & Ted. Voted the best holiday ever, by those mentioned above (10, 8 & 6yrs). Hits of the holiday were canoeing at St Estephe (free as well!) as well as sandcastle building & long jump in the sand. The grotte de Villars was good for a cloudy day but all tours in french so some translation needed for the kids. Big thanks again, Suzanne, Finn and Derry

Lovely house, Piegut market was great! Nice countryside. St Estephe absolutely brilliant! Cool swimming pool. I had a great time! Siena

August 2006
What a fantastic spot! Had a great time & enjoyed catching up with old friends and making some new ones.
Alice loved all the animals (even Manky the cat!) and Matthew loved the pool table.
Had great time canoeing and enjoyed some outstanding meals (the Auberge de la Vallade is a must) and great food from the market.
Oh, and barely a drop was drunk !
The Butchers.

20-27 July 2007
Had a fantastic week, only it was too short. Despite two days of rain, one ill child and one injured adult a lot of fun was had by all. Beautiful surroundings in lots to do - kids loved fishing, playing ping-pong and snooker. Would love to come back, only drive this time so we can take "beaucoup du vin" home!
Thank you for making us feel so welcome.
Peter, Jen, Emma and Jack, UK

4-18 August 2007
We have really enjoyed staying here. We have enjoyed your lovely mill complex and your entertaining geese! Manky has made herself at home with us!
Thank you for arranging the fishing providing many hours of pleasure on the etang. We have seen a lot of "green" living up to its name - it really has been Perigord Vert. There have been many varied things to do both near and far and we would recommend ;

Canoeing at Montbron
Vélo-rail near Thiviers
Roc de St Christophe (troglodyte village)
Piegut market, wednesday am
+ beaucoup de pain et vin!

Good luck with your future renovations.
Val, Richard Tom and Sarah, Hampshire, England

July 2008 - Le Chataignier
"Huge thanks to Ted and Jo for a lovely holiday - what a beautiful spot!
The house is brilliantly equipped and very pleasant to stay in, the pool is gorgeous and all the lovely lavender and herbs add to the charm.
Ted and Jo were always ready to help us, from cleaning out the barbeque, providing bikes + producing fresh eggs, to working out the wood -burning oven so we could hot-smoke salmon (highly recommended).
We've all had a terrific time - Barney (3) and Tabby (1) have learned to enjoy the water (and croissants) and we've had rest, relaxation, wine, good food and lots of fun.
Will definately be back.
Thanks again,
The Crawford family".

June 2008 - La Grange
Thanks Johanna and Ted.
A great two weeks of sightseeing and rest with family and friends from Hong Kong. We all enjoyed recharging our batteries. You have a wonderful setup here and assured of a huge future - we will certainly spread the word.
Sue & John, Melbourne, Australia