About La Ville Cario and the garden
General
The house is centrally heated and has a large open fire in the sitting room. Wood is kept in the outside shed. All you need to take with you is your sheets, pillow cases and duvet covers. Everything else is provided (eg tea towels, duvets etc). If you are flying, we may be able to supply bed linen to save you carrying this.
Each bedroom should have plug-ins for mozzie protection. You'll need to buy tablets or capsules to refill for bite-free summer nights!
Accommodation
There are five bedrooms (three double and two twin), a large fully-equipped kitchen, one bathroom + loo, one shower room + loo. There is also a sizeable dining/sitting room.
Facilities & equipment
English TV and music system (including CD player) and a games cupboard outside the bathroom. The house is fully equipped with fridge, microwave, washing machine (cold wash only) and gas hob/fan-assisted electric oven. We have zillions of books for adults and children alike.
Rubbish & Recycling
There is a large communal wheelie bin on the verge outside the house. Please secure rubbish firmly in a plastic sack. Bottles, tins and all other manner of recycling is available both locally in La Bouillie, at the SuperU, and in nearby towns. Lookout for the big plastic green roadside and supermarket containers.
Rubbish collection is Friday morning.
Shutters
For extra light, lift shutters off the two front doors and store in shed.
Fire Safety
Please always use the fireguard if you go out with a fire on, and roll back carpet/chairs at night.
Waste water
The waste disposal system is organic (ie a natural sewage system), so please do not dispose of any non-organic or chemical matter down the loos. Sachets of "Eparcyl" or "Septifos" are provided under the kitchen sink for assisting in decomposition. Empty one sachet into each loo when you leave or once a week.
Gas
Cooker - only one of the two kitchen cookers is currently connected (gas bottle stored in the cupboard adjacent). Refills can be purchased locally at the Spar mini-market next to the church in La Bouillie; also at SuperU (next to the petrol station - ask at the pay kiosk - or at the garage on the way to Sable d'Or. Remember to take the blue or yellow holder/handle as well as the empty bottle with you. Replacements cost approximately 60 euros. You may need a spanner to loosen the appliance (kept in the cupboard with the gas bottle). This cooker has an electric oven and grill. In emergency, there should be a spare refill bottle in the woodshed.
Water
Water is metered and expensive so please be careful in your usage. The tap water is drinkable (perfectly OK for hot drinks and cooking), although Vix favours Evian or similar!
Post box
A key for the post box is kept in the wall-hanging cupboard outside the bathroom. Please check for post by the front gate, delivered by Patrick (or Postman Pat as we call him!)
Washing machine
Only works on "cold" setting. Please don't leave washing to dry in the boiler room unattended because it causes condensation although it's ok to use the clothes horse for small items if you're around or, even better, the clothes line behind the house.
The Garden
Table tennis - please don't move the table as it's easily breakable! Bats and balls in the drawer of the green cupboard outside the bathroom. Please don't leave the bats out in case it rains or there's a heavy dew.
Bicycles plus puncture repair stuff in new shed behind the house. There's also a bike suitable for young cyclists age 4-6
Swings in the garden. A paddling pool and various beach toys in the wooden shed behind the house.
Terrace behind the house ("Vue de Vix") fab for sunsets, Pims, stargazing and meditation although please watch out if you have small children as the decking drops straight into the field. Nice cool shady spot during heatwaves! Mind the rustic steps and smokers please use an ashtray.
Bats at dusk - may be alarming but completely harmless!
First Aid
Green first aid kit in/on green cupboard outside bathroom + emergency spare loo rolls in wooden trunk under stairs! Please remember to buy replacements…