La Ferme Du Soleil
Posts Tagged Alpine
Writer’s Retreat – Frequently Asked Questions
Posted by Veroni in FAQs, Writers' Retreat on June 4, 2010
Writer’s Retreat – Frequently Asked Questions
Can we sit outside the Writer’s Retreat?
Of course. In the morning, there is a place just outside the sitting room for the morning sun. In the afternoon, you can sit outside the main room and look at the mountains opposite, in the sun
When is the best time to see the wild flowers?
From late May or the beginning of June depending on the temperature. They are best in June but you can still find them in July.
When do the cows come up the hill? And are they noisy?
When the wild flowers come out. We love the clank of their bells.
Are there any local restaurants?
Yes. Some are nearby in easy walking distance, while others are a longer walk away. Restaurant La Croix is open most of the year but not on Mondays. Others, some very near by such as La Roc de Arches open in mid June or a little later in the summer. There are quite a few restaurants in Grand Bornand, open the year round. We like walking to the Col de Anes for lunch, too.
What else can I do?
Go bicycling, walking, running, mountain biking, rock climbing, via ferrata, tennis, golf, white water rafting, swimming, fishing, shopping in the market on Wednesday mornings, sun bathe, picnic, ramble, collect myrtilles, breathe fresh air, play some of the board games.
Do we have use of the swimming pool?
Yes, of course. It is heated by the sun (very eco-friendly) so please make sure that you replace the pool cover. You must set/reset the safety siren. Please take care of your young children!
Are there towels and sheets?
Yes.
Can I smoke in the house?
Sorry, no. It is not allowed and is also against the law. There are smoke detectors in the house for fire prevention.
Are there saucepans, crockery etc?
Yes. There should be sufficient for four people. There is an oven, four gas burners, a fridge and a table to eat at in the main room. You can carry the table outside if you choose.
Is there a telephone that we can use and WiFi?
Most of the major French mobile operators have a reasonably strong signal here. There is no fixed line telephone available but there is WiFi, so you can use Skype for a telephone service. Ask us for the WiFi code.
Is there a television?
Yes but it is not connected to an aerial! You can watch DVDs. Or read a book. There are also some games available.
Can I buy the local Reblochon cheese?
Our next-door neighbour makes it and will sell it to you. It is their cows that you will hear around the house. Their cheese is delicious.
What do I do if there is a problem while I am there?
Call or email us depending on the urgency! If we are in the main house, call 09 52 76 34 01. Otherwise try 00 44 1235 833643 or mobile 00 44 77 8 99 47 0 24, or email lafermedusoleil@hotmail.com.
What do I do I break something?
Please tell us so that we can replace it.
Winter 2010/2011 Availability and Rates
Posted by Veroni in 2010/2011 Winter availability and pricing, Winter on January 9, 2010
Winter Bookings & Price List 2010/2011
These prices are indicative ie they assume that the £ remains at €1.10.
The price per person per week includes
Breakfasts of home-made bread, croissants, compôtes, fresh fruit, cereal, eggs, fruit juices, porridge, cereal, coffee teas and/or infusions
Afternoon tea of homemade tarts, biscuits,pancakes or cakes.
3 course evening meal (except one night per week) with aperitifs and wine with the meal.
Generally holidays start on a Sunday evening (except sometimes for Xmas and New Year) but occassionaly we can be flexible.
The price does not include travel, holiday insurance, health insurance, equipment hire or ski passes.
For summer availability, please see separate page
2010/2011
December
Sun 19th £695 Booked*
Sun 26th £720 Booked *
January
Mon 3rd £660 Booked *
Sun 9th £540 booked
Sun 16th £550 Available
Sun 23rd £590 booked
Sun 30th £590 booked
February
Sun 6th £640 Available
Sun 13th £690 Available *
Sun 20th £645 Booked *
Sun 27th £595 Available
March
Sun 6th £590 Available
Sun 13th £590 booked
Sun 20th £590 Available
Sun 27th £670 Booked *
April
Sun 3rd £620 Available *
Sun 10th £585 Available
In peak weeks, marked by a *, the chalet will normally be rented to a single party, which will be expected to fill it.
Prices assume two people per room. A single supplement of £150 may apply.
Children aged 0 to 24 months – £250.
Family Discounts
A 20% discount for children (those over 2 but under 12).
A 50% discount for a fourth child in a family (all four children having the same parents).
This is your holiday and we can often be flexible: early suppers for children and packed lunches can usually be arranged.
Booking Form
Please download and complete the Winter booking Form (also available as a PDF -Winter Booking Form)
Return it to us by email at lafermedusoleil@hotmail.com
or Fax 01235 861 643 (ring 01235 833643 first so that we can switch on)
Most convenient ski shop
Posted by Veroni in FAQs, Local Area Information on September 25, 2009
We use a local ski shop because it is just below us on the slope. This makes it very easy to take stuff back to change it, get a faster (or slower) ski, or have adjustments made. You can also leave bags and things there. And they sell sunglasses and socks when you realise that you left them behind! We also find that it is a convenient place to pick up your bags to take up to the house and leave you skiing off!
They are not the cheapest and they do not have the broadest range but the people are nice and they speak some English. They have not only a normal range of skis but boards, ski de randonnée equipment, snow shoes etc.
Their address is:-
Magasin de sports, Ski Service Deloche
L’Envers du Chinaillon
Le Grand-Bornand Chinaillon
74450 Le Grand-Bornand
Tel : 04 50 27 00 73 (+33 4 50 27 00 33)
www.skiservice-grandbornand.com
contact@skiservice-grandbornand.com
Opening hours are officially from 08:45 to 18:00 (18:30 at Christmas through New Year and in February) although they seem to open a little earlier and are often there a little later, clearing up.
When hiring, mention that you are staying at La Ferme du Soleil. You will still need a passport to show them. Generally, you pay when you return your hired stuff. They take all the normal credit cards.
You can ask them to reserve you skis etc. There is a form, which you can send them. Emails work much better than telephone with them as they are not there until the season starts.
When driving through Chinaillon, take the left turn, marked to the slopes, and you will se it on the left after about a kilometre. The shop is after the start of the car parking, just afte the Gettier lift and the sign, “Ski Service” faces you.
You can get your ski tickets 150 yards from the ski shop, just down the road.
You can, of course, go anywhere else that you choose. However if you hire from Le Grand Bornand, remember that is more of a trek than shops in Chinaillon.
Sara Allan
Sara Allan has been exhibiting paintings of different styles for twenty years, during which time she has been constantly exploring and evolving methods most suited to express her vision.
Following a decade as a decorative special effects painter, which included painting murals, marbling, stenciling, etc, she became a still life artist, after the Dutch and Spanish tradition, using dark backgrounds to highlight and dramatise the subjects. These began as copies of old master painters such as Cotan and Zurburan, and later developed into her own compositions in the style of these earlier masters. She has also painted landscapes and, more recently, abstract paintings.”
“My training as a decorative painter has given me a fearlessness, an ability to tackle many genres on any scale, and a wide experience in all sorts of painting media. I have found great pleasure in sharing this knowledge with others, giving them the feeling that they can do it, with encouragement and few tips, which I have gathered over the years, and away they go. The aim is to start people off on their own paths of discovery.