No Smoking
La Fontaine is a non-smoking home. The smell of cigarette smoke is quickly absorbed by soft furnishings and is difficult and expensive to remove. The non-smoking rule is for the benefit of all guests and if any guest has a desire to smoke would they please do so outside.
Barbecue
There is a large gas fuelled barbecue in the cuisine d'ete. It would be appreciated if it could be cleaned after use.
Bedding
All beds are provided with all season duvets which can be arranged to provide 4½, 9 or 13½ tog ratings. In addition there are spare blankets for those who require them.
Beds
There are 5 bedrooms, four doubles and a twin. Three have en-suite bath or shower rooms in addition to a beautifully equipped family bathroom. There is a WC in every bath/shower room plus two others (water for the WC's come from our pond).
All our beds are very comfortable handcrafted traditional sleigh beds (bateaux lits). In the lounge one of the three settees converts into a double bed, ideal for accommodating unexpected guests. A cot for infants is provided.
Books
There is a small selection of books in the bookcase, but since everybody's tastes are different it is probably safer to bring your own reading materials.
Breakages or Losses
If you do break anything please let us know. The inventory list will show any already damaged items. If you can replace any breakages with some similar and appropriate please do so, but please tell us.
Cars
The garage will accommodate two or three cars, depending on their size, and the driveway will accommodate many more, so parking is never a problem.
Computers.
If you wish to bring your laptop there is a broadband modem available providing access to the internet via wireless or Ethernet cable.
Crockery
The china can be found in the kitchen cupboards, there are twelve place settings. Please always use the table mats (to be found in the sideboard) in order to protect the polished dining table. (See also “Glassware”)
Cuisine d'ete
In the warm weather the local population like to dine outside in their “summer kitchen”. La Fontaine has a large cuisine d'ete with a table with seating for twelve plus a large barbecue.
Cutlery
A full set of cutlery can be found in the drawers of the sideboard in the lounge. Additional everyday cutlery can be found in the kitchen drawers.
Doctor
The local doctor is in rue St Jacques, Monpazier. Tel 05 53 22 60 69
Eating
There is a twelve place dining table in the house, but in the happy anticipation of fine weather there is also a twelve place table in the cuisine d'ete.
Electricity
The kitchen is all electric. If you have any problems with the electricity supply (which you shouldn't), please contact the Manager (see below).
Emergency Services
Telephone numbers: Police 17, Ambulance 15, Fire Brigade 18.
Fire
The central heating system is very efficient but should you wish to do so you are welcome to use the wood-burning stove, if there is no wood available please contact the Manager (see below). If you have a fire then before you leave please clean out the stove.
Fountain
Not surprisingly La Fontaine boasts a fountain. The water in the fountain comes from our pond, and the recirculation keeps the pond aerated. The water in the fountain is not very deep but nevertheless please keep children supervised at all times, and please do not throw anything into it. The operation of the fountain is automatically controlled.
Games
There are packs of playing cards in the sideboard, and jigsaws, chess and various other games in the bookcase at the end of the hall. There are binoculars in the sideboard for the use of guests, please return them after use.
Gas
The barbecue runs on bottled gas. There is a spare cylinder available . If you need to use the spare cylinder, please let the Manager know, so that he can replace it.
Glassware
There is a full set of glassware in the sideboard in the lounge. Polycarbonate “glasses” for poolside use can be found in the laundry.
Hairdryers
Every bathroom and shower room has a hairdryer provided.
Heating
La Fontaine has a state of the art central heating system which is very efficient. The thermostat is in the bedroom hallway. Under no circumstances should the controls on the boiler be touched.
HiFi
See “Television" and "Internet Radio"
Hot water
Because La Fontaine is such a large house there are some long pipe runs. This means, for instance, that you will have to run the tap in the kitchen for a little while before the water runs hot.
Household appliances
There is a guide to the use of household appliances in the kitchen drawer. Rather than guessing how things work, please refer to the guide as and when necessary.
Internet Radio
There is an internet radio that provides access to thousands of radio stations worldwide. Full operating instructions are provided.
Keys
The Manager has a spare set of keys if needed. The front door key fits all external doors other than the bedroom doors.
Kitchen
There is a fully fitted all electric kitchen including oven, microwave, ceramic hob, fridge/freezer and dish washer.
Laundry
La Fontaine has a fully equipped laundry, including washing machine, tumble dryer, airer, iron and ironing board.
Lighting
There is automatic security lighting that comes on to welcome you when you approach the house at night. The external lights can also be controlled manually from switches inside the house and there is an external switch by the gate at the end of the front path.
Linen
White cotton bed linen and towels are provided and will be changed weekly. Please do not use the bath towels around the pool, there is a supply of poolside towels provided for use round the pool, which can be found in the laundry cupboard.
Loss or damage
Please enjoy all the amenities that la Fontaine has to offer. Holidays are a time for relaxing and enjoying yourselves. But please don't forget to take care especially round the pool, spa, fountain and pond. We cannot and do not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage, including personal injury, that may be incurred anywhere on the property.
Maintenance
The property is maintained by the Manager, who lives in Monpazier. You are likely to see him around the property from time to time, maintaining the pool etc.
Manager
The Manager, who lives in Monpazier, looks after the house for us, he can be contacted if you have any problems. Local contact details will be provided.
Market
There is a produce market that is held in the town square each Thursday, and there are flea markets held from time to time in the summer months.
Outdoor Seating
There are sun loungers for use around the pool, plus poolside tables and chairs. Seat cushions and umbrellas are stored in the garden shed.
Pets
Pets are not permitted in La Fontaine .
Police
The local police station is on the left just before entering Monpazier from Belves. Telephone number 05 53 22 60 17
Pond
We have excavated a 200,000 litre pond in the field below the house, to provide water for the fountain, automatic sprinkler system and the WC's. Please be very careful around the pond, it is two metres deep and steep sided, so please don't try swimming in it and please keep children supervised at all times. Please do not throw anything into the pond and please do not walk on the liner, there is a risk that it could be punctured and replacement will be very expensive. The pond is fenced to keep out deer and suchlike, whose hooves would puncture the liner. Please keep the gate shut.
Pool
The pool is a heated chlorine free (automatic electrolytic (salt) system) pool, which is much “friendlier” than a chlorinated pool.
The pool has an electric cover which should only be opened when the pool is to be used, please ensure it is closed immediately after use. There are security clips at the Roman Steps end of the pool, these must be released before the cover is opened and secured once the cover has been closed. The operation of the cover is controlled by a key operated control which you will find by the French windows closest to the fireplace. Just turn and hold the key until the pool is fully opened or closed. The cover is there as a safety measure but it also helps to keep the pool warm and clean.
The pool lighting is operated by the switch above the pool control switch.
Please make sure that young children are properly supervised around the swimming pool, spa, fountain and pond. We cannot accept any responsibility for accidents. Please be careful not to throw or kick objects e.g. stones, into the pool, spa, fountain and pond. Please don't use glassware or crockery around the pool, broken glass can do terrible things to bare feet and removing broken glass from a pool is a very expensive operation. There is a supply of polycarbonate glasses in the laundry cupboard for poolside use.
There is also direct access to an external WC on the west side of the house, thus avoiding the necessity to drip water through the house.
The pool is looked after by the Manager If you have any queries or concerns, please contact him.
Problems
Please contact the Manager if there are any problems.
Rubbish
Rubbish should be taken to the communal roll-top rubbish bins; these are situated at the top of the lane to the left. Recycling is taken seriously. There are separate bins for household waste, newspapers, glass and cardboard and plastic.
Sanitation
La Fontaine has private drainage (“Fosse septique”). It meets all statutory requirements and should require no maintenance. Please do not put anything other than toilet paper down the WC. Any other items for disposal should be put into the bins provided in each bathroom and WC.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in La Fontaine (see also “No Smoking” above).
Spa
There is a heated spa bath, the controls for which are on the spa. The spa has an insulated cover which should be kept in place when the spa is not in use. It is there for safety reasons but it also helps to keep the water warm and clean. The edge of the spa and the cover are a little higher than the terrace so please take care not to trip over them.
Sprinkler system
There is an automatic sprinkler system for the garden that uses water from our pond. It is operated by a timer and only comes on late at night.
Summer Kitchen (see “Cuisine d'ete”)
Telephone
You are welcome to use the telephone. We have an itemised bill and will recharge for calls made during your stay at the house. For international calls just dial 00 followed by the country code and number. (i.e. 00 44 for the UK , 00 1 for the USA , etc.)
Television
There is a 37inch flat screen LCD satellite television (which also provides access to radio programmes), a radio/tape/CD/MP3 player and a VCR/DVD player for your entertainment. There is a selection of video tapes, DVD's and CD's which you are welcome to use but as these may not be to your taste you might like to think about bringing a few DVD/CD's of your own.
Full operating instructions are provided.
Towels (See also “linen” and “bedding”.)
White cotton towels are provided and changed weekly. Please do not use bathroom towels around the pool. Poolside towels are provided which can be found in the laundry cupboard.
Water
Because Monpazier is a hard water area, the water at La Fontaine is softened, just remember not to use too much shampoo etc. The water is perfectly safe to drink. There shouldn't be any problems, but if there are please contact the Manager.
WC's
La Fontaine has six WC's, one in each bathroom and shower room, one in the bedroom hallway and one outside adjacent to the pool.
WiFi
See “Computers”
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