The Blakeman family
Chris and I met as teenagers in 1983 and have been together ever since, in 1993 we married and in 1996 we moved to France. The move wasn't hard. Although originally from Cheshire, we moved south in '91 (Tunbridge Wells) and Chris was commuting often to London, we both worked weekends and evenings and long hours; so when the opportunity to move to France came along we jumped at it. Two children and 20 years later we are still loving it here .
20 years in France
After many years of holidaying in this area, staying in my parents holiday home, we finally moved here . We havn't looked back since. After a number of years renovating stone barns into family gites, learning how to look after our guests and drinking many glasses of wine with them, we now feel very confident in our ability to offer just what young families like our own really need from a holiday here in France.
We have not, however, become complacent. We are constantly thinking of new ideas to add to the enjoyment, every year we update, replace, renew and re- paint as well as add. Our cottages today are very different from what they were when we first started out. In 1996, the most common question was 'is there an iron and a tea pot'. Times are different and expectations are higher. (wifi, hot tub)
For more about how we came to be here and our last 20 years.....
Benjamin and Thomas
Benjamin (born March 2003) and Thomas (born August 2005) are our two boys and they love the summer when they have new playmates every week and although they are now getting a bit older than the average child staying with us, they are still great with the little ones - having grown up is such a social environment.
We love parenthood especially in such a beautiful rural environment where the boys are free to run around in great open spaces. They are now both at the local secondary school in Saint Jean d'Angely , which they enjoy and they are both of course as fluent in French as all their French school friends but are learning German too. They both play badminton and volleyball, swim like fish, love scuba diving and Thomas enjoys Aikido and cooking too.
Learn about wine and...
Over the years we have developed the wine theme to our guests stay. This sets us apart from everyone else. Chris worked all his adult life in the wine industry, selling, buying and teaching wine, its also a passionate hobby. Our wine tastings, taste du terroir evenings and family vine walks add to the enjoyment of the parents holiday and are extremely popular, but its not compulsory of course ! Chris will happily chat all you like about wine in general, as long as you offer him a glass whilst hes doing it ! In fact he'll chat about anything with a glass in his hand ! (religion, politics and Brexit are particular favourites - anything contentious, he always has an opinion !!)
Wendy and Chris
In the winter time I concentrate on being a Mum, taking the children to all their activities, participating in local events (member of the parents association and also ran an English workshop at the primary school) plus running the office side of the business - updating the web site, taking bookings, social media and dealing with all the French bureaucracy ! and then in my spare time, help Chris with building projects (I learnt how to do plumbing and electrics when we first moved here)
Chris concentrates on improving and expanding our business structurally, by renewing and repairing. Just in the last couple of months he has constructed 100m2 of deck around the pool, built a new barbecue area and upgraded the electrics in the holiday cottages. We are also in the middle of building a whole new house to let out on a long term basis, it will be our third oh yes and he just built an extension to our own house too !
Family friendly
Wendy has become a registered child minder here in France, so now Wendy can look after you children during the day to give you a break and some time to relax even more . You can rest assured in the knowledge that you also have a capable babysitter
on hand so you can enjoy a night out too.
Since having our own children, the needs of young families on holiday were made even more evident to us. We have always been a family location but we now specifically cater to young families where we not only provide pleasant self catering accommodation but we can provide all the things required by a family with young children, from cots to steam sterilisers; baby bath to hand blenders; saving you room in the car and making your holiday run more smoothly.
Entertaining children is a constant job; by providing toys, slides, swings and of course our pirate ship, trampoline, teddy bear picnics, pottery and T-shirt painting, scuba diving and other family activities such as the weekly barbecue and family vine walks an all in a safe environment where there are other English speaking children to play with too - your children are happy all day and I pretty much guarantee you'll have the time to finish at least one book whilst staying with us !
Read about what our families think on Trip advisor......
We do go on holiday...
Just not in summer ! We have to take advantage of the winter period to take our own holiday and try to take a weeks skiing break plus a trip maybe to the Uk or somewhere else in France in the October half term or Easter. Occasionally we manage a much longer trip as we adore travelling. We did a lot before the children (Mexico, Guatemala, Egypt, Thailand, Australia ) and even when they were little but now we are restricted to school holidays it's less often. We have managed to take the children to Australia (where Wendys brother lives), New Zealand, Florida, Italy and last year to Cambodia .
Eating Out
Chris and I love our food and wine and love to cook but also to eat out when we can. When the children came along we wern't going to let that stop us. It takes hard work and commitment to take a 2 year old to a great restaurant but we persevered (taking it in turns to eat while the other entertained them, taking them out when they had a tantrum etc) For many years now the boys have LOVED eating out. When the pennies allow and the occasion demands, we will happily take them to a Michelin starred restaurant - they love to try new foods, enjoy dressing up in their shirts, ties and aftershave and are a joy to converse with over a delicious meal.
Your family holiday with us
It really is important to us that our guests enjoy their stay with us. Ask us as many questions as you can, we will be honest. We really do want everyone to have an amazing holiday and will go above and beyond to make sure that happens. If you are after crystal glasses and Louis 14th furniture you are on the wrong web site ! Our cottages are comfortably furnished, clean and well equipped but with the needs and comfort of young families in mind so you can relax. We treat everyone as friends, we are relaxed and informal and very approachable but not intrusive. We hope this has given you a little more insight into the Blakeman family and look forward to welcoming you to us in France soon.
