When we bought the cottage one of the three doors at the top of the stairs opened into the roof with a low beam. This gave us the chance to add a bit of ourselves and the beam was raised and our lovely master bedroom created.
In addition to the cottage being within easy reach of our friends it has allowed us to make new friends in the village too. We enjoy just being there, Stuart enjoys cutting timber in the wood and Gillian now has her own tractor to 'cut the grass'. Our local Explorer Scouts in England come over and camp 'au nature' in the field.
When we can we enjoy village events such as the Fete de la Garde, a festival which celebrates the local hunting . We enjoy the easy walking around the area through woodlands and by the etangs (ponds) for which the region is well known. There's plenty to see in the area too. We still haven't exhausted the magnificent chateaux and local markets. The terrace is a true sun trap but in the late spring and summer you don't need to go too far to find an outdoor pool - we particularly like the one at St. Aignan. All year round in the evening it's lovely to eat outside and enjoy the stars. The village street lights switch off just before eleven pm, so the stars are brilliant and well worth a midnight walk on a clear night! If it's too cold though relaxing by the log fire is also a must. Living next door to Gy Suis Gy Reste is a real bonus. The restaurant is well worth a visit for regional home cooked food at lunchtime or to pop in for aperitif before an evening meal at home.