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Well what to say.....In October 2008 we opened the doors on L'Ancien Presbytere Chambres D'hotes ( just as recession was hitting most of the world ) talk about great timing. Our first clients arrived by bicycle and pure chance. We happened to be sitting in a local bar when they pitched up and asked the barman if he knew of any B&Bs in Le Dorat.
With a wink and a smile at the barman he kindly pointed them in our direction (thankfully he understood what i meant for I could have been in for more than I'd bargained). We gave them directions and raced home to make sure everything was perfect for their arrival. It turned out that they had ridden all the way from Devon over 500 miles away in the previous week and were on their last leg of the journey to family in La Creuse. Obviously they were very tired and hungry, we made them dinner, chatted with them for a while and they retired to bed. In the morning we explained that we had not been open long and were still making finishing touches to the building and could they give us there opinion of the accommodation etc, all constructive criticism is helpful.
When they left they took our number and said that they may need to stay on the journey back and would contact us if so to give us chance to make dinner for them and their children (who were flying over with their bikes for the return journey).
Our first guests, what a milestone!! We had finally made it and achieved one of the goals towards being more self sufficient. No longer working for anyone but ourselves.
But what a long haul it was going to be... To be continued...