The non-tourist bit: life at the gite

The gite is a loft in an old farmhouse being progressively restored by Steven and Veronica Oliver, who are American-French and Canadian-American respectively. They live in about half of the ground floor, with the rest used principally as storage. Attached to the building is an old stable with hayloft above, and it is this that has been transformed into the gite. We climb an external staircase, enter an area which is living, dining and kitchen, with bathroom and bedroom opening off it. It is extremely comfortable and well-equipped, and we also have access to the laundry downstairs, and an outdoor area with tables and chairs, and a barbecue. The property has been excised from an old farm called Le Plessis. There is woodland on one side which also spreads across the front part of the property, a garden on three sides, and a small field at the back. During the day there is a constant sound from birds and crickets - at night the birds give way to frogs. Veronica has a very friendly black labrador cross called Talulah who greets us when we return from an excursion. Beauty, a neighbour's horse, grazes in the back paddock from time to time, and there are two black chooks with real personalities. On the wilder side, a huge crow wakes us each morning by tapping on the window requesting food and this morning we saw a pair of red squirrels playing on the lawn. Veronica is a most helpful hostess, providing us with access to a free international phone service, lending us a laptop, helping us use the laundry, and providing us with fresh eggs and vegetables. We are the more grateful because we have gradually learned that she returned from the USA just before we arrived leaving husband Stephen behind after a family bereavement. So we are trying to return the favour and help her where we can, and as a result are becoming friends and will even be trusted to mind the dog when Veronica goes away for a night this coming weekend. It all helps to make us feel less like tourists.