USEFUL NOTES FOR VISITORS TO CHEZ GERRY  

Dear Visitors, 

Welcome to Chez Gerry.  I hope you enjoy your stay in my home in this lovely part of Provence.  Here are a few notes on the various workings of the house. I hope you find them useful.  

If a problem cannot be solved, call Paul or Wendy Barstow who live in a nearby village, details below.   Let them know of any problems or breakages etc. Best to let them know sooner rather than later. 

If you have any suggestions on how I can improve any aspect of the house for future visitors, please let Paul or Wendy know or drop me a note.  Enjoy your stay. 

Gerry McCrudden

INTERNET ACCESS

The house has WiFi Broadband access.  This is available at a small extra charge.

There is an internet cafe called "le internet shop" on the Route Nationale (D558) which is the main road running through the village should you not have your own laptop and need to access your email.

BED LINEN

Pillows are provided but bed linen and towels are not supplied unless booked in advance.  A small charge (in Euros) will be made.  Please let Paul or Wendy know your requirements . There will be a small charge if you require a mid stay change. 

CLEANING

Please see guidance below in Departure Notes of cleaning arrangements.

DRIVING

British and Irish guests, please remember that the French drive on the ‘other’ side of the road. The main auto routes - including the A8 have tolls so make sure you have change in Euros with you. You can charge by credit card as well. You may also find the notes below on

‘’How to get there’’ of help’ 

ELECTRICITY

The electricity box is inside the gate to the left of the entrance porch. The fuse switches are in the lobby alcove.

The hot water tank is in bedroom 3 cupboard.  There are electric radiators throughout the house.

Spare light bulbs are in plastic crate in statue alcove . 

EMERGENCY SERVICES  and telephone numbers  - See  below  

FIRE PRECAUTIONS and GAS Barbeque

This is an old house and the Maures area is a high risk fire zone. Take great care with the wood burning stove. Only dispose of ash when completely cold and extinguished.

Local laws prohibit the use of charcoal BBQ’s so please only use the gas one on the roof terrace. If the cylinder runs out change empty to full one.  If in difficulty call Paul. But please do tell Paul as soon as you have changed from empty to the full cylinder so he can look to replace the empty one. M. Dombray’s Renault Garage nearby can replace gas cylinders if needs be.  Spare cylinder is in the entrance lobby.  

GARBAGE

Please use plastic garbage bags in the kitchen and take them daily to the large bins situated along Rue de St Jean.  There are also recycling bins on the corner of Rue Ponteves above the car park.

HEALTH

EU Citizens may wish to carry a European Health Insurance card. For more information logon to www.dh.gov.uk/travellers

DIRECTIONS Nice Airport:

Follow the signs to the A8 in a westerly direction ie not Nice but to Antibes/Sophia Antipolis then on towards Aix en Provence/ Marseille. Once on the  autoroute A8 it is then about 50 minutes to the exit at Le Luc  exit 35. Le Luc exit  is also the exit for the A57 Toulon highway. So please remember that once on the exit road you need to  watch the signposts to then bear off almost immediately to the right. You do not want to get caught going on down the Toulon highway. You will pay two tolls – about about 8 Euros 20 cents. 

DIRECTIONS From Aix en Provence/Marseilles Airport/ TGV station Aix West or driving from UK:

Take autoroute A8 signs east to Nice. Once on the A8 (toll is about  Euros 6 from Aix) it is then about 35 Minutes to the exit at Le Luc.  Le Luc exit is also the exit for the A57 Toulon highway. So please remember that once on the exit road you need to  watch the signposts to then bear off almost immediately . You do not want to get caught going on down the Toulon highway.

Then for all routes, after exiting the A8 at Le Luc (Exit 35):

After the toll booth go round the roundabout at the exit until you see the La  Garde Freinet sign on the right which you take. It is then 17 Kms to the village along a winding uphill road. On entering the village you pass a road sign ‘’La Garde Freinet –Le Gardi’’. On the right is The Cooperative des Marrons then a Renault garage. As the road curves left (at the restaurant Relais St Jean)   take a sharp left on to the Rue St Jean . Number 16 is down the street on the right. 

SECURITY

The lobby entrance grill should always be locked when away or departing.  Shutters at the rear should also be closed.   Do not lock the old wooden front door as it closes on the latch. The front first floor living room shutters should be left open.  Be careful and do not lean too far out of the window should you wish to close them.

STORMS AND THE TV 

Power surges are common especially when storms occur and they can cause permanent damage to the TV and Satellite decoder.  So in the event of a major or threatening storm e.g. lightning etc please, please unplug TV at the mains and don’t plug them back until storm is over.  The TV man’s call out charge is not cheap.

TELEPHONE AND LA CARTE TELEPHONIQUE

Number is 04 94 43 1724.  This can only receive calls and dial out locally i.e. 04 94-43 numbers and some other 0494 numbers. La carte telephonique cards are available in village outlets including the Post Office.  There are public call boxes near the Post Office and the Maire. GSM Mobiles work here too.  Directory enquiries Dial 12. Emergency numbers below. There are cyber cafés in various nearby towns.  

TV - AND RADIO

A few   English language stations available via Satellite, plus Radio e.g. BBC Radio. Small radio/CD player is tuned to local English radio “Radio Riviera” on 106.5 FM. 

TERRA COTTA FLOOR TILES

Please do not use washing up liquid to clean these as it stains.  There is liquid floor cleaner under the sink or use a mild bleach solution.

VACUUM CLEANER

Is more effective for breadcrumbs on the floor than a broom. There is also a “Dustbuster” in the kitchen.

WASHING MACHINE AND DRYER

These are situated at the top of the Terrace stairs.  Please remember to clear the various filters and drain the water from the water condensation unit after using the dryer.  There is a small clotheshorse and washing line on the Terrace.

WATER

The Mains Meter and water stopcock is inside the gate to the left of the entrance porch.

Could I kindly ask any green fingered souls to water any live plants  in the front lobby. .  

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NOTES ON LEAVING YOUR HOLIDAY HOUSE AT

16 RUE DE SAINT JEAN

I am sure that you would prefer not to be bothered with thinking about leaving at the start of your holiday.  But if you are only here for one week or even two, time passes so very fast particularly when you are enjoying yourself.  In order that there is no misunderstanding about your departure let me advise you now on the procedures.  

TIME OF DEPARTURE: 10.00 a.m.    agreed day.

CLEANING:  The   house will be found in clean order and should be left in the same state. I am sure you will appreciate that the house has to be left clean i.e. vacuumed everywhere,   mopped where applicable, including bathrooms and  kitchen. Washing up is done, and beds stripped of linen if it has been hired, and left on top of the bed .

A cleaning service can be arranged via Paul  if you wish. He will let you know the charges. These charges depend on occupancy. Minimum charge  of Euros 16 per hour would cost Euros 64 for four hours cleaning.

Please ensure that any furniture which has been moved is returned to where it was found  .

KEYS:  Do not forget to leave them where you found them please. As you will see these are old keys not easily copied or replaced.

BREAKAGES; I hope that you could help us by letting Paul know if you have had any problems. Please tell  him about  anything broken or missing, and  of any light bulbs or equipment which no longer works. . (Best if you can let him know before you leave as otherwise some items might be difficult to replace at weekends   in time for the incoming tenants). Gas cylinders in need of refilling etc.

I do hope that you have had an enjoyable holiday in France, and that your return home will be safe and uneventful. Please do write in the Visitors Book. Come back soon. Bonne Route.

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Below are some useful telephone numbers and other information which might   be of interest;

AIRPORT PICKUPS                            Paul can arrange airport pickups (at an additional charge) if you wish.

                                                          Hyeres/Toulon   03 94 38 6100

SWIMMING POOL/BEACHES     

Piscine Municipale  - End of Village: Open July and  August. Or the beaches at Plage de Pampelonne (south of St Tropez), Cavalaire-sur-Mer and Cap Negre.

GOOD, MODESTLY-PRICED RESTAURANTS

Le Claire Fontaine, Colombe Joyeuse and Pizza restaurant in the village.

For something  special try: Le Faucado in the Village

MARKET DAYS 

Wednesday and Sunday mornings in the village.

Tuesday and Saturday mornings in St Tropez.

List of all local karket days is on the kitchen notice board.

OPENING HOURS AND DAYS AT LOCAL BANKS

Credit Agricole  04 94 43 6053 in the village.

Check opening hours on door. 

ATM facilities in both the village, Cogolin and at the Geant.

Full banking facilities in Ste Maxime and in Cogolin

LOCAL WINE PRODUCERS FOR BUYING DIRECT

Several wine co-operatives  can be found close by in

Cogolin  and Grimaud. Ask for wine “en vrac”.  They are good value.

Plus many vineyards in the vicinity.

LOCAL SHOP SELLING MILK, EGGS, ETC.

Small Spar and other shops in village as well as Boulangerie,

Butcher etc.

There is a large Geant supermarket at La Foux on road to St Tropez . LeClerc in Cogolin is also very good.

TOURIST OFFICE

The Office du Tourisme  near the Maire can advise on local sites and amenities, walks etc.

Josettes TAXI                04 94 43 66 40 who also do airport pickups      

EMERGENCY SERVICES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS: 

Remember the address and telephone number:

16 Rue de St Jean, La Garde Freinet, Telno: 04 94 43 1724.

Even though the telephone is on service restreindre (local calls only), you should be able to contact the numbers given below, with the possible exception of the Centre Anti-Poison and the Consulates.  Please also consult the telephone directories in the house.

There is a basic First Aid box on the kitchen shelf. Please replace any items you use

DOCTORS/HEALTH:

Dr Luc Vento                                                   04 94 43 60 28

Rue Longue                                                     04 94 49 92 93 - CAR PHONE

Dr Florens [Speaks English]                             04 94 43 20 18

                                                                      04 94 43 66 87 - EMERGENCY

Jamie Cowie ( British Physiotherapist)               0673 90 6386

PHARMACY                                                    04 94 43 60 02

DENTIST                                                        04 94 43 67 76

Blvd de l’Esplanade

SAPEUR-POMPIERS   [Fire and Accident Paramedics]      DIAL ‘18’ AND ASK FOR SERVICE

FIRE                                                               DIAL “18”

POLICE - MUNICIPALE                                    04 94 55 21 04 OR VISIT THE MAIRIE

                                                                      04 94 55 21 09

POLICE - GENDARMERIE                                DIAL ‘17’

AMBULANCE - PRIVATE                                 DIAL ‘15’

The above two numbers are able to trace - automatically from your call; the location and the number from which you are dialling.

CENTRE ANTI-POISON                                   04 91 75 25 25 (Or try the Doctor)

BRITISH CONSULATE                                    04 91 15 72 10

GENERAL, MARSEILLE

AMERICAN CONSULATE

Marseille                                                        04 91 54 92 01

GARAGE:  Repairs. On the main road parallel with Rue St Jean. The Renault garage is on the left on the way out of the village.  The owner M. Dombray is  our next door neighbour.  They also sell bottled gas.

GARAGE - PETROL: On Route Nationale opposite the Boule Pitch in the village. Sells petrol, mends punctures, and offers small services.