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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Jun 10, 2020
- 4 min
Bonjour et bienvenue - L'été est arrivé
Hello and welcome to our Summer blog here at Finders Keepers France. Merci et à bientôt.
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Apr 26, 2020
- 4 min
Bonne santé
Our latest update from Finders Keepers France. Take a look to see our latest inventions.
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Jan 22, 2020
- 3 min
BONNE ANNÉE
Bonjour et bienvenue sur mon blog Happy New Year to you all. Where did 2019 go? Looking back at my blogs it only seems like yesterday that I was typing my 2019 update, yet here we are wishing a happy new year to 2020. You may think I am mad, however I do like to set myself some New Year Resolutions. One of them is to blog more frequently. So here goes. Lets see if I succeed. Firstly, let me tell you about how 2019 ended. With a bang might I add. Despite all of the work that D
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- May 26, 2019
- 3 min
2019 Update
Bonjour et Bienvenue. It has certainly been a busy start to the year. I cannot believe that we are nearly into June and we have been open for 1 month now. We are very thankful for the weather this year compared to last which has enabled us to complete many projects around the grounds ready for our first guests who arrived last week. February - This saw the clearing of the grounds. We still have lots of brambles to remove to allow the plants and trees the chance to grow. 13 ac
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Apr 13, 2019
- 3 min
Where is 2019 going?
Well, as the title reads, Where is 2019 going? It only seems like yesterday that I signed off from 2018 and said I would be back in touch early 2019 with updates, yet already it is April and spring has arrived. We have had a very busy winter here at Finders Keepers France getting ready for our opening day 1 May. Thankfully we have been blessed with good weather which has helped. We have seen many changes and updates which I will share with you below. These updates will contin
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Aug 18, 2018
- 3 min
Bon weekend from beautiful Finders Keepers France
Happy Saturday everyone and welcome to our latest blog. Its been a month since our last Blog and what a busy month it has been. We opened for our second season on the 1st May and was very worried initially due to the poor start to the year with the floods etc, but we need not worry. It has been another great season with some amazing guests and very positive feedback. We have still got 2 months to go with back to back bookings, so remain full steam ahead and focussed. Around t
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Jun 16, 2018
- 3 min
Keeping the bugs and insects happy......
Well I must be on the ball this month. Its been less than a month and I am already starting to write this blog. Thankfully the rain has stopped and the sun has come out. What a weird start to 2018 it has been. +++ amounts of rain followed by temperatures of 31. We ended up with a waterfall in the lower grounds which was a first. In fact it was that beautiful we have decided to develop the lower grounds into a wildlife pond surrounded by a butterfly meadow. It is so nice to ha
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Jun 2, 2018
- 2 min
The ongoing development of Shady Rest
Well I cannot believe that it is now June. For many of us living here in France, we would say it is still winter what with all the very odd weather we are having. The sun has finally arrived but it is mixed in with lots and lots of rain. Darren has been frantically trying to keep up with the lawns, however trying to tame 16 acres has been a big ask. Despite loving his new tractor I think even he would say 'that's enough'. A month has passed since my last blog and so much has
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Mar 2, 2018
- 1 min
Snow in the South of France. Really?
Yes, Really!. When we moved to Marcadis, Moncrabeau we found an old sledge in one of our barns. Getting very excited at the prospect of snow in winter we were brought back down to reality when one of our neighbours told us that they had not had snow for years and years. Coming from England we loved the idea of Snow in Winter. The vision of the French landscape covered in a carpet of white snow would be breathtaking. Oh well, never mind. However........... This year it happene
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Jan 20, 2018
- 4 min
Happy 2018 - Spring is on its way At Finders Keepers France and Marcadis Gite
Bonjour et ravi de vous revoir tous. Merci d'avoir pris le temps de lire mon blog. It has been a while since I last sat down to write a few words. Firstly let me wish everyone a happy New Year and hope that you all had a lovely Christmas. After careful consideration, we decided to block out Marcadis Gite over the winter season to allow Darren the opportunity to do some minor renovations to the inside. Currently he is fitting skirting boards throughout and has installed a TV A
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Nov 18, 2017
- 4 min
Wildlife Hides at Finders Keepers France and Marcadis Gite
Well, after a successful first year we have closed our doors to the Summer season and are preparing for winter. After some serious discussions we have decided to remain open for a winter season. Personally, we don’t envisage a busy one, and are not even sure if we will get any bookings but it was worth giving it a try. Many people will say, Why? Who would want to visit France in Winter? Why would people pay more to visit out of season when most places close? Well this was our
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Oct 8, 2017
- 2 min
A Romantic Hideaway at Marcadis Gite French Holiday Let
Romantic Hideaway you may say? When we purchased Finders Keepers France in July 2016 we wanted to develop it into a retreat for people to visit who enjoyed nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. We opened our doors to Marcadis Gite French Holiday Let in June 2017 and as the season progressed and guests came and went we realised that the lake and grounds were what attracted people to the area. Guests would walk the grounds and sit by the lake until well into the early hours.
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- Oct 8, 2017
- 3 min
Our fabulous first season at Marcadis Gite
Well it has been a few months since my last blog due to a very busy first season. We opened our doors in June and what a season. We were rewarded with bookings from June up until tomorrow (9th October 2017), which came as a shock. Listening to other Gite owners in France we were advised not to be disheartened if it did take 2-3 years for our gite to become fully booked; this was not the case. Despite a very busy fist season we wouldn't change it for the world. We have had fan
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- May 21, 2017
- 5 min
Marcadis Gite - The opening date is getting closer
With only 3 weeks left before we open our doors to Marcadis Gite we can do nothing but worry. When we first purchased our home we were allowing ourselves 2 years to get the gite up to the standard we wanted however after just a few weeks we decided that if we opened up a year sooner we could use that money to develop other things. Great idea until you come to put it in practice. We still have many sleepless nights thinking is it up to the standard we want and most of all what
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Paula Dalton-Kirby
- May 21, 2017
- 3 min
Renovating a french farm house and starting a gite retreat - Blog
Bonjour, Welcome and hello from Finders Keepers FRANCE. Well, where do I start. I have never had a blog before so please bear with me and be gentle. My Partner Darren and I purchased our beautiful home in Marcadis, Moncrabeau, South of France July 2016 with the intention of making it into a fabulous retreat where people can come and join us to experience what we love. We have always had very big dreams with many many hobbies entwined in them. Trying to experience our dreams a
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