JULY BLOG — The French Farmhouse in Quercy

Our letting season is now underway and we hope that all our guests enjoy their time at The Farmhouse as much as we do. During the last few months it has all been about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s, making everything good in preparation for the summer holidays. The bed linen “situ” has felt a challenge. I could not believe how much bed linen was required…this is not Downton Abbey. I think I was blissfully turning away from the gargantuan task that is counting linen for 6 bedrooms with multiple bed choices and having to account for 3 changes per bed. Without boring you with the maths, it means that I need at least 72 pillow cases…then there are the towels…and …and….and! Thank you “Soak and sleep” for helping me with my purchases and pandering to my panics.

We have been delighted with our new outdoor tables. At three metres in length they easily seat twelve. There is one on the south patio and one in the pool house with their matching benches. The time when we can put them together for one big trestle table fiesta is an event I am looking forward to.

We have discovered and checked out a new “haunt”. The Chateau de l’Hoste is about 15 mins away. We went to have a look at a local car rally that was stopping there and found ourselves equally beguiled by the chateau. Their Happy Hour ( wine and canapes) is every Thursday between 6-7 pm. We found a friendly chatty atmosphere, held in the relaxed bistro, where it seemed many people were staying on to eat. Separate fine dining was also available in the hotel.

Another option for a Thursday night is to visit Lauzerte. Every Thursday evening in high season you will find the Nocturne Gourmet Market from 7pm (the last one this year being on September 7th). We all had a wonderful evening here a couple of weeks ago, on the Place des Cornières, the town square. Trestle tables and food sellers filled the medieval square and live music floated on the air. By 9pm the dancing had begun, not only on the square but on the benches too. The atmosphere was vibrant and exciting. A community party where the focus was on eating, drinking and “bons amis”. Everyone welcome, an evening definitely worth repeating.

The region revs up for the summer and provides a raft of activities for all tastes. The tourist information offices in most towns will guide and provide literature to help you make your choices. Look out for placards on roundabouts for events too, though I admit we have on one occasion been let down by our own inability to speed read and translate. Having taken friends to the roundabout advertised event, we found ourselves in a very quiet town waiting for the fun to begin….everyone else was somewhere else!

The French Farmhouse with new outside table & benches.

The table and benches in the pool house at The Farmhouse.