It’s cherry time! Our neighbour has an amazing cherry tree which has produced enough cherries for the entire village… we will be making a cherry compote to accompany chocolate cake and vanilla ice-cream. More about that soon… SCH.
Category Archives: Running a B&B
Cakes, cookies, pastries and tray bakes
Over the last month we’ve been preparing and testing recipes for lazy afternoon tea at Le Manoir.
Here are the fourteen that made the list (in no particular order):
1. Carrot cake
2. Lemon drizzle cake
3. Chocolate brownies
4. Flapjacks
5. Custard tarts (see below – yummy!)
6. Jam tarts
7. Victoria sponge
8. Fruit tarts
9. Coffee and walnut cake
10. Scones
11. Cookies
12. Shortbread
13. Chocolate cake
14. Lemon curd tarts
What’s your favourite? Is there anything else you would you like to see on this list? SCH
More pictures of the house (internal)
The Little Grange at Le Manoir Saint Gervais is (officially) born!
The house purchase is complete! The Little Grange is soon to be a living, breathing reality that was barely a dream a year ago.
I signed the deeds in France on very sunny yet frosty afternoon – a glimpse of what’s in store this time next year! It was lovely to be back and also to see the house and area in winter; certainly a huge contrast to summer. The previous owners have permission to stay in the house for the next four months so that they can renovate the barn across the road. So for now it’s a case of taking lots of photos, measuring up, getting quotes for the work that needs to be done and finalising those spreadsheets.
The major renovation work will be to the top floor (attic). It is currently an open roof space with stud walls for two rooms already in place – but it is going to need additional rooms and bathrooms as well as insulation for the roof.
Below are a few pictures of the house before we start work in April next year to turn it into a boutique B&B with vintage crafts workshop. What do you think? SCH
Property update: sale agreed!
Since visiting the house last month I have been back again for a second viewing and to also visit friends. My offer has been accepted and we are looking to sign mid-September. It is hard not to get excited this early in the process when so much could go wrong (!), but it feels good to visualise the house when building plans for the B&B.
While I was in the area I dropped into a local bric-a-brac store and picked up this little painting in an ornate frame. It isn’t particularly old but I thought it was in keeping with The Little Grange so bought it. Oh and it was only €3 so I couldn’t really resist. SCH
Small painting in gilded frame
Property update: this is the one!
The house is perfect! A quick four-day trip over to France was all that was needed to confirm that it was the property destined to become The Little Grange. It has all the proportions of a grand house with the feeling of a warm and cosy home. It has four large bedrooms, all with en-suite bathrooms, wide hallways on the ground and first floor, a spacious kitchen, three big reception rooms and bags of character. There is also a whole other floor for renovation and a barn for when I run out of things to do and need more projects!
We had a viewing on Monday and plan put in an offer this week. Exciting times indeed as we really start to create The Little Grange! SCH
Iron detail above the front door
Could this be the perfect property?
Last summer, while staying with friends in France, two of us drove out to a little village to see a house that was for sale. We didn’t have an appointment so peaked through the front gates and managed to sneak around the back which was accessible by a side road. It was an intriguing property; a manor house on the edge of the village with uninterrupted views across fields to the front. Unfortunately I was not in a position to buy it as I hadn’t even begun to think about leaving the Middle East so we left the village and I didn’t give the house any more thought.
Fast forward a year and having spotted the property online, and realising it has a barn and accommodation all with en-suite bathrooms, I have booked flights to view the house next week! I am throwing caution to the wind and just going for it… I have a really good feeling that this might actually be the property we transform into The Little Grange! SCH
Le Manoir Saint Gervais 