Do you dream in black and white?

Occasionally someone will ask this question: "Do you dream in black and white or colour?" Actually I'm not sure. But it got me thinking, "when you dream about a great holiday, where is it?"

I have to admit this train of thought was prompted by the folks at Eurocamp who announced last week that they are setting up campsites around the UK. Soon we'll be able to shiver in our tents on the banks of a Scottish loch. Hmmm.....

Sorry, but my dream holiday is invariably in France. I have realistic dreams, so heli-skiing in New Zealand or sunbathing on a private Caribbean island are out of the question. France gives me great food, a better climate, an interesting culture and people who will speak my language when I get stuck (as long as I don't shout).

And it's not quite the stuff of dreams, but don't believe all the gloom about the euro: fuel is still cheaper, especially at the supermarkets where you can buy the stuff 24/7 without having to decode the chatting of a fast-speaking cashier. And food can be good value, usually of excellent quality.

Anyway, I am drifting into advertising. So whether your dream is in black and white or colour, I hope it will be located in Western France.

Why Le Pas Opton is not just for the Brits

I've spent a lot of time in recent months talking to people from Germany, Holland and France about why they like Le Pas Opton. There is a common theme: the facilities, the atmosphere, the secure feeling of being among like-minded people and the Bible study and worship programme.

What's interesting for me is that the one thing we might have thought was a barrier - language - is actually an attraction for many people. Language has the power to divide, but in our case it unites. We use English in our activities but we have plenty of French speakers and some German ability too.

Chris our new park manager was pointing out to me recently that French families like the idea of a holiday where the children will be able to mix with their peers and practise their English, but without having to travel to England! Our continental neighbours are not always convinced about the quality of our cuisine, our holiday accommodation or our climate.

At LPO they get the best of both worlds. And from my viewpoint, a "gathering of the nations" for holiday, fellowship and worship is an exciting, if microscopic, foretaste of a time when every nation and language group will join together in worshipping the King of kings.

What does Times online have to say about Vendée winter breaks?

My wife reads the travel supplements even more avidly than I do, especially during this, the holiday planning season.

So it was Ann who spotted the full page in this week's Sunday Times about the joys of an out-of-season break in Les Sables d'Olonne. Worth reading! And most of the great things that are true for Les Sables are also true for her smaller cousin St Gilles, just down the road from us.

The full article is at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/destinations/france/article5725356.ece

Oh, by the way, you can book our villas throughout the year…..

Friday 13th February

In praise of Richard and Rachel
Richard and Rachel Kehoe will move quietly back to the UK in February as Richard takes on the management of a wildlife park with shop, restaurant and a small farm. No mobile homes though, he tells me! Richard and Rachel have stamped their wonderful character and dedication indelibly on Le Pas Opton and made a difference to the holiday experience of thousands of people. There is no way adequately to say thank you to them but if you want to send a personal message, we will be happy to forward it from the office here in Uckfield or from LPO.

New Holiday Park Manager
If you have ever met the amazing Richard Kehoe and his equally amazing wife Rachel, you will know that they are irreplaceable and that setting out to find a replacement for them after four years working together was always going to be a difficult task.

However I am delighted to have found Christopher McCulloch-Merle whose skills, experience and character will serve us well in the coming years.

• He was born into a diplomatic family, is well travelled around Europe, fluent in English, French and Spanish. He is of French nationality with a very international outlook.
• He has a degree in engineering and a background in naval and weapons engineering management. He was radically saved by Jesus Christ in 1993 and soon thereafter spent 2 years on OM's Logos ship, upgrading systems to meet US standards; there met his wife Laura who was a teacher of team children on the ship; Laura is also a drama specialist.
• Laura and Chris lived 4 years in Scotland where he was a factory production manager before moving to southern France to start and develop "Teen Ranch", a Christian outdoor activity centre. There he gained a lot of highly relevant experience for the LPO role.

In addition to this, Chris and Laura are really nice people whom I am sure you will enjoy getting to know at LPO this coming year. Chris starts formally with us on February 23rd. Please pray for him and Laura as they settle back into France and as Chris gets to grips with the many challenges of his role.

Dover to Calais - the shortest sea crossing

Tuesday 27th January

Last week I travelled with P&O Ferries on the Dover-Calais route. If you decide against a Western crossing (see previous blogs) then this is a good choice. Julius Caesar chose P&O, or at least this route, when he invaded Britain. I believe William the Conqueror preferred the Newhaven-Dieppe route but I this was due to a link to the French state-owned ferry company.

Anyway, both Dover and Calais ports are highly organised places where they quickly get you into the right queue and onto the right craft. Once on board there is enough time for a stroll around, a wave to the white cliffs and a bite to eat before your destination comes in sight. We are offering a kids eat free deal for 2009, where one child gets a main meal free for every adult main meal. So it makes sense to plan in a meal break whilst on board - saving time on the drive to LPO.

I've heard of a number of guests who choose to travel Dover-Calais (or take the tunnel) and then break their journey overnight. This can allow you to travel a longer and perhaps more interesting route. When my children were smaller, we ventured into tourist spots in Normandy one year, and another time we turned south and followed the Loire Valley to Nantes.

French low cost hotels are consistent and affordable, and many offer family rooms. I like B&B Hotels www.hotel-bb.com. Another to consider is www.accorhotels.com which include more upmarket Novotel (they offer 4 beds in a room) and mid market Ibis and Mercure. Also try www.kyriad.com and the ultimate low cost Formule1 www.hotelformule1.com where a Sunday night 2 person room is just €34.80 in July.

Oh, and it's always worth booking a breakfast. Make the most of the buffet and save on lunch!

In praise of Brittany Ferries

Friday 19^th December

Around half our guests cross the Channel with Brittany Ferries. There are a number of reasons for this: they are the dominant operator on the Western Channel, reaching the ports closest to Brittany and the west coast of France. They have good timetables with both daytime and overnight crossings, traditional and fast craft.

But maybe most important of all, Brittany is just a great way to travel. They know how to look after you from start to finish, they provide good hospitality and they know their food. I’ve crossed the Channel many times, especially over the last four years running Spring Harvest Holidays, and no ferry operator gives you better treatment. The company is French run and mainly French staffed but (am I allowed to say this?) they are still good at customer service.

If you want a real treat at the start or end of your holiday, enjoy a meal in the a la carte restaurant. Some boats have a buffet for hors d’oeuvre and desserts, all serve quality food and drinks in a pleasant atmosphere with real tablecloths. Impressive enough to convert my wife from her commitment to the Tunnel. I’m writing this en route back from Le Pas Opton on a dark winter’s evening and even my steak served in the cafeteria of the Mont St Michel ferry was superb. In my pocket is a little card handed to me when I parked on the car deck to ensure I find my way back easily.

If only sea conditions were equally considerate of my comfort….. Happy Christmas!

Friday 12th December.

I’m off to Le Pas Opton on Sunday for a week. It’s not quite the same place without hundreds of guests bringing it alive, but I still love it. Remember you can book our villas any time of year – Richard tells me that two of them are reserved for New Year. Whilst in France we will be sorting out the detail of our order for 25 new mobile homes to be delivered by the start of the 2009 season. Early bookings indicate a real demand for these high spec, extra spacious units. Also on the agenda are meetings with the accountants and the local tourist board.

The most exciting part though will be discussing toilets, showers and baby baths with our architect! Yes, the complete refurbishment of the yellow sani block is under way. If you’ve been before you’ll hardly recognize it, with natural light, more space and a massive leap in overall quality. We’re not just “doing it up”, we are creating something that we’re confident you will really enjoy using.

On the home front, our Customer Service team are busy as today’s early booking deadline approaches. Bookings come in by phone and via our website every day so it’s encouraging to see so many people deciding to grab the best prices and availability right away.

Introducing the Blog

10 November 2009

October is always a busy time at Spring Harvest Holidays, and November seems to be maintaining the frantic pace! Ferry contracts, insurance deals, big investment plans to put into place – and everything has to be sorted before the brochure goes to print.

Well, the brochure is now making its way through the printing and mailing process and this website will keep you even more up to date.

The most exciting events right now are finalising the contract for 25 new mobile homes, and planning the complete refurbishment of the yellow shower/toilet block.

We’re buying our mobile homes from IRM, located in the Vendée just an hour’s drive away. They provided all our initial supply of 130 mobile homes which have served so well to date. It’s amazing how the designs have progressed over the last six years, and to note how we and other UK tour operators have influenced developments. There’s so much more environmental awareness too, with better insulation and measures to save energy and water.

The shower blocks, or sanitaires as they are delightfully known in France, are rather less exciting but every bit as important. In August this year I stayed in one of our tents for a few days and spent time talking with other tent dwellers. They were a little surprised that the Managing Director was sleeping under canvas and showering in sani jaune, but it was in a good cause. The refurbished block will have more than a fresh coat of paint and new taps. Watch this space….