As the title says, it HAS been a while. It’s been a long, very busy summer for us here at Le Chant. Great weather, great guests (in the main), and lots of nice people have booked to return. That’s the upside. The downside is that we have had one or two ‘guests’ that seemed not to appreciate that Le Chant isn’t just a holiday destination, but also our home. Granted, this is what we do for a living, and yes – we do get ‘paid’ if you like, for sharing what we have. But that’s my point – we ‘share’ Le Chant d’Oiseau. We share it because we think it’s a pretty place, and because we would have loved to have spent our holidays here with our own kids when they were growing up. We share it because we’re justifiably proud of all that we’ve achieved with it, in just 6 years.
In year one, in the very first full season that we were owners, and only just after we’d finished work on completing the family accommodation in what is now our home, we were very green. We were very keen to please, though we didn’t have an awful lot of spare cash to invest in Le Chant. We still made great efforts to ensure that both the gites and the campsite were the best they could be until we could afford to improve what we had. Lots of what we inherited had to stay, as we couldn’t afford to change things. We knew our limitations, but we priced accordingly.
Once or twice in that first full season, we were taken advantage of by people who just didn’t ‘get us’, or Le Chant d’Oiseau. It took one of these people a whole TWO years to release his bile on a well-known review website. The fact that a) he blatantly lied about certain aspects of his stay with us, and b) in the TWO years he’d taken summoning up the spite to send in his ‘review’, Le Chant had undergone a massive improvement, didn’t mean that the ‘review’ wasn’t published. Published it was, and definitely to the detriment of our business, not to mention our feelings.
In subsequent years, we’ve put up with allsorts of comments from people. In the early days, the main one we laughed off was “How does a lad from Doncaster get to own all this then?” Well, I’ll tell you. By being absolutely convinced that we could handle the HUGE French mortgage, and by having confidence in our ability to graft like navvies in order to pay off said mortgage. Not only that, but also by being brave enough to sell up everything we owned in the UK to try and make a better life for our family here. Many people wish they had the same courage of conviction that we had in 2005. Another comment we’ve had is “It’s like camping in someone’s garden.” This is true. It is exactly that. But, it’s a very lovely, large, FRENCH garden. This has been said to us both in a kind, complimentary way as well as in a derogatory fashion, implying that we weren’t a ‘proper’ campsite. Well, we are. With the registrations and insurances to prove it.
We’ve suffered the idiocy of people ‘reviewing’ our pets. The fact that our two cats catch birds was the subject of one reviewers ire. What the hell is wrong with some people?
We’ve had to put up with guests’ children scratching their names into our pool table with their cheap little penknives. We’ve watched them chasing our chickens around until they squawked in protest. Our pets have had to endure being poked and prodded as they snoozed in the sun, or had their heads battered with a table tennis bat.
I’ve had to restrain myself on more than one occasion, gritting my teeth as I’ve watched someone’s little darling ripping said table tennis bats to shreds, or fighting siblings with the pool cues. I’ve also lost count of the times I’ve been told that the pool table hasn’t released all of the balls. Usually due to the amount of gravel clogging up the mechanisms. Usually carefully placed there by small children, roaming freely around the place, as it’s “just so safe here.”
Yes. We provide a safe environment. Yes, we keep the site gates closed all the time, and yes, it’s fully fenced all around. But that’s not an invitation for people to absolve themselves of all responsibility for their offspring. While you’re ‘relaxing’ after your long drive from the UK/Germany/Belgium/insert lieu of choice, YOUR kids are releasing their hours of frustration at being kept cooped up in a car watching re-runs of Thomas The Tank Engine on the in-car DVD system!
Very rarely do we say anything. Instead, we ‘take it on the chin’. Perhaps moaning to ourselves in the privacy of our own house that we need (yet again) to take a trip into Saumur to find/buy replacements for this that AND the other.
Oh, talking of privacy – the number of times we’ve had people walk through our own patio area in order to get from one gite to another, shared by extended family is astounding. Despite what we might ask in various ways, that we be left alone from time to time to just be ‘us’, people still have so little respect.
So, why the rant, you may well be asking? Actually, it’s a case of one thought train leading to another. We’ve had a couple of reviews in lately. One was extremely bad in that again, we felt we’d been treated very, very badly by the guy responsible for it. It’s all very well, the internet giving everyone a voice, but some people should have their voiceboxes surgically removed if all that springs from it are lies. We’ve spent an inordinate amount of cash ensuring we provide things to do on site here. For what? To have it ruined by a few small kids whos parents are happy to let them, as long as THEY get the holiday THEY want? Why bother to write the most lovely comments in our guest book, only to do a complete about turn once you’re away from here and in the safety of your own keyboard?
The other review actually said in far less words, and in such a way as to make it perfectly clear what we’re about, exactly why we take it so personally, this ‘job’ of ours. It said:
Stu and Syb’s unobtrusive hard work behind the scenes ensures you enjoy your holiday, from the generous welcome pack to the care for their environment is obvious.
This is essentially their home and garden which they open for you to enjoy, treat it with respect and appreciation in the hope that their commitment and enthusiasm will be sustained so you can come and enjoy it again and again. We will!
I guess you could say that our commitment and enthusiasm has just been reborn.
Thankyou all for your continued support in what’s been a very long, very tiring but ultimately successful season for us. Here’s hoping your first visit won’t be your last. Except in one or two cases, and you know who you are!
Another brilliant read! I was whingeing on Facebook the other day that we hadn’t had a blog post from here in a while. Good to read a nice meaty one too! Off to post a linkeroonie now.
Elle xx
Cheers, Elle! It isn’t often that I post with direct reference to what we do. But, I guess I wanted to draw people’s attention to the fact that we’re human too?
I guess not everyone will see it that way, preferring to believe I’m just a miserable old fart. C’est la vie, as they say ’round ‘ere!
Stu – all of us feel like that on occasion (even though we are off site) but most of us don’t express it so well. I think that last comment shows how hard you work and it must be lovely to see that it really is appreciated by some. We’ve just had one of the other type last week so my bile levels are quite high just now
It’s not a god job for the blood pressure is it 
Cheers John. It’s difficult at times for us to get our heads around why we do this. Some have said in the very recent past that we’re only in it for the money – I can categorically say that if that were true, we’d be doing something else! I came from a well-paid job with great benefits to do this. If I’d have wanted shedloads of cash, I’d have been better off staying where I was. Still, it’s extremely gratifying when we do get people (the vast majority, it has to be said) that do appreciate what we’ve provided here. I’m sure that’s a prime motivation for you too.
Stu
Don’t let the Custards (Customer/Bastards) get you down.
We only tend to remember the complainers at our Gite…
But we’ve had loads of great guests who’ve become really good friends!
I’m thinking of forewarning future guests/custards that…
a). In the summer, the farmers do harvest their product – sometimes they work until late at night – that’s what farmers do!
b). Yes, you might see a mouse every once in a while – our cats can’t catch them all – you do occasionally get mice in the countryside!
c). I’m sorry that it’s raining and, no, I’can’t give you a refund – it does rain from time to time in Brittany!
Or perhaps we’ll only let the gite to people who’ve stayed here before and understand all that stuff and are prepared to spend their summer holidays enjoying themselves rather than complaining?
All the best
Keith
P.S. There ought to be some sort of club where Gite owners could get together in private and chuck darts at pictures of their favourite custards!
LOL! Cheers Keith! I’ll remember that – ‘custards’.
If ever such a club does open its doors, I’ll be an honorary member for sure!
Stu,
I’m glad to see that you’ve made it through another season with your sense of humour relatively in tact. Hope you’re both feeling better after the recent bad review. Everyone that I spoke to this year ( and on previous years) only had good things to say about you, Syb and the site. I wish you could have been a fly on the wall at some of the evening meals to hear some of the lovely comments that were made, but you were off doing the washing up!
Let’s hope you don’t get too many more Custards.
See you next year.
Laura
Cheers Laura. You know only too well what it’s like sometimes for us, and it’s lovely to know that you’ll be back next summer! Thanks for all your support, and here’s to the next time!
Good gracious! Cats catch birds? I would never have believed it. Next time perhaps we could arrange for Digger to give a demonstartion of catching snakes; that’s far more entertaining especially when he drops them onto your lap….
Now, that’s something I’d like to see!
Australian Cattle Dogs have a pathological hatred of snakes. They’re half Dingo and that may account for it. My mate had his dog bring him back a King Brown and dropped it on his chest while he was still in bed
I would die. No questions.
At least now you have a huge weight of good reviews so this recent bad one should just be ignored by any sensible prospective guest.
Hi Susan. Yes, we do. Still, there are always those that see stuff and believe it as it’s on the internet! I have no qualms about receiving criticism about the services and surroundings we provide, but I can’t fight against blatant lies.
The fact that it is your garden is one of the best things about staying here. It’s never felt like ‘not a proper camp site’. I haven’t camped (but my daughter has- she recommended you to us), I’ve ‘gited’, and, yes, the gite isn’t seperate from your garden either. But I do like to see you coming and going, and trained myself to leave you alone sometimes. Plus the fact that Bracken can smell cheese from the other side of the site, and that Splodge comes in, climbs up on us and slobbers love all over us- I like that- but they are both mentioned on the website, and if you don’t like family pets, go and stay in a place that hasn’t got them.
Keep doing what you’re doing, remember the story I told you about the place we will NEVER go back to, and remember you get a lot of repeat business, you’ve had us again, and will again.
Best regards,
Phil Deacon.
Thanks for that Phil. We do appreciate you being here, (and you coming back), very much. Sometimes, it’s what keeps us doing what we’re doing.
Keep doing what you both do, it’s what makes your home unique and we are great full that we have been part of it the last 5 years. We have had the privilege to see Le Chant, blossom into what it is today. The pets, the wildlife, your garden is what makes this place special for us. It is 450 miles one way just to visit Le Chant and every mile is worth the time taken to get to one of France’s paradise hot spots.
You could always tell us not to come, as I hope we don’t whinge too much, or should I say praise to much.
DRP
Cheers Dave. As I’ve said to you and your lovely missus often enough – it’s your support (and many others like you) of what we do that keeps us going. Thanks again, and here’s to the next time!
If you read the review again that mentions the cats…you will see I said that ” I know cats do this and that it’s difficult to stop them”. But suggested maybe a bell on their collars might give a warning. I don’t think that’s a such a bad thing to say.
Hi Janice, and thanks for commenting. Here’s your review, in full, to remind us both of what you said:
Now, your review actually started off in a lovely vein. You said it was a “Nice site”. You mentioned that you enjoyed the sound of people having fun, that the area is lovely and great for cycling etc. Then you went off on a bit of a rant about our pets, even though you know (because you say you know) that there’s nothing much we can do about it. We did actually take on board what you said about the bells on collars. Neither cat was happy about this, and shed the collars shorthly after fitting. So, we tried again with the same result. We do take criticisms on board and we do try (where possible and practicable) to act on suggestions. But, what upset Syb & I, and we stand by this, is that you mentioned nothing of this while you were here. Instead, you waited until you were back home and then posted a pretty awful review of our place. You marked us down on value, location (even though you say the area was lovely), check_in, cleanliness and service. Why? As we remember, you were welcomed in the same way we welcome everyone else and yet you mentioned nothing to us whilst you were here about value for money, cleanliness, service etc. we honestly do believe you very unfairly gave us a ‘poor’ review simply because of the cats, and their hunting, something totally outside our control. Do you have any idea what effect that may have had on our business, never mind the effect it had on us, given you said nothing to us while you had the chance, but chose the anonymity of the internet to make your mark instead.
That’s what we find hard to accept, given how well you were treated, and the welcome you received whilst you were here.
@ Janice – No, it wasn’t a bad thing to say and I’ll freely admit that I certainly didn’t intend to cause offence
This is the trouble with t’internet what one might say face to face with another may become misconstrued on the www
The RSPB, of whom I’m not a particular fan, will freely admit that the biggest danger to birds are domestic cats. The Australian Government has a similar problem with relation to the indigenous wildlife of Australia.
What the answer is I’m jiggered if I know. I have a cat at present who is a total killer, Wood Pigeons being his favourite. He even brings the surplus back for the dog who consumes them feathers, feet, the lot.
I have tried the bells on a collar idea. I got Duncan Cat a new one every day for 8 days and then gave up as it was becoming expensive. The collars are elasticated so that the cat doesn’t get hung up i the undergrowth.
I didn’t say ” I know that there’s nothing you can do about it” I said” Now I know cats do this and it’s difficult to stop them”. Also this was in 2008.. a lot of things have changed at your site since then…you have made loads of improvements and it does look lovely.
We moved on to a site close to Saumur after we left you…and to us ..at that time it did seem better value. Probably would be different now though.
Reading the posts on here though..it’s not very nice to say about “custards” as it’s quite clear what it means . Also on Facebook…not you but one of your clients saying “***k em, I hope they get the disease” just because some people don’t always see things the same way and just might dare to say so.
I wasn’t going to reply to this…but seeing what one of your clients said on Facebook made me angry.
If I can see that and also what’s on here regarding “Custards” just think what your past and future guests can see.
Hello again Janice, and thanks again for taking the time to comment. As you’re probably well aware, I have the final say-so over what gets published here. I chose to publish your second comment in the interests of fairness to you. Yes, you’re right – it was 2008 that you wrote your review. Now, your review actually said we were ‘poor’. Out of 41 reviews, there are only two that review us as ‘poor’. The other is pure fabrication and lies. We can’t change that on TA – it falls within their ‘guidelines’ unfortunately. More unfortunately for us, we don’t have the kind of money to take TA (and the lying shit that wrote the ‘review’) to court. You, just like everyone else who visits Le Chant got 5-star treatment, we will go far beyond the extra mile to ensure our guests are happy. I think you experienced that whilst here. To then review us as ‘poor’ because our cats hunted, we believe was unfair.
There’s another side to this. The review you left undoubtedly had a knock-on effect for our business. Did you for a minute stop to think about that? Also, it’s not widely known that once you’ve been ‘reviewed’ on TripAdvisor, you’re there for life! The only way you can get off that particular merry-go-round is to close your business. Something we’re not prepared to do. So, we’re left with the ‘Management Response’ on TA. This in itself is a trial. TA have their in-house team that will look at our response, and let us know whether it meets their ‘criteria’. All well and good. Except when we’re faced with something that’s personal and on the point of libellous. We can’t respond in a personal way. That is to say, we can’t say that they’re lying, though they can write what the hell they like about us. The protection is all on the side of TA, and their ‘reviewers’. It’s grossly unfair, and is the subject of much discussion on their owner forums.
So, using the only recourse oên to us, we responded to your critique in a professional manner, hoping that you’d actually see that we have NO control over our cats, and that it was a little OTT to say that they were “hunting all day, killing the birds and anything else that moved then munching them in front of us or just leaving them lying about.” You didn’t mention any of this to Syb or I during your stay. If you had, we would have explained to you that we’d tried the collars and they didn’t work. We would have told you (but you would already have been aware) that we keep them in overnight. Every night.
Anyhow, Let’s run though your review. You gave us 2/5 for value, yet you knew exactly what our charges were, and what we offered before you came to visit. You gave us 3/5 for location. Did you not check where we were before you visited? Did you not read that we were in a rural area, surrounded by countryside, but a short drive from many of the attractions the Loire has to offer? Then again, as we remember, you hardly left site, so the location couldn’t have been that bad, could it? You offered 3/5 for check-in/front desk. Why? What was so lacking in the help you received? The welcome you got? You gave us 3/5 for cleanliness. Again, we strive to offer a clean and safe environment for all our guests. What was so dirty it merited that? There are mops, squeegees and brushes left for you as a guest to clean up after yourselves in the shower block. Few do though. You gave us 3/5 for service. I’m truly baffled by your review. You received excellent service from both my wife & I at all times while you were here.
Quite apart from anything else, this ‘blog is personal. It’s mine. It’s about what I feel and think. What I felt and thought about your review was upset, disillusioned, confused and above all – sad. Sad that we’d had a guest that went away with a less than positive experience. Sad that our pets had been the cause of your disappointment, but sadder still that you didn’t take the time to chat to us about it.
Regarding facebook. You’re right of course about the comment and I’ve deleted it. The person that made the comment has been communicating with me for far longer than I care to remember (longer than we’ve been in France, actually) and has indeed got a (justified) bee in his bonnet about ukcampsite. He doesn’t have a bee in his bonnet about you, nor any of the other reviewers. It wasn’t about you.
The comment made here about ‘custards’ is again written by someone who also gives more than he’s asked for in the interests of people and their hard won holidays. This comment wasn’t aimed at you. It was actually aimed at the people who submitted lies dressed as a ‘review’, so please don’t feel umbraged at his comment. That said, his view is just as valid as yours is and again, I chose to include it here because this is MY ‘blog. MY personal space where I can sometimes let off a bit of steam. I also try when I can to entertain and inform. It’s just like the TV. If you don’t like what you’re seeing, switch off and read a book instead.
You say you read a comment on my facebook page and it made you ‘angry’. There’s a couple of things here. One, given that you’re not exactly a fan of our place judging by the review you left for us, why would you be looking at our facebook page? Two – ‘angry’ is pretty much how we felt after your review. Welcome to our world!
Stu, Syb and family. It’s great to see that you are doing well, but not surprising as you are a great fella. How these people can criticise over ridiculous points bemuses me, the sad Custards. Get the guitar out and Floyd them to death
Long time no see mate, best wishes, Tom (Gemineye) Liverpool.
Hi Tom! Long time no see indeed! Hope you’re doing well fella? Thanks for the thumbs up for our place, hope to see you here for a catch up and a reprise of ‘I Want My Duvet’ sometime?
Hi Stu and Syb
We have just spent a few days at your campsite on route to the channel tunnel.
We had had to leave our van in Spain and fly back because of a bereavement and were returning to the uk after collecting it. Your site was one of a few open in March and we found it by chance. How lucky were we ? It is a beauiful site in just the right location. Even in February we could see how idylic it would be in summer. The welcome you gave us was fantastic and the tranquility gave us a few days to come to terms with our bereavement before returning to UK . I read that you are upset about the lies told in some reviews. Have you ever thought that the green eyed monster may be at work? Isn’t it many people’s dream to have what you have ? It is your dream but it doesn’t come without all your hard work so forget the ‘wingers and moaners’ , remember all the satisfied and delighted guests which far outnumber them and enjoy your bit of heaven.
Hi both. Thanks so much for the very kind words. It was a pleasure to have you here with us for a short stay. We do try to offer people what we ourselves would have loved to have had whilsy holidaying in France. Sometimes it’s hard as not everyone ‘gets us’, or what we offer. Still, it’s messages such as this, and the lovely reviews we have on TripAdvisor, and UKCampsites.co.uk that keep us going!
Thanks again, give our best to mum and here’s hoping to see you here in better circumstances sometime!