I know many of you are getting a touch bored with this subject but I do ask you to take 5 minutes to read through the attached document, especially if you are due to visit us over the remainder of the season as it will directly effect you !!
Our first guests of the season are arriving on Saturday the 4th of July and all bookings thereafter are expected to go ahead as planned. BUT, yes as usual there is a BUT and this time it is a big one, in order to open we are obliged to conform with all manner of procedures in order to maintain everyone’s safety from this terrible disease.
A copy of this document will be forward directly to each group prior to arrival and all guests will be expected to sign a copy on arrival to confirm that they are fully aware of our procedures and agree to them. This will also double up as the “Record of Visitors” which we are obliged to maintain in the event of any future track and trace action being required.
Please read the following:
COVID-19 Restrictions and Rules from 04 July 2020
General
If we wish to re-open on the 4th of July, we have to comply with all manner of guidelines in order that we can operate COVID-Safe. The vast majority of revised procedures are based around hygiene, social distancing, and common sense, you will notice very little change as most of the additional cleaning will be conducted while we are closed.
Please remember that we are not being anti-social but simply being safe. We do not want to catch this disease from you and we would hate to think that we are responsible for giving it to you.
Please also be very aware that if anyone is taken ill whilst here we are obliged to report such an incident to the authorities, exactly what their reaction is going to be is unclear but it could well involve compulsory isolation at a place of their choosing for a duration of their choosing.
I cannot think of anything safer than spending a week here at Le Moulin enjoying some very relaxing fishing and if we all conform to the following rules then you, and we, will continue to be safe.
Opening Hours
One simple rule is that we cannot permit any group on to the property before we have completely finished the cleaning required due to the previous group.
The concept of arriving early and taking a walk around the lake while you wait for facilities to be readied is now not an option. All lake-side facilities such as the cabins, etc, are now subject to a deep-clean and disinfection before you can go near them.
To this end the gate will now be closed from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays. The extra 2 hours is required in order for us to complete our cleaning tasks and to ensure that everything is ready and safe for your arrival.
When you arrive at the gate if it is closed do not come in, please either take yourselves off to do a bit of shopping and return later or simply park-up and wait.
As soon as Helen and I have completed our tasks I will pop up and open the gate as early as I can.
If you arrive and find the gate open please drive down to the house as usual and park up on the car-park.
At the end of your holiday your latest departure time remains 10am on Saturday morning.
Hygiene
Soap and hot water is provided in the Gite in order that you can wash your hands, please note that if you prefer to use hand sanitiser gel then you will have to provide your own as we cannot guarantee a supply.
Face masks are not obligatory around Le Moulin but if you wish to wear them please feel free to do so but you will have to supply your own. You may be expected to wear them in certain circumstances when out shopping, sightseeing, etc. So please ensure that you have a supply in your car.
Arrival
As much as Helen and I love to see you all please remember that there is no kissing and no hand-shaking, social distancing is still an absolute requirement in France and is a minimum of 1 metre.
Guided tours of the facilities will only be provided to groups who have never been before. Helen has extended the information provided in the Gite to include operating instructions for the new cooker and hob, etc.
I will provide a guided tour of the lake to anyone who has not been before but to our regular guests I ask that you take yourself for a walk around the lake before you decide which swim you would like to use to start your session.
Trailer Service
I will bring the quad and trailer to your car whereupon you will be expected to load it with your fishing kit. I will then drive the equipment to your chosen swim whereupon you will be expected to unload it.
The reverse of this process will be applicable for the return of your kit from the lake back to your car at the end of your session.
The trailer service is still available to move you from swim to swim throughout your session should you require it. Please remember that this service is subject to agreeing a time between you and me. The same loading/unloading process will still be applied.
Bed-chairs
Bed-chairs are a particular area of concern and are considered to be HIGH-RISK, they will not be routinely available in each and every cabin as they have traditionally been.
If possible, please bring your own bed-chair and chair.
If not possible, then one bed-chair and one chair will be provided per person but you will be expected to use the one set for the duration of your stay.
Bed-chairs and chairs will be removed from the cabins at the end of each session and taken back to the barn for disinfection and air-drying, before being used again.
Sleeping bags
Sleeping bags will no longer be available to hire, if you need one please bring your own.
The cost of cleaning sleeping bags is now cost-prohibitive, you can now buy one and throw it away at the end of your session cheaper than you can rent one from me and pay to have it cleaned.
Thermal bed-chair blankets
Thermal blankets are still available as a part of the all-inclusive package and will be subject to disinfection and air-drying between each and every use.
However, please note that you will have to use the one blanket for the duration of your stay.
Cabins and kit
The inside of the log cabins and the equipment therein will all be subject to a complete disinfection spraying and then locked prior to your arrival, once you have decided which swim you wish to use the appropriate cabin/s will be opened and the equipment issued.
Please do not use or enter any cabin unless you intend to fish from it.
If you know in advance which swim you wish to start your session from then please let me know and I will ensure that that swim is prepared for you before arrival.
For those who like to double up on cradles, landing nets, etc, please let me know in advance and I will ensure that multiple sets of equipment are available at your chosen swim.
If for any reason you do, inadvertently, enter or use a cabin please then leave the cabin doors hooked open so that I am aware and that the cabin in question can be disinfected before the next group use it.
Departure Day – Cabins
Once your session is complete please apply the following action to equipment and cabin:
Sweep out cabin and ensure that it is in a clean and tidy state.
Both doors to be left open and secured in position by means of the hooks provided.
All rental equipment to be dismantled, wiped clean and ready for collection.
Bed-chairs and chairs are dry, swept clean of grass, etc, and are folded ready for collection.
Tables to be wiped clean.
Cradles to be swilled out, emptied, and left outside on their side to drain and air-dry.
Landing nets to be left fully assembled and left outside lent against the cabin to drain and air-dry.
Tripods to be left outside, securely standing and fully opened.
Scales to be wiped clean and left hanging from the tripod.
Weigh-slings to be swilled out and left hanging from the scales on the tripod.
All buckets to be bait free, washed out with lake water, and stacked outside ready for collection.
All recyclable waste to be left in the basket provided. All food containers are to be swilled out before being placed in the basket.
All non-recyclable waste to be left in the bag provided inside the dustbin provided. Please do not mix recyclable waste with the non-recyclable waste.
The ground area of your swim is to be left bait-free, and litter-free. Please ensure that you have a good clean up prior to departure.
Departure Day – Gite
The Gite is obviously our main area of concern and will be subject to a thorough clean in between each group.
However, Helen is obliged to wash every item of cutlery, crockery, etc, every Saturday, after every group, on a just-in-case basis. In order to reduce this element of cleaning to a minimum and speed up the handover process Helen will only equip the Gite with sufficient pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, etc, to meet the size of your group. I.E. a group of 2 will be provided with 2 of everything, a group of 3 with 3, and so on.
If at any time during your stay you find the need for an extra item/s please talk with Helen and I am sure that she will sort you out.
On the morning of departure please apply the following action to the Gite:
Sweep the floor and leave it in a generally clean and tidy state.
All pots, pans, cutlery, crockery, glassware, etc, to be washed.
All surfaces in the kitchen and the shower room to be sprayed with multi-surface cleaner and wiped clean.
All bed-sheets, pillow-cases, bath-towels, hand-towels, and tea-towels, to be placed inside the laundry bag which will be provided.
All recyclable waste to be placed in the baskets provided in the barn, all food containers are to be swilled out before being placed in the baskets.
All non-recyclable waste to be placed in the black bag in the waste bin in the Gite. Please do not mix recyclable material with the non-recyclable waste.
Swimming Pool and Patio Area
Please feel free to continue to use the swimming pool and patio area but be aware that I have increased the volume of chlorine in the water, only by 10% but I am erring on the edge of being safe rather than unsafe.
If you do use the sun lounger cushions please also place a bath towel on them before you use them.
After use please ensure that the cushions are air-dried fully before you put them back in to the Garden Box.
The Gym
The Gym remains available for your use but please remember this is a private gym and there is no 3rd party insurance, you use it at your own risk.
All equipment is to be sprayed with multi-surface cleaner and wiped over after each use.
The Gym is not to be used after a Friday afternoon thereby allowing all kit to air-dry before use by a subsequent group.
In Summary
Most of you keep our facilities in such a clean condition that you will not notice any change, for that we thank you all very much indeed.
The most notable difference is the 2-hour delay to your arrival time, for that we apologise, but we do live in a strange time and this is an unfortunate consequence of that.
In order to maintain a COVID-Safe environment this will become a joint effort between you and your group, the group here before you, the group arriving after you, and me and Helen.
If we all work together this will be the safest place in France.
If you are unsure about any aspect relating to our COVID-19 procedures please do not hesitate to contact us directly.
If you feel that you do not wish to conform to these requirements or you feel that they are overly restrictive and will adversely affect your holiday please feel free to cancel and a refund will be provided.
Other than the above Helen and I hope that you have a great holiday with some spectacular fishing.
