Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Filipino Community living in Brittany and France

With 2013 coming to an end we would like to wish the Filipino community living in Brittany and France all the best for the new year and hope that 2014 brings happiness and good times for all.

Manigong Bagong Taon  2014 sa mga kababayan Ko sa France.

Naomi and I hope to meet Filipino's living in France to make new friends and share the Filipino culture to close the gap of the 2 countries. So don't be shy please get in touch at: laforge@hotmail.co.uk

Here is a recipe of one of my favorite Filipino dishes that Naomi cooks for me:

How to cook Kalderetang Manok or Chicken Caldereta a wonderful Filipino dish

A wonderful dish

How to cook this great Filipino dish

Kalderata Manok is a Spanish influenced dish that your find being cooked throughout the Philippines and is known as Chicken Calderata.
For my English pallet its a wonderful curry and this is Naomi's version.
Ingredients:
600 gm Chicken fillets cubed
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of mono sodium glutamate
1 Large Onion chopped
cooking oil for frying
1 can of peeled tomatoes
250 ml coconut milk
3 cloves of Garlic
1 tea spoon Hot Chilli and garlic sauce
250 gm cubed potato
125 gm cubed carrot
200 gm Pineapple

Preparation:
Heat cooking oil in a wok and then add the garlic and Onion until brown, then add the potato, carrots, salt,Mono sodium glutamate and chicken, add a little water, stir and simmer for 10 min.
Then add the tin of chopped tomatoes and coconut milk, simmer for an additional 20 min then add the pineapple slices and cook for a final 5 min.
Serve with rice and enjoy.
Naomi will be preparing this dish for guest staying at La Forge and La Veille maison, the Brittany holiday cottages with a heated swimming pool based in the Morbihan region of southern Brittany, France.

La Forge Brittany holiday cottage is available to rent all year, where as La Veille Maison is available from the end of May until the start of September.




Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool

Yesterday we returned to the Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool after spending 6 days in the UK with my parents and daughter.

We attempted to shop at Bluewater and Lakeside but found it so busy with post xmas bargain hunters that we did not enjoy the experience, on the positive note it made us realize how lucky we are living at the Brittany holiday cottages La Forge & La Veille Maison.

With the new year looming we would like to thank all our guest who stayed this year at the holiday cottages and look forward to making new friends with guest staying in 2014.

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool and gym

Today at the Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool and gym was chest and triceps day.

I've been back in the gym regularly now for 2 weeks and its lovely to see how quickly my strength returns, I guess that's the major benefit of being drug free, it may take a long time to build the muscle but on the flip side it takes along time to loose it.

As I said this was the end of my second week and during those weeks I've trained each body part on 3 separate occasions. I train using a 3 day split: Day 1: Chest & Triceps, Day 2: Back and Biceps and Day 3: Legs. I have a rest day either at the end of the 3 day cycle or in between depending on how I feel - the one thing I have learnt is that its just as important to have rest days as well as those days in the gym.

During the rest day as I am currently trying to slim down I will go for a 4 mile walk so in reality I'm training every day and a rest day is more a day away from the gym.

At 47 my aim is to compete again before hitting 50, my last show was in 2009 after a 13 year gap between shows and I'm determined to not leave it so long.

I get a buzz when there are teenagers staying at the holiday cottages who get the bug to train while here and I get the chance to show them the ropes, it brings back fond memories of my motivators when I was a teenager. I often say I look forward to hearing that they become a Mr Great Britain or Mr Holland in the future.

La Forge Brittany holiday cottage is available to rent all year, where as La veille maison is available from the end of May until the start of September.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

Just got in from the gym at the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and I guess you could say I'm shattered...lol

Just did 5 sets of squats up to a maximum weight of 130kg for 8 reps. I always do a pyramid system in that my first set is my lightest being 60kg and then increase by an additional 20 kg each set. Today once I hit 120kg I felt jumping up to 140kg would have been to much so I just went the additional 10kg...its better to train safe than try any thing stupid. The one thing I have learnt over the last few years is that injuries take a lot longer to heal once you hit 40 than before, so its just not worth taking the risk.

I was going to do leg extensions and leg curls but felt my legs had had enough, besides nothing comes close to hitting your legs to squats.

I'm surprised that the gym is not used more often by guest staying at La Forge or La Veille maison holiday gites but I guess the majority of people coming to France just wish to chill,relax and enjoy the heated swimming pool.

I might try and advertise the holiday cottages in gymnasiums this coming year to try to coax more fitness enthusiast to stay at the Brittany holiday cottages with private pool and gym.

Brittany holiday cottage with heated pool and gym

Today at the Brittany holiday cottage with heated pool and gym is leg day, over the last 2 weeks I've got back in to doing legs and just completed 5 or 6 sets of squats to get my legs used to the weights again.

Today I'll add 3 sets of leg extensions and 3 sets of leg curls.For a video of me squatting click here.

With a squat rack and a leg extension/leg curl machine its possible to enjoy a great leg workout at the Brittany holiday cottages La Forge and La Veille Maison.




Friday, December 20, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

Last night Naomi and I hit the gym again at the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and trained together doing back and biceps.

We have a lat pull down machine and we started off with 5 sets of ultra wide pull downs to the back of our head. I bought a 60 inch bar that allows really wide pull downs. We then did 4 sets of slightly narrower pull downs to our chest

After that it was biceps and I did barbell curls for 4 sets up to 50 kg while Naomi did 3 sets of dumbbell curls. Still feeling weak on my bicep curls as I've had some time off, still another 20 kgs to add at some point.

30 minutes and we were done - its lovely doing a split routine you just come in hit a couple of body parts and then chill.

I hit the scales this morning and weighed 18st 11lbs so Ive actually gained a pound, not to worried as I feel leaner. We have not walked much over the last week but I have been in the gym on 4 occasions so I guess I've put a bit of muscle back on.

The gym is available for guest staying at either La Forge or La Veille maison the Brittany holiday cottages with private pool and gym.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with heated pool and gym

Yesterday at the Brittany holiday cottage with heated pool and gym was legs day and today I trained chest and triceps.

Within the gym at the holiday cottages is a squat rack that enables me to squat safely and as it was my first leg session in 2 weeks I took it easy just doing 6 sets with the final set at 120 kg for 8 reps, next time I'll do 140 kg. It won't take long to be back up to 160 kg.

Tonight as I was training alone I did not push the bench press hard but just stayed at 100 kg as my maximum weight. I always tell guest staying at the holiday cottages who use the gym that I am always willing to assist to enable safe training or stress if they wish to train alone never try personal best or weights that they are not comfortable with.

Having a gym at the Brittany holiday cottages is a lovely bonus for those who wish to stay in condition while enjoying their holiday in France.


Monday, December 16, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

Just 25 minutes from the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym is the beautiful town of Auray, here is the video taken last Saturday.


The end clip of the restaurant was taken in Baud at the Cheval Blanc one of the most popular restaurants for guest staying at the Brittany cottages La Forge and La Veille Maison.

La Forge is available to rent all year where as La Veille Maison is available from end of May until the start of September.

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool

Just 25 minutes away from the Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool is the beautiful town of Auray. A town which is very popular with guest staying at the holiday cottages / Gites.

From Friday 13th December until Sunday 15th Auray held its Christmas market and Naomi and I popped along to see the market and all the Christmas decorations at night.

The market it self was rather small and mainly sold wine, cheese and sea food but the high light for us was seeing all the Christmas decorations and in particular the stone bridge at the old port illuminated in blue light.




We ended up going in to the bar at the end of the bridge in the above picture to enjoy the warmth and a really nice cup of coffee. It was the first time inside that bar as we have always drank or eaten alfresco and we were both surprised how lovely the bar was.


If you fancy a winter get away why not book La Forge, between 6th January until end of March weeks have been reduced from £299 down to £225. We also offer  a nightly rate for short term stays in addition to a flexible start date.

La Forge Brittany holiday cottage is available to rent all year and with a lovely wood burner and exposed beams through out its a great place to enjoy the winter months.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

This morning at the Brittany holiday cottages with heated swimming pool we were awoken by the sound of a chain saw.

I looked out of the window but could not see any thing as the sound seemed to be coming from the back garden, so I quickly got dressed to investigate.

To my surprise my neighbor had cut up all my logs for me and had already departed. I looked out along the road to see him walking over the bridge of the river Tarun towards his own property and quickly followed to thank him for what he had done.

I have been so lucky at all the properties I've owned in that I have always had really nice neighbors and today really highlighted that point.Without blowing my own trumpet I guess it helps if your a nice person also.

You only have to read the guest reviews to see how much guest have enjoyed the hospitality from Naomi and myself during there holidays at either La Forge or La Veille Maison.

My mantra in life has always been treat others how you wish to be treated yourself and my parents have installed very high values in being honest and true.

I guess that's why Naomi and I get on so well, I may not be religious as she is but I do have a good heart.

As 2013 draws to a close I think back at meeting some really nice guest this year staying at the holiday cottages and look forward to seeing some of them again in 2014 and meeting new families in 2014 enjoying their holidays here in this special part of Brittany.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

Today at the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym was weigh in day and I was pleased to see that I am now 18st 10lbs so that's another 2 lbs lost over the week.

Over the week the walking was reduced only having walked on 3 days for a total of 11 miles but in addition to that were 2 sessions in the gym located at the Brittany holiday cottages.

I'll be training legs today after back and biceps yesterday. Although I have only lost 4lbs over the last 2 weeks I feel so much leaner because Ive been hitting the gym in addition to going for the walks.

I mentioned to Naomi last week that any one can loose weight through diets and cardio and yes the end result is that you become a lot leaner and look trim in clothes but for a lot of people when stripped of, will look thin and weak.....when I have lost the weight I want to look athletic and muscular hence the need to keep up the gym work in addition to every thing else.

The gym at the holiday cottages is equipped with all the basic heavy duty equipment to enable a full body work out.



Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool

We woke up today at the Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool to see the ground covered in frost but with the sun out and clear blue skies the frost slowly melted away.

We have not had any rain now for a couple of weeks and have enjoyed some really beautiful sunny days, most Decembers are very similar, dry, bright but cold. Makes for a lovely time to enjoy the wood burner within La Forge and to enjoy Brittany before Christmas to stock up on wines and foods to take back to England or to enjoy the festive season in France.

La Forge is available to rent all year.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

Yesterday at the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym we got up early to hit a favorite of holiday makers at the cottages by popping down to Auray for its lively Monday market.

We woke up to a very bright day but could not see much around the cottages because we were hemmed in with fog, the ground had a very heavy frost and on the start of out journey just 1 minute from the cottages we were blessed in watching 3 deer leap out in front of the car and disappear back in to the fog on the other side of the road.

Once we reached Auray the fog had lifted and it was a cracking day, absolutely stunning.

Naomi did well being 6 months pregnant with some of the steep hills...good exercise.



After the market we enjoyed a coffee alfresco down beside the old port - all in all a really enjoyable day


La Forge holiday cottage is available to rent all year long, with weeks currently priced at just £225 reduced from £299 from now until the end of March why not get a way for either a short stay or longer stay to enjoy this special part of France. 

(We also offer the holiday cottage on a nightly rate during the low season for short term stays)
  

Monday, December 9, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym


During the winter months at the Brittany holiday cottage with heated pool and gym its time to do all the major clearing up in the garden.

This year at the holiday cottage we cut back a lot of the evergreen trees to create additional play areas in the garden for children to enjoy, to let more light in to the garden and to create additional off road parking.

Only problem is what to do with all the cuttings! Thankfully the local farmer gave his permission to burn all the waste before the fields were re planted after the initial harvest of corn.

The above picture just shows some of what was burnt, more was put on the fire once it had started.


Now all cleared away the garden looks bigger and we have planted an additional 200 daffodil bulbs around the garden to create a bigger spring display on the original 200 bulbs already planted.

The cottages/ Gites should look lovely in the spring ready for the swimming pool to be opened at the start of March.

Guest booking La Forge during April and most of May enjoy the heated swimming pool on a private basis.

La Veille Maison is available to rent from 24th May 2014.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

We woke up today at the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym with sunshine pouring through a gap in the curtains. When we got up I looked through the window of our bedroom in  La Veille Maison to see every thing covered in frost.

Naomi and I decided to wrap up warm and took the dog out again for another 4 mile walk along the river Tarun where we saw the heron within the cow field yet again. I think the heron stays with the cows for protection as we always see it with them.

The weather has been bright and sunny all day at the Brittany holiday gites and would be a fantastic day to pop down to the coast.

La Forge is available to rent all year where as La Veille Maison is available from the end of May until the start of September.

During April and most of May the heated swimming pool is offered on a private basis for guest staying in La Forge holiday cottage. / gite

























Saturday, December 7, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool

The weather today at the Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool is very bright and just right for a country walk.

The holiday cottages are located in the lovely hamlet of kerbourbon surrounded by countryside and is a wonderful base for leisurely walks or rides on a bike.

Many guest staying at La Forge or La Veille Maison bring their own bikes to enjoy the Breton countryside located around the holiday gites.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

One great advantage of the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool is the gym, public gyms in Brittany are not as accessible as in the UK.

The closest public gym is located in Pontivey, so having a gym on site at the Brittany holiday cottages / Gites is a bonus.

Today just for a bit of fun I lifted some weight above my head to see how much I could and found 100 kg relatively easy, I did not push it any further to avoid injury as I was lacking in technique.

Guest staying at La Forge and La Veille Maison are more than welcome to use the gym during their holiday.

Brittany holiday cottage with private swimming pool and gym

Today at the Brittany holiday cottage with private swimming pool and gym its bright and sunny again, so I guess we will be out for a walk again today. We only walked 2 miles yesterday but it all helps.

On the scales this morning I was 18st 12lbs so thats a 2lb loss in the first week which is great, its better not to lose to much weight to fast because there is a tendency to put it back on again.

I must get in the gym also today for a work out.

The gym is available all year for guest staying at the holiday cottages to train.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool

At the Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool we have kept chickens for the last 4 years and its been a great favorite for the children staying at either La Forge or La Veille Maison holiday cottage.

Chickens are very easy to keep, I probably spend about 5 minutes per day and that's it. My daily routine is to give them more food, check they have water, collect the eggs and clean out any droppings within the coup.

As the chicken run is very secure I don't close the door of the coup each night, that way I don't have to get up early in the morning to let the birds out which reduces the effort required to keep them.

When I first got them I did lock them up at night but found it hard to wake up early just to let them out so I stopped doing that and have had no losses.

We now just have 3 chickens in residence compared to last year when we had 4 chickens and 2 very large turkeys and now notice a dramatic reduction in running cost with chicken feed.

With 3 eggs per day its more than enough for us when guest are not in residence and plenty for children to collect during their holidays at the Brittany holiday gites La Forge and La Veille Maison.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym

The Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and gym is located in some wonderful countryside to enable you to enjoy walks or getting about on a bike.

So there has really been no excuses for my inactivity but to be honest over the last year I have gained 2 stone due to the stresses and strains of life emitting from the UK creating a lack of motivation to get of my back side.

This week I've turned a new leaf and Naomi and I have hit the pathways each day with 4 mile walks.

We have also changed our eating habits and stopped buying the ice cream, biscuits and crisps ( basically all the comfort food). We now eat loads of vegetables each day normally with roast chicken as a main meal.

We now normally have porridge for breakfast, then our biggest meal for lunch and then a lighter evening meal of either an omelette or another bowl of porridge.

For snacks it now oranges, apples or a banana.

My weight last Friday was 19 stone, the last time I was this weight was back in 2003, since then I have competed in a natural body building show in 2009 at a competition weight of 14 stone 4lbs.

My aim now over the next 6 months is to drop below 17 stone with a view of competing again in 2015 at a show weight of 12st 7lbs.

I'm not so concerned at the moment about hitting the gym so often my main concern is doing the cardio and training each body part once per week in the gym. Once I'm at 17 stone I'll up the gym workout to training each body part every 5 days.

I'll post once a week my weight and miles walked each week to show my progress.

The great news with living at the Brittany holiday cottage location is that there is the on site gym so its very easy to keep the training up once the motivation kicks in.

Guest staying at either La Forge or La Veille maison have access to the gym during there holiday.


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Brittany holiday cottages with a private pool

With La Veille Maison available to rent from 24th May 2014 both Brittany holiday cottages are available from that date to enjoy a private pool for large bookings.

If you fancy a large family get away why not book both cottages  / gites and enjoy the garden and heated swimming pool on a private basis.

We offer a 5% discount for anyone booking both cottages / gites and can accommodate up to 12 people plus a baby sleeping in a cot.

 La Forge and La Veille Maison offer a great location and setting for a family or friends getaway in France.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Filipino community living in Brittany France

Moving to the Brittany holiday cottage in 2012 we have decided to write this post in the hope of joining the Filipino community living in Brittany, France. We wish to help create a group where we can meet up a few times of the year, make friends and value the Filipino culture.

It would be lovely to speak in our native language and share traditional foods together.

The Philippines has a wonderful culture and we hope to embrace it while living in France.

Please get in touch via: laforge@hotmail.co.uk

Nang akoy lumipat dito sa Brittany Holiday Cottage sa taon 2012 kami nagdisisyong sumolat ng blog dito sa bloggers sa mga Pilipino comonidad na kasalokoyang nakatira sa Brittany France na sa pamamagitan ng intenet search matagpoan ang aming page na makatolong ito sa pagawa ng grupo upang tayoy magkakakilala at magkita-kita minsan sa isang taon para mapanitili natin ang ating kulurang Pilipino.

Ang ganda pag tayoy magkakaisa, magsama-sama at mag usap-usap sa ating sariling wika at mag share sa ating traditional na potaheng/pagkaing Pilipino . Paki Contact ninyo kami sa email address na ito : laforge@hotmail.co.uk

Le passage à la Brittany cottage de vacances en 2012 nous avons décidé d'écrire ce post dans l'espoir les membres de la communauté philippine vivant en Bretagne France lors d'une recherche sur internet pour trouver cette page et leur désir de venir en aide à créer un groupe où nous pouvons rencontrer quelques moments de l'année, se faire des amis et de la valeur la culture philippine.

Il serait agréable de parler dans notre langue maternelle et partager aliments traditionnels ensemble.

Veuillez nous contacter via : laforge@hotmail.co.uk