Saturday, May 30, 2015

Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool and gym

Yesterday at the Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool and gym was chest and triceps for me in the gym.

After carrying an injury in my right elbow 'tendinitis' for the last 3 months its been good to be able to train, pain free. I've deliberately kept the weights low to allow more recovery time but at the same time start to work the muscles.

It's so frustrating because my goal is to compete again and I know that the only way I'll be able to compete is to have regular exercise which is injury free.

As it was performing Preacher curl that caused the injury, I've swapped the machines around that's available in the gym by removing the preacher bench and replacing it with a multi function bench.

This multi function allows for more exercises to be performed so I'm looking forward to mixing up my workouts some more.

The gym at our Brittany holiday cottage is available for all our guest to use staying at either La Forge or La Veille Maison.

 The above TV interview was a great source for motivation during my twenties and I still enjoy seeing one of the greats Tom Platz excel in this interview.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Our Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool

With the summer closing in fast and people realizing  that they need to book soon or miss out on there preferred holiday cottage we have a list of our final weeks remaining for the swimming pool season:

La Forge:


27th June - 11th July now reduced to £499 per week.19th September - 3rd October with the pool offered on a private basis now reduced to £400 per week.


La Veille Maison:


18th July-1st August now reduced to £1025 per week or book both weeks for £2000.22nd August now reduced to £1075 or book 10 nights for £1500


Enjoying the heated swimming pool at our Brittany holiday cottage

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Brittany holiday cottage with private swimming pool and gym

After spending a few hours yesterday doing some carpentry at the Brittany holiday cottage with private swimming pool and gym - it was time to hit my chest in the gym.

With a niggling injury in my elbow over the last 3 months I have only just restarted training chest and 80 kg felt very heavy - I decided not to push it and just concentrate on doing 12 plus reps for each set.

After 6 sets of flat bench press it was then on to tricep push downs for an additional 5 sets.

Just a quick workout for 30 minutes but came in from the gym feeling better for it.

Its so frustrating at the moment because I wish to compete next year and the only way I will succeed is to be injury free.

The above video was a show back in 1993 where I placed second - I was 11st 5lbs for that show - now 23 years later I would hope in 2016 to come in as lean but weighing around 12 1/2 stone - 13 stone.


The gym at La Forge and La veille Maison is open all year and is available for guest to enjoy.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool and gym

Over the weekend at our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool and gym Naomi and I were back in the garden creating new garden areas.

I removed an old heather bush that was looking a little tired, built up the stone boundary, relocated some Tropicana plants to the area and covered the area in red bark.

The results of our work over the weekend at the Brittany holiday cottage


In addition to this section of the garden we cleared away part of a large tree to expose the ground below,dug over the soil, created a new stone boundary wall and then planted a mixture of wild flower seeds.

We also planted these seeds at the opposite end of the garden within the existing rockery after clearing away all the old growth to start a fresh.

All in all a very constructive weekend and we are looking forward to seeing all the results in a few months time for guest of La Forge and La Veille Maison to enjoy.

Every year I always enjoy the positive comments on how good the garden looks from the guest staying at the holiday cottages which gives me the motivation to make improvements every year.

When I bought the holiday cottages there was a 60 foot plus tree in the middle of the garden that created a lot of shade and around the perimeter of the garden were large conifers that encroached  into the garden.

The conifers have all been reduced in height and all inward branches removed and the large tree removed creating so much more space and light in the garden.

This extra space allowed us to create the children's play area and the removal of the large tree certainly made the swimming pool maintenance so much easier and for the pool to be washed in sunshine from the early morning rather than before from midday on wards.

Children s play area at the Brittany holiday cottage


Sunday, May 17, 2015

Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool and gym

Today at the Brittany holiday cottage with private heated swimming pool and gym Naomi swam another mile in the pool.

She swims a mile 4 or 5 times per week as part of her fitness regime - some days she does 2 miles. In addition to swimming she also works out in the gym 3 times per week on a split routine.

Having a gym at the Brittany holiday cottage is a great bonus for those wishing to keep fit while on holiday in addition to the swimming pool.

The other bonus of La Forge and La Veille maison is the fact that they are located in some stunning countryside ideal for long walks or for guest who bring there bikes.

All in all if you fancy a fitness holiday in France our Brittany holiday cottages make the perfect location.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool

Today we announce some great last minute deals for our Brittany holiday cottage with heated swimming pool.

We have weeks available from 6th June until 11th July in La Forge that have all been reduced.

Book a week from 6th June until 27th June for just £449 having been reduced from £699 or a week from 27th June until 11th July for just £549.

The pool at the Brittany holiday cottage
We still have weeks available during the school summer holiday, we have the following:

1 week starting 8th August in La Forge now reduced down to £999 from £1099

2 weeks starting 18th July in La Veille Maison plus a week starting 22nd August now reduced down to £1075 from £1195

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Brittany holiday cottage with private swimming pool and free weights gym

Yesterday at the Brittany holiday cottage with private pool and free weights gym we took a trip to Lorient where we bought some additional weights for the gym.

I am now sure we can cater 100% for the needs of all natural body builders with the additional weights purchased being able to load the bar bell with 220 kgs.

With my dead lifting coming along nicely now able to rep out on 160 kgs Im sure the 200 kg plus dead lifts will be done this summer - especially as I've just ordered a belt for my back to assist in the bigger lifts. To date i've not used any back support but feel as I wish to compete again next year, no point in going silly and injuring myself.

The free weights gym at the Brittany holiday cottage
 Every year several guest staying at either La Forge or La Veille Maison get to enjoy the gym and we are always on hand to provide advice or support.

Monday, May 11, 2015

Our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool

With a wonderful bright sunny day at our Brittany holiday cottage with private heated pool today, I was back out in the garden planting up all the pots for the front of the cottages with 80 Petunia plants.

We have a total 13 pots and 2 troughs filled with plants to welcome guest to the cottages La Forge and La Veille maison on there arrival.

In addition to the front of the property being filled with flowers the side of the property has had wild flower seeds sown which makes for a spectacular display during the summer months.

In the spring our daffodil and tulips make an appearance to welcome our earlier season guest staying at La Forge

La Forge Brittany holiday cottage
In the summer the garden is filled with sub tropical plants and a variety of flowers.