The Dependance

About the Dependance at La Quinardais

Curtains: There are no curtains, only shutters. Apart from the inserts in the front and back doors all the shutters are electrically operated. There is an “up” button, a “down” button and a “stop” button. You can leave small gaps in the shutter if you want to keep the windows open. When you arrive you will need to remove the shutters inserted in the windows of the front and back doors. These can be stored in the cupboard under the stairs. Please replace them and close all the other shutters when you leave.

Hot Water: The hot war is provided by the immersion heater in the 200 litre water tank. The immersion heater is turned on by a switch on main fuse board under the stairs. It is marked “eau chaud” and is on the top row of the fuse board. To turn the switch on you have to lift the clear plastic flap covering it. Lift the flap and move the bright blue switch to the “on” position when you first arrive. Once the water in the tank has been warmed up move the switch to its middle setting next to the clock sign so that the immersion heater only uses off peak electricity. When you leave please move the immersion heater switch back down to the “off” position.  

If you wish the boiler (situated in the cupboard next to the desk on the first floor) to provide the hot water and not the 200 litre tank then switch the immersion heater off at the fuse board. Then turn on the boiler by pressing the runner select symbol (Tap symbol) on the boiled for 3 seconds.

Heating: The heating is controlled by one thermostat and is permanently on. The thermostat is next to stair cupboard. When you arrive turn it to the temperature you are comfortable with in the living room. (The underfloor heating warms up slowly and cools down even slower so allow time for any adjustments you make to take effect). Please do not turn off the upstairs radiators as this upsets the balance of the heating system.

Before you leave select “10” as the setting on the thermostat.

Downstairs shower room: The light switch to the downstairs shower room is the closest of the three light switches next to the cooker. There is no bolt or lock on the two doors to the shower room but if it is in use it is normal practice to close both the outside and interior doors. The extractor switch is behind the first door but is badly positioned so if you leave the outside door open it swings back and turns the extractor switch off. Closing both doors also has the advantage of advertising you are using the shower room.

N.B. The glass shower door is a bit stiff and you may have to lift it by the handle to open and close it.

Cooker and Kitchen counter: The first switch on the cooker hood is a light switch and this light illuminates the stove and the left hand end of the counter. There are switches for lighting the rest of the counter under the eye level cupboard next to the fridge.

There is a rotisserie fitting for the oven in one of the kitchen drawers.

Dishwasher: The normal dishwasher setting is 5 (or 7 if washing glasses). The button settings are on the inside rim of the dishwasher door.

Sleeping downstairs: If someone is sleeping downstairs on one of the sofas there are shutter infills for the windows in the front and back doors – if they have not been inserted when you arrive, they are kept under the stairs by the fusebox.

Tools and Rubbish bags: There is a toolbox on the top shelf in the kitchen cupboard closest to the fridge or in the cupboard under the stairs. This cupboard is also where the rubbish bags are kept (on the bottom shelf).

You should find a torch on one of the shelves in the cupboard under the stairs.

Washing machine: There is a washer/dryer in the cupboard to the right of the desk on the first floor. There should be instructions in one of the desk drawers.

Ironing Board and Iron: There is a table top ironing board and an iron in the main cupboard under the stairs.

Getting About: There are some road maps in the drawers of the sideboard in the living room.

What’s missing: There is no TV, radio, and mobile telephone reception in the house is poor. However, it is possible to use the internet courtesy of next door, but you will need to request the password. It is also possible to use the internet at the Tourist Office, just off the main square in Dinan, which has two computers that visitors can use for a small charge or they will let you connect your own device to their wi-fi free of charge.

When you leave: Hopefully you will find some tea and coffee in the kitchen cupboards when you arrive. If you do, please leave some for the next guests who arrive.

Please do turn off the hot water using the switch on fuse board under the stairs, select “10” as the “winter” setting on the heating control in the living room, insert the shutters back in the front and back doors, and close all the other shutters electronically.