Tag Archives: owner

French House Party, Carcassonne – How it Began By Owner Moira Martingale

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By Margaret Graham with news of an exciting offer exclusive to Frost readers.

** A very special offer for Frost readers:  sign up for the House Party Creative Writing Retreat in June at this great venue, and  save £150. Just email Moira Martingale quoting the code: ‘Frost’. This is a rare opportunity to find time to finish that manuscript or short story in the company of others. A professional will be on hand to help when needed. There will be great food, wine, a swimming pool, sunshine… Read more to find out the where, what and why. 

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale1

‘So,’ owner Moira Martingale ponders, ‘where did the idea of French House Party come from in the first place?’

One sultry August evening, sitting around the table in Carcassonne with friends, it turned out that all of us had read Yann Martel‘s Booker-winning ‘Life of Pi’ and everyone had a view about it. The book-talk went on for ages, punctuated only by the uncorking of further bottles of the lovely local wines from this region of southern France, which is Languedoc-Roussillon.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale2

We were all arty folk: a successful ceramicist, an early-retired theatre director, teachers, artists and writers, one of the latter being myself.  A journalist-turned-author, I also had a teaching qualification and a doctorate in English literature.

Suddenly it dawned on me: why not set up holiday courses for people to come and do precisely what we were doing: discussing books with each other during a holiday in the sun with lovely food and wine laid on.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale3

At that time there were five en suite bedrooms in this 200-year-old farmhouse, so in theory there was room for ten people. My friends were all skilled and enthusiastic artists and within minutes I had my Ceramics, Arts and Creative Writing tutors with a planned Books and Drama course run jointly by myself and my theatre director friend, Chris. It was as easy as that.

Or was it? Marketing? Promotion? Advertising? Annual accounts? Business plans? What did I know about forecasts and profits and losses? I found I knew nothing the moment the website went up. Because NOTHING happened. The enquiries@frenchhouseparty mailbox  was empty.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale4

Slowly I learned, and things picked up. My break-even point was five people per course and at six I was in profit, although I was clearly in no danger of being named in the Sunday Times Rich List.  Frequently we had three or four people booked onto a course and I still ran it. Ruthless businesswoman I was not.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale5

Eventually I made all the arts courses groups-only, other than Sarah Hymas’s Creative Writing, which was regularly over-subscribed. In 2009 I extended the house to eight bedrooms. Things were cooking, literally, because French House Party offered additional courses which individuals could join – various cookery breaks tutored by first-class French chefs and our Summer Songwriting course run by the respected singer-songwriter and 1970s/80s chart-topper Dean Friedman.

Along with Creative Writing, these remain the most popular, and are effortlessly filled year after year. Other arts courses continue to operate and the demand is, in fact, increasing, but now these are on a groups-only or privately-booked tailor-made basis.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale6

Dedicated writers have an additional option now. Sarah Hymas, who is a professional mentor at her publishing company, is for the first time, offering a Writing Retreat for authors whose work is either complete or in progress.  There will be no formal lessons, but individual one-to-one sessions for manuscript inspection, advice, help and ideas-input from someone with a pedigree in such expertise and who is fearless when it comes to sharing it.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale7

This course – ‘Pen & Think’ starts on 15 June and ends on 20 June. The all-inclusive price is £895. As with all our courses, we provide free airport transfers and include extras such as a couple of dinners, including wine, out at lovely restaurants. (See  our French house Party offer above)

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale8

In the years since that first inspirational nudge from ‘Life of Pi’, French House Party has been named one of the top ten learning retreats in a National Geographic book ‘The 100 Best Worldwide Vacations to Enrich Your Life’ and we have a Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor, reflecting customer satisfaction. This year the Daily Telegraph named us as one of the top ten cookery holidays in France.

French House Party, Carcassonne – how it began By owner Moira Martingale9

You see, it might have taken eight years, but finally I’m starting to sound like a businesswoman, aren’t I?

Moira Martingale

The French House Party, Carcassonne.

Email: enquiries@frenchhouseparty.co.uk    or    moiramartingale@me.com

Website: www.frenchhouseparty.eu

UK Mobile: 07900 322791

UK Landline:  01299 896819

 

 

11 People Who Became Successful Later In Life

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This is part two of my Famous People Who Became Successful Later In Life article. The first one was hugely popular and many people asked for a follow-up. I got so many amazing comments on it and found it very inspiring. So here is it! If I have missed out any people who became successful later in life then let me know, I can always do part three. There is more business people in this one as that was requested. I will be doing a separate one on actors who became successful later in life.

Ray_Kroc

The founder of McDonald’s, Ray Kroc, was selling paper cups and milkshake mixers at 52-years-old.

AndreaBocelliMar10

Andrea Bocelli worked as a piano player in bars until he was 33-years-old

ang lee

Ang Lee was a househusband until he was 31.

Amancio_Ortega

Zara founder Amancio Ortega worked in a shirt shop until he was 30.

Sheldon Adelson,

Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas Sands founder sold shampoo and windshield defroster into his 30s.

J._K._Rowling_2010

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was a single mother on welfare until she was 31.

Suze Orman

Suze Orman wasn’t always a financial guru, until she was 30 she was a waitress.

Mark Cuban

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban owned a bar and worked in it until he was 25.

Colonel_Harland_Sanders_in_character

KFC Founder Colonel Sanders was washed up and broke at 65. He got fired from a dozen jobs but fought his way back and started franchising his business and never looked back. There are now 18,875 outlets in 118 countries. 

 

Manoj_Bhargava

Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of 5-hour Energy Manoj Bhargava was a taxi driver and a monk until he was 30.

Marykay1

Mary Kay founder, Mary Kay Ash, sold books and home goods door-to-door until she was 45.

 

 What do you think?

 

 

Awesome Cat Won’t Let Owner Play Metal Music

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They say everyone is a critic and this cat certainly has an opinion. This was one of the cutest, most awesome, videos we saw this week. Check it out.

What did you think?

The Future of Meat

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TOAST Presents:
The Future of Meat
5th April
Hawksmoor Guildhall

The team behind TOAST are back and this time they’re delving into the meatiest of subjects.
From what you read in the papers, carnivores of the future will dine on horsemeat burgers, grasshopper canapés, and mince grown in petri dishes. But sensational headlines aside, what is the future of meat?

thefutureofmeatTOAST have partnered with Hawksmoor and The Ginger Pig to bring together three experts on the topic: Hawksmoor executive chef Richard Turner, The Ginger Pig owner Tim Wilson, and Philip Lymbery, CEO of charity Compassion in World Farming and author of Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat. The panel will share their perspectives on the UK’s current relationship with meat, what a healthy, sustainable supply chain could look like, and what we’ll really be eating 100 years from now.

In association with The Ginger Pig and taking place at city steak-institution Hawksmoor Guildhall on Saturday 5th April, the event will not only bring together some of the meatiest minds in the business, but a bevy of delicious brunch dishes and an expertly blended Bloody Mary or two.

Kicking off at 11.30am, guests will enjoy that most stirring of brunch cocktails before cracking on with a debate led by three men who know a thing or two about meat.

First up, The Ginger Pig owner Tim Wilson, one of the most respected meat producers in Britain. Having won countless accolades, including Best Food Producer in the Observer Food Awards, his opinion promises to be as conscientious as his award-winning produce.

No stranger to the subject himself is Richard Turner, Group Executive Chef of Hawksmoor, who has planned and overseen the kitchens of all five of Hawksmoor’s London outposts, co-authored the Hawksmoor at Home cookbook and worked with Meatopia events, Turner and George butchers and PittCue Co. Stepping out from behind the stoves for this special event, Richard is sure to bring his extensive expertise to the table.

Last but not least is Chief Executive Officer of Compassion in World Farming, Philip Lymbery, whose book Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat was published earlier this year to wide acclaim. Having campaigned ceaselessly for the fair farming of animals since the 90s, Philip’s passionate views promise to set the debate alight.

Once those minds have been given a vigorous workout, guests will enjoy a sharing-style brunch cooked by the team at Hawksmoor Guildhall (using produce from The Ginger Pig of course!). Turning the concept of the Full English on its head, the spread will attempt to show how meat can be used sparingly to create a sumptuous feast. Dynamic yet delicious dishes will include pig cheek scrapple with grits, short-rib bubble and squeak, homemade baked beans, fried eggs, black pudding, hash browns and piles of toast with plenty of butter.

On sale now at http://www.eatdrinktoast.com/events tickets cost £40 and will include a Bloody Mary on arrival, the ‘The Future of Meat’ debate and brunch.