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Published by Dave Newnham & FiniteSite

Last revised 26/07/03

Chateau des Rotoirs, Gaillon

Gaillon, Normandy (October 90 to December 91)

What a change, only one and a half hours west of Paris, between Vernon and Rouen. This was a Villa that operated as Club Med from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon only. The Chateau was ours to pay with in the midweek evenings and many a party was had by all. The week we were part of Philips who organised works seminars and training, so completely different from anything I had done in Club Med. We had a team of eleven!!, with a CdV Jean Louis Dromas, Gestion, Chef de Bar, Barman, Chef de Restaurant, Reception/Hostess, Chef de Cuisine and two Chefs, Housekeeper and Chef de Maintenance. We had weekend GO's who came for the sports, so we ended up being nearly 20 for weekends. However we had a great time, first with Jean Louis and then afterwards with Magguy Dupont. It was like normal life, mid week evenings spent in Rouen or Paris, as we worked office hours, Monday to Friday. Enjoyed my time there completely. Met Hassan and Pascal de Pedro and Manu Morvant here who became close friends.

Paris then decided to pull an old one from the hat and sent me in January 1992 to the London Office to look after Waterville in Ireland and also Club Med Services. This was to be my job for nearly three years. Waterville was a great resort in the west of County Kerry, only open in the summer.

As for Club Med Services, I was in charge of the training of GO's in London all year round, operating from the Kensington Close Hotel that became my second home. I was brilliantly aided by Justin Coles, who became a good mate and drinking partner

I was fast approaching my fortieth birthday and decided that I wanted to take six months off to go to Australia and Vietnam, so I duly succeeded in gaining a 5 month sabbatical from December 1994. I finally passed my driving test in LlanfairPG !!! and then I was off to Australia in January 95 then onto Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam, before heading back to London in late April 1995

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Smir, Morocco (May to October 1995)

Despite being on a sabbatical, Paris refused to let me have my old job back, so after much negotiations and threats, it was decided to send me back to the villages, so off I went to Smir in northern Morocco. Had to hastily rent out my flat in London, before reacquainting myself with village life. It wasn't as bad as I had feared. Still partied as hard, and it was helpful to count upon the CdV as a mate, which also made for an enjoyable and successful season. Loved Morocco, especially Marakesh. The actual village was a nightmare in terms of room types and architecturally ugly. However a good season if not remarkable. I had decided that now I was back in the field, I would ask for the villages I wanted so asked for my next season to be either Lindeman Island or Mauritius. Stone the Crows I got Mauritius....

Smir Resort

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Mauritius (October 95 to December 1996)

The famous jump venue

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Lindeman Island, Australia (December 96 to April 1998)

This was the posting I had asked for above all, as I wanted a free trip down under and the possibility of staying put in Australia for the foreseeable future. Recuperated first in Sydney for two days before flying up to Hamilton island, then onto Lindeman by a small Cessna. The island is quite stunning, and flying in was a perfect way to see my new home. Jason, Rambo and Miyo were already there, so that was even more welcome. The first CdV was Noboru, who was quite ineffectual but easy going. We worked hard, played hard and generally had a ball. Highlights, apart from the many drunken nights at the Disco and top Pool parties, were the Jazz Fortnight organised by Don Delport, and Cyclone Justin that refused to lay down and die. We actually had waves much to the delights of the surfers amongst our staff.

Lindeman Island, Whitsunday's

Good times always come to an end though and the change of CdV led to a change of team and a descent into sheer horror. The new CdV was an American Kenton Smith, affectionately called Cunton almost from day two......and his arse licking sidekick, Angie. They seemed intent on not enjoying being on Lindeman and succeeded in destroying a good atmosphere enjoyed by staff and guests. However met some good friends like Kiwi Kathrine and Steve the barman, Heidi & Mark, Michele & Dan, Kelly B and Stuart and of course Dorcas & Claire, and close cooperation with Maxine and Don in the Sydney office. I realised my days were numbered so had a good time on a sinking ship before being bailed out by Paris for so called irregularities. Happy to leave, even though it meant I did Australia/London/Australia/London/Paris in less than 5 weeks as I had taken my annual leave. However I had decided to stay in Australia, so welcomed the end of this career in order to go about getting a visa to come back.............. Still have many friends from all those years in the Club, and don't regret one minute of the years spent, countries visited and parties with friends. However I do not miss being with the Club anymore. I had outgrown it, and it had become old and the people in it. Morre's legacy had died in Club Med and it was all the poorer for it

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