Travel and Subsistence

There is an illusion amongst some people that this business of ours involves jolly trips to the world’s most glamorous places, staying in top hotels and eating and drinking like Lords. Mostly our “travel and subsistence” is just that, travel and subsistence. Last week Chris Morphet and I alighted in the small Swiss town of St Suplice which nestles on the shores of Lake Geneva near Lausanne (forgive the tour brochure language). In the preceding days to our departure there had been talk about our choice of hotel and whether or not it was a suitable hostelry for a top executive of The Proudfoot Company and his trusty camera wielding aid, Morphet. In the end, budgetary intervention from the production department meant that we stuck with our original booking at the modestly appointed Hotel Pre Fleuri.

Certainly on our arrival in the gloom of a Swiss winter’s afternoon the Pre Fleuri did not look promising – the small, gothic looking hotel’s main building was tightly shuttered, only blue neon signs hinting at the possible luxury within, “Bates Motel” came to mind. At the reception we were greeted by a young man in a matelot sweater and horn-rimmed glasses, he looked a bit like Michael Caine in “Alfie”. After he had briefed us on how to gain re-entry to the hotel after the nine thirty pm curfew we explored our rooms. It was immediately apparent we were two of perhaps three guests at the Pre Fleuri that night. This may sound a little grim but actually the Pre Fleuri was both warm and comfortable. The hotel has many of the film crew’s minimum requirements: clean (cotton) sheets, a bathroom (with hot water) and a decent telly with BBC World. There is no bar at the Pre Fleuri (probably a crucial film crew minimum requirement but we’ll let that go) and only a modestly stocked mini bar, outside I noticed petrol station sign which meant I might be able to buy milk and make English Breakfast tea with my ever present travel kettle. I ventured out into the cold only to discover that at six thirty the petrol station was closed. Undaunted I strode in the direction of the village hoping to find an open grocery store, after ten minutes I reached Centreville only to find that it too was closed. Back at the hotel I cracked a bottle of Heineken and watched an item on BBC World previewing Tony Blair’s upcoming appearance at The Chilcott enquiry. Musing to myself that someone should question the ex PM on New Labour’s lack of performance on the promised “Education, Education, Education” manifesto pledge I set off to meet Morphet in reception. As usual Chris looked like a man who had just finished a combined session of Pilates and US Army Marine Callisthenics, in short, fit as a butcher’s dog, even after a day’s camera toting.

Having enquired of Michael Caine at reception, we headed off through the now stygian gloom to the local Auberge where we had an excellent and inexpensive dinner. I had Perch from the “Lac” with chips after a wonderful small pot of mushroom risotto – Chris had Dover Sole (a Morphet staple).

Breakfast was simple but serviceable and the Pre Fleuri turned out to be only a four minute drive to our location (proximity to the place of filming being another basic film crew requirement).

So, for any crews headed towards St Suplice, The Hotel Pre Fleuri and the local Auberge get a Proudfoot Company four star rating.