LCO France is the brainchild of David Bell and Dave Holden, down-to-earth, ex-london social entrepreneurs who became disillusioned by the lack of UK support for their broad-based skills in Web technology, networking, advocacy of GNU/Linux and promoting open source through actual use.
In 2003, aged in their fifties and demeaned by the ageism rife in the UK IT jobs market, both were stressed to breaking point by the pressures caused by lack of space and the struggle to survive while building a business in the Capital. With their faith in the government dwindling, the two Daves chose to cut their losses and aim at 'living the dream' for their future.
The two Daves chose France as the location for their new venture, as it offered space, friendly people and property at sensible prices. As a bonus came a healthy lifestyle, great food and wines and some of the most delicious and highly sought after wild mushrooms on the planet.
They found a village property in one of the most beautiful and unspoilt areas of Auvergne, a house that had been shuttered and unoccupied for some 15 years. Once a former hotel and far too large for the average family, the house which dates from 1853, is a central feature of the village but needed a lot of renovation. |
Ardent DIY'ers, the two men set about turning their dreams into reality and just over two and a half years later, the results astonish every visitor.
As you enter through the oak front door you are confronted by a six seat cybercafe with tables, a gentle ambiant blend of old and new, where you can relax and enjoy a coffee, tea, or cold drink. The computer equipment, though somewhat dated, happily runs a recent version of OpenSuSE Linux, Firefox browser, Open Office, Skype and more. Want an english keyboad, or french, just ask.
Tucked away out of sight is a Linux games server... fancy a LAN party? Armagetron, Quake3, Soldier of Fortune, Counter Strike, Wesnoth and FreeCiv are just some of the games that can be played over the network.
But wait! that's not all LCO France offers. Up one flight, are basic yet comfortable bedrooms for guests, modern shower and toilet facilities plus an elegant and spacious living room. Another stairway leads up to the attic, with its antique handmade glass windows that look out beyond the village to the forests and countryside. Its brightly fitted out as a Linux Laboratory with eight work stations for visiting trainees, a server room and electronics workshop.
Bienvenue chez nous, our home is your home - its the atmosphere you'll find at LCO France.
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