Annual Subscription Costs - The Deux

Transcription

Annual Subscription Costs: 29,50€ within France, 18€ UK addresses.
(Unfortunately the cheaper ‘printed papers’ rate cannot be applied to
addresses within France, only when sending abroad)
Full Name:..................................................................................................
Postal Address:...........................................................................................
...................................................................................................................
Postcode:..................................... Country:.............................................
Tel:..............................................................................................................
Email:..........................................................................................................
Please make cheques payable to SARAH BERRY.
Welcome! to Issue 43 of
‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’ magazine.
Wow! It’s another bumper issue this month
including an eight page pull-out for this year’s
Trade Fair. Just pull-it-out and take it with
you!
It’s been a very hectic month with
preparations for the event and I hope it will
be another success. There will be a lot to see
and do, so please come along, enjoy the day
and say “Hi!”.
This issue also boasts some great articles with a new bimonthly
addition of film reviews. We love films here at Chez Berry so I’ll be
keen to keep abreast of the new releases.
Well, it’s late and I have to send this to the printers, so until next
month....
à plus, Sarah
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21
Email: [email protected]
website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Emergency Numbers:
15 SAMU (Medical Advice)
17 Gendarmes (Police)
18 Pompiers (Fire Service)
112 European Emergency
113 Drugs and Alcohol
Contents
What’s On. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Getting Out & About
6
Spotlight On...
11
A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres
14
Hobbies
15
Clubs & Associations
20
Health, Beauty & Fitness
21
Our Furry Friends
25
Pull-out Section - Trade Fair 2014. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Take a Break
34
Home & Garden
35
French Life
38
Communications
41
Food & Drink
43
Motoring
46
Building & Renovation
48
Business & Finance
53
Property
57
This Month’s Advertisers
79 Renovations
Abattage Service (Slaughter House)
ABORDimmo
Ace Pneus (Tyre supplier & Fitter)
Affordable UK Designs (Kitchens & UPVC Double Glazing)
AKE Petit Travaux (Builder)
A La Bonne Vie Alan Pearce (Plumbing & Heating)
Andrew Longman (Plumber)
An English Nursery in France
ARB French Property
Arbrecadabra Tress Surgery
Art de la Breche (Art Gallery)
Atelier JM Toledo (Rug repairs & Cleaning)
BH Assurances / Allianz - Isabelle Want
Bill McEvoy (Plumber / Heating Engineer)
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Blevins Franks Financial Management
Bois Nature Energie (Firewood and Outdoor Fencing)
British Mobile Mechanic (John Purchase)
Café des Belles Fleurs
Camping Les Prairies du Lac
Centre Régional “Résistance & Liberté”
Cheryl’s Helping Hand
Chris Bassett Construction
Christies (English Book Shop & Tea Room)
CJ Electricité
Cleaning Services by Karen
Clean Sweep Chimney Services
Corner House Property Management
Currencies Direct - Sue Cook
Cut 46 (Hair Salon)
David Cropper (Stump Grinding & Jungle Busting)
David Watkins Chimney Sweep
DB électricité
Domaine de l’enchantoir
Double Glazing Installation with Haynes Carpentry
Down to Earth Pool Design
Duncan White - Agent Commerciale
D.W. Cooper (Carpenter, Roofer, Mason)
Ecopower (Solar Thermal Trading Company)
Électricien Anglais en France
Emilie Baudrez (French Classes & Translation)
Equi Libre Immobilier Conseil
Franglais Deliveries
French Wine Tours
George Rayner Computers
Hallmark Electronique
Harris Homes & Gardens
Holistic Therapy - Soul to Sole
ICO Electricité
Insink Plumbing
Irving Location - Digger Hire
Jeff’s Metalwork
John Pate (Renovations)
John Snee Groundworks
J.P. Lainé Chimney Sweep
Julia Hunt - Agent Commerciale
Keith Banks (Swimming Pool Maintenance)
Kelly’s Events
La Deuxième Chance (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint supplier)
Lawrence Associates (Renovations etc)
Leggett Immobilier
Man For Hire
Mark Sabestini Renovation & Construction
Menuiseries Fermeture Porge (PVC Windows, Doors & Shutters)
Michael Glover
Michael William Hairdressing
ML Computers
Motor Parts Charente
M. Page Landscaping
MSS Construction
Musée des Tumulus de Bougon
Mutuelles de Poitiers Assurances
Nathan Foster Building Services
Needa Hand Services
Pamela Irving (Massage & Reflexology)
Pascale Matéo (French Tuition)
Pascale Terry (French Classes)
Plan 170 (Professional Scale Drawings)
Polar Express
Restaurant des Canards
Rob Berry Plastering Services
Robert Walker Plomberie
Ross Hendry (Interface Consulting & Engineering)
Sandy G Hairdresser
Sarl Down to Earth (Fosse Installations & Groundworks)
Satellite TV
SCP Louis Cagniart & Chrsitel Roy
Siddalls (Financial Advisors)
Simon the Tiler
Simply Homes & Gardens
Steve Enderby
Steve Robin (Plumber)
Sue Burgess (French Classes & Translation)
The Craft Cabin (Handmade Cards and Card-making items)
The English Mechanic & Son - Tony Eyre
The Spectrum IFA Group - Amanda Johnson
Tout Faire Materiaux (Building materials)
Trisha Mobile Hairdresser
Val Assist (Translation Services)
Vata Beauty
Venus Rose Yoga
Yoga Vendée
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© Sarah Berry 2014. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission. While care is taken to ensure that articles and features are accurate, Sarah
Berry accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction. The opinions expressed and experiences shared are given by individual authors and do not necessarily represent
the views or opinions of the publisher. Please ensure you verify that the company you are dealing with is a registered trading company in France and/or elsewhere.
<<The Deux-Sèvres Monthly>> est édité par Sarah Berry, La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny. Tél: 05 49 70 26 21. Directeur de la publication et rédacteur en chef: Sarah Berry. Crédits photos: Sarah Berry, Clkr,
Shutterstock, GraphicStock et morgeufile.com. Impression: Graficas Piquer SL, 29 Al Mediterraneo, Pol. Ind. San Rafael, 04230, Huércal de Almeria, Espagne. Dépôt légal: septembre 2014 - Tirage: 5000
exemplaires. Siret: 515 249 738 00011 ISSN: 2115-4848
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly | 3
What’s On...
September 2014
The final events of the Nuits Romanes programme:
5th September - Église Ste-Catherine, Magné
6th September - Église Notre-Dame, Ardin
13th September - Place Bujault et Triade Romane, Melle
The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, Poitou-Charentes,
hold English speaking monthly services.
5th September - Expat Camping Rally
At Puy Rond Camping, Bressuire. Visit www.puyrondcamping.com
for more info.
7th September - Pastyfest and Garden Fête at Puy de Serre
At L’Hermitage. 11am - 5pm. For more info call 02 51 00 50 09
5th - 7th September - La Montgolfiade de Thouars
The hot-air balloon extravaganza. See article on P.12.
5th, 6th, & 7th September, Open Sky Festival in Sauzé-Vaussais
Festival of Arts & Musique. See advert on P.8.
10th September - A Filling Station talk
“Prodigality: A picture of God’s Love for us” by Gerard Kelly, at
7.30pm. See advert on P.5.
12th September - Live Music With AVee & Andy Em
At Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. See advert on P.44 for details.
13th & 14th September - Balades Paysannes
Farms open their doors to the public this weekend at Brétignolles,
Breuil-Chausséé, Chiché, Montravers, Nueil-les-Aubiers and
Terves. Contact Civam Haut Bocage on 05 49 89 80 29. Email:
[email protected] for more information.
19th September - Quiz Night at Restaurant des Canards
See advert on P.44.
20th September - ‘The DSM’ Anglo-French Trade Fair
At Secondigny 79130 with Live music, Fish n chips, Jim’s Huskies
and 70+ trade stands. See pull-out section P.29.
20th September - Book Sale
At the old Salle, Linanzay. 10.30am - 3.30pm.
20th September - New Exhibition by Grace McKee
At Art la Brêche, Niort. See advert on P.6.
21st September - ‘Caisses à Savon’ Races in Bressuire
Forty competitors take to the streets of Bressuire to try to be the
fastest driving non-motorised gravity driven vehicles.
27th September - Curry lunch in aid of Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres
In Amailloux. Reservation and details from Denise & Rob Langford
05 49 64 29 83
27th & 28th September - The Hope Association Charity Shop
In Bussiere Poitevine, from 10am - 5pm. See advert on P.25.
27th & 28th September - éco Festival in Parthenay
Visit the website: www.eco-festival-ca-marche.fr for information.
28th September - Big Book Fayre and Arts & Crafts
With Reel Fish and Chips at Paperback Jan’s, La Ferriere-enParthenay 79390. Call Jan on 06 08 30 73 29 for details.
28th September - Austrialian Girls Choir perform
At St Amant de Boixe. Please see article on P.7. for further details.
•
•
What’s Coming Up...
5th October - La Parthenaisienne
An organised 5km walk in aid of Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres
5th October - Fête des Plants, Bressuire
Event based around the Château 9am-7pm. See details on P.36.
Late October/early November - the Reaction Theatre group
perform a mélange of short comedy plays in Secondigny. Date TBC
31st October - CSSG Halloween Party in St Pardoux
17th-19th October - The Hope Association 3 day Book Sale
In Clussais La Pommeraie. See advert on P.25.
•
1st Sunday at 10.30am: At St Leger, near Melle.
Followed by tea & coffee.
2nd Sunday at 11.00am: the home of Ann White, Jassay
4th Sunday at 10.30am: the Presbytery Rooms, rue de la
Citadelle, Parthenay (opposite St Croix Church). Followed
by tea & coffee, and a ‘bring and share’ lunch.
A warm welcome awaits everyone for a time of worship and
fellowship. For further information about location of churches
and what else is happening near you, please take a look at our
website www.church-in-france.com or contact us by email:
[email protected]
The Filling Station ~ Poitou-Charentes
The Filling Station is a network of local Christians of all
denominations who meet together regularly for spiritual renewal
and evangelism purposes. ALL WELCOME.
Please see our bilingual website for details of meetings and
summer programmes www.thefillingstationfrance.com or
contact 05 49 87 89 16 or email: [email protected]
ALL SAINTS, VENDÉE - Puy de Serre
We hold two services each month, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays
at the church of St Marthe, Puy de Serre, at 11am. After each service, tea and coffee is served in the parish room
and everyone is invited to a `bring and share` lunch. For details of
all our activities, our Services in the west of the Vendée, copies
of recent newsletters and more information, please check our
website: www.allsaintsvendee.fr
The Rendez-Vous Christian Fellowship
A warm welcome awaits you at our meetings in the Vendée
on the 1st & 3rd Sunday in the month at 11am. We meet at
The Barn, off the D960B between Pouzauges and Chantonnay.
Meetings last about an hour and are followed by a time of
fellowship with refreshments. To find out more please contact
Chris Taylor 09 60 49 78 50 or Des Vine 05 49 74 18 27 or visit:
www.therendezvous.fr
LOCAL MARKETS
Mondays.........
Tuesdays.........
Wednesdays....
Thursdays........
Friday...............
Saturdays........
‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’ magazine
Published by Sarah Berry
La Bartière, 79130 SECONDIGNY
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21
www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
www.magazineanglais79.com
4 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly
Sundays............
Benet 85490
Lencloître (1st Monday in month) 86140
Lezay 79120
Coulonges-sur-l’Autize 79160
Thouars 79100
Bressuire 79300
Parthenay 79200
Sauzé-Vaussais 79190
Niort 79000
La Mothe St Héray 79800
Thouars 79100
Melle 79500
Bressuire 79300
Chef-Boutonne 79110
Airvault 79600
Niort 79000
Saint Maixent-l’École 79400
Fontenay-le-Comte 85200
Coulon 79510
Neuville-de-Poitou 86170
Open 6.30-9pm
Paperback Jan
Books in English
Reel Fish & Chips
September
Find me at these venues during September:
3rd:
4th: 4th: 5th: 5th: 7th: 7th: 10th: 12th:
13th:
18th: 20th: 25th: 26th: 28th:
Café Cour de Miracle, Vouvant 85120. 2.30pm - 4.30pm
Brasserie Vue du Chateau, Bressuire 79300. 11am - 1pm
Bar Palais, St Aubin le Cloud 79450 2pm-5pm
Bar de la Paix, Thouars 79100. 11.30am - 2pm
Tipsy Bar, Coulonges 79160. 4pm - 6pm
Pastyfest, Puy de Serre 85240 from 11am
Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux 79160. 2pm - 4pm
Le Don Jon Bar, Moncontour 86330. 4pm - 6pm
Jan’s Home, La Ferriére-en-Parthenay 79390.11am - 1pm
Bar Le Chauray, St Maixent l’Ecole 79400. 10am - 1pm
Pause! L’Absie 79240 2pm - 5pm
The DSM TRADE FAIR, SeCONDIGNY 10.30am-5.30pm
Le Relais des 2 Moulins, Clessé 79350. 4pm - 6pm
Le P’tit Bar Boucard, Menigoute 79340. 4pm - 6pm
BIG BOOK FAYRE + Art & Craft Stalls, Fish ‘n’ Chips
La Ferriere-en-Parthenay 11am - 4pm
For more info contact Jan on:
06 08 30 73 29 or email: [email protected]
Top Hat Quiz & Curry
Weds 3rd & 17th The Canteen, Etusson
Fri 5th
Bar Tabac PMU, Bouille-Loretz
Sat 6th
Bar Vue du Chateau, Bressuire
Thurs 18th
Bar Tabac PMU, St Martin de Sanzay
Fri 19th
Bar Tabac PMU, Genneton
Sat 20th
Bressuire Golf Club
Sun 28th
Paperback Jan’s Big Book Fayre
Tel: 06 04 14 23 94 - www.reelfishandchips.net
Open 6.30-9pm
(incl. Bank Holidays)
Mr T’s Friterie
With regular venues at:
•
•
•
Aulnay 17470 (from 6pm)
Matha 17160
Gourville 16170
•
•
St Hilaire de Villefranche
17770
St Jean d’Angély 17400
See www.frying4u2nite.com for details or call 06 02 22 44 74
From 7pm
Open 6 - 8pm
Dates & Venues for September:
1st:
3rd:
8th:
10th:
11th:
Limalonges
Chef Boutonne
Theil Rabier
Aigre
Champniers
Tel: 05 45 71 70 91 - more info at www.tophatquizzes.com
Fish 4 Chip
Mondays:
Tuesdays:
Wednesdays:
Thursdays:
Fridays:
Bar Tilleuls, Champniers (near Civray)
Sauzé-Vaussais (Main square)
Chef Boutonne (near Chateau)
Sauzé-Vaussais - Evening (Main square)
Mansle (car park of Simply Supermarket)
Tel: 06 37 53 56 20 - www.mobilefishandchipsfrance.com
The National Holidays, Religious
and Feast Days 2014
Sunday 5th October. .........Grandfather’s Day (Fête des Grand-pères)
Saturday 1st November.....All Saint’s Day (Toussaint)
Tuesday 11th November....Armistace Day (Armistace)
Thursday 25th December...Christmas Day (Noël)
Dates in blue are celebration days, not public holidays
Open 6-8.30pm
La Vendée Chippy
Wednesdays:Bar ‘Auberge le St Vincent’, St Vincent Sterlanges
Thursdays: Bar ‘La Rando’, Mervent
Fridays:
Bar ‘Au Bon Coin’, Thoursais Bouildroux
+ 6th September: Le Clemenceau 85390 Mouilleron en Pareds
Tel: 02 44 39 16 73 - www.lavendeechippy.com
Getting Out & About
Kelly’s New Enterprise
Expanding upon the success of my pampering events and gift
vouchers, I will now be offering regular social events, outings and
excursions as well as bespoke events and gift solutions.
During the holiday season my events could prove popular with
English speaking holiday guests as a simplistic way to get out and
about without any language barriers. Your guests will love
the convenience of suggestions of what to do and how to
do it, and luxury beauty therapies in the comfort of their
holiday home always goes down a treat! So if you own a
gite and wish to receive a free guest information pack in
time for the 2015 season, please email:
[email protected]
I have regular social events planned from September 2014 to “get
us through the winter” and some special “ticket only” do’s! 2015
will see the introduction of excursions too!
Do you own a local business? If you offer a product or
service that would make a lovely gift solution then email
your suggestions to [email protected]
Kelly’s Events in France (formerly known as Kelly’s Pampering
Events) is a unique service specialising in events planning and gift
solutions in France.
For a full list of planned events and for further information on
events or group programs please visit my brand new website
www.kellyseventsinfrance.com
My aim is to empower English speakers in France to lead a life
without language barriers. If you do not see your perfect event or
prefer a more individual service, please just let me know and I will
work with you to achieve your goals.
As a further part of my expansion, I am teaming up with local
businesses to provide a whole host of fun and inspiring gift solutions
using an inventive scheme to get you a fantastic deal. Treat a loved
one to something special or even treat yourself; many packages
have been designed for a small group to club together and partake
in something special!
There are a variety of packages available as well as more traditional,
gift set ideas.
Theatre Workshops for English Speakers
Encore Theatre, the English language theatre
company based at Loulay are arranging a series of
theatre workshops this autumn and are hoping that
many new members will be tempted to come along
and try them out.
The workshops, which will be held weekly from mid
September, will be led by a professional theatre
director and teacher. They are designed to involve
the participants in preparing for performance in a
fun and interesting way, developing skills towards
presenting short pieces of theatre.
“The workshops are being designed for different
levels so those new to performing will be able to
develop some basic skills, and participants with
some experience will be introduced to some new, more advanced aspects of stagecraft”
said a spokesman for the group. “We are delighted to have acquired the services of an
experienced and respected teacher, who will be presenting the course”.
You don’t have to be a member of Encore Theatre to take part, but new and existing
members will be entitled to a reduction in the cost of each session.
For more information contact: [email protected].
www.encore-theatre.org
The Australian Girls Choir is Coming to St Amant de Boixe
As part of their 2014 International Tour, the Australian Girls Choir
(AGC) will be giving a free performance in the Abbey at St Amant
de Boixe (16330) on Sunday 28th September.
On this, their 17th International Tour, 56 members of the Australian
Girls Choir are also performing in Paris, Barcelona and Singapore,
before returning to their home cities (Adelaide, Brisbane,
Melbourne, Perth and Sydney).
The iconic Australian organisation has toured to destinations all
over Australia and to every corner of the globe during its 30 year
history; the choir will embark on its 34th tour later this year.
Since the first International Tour to Canada in 1989, the AGC
has travelled to a myriad of countries and performed at many
spectacular locations.
Over recent years the AGC has sung and performed for The Pope,
Queen Elizabeth ll, President Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, the
King of Tonga, the Dalai Lama, Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres and
at major locations around the world including The Sydney Opera
House, St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, St Peter’s Basilica,
the Hanoi Opera House and Disneyland Los Angeles and Paris - just
a few of their crowning achievements.
ANGOULEME - Saturday September 27th to Tuesday September
30th . The girls will be hosted by local families and by Student
families of the Collège Eugène Delacroix, St Amant de Boixe.
For media enquiries please contact the organisers, David and
Aase Williams of St Amant de Boixe.
Tel: 05 45 94 66 79 ~ email: [email protected].
Above: The Australian Girls Choir at a recent performance.
Photos courtesy of www.ausgirlschoir.com.au
Do you have a Business to promote?
Call us Today - Great Rates!
05 49 70 26 21
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF
CANCER SUPPORT DEUX-SEVRES
Many, many thanks to all the lovely people who have, over the
past few weeks, held events to raise the much needed funds for
our association.
A huge sum was raised.....in excess of 2,800€.....did I hear “wow”?
Because that’s what we said at our last committee meeting.
Thanks go to:
• Amanda Froome and Zena Sabestini, who organised the
“Race for Life” around the Chateau grounds at Bressuire.
• Trish and Delphine from Les Forges Golf club who took on
the task of arranging a Golf Competition.
• Penny Brewer and Through the Lens Photography group.
• Helen McHugh Ace who kindly allowed us to hold a Tombola
Stand at the Market at Luché.
Over the past two years we have signed contracts at Parthenay
and Niort Hospitals allowing us to visit Cancer patients and act as
translators where necessary.
We have donated 5000€ to each of these hospitals to enable
them to purchase equipment which is not provided for the
patients; aromatherapy treatments, relaxation tapes, foldaway
beds to name but a few.
In conjunction with La Ligue contre le Cancer (one of my ladies
from Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres is on the Niort79 committee)
our next donations will be going to Cancer Research in France.
Future Events are as follows...
27th September: A curry lunch with musical entertainment
at Amailloux. Please contact Denise and Rob Langford on
05 49 64 29 83 for more details and reservations.
5th October: La Parthenaisienne, an organised 5km walk
by les Filles de Parthenay. Contact Christine Brossard
06 84 71 07 43 http:/lesfillesdeparthenay.jimdo.com.
10th October: Domaine des Loges, 28 bd Salvador Allende,
Parthenay. We will have a stand at Soins Palliatifs Event
commencing at 1.15pm. Contact me on 05 49 64 59 96 for
further details.
On another note... L’Absie craft and knitting group are very kindly
knitting and crocheting hats for our clients who are undergoing
treatment and losing their hair. They are always grateful for wool
etc. so please remember them if you’re having a clear out.
Finally, next year will be Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres’ 10th
Anniversary, so watch this space for details of how we are going
to celebrate.
Once again ...thank you all for your support.
Small
Colour
advert
only 35€
Les nouveaux mots du dicoby Sue Burgess
(New words in the dictionary)
It’s a ritual. Every September, it’s La Rentrée (back to school) and
Le Petit Larousse and Le Petit Robert dictionaries release their
new editions with some 150 new words each. Two criteria are
needed for a word to enter le Petit Larousse.
• Quantity: the more popular a word is, according to the
number of times it is used in the media, and
• Quality: the term must be up to date but must also be an
expression that will last.
Le selfie (digital self-portrait usually taken with a smartphone
and published on the social media networks), le hashtag (before
a key word on Twitter or a microblog) and la cyberattaque (act
of computer piracy on internet) enter Le Petit Robert, whereas
le vapotage and the verb vapoter with an e-cigarette (electronic
cigarette) are recognised by Le Petit Larousse.
If you believe Le Petit Robert, les trolls (internauts who try to
create a debate on a chat forum or on social media) like the
verbicrucistes (who make crosswords) will be able to follow
MOOC (abbreviation for Massive Online Open Course, classes
on internet), where it will not be in their interest to procrastiner
(tendance to put things off until tomorrow, to procrastinate) if
they want to progress.
In Le Petit Larousse the citizen écoresponsable (who pays
attention to the impact his actions will have on the environment)
will be worried about la marée verte (a thick deposit of green
algae and seaweed left by the tide) and more particularly about
Obsolescence programmée (built in obsolescence) so that the
consumer will replace his product sooner rather than later.
Vocabulaire / Vocabulary
Anonymous ....................... an anonymous group of hackers
who try to denounce and get round
censuring of information on internet
Anticriminalité .................. adjective – fighting against criminality
Bardasser ou Berdasser .... Bardasser or Berdasser from familiar
French Canadian. To make a noise/ to
shake up/ to tell off
La Bistronomie .................. gastronomic cuisine in a friendly
informal atmosphere and at a
reasonable price
Un Hipster ......................... young townie with unusual tastes in
clothing and style
Un Pandoravirus ................ A very large scale virus
Un Super-héros ................. imaginary person with superhuman
powers
La Zumba .......................... method of keep fit inspired by
different latin-american dance styles.
Registered trade mark.
BUT ne psychotez pas (don’t worry excessively) if your computer
bogue (bugs, works badly). Rather than l’hystérisation (expressing
yourself hysterically), keep your zénitude (stay zen, cool), Le Petit
Larousse has planned everything. Antipasti (succession of Italian
hors-d’œuvres), une bruschetta (a little Italian nibble) and un café
gourmand (coffee with chocolates and mini-desserts). The Deux-Sèvres Monthly | 9
COME - CONNECT - CREATE at the OPEN SKY Festival
A new, informal creative arts and music forum for musicians
and artists is here in the Deux-Sèvres! By sharing skills and
inspiring each other, this new festival for the Poitou-Charentes
will provide a relaxing environment for the public and artists
to share and enjoy .
The programme is on the first weekend in September and will have
the theme of ‘journeys’. It will consist of two evening concerts
with a variety contributors, both musical and non-musical, plus
opportunities to participate in an interactive themed art project
across the site. A number of alternative activity tents will be
included.
So Who’s Performing?
Orla Gartland - - - - - - - - - - Greta Isaac
Katie Dove-Dixon
The festival is being organised by a local non- profit Association,
‘OPEN SKY’ and costs will be kept to a minimum. For this first year,
contributors are being asked to participate without being paid in
order to create the collaborative spirit desired.
The Festival will be held on top of a small ridge facing West just
outside the town of Sauzé-Vaussais. Situated between Poitiers
and Angouleme and 90 minutes inland from La Rochelle, this rural
location is easily accessible for visitors.
The hamlet of La Montée Blanche has just a dozen houses and
no shops or restaurants. The nearby town of Sauzé-Vaussais is
within walking distance (2km) where there is a large supermarket
selling everything that could possibly be needed by a visitor. There
is also bed and breakfast accommodation and a local hotel nearby
together with a pizza restaurant and English tea room in the town.
Jean-Luc Gadreau – Parole
Million Miles
- - - - - - - - - - - and Mouss
.......to name a few
Various snacks and food will be available during the weekend and
although there are no official camping facilities, attendees will be
able use a nearby field to pitch tents. Throughout the festival soft
drinks will be available with a bar serving beer and wine in the
evenings.
So why not come along, connect with new friends and get creative!
TICKETS...
FRIDAY 5th SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
7€
9€
SUNDAY 7th SEPTEMBER FREE ENTRY!
La Montée Blanche - 79190 - SAUZÉ-VAUSSAIS
Reserve your Tickets now by visiting:
www.openskyfestival.fr
Spotlight On...
Thouars
Stunning flower display at the entrance to the town.
by Mick Austin
Shhh!
Don’t shout it out loud but there’s a pretty French
town in the Deux-Sèvres that surprisingly few people have heard
of. It’s perched on a cliff, flanked by a lovely river, has many old
streets and houses, churches and an imposing château. It has an
abundance of cultural and historical treasures, it hosts probably
the best market in the region and it’s off the tourist trail. What
more could you ask for? Oh, yes, it’s name: Thouars.
The main town in the Thouet Valley, Thouars has impressive
credentials. It is classified as one of France’s Villes d’Art et
d’Histoire (Cities of Art and History) with the highest number of
listed buildings per inhabitant in the region and has Ville Fleurie
four-flower status in recognition of its superb parks and gardens
(especially the Parc Imbert).
Part of its charm is its relative anonymity on the tourist map,
but all that changes over the first week in September when the
population explodes as 15,000-plus people invade the town. But
more on that later…
There’s so much to see and do around Thouars you can spend a
week discovering its treasures, but here is a taste of a few of those
‘don’t miss’ places.
Churches/Châteaux
Eglise Saint Médard has long been the best known and most visited
monument in the town. All that remains from the first early 11th
Century church are small fragments of the façade and the lateral
walls. Henry II of England laid siege to Thouars in 1158 and had
the castle and its walls razed. He then proceeded to rebuild Saint
Médard between 1170 and 1180. The church evolved over the
Middle Ages and was largely remodelled during the 15th and 16th
centuries. Since 2005 the southern wall has been brightened up by
contemporary stained glass windows from workshops in Limoges.
Château et Pont des Chouans
The Eglise Saint Leon was founded in 1021 and is probably best
known as the resting place of Margaret of Scotland, daughter of
King James 1 of Scotland and wife of the future king of France,
Louis XI. Don’t miss the fossils in the paving stones!
Almost anywhere you go in Thouars, you can’t help but notice the
magnificent Château des ducs de La Trémoille. First built in the
eighth century, with later work done by Versailles architect Jacques
Lemercier, it has been a barracks, a prison and now a college.
Tours are scheduled from April to September by the Department
of Architecture and Heritage. Check out the local tourist office for
details.
Museums/Exhibitions
Interested in World War Two history and the bravery of local
Resistance fighters? Then you won’t want to miss possibly the
largest collection of wartime exhibits in the region at the Centre
Régional Résistance et Liberté. Occupied Thouars suffered heavy
fighting and bombings and a visit from the arch-Nazi himself,
Heinrich Himmler. Audio guides, multimedia terminals, smallscale models and an audio-visual archive transport you back to
a time when the local Thouarsais were, literally, fighting for their
very existence.
Musée Henri Barré hosts an art and history collection with
exhibitions and activities all year long. The main attraction is a
collection of French and foreign earthenware. You can also brush
up on local history, particularly that of the La Trémouille dukes,
whose contribution to life in Thouars was extensive.
Ecomusée du Moulin de Crevant is on the Thouet river just below
the town. Built in 1840, it was a farm until 1989 and run by four
generations of millers from the same family. Today it has been
restored and opened to the public and has a picture museum
explaining the history of the water mill and includes a video made
by the last miller. A guided visit shows the working methods of
the mill as well as technical development since the end of the 19th
Century. It’s a superb example spread over four levels with a series
of 150 belts and 300 pulleys and all in perfect working order.
The Centre d’Interpretation Géologique du Thoursais (CIGT)
is an earth science, educational, cultural and scientific area
hosting a permanent stone exhibition demonstrating the natural,
architectural, historic and industrial heritage of Thouars. Display
panels, video clips, models, tools and ornaments show geology in
an original and unexpected manner. If you like this sort of stuff
then you can also visit the two ancient open-air quarries at the
Toarcien Natural Reserve (Réserve Naturelle du Toarcien) just
outside Thouars.
THOUARS
FACT FILE...
Food
and Drink
If you like French markets you’ll just love Thouars.
Rated as one
of the biggest and best in the region (2000 people every Friday
morning can’t be wrong), soak up the sights, sounds and smells as
you wander around stalls laden with local produce including goat’s
cheese, jams, the famous Thouarsais melons, fresh fish, chicken,
wine, honey and loads more. Try the local aperitif Duhomard
(made from aromatic plants) and the brownie-style Saint-Michel
chocolate cake. There’s also a smaller market on Tuesdays.
Tourtenay: 20 minutes
Moncontour: 30 minutes
Airvault: 30 minutes
Saumur: 40 minutes
Bressuire: 40 minutes
Parthenay: 45 minutes
Chinon: 60 minutes
Angers: 80 minutes
And now, last but not least, why some 15,000 people will invade
the town on the first weekend in September - La Montgolfiade de
Thouars!
Airports:
Poitiers (70 minutes), Nantes
(110 minutes), Tours (110
minutes)
Thouars is in the North of the dept. of Deux-Sèvres (79) in the
region of Poitou-Charentes
Population: 9622 in 2011
Airports: Poitiers (70 minutes) Tours (110 minutes) and
Nantes (110 minutes)
Aire de Camping Car
Cycle Routes
Picnic Locations
Bars & Restaurants
La Montgolfiade de Thouars
Fuel Stations
Supermarkets
Campsite
Plan d’eau
Contacts
•
•
It’s a great family day out in a
festival atmosphere as around 40
hot-air balloons provide a magical
spectacle in the skies of the DeuxSèvres. This year’s event - on
Friday-Sunday, September 5-7 at
the Hippodrome de Villeneuve
racecourse - celebrates its sixth
anniversary with all the crowd
favourites. Expect to see bands,
fireworks, a vide grenier, a parade
of vintage cars and a new feature
addition of three small remote-controlled balloons. And don’t
miss the female trapeze artist performing underneath one of the
balloons (no, not one of the remote-controlled ones!)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Ecomusée du Moulin de Crevant. 1 promenade de Pommiers, 79100 Thouars. Tel: 05 49 68 38 59. Website:
www.facebook.com/EcomuseeMoulindeCrevant?ref=ts
&fref=ts
CIGT, Les Écuries du Château, Rond-point du 19 Mars
1962, 79100 Thouars. Tel: 05 49 66 42 18. Website: www.
thouars-communaute.fr
La Montgolfiade de Thouars website: www.montgolfiade.fr
Centre Régional Résistance et Liberté, Les Écuries du Château, Rond-point du 19 Mars 1962, 79100 Thouars. Tel:
05 49 66 42 99. Website: http://www.crrl.fr
Local tourist offices for more info, accommodation, bookings, times, prices etc:
www.tourisme-deux-sevres.com
www.tourisme-pays-thouarsais.fr
www.thouars.fr/vah/
www.visit-poitou-charentes.com
Weather permitting, of course, you can book yourself a ‘discovery’
flight on the Montgolfiade website, where you download a booking
form. The flights cost 180€ and are due to lift off at 7pm on Friday
and 7.30am and 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. You will need to be
there 90 minutes before your flight to meet your instructor and
prepare the balloon.
If you can’t get a flight during the La Montgolfiade weekend, there
are more personal baptism flights throughout the year. They cost
250€ and the booking form is also on the website. The organisers
will then contact you to arrange a date and time. The website
also has full programme details and a plan of parking for the La
Montgolfiade weekend.
Photos: Thouars armes fleuries, WikimediaCommons: Père Igor; Thouars
Château et Pont des Chouans, WikipediaCommons: Alertomalibu; La
Montgolfiade de Thouars, David Brennan.
Mick Austin is a freelance journalist based in the Pays-de-la-Loire. He has
had his work published in several expat magazines and newspapers and has
also written the Mayenne Tourist Board’s only English-language brochure.
He also runs a gîte business at www.gitefortwo.com.
Thouars Loudun Scout & Guide Group
Thouars Loudun scout and guide group is a member of Les Scouts
et Guides de France association. This is a scouting association
which is attached to the catholic church but open to anyone,
whatever their religious beliefs, nationality or social origin.
There are about 20 youngsters (most of whom are French but we
do have some British children) in the Thouars Loudun group and
we hold roughly two events per month throughout the school
year, on Saturday afternoons, Sundays or weekend camps.
The group has Farfadets (6–7 year olds) with one leader, the
Farfadult, and then different parents help out with the activities
on a rota basis. The Louveteaux and Jeannettes are between
8 and 11, the Scouts and Guides (11–14) and the Pionniers and
Caravelles (14-17). The units camp every summer.
In 2015 the Pionniers and Caravelles will be attending an
international European Jamboree near Strasbourg.
From September our group needs new leaders, particularly for
the Scouts and Guides unit. Training can be provided and you
can work for the BAFA (state
recognised
youth
leaders’
qualification which means you
can look for paid work in out
of school activity centres and
holiday camps).
The group
can help leaders pay for their
training if they sign on for 2
years and 2 camps. You need to
be 17 years old to start the BAFA training.
If you know anyone who might be interested in becoming a
leader or in giving a helping hand now and then, please contact
us through our facebook page:www.facebook.com/sgdf.
thouarsloudun?fref=ts, or come and meet us at The DSM Trade
Fair on September 20th.
We will also be at the Forum in the Leclerc Shopping centre in
Thouars on Saturday 6th September and at La Foire St Michel
in Thouars during the last weekend of September. You can also
phone us on 06 86 23 39 82.
05 49 70 26 21
A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres
LA FOYE-MONJAULT
A small village in the Deux-Sèvres, La Foye-Monjault is a part of the
canton of Beauvoir-sur-Niort. At a height of 55 metres above sealevel and with the neighbouring communes of Vallans and Usseau,
the 756 inhabitants (les Fayais, Fayaises) live on a commune which
stretches over 19,1 km² .
The name of the village comes from «frêne» (faya) which confirms
that at the end of the 11th century La Foye was covered with
woods, and in particular, beech trees. The word then became Faya
Moncolis - the Monks’ beechwood and then La Foye-Monjault.
The monks cleared the trees as early as 1080 in order to grow
cereal crops and grapes.
The commune is characterised by a large number of hamlets, three
of which (Treillebois, Limoullais and le Puyroux) are quite large.
The history of the commune has been built around the monks of
the middle ages, water, farming and wine.
Close to the old village square and the pond are traces of the
former small monastery. The commune has a number of wells
which means that it has always had water of a high quality. Wine
and farming have been the basis of the activity of the commune
over the years.
Foye Monjault wines were famous very early on and remained so
for a long time. Rabelais wrote about them and they were drunk
at the courts of Henri IV and François I.
A VOIR / MUST SEE
• The ancient priory church of St Simon and St Jude.
• The Benedictine monastery was given to the Abbey SaintJean-de-Montierneuf of Poitiers by the count of Poitou in
1077. The chapel is now the parish church. Partly destroyed
during the revolution, it was bought by a private individual.
The existing bell wall and the sanctuary were built on the
same spot in the 19th century.
• The water tower has been painted green. There is a 350
metre deep well near the water tower which was in fact never
used as the water contained iron. The water clock (l’horloge à
eau) of André Maret is 1.3m long and 1.6m high.
• La Foye-Monjault holds a wine and regional produce fair on
the second weekend in October.
FRANÇOIS
According to Mr François Villaneau, a former teacher, today
deceased, the name of François might come from an ancient
colony of Franks established on the banks of the Sèvre river during
the reign of Charlemagne. Other theories say that the name may
come from the word «franchise» the liberty granted to the parish.
The name and spelling of François has evolved as follows:
1244 - Françoy
1300 - Frances
1390 - François
1585, 1619, 1650 - Franois (maps of Poictou)
1690 - Le François (map of the Bishopric of Poitiers)
1657 to 1788 - Notre Dame de François. This name is found
from 1657 in the Parish registers but mainly refers to the church.
The inhabitants of François are known as the Françiens and the
Françiennes.
The commune of François is crossed by several Roman or Gallic
roads.
Le chemin Chevalleret (at Bonneuil) is an ancient Roman road
which went from Poitiers to Jard-sur-Mer crossing the old bridge
at Azay le Brûlé. It crossed Bonneuil along the line of the D7 from
La Crèche to Cherveux. The road crossed two rivers: the Chambon
at the ford of Guerreau near the bridge that is used today and the
Musson by the bridge “Pont de l’Huiilerie” shown on the 1830 map.
(There may have been a ford there before the bridge). Le chemin
Chevalleret is still partially visible as you come out of the village of
Bonneuil towards Cherveux. Le chemin de la Brissaise (at François)
is an old Roman road which went from Rom to Jard- sur-Mer.
There were three water mills on the commune. The moulin de
l’Ilôt and the moulin de François were on the river Sèvre. The mills
still exist today but are now no longer used.
by Sue Burgess
The moulin de l’Etang was on the Musson river and worked with
a series of locks. Only the mill race and a pile of stones remain
today. The mill has disappeared.
Three of the four wash-houses can still be seen on the commune.
During the second world war the commune was the home to
several families of refugees from the Ardennes.
FRESSINES
The name Fressines is certainly related to the presence of
numerous «frênes» (ash trees). The name “FRAZINA” appeared
for the first time in 1259, the commune became Saint-Martin de
Fressines, and then Fressines after the Revolution.
Around 1530 there were numerous mills all over Poitou. Flour from
Bagnault, which was very famous, was transported on the backs
of mules to Niort and then along the waterways to Marans, La
Rochelle and Rochefort. To get from Bagnault to Niort, the muledrivers went along the Roman road which followed the main road
through the village, crossed the river at Pontreau or Pont Charrault,
and then turned towards Papeau and on to Niort. This is the old
route to the sea or the «chemin des saulniers» (salt-workers’ road)
which passed through Fressines. Several mills which have since
disappeared were spread over the valley. The surrounding fields
were worked by labourers who worked the wheat fields.
The 16th century was a period of religious conflict. Calvin’s
protestantism anchored itself in the area. The edict of Nantes
put an end to the conflicts which opposed the catholics and the
protestants. The protestants set up strongholds in Thouars, St
Maixent and Niort. Louis XIV decided to unify the country to fight
off invaders and obliged the protestants to turn back to «the true
religion». A new method of oppression «the dragonnades», was
invented. The king’s soldiers, the dragons, lived with protestant
families and persuaded them to renounce protestantism and sign
the «rôle» of new converts. Fressines was in the majority protestant
and therefore the seat of some of the famous «dragonnades». In
1681, under the persecution of the king’s dragons, 328 inhabitants
of FRESSINES denied their religion. In 1685, Louis XIV revoked the
edict of Nantes. The pastors had to flee France. The protestants
who wished to practice their religion met at night in the woods,
the forests and the fields. In Fressines meetings were held at
Bois-Martin and la Chesnaye. The dead were buried at night in
small plots of land belonging to private individuals. Here we can
find the origin of the small cemeteries which can be found on
the commune of Fressines and all over the area. Another sign of
the presence of the protestants is the number of temples. In the
protestant villages, no statues of Christ or Mary can be found and
there are no stone crosses at the angles between the fields.
However, the landscapes are often punctuated by stone pines. This
tree which originated in the south of France, owes its presence
here to hawkers and traders who sold bibles and other protestant
works which were forbidden. They gave seeds and asked people
to sow them to show their friendship with the protestants. Houses
with this tree were a safe refuge for protestants.
A VOIR / MUST SEE
• St Martin’s church: A romanesque style building begun in
1260. The church is dedicated to St Martin (the bishop of
Tours). It was a priory which depended on the Abbey of
Lesterps (16). The old bell tower was destroyed by a sonic
boom in 1967. The present bell tower holds a bell dating from
1878. The protestant temple was destroyed in 1970. It stood
where the hairdresser’s is today.
• The Pigeon Loft (remains): The 17th century pigeon loft
belongs to the château of Bougouin which is in fact on the
commune of la Crèche. It is a private property.
More A-Z of the Communes of Deux-Sèvres
next month...
Hobbies
More from local writer Alison Morton....
Please see back issues of ‘The DSM’ if
you would like to see previous articles.
The Bones of your Book
Writing exciting scenes is thrilling. And
once you have set up your characters,
they start developing their own story
lines. Your narrative is thundering along
and your story is flying.
But… you the writer, your characters and the readers need to take
a break. So how and what?
A break within a chapter
A line space gives a visual signal that the scene will end or change
location/time/lead character. You can cut out the dull bits of life
(getting from A to B, climbing the stairs, having a meal, doing the
bins) and tell the story without dropping the pace. If you can
link the end of one scene across the bridge of the break line to
introduce the next scene, then that’s good writing technique.
New chapter
Sagas, historical novels and space operas will generally have
longer chapters than romance and thrillers. Mind you, Tom Clancy
seems to break this rule, but he has a lot of scene breaks within
his chapters. I keep my chapters short, generally 5 to 8 pages,
approx. 2,000 to 3,200 words, depending on how the narrative is
flowing. Breaking for a new chapter allows the writer to finish on
a revelation/cliffhanger/surprise/danger point and then drop into
the middle of an entirely separate scene in the next chapter which
pushes the story forward. Again, adding a link where the same
object, phrase, weather or location is at the beginning of the next
chapter but in a different context can be used here to great effect.
I like starting a new chapter in the middle of a conversation and
then revealing where we are and what’s happening; this keeps the
momentum up especially in a thriller. Having said that, sometimes
the beginning of a new chapter is a perfect place to put a little
background detail as long as it contributes to the story and isn’t
an info-dump.
Parts
If you have quite distinct parts of a story, then you can split the
novel into parts. These big separators are often used to cover
intervening periods, or to show that one phase of a person’s life
has finished and they’re moving on to something or somewhere
else. Classically, parts are three, like acts in a play, but can be any
number, though five or six is probably the maximum.
All breaks can be used in a story with two timelines or in the same
one to switch between different characters’ points of view, e.g.
from the protagonist to antagonist, but it has to be done carefully
or readers will lose patience and skip ahead to continue the tale
they were enjoying.
Huge Thanks to Kind Friends
Last year Jennifer Smethurst and her husband bought a maison
secondaire near Thouars. They couldn’t have managed it
without the help of their wonderful friends and Jennifer has
written this poem for them.
Elizabeth and Charlie Cormack, Susan Rusee, Andrea Gibson
and Jim McComisky, this is for you....
Merci! by Jennifer Smethurst.
They gave us kettles, toasters, towels,
A coffee machine cos we liked it,
Various bath mats and a shaggy rug,
Found another on the market.
We got tarpaulin and directions
Of where to find that sofa,
Wicker chairs and blue glasses
A chest of drawers that we could go for.
And they brought pans and cold champagne,
Lent us ladders, paint and rollers,
Told us what the French were saying,
They said, “Anytime, just call us!”
They did the legal stuff, the bills,
Insurance, phone line, banking,
Dug up shrubs and flowers and bulbs,
And told us when we should be planting.
Wrote emails and made phone calls,
Met us at Ikea,
Found bargains on Le Bon Coin
Said how great it was we’re here!
Appeared a soap dish and a hoover,
A toilet brush and bin,
They said as they’d be passing by
They’d of course be popping in.
Lunches provided on our journeys,
Came when we blew a gasket,
Sent magazines with local news,
Brought cake and a log basket.
Found us builders, shops with sales on,
Their kindness never ends!
We share our “food and cheer and song...”
And wine of course! Thanks, friends!
P.S. It was our fan belt that went - but it didn’t rhyme with ‘basket’!
Prologues and epilogues
Think whether or not you really need these as they can appear like
dangly bits with no definite purpose. Could the information in the
prologue be dripped into the story instead? Sometimes a hint of
a deep buried secret or an event in a much earlier period of time
is fine in a short prologue if it would seem out of place elsewhere
in the novel. And finally, could the epilogue be integrated into the
last chapter or do you need that last?
Happy writing!
Alison Morton writes alternative history thrillers,
blogs about writing and Romans at
http://alison-morton.com/blog
MOVIES
by James Luxford
There’s sex, thugs and rock ‘n’ roll this month as there are all
manner of racy goings on at your local cinema. But which is the
best of the bunch? Here’s our look at the biggest September
releases…
DELIVER US FROM EVIL (3rd September)
A mix of horror movie and crime thriller as ‘Star
Trek’ actor Eric Bana plays a policeman who enlists
the help of a priest specialising in exorcism (Edgar
Ramirez) in order to solve a series of crimes with a
supernatural feel. While creepy enough to deliver
some mindless chills, the edge that separates
truly scary horror films from the rest of the pack is
missing here. Not without its jumpy moments, but
certainly nothing memorable.
SEX TAPE (10th September)
Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel play a couple who
decide to create a sex tape, only for the video to
leak among their friends, sending the pair on a
madcap quest to rescue the errant copies. As a
mainstream film with little opportunity to fully
explore the premise, ‘Sex Tape’ peters out into an
average farce that has its moments, but ultimately
disappoints. A waste of the fine comic talent on
offer (which also includes Rob Lowe and comedian
Rob Cordry in supporting roles).
SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR (17th September)
It’s taken a few years for the sequel to Robert
Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s murky comic book
adaptation to get a sequel, but finally a host of
stars (including French actress Eva Green) play the
various untrustworthy citizens of Basin City. Three
loosely connected stories unfold in a raw, violent,
but brilliant piece of filmmaking that certainly isn’t
your average comic book movie. As memorable
as the first film, it won’t be for everyone but fans
of the black and white crime saga will not be
disappointed.
YOUR Book Reviews
Thank you to Wendy for sending us her book
review. This sounds like a good one!
‘TheForgotten Seamstress’ by Liz Trenow
I would like to highly recommend this book.
I purchased it one Saturday morning on my
kindle and started reading that evening, and
it’s one of those books that you do not want
to put down. I got up Sunday morning and
started reading again, finishing by midday.
The story starts in 2008 when Caroline finds
an old patchwork quilt in her mother’s attic.
It was left to her by her Grandmother and it
brings back memories as she remembers it
from her childhood.
Caroline asks her mother the story of the quilt but she is in the
throes of dementia and not much help. When Caroline asks
her friend Jo, who is an expert on historical fabrics if she knows
anything about it, they discover something amazing about the
silk used in the quilt, which makes Caroline determined to find
out the story behind it.
There are many twists and turns along the way and a few
heartbreaks for Caroline who has lost her job, split with her
boyfriend and discovers her mum is not capable of living
by herself anymore. Maria’s story unfolds as she tells it to a
research student in 1970, who is recording the interview on a
cassette recorder. She is doing research work on an old Asylum
called Helena House and interviewing people who lived there.
Maria and her friend were orphans in a nunnery and were
seamstresses who got picked to work at Buckingham palace.
The story of what happens is heart breaking and had me in tears.
At the end of the book, if you go to the author’s website you can
download the quilt pattern and instructions for free.
This brought back memories for me as my Granddad was in
an asylum most of his life due to things he saw in the war. I
remember being taken to see him by my Nan several times and
never forgot him. This is the first book I have read by this author
but it wont be my last...
GET ON UP (24th September)
Not content with playing legendary baseball
player Jackie Robinson in last year’s ‘42’, Chadwick
Boseman brings another icon to the screen in
the life story of James Brown. His rise to fame,
notoriety and dark side are all portrayed in a
tremendous performance from Boseman, who
may be an early contender for the Oscars, and
given quality support from Oscar winner Octavia
Spencer and Dan Akroyd. It may not reach the
heights of music biopics such as ‘Ray’ or ‘Walk
The Line’, but is a fitting film for an unforgettable
performer.
‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’ magazine
Published by Sarah Berry
La Bartière, 79130 SECONDIGNY
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21
www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Release dates are nationwide in France.
Where is Your Nearest Cinema?
We list below a number of cinemas in the departement. Our
research shows that they present films in ‘VO’ (version originale),
but it is suggested to check before travelling.
Parthenay
Le Foyer , 1 rue Denfert-Rochereau, 79200 Parthenay
Visit: http://cinema.foyer.cc-parthenay.fr/foyer
Niort
Méga CGR, Place de la Brèche, 79000 Niort
05.49.79.66.33
Visit: http://www.cgrcinemas.fr/niort/#
Melle
Le Méliès, Place Bujault, 79500 Melle
05.49.29.15.83 / 05.49.29.15.50
Visit: http://www.lemelies-melle.info
Bressuire
Le Fauteuil Rouge, Espace bocapôle, 79300 Bressuire
05.40.24.20.88
Vsit: http://www.lefauteuilrouge.fr
To search films showing ‘version originale’ in the Deux-Sèvres,
visit: http://www.allocine.fr/film/
Combined Services Support Group
by Terri Laverick
(CSSG)
In late October and early November we are presenting a mélange
of short comedy plays for your delight from playwrights such as
Alan Ayckbourn, Lyndon Brock, Michael Green and Phil Wood.
Plays will last from 10 - 25 minutes and be packed with laughter.
This takes us slightly away from our normal routine but will
allow members of Reaction Theatre, who have previously had
little opportunity, the chance to try their hand at directing,
producing and of course acting and at the same time give
you, our audience, the opportunity to see a number of new
personalities on our stage in Secondigny.
This might be just the chance you have been waiting for. Fancy
coming along and auditioning for a small part? Get in touch
ASAP, I guarantee you will have lots of fun and laughter.
Keynotes
After a quiet month in August the Keynotes will be back in
earnest in September; getting ready for a number of events later
in the year with World War 1 songs for the 14th November at the
museum in Parthenay, Christmas songs for the Terves Christmas
Fair and a repeat of our very popular Christmas Cornucopia
show in December where Margaret Round will be introducing
lots of new songs and comedy sketches.
The Art Scene
Although I told you we were closing down for August it didn’t
turn out that way. The artists made me carry on with our Friday
morning session AND some plein air meetings as well - they’re
so keen. My thanks go to Kathy and Maureen for their fine
demonstrations during this period. A new programme will be
on the website soon for the September - December period.
Information on Reaction Theatre membership, Reaction Theatre
and Keynotes performances past and future and The Art Scene
meetings and projects can be seen on www.reactiontheatre.fr
or contact me for more information.
Don’t forget if you fancy being one of our stars of the stage let me
know, John Blair. (Tel: 05 49 63 23 50)
I hope you have all been able to make the best of the summer.
It seems to have been a strange one this year, but those of us
working behind the scenes at CSSG have been beavering about
organising events and thinking of ways to entertain you over the
next few months.
The Summer Garden Fair was well attended, and our thanks to
those of you who came along on a very hot and sunny day. We
raised plenty of money for our two named charities and had fun
at the same time. The Keynotes Choir and 3 Plus 1 entertained
us during the afternoon, and the kitchen ran out of ice cream
and lollies. Personally, I enjoyed my fish and chips followed by
a cup of tea and slice of cake. Once again, our thanks to those
of you who helped, supplied the cakes, came along to sell your
goods or, just simply, to have a good time.
A reminder to our members, our next meeting will be on 6th
September, at the Café des Belles Fleurs in Fenioux, beginning
with a British style breakfast.
We will be at The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’s Trade Fair in Secondigny
on 20th September, so if you are interested in joining us, come
along for a chat.
Another highlight in the year is our Tea, Coffee and Cake stall at
Paperback Jan’s in La Ferriere on 28th September. Once again
we’ll be requesting our faithful cake makers to get baking. The
CSSG Tombola Stall will be there, so do please come along with
plenty of cash.
Halloween is party time for CSSG as we are holding a party in
the Salles des Fete in St Pardoux (31st October). There’s a prize
for the best Witch, Wizard or Ghoul and also a prize for the best
carved and illuminated Pumpkin. Supper will be a Chicken or
Vegetarian Curry. If you are interested, please contact us via
email: [email protected] and we will be happy to sell you
a ticket at €7.50 per person.
Once again, if you are interested in joining us, get in touch at
[email protected] and we will be pleased to meet you at
any of our meetings or events.
The Local Art Scene
by John Blair
There is a surprising number of highly
talented artists in our region and I thought
it would be a good idea if I found out a little
bit more about them and reported back to
you.
We all have different views and opinions
on what we consider to be good art. A couple of years ago I went
to ‘The Pompidou Centre’ in Paris with a few friends and we all
came out speechless until someone said, “What rubbish”. I then
decided that I would try my very best to better understand and
appreciate a wider range of art.
I will be talking to a wide range of artists about their chosen art
genre. I believe in constructive criticism, with the emphasis on the
word constructive and am not frightened of saying what I think, it
must be the Yorkshire in me. I will go into each session with an
open mind but will expect each of the artists to be equally open.
Contact ‘The DSM’ magazine...
Call Sarah on 05 49 70 26 21
or email: [email protected]
Why me, you might ask? Well, it was my idea. You probably
remember artist Tracey Emins installation called ‘My Bed’? I
always thought it was ‘My unmade Bed’. Well someone once said
“I could have done that” but the response was “Ah, but you didn’t
did you?”.
Once we get started your views will be most welcome, but don’t
expect everyone to agree with them.
Contact: [email protected]
Part 2 of 4
100 Years On....
by Rob Berry
From my last article you will know that on 4th August 1914,
in response to Germany’s invasion of neutral Belgium, the UK
declared war on Germany. This declaration automatically brought
in to the war several dominions of the British Empire including
Australia, Canada, Newfoundland, New Zealand and South
Africa. On 4th August 2014, numerous events took place across
the UK and mainland Europe to commemorate the centenary of
the start of the First World War (WW1). You may have seen some
of the coverage in the media, but what happened on and after
5th August, one hundred years ago?
On 5th August 1914, FM Lord Kitchener was appointed Secretary
of State for War. At the time the British Army had approximately
710,000 men of which 250,000 were professional soldiers,
far fewer than those of France and Germany, and was the only
European Great Power without conscription. Kitchener foresaw
a long drawn out war and ordered the recruitment of 100,000
volunteer soldiers. Recruitment offices were overrun and by the
end of September, 750,000 men had volunteered; one million
by January 1915. Eventually Kitchener was responsible for the
recruitment of the largest volunteer army the world had seen;
his image on recruiting posters demanding “Your country needs
you!” is still recognised today. On 5th June 1916, Kitchener, on his
way to Russia to attend negations, was one of 600 who drowned
when HMS Hampshire struck a German mine and sank west of the
Orkney Islands.
By 5th August, Germany was deploying 7 armies totalling 1.5
million soldiers. Of these the German 1st, 2nd and 3rd Armies
(34 divisions of men) were being aligned along the Belgium and
French frontiers ready to initiate the Schlieffen Plan. Basically,
the Germans believed that they could not attack France without
Russia coming to her aid, and vice versa. Whilst forces had been
mobilized against both powers, Russia had always been seen as a
secondary threat and France would always be attacked first. To
do this the Germans would need to march through Belgium as
this would bypass the heavily fortified Franco-German frontier.
Once France was defeated, the invading German armies would be
moved to the East in order to attack Russia. This Plan was expected
to last no more than 40 days. Similarly, Russia had to mobilize and
protect its borders against both Germany and Austria-Hungary as
war against one would automatically mean war against the other.
The gateway into Belgium was through the city of Liège. This
was heavily guarded by 12 fortresses, six on each side of the river
Meuse, along a 30 mile stretch. On 5th August, 6 brigades of the
German 2nd Army attacked Liège and its 35,000 garrison troops.
Confident of an easy victory with little resistance, the Germans
expected to take Liège quickly whist the remaining German armies
continued to assemble. However, Belgium put up stubborn
resistance after King Albert urged his country to protect Belgium’s
neutrality at all costs. It took the deployment of Germany’s most
powerful artillery, the 16.5 inch siege cannons, before headway
was made. Heavy shelling began on 12th August and with the
destruction of the final fortress three days later, Liège fell. The
main German advance into Belgium began on 18th August, much
later than expected.
In France enthusiastic crowds cheered off train after train of
soldiers deploying towards the Germans. The French plan
was simple – advance and attack the Germans whatever the
circumstances. On the morning of 7th August, advancing towards
the city of Mulhouse near the Swiss border in Alsace, previously
a French province lost to Germany in the Franco-Prussian war in
1871, Gen Bonneau and his 7th Corps attacked Altkirch swiftly
taking the town with minimal casualties. Cautious at the lack of
German defence, Bonneau hesitated fearing a trap. Having been
ordered to do so, Bonneau continued and entered Mulhouse but
was later counter-attacked by German reserve forces that were
encircling the city. Overpowered, Bonneau withdrew only to be
relieved of his command for being too tentative in offense.
In the UK the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) made up of 4 infantry
divisions and one cavalry division of professional soldiers, moved
to embarkation ports using 1800 trains. On 7th August, secret
Above: Lord Kitchener calls upon British citizens to enlist for the
First World War.
landings into France began and elements of the BEF began moving
towards Mons in preparation to enter Belgium.
Over the next two weeks the Germans continued to advance until
their 4th and 5th Armies were squared off against the French 3rd
and 4th. Four bloody conflicts known as the Battle of the Frontiers
followed in as many days. On 20th August, French forces were
destroyed at Lorraine by the advancing German left wing. Two
simultaneous battles took place on the 21st and 22nd August
around Ardennes and the village of Charleroi. At Charleroi the
French 5th Army was forced into retreat by the German 2nd
Army. On 22nd August alone 27,000 French soldiers were killed at
Ardennes and Charleroi. The French 5th Army should have been
supported by the BEF but due to delay and bad relations between
commanders, on 23rd August the BEF was forced into its own
action at the Battle of Mons.
This battle saw 35,000 soldiers of the BEF attacked across the
Mons canal in Belgium by the advancing German 1st Army.
Outnumbered, the BEF withstood 6 hours of intense shelling and
infantry assault. The decision was then made to retreat to stop
German forces enveloping the BEF. This first day of combat action
for the British ended in bitter disappointment and 1,600 casualties.
The German victory at the Battle of the Frontiers gave them great
confidence and they continued their advance through Belgium
and into northern France. For the French this four day battle was
a costly failure with around 70 divisions, about 1.25 million men,
engaged in combat and 140,000 casualties. In less than a month
allied armies were in retreat. On 24th August a new 6th Army was
created from reservists and soldiers from regrouping other armies.
Following several other battles including the First battle of Ypres,
the German advance stalled and trench warfare followed with each
side dug in along a 350 mile front from Switzerland to the Belgian
coast. This front, The Western Front, remained mostly unchanged
for four years during which time large battles, preceded by massive
artillery bombardment, took place. Neither side made a decisive
breakthrough nor little ground was gained. The human cost was
slaughter on an unprecedented scale. The very industrialization
that allowed Europe to dominate the world soon turned on itself
and the destructive capacity of industrially produced weapons was
terrifyingly demonstrated.
Next month I will summarise events that took place on The
Eastern Front and across the rest of the world, finishing with
my final article in November with how WW1 came to an end
and its aftermath.
And the French Went to War in Taxis
by Tony Barrett
puzzlement from the duty officer. Around 4am. on September
7th the expedition, now supplemented to over 400 vehicles, was
directed to Dammartin to await further orders from the 6th Army.
Patience prevailed at Dammartin while more empty taxis arrived
from Paris. Finally the entire convoy, including Paris autobuses,
trucks, limousines, and even racing cars, drove to a rail siding to
load the arriving infantrymen of the 103rd and 104th regiments.
Departure for the front was at dusk. Soldiers tried to sleep and
drivers strained to see the road without auto lights. Most of the
cabs were sent back to take a second load. Each trip by a vehicle
brought five soldiers close to the front ready for deployment.
One of the single most important legacies of the First World War
for the French was the story of the heroic action by the ‘Taxis de la
Marne’, the French Renault AG1 Landaulet, that made history on
the nights of September 6th & 7th, 1914 when all the taxi drivers
in Paris assembled on the Esplanade des Invalides, by the order of
Gallieni (the military governor of the Paris Region).
Unable to requisition the rail network as the trains were in a state
of total disorganisation, another means was necessary to transport
troops to the front in a frantic attempt to stop the Germans who
were nearing Paris. Gallieni requisitioned what was available:
AG1’s Renault Paris taxis, to take the troops to the front, which
was only around 100km from Paris in the area of la Marne.
The First Convoy (the first 250 vehicles) were assembled around
10:00pm on the Esplande des Invalides. They departed under the
command of Lieutenant Lefas around 11:30pm, heading towards
the Place de la Concorde and on to the rallying point Tremblay
Les Gonesse, where they arrived at 2am on the 7th September
awaiting further orders.
By September 8th, two days after Gallieni had had his brilliant idea,
the taxis of the Marne had transported approximately 4,000 badly
needed soldiers to reinforce the 6th Army facing the Germans at
the crucial point of battle near Nanteuil. With Paris saved, France
had a new legend in the Taxi Cabs of the Marne showing its national
ingenuity and determination.
“What about the fare?” asked one of the taxi drivers. Compensation
eventually did materialize at 27% of the meter reading!
This was a huge turning point in the war and the immortal legacy
of the Taxi de la Marne was born. These ‘Taxis de la Marne’ were,
for the most part, Renault Type AG-1 whose design dates back
to 1904. 2.20 metres high, 1.60 metres wide and 3.70 metres
in length, it weighed 1,100 pounds and it’s 1250cc engine could
achieve 8hp. It travelled 25 km/h on average for the transport of
troops, the Parisian Taxi could exceed 45 km/h at maximum speed.
The last Paris Taxi de la Marne driver Kléber Berrier, died in 1985.
As for Taxis de la Marne, they will remain forever in the history
books.
The Second Convoy, which was to transport the 103rd Regiment of
Infantry, left the Esplanade des Invalides and drove through Paris
to their destination of Gagny to pick up passengers.
The advance of the first column under Lefas was slow, breakdowns
occurred and no orders awaited him at the Tremblay, only
Clubs & Associations
Alone in France?
We are a group of people living alone in the L’Absie area who meet
on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 11am for coffee at the Pause! café in
L’Absie. Our lunches are at different venues each month. A warm
welcome awaits you. More details from Ros 09 67 49 21 44
AL-ANON Support Group
Do you wish the Drinking Would Stop? Are you troubled by someone’s
drinking? If so we can help. There is now an English-speaking
Al-Anon meeting every Wednesday @ 2.30pm in the meeting room
behind Civray Mairie. Just turn up or ring Angela on 05 49 87 79 09.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, there
are now a number of English-speaking meetings of Alcoholics
Anonymous in the South West of France.
Alcoholics Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who
share experience, strength and hope with each other that they
may solve their common problem and help others to recover from
alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to
stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership
and A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics,
organisation or institution. Our primary purpose is to stay sober
and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.
Telephone: Angela: 05 49 87 79 09, Roger: 05 55 76 22 65
or Nancy: 02 54 24 09 74.
or visit www.aafrancesud-ouest.com for
details of English-speaking meetings.
Health, Beauty & Fitness
Abbey teaching at Venus Rose Yoga
Sanctuary situated at the foot of
The Mélusine Tour in Vouvant.
“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.” Kahil Gibran
The Shiva Experience
Yoga and the Art of Freedom in Flow...
Yoga
This blissful meditation in movement is, in SECRETS
its essence, a ‘Salutation to Shiva’, Shiva
Namaskara...
This sacred dance is performed in adoration to our Shiva
Being...
Shiva, at its highest expression, being transcendant, limitless
and eternally free...
To view ‘The Shiva Experience’, our sacred dance Shiva
Namaskara see our YouTube Channel: YogaDeva TV
And dance your way to ultimate freedom...
Om Namah Shivaya...
The Venus Rose Yoga
RETREAT WEEKEND
‘The Shiva Experience’
Experience the true magic of enlightenment with the timeless
teachings of Vedanta wisdom amidst the enchanting natural
beauty of the medieval walled artists village, Vouvant, la
Vendée, renowned as being one of the prettiest villages in
France and steeped in folklore and legends...
Experience the miraculous and mystical power of the most
important and profound meditation at the heart of the
Vedas...
Achieve the attainment of ‘Yoga’, the union with your
Divine nature, and connect with your Divine Teacher, your
Satguru...
And discover the miracle of who you really are, your destiny
and your dharma, your purpose in life...
This experience will transform your life forever...
Namaste...
For more information on Accommodation, dates and availability
contact us by email: [email protected]
Charming Chambres D’Hotes from 38€ (Special Rates May Apply)
Private and Group Classes running weekly at
The Yoga Sanctuary. For your FREE introductory session please call
Abbey on 06 35 15 60 60
COMPETITION - COMPETITION - COMPETITION - COMPETITION
WIN
A VENUS YOGA EXPERIENCE!
We are offering you the chance to win a Venus Yoga Experience
Retreat Weekend for 2 people to include 4 yoga sessions with
Abbey in The Yoga Sanctuary at the foot of The Melusine Tour,
Vouvant.
TO ENTER: Simply nominate a friend telling us why you wish
they could win this beautiful experience...
Entries by email including your contact details
to [email protected]
(Quoting reference DS-WIN)
Closing date: 1st October 2014. The Winners and
Runners-Up will be notified by Abbey no later
than 31st October 2014.
This prize is open to all (No purchase necessary)*Accomodation
and meals not included. Please contact us by email for T&C.
Manicures....
A Look Through the Hands of Time
by Nicola Warren
If you think that enjoying
a manicure at the salon is
relatively new, think again.
5000 years ago the ancient
Egyptians were great fans
of pampered nails and used
the manicure as a status
symbol. Through the years
it has always been a huge
salon culture.
The word manicure comes from the Latin manus (hands) and
cura (care). Early manicures were done by rubbing oils, incense
and strengthening herbs onto the nails with henna being used
to colour the nails dark. The oldest manicure set dates back to
3200BC and did not change very much in style until an American
doctor invented the traditional emery board in 1830. Since then
the emery board has played an integral part of every manicure and
features in many ladies handbags for those nail emergencies.
The invention of nail polish as we know it comes from a very well
known fashion house which still exists today. The French manicure
was especially popular in the ‘20s and ‘30s, when it was first
introduced in Paris. Ladies then moved this idea on by using car
paint to add colour and soon after another very famous fashion
house developed the first coloured nail polish. This became
especially popular in the ‘40s and ‘50s when colour television
allowed ladies to see the rich and famous flaunt their fashionable
coloured talons.
During the ‘60s and ‘70s, bright
colours became less popular in
the nail world, even when bright
colours were popular in fashion.
Pastel colours became desirable
and the French manicure made a
comeback for the more discerning
lady, again as a status symbol.
When the ‘80s brought in perms and padded shoulders, the power
reds and pinks came back along with a fashion for longer nails until
the ‘90s and ‘00s. Then shades turned darker with purples and
blacks being at the tip of the rock/punk fashion.
Now the manicure is as popular as ever with ladies and even some
men. Having perfectly manicured nails can really add style to your
hands, whether it be a simple manicure to perfect the natural nail
and take care of the hands, or with a colour added to the nail and
even with nail art and gems to add extra sparkle and style.
ENJOY A PROFESSIONAL MANICURE WITH NICOLA FROM JUST 20€
Michael William Hairdressing
Tel. 05 49 07 11 48
Do It Yourself
by Claire Jones
I’m heaving a sigh of relief, only three
weeks of the summer school holidays
remaining. Along with the sense of
relief comes the realisation that, after
the expense of having the children home
for eight weeks, I am now having to find
extra bucks to fund the children’s return
to school.
I know that I am not alone here. This got me thinking about homemade beauty products as a way of easing the squeeze on my purse.
These really do work too!
•
Yoga
•
in Marillet 85240
•
“Anybody can breathe, therefore,
•
anybody can practice yoga”
Traditional style yoga classes for men and
women of all ages
~~ SUMMER CLASSES ~~
~ Tuesday
10am - 11.15am
~ beginners
1.45pm - 3pm
~ Ashtanga 1
6.45 pm – 8pm
~ yoga for men
~ Thursday 9.45am - 11am
~ Friday
~ beginners
6.45pm -8pm
~ mixed ability
10am—11.15am
~ beginners
8 e per class/12 e two classes weekly
Individual and group classes available
Holiday visitors welcome ~ call first
Call ~ CLARE 02 51 69 71 46 ~
•
•
•
•
•
Kick puffy eyes into touch by damping two cotton wool pads,
laying them flat in the freezer until ice cold. Place the chilled
pads over your eyes, lie back and relax for 10-20 minutes.
Soothe sore, irritated eyes by cutting two slices of cucumber
(fresh from the fridge) and applying to the eyes for 5-10
minutes.
Run out of toner? Don’t panic, turn on the cold tap and
splash the chilled water on.
Rough elbows can be softened with lemon juice. Next time
your recipe book calls for fresh lemon juice, hang on to the
squished lemon halves and rub on the end of each elbow.
Rinse well afterwards.
A Hand/foot exfoliator, make a simple paste of olive oil and
fine granulated sugar to bring back its glow.
For sunburn relief, soak cotton pads in cold green tea. Place
the cotton pads over the burn to cool and soothe. Yellow
mustard works a treat too (if you can handle smelling like a
hotdog for a few hours).
Body exfoliation couldn’t be cheaper or easier. Mix 3
tablespoons of coarse salt (sea salt works well) with 2
tablespoons of olive oil and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
Massage into your skin whilst you shower, rinsing off well.
Oily skin needs a nourishing face mask. Grab an egg yolk and
mix with a tablespoon of honey, then mix in enough oatmeal
to make a soft paste. Smear the mask over your face, take a
load off for 15 minutes whilst it does it’s magic.
Catherine Zeta-Jones is, allegedly, a fan of the Strawberrry
Bleach Mask to keep her smile zingy white. Crush a ripe
strawberry and mix with ½ teaspoon of baking soda. Using
a toothbrush, paint the mixture onto your teeth and let it set
for 5 mins. Follow this up by brushing your teeth with your
usual toothpaste. Repeat once a week.
Ah, how my wallet is relaxing… as am I.
email ~ [email protected] ~ FB yoga-vendee ~
Qualified and insured to teach in France
Holistic Therapies...
What are Holistic Therapies:Holistic Therapies involve natural, non-invasive treatments which
are relaxing and can help in many areas towards promoting
good health. Balancing the body is key, so that it can work more
efficiently, allowing its own natural healing system to work more
beneficially for wellbeing.
Healing in the form of Holistic medicine considers the whole
person - body, mind, spirit, and emotions - in the quest for
optimal health. If everything is working in harmony and balance
is achieved, the body can work like clockwork.
The human body is amazing. Yet we do not always treat it with
the respect that it deserves and only when something starts to
go wrong do we take any notice of what our bodies are trying
to tell us, then we start to think that maybe we should do
something about it.
Does this sound familiar? Why not take a little time and take note
of your own needs. Whether it is to address an existing condition
or for preventative measures.
Tai Chi Chuan
What is ‘Reflexology’?
For several years now there have been Tai Chi classes in Bressuire
(Deux-Sèvres) and also in Le Breuil Barret (Vendée), but what
exactly is Tai Chi Chuan?
Reflexology is a method of activating the natural healing powers
of the body. It is a unique system of foot massage based on holistic
principles and evolving from the same roots as acupuncture. All
organs, systems and glands of the body are mapped onto the
feet focusing on specific areas called reflex points.
It’s correct name is actually Tai Ji Quan or Taiji
for short. It was created in Northern China by
General CHEN Wangting towards the end of
the Ming dynasty as an effective martial art
which utilises the philosophy of complimentary
opposites : yin – yang.
By locating, massaging and stimulating the reflex points, which
relate to the different parts of the body, a reflexologist can help
a client to redress the imbalance of energy which can cause
stress and ill health. ‘Like acupuncture without the needles!!’ By
helping to restore and maintain the body’s natural equilibrium,
this encourages the body to work naturally to restore its
own healthy balance. Today’s forward thinking doctors have
recognised this therapy to supplement conventional medicine.
Other available alternative treatments can be seen in my advert
below.
Please call for a brochure in English or French or to discuss your
needs further :- Debbie Haynes, Soul to Sole, Holistic Therapy:
05 49 64 22 69.
Today however, most people practise Taiji not for fighting, but to
improve their physical and mental well-being.
Age isn’t an obstacle to Taiji … 50, 60, 70, 80 or more … it is
possible to practise Taiji!
It is composed of a sequence of choreographed movements that
are, for the most part, carried out in a gentle and slow manner
…but one can optionally perform some of the movements more
vigorously.
To an observer, the elegant, gentle movements of Taiji can seem
to require no effort, however nothing could be further from the
truth!
Your body and mind (inc memory) are exercised when you
practice Taiji. You can expect to improve your circulation, balance
and stress levels etc as a direct result of practising Taiji.
The very best way to answer the question “what is Taiji?” is to
attend a few classes (for free!) and discover the answer yourself!
No particular uniform is required - just loose, comfortable
clothing and flat soled footwear.
Taiji classes (September-July) are held on Tuesday evenings in
Bressuire and on Friday afternoons in Le Breuil Barret.
For more information see: www.chentaiji-fr.com or contact
Terry on 05 49 65 60 34.
Thinking about placing an ad?
Why not take advantage of our Special Packages for New Advertisers?
Call Sarah for more details: 05 49 70 26 21
Our Furry Friends
Summer Leavin’...
happened so fast or You’re the one I don’t want...
by Nigel Franks, NALA
What a summer, with its ever changing weather! As I write
this, at the beginning of August, in the last 24 hours we’ve had
tempestuous wind, rain falling like stair rods and scorching hot sun.
Quite entertaining to watch whilst safely ensconced behind my
keyboard, but not so nice if you’re an abandoned pet. Apparently,
the French are world class standard at abandoning animals
when going on holiday with about two thirds of the 100,000+
pets abandoned each year being abandoned during the summer
holidays.
French legislation treats cats and dogs the same and the same
procedures are supposed to apply to handling strays but in practice,
the authorities take calls about stray dogs more seriously than
cats. Maybe it’s because stray dogs are perceived as being capable
of inflicting more damage by attacking people and livestock or by
causing an accident with a vehicle. So, if you phone up about a
stray dog, then someone will most probably take action.
It’s a totally different story for cats as many town halls don’t have
facilities for looking after stray cats. A call about one is likely to
be brushed off. We’ve heard of town halls saying that because
someone gave a stray cat some food it now belongs to them...
can you imagine them saying that for a dog? Others just tell the
caller to let it go and ignore it and it will take care of itself. I’m
not sure if they really believe that or if they’re just hoping that it
will conveniently starve to death and solve the problem by itself.
It is of course a fallacy to think that pet cats (and dogs) can fend
for themselves. The authorities know that abandoning a pet will
probably lead to its death, which is why it carries a penalty of two
years in jail and a 30,000€ fine.
A couple of years ago the compulsory identification of pets was
extended to all cats over seven months old. It was a welcome move
as it makes abandoning a pet much more difficult as its owner can
be traced. The downside is that as it is difficult to enforce, it is
probably more honoured in the breach than in the observance.
Notwithstanding my pessimism, we have noticed that this summer
we have been contacted less often about stray adult cats. However,
for kittens we have been aplenty.
One is called Jade. She’s very cuddly, sweet natured and likes to
be around people; here’s her pin-up shot. Difficult to tell from the
photo but she’s quite small, so cheap to run, but the downside is
that she won’t keep you so warm in winter. More details can be
found at www.nosamislesanimaux.com.
Jade...
LILO is a four and a half year
old female English Setter.
This pretty lady was brought
into the pound together with
STITCH, the male English
Setter also presently for adoption and it would be lovely if they
could be re-homed together but...
LILO is a little shy at first, but once she gets to know you, very
affectionate and cuddly.
She seems to understand some basic commands and although
she hasn’t been fully assessed yet, seems good with other dogs.
LILO has been micro-chipped, primo-vaccinated including rabies,
so she has a passport, and has been treated for worms, fleas and
ticks. Unfortunately, when she arrived at the pound she came
into season so it wasn’t possible to sterilise her, but she will be
operated on very soon.
An adoption fee of 180€ will be asked for towards her veterinary
costs to date and Orfée will conduct a home visit prior to adoption.
If you would like more information about LILO or any of our other
Dogs for Adoption, please contact:
MARY - 05 49 50 69 41 - [email protected]
CAROLINE - 05 45 96 02 79 - [email protected]
www.orfeeinenglish2.wix.com/orfeeinenglish
Appeal for BESS - a 4 month-old
kitten who needs a home.
Bess is a friendly little girl who was
born in April to a tabby-point siamese
mum, Sissy, in the grounds of a hotel.
Safely in Phoenix care, she is seeking
a home.
She’s a happy kitten who gets on well
with other cats and humans. She
adores fuss so if cuddles are your
thing, she’s your girl! She has an
inquisitive, impish side too and will no doubt bring a smile to
your face!
Bess is chipped (250268500709860) and vaccinated.
Please contact Lynda at [email protected] or call
05 53 81 30 44 if you can give Bess a home.
MAYDAY MES AMIS
At an extraordinary general meeting held on the 4th August, the
committee decided to close the association. There are now other
larger associations in the nearby area and it was felt that these
associations could make better use of the money that Mayday
has raised. The 475€ remaining in the association’s account will
be given to Association Galia. Mayday wishes to thank all those
who have supported it and its fund raising events over the past
three years and hope that people will continue to support animal
rescue work in the area.
Meet Dobby, he’s a cross
Basset/Griffon Vendeen.
He’s two years old and is ready
to go to a new family. He gets on
well with other dogs and is good
with cats. He walks well on the
lead and is house-trained.
On walks he will need to be on
a long-lead and he will need an
enclosed garden. He loves to
romp and play and is brilliant
with children. Dobby loves to be
cuddled and fussed.
For further information please contact Julie on 05 45 68 91 25.
www.hopeassoc.org
3 ANGLO-FRENCH PULL-OUT
TRADE FAIR 2014
rd
side setting!
Don’t miss this hugely popular event at a fabulous lake
After two successful years we continue to host this popular event
showcasing many local exhibitors and their services or products.
As with previous events, we will have a wide range of products and
services available. Items such as jewellery, British foods, painted
pottery, plants and clothing, plus services including financial
advice, solar powered products, builders and beauticians to name
a few. In fact there are more than 70 exhibitors in total, so there
is certainly something for everyone.
We will be open all day from 10.30am allowing visitors to come
and go and use the other facilities available at the lakeside venue.
Once again we will have translators available throughout the day
to help with any language difficulties between visitor and exhibitor
(just wave a flag or grab a badge-wearer for some assistance!) plus
lots of goodies, games, prizes and music to keep you entertained.
The salle over-looks the lac des Effres in Secondigny and has lots
of parking! Situated off the D748 Niort-Bressuire road, it’s easy to
find... just look out for banners and signs!
Saturday 20th September,
10.30am-5.30pm
Salle Alauna, 79130 SECONDIGNY
and we have LIVE MUSIC!
Kate Stone, pictured right, is an 18 year old singer/
songwriter born in Derby and raised in the french countryside.
It was at the early age of 12, when she picked up a guitar for
the first time, and from then it was clear to all music was her
calling card.
From covers of popular songs to her own material, Kate brings
a pop/indie sound which is completed by her unique voice.
Inspired by the likes of Fleetwood Mac & KT Tunstall, she
knows how to get the audience going.
PLUS! there will be Jazz, vocal group,
‘The Salt Pin-Ups’ and singer
Anne Kennel Dessens...
Come along and enjoy an all female
line-up, from lunchtime Saturday 20th
September!
Come and Meet Jim Bryde’s
Racing Siberian Husky Team...
Jim has owned and raced Siberian’s for 27 years, breeding World
Championship winning dogs and also supplying the dogs for
‘Tomb Raider’.
He retired to France in 2012 after finally (after 7 second places)
winning Europes biggest race, Aviemore. He is now awaiting the
publication of this event after writing ‘Sled Dog Gun....Aviemore
Dreaming’, due out at the end of this year.
He now runs his dogs just for fun, although they are still trained
at the same intensity. This means four times a week running
them behind a motorised Quad at an average of 20mph. Running
them on the racing rig, which weighs around 12kgs, does not
provide the security he needs training in areas frequented by
small animals.
The Siberian Husky is a very friendly dog and loves human
contact.
Jim will be present during the day - please come and give them
a hug and perhaps a small treat, and they will be your friend for
life. He will also be demonstrating the speed of his racing team
- so keep watch!
The Siberian Huskies are superb hunters and are the one
domesticated dog that can look after itself in the wild (see the
film ‘8 Below’), therefore they see anything small as lunch! For
this reason, it is important to note that when the dogs are
running, please keep all dogs out of sight of the team.
Having arrived in France with one cat, Jim and his partner Cherry
now have four, by picking up strays. Consequently Jim also fundraises for the cat organisation NALA, and will be doing so in this
capacity at the event. Any donations can be made to him on the
day and would be greatly appreciated.
La Deuxieme Chance
When Annie Sloan invented her unique paint over 20 years ago, she
had just one aim in mind, to transform her furniture in a day. Painting
in the morning, with little or no preparation, waxing in the afternoon
and returning it to its place before evening.
Transforming your home and furniture is still that easy. We offer a
choice of either Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™ or Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk
Paint. Both these eco-friendly, water based paints allow surfaces to
breath and are perfect for old French houses. With books, brushes
and waxes, we have everything you need for your project. We also offer workshops being personally
taught and approved by Annie herself and Miss Mustard Seed.
These superior paints, which we believe are the best you can buy, are suitable for furniture, walls,
floors, woodwork, beams and ceilings as well as exterior use, with excellent coverage - normally in
one coat. Come and see them and us at stand N°17.
WE’VE GOT IT COVERED
When it comes to bias, then we have to admit, Deux-Sèvres has
got it all ...
With a fabulous micro-climate, historic towns and pretty villages our wonderful countryside and fabulous food provide a veritable
feast for all the senses!
At Leggett, we’ve got the district well covered too - with ten
agents spread throughout the Deux-Sèvres we offer discerning
home buyers the best selection of properties available - whether
you’re looking for your very own château to a simple lock-up-andleave; a modern apartment or town villa to a countryside retreat,
we’ll find the property to best suit your particular needs.
We help buyers every step of the way through the purchasing
process - and with more expats choosing to buy through Leggett
Immobilier than any other agency in France, we certainly have the
ground covered!
When it comes time to move on to your next dream home then Leggett will work with you to sell your house. Each year
we promote our properties internationally - through the media
and internet we will focus on selling your property. We’re also
high profile at all the biggest and best international property
exhibitions in the UK and in Europe.
And we’ll be at the Trade Fair, Stand 44.
It’s that marketing focus which really gives us the edge when it
comes to buying and selling property.
And now we’re expanding our influence into the Vendée - such is
the growth of the property market, especially with more British
buyers seeking properties again in France - that we too are growing
our team. If you’re passionate about property and looking for a
rewarding career, then why not give us a ring?
INDOOR Exhibitors
Exhibitor Stand numbers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
60
61
62
Paperback Jan
Pam Irving
Equi Libre Immobiliser
International Study Centre / Usborns Books
Nathan Foster Building Services
Taylor Made Beauty
De Sylva Therapies
LeonieLynne.com
Cym Cards
Alison Morton
Blevins Franks
LouLesBelles
Atelier et Comptoir du Tapissier
Savons et Senteurs
Dave Bowring Electrician
La Maison de Bougie
Buzz Transport
Leggett Immobilier
JMH French Solutions
Batidiag
SkyBlue Langues
Kelly Knight Pampering Events
Photo Creativity
Chimney Sweep Service
Papillon Bleu
Currencies Direct & Le Network
The Spectrum IFA
AIP
GAN Assurances
Léon Art & Stories
Bleu Marine Immobilier
•
Phoenix Cards
•
Emyssalie Mosaîque
•
Interface Consulting & Engineering
•
Neals Yard
•
63
64
65
66
67
Petites Puces Gonflables
Abord Immo
Barney the Dog Books
Blacktower Financial Mgmt Ltd
Polar Express
•
•
68 Sue Burgess
69 Rob Berry Plastering Services
Stage : Artist Jean David Expo
OUTDOOR Exhibitors
Catering:
•
•
•
Mister T’s Friterie
La Boite Deliceuse
Crêpe O’Beure
Exhibitor Stand numbers:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1 John’Son & Light
4 Motor Parts Charente
5 Yoga Vendée
6 Le Jardin de Marian
10 An English Nursery in France
11 Pamela Jayne Photography & RobIT
12 sarl Prince
13 Fresco Interiors
14 Kingfisher Krafts
15 Monique Gerber-Maher
16 Chez Tante Mabel
17 La Deuxieme Chance
17a Fosse France Solutions
18 Need-a-Hand Services
19 LGF Autos & Barge Painting by Debbie
20 Billaud-Segeba
21 Red, White & Blue
22 Easy French Life
23 Haynes Carpentry
23a Val Assist
25 AMC Contracts
70 sarl Bois Nature Energie
71 Down to Earth
72 Ecopower
Local Associations:
•
•
•
•
CSSG
Aidez Association
ORFEE Association
Reaction Theatre
Stand 55
Take a Break
DSM Easy Crossword
Across:
8. Mediterranean evergreen tree (5)
9. The wide part of a river where
it nears the sea (7)
10.Umpire (7)
11.Restrict or confine (5)
12.Where planes takeoff and land (8)
13.A republic in the Middle East (4)
15.Female horse (4)
17.Disconnect or separate (8)
21.Incapable of compromise or flexibility (5)
22.A room where works of art are exhibited (7)
24.Explosive powder (7)
25.Supply food ready to eat (5)
DSM Toughie Crossword
Across:
7. Drink a good glassful to an excellent harvest? (6)
8. We drop amendment, take one
and leave (6)
10.A word of agreement about bungled raid of W.I. gang (7)
11. Sleazy result of unknown following stitch-up (5)
12. We are told baker’s action is something we can’t do without (4)
13. Home gathering to unveil the last letter (5)
17. Leaves the scene in little jumpers, so they say (5)
18. Obscene becomes merely obscure after RE conversion (4)
22. Stand up, man! You think that’s funny! (5)
23. Gears Royal Navy up to be a big
team in Scotland (7)
24. Type of currency included in directions for cell (6)
25. Action about wrongly hung is over the top (4-2)
Quiz-tastic!
Down:
1. 60 minutes (4)
2. Steal from others (6)
3. A native of Newcastle-upon-
Tyne (7)
4. Make visible (6)
5. Lacking freshness (5)
6. Hand tool (6)
7. An aura of heightened interest or value about a person or thing (8)
12.A competition between nations to have the most powerful weapons (4,4)
14.Assemble or get together (7)
16.A feeling of friendship and esteem (6)
18.A solid lump of precious metal (6)
19.As much as necessary (6)
20.Allow to enter; grant entry to (5)
23.A unit of length equal to three feet (4)
Down:
1. Yielding to a strange yen to get lost in wild Gobi environment (7)
2. Turned out better, so was definitely brighter? (7)
3. Natural treatment for wood
found in fire-singed surroundings(5)
4. A great many get older while
one is kidnapped for trade? (7)
5. Decree that a number be included in revision (5)
6. Formerly beams following on
carts (5)
9. Regimental sergeant-major may yet be reduced to a disorderly state. (4)
14.Relocate without a mix-up; it’s his choice (7)
15.Friend includes an amount of work in feeling of aversion (7)
16.Spent, or dissipated, in north-
west town (7)
19.Little able to perform central part of holy man (5)
20. The French love the queen not to be in protective clothing (5)
21. Something to smoke inside the nose? (5)
With thanks to M.Morris
Monthly quiz by Roland Scott...... how many can you get?
1) Which snooker player, born 1964 in Liverpool, won World and UK championships in 1991?
2) What symbol is used on maps to represent battlefields?
3) Which imperial unit of mass/weight is equal to 6.3503 kg?
4) Who is the villain in 101 Dalmations?
5) Written by Steven Sondheim for the musical ‘A Little Night Music’, which song has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Judy Collins, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Shirley Bassey among others?
6) Which American TV series was a spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and starred David Boreanaz?
7) What is the name of Ernie, the Fastest Milkman in the West’s horse?
8) What three objects were used in the church ceremony of Excommunication?
9) Which BBC radio programme, first broadcast regularly on 1/1/1951, was originally described as “an everyday story of country-folk”?
10)Which London Theatre, built in 1599, was rebuilt in 1614 after a fire the previous year; closed in 1642 and was demolished then reconstructed and re-opened in 1997?
11)What is the title of the mariner whose job is to guide ships in hazardous waters, particularly into and out of ports?
12)Where does cartoon character Yogi Bear live?
Finally, for an extra point, assuming you have 12 correct answers
what is the connection between your answers or parts thereof?
Find the answers on our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Copyright RJS 2014
Home & Garden
THE AMATEUR GARDENER
by Vanda Lawrence
I was recently asked for advice regarding the care of an established
grape vine which is trained up an outside wall. I have no experience
growing vines but agreed to do a bit of research and pass the info
on to other amateur gardeners out there too.
My goodness, it’s much more complicated than I could ever have
imagined. Wine grapes or dessert grapes? Rod and spur pruning
system or Guyot system? Indoor cultivation or outdoor? And
that’s before we come to pests and diseases.
For this article, basing it on the original query, I’m going to
concentrate on an established vine, trained up an outside wall and
presumably a wine grape variety (because dessert grapes should
be grown in a greenhouse to ripen properly).
Grapes grown outdoors need well-drained soil and a warm,
sheltered, sunny site - a south or south-west facing wall is ideal.
Ideally, new vines should be planted between October and March.
Remove all flowers for the first two years after planting. Allow
three bunches of grapes to form the next year and five or six on a
four-year-old vine. After this the vine can be allowed to produce
as much as possible. Mulch the plant with gravel in spring while
the soil is still moist. This will suppress weeds but also white gravel
reflects sunlight into the canopy of the vine while black gravel or
slate absorbs sunlight, thereby warming the soil. The choice is
yours. Do not use manure because this can be high in nitrogen
and salt which can stunt or kill grape vines.
Now to the pruning. The main pruning time is November-December,
but training and pinching out new shoots, as well as thinning the
fruit should be done in spring and summer. Therefore, beginning
in spring, pinch out the tips of flowering side branches, leaving two
leaves beyond the flower cluster. If you have a dessert grape vine
allow only one flower cluster to develop per side branch. For an
established wine grape vine leave as many as you like.
Tie each flowering side branch to a support wire then pinch out
non-flowering side branches to five leaves. Lastly pinch out side
shoots growing from these side branches to just one leaf.
I told you it was complicated, didn't I?
Vines can suffer from Botrytis (‘botrys’ in Ancient Greek means
‘grapes’ plus ‘itis’ for disease), a fungal disease causing grey rot.
This is the result of consistently wet or humid conditions resulting
in the loss of the affected grape clusters and is why it is so important
to find time to do the summer pruning, thereby allowing plenty of
air to circulate around the vine.
Hopefully your grapes are growing well on the vine, but when
to harvest? Are they ripe yet? Just because your grapes have
changed colour does not mean they are ripe. It takes 1-3 weeks
after turning colour to be considered ripe for harvest. Apparently,
there are early, mid-season and late varieties depending on how
many days it takes from full flower bloom to ripeness. You need to
taste the grapes to judge ripeness. If they taste good - pick-em!!
The seeds of the grape also indicate ripeness - green or light tan
= not ripe; ripe grapes have brown seeds. Also, ripe grapes can
be pulled from the cluster with little resistance. Now to throw
a spanner in the works ... not all grapes ripen at the same time;
berries in different parts of the cluster ripen at different times and
clusters don’t all ripen at the same time either! Those in sunshine
ripen quicker and bunches at the base of the shoot are ahead of
those towards the tip of the shoot.
It’s certainly a learning curve isn’t it? Take heart though, if your
vine survives all this then it’s easy work in December to do the final
prune and tidy everything up by cutting back the side branches to
two buds from the main stem.
Good luck! It will be worth all the trouble when your homemade
wine is ready to drink.
FÊTE DES Plantes
The 4th Plant Festival will be held on
Sunday 5th October in the grounds of
the Chateau at Bressuire. From 9am
until 7pm, 3€ entry for adults, free entry
for children.
There will be 60 plant stalls and in the
region of 200 poultry of different breeds,
many of which will be for sale.
In the Chateau building there will be a
display of Bonsai with a demonstration
of their preparation and care. In addition
there will be a display of pumpkins
decorated for Halloween and a sale of
second-hand gardening items.
The Festival is organised by the Rotary
Club of Bressuire in partnership with the
town of Bressuire, the
Poultry
Association
of
Thouaraise
and
Credit Mutual.
1/4 page colour adverts only 75€
Don’t forget
our
deadline:
Call Sarah on 05 49 70 26 21
of the
month.
05 49 70 26 21
French Life
Batting for Success!
by Mick Austin
France and cricket are not normally two words you’d use in the
same sentence, but a young English schoolgirl from the DeuxSèvres is rapidly putting the country on the map in that sport.
Since then, cricket has been a big part of the Blake family’s life.
Rebecca trains most weeks in Saumur, either at the cricket ground
or in a gym over the winter months, while father John is the
chauffeur. He and Rebecca’s mother, Greta, regularly make the
100km round trip to Saumur, clocking up around 6000km a year and that’s without any international matches!
Fifteen-year-old Rebecca Blake, who lives in the tiny village of
Miremont, between Thouars and Bressuire, is a rising star in the
French ladies national cricket team and has just returned from
an international tournament in Germany with an award for best
emerging player under 21 years old.
“It was incredible,” says Rebecca, also know as Becky or Becks to
her schoolfriends at the Lycee Alienor d’Aquitaine in Poitiers. “The
whole atmosphere of the tournament was just great. When the
teams were playing we were enemies, but as soon as the games
were over we were all friends. ”
The seven-team tournament - played over four days in the shadows
of the Berlin Olympic Stadium - was a great success for the French
side and for Rebecca personally. France finished third behind Italy
and Germany and over six games Rebecca was ranked sixth Most
Valuable Player out of more than 90 players.
“I was really pleased to have batted and bowled as well as I did,”
she says. “My team-mates were all happy for me, but then again
as one of the team’s vice-captains it is important that I do well.”
Rebecca began the week on a high, scoring 30 not out in a defeat
against the host nation, and ended it in the same fashion, hitting
31 in a comfortable victory over Gibraltar. She finished the week
with 94 runs and six wickets.
“It was by far one of my best cricketing experiences,” says Rebecca,
“Given that the tournament was over several days, but scoring my
maiden international 50 against Belgium a few weeks ago is also a
moment I’ll always remember.”
Rebecca has packed quite a bit into her short cricket career. She
first picked up a bat and ball four years ago at an impromptu
‘France v Rest of the World’ match at a picnic. She was just 11 years
old. Hooked on the game from then, she joined the Saumur Cricket
Club and is now a regular in the club’s only team – the men’s! She’s
the youngest and the only girl. Her prowess with both bat and ball
soon got her noticed by the French national squad and she played
her first games for them (two matches against Jersey) in August
2011 aged 12. She was the youngest ever to play for the national
team and has been a regular ever since.
“The games were at Saumur and were the first ever played by a
French national ladies team,” remembers Rebecca. “I was a bit
nervous and in the first match none of us played particularly well.
But in the second I got two wickets and the best bowler award.”
Below: Rebecca bowling in Berlin. Photo: Patrick
Demaerschalk and Right: Rebecca being awarded ‘Best
Emerging Player’. Photo: Sevil Oktem
Celebrating a wicket. Photo: Sevil Oktem
A lot has happened in just four years and there’s been plenty to
take in, but how does Rebecca see her cricketing future panning
out? “Quite simply, I’d like to be the best I can possibly be. I’d love
to captain the French national side. My first ambition is to play at
English county level with a view to someday playing for England if
I’m good enough. Professional cricket is definitely something I’m
looking into but for now I’m not sure what I want to do.”
“For sure, cricket is a big part of my life, but I do enjoy horse riding
although since starting high school a year ago I’ve had little time
for it. I spend most of my spare time with friends and colleagues
and playing other sports like basketball and handball. I’d say I’m
much like any other 15-year-old.”
Until she gets a cricket ball in her hand, perhaps!
Mick Austin is a freelance journalist based in the Pays-de-la-Loire. He has had his work
published in several expat magazines and newspapers and has also written the Mayenne
Tourist Board’s only English language brochure. He also runs a gite business at www.
gitefortwo.com
“
I was a bit nervous and in the first
match none of us played particularly
well. But in the second I got two wickets
and the best bowler award.
”
21 days, but as we had swapped her eggs for duck eggs, which take
28-31 days, they were left to go cold. As soon as we spotted her
out and about we took the abandoned eggs and popped them in
the incubator and luckily all three hatched.
We also picked the giant pumpkin before it got any bigger, which,
at 20 kilos, will do us for plenty of soup and a pumpkin pie or two.
It is suggested you don’t pick them until after the first frost but by
then it would have been impossible to move or use.
Life on the Farm
After many weeks of family and friends visiting we are finally
visitor free. It’s nice seeing people but it’s nice to see them go - if
you know what I mean!
We have had a couple of really helpful visitors (we won’t discuss
the third one), one of which was Axelle, who has visited us for the
third year running, and Lauriane, our neighbour’s friend, who both
came to improve their English but also both helped lots on the
farm.
Both girls helped out with the animals and also in the garden
weeding, harvesting and processing vegetables. It means we have
plenty stored for the winter months, especially beans, which have
done exceptionally well this year. As part of their stay Jen teaches
them how to read recipes and understand cooking terms as well,
something they enjoy doing.
They did find the idea of vegetables in cakes rather strange (like
courgette cookies and courgette in a fruit cake) but I was happy
to sample the finished result. They also learnt how to make the
good old English favourite, a Yorkshire pudding, which they
really enjoyed. They have already cooked them for their families
and sent photos of the end product. I have to say that their first
solo attempt was a whole lot better than mine many years ago.
Apparently, the next step will be to fill them with cheese; apologies
to all the Yorkshire folk out there!
We are currently getting ready for the chasse picnic. I hope the
weather is as kind as it has been in the past. This year’s pig won’t
be cooked in the ground as it has been other years, but will be
cooked in just four hours in an amazing wooden box. The cooking
box is lined with thin metal and the pig is placed in a cage inside
with the charcoal on the top. Having trialed a mini one with a leg
of pork, the large box was made and successfully used at a friend’s
picnic a few weeks ago. The added bonus of cooking in the box
rather than in the ground is you get some amazing crackling.
Winston, the Suffolk ram, is in with the girls strutting round in his
raddle. The raddle is a coloured pad which is strapped to the ram’s
chest. This tells us the date each ewe was tupped (mated) so that
we have an idea when it is due to give birth. We change the raddle
colour every 15 days. If the ewe gets marked again it means that
the first mating was unsuccessful. We will probably need to have
three colours. Strangely, he has tupped the girls in the same order
that he did last year.
If you haven’t already booked, don’t forget to order your freerange turkeys and geese for Christmas. We have repeat orders
year after year, so book early to avoid disappointment.
See you soon for more Life on the farm.
Peter & Jenny Sebborn. Breeders of pigs, lambs and poultry.
La Gauteliere, 79220 Pamplie. Tel: 05 49 28 38 57
LOCAL ADVERTISER
They also learnt how to make pickled onions and blackberry jelly
(which was the best) which went nicely with a slice of cake. With
the use of the windfall apples they also made some apple chutney.
The pigs haven’t missed out on the apples either... the crop this
year is not good and it seems that we have more on the floor than
on the trees.
With the plums that also needed harvesting (it was a busy two
weeks) they made plum jam and fruit crumble and as the rhubarb
is still in full swing, a rhubarb tart or two as well as a raspberry Eton
mess. We have also learned some new French recipes including
a very indulgent chocolate cake. There has certainly been no
shortage of cakes, puddings and desserts over the last few weeks.
The tomatoes in the polytunnel are still doing well, which is a good
job as the outside plants have now all suffered from the dreaded
blight - a consequence of rain and warmth.
We continue to hatch more quail and I’m still stunned by the size
when they hatch, but also at the rate they grow and they are hardy
very quickly. The first batch that we hatched will be ready to
process very soon and some are destined for the smoker.
Lilly, the New Zealand white rabbit, has had her second litter this
year and this time a much better litter size of 11. They are now
two weeks old and are finally opening their eyes and venturing out
of the nest. Strangely, all the rabbits are black, yet mum is white
and dad, Bruno, is brown!
The broody hen decided she wasn’t broody after all and gave
up after about 25 days. Had she been sitting on chicken eggs it
wouldn’t have been a problem as they would have hatched after
Our Journey to a
Greener
W
e told you about finally
finding our dream house in
France last month, and so
sparkling with enthusiasm
and excitement we returned
to a very grey, damp England
at the end of September
2012.
Our heads were
spinning with ideas for
what we would be doing in
our new home and garden.
Before
leaving
we’d
photographed every room at least
ten times, including the airing cupboard, and had captured the
garden from every possible angle and vantage point - we were
fully equipped to bore the pants off of anyone who could sit still
for more than 10 minutes!
The sense of anticipation and our general level of excitement
became more manageable as work and day to day living stepped in,
but really we were walking on air. We made all the necessary calls
to let everyone know our plans, including our removal company,
confirming that we expected to be moving before Christmas and
assured them we wouldn’t need them to take the lorry down a
tiny mud track, and no, it didn’t have a narrow front door. All we
needed was the moving in date.
We waited impatiently for every letter and email; diligently
translated reams of reports about lead paint, water sources, wood
worm and termites before each initialling every page in triplicate
and bundling them back in the post. Birth, marriage and divorce
certificates were tracked down, copied, notarised and sent off and
still we waited for a moving date.
After what seemed like weeks, we were told that the French
Agricultural Ministry (SAFR) needed to clear the purchase, because
the house and garden were part of a larger farm and as such
local farmers were to be given the option to match our offer and
purchase instead of us. In practice this meant that we couldn’t
move in before Christmas and potentially we wouldn’t be moving
in at all.
Life
We comforted ourselves that the house had been on the market
for quite some time and if a farmer had wanted to buy it, surely
they’d already have made the offer. This worked to an extent, but
it was still a tense time.
To take our minds off the possibility of losing the house, we
decided to do two things for our future life in France. The first and
most important was to get married - we’d been living together for
17 years - we weren’t entirely comfortable with the implications
of French inheritance legislation and “making it legal” seemed
a sensible thing to do. The second was to set out our very own
Green Manifesto, in reality, a list of aspirations that we would try
and live up to as part of our desire to live more kindly with the
environment.
The wedding was easy - as soon as we knew we couldn’t move
in before Christmas, we arranged to visit family in the Bahamas
and in bare sandy feet at sunset we were married to the sound of
gently lapping waves.
Our Green Manifesto was proving more difficult, but after much
soul searching we settled on three main themes:
• Encourage bio-diversity
• Reduce our consumption of plastic and fossil fuels
• Re-use as much as possible
Having accomplished our pre-moving goals we were delighted in
early January to find out that SAFR had approved the sale and our
signing date was the 4th February.
We arrived in France a few days later, the day before the removal
van would arrive, excited to be camping out in our new home. As
we turned the corner and the house came into view, we held our
breath and pinched ourselves, we were really here, about to live
our dream and ready for the real adventure to begin!
Join us next month to see how our journey continues...
For further information please
email: [email protected]
or visit our website: www.etangfourreau.com.
Also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/etangfourreau
Photos Left and below:
Turning the corner
to their new home,
Etang Fourreau - as it
was; and Right: The
cold snaps of winter
by Louise Read & David Hammond
Communications
Bad USB...
New Security Fears on
the Use of USB Devices
by Ross Hendry
During the past twenty years USB devices have revolutionised the
connectivity between personal computers and a plethora of other
equipment. Of course the USB memory stick has replaced the
floppy disk as the medium for the temporary storage and transport
of our data too. Almost any computer peripheral, from storage
and input gadgets to health care devices, can connect over this
ubiquitous technology. And many more device classes connect
over USB to charge their batteries.
Further that this code is probably undetectable at present and
it is quite possible for this code to be uploaded to your device
whenever the devices are connected to another.
Until reading this news article I thought, as most did, that by
carefully protecting my USB memory Sticks, photo cards etc
and scanning them regularly, it would prevent the spreading
of malware. This research has shown that ALL USB devices are
capable of carrying and propagating malware even a simple
keyboard or mouse, camera or scanner.
The ability of USB devices to store data and interconnect devices
is controlled by imbedded control programs called firmware. This
enables the USB devices to function defining their class and tasks,
giving them their enormous flexibility and connectivity.
Recent extensive research by two specialist researchers for the
security consultancy, SR Labs, called Karsten Nohl and Jakob Lell,
has discovered that the firmware on USB devices could carry
malicious programs such as viruses, trojans and other more
sinister malware.
The security implications are quite alarming, considering that we
exchange USB Memory in the form of sticks/dongles and photo
cards freely between one and other, in the future I am certainly
going to be far more careful with whom I exchange USB devices.
Firmware is simply a program and this means that these devices
may be reprogrammed. Here lies the problem: by reprogramming
a USB device, unscrupulous people can turn one USB type into
another, possibly a malicious one. Nohl and Lell have called this
‘BadUSB’.
In fact, there is no defence for the BadUSB problem at present,
simply because anti-malware scanners cannot access the firmware
area of a USB device. I am certain that this will be addressed very
soon by the Security Industry.
Once the device has been reprogrammed it can be turned into
an active malicious device, so a simple beneficial device may be
turned bad in many ways :
The USB working party, who are the group responsible for USB
Standards have not yet commented on the issue raised by Nohl
and Lell, save to say that USB manufacturers control the security
of their devices. Current specifications do allow for additional
security so it may be possible to reduce the threat in the future.
1. A modified USB memory stick or external hard disk can, when
it detects that the PC is starting up, install a small virus that
infects the computer’s operating system before the boot
up process has completed, turning your computer into a
potential slave to the malicious author’s will.
2. The USB device could emulate a network card and change
the computer’s settings to redirect all internet traffic. For
example to the writer’s PC to log your keystrokes, steal your
data or identity etc.
3. The device could be used to implement code on your PC that
could infect any USB device connected and turn that into a
malicious device, to onward infect others, who knows where
it could end.
This information was released in Las Vegas at the annual Black Hat
security conference in the first week of August 2014. This means
that there is currently no defence that has been created for the
problem. Anti-virus/anti-malware programs cannot access the
firmware on USB devices. Firewall software has not been designed
for blocking this type of threat.
The best defence against this potential threat is to control the use
of USB devices on your electrical devices from your PC to your
SatNav, including your mobile telephone and digital camera. Think
before using any USB device, do you know and trust the source?
Here are my guidelines for safety:
Simply do not plug in a USB device you are not 100% sure of.
Do not exchange USB devices unless you trust the source/recipient.
Only purchase USB devices from trusted sources.
If you suspect a USB device, do not use it.
Watch out for your children’s use of USB devices, including games.
I am confident we will hear much more about this problem, let’s
hope it is the AV industry advising us that they have a solution!
Ross Hendry is the proprietor of Interface Consulting and
Engineering, who has over 42 years experience in Communications,
Computer Technology and Direct Marketing. (See advert below).
Don’t forget
our
deadline:
We’d love to hear
your feedback...
of the
month.
What would you like to see in
future issues?
[email protected]
Useful English Language Numbers...
Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres
05 49 64 59 96
French State health insurance advice line
08 11 36 36 46
Elizabeth Finn Care (Grants and advice if in Financial need)
04 68 23 43 79
Orange helpline
09 69 36 39 00
EDF International Customer Service
05 62 16 49 08
CLEISS (Social security advice between countries)
01 45 26 33 41
Funeral Information (AFIF)
01 45 44 90 03 or www.afif.asso.fr
Passport Advice
0044 208 082 4729
Food & Drink
French Village Diaries
by Jacqueline Brown
Not every year is going to be a
good year for every crop. This is
one of the lessons about growing
our own in rural France that we
learned fairly early on.
Nature gives but I think it also
likes to discourage us from being
too greedy. One year we will
have kilos of cherries to store in
the freezer and as jam, but the
plum, pear or quince harvest
might be poor. Some years the
tomatoes are fantastic, but the cucumbers bitter or the garlics too
small, and we have learned to live with this. Much as it would be
great to have huge quantities every year, we appreciate far more
what we get in a good year and to be honest we would probably
need yet another freezer if every year was a bumper one.
We have an underground rainwater storage tank to aid our irrigation
system and by pumping in winter rain to use during the summer,
it is a great way to save from using tap water on the garden. This
summer, when it’s rained it has poured, but I don’t need to tell you
that, and we have only had to pump out of the sump twice. The rain
has worked hard, regularly watering the potager and keeping the
water butts topped up.
This year, the weather
provided nice enough
days to cycle locally,
decent temperatures for
a challenging few days on
the bikes in the Pyrénées
and even enough sun to
squeeze in a river valley
bike ride in Normandy, but
it hasn’t been the best for
the produce. The cherries
were very disappointing,
the plums almost nonexistent and there will
be no quinces, but the
pear crop was superb,
probably the best we have
had in ten years in France.
The courgettes, once I got
over the disappointment
of most of the seedlings
failing and bought in a
few young plants from
market,
have
been
amazing. Every time we went away for a few days we came home
to bucketfuls of the blighters. I’ve made soup in vast quantities that
has all but filled the new freezer and I have enough chutney and
relish to keep an army in tasty sandwiches this winter.
The tomatoes, however, have suffered despite us scrupulously
tending to their every need. Generous planting distances, regular
removal of side shoots and excess foliage should have ensured
plenty of air circulation and discouraged blight. However it still
struck at the beginning of August, almost overnight. We wasted no
time in removing every infected leaf, fruit and some whole plants
and got rid of them rather than composting them. We were lucky
that some of the fruit continued to ripen, but on the worst affected
plants we had to harvest the green tomatoes. Thankfully we also
had an abundance of windfall apples, so it’s been a bumper year
for my Green Tomato and Windfall Apple Chutney, with an added
hint of Piment d’Espelette that we brought back with us from the
Pays Basque.
For recipes please email me at [email protected]
or visit www.frenchvillagediaries.com
The English Patient
The Wines of Pissotte
by John Sherwin
Flight-Lieutenant Bobby James was none
too happy. OK, he’d bombed some
German U-boats in La Rochelle. Half the
mission accomplished with a nice shiny
gold star. The other half not so good.
Flying low on the way home, fire from
nowhere, right engine gone, parachute
out and hope. Now he’s in a filthy ditch with a twisted ankle, a
banged-up head and a billowing, silky parachute round his face
reminding him he should be in Leicester Square with his girl. Just
great.
“Shut up and I’ll help you. Make a sound and we’re both goners.”
Bobby only remembers being shoulder-hoisted, painfully, but
stifling back the cries. He wakes in daylight in a barn. “Here,
coffee. Some bread.” There were barrels and a smell of grape juice
turning to wine.
Jean Coirier saved a life and made a friend that day, and Robert
James, over the days of his recovery, learned about wine and
winemakers. He learned that the quiet passion of wine-making
is not an oxymoron but - one hopes - a truism. Robert went on
to become a wine importer working from (and I’m not making
this up) 15 Grape Street, London WC2. Jean would ship barrels
of white wine to Robert in London; Robert would keep some for
himself to sell on, bottling the rest to send back to Jean.
Jean and Robert have slipped away to the tasting room in the
sky, but the Coirier family continue as the sole producers of AOC
Pissotte wine. In fact, the wine-making here dates back to 1895.
Just 24 hectares producing, on average, about 100,000 bottles per
year. But the important thing for me is that this remains a family
concern like the Orions of Chantonnay I reviewed last month. That
means pride, attention to detail, commitment to the best possible
product in the bottle for the lucky client.
Their vineyards are at the southern edge of the Vendée plains.
Good terroir: lots of sun and an interesting blend of clay and silica
in the soil. If you are now nodding and smiling and thinking “What
the heck is he talking about”, then fair enough. It all adds up to a
good drop.
Their basic range is ‘Origine’. Nicely fruity whites combining
Chenin and Chardonnay: lovely aperitif and, natch, great with
seafood. The red is from Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Negrette
and it would be a sin not to drink it with duck or roast pork. The
rosés are, for me, the must-have this summer: the smell of wild
strawberries from your youth that just makes you well up with
pleasure and heady remembrance.
If you’re going to swing by and meet Mathieu, grandson of Jean,
and leave with only one bottle, then it must be the red ‘Mélusine’.
This is an incredibly elegant mix of Pinot Noir, and Cabernets Franc
and Sauvignon, aged for twelve months in barrels from the nearby
forest of Mervent-Vouvant.
If, however, you would like to explore this and other Vendée
vineyards in my company, then please see the ad on this page.
I would be very happy to escort you on a memorable day of
discovery.
So raise a glass to Jean and Bobby, in thanks for the life of freedom
and joy they gave us.
John Sherwin, French Wine Tours.
Tel: 02 51 66 13 05 ~ E: [email protected]
www.french-wine-tours.com
RECIPE CORNER
Easy-Peasy Pickle
This quick and easy pickle is perfect just with bread (oh, and
butter)! and is an ideal way of using up your excess veggies.
1. In equal measures, simply alternately layer thinly sliced
cucumber, onion and apple (sour is best). Seasoning as
you go (salt and pepper, or cayenne or paprika if you like
spice).
2. Add a wine-glass measure of sherry or pineau to half a
pint of vinegar and a very generous splash (couple of
tablespoons) of soy sauce.
3. Leave to stand for a few hours before enjoying.
Pumpkin Sauce with Pasta
1. Using a large heavy-based pan, melt a knob of butter and
fry some finely chopped shallots.
2. Sprinkle with a little salt, cover and simmer until very soft
(around 30 mins).
3. Add chunks of peeled and deseeded pumpkin and season
to taste. Cover again, and cook on a low heat until the
pumpkin is pulpy (around 40 mins).
4. Stir in 200ml of a cream of your choice, a generous amount
of grated parmesan and some freshly chopped parsley.
5. Remove from the heat.
6. Prepare your pasta (a wide ribbon pasta such as wide
fettuccine or pappardelle) and drain, reserving some of the
cooking liquid.
7. Add the drained pasta to your pumpkin mix, adding in
reserved water if the sauce is too thick.
8. Sprinkle with more parmesan to serve.
Delicious!
Motoring
COOL CALIBRA
by Helen Tait-Wright
It is interesting isn’t it, how quickly we forget .... cars that used
to be a daily sight on the road are superseded and before you
know it, they have become rare and collectors are searching out
good examples as future classics. A friend of mine has recently
purchased a Vauxhall Calibra to add to his GM Vauxhall Opel
collection, which shocked me as I drove a Calibra up until 10 years
ago; but it is true, you rarely see them now.
The Calibra should become a classic as it lays claim to its own
little piece of automotive history. In 1989 when it was launched,
it was the most aerodynamic production car in the world, with a
coefficient of drag of 0.26, a title which it retained for the next 10
years.
The Calibra, designed by Erhard Schnell, was based on the Opel
Vectra, and added a sports car to the Vauxhall Opel range, filling
the gap left by the demise of the Opel Manta. It was a popular
model in Europe, and offered several engine options, including a
top of the range 4x4 Turbo model.
Just like the Mazda MX-5, the Calibra revolutionised the market
sector it competed in. The Calibra was great-looking but was
also practical, with a hatchback, large boot, and roomy four seat
interior, meaning it could also star on company car lists…
The Calibra also featured in many racing series around the world,
with the most high profile being the German Touring car series, or
DTM, where Manuel Reuter won the 1996 Championship, in the
distinctive white and yellow liveried car. This spawned one of the
many Special Editions that intersperse the Calibra’s history. My Calibra was the 4x4 model, and I loved her. With the seats
down the carrying capacity was impressive, she sat nicely on the
road and was fun and entertaining to drive. A different animal to
the Manta which she was designed to replace, but still worthy of a
place in my personal favourites. There aren’t many cars from the 1990s that still look fresh; as the
Calibra limbers up to celebrate its quarter-century it still looks
perfectly proportioned, athletic and sharp, but finding a good one
is a challenge. There are estimated to be less than 3000 left from
the 239000 that were made, and values are dictated by condition
more than spec. Outside the club scene, most Calibras change
hands for under £1,000. Typically high-mileage, these cars often
aren’t cherished; for something worth buying expect to pay at
least £500, although doubling your budget to £1,000 will secure
something significantly better that’ll prove cheaper to run in the
long term.
The most collectable Calibras are the V6s and Turbos, exceptional
examples of which can still command £5,000 and £2,500
respectively. If you can find a really superb 2.0-litre car, be prepared
to hand over all of £1,500 to make it yours.
As most of the Calibra’s parts were Cavalier/Vectra sourced, there
is a cheap and plentiful supply of parts to keep them going. If you are in the market, whatever you buy will also be practical,
spacious and well-equipped, and it’ll cost you peanuts.
Photo: www.cavalierandchevetteclub.co.uk
What’s not to love?
Contact Helen at [email protected]
Top Transporter for Expats
Franglais Deliveries have fast become the ideal and preferred
transportation service for many expats living in the Deux-Sèvres.
They offer a regular door-to-door service for either a single
item, part load or a full removal service between France and the
UK. Their vehicles are well maintained and checked regularly and
are “large enough to cope but small enough to care”.
Simply arrange to have your items delivered to their manned,
secure UK Depot in Dorset for onward transportation to France.
All items are stored for free until they are transported to France.
Regular deliveries are taken from DFS, M&S, John Lewis, Bathstore,
Victoria Plumb, Dreams to name but a few. You will be notified
within hours of your items being delivered, offering you total piece
of mind.
Deliveries are operated with two drivers at all times, perfect for
heavier items such as sofas, which we will happily place in your
room of choice.
Franglais Deliveries are fully registered and fully insured with
AVIVA here in France, so you can rest assured your goods are in
safe hands from start to finish. They offer a professional, regular
and reliable service at competitive prices.
“Most of our work comes via recommendation from previous
customers and we have been rated 5* by our customers on our
Facebook page. We really do take pride in our work, from that
first phone call or email to the delivery day, we keep our customers
up to date throughout, and regular communication is paramount”
explains Michelle.
If you have any items you would like transporting from
the UK to France or France to the UK, or are moving back
to the UK then contact Michelle on 05 49 07 24 85 or
email: [email protected].
www.facebook.com/Franglaisdeliveries?ref_type=bookmark
Building & Renovation
Thinking about placing an ad?
Why not take advantage of our Special Packages for New Advertisers?
Call Sarah for more details: 05 49 70 26 21
Small B/W advert
only 32€
Business & Finance
SCHOOL INSURANCE
Yes, it’s September and that only means one thing:
Back to school!!
But note that if your child breaks a window, this is covered by the
public liability insurance which is included in your house insurance
contract. So things not covered by the school insurance can be
covered by another of your insurances.
And you must wonder why the school ask you for a certificate of
assurances for your child, so let me explain what it is, what it is for
and how much it costs!
How Much Does it Cost?
Not much actually! Depending on the age of your child, cover can
cost between 23€ and 50€ per year. And if you have more than
one child, there is usually a discount.
What is It?
It is an insurance for kids and students. The assurance scolaire is
not an obligation but most schools won’t accept your child unless
they have one. In any case, your child won’t be able to go on
school trips if he/she does not have this insurance, so it is better if
the child has one.
There are 3 ages:
• Baby: 0 to 3 years old
• Junior: 3 years old to end of school
• Etudiant: Further education
So there it is, school insurance is a must especially for just 3€-4€
per month. It’s not worth depriving your child of a fantastic school
trip to a goat cheese factory!!
As usual, do not hesitate to contact me for anything else from
French inheritance law, pensions, savings, taxes and all kinds of
professional or private insurances.
Starting this September and until the end of December, we are
offering two months free on all new car and top-up health
insurance contracts.
What Does it Cover?
It is a personal injury insurance for your child, so if your child has an
accident at school or anywhere else for that matter, the insurance
company pays a lump sum of 3800€ for death or between 100,000
and 200,000€ for invalidity (amount depends of % of incapacity).
And check out our web site where you can find all my
previous articles under the page “practical information”:
www.bh-assurances.fr
It can also cover damages to teeth (305€ per tooth), hearing aid
(770€), glasses and contact lenses (153€) as long as there is a
medical certificate proving the child was injured. So, if the child
broke his/her glasses playing football and he is not injured, the
insurance won’t pay.
You can also follow us on Twitter @charenteinsure
It can also pay for a bed so one of the parents can stay in the
hospital room with the injured child.
Another cover is the cost for search and rescue of the child
following an accident or any other events endangering the child’s
life.
The insurance can also cover robbery up to a certain amount (only
clothes, sport equipment and school bags) but you will need to
have kept the original receipt! Needless to say we have never had
a claim for that! As nobody keeps receipts forever.
Lastly but not least, is what we call ‘école continue’ so that if your
child is injured and can’t go to school, the insurance pays for 6
hours per week of private tuition in your house. The child must
be absent from school for medical reasons for more than 15 days.
It does not cover loss or breakage so if your child loses or breaks
his mobile phone, tough luck!
BH Assurances
22 rue Jean Jaures
16700 Ruffec
Contact Isabelle Want:
Tel: 05 45 31 01 61
Mob: 06 17 30 39 11
~
Visit our website: www.bh-assurances.fr
The Keys to Successful Investment
by Bradley Warden, Partner, Blevins Franks
In today’s world it is harder for
investors to create and manage a
portfolio which will achieve returns
that outpace the erosive effects
of inflation and taxation, while
matching their specific needs.
Nonetheless, if you follow some
basic rules and take professional,
personalised advice, you will achieve
a portfolio that gives you peace of
mind.
If it Looks Too Good to be True… it Almost Certainly Is!
Too many investors are seduced by investment schemes claiming
to offer the alluring combination of high returns with little or no
risk. However as they discover time and time again, the bubble
invariably bursts and they lose their money.
Obtain Best Advice
There are thousands of banks and investment companies claiming
to be leading experts in the management of financial assets. It is
hard for private investors to establish which are the best managers
and funds to meet their needs, so specialist advice is essential.
A Tailor-Made Approach
Everyone has different objectives, time horizons and attitude
to risk. It is vital that your portfolio is created and managed to
meet your particular aims, objectives, and income requirements.
Reassess your profile regularly and adjust accordingly.
Understand your Risk Profile
Some risk is unavoidable to achieve a return that will outpace
inflation. However, to avoid undue risk, obtain a clear and
objective assessment of your personal risk appetite.
Asset Allocation to Match Your Risk Profile
The starting point in creating the most appropriate investment
portfolio to match your risk profile and objectives is the allocation
of assets between money market, bonds, equities and real assets.
It is widely acknowledged that asset allocation is of far greater
importance than the selection of individual stocks and shares.
Diversification
The higher your concentration in particular assets, the higher the
risk. The tried and tested strategy to mitigate risk is diversification:
a well spread portfolio of investments, not only asset classes, but
also geographic regions and market sectors, to limit your exposure
to any single sector.
Access to the World’s Best Investment Managers
No investment organisation excels in the management of all
asset classes. The key to success is a thorough, critical analysis of
funds and managers to select the best managers for each area of
investment. Multi-manager funds have several different managers,
selected for their expertise in specific market sectors.
Tax Planning
To achieve the best real returns, and protect your wealth, use
arrangements which shelter capital from tax; provide a tax efficient
income, and facilitate the transfer of capital to your beneficiaries
with minimum of inheritance taxes.
Always seek personal advice for your specific situation and
objectives.
AUTUMN SeMiNAr
removing the myths
With so many tax changes affecting British nationals in France,
we separate fact from fiction. Our seminar covers forthcoming
legislative changes in France and UK and explains how to enhance
your current situation through strategic financial planning.
Alternatively contact us to arrange a private appointment.
We will be discussing...

PuS01-fr

Succession law, tax and 'Brussels iV'
What do next year’s changes mean to you and your family?
UK pension reforms
How will they affect you?
investment strategies
Are you sure your investments match your risk profile?
SAiNTeS, Tuesday 23 September
Le Relais du Bois Saint Georges
10 for 10.30am until 12 noon
Book your place now by phone
email or at www.blevinsfranks.com
05 49 75 07 24
[email protected]
Blevins Franks Financial Management Limited (BFFM) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, reference number 179731. Where advice is provided outside the UK, via the Insurance Mediation Directive
from Malta, the regulatory system differs in some respects from that of the UK. Blevins Franks Tax Limited provides taxation advice; its advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFFM.
by Sue Cook
Talk to us....
? Are you a small business owner in France?
you need to transfer money to pay bills or order
? Do
supplies?
?
Do you have clients who need to pay you for gite or
bed & breakfast bookings?
?
Does your bank really understand your Foreign
Exchange needs, or is it more a case of just getting the
job done?
Ask Amanda
“I understand that the recent “Le Tour de
Finance” were really informative. When are
you next planning an event?”
For anyone who missed my recent seminars,
I will be at The Deux-Sèvres Monthly Trade
Fair on Saturday 20th September from 10.30am to answer any
questions you may have.
Our ‘Le Tour de Finance’ seminars covered many areas of finance
expats encounter whilst living in France, including:
We’re willing to bet it’s the latter.
•
The reason for this is that banks don’t have the time (or the
inclination) to provide a specialist currency service. We, on the
other hand, don’t do anything else! International payments
and foreign exchange is all we’ve been about since 1996, and in
that time we’ve learned a lot about what businesses need.
•
Working with us will give you access to a dedicated currency
specialist who can talk you through any deals or decisions. It
doesn’t matter how big or small these chats are – we can help
whether it’s an instant transfer to an international supplier, or
you’d like to discuss next year’s hedging strategy.
Either way, you’re safe in the knowledge that our experts are in
your corner, helping you find great exchange rates (up to 5% better
than the bank) and never charging any hidden fees. This means
you can time your trades perfectly and will always have sight of
how the markets might affect you. That can only mean good things
for your bottom line!
Talk to us today and find out how we can help your business. Contact
Sue Cook on 06 89 99 28 89 or email: [email protected]
•
•
•
Recent budget changes in UK pensions and the effect on
expats - recent changes have opened up a number of new
options however, specialist advice is important to ensure you
receive recommendations right for your situation
The tax efficiency of your current investments - many people
had tax effective investments whilst UK residents, but are
these still best value now you live in France?
Where should I pay my tax? - This is becoming an increasingly
asked question due to where you and your family are actually
domiciled. Whilst the UK and France have a double taxation
treaty, your domicile can have an effect on the social charges
you are liable for.
Regulation - Having a relationship with a company who are
regulated in the country where you live is very important for
financial peace of mind
Value for Money - In today’s competitive economy, it is
important to receive value for money, for any advice you
receive.
In addition to the
above I can also talk to
you about how you can
plan for your pension
now that you are
working in France and
how recent changes
in social charges could
impact your current
investments and rental
income you receive in
France or the UK.
Whether you want to register for our newsletter, attend one of our
road shows or speak to me directly, please call or email me on the
contacts below and I will be glad to help you. We do not charge for
reviews, reports or recommendations we provide.
With Care, You Prosper. Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Lausanne, Paris, Cote d’Azur, Barcelona, Costa Blanca,
Costa del Sol, Madrid, Mallorca, Rome. «The Spectrum IFA Group » is a registered trademark, exclusive
rights to use in France granted to TSG Insurance Services S.A.R.L. Siège Social: 34 Bd des Italiens, 75009
«Société de Courtage d’assurances» R.C.S. Paris B 447 609 108 (2003B04384) Numéro d’immatriculation
07 025 332 - www.orias.fr «Conseiller en investissements financiers, référence sous le numéro E002440 par
ANACOFI-CIF, association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers»
La Rentrée - Time to Stop
Putting Off Those Tricky Decisions
by David Hardy
As Summer visitors start to drift away our thoughts turn to all
those jobs that we have put off during the holidays. Why not make
“the job” for this year’s rentrée the time when you finally put your
finances in order?
Just run through the following list and see whether you have ever
said any of these things. If so, it might be worth having a rethink
as taking no action could be an expensive mistake for you and/or
your family.
I am still resident in the UK, so don’t need to make any
financial arrangements in France
It is a common misconception that residence is a matter of choice.
Whilst, of course, we can choose where to live, fiscal residence is a
matter of fact. Many people split their time between the UK and
France and quite legitimately claim that they are still UK resident.
However, there are also a large number of people who spend
almost all of their time in France whilst remaining ‘UK resident’
for tax purposes.
Whilst each country has its own set of rules regarding residence,
the tax treaty between the countries will determine where you are
fiscally resident. Put simply, whilst splitting your time between
countries, where you spend more time is likely to be considered
your place of residence.
Whilst the Euro has weakened recently, it is understandable if
some people do not wish to exchange Sterling for Euros. With
proper financial planning for life in France, however, tax-efficient
options exist for those not currently wishing to invest in Euros.
What’s the point in bothering? I will eventually go back
to the UK
Whilst the longer term plan may well be to return eventually to
the UK, doing no planning now could mean unnecessarily heavier
taxes on your income and big headaches for your heirs if you die
whilst still resident in France.
With proper, French regulated advice it is perfectly possible to
structure your affairs so that they are tax-efficient for life in
France now, without having to undo all that planning if you move
back to the UK in the future.
David Hardy is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent
Financial Adviser, specialised in tax, inheritance, pension and
investment planning for the British community in the PoitouCharentes since 1996.
David Hardy, Siddalls France
Tel: 05 56 34 75 51 ~ Email: [email protected]
www.siddalls.fr
I will pay far more tax in France than Britain
Whilst France has long had a reputation for high taxation, French
income tax compares favourably with the UK.
One area which concerns British people is wealth tax which is a
tax on your capital assets exceeding €1,300,000. However, your
‘principal residence’ is discounted by 30% and, furthermore, all
new residents do not need to declare any ‘non French’ assets for
the first five years.
For those living in France without declaring themselves resident
because of tax worries could not only be a mistake, but could
create problems with the authorities and could mean paying
excessive tax.
The French system is too complicated and I just want an
easy life
French bureaucracy may be renowned, but with proper advice
and guidance, the French system need not be that daunting. In
any case, ignoring a potential problem because it seems too
complicated to sort out generally exacerbates the problem.
I have written a Will in the UK and my family knows my
wishes
Living permanently in France means that your worldwide assets
are subject to strict French inheritance rules and taxes in the event
of your death.
The only exception is British property (real estate), which will still
be subject to British rules and taxes, with your UK Will remaining
valid as far as that property is concerned.
My money is in Sterling and I don’t want to change it to
Euros
We would always advise people to have at least some income and/
or capital in Euros for buying your baguette and other essentials.
CONTRIBUTIONS...
We are always looking for new articles for consideration in future issues.
Do you have an experience to share?Are you a tradesman with a Top Tip? or perhaps an avid reader who would
like to contribute a book review? Whatever it may be, either long or short, we would love to hear from you.
You can call Sarah on 05 49 70 26 21 with any ideas, or send them on an
email to:info@thedeuxsevresmonthlyfr
Property
Small
Colour
advert,
only 35€
Roses, Cheese and Silver...
Magic in the Deux-Sèvres Countryside
by Joanna Leggett
Set in the heart of the beautiful countryside of Deux-Sèvres, with
ancient streets and lovely houses, the pretty market town of Melle
first flourished in medieval times, best known then as the home of
the French mint! In fact, the first Aachen penny of Charlemagne
was minted here - these silver mines still exist, but only as a tourist
attraction.
LEGGETT
IMMOBILIER
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN TRUST
BUYING OR SELLING A PROPERTY ?
CONTACT THE BEST ESTATE AGENCY IN FRANCE
Today Melle is better known for its own particular goat’s cheese
‘chabichou’. It’s also a major hub for neighbouring villages and
smaller towns with a thriving business community, supermarkets
and lycée.
Architecturally the town is fascinating with medieval houses and
churches built in the 11th and 12th centuries including the UNESCO
World Heritage listed Saint Hilaire. Its surrounding area has much
to see with Romanesque châteaux, mills, fountains and ancient
wash houses.
Ref: 44973DW79. Traditional farmhouse
renovated to very high standard with 4
bedrooms, large garden and attached land.
Clave
€249,999
Ref: 43969DW79. Sweet house in a
little hamlet needing some interior
decoration. Garden and valley views.
Gourge
€88.900
Ref: 42760DW79. Partially renovated
town house with 2 bedrooms (could create more). A good lock up and leave.
Assais Les Jumeaux
€60,000
Ref: 44162BB79. Characterful one
bedroom detached house on this chateau
estate. Tennis and pool - ideal for rentals.
Les Forges
€141,700
At its heart it remains a rural town, best experienced at its Friday
market where stalls groan with fresh produce, cheeses and many
other delicacies, as well as the obligatory clothing and household
goods beloved of the French marketplace.
The countryside provides a glorious backdrop of beautiful forests
of chestnut, walnut and parasol pines. Melle also has a stunning
6km walk known as the Chemin de la Découverte with over 1,000
species of trees and shrubs and a collection of hundreds of roses.
Set in idyllic countryside, just ten minutes away, is a delightful
Charentaise stone farmhouse set in four acres for sale €455,800
(26836PW79 - see photo below). With five generous bedrooms
and three bathrooms it comes with useful outbuildings and a
beautiful in-ground pool. Approached by its long tree-lined drive
and through a large courtyard, the walled formal gardens lead to
the front door.
It boasts an extremely large light and airy living room, double aspect
windows; its Charentaise stone fireplace provides both warmth
and character, the superb kitchen maintains original features with
bread oven and large stone ‘mixing bowl’ - the rest of the generous
accommodation is spread over two floors.
Just 5kms from Melle is a charming cottage within walking distance
of a small village. Its traditional style provides rustic charm, three
of its four bedrooms are accessed off a landing large enough to use
as a library or snug (42214JH79). Priced to sell at €149,875, outside
it has a heated swimming pool set in pretty gardens.
Leggett Immobilier is one of the leading
estate agents in France. You can access all our
local property listings at
www.frenchestateagents.com/poitou-charentes-property
Tel: 06 77 35 91 79 or 0800 900 324 www.leggettfrance.com