NORMANDY
ADVERTISER March 2012 - Issue 27 FREE www.normandyadvertiser.com GRATUIT
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TIGER CUB TAKES FIRST TRIP OUT
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Mont St Michel windmills axed
Ferry cutback ‘bad for town’ by OLIVER ROWLAND
PLANS for a windfarm just off the coast at Mont-SaintMichel have been scrapped by President Sarkozy. He acted after Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand told him Unesco was ready to take away the site’s “World Heritage” label if the windmills were built as they could be seen from the land. Now an offshore exclusion zone has been set up by the prefects of Basse-Normandie and Manche, blocking the three Argouges windmills.
BUSINESS people in Cherbourg say they regret Brittany Ferries’ decision not to bring back the Barfleur ferry this summer. The loss of the Poole-Cherbourg service will mean lost tourist revenue, they say, despite the fact the firm will continue to run a fast summer service in partnership with Condor Ferries and its year-round freight service with the Cotentin. Brittany Ferries used to run trips all year round with the Barfleur. It was withdrawn in March 2010 but brought back last year from March to October. It had been hoped it would have resumed service this summer but the firm has ruled it out. The tourism and commerce organiser for Cherbourg’s chamber of commerce, Denis Marion, said: “We greatly regret the departure of Brittany Ferries, or at least of the Barfleur, as it will lessen the number of British visitors in Cherbourg and its surrounding area. We know that for several years the numbers were declining in our port, and it’s had a negative effect in the shops, hotels and restaurants. “We estimate losing the Barfleur, plus 15% less stops by the fast summer one, will mean around 30% less British visitors in 2012. The Barfleur brought 77,000 passengers last year.” The president of the shopkeepers’ association for the Carrefour shopping centre near the port, Gianni Vellani, said: “It’s a shame for the ferry to go
He added: “In recent years one problem was that the ferries arrived too late in the morning and left too early in the afternoon to make it appealing for people to come for a day trip. Perhaps that’s why they didn’t have enough passengers?” Brittany Ferries’ Group Passenger Commercial Director Mike Bevens said the decison followed a thorough analysis of potential revgain versus additionWe greatly regret the departure enue al costs of bringing Barof the Barfleur as it will lessen fleur back. “We left the decision as late as possible the number of British visitors to gauge any improveDenis Marion ment in the economic situation and fuel price,” he Tourism and Commerce organiser
out of use and for Brittany Ferries to no longer maintain its service to England. It kept things moving in the port, and in the town, for the shopkeepers; for everyone. It brought life to the port. Any tourist visitors, whether they arrive by road or train - or ferry are valuable to us.”
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said. “The fact is the UK and European economic situation in 2012 is not at all positive and against this difficult economic backdrop we feel that to add more capacity would be foolhardy.” A spokesman for the firm added competition on the Channel was generally tough, and even with the demise of SeaFrance there was more supply than demand. An unfavourable euro to pound exchange rate did not help. As for timetabling, he said the firm had to weigh many factors and the day trip market contributes little to the overall economic viability of the route. The fast service will run from May 19 to September 30, to both Poole and Portsmouth.
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2 News Contact us With a story, email: normandynews@ connexionfrance.com (please include a daytime contact number) With a subscription or advert query call: From France: 0800 91 77 56 (freephone) From UK: 0844 256 9881 (4p per minute) or by email: sales@ connexionfrance.com The Advertiser is published by: English Language Media Sarl, Le Vedra, 38 rue Grimaldi, 98000 Monaco. Directrice de la publication: Sarah Smith. Printed at Nice-M Matin, 214 Route de Grenoble, 06290 Nice Cedex 3. Environmental policy The Advertiser is printed on recycled newspaper, using a printing company which adheres to stringent regulations to reduce pollution.
Mensuel Depôt légal – à parution ISSN: 2106 - 7902 Find out more: www.normandyadvertiser.com
March 2012
Father and son killed as boat sinks in seconds “
THE loss of the fishing boat Algwastre with both men aboard was a tragic accident, the navy has confirmed. Divers have now located the vessel and have confirmed that its trawling equipment became hooked up on a submerged wreck dating from the Second World War, causing the Algwastre to sink in less than a minute. The nine metre-long trawler, built in 1972 and recently fully renovated, was fishing for scallops just a few kilometres from Port-en-Bessin (Calvados 14). The crew were very experienced, it was early afternoon, the sea was calm and the weather was good; however suddenly the dredge (a net towed along the bottom to collect shellfish) became attached to a submerged wreck. Within 40 seconds, the Algwastre had sunk and the two men on board, Jacky Anquetila, 57, and his 26 year-old son, also called Jacky, had drowned. There was no time to put their life jackets on, radio for help, or signal
Trawling equipment became hooked on a wreck dating from the Second World War, causing the Algwastre to sink in less than a minute
their position. The tragedy was followed on radar screen by the Cross Jobourg (a lifeguard organisation) who confirmed that there had only been 40 seconds between the time to boat stopped moving and the time it disappeared from the radar. Lifeboats were launched immediately but by the time they arrived at the scene,
there was nothing to be done. Other fishermen confirmed that old wrecks are known to be good fishing grounds for shellfish, although it is impossible to say whether the crew of the Algwastre knew that they were so close to such a wreck. One crewman thought to have been lost, was later discovered not to have been on board the vessel that afternoon Sadly, this is not the first accident of its type in the area. The Chelaris J also became snagged on a sandbank in the Banc de la Schôle area just south of the Isle of Aurigny in October 2003 and sank with all hands aboard. The owner/skipper of the vessel was from Guernsey and the three crew members were French. The boat had left Cherbourg the previous evening, and was trawling for fish. The bodies of two of the crew were discovered in the cabins, indicating that the sinking had been very sudden and very fast.
Photo: PHOTOPQR-OUEST FRANCE-MAXPPP
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We were lucky JUST days after the Algwastre went down with loss of life another fishing boat sank in similar circumstances – but this time tragedy was avoided. Fisherman Denis Gouley, skipper of the Alleluia, and two crewmen, survived, despite equipment malfunctions which left them waiting for rescue for 18 hours. Mr Gouley’s nets caught and his boat sank in less than two minutes, but the men were able to make it to a safety raft. “It was like what happened to the other boat,” he said. “It happens at an unimaginable speed. You’ve time to do nothing; but we were lucky enough to be able to jump into the water, and that the safety rafts detached.” However that was just the start of the men’s ordeal – Mr Gouley set off a radio beacon, which he thought would call rescuers within an hour or two – but he later found out that no signal was picked up. He then set off a parachute flare, which went up “about three or four metres – in other words it was useless”. Another one went higher but dropped quickly. A problem also arose with a faulty smoke generator. He said: “It’s a fact that we snagged the bottom and sank – which happens sometimes with fishing boats, it’s one of the risks of the job, but what made it worse was we then spent 18 hours on the water in a raft because none of the safety equipment worked. It’s unacceptable – it was equip-
Photo: ©PHOTOPQR/LE MIDI LIBRE/Vincent ANDORRA
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The fishermen had to be winched to safety by a navy ment the authorities require us to have. I will sue because all the boats in Dieppe have the same system. We pay for it and it’s not reliable.” In the end the men were found by a navy helicopter, after Mr Gouley’s wife gave the alert when he did not come home. “To start with she was told
‘don’t panic, there’s been no beacon alert’,” he said. By the time they realised something was wrong, they feared it might be too late, he said. “The rescue teams told me they thought they would just find our bodies.” The ordeal was almost worse for his wife and family, he added. “For us it was phys-
Normandy Advertiser
March 2012
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News in brief Offshore turbines ‘will create jobs’ NORMANDY is about to get offshore wind turbines near Cherbourg and Saint Nazaire, Alstom has announced. The new installations could create up to 500 jobs at each site, the company says. The project was presented at the International Convention of Marine Renewable Energy in Bordeaux.
Muslims vie to build mosque
The trawler, used to catch shellfish, was registered at Caen and based at Grandchamp Maisy
to survive
helicopter, as in the rescue shown here ically very hard, but she spent 18 hours crying, asking for help, wondering if her husband was alive or dead.” If he returns to this work – of which he is no longer sure – he will pay for state-of-theart work outfits with flotation system built in, he said. “Thankfully we got out of it alive, but I’m left in a mess.”
He now has significant debts and no income, and there is no government aid, he said. “Sailors have right to nothing. They don’t give a damn. I’ve been a sailor since 15 and was just starting to pay off my boat. The only help I have is from the solidarity of the fishing community.”
A message to our readers WE ARE delighted with the progress that the Normandy Advertiser has made in becoming Normandy’s English-language newspaper since its launch in 2010. Its success means that we are able to increase its size from 16 to 24 pages from next month - meaning a bumper 50% more to read! As a result of the paper’s popularity it is no longer practical to meet the increased demand for copies via the stand distribution policy run to date. We have therefore agreed with newsagent bodies that from April 1 the Normandy Advertiser will be on sale at a newsagent near you. The price will be 95 centimes. Stockists can be found at www. findthepressinfrance.com Publisher Sarah Smith said: “I’m delighted that our readers and advertisers have helped to make the Advertiser the community paper it now is which allows us to increase in pages. This increase offers additional scope to take on board even more local events and so we would be pleased to hear from readers involved in these.” Normandy-based subscribers (postcodes 14, 27, 50, 61, 76 ) to The Connexion will receive a complimentary copy of the Advertiser posted to their home each month, scheduled to arrive a few days after The Connexion. Non Connexion subscribers can receive the Normandy Advertiser at their French home for just €10 per year for details see page 14.
TWO Muslim bodies hope to build mosques in Evreux. The UCME (Union Culturelle Musulmane d’Evreux) is fundraising for its as yet unveiled project while the AME (Association des Musulmans d’Evreux) has publically presented its plans. The latter wants a fourstorey cube (without a minaret) on a 5,000m² plot with facilities including a cultural centre, a library and a crêche. The €3.5 million cost would be raised by public donations, the body says. Asked about the UCME’s plans, former AME president Mustapha M’Bodji said: “It’s up to the community to judge: to tell us we support this or that project, or we want both to be merged.”
The AME hopes to apply for a building permit this year, and to open the mosque in 2015. The plan has been mainly welcomed by locals, with Catholics saying it will make cooperation between the faiths easier.
Electronic fines to be brought in THE municipal police in Rouen are expected to start using “electric fines” from July this year. The technology allows officers to note details of minor motoring offences (parking badly, not wearing a seatbelt etc) on an electronic pad which they then plug into a computer to transmit details to a centralised service. Fine notices are then posted to people’s homes.
New Rouen to Corsica flights DIRECT flights to Corsica are starting this summer from Rouen Vallée de Seine. Travel operator Corsicatours is opening, from May 23, a weekly service to Figari Corse du Sud. It will run each Saturday, for 18 weeks, operated by CityJet. Return tickets are €379, or from €482 with a week’s accommodation included.
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March 2012
Bicycle ban on Mont St Michel faces court fight PROPOSALS to ban bicycles on Mont SaintMichel after the new mainland car park opens on April 28 are to be challenged in court by cycling groups. As part of the huge works currently being done to preserve the heritage site – a dam has been built upriver on the Couesnon and is opened regularly to scour away the sand that has ruined the Mont’s island character – it was decided there would no longer be private parking near the site let alone on it. This decision has provoked angry responses, with many people pointing out the car park is now about 2km from the Mont, and that the linking mini-bus only covers half the distance. This, they say, means access to the site will be difficult for those with reduced mobility. However, cycling groups have also attacked a decision by the mayor of Mont Saint-Michel to ban bicycles from the village. Pro-cycling pressure group Vélocité protested against the decision to ban bicycles last December and the Baie du Mont-Saint-Michel steering committee in charge of the works decided to allow cycle access to the
site, although not during the busiest periods. However, the mayor – with support from the prefect – have maintained that bicycles should not be allowed on the access route to the island. Now, the authorities have decided to uphold the ban on bicycles, saying that no private transport systems would have access to the Mont in future. Vélocité president Jean-Michel Blanchet says that the region of has declared itself to be both environmentally-friendly and cycle-friendly and the decision runs contrary to its stated aims. The ban, he says, is disproportionate and Vélocité is ready to contest the decision in court. However, it can do nothing until the mayor actually posts the order banning bicycles – and then the group has 30 days in which to contest the decision. Vélocité says that the village will not suffer by continuing to allow bicycles in as there are no more than 150 there at any time during the summer – but already protest demonstrations are being organised which could see thousands of cyclists descend on the site.
Protestors unbolt giant pylon
Photo: PHOTOPQR/OUEST FRANCE/Jean-Yves DESFOUX
Protesters took to the streets to highlight health fears over the proximity of power lines NATIONAL grid bosses at power network company RTE have accused protesters opposing plans for giant high-voltage power pylons in Normandy of “sabotage” after bolts holding together parts of a pylon were removed. One pylon that was being assembled on the ground at Montaudin (Mayenne) was attacked and had bolts undone and a pile of nuts, bolts and washers were dumped outside the offices of the Ouest-France newspaper in Avranches. Days later another pile of bolts and washers were again left outside the offices, showing that the attacks were continuing – but without specifying which pylon had been attacked. A 163km line of 423 pylons each 200ft tall is being built for the €350 million CotentinMaine project to take power from the new
€4bn Evolutionary Power Reactor being built at Flamanville, near Cherbourg. The line passes through 64 communes in Manche, Calvados, Mayenne and Ille-etVilaine and the protesters say that there are doubts about the effects on the health of people living near to power lines. Attacks on the pylons have been going on since last April when a “picnic” was held as gendarmes looked on near the beginning of the line at Périers (Manche). When the gendarmes moved away some of the group started to undo bolts on the sub-station. Protesters say that delays to the EPR plant at Flamanville should have given time for RTE to carry out a full study into the effects of highvoltage lines on health.
12 Michelin Bibs for chefs offering value for money TWELVE Norman restaurants have won Michelin’s coveted Bib Gourmand label for the first time. The award is for restaurants offering exceptional value with menus at no more than €29 and is named after Bibendum, “the Michelin Man”. In Calvados are: ArchiDona, Caen; L’Espérance, Hérouville Saint-Clair; and L’Endroit and Au P’tit Mareyeur, Honfleur. In Orne: Relais Saint-Louis, Bellême; L’Ecuyer Normand, Chandai; La Croix d’Or, LePin-la-Garenne; and Rive Droit, Alençon. Seine-Maritime: Le Belvédère, Saint-Jouin-Bruneval. Eure: Le Cheval Blanc, La
Croix-St-Leufroy; La Ferme de la Haute Crémonville, StÉtienne du Vauvray and Le Grand Cerf, Lyons-La-Forêt. The chef at L’Espérance, Pascal Angenard, said: “In my first business, in Deauville, I had a Michelin star, but here I was aiming for a Bib. I gave it a lot of thought. “I have a business clientele during the week and families at the weekend, and the prices can’t be Michelin-star level, but that doesn’t stop me cooking food that is close to it. We have more tables, and a freer approach. For example, I do a “market” menu, with whatever I find that morning. My style is classics with a twist.”
A walk on the wild side NATURE walks are made easier to understand with a new project in Dieppe that offers guided walks. Qualified nature guide Thierry Lambrecq, who speaks French, English, Spanish and Dutch, plans to “offer tourists the opportunity to meet local people, and learn about local products, history, and customs”. Walkers are advised to take binoculars and cameras on the walks – all on Sundays – organised by his La Liane company. The cost is €10 and Thierry has a scheme giving half-price for under-18s and free for children under 6. Check liane-normandie.fr or call 06 30 74 51 93
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In Sumatra, the WWF estimates there are fewer than 500 living in the wild. There are about 340 in zoos around the world, with 100 in Europe. Every birth is therefore eagerly awaited and enthusiastically celebrated. Dourga’s birth was kept secret to let the family settle down together in private during the winter, when the zoo is closed to the public. Champrépus is the third most popular attraction in La Manche (after MontSaint-Michel and Cherbourg Cité de la Mer, with 210,000 visitors per year. The penguins are one of the most popular species, especially at feeding time (2.30pm and 4.30pm every afternoon). For details: www.zoo-champrepus.com
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Parachute is a grim reminder of D-Day HANGING on the steeple in Sainte Mère Eglise, above, is a silk parachute in memory of American paratrooper John Steele whose canopy snagged there when his unit was dropped on the night before D-Day in 1944. He could only look on as his fellow paratroops were killed by Germans in the streets below. He hung, pretending to
Regions show off their attractions – for free MORE THAN 300 attractions all over Normandy will be made available for visitors as a special treat this Easter – with the magic word for entry being: FREE. The special regional tourist board promotion is aimed at residents as well as visitors and is revealed in special brochures which will be available free next month. It’s a way of highlighting the many local sights and attractions that residents may be familiar with... but have never taken time to visit. As everyone knows, when you live somewhere, you often don’t bother to do the tourist trails: now Au Printemps, la Normandie se découvre aims to put that right by putting the sights on display at an attractive price. In all, there are more than 300 attractions taking part in the promotion which runs from April 7 to May 6. Discover riding centres, canoeing, cycling, quads, walking with donkeys, golf, thermal baths, parachuting, nature-walks, train-rides, sailing and paintball and everything in between. Elsewhere the promotion also offers the chance to see
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Discount vouchers from the Discover Normandy site give lots of free visits plus an Easter egg hunt the region differently; as last year when visitors could tour Giverny in a Citroën 11B dating from 1952 at a cheap rate or by taking a trip in a microlight over Mont Saint-Michel. Once the promotion starts, towards April 7 brochures containing money-off vouchers (Pass Découverte) for
attractions all over the region will be available from places such as boulangeries and other popular shops and tourist offices. The brochure and vouchers will be widely available next month but can also be downloaded or printed from www. lanormandiesedecouvre.com
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be dead, for two hours, before he was captured and taken prisoner. The incident featured in the film The Longest Day. THE Barfleur lighthouse known as the Phare de Gatteville, right, is the third tallest stone lighthouse in the world, standing at 74.85 metres in height. It has 52 windows, and 365 steps.
Photo: © Zechal - Fotolia.com
Meet Dourga, zoo’s new cub on the block THE secret is finally out – a tiger cub was born at the Champrépus Zoo (Manche 50) last November. The birth was the result of a 10-year search for a breeding female. “We’ve had tigers here for about 20 years and we’ve been hoping for this happy event for many years,” the zoo’s co-director, Jacques Lebreton, told reporters. The cub is a female, and has been named Dourga. Her mother Chandra arrived at the zoo and was introduced to the happy father, Paco, last year. “They mated in April and Dourga was born on November 6,” said Mr Lebreton. They are Sumatran Tigers, which are a critically-endangered species, threatened by both habitat loss and poachers.
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March 2012
Photo © Dean Moriarty - Fotolia.com
Normandy Advertiser
6 What’s On
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Calvados
Deauville
March 2012
MUSIC
March 13 Théâtre du Casino Barrière, Concert by Le Cercle de l’Harmonie 14.30 – The 35 musicians of the Cercle de l’Harmonie return to Deauville with a cosmopolitan programme; works by J.C. Bach (Amadis de Gaule ballet music), Rigel (Symphony opus 21 No.2), Mozart (Violin Concerto No.3), Haydn (Symphony 49) and Herold (Symphony 2).These are all works composed in France in the 18th century except for the last, which was written in Italy by a Frenchman.Tickets €35, under-21s and members of Amis de la Musique €26 Call 02 31 14 02 14
noticeboard Photo: © Alix Laveau
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Normandy Advertiser
Manche
Omonville-la-Rogue
the member clubs get together to MODEL train enthusiasts get build gigantic model railway laytogether to share their enthusiasm outs, covering models of almost all at La Traction Coutancaise, of Europe. There is real running Coutances model train club in water in the rivers, moving Manche. carousels, fire engines, cars, lights The members meet every Friday and noises... it is a complete world at 8.30pm at their workshop at in miniature. 2 bis Rue des Carrieres Saint Last year the meet-up was in Michel, 50200 Saint Pierre de Vienna, but this year it will be Coutances, (at the back of the hosted by the French club in Patinoire and the bowling alley). Coutances on October 13-14. However, if you plan to come The president of the club, Jeanalong, be warned: once you get Pierre Hantute, says he welcomes absorbed in constructing the latest people of all nationalities. station or scenery layouts, you “We don’t care whether you never know what time you might speak French or English or anyactually finish for the night. thing else. The members are so enthusiastic “You only need to be able to about their creations, they even speak ‘train’ at our club!” make short videos of their trains To join the club, or just pay them and their Friday night meetings a visit, contact Jean-Pierre Hantute for YouTube. A search for "La on jphltc@yahoo.fr or if you want Traction Coutancaise" will turn up to speak to someone in English, all sorts of golden nuggets. Roger Price on 06 86 04 82 21. The club is celebrating its 30th birthday this year, and over the past three decades, it has become part of a larger association, grouping together model railway fans from all over Europe. Eurotrack has member clubs in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the Netherlands, as well as in France and the UK. Every year Members of the Coutances Model Train Club at their Eurotrack meeting
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Until March 25 Manoir du Tourp, Salon du Manoir 14.00-18.00 – An exhibition of paintings by 13 local artists selected from 36 entrants, in the idyllic setting of a 17th-century manor which is also the Maison de la Hague, the exhibition centre for this little-known extreme tip of the Cotentin peninsula.The six rooms of the permanent exhibition reflect the landscape, culture and history of the region.The café is recommended, too! Entrance to house, gardens and exhibitions is FREE. Call 02 33 01 85 89
Manche
Cherbourg
CONCERT
Photo: © Marc Laferrière
Members on right track for model fun
March 3-4 Cherbourg, Marine Hôtel - Jazz sur les Quais 17.00-19.00 – There’s a traditional jazz concert here on the first Sunday of every month, but March 2012 is a bit special. Marc Laferrière, one of the most respected French saxophonists, is bringing his quintet from Paris to give a dinner concert on Saturday and a concert (without dinner, but you can book one at the hotel for afterwards) on Sunday. Book in advance (by Thursday if you want dinner) and come early to get a good seat! Tickets: Dinner Concert €20, Concert €10. Call 02 33 44 01 11 - Marine Hôtel, Allée du Président Menut, Cherbourg
Seine-Maritime
Clères
FAMILY
Feb 25 onwards Parc de Clères, daily 10.00-12.00, 13.30-18.30 – Re-opening after the winter this 19th-century park in the ‘style Anglais’, with botanical gardens and a zoo with gibbons, wallabies, antelopes and a collection of birds from all over the world.The park is deeply involved in the conservation of endangered species. Adult €6, Child €4; under-3s FREE. Annual season ticket for adults €20, children €7; buy one, get one free. Call 02 32 82 99 20
Photos: © Parc de Clères
Detailed displays recreate train layouts from all over Europe
Photo: © HGB
ART
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What’s On 7
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March 2012
Calvados
Saint-Lô to Caen
SPORT
March March 19-25 From Saint-Lô to Caen - Tour de Normandie cycle race – The Tour de Normandie covers 1,000km in eight days; On Monday, March 19, there’s a prologue in the streets of Saint-Lô, then there are the following stages: Day 2 from Colombelles to Forges-les-Eaux, Day 3 to Gaillon, Day 4 Aubevoye to Elbeuf, Day 5 to Flers, Day 6 Domfront to Villers-Bocage, Day 7 Brécey to Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, and the big finish on Sunday, March 25 in Caen, where the competitors will do three circuits of the town centre between 16.00 and 16.30 before crossing the finish line. A detailed itinerary on the website will tell you if the Tour will be passing near you. www.tourdenormandiecycliste.fr
Photos: © Tour de Normandie
Alençon
Photo: © Ruf records
March 31 Candye Kane in Concert. La Luciole, 21.00 – Candye Kane has been called a survivor, a superhero and the toughest girl alive.Those are also titles of her songs, and they are apt descriptions of the jump blues singer, songwriter and mother-of-two from East Los Angeles.Winner of 10 San Diego Music Awards, the star of a sell-out stage play about her life and a pancreatic cancer survivor, Kane is one tough cookie. She has performed worldwide for presidents and movie stars and now, she’s in Normandy to perform for you.Tickets €18 in advance, €20 on the door, €15 children Call 02 33 26 53 72 or book online at www.3emeacte.com/laluciole
Eure
Évreux
FAIR
Photo: © Subbotina Anna - Fotolia.com
Orne
MUSIC
March 3-4 Wine Fair Saturday 10.00-20.00, Sunday 10.0017.00 – The Rotary Club’s annual Salon de l’Amateur du Vin aims at helping local people to build up a decent cellar, with quality products at approachable prices. Profits go to the local hospital to provide specialised beds for the terminally ill. Entrance €5 Call 02 32 38 81 24
Alençon CULTURE
Photo: © mondaynightproductions.com
Orne
March 10 Alençon, Auditorium, Nicolas Dautricourt (violin) 20.30 – One of the most brilliant French violinists of his generation plays alongside Opus 61, the regional orchestra formed from teachers and pupils of Alençon’s École Nationale de Musique.The programme includes Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and violin solos by Bach,Ysaïe and Boulez. Dautricourt will be playing his 1740 Gagliano violin. Tickets €13, children €9 Call 02 33 80 66 33 www.amimusicalencon.free.fr
Pick of the rest in Normandy Seine-Maritime, Rouen, CULTURE All March Musée National de l'Éducation, Exhibition '130 Poupées' Daily except Tuesday and holidays, 10.00-12.00, 13.3017.45, weekends 14.00-17.45 – Starting in 1978, Marie-Jeanne Nouvellon created this series of miniature dolls to illustrate the changing role of women in the 20th century. Based on the central character Suzy B, these are unique and original works of art and a true reflection of our times. Entrance €3, under 26 FREE; bilingual audioguide to the museum included in the price. Call 02 35 07 66 61 Manche, Saint-Vigor-des-Monts, FAMILY March 31 and April 1 Ferme de la Sittelle, Building with Straw and Cob; morning, afternoon or both – This organic farm is worth visiting for its own sake, but on these dates there is a chance to learn about one of the eco-building methods
currently gaining in popularity. Help build walls from straw bales and cover them with mud or cob, known in Normandy as torchis.Wear warm old clothes and be prepared to work hard and bring a contribution to a pot-luck meal. Participation FREE. Call 09 51 30 28 92 Advance booking essential Calvados, Honfleur, MARKET Every Wednesday and Saturday Honfleur Quayside. – There’s a traditional market every Saturday morning on Place Sainte-Catherine and Cours des Fossés, and on Wednesdays on Place Sainte-Catherine you can visit the Organic market, which is unique in the region, and attracts producers from far and wide. And, of course, there’s the fish market on the quayside which takes place in the mornings from Thursday to Saturday. Call 02 31 89 23 30
8 Tourist lettings
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Make extra income by letting out your home to tourists France is the most popular tourist destination in the world and letting your house for a few weeks in the holidays can be an excellent way to earn extra income. Here we outline some of the practical issues involved and highlight one Normandy couple’s success at renting to holiday-makers A HOLIDAY let is the letting of a furnished house or apartment to tourists for a short, fixed period. It may be carried out by an individual owner dealing directly with clients or via intermediaries such as travel firms, lettings specialist companies or estate agents. Often by the week, fortnight or month it must not be for more than three months (90 days). Anyone planning to offer accommodation to the public must declare this to the mairie. This declaration usually contains basic information such as the number of rooms and beds offered and a provisional estimate of rental periods. The owner can also seek to have the property classified by national tourism agency Atout France, which involves an inspection and an award of a rating of one to five stars. A holiday let must be adequately furnished and equipped for daily life with a minimum of a bed, wardrobe, table and chairs and cooking equipment such as a hob, fridge and shelves or cupboard, heating (where necessary) and tableware. Providing linen and towels is optional. The owner is free to set the price, but it is a good idea to see what comparable properties are available, and at what price.
If you are not competitive you will not succeed. Be prepared for your tenants to try to negotiate prices, especially in the low season or if they are staying for long periods. Why Consider Holiday Letting? The number of British people
owning property abroad has more than doubled over the last decade and has brought an increase in those wanting to let out homes, whether their main residences or a holiday home, for part of the year. Letting your property while it is not in use can be a good source of income. Houses or flats that are rented out for short holiday periods (locations saisonnières or locations de vacances) rather than the longer agreements
Cleanliness is a major consideration when getting a house ready for letting out – a big property like La Grange can take six hours to clean properly
are called a meublé de tourisme. A small house let as a location saisonnière can rent out for around €350 to more than €1,000 week, depending on season, amenities and location, while a chateau may bring in several thousand a week. Many British people have bought homes in beautiful areas that are sought after for holiday lets. It must be remembered that letting out your home as a holiday rental requires a certain amount of effort and planning. Also, you must be available to welcome guests, to make sure their stay goes well and to deal with their departure. If you are unable to do this you have the choice of either using an agency or making an appropriate arrangement with a friend or a neighbour. The whole procedure is not to be taken lightly. Insurance You should check your insurance policy to ensure it covers full or partial occupation of your home by tenants, and, in particular, that you are
covered for any accidental damage or injury they may suffer and for which you could be liable. Some policies do not cover the owner’s liability to third parties, or include it only as an option. This cover (called the garantie recours du locataire contre le propriétaire) deals with your personal legal liability as property owner to cover material or immaterial damage caused to your tenants and guests. Material damage might include, for example, injury caused by a tile falling off the roof. Immaterial damage could include compensation for loss of earnings resulting from hospitalisation. This cover provides protection if the tenant sues you and should also cover your legal costs. Minor damage done by a tenant (smoke damage, stains, breakages, etc) is not insurable and is paid for out of the guarantee deposit. Other obligations of the owner The owner must hand over the property in a state matching the
description provided at the time of the reservation and without serious defects or nuisances that have not been disclosed. Equipment must be serviceable and maintained to a good standard. Private swimming pools must have a safety barrier, protective cover or alarm, conforming to officially prescribed norms. Failure on any of these points lays the owner open to legal proceedings. To ensure that everything goes smoothly and to avoid complaints you should pay special attention to the following points: Make sure the property, both inside and outside, and everything
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You should check your insurance to ensure it covers full or partial occupation
ADVERTISIN
Demand for French family breaks remains strong Final 2011 sales figures from The Hoseasons Group reveal bookings for France finished at three times the volume they were 10 years ago. ACCORDING to those 2011 sales, Brittany, Normandy and the Dordogne are the most popular regions for UK holidaymakers; with families, by a ratio of 3:1, the biggest fans. And it is therefore no surprise to learn that three per cent of breaks included a pet, and longer durations of 14 nights+ accounted for 40% of all bookings. The final statistics also show that UK holidaymakers to France don't plan too far ahead with 36 per cent of them making a booking within three months of arrival at their chosen holiday property. France has been a popular choice for British family holidays for gener-
ations due to its accessibility, alluring culture, world beating wines and sublime food. And a self-catering holiday in France still represents great value for holidaymakers as well as fantastic opportunity for holiday home owners. Simon Law, VP Property at The Hoseasons Group, commented: "Our booking figures for renowned brands like cottages4you and French Country Cottages clearly show that France continues to be one of the most popular European destinations, particularly with our database of holidaymakers which is one of the largest in the industry.
"For property owners, these figures underline the importance of choosing the right partner to market your holiday home and our owners are secure from the start knowing that they are working with a British holiday letting agency that is fully licenced and bonded to operate in France. "In addition, owners have access to a full agency service from our Head Office on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales as well as support from a team of 15 bilingual regional managers based across France. And of course, superb marketing underwritten by a group budget of
£27million is what drives the allimportant bookings". Gerald and Victoire de Maleville are a great example of owners working very successfully with the Hoseasons Group. In 2010, they secured 34 weeks of bookings and in 2011 sales were up by as much as 18 per cent. Husband and wife team Gerald and Victoire started renting out holiday cottages as a way to restore some of the beautiful buildings inherited from Gerald's parents and for him, the properties have become a business. In 2007 he decided to take a three year break from his job as commercial development director at Moet and Chandon to concentrate on the renovation project and has big plans for self-catering in the
Dordogne. Gerald was the architect behind the renovations and personally oversaw the building work, whilst his wife Victoire, who has an excellent eye for colour and design, took care of the decoration and furnishings as well as adding the final touches to ensure perfection. To date, the couple have renovated four properties within the Sarlat area of the Dordogne and each has been beautifully restored, combining classic architectural features with modern fittings and quality furnishings. Gerald said: "The general standard of the properties has to be high for today's holidaymaker. They are looking for a home from home, with the facilities they would expect in their own residence. We take great
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March 2012
Top ideas to help you make a first-year profit NEARBY beaches and a public swimming pool “just down the road” mean Sarah and Peter Somers did not have to wade through a mass of rules and regulations and put a pool on their property in St Hilaire-Petitville, Manche (50) which they have been letting since 2009. “When we bought our main house, it was just a barn standing in the grounds,” says Sarah. “But then we thought, why not?” Converting it took time and a snow of paperwork from the authorities. “It’s so important to get your facts straight before you start building,” says Sarah. “Different people all told us different things!” Their first season was a success and Sarah said having their own website helped attract bookings, although they use various other companies as well. Last year, after expenses like advertising and electricity, they made a profit of €6,000 before tax. “That’s with managing it and cleaning it ourselves. Peter does the maintenance. La Grange has five bedrooms and can sleep nine, so cleaning is a big task. It takes six hours to do it thoroughly and it’s really important. Standards are high. People want the place really clean.” With the increase in multi-generational holidays the wide range of disabled facilities is much appreciated, especially the downstairs bedroom and specially-adapted wet room. Email should be checked daily and Sarah recommends having a separate email address so you can keep track of everything. Guests like to have someone around, in case a bulb needs changing or they want directions. in it is clean, tidy and in proper working order. Lack of cleanliness is the most common source of complaint. Consider having the house professionally cleaned before your first let. Indoors, check for any mould and make sure the fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, shower and work surfaces are spotless. If you provide bed linen make sure it is clean. Cut the grass and check the pH and chlorine levels in the swimming pool. If you employ help to clean the home, do the gardening, or provide other services, remember that French law requires you to pay certain social security costs for them. To simplify this there is a system known as the chèque emploi service universel (cesu). This enables you to buy vouchers to cover this liability. (See our helpguide on Employing people at home). Provide a map or directions with the description of the premises. Print your telephone number at the top so tenants can contact you if they are lost or to let you know their
Tourist lettings 9
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These points are especially important if you are hoping for repeat business or recommendations by word of mouth
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tiser
Peter and Sarah Somers have a website Working with the local tourist board is also recommended. “They can help with any problems, and if you live in France all year round, at least they know you’re serious. We have a three-star classification, which is a great help.” Furniture and furnishing have to be good quality: “Perhaps not completely brand new, but solid and comfortable. Leather sofas aren’t cheap but are useful because they’re so easy to maintain. China and glassware just needs to be matching and un-chipped. I buy everything from IKEA because then if a mug gets broken I can replace it with no problem. I supply a lot of crockery because you need so much of it when you’re catering for nine.” In addition, guests like being in the village, where they can walk to the supermarket or go out for a meal without taking the car.
estimated time of arrival. If it is a mobile number, make sure it is turned on and available when they are likely to call. In your description, explain any nuisances or problems, for example nearby noisy roads or junctions, farmyards, motorways, train tracks or building sites. Pay attention to minor details. Make the property attractive and comfortable, for example with curtains at the windows and paintings on the walls. A vase of fresh flowers is better than a dried bouquet and a welcoming bottle of wine always pleases. Consider leaving out some
books, DVDs, a games console etc. The law no longer allows owners to ban guests’ pets. However, some people may be allergic to cat or dog hair and you should make sure the property is cleaned thoroughly after pets have stayed. Keep an eye out for fleas, ants, spiders or other vermin and leave available products to deal with them if they are around. You are within your rights to make an extra charge and/or to increase the deposit if guests wish to bring pets. Unless there are mosquito nets, explain any need to close shutters in evenings to avoid mosquitoes and provide insect-repelling equipment
Letting out your French home to tourists helpguide Get detailed and easy-tto-u understand information including a draft letting contract in English and French - in our new 2012 Letting out your French home to tourists helpguide. It is on sale now, by download or print version, for €5 (+P&P) at www.connexionfrance.com or call 0800 91 77 56.
if necessary. Explain domestic equipment. Show your guests how to use the oven, the heating or air conditioning and any electrical equipment. Leave manuals available. Explaining things thoroughly at the start will make guests feel welcome and may prevent you having to return to the property during their stay. Provide details of local tradesmen and shops. Leave notes on emergency services (doctors, plumbers etc) and check that they will be working during the let period. Provide enough storage space. Check that there are enough wardrobes and drawers, especially in the bedroom, kitchen and living room. Bedroom storage areas should be clean and empty. Make sure there is enough cutlery and other kitchen utensils, such as a corkscrew, a cheese grater, kitchen knives and cooking pots. You may wish to invest in some new but inexpensive white or matching crockery. Leave enough time to clean between guests. If guests arrive before their contracted arrival time and you are not quite ready, invite them to leave their luggage in a corner and suggest a local place of interest they could visit until the prearranged time. Make arrangements for return of the deposit and agree a departure time with the guests. Make sure you are there to check the inventory and look for any damage, and to take back the keys and hand back the deposit. Guests with a long journey ahead may leave the night before or very early in the morning and the checks might have to be made after their departure. In this case make arrangements to repay the deposit when you have made the necessary checks. If you do not refund the whole deposit because of a breakage or missing property, send a letter with the details. Bear in mind that all these points are especially important if you are hoping for repeat business or recommendations by word of mouth.
Essential tips to be successful at letting Make sure your property is attractive, correctly equipped and furnished and in a sought-after location Declare to your mairie that you intend to undertake holiday lettings Ensure that your insurance policy and your financing arrangements with the bank will not be infringed Decide on a daily rental, the level of advance payment and the deposit you will require Decide whether you will find tenants and manage the lettings yourself or if you will use an agency or a friend or neighbour If you are not using an agent, prepare a form of letting contract (which may be in English for English-speaking tenants) and advertise for guests Prepare an inventory (in French if you are letting to French people) Make an initial contact with the customer, usually by phone or email Exchange contracts by post and take an advance payment Meet the tenants and hand over the key. Take the remaining payment, have them sign the inventory and show them over the premises After the stay, check the premises and inventory and give back the deposit if all is in order. Otherwise make a deduction for any damage Declare the income in your next income tax declaration
NG FEATURE pride in making sure we fit the best quality bathrooms, kitchens and decorate the properties to be modern, comfortable and welcoming, whilst retaining the relaxing atmosphere and traditional features of these wonderful buildings. Victoire added: "The Dordogne has good summer weather and offers holidaymakers many activities. As Francophiles will know, there are lots of historical places to visit nearby including the medieval city of Sarlat with its famous twiceweekly market, many ancient châteaux including Castelnaud, Beynac and the ancient town of Domme known as the 'Acropolis of the Dordogne' with its quaint streets, boutiques and restaurants. There are also lots of places for walking and cycling but it is especially good fun to hire a canoe at nearby Vitrac and drift gently down the river stopping off at one of the
many pebble beaches to enjoy a lazy picnic or to swim in the Dordognes' clear and unpolluted waters. "We chose French Country Cottages when they were recommended to us by a satisfied owner. The Dordogne is very popular with English visitors, so it seemed sensible to choose a company that could market our properties to such a wide audience and secure bookings on our behalf. We've had some great photography taken to show the properties at their best both online and through the brochures, which are great for getting our properties seen by thousands of potential customers." Simon continued, "Like Gerald and Victoire, those who travel to the country regularly or who already own a property there are always so passionate about what it has to offer and we are actively encouraging Francophiles to share their experi-
ences via the France Fan Club blog. Launching in February 2012, we hope this will provide a forum for fans of France to exchange tips and share their fondest family holiday memories, inspiring more families to enjoy all that France has to offer." With a major property recruitment programme underway, the 2012 portfolio is the strongest yet, carefully selected by a skilled team of holiday letting specialists. Property owners considering letting their holiday home can find more information at www.rentmycottage.com or www.je-loue-ma-maison.com; if you prefer to call then dial (+ 44) (0) 1282 845541 and ask for either David or James who will be happy to chat through your options in either English or French! To get involved in the France Fan Club, simply send your tips and memories to blogmaster@cottages4you.co.uk
10 Food/Pets
Time to make your own hot cross buns
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Hot Cross Buns
CUT OUT & KEEP!
Walnut-sized piece of fresh yeast (some supermarkets stock this in the chilled section) 250ml warm milk 450g strong plain flour (farine pour pain) 120g caster sugar (sucre poudre) Pinch salt 1 tsp mixed spice (If this is difficult to find, add instead extra cinammon and some nutmeg) 1 tsp cinnamon (cannelle) 2 eggs, beaten 60g butter, melted 60g raisins 60g chopped mixed peel (écorce du citron) Pastry for crosses; 1 tbsp softened butter 2 tbsp flour 1 tsp cold water Glaze: 2 tbsp milk mixed with 1 tbsp sugar and heated until the sugar dissolves
Photo:© hazel proudlove - Fotolia.com
brioche-style dough that is plaited then formed into a circle, glazed and decorated with sugar eggs. In Alsace of course there is always the lovely kugelhopf. Said to have been brought to France from Austria by Marie Antoinette and not strictly limited to Easter, it seems to fit the season particularly well. The first Easter we spent in our French home my mother was quite upset that hot cross buns were completely unknown and insisted on making some. When the baker, who had given us the yeast, arrived Mum and I took out a plate of warm buns and distributed them to all assembled round his van. That was 20 years ago and I have kept up the tradition ever since, though unfortunately neither Mum nor the baker are with us now.
March 2012
INGREDIENTS
After winning the first BBC MasterChef in 1990 JOAN BUNTING was soon writing a food column and doing local radio for the BBC. Now the former teacher has retired and moved permanently to her home in France but she is still keen to tell readers about good food THERE is a long European tradition of making special sweet, and often elaborate, breads to celebrate Easter. In Croatia the form of the Easter bread dolls, like a latticed tadpole, makes it obvious that yeast baking at this time of years is a fertility symbol, a sign of new life and revival. Indeed the very word Easter comes from the name Eostre – the Anglo-Saxon goddess of fertility. In France children are told that when the church bells are silent for the three days before Easter Sunday it is because the bells have flown to Rome to see the Pope. When they hear them ringing again it means they have flown back bringing Easter eggs French Easter breads usually come in a ring shape, like la couronne de Pâques, a
Normandy Advertiser
METHOD Cream the yeast with a tsp of the sugar until it goes liquid Sift dry ingredients into large bowl. Make a well in centre. Pour warmed milk onto yeast, add butter and eggs. Pour into the well, cover bowl and leave in warm place until liquid is covered in bubbles. Using your fingers, or an electric mixer, blend flour into the liquid. Once incorporated mixture will still be quite soft. Turn out on to a well-floured board and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, adding more flour if necessary. Don't worry if it seems very sticky at first. Return to clean, oiled bowl and cover with
plastic film. Leave in a warm place until almost doubled in bulk. Turn on to a floured board. Knead lightly, incorporating dried fruit. Preheat the oven to 230°C. Divide the dough into 16 equal sized pieces and shape into buns. Put these on greased and floured baking sheets, cover and leave to rise until the buns are again doubled in bulk. Rub butter into the flour and mix with water. Roll out thinly and cut into thin strips. Trim to 5cm long. Press on to risen buns in the form of a cross. Brush with the glaze then bake in oven for 15 minutes or until well risen and brown. Brush again with glaze.
Tried and tested by us A member of the Normandy Advertiser team tested out the recipe and says: It was difficult to find some ingredients so we have changed the list to give some French equivalents. The dough was, as Joan says, extremely sticky [but very tasty!] and needed a lot of extra flour to get it “smooth and elastic”. The freezing weather meant we had no real ‘warm place’ and I used a warm open oven.
PET CARE
Be prepared to avoid boarding blues YOU CAN plan ahead for holiday care for your pet but that is not the case with unexpected events such as hospital stays, family emergencies or funerals. The best course is to ask friends and neighbours for recommendations but do not forget to ask your local vet. There is an advantage in boarding your animal with an establishment registered with your vet – especially if the pet has an ongoing condition. Should they need treatment while you are away, the practice will already be familiar with the animal’s needs. If you opt to search online, look for pension chiens/chats/ chevaux (boarding kennels, cattery, equine boarding) – and also remember to check our directory pages (pages 12-13) for English-speaking services, too. Where possible, schedule a visit to the establishment in
Boarding a pet can be stressful for all involved, especially if it has to be done unexpectedly. It pays to find someone you feel confident with before you need them, says SAMANTHA BRICK advance of a booking. There is an argument to turn up without notice in order to get a true sense of how the establishment operates. However, while there are advantages in this method, there is always the risk of it being closed. A reputable owner should be more than happy to give you a tour of their premises. Do not forget to check that they are insured and registered with a SIRET number. Ask about busy periods – eg: how far in advance do you need to book for Christmas, or other holidays.
This column is sponsored by
Pet Care
If you are boarding more than one pet, can they board together. Where and how often are animals exercised? Also look at the other animals boarding – do they seem happy, well cared for? Do not be afraid to ask for email updates, most owners will happily inform you on your animal’s well-being while they are in their care. It is in your interest to give the boarding establishment as much information as possible about the daily routine and habits of your pet. Wet or dry food? Treats? Or perhaps you feed your animal once a day.
If your pet follows a specific diet you might even prefer to provide your own food. This helps them stay as close to their routine as possible. Any recent or ongoing medical conditions or recurring illnesses? Be sure to provide a written outline of any prescribed medication. Remember to indicate if an animal is about to go, or is in, season (en chaleur). Many establishments will try to accommodate your animal and house them accordingly. Animal boarding establishments in France cannot by law accept your animal without a valid passport (carnet de santé) confirming your pet’s vaccinations. If you will be travelling on a regular basis you should ensure that annual vaccinations are kept up to date. The specific vaccinations required can vary according to where you live – check locally. You
may also be asked to give your animal a flea, tick and worming treatment up to a week before they arrive too. It must also be identified by a tattoo or a microchip. Familiarise yourself with check-in and check-out times; daily tariffs also vary with each establishment. If sending your pet off to kennels does not appeal then there are other options. In France there is an estab-
lished profession of garde d’animaux (pet sitter). There are two options – your pet goes to live with someone in their home or someone moves in while you’re away and cares for your pet in situ. An internet search will provide a list of local contacts.
Tel. 06 58 01 82 76 Web. www.seulementnaturel.eu Email. marc.somsen@chardeyre.com
Normandy Advertiser
March 2012
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JUDY MANSFIELD has lived and worked in Calvados for nearly nine years. She is an agent commercial, and worked at an estate agency in Lisieux for several years before branching out into business development, primarily for currency specialists First Rate FX and latterly for small businesses in Normandy.
FINANCE Picture: © laurely - Fotolia.com
Business 11
Price and value know the difference How do you determine how much to charge for your goods or service? What it costs you – and add on a bit? Do you carry out meticulous research, or is it gut instinct? Do you just find out what your competitor charges, then undercut him by 10%? Or maybe you offer rock bottom prices that no-one else can match?
Helping garden business to grow I HAVE a UK business selling stone and garden products and am looking into the possibility of setting up a business venture in France to sell these products. I hope that the business could take off as it will allow me to take up residency in my second home in Brecey. What do I need to consider about running a business in France before I take the plunge? T.B. THANKS for your very interesting question! There are many factors to consider and many ways to establish a business in France. Under EU legislation there are no restrictions on setting up a business, as long as you hold an EU passport. The first step would be to contact an agent commercial to market your product. Basically, you can set up a contract with them to sell your product on your behalf, for a commission. You can define a distinct geographical area for them to cover. Dor example, you could set up the contract for Lower Normandy exclusively, and appoint agents for the other areas. The advantage of an agent commercial is that they will already have contacts with French businesses. You could also employ someone directly – who would be working exclusively for you. This could cost you more, as you would have to pay a base salary, and commission would be expected on top. The payroll can be set up with a URSSAF office for overseas payrolls, and your UK business would also be attributed a SIRET number – useful to show French clients that you are operating within the French system. Practical things to consider would also include: assessing the competition; pricing in Euros; VAT in France is going up to 21.2% in October; invoicing French clients – you will need to provide translations of your invoice; delivery and storage; drafting terms and conditions that comply with French Commercial Law; opening a French bank account; appointing an accountant with expertise in cross-border transactions to advise on the formalities; tax planning for your French residency and arranging your social cover. Good luck with your new venture!
DO YOU panic that you won’t get any clients if you charge too much? Confusing price with value is one of the most common mistakes in business. Pitching your price correctly is not easy, and here is a great exercise I came across at a recent training course. Look at this painting – it is a large, original canvas. Putting aside your own taste, how much would you expect the price tag to be if you saw this painting for sale: at a vide grenier; in your local Jumbo store; in John Lewis; in an upmarket art gallery in Paris or London? I dare say that the price tag would vary widely, depending on where it was on sale. This is your perception of value. Yes, you may be saying “my five-year-old could do that”, but if it was in the window of a Bond Street art gallery, the price would be much greater than if you saw it in Jumbo. Many of us have difficulty pricing our value to the customer. I know artisans who hate doing quotes for work and will put it off as long as they can. The temptation is to go in cheaply, just to ensure you get the job. We have all had the customer who wants our product or service, but who does not want to pay much for it. This is true whether you are a builder, a website designer, an estate agent or a famous artist. How do you answer someone who says you are too expensive? Picasso was a great artist, but he was also an astute businessman. A woman once spotted him drawing in a pavement café. She asked him if he would sketch her for payment. He did so, and in minutes, there it was: a Picasso original. She asked how much she owed him, and he told her it was 5,000 francs. Shocked, she told him it had only taken him three minutes.
“No,” Picasso replied. “It took all my life.” He established the value of the painting, not the customer. Now look at your charges, and remember to consider your value when estimating the price. Develop a value strategy and consider the following: What do you charge? Why do you charge the price you do? Is it a true reflection of your value to the customer? What would happen if you increased your price? If the answer to the last question is that you would lose customers, go on to consider whether that is necessarily a bad thing. As Jackie Jarvis says in her book (85 Inspiring Ways to Market), don’t let your own beliefs about money get in the way of customers who want to buy something they value! Last month, I mentioned the UK’s number one marketing expert I had come across called Robert Clay. He gener-
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Don’t let your own beliefs about money get in the way of customers who want to buy something they value!
ously shares his strategy via his website. Robert says there are three ways to grow a business: increase customers; increase the value (price) of each transaction; increase the number of times a customer buys from you – your repeat business. Most businesses concentrate their efforts on the first option – to get more customers. More advertising,
Other Info... My recommended reading this month is Robert Clay’s www.marketingwizdom.com Jackie Jarvis - 85 Inspiring Ways to Market your Small Business - www.marketingcrm.co.uk Normandy Business Group and Normandy Jelly Co-working - www.meetup.com/normandy-business-group
Judy can be contacted through The Advertiser or by email: normandybizgroup@orange.fr She is on Twitter at @NormandyBizGp
special offers, exhibitions and so on. But he goes on to show that options 2 and 3 are more effective for business growth and thus for income. Getting more customers has its risks to your business. Sounds mad, doesn’t it? But think about it… advertising, if not thought out properly, can make a massive hole in your budget. Not only that, if you double the number of customers, are you sure you can manage the extra workload? Robert points out that increasing the number of customers will increase revenue, but it is also the hardest, most expensive, time-consuming and stress-inducing way of growing your business. Happily, he does go on to demonstrate how a modest increase in your customer base, combined with an increase in frequency and value of transactions from those customers, will dramatically improve your business. The Normandy Business Group will be running more Masterclasses throughout the year on various business topics. You do not have to be a captain of industry to be a
member – many of us have our struggles with one aspect of our business or another. What IS certain is that you will have support, encouragement, and lots of help and advice from other business owners. We are also very keen to celebrate one another’s success stories, and there have been many since the group was formed. Our group is now one year old, with over 100 members of many different nationalities, skills and experience. We have seen joint ventures and alliances form, a natural referral process, every single member has met someone new that they can do business with, and we have all learned new skills and had lots of fun. Do join us – it is still a free resource. Our website address is at www.meetup.com/normandy-business-group. Don’t be put off by location – although many of our meetings are held in the Vire region, we are keen to hold meetings in other areas of Normandy if the demand is there – you only have to ask!
12 Directory
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ADVERTISER Specializing in Installation of Fosse Toutes Eaux - Mini Digger/Dumper Hire Email: david.pickering@wanadoo.fr Tel: 02 33 17 24 82 Mobile: 06 20 14 73 69 Siret: 481 189 991
Chenil Les Mille Calins English Run
5 Star accommodation for Dogs/Cats Underfloor heated kennels Qualified staff Top Quality food and exercise Only 45 minutes south of Caen Convenient Ferry Access
www.goldenwaypets.com Telephone 02 33 37 49 19 Emergency 02 33 38 41 32 Fax 02 33 38 44 16
ANIMAL COURIERS
Experienced couriers specialising in pet travel between France / UK / Spain or within France. Pet passport advice. Tel: 0044 (0) 1483200123 Email: animals@animalcouriers.com Web: www.animalcouriers.com
PC repairs,upgrades, sales.help with internet connections, call out or bring to us.
Tel: Mark 02 33 90 64 93 Mob: 06 72 66 61 51 www.swcomputers.eu
English and Fluent French speaking agent, always needing more houses for sale, 8 years experience
BUILDER
info@normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.com TEL FR: +33 (0) 6 19 17 34 61 TEL UK: +44 (0) 7880 501 116 www.NormandyandBrittanyhousesforsale.com
Tel: 02 33 61 72 90 - Email: lizrom@sfr.fr Area: Near St Hilaire - Siret: 499 532 059 00015
TIMBER PRESERVATION Eradication of rot and woodboring insects 20 year certificated guarantee covering all France Tel: Jim +33 (0) 679274563 Email: jimdanmoto@aol.co.uk
J. LECLUZE ST HILAIRE DU HARCOUET - 50600
Siret: 48397386300028
All building works undertaken. Mini digger, Full Registered, 10 year decennale insurance.
Roofs, Loft conversions, Plumbing & Electrical, Groundworks. Experienced team for all renovation work. __________________________
AXA INSURANCE
SW COMPUTERS
Andrew Hadfield
GENERAL BUILDER
Stuart Upton CARPENTRY & ROOFING Full 10 year Insurance Backed Guarantee Tel: 02 33 64 89 28 / 06 06 43 52 28 Email: upton_stuart@hotmail.com Regions Covered 61, 14, 50 Siret 48036552700013
JS Menuiserie John Shipton - 02 14 16 14 47
Carpenter/Joiner
HOUSES ON INTERNET Do you want to sell your house quickly? Our fee is only 2.5%
All kinds of handmade furniture and carpentry work. From door fittings to kitchens.
WWW. HOUSESONINTERNET.COM
siret 499 313 658
Tel: 05 55 65 12 19
email: jshippo1962@gmail.com
INTERNATIONAL PETS & LIVE ANIMALS
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Seans Garden Services Lawns – Hedges – Trees Overgrown plots cleared. Free quotes for one-off jobs. Call Sean 02 31 09 27 00 Email: sean.melanaphy@wanadoo.fr Siret: 50139841600013
Normandy Advertiser
Directory 13
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March 2012
ADVERTISING FEATURE World First can advise you with payments overseas
Eurozone crisis forcing expats to think hard about exchange rates With the problems in the Eurozone still prompting frosty economic forecasts from many commentators, there's never been a better time to look into managing your currency exposure. World First explains. THAT'S the message that foreign exchange firms are trying to get out to expats who regularly transfer money overseas. "Volatility in the markets has translated
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into unpredictability in all the key currency pairings, with the relative value of pounds, euros and others becoming increasingly difficult to predict," confirms Jeremy Cook, chief economist at foreign exchange company, World First. "Many clients have asked why the pound has not strengthened against the euro massively, in light of the well documented crisis in the Eurozone," adds Cook. "The answer is linked to how closely our own economy is tied to the problem. We may not be a member of the single currency, but our trade is so closely linked to it, that sterling has been suffering peripheral damage throughout." "The well documented problems across
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Chimney Sweep Wood Stove Installer Property Management Iain Davison www.propertycarepeople.com Tel: 02 33 14 09 55 Email: property.care@orange.fr Siret: 494799968 Ad No. 19022
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14 Home and Garden
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Normandy Advertiser
March 2012
Creating a focal point D I Y t i p s key to garden balance Sponsored by
If your garden needs sprucing up, simple art and decoration techniques can work wonders. And you don’t need intricate items and designs, as REBECCA LAWN finds.
Photo: © Pix by Marti - Fotolia.com
Photo:Petr Kurgan - Fotolia.com
SOMETIMES, giving your garden a new look can be as easy as the right plant in the right place. Gary McArthur, who runs Kingdom Vegetal garden centre and landscaping business in Boulogne-sur-Gesse (www.kingdomvegetal.com) suggested a monkey puzzle, saying: “They are one of those plants that highlight themselves, just with some shingle around.” Other options, especially for southern gardens, are a hardy palm such as a butia, an olive tree or topiary. “They can all be a feature in their own right – one plant surrounded by some gravel or stones can be very striking.”
Replacing a toilet is a quick and easy job
Simple changes can have a dramatic effect on the feel of your garden While you will need practical lighting for entranceways and paths, you can also create a certain mood in your garden with decorative lighting. One way of doing this is through pots which have lighting in them. “There are red pots that fade to orange and yellow, or solar-panelled ones with a black panel near-
by which gets sun during the day to power it at night. “Two or three on a patio changes the atmosphere of the garden.” For a romantic look, try candle-lit lanterns; or, for entertaining, strings of coloured lights can set a relaxed outdoor atmosphere. To create a beautiful garden
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with next to no fuss, there are a few things you can put in place quickly and cheaply. “Look at getting an irrigation system, as that’s also better for plants. The prices have come down a lot in the past few years and they’re very easy to install,” Gary says. One of the main things to remember is your location – choose plants that naturally grow well in your area. Ground cover planting can also make gardens easier to care for as they cover weeds and hold in water; also look at adding herbs, mulches, gravels and bark chippings. For the ground, it is best to combine a few different materials, rather than sticking with just the one. Once you have the main features in place, you can have fun adding garden ornaments or creating different moods. And there is a lot of choice from wooden windchimes to spinners placed in the ground which turn and reflect the light. You could also opt for wind sculptures, or glass bubbles designed to look like soap bubbles, which can be placed in the shrubbery or rockery, hung on branches or used as tea-lights. Not forgetting stone bird or animal ornaments, freestanding weathervanes and sun-catchers. A favourite in many gardens is the water feature, with many varieties of fountains and waterfalls to choose from. If you want a sense of unity between your home and garden, go for similar colours or fabrics to indoors. When adding a piece to your garden, the main thing to think about is the overall impression it gives. Gary says: “Scale is very important – you can quickly destroy a garden by putting in something too small or big. “As for a feature or focal point, you create one for two reasons: to draw people to it or to take people’s attention away from what you don’t want them to look at!”
Replacing a toilet should not take too much time THE toilet is probably one of the most used fixtures in the house so it is no surprise it sometimes needs to be replaced. Putting in a new one is relatively simple and should take no more than a day to do. These instructions are for the kind where the tank is separate to the bowl. Turn off the water, then flush the toilet until the tank is empty. Hold the trip-lever down to make sure all the water runs out. Soak up any water in both tank and bowl – make sure both completely empty. Using a large adjustable spanner, remove the nuts that connect the toilet tank to the water supply then remove the bolts holding it to the wall. It should then easily come away from the wall and you can lift it clear of the bowl. To remove the toilet bowl, remove bolts that hold it to the floor. If need be, loosen bowl by gently rocking it back and forth to break the seal with the floor, then simply lift and remove. Be careful not to tip the bowl too much in case water is still inside. Block the sewer pipe connection with rags to stop gases getting out and debris getting in the pipe. Install new toilet: Thoroughly clean the area round the toilet, removing any old sealant on the floor. This is also a good time to check over the water and sewer pipes and to do any necessary repairs or replacements. Once prepared, temporarily put the toilet seat unit in the desired position on the floor over the evacuation pipe and check the level. If necessary, make it level by strategically placing non-rusting metal washers. Then install a new pair of hold-down bolts, it is important to use purpose made bolts, make sure they are both equal distance from the wall. Installing the bowl and tank is really just a case of following the removal instructions in reverse. Seal the new bowl to the sewer pipe with ready-made wax toilet ring gasket, make sure it is at room temperature and the flat face is placed against the bowl. Make sure you remove the rags from the pipe and gently lower bowl onto it. Once in place seal around the edge of the bowl’s base with plumbers’ putty. Temporarily tighten the nuts with your hands. To install the tank, fit the rubber washer between the tank and bowl, bevel side out. Gently lower the tank onto the back of the bowl. Place mounting bolts and fix snugly. Connect the water supply to the tank’s inlet valve. Turn on the water and check that the tank fills correctly and that there are no leaks. If there are small leaks it could just be a case of tightening bolts. Once sure that all is functional tighten the hold-down bolts on the bowl with a spanner, fit the trim caps and smooth excess sealant. Test flush the toilet, checking for leaks on the floor this time and if all is OK your installation is complete.
TOLLEVAST
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Normandy Advertiser
March 2012
Gardening Facts
Sponsored by
Matt Gilks Landscape Gardening Service
Houses for sale in and around Normandy Buying or selling a property in or around Normandy? We can help. Our website www.connexionfrance.com carries details of more than 14,000 homes for sale across France.
Photo: © marilyn barbone - Fotolia.com
We also feature properties for sale in this dedicated section of the paper each month. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com and enter the ref: code shown under the property. For sellers, the adverts are also displayed across a range of popular English-language websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERY day. Our 3+3 package costs just €200TTC
Without bees your garden will scarcely bear fruit
Companions in the garden THE phrase Companion Gardening has been around for a while and we should take a look at what it can mean – from both ends of the scale. Both ends? Yes, because while most people recognise the benefit of growing plants that are good for each other there is another side that is far more lively and less obvious..... Companion Plants African Marigold – Tagetes species, deters pests by smell. Plant at the edge of beans and tomatoes. Pot Marigold – Calendula species, catches whitefly and flea beetles before main crop is infected. Limnanthes – loved by lacewings, hoverflies and ladybirds which eat aphids. Nasturtium – deters aphids, whitefly and cabbage moth. Attract blackfly from bean crops: pluck off the infested tips. Thyme, rosemary and peppermint – deters carrot flies by diverting the scent of the carrots. Does not have to be planted, just lay sprigs between crops. Sage – repels cabbage flies and black bean aphids – as for rosemary and thyme. Basil – the best known companion crop, repels whitefly from tomatoes Any scented Geranium – Pelargonium species, the strong scents deter pests. Ideal in the doorways of a greenhouse. And the less visible, Companion Creatures The thing about companion beasties is that, unlike plants, when you are in the garden they are usually absent. These are the tenants of any well tended garden that help keep crops free of pests and soil healthy and viable. At the top of the scale are birds: these are the most visible garden residents and many like robins, thrushes and blue tits are not deterred by the presence of a gardener. To keep them coming, you need to feed throughout the cold weather and well into spring until the insect population is up to supporting the nestlings. In addition, they need shallow bowls of water left around. In spring they also appreciate human and animal hair being left around for nest building! Lizards, slow-worms and hedgehogs are the next visitors to keep happy. They eat slugs and larvae that overwinter in the cracks and niches. Lower down are the insects that you need to cultivate to keep the pests down, like ladybirds, spiders, groundbeetles, daddy-long-legs, lacewings and solitary bees. Non-predatory, but essential, are butterflies, bees and wasps. These are important pollinators, without which fruit trees and vegetables would have difficulty setting fruit. These tenants will need bolt holes and habitats if they are to stay and the best way to do this is to leave one corner untidy and unkempt. There is nothing beetles and lizards like more than a damp rotting log with hot and cold running woodlice and wall-to-wall moss. Small piles of twigs, old logs and nettles provide shelter, food and nesting possibilities. To tempt them further into the garden, plant clumps of borage, nasturtium, goldenrod, coneflower, milkweed and sunflowers at the edge of the vegetable plot.
Matt Gilks Landscape Gardening Service Landscaping Service O Garden Products O Plants & Trees O Spring Bulbs O Reclamation and scrap metal service
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Property 15
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New Consumption and Emission Chart - e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions
Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of
www.connexionfrance.com Simply enter the code under each home to find out more PROPERTIES IN NORMANDY
€104,500
€128,300
Landelles-et-Coupigny, Calvados Pretty renovated cottage close to the village. This house is currently a holiday home and could be sold fully furnished. It has a lovely fireplace with woodburner. There are 2 good-sized bedrooms and a newly fitted kitchen. ENERGY RATING = Not given REF: 12131
St-Georges-de-Rouelley, Manche This lovely stone house is set in 1.06 acres of land and comes with old stable and outbuildings. The property comprises, living room with fully equipped kitchen (with chimney), dining room, bathroom and toilet. ENERGY RATING = Not given REF: 41297
€141,000
€159,000
Sourdeval, Manche Village house built in 1926 with garage and completely fenced and gated garden, double glazing, central heating. Situated on the edge of a pretty market town with all amenities within walking distance. ENERGY RATING = Not given REF: 61
St-Pierre-sur-Dives, Calvados Delightful cottage at the end of a lane in a pretty village near a famous market town. This lovely colombage property would make a great bolthole. The spacious garden has a shed, and a small stream running through it. ENERGY RATING = Not given REF: DOM1298
€183,000
€399,750
Mortain, Manche Stunning colombage property with spectacular mature gardens. Situated just 5 minutes from Barenton in an elevated position, no close neighbours and far-reaching views. ENERGY RATING = Not given
Pont-Audemer, Eure Spacious colombage house under a thatched roof in very good condition. Landscaped gardens. Garage plus dormitory with 7 beds. Swimming pool. Deauville and the beach 45 minutes by car. REF: DOM1292
€450,000
€500,000
Le Neubourg, Eure This former presbytery (first built in 1810) has lots of charm (timbered beams and old wooden interior shutters) and modern comforts. The ground floor has 2 living rooms with fireplaces, kitchen, hall, wc. REF: IFPC21878
ENERGY RATING = D
Mortain, Manche The main house is a 5 bedroomed family home with a large living room, dining room, kitchen and 2 bathrooms. There are also 3 gîtes. Great walks and cycle paths to the Bocage villages are close by. ENERGY RATING = Not given REF: IFPC20874
REF: 101
ENERGY RATING = Not given
PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE
€160,000
€210,000
Pontivy, Morbihan A delightful stone house set within the a friendly little village and very close to the bustling town of Pontivy. Structurallysound cottages like this rarely come onto the market.
Bergerac Nestling comfortably in a very beautiful village between the towns of Issigeac and Eymet, this charming house with its garden and well, has the added rarity of a field with fruit trees.
REF: IFPC21813
ENERGY RATING = F
REF: IFPC21458
€ 220,000
€290,000
Bram, Aude Elegant village house with grand entrance and staircase. Lounge, dining room and kitchen with marble fireplaces. Back kitchen with service stairs to other floors. Wine cellar, garage, pigeonnier.
Nouzet Stone and tiled property, situated in a hamlet in a peaceful setting. Septic tank. Dutch barn. 2 small barns. Bread oven. Spring-fed wash house. Well. Cottage to renovate.
REF: 28632
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: NOUZET6157
€330,000
€483,000
Nîmes, Gard Village stone house fully restored with living room, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, barn (ready for conversion if required). Garden with swimming pool .
Pontivy, Morbihan This immaculate 5-bedroomed manor house dates back to 1769 and has a garden with a heated swimming-pool and a convertible barn. It is located in a quiet and friendly hamlet.
REF: FMP03102011
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: BRE56PONT4
ENERGY RATING = E
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
16 People
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Normandy Advertiser
March 2012
Dominique Forget talks to SAMANTHA DAVID about his passion for the history of the world wars, and his race to get a record of this period while witnesses are still alive DOMINIQUE Forget is fascinated by history - and always has been. “I was born in Alençon and have family members who were in WWII which means it’s always been part of my life. Alençon, liberated by General LeClerc’s division in 1944, was the first town in France to be seized back from the Nazi occupation. General LeClerc went on to liberate Paris and Strasbourg, so the liberation remains an important part of local culture.” Mr Forget’s uncle was a photographer. “I used to hang about his lab,” he says. “I would watch him working. It was like magic, these images appearing as if from nowhere.” Mr Forget got a Performing Arts degree from Caen University in 1994 but had already started making films. His first documentary, Bernières-sur-Mer: A Memory of the Landings, was produced in 1992. Since then, he has produced about 30 films, all dealing with local WWII history. Most are full length. “It’s fascinating,” he says. “Researching details to fill in the gaps of our history. Piecing it all together like a puzzle. On my first trip to Washington in 1996, doing
Photo: D Forget
It’s dangerous to forget war
Historian Dominique Forget is looking for living witnesses to WWII research in the National Archives and the Library of Congress, I discovered a whole new archive of undocumented films of the liberation, it was so exciting! “There are about 25 million scraps of film there, most of them undocumented. They know me there now. I’m the only French person who regularly does research there.” Back in Europe, he is always on the look-out for living witnesses of
WWII, but this is getting increasingly difficult. “I think there are no more living witnesses left from WWI,” he says. “And I haven’t got enough resources to interview all the people I’d like.” Mr Forget does not receive any grants or financial aid for his work. “I mainly raise money by selling the dvds,” he says. “That makes things hard, to be honest. But I’m getting there step by step. Some old people
have fantastically clear memories of the war and can tell you all sorts of little details. And often, when people have told me they were filmed, I’ve been able to find the film!” He says he has a list of 200 people waiting to be interviewed, he just needs the money and the time to do the work. “It doesn’t cost much to make these films,” he says. You need knowledge and the love of that peri-
od in history. “It is really dangerous to forget about the two World Wars. People say it couldn’t happen again, but look at Yugoslavia, look at Africa. There are all sorts of very fragile, explosive situations where war is very close. “Without the EU there would without doubt be war in the exYugoslavian countries right now. There’s so much historical resentment, religious and racial hatred.” His next project is about a resistance worker of 17, Paul Le Care, who was deported from Bayeux and spent three years in camps before making it back to France. “He’s still alive,” says Mr Forget. “I have found all the SS archives about him in Paris and Washington, and I’m searching for a producer to help make the film.” He would be glad to hear from anyone who wants to get involved. He has recently found photographs of the first British soldiers to be taken prisoners of the war. “If any authors or producers or exprisoners have information, please get in touch,” he says. “And if anyone knows anything about obtaining funding for this work, get in touch!” He is also looking for living witnesses of WWII who were between Avranches and Mortain, and any documentation of the liberation of the south of the département. Mr Forget’s email address is archivesdeguerres@wanadoo.fr
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