Quercy Local July - Oct 2013 eZine by The Magazine Production Company

July – October 2013 Issue 11

uercy Local The

The Region’s FREE English Magazine

Inside: What’s on and where to go – this summer Fuss Free Summer Recipes Toulouse-Lautrec Saddle making in the Lot UK and the EU

Acclaimed London-based theatre-company brings Shakespeare’s much-loved comedy of mistaken identity to Périgord and Quercy. 29 July – 9 August. See p.14 or www.ad-tour.com

www.quercylocal.com

ummer has taken a long time to arrive this year and we’re ready for some lovely settled weather to enjoy the many events planned throughout the coming months. There’s no excuse for missing out on any of these as we’ve included lots of suggestions for places to go, events not to miss, and places to eat. We’ve also featured some of the highly talented people from in and around the area. It’s amazing how many local people are using their skills to add to the region’s diversity. I enjoy having the chance to get out and about and to meet them and I hope that you’ll be inspired to find out a little more about them and what they do. Paola Westbeek shows us some great and colourful summer recipes on p.60, and there’s a chance to find out more about the legendary Josephine Baker on p.30 and also Albi’s finest, Toulouse Lautrec on p.36. On p.8 we’ve a summary of some of the comments made by our readers when we asked them about the UK’s disquiet with the EU, many thanks to all those readers that took the time to send us their thoughts on this matter.

You may notice that this edition is a little larger than usual. We simply couldn’t contain all the summer’s activities in the usual number of pages. Next year we are planning to run a couple of extra editions in the spring and summer hopefully this will relieve some of the pressure and help us to keep you more up-to-date with ‘life in Quercy’. In the meantime, why not keep in touch by following us on twitter @QuercyLocal or befriending us on Facebook. Please do try to support our advertisers whenever you – without them there would be no magazine. Do enjoy the summer. We’ll be back with the next edition in November.

Anna

CONTENTS p.8 UK and the EU p.10 - 27 What’s on and where to go p.27 ‘Places to eat in and around Cahors’ – new book p.30 Josephine Baker p.32 Roman Roads VI p.36 Toulouse-Lautrec p.38 Cahors – Resistance Museum p.40 Willow weaving p.42 Roquecor – gallery

p.44 Caux’s 3 artists p.46 The Lot’s own saddler p.48 New horticulturist and his family p.50 Stefaan Eyckmans – artist p.53 Inheritance tax – update p.56 Buying property in France p.58 Wine tasting etiquette p.60 Fuss free summer recipes p.64 English Church – Cahors p.66 Touzac – ‘Pink Ribbon’ run

Remember, it’s possible to subscribe and get the magazine delivered to your door more details of this can be found on our website: www.quercylocal.com or see p.51 For all advertising or editorial enquiries please email – info@quercylocal.com An online version of this magazine can be read from our website – www.quercylocal.com This magazine is entirely funded by advertising, please do try and support our advertisers whenever possible and do mention that you saw their advert in The Quercy Local. NOTE – Copy deadlines for the Nov. edition. Editorial – 27th Sept, Changes and renewal of existing adverts – 6th Oct. New Advertising deadline – 9th Oct (or sooner if lack of space dictates) Cover picture: Olives on Montcuq market.

ARBRESERVICES Matt Strawbridge Tree Surgeon Elagueur Arboriste

Tours 47340 Cassignas 05 53 95 80 27/ 06 45 25 65 58 matt@arbreservices.com www.arbreservices.com SIRET NO. 5025222200004

The Quercy Local ISSN: 2116-0392. No part of this publication may be copied, used or reproduced without the written consent of the proprietors. No responsibility is accepted for any claim made by advertisers. All content accepted and printed in good faith. The Quercy Local is published by Red Point Publishing Ltd, (reg. in Eng. and Wales, No. 761556) redpointpublishing@gmail.com. It is produced by the Magazine Production Company, West Sussex, UK. Printed by Newman Thomson (UK). Editing in France - Anna Atkinson; French admin – Rachel Verne; Distribution managers (47) – Lorraine & Pete Knowles; UK admin/accounts – Vicky Byram. Regular contributors; Angela Clohessy, Lisa Stanton, Paola Westbeek, Angie Richards and Anna Atkinson

English Builder with 23 years experience

Robert Atkinson Estimates freely given Work can be seen References available Roofing l Stonework l Plastering l Tiling l Paving Blocking l Concreting l Door/Window openings Las Razes, Touffailles (82190), 05 63 94 32 80 robert@lasrazes.com, Siret: 499 560 654 00026

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

www.buggscarhire.com local independent car hire company at Bergerac Airport, choose from our range of value priced groups below

value economy 4/5 seats rear folding - 3 doors aircon - cd radio mp3 - air bags

Renault Twingo

Kia Picanto

5 seats rear folding - 5 doors aircon - cd radio mp3 - air bags

Kia Rio

Renault Clio

Ford Fusion

Ford Fiesta

large 5 seats rear folding - 5 doors aircon - cd radio mp3 - air bags

Renault Megane Estate

Renault Scenic

Ford Focus Estate

Renault Kangoo

mid-size

super large 7 seats rear folding - 5 doors aircon - cd radio mp3 - air bags

Renault Grande Kangoo

Renault Grande Scenic

fun! New for 2013, 2 seater sports wind in hair!

buggs simply the best value car hire Fiat Barchetta - Classic Sports

SARL BUGGS NumĂŠro SIREN: 488 473 919 RCS VILLENEUVE SUR LOT Montant du capital: 10.000,00 euros No. TVA intracommunautaire: FR89488473919 Le Colombier 47210 Bournel Lot et Garonne

keep watching the website for our

buggs barmy winter offers To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

8 • the quercy local

To ‘ be’ or ‘not to be’ – that is the question! It’s possible to believe that the most important question facing the United Kingdom (or at least its chattering classes) is whether the country should remain in the EU. This dilemma has many consequences. Not least the fact that it’s not likely to be resolved for 4-5 years, during which time development on both sides of the Channel may be marred by uncertainty. In no circumstance is uncertainty beneficial! We sought the opinion of some of our readers to see if they felt unsettled with this on-going unease. The opinions swing from the frantic ‘yes’ to the composed ‘no’. It seems that most concerns relating to any change are driven by deeply held (and differing) views about possible economic implications and indeed how many people still view themselves as British rather than European. Perhaps the most common concern was the potential impact on the local property market. Uncertainty about the UK’s long-term intentions may deter some buyers from making substantial investments in Europe and encourage more owners to return to the UK. Clearly those trading between Europe and the UK (and many of our readers do) dread the notion that some of the current freedoms may be lost. For small business the thought of coping with trade barriers and more regulation is worrying. On a national trading level, the question of who’d suffer the greater economic loss from a UK/EU split, divides our readers almost perfectly in half. Some believe that if the UK loses out on the freedom to move people, goods, services and capital, the consequences will be dire and importantly, as yet unmeasured. Alternatively, others are convinced that the UK is more important to the EU than the other way around and that the UK would be significantly better off ‘sailing its own economic ship’ and that any attempt by the EU to impair trade would fail. It’s no surprise that there is this disagreement; economists who’ve spent their lives studying these matters, can’t agree. They can neither all be right nor indeed all be wrong! Even the most confirmed of European converts might now, or in the future be reliant on either private or state pension income from the UK and so have an inevitable interest in the UK’s economic well-being and can’t simply divorce themselves from these potential issues. Currently the British benefit from reciprocal health care stemming from the UK’s membership of the Union. The viability of ‘life in France’ could be threatened if this benefit was to be removed or curtailed. With such depressing economic news and a lack of growth right across Europe, it’s easy to see why people

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

blame their governing institutions for the financial and structural woes. It’s debateable, however, whether there’d be the same disquiet if we were in a period of sustained economic growth. All of Europe, not just the UK, is questioning the role played by the EU. The French blame the EU for their further decent into recession and their continued lack of employment. However, as a founder member of the Union and a member of the Eurozone they can’t so easily suggest a split. The British concern with the EU is nothing new. In the 70s it was the Common Agricultural Policy that was blamed for many of the UK’s problems. This ‘bête noir’ has slipped down the list of concerns (although many of its structural problems remain) and it’s now over-shadowed by fears concerning ‘immigration’. Is there a danger that Britain’s response to Europe will be dictated by a media who’ll promote which ever ‘folk-devil’ they can whip-up the most hysteria about? We shouldn’t disregard the impact of the UK’s physical separation from Europe; and the fact (mentioned by a number of our readers) that UK Governments have sought greater alignment with the USA than with Europe. We’re already divided, so the issue is about the degree of division rather than whether to divide! Almost unanimously readers remain unhappy to consider themselves European before British. One or two admitted that their cultural references were still British but they preferred to think of themselves as European and a few felt they ought to try harder to consider themselves as European but the resounding comment was that everyone was British first! There is a whole new discussion to be had here about the home nations of the United Kingdom and in particular the current Scottish debate. There was no absolute consensus about whether a ‘no to Europe’ vote from the UK would be personally disastrous or detrimental to the UK. It’s worth considering that this uncertainty is coming from a group of people who are already pre-selected (as they have commitments to France) and are probably far more aware of European issues than the average ‘voter’ in the UK. If these enlightened people are not convinced that the UK must stay within the EU, were does that leave a potential UK referendum? British people, resident in France, are largely disenfranchised from electoral processes and are unlikely to vote on any referendum. Perhaps those with more understanding of life-inEurope have unwisely been removed from the opportunity to use their experience, leaving the decisions to many who know or care less!

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

For Sale LONG TERM RENT/UNFURNISHED CHARMANT MAISON - W/SPECTACULAR VIEWS PLACE DE LA MARIE, ROQUECOR, TARN&GARONNE Newly Renovated - Large Tiled Salon - Orig. Stone Walls Open Plan Kitchen/Dining W/Terrace Upstairs Loft/Style Library/Office - Exposed Beams Three Bedrooms/En Suite Bathrooms Lower Garden W/3x5 Swimming Pool - Laundry Room

CONTACT VICTORIA OSCARSSON oscarsson@utanet.at +43 676 508 2453 / +43 1 535 4023

Bacchus Immobilier

Jenny Small

Your English speaking estate agent in the Quercy www.bacchus-french-property.com e : bacchusquercy@gmail.com

t : + 33 (0) 9 53 43 68 24 m: + 33 (0) 6 47 78 49 16 Found de vers, 82190, Touffailles, France Agent Commercial en Immobilier, Carte Professionnel No. 109

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

10 • What’s on and where to go

What to do with

By Angela Clohessy

the kids on holiday

When you go on holiday you want the sun to be shining, blue skies and lovely hot weather, a sparkling swimming pool to swim in and sunbathe too... but not all days can be like this and one of the dreaded questions is – what shall we do if the weather is not good and the kids want something to do – and all you hear is – ‘It’s raining, its cold we’re bored’. Here are some ideas to keep those little treasures happy! INSECTOPIA Here you will find a mixture of discovery and amusement in the amazing world of insects and butterflies with a wide range of exhibits and displays for all ages. In addition to the live insect collections, they’ve fascinating interactive displays on insects and camouflage, the story of cochineal, insects under the microscope, ‘insects did it first’ and many others that will leave you educated and amazed! You will also find… Chocolate Insect Heaven – Insects have been eaten by many cultures for thousands of years. To some people they are the tastiest of dishes! Insectopia brings together examples from around the world, including chocolate coated ants, stir-fried silkworms and tequilaflavoured lollipops with a genuine mescal worm inside! If you like the idea of edible insects, why not buy some examples from the shop to take home or as a present for your friends and family. You could also visit… The Cinema – This can accommodate around 15 people and shows a full feature length cartoon about the important role bees play in nature. Collecting honey and pollinating flowers, it’s very amusing and educational too. The kids will love it! Opening Times – every day from 10.00 – last entry at 18.00 (19.00 July & Aug.) from Easter to All saints day inclu. – non-stop (inclu. lunchtime). Cost – Adults: e6.50; Children (4 to 12 incl.): e3.50 (under 4 – free) Located next to the Gouffre de Padirac, The Gouffre is signposted within a 50km radius on all main roads and the A20 motorway. Follow the signs located along the main approach roads to the Gouffre. You can also find Insectopia on the Google Location Map. Contact: E-mail: rob@insectopia.fr Phone: (0033) 05 65 33 76 76

GOUFFRE DE PADIRAC Situated in the Lot department in Quercy Perigord, the Gouffre de Padirac is a natural chasm 99 metres deep and approximately 35m in diameter which is open to the air on the Causse de Gramat Lot, below it, 103m deep, a river flows. Édouard Alfred Martel, explored The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

2,400m of this in July 1889, accompanied by Louis Armand, Emile Foulquier and Gabriel Gaupillat. The underground river is reached using lifts or a staircase; visitors descend 75m before entering the cave system. The cave, at a depth of 103m contains a subterranean river system that is partly negotiable by a 500 m long boat and also navigated on foot. After disembarking at the Rain Lake, you are then taken on a guided tour of the Great Caves with formations created by billions of drops of water. Padirac is the most frequently visited underground tourism facility in France, with more than 350,000 visitors annually, and a record of 460,000 in 1991. There is a guided tour which is approximately 1½ hours. Gouffre de Padirac, 33 Padirac, 46500. Tel: 05 65 33 64 56 Email: info@gouffre-de-padirac.com www.gouffre-de-padirac.com. Open virtually every day and certainly in the summer – check the website for final entry times – the website is also in English. Cost: Adults – 9.80e, Children – 6.60e, Children under 4 years – free.

LA CITÉ DE L’ESPACE – TOULOUSE There are various things to discover for both children and adults. v Have a go on the rocket-slide, space station-cabin and moon buggy! v Try the lightness of moon walking (max weight 115kg) duration 5 minutes. v The “Gyro-Extreme” Discover how to be a real astronaut (only from age 7+). A seat used to test real astronauts. Parc de la Plaine-Avenue Jean Gonord, 31506. Toulouse. Tel : 08 20 37 72 23 Email: standard@cite-espace.com www.cite-espace.com Opening Times: 9.30am to 17.00pm (depending on season and day – do check the website which is also in English); closed on Mondays from Sept. to March (except school holidays. Cost: from 16e to 23e depending on age.

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Bastille Day Open Air Celebrations in Roquecor Sunday 14 July Evening starts at 7.30pm. Live Music and dancing til late with Corto Maltese, apéritif, 5 course meal with coffee and wine included, fireworks display after the meal. Price: 18e per person (10e) for children. Reservation advised. Tickets can be reserved/bought at Epicerie Vival, or Café du Centre in Roquecor. Or by telephone – 06 03 88 11 95 (English spoken).

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

What’s on and where to go • 13

Let your hair down at the Nuits de Lauzerte mixed arts festival

nother year, another theme! For its 14th anniversary the Nuits de Lauzerte festival has chosen Poppies and C° (Coquelicots et Cie) evoking gaiety, frivolity, lightheartedness... not forgetting the countryside surrounding this classic hill top village. Cars are banned and streetlights turned off, and 2,000 candles guide you round medieval courtyards, gardens and streets, with illuminated façades showing the spectacular architectural heritage of Lauzerte in a strange and unexpected light. Let dancers sweep you off your feet at the masked ‘Poppy ball’, enjoy the buzz of a world jazz concert, brush against giant plants to make them ‘speak’, catch your breath at a cello and song recital ... and more, much more with circus artists, stilt walkers, singers, sculptors, and performance artists of all kinds drawing you into their strange and delightful worlds. Altogether there will be 13 non-stop events, many of them interactive, for you to discover at your own pace from 10 pm to 1 am. Arrive beforehand and use the free minibuses (from 8.30 pm) to take you from the car parks at the bottom of Lauzerte hill to the main square, where you’ll find live music, a restaurant, bars, and stalls selling dishes for you to sample at long tables, village fête style. And as night falls, enter an altogether different universe on the candlelit circuit of mystery, enchantment and sheer fun... and remember poppies don’t last – don’t miss it!

Fri 2 and Sat 3 August, 10 pm to 1 am (with open access to food, drink and live music on the square before and right through the evenings). Free parking and minibus from the bottom of Lauzerte hill (8.30 pm - 1.30 am).

Tickets 13e for 1 night, 20e for both nights. Children under 13 free. Advance purchase from July recommended from www.nuitsdelauzerte.fr or from the Lauzerte tourist office (05 63 94 61 94).

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

14 • What’s on and where to go

In July and August, regular summer visiting theatre company Antic Disposition will be back in France with their latest show – a brand new production of Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s perfect comedy of love, loss and laughter. This will be the ninth consecutive summer that the company have performed in France and 2013 marks their most ambitious tour yet, with nine performances including three at new venues in the Dordogne – Domme, Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère and Monpazier. ‘It’s incredibly exciting to be expanding the tour to new venues this year,’ said director Ben Horslen, ‘and we wanted to bring our new audiences one of Shakespeare’s most popular and summery comedies. We have performed Twelfth Night in France before, but that was six years ago and this will be a completely new production. Our regular audience members will recognise some familiar faces from our more recent shows, though – our actors love performing in France and are always keen to come back.’ The play tells the story of Viola and Sebastian, twins who are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria. Believing her brother to be dead, Viola disguises herself as a boy in order to enter the service of the melancholy Count Orsino, and is sent by him to woo the beautiful but proud Countess Olivia. When the Countess promptly falls in love with Orsino’s new ‘page’, the stage is set for a hilarious comedy of crossed wires and mistaken identities. As always, the production will be colourful, fast-moving and perfect for children. Tickets are already selling quickly, so do book early to avoid disappointment. ‘Beguilingly lucid and engaging . . . Deliciously fresh and spirited . . . The company convey the story with infectious zest. This imaginative and unpretentious staging would make an admirable introduction to the play for a child or teenager, while taking the cognoscenti The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

back to the bounteous basics’. The Independent on Antic Disposition’s sell-out production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Twelfth Night will be performed around the Dordogne and Lot valleys from 29th July – 9th August 2013. 29 July 30 July 1 August 2 August 4 August 5 August 7 August 8 August 9 August

Domme Belvès Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère Monpazier Monflanquin Montcuq Lauzerte Puy l’Evêque Lherm

Jardin de la Rode La Halle Next to the church Place des Cornières Place des Arcades Espace Nino Ferrer Place des Cornières Théâtre de Verdure Centre of the village

Tickets: e20 – e30, Free for children under 13, for more information and to book tickets, please visit www.ad-tour.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Restaurant ‘La Sirene’ Place de l’Hotel de Ville Montaigu de Quercy (82150) Varied cuisine and a warm welcome guaranteed in this beautiful 16th century Quercy timber & stone building. Pretty terrace overlooking old square and quaint local houses July - October Tues to Sat, lunch & dinner, 12.00 - 2.00 and 7.00 - 9.00 Closed last week of Sept and 1st week of Oct.

Reserve by phone on 05 63 94 44 82 or email at t-mermaid@hotmail.com The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

22 Aug. Soirée à la Chateau de Foulou, Tournon d’Agenais – A superb venue for this evening of good music, and excellent food. After the success of last year, this event should not be missed! Please contact for more details. 7th and 8th Sept – Open days at the Rescue Centre. 4 Oct. 2013 – Every year, in celebration of World Animal Day (a day for remembering and paying tribute to all animals and the people who love and respect them) the Centre (Miramont de Quercy, 82190) will be opening their doors to visitors! Black Cat Weekend – this year on 26th and 27th Oct, to encourage more people to adopt black cats and kittens. The charity aims to raise awareness of the plight of black cats which tend to lose out on homes to more colourful cat varieties. Permanently open “La Chat Boutique” sale of new and excellent quality used items at our centre – call us to check opening times. Permanent sale of handmade craft items at La Poste, Miramont de Quercy.

05 63 94 73 97 www.chatsduquercy.fr

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Café Pukeko Home prepared fresh food, NZ style coffee, in a stunning location Grills, fresh salads, home-made cakes and deserts. Gourmet Fish & Chips 11e, Sunday mornings: freshly baked cake for 1e, with any drink Very Full English breakfast 9.75e Next to the bridge over the lot – 46700 PUY-L’EVEQUE GPS N44°30.112’ E1°08.119’ Reservations and hours 09 51 88 80 29 ou 06 70 51 04 76, or reservations@cafepukeko.com

PIZZA – CHEZ MIREILLE Café du Centre ROQUECOR 82150 tel: 0563952178 www.caferoquecor.com July 8 – Sept 1: open daily from 18.30 – 22.00 – to eat in or take away (on the road D74) Le Mas Karel, 82400, Castelsagrat.

05 63 94 49 68 www.chez-mireille.com for GPS use ‘Camp de Carrelles’

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Free bottle of House ‘Patron’ red wine or value thereof, when booking for 4 diners having a 3 course meal each. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

L’office de tourisme intercommunal Porte d’Aquitaine en Pays de Serres vous accueille tout l’été à Beauville et à Puymirol Accueil en bilingue, conseil en séjour, idées de sortie (marchés, animations…) sur le territoire et au-delà. Beauville – Blaymont – Cauzac – Dondas Engayrac – La Sauvetat de Savères – Puymirol – Saint Jean de Thurac – Saint Martin de Beauville – Saint Maurin Saint Romain le Noble – Saint Urcisse – Tayrac

Office de tourisme de Beauville +33 5 53 47 63 06 Office de tourisme de Puymirol +33 5 53 95 95 19 info@ot-beauville.com www.ot-beauville.com Stunning gîte, sleeping up to 15, heated pool, snooker, wifi & more than enough space for all. Ideally situated for Lauzerte, Montaigu de Quercy and Montcuq.

www.lasrazes.com

Please book in advance and quote this voucher. Please present this voucher to a member of the Café du Centre team on arrival. Available for any evening dinner-menu when 4 people order 3 courses. This offer is subject to one voucher per booking of 4 persons and available till Oct 31, 2013. This voucher cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Info: Office du Tourisme et Musée des Bastides – Place des Arcades – 47150 Monflanquin Phone: +33 (0)5 53 36 40 19 – Full details on www.monflanquin-tourisme.com or www.monflanquin-museedesbastides.jimdo.com

A classic ‘Bastide’ – Monflanquin and its Heritage and Festivals One of the most beautiful villages in France and a Station Verte de Vacances; located on the edge of the Dordogne region in the area known as Haut Agenais Périgord; Monflanquin is the perfect place to discover the area’s rich and interesting history. Visit ‘le Musée des Bastides’ with 2 floors of exhibits including - audiovisual, models, information panels (also in Eng), and contemporary sculptures to illustrate Bastides (the new cities of the middleages). All summer – guided visits or follow the family discovery route ‘Monflanquin a Bastide?’ (also in Eng). Some of the main summer events in Monflanquin: Déball‘art: 7th July - Antiques Fair/Flea Market: 13th &14th July Baroque Evenings: between 15th to 27th July - Evening of the Stars: 1st August Quercy’s Shakespeare Festival: 4th August - Medieval Days: 14th & 15th August Not Forgetting: Guided tours with Janouille, all summer - day and evenings. Local producers’ food market on Thursday evenings - come and dine.

Auberge de Miramont (Chez Bernadette) 82190

A very popular restaurant serving local specialities in lovely, cosy dining-room and in summer on the beautiful terrace. Great atmosphere and food. Popular for Great value lunches and special evening meals – reservations recommended Stephane & Karen look forward to welcoming you. Miramont de Quercy

05 63 94 65 57 / 06 30 64 79 43

www.aubergedemiramont.com – check opening hours To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

What’s on and where to go

Les Amis des Chats’ Balade & Barbeque

his July sees car and cat enthusiasts come together for a Balade en Voiture organised by Les Amis des Chats. The two-hour route is designed to take drivers and their passengers through the very best of the Quercy countryside on littleused country lanes. There are no restrictions on the cars that can enter so expect to see a few classic and sports models alongside everyday vehicles. The Balade on Sunday, July 21, starts with coffee and croissants at 9am in the bastide town of Lauzerte then winds its way through the countryside before reaching the Abbey town of St Maurin where the event concludes with a barbecue lunch. There will also be an opportunity to see inside the medieval Abbey as well as to enjoy a

few scheduled stops en route which aim to take in an art exhibitionand a local produce show. Organiser, Tim Blackburn, said: “It will be a great visual experience with a few surprise elements for those who want to test their visual observation and navigational skills. But the main feature will be fun and enjoyment of the extraordinary Quercy countryside.” Costs are 15e for a car and two passengers with additional passengers paying just 5e each. Lunch at St Maurin is 15e per person and is open to Balade participants as well as those people who just want to meet up with friends and family and enjoy a barbecue lunch. For more details and to register a place either on the Balade or the lunch; please visit www.les-amis-des-chats.com.

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The charming bastide village of Lauzerte where the Les Amis des Chats’ Balade en Voiture begins on Sunday, July 21. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

22 • What’s on and where to go

2013 VINTAGE AND CLASSIC CAR DAY ‘ROMAN STYLE’ CAFE DU CENTRE, ROQUECOR Saturday, 6th July 2013

his year’s Car Rally will have a slightly more ‘ancient’ theme and will take you on a tour based on the route of the Roman Road which is locally called the Na Bruniquel. This was not only used in Roman times but probably dates back to earlier times when the region was inhabited by the Gaul/Celtic tribe of the Nitiobroges. Obviously the route itself cannot be used as it is mostly farm tracks, but we have endeavoured to give you a route that criss-crosses around it. There are, however, two modern road stretches where you will actually drive on the Voie Romaine and this will be indicated on the map specially drawn up for the occasion. To add to the theme we are going to request that several churches set on special sites that have specific interest going back perhaps into prehistory are open for you to look round. There will be historical information at each one along with a Roman Numeral to collect. All Entrants: Entering your car/moto is 5e. Entrants are welcome to wear period ‘roman-style’ attire and to provide display information about their entry to the coordinator prior to the event. The event Registration starts at 9.45am with a Free Coffee & Croissant or Bacon Sarnie for the driver & finishes at approximately 12.30pm with lunch available at the Café du Centre, Roquecor. Public viewing of the cars at 2pm– 3pm. The public may vote for the ‘Spectators Best car/moto of the Day’ and the winner receives a bottle of champagne. Entrants have the opportunity to enter the ‘Roman Numerals’ competition for 5e per car to win a Dinner for 2 at the Café du Centre. Entrants can download an entry form, or contact Michelle info@caferoquecor.com the event is open The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

to all. All cars registered and entered into the Roman Roads will go into the draw to winner Dinner for 2 at the Café du Centre! The Public: All classic car/moto enthusiasts are welcome to freely cheer and wave along the route and at the finish to view the cars. For breakfast, lunch or dinner – reservations are strongly recommended The event is supported by Café du Centre, www.ccsportcars.com and Quercy Local. Schedule of the 3rd Café du Centre Vintage and Classic Car Day : • Arrival of Entrants 9.45am • Brunch 9.45-10.15am •F lag off from the Café du Centre at 10.15am by the Mayor of Roquecor • Lunch at Café du Centre from 12pm •A nnouncement of ‘Roman Numerals’ competition winner 2pm • Public viewing of cars 2pm-3pm • Event Ends 3pm Breakfast: Croissant or Bacon Sarnie and Café 4e Lunch: Set 3 Course Menu 21e, Plats: 12e, Desserts: 5e Afternoon Tea: Coffee and Cake 5e Dinner: Restaurant will be open for à la carte dining [Refreshments available all day at the bar] This is the 3rd time a Classic Car show will have been held in Roquecor, France. We are hoping to attract many people from the local area who have Classic Cars/ motos or just want to come and have a look.

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

stefaan eyckmans paintings

OPEN STUDIO weekends 13-14 and 20-21July 2013

14 h.-19 h.

L’Ancien Presbytère de Troniac

lieu dit Troniac, 46800 SAUX 44°38’82”

info@stefaaneyckmans.com

1°06’69”

www.stefaaneyckmans.com

Stefaans studio can be visited throughout the year by appointment

A different kind of leisure park experience – perfect for children and all the family! Get away to one of France’s most popular amusement parks with films in giant format, thrill-filled attractions, interactive visits, and more… The spectacular theatres inside Futuroscope are gigantic sculptures and their futuristic lines blend in smoothly with the surrounding landscape. Located in Poitiers, and easily accessed by road

Come to discover the new thrilling attraction – Dances with Robots by Martin Solveig! Tél : + 33 (0) 5 49 49 59 06 www.en.futuroscope.com Futuroscope_Creation/Fotolia/Studio Ludo/S LAVAL/Robothespian © Engineered Arts Limited 2012 - D LAMING, - M Vimenet - ToutainChorégraphies : Mourad Merzouki - CCN Créteil et du Val-de-Marne/Compagnie Käfig. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013 Architecte To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

FREE TICKETS FOR FUTUROSCOPE! We’ve 6 entry tickets to give away worth 39e each! If you’re looking for something different to do with the children or grandchildren, this summer, then why not arrange a real family day out?

A French Quintet that will take you to the heart of New-Orleans! Available for: weddings events evenings of music ‘cotton club’ concerts l

We will be offering the tickets to readers as 3 pairs of 2 tickets. Simply visit our website www.quercylocal.com and follow the links, leave your contact details and we will draw ‘names from a hat’ on the 31st July 2013. The 3 winners will be notified by email. All those entering this draw will receive the November edition of The Quercy Local in the post to their home in France.

Contact: 06 84 01 22 17 email: jazzmagnac@gmail.com www.jazzmagnac.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

In our restaurant you will find only the very best of Quercy’s gastronomy, meals prepared with only fresh local organic ingredients. Whether you dine in the exquisite dining-room or on the beautiful summer terrace you will be in the perfect place for an experience never to be forgotten. Set in beautiful landscaped gardens Le Manoir St Jean offers peace and tranquility as well as a real sense of style with its neoclassical elegance. If you are looking for somewhere for a special treat, a celebration or simply somewhere to try the best of the region’s products then a table at Le Manoir awaits. We recommend calling us to reserve a table. (Eng. Spoken) At Le Manoir St Jean we have a selection of individually designed rooms/suites which will help you make the very best of your visit to the region. Le Manoir St Jean 82400 Saint-Paul d’Espis Tél. : + 33 (0) 5 63 05 02 34 info@manoirsaintjean.com www.manoirsaintjean.com

What’s on and where to go • 27

LHERM, 46150 – 3 GEMS WORTH A DETOUR HISTORY EVERYDAY 16.00 – 19.00 (+w/e am) Museum of Iron Working in the Area ART EVERYDAY Karina Knight Jerome Bedes Carol Farrow Martin Ward Jean Jones, Jenny Gilbert

Interior – Karina Knight

16.00 – 19.00 (+w/e am) 30th June - 18thJuly 19th July - 1st Aug 2nd Aug - 15th Aug 16th Aug - 29th Aug 30th Aug - 15th Sept

REFRESHMENTS EVERYDAY except Sun Eve and Wed Bar à Trucs: drinks, French bar food, tapas and concerts. 05 65 22 84 66 www.baratrucs.fr

Making ‘out for lunch’ a whole new adventure

o matter how long you’ve lived here or how often you’ve been on holiday you’ve probably got into a routine of repeatedly visiting the same restaurants and cafes; living by a set route around the countryside and within towns. Maybe you wonder if you are missing a few culinary treats, maybe there are places out there, that you’ve not yet tried, that you’d love, the sort of places that make you smile, provide great food but don’t empty your wallet! ‘Places to Eat in and around Cahors’ could be just the book you need to re-vitalise your desire for seeking out those hidden restaurant gems. Written by Kristen Sandahl this book, which has just been published in English, lets you share many of Kristen’s restaurant finds and gives you a real feel for the food and atmosphere of each of the places he writes about. This is not a guide to the high-brow or where to find the Michelin Stars; it’s a celebration of the less expensive, yet authentic venues that may have eluded you to date. Would you, for instance, know where to find a place like this? “…Usually all the tables are occupied for lunch, so people apparently really appreciate his clowning. We are welcomed with a blast on his hunting horn, and after he has placed us as Dutch, he sits down at our table on the terrace outside and takes our order. He helps those who are not so good at French and puzzle over the menu by imitating the animals which have provided the courses... At one moment he breaks into opera….” Intrigued? So was I and so I arranged a quick trip to see for myself – and I still wonder how I have missed this restaurant, I have passed so close so many times! (Editor’s tip – when you’ve worked out where this restaurant is – make sure you get there for noon to get seated.)

We are giving away two copies of ‘Places to eat in and around Cahors’ – simply go to our website www.quercylocal.com and enter your details. The draw will take place on the 15th August and then two people, drawn randomly will receive a copy of the book. All people entering the draw will receive a copy of the November edition of The Quercy Local by post to their address in France.

Places to Eat in and around Cahors Publishers Ehrhorn Hummerston (Denmark) E-mail: info@forlaget-eh.dk. 220 pages, and fully-illustrated in colour (145 x 170 mm). Price: between 26 – 30e. ISBN: 978-8792559-23-4. For local suppliers of the book, please check our website

www.quercylocal.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

28 • the quercy local

French Farce

We’re Ronnie and Angie, two ladies that live in the Aquitaine who are setting up a new website called ‘French Farce’.

We welcome stories from people who’ve had various difficulties with all aspects of life in France. In particular, problems with lawyers, notaires, courts (tribunals), police (gendarmeries), local authorities and organisations (tax, medical, mairies), building works, telephone and internet services, insurance companies & artisans etc. We’ve realised that the British oriented newspapers and glossy magazines seem to print only the ‘Good Life’ and are unwilling to follow up on the many complaints that we’ve heard about from friends or indeed have experienced ourselves. We wish to publish everyone’s stories, all personal details supplied will be kept confidential and names will not appear without permission. It’s hoped that this will take the style of a ‘forum’ so that replies and advice can be published on each story line. We’ll also be producing a ‘vetted’ page for the names of anyone you recommend who has worked properly, fairly invoiced, correct after sales service, 10 year guarantee, correct insurance claim pay outs etc. Finally, we’ll be seeking adverts from companies, lawyers, notaires, artisans etc, prepared to be fair, quote fair prices, and speak/write in English to the many who struggle with French. Our website www.frenchfarce.com is under construction but we’re able to receive emails with your stories at frenchfarce@aol.co.uk The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

the quercy local • 29

Erick COMBEDOUZOU Agent Général Exclusif MMA Staff members: Ms Nasim Kanamia & Ms Cécile Doumergue 54 rue des Frères Quéméré 82150 MONTAIGU DE QUERCY Tel : 05 63 94 48 64 1 bis av Maréchal Bessières 46220 PRAYSSAC Tel : 05 65 22 42 36 Fax : 05 63 94 30 27 – Email : e.combedouzou@mma.fr – N° ORIAS : 07 011 028 – www.orias.fr

Information needed for your French Insurance needs? House – Car – Health – Life Insurance Nasim is available to answer your queries in English every Thursday morning at our Montaigu branch and from Tuesdays to Saturdays at our Prayssac branch. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact Nasim by telephone or email, and we will ensure that your enquiry is dealt with rapidly.

Carpentry & Joinery

Traditional Bespoke Joinery Decking, Pergolas & Auvent All aspect of Joinery & carpentry work Alterations & Renovations General Building work Roofing & guttering Plastering and tiling City & Guilds Qualified with 23 years Experience

M. +33 (0)6 95 01 55 56 H. +33 (0)5 53 75 05 51 E. micgorst@hotmail.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

30 • A little history

Josephine Baker 1906 - 1975

“Not everybody has the same colour, the same language or the same customs but they all have the same heart, the same blood and the same need for love”.

osephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her mother, Carrie McDonald, was a washerwoman who had given up her dreams of becoming a music-hall dancer. Her father, Eddie Carson, was a vaudeville drummer. He abandoned Carrie and Josephine shortly after her birth. Carrie remarried soon thereafter and would have several more children in the coming years. Josephine Baker spent her youth in poverty before learning to dance honing her skills both in clubs and in street performances, and by 1919 she was touring

Ethel Waters, in the floor show of the Plantation Club, where again she quickly became a crowd favourite. However in 1925 and at the peak of France’s obsession with American jazz and all things exotic, Josephine traveled to Paris for a new venture, to perform in La Revue Nègre, at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées it proved to be a turning point in her career. Amongst a compilation of acts, Josephine and dance partner Joe Alex captivated the audience with the Danse Sauvage. Everything about the routine was new and exotic, and Josephine, boldly dressed in

“I wasn’t really naked, I simply didn’t have any clothes on.” the United States with the Jones Family Band and the Dixie Steppers performing comedy skits. In 1921, Josephine married a man named Willie Baker, whose name she would keep for the rest of her life despite their divorce years later. In 1923, Josephine landed a role in the musical Shuffle Along as a member of the chorus, and the comic touch that she brought to the part made her popular with audiences. Using her early successes, Josephine moved to New York City and was soon performing in Chocolate Dandies and, along with The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

nothing but a feather skirt, worked the audience into frenzy with her uninhibited movements. She was an overnight sensation. Josephine’s immense popularity afforded her a comfortable salary, which she spent mostly on clothes, jewelry and pets. She loved animals, and at one time she owned a leopard (Chiquita), a chimpanzee (Ethel), a pig (Albert), a snake (Kiki), a goat, a parrot, parakeets, fish, three cats and seven dogs. Josephine rivaled Gloria Swanson and Mary Pickford as the most photographed woman in the world, and by

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

A little history • 31

“Surely the day will come when color means nothing more than the skin tone, when religion is seen uniquely as a way to speak one’s soul, when birth places have the weight of a throw of the dice and all men are born free, when understanding breeds love and brotherhood.” 1927 she earned more than any entertainer in Europe. Capitalizing on this success, Josephine sang professionally for the first time in 1930, and several years later landed film roles as a singer in Zou-Zou and Princesse Tam-Tam. The money she earned from her performances soon allowed her to purchase an estate in CastelnaudFayrac, in south west France. She named the estate Les Milandes, and soon paid to move her family there from St. Louis. Her career thrived in the integrated Paris society; when La Revue Nègre closed, Josephine starred in La Folie du Jour at the Follies-Bergère Theater. Her jaw-dropping performance, including a costume of 16 bananas strung into a skirt, cemented her celebrity status. The show was wildly popular with Parisian audiences and Josephine was soon among the most popular and highest-paid performers in Europe, having the admiration of cultural figures like Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and E. E. Cummings and earning herself nicknames like “Black Venus” and “Black Pearl.” She also received more than 1,000 marriage proposals. In 1936, riding the wave of popularity she was enjoying in France, Josephine returned to the United States to perform in the Ziegfield Follies, hoping to establish herself as a performer in her home country as well. This proved disastrous, despite the fact that she was a major celebrity in Europe. American audiences rejected the idea of a black woman with so much sophistication and power, newspaper reviews were equally cruel (The New York Times called her a “Negro wench”), and Josephine returned to Europe heartbroken. Josephine married French industrialist Jean Lion and obtained citizenship from the country that had embraced her as one of its own. When World War II erupted later that year, Josephine worked for the Red Cross during the occupation of France. As a member of the Free French forces she also entertained troops in both Africa and the Middle East. Perhaps most importantly, however, Josephine did work for the French Resistance, at times smuggling messages hidden in her sheet music and even in her underwear. For these efforts, at the war’s end, she

was awarded both the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honour with the rosette of the Resistance, two of France’s highest military honors. Following the war, Josephine spent most of her time at Les Milandes with her family. In 1947, she married French orchestra leader Jo Bouillon, and in 1950 began to adopt babies from around the world. She adopted 12 children in all, creating what she referred to as her “rainbow tribe” and her “experiment in brotherhood.” She often invited people to the estate to see these children, to demonstrate that people of different races could in fact live together harmoniously. During the 1950s, Josephine frequently returned to the United States to lend her support to the Civil Rights Movement, participating in demonstrations and boycotting segregated clubs and concert venues. In 1963, Josephine participated, alongside Martin Luther King Jr., in the March on Washington, and was among the many notable speakers that day. In honor of her efforts, the NAACP eventually named May 20th “Josephine Baker Day.” After decades of rejection by her countrymen and a lifetime spent dealing with racism, in 1973 she performed at Carnegie Hall in New York and was greeted with a standing ovation. She was so moved by her reception that she wept openly before her audience. The show was a huge success and marked her come back to the stage. In April 1975, Josephine performed at the Bobino Theater in Paris, in the first of a series of performances celebrating the 50th anniversary of her Paris debut. Numerous celebrities were in attendance, including Sophia Loren and Princess Grace of Monaco, who had been a dear friend to Josephine for years. Just days later, on April 12, 1975, Josephine died in her sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage. She was 69. On the day of her funeral, more than 20,000 people lined the streets of Paris to witness the procession, and the French government honored her with a 21-gun salute, making her the first American woman in history to be buried in France with military honors. Footnote: Chateau des Milandes can be visited – there is a restaurant and a museum dedicated to Josephine Baker. Chateau des Milandes. 24250. Castelnaud la Chapelle. Tel: 05 53 59 31 21 Email: josephin-les-milandes@wanadoo.fr www.milandes.com

By Angela Clohessy

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

32 • A little history

QUERCY’S ROMAN ROADS PART VI By Angela Richards

n our last few outings we have not only advanced forwards towards Villeseque, but also back tracked. While walking on the relatively well-known Roman Road called Na Bruniquel, along the plateau towards Cahors we have passed forks in our route that have gone off in different directions. As these tracks have looked relatively old and therefore of interest we decided to investigate as many as possible to get a fuller understanding of the main and secondary roads in the region during the Roman and later periods. The first one to mention comes off the D656 a couple of kms south of Tournon d’Agenais, to the left and signed towards the church St Andre de Carabaise.

The road goes downhill at an angle to give it an easy descent down into the valley and showed signs of banks and ditches. The story about the church site is that it was the parochial centre before Tournon was constructed and the church itself was built in the 12th Century either using reclaimed stones from a nearby Roman Villa or built on or near the site of one. There is a ‘lieu dit’ in the area called ‘Roumany’ and another up near the junction with the D656 called St Romain. If we can believe this information then it would prove that there must have been a road nearby at that time. Some members of our group went on a walk down into valley, past the Motte and Bailey site of the Chateau Lamothe, crossing the valley over the Boudouyssou river near the site of the Moulin de Lamothe and joined up with an old lane heading

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

towards Tournon that was used right up until the valley road was constructed in the 19/20th Century. The origins of this old chemin could also go back into antiquity as there are records of villa sites in Penne and Gal (near Cazideroque). On further investigation our voie appeared to swing off to the left in the area of Bosq de la Croze (crossroads). This is another occasion when the trackway led diagonally downhill at a gentle gradient towards the Boudouyssou valley. There was strong evidence of an ancient track-way which was either the farm track we were on, or ran parallel to the right and left.

When we arrived in the valley we discovered traces of a Roman Villa which, unfortunately for us, had already been discovered some time ago. However, this would add credibility again to the chemin we had just followed. This continues in two directions; either, towards the Tombeaux des Geants, or diagonally uphill on a farmtrack with an older track-way alongside, in a northerly direction all the way up to Maux. During these outings we also discovered a Borne standing in a farmyard garden with a flower trough on top. It was about 180cm high, circular and standing on a squared base, with a diameter of about 40-45cms. Further study and research will be required to establish, if possible, when it was produced and if it’s Roman or more recent. Napoleonic maps for the Tournon area

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

A little history • 33

show a series of 7 Bornes along the regional boundary – but until we discover one of these we won’t be able to make any comparisons. We found interesting developments further along the original plateau track-way when we arrived just north of Couloussac. Here there were confusing farm tracks heading off in different directions. One turned north following the departmental border; another headed down into the valley towards Couloussac Village (and was used for coach and horses going towards Cahors). We also followed what we believed was the voie towards the valley edge where it appeared to T junction with a trace line coming up from the Pervillac direction. It then continued on past Couloussac towards Castela and on down into the valley.

is an unknown Roman road going north towards the Lot, Duravel and Puy l’Eveque. In some old archives there is mention of a Roman road that went across the river from Duravel, to Vire, Lacapelle Cabanac and Mauroux but no other information on a continuation south – perhaps our voie joins this. We’ve new contacts with the Historical Association in Duravel who are going to join us with the investigations into a possible south/north Roman road when our current survey is finished, along with the search for the Cahors-Eysses route. However, any written documentation of an archaeological nature for our Agen-Cahors survey will probably take some time to produce and this requires much more detailed information. So these future survey areas will have to wait. From Couloussac we picked up evidence from the Napoleonic maps of the Agen to Cahors road at the Pech Bely crossroads just above the village.

We followed the traces from the map towards Pech Bely turning off through a spinney and out across the fields along a ridgeway track that was used as a road during that period. (Continuing on down towards the 9 Pech Bely hamlet and on towards Saux is also on our survey list). We arrived at the renovated windmill at Bagor past a field of beautiful white orchids.

It then crosses the river Boudouyssou near the farm of Cirgou, with another from the Couloussac plateau going north along the regional border arriving also at Cirgou (farm). One track carries on northwards up the hill following the departmental border, passing Homs and ending up at Maux. So this means that three tracks we have followed all converge on a tiny hamlet. We will study this area further at a later date to discover if there

Continuing on from the moulin we followed relatively modern farm tracks covered in the local ‘castine’ (but did see evidence of an older track way running parallel on the section called Bois de Capitaine).

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

34 • A little history

Our progress stopped at a junction in the Belmontet commune where the way forward has proved very difficult – once again we were unsure which way to go – though we had some fun with an old faded wooden sign. This major gap in our search area near Caux (Belmontet) will be another target on our next outing, which we wish to conclude before we continue on towards Cahors. Report by Angie Richards, Mestre Vidal, 47340 Castella angerichards@aol.com 05 53 67 66 39

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

36 • A little history

The Dwarf of Monmatre... or Albi By Katie Webster

His Life One normally associates the post-impressionist artist Henri de ToulouseLautrec with the bright lights of Paris, or more specifically, the glory days of bohemian Montmatre and the Moulin Rouge. But he was in fact born in nearby Albi – a cathedral city in the Tarn region, in 1864. Toulouse-Lautrec’s parents were descendants of the great Counts of Toulouse, who dated back 1000 years. Henri was the final offspring. His father was rich, handsome and eccentric. His mother doted on her son, especially after Henri’s younger brother died, less than a year old. His parents were first cousins, which meant that the future artist would be hampered by congenital health conditions. He was a weak, sickly child. At the age of 13 he broke his left leg, and only a year later, broke his right. Due to the weakness of his bones, the breaks never healed, resulting in his lack of growth. Known by many as “The dwarf of Montmatre”, he reached 5ft1 at his full height. Unable to pursue the pastimes of other young men, Toulouse-Lautrec threw himself into his art, having already started drawing and painting at the age of 10. In 1882 he moved to Montmatre, which at the time was the heartbeat of Paris; filled with dance halls, circuses, nightclubs, cabarets and racetracks – all of which were fuelled by alcohol and debauchery. Here the young artist studied under two academic paintersLeon Bonnat and Fernand Cormon, whose previous students included Emile Bernard and Vincent van Gogh. In the evenings he would sit at a crowded nightclub table, copiously drinking and laughing, and make sketches to paint the following day. When the infamous Moulin Rouge first opened its doors in 1889, Toulouse-Lautrec was commissioned to produce its posters, and as part of the deal, he was promised a reserved seat and a permanent display of his paintings. These posters would become world-famous and still retain their global popularity (and value) today.

His Work As one of the great post-impressionist painters amongst Cezanne, Van Gogh and Gauguin, his talent lay in his ability to capture the spirit of his models. The three main influences on Toulouse-Lautrec’s work were Manet, Degas and Japanese woodblock ‘ukiyo’ prints. One can clearly see the similarities between Degas’ ballet dancers, or Manet’s barmaid in ‘A Bar at the Folies-Bergère’ of 1882, and Toulouse-Lautrec’s close observations of women. He excelled at painting women, particularly dancers and prostitutes; placing them in their working environments which were full of dramatic colour and movement. These elements were juxtaposed by capturing the women at more sombre, intimate and less glamorous moments. These, such as “Femme qui tire son bas” (1894, pictured), offer personal insights into the women’s lives. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

sentimental or romanticised. In fact, he has been described as a “savage realist”, creating true portrayals of female lives that were often glitzy on the outside and grim on the inside. Toulouse-Lautrec himself once said: “I paint things as they are. I don’t comment. I record.” Further evidence of this can be seen in his crowd scenes which often focus in on one figure, highlighting their vulnerability, and individualising them.

His Demise

He preferred not to paint professional women and famously said: “A professional model is like a stuffed owl. These girls are alive.” Toulouse-Lautrec became the confidant to many prostitutes in Paris, painting them and sharing their lives. Frequently visiting brothels, he knew the prostitutes well and would sometimes live in a brothel for weeks at a time. Many of the female models featured in his paintings and posters were renowned Parisian performing artists, including the singer Yvette Guilbert, and dancers Jane Avril and Louise Weber; the latter who was known as ‘La Goulue’ (The Glutton) and who famously choreographed the can-can. Another of his favourite models was Rosa la Rouge, a red-haired prostitute whom he painted on numerous occasions. It is thought that he contracted syphilis from her which may have contributed to his early death. The artist’s approach to painting his models was both compassionate and detached. On the one hand he is able to convey their most private moments; moments of solitude or aloneness – the tranquillity of backstage routines before or after entering the bright lights and glamour of performance. But these images are not

Toulouse-Lautrec was clearly a highly-talented artist, who managed to elevate the popular medium of the advertising lithograph into the realm of high art. In a career that spanned twenty years, he completed 737 canvases, 275 watercolours, 361 prints, 5084 drawings and several other works in different mediums. No mean feat! Sadly, success came at a price. He was a heavy drinker (“Of course one should not drink much, but often”), and the invention of a drink called the ‘Tremblement de Terre’ which consists of half absinthe and half cognac, was attributed to him. But in the 1890s his drinking began to affect his health and he was confined to a sanatorium and his mother’s care at home. These aids didn’t help however, and he struggled to stay away from alcohol. Also debilitated by syphilis, he died two years later at the age of 36 at the family chateau of Malrome in the Gironde region. He is buried in Verdelais, not far from the chateau. Today his work is famous across the globe. In 2005 his early painting ‘La blanchisseuse’ sold for a record $22.4 million at Christie’s in New York, and his work is exhibited throughout the world. Closer to home, there is a museum devoted to him in his hometown of Albi, thanks to funding after his death by his parents. The museum houses over 1000 pieces of his work, covering a vast range of different mediums. From 21st June until 20th September, it is open from 9am to 6pm. Telephone: 05 63 49 48 70.

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

38 • A little history

Musée de la Résistance – Cahors By Angela Clohessy

harles de Gaulle urged France to resist the Nazi army and his words appear on a plaque outside the Musée de la Résistance, in Cahors, while inside you learn how that fight back took place and the stories of those who didn’t live to enjoy victory in 1945. France was occupied for almost all of the Second World War and the people of the country suffered immensely under the Nazi oppressors. However, during this time, there was a great underground movement, that worked with the Allied forces and against the Germans, it called itself the French Resistance. In Cahors it’s impossible to forget WWII as the Resistance movement was born here, and the reminders are everywhere. The Maternity Hospital, a short walk from the city centre, hid Jews in its basement, repelling Nazi searches with a sign that warned, falsely, of contagious diseases. Nearby, is the bronze statue of 19th-century French statesman Léon Gambetta. One can envisage it in the 1940s when he held a Resistance-made sign in his north-pointing hand, directing the occupying troops: ‘Nach Berlin’, or ‘To Berlin’. Here in the heart of the Midi-Pyrénées Lot Valley, the Musée de la Resistance, de la Deportation et de la Liberation du Lot aims to remind the world: Never forget. This museum, through a variety of mediums and artefacts, helps tell the story of the brave people who refused to lie down and be defeated. The Musée de la Résistance opened in 1992, in buildings previoiusly used by the police force, and each

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

of the rooms is dedicated to a regional hero who gave their life for liberty. In each of the six rooms you can find out how the Resistance in the Lot organised themselves to attack armoured columns, bomb railway lines and support Allied troops and operations in the area. But other stories of WW11 are also told, including those of the horrors of deportation; Hitler’s Final Solution, and the many other atrocities that occurred in France. As you read the history of the war and the stories of local battles and massacres, much of the information is hand written or typed. Survivors clearly feeling that the only way they could show their gratitude to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice was to ensure their stories were heard. The walls are covered with articles, maps and items such as uniforms and supplies dropped, by parachute and even one of the thin, striped suits worn by people deported to the concentration camps. “To be a Resistant was to refuse the victory of Nazism,” explains one of several informative booklets for sale at the museum. “It was to choose to act clandestinely in order to hasten the German defeat. To resist was an individual decision, not easy to take: to revolt against the government of your own country, to risk your life and the security of your family.” The Resistants were postal clerks and railway workers, shopkeepers and medical personnel, ordinary people who undertook acts of heroism, large and small – ferrying messages, intercepting letters, aiding clandestine travellers to reach their destination,

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

A little history • 39

sabotaging the movement of German convoys, supplying food to those who fought, hiding Jews in the back rooms and closets of their homes. Marcel Michot, vice president of the museum, was one who opted for the risk. After the war, people went 50 years without speaking of the Holocaust, Michot said “They were young, starting families and living their lives,” Michot says, noting that there was also a desire to forget the nation’s pain and shame. “When they retired, they decided to do something important.” That ‘something’ fills the museum, where each of the three floors is dedicated to Resistance members killed by the Nazis. A former barracks that faces onto the Place General de Gaulle, the museum opened on June 18, 1992, a significant anniversary. It was on June 18, 1940, that military leader Charles de Gaulle said: “Every means in the universe will be used to crush our enemies. That which will be the flame of the resistance must not be extinguished and will not be extinguished.” His broadcasts via BBC from London spurred the Resistance movement. For Marcel Michot, a flame was lit in 1941, when, as he recalls, a friend said to him, “Come to my house; there’s something that may interest you.” He was speaking of the Resistance unit led by his father. Even

to confide such information to the then-16-year-old Marcel Michot was risky, betrayal always a possibility, death its frequent consequence. But the young Michot joined – and later married the daughter of his unit’s leader. In her teens, she played a role as a liaison agent. “When you put an arm in, you may as well put in the rest,” Michot says, delivering the French maxim with a smile and a classically French shrug. Once the museum became a reality, war veterans from across the Lot Valley helped to fill it, donating yellow Stars of David imprinted with the word ‘Juif’, Jew; photographs; newspaper clippings; long-hidden weapons; typed recollections; children’s drawings; cabinets filled with wartime propaganda; a pair of striped concentration camp ‘pyjamas’; food tins used by the deportees; and hand-written accounts of warfare. Since it opened, the museum has welcomed over 178,000 visitors, most of them French and British. Around 40% of visitors to the museum are British, ensuring there are guidebooks available in English as well as French. Musée de la Résistance, Place Bessière, 46000, Cahors. Open 2pm - 6pm, free entrance. Tel: +33 (0) 5 65 22 14 25

Sand, Gravel and Crushed Limestone – available from 3 sites (St Denis Catus, Cahors & Crayssac).

We deliver.

Also, Building Materials, Pipe Laying and Skip Hire

05 65 22 79 95 English Spoken

www.sable-quartz-mangieu.com

Music for your Parties & Events Jazz, Folk, Rock ‘n Roll, Brazilian Solo Musicians or Groups Very reasonable prices

Richard Beswick 0622524226 0553882783 richard.beswick@wanadoo.fr To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

40 • Quercy talent

Quercy Talent Quercy – a quiet and often over-looked region – but it’s just the place to find ‘clever people’ doing ‘clever things’ We all know (or strongly suspect) that in this quiet corner of France, we’re surrounded by talented people; often they’re down long lanes, tucked away behind woodland or perched high on valley sides. Some people arrive with their skills to enjoy the peace, space and an improved quality of life. There are also those that move to the region and as part of their new life they go on to develop new or re-visit old skills. It’s a great privilege for me, on behalf of this magazine, to meet some of these people and find out about their lives. In this edition you’ll find artists (and their supporters), horticulturists and those crafting with willow and even leather. I hope that you’ll find some of the following pages interesting and that you’ll agree that we’re all enriched by these people and their talents.

Have you got a skill/interest you wish to share – do get in touch!

Willow Weave

Quercy’s own Artisan Vannière

n an era of throwaway goods, made by unknown peoples from distant corners of the world, it’s a relief to find a supply of quality, local, and natural items. What’s more, it’s great to discover that the old crafts you thought were dying out are alive-and-well and happening here in Quercy. Dot Human, previously from Norfolk, has been in France for 12 years and lives in Cauzac (47470) near Beauville, where she’s turned her long-held interest in crafts (particularly weaving and spinning) into a ‘Cottage Industry’ based on the ancient art of willow weaving. I’d never considered the complexities of this craft, but when I visited Dot’s workshop it became clear that this was not a ‘craft’ you can undertake on your lap on a Sunday afternoon! You need stocks of different willow rods. Different varieties of the willow tree (saule in French) produce different coloured willow rods and then you’ve some with and some without bark. Before it’s used the willow rods must be soaked in water tanks then mellowed to make it pliable enough to be woven. Here begins the challenges of working with natural products, as the soaking time is variable depending

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

on the length and thickness of the rods and the drying-out time of the rods can be dependent on the weather conditions. Dot’s willow is purchased from special plantations in Northern France. However, she also forages locally for woodland treats such as ivy, honeysuckle and brambles to weave into her work emphasising the individual nature of each and every piece! In the workshop there are an array of decorative and purposeful baskets, table decorations and plant holders and wonderful wigwam styled supports, which are real dual purpose items great for growing climbing French beans or flowers during the summer and then coming indoors in winter to be decorated (as trees) at Christmas. With the addition of ‘corkscrew willow’ (salix tortuosa) to her creative tool box, Dot is exploring more opportunities to create garden sculptures and woven willow fencing. Perhaps the most enchanting of these garden creations are the ‘living garden chairs’ made of planted willow and formed into individual seats, these then grow and mature in the client’s gardens. These living-chairs are ideal for creating places for

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy talent • 41

contemplation and also as presents for anniversaries, Christmas and special birthdays! Gifts don’t get much more original, lasting and natural than this. You can find Dot and her handiwork at local Artisan Fairs and Flower Markets. She is also now opening her workshop, every second Wednesday of the month (from 10am to 4pm), for people to come and see exactly what is being made and how! At other times, please do call to make an appointment. Dot’s wish is to help create an item that fits in with your own requirements, she loves to make ‘just what you want’ to order, so if you have an idea do let her know. If you’d ever thought of learning how to weave willow, Dot can arrange some lessons for one or two people at a time; so do give her a call to find out more. The workshop can be found on the D215 (if you’re coming from the Beauville direction towards Agen once you’re on the D215 look (on the right hand side) for the willow plant support at the bottom of the drive and the sign saying ‘Artisan Vannière’.

05 53 87 69 33 www.willowweavefrance.com

willowweave@orange.fr

Tres BiBi

Soft Furnishing specialist Curtain Making service also

Ladies & Gents Alterations For more information please do not hesitate to contact BiBi Casson on tel no. 0553955237 bbcasson1@gmail.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

42 • Quercy talent

Art

(in its many forms) finds a supporter in the heart of Quercy

s we all agree, the Quercy region has a way of attracting wonderful people from many different countries and backgrounds, who put down deep roots and bring their experience, talents and enthusiasm with them. This could certainly be said of Lisa Trepp, owner and manager of the Grenier aux Artistes (www. grenier-aux-artistes.com) art gallery in Roquecor in the Tarn and Garonne department. She and her husband Eric, both of Swiss origin, spent 20 years living in Reunion Island, where they entered the hotel business. Apart from setting up the marketing activity of an international luxury hotel chain (www.anthurium.com), they also made some personal purchases, which in turn led to their desire to find an investment opportunity in France. They explored many areas, among them Provence and the Périgord, but fell in love with the Château de l’Hoste (www.chateaudelhoste.com), just north of Roquecor and took it over in 2000. “However”, Lisa hastens to add, “falling in love with a beautiful building is not enough. What was even more important was the beauty of the Quercy region and the kindness and generosity of the people”. They also purchased a large and prominently situated property at the entrance to Roquecor as their office and personal residence. Here they live with their daughter, Stephanie and son Alexander, who is married to Estelle and who have provided Lisa and Eric with a granddaughter, Valentine. Indeed, the activity of marketing and running hotels and promoting artists are interests, responsibilities and passions shared by the whole family. The idea of sharing the ground floor office

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

space with an art gallery, which opened in 2009, came to Lisa quite spontaneously: “Though I had no previous experience in running a gallery, I have always loved art and so the decision was easy and besides, the dimensions and light of the room made the choice seem obvious. I wanted to create a gallery where people would feel comfortable to simply relax and enjoy looking, chatting and discovering. This was why I also obtained a license to run a tea room. In winter a warm cup of something is always welcome and in summer the terrace outside is beautifully cool. Another aspect close to my heart is the idea of offering art classes. We did this some years ago when the well known English artist, Tom Young, a resident of Roquecor at the time, exhibited his work as well as giving classes. It was a huge success and we were very happy to be able to contribute to the local community activity. I shall certainly consider doing this again, if the right teacher comes along. After all, not all artists make good teachers. I chose the name “Grenier” (attic) consciously, because I also propose some objects that can be found in attics, such as antique vases and so on. In fact, this is an aspect of my preference to mix disciplines and cancel out barriers between art and craft. I choose to exhibit the work of artists – painters and sculptors – as well as crafts people. Actually, while some crafts, for instance pottery or ceramics, can be considered primarily as ‘pure craft’, the boundaries between art and craft are often crossed in the creative process. For example, Isabelle Tapie crafts gold leafs onto drift wood to form creative sculpture and Christian Pradier crafts pieces of scrap

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

FOR ALL YOUR BILINGUAL ADMINISTRATION NEEDS

FOR ALL YOUR FRENCH INSURANCE NEEDS

Having lived and worked in France for 15 years, I can help with all your French bureaucracy problems, phone calls, letters, bookkeeping, AE etc.

We offer competitive premiums, no obligation quotes and any advice needed for Home, Business, Vehicle and Health insurance.

SIRET: 4499428790049

SOGEC ASSURANCES CONSEILS – ORIAS: 090499821

Contact: Melinda Aldous on 0603881195 or melindaaldous@gmail.com

metal onto ceramic or bronze to create the unique personalities of his animal sculptures.” Sometimes artists approach Lisa with requests to exhibit their work because they have heard of the gallery from friends or visited it and liked what they saw. Sometimes it is the other way around and it is Lisa who approaches artists she discovers while travelling or who are recommended to her and whose work she likes. In any event, she has no difficulty in offering constantly changing exhibitions and always exhibits several artists simultaneously; since she feels different approaches and techniques complement each other. Lisa Trepp is very adamant that she does not “sell the walls” of her gallery to artists, as some gallery owners do, primarily for commercial reasons and sometimes regardless of whether they actually like the work or not. Lisa chooses the artists she exhibits solely on the basis of what speaks to her and what she considers to be quality work. The artists are free to set their prices themselves, though she does advise them, based on her experience of the public interest and attendance. Sometimes local art lovers (and Lisa is amazed and grateful that there are many) as well as visitors to the area, are able to purchase

works at prices which are somewhat more democratic than those advertised in large commercial galleries in the capitals of Europe. At least 2 exhibitions are due to open during the summer months. As usual there will be a variety of disciplines and both local and international artists, many of whom have websites illustrating their work: Joel Kourgouale is a painter, Nanie Sainson is a sculptor, painter and jeweler from Auvillar, Jacky Veysset, who has never exhibited to date, lives close to Bergerac and makes garden sculpture from recycled iron. They will be followed by Elke Daemmrich, very well known German painter, the ceramist Martine Venant and the sculptor Laurent Fortier. Barely 4 years old, the Grenier aux artistes has clearly already left a mark on the local landscape as well as some special memories. For Lisa these include an exhibition by exclusive French under water painter Stefan Braud, who now makes his home in Morocco, Czech ceramist Eva Roucka, whose work can be seen at Blagnac airport and Spanish painter Sara Moreno, among many others. By Jeanne McCaul, Lauzerte

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

44 • Quercy talent

3Artists of Caux! A Hamlet with a Creative Air

n the tiny hamlet of Caux, in the commune of Belmontet (46800), three friends have been undergoing a metamorphosis into budding artists! Iain and Tamzin Laxton-Blinkhorn met Jean Luc Carmeni when they moved to France 8 years ago. All of them had busy lives; Jean-Luc was working in Toulouse and Iain and Tamzin were converting their barn into a home; and, like many of us, could only dream of one day having the time to get creative! Jean-Luc always wanted to do sculpture, so when he retired, just two years ago, he started attending classes twice a week and began creating works in both terracotta and wood. What started as a hobby has become his passion. Inspired by nature, and the materials, he carves beautiful figures from wood and shapes clay into animals. He doesn’t have a kiln at home because each piece has to be fired in a special, exceptionally hot kiln; “cooked” at a temperature between 900 and 1000 degrees for at least 10 hours. “I particularly like working in different colours of clay and love creating wild animals from Africa - they are my favourite.” says Jean-Luc; “it always gives me so much pleasure when my fingertips discover what is waiting in the clay, ready to be born!” Tamzin has always dabbled in creative pursuits, a little bit of watercolour and pastels and some photography, but never considered herself a proper artist. “I always felt guilty taking time off from our renovation project to do anything arty. It felt like I was playing while Iain was still working. But, now that the barn is finished, I have allowed myself to enjoy living in this wonderful Quercy countryside and capturing its beauty with my camera.” With encouragement from

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

her photographer friends, Graham and Belinda Berry of ‘Image France’, she exhibited for the first time in Photo Viva in 2009, an exhibition by a group of local photographers held at the Marie in Montcuq each year. Over the last three years she has developed her own style of transformational photography – a crossover between art and photographs. “Whilst I love it when I take a really good image, I also enjoy turning my photos into art by manipulating them, either by hand or on the computer.” Photographs layered with textures or other photos look more like paintings, whilst others, cut by hand and layered, become 3 dimensional or transform into something else entirely! Jean-Luc and Tamzin decide to take the plunge and have a joint exhibition this summer, when an unexpected thing happened! Iain, who had always professed that “I haven’t a creative bone in my body!” started making some frames out of driftwood collected from the beaches of Bordeaux, to go with Tamzin’s

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy talent • 45

photographs. Then, encouraged by Jean-Luc’s creative start later in life, Iain began working with some of the gnarled oak beams recovered from the work on the old barn, making them into lamp bases. “The thought of recycling old materials and turning them into something both beautiful and practical really appealed to me”. He then went on to make picture and mirror frames as well as object d’art from driftwood, weathered oak and other found objects. They realised that all their works are a metamorphosis – “a change in form or nature from one thing into something completely different” – whether it

be from earth into animals, light into pictures or wood into object d’art. But also, the biggest change has been their personal development into artists. So this summer, all three are hosting METAMORPHOSE, a joint exhibition, at the Marie in Montcuq from 8th to 16th August to share their work and to celebrate this, their development as artists, in the hope that it will inspire others to find the time to discover their creative side – and to MORPH!! Tamzin, Jean-Luc and Iain can be contacted on laxtonblinkhorn@hotmail.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

46 • Quercy talent

Marc’s lifetime of Leatherwork is the Lot’s gain

By A Atkinson

ometimes you visit places where the scents are tantalisingly evocative of ‘years-gone-by’ and in this respect (and many others) Marc Craessaerts’ workshop was a real treat to visit. The smell, emanating from the stocks of leather, reminded me of collecting a pony’s tack, many years ago, at riding-school or even going shoeshopping with my mother in the days when each little shoebox, when opened, added fleetingly to the earthy background, such happy memories! Here in the middle of no-where, well more precisely between Castlenau Montratier and Monpezat en Quercy, Marc has a workshop where decades of his own and generations of his family’s skills have come together to produce elegant hand-made saddles, bridles and harness. From the age of 3, Marc sat on his father’s leather cutting table at the family’s saddle-making business in Belgium. These premises were located just half a mile from a trotting-track, where 1200 horses were stabled and on race-nights there could be up to 120 more horses and their harnesses arriving to compete. So once he was 15 Marc became his father’s apprentice and spent 6 years learning how to repair harness. After 6 years, of his father’s very close guidance, Marc was deemed sufficiently skilled and experienced to graduate to making saddles and leather-equipment of his own. After this family apprenticeship Marc went on to spend 4 years studying different types of leatherwork, including the production of fine handbags, this was to help him develop a greater finesse ‘in his fingertips’. Then in a move that was to prove ‘life-changing’ Marc accepted a job with Sabena (Belgian National Airline) to carry out their leather-work, this included the flight bags and crew seats. Whilst working for Sabena Marc met his wife Jayne, from Yorkshire but also working for Sabena. They eventually both ended up working in London for air-lines, but Marc soon started to miss saddle-making and so he started to commute back to Belgium to work for the family again. At this point Marc decided that their future should be in France and they started to research the regions and discover where there were possibilities for a saddler. At this time Jayne had never been to France and so Marc had to use a 5-day holiday to convince her that this was where their future lay. There initial stay was higher up in the Lot, where there are undoubtedly huge numbers of horses, but The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

somehow the lie of the land didn’t quite suit Jayne. After explaining to an enlightened estate agent (in Catus) just what she was missing the agent then drove them to where they are now settled and a deal was sealed. Knowing a little of Jayne’s home region I can understand why the landscape that surrounds her now is where she feels at home. After purchasing a barn ready to convert, Marc and Jayne undertook a lot of commuting to keep their individual careers going until one day they decided that enough-was-enough; they just had to move to the Lot and start to make things happen from there. It didn’t take too long to discover that their new home-area was populated with people keeping trotting, endurance and pleasure horses. In order to get things started Marc and Jayne would stop, the car, each time they saw horses in a field and then go and drop off information about the new workshop. A horseman himself, with his own stunning Belgium Warm Blood, Marc’s great understanding of all things equine and his undoubted skill as a craftsman have meant that he soon became known locally to horse lovers. Amongst them was the Belgian National Endurance Champion and Marc took the opportunity of making her a saddle, this has produced further business and amongst the endurance saddles that he produces

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy talent • 47

are those with the red and white colours of competitors from Bahrain. It doesn’t stop with endurance saddles; Marc makes a broad range of saddles for all types of disciplines. When a customer requests a saddle the first thing is for Marc to visit the horse and rider to work out the first measurements. A saddle must fit the horse that is to wear it and also importantly the rider that’s going to be sitting in it. It’s important to look at existing saddles and understand why a change is required and what the rider is trying to achieve. What type of seat is preferred; does the rider ride with a long or a short leg and also where’s the natural girth line on the horse? Apart from measuring the standing horse, Marc asks for the horse to be ridden, for about 15 minutes, in its current saddle with nothing in between the saddle and the horse, and then he’s able to read the markings left on the horse’s coat by the saddle. All this information goes in to the creation of a great saddle – a hand-crafted saddle, crafting that takes place back in the workshop. So back to Marc’s workshop, with the piles of leather, the sweet smell, his two small dogs asleep on the floor, a room equipped with tools and machinery that date from his days in his father’s workshop back in Belgium. I’ve come across saddles one-way-and-another for most of my life but I’d never truly considered the amount of work and knowledge that goes into their creation. Marc buys his leather from Belgium as he knows where to find the finest quality and he buys his saddle trees (these are the solid frames on which the saddle is built) and buckles from the UK. Marc makes the cutting and sewing of leather look so simple and it is hard to realise that a finished saddle requires so many carefully engineered pieces. The skill required to stretch the wet leather over the seat,

accurate stuffing, all the padding and perfectly straight stitching was a real eye-opener for me. Every-so-often in life you meet somebody with such skills that it makes all your own personal attempts at most-things seem rather inept. Marc is one of these people, his skill and passion for what he does just radiates from him, he can converse in English, French and Dutch and on top of that a nicer man you’d struggle to meet!

So if you need a new saddle, bridle or any other item of tack making or repairing it would be worth getting in touch. Marc is based at Flaugnac (46170) and can be contacted on Craessaerts.marc@orange.fr or 06 49 54 24 02. To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

48 • Quercy talent

Le Jardin des Espiemonts

A British, family-run horticultural team!

eaders based east of the A20 will be familiar with the extraordinarily beautiful area that surrounds the medieval town of Caylus. To readers based further west, take note – this region is well worth visiting! At the end of April this year I’d arranged to go and see John and Debbie Wilson; new to the region, whom I’d heard had brought with them, not only a number of children and animals but some really useful talents and ideas. I approached down a long lane with stone walls holding back the incredibly lush grass and woodland growth either side; the brightness of the green in the budding trees hanging over the route made an almost perfect ‘verdant’ approach. Arriving at the house it was clear that this beautiful old stone house was exactly where Beatrix Potter would have lived had she relocated to France! However, today, watching over the lane instead of the ‘mischievous kittens’ were, Daisy, Poppy and Oscar; John and Debbie’s three young children. The Wilson’s have relocated from a small village just outside Rugby, Warwickshire to Les Espiemonts bringing with them years of horticultural experience and a huge desire to make a new life for their family; building on what they ‘know and love’ to create what, to many, would have had to remain just a dream. Once Daisy and Poppy had shown me a couple of their favourite toys and we’d got a cup of tea, Debbie explained (whilst at all times keeping little Oscar occupied on her knee) some of what they’d been doing and what they were planning for the future. I learnt that John had worked and studied, for many years, in the Coombe Abbey gardens (designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown) in Warwickshire where he obtained his RHS qualifications. John and Debbie then developed a plant propagation nursery (wholesale and retail) business with the addition of gardening services and gardening workshops for children. As their need for space for both plants and children became paramount they decided to move to France. Here, they felt their family could spend more time outdoors and work together to grow their own food and the family’s future – quite literally. As soon as John and Debbie saw the house in Les Espiemonts they knew this was where they needed to be. With plenty of space around them John has been able to quickly pick up the propagation of his plants and his The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy talent • 49

nursery is already displaying a great variety of perennial and his speciality alpine plants. Many of these alpines are rare, but happily they are well suited to our region’s climate and ideal for those of us with rocky outcrops in our gardens. Gradually John will be building up this alpine side of his business and then will be offering plants and information on-line as well as to his regular customers. Just in case you were imagining that John has found a way to spend many a quiet hour quietly working with the plants he knows and loves, you need to remember that this is a family affair and everyone is out there, the children are keen seed planters and are learning first hand just how to make things grow. John and Debbie are also building up their gardening business. They are finding that some people want expert help to establish, re-claim or improve their gardens. Sometimes they are called upon to increase the ‘kerb-appeal’ of houses that are on the market. Or, to rescue people that have recently bought a new home and realised that they should perhaps save themselves expensive mistakes by getting some expert advice on laying out gardens that do not just need replacing

with bedding plants each year! After-all, achieving a lasting and permanent garden usually ends up being everyone’s dream once the love affair with the bright and beautiful (but just for summer) plants has faded. Having a wander around the many different areas in the Wilsons’ garden, including their kitchen garden, chicken runs and newly planted orchard, it is clear that this space has already been transformed since their arrival at the start of this year. Their delightful old house and the charming land that surrounds it is going to be beautiful, productive and most importantly a great working-home for everyone involved. One advantage of this move to France, at its most profound, is that Daisy and Poppy are able to play outside and learn to explore all the space that now surrounds them. This particular afternoon they did manage to track down a number of freshly laid eggs and bring them (very carefully) to show me. When I left a little while later I had a box of eggs and a firm plan for an evening of boiled eggs and soldiers, the eggs did not disappoint. In fact I think that very little that emanates from Les Espiemonts will disappoint and it seems that the Caylus region has acquired a true horticultural talent and a new business that will enhance the environment and fill a real gap in the market. By Anna Atkinson

The nursery will be open to visitors on Mondays from 10am – 3pm when John will be on hand to help and give advice. John and Debbie (Le Jardin des Espiemonts) can be contacted on email: lejardindesespiemonts@gmail.com, or phone 05 63 64 68 76 Their website www.lejardindesespiemonts.fr should be up and running this summer and from the November issue of The Quercy Local, John and Debbie will be writing a regular gardening column. To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

50 • Quercy talent

Harmony, simplicity and exquisite composition was himself a fan of recreating the beauty of everyday simple articles, such as bread, fruit and fish. If you are at all familiar with the works of the Italian artist Giorgio Morandi you will be able to see how his work with composition and perspective has influenced the stunning the way that Stefaan now paints. The objects that form Stefaan’s still-life paintings can range from old earthenware jugs to Ming vases, coexisting alongside, often mystical symbols such as skulls and then these can be harmonised with organic items, usually fruit or vegetables. Belgian, Stefaan fills his world with a food (and cooking), music (opera and classical) and of course a great appreciation of art; working in his studio to produce art which is then hung in galleries in Belgium, London, Tokyo, Aspen, Washington, Holland and Germany. Remember that all these wonderful paintings are being created on our doorstep before they are disappearing to be hung around the world. Stefaan is further example of a great artist choosing the atmosphere and peace of the Quercy region to support his creativity.

ven in a region steeped with talent and culture it’s still a surprise to find that tucked away in Saux (46800) you can find the amazing art-work, home and studio of Stefaan Eyckmans. Many travel to places such as Paris or London, to see national art collections. Stefaan’s work will remind you convincingly of some of the Old Masters that you may have travelled to see. Stefaan was initially influenced by his father but soon also became an ardent admirer of the techniques of the renowned Flemish artists, Jan and Hubert Van Eyck. Fuelled with a fascination for the mystic, and an admiration for harmony, romanticism and composition, Stefaan’s talent next came under the influence of the French artist Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin who

There is a great opportunity to view some of Stefaan’s collection when he holds a couple of open weekends in July (see page p.23). www.stefaaneyckmans.com The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy Gite & Quercy Services Property Management, Maintenance & Holiday Rentals around Montcuq & Lauzerte. Project advice for renovations or rentals. Preparing estimates & finding tradesmen Overseeing, coordinating & monitoring projects. House, garden & pool maintenance Rental management – making income from your property. Marianne Charpentier

www.quercygite.com Tél: 06 71 71 77 22 bosredon46@wanadoo.fr

Straight to your Post Box Make life a bit easier for yourself and get this magazine delivered to your home. You can visit our website www.quercylocal.com and subscribe on-line. You will receive (by email) an invoice which you can pay with a bank card or Paypal. Then no more looking for copies of the magazine, they will arrive directly at your home. The p & p cost for the next 5 editions works out at 18e for mailing to an address in France. We can also to other areas of the EU.

Subscriber offer:

We have taken in donkeys, mules and ponies who have been ill treated, neglected or have come direct from the butchers yard. We usually keep about 25 animals here and there is an enormous amount of time and work involved for me to keep this big donkey family happy and healthy. We have some lovely mules who are ready to go out to a new home. They are very clever sociable animals so please only enquire if you have plenty of spare time to give to them. We fundraise to enable us to keep up this work by holding lunches here each month, really imaginative menus with excellent food. We collect items for resale including clothes and books (both in good condition for resale and any condition for salvage value only) and bric a brac items. We also collect aluminium drink cans and old tin for recycling. If you have 3 hours to spare you could volunteer to help with handling and mucking out, or hold a Coffee Morning for us? Please email if you would like to be added to our mailing list. Advertise your business on http://tag-on-line. blogspot.fr/ and thereby donate to our Charity.

Subscribers will each receive* a high-quality, blank greetings-card with their first mailed edition. All our cards feature photographs of S W of France. *subject to availability – the website will state when this offer is finished.

Two New Additions for 2014 We are adding May and September editions next year. So the first edition of the year will be in March, followed by May, July, September and then a winter edition will be published in November. We hope that our readers will welcome the extra editions – it is certainly going to keep us busy!

www.libertedesanes.com Jan Lemmy on libertedesanes@gmail.com 05 63 94 38 47 To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Benjamin Cuzange Real Estate, low cost and debt collection agent (Cahors) 09 79 05 78 30 / 06 86 78 31 25 www.minicomimo.com www.creancial.fr

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

European Legislation & French Inheritance rules New EU rules on cross-border inheritance were adopted last year and will come into force in August 2015, with a view to simplifying situations where various nationalities are involved and assets are held in various European countries.

It is also vitally important to understand that whilst the new rules may make it possible to choose to use UK law for the distribution of your estate, they will not apply to tax issues and French tax would be payable on the estate of a “French domicile”.

At present, it is the law of your country of “domicile”, which governs your inheritance. In France, the concept of “domicile” is the same as for residence, so the basic rule is that French law will govern the worldwide estate of a British citizen living permanently in France. As most expatriates know, French inheritance law imposes a minimum inheritance for each of your children (the réserve héréditaire) and French inheritance taxes vary greatly, depending on your relationship to your heir.

The new rules should thus be handled with extreme care, especially in complicated family situations. For instance, they should allow you to leave all of your assets to your spouse and for the survivor of you to be able to divide the combined estate between his/her children and step-children. However, they will not stop the French authorities requesting 60% tax on anything left to step-children, after minimal allowances.

The new regulations will give European citizens the right to opt for the succession law of their country of nationality to apply on their death. Without an appropriate will, French inheritance rules would continue to be applied to a French resident’s estate. However, with a correctly drawn up will, it should become possible, from 2015, to opt to use the law of the country of your nationality. For British nationals, this should mean that you can opt to use British rules enabling you to leave your assets as you wish via an appropriate will. However, as the UK “opted out” of adopting this new legislation, there remains a doubt as to the application of UK law concerning French immoveable property for UK citizens, since the UK Government have indicated that local law would continue to govern your French home. We know that clarification has been sought on this point, but, since your French home is likely to make up a considerable part of your estate, the true effectiveness of the new rules is impossible to measure for the present.

Thus, from 2015, the new rules should provide extra flexibility and choice, but will certainly not be the best solution for everyone. Various solutions are available in France, to help circumvent French inheritance rules, and inheritance tax planning for your children can be considerably easier in France than in the UK, so it is always worth exploring the French solutions first. At least the new European legislation should greatly simplify cross-border inheritance, since it proposes the creation of a “European Inheritance Certificate”, to be produced by the country looking after the worldwide estate, which will avoid the need to obtain probate, or its equivalent, in various countries where assets were situated. Peter Wakelin is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Advisers, specialised in tax, inheritance investment and pension planning for the British expatriate resident of France for the last 16 years. www.siddalls.fr bordeaux.office@ siddalls.net 05 56 34 75 51

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

Hello and thank you for taking the time to read this, my name is Mark Wilson and I moved to France with my family ten years ago and have since then continued my profession as a tree surgeon in France. As tree surgeons we pride ourselves on having a vast knowledge of all tree care including felling, pruning and planting. Every job is different so every time we receive an enquiry we will visit your site and give your job an expert individual assessment it needs and give our expert advice.

info@roots-shoots.fr www.roots-shoots.fr Tel: 05 53 75 05 48 Mobile 06 89 79 05 02

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

Tree surgery is not only our livelihood but our passion that means we always deliver the best, professional service possible to you the client. Health and safety is our top priority not just to ourselves but to your property. With this in mind you can have confidence that we carry full public liability insurance. Using our own wood chipper and stump grinder â&#x20AC;&#x201C; keeps our prices highly competitive!

We are happy to provide a free quote in your area. To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Our fully equipped local workshop provides a full range of bespoke joinery. We can provide made to measure doors, windows, staircases, wardrobes, fitted kitchens, shutters, libraries, or even double glaze your existing windows. We can also supply flooring, skirting, architrave, mouldings and finished timber. To make an appointment for an initial consultation and a free personalised quote call us on 06 03 88 11 95. As a bilingual company, we can also liaise with a range of local ÂŤ artisans Âť to facilitate any size of project. (46, 47, 82). Mail : paul.dixon0666@gmail.com

SIRET : 517 514 733 00016

56 • the quercy local

An excellent time to buy in France By Caroline Sweeney

aking up to a beautiful summer morning one can’t help wondering why everyone isn’t living in South West France. But then it’s the lack of crowds, traffic and general hustle and bustle that makes this area and this life so inviting. With the weather warming up it’s time to explore the lakes and millponds, enjoy the myriad of festivities from brocantes and vide-greniers to night markets and village fetes. For anyone wanting to experience this, it is a great time to invest in a property in France whether as an all-yearround residence, a holiday home or a planned escape in future retirement. The economic downturn means it’s a buyer’s market with property of all kinds available at prices that would be unbelievable in the UK. Unlike many areas in the UK there is plenty of land – perfect for the adventurous and creative who have dreamt of designing and building their own home. For others happy to undertake renovation works there is an abundance of unconverted or part-converted barns, old farmhouses and village houses in need of TLC and more. Some people may want to hang up their building and decorating clothes for good in which case there are lots of properties where others have been before and done all the work. The choice is endless and situations range from rural countryside to lively villages, 17th Century properties to modern homes. Of course, buying a property in France is a big step and there are questions that potential buyers should ask themselves before taking the leap. One of the most important questions is around money – what is affordable and what extra is needed.

Budget Buyers are more likely to be taken seriously if they have arranged their finances in advance. Buying a ‘finished’ property makes budgeting easier – there should be no hidden extras so long as buyers have factored in estate agent and notaire fees. Anyone planning a new-build or a renovation project though would do well to check on costs of everything from using local skilled people to buying materials in France. Most people who have been through the process say ‘take your original budget and double it!’

Location Young families may prefer to be in or near a village with a good school and older people might also want the comfort of amenities such as doctors, dentists, restaurants and shops within walking distance. For others the idyll will be 2 The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

Equestrian home with restored farmhouse, separate gite and 8 hectares of land

Just 243,000e buys this bright 5-bed house on the edge of a lively village

the open countryside. A word of warning – especially to those who come from crowded cities – don’t necessarily jump at a property because it comes with hectares of land. Unless land is required for horses, farming or construction, it can end up being a ball and chain! House hunters are also advised to check on the need and likely outcome of planning permission for conversions, extensions and new builds before purchasing.

Use At the moment, estate agents are reporting an increase in demand for properties with an income potential, usually by way of a separate building which is currently rented out as a gite or has the potential to be used in this way. Such properties are not hard to find with many rural houses having originally been built with a barn or other out buildings which have been or could be converted into holiday homes. Others who are not ready for the wholesale move to France may just want a ‘lock and leave’ holiday home. Again there is a great deal of choice whether the demand is for a rural retreat for all the family complete with eight ensuite bedrooms, swimming pool and games room or a simple two-bedroom village cottage. Caroline Sweeney is an estate agent with Beaux Villages. She can be contacted on 06 37 22 88 16 or on email at caroline.sweeney@beauxvillages.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

58 • Quercy food and drink

Etiquette

For The Wine Tasting Immigrant One of the things that I am asked regularly is how to taste wine. It’s pretty straightforward. With a few simple steps, you can look like a professional at your dégustation.

The Basics

First, look at the wine (preferably with a white or light background), swirl the wine in the glass (keep it on the table and move it in a circular motion, if you are worried about spilling it!), then smell it (one big ‘nose right in’ sniff should do). Now, take a mouthful (well, actually, NOT a mouth full) and hold it in your mouth longer than you would if you were just drinking it. Next, if you want to, suck in some air through your teeth over the wine (this will help enhance the flavours). Warning: this can seem very amusing when you are a beginner – try not to laugh so much that you end up spitting it on people – particularly if it’s red! Swallow or spit (into le crachoir, not just anywhere) – notice the aftertaste and how long it lingers in the mouth. Et voila! Not too much to worry about. You really don’t need to have a huge amount of wine knowledge to know if you like a wine, but being able to properly taste the wine is a great start.

Enjoying It (Politely)

Now you know how to taste like a professional, but just remember not to do this at a dinner party (unless you are specifically asked to). It’s rude, and seen as questioning the host’s choice and matching abilities. Don’t clink glasses either (especially if they are the finest crystal!); the French tend to raise their glasses, rather than touching them together. Whether at a tasting or at a dinner party, let your host serve you (if you are the host, don’t overfill).

Table Manners

A friend recently forwarded me an article on the dos and don’ts for the expat in France (thoughtfully hoping to enlighten me on my mistakes). Oops! Perhaps I should have read it 9 years ago, as despite my extensive research prior to arriving, I seem to have fallen into every available trap for the unwitting foreigner in France! The article explained how abhorrent the request to “bring a plate” is to the French. Apparently, it is an absolute no no. Double oops! We probably have more than our fair share of soirées chez nous. Not having much spare cash and no spare time, I have always worked on the theory that spending quality time with friends is the priority, if everyone contributes to the evening, we can all see each other far more often (frankly, I’m also a bit of a dodgy cook but still love having guests!). French friends are still regulars, so perhaps they have forgiven, or even embraced, this particular faux pas? Eating and drinking are fraught with pitfalls (I was once told off by a guest for serving the cheese after the pudding; it was supposed to be simultaneous, to please all nationalities. Unfortunately, he had already had a bite of the apple tart before spotting the Camembert!). Here, you’re supposed to be late for a dinner party (most of France by 15 minutes, but a little bit longer in the Lot!). You should keep your hands on the table, not in your lap, and the bread should be on the table and not on your plate! Apparently, it’s also rude to cut lettuce (fold it The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy food and drink • 59

up instead)! At one dinner party, another expat guest generously brought some flowers – chrysanthemums (our horrified host wondered why, as they are only for the cemetery)!

even get to love us! There is no doubt that we are very privileged to live in (or to visit) this beautiful region, and all it has to offer (not least the wine!). Vive le Lot! Vive le vin de Cahors!

Speaking About Talking

If we are at the property, we are open (between 2pm and 8pm). However, as we are working across 10 hectares of land and often at markets, please call ahead if you want to be certain of a reception!

Learning the language is, as ever, quite a challenge. Every time I feel that I’m making progress, someone (usually one of my offspring!) puts me in my place with a “you’re too old to say that” (I didn’t know it was teenage slang!), or simply laughing out loud at my attempts to communicate. These days, my dear neighbour points out swear words that I have inadvertently picked up, without even flinching (too much mixing with all the other farmers!).

Embrace The Diversity

Don’t let any of this deter you from integrating – if you are genuine, the Lotois international melting pot, has a fabulous variety of characters and different nationalities to offer. Where else could you learn a little of the customs and traditions of so many cultures, yet remain so very rural? As long as we accept, with good humour, that the poor weather is entirely our fault, the indigenous people will mostly accept us and sometimes

Domaine des Sangliers is an independent, organic vineyard located in the hills of picturesque Puy-l’Evêque, one of the best terroirs of the Lot valley. We produce AOC, Vin de Pays du Lot and Vin de Table wines. Family run, we personally undertake every step of the wine making process, from pruning to corking, all on the estate. Our aim is to achieve the highest quality product, naturally and ethically produced, at fair prices. For further information please visit our website www.domaine-des-sangliers.com or find us on Facebook.

Domaine des Sangliers – Les Sarrades – 46700 – Puy-l’Evêque Kim-Louis & Lisa Stanton – 06 04 03 34 12 – info@domaine-des-sangliers.com www.organicfrenchblackwine.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

60 • Quercy food and drink

Fuss Free Summer Recipes As much as I love cooking, in the summer I’d much rather sit at a terrace with a cool drink than spend a lot of time indoors over a hot stove. People-watching in the company of a nice refreshment becomes a lot more interesting; creating the perfect three-course meal, on the other hand, less so. Luckily, it doesn’t take a lot of work (or a top chef) to put quick, easy meals on the table. With a minimum amount of effort, you can eat healthily and enjoy food that is as colourful and vibrant as the season itself. The following recipes are fuss-free and perfect for those days when long cooking sessions are really not an option. There’s a zingy breakfast smoothie guaranteed to kick-start your day better than any amount of caffeine ever can, a simple but oh-so-delicious open-faced sandwich (perfect for lunch!), and for dinner, I’ll give you my recipe for a dish of spicy prawns. The only thing you’ll need to add to make it a complete meal is some fresh bread and a crisp, green salad. And, because one must never (ever) forget dessert, you’ll certainly want to try my white chocolate creams with red fruit coulis.

Bon Appétit !

Cherry and Almond Sorbet Smoothie

Mediterranean Open-Faced Sandwich

I won’t bore you with a long sermon about why breakfast is the most important meal of the day (it really is). Instead, I’ll give you a recipe for my ridiculously easy and exceptionally tasty, bright pink smoothie. You might have a hard time believing this is ‘health food’, because honestly, it tastes like a decadent fruit sorbet! And what’s the best part? You’ll only need three ingredients.

Although it can be tempting to go out for lunch every day during the summer, wise it is certainly not. Personally, I find those three-course restaurant menus too tempting. Not to mention that eating out without a glass of wine (or two) has little charm.

Serves 4 2 very ripe bananas 250g frozen cherries 500ml almond milk

Making a big salad at home is always a good option, but sometimes you might want something a little more substantial. Like this delectable, open-faced Mediterranean sandwich.

Serves 3

Method Blitz all of the ingredients in a blender until smooth, pour into nice glasses and enjoy! A pretty straw is entirely optional.

3 thick slices of good bread 3 tsps basil pesto (store-bought is fine) 1 ball of mozzarella, thinly sliced Mild olive oil 1 medium aubergine, thinly sliced 1 medium tomato, thinly sliced Freshly-cracked pepper, good olive oil and cress leaves, to serve

Method Grill the bread, spread with the pesto and layer with the mozzarella. Heat a little olive oil in a pan and quickly fry the aubergine slices on both sides then season with a little salt. Put the slices on top of the mozzarella. Add another tiny bit of oil to the pan and quickly fry the tomatoes. You’re not actually frying the vegetables, more like searing them. Layer the tomatoes on top of the aubergine. Finally, season with some freshly-cracked pepper, a drizzle of good olive oil and a scattering of cress leaves. In case you may want to spoil yourself a bit, serve with a chilled rosé wine. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Quercy food and drink • 61

Spicy Prawns Those beautiful displays of big, juicy prawns that you sometimes see at fish stands are hard to resist. Unpeeled, in all their crustacean glory, they can tempt me like no other food can. The fact that they’re a breeze to prepare isn’t all that bad either. These big boys are practically built to take on an incredible amount of flavour, so I like to cook them with spicy chilli oil, lemon, chilli flakes, lots (and I mean lots) of garlic, a hint of smoked paprika powder and chopped parsley. This recipe serves two, but honestly, devouring the whole thing all by myself is no difficult task. I’ll leave it up to you.

Serves 2 1 pound of fresh, unpeeled prawns, rinsed 4 tbsps chilli oil 5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced Pinch of chilli flakes Pinch of smoked paprika powder Juice of ½ a lemon, plus some slices, serve Chopped parsley Lemon mayonnaise, to serve

Method Have a bowl of iced water next to you while you de-vein the prawns. To do this, use a small pair of kitchen scissors or a knife to cut along the prawn’s shell and remove the vein. Toss the prawns in the iced water as you go. That way they’ll remain fresh. Heat the oil and add the garlic making sure it doesn’t burn. Add the prawns together with the chilli flakes and the smoked paprika powder. Stir-fry for about 8 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and take the pan off the heat. Add the parsley and serve with the lemon slices and the mayonnaise. A nice green salad, some bread and a bottle of Chardonnay will make this meal a feast.

White Chocolate Creams with Red Berry Coulis These sinfully luscious, white chocolate creams are decadently crowned with a ruby red sauce made from fresh summer fruits. I can’t think of a more elegant and easy dessert to round off a sultry summer evening meal!

Serves 4 250g all-purpose flour ½ tsp baking powder pinch of fleur de sel 1 ½ tsp dried rosemary 120g good-quality, dark chocolate, chopped 2 eggs 65 ml olive oil 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method Slowly melt the chocolate au bain marie. Allow it to cool for a minute and then whisk in the yogurt until you have a nice, creamy consistency. Divide the mixture among four glasses and place in the fridge for at least three hours. To make the coulis, put the fruit (reserve some for serving), sugar and Kirsch in a small pan, bring to the boil and then immediately reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Allow the coulis to cook for 10-15 minutes. The sauce should be thick but still a runny. You don’t want to cook it as thick as jam, so stay alert! Allow the coulis to cool and refrigerate. To serve, divide the coulis over the creams and decorate each portion with some fresh fruit and a few leaves of fresh mint.

Paola Westbeek is a food, wine and travel writer with a good dose of joie de vivre. She is passionate about French cooking, old-fashioned chansons, Rembrandt and life. Paola is available for all kinds of recipe development and culinary advice. For more information visit http://inmylife-paola.blogspot.nl/ or contact Paola at pwestbeek@gmail.com. To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

Airport Transport Gardening Holiday Changeovers Washing & Ironing

French Property Assistance 05 63 31 78 51 06 04 48 05 24

Building & Maintenance Key Holding Security Pool Maintenance

Full time resident or holiday home owner? French Property Assistance exists to help you, to provide every assistance to you in the maintenance of your house, pool and garden. First established in France in 1993. Give us a call – let us know your requirements and we will help you with just about anything! (82160) www.frenchpropertyassistance.com

chloe@frenchpropertyassistance.com

Friends in France International Have you ever fancied learning how to make sushi or photograph kestrels close up? How about honing your creative writing skills, tracing your family tree or simply having a convivial lunch with friends? Friends in France International (FiFi) may be just what you are looking for. Established just over two years ago, FiFi now has around 100 members. It’s a group created specially for women living in SW France. All proceedings are conducted in English, although we do have members from around the globe. Our activities are centered on St Antonin Noble Val, Parisot, Septfonds, Puylaroque – but we welcome anyone who lives within easy reach of our events. Moving to a new country, it can sometimes be difficult to make friends and for ladies on their own, it can be quite daunting. FiFi provides a network of like-minded women of all ages and backgrounds. We offer each other friendship and support, as well as sharing our skills. Our Activity Groups meet regularly and cover a wide range of interests. Apart from the ones mentioned above, we offer community singing, book clubs, wine appreciation, pot-luck lunches, gardening, horse riding and much more. We hold monthly coffee mornings in St Antonin Noble Val, Verfeil, Septfonds and Puylaroque, as well as monthly lunches where we try out new restaurants and re-visit old favourites. Some events, for example our monthly quiz and the wine appreciation evenings are open to partners. Above all, we are there to support each other when the going gets tough and you need a helping hand. It costs e15 a year to join and all the activity groups are free*. We have new groups planned for the coming months, including astronomy and history, as well as outings to places of interest. Members also receive a monthly newsletter. If you would like to know more, go to our website www.fifi82.org or email our President, Linda Hatfield, on president@fifi82.org. *Some groups make a small charge for materials. The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

the quercy local • 63

New in St. Antonin Noble Val is the delightful little Boutique, Fetiche, well that is not actually true as Fetiche opened 8 years ago for a season in Rue Droite, where it came back to, last summer. Fetiche is now located right next to the Bar De La Halle, in Place De La Halle selling gorgeous fashion for ladies of all ages and sizes. The owner bought a house in St. Antonin 13 years ago and whilst on a stock run to South Africa got side tracked for 8 years in Henley-OnThames opening up a lovely ladies clothes shop called ‘Foam’, and so with that experience has re-launched Fetiche here. The clothes are bought in London and Italy, with some Fair Trade clothes coming in from Bali. The look is fresh and different from the usual suspects. Plus a few funky T-shirts for men! Having spent the last few years in the UK, the owner has lost the little French language she had so Lucy Wright is the Manageress/partner and is the face of Fetiche having been trained in the UK in the art of styling, always there to help and give honest opinions. Lucy was brought up here in St. Antonin so am sure she will be well recognised. We try to have new stock deliveries every 2-3 weeks so that the shop stays fresh and new from one visit to the next, plus being located bang next to the Bar, shopping can be done at the most leisurely pace at lunch time or early evening during your apero! Fetiche sells gorgeous everyday clothing that you won’t find anywhere else, along with some super soft hand bags, stunning contemporary jewellery, industrial style silver necklaces and bracelets, Barefoot sandals, which make your feet look pretty when hanging out by the pool, leather thong watches plus much more. There is also always a great selection of knitwear (when the weather requires it!) Fetiche has some mad crazy leggings, Micky Mouse tunics, Maxi dresses to die for, and simple little sun-dresses that are just the easiest hot day attire. All designs are limited so we never repeat (unless asked) on styles. The best seller is a TeeJump, the softest fabric in a most flattering shape and in lots of different colours and only e25, which we always have in stock. Fetiche is funky, affordable and different… Fetiche is open NOW! Every weekend and most weekdays till late… Come and see us at the Halle for a fun shopping experience, where you will love what you find!! Or you can call Lucy directly for any other information on 0778426849 To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

64 • the quercy local

English Church of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude

Update from the Cahors Congregation (please see our website for full contact information) Back to Church Sunday – 29th September Always the last Sunday in September. This year at Terre Rouge it will take place on Sunday 29th September at 10am

share the stories of people waiting for the Bible in their own language. As a church: We’re holding a service to celebrate the importance of the Bible – do come and join us.

“Would you like to come to church with me?” Millions of people who don’t go to church would say yes to an invitation from a friend. What if you were that friend? Who would you invite? “Back to Church Sunday has caught on in churches everywhere because it is so simple. Since 2004 a quarter of a million people have said yes to the prayerful invitation of a friend. Each year more churches take part and more people come back per church. In 2011 in the Church of England 20 more people came to each church – across all denominations about 77,000 extra people altogether. And at its heart it is the oldest idea of all, the one that made shepherds leave their flocks, fishermen leave their nets, and tax collectors climb out of trees. Someone invited them. Back to Church Sunday can help you take the shortest step in evangelism: inviting someone you know to something you love.” All information concerning our services is to be found on the Chaplaincy website www.escotc.com and if you would like to receive an invite for Back to Church Sunday – please contact us through the website.

All Saints and All Souls Day – 3rd November Terre Rouge at 10am Three years ago at Terre Rouge in Cahors, the Anglican Church held a very special service for the first time – the All Saints and All Souls Service. This coincided with our French Catholic friends’ celebration of la Toussaint when the dead are remembered all over France by the placing of chrysanthemums on family graves. Many people had thought the service would be unbearably sad but there was a certain joy as we prayed and remembered our loved ones. This service now holds a special place on our calendar. We name aloud all those people who had died in the previous 10 years and those whom members of the congregation wish to remember. Every name is represented by a white rose to symbolise peace. These white roses are then placed in a large container holding a single red rose to symbolise the love of Christ. After the service, relatives and friends are invited to take the white roses to be kept and dried as a memoire.

Harvest Festival – October 6th at 10am “We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land, But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand”

And so stirs memories of childhood, school assemblies and tins of baked beans, fruit and vegetables in boxes to be taken to school or church. This much loved and very popular festival is actually pagan in origin and often more people attend church at harvest than Easter or Christmas! The Harvest Service at Terre Rouge – the Anglican Church in Cahors – takes place on Sunday October 6th at 10am and will be followed by a bring-andshare lunch. All are welcome and being in France we celebrate the wine harvest too!! Our donations go to Secours Catholique – the homeless charity in Cahors. Bible Sunday Anyone can join the celebration – at Terre Rouge on Sunday 27th October at 10am As an individual: Take time yourself on Bible Sunday to get deeper into the Bible. Share it on Facebook. As a group: Use our Bible Society resources for a fresh approach to the Bible in your home group and The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

Remembrance Sunday – November 10th Terre Rouge at 10am At Terre Rouge we always have a traditional Remembrance Sunday service with the 2 minutes silence, but it is worth remembering that France, our adopted country suffered horrendous casualties and deaths too – on their own soil. Remembrance Day (11 November) is a national holiday in France. It commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, which took effect at 11:00 a.m. in the morning—the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” Armistice Day is one the most important military celebrations in France, since it was a major French victory and the French paid a heavy price in blood to achieve it. The First World War was considered in France as the “Great Patriotic War”. Almost all French villages feature memorials dedicated to those fallen during the conflict. In France the blue cornflower (bleuet) is used symbolically rather than the poppy. For all enquiries and more information please visit our website in www.escotc.com or email Martin Milnes on: martin.milnes@alsatis.net

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

AJK Maçon AJK Maçon work with both French & British specialists & have developed a reputation for quality, reliability and service. Works undertaken pool builds, retaining-walls, block-work, natural stone, stone-cladding, pointing, jointing, rendering, renovation, paving, concreting, floor-tiling, wall-tiling, stud-walls, plaster-boarding. Based in the South West of France, I mainly operate in the Lot et Garonne, Lot, Dordogne and Tarn et Garonne. However, I am prepared to travel further afield for suitable jobs.

Adrian Knox – Builder 05 53 71 73 38 info@aquitaineservices.net www.aquitaineservices.net La Frugiere, Sauveterre-la-Lémance, 47500 Siret no. 50333265200018

66 • the quercy local

Pink Ribbon Gains from one lady’s quest for fitness Marlies Peters-Poll explains how losing weight inspired a fund-raising campaign

n 2011 I was morbidly obese and struggling with my weight, health and different diets. Now, with the help of a team from the hospital in Cahors I´ve lost 60 kg; and I´m not morbidly obese anymore. I’m healthier and no-longer at risk from diabetes or sleep apnea. On 9th March 2012 I had my first sports training with my trainer Pete Edwards. He drew up a plan for activity 3 times a week to get me fitter and stronger. I looked for a goal; and soon I decided that I wanted to train for a 5k run. I literally went from sitting on a couch to doing 5k in about 16 weeks. One day a week I was running, 1 day a bicycling and 1 day swimming. It was hard work and caused lots of pain, sweat and tears; believe me there were tears a lot of the time! But I just wanted to achieve my goal and show the world I could do this. My self-esteem was so low when I was bigger, losing the weight was changing this but I still had some self-esteem to re-gain; I just had to prove to myself that my body could do it. I picked the date of the 9th March 2013 for my challenge, so I had a year to prepare. On this day I would run 5k with my trainer and some friends. Firstly we planned to run with 3-4 people and a dog but it grew every week, until we had a fairly big group. Then I decided to run for a good cause. I wanted to run for Pink Ribbon (Association de Cancer du Sein/Breast Cancer) and donate all the money we could raise to this charity. I set up a Facebook page (you can find us under Pink Ribbon Touzac), I sent out emails and low-andbehold: people where signing up by the dozens. The start and finish was in the village square of Touzac (46) and it was 5k of either running or walking. In the end we had over 94 people running and walking in The Pink Ribbon, Touzac 5K and we raised over 1400e. There was a tombola, book sale, cake and several other stalls. All the stalls made donations from the items they sold that day; some even as much as 100%! The Rendez-Vous Café in Touzac donated water and soft drinks and had prepared an affordable ‘race day menu’ for those joining in and supporting the runners. Everyone crossing the finishing-line got a handmade Pink Ribbon and the first 3 people back got prizes, kindly donated by Tim and Margaret, member and

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

secretary of Cancer Support France, Dordogne East and Lot. NEXT YEAR The Pink Ribbon, Touzac 5k for 2014 will be on Saturday 8th March at 11.00. Please sign-up through email or Facebook. Do remember it’s NOT a race; the aim is not to be the first, the fastest or the most furious. It’s a fun day with the family, on your own or with a group of friends. A perfect chance to think about all the loved ones we miss, those still battling the disease, and those who are surviving! To sign up or get more information please email: pinkribbontouzac@hotmail.com A special thank you from Marlies: “I especially want to thank my husband for being so patient with me and encouraging me to take up sport and go out and practise on my runs. Love also goes to my 3 children Mathis (10) Arthur (4) and Josephine (4): without them I would never have been able to do this. They kept me grounded, motivated and looking for a better and brighter future!”

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Stay in your own home and receive support from an experienced team of English-speaking carers. Whether your need is short-term (ie recovering from illness or surgery) or long-term, whether you need around-the-clock presence or just a few hours a day/week, help is at hand. As well as offering companionship, the team can undertake shopping, cooking, driving, light housework, laundry and gardening.

To discuss your requirements or those of a family member, please contact quercyhelpinghandsathome@gmail.com or telephone Helping Hands @ Home on 05 63 05 17 35 or 06 37 22 88 16 LOCAL REFERENCES AVAILABLE

Janeen Holmes

New Zealand Registered Nurse looking for work from mid August. Specialising in care of the elderly and palliative care. Please email: janeen.holmes@xtra.co.nz

Simply Beauty & Massage Offering a full range of Beauty & Massage Treatments For 2013 Smile with confidence with Amazing Smile the most up-to-date Teeth Whitening System 100% Safe & Zero Peroxide

Qualified City & Guilds Beauty & Massage Therapist

Advertise here from just 18e, see our website or email on

info@quercylocal.com

Professional consultant for Amazing Smile UK/France For treatments and appointments please see our website www.simplybeautyandmassage.com

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

quercy oak F onbigou MonsĂŠgur, 471 50 0675518913 mo b grey. robert@orang e.fr

q u e r c y oa k

fo r

Carpentry, joinery, roofing, bespoke kitchens and furniture, stairs, doors, flooring. Timber-frame houses, property renovation and barn conversions.

Charpentier * Menuisier * Couverture * Maison Bois

The Quercy Local â&#x20AC;˘ July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

Ent. POGGI Benjamin Plumber and Heating Engineer ARTISAN

Repairs, Chimney Sweeping Boiler Maintenance, Water Softening New & Renovation

Tél: 05 63 31 76 58 82160 CAYLUS benjamin.poggi@orange.fr

Quercy Builders (82150) Stone work and all aspects of renovation Subcontractors to the trade and a professional service to the public References available No obligation quotations

info@quercybuilders.com www.quercybuilders.com 06 52 24 49 95 06 52 49 03 57

TAC PROPERTY SERVICES ‘Think of us as part of you – working in partnership’ We are a property maintenance and cleaning company registered in France. We can provide a complete range of services to clients who either live here permanently or who own a second property in France. TAC Property Services has had many years of experience as Property Managers; we provide a service that is competively priced, reliable and respectful of your property. Siret No. 502 126 550 000 16

Please visit our website to see the full range of services that we provide Contact: 05 63 39 55 97 email: tacservices@orange.fr www.tacpropertyservices.com To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

Mick Bates – Monflanquin (47150) General Electrician

Certified & Registered Business in France for all Electrical Works | New & Renovation Works Plumbing | All works guaranteed | Free quotation

Tel. 05 82 95 05 73 Port. 06 27 71 94 51 mick.bates@lgtel.fr Refer to this advert to receive a 10%discount

LAND SURVEYOR GEOMETRE TOPOGRAPHIE

Planning Permissions – Setting Out – Measured Building Surveys – Topographical Surveys (all sizes)

Mob: 06 33 94 84 53 Tel: 06 33 94 84 53 barry@bgsurveyor.com www.bgsurveyor.com Siret 51788170400016

Timber-Pro

Fencing and Decking Specialists Garden Services Grass cutting l Hedge cutting Tree work l Rubbish removal Depts. 24,33,46,47,82 Tel 06 35 96 62 21 Email: timberpro@hotmail.co.uk

Ent. Marco Jean Plomberie Sanitaire Plaque de Plâtre Isolation Carrelage

Marco & Miranda Schorren Bouysett 82160 ESPINAS 05 63 24 07 33 marco-jean@wanadoo.fr (English Spoken) The Quercy Local • July-October 2013

To advertise with us email info@quercylocal.com

D i t g h gers g i r .COM W Sandy Wright ‘Boutadieu’ 47340 Tournon d’Agenais

Tel. 05 53 41 74 28 Mob. 06 30 83 35 22 (Eng) Mob. 06 84 91 05 68 (Fr) wrightalex1@aol.com

Nous donnons devis et conseils gratuitement! We are happy to give ‘no obligation’ advice! Fosses Filter Systems Déblaiement Site Clearance Piscines Swimming Pool

Démolition Demolition Allées Privées Driveway Aménagement Landscaping Siret No 48495504200011