The Quercy Local Issue 16 Sep:Oct 2014

September - October 2014 Issue 16

uercy Local The

The Region’s FREE magazine in English

Autumn Issue with – Thermal Cures, Biodynamic Wines, Walking Groups plus – Author, Eamon O’Hara, Chef, Michel Trama & Winemaker, Philippe Lejeune

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 3

Buying or selling, our expert local team would be delighted to speak to you

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Call us on 0033 (0)8 05 69 23 23 Email us on info@beauxvillages.com Visit our website: www.beauxvillages.com Beaux Villages Immobilier, 45 rue des Frères Quéméré, 82150 Montaigu de Quercy Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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elcome to issue 16 of ‘The Quercy Local’ magazine.

Well, there has certainly been some inclement weather during the summerseason; presenting challenges for the many out-door event organisers and the many residents with visiting family and friends! I think everyone must be entertaining high-hopes for a warm, gentle and hopefully dry lead into the autumn months.

In this edition Jennifer gives us a peak in to the world of Philippe Lejeune from Chateau Chambert a well-known and celebrated local wine grower and Jeanne reports on her visit to meet Michel Trama, based in Puymirol – the well-known and acclaimed chef.

The front cover shows a picture of a Golden Oriole – a bird found around the region (including my own garden). For bird-lovers we are pleased to be able, to continue with the articles and illustrations by David Beddow (see p.15). Here you will also see an opportunity from one of our advertisers to send for their brochure of wildlife supplies. As David mentions in his article – now is the time to start thinking about the wildlife in the coming seasons.

This edition also explains some of the facts behind Biodynamic wine production, introduces a new author, investigates local walking groups and continues our coverage of the exploration of local Roman Roads and so much more.

As always I would urge you to support our advertisers – their support means the magazine can remain free.

The next edition will be available at the start of November. www.quercylocal.com info@quercylocal.com

Anna

16

CONTENTS Expat Dating

p.6

Cancer Support France

p.8

The Art of Life

p.9

Better Blooms

p.12

Autumn Birds

p.15

Michel Trama – Portrait of a Chef

p.16

La Troupe d’Acteurs

p.18

Living the Dream – author Eamon O’Hara

p.20

Walking Groups – Conversations with Nature p.22 Tax Tips

p.27

Cats’ Hotel

p.28

Gaynor’s Bike Ride

p.30

Les Amis des Chats

p.32

Thermal Cures

p.34

Marmande Tomato Jam

p.38

Philippe Lejeune

p.41

Biodynamic Wine Production

p.42

Roman Roads X1

p.45

English Church update

p.48

28

42

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ARBRESERVICES Matt Strawbridge Tree Surgeon Elagueur Arboriste

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The Quercy Local ISSN: 2116-0392. No part of this publication may be copied, used or reproduced without the written consent of the proprietor. No responsibility is accepted for any claim made by advertisers. All content accepted and printed in good faith. Please check that all advertisers are registered businesses in France or elsewhere in their relevant home country.

The Quercy Local is owned and managed by A Atkinson (Las Razes, Touffailles, 82190): Siret: 518 460 605 00018. It is produced by the Magazine Production Company, West Sussex, UK. Printed by Newman Thomson (UK). Distribution managers (47) – Lorraine & Pete Knowles; (46) and (82) Glenn Jackson. Regular contributors; Paola Westbeek, Angie Richards, John and Debbie Wilson, Jeanne McCaul and David Beddow.

THE QUERCY LOCAL • 5

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

6 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

Place de le Croix – 82150 Roquecor General supplies, Bread, Newsagents, Postal Point We also stock a supply of British products and a great selection of wines from local producers

Local and convenient – a true village shop 05 63 95 25 78 / 06 82 84 56 30 lacroixroc@orange.fr (SARL Lacroixroc) Delphine and Jean Longueteau

The perfect dating-site for expats living in France On-line dating has taken social relationships by storm and now, thanks to Katie May, an on-line dating site is here in France and for the first time tailor made for Anglo-Saxon encounters.

Expat Dating in France is a new Dating Website designed to meet the needs of English speakers in France who want to share their life with someone special, are looking to make new friends or just embarking on a new adventure!

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xpat Dating France has been founded by long term Provence resident, Katie May who was herself widowed a few years ago. As Katie says “It swept my life from under me and took a long time to recover. I thought hard about returning to England but love my life here. I have great friends, a comfortable home, adored animals, my garden, a beautiful environment – there are so many things I didn’t and don’t, want to give up.

With much encouragement from friends, I joined dating sites; some French, some international, some continental; lots of different types of sites! I met some great guys and it was fun, a bit nerve wracking and quite an eye opener at times (those requests for erotic afternoons for instance…).

Alas I didn’t find that kindred spirit I was looking for and had to ask myself why.

I am very happy going out with any nationality, but I miss the humour and shared culture from home. I know why a dead parrot is funny, I can say ‘great minds’ and not have to explain it, I can be spontaneous, silly, soppy The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

and downright stupid, in my own language. So I looked around for a dating-site designed for like-minded people – people like me – who have settled here from abroad. When I couldn’t find such a site, a friend suggested I start one, so I did!”

And so Expat Dating France was born! The Expat Dating France team consists of great people with a range of expertise in web design, online dating, advertising and technical know-how, all dedicated to ensuring the best dating experience possible. www.expatdatingfrance.com

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 7

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Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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ancer Support France, Dordogne Est & Lot, support English speakers, regardless of nationality, who are affected by cancer, whether directly or indirectly. Our Active Listeners are trained to listen and support, in several ways. All contact is treated in the strictest confidence. Help with translation or interpreting can enable someone affected by cancer have a better understanding of the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.

It could be helpful for clients to talk with someone who may have had similar experiences, whether it’s a reaction to treatment, or what to expect from a stay in hospital.

In addition, CSF has resources and translated publications, which can be provided free of charge.

Knowledge of the system here in France is paramount. Those directly affected by cancer frequently find themselves, whilst facing the biggest challenge of their life, confused by “who does what” and “when and where”. CSF can assist, whether it’s by providing an Active Listener to be present at hospital appointments or locating specialised equipment.

The local team, consists of 19 volunteers, some are trained Active Listeners and others deal with the day to day administration.

All have a variety of skills.

This year, at National level, CSF has seen the departure at the helm of its founding President, Linda Shepherd. She has stepped aside and Tony Benstead was duly The Quercy Local • July-August 2014

elected National President. Linda, now Honorary President, worked tirelessly in recent years forming links with La Ligue Contre le Cancer.

She was thrilled to have signed a contract with this association prior to standing down. This contract enables CSF to work with La Ligue and reflects the respect and commitment of all those involved in this achievement. The national

website www.cancersupportfrance. info has useful information which can be downloaded free of charge.

A translation project, which has been facilitated by donations and supported by our local group, provides very useful practical advice.

Support from CSF is free of charge to clients, and although not a fund raising association, funds are needed to provide training and pay for the day to day administration, including the free 24 hour helpline.

Local President, Julia Hall is committed to enhancing skills and continuous training of Active Listeners. To this end the association is looking to recruit more Active Listeners.

Please see advert below.

Confidential Helpline number 06 35 90 03 41. csfdordognelot@yahoo.com

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The Art Of Life THE QUERCY LOCAL • 9

C

ancer. Probably the one word in anyone’s language that no one wants to hear, especially when it relates to your own health.

Yet, seemingly increasingly more of us find ourselves having to cope when that niggling pain turns into something a lot more life threatening and your world, and that of family and friends, falls apart.

I should know. My name is Jacqueline Hurley, and I am a metastatic kidney cancer survivor and, like every cancer patient and survivor, I have a story to tell.

My story began back in Norwich Hospital when a few days after New Year 2011, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney cancer. I remember the ‘white coats‘ seeming to appear en mass in the side ward I had been tucked away into, and it felt like I had something truly contagious.

“Mrs Hurley, your husband not here yet?” one bright spark noted; “No matter, the results of your scans show that you have kidney cancer. It is very aggressive and might be inoperable. We fear that you will have a very tough time ahead. Good luck” And there’s me thinking I was on the ‘change’.

Having delivered this bombshell, the white coats flounced out. No bedside manner, no offer of support, nothing despite, as I later found out, Norwich Hospital has a £1m cancer support centre in its grounds.

I won’t trouble you with my history of surgery and follow up treatments because that isn’t the point of my story. But I will say that a less than a year later, the cancer had spread into to my liver.

I recall all this whilst sitting waiting to see my consultant oncologist at Clinique Pont de Chaume in Montauban. Clasping the results of my latest CT scans in my clammy hands and to calm my fast beating heart, I looked for distractions.

Being my first visit to a French oncology clinic since leaving the UK, I noticed the apparent lack of cancer support information in the Salle d’attente. So different to the UK where pinned to every hospital wall in the Oncology centre were offers of support from the big guns like Macmillan, Marie Curie and the like along with smaller voluntary groups including my own, The Art Of Life.

Following my recovery after surgery to remove two thirds of my liver and with grant funding from Macmillan, The Big C charity and my district council, I set up a support group to help local people living with

cancer and their families to heal and find meaning through creative expression and holistic therapies. The group was a response for those cancer patients, like me, uncomfortable with traditional ‘touch’ and ‘talk’ therapies, finding such stressful and even embarrassing.

It wasn’t about creating a fantastic piece of art; people didn’t even need to draw or paint. It certainly was not about religion. It was about offering a series of creative workshops designed to help people explore their creativity, escape, relax and engage with others who understand exactly what they are going through.

The group was a success and was instrumental in setting up the region’s first buddying and befriending scheme. Yet despite this, just before leaving the UK in March 2014 for a new life in France, I struggled to find someone to take up The Art Of Life voluntary reins. I had no choice but to close the group to the heartbreak of over 47 regulars.

So why am I telling you this?

Well, not only do my husband, Keith and I now run a chambres d’hotes ‘Le Petit Coin de Charme’ in Caylus, a large 3 bedroom 12th century village house, we

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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also want to resurrect The Art Of Life here in Tarn et Garonne, albeit without the funding!

We propose to run creative workshops and offer healing and meditation for anyone whose life is affected directly or indirectly by cancer, letting their hands do the talking when words fail.

From soap making to up-cycling furniture and small objects, painting, drawing, mediations, and much more, the focus is on a CAN CERtainly do attitude.

What’s more, back in the UK, both Keith and I were Macmillan Voices, that is to say, we were only ever a telephone call away from offering a listening and support service to those wanting to tell their own stories. We propose to offer the same here.

I’m still not through my cancer journey yet. I’m making good progress and one thing that cancer has taught me is to live in the now.

Tomorrow is another day and yesterday never happened.

So, if my story has affected you and you’d like to know more, become involved or simply need someone to talk to, just pick up the phone and call us on 05.63.26.09.20. Not tomorrow, today!

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 11

Restaurant ‘La Sirene’ Place de l’Hotel de Ville Montaigu de Quercy (82150) Varied cuisine and a warm welcome guaranteed

Closed from Sept 4th - Oct 1st October Opening Hours Tues - Sat lunch and Thurs, Fri, & Sat evenings

Lunch – 12.00-2.00 Dinner – 19.00-21.00 & groups (10 or more) any evening – (reservations in advance for evenings)

Reserve by phone on 05 63 94 44 82 email: t-mermaid@hotmail.com

Quercy Counselling Quercy counselling offers English-speaking counselling and psychological services on all manner of issues. It’s based in Belveze and offers services face-to-face, via telephone and Skype.

For more information please see the website:

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Or contact Elizabeth Cross on +33(0)788279014 or quercycounselling@gmail.com

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

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Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

Better Blooms 12 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

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verybody loves a colourful floral display, so it’s worth taking the time to improve and prolong the life of your blooms. A few simple tricks, taking a minimal amount of time, can significantly extend your plants’ performance, increasing flower formation and lengthening flowering time.

In practice, things get quite involved as it’s important to know the specific requirements of each individual plant, for they have particular needs, in terms of both technique and timing. As a general rule though, the theory is very simple: it’s all about conserving and channelling the energy of the plant so that it can be used to promote further or future growth. This is done through a variety of techniques, such as pinching out, deadheading and pruning.

Pinching a plant improves flower performance both by increasing the number of flowers and prolonging the bloom.

This process consists of cutting off the apical meristem (the growing tip of the flower stem). You can either perform a “soft pinch” and remove just the tip and less than an inch of stem, or a “hard pinch” and remove a larger portion of the tip, including several inches of stem and multiple tiers of leaves. Different plants respond most favourably to one or the other technique at different times in the plant’s development, so see growing guides for individual plants to achieve the best effect.

Pinching is performed before the plant blooms. This stimulates the plant to grow new stems below the spot where you pinched it, resulting in a larger number of stems and thus more flowers. The plant will be also be more compact, and thus better able to withstand strong winds and less likely to need staking, it will also have a later bloom time. Of course, you might want taller flowers that bloom earlier, in which case, do not pinch them. Or, to achieve multiple layers of height and a longer bloom period, leave some un-pinched for a tall, early crop, and pinch others for shorter, later blooms.

This technique is especially effective with plants that are prone to growing too leggy, but that can develop numerous stems and buds and look attractive when bushy. Try it with the following: Artemisia, Aster, Catmint, Chrysanthemum, Cornflower, Heliopsis, Physostegia, Russian Sage, Shasta Daisy, and Summer Phlox.

Once blooms are established, the simple process of deadheading will keep plants looking better for longer, and plants such as Dahlia, Delphinium, Rosa and Penstemon, will benefit greatly. Once a flower is spent, simply snip it off.

Of course, this will improve the immediate aesthetics, but it is also good for the on-going health of the plant. If faded

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

flowers are left on the plant, they will go to seed (using up lots of energy) so by removing them, the plant can use the energy to produce further flowers instead. To time it correctly, check plants on a daily basis (walking around inspecting the garden is one of life’s pleasant jobs, after all) and watch out for signs of flowers drooping and petals falling. Removing the flower at this stage will encourage the plant to produce brand new flowers you wouldn’t otherwise have enjoyed and will encourage clustering flowers such as roses to channel the energy into the remaining flower buds.

It’s not just about immediate rewards, but about nurturing future growth as well. Bulbs, for instance, should be deadheaded, giving an instantly tidier garden, but remove only the tip of the flower stalk and leave the rest of the stem intact. Allowing the stem to die down naturally returns the plant’s energy into the bulb and therefore feeds next year’s blooms.

Late summer flowering shrubs, such as Helianthemum, climbing and rambling roses, and mass flowering plants such as lavender will also benefit from attention now to improve next year’s flowers, though wait until the shrubs and roses have finished flowering of course.

While most people know to prune in spring, not everyone realises that a light pruning in September/October will greatly benefit some plants. Lavender, for instance – one of my favourites as this beautiful, fragrant, pollinator-friendly plant is so easy to grow – is so often neglected in the autumn and therefore doesn’t achieve its full potential. To prune lavender effectively, cut into the green leaves but don’t go as far as the old wood, as this would prevent further growth.

By pruning now, you encourage bushy side growth, resulting in a compact plant full of flowers, and thus avoiding straggly plants consisting of mostly woody stems and few blooms. If your lavender already has the woody, leggy look, then your best course of action is to replace it with a new plant, which you can then prune on a biannual basis.

Once perennials are dying down, switch from deadheading to cutting back. Again, individual plants have

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 13

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different requirements, and some, such as Lupins, begin to fade quite early in the autumn, while others, such as Helenium and Aster, will bloom until later in the year. With each plant, wait until it is spent, and then prune it down to the ground. Sometimes people worry about damaging a plant by giving it too hard a prune. The thing to remember though is that plants have a strong survival instinct. They want to grow and thrive. By cutting them back, you kick-start their growth, thus resulting in a stronger, healthier plant, as opposed to neglected plants, which gradually lose vigour.

In addition to cutting back perennials, another way of reviving them is to divide them. This is done by digging them up and splitting them into a number of smaller plants.

This results in improved flowering and a nicer shape, and of course, additional plants, which can either, be re-planted in your garden or swapped with friends. There are a number of plant swaps throughout the area, in both spring and autumn. If anybody knows of any others, then do drop us an email to let us know.

In the meantime, for further information, contact Margaret Brown on browngarden@orange.fr for swaps in the Lauzerte area; Val Bromley on taglines82@gmail.com for Varen; or myself and John on lejardindesespiemonts@gmail.com for Caylus.

23/07/2014 12:54

Plant Swap & Croix Rouge Charity Book Sale Event Monday 15th September 10 a.m – 3 p.m Le Jardin des Espiemonts Les Espiemonts, 82160, Caylus 44°16’12.15”N 1°44’0.92”E

Gardening Book Sale A large selection of gardening books (in English) donated by the Red Cross in Caussade, for sale in order to raise funds for this local charity (all proceeds to the Croix Rouge).

Plant Swap Free plant and seed exchange.

Bring along any plants and seeds to swap with other keen gardeners.

Alpines & Perennials A selection of alpines and perennials for sale from Le Jardin des Espiemonts.

Email: lejardindesespiemonts@gmail.com http://www.lejardindesespiemonts.fr/

John and Debbie (Le Jardin des Espiemonts) lejardindesespiemonts@gmail.com, 05 63 64 68 76, www.lejardindesespiemonts.fr Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

14 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

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Autumn Birds

THE QUERCY LOCAL • 15

Article and Illustrations by David Beddow – davidmbeddow@gmail.com

W

ith Autumn just around the corner and bird migration well under way this is a time when anything from the bird world can appear either because they have been blown off course or they stop off to feed en route. Last year for instance I saw a flock of five Black Storks on their way from Eastern Europe to Africa.

We have already said goodbye to the Honey Buzzard as it too heads to Africa but the Common Buzzard remains as its source of food does not dry up in the winter months. Unlike the Honey Buzzard which has a specialist diet of wasp larvae, insects and frogs, the Common Buzzard has an all year larder of mice, rabbits and carrion.

The non-migrating Red Kite says au revoir to its cousin the Black Kite as it too takes to the skies for Africa and where its diet there will include lizards, frogs and snakes. Generally it’s the insect-eating birds that travel to warmer countries in search of food. Those birds with a more flexible diet and a multi-purpose bill tend to remain changing their diet to seeds, nuts and berries.

As the colder weather arrives Northern European breeding birds will be moving south and into our territory boosting our resident winter population of finches, larks and thrushes. Bird watchers can expect to see Siskens, Bramblings, Fieldfares and Redwings in fields, hedgerows and gardens. Last year’s milder winter meant many of these birds did not make it to our area as they managed to find food supplies further north. Let’s hope we see them this year.

A few summer outings proved fruitful in spotting new birds. On the last day of July I saw my first Whiskered Tern diving for fish at St Nicholas de la Grave. At the same site I also saw a Hobby hunting dragonflies close to the water’s edge and of course the gratifying sight of the blue flash of Kingfisher as it dashed by.

A trip to Roches des Aigles in Rocamador never disappoints as you see the permanent collection of birds of prey from the giant Condor and Griffin Vulture to Kestrels and Little Owls. However it was whilst walking through the village that I spied Crag Martins - the first time in France. I was surprised to see so many of them feeding around the cliffs.

An evening barbeque also heralded an unexpected sight. Moths drawn to the light attracted the normally elusive Nightjar which flew around the garden enjoying the feast.

Nightjar

With barbeques pretty much over for the year and less to do in the garden, it’s easier to find time to build or repair bird tables and nest boxes. Sometimes birds will roost in nest boxes during the winter. And remember to keep bird tables well stocked now so that in the event of cold weather birds will know where to go for food.

Happy birding.

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Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

16 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

Stars on your doorstep Portrait of a chef

W

hat happens when a famous Michelin Star chef opens a country restaurant with democratically priced menus? Well, you and I can treat ourselves to an affordable yet memorable repast there and say: we ate at Michel Trama’s!

This is indeed exactly what the acclaimed chef had in mind when he decided to open “La Poule d’Or”, right next to his already well established gastronomic restaurant bearing, quite simply, his name.

Both restaurants are located in the exceptional setting of a beautifully renovated medieval castle in the town of Puymirol in the Lot and Garonne department.

Archeological diggings have revealed the existence of pre-Roman settlements on this strategic “pech” or hill top “from where one could see far” as its Latin name “podium mirandum” indicate. Puymirol’s grain fairs, lasting several weeks, were described in 1100 as the most important in the entire Agenais region. As for the castle, it was built around 1247 on the orders of the powerful Count Raymond VII of Toulouse.

Michel and his wife Maryse bought up and began renovating the neglected remains of the “grand castel” in the early 1970ies and in ‘78 they were able to open the “Aubergade”. Here he won his first Michelin star in 1981, a second in 1983 and a third in 2004.

Meanwhile, between 2000 and 2006 the entire château hotel, from its reception areas, bedrooms The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

By Jeanne McCaul, Lauzerte

and cloister to its restaurant and kitchen, were given a magnificent, major makeover by well known French interior decorator, Jacques Garcia, and is rightfully listed among the prestigious Relais & Châteaux 5 star hotels.

However, during a time of serious illness a few years ago, Michel lost one of those coveted stars and with it many of his international customers.

This experience caused him to reflect on many aspects of his life and career and, true to his profound belief that “youth is not a time, it is a state of mind”, he took up the challenge and opened “La Poule d’Or” a little over a year ago, right next to the 2 star gastronomic restaurant. The golden hen also offered a golden opportunity for Christopher, Michel and Maryse’s son, to gain experience of the hotel and restaurant trade from his parents as manager of the new affiliated entity.

At La Poule d’Or the accent is on country style ambiance and dishes, albeit with a personalized, creative touch. The intention is to attract more of the local population who appreciate and know good food and where to find it and will come back again and again. The Tramas believe that those who enjoy a meal there, will fall under the charm of the historic town as well as the château hotel and will sooner or later feel comfortable to also try out the gastronomic restaurant.

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 17

Régis CASSÉ

Traditional Stonework ~ New and Restoration 82190 Fauroux ~ 06 40 20 68 94 ~ English spoken ~ angeregis@hotmail.fr

While the décor, service, recipes, some of the ingredients, wine list and price range all differ in the two restaurants, Michel’s basic philosophy of preparing food applies to both: “Freshness is key; Freshness and variety. We are fortunate that we are able to source all our ingredients within a 100 km radius around Puymirol.

The less products have to travel, the better. And here there is so much variety to choose from, all of excellent quality! Our suppliers have become trusted and close friends. In addition, we have our own vegetable and herb garden with a number of lesser known varieties.

I marvel at the generosity of nature and spend some of my best moments in the garden. You see, I believe my role is to accompany the food I prepare, to be at the service of the product I transform. And I believe simplicity is synonymous with supreme sophistication”.

Becoming a chef, let alone a famous one, is not something Michel could have imagined, though today

he says there are a thousand directions his life could have taken. He grew up in an orphanage where the staple food was over-cooked polenta. He considers that he was in effect born at age 13, when a man turned up at the orphanage and announced that he was Michel’s father. After that day, the boy turned from being the last in his class to the first. Pride, ambition and drive were kindled in him. Since that time he never stopped believing that the best is still to come.

As a young man he travelled and studied (sociology and psychology) in the US and Canada. He trained and worked as a deep-sea diving instructor. In fact, in 1971 he was runner-up European champion in deep sea apnea fishing. He was also briefly a member of Jacques Cousteau’s team. But when he met Maryse, he decided it was time to settle in one place and develop a career that could provide for a family. Together they bought a restaurant in Paris (Rue Mouffetard) and he began to study the methods of legendary chef Auguste Escoffier, but also others, among them Michel Guérard, the inventor of “nouvelle cuisine” and “cuisine minceur”.

Having sold his first restaurant, Michel apprenticed with 3 star chef Bernard Loiseau in his restaurant in Saulieu.

Michel is known and respected by his peers for his creativity. Having mastered all the conventions, he allows himself to venture into new territories. Numerous recipes that have become references were created by him. The foie gras hamburger, a gastronomic house specialty, which he invented when young Christopher was nagging him for a hamburger, is an example.

But he is perhaps most famous as the inventor of Crystalline: thin, transparent slices of vegetables and fruit, at once decorative and tasty. A slice of fruit, forgotten and dehydrated in a low oven, was all it took to set off his imagination.

Apart from cooking, Michel is also a people person.

He enjoys teaching his team of cooks and discovering new recipes together. As he says: “A thirst for learning is what really stimulates me. When you give that up, it’s “game over”.

Michel will no doubt agree: Writing about food and eating is one thing, but “the proof is in the pudding”, so give it a try and taste for yourself.

For more information, visit www.aubergade.com and www.relaischateaux.com.

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

18 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

Metse, Les Espiemonts, 82160, Caylus, Tarn et Garonne Phone: 05 63 64 68 76 Mob: 06 81 76 02 30 Email: lejardindesepsiemonts@gmail.com www.lejardindesespiemonts.fr 44°16'12.15"N 1°44'0.92"E Perennial and Alpine growers. Small, specialist nursery. Open Mondays 10 – 4. Visits on other days by appointment.

Feel like doing something

different & interesting this year?

Then why don’t you come and join us and have some fun?

W

e are La Troupe D’Acteurs du Quercy an Am-Dram group in South West France.

From a small start, we’ve developed into an enthusiastic, organised company. We have many talented members, but we are always encouraging new members, to broaden the scope of the group. Children/junior members are always welcomed and quickly develop confidence and ability.

The troupe has many different activities available to anyone who is interested. There are acting roles to be auditioned for and equally important – off stage skills are needed. From: Directing, scriptwriting, assistant stage managing, prompting, set design, building & painting; costumes, lighting, sound, catering, publicity, etc. The more people involved the more fun it is.

We have set building and painting days generally with a communal lunch, usually at a member’s house, who kindly allow us to use their barn for construction and storage.

We do three productions a year. The Flagship of the troupe, is the world famous bi-lingual pantomime, held at the end of January. We have performed many pantos, some written by members and some purchased Scripts. All have been well received. As well as our usual audience, we have a fantastic Friday Matinee, free to over 150 local schoolchildren, who have been well primed by an early school visit from one of our members, with prepared activities to make sure they know the plot and are ready to join in (and how), they raise the roof.

The second production is a full length play generally held in May. Our Autumn production in September varies, The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

and may comprise one act plays, a murder mystery or a review show. We have just held our summer social, where mine hosts lovingly prepared a monster paella and a super spread. A good time was had by all.

We also hold quizzes and have ideas in the pipeline for workshops and other social events.

This September we are putting on three comedy one act plays: Temptation Sordid or Virtue Rewarded

by Winifred Phelps, A Decent Exposure (a sketch)

by Harry Allstock and Last Panto at Little Grimley by David Tristram.

Dates: Friday 26th and Saturday 27th of September.

Doors open 7p.m. Curtain up at 8p.m.

Bring a picnic if you like. A pay bar will be available as well as raffle with exciting prizes. There will be welcoming drinks and nibbles, all for the sum of 10e.

For Tickets and Troupe information: 05 53 49 19 51 www.la-troupe.org

Interested in Joining us?

We rehearse in the salle des fetes, Montaigu every Monday and Thursday evening from 19h.30. You are most welcome to come along and meet us there.

Want more information?

Sarah Pegg: pegg.sarah@orange.fr Tel: 05 53 49 19 51 Stephen Mercer: stephen.mercer@orange.fr Tel: 05 65 35 69 91

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SPQR

THE QUERCY LOCAL • 19

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Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

20 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

A great new book that opens the door on the real experience of starting a new life in S W France...

Living the Dream?

F

or many expats moving to France, the reality is never quite like the dream. This was certainly the case for the O’Hara family, who moved to the Lot in the spring of 2010.

We’ve learned the hard way that life in the south of France is not all about long leisurely lunches and endless sunshine, says Eamon O’Hara, whose acclaimed first book, A French Renaissance?, recounts his family’s experiences as they attempt to make the transition from a busy urban existence to a more tranquil and balanced rural lifestyle.

When people hear that you’re moving to the south of France they immediately think, holidays, or more accurately, one long extended holiday. There is this perception that you’re ‘dropping out’, taking leave of the real world, where people have to do boring stuff like work and pay bills and live in characterless towns and cities where it never seems to stop raining.

Well, I suppose this is generally the idea: to get away from all that drudgery and seek out the good life: a life of leisure and pleasure somewhere that the sun actually shines every now and then and you don’t run the risk of

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

being savaged by the elements every time you step outside the front door.

But of course, as expats in this part of the world know all too well, the perception is very different to the reality.

We moved to France in 2010 and while some amount of ‘dropping out’ may have been on the agenda; it dropped off it pretty quickly once we were in situ. From the off, we found ourselves engaged in an almighty struggle to cope with all kinds of things: language barriers, bureaucracy, wayward builders, inclement weather, and alien species, including the farming variety, were just some of challenges we were confronted with as we strove to create a new life for ourselves in rural France.

We really were caught on the hop and I’m not overstating it when I say that life in the Lot has been nothing like we expected it would be. It hasn’t all been bad, just different, totally different than we imagined. I sometimes wonder if we were just naïve, but the more I talk to other expats the more I realise how typical this experience is. Nobody, or very few at least seem to manage to live the dream.

This was the main reason I decided to write A French Renaissance? I wanted to tell the real story, warts and all, of what this life-changing move has been like for us. I have read many other books on this subject and in general I found they tended to overly romanticize the life of the expat in France. I’m not saying there is no romance to it. Of course France is a very beautiful country and it has many, many positive attributes but there is also another side to it.

The summertime is obviously when France, and especially the south, is at its best. The weather is good, there are lots of people around and every little town and village has a programme packed full of events and

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 21

activities. However, jump forward a few months to, say, mid-January and the situation is very different.

Firstly, it can be cold and wet, sometimes for long periods. Secondly, the place can sometimes feel totally deserted, as there are no tourists around and those with second homes (and there are many) have long since departed and gone back to their more sophisticated urban lives. And thirdly, when you most need it, there is nothing to do. Many cafés and restaurants close up for the winter and the few that do remain open usually feel cold and empty.

This is a side of France that many expats have no experience of until the take the plunge and move here permanently. By that stage, they are probably also struggling to deal with many other issues, including mind numbing administration and communicating in a foreign language. Throw in a bleak, lonely winter on top of that and you start to understand why so many people end up returning home or even worse, why many relationships are pushed to the point of no return.

But it doesn’t have to be like this. Forewarned is forearmed as they say and I believe that if people were aware of the real challenges then they would be better prepared, have more realistic expectations, and be more likely to make a success of their lives here.

We found our first few years in France very tough but we survived and now, four years on, we have learned not only to cope with, but even to enjoy the long winters. We organize holidays in this period and we also stock up on good films, books and other forms of home entertainment. It’s a period when we de-stress after one busy summer and prepare for the next one.

The secret, of course, is expectation, and if you come to the France expecting one big long hot summer then you are bound to be disappointed. But if you come prepared for the seasons you will soon be celebrating their contrasting charms and discovering new things about rural France that you never knew, and that the tourists will never have the chance to experience.

Eamon O’Hara is a writer and consultant on European affairs. A French Renaissance? was published by Orpen Press in June 2014 and is available on Amazon, as well as in Sequoia Presse, Cahors, and Maison de la Presse, Prayssac.

Contact: eamon.ohara@orange.fr.

You can join Eamon O’Hara on Facebook.

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

22 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

Conversations with nature…

By Jeanne McCaul, Lauzerte

W

e are so very fortunate to have nature all around us. Forest covered hills with rivers and streams running in their folds, down below. Valleys, planted with an amazing variety of crops such as maize, barley, wheat, colza, sunflowers and our delicious melons, to name but a few. Orchards of winter and summer fruits: apples and pears, cherries, apricots, peaches, plums – among them the famous “pruneaux d’Agen”).

And of course, endless rows of vines, providing grapes for the numerous wine makers of the region, but also table grapes, such as the equally famous Chasselas, associated first and foremost with Moissac.

Charming villages and hamlets of age old stone dwellings and farm buildings, some gently disintegrating, while many have been lovingly restored, very often by newcomers, still pinching themselves in disbelief at their good fortune in finding their dream home in the Quercy.

Yet, to fully appreciate this good fortune, and the generosity of our surroundings, of nature, we should “walk it”. This, at any rate, is how Robert Azais sees it and he should know. President of the Région Midi-Pyrénées of the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRP), he explains that when we appreciate walking in the countryside, we are actually adding value to nature and, specifically, to the paths we take. That is of course providing we understand that neither nature nor the paths belong to us.

We are mere borrowers. As Antoine de Saint Exupéry expressed it: “The earth does not belong to us, it has The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

been lent to us by our children”.

This is why the credo of French walking associations is to preserve, maintain and protect nature and its natural bio-diversity. Keeping this in mind creates solidarity in a time of increasing individualism, bordering on selfishness. “In short”, says Robert, “walking is much more than mere exercise, it is a state of mind and a philosophy”.

But who are the walkers and why do they walk? After all, there are a surprising 15 million registered walkers in France – grouped under the collective description of hikers or “randonneurs”.

Robert provides answers by first describing three different levels of the activity: strolling or ambling (“se promener”), walking (“marcher”) and hiking (“randonner”). Ambling will typically last around 1 hour on easy going, often mostly level ground and is essentially convivial.

It is meant as an opportunity for friends or acquaintances to get together for a chat, while also getting some exercise, strolling along gently and, in passing, taking in the landscape. The second level activity is similarly convivial, but is more demanding, lasting from 2 to as much as 8 hours. Typically, the participants will have some specific interest in nature, its flora and fauna. As for the third level, it is not only even more demanding, it is also meant to be more contemplative and can last anything from a single day to several days.

The pilgrimage to Saint Jacques de Compostelle, which can be broken down into sections to take days, weeks or months, is an excellent example. Also, ambling and walking paths usually form a circle, returning to the point of departure, while

Saint Sernin du Bosc

Moulin de Boisse

hiking typically has a chosen goal or destination. Hiking also provides an opportunity to break with the habitual daily routine and with society and to set oneself a major challenge. For some it is a spiritual quest at the outset. Others profess that they are merely attracted to the idea as a challenge. Yet all

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 23

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And then there are the paths.

Think of it: they are often centuries old. They have such stories to tell! Today, we walk on them for our pleasure, but in the past they almost always had very specific reasons to exist exactly where they are. They had, often still have, significant economic and cultural value and always had a beginning and an end, a destination. They were historic and economic links between places of worship, hamlets, grain mills and towns, homes and farms and cultivated fields, or they were the favorite routes for hunting deer or wild boar or for reaching the “causses” where flocks may be grazing.

And of course all paths belong to someone, be it a farmer or a town or a commune. As Robert points out: “we hikers are always on someone’s property, a fact we soon learn to respect. We are aware that we are sharing the space with others. Actually, we are in an unspoken conversation with all those who walked the paths before us, with the owners and caretakers and with nature and our place in it”.

If you are not yet part of a local hiking community but tempted, you could begin by exploring on your own with the help of the detailed IGN (Institut Géographique National) maps,

available in press shops. Next, you could enquire about walking groups in your community. For example, the association VEEQ (“Vivre ensemble en Quercy”, www.veeq.org), based in Lauzerte, has an amblers group which periodically organizes walks locally, lasting around 90 minutes. The “Club International du Quercy” (www.clubintquercy. com), based in Montaigu de Quercy proposes hikes lasting a full day, with a pause for lunch in a restaurant along the way, every 3rd Friday of the month, as well as 2 hikes lasting several days in June and September.

Visiting the FFRP website (www.ffrandonnes.fr) you will learn that there are 120 local hiking committees within the FFRP. They, in turn, maintain links to 3,400 associations or local clubs with related interests. In 2013, an estimated 212,000 people participated in walks organized by the FFRP, with an estimated 8,000 additional individual hikers making use of the 180,000 km of mapped and marked out hiking routes on French territory.

Information on walks and hikes in the Quercy region can be found on the website www. randonnees-midi-pyrenees.com as well as in your local tourist office. As we go to press the most important hikes on offer in

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

the Quercy region before the end of the year are scheduled for 18 and 19 October, all starting in Lauzerte. There will be an easy walk of 3 km lasting 90 minutes (“Circuit de l’eau et des fontaines”), another of 12 km lasting 3h30 (“La chapelle de Saint Sernin du Bosc”) and one of 20 km lasting 5h30 (“Les moulins du Quercy Blanc”). The organizers are the FFRandonnée Tarn et Garonne, in collaboration with the Lauzerte municipality. Quite apart from the program of walks, the very active medieval hilltop town of Lauzerte is very much worth a visit. Full information is available from the Lauzerte tourist office: 05 63 04 73 25.

For those with particular interest in flora and fauna, environment and bio-diversity, birdlife, etc. the following will be useful: http://www.naturemp. org; on www.quercynature.info you will find, among others, a full program of monthly outings.

The “Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux” (http://lot.lpo.fr) also proposes numerous outings, walks and talks of interest.

Need it be said: if the spirituality of walking, or concerns over protection of nature leave you cold, your doctor will tell you: go for the oxygen and exercise. Your body will thank you!

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

G M Construction A skilled and loyal workforce of British & French tradesmen

All aspects of building projects both new and renovation, including project management, swimming pools & ground-works If you are looking for a British/French speaking builder operating in 46, 47, 82 & 24 Contact Greg:

06 37 67 49 89 / 06 76 92 28 68 ggmconstructionfr@hotmail.com www.englishbuilderinfrance.com Siret No:- 50741519800013

THE QUERCY LOCAL • 25

SAT CONSTRUCTION (82150)

SPECIALIST IN Travertine, Marble & Ceramic Tiling, Plastering & General Renovation

Bi-­‐lingual architectural practice Planning, design, project management Full architectural services

Sean Rawnsley RIBA, AA dipl. www.architectesud.fr -­‐ info@architectesud.fr Tél : 05 82 81 10 21 -­‐ 82330 Verfeil-­‐sur-­‐Seye

Membre de l’Ordre des Architectes

Mobile Phone: 06 12 82 49 04 Evening Phone 05 63 29 27 31 Email: stephen.tyler@sfr.fr Siret: 802 145 706 00015

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

THE QUERCY LOCAL • 27

Benjamin Cuzange Debt Collection Agent 09 79 05 78 30 / 06 82 79 44 94 www.creancial.fr creancial@orange.fr Training in French Law Individual/Group Lessons Introduction to French Property and Tax Law

French Resident Tax Tips

W

ith the ever-changing worldwide economy, low interest rates and at times, uncertain stock markets, it is not easy to keep track of what is happening and its effect on your money.

However, there is one thing that it is certain – we all have to pay tax. The French taxation system is different to what you may be used to in the UK and there are some important facts to know if you are resident in France and, therefore, liable for French taxes.

Siddalls have put together this brief quick guide to French tax to help you keep your tax liability to a minimum.

Tax Tips for UK expatriates tax resident in France: 1. O n becoming French tax resident it is your responsibility to make yourself known to the tax authorities and to declare fully your income, capital gains and wealth. Once you have made your first tax return your local tax office will automatically send you a declaration in future years.

2. M ost UK tax efficient investments, ISA’s and Premium Bonds winnings for instance, are declarable for tax in France. You may therefore wish to consider restructuring such investments to reduce your French tax liability.

3. A s a French resident, lump sums drawn from most occupational schemes and all private pension

arrangements are declarable for French tax and may also be included in the calculation for healthcare contributions.

It may therefore be logical in certain circumstances not to draw the lump sum option.

4. Take advantage of French tax free bank accounts for immediate access deposit funds. The main accounts are the Livret A, (maximum holding e22,950 per person) and the Livret de Développement Durable, (maximum holding e12,000 per person).

5. Take steps to place long term investment funds in tax efficient structures to keep taxable income to a minimum.

“Unsheltered” investment income is liable to income tax and “social taxes” and may also be liable to healthcare contributions, if you do not qualify for free access to the French system.

6. French inheritance tax may not be as bad as you fear.

The allowances for assets passing to children may be lower than the UK but so are the rates. There are ways of reducing, and possibly removing, any liability to French inheritance tax on assets passing to children.

7. “Do as the French do”. They take active and sensible steps to avoid unnecessary taxation. Seek advice from a qualified financial adviser, fully authorised in France, who will have access to a range of solutions and products tailored to your specific circumstances and needs.

Peter Wakelin is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Adviser, specialised in tax, inheritance, pension and investment planning for the British community.

Telephone 05 56 34 75 51, bordeaux.office@siddalls.net. www.siddalls.fr

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

28 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

PENSION ’Bonnes Vacances’

Peaceful Cattery 5 spacious heated pens No dogs boarded TLC ensures ‘happy cats’ Per night: 1 cat 8e, 2 cats 10e, 3 cats 12e or 4 cats 14e Lavolvene, Belveze 82150 jan.lemmy@wanadoo.fr Please call me for more info or to arrange a visit 05 63 94 38 47 06 43 53 04 52 (mb)

Au Matou du Montat L’HÔTEL POUR CHATS

Easy access – close to Cahors, Lot

A new modern cattery which offers a high standard of care and accommodation Heated insulated suites each with private outdoor run Webcam access for remote viewing Pheromone release Suites suitable for cats of all ages and abilities Special care for individual needs Vetbed bedding, toys and scratching posts Contact Susan: aumatoudumontat@gmail.com or 07 81 62 17 29 See our website for more information: www.aumatoudumontat.fr

Emergency numbers Medical Help/SAMU 15 Police/Police Nationale (Gendarmerie) 17 Fire & Accident/Sapeurs Pompiers

A CAT’S VERY OWN HOTEL REVIEW...

“The world is crazy. And it’s getting crazier by the minute.

We all know that. There is nothing I can do about that...”

Where’re my manners? My name is Black and I am a cat who currently lives in Cahors. I originally come from Quatar but that is another story for another time. My role in life is to relax, play and have as much fun as possible.

If that means I get to make one or two people happy along the way all the better. I don’t know if it is my snaggle tooth. Or my delectable cute way of lying down on my back in the sunshine and staring out my good eye while playing with a piece of string or my favourite fluffy balls.

But I seem to have this very special gift of making people smile. Most of the time, I make sure the humans in my life are calm and coping well with all the difficulties life throws at them.

So when I get the chance to let my hair down, so to speak and go on holiday at www.aumatoudumontat. com for a week or so I jump at the chance and enjoy the me-time. Who doesn’t love to be pampered? It’s all very bijou at Au Matou du Montat. There are lots of groovy cat beds and funky tunnels but Susan the human boss doesn’t forget the simple pleasures in life.

For us cats there is nothing better hanging out in a cardboard box and checking out what the other cats are doing in their hotel rooms. They have all kinds of cats here. The well travelled like me, the good looking cats and the exotic cats. All are welcome.

Some cats are local but there are quite a few who come from all over France including Paris. You can tell Susan is cool and a cat person who just loves to shower us with cuddles and attention. She loves playing cat and mouse with all her guests. You know what cats are like.

We like to be ahead of the curve. So when we relax in front of the webcam so as the humans we love can see that we are having a great time. Well it just feels purrfect.

18

SOS – All Services (calling from a mobile) 112 Child in Danger (child protection) 119 Missing Child

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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116 000

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 29

We can spend the rest of the day and night doing what we do best; looking beautiful for the camera. Susan just loves hanging out with us and capturing our best sides on the photographs. She puts the pictures up on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Au-Matoudu-Montat/339580719508895 and we get to feel like real superstars as everyone’s humans look at our pictures and tell us how gorgeous we are.

You can contact Susan to chat about your cat’s needs and desires at Au Matou du Montat on 0781621729 or email aumatoudumontat@gmail.com More information at http://aumatoudumontat.fr

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

30 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

THE HARDEST & BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

O

n Sunday 20th July, 2014, along with more than 12,000 amateur bikers from 89 countries, I took on the 18th stage of this year’s Tour de France, in an event called l’Etape du Tour. My primary motivation was to raise money for two dog refuges in my local area, which take in abandoned and badly treated dogs. They are both run by wonderful women who rely almost entirely on their own money, supplemented by fundraising efforts such as my own. You can find out all about them and their work by clicking on www.poorpaws.com and www.lamereauxbetes.fr.

I am a keen leisure cyclist who has always been interested in the Tour de France. It has only been over the last 18 months that I decided to have a go at something really difficult and the Etape certainly fitted the bill. The course is 148 kms long and contains 4 climbs, the final two of which are described as ‘hors categorie’, that is, they are too difficult to classify. The Col du Tourmalet is over 17 kms long with an average slope of 7.3% and the Hautacam is nearly 14kms long with an average gradient of 7.8%. The total vertical climb for the course is getting on for 4000 metres.

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

What I did not know when I cycled down to the start line in Pau at 6.30 a.m. in the morning was what atrocious weather conditions lay ahead. The first 65 kms up to Bagneres de Bigorre were fine but just as I took my rain top off, the rain started... and it was torrential. It continued all the way up the Tourmalet, with rivers running down the road and the fog rolling in. At the summit visibility was virtually non-existent and the temperature had plummeted, it felt sub-zero! My legs still felt good but I was beginning to lose feeling in my hands. That was most unfortunate because I needed to have control of my brakes for the treacherous 19km descent. I couldn’t see anything or feel anything and was acutely aware of some very steep sheer drops at the side of the road. Figures appeared out of the mist from time to time but it was eerily quiet as we all gave 100% concentration to trying to stay safe.

When I eventually emerged out of the fog in Luz St Saveur, I was shivering uncontrollably and couldn’t see properly.

There were others with full blown hypothermia who were staggering about and had to be taken off by ambulance.

I knew I was in a bad way because some of the spectators came over and started rubbing my arms and legs. Then a very kind fellow lady biker directed me to a room where I was given hot sugary tea and a bacofoil type sheet which was inserted under my cycling shirt. The medic didn’t want me to continue but I really didn’t want to give up with not much more than 40 kms to go. So I set off and the flattish run down to the start of the Hautacam managed to warm me up and made me feel much better very quickly. I knew I had still plenty of time in hand to beat the cut-off time so it was an easy decision to go for it. Cheered on by huge

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 31

NEARLY NEW

Designer Label Clothes Sale Wed. 29th October 11h00 – 14h00

www.poorpaws.com For information and enquiries about rescue dogs – so many dogs desperately looking for their ‘forever’ homes.

RESTAURANT LA SIRÈNE 82150 Montaigu de Quercy

Fabulous for the fashionista bargain hunters!

Price range 5e - 30e

contact Sue on 05 65 24 53 03 email: susan.glibbery@orange.fr

In aid of Poorpaws

crowds (the two most important people there being Sue and Ernst) off I went to tackle the final 13kms... and I made it.

It was so tough and hardened riders who do the Etape every year told us it was the most difficult one they had ever done. So I am massively satisfied with my performance.What would make it even more special, would be if those of you who have not already donated to my cause, felt inspired by my story to give something to help these dogs, who are the totally innocent victims of human neglect and cruelty.

Please visit: www.gaynorpedals4dogs.com.

Thank You, Gaynor

GOT A STORY TO TELL, AN INTERESTING HOBBY OR BUSINESS? Maybe you have a favourite charity you would like to highlight. If so, do get in touch and we will see if we can work with you to promote what matters to you and what you have to say.

Email us on:

thequercylocal@gmail.com You can also follow us on Twitter – Join us on Facebook and if you visit our website you can sign up for our newsletter.

www.quercylocal.com

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 Published March, May, July, September and November each year

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Caroline Rendell The Textile Studio (46250) – caroline.rendell@orange.fr : 0565201673

Soft furnishings, loose covers, curtains and upholstery carried out in my workshop...

I can source fabrics for you and will provide written estimates. I also specialize in the care and conservation of historic heirloom textiles.

A good summer for cats W

hat a summer it has been for Les Amis Des Chats. Thanks to wonderful organisers and volunteers we have seen some great events held throughout the summer months. We’ve had everything from a Zumba party night in Tournon D’Agenais to the increasingly popular Balade En Voiture which is now in its second year. There has also been a great jazz singing night at the Café du Centre in Roquecor where professional singer ‘Gillie La Diva’ entertained with a repertoire of popular songs and other people have kindly run vide greniers in aid of the charity.

And there is still more to come. In November Les Amis Des Chats will be holding a fund-raising auction. Look out for details on our website at www.les-amis-des-chats. com and in the meantime please consider the charity if you have any high quality items you would be prepared to donate to the auction.

The summer has also seen the launch of our spot film.

Quercimages have been screening the film ahead of its main programme at villages around the region. The film is designed to further the message that sterilisation is the only way to stop the proliferation of unwanted cats.

Shops It has also been a good summer for our charity shops.

Roquecor saw the opening of our new permanent shop – now behind the Mairie – and worth a visit for the view if nothing else. The new shop is spread over two rooms and there’s plenty to choose from whether you’re looking for books, clothes or something for the house.

The shop opens on Sundays and Tuesdays from 10am to 12.30pm and on Thursdays and Fridays from 2pm to 4pm.

Sterilisation

But let’s not forget the reason Les Amis Des Chats exists – to improve the life of stray and pet cats. So if you have a cat, ensure that it is sterilised. Not only will you prevent the birth of unwanted kittens but you will ensure a longer and healthier life for your cat.

Project Penne Certainly over 15 stray cats can be sure of a better life thanks to a great combined effort in the town of Penne.

The project, carried out under the Les amis Des Chats Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) programme, involved working with a local residents and the Mairie.

The technical services department attached to the Mairie was instrumental in working with a local resident Aline Bocq and volunteer Isabelle Meyer to help to catch the stray cats and take them to a vet for neutering. In general, Les Amis Des chats pays the full vet bill for stray cats, and the participating communes are asked for an annual voluntary contribution. In this particular case, Penne d’Agenais Mairie agreed to pay half of the neutering costs.

A great result for Penne d’Agenais and for stray cats in the town, who should now live longer healthier lives.

Anyone who finds themselves in the Lauzerte area might want to pick up a bargain at our shop in the village which can be found immediately opposite the Mairie at 10 Rue de la Mairie. Opening times there are from 3pm to 5pm every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and from 10am to midday on Saturdays.

The shops are also stocking greetings cards using the humorous illustrations from our 2014 calendar which were kindly provided by Georges Grammat. They are blank inside and so perfect for any occasion. A mixed pack of six costs just 5 euros.

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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A Cure

at the Thermal Station of Cauterets

By Angela Murray

W

ith more than 1200 thermal springs and 50 thalassotherapy centres along the French coastline, France is one of the European leaders in this field. Often confused by the public, the thermal or thalassotherapy cures are both based on water but are fundamentally different.

So to understand the difference: Thalassotherapy treatments are based on sea water, and the Thermal Cure treatments based on naturally hot mineral water.

The Thermal Cure is a medical treatment that is prescribed by a doctor (general or specialist), which takes place in a thermal station for three weeks, during which the patient is treated for their affliction with natural mineral waters from hot springs.

Although the benefits of thalassotherapy are undeniable, the costs are no longer reimbursed by the Social Security’s Medical cover, and since 1998 are classified as a luxury product, as it has not been possible to demonstrate that a thalassotherapy cure is as good as the thermal cure for the longer term benefits on someone’s state of health.

Nearly 500,000 people who take the cure each year are witness to the benefits, along with the thousands of specialist doctors who prescribe the cures. Since 1947 the Social Security has covered most of the costs of the Cure according to the treatments prescribed and the level of cover by the patient’s mutuelle.

Like many readers of the Quercy Local who are of a certain age, we could develop health problems of one The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

type or another at some stage which could benefit from the ‘Cure’. As we have all been led to believe that spa treatments are a reserve of the rich, I thought I would give an account of my experiences over the last two years on a ‘Cure’ at Cauterets for rheumatism, which have had the costs paid for under the social security health system and the procedures to follow if you wish to have a go.

A cure can be beneficial to anyone suffering from general health problems or a long term illness, which include gout, kidney stones, respiratory infections, rheumatic diseases, gastrointestinal tract and metabolic diseases, dermatology, gynecology, dentistry and oral-lingual disorders, phlebotomy, psychosomatic illnesses, neurology, and cardiovascular artery disease.

At the beginning of the calendar year you need to go to your general practitioner to discuss if he/she thinks that going on a Cure would be beneficial.

He will advise whether to do a single subject cure or a double (such as rheumatology and respiratory) and quite often he will give you a booklet to study which details the stations available that cover the cure he will prescribe. There are hundreds of stations all over France, and an entire backup industry to support the thousands of people who arrive from all over the country, with accommodation often at a special tariff, such as three weeks for the price of two. When you have decided where you would like to go you can go back and ask for the prescription.

As this procedure involves two visits, and I knew I wanted to do rheumatology, I checked out all the centres on the internet and with my friend who was also going to do the cure we decided on something in the Pyrenees, so that we could benefit from the scenery and lovely walks through the mountains. We then checked out where we could stop and chose a self catering apartment. Nearly all of the towns with thermal stations offer many types of accommodation, hotels, b&b’s, gites and self-catering apartments and many have special price-offers for curists. We decided on Cauterets because of the price of the accommodation, the placement of the town up in the mountains, and its proximity to the many mountain walks around the famous Pont d’Espagne.

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Lac de Gaube (Pont d’Espagne)

We were then able to go to see the doctor already armed with the information on where we wanted to have the Cure. Also, as a Cure is normally repeated for three years, we were sure to have the prescription and authorisation, so went ahead with reserving our accommodation and requested the inscription form from the thermal station. We sent this back, filled in with the relevant information of name, address, generalist doctor, our choice of treatment (rheumatology), preferred starting time each day and a cheque for 50e.

The prescription that you receive from your doctor needs to be sent to the organisation in charge of your health care. For most ex-pats on a pension, they will have a Carte Vitale and coverage from the CPAM, so this document needs to be sent to them. They will normally send back a three copy formulaire confirming they will cover the costs which you hang onto till you start the cure. The amount reimbursed is normally around 65%. Depending on what type of mutuelle cover you have, the rest of the cost could be covered up to 100%. However, even if only 65% is covered, the Cure lasts for three weeks and costs around 600 euro. So if you end up paying 200 euro, it is still well worth the expense. So if you haven’t already done so the next stage is to book your accommodation and about a month before the cure book a rendezvous with a specialised cure doctor – a list will be given to you to choose from. It may be possible on the day before the cure starts or in the afternoon after the first morning’s treatments (which will be a generalised selection).

Once the station has received your form and deposit you will receive a confirmation letter with your starting time and a request to report into the building allocated for your Cure at a specific time. As with many people turning up over the weekend, we were only able to see the doctor after our first morning’s treatments.

We then took his prescription to the main office to hand over all the documentation, carte vitale, three page form, specialist doctor’s prescription and if you do not have the mutuelle cover, payment for the part not

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paid for by the CPAM with the 50 euro you have already paid deducted. The office then produces your proper list of treatments which at Cauterets during their busy season are a bus ride up the mountain towards Pont d’Espagne at a beautifully situated centre called Griffon.

Stefan in the changing rooms would hand over a towelling robe and towel.

There would be four treatments each morning and we would be in the centre for about 2 hours. The treatments depend on what you have been prescribed but most curists receive four treatments per day with two identical each day (balneo bath and application with hot mud) and then two others (massage, hot water jets, aquagym and hydrojet pool two of these every other day).

Cauteret has a free circular bus shuttle which operates every twenty minutes. The journey takes about 10 minutes and changing time about 10 minutes, so we soon got into a routine of walking to the bus stop with our ‘cure’ bags containing swimsuit, hair bonnet, plastic sandals, planning sheet, brush and book.

On arrival the first day we used our own bags, and reported into the reception desk for the list of our first days treatments. Pascale at the desk then showed us where the changing rooms were and indicated where to go for our first treatment.

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

After lunch we would be free to go for walks or join the activities in the Maison de Curistes. Each Monday evening at 5pm the main Cauterets Station organises a welcome talk with a drink, giving information on the centre, activities in the town, outings, special offers at the cinema and the Beauty Institute in the thermoludique centre next door and a list of places in the town offering special discounts for curists.

During the Cure there will be two more visits to the Cure Doctor (cost overall – 70 euro which is reimbursed) and an attestation that you have finished the cure which you will need when you get back home, to ensure your mutuelle reimburses the part that you have paid (though sometimes this is all done automatically).

Although I have detailed the routine at Cauterets I am sure that all the other thermal stations run a similar style of programming.

If you are interested in going on a cure you can do some research on the internet before going to your doctor by googling ‘cure de thermalisme’.

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Making Summer

Last a Little Longer....

For me, no summer in France would be complete without making a few jars of Marmande tomato jam to take home with me to the Netherlands. You can find these beautiful tomatoes at every market. They are an absolute delight when sliced and dressed with nothing more than good extra virgin olive oil and the tiniest sprinkle of fleur de sel. But since tomato season doesn’t last forever, this spicy jam will keep their summery flavour around well into the cooler days ahead.

Serve this delicious Marmande tomato jam on lightly toasted bread spread with a little goat’s cheese, or next to grilled chicken. It is also a lovely accompaniment to a cheeseboard. My favourite way of enjoying it, though, is with thick slices of pâté de campagne, a crusty baguette and a slightly chilled Brouilly. Stay cool, eat well and

Marmande Tomato Jam

Method

Makes three jars of about 370g per jar 1 kilo tomatoes, cored, but not deseeded, and chopped 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and chopped 1 large red onion, chopped 2 red chilli peppers, deseeded and chopped 150ml red wine vinegar 100ml balsamic vinegar 500g gelling sugar ½ tsp allspice 1 ½ tsp ground ginger 1 ½ tsp cinnamon 1 tsp salt (preferably fleur de sel) freshly-ground pepper

Bon Appétit !

Combine all of the ingredients in a large pan, stir well and allow to stand for one hour. Bring to the boil and immediately reduce the heat. Allow to simmer gently (covered) for one hour, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid from the pan, increase the heat just a little and allow to cook for an additional 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour the jam into sterilised jars.

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 www.ladoucevie.eu or contact Paola at pwestbeek@gmail.com.

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Si celui-ci n’est pas obtenu, le vendeur doit rembourser les sommes versées.

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 41

Philippe Lejeune: Chateau de Chambert

A

fairytale castle rises from the mist, atop a hillside filled with vines. The handsome prince arrives, sword in hand, bringing the castle to life.

In this case our handsome ‘prince’ is 47 year old Parisian, Philippe Lejeune, and normally these days his sword is a Canon Digital Camera. He isn’t a real ‘prince’, although certainly held in high esteem here in Cahors, evident by being voted to the rank of Grand Master of the Cahors Wine Guild several years ago.

Also a voted member of the Working Group ‘Institute Nationale de Appellation Origine (INAO)’, set up to apply for, and instigate, the status of Premier Cru in Cahors, a crucial part of elevating our standing in the world of wine, it is clear that Philippe is very well regarded here.

Philippe bought Chateau de Chambert, in Floressas, in 2007 when he decided to make the change from IT to winemaking. As a child he spent time in the Lot Valley and while looking for a new challenge in his life, his 2 children having grown up, a Cahors vineyard presented an excellent option. Our small wine appellation of the original grape variety ‘Malbec’, has increased world awareness since the popularity of the New World Malbec of Argentina. The quality of wine here has improved enormously with the latest generation of wine-makers and artisans, something he very carefully noted when deciding to make Cahors his home, business, and new way of life.

An astute businessman, Philippe was aware that Cahors is becoming an exceptional wine appellation.

Combined with the lower prices of land here, compared with neighbouring Bordeaux, it meant he was able to buy some of the best land in Cahors with exquisite terroir. Seeing the huge potential in the terroir and wine, he decided to develop this further in 2009 by starting the transformation process of the vineyard towards Bio Dynamics, and since their certification in 2012, is presently the largest Bio Dynamic vineyard in Cahors, with 65 hectares of award winning, extremely expressive wine. Philippe himself is often to be found in the vineyards checking the grapes, the condition of the vines spread around the Chateau and close by. He always takes a very hand-on approach, being one of the first to get his hands mucky at harvest time. He enjoys being at one with the vines and tells me each vine, with its individuality and unique needs, is important to him.

Working daily with very talented, resident Oenologist Vincent Neuville, and with advice from renowned consultant Oenologist Stephane Derencourt, Philippe, Vincent and their superb team at Chambert are creating powerful yet elegant wine with finesse and expression.

On a more personal basis, Philippe likes to relax by working in his garden, or playing his guitar, perhaps the next rock star is already in our midst! He has a very youthful outlook on life, and from the first moment I met him in April 2013, he always has a great smile and a happy, chilled attitude, rarely rushing and never stressed. He has faced many challenges in the past, and this next phase of his life is an exciting one definitely, and is something that his team and I are all pleased to be a part of, involved in our own ways with him and the Chateau.

His has a gentle, patient nature, always generous with his time and when he is able, personally welcomes visitors to his home and vineyard. With his normal attire of t-shirt and jeans, Philippe Lejeune is approachable, knowledgeable and if you manage to catch him as he checks his vines, or works in his garden, he will be happy to chat about his wine. Our handsome prince is certainly winning the hearts of those who know him.

Visit Chateau de Chambert for guided tours July and August 10.30am and 3pm. www.chateaudechambert.com.

By Jennifer Capron Iddon www.46blackwine.com

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

42 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

Making Wine

with the Moon Lauren Sharpe is an Australian Winemaker who has been living and working in Cahors for 3 years. Her experience expands to organic and biodynamic wine estates from all corners of the globe and today Lauren communicates and explains the interesting and valuable method of biodynamic viticulture from the picturesque Château de Chambert, 65 ha of organic and biodynamic vineyards in Floressas, AOC Cahors.

P

erhaps you have picked up a bottle of wine at your local caviste and stumbled across the words ‘biodynamic’ or ‘harvested with the moon’ printed on the wine’s label. Perhaps these words have intrigued you into purchasing a bottle or rather the contrary: the words come across as too spiritual, unspecific or poetic for your taste.

For the majority of wine consumers the question is asked, ‘what exactly is biodynamics?’ Is it just a craze? Is it the new ‘terroir’? Or, is it, a new marketing sensation? For simplicity I will only talk about biodynamic viticulture however the biodynamic approach is applied to all forms of farming and today you can find biodynamic fruit, legumes, meat, cheeses and cosmetics at your local market and organic supermarket.

What is Biodynamic Agriculture?

Biodynamic agriculture was founded over 80 years ago

by Austrian, Dr. Rudolf Steiner. Upon the request of European farmers who were looking for a natural way of improving their depleted soils, crops and sick animals, Dr. Steiner outlined in a series of 8 agricultural lectures The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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the foundational principles of biodynamic agriculture.

Biodynamics is based on individuals recognizing that the entire planet is a “single, self-regulating, multidimensional ecosystem” and Steiner taught to view the earth as a living organism, and believed that agriculture land would not recover by simply eliminating chemical fertilizers, toxic pesticides and intensive farming methods i.e. with organic farming alone.

the gravitational pull of both the sun and the moon pull water masses away from their solid bottoms at locations closest to them. These gravitational forces create what we call ‘tidal bulges’ on the Earths surface and increase the moisture in the soil. A vigneron can take advantage of this moment and react accordingly, carrying out work that benefits from high soil humidity when the vine roots are actively absorbing.

How are Biodynamic and Organic vineyards different?

How do I know if a wine is Biodynamic

Biodynamic viticulture has much in common with organic. As with organic viticulture, biodynamics embraces ecological and sound farming practices.

The use of compost, green manure, cover crops, crop rotations, companion plants, and mulch are some of the practices used by both schools of farming to build a healthy soil and grow healthy plants. In both cases, it is fundamental that fertile soil and healthy plants are created, grown and maintained without the use of artificial chemicals and fertilizers.

Biodynamics differs from Organic in its holistic and cosmological focus and seeks to enhance soil structure and nutrient cycles within the vineyard system, with the use of specific preparations that are made from farm-sourced materials and are applied to the soil, leaves and compost pile following the natural rhythms of the day, seasons, the moon and planets. It seeks to improve vine immunity, ameliorating the vines hardiness and resistance to the everyday stresses of too much or too little rain; disease and pests, with the application of essential oils and herbal teas. In a sense these biodynamic treatments can be compared to homeopathic remedies for humans and aid the functioning and resilience of the vines and other living organisms within the vineyard ecosystem.

The Moon and the Cosmos????

Where most consumers lose grasp with understanding (and believing) biodynamics is when we arrive at the topic of farming with the moon. As already stated, biodynamic viticulture is a holistic approach to vineyard management and takes into consideration the natural rhythms and energies of the earth and its organisms. We all know that the moon affects a lot of processes here on earth; the seasons, temperature, and the ocean tides are just a few examples. As a consequence the moon also affects the behavior of plants and how we farm them. One example is how

All products that are labeled as “biodynamic” must be certified according to the standards set by Demeter® and that specifies that the following requirements must be achieved: • Farms and their products are free of synthetic chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers etc.)

• Farms require a 3-year transition phase that is monitored by the Demeter® group.

• Farms must be as self-regulating as possible and use its recycle its outputs back into the farm • A holistic approach that supports biodiversity must be carried out.

In some cases, the labels will state in writing their Demeter® certification or will show a Demeter® logo (see above). There are some wine estates that do not wish to show the logo or have worked in biodynamics for a long time but have not applied for certification.

For the consumer that cannot verify the viticultural practices of the unmarked bottle for themselves, the Demeter® logo is the only guarantee that proves that the wine is biodynamic.

This is a very brief introduction to the wonderful world of biodynamics; a sustainable way of farming that can be applied on a small scale in your very own back garden. I invite you to Château de Chambert to participate in a vineyard and winery tour to see for yourself and to learn how we work with the land.

Please contact me (lauren@chambert.com) for more details.

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

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THE QUERCY LOCAL • 45

ROMAN ROADS PART XI

By Angela Richards: angerichards@aol.com

In Part VI, Issue 11 (July – October 2013) of The Quercy Local, I mentioned that we have been following the ‘known Roman Voie Na Bruniquel’ from Agen and on the journey we have discovered other tracks which have branched off in different directions.

Some of these were detailed in Part VI. This report is to detail an outing we made in June 2013 to investigate the strong possibility that there is a North/South track-way (possibly heading straight for Duravel) which could date back to the Roman period.

What triggered the possibility was the confusing amount of junctions of our Voie in the Couloussac area. Our Voie seemed to zig-zag about which could be explained by the geology of the landscape but several areas showed other tracks arriving from the south and the north, and in the area just north of Couloussac there appeared to be a major crossroads. Research on all available types of maps – Geoportail, Cantonal, Google and Napoleonic revealed the strong possibility of an unknown Voie stretching from south of the D2 all the way up to Couloussac and beyond – passing through the crossroads mentioned above. Driving along the D2 between Montaigu and Lauzerte my suspicions were confirmed when I saw evidence of an old track-way crossing north/south and found track lines on the maps so we decided to investigate.

We were put in touch by Annie and Danie Odendaal who live in Pervillac, with their local historian Michel Mario, who kindly volunteered to be our guide - seen here on the far left of the photo with the rest of the group - John & Patricia Richardson, Lindsay Hoyer Millar, Jeanne McCaul, and Keith Macfarlane.

The description on the stone plaque states that ‘Here on this high Celtic site, for more than a thousand years, there was a pre-Romanesque Church, surrounded by its cemetery, called St Martin of the Sept-Albres (which we believe means Seven Trees)’. This information is extremely interesting as it indicates that there has been some form of religious building on this site going back to Pre-Roman times as well as the Romanesque period.

As the site is within a short walking distance of what we believe is a Roman road, and possibly even Gaulois this evidence is encouraging.

After walking a short distance the road continued on to Pechbertier and we turned left onto a farm track heading west which ended up at a crossroads.

In front of us the track continues uphill to a borne at 278 metres above sea level. Here the views were spectacular. We were also informed by Michel that the Maquis used this area for parachute drops of supplies during the Second World War.

We met near the hamlet of Ste Croix just south of the D2, crossed over and walked along the road that goes towards Pechbertier (200-300 metres parallel to the east of the Voie which was covered in a tree line and inaccessible). After a distance of approximately 500 metres (indicated on the map as a star), Michel showed us the site covered in the ruins of an old church that was demolished in 1969.

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

46 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

The photo with the group was taken at the crossroads where we turned to the right. To the left the track was covered with trees and undergrowth but we had been able to keep track of it while walking along the lane past the church. We were now walking along what could be a very old Voie and we were happy about the possible age of the track.

However, we did not understand why the track turned left and then right until we got to the left hand turn and saw that the land in front of us dropped sharply downhill towards a small hamlet called Le Barry. The Voie in effect was keeping to the higher elevation and where it then turns to the right to continue northwards it appears to join a Voie coming in on the left, which has come along the plateau north of the lake at Montaigu de Quercy near Reveille Bas. This in turn leads down into the Seoune valley near Montaigu ending up near the church at St Martin. As local knowledge appears to indicate the Romans constructed all over this area, it is quite possible that this is yet another secondary Roman road – yet to be investigated.

We finished our walk at a crossroads near the Clot de Mathieu and a Chateau d’Eau to have our picnic lunch with Annie and Danie in the village of Pervillac. The church and the frescos are impressive (see previous article).

Nearby to the north from the village there is an old white cross situated on yet another Crossroads on the Grande Randonee de Pays Quercy. This is either The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

indicating another route or that the cross has been moved at some stage in the past as very often crosses were placed where previously there was a Roman mile marker or pagan site of worship.

Going back to the crossroads before we stopped for lunch our track-way continues to follow a commune boundary line and junctions with the road (and Voie) that continues north up to Couloussac. At this junction, southwards, the Couloussac road appears to continue in a straight line towards Le Barry. Here the road forks, continuing to Le Barry downhill, but also continues on as a track-way towards Belveze. Viewed on Satellite pictures this looks impressively Roman; so another area to investigate! If this is yet another old Roman road, it appears to be heading for the Seoune valley and on the ridge on the other side can be found the more famous Roman Road called the ‘Clermontoise’.

So to go back to our journey, we joined the road heading towards Couloussac. There is a stretch just before arriving at the junction of the D41 where the lane is much narrower than the area of what could have been a Roman road. This is visible on the photo as a flat area of grass which then changes colour and drops away.

Going back to where we started first thing in the morning. The track we have been following from Ste Croix northwards, if we turn round and trace it to the south from the D2 it appears to follow the plateau past La Pistoule and Le Bosc joining up with the D41

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near Ste Livrade church where there is a beautiful old looking bridge? Perhaps both the church and bridge are replacements for something else on the site from the Roman period. This whole area is under investigation by the group.

near the crossroads with the D73 at St Gervais. This crossroads could be quite important as the Voie could continue on south towards the Touffailles area, or turn towards Moissaguel and Bourg de Visa. Roman Villas have been found in this area, including the famous one at Fauroux (finds in the Museum in Montauban).

G.Tholin (Causeries sur les Origines de l’Agenais, p.51) mentions an old chemin going through Boville (Beauville) and Bourg de Visa. Does this then carry on and join up with the one under investigation? Also, if the Voie at this crossroads continues down through the area of Touffailles towards the Seoune valley, is it heading for the Clermontoise situated up on the plateau on the other side, perhaps crossing the river

The next issue will detail our investigation around Couloussac in more detail with the continuation to the north up to Maux.

For more information contact Angie Richards – angierichards@aol.com

Published March, May, July, September and November each year

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

48 • THE QUERCY LOCAL

English Church of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude

Update from the Cahors Congregation (please see our website for full contact information) A Season of Invitation We are entering a very busy time in our Church at Terre Rouge with several services that people who do not come regularly like to join. Traditional services such as Harvest and Remembrance have a particular resonance with ex-pats. If you have been recently bereaved we hope you will find comfort in the All Souls & All Saints service.

At Terre Rouge we love to invite new people to join us so here are some dates for your diaries...

Back to Church Sunday – 28th September – Holy Communion at Terre Rouge – 10am The first of our 6 invitational events is Back to Church Sunday. This is a great opportunity to invite those who may have been to your church before for a wedding, baptism or funeral. Lots of people that we know may have been to church when they were younger for Sunday school – but haven’t been back since. You can then invite them back again to Harvest, Remembrance and the Christmas Services at your church.

Harvest Festival – Sunday October 5th 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” Our second invitation is to our Harvest Festival Service which 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 5th 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.

The Quercy Local • September-October 2014

Our third invitation is for Bible Sunday – Anyone can join the celebration – at Terre Rouge on Sunday 26th October at 10am As an individual: Take time yourself on Bible Sunday to get deeper into the Bible.

As a group: Use our Bible Society resources for a fresh approach to the Bible in your home group and 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.

All Saints and All Souls Day – Sunday 2nd November – Terre Rouge at 10am Our fourth invitation – Four 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.

Our fifth invitation is for Remembrance Sunday – November 9th at Terre Rouge at 10am At Terre Rouge we always have a traditional Remembrance Sunday service with the 2 minutes

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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.

The final invitation is for our Christmas services, which will be featured in the next edition of Quercy Local. For further information on all these invitations please look at our website on: www.churchinmidipa.org

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