The Deux-Sèvres Monthly - February 2024 by The Deux-Sèvres Monthly

fEbruary 2024

GRATUIT i’m frEE

English languagE magazinE for thE DEux-sèvrEs anD surrounDing arEas

• LocaL EvEnts • History • winE • crosswords • rEcipEs and more

Happy New Year!

issue 141 Charities Building & renovation CluBs & assoCiations FinanCe estate agents gardens ProPerty Care

Affordable UK Designs

UPVC & Aluminium Double Glazing, Fitted Kitchens

FREE PLAN, DESIGN AND COSTING THROUGHOUT SOUTH-WEST FRANCE - OTHER AREAS BY ARRANGEMENT

www.affordableukdesigns.com UPVC windows, Doors & Conservatories in all colours and styles.

Phone: 05 49 42 99 41

Aluminium and UPVC Bifold Doors made to “A” Grade spec in French styles.

Mobile: 06 63 71 09 81

email: scott.braddock1@yahoo.com

Are upcoming changes going to impact me?

SIRET: 513 577 809 00017

Seminars

How to grow, protect and pass on your wealth in France.

How do I optimise my financial situation when living in France? Can I keep my UK adviser, investments and bank accounts?

Tue 05 Mar CARQUEFOU (Nantes) Wed 06 Mar VOUILLÉ (Poitiers)

What are the latest implications in France for UK private pensions? Who pays tax when I die, and where? How can I minimise that tax for my family?

Book your seat now Places are limited so please book early.

05 49 75 07 24 niort@blevinsfranks.com www.blevinsfranks.com

S01-fr

I N T E R N AT I O N A L TA X A DV I C E • I N V E S T M E N T S • E S TAT E PL A N N I N G • PE N S I O N S Blevins Franks Group is represented in France by the following companies: Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited (BFWML) and Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF). BFWML is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority, registered number C 92917. Authorised to conduct investment services under the Investment Services Act and authorised to carry out insurance intermediary activities under the Insurance Distribution Act. Where advice is provided outside of Malta via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of Malta. BFWML also provides taxation advice; its tax advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. Blevins Franks France SASU (BFF), is registered with ORIAS, registered number 07 027 475, and authorised as ‘Conseil en Investissements Financiers’ and ‘Courtiers d’Assurance’ Category B (register can be consulted on www.orias.fr). Member of ANACOFI-CIF. BFF’s registered office: 1 rue Pablo Neruda, 33140 Villenave d’Ornon – RCS BX 498 800 465 APE 6622Z. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier and L512-6 and 512-7 du Code des Assurances (assureur MMA). Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of retirement schemes. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFWML.

www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Welcome to the February issue of the Deux-Sèvres Monthly magazine!

We hope you’re not feeling too uncomfortable in the cold, wet, windy weather that seems to have no end. Although we can console ourselves with the knowledge that in a few months time we’ll all be complaining that it’s too hot! It never ceases to amaze us how the temperature here can ﬂuctuate by 50 degrees within 6 months. The houses here seem to stand up to the weather amazingly well, but don't worry if you have a leak or damage, our building and renovation section will help you with information on trusted local tradesmen. The front cover of the magazine features snowdrops just starting to appear. For me, they are always the ﬁrst sign of spring peeking through the cold ground. They also remind me of my dear Auntie Eirlys – eirlys being the Welsh word for snowdrop. While we’re at it: You probably know that the French word for snowdrop is la perce-neige, but did you also know that it's broque-neige in Normand, traucanèu in Occitan, treuz-erc'h in Breton and perch'-nège in Walloon. So, now I’ve just broken one of my New Year's resolutions – don't bore people with too many facts!

Another New Year's resolution was to ﬁnd better photos of ourselves for this introduction, but alas, once again we failed. My attempts with AI photo software resulted in my looking like a minor royal and Chris looking like a gangster – maybe next month. The "What's on" section is a bit smaller this month, due to the weather and the fact that people are probably still in hibernation after Christmas. If you have any events planned, don't hesitate to email them to us: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr.

Once again, we would like to thank our advertisers, both old and new. Without you, printing this magazine would not be possible. We look forward to working with you again in 2024 to produce a high-quality magazine that puts your adverts right in front of potential customers. And also to our contributors who regularly send us new and interesting content

Local markets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 News & Announcements . . . . . . . . . 5 What’s On. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Life in 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 On this day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Snowﬂakes and self-promises . . . . 10 The Yoginis of Tamil Nadu. . . . . . . . 11 Book club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 13 La vie en France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 A New Life in the Sun . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Une Journée en Anjou. . . . . . . . . . . 16 The Sporting Year Ahead . . . . . . . . . 18 Romance en France . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Beaux Villages Team . . . . . . . . . 19 The Repair Shed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 View from the Vendée . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Sweet Traditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Winter Crafts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Stay connected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Taking better photographs . . . . . . . 24 Predator ﬁshing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 The Loire Girl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Not long now... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Clare’s garden diary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Clubs & Associations . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Seasonal Recipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Take a Break . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Our Furry Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Money Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Ask Amanda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Emergency numbers Numbers to phone in case of an emergency

Enough from us, enjoy your pancakes, enjoy Valentine's Day, turn up the heating and we look forward to seeing you again in March.

SAMU - Emergency Medical Service

Police Secours - Emergency Police

tel: 07 86 99 16 17 email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

114 French Emergency number for the deaf and hard of hearing

Kathleen & Chris

© K Butler-donnelly 2024. all rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission. While care is taken to ensure that articles and features are accurate, we accept no liability for errors or omissions. the opinions expressed by individual authors do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the publisher. While we make every eﬀort to ensure that businesses advertising with us are reputable and appropriately registered, you should verify that any company you are dealing with is a registered trading company in France and/or elsewhere and has the correct siret number and insurance. Before embarking on a long journey to attend a published

112 European Emergency Calls 18

Sapeurs Pompiers - Fire Brigade

Dentiste de Garde – Emergency Dentist (Sundays & Bank Holidays)

event, it is highly recommended that you verify the event details with other sources. the deux-sèvres Monthly est édité par Kathleen Butler-donnelly, 27 rue de la Madoire, Bressuire 79300 tel: 07 86 99 16 17. directeur de la publication et rédacteur en chef: K Butler-donnelly. siret: 90043034900028 Crédits photos :adobe stock, istock, Pixabay sauf mention contraire. impression: graﬁcas Piquer sl, 29 al Mediterraneo, Pol. ind. san rafael, 04230, huércal de almeria, espagne. issn: 2115-4848 dépôt légal: à purition

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Local Markets in the Deux Sèvres

THE ENGLISH SPEAKING CHURCH OF THE VALLEY OF THE LOIRE “ESCOVAL”

Monday am

Tuesday a.m.

We meet on the third Sunday of each month at the church in Arçay at 11h00. The services are multidenominational and vary between Matins and Holy Communion - both usually include hymns. Afterwards there is usually a bring-and-share lunch. Arçay is situated between Loudun and Thouars just off the D759. www.escoval.jimdofree.com Contact Geoff Cornwall : gdfrance6052@gmail.com Jim Burrows : 05 49 22 41 78 Carole Taylor : mumsikins@hotmail.com

CHURCH NOTICES

the Filling station - poitoucharentes. Local Christians of all denominations who meet for spiritual renewal and evangelism. Carolyn on 05 45 84 19 03 or www.theﬁllingstationfrance.com

all saints, vendée - puy de serre. We hold two services each month (plus Sunday school), on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at the church of St. Marthe, Puy de Serre, at 11h. www.allsaintsvendee.fr

the English speaking church of the valley of the Loire (EscovaL) meets at the R.C. Church in Arçay every 3rd Sunday of the month at 11am (just oﬀ the D759, Thouars to Loudun). Eglise vie nouvelle English service (translated into French) every week in the Salle Annexe behind Civray Mairie at 10.30am. Contact 06 25 04 36 51 www.vienouvelle-civray.com

the chaplaincy of christ the Good shepherd, poitoucharentes. Normally holds Sunday services in English. Please see our website for current information: www.churchinfrance.com

Evangelical church (chefBoutonne) Meetings each Sunday at 3:00pm. The Evangelical Church, 10 Rue de l’Huilerie, 79110 Chef-Boutonne. All are welcome. Parking on site. Please see our website for more www.mission-poitou-charentes.com .

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Cerizay 79140

Bressuire 79300 Coulonges-sur-l'Autize 79160 La Creche 79260 Lezay 79120 Niort 79000 Thouars 79100 Vasles 79340

Wednesday a.m. Celles-sur-Belle79370 Niort 79000 Parthenay 79200 Thursday a.m. Friday a.m.

Saturday a.m.

Sunday a.m.

Argenton-les-Vallées 79150 La Motte St Héray 79800 Niort 79000 Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 Coulon 79510 Melle 79500 Niort 79000 Nueil les Aubiers 79250 Thouars 79100

Airvault 79600 Bressuire 79300 Cerizay 79140 Champdeniers 79220 Chef-Boutonne 79110 Cherveux 79410 Coulonges-sur-l'Autize 79160 Lezay 79120 Mauleon 79700 Mauze sur le Mignon 79210 Moncoutant 79320 Niort 79000 Saint Maixent-l'Ecole 79400 Chatillon sur Thouet 79200 Coulon 79510 La Creche 79260 Niort 79000 Thénezay 79390

place des Halles

place Dupin Centre Ville rue du Marché place du Marché place des Halles place Lavault la place du 25 Août Centre Ville place des Halles rue Jean-Jaurès

place Philippe de Commynes place Clémenceau place des Halles Centre Ville place de l'Eglise place Bujault place des Halles place Pierre Garnier place Lavault place Saint-Pierre place Dupin place des Halles Centre Ville Centre Ville Centre Ville place des Halles place du Marché place du château place de l'Eglise Centre Ville place des Halles place du Marché

place du Parnasse place de l'Eglise rue du Marché place des Halles place de L'Hôtel de Ville

Local Markets in neighbouring departments

Monday a.m.

Tuesday a.m.

Doue-la-Fontaine 49700

Civray 86400 Montrueil-Bellay 49260 Mortagne-sur-Sèvres 85290 Surgéres 17700

Wednesday a.m. Fontenay-le-Comte 85200 Lusignan 86600 Ruﬀec 16700 Vihiers 49310 Thursday a.m.

Aulnay 17470 Surgéres 17700

Saturday a.m.

Cholet 49300 Fontenay-le-Comte 85200 La Châtaigneraie 85120 Pouzauges 85700 Ruﬀec 16700 Surgéres 17700

Friday a.m.

Sunday a.m.

Civray 86400 Doue-la-Fontaine 49700

Aulnay 17470 Latillé 86190 Valence-en-Poitou 86700

place du Champ de Foire place Leclerc place du Marché place Hullin rue Audry de Puyravault

place du Commerce place Isabelle d’Angoulême Centre Ville place Charles-de-Gaulle Centre Ville rue Audry de Puyravault place Leclerc place René Nicolas

place du 8 Mai 1945 place du Commerce place de la République place de l’Hôtel de Ville Centre Ville rue Audry de Puyravault Centre Ville place Robert Gerbier place du Marché

Notice Board

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News & Announcements visas for second homeowners

NATIONAL HOLIDAYS, RELIGIOUS AND FEAST DAYS

pâques Easter Sunday Sunday 31 March 2024

Lundi de pâques Easter Monday Monday 1 April 2024 Fête du travail Labour Day Wednesday 1 May 2024 victoire de 1945 VE Day Wednesday 8 May 2024

ascension Ascension Day Thursday 9 May 2024

dimanche de pentecôte Whit Sunday Sunday 19 May 2024 Lundi de pentecôte Whit Monday Monday 20 May 2024 Fête nationale "Bastille Day" Sunday 14 July 2024

assomption Assumption Day Thursday 15 August 2024 toussaint All Saints Day Friday 1 November 2024

armistice de 1918 Armistice Day Monday 11 November 2024 noël Christmas Day Wednesday 25 December 2024

Jour de l'an New Year's Day Wednesday 1 January 2025

WORLD CANCER DAY 2024

As we enter the early days of 2024, let's make a special note of 4 February. This day marks World Cancer Day, a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) aimed at raising awareness and inspiring collective action towards a future without cancer. The theme for the 2022-2024 campaign is "Close the Care Gap", focusing on understanding and acknowledging the disparities in cancer care worldwide. This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight against cancer, and our shared hope for finding a cure. We stand together, supporting those affected by cancer and seeking ways to prevent this disease. Following World Cancer Day, let's keep the momentum going with the International Cancer Prevention Action Week from 19 - 25 February. Remember, we're all in this fight together, hoping for a cure and supporting those we know who are affected. Let's continue to raise awareness and inspire action for a cancer-free future!

For more details visit: worldcancerday.org

MR T’S FISH & CHIPS Regular venues at:

• Aulnay de Saintonge 17470 • Beauvais Sur Matha 17490 • St Jean D’Angély 17400 • Sauzé-Vaussais Hope 79 79190 • La Chaumière, La Chapelle 16140 • Charroux 86250 • Saintes 17100 • Savigné 86400

SIRET : 537 606 972 00025

www.frying4u2nite.com

FIBRE INTERNET... stay in the loop! While we all impatiently tap our ﬁngers and check the calendar, eagerly awaiting the day when we can ﬁnally connect to , here's a map to check your eligibility.

deux-sevres-numerique.fr/particulier

Additionally, you can visit the websites of major internet providers to test your eligibility, although each may give slightly diﬀerent results! Stay tuned...

France has taken important measures to promote the safe use of the internet, including the annual organisation of Safer Internet Day.

Remember to pick up your copy of The Deux-Sèvres Monthly! Tel: 06 02 22 44 74 email: mrt.ﬁshandchips@gmail.com

The French Constitutional Council is currently reviewing an immigration law that could potentially exempt British second-home owners from post-Brexit visa rules. The decision is expected by January 26th. If approved, the specifics of the law's application will need to be clarified by the Conseil d'Etat, with some questions still unanswered. Should the law pass all procedural hurdles, it is expected to come into effect sometime in 2024. In the meantime, non-EU property owners in France must adhere to current visa rules of limiting visits to 90 days in every 180 or apply for a short-stay visitor visa. We hope to bring you more updates in the March magazine.

New dates coming soon! Find us on Facebook - Oh my Lord Francks fish and chips or email: lordmaurin@yahoo.com

Keeping our children safe online is a top priority in the ever-changing digital landscape. Parents are often concerned about their children interacting with strangers online, especially as their children become more proﬁcient in the French language. However, there are many resources available to allay these fears and give parents the tools they need to guide their children. Safer Internet Day takes place every year in February and is a global initiative to promote positive and safe use of digital technologies, especially among young people. This year the event takes place on 6 February with events running until the end of March. It provides a unique platform for parents, educators and children to work together to tackle the challenges they face online.

The French government has set up the national awareness programme Internet Sans Crainte, which coordinates Safer Internet Day in France. This programme is part of the curriculum and calendar of all schools in France. A valuable resource is FamiNum, an application developed by Internet Sans Crainte to facilitate constructive discussions about screen time. Safer Internet Day also oﬀers parents the opportunity to take part in workshops on internet safety. These workshops are oﬀered through various communication channels, including classrooms, social networks and local events. Even though the digital world has its challenges, initiatives like Safer Internet Day are making great strides in creating a safer online environment for our children and provide valuable resources to actively engage in our children's digital education. For more details visit: saferinternet.fr

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arGEnton-LEs-vaLLéEs au miLiEu du 20 èmE siècLE 1 February - 2 March

Bibliothèque d’Argentonnay Step back in time and immerse yourself in the rich history of the commune of Argenton-les-Vallées. Discover the vibrant daily life, activities, and professions from the 1950s. Open during library hours. bibliotheques.agglo2b.fr LE cHandELEur Across France 2 February

Join the tradition of Le Chandeleur, also known as Candlemas. This French celebration occurs on February 2nd and is all about making and eating crêpes, symbolising prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. Flipping crêpes is believed to bring luck and joy to participants. soiréE JEux dE société (Board GamE niGHt) 2 February

Coulonges-sur-l’Autize Join an exciting board game night organized by Ludiquez-Vous. Whether you’re a casual or seasoned player, come and visit us! We have games to suit all tastes. Feel free to bring your favourite games to share with others! facebook.com/ludiquezvous79 Jazz: trio GEorGELEt zELnik cHEsnEL 3 February

Melle Join us at the Café du Boulevard to experience a unique jazz concert with the Trio Georgelet Zelnik Chesnel. This ensemble, comprising Yoni Zelnik, David Georgelet, and François Chesnel, promises an unforgettable evening of music. lecafeduboulevard.com En Brass! 3 February

Bressuire - Théâtre Experience the power, dynamics and warmth of the Brass Band de la Vienne and Orchestre à l’Ecole Duguesclin. Directed by Mathias Charton, this English-style band showcases 30 brass instruments and percussion. agglo2b.fr/culture Exposition - aquarELLEs Et céramiquEs 3 - 4 February

Bressuire Embark on an artistic journey with Philippe Touchard’s ethereal watercolours and Brigitte Imbert’s soulful Raku ceramics. This free exhibition,

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presented by Les Amis des Arts, is a splendid symphony of colours and textures waiting to be discovered. tourisme-bocage.com worLd cancEr day 4 February

Worldwide This #worldcancerday, join the global ﬁght against cancer. Participate in this initiative to raise awareness, share stories, and promote prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer. worldcancerday.org BaL FoLk En FavEur du toGo 4 February

Salle des Fêtes, Coulon Join us for a lively folk dance event organized by CAJCA, a partnership between Coulon and Anié in Togo. This event will help provide school benches for children in the town of Anié. www.facebook.com/CAJCA tous En cHœur! 4 February

Saint-André sur Sèvre - Église Join the newly formed mixed choir and youth choir, led by Lucile Desrats, for their inaugural concert. Celebrating unity through song, they invite you to share in their musical journey. agglo2b.fr/culture un GéniE nommé cHapLin 6 February

Parthenay Step into the world of cinema history with Yves Pedrono’s conference exploring the genius of Charlie Chaplin and his impactful ﬁlm, ‘The Dictator’. A presentation by the Université inter-âges held at Cinéma Le Foyer. uia.cc-parthenay-gatine.fr LEs mardis d’aLinE 6 February

Niort Celebrate the 25th season of Aline et cie – the improvisation theatre in Niort! Each evening has a unique theme, the ﬁrst one being a special anniversary celebration. Suitable for ages 10+. alineetcompagnie.com rEaction Book cLuB 7 February, 3pm

Fenioux The Reaction Book Club meet on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 3pm in the Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. This month the book is ‘’Lessons in Chemistry’ by Bonnie Garmus. Everybody welcome. reactiontheatre.eu JacquEs tati Et LEs trEntE GLoriEusEs

8 February

Saint-Jean-de-Thouars Experience Jacques Tati’s cinematic chronicles of post-war France. Examine Tati’s portrayal of social transformations from 1945-1975, an era known as “Les Trente Glorieuses”. Gain insights into his comedic genius and historical observations. uia-du-pays-thouarsais.fr mariE-antoinEttE Et La musiquE 8 February

Bressuire Join music historian Mr. Patrick Barbier at the Salle des Congrès as he explores Marie-Antoinette’s passion for music, her musical talent, and her role as a patron of the arts. uiabressuire.e-monsite.com tHE worLd oF quEEn L’HommaGE à La LéGEndE 8 February

Niort This tribute to Freddie Mercury features talented musicians and a spectacular stage set. Experience the atmosphere of Queen’s greatest shows, complete with special eﬀects and pyrotechnics, for over two unforgettable hours. fredcaramiaoﬃciel.com & lacclameur.net maEstro

9 February L’Absie - Foyer Rural

Experience a tale of survival, misfortune, and the transformative power of music set in Latin America. This playful narrative is brought to life by two actors, a guitarist, and school orchestras for two special nights. agglo2b.fr/culture La macHinE dE turinG 9 February

Saumur (49400) In winter 1952, Professor Turing ﬁles a complaint after a burglary, catching the attention of the Secret Services. The play uncovers Turing’s quest to solve Enigma, comprehend nature’s “code,” and create an AI precursor, revealing a brilliant mind overshadowed and suppressed by 1950s England’s societal norms. A play by Benoît Solès. theatreledome.saumurvaldeloire.fr Lunar nEw yEar 2024 10 February

Worldwide Welcome Lunar New Year with millions across Asia. Welcome the Year of the Dragon, symbolising strength and good fortune, celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean communities. publicholidays.fr

soiréE maGiquE

mardi Gras

Saint-Pompain Prepare to be spellbound! Benjamin the Magician is set to conjure up an enchanting evening at the salle des fêtes in Saint-Pompain. SEP’s ﬁrst magical soirée kicks oﬀ at 20h30 (doors close at 20h15). Tickets: €4 for under 12s and €8 for 12 and over. facebook.com/sepsaintpompain

13 February Mardi Gras is the celebration observed across France as a prelude to the fasting period of Lent. In the United Kingdom, we know it as “Pancake Day.” This tradition involves indulging in decadent fatty foods, speciﬁcally pancakes, waﬄes, and beignets, as a way to deplete the household’s stores of fats. Its origins can be traced back to medieval Europe.

10 February

intErnationaL day oF womEn and GirLs in sciEncE 11 February

Worldwide This UN-proclaimed day aims to encourage more women and girls to participate in science. It’s a response to UNESCO statistics showing less than 30% of global researchers are women. un.org cELtic LEGEnds 11 February

Bressuire – Bocapole Celebrate 20 years of Celtic Legends! Dive into the authentic world of Irish dance, music, and song. This live, high-quality, family-friendly show is brought to you by an exceptional team, promising an unforgettable experience. celtic-legends.net tournEsoLs 11 February

Cerizay - La Griotte Enjoy a performance by singers and musicians from the A Tout Vent orchestra, A.M.A.K’s contemporary music workshop, the Adounàès traditional ensemble, and pianists, with a repertoire that invites you to dance. agglo2b.fr/culture La st vaLEntin 85 11 - 17 February

St Pierre du Chemin, Vendée (85120) Experience a week-long Saint Valentine's Day festival ﬁlled with concerts, meals, and cabaret. The Saint-Valentin association presents the revered relics of St Valentine, preserved in a beautiful wooden shrine. saintvalentin85.jimdofree.com catcH impro 11 February

Pouzauges (85700) Catch Impro oﬀers an entertaining display of improvisational comedy. Watch as duos compete in a ring setup on various topics suggested by the audience, all set to a live DJ’s rhythm. echiquier-paysdepouzauges.fr marcHé traditionaL 12 February

Moncoutant Traditional French market at Moncoutant every Monday of the month from October to May in the la place de l’église. Enjoy local products and a friendly atmosphere. moncoutantsursevre.fr/marches

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Throughout France

marcHé dE productEurs Et d’artisans Locaux 13 February

Argentonnay Discover a market of local producers and artisans, oﬀering vegetables, fruits, wines, meats, charcuterie, infusions, honey, bread, and more. Explore natural soaps, jewellery, decorations, and more created by local artisans. les-bienfaits-d-harmonium.fr introduction to macramé worksHop 15 February or 17 February

La Coudre Discover the art of macramé at our oneday workshop for just €25! Includes lunch, all necessary materials, and you’ll leave with your own handcrafted piece. Please email us to book your place. therepairshed.fr LE roBot pEut-iL rEmpLacEr LE cHirurGiEn? 15 February

Bressuire Join Professor Jean-Pierre Faure, a practicing surgeon from Poitiers, as he explores the question: Can a robot replace a surgeon? This conference, held at the Salle des Congrès, delves into the intersection of technology and medicine. uiabressuire.e-monsite.com atELiEr - rucHE En paiLLE 17, 24 February & 2 March

Château de Sanzay Join us for a workshop on spiral basketry led by Thierry Bordage. Learn to create your own straw beehive, providing a cosy shelter for bees who we need to welcome and protect. Hurry, spaces are limited! lacolporteuse.net Faut-iL avoir pEur dE L’intELLiGEncE artiFiciELLE? 20 February

Parthenay Join Patrice Remaud for an insightful discussion on the emergence of AI in our lives. Are we ready for this reality that was once only imagined in science ﬁction? A presentation by the Université inter-âges held at Cinéma Le Foyer. uia.cc-parthenay-gatine.fr La rELocaLisation du mondE 20 February

Fontenay-le-Comte (85200) This conference discusses the on-going global movement of deglobalisation,

exploring its economic and geopolitical implications, advantages, and potential risks. utl-85.fr rEpair caFé and GratiFEria 24 February

Champdeniers Take part in a community-driven event combining a gratiferia (free fair) and a repair café. Donate items you no longer need, pick up objects you’ll use, or learn to repair small appliances and clothing with volunteer ﬁxers - ﬁnd us next to Le Bœuf Couronné . valdegray.csc79.org JoacHim HorsLEy quintEt 24 February

Pouzauges (85700) Experience a masterful blend of classical and Cuban music with American pianist Joachim Horsley. Enjoy complex classical pieces reimagined with Latin aesthetics, presented in an energetic and inspiring performance. echiquier-paysdepouzauges.fr rEaction poEm & pints Group 28 February, 3pm

Fenioux An afternoon of poetry readings and drinks with Reaction Theatre members and friends. The Reaction Poem & Pints group meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 3pm in Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. We gather to share our favourite poems – this month’s theme is Humour. Everybody welcome reactiontheatre.eu

The Deux-sèvres Monthly |

LIFE IN 79

lost in france... “Where are we meeting them?”... “The Eiffel Tower.”...“Well that shouldn't be too difficult to find.” We were in Paris for a pre Christmas 'Hoorah' with our son and his wife. Our hotel had informed us that morning, 'due to technical problems', we were being moved to one of their sister hotels, which barely made it onto the map. But we were staying positive. Even after the taxi driver had had a go at us for not being able to pay with cash we were staying positive...even after discovering our room didn't have tea and coffee making facilities we were staying positive (nothing like a glass of tepid water first thing in the morning). We hadn't seen Murray and Emma since they announced they are having a baby in early June. We are going to be grandparents! Grandpa and Granny! The parents-to-be were venturing up to the second floor of the tower, and as I get queasy changing a light bulb we were to meet them when they came down. After the first of several expensive meals we wandered down to the Louvre, through the Jardin des Tuileries. It was a lovely day and the city looked beautiful in all its Christmas regalia. Now I enjoy a Pre-Raphaelite painting as much as the next man, but after ten minutes of aimless wandering I cut to the chase and suggested we find the Mona Lisa...we weren't the only ones! In a large room full of three hundred people holding their phones in the air we glimpsed the lady herself, looking sultry...no, melancholic. We dived into the throng and worked our way to get a closer look at the lady behind the bulletproof glass.

Stephen Shaw We were only in Paris for two and half days so were rushing from one tourist attraction to the next: Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Montmartre, Sacré-Coeur, La Défense...on one day we clocked 26,000 steps on Anna's pedometer. We couldn't stop! Even managed to bag a tourist destination for our evening meal. There is a series on Netflix called Emily in Paris, which is not everyone's cup of tea, but 50 percent of our party were big fans, so a table had been booked at the restaurant that features in the programme. On our second day, after a tepid glass of water, we hit the tourist trail, this time heading for Sacré-Coeur/Montmartre, and on to the Catacombs. Nothing like an ossuary containing the remains of several million Parisians to put you in the Christmas spirit. We set off in what we thought was the right direction. It wasn't long before disagreements on which route to take started; even when Google maps was activated we struggled to understand the directions. Eventually, when we met Murray and Emma there was a bit of an atmosphere and we had a sweaty glow about us. Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur was a bit of a washout, so in the afternoon we thought we'd cheer ourselves up by visiting the Catacombs. We descended into the bowels of the earth and spent a thought-provoking time wandering round the subterranean tunnels lined with bones dating back 1,200 years. Disneyland Paris this was not. On resurfacing it was decided we would head back to our respective hotels and meet up near the Eiffel Tower at a pre-booked restaurant in the evening. After losing our way earlier in the day, we thought we'd make life simple and catch the underground. Anna had been to Paris in the summer and had the air of someone who knew what they were doing. Half an hour later we ended up somewhere nowhere near our hotel, with tickets that turned out to be for children. With my last ounce of positivity gone I threw a hissy fit and said I was going to walk. After an hour and a half of trudging, Anna said “this looks familiar”, as we passed the entrance to the catacombs. I could feel my blood pressure step up a gear. It was now too late to go back to our hotel so we trudged on to the rendezvous, stopping at a Parisian drinking hole en route to rest our aching legs and repair our marriage. I felt embarrassed and upset that we could not get from A to B without it turning into a three-act drama (we had a similar incident in Marseille earlier in the year). On recounting our travails I could see my son looking at me just as I looked at my dad when he couldn't turn an iPad on. Maybe I am subconsciously slipping into the role of befuddled grandparent. Before long I will be telling my grandchild “when I was a lad the internet didn't exist and if you wanted to phone someone you had to go into a smelly red phone box and put 2p into a machine”, and recount the tale of “when Granny Anna got Gang-gang Steve lost in Paris”.

If you would like to read more ramblings from Mr Shaw, go to www.lifein79.blogspot.com

| The Deux-sèvres Monthly

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5 July 1996, a significant milestone in scientific history is achieved with the birth of Dolly the sheep. As the first mammal cloned from an adult somatic cell through nuclear transfer, Dolly was created by scientists at Scotland's Roslin Institute. Her existence catalysed advancements in stem cell research and genetic engineering.

9 February 1942, France's largest and most luxurious ocean liner, the Normandie, catches fire while being converted for US military use. Despite extensive salvage efforts costing £2.85 million, the damage renders the ship useless. It is eventually scrapped in 1946. 11 February 1778, Voltaire, a crucial figure of the Age of Enlightenment, returns to Paris after a 28-year exile. His satirical criticisms of politics and religion were instrumental in shaping Europe's intellectual discourse. His return was a historic occasion attended by hundreds of intellectuals.

13 February 1945, allied ﬁrebombing devastates Dresden, a medieval German city renowned for its rich artistic and architectural treasures and cultural heritage, The attack was deemed necessary as part of broader eﬀorts to disrupt Nazi operations.

Louis Frégier - Le Bond, 1964

21 February 1916, The Battle of Verdun starts with a German artillery strike on the cathedral in Verdun. This 10-month conﬂict becomes the longest of WW1. Despite signiﬁcant casualties, changes in command, and stretched resources, the battle concludes in a stalemate with French forces reclaiming lost territory.

23 February 1954, the ﬁrst polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Jonas Salk, is administered to children in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This marks a signiﬁcant milestone in medical history, leading to a 99% reduction in polio cases worldwide by the 21st century.

28 February 1953, Cambridge University scientists James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick ﬁrst determined the double-helix structure of DNA, a key milestone in understanding genetic inheritance. This signiﬁcant discovery is formally announced in the 25th April 1953 issue of Nature magazine.

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Pat and Kay Johnson Aude, France

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Jacques Émile-Blanche - James Joyce, 1934

2 February 1882, novelist James Joyce is born in Dublin. Despite personal hardships, he creates influential works like 'The Dubliners', 'Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', and the contentious 'Ulysses'. His work significantly impacts European literature, marking him as a symbol of literary freedom. 4 February 1938, Disney's “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” is released. This featurelength animation, the first of its kind, was based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Its innovative use of techniques set new standards in the world of animation.

6th February 1928, a woman claiming to be Anastasia Romanov, alleged survivor of the Russian royal family's execution, arrives in New York. This sparks a multi-decade legal and political saga in Europe, with sympathisers seeking her recognition as Anastasia. However, posthumous DNA tests in 1994 conclusively prove she was not a Romanov.

ROSENFELD MEDIA, CC BY 2.0 DEED

1 February 1917, Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare, a strategy first used in 1915. German military leadership, deems U-boats crucial for victory. The policy's reinstatement leads to intensified warfare, significantly affecting power dynamics and contributes to Germany's eventual defeat in November 1918.

CC BY-SA 4.0

17 February 1904, Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterﬂy makes its debut at La Scala, Milan. Despite the initial poor reception, Puccini's revisions transform the opera into a resounding success in Brescia, garnering widespread acclaim on the international stage.

DEUTSCHE FOTOTHEK, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE

PAUL HUDSON UK, CC BY 2.0

NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND, PUBLIC DOMAIN BY JACqUES-ÉMILE BLANCHE

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on this Day...

by David Murphy - Clinical Snowflakes and Self-Promises Written Hypnotherapist and Life Coach DavidMurphyHypno@gmail.com

Rebranding New Year's Resolutions Positively.

See his advert on the opposite page

How about we call them "Promises to Me"? (if self-help is your thing) Or "Strategy for Change '24" (if you're the business-minded type) Or even just "Trying Something Different" (if you prefer a more downto-earth approach) These aren't serious suggestions, but if one of them works for you, feel free to use it. The point I'm trying to make is that using this time of year to reflect on your life and look at ways to make it better is a truly positive approach to dealing with the Bleak Mid-Winter. And if you fail, then so be it - a chance of failure is no good reason to avoid doing something in the first place. If it were, the National Lottery would have died a death a long, long time ago. So choose

your targets - lose weight, be kinder to your family, learn to play the Peruvian nose flute, whatever it is you want to do - and take steps towards it. Small steps are best. Enjoy the victories, learn from the failures and enjoy the journey - don't worry about the destination, it will just arrive if you keep moving forward. And if you need any help - as a qualified Life Coach, I can help with strategies, motivations and overcoming pitfalls along the way. Also, I have a second-hand Peruvian nose flute for sale - all reasonable offers considered! (only kidding!)

I guess most of us have a love-hate relationship with the winter. It can feel like a very bleak time - dark, cold, short days and long nights... even just writing that sentence brings on slight pangs of despair! But it's also a time when we can rest and recoup - lick our wounds and build our strength for the year ahead. It's a time when bears hibernate and Brits watch holiday programs, Ski Sunday and Traitors (if you haven't seen it yet, give it a go - it's worth an article on its own... there's a thought!) And it's a time when many of us think about changes we want to make in the year ahead. When I worked in advertising (please, don't judge me), January and February were always the best time to promote change - health clubs, self-improvement services, even kitchen companies wanting to thrust you into a brave new world of Domestic Utopia - anything that says 'ok, let's make some positive changes to our lives'. So as much of a pain as the winter might be, it does serve a positive role it's the darkness before the light, it's the catalyst for change, it's the time of comparison that makes the summer feel even more...Summery! I know that a lot of people think that New Year's resolutions are a terrible idea but I would like to respectfully disagree. Because, if nothing else, they're a manifestation of hope. Failure doesn't matter - to aspire and to try is an end in its own right. I know the time for New Year's resolutions is long gone now, but the season of change is still with us. And if you don't like the sound of New Year's resolutions, then let's give it a rebrand (now I've told you I worked in advertising, I can't help myself).

10 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

Everyday yoga for everyone

Rebecca Novick

the yoginis of tamil nadu

This Christmas I took myself to Tamil Nadu, a state in South India, to the town of Pondicherry or ‘Pondy’, as it is aﬀectionately known, a former French colony with grand white washed houses lining leafy boulevards with Frenchsounding names. Descendants of families who worked for the French are entitled to French citizenship, hold French passports and can vote in French elections. I found a well-reviewed yoga studio and went to check out a class not really knowing what to expect. The hall was plastered wall to wall with posters of Hindu gods and goddesses. A large altar displayed small ceramic lamps and devotional items, but my attention was drawn to a large cut out of Father Christmas, looking strikingly similar to the founding guru pictured alongside, both sporting huge white beards and twinkling smiles. Their images hovered above a nativity scene complete with manger, donkeys and three wise men. This happy cohabitation of religious identities is a hallmark of South Indian society. The hall gradually ﬁlled with colourfully dressed Indian ladies, most in their 30s but a few closer to my age. They were

not your typical yoga types. They wore their everyday clothes and none of them were slim, in fact many were very curvaceous. But they were badass yoginis. Their balance especially was highly impressive, doing variations of Tree Pose that I had never seen before-not a wobble between them. The teacher, Acharya Dinkaran ji, led us through a session of fast-paced military-style exercises that was a far cry from my own training and teaching style. Even though he did so with a gentle tone and sweet smile, I found it all rather gruelling. As surprising as it may seem, traditionally, Indian yoga was always by men for men, or more accurately, adolescent boys. And I had stumbled upon a very traditional studio. During a series of rapid-ﬁre high kicks, I found myself struggling to keep up. The girl next to me with long braided hair was kicking like a ninja. “Are you in pain?” she asked, doubtlessly noticing my grunts and groans. “Oh yes,” I replied. “Where?” “Erm…well, all over really.”

An older woman directly across from us burst out laughing and we shared some lighthearted camaraderie as we pointed out our various aches and pains to one another. There happened to be a class on my birthday, December 29th. When I casually replied to a question about my age with the fact that I was turning 60 that day, Dinkaran ji’s wife, Ama, brought the whole class to a halt shouting, “It’s madam’s 60th birthday!” Oh Lord, I thought, what have I said? Before I knew what was happening, she had me wrapped from head to toe in a gold and orange-coloured silk shawl and was feeding me fresh dates by hand while the entire class sang Happy Birthday in English and French! It was such a sweet, surreal and touching moment. I even managed to redeem myself from my disappointing leg kicking performance by standing on my head longer than the rest, receiving an enthusiastic round of applause. Even the braided ninja seemed mildly impressed. I will never forget those South Indian ladies, the wonderful welcome they gave me, and the most memorable birthday ever. Wishing you all a Happy New Year ﬁlled with rich and unexpected moments for you to treasure. For information about private and group classes including breath coaching lavieenyoga@gmail.com Respect yourself, explore yourself.

Rebecca

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The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 11

Book Club romancing the Word

Alison Morton either or both characters know it or not) and that attraction should support the plot. Parachuting a random romantic element halfway through a novel to add conﬂict and/or spice can look contrived. As the characters meet obstacles and tension ramps up, there might be moments when they become closer through their common purpose.

Sometimes romance can introduce a plot twist. A character may betray the protagonist and cause them a double grief. Or he/she might provide the strong faith in the protagonist that keeps them going when all seems lost. As with other types of character – best friend, business rival, boss or junior – the romantic interest may play a pivotal part in the story, or even as catalyst to the resolution of the story.

February is the month we think of romance, especially around Valentine’s Day on 14 February.

Valentine himself is a mystery. Two Saint Valentines are listed in the Roman Martyrology for 14th February; one was a Roman priest killed in Rome in the 3rd century; the other was the Bishop of Terni, killed during the reign of Emperor Claudius Gothicus (AD 268 to 270). The two Valentines may well be the same person! Legends about Saint Valentine were ﬁrst recorded in the 14th century, notably by Geoﬀrey Chaucer; known for a playful imagination, he probably picked a saint out of the calendar at random! "For this was on St. Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate." And so the legend of lovebirds was created… So how does this help our writing?

Romantic ﬁction is one of the biggest selling genres. In the US, BookScan, a market research group, states that romance sold more in 2022 than at any point since 2014. Its data showed unit sales of romance novels grew 41% in 2021 and even more in 2022.

12 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

In the UK, sales of romantic ﬁction reached a high in 2012 when Fifty Shades of Grey hit the charts. An estimated 14.3m romance novels were sold between January and August 2022 across print and digital and there has been a steady year-onyear rise ever since. Love and emotion are a part of life and play a vital part in our stories. Even if you’re not writing a romance as such, adding a relationship gives your story spark, emotional punch and personal tension. But it doesn’t have to go to full realisation with graphic description; hints and allusion can be equally powerful, sometimes more so.

St Valentine today inspires romance with its hesitation, uncertainty and tenderness along the way. He is, after all, symbolic of engaged couples, happy marriages and love. But why not introduce his other aspects – helping to recover from fainting, plague and epilepsy and, strangely, promoting beekeeping – into your story to add layers; fainting and epilepsy for health concerns, beekeeping for environmentalism and plague for a doctor or nurse helping to save the world and ﬁnding unexpected love? Happy writing!

Romance is not just about pink gauze, heart throbs and dishy dukes. These days, it crosses every genre – thrillers, crime, paranormal, historical, science ﬁction and literary, just to name a few. The marker for romantic ﬁction of any sort is that it ends with ‘Happy Ever After’ or at least “Happy for Now’ – perfect for an escapist read. Romance should be woven into your story from the beginning (whether

alison has compiled a selection of articles from this column into ‘The 500 Word Writing Buddy’, available in print and ebook. ExiLium, a sequel to JuLia prima, her historical novel set in ad 370, will be out later in February.

www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Book Club this month’s book reviews The French Château Escape

The Last Train from Paris

by Gillian Harvey

by Juliet Greenwood

review by Jacqueline Brown

You know how much I love a French château, well, it’s no surprise that I also have a thing for books set in châteaux too. Imagine my delight to discover there is château at the heart of latest book from local author Gillian Harvey, whose romantic novels set in France, I’ve fallen in love with. This one was a much anticipated and very much enjoyed read, that had the added bonus of being set near Angouleme, which is almost on our doorstep. It’s always exciting to read a book set in our beautiful area of France. In this emotional and entertaining read, Emma and Mark, fall under the spell of a château that needs their love, attention, and a lot of their money. I know all too well the leaks, creaks and noises, that come with château life - and I only work in one rather than having the responsibility of maintaining one. It would be fair to say Mark was the captain of their dream, motivated by his need to protect Emma, whose health was suﬀering with the stresses of her job in the UK. I know he meant well, but really, the endless jobs and French paperwork that come with an old building, what was he thinking. When reality hits, things get a bit strained, but what I really loved about this book was the emotions it stirred in me when a new Emma began to emerge from the ashes of a bit of a disaster. As she learned to live with what she, and everyone else, had always thought of as her weaknesses, she soon found herself and her strengths, and that put a huge smile on my face. It is wonderful to have a knight in shining armour to protect you, but it’s a powerful feeling to realise you are stronger than you believed. There are lots of surprises in this book that catch Emma and Mark out, and I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into their life. If you’re a fan of Dick and Angel and their French château TV adventures, you will love this book.

Iris is back in Cornwall, at the cottage she grew up in, listening as her mother painfully begins to reveal their past. As the story unfolded, we alternated between Nora’s war in England and Sabine’s in France. Sabine and Nora met in pre-war London and by the time Nora arrived in Paris to study to be a chef, their letters had created a special friendship. I bonded easily with these two strong and independent women and admired their determination to succeed in the male dominated worlds of journalism and high-end catering. Their time together is cruelly torn apart as war is declared, but their parting moments mean their futures will be forever linked, no matter the pain and suffering this will bring them. From Paris and the refugees fleeing south from Occupied to free France, and the land girls working in the countryside, to the London bombings, this book painted so many pictures of the tragedies of war and the effects on the families it broke apart. I was often overwhelmed trying to process the emotions it left me feeling, but loved the mystery as actions were tantalisingly revealed, that would be revisited later as the pieces all fell into place. It was gripping. This book, more than many others I’ve read, really punched at my heart with the atrocities of the war and the dangers faced by ordinary mothers doing their best in the most difficult of times, their only goals to survive and protect their babies. If you are looking for a powerful historical novel to lose yourself in now the nights are longer and darker, I can’t think of a better one than The Last Train from Paris.

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The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 1

La Vie en France Challenges

Jacqueline Brown

I know it’s February when thoughts turn to Chandeleur, or Candlemas Day, where here in France, pancakes are tossed with a coin zheld in your dominante hand for prosperity and good luck, but as it’s the ﬁrst magazine of the year I can’t not wish you all a healthy and happy 2024.

We welcomed in the New Year calmly and quietly, just the two of us and our elderly dog Mini, rather a contrast to the beginning of 2023. Last year saw us celebrating with family in the UK, followed by a New Year’s Day group cycle ride in London and around Richmond Park. We then set off for three nights away in Bath and Bristol, which became the first of our year of mini cycling adventures. In total we were away for twenty-three nights, cycling over 1850km and staying in twelve different towns or cities, in two

countries. The bikes did feature in our New Year this year too, as there really is no better way to say goodbye to one year and welcome in another one. I like to challenge myself and the beginning of a new year is always a good time to plan an adventure or two to keep my mind and body active as it ages another year. This year, however, I was struggling a little with what to do. I could just list some distance goals for the bike, some places I’d like to visit etc, but that didn’t seem to have enough ‘challenge’ to it to excite me, seeing as

every year for the past five, I’ve cycled further than the previous years. I still have a yearning for a long-distance bike ride that either crosses France from the west coast to the Alps or that goes from coast to coast, and wouldn’t it be a laugh to cycle north to the ferry and turn up at my Mum’s on a loaded bike (confirming my position as the weird one in the family). Aside from the challenges of time constraints that a big adventure poses, Mini is now a sixteen-year-old dog and there are many challenges this brings with it. She is deaf, partially sighted, wobbly and with a back end that has a mind of its own and very little in common with the rest of her body. This means accidents on the floor and lots of bedding washing, but luckily as she is no longer able to climb the stairs or get onto the sofas, she’s fairly well contained in a small washable area. Ed was a star last year, on hand to dog sit while we set off with loaded bikes and excited smiles, but realistically we need to prioritise her needs and Ed’s independence. I was a little anxious about having no defined goals for 2024, but a quick bike ride soon cleared my mind, and I realised the challenge for this year is just to let it evolve and see where it takes us. I still have dreams and ideas, but I know it’s ok not to have firm plans

www.frenchvillagediaries.com email: frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com

14 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

Sophie Hargreaves

A New Life in the he Sun

This may be news to you reading this, or it may have been the first place you initially heard of our alpaca farm perhaps, that we were contributors to Channel 4’s series 7 of A New Life in the Sun, which aired in January 2021. We since appeared on their follow up show A New Life in the Sun: Where Are They Now? In February 2022. And why am I telling you about this now… well, we’re about to appear in the new series of ANLITS Where Are They Now this February or March (date tbc). A brief overview, this show follows British people who move to Europe to start up new businesses, as well as experiencing the huge change in moving home, getting used to their new environments and getting involved in the new culture surrounding them. There tends to be a lot of narration and a bit of a dramatic suspense on the run up to an advert break or end of an episode! For us, we were shown welcoming our alpaca herd and opening up the farm, securing our French residency and navigating our way through the French planning system, initially with a little difficulty, to create and open our accommodation opposite an historical monument, the 13th century Chateau de Sanzay. The first thing we’re always asked is, are we paid to appear on the show? We are not paid to contribute, however we are given this opportunity to publicise our business on UK national TV, which for a business based on tourism is not a bad deal for us. Whilst being paid would be good, the publicity is probably more valuable in the long run. To give a little insight into how it works, we tend to let the production company know what our schedule looks like and our future plans, and they match what they’re interested in seeing along with their schedule too. We have in the past been asked to film some activities ourselves, as they just didn't have the crew to send us. When we say crew, this is usually one person with one camera, with everything built into it (sound etc.) Their skills are very impressive; they are the interviewer, the director, producer and cameraman for the day. I had a little go on the camera and it’s not easy to work with, it’s heavy and there are a lot of functions to manage at one time. Add in walking backwards and I always think they deserve a raise in salary no matter what they’re earning. Them being a “one man band” means that we get to know them really well and vice-versa, which is why it’s easy to be comfortable and at ease on camera, as it does feel like you’re just spending time with a friend. This is great, as it does then feel and look quite natural rather than a “show”, it’s much less intimidating than we initially thought it would be. When being filmed, we get asked an awful lot of questions no matter what we’re doing, we need to stop for a moment and answer a ton of questions from the producers about the task at hand, or something we’re trying to achieve. If you’ve seen

the show, you often see the contributors rushing around to finish something in the last minutes before their first customers arrive, and having filmed with them, we are certain the reason for this is all the interview questions. Luckily we never fell victim to this but we can see why it happens! We were fortunate that our customers were always happy to be filmed, which helped show our farm and the services we have on offer, with everyone being happy to give their consent to being filmed and shown on the show. This can be particularly difficult for events or public places. Lots of signs have to be put in place and as much consent obtained as possible. Something we noticed as well from the journey of them filming and then edited to what is shown on TV is that English speaking is clearly preferred as it makes for easierwatching for the intended audience. Whilst this is understandable, it was certainly a shame to see some of our earlier customers from our local village who were absolutely charming, didn’t make the cut to the final show. These interactions were a huge part of our journey in being welcomed and accepted by our local community. Sometimes the finished product can have a narrative with a little bit of creative licence, but you can take this easily with a pinch of salt knowing that it has to be interesting viewing! Our favourite creative narrative they used for our story is that we live in a former fossil museum, something lost in translation / misunderstood. It was never an official museum whatsoever, but one of our outbuildings was used in this way by a previous owner, who was very proud of his collection, a story lovingly told to us by one of his daughters. Our home is just a farmhouse through and through, not an ex fossil museum. Yes, it can be a little daunting to have your life and business filmed, even on the revisits, so we did find a way to make it a little more fun, by trying to sneak in some quotes from the classic film Jurassic park. We were delighted to find that three of these made it into the final edit. Did you notice these? The oddest part for us is that it’s always a year behind the progress we’ve made as it’s filmed one year and shown the next, so what you’ll be watching this winter was filmed in the summer of last year. It’s a lovely little time travel, and we’re always happy to look back on memories and progress made year on year. We like to share our animals and our story, just like we do when we meet new people and find out about their lives too. If you watch it, we hope you enjoy it and come and see us soon.

For more information, visit: www.lapetitefermedalpagas.com or email: hello@lapetitefermedalpagas.com The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 1

Une journée en Anjou An Interview by Anne Alonso Join Anne as she interviews Ian, originally from the UK, now living in France. In the

conversation, Ian recounts their trip to Doué en Anjou. Their journey takes them through pretty gardens, historical museums, and into the depths of medieval caves. As they taste

local French cuisine, Ian shares his experiences and insights, all while practicing his French.

“ Bonjour, En septembre dernier j’ai proposé à mes étudiants britanniques une sortie en Anjou. Ian a accepté de nous raconter cette merveilleuse journée, une bonne occasion pour lui de pratiquer son français maintenant presque parfait ! Bonne lecture !”

Anne : “Bonjour Ian, tu veux bien nous raconter notre journée en Anjou à l’automne dernier ?”

Ian : “Bonjour Anne. Oui, avec plaisir. C’est toi qui m’as emmené, tu es venue me chercher chez moi vers 9.30 avec Hilary. Ta voiture est très petite et c’était assez diﬃcile pour un vieux comme moi de grimper à l’arrière !” (Rires) Anne : “Oui, il a fallu te pousser !!!” (Rires). Nous sommes donc partis tous les trois pour Doué La Fontaine ou Doué en Anjou. Ian : “Oui, Doué en Anjou est le nouveau nom de la ville. Le trajet a duré une petite heure. Doué en Anjou est situé dans le Maine et Loire (49) entre Bressuire et Saumur ( à une vingtaine de kilomètres de Saumur).

Le bistrot de Campag ne

Anne : “Peux-tu nous expliquer ce qu’est ce musée ?”

Ian : “Oui, il est situé dans les écuries d’un vieux château qui date de 1850, principalement construit en pierre de calcaire. Il comporte une vingtaine de boutiques datant de 1850 à 1950”. Anne : “Oui, ce sont des petites pièces qui représentent les boutiques de cette époque-là :

The Fixer

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1 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

Ian : “On ne peut pas rentrer à l’intérieur des boutiques mais on peut très bien tout observer derrière de grandes vitres. La première pièce à visiter était une reconstitution d’un intérieur de maison de l’époque, c’est très joli et très très bien fait”.

Anne : “ As-tu aimé cette visite au prix raisonnable de 8,50 euros ?” Ian : “Oui, oui, beaucoup. Nous sommes restés là une bonne heure mais j’aurai aimé y rester plus longtemps”.

Nous sommes arrivés vers 10.30 au musée : “Aux anciens commerces” où nous avons retrouvé Paddy et Linda.

La droguerie

boutiques de chapeaux, de parapluies, de jouets, de lunettes, d’armes mais aussi le boucher, le dentiste etc…”.

Anne : “Oui Ian mais nous avions réservé au restaurant où les autres britanniques nous attendaient”.

Ian : “En sortant du musée, nous sommes passés par le jardin public, très très intéressant pour moi. J’ai vu des plantes avec des ﬂeurs diﬀérentes”.

Dans le jardin public

Anne : “Il y a plus de 400 variétés de roses dans ce jardin, c’est incroyable !”.

Ian : “Nous avons repris la voiture pour nous rendre au restaurant Le Caveau dans le centre ville de Doué en Anjou où nous avons retrouvé ceux qui ne pouvaient pas venir le matin”. Anne : “Peux-tu nous parler de ce restaurant ?”

Ian : “Il s’agit d’une cave médiévale rénovée, située sous terre et creusée par l’homme au XIIème siècle dans les Faluns du Miocène. Le décor est fait de faux calcaire très bien reconstitué”.

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www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr Anne : “Et le menu ? Qu’as-tu mangé ?”

Intérieur de la cave mé

diévale

Ian : “Des fouaces ou fouées faites de pain gonﬂé cuit au feu de bois que l’on peut garnir de beurre salé et d’ail, de rillettes, de haricots blancs et de jambon, de galipettes (=champignons). Du fromage et un délicieux dessert : le crêmet d’Anjou.

Anne : “Le prix du menu est tout à fait correct, moins de 30 euros avec apéritif, vin et café compris. On a bien mangé et bien ri !”.

Raconter Une bonne occasion Grimper Il a fallu

Une vingtaine

Anne : “Bravo Ian, tu as parfaitement bien décrit ce site : de très grandes galeries souterraines creusées par les hommes où les informations sous forme de sons et lumières sont projetées sur les parois des galeries. As-tu aimé cette visite ?” Ian : “Ah oui, j’ai beaucoup apprécié, c’était fantastique et atypique!”.

Anne : “Moi aussi j’ai beaucoup aimé cette visite et tous les autres britanniques également. Nous y sommes restés environ 2 heures. Le prix était encore une fois raisonnable : moins de 10euros. Conseillerais-tu une journée comme celle-ci aux lecteurs du magazine ?” Ian : “Oui oui, tout à fait. J’ai personnellement beaucoup apprécié cette journée”.

Anne : “Journée bien remplie : nous sommes rentrés à la maison vers 17.30, fatigués mais ravis ”. Ian : “C’était une très bonne idée de ta part Anne. Pourquoi ne pas organiser une petite sortie aux Sables d’Olonne en train au printemps ?”.

Retrouver

Comporter Des vitres Un prix raisonnable Une bonne heure Réserver Attendre Incroyable Se rendre Une cave médiévale Creusée sous terre Les faluns du Miocène

Faux calcaire Du pain gonflé cuit au feu de bois : Garnir L’ail

Une plongée Les parois Conseiller Les lecteurs Tout à fait Une journée remplie Ravi Je note

For more information about Anne Alonso’s French language classes email: annealonso64@gmail.com

It has been necessary The journey lasted About twenty

To meet, to join In limestone

En ogive

Ian : “Salut Anne et merci pour cette très belle journée”.

To climb up, to clamber up

En pierre de calcaire

Majestueux

Et…. Salut Monsieur Ian !! (Rires).

A good opportunity

Principalement construit Mostly built

Un parcours artistique

Anne : “Merci Ian d’avoir échangé avec moi sur cette journée de visite en Anjou et j’espère que les lecteurs auront envie d’y aller.

To tell

The stables

Le jambon

Sons et lumières

An outing

Les écuries

Les haricots blancs

Anne : “Ah oui super idée Ian ! Je note. En mars je proposerai une sortie au Futuroscope et en avril ou mai pourquoi pas Les Sables ?”.

Ian : “Oh la la ! Pas de Futuroscope pour moi je suis trop vieux et c’est très fatiguant mais ok pour les Sables ”.

Une sortie

Le trajet a duré

Ian : “Après le repas, nous sommes partis visiter un autre site toujours à Doué en Anjou qui s’appelle : “Le mystère des Faluns”. C’est un parcours artistique dans de majestueuses caves cathédrales en ogive de 20 mètres de haut avec Au restaurant Le Ca veau des sons et lumières qui nous invitent à faire une plongée de 10 millions d’années dans la mer des Faluns ; c’est l’histoire des mines de cette époque-là”.

Le mystère des Faluns

lexique de vocabulaire

Ils auront envie de…..

To include Windows

A reasonable price A good hour To book To wait

Unbelievable To go

A medieval cellar

Dug underground

Sedimentary rock (= les faluns) dating from 23 to 5 million years ago (Miocène is the name of that period). Fake limestone

Puffed bread baked over a wood fire To garnish, to fill The garlic

White beans The ham

An artistic path, trail Majestic

Vaulted arch

A dive, a deep The walls

To advise

The readers

Absolutely, entirely A busy day Delighted

I write it down

They will feel like going…… The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 1

the sporting year ahead After losing in the final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and failing to reach the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, France has a lot to prove in 2024. France has a rich heritage of sporting activity and it was Baron Pierre de Coubertin who co-founded the International Olympic Committee in 1894, which led to the first modern Olympic Games being held in Athens in 1896. The latest Summer Olympics and Paralympics will take place in Paris this summer in Paris. This year’s sporting calendar in France offers something for everyone, whether it's rugby, motorsport, tennis or even sailing.

2 February – 16 March

mEn’s six nations (m6n) 23 March – 27 April

womEn’s six nations (w6n)

The annual rugby face-oﬀ involving France, Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, and Italy commences for men in February, with women joining in March. The female teams will be prepping for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup, while the men hope to rebound from the disappointing performance in 2023. With France and Ireland not making it to the semi-ﬁnals last time, both have much at stake this year. sixnationsrugby.com 7 April

paris maratHon

Though entries for the marathon are now closed, there's still an opportunity to run for charity. Alternatively, you can make a donation, tune into the coverage, and cheer on the more than 50,000 runners. schneiderelectricparismarathon.com 20 May – 9 June

roLand Garros FrEncH opEn The second Grand Slam event of the year, the clay court tournament at Roland Garros, is eagerly anticipated. It remains to be seen whether Novak Djokovic and Iga Świątek can defend their singles titles. At least the event's signature Champagne is something to look forward to. rolandgarros.com

1 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

26 May

monaco Grand prix

Get up to speed about the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, which consists of 78 laps on the 3.337-kilometre Circuit de Monaco. Will Max Verstappen's Red Bull reign supreme again, or will Charles Leclerc secure his ﬁrst home Grand Prix victory in his Ferrari? formula1.com 15 – 16 June

24 Hours oF LE mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is an annual endurance sports car race that is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious races in the world and, together with the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500, forms the "Triple Crown of Motorsport". It has been held since 1923 and is the oldest active endurance race in the world 24h-lemans.com 29 June – 21 July

tour dE FrancE (mEn) 12 – 18 August

tour dE FrancE (womEn)

While the Olympic Games take centre stage in Paris, the Tour de France 2024 will commence in Florence, ending three weeks later in Nice. The women's race will begin in Rotterdam, culminating at the ski resort of Alpe D'Huez. The beautiful landscapes of Italy, the Netherlands, and predominantly France will serve as a stunning backdrop. letour.fr & letourfemmes.fr

26 July – 11 August

summEr oLympics

28 August – 8 September

paraLympic GamEs

The Summer Olympics 2024 will be held in Paris and medals are up for grabs in almost 50 diﬀerent sports, including 6 Gold medals being up for grabs in the Greco-Roman wrestling. Meanwhile in the Paralympics later in the year some 549 events in 22 sports will be competed over a 12 day period. Tickets are at a premium unless you have deep pockets, but expect plenty of coverage across both French and UK channels. paris2024.org 10 November

vEndEE GLoBE 2024/25 dEparturE

Dubbed the Everest of the seas, the Vendée Globe is the ultimate solo, nonstop, unassisted global sailing race. The 10th edition sets sail from Les Sables d'Olonne on November 10, 2024. Of the 200 competitors that have started this extraordinary race since its inception in 1989, only 114 have crossed the ﬁnish line. We eagerly anticipate the return of the leading boats in March 2025. vendeeglobe.org In addition to all these exciting sporting events, on June 2, 2024, the Olympic ﬂame will travel through the Deux-Sèvres department, passing through Bressuire, Thouars, Parthenay, Saint-Maixent-l'Ecole, Celles-sur-Belle, Coulon, and Thouars.

This historic event will be celebrated with festivities and activities. In the Deux-Sèvres, nearly 100 torchbearers will participate in the event. A detailed programme, including the ﬁnal route, will be made available closer to the date. For more information visit www.deux-sevres.fr

www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

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Beaux Villages Immobilier are delighted to introduce their team in the Deux-Sèvres. With 5 colleagues across the region, the team have over 75 years of estate agency experience between them and are well positioned to help you with your property plans. David Smethurst works in the South and towards the centre of the region along with Donna Boak, while Adrian Simmonds, Anne Spilling and Michelle Barlow cover the centre and North of the Deux-Sèvres up to and around Bressuire. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, one of the team would be delighted to help. Beaux Villages Immobilier was established in 2008, and was voted the Best Estate Agency France for 2023-2024 at the International Property Awards, making it the

seventh consecutive win for the company. As the exclusive international associate for Savills, we share the same qualities of customer care, quality and service, with a focus on putting the client at the heart of everything we do. If you’re looking to buy in the DeuxSèvres, we have many properties for sale and property prices remain great value. Prices start at approx. €45,000 for a property to renovate and €56,000 for a habitable property to refresh. If you’re looking for a village property, prices are currently at around €120,000, or you can get a 3bed country property with land from €175,000. If you’re looking for a property with a guest house/gite and a pool, prices start at approx. €300,000, or if you have a larger

budget, we even have a manor house with potential for expansion for €848,000! Whatever you’re looking for, we have a wide range of properties available for all tastes and budgets - just give us your wishlist and we’ll do the legwork for you. Or maybe 2024 is time for a change and you’re looking to sell your property? With over 20 oﬃces, 200 colleagues, thousands of registered buyers, innovative local and international marketing, we are well placed to help you with your property sale. We also have a vendor extranet so you can keep track of activity on your property whenever you want to. For more details or for a free market appraisal, please contact our enquiries team on 05 56 71 36 59 or email info@beauxvillages.com

Valentine's Day, or "La SaintValentin" as it is aﬀectionately known in France, is a celebration of love steeped in a rich history that traces its roots back to the Roman Empire. Legend tells the tale of a brave priest named Valentine who boldly deﬁed Emperor Claudius II's ban on young marriages, an act that led to his execution and later canonisation by Pope Gelasius I.

In the heart of France, set in the Indre department, lies the village of Saint-Valentin, fondly dubbed the "Village of Love". Each year, this

a (very) brief history of st valentine's Day

small town hosts a threeday celebration, drawing love-struck visitors from across the globe with its annual love-themed festivities. This year, the village is set to celebrate its 60th Fête des Amoureux, promising a memorable experience for all .

Another celebration takes place at St Pierre du Chemin in the Vendée, where a week-long festival dedicated to Saint Valentine's Day is ﬁlled with with concerts, meals, and cabaret. For over twenty-ﬁve years, the Saint-Valentin association has been honouring the day with the revered relics of St Valentine, carefully preserved within a beautifully carved wooden shrine. Historically, the French were known for their quirky customs such as the "loterie d’amour," a matchmaking

ritual that was eventually banned by the government due to the emotional turmoil it caused.

Charles, Duke of Orléans, penned what is believed to be the ﬁrst Valentine's Day poem during his imprisonment in the Tower of London, setting a romantic precedent that continues to this day.The greeting that was written in 1415 is part of the manuscript collection at the British Library in London.

The universal symbol of love, the heart, is thought to have originated from a 13th-century French manuscript known as the Roman de la poire. In present times, Meanwhile, Paris, globally recognised as the capital of romance, boasts iconic

symbols of love like the Pont des Arts love locks and the Mur des Je t'Aime in Montmartre, a favourite meeting place for lovers.

The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 1

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Romance en France:

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Karen Taylor

you live & learn…

“Every day’s a school day” as my sisterin-law says; but then she is a primary school teacher.

Even though we’ve been living in France for quite a few years now, we’re always surprised at how often we come across new snippets of information about life in our adopted country. So here are a few of the discoveries that we made in 2023…

We’ve all heard about les soldes in France – the 2 windows of opportunity per year for shopkeepers to legitimately sell their products at a reduced price for a limited period (the dates are already set for this year: 10th January to 6th February, and 26th June to 23rd July). But when I was in La Roche sur Yon last September, I discovered la Braderie de l’automne where a large number of stores in the town centre set up stands in front of their shop to sell oﬀ summer stock. And I thought that ‘the sales’ were only allowed twice a year!

VIEW FROM THE VENDÊE On the subject of shops, we moved to a diﬀerent town last September and noticed that our local Casino supermarket is open from 6am until 7pm on Sundays. Well, well, that was a surprise! So I strolled down there one Sunday afternoon, picked up a couple of items, then headed to the checkout. But beware – outside normal trading hours only the automated tills are open for credit card payments, and yes, you guessed it, I’d come out with just my purse… On a more positive note, we were surprised to discover how many DIY stores as well as a number of cycle routes in our area have a selection of tools available for use by the general public free of charge. Now that is a clever idea.

I mentioned our house move last September, an ideal opportunity to ‘redistribute’ a whole host of stuﬀ that we’d accumulated over the years. After considering the usual channels of Leboncoin, Facebook and Emmaüs, we then heard about our local Recyclerie centre; so we headed down there with a car load of assorted items which they

were more than happy to accept - as they say, ‘giving new life to old goods’.

Sometimes it’s the little things that we discover that are the most satisfying. After years of ordering a grand crême in cafés & finding that they’re too strong for our bland British tastes, we were told that we should really be ordering a crême allongé with just one shot of coffee instead of two - not as strong and cheaper - result! But probably our most useful discovery of 2023 was the existence of France Services agencies where you can get free help with all sorts of administrative queries. Apparently there’s an agency available within 30mins of every home throughout France; we found ours at the mairie, but yours could be in a dedicated building or even tucked away in the corner of your local post office – take a look… Yes, 2023 proved that no matter how long you’ve lived in la belle France, there’s always something new to learn! So what interesting discoveries are we going to make in 2024??

The Repair Shed building skills, friendships, and more

Since our launch in September 2023, the response and support we have received about the idea and creation of The Repair Shed has been incredible. We have welcomed new members to the Repair Shed Crew and with each new member that joins us, the number of opportunities and skills available to share increases. Over the winter months, we have continued to work on our facilities at Repair Shed HQ in La Coudre with the new floor being laid in the wood workshop. We have now moved most of the tools into this space and it is up and running! On the first-floor studio, the roof and walls have been insulated and covered which not only makes it much warmer to work, but allows us to set up the working area so that we can start to run our workshops more frequently.

There is, of course, still more work to be done. Our attention is now focused on the second part of the ground ﬂoor space which will be converted into a social area where members can come along for a cuppa and a chat as well as use the Repair Shed space and tools. We have recently received a wonderful donation of a full-sized potters wheel and kiln. We hope to have these up and working soon so that we can oﬀer this facility too. Thank you to everyone who has made donations to us

20 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

over the last few months, which included craft materials, wood, fabric and more, we are very grateful. Our website (www.therepairshed.fr) is under continual development and we have recently added a blog in which we publish information about all sorts of projects that we have been involved with and you can also subscribe to our quarterly newsletter so you get all the up to date information from The Repair Shed HQ directly to your inbox.

We have a full agenda of workshops planned throughout 2024 from Macrame to Acrylic painting as well as the option for members to book space in the workshops if they want to use the facilities. We are now active on Google and would invite you to leave a review if you visit us at The Repair Shed. This will help others when they search for us online. We aim to have at least one workshop every other month, but as the membership numbers grow, we hope to offer these more frequently. If you have a creative skill that you would like to share with others, we would love to hear from you. Membership applications are always open and for only 10 euros a year, you will receive exclusive benefits. If you are interested in finding out more, you can visit our website or contact us by email info@therepairshed.fr

Lisa Jones

www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Swt Traditions:

La Chandeleur and Mardi Gras INGREDIENTS (MAKES 10)

• 1 cup (125g) plain ﬂour, sifted • pinch of salt • 2 large eggs • 2 tbsp (25g) melted butter • ½ tbsp (7.5g) sugar (optional) • 1 cup (250 ml) milk • 1 tablespoon oil for cooking

METHOD

As we move into February, the aisles of French supermarkets are full packets of ﬂour, cartons of milk, boxes of eggs, and bags of sugar. These are the essential ingredients for two celebrated culinary traditions - La Chandeleur and Mardi Gras. La Chandeleur or Candlemass, celebrated on the 2nd of February, is a festival that marks the presentation of baby Jesus in the temple. Traditionally on this day, all the candles in French households are lit, casting a warm glow and representing light and purity. This day also signals the end of the Christmas season, with many families choosing this date to take down their festive decorations. This year, Mardi Gras or Shrove Tuesday is just a couple weeks later. Known to us all as Pancake Day, it's a time of feasting and celebration before the start of the more sombre period of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. The pancakes, traditionally served with a squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sugar, are a nod to the round shape

and golden colour of the sun, symbolising the return of light after a dark winter.

Mardi Gras, translating to 'Fat Tuesday', was the last day Christians could indulge in fatty foods before observing 40 days of prayer and abstaining from meat and rich foods until Easter. In 2024, Mardi Gras falls on the 13th of February, marking the end of a week of indulgence and the beginning of Lent.

In many regions of France, including Deux-Sèvres, pancake and doughnut making is a cherished tradition during these religious festivals. Interestingly, eating pancakes on La Chandeleur has a superstitious element attached to it. It was believed that if peasants didn't make pancakes on this day, they would have a poor wheat harvest the following year. To ensure a bountiful harvest, they would toss the ﬁrst pancake with their right hand while holding a gold coin in the left, making sure it fell back into the pan. Now, let's cook up some crêpes!

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1. Start by placing ﬂour and salt into a wide bowl and create a well in the centre. 2. Next, add the eggs, melted butter, and sugar (if using) into the well. 3. Using a whisk, stir quickly from the centre, gradually adding a bit of milk as you continue to stir, ensuring the batter remains smooth. 4. Keep pouring in the rest of the milk until the batter has a smooth consistency. Alternatively use a hand blender and incorporate all ingredients at same time. 5. Cover the bowl and allow it to rest for 2 hours. 6. Preheat a 15 cm crêpe pan and lightly apply oil with a piece of kitchen paper. 7. Pour some batter into the pan, tilting it in every direction to spread the batter evenly. 8. Cook until the surface is cooked, then ﬂip the crêpe to cook the other side for about a minute or until it becomes a light golden colour. 9. Repeat the same process for the remaining batter. 10. Serve with your preferred topping.

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The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 21

Sophie Stokes

Bringing the outside in...

Winter Crafts

This month's craft is a little different from previous months, as I am focusing on recycling rather than gathering wild materials. Although, I am using nature to inspire my creations either for their shapes or decorations. The great thing about crafting like this is you can do whatever pleases you. Over Christmas, we managed to accumulate much waste, despite our efforts to cut back and find alternatives. I’m certain that we are not alone.

PAPER CLAY.

Materials: • Plenty of old paper • Container for soaking • Blender • Sieve • Plain ﬂour • Salt • Water • Cardboard • Scissors • Paint and brush

Rip up plenty of old paper and soak for several hours in water. When totally soggy, blend completely until you have a watery pulp. Pour the pulp into a sieve and allow most of the water to drain out, then squeeze until you achieve a clay-like consistency. Then add about 10g of salt and half a cup of plain ﬂour and combine completely. Decide what shape you would like to create, then cut a cardboard base to build on. Apply your ‘clay’, squishing ﬁrmly. Don’t make your layers too thick as the clay will dry out and cause the card to bend, you will have to build your shapes in layers allowing

One thing we had plenty of was wrapping paper, although whilst decluttering after New Year (or during an early spring clean), you might also ﬁnd old magazines, paperwork, cardboard or other similar materials that you can use. I wanted to explore the possibilities using papier mache... but this is something a little diﬀerent from what you might have done at school.

them to dry out thoroughly between layers covering one side of the cardboard, dry, then the other, to prevent distorting. You can leave your drying clay on top of a radiator, or in a warm oven, or dehydrator. The warmer, the faster they will dry. If they take too long, they may go mouldy, however, salt should prevent this. Once dry, the models will be very hard. You might want to include hanging loops or other elements, do this as you build up the clay rather than stick on afterwards as this will make them far stronger. When you are happy with your shape and feel it is thick enough and totally dry, then you can paint. You might like to do a first layer in white paint, depending on the colour of your dried model so that subsequent paint colours remain true. If your shapes are bumpy and uneven you could sand first to achieve a smoother finish, it's up to you what sort of finish you would like for your creations. I have chosen to paint with acrylic paints and it's your choice whether you varnish or not afterwards.

This week I’ve been experimenting with simple shapes such as hearts and birds, but I have all sorts of ideas for the rest of the month. You can make jewellery, bowls, wall hangings, Christmas tree decorations or anything else that takes your fancy. Obviously, being made from paper, these won’t be suitable to leave outside. If you plan to create bowls for displaying food such as fruit, remember they cannot be washed thoroughly!

You can find my handmade decorations at L’Atelier Createur, Place Cail, Chef Boutonne 79110. Alternatively, you can contact me via my Facebook or Instagram page Cueillette et Découverte.

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22 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

Siret: 430 480 038 00032

www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

stay Connected The latest trends in satellite TV and internet services Stuart Wallace

siret: 480 287 390 00037 | est. 2005 in France

Like a WhatsApp message on Boris Johnson’s phone, January has disappeared. I’m glad we ‘somehow deleted’ January as I can’t stand it (unless it contained your birthday of course. Belated happy birthday Betty!). Cold, wet and miserable. But enough about my underpants, how are you all? Sticking to those resolutions? Nope, didn’t think so. Mrs W and I made it through in one piece. It works best if we’re in separate rooms of course, better still if it’s separate countries. The last time she had to pop back to see her mum, I was left holding the fort. It was brilliant! I had a great time.Still, in fairness, she didn’t look too chuffed to be home. How was I supposed to know that the dog goes outside to poop? What is a vacuum cleaner anyway? And the washing fairies had clearly taken a few days off as well. They really should speak to each other about holiday planning. So, who has lost BBC1 on their satellite box? It finished broadcasting in standard-definition on 8th January. So, if you still have it, it means that you have a high-definition receiver. All good. Carry on. If you have lost it, then it means you don’t. If you have an old non-HD Sky box, Freesat box or generic free-to-air receiver, then you have no way to get the BBC channels back using those boxes. You’ll need to upgrade. I am often asked about streaming services and are they any good? I don’t mean legit things like Netflix and Prime Video, I’m talking about the type of service that offers ‘all’ the channels for not a lot of money. Well, the answer is yes they can be good, but they are also a very, very dark shade of gray. However, you are usually subject to the possibility that whatever hooky service you are using could be shut down at any time. Some re-start almost immediately. Others will never

The French House Satellite TV English free-to-air / Freesat Subscription TV French TV Set up of Netflix / Prime etc. Internet via 4G & satellite

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be revived. Anyone who tells you it’s kosher is a big fat liar. You pay your money etc… 4th gen (the latest) Apple TV users may have noticed that Now TV is part of their package. If you have a Now TV account, you can log-in via your Apple TV box. Bear in mind though that you’ll need a reliable VPN to make this work in France. And remember that for any streaming service, you’re going to need half-decent internet. Fiber is being rolled out quite aggressively at present and that will be ideal for streaming high-definition video. Especially if you have a TV that can show 4K content. This has 4x the resolution of HD images. If you are still waiting though, with no installation date in sight, then a satellite internet service like Starlink will do an excellent job. Or, in some cases if you have a good enough signal, a 4G internet box will do the job as well. Until we were connected to fiber early last month, this is how we received high-speed internet. I visited a client last month who had been told by a clearly inexperienced call center help desk (it was at Canal+) that the reason the client’s TV kept going off was due to a poor satellite signal. They claimed they could diagnose the issue from their end. That was, er, complete testes, but there you go. So, understandably the client called me to check it out. After a brief bit of troubleshooting, it became clear that it was not the satellite signal at all. It was the crappy HDMI cable that they had supplied with the Canal decoder. It wasn’t making a good connection in the socket. A TV screen going black and a loud popping sound from the speakers is nearly always an issue with the cable connection between the decoder and the TV. Had the staff at Canal+ been a little more up on their knowledge, they could have saved the client both my call out fee and a few days with a poorly functioning service. As always, please feel free to get in touch if you would like any further information or would like to discuss your requirements. Contact details can be found on the advert. Finally, my column will now be every 3 months. Lucky you! See you in May.

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The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 2

By Steve Marshall

taking better Photographs...

Star Trails

If you are lucky enough to live away from street lights and the glare of shops you can get to see the stars. If you live in a town or city then you can still go places where the stars are visible and you can create astonishing photographs. You need a clear moonless night with little or no streetlight. My examples both have some external lighting. One has the street lights from a distant village and the other a small outside light from a building. Selecting these as locations neither sets of lights really registered. They only appeared in the ﬁnal photographs because of the long exposures. I think both add to the overall images, and that is always a personal choice.

And those long exposures mean you will need some specialised equipment or sophisticated editing software. You may already have a tripod. This is essential and before you use it you need to make an adjustment to your camera or more probably your lens. Somewhere you will have a means of switching On and Off what is usually called Image Stabilisation or Vibration Compensation. This is most commonly found on the left of the lens where it fits into the camera. Normally you want this set to On so that your handheld photographs are less likely to suffer from camera shake. Newer cameras are getting stunningly good at this.

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But when the stabilisation is active and not needed it can actually introduce slight vibrations or movements. It most commonly shows up when you have your camera on a tripod. And it does not always happen. I discovered it after an evening photographing a wonderful Brittany sunset. Every shot had a slight blur. I recommend that whenever you use a tripod this should be switched to Oﬀ. The second essential item is a means of keeping your camera shutter open for a very long time. You can set the shutter speed to Bulb or B and hold it down for the duration of the shot. But in the 20 minutes the shutter was open for these photographs my movement, however inadvertent, would have transferred to the image and ruined it. A cable release or remote shutter device is far easier and they are not expensive.

An alternative to a single long exposure is to take a large number of photographs one after the other and then combine them in editing software. A series of 30 second images taken every 31 seconds means the gaps will not notice. Whichever route you chose you will need to do some experimentation with exposure times and apertures. Usually the widest aperture, the lowest number, is best as this lets in more light. Keep the ISO low, probably 100 as this will give the best image. Higher ISO will allow shorter exposure times but it is likely to generate unpleasant noise in your images. Once you are happy with these set your camera up with the chosen foreground interest. You can have just a run of stars but I prefer trees or rocks or some part of the natural landscape.

Clear moonless nights are commonest in early spring so if you have gone to a location then wrap up warm. I have to admit these pictures were taken close to my relatively isolated house, so whilst the shutter was open, I went back inside for a sip or three of wine. And beware the cold and your camera. Condensation can be very damaging. This session cost me a lens. I should have taken it somewhere outside such as a garage or barn to cool slowly, taken my photographs and taken it back to the barn before bringing it into the warm house. I meet with some friends on Zoom, some local and some far aﬁeld, to discuss each other’s photographs. We all learn from one another. If you would like to is join us please drop me a line at stevemarshall128@gmail.com

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by Peter Lowth

Pêche du Carnassier/ Predator fishing

In France, there are significant predator species found in rivers, streams, canals and lakes such as Pike, Zander, Bass and Perch. Predator Fishing or Pêche du Carnassier is the exhilarating pursuit of these sharp-teethed monsters. With colder temperatures creeping in, predator species tend to be at their hungriest, making winter the perfect time to try predator fishing. Whether you are an experienced or novice angler, some specialised equipment, research and knowledge is required to be successful. These toothy-critters can be hard to catch, so as with other types of fishing, patience is most-definitely required!

Typical predator fishing methods include trolling from a boat, casting spinners, flies and lures or jigging. The method used is dictated by the venue and the weather conditions, with the temperature determining if the fish are feeding in deeper or shallower water.

The equipment required can be very simple and makes for a more mobile approach, much the same as fly fishing. A good, strong specialist rod, reel and line, a selection of wire or heavy-duty nylon traces to connect the fly or lure to the mainline, a selection of lures and spinners, forceps, landing net, First Aid kit (even the most experienced anglers occasionally fall foul of their sharp teeth and armoured fins) and wire cutters! Some venues will also insist on a padded unhooking mat but personally speaking, I always carry one for fish safety reasons, as you want the fish to go back undamaged for the next angler to catch.

A perch caught on a pike ﬂy

Go into most fishing shops in France and the Carnassier section stands out with a vast array of rods and reels and most of all a massive and, to most, a bewildering range of spinners and lures. The basic premise is to beguile the target fish into believing that what you are presenting to them is their live quarry! The lures are generally hard plastic or soft plastic and typically impersonate most freshwater species including their own. The hard plastic lures are manufactured for fishing at a multitude of depths so a small selection is generally best to get going, they are also quite often articulated to mimic further the movement of a fish. Soft lures come in all shapes, sizes and colours and generally manufactured with the hook and eye built in for ease of use, some are even flavoured -would you believe!

The art of casting a lure or spinner is in the retrieve as you want to try and replicate the actions of a fish, be it swimming normally or injured. Much the same as fly fishing, twitching the lure, spinner or fly through the water will bring the best results.

A selection of Predator Flies

Predator species are difficult fish to catch, they are not easily fooled and require a degree of watercraft and a mobile approach from the angler. The predator angler also needs to be prepared for tangles and losing lures, as these fish typically hang out around weed beds, drop offs, underwater structures and other areas from where they can ambush their prey. Doing research before heading out can save a lot of time and money with snagged or lost kit.

The Sèvre rivers in the department are excellent venues, but gaining local knowledge of ﬁshing areas is essential before you go. Use social media to join relevant ﬁshing groups/ Facebook pages as well as asking at tackle shops would be the best start.

There’s also the nature resort and fishing venue - Pescalis, near Moncoutant, that has several predator lakes and offers equipment hire, boat hire and guided days. I have had first-hand experience of the leviathans that lurk in the deep there and once hooked, it is difficult to leave the exciting world of Pêche du Carnassier Till next month, tight lines!

Peter

A leviathan Pike!

IMAGES CREDIT: P J LOWTH

Peter Lowth is an experienced angler with over 40 years of fishing knowledge in match, predator, coarse and fly fishing. Growing up near Bath, fishing local rivers and ponds, he then transitioned to competitive fly fishing and in recent years competed on the UK match fishing circuit. He opened Les Forges Fishing venue, located near Pescalis, in early 2023 – www.lesforgesfishing.com

2 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

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Pruning Season

As we reach winter, the leaves have ﬁnally fallen from the vines and they have reached their dormant state. Dormancy is a phase during the growth cycle of the vine; this enables the vine to survive the cold winter temperatures and provides the optimum moment for the head winemaker and his team to start the pruning process.

It has been a novelty for me working outside, weathering all the storms whether it be fog, getting lost amongst the vines, dark stormy clouds with thunderous rain or the howling wind. It takes some getting used to when you’ve been used to central heating, an oﬃce coﬀee machine and a cosy chair.

That being said, there are many wondrous elements to working outside which you would never behold in an oﬃce. The various wildlife; including deer, boars, hares, buzzards, pheasants and many more. The incredible sights such as rainbows after heaving rain, the glistening raindrops on spider webs in the mist and above all the countless colours to behold in the sunrise.

Before the pruning process can be started, the general maintenance of the vineyard must be upheld. In the spirit of maintaining the vineyard biodynamically, we've started building a fence to enclose local sheep who will eat all the weeds and unwanted plant life surrounding the vines in the chenin blanc plot called 'le clos'. The team has also been working the soils by clearing away any weeds or unwanted plant life that might hinder the pruning process as well as take nutrients away from the vine.

The reason that pruning is a key part of vine maintenance is to ensure that the vine provides high yields of good quality grapes and to ensure the vegetative growth for the next season. There are diﬀerent methods of pruning, however at Chateau de Petit Thouars we use the cane pruning method. The process consists of removing canes, which are branches on the vine that are around two years old, as well as spurs, which are one-year-old wood. This prevents overcrowded vines, giving the grapes plenty of room to grow, promoting air movement and also protects against mildew or rot. To go more in depth, one cane from the vine is selected and cut down to seven buds long and then this cane is tied horizontally to the wire that upholds the vine (the infamous trellis system mentioned in my previous article). Ideally the cane needs to be growing out from a point as close as possible to the trunk. Then on the opposite side of the vine, one spur cane needs to be selected and be cut down to two buds long - these bud spurs provide canes, which can be selected the following year. All other canes then must be removed. The grapes will grow from the fruiting cane that is seven buds long. Having only read about this process in books, I am absolutely thrilled to be actually putting my theoretical knowledge to action. We’re using electric powered secateurs, which are much more powerful but require batteries that we carry around on our backs and a special pruning, steelcapped glove that prevents any unfortunate incidents. Thousands of vines, here we come!

www.instagram.com/theloiregirl The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 2

not long now…. A belated Happy New Year to you all… .how did it get to be February already?! During the cold wet days of winter it’s sometimes difficult to remain optimistic, but signs of spring are already appearing, along with the lengthening daylight hours and warmer temperatures. Catkins are starting to burst open, snowdrops are noticeable, and the tops of growing tulip and daffodil bulbs are peeping above the soil. All of a sudden we are running out of time to prepare for the new beekeeping season; all those weeks we had to ensure our equipment was ready have whizzed by, and we find ourselves realising that we need to shake off our winter torpor and come out of hibernation! On sunnier days we have already noticed our bees foraging on the mahonia that is flowering, along with a selection of other insects, all hungrily gorging on the early nectar. This is such

Amanda Baughen

an encouraging sign, showing us that our colonies have come through the winter months and are collecting pollen and nectar to feed a growing family. At this point of the year the queen will be laying an increasing number of eggs a day, building up the colony numbers as rapidly as possible. Swarming behaviour will be here before we know it and so we have to be ready! Full hive inspections should only be carried out once the ambient temperature is consistently above 14c otherwise there is a danger of chilling the brood, allowing too much cold air into the hive and killing the pupating larvae. So, as beekeepers, we have to learn to be patient before we can have a look to see how the bees have fared since we last saw them in late autumn. However, this doesn’t mean that the bees have to wait, and it is more than likely that they are preparing to swarm, and will leave the nest as soon as the ﬁrst properly warm and sunny day dawns.

Learning how to spot swarming behaviour, what to do (and what not to do!), are skills that we teach on the beekeeping courses that we run over the spring and summer months. Understanding what and why, and using proven swarm management tactics, removes any fear there may be when considering how to deal with swarming bees.

Before we spot the signs of swarm preparation, we too need to be prepared, and this means ensuring we have adequate equipment, including spare hives. Many beekeeping equipment suppliers are still oﬀering stock at sale prices, so it’s a good time to buy items such as frames at discounted prices.

However, if you are thinking of taking up beekeeping this year, please don’t rush out and buy tons of equipment before you have been on a course or done some research and learning for yourself. You don’t want to be accused of having all the gear but no idea! Please visit our website for more information on our courses, or give us a call, we’re more than happy to talk about all things ‘api’!

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Clare’s Garden Diary

Welcome back to my garden for a brand new gardening year. I hope you have had a rest and like me probably looked at your soggy garden in despair. For free draining soil here it’s very squelchy and the ﬂood plains for the river Vienne are well, very much in use. As we turn our thoughts to plans for our gardens this year are you going to start composting? Maybe you already do and with the French government requiring us to waste less, it's a good time to start. At the time of writing my commune in north Vienne has issued no guidelines about what to do with food waste. I've been making

compost for a few years now, with mixed results, so I will share some tips with you, some my own and others gathered from gardening friends.

Placing your bin directly on the soil will help worms and other microorganisms speed up the composting process. Chicken wire added at the base will help keep rodents out.

So, please keep up to date with your local communes plans and guidelines, but starting now will soon yield you some useable compost.

Putting it simply, using our food and garden waste is the start of composting. To make a good compost for use in your garden you need a 50/50 mix of materials that are rich in nitrogen and carbon.

You may want to start with a plastic box style compost bin, or just start a heap in one corner of the garden. I have seen pallets used too to make a box style. Whichever you choose placing it in a sunny spot is a good start, and also somewhere you can access it easily.

• Brown paper, like the vegetable sacks from the supermarket. • Egg boxes and loo roll inners; tear up into medium sized pieces to help keep the compost aerated. • Used paper towels • Fruit and veg peelings • Teabags • Used coﬀee grounds • You can add citrus but its best to cut into small pieces as it takes a long while to break down. • Avocado shells can be added, I leave out the stones as they take too long to break down. • Egg shells; best to crush them a little before adding.

from the Kitchen;

• Annual weeds • Nettle leaves • Hedge-trimmings and prunings. Note; if you have a garden chipper its best to put sticks and twigs through the chipper ﬁrst, then add to the compost mix. • Straw, sawdust.

from the garden;

Clare Hill

Nitrogen comes from lush green materials like grass clippings and carbon comes from brown materials such as woody stems and cardboard. So, what can we add from the kitchen and from the garden? Here's my list of the good stuﬀ to add;

• Grass clippings, because too many will cause the mix to go slimy and smelly. • Wood ash from the ﬁre; Wood ash is alkaline, so applying it to compost heaps helps to balance the tendency of compost to be more acidic. It also creates better conditions for composting worms, which will speed up decomposition. Compost that's less acidic is perfect for mulching around vegetables. Add wood ash little and often in thin layers

use in moderation;

• diseased plants, • perennial weeds • cooked food • raw and cooked meat • dairy products • ash from coal ﬁres • cat or dog faeces • glossy or colour printed paper.

Do not add these;

The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 2

Now your compost is underway, you can speed up the process by turning the heap occasionally with a garden fork to let some air in. Opinion is divided on turning compost, depending what you read. Keep a cover on the bin or heap. A piece of old carpet may do the trick. This keeps heat within which speeds up the decomposition process. Water is one of the essential ingredients for success, it is a balancing act, add rainwater or leave the lid oﬀ if rain is due. However you don't want the mix to become too soggy either. Enough water will help compost microorganisms break down the organic matter. Too little, and the microorganisms will struggle to work; too much, and they’ll be starved of oxygen. So check it each time you add more matter to the top. Compost heaps are so beneﬁcial to wildlife, you may risk disturbing creatures when you turn or move the compost. One year I had a family of moles living in the heap, I quickly put them back and covered them up! Bees, hedgehogs may nest within the heap and stay hibernating until Spring. What to use it for? After about 6 months, you may have something you

can use as mulch on your beds, add to your vegetable patch, or mix in with soil into containers. If you are a no dig gardener this will add to your layers. Don't be disheartened if it doesn't resemble Monty Don's compost. If you ﬁnd its not broken down enough you can always add it back into the top and wait, if its too dry, add water, if too wet, turn it, and wait for nature to do the rest.

Well, moving on to other jobs in the garden we can be getting on with, weather permitting... • Prune the shrubs that have become overgrown and misshapen or just too large for the spot. This may include buddleia, lavatera and laurel which can be hard pruned in February or March.

Jobs for february;

• Now is the time to cut back ornamental grasses in the garden, cut out dead stems and cut the rest to about 10cm above ground level. • Sow sweet peas and keep in an unheated greenhouse, or if you have Autumn sown ones re-pot them during February.

• Start preparing outdoor seed beds for early vegetables if the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. • Start or continue feeding the birds and put up nest boxes for Springtime, facing away from hot sunshine and strong winds. Put water out for them to drink and bathe in too. Establishing a garden of feathered friends now will help keep the aphids and other insects away from your prized plants in the months to come. • Seed potatoes start to appear in the shops, you can buy them and put them to chit or sprout ready for planting. I usually use egg boxes . Allowing them to sprout before planting takes between 4 to 6 weeks, and gets new potatoes oﬀ to a good start, ready to be harvesting them in around 10 to 12 weeks after planting.

• New rhubarb crowns can be planted into well-cultivated soil, or you can divide and re plant existing crowns. • Once snowdrops have ﬂowered you can divide them and replant (or share a few with other gardening friends.)

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• Roses can still be pruned into February too, taking out dead, diseased, dying canes and any crossing over each other. For Climbing roses training the long canes horizontally will encourage more blooms, if you inherit an old climber it will take time to encourage the canes into a position you want. If left unchecked they simply produce their blooms at the top. • You can start to sow under cover some lettuce and other salads crops. • Finally, our Wisterias need their winter prune, ideally in February (when the plant is dormant and leaﬂess), cut back the shoots you pruned in summer to two or three buds, to tidy up the plant. This also ensures the ﬂowers won’t be hidden by leaves. I always read up on this at rhs.org.uk for clear advice and videos too. If you wish you can follow me on Instagram at healing_gardener_clare I look forward to seeing you there and back here in March too. A bientot,.

Clare

www.instagram.com/healing_gardener_clare

about Clare

HOME POOL SERVICES

Clare, along with her husband Martin and their furry family, moved to North Vienne in 2017. With a passion for plants inherited from her family, Clare is currently studying Horticulture with the Royal Horticultural Society. Previously working in corporate and private banking, Clare now enjoys the tranquility of her garden, where she experiments and nurtures her favorite plants, especially roses. An animal lover, Clare shares her home with 4 rescue dogs and a mischievous puppy. She also loves brocantes and vide greniers and is a Reiki Master Teacher and a Tai Chi/qi Gong teacher.

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Clubs & Associations Alcoholics Anonymous - South West France If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, there are now a number of English-speaking meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous in the South West of France. Alcoholics Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share experiences, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership and AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organisation or institution. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

For help or information, telephone: 05 31 60 90 95 or visit: www.aafrance.net

Craft Café Creatif - We are a craft group who meet once a fortnight on a Wednesday afternoon at Pause Café, L'Absie. Our members knit,crochet,sew, embroider etc. We craft and socialize over a cup of tea. New members welcome - contact barbarawhitehouse@yahoo.co.uk

Netball: Clessé Allstars - The Clessé Allstars netball club meets every Monday at Salle Omnisports, Clessé 79350 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. We welcome players and supporters of all ages and abilities. Join us for a free taster session before signing up. FB @clubdenetballclesse

CHORALE MELUSINE, PARTHENAY - French 4-part choir, established over 30 years (with 4 English members) and always looking for "new blood"! Excellent Musical Director. Come to a rehearsal on Tuesday evenings and see if it's for you. Contact Keith for info keithandcarol@orange.fr 0671 14 16 72 Vasles Netball Club - Want to keep ﬁt, have fun & make new friends? Join us every Monday from 5.30 - 7pm & Thursday 6.30 - 8pm at the Salle Omnisports in Vasles. Open to men & women of all abilities and experience. Two free taster sessions. FB @VaslesNetballClub Email: vaslesnetballclub@gmail.com

ALL ENQUIRIES ARE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE

Crafts, Community and Friendship. We run regular workshops and events as well as oﬀer community workshop space for crafting and making. Learn new skills and share your talents. New members welcome. Contact us for details: therepairshed@naturalcrafts.eu or telephone 05 49 80 39 57.

French Lessons for English Speakers

Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), 4 Place Leopold Bergeon, 79150 Argenton-les-Vallées Classes: beginners or intermediate. Private lessons on request. Contact: rendez-vous79@orange.fr

Melleran Chanteurs - Amateur singing group that meets every Monday at 6:45 pm at the Salle des Fêtes in Melleran. French and English members singing in many languages. New voices are always welcome, especially tenor and bass. For more information, please contact Alison Hudson 05 49 29 65 31

Combined Services Support Group - CSSG is a group of mainly ex services people living in the area who meet socially whilst raising funds to support ex-service charities. Former UK servicemen and women, police and ﬁreﬁghters are invited to email Christine Hester at christine.hester10@gmail.com Why Not joiN thE RAF FAMiLy? RAFA Sud-Ouest France Le Perail, 17250 BEURLAY, France Tel: 05 46 95 38 89 email: admin@rafasudouest.fr North Charente Maritime Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club

AFVBC - The newly formed North Charente Maritime Armed Forces and Veterans Breakfast Club meets the second Sunday of every month at 10:15 a.m. at the Relais d'Aulnay. Reservations with Ann and Allan at walpcs@yahoo.co.uk

Airvault Conversation - Come and practice your French with a friendly group of French and English speakers. Every Wednesday at 7pm at the Salle CSC 16 rue Emmanuel Bonnet, 79600 AIRVAULT Call Christian for more information: 05 49 63 04 78

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www.avf.asso.fr

Acceuil des Villes Françaises - A French association dedicated to welcoming newcomers from all over France and abroad to their new surroundings; helping them integrate, speak French, and feel 'at home' through social events. pjhenderson@orange.fr

Les Amis Solitaires is a group of people living alone in France. We organise social events and meet for coﬀee at The Lemon Tree in Sauze Vaussais, 11am every 2nd and 4th Thursday. Contact Pennie on pennietelford@hotmail.com Royal British Legion - Bordeaux & South West France Do you need help or advice? Contact us at: rblbx.assistance@gmail.com www.facebook.com/groups/306085566632991

National Helpline 0800 240 200 or email: helpline@cancersupportfrance.org You can ﬁnd more details about CSF Vienne & Deux-Sèvres by visiting: vienne.cancersupportfrance.org/vienne-home www.facebook.com/groups/1573102762990772

Franglais Anglo-French Group thouars - Centre Socio-Culturel We meet every Wednesday 7.30pm-9pm, at 7 rue Anne Desrays, for conversation in English & French, and to understand each other’s language and culture. Contact 05 49 66 35 11 or email jpc.allorent@orange.fr or eugene_mc_cabe@hotmail.com

Are you single and living in the South Vendee? Would you like to meet others for social events with the emphasis on fun and not dating? We meet in Fontenay-le-Comte on the ﬁrst Wednesday morning of each month. Occasional weekend lunches. Find us on Facebook SOLO EN FRANCE (Sud Vendée) or contact Rosalind at soloenfrance@outlook.fr for further information.

PLAy and LEARN ACoL BRiDGE

If you are interested in learning or playing acol Bridge at Pause Cafe, L’Absie, every second and fourth Friday at 2pm please contact philjan9@hotmail.com

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Clubs & Associations

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the year ahead Hello, everyone! As you may know, Association Violet is a dedicated team of volunteers on a mission to transform the lives of families living with lifelong disabilities. Today, we're here to share our journey, express our heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support, and invite you to join us as we move forward into an exciting 2024. Our charity was born from the courage and resilience of Violet, a young girl battling multiple conditions including epilepsy, dystonia, and cerebral palsy. Since then, we've been committed to raising awareness and funds for local disabled children and their families. Our vision is clear - to help alleviate the worry and financial stresses that these families face on a daily basis. None of this would be possible without the generous contributions from our supporters. Throughout the year, we organise various fundraising events, generating the resources needed to fulfil our mission. A special shout-out to Terry Ryan, a local tai chi instructor, who generously donated his class profits from 2023 to us. Thanks to his student, Jim Konig, who nominated us, we received an amazing €500! In 2023, after fulfilling all donation requests from our families, we found ourselves with surplus funds. Believing that money should be with families, not in the bank, we made the decision to give a Christmas lump sum to each family we support. The joy this brought to our families was immeasurable. Our Christmas hampers, located in Bar de La Poste, Café des Belle Fleurs, and Le Chaps, raised a brilliant €375. A massive thank you to these bars and their wonderful customers! As we look forward to 2024, we're busy making plans for our 4th Garden Party

on 8 September at the stunning Chateau Cherveux. Promising a day of family fun, we're currently seeking volunteers to help with arrangements, stall running, and cake making. In other exciting news, Melanie Magowan, an amputee expat living in New Zealand, is taking on a personal challenge – the Wanaka Triathlon on 19 February. All money raised from her efforts will go directly to Association Violet. We're incredibly proud of Melanie's dedication and invite you all to show your support. You can sponsor Melanie by visiting givealittle.co.nz/cause/amputee-tocomplete-challenge-wanaka-for-charity We've also been donated a life-size stuffed Tiger - he's of excellent quality and retails around €500. We will be selling raffle tickets at €5 each via Facebook or you can email us. This is a fantastic opportunity to win a unique item and support a great cause at the same time! Stay tuned for more updates! You can subscribe on our website (it's free!) for regular newsletters and updates by visiting associationviolet.com. As we continue to support local families with the daily care of their beloved children, especially those with lifelong disabilities, we want to thank each one of you who have supported us in the past and who continue to stand by us.

Together, we can make a diﬀerence. Team Violet

the spirit of giving

Association ESCOVAL, the English Speaking Church of the Valley of the Loire, recently made a generous donation of €450 to Restaurants du Coeur, a well-known French charity dedicated to providing food packages and hot meals to those in need. This act of kindness brought so much joy to Sheila Britten, a representative from Association ESCOVAL, who expressed her delight by saying, "We're incredibly proud to support such crucial work. Our Christmas Carol concert was a huge success and has truly made a diﬀerence in the lives of those in need." Established in 2005, Association ESCOVAL holds services on the third Sunday of every month at the church in Arçay, situated between Loudun and Thouars just oﬀ the D759. These services follow a predominantly Anglican style and are often presided over by Reverend John Neal. One of the highlights of these gatherings is the convivial 'bring-and-share' lunch, where members come together to enjoy a communal meal. In addition to their support for Restaurants du Coeur, ESCOVAL also extends its aid to other notable charities, including the Royal British Legion and Médecins Sans Frontières. For more information about Association ESCOVAL, visit www.escoval.jimdofree.com or email gcfrance6052@gmail.com.

vienne & Deux-sèvres

Philip Buckle

Chair’s update - progress and future plans

As you may know from my previous articles, I am fairly new to the role of president and our joint association of La Vienne and Deux-Sèvres is very much in its early stages. When we convene in Poitiers this coming early February, we will note the absence of Denise Langford. Back in November, she decided that the time was right to step down from her role within our association and Cancer Support France.

Denise's contribution over the years within the Deux-Sèvres has been immense. With the responsibilities entrusted to her, she always performed with expertise, confidence and, above all, compassion. Her linguistic prowess and local knowledge of the health system were of significant benefit to those she supported and to members of our group. We wish her well in her retirement. Two colleagues, Dawn and Carol, spent a day at the annual Christmas Fair held at the 'Funny Farm' at the end of November. We are grateful to the owners who allowed us to collect for our association and to those who donated.

We also received a generous donation from a community member who reached out for support during a time when her husband was severely ill with cancer. Our training as listeners has been undertaken with the hope that we can use it to provide support to someone in need. The helpline numbers and contacts are below: If you are interested in becoming an active listener or helping with future fundraising, please use either helpline and I will respond to you. We have training dates organised for the Spring.

Thank you for your continued support and please get in touch through the helpline if you feel that you can oﬀer time, energy and commitment to this most worthwhile cause. You can contact us here:

National Helpline 0800 240 200 email: helpline@cancersupportfrance.org You can ﬁnd more details about CSF Vienne and Deux-Sèvres by visiting:

vienne.cancersupportfrance.org/vienne-home www.facebook.com/groups/1573102762990772

The Deux-sèvres Monthly |

Seasonal Recipes

by Sujatha Otzen

Braised Chicken & Cabbage

Another comforting dish for this time of year, braising the chicken and cabbage together keeps the chicken tender and brings out the natural sweetness of the cabbage. Bacon lardons contribute saltiness and the vinegar brings acidity to the dish. It makes for an easy dinner with some bread and a salad on the side.

INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4)

• 2 tablespoons olive oil • 8 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs • 75g bacon sliced (or lardons) • 1 small onion finely chopped • 2 cloves of garlic finely chopped • 1 carrot peeled and diced • a quarter head of cabbage finely shredded • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce • 2 cups chicken stock

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides and set aside. 2. Heat the oil in a large heavy bottomed deep casserole on medium high heat. Once hot, place the chicken thighs skin side down in a single layer if possible (or do this in batches) and fry them until the skin is golden brown in colour. Flip them over and fry the other side for a couple of minutes as well. Remove the chicken from the pan. 3. Add the bacon/lardons and fry until brown and almost crispy. If there's a lot of rendered fat in the pan at this stage, remove it using a spoon leaving behind about a couple of spoonfuls in the pan. 4. Add the chopped vegetables except the cabbage to the pan and sauté for about ﬁve minutes until a little soft. Add the cabbage to the pan and sauté for another ﬁve minutes. 5. Add the red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Pour in the chicken stock. Place the chicken thighs on the top skin side facing up. Bring the contents of the pan to a boil, then cover with a lid and place in the oven for about 45 minutes. 6. At the end of 45 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and check to see if the chicken is cooked through and that there's not too much liquid left in the pan (if that's the case, simmer it gently on the hob to get rid of excess liquid). The dish is now ready to be served.

Split Green Pea & Ham Soup

There's nothing more comforting than a hearty soup on a cold winter's day. This cheap and cheerful recipe is inspired by a traditional Dutch soup called 'erwtensoep' made using split green peas and served with smoked sausages. I've used a joint of salted ham hock instead to lend more ﬂavour to the soup. However, you can also make it vegetarian by omitting the meat and topping with caramelized onions and a soft boiled egg perhaps.

INGREDIENTS (SERVES 4-6)

• 1 salted ham hock (jarret demi-sel) about 500g in weight • 350g split green peas (pois cassés) • 1 small onion diced • 2 leeks chopped • 2 carrots peeled and chopped • 1 clove of garlic peeled and chopped • 1 bay leaf

METHOD

4 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

1. To remove excess salt from the ham - Place the ham hock in a large saucepan and cover it with cold water. Let it soak for about an hour, changing the water at least once within the hour. Then place the pan along with the ham and water in it on a hob and bring the water to a boil. Turn oﬀ the heat and drain the pan. 2. Place the ham hock in a large casserole along with all the other ingredients. Add enough cold

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Cardamom & Orange French Toast

When you're looking for something diﬀerent for weekend breakfast or Sunday brunch, give this French toast a try. Orange zest is added to the custard for the bread and to the butter used as a topping at the end giving it a lovely citrusy ﬂavour complemented by the cardamom.

INGREDIENTS (MAKES 6 SLICES)

• 1¼ cups whole milk • ¼ cup double cream (entiere) • 2 eggs • 4 tablespoons sugar • ground seeds from 4 green cardamom pods • a pinch of salt • zest of one orange • 6 thick slices of brioche • 100g butter at room temperature

METHOD

water to the pan to cover the ham. 3. Place the pan on the hob on a medium heat and bring the contents to a boil. Let it simmer on a medium-low heat for a good 1.5-2 hours skimming away any froth that rises to the surface. Keep checking and adding more water to the pan if needed. 4. Remove the ham from the pan and place it on a cutting board. Once it's cool enough to handle, shred or cut away the meat from the bone and set aside. 5. The peas and vegetables will cook down quite a bit so there's no need to blend the soup. Let it simmer until it reaches the consistency you desire (it does thicken as it sits). Add salt to season it and add the meat from the ham hock to the soup. Serve hot.

1. In a large bowl, mix together the milk, cream, eggs, sugar, ground cardamom, salt and half the orange zest. 2. Mix in the rest of the orange zest with the butter and set aside. You'll have more than you need for this recipe but it can be stored in the fridge for later use. 3. Place the brioche slices in a large rimmed baking tray and pour the milk and cream mixture over it. Let it soak for 20-25 minutes. 4. Place a frying pan on medium heat and melt a knob of the orange zest butter in it. 5. Carefully place two slices of brioches in the pan and fry both sides until the surface is well toasted and golden brown. 6. Keep the cooked french toast slices in a low warm oven until all of them are done. 7. Serve warm with more of the orange zest butter on top and maple syrup.

InDiaN cOOKInG WORKShoPS

Learn to cook your favourite Indian dishes with Sujatha at Closerie Les Roches 1 day workshops from 9.30am-3pm Small groups of 4-6 only €80 per person - lunch included Tel: +33 784372991 or email: info@closerielesroches.com Visit www.closerielesroches.com for more details.

TAKE A BREAK

Easy Crossword (with thanks to Rob Berry) ACROSS

1. Yellow fruit (6) 4. Have an ambitious plan or lofty goal (6) 8. Picture made by a camera (5) 9. Extreme greed (7) 10. Facial expression of contempt or scorn (5) 11. One who lives in solitude (7) 12. Card game (4-5) 15. A dense growth of bushes (7) 16. Feeling a need to see others suﬀer; nastiness (5) 17. A large amount of wealth or prosperity (7) 18. Physically weak (5) 19. Interfere in other people's aﬀairs (6) 20. Collect or look around for food (6)

DOWN

2. The capital of Greece (6) 3. Proven or shown to be true or genuine (13) 5. Large European butterﬂy (6-7) 6. A pause from doing something; short work break (6) 7. J.K. Rowling character (5-6) 13. Chair for a monarch (6) 14. A lightweight cord (6)

1. Take away food from man, since he was disruptive. (7) 2. Perfect personality for a kind of field organisation? (5) 3. Essential part of secret I kept turned up flying object. (4) . 4. Poetically it is very short. (3) 5. French symbol starting the revolution in calling on aristocrat to be cut off. (8) 6. Classic example of great work on the making of pie. (7) 7. Sport a very common hairpiece on edges of boundary. (5) 12. Express hesitation after nothing on the road is put in the right place. (5) 13. Violent, hard gust declining to weaker currents. (8) | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

12 13

1. If not this, it's said to be neither fair nor upright. (7) 5. It is to do with them living in South Eire environment. (5) 8 8. Current queen is taking tea still. (5) 9. Rod's classic marine work coming from a sling I unpinned. (7) 10. Student taken on by golfer placed centrally to get measurements. (4) 11. Somersaulting on my pool, leaving no space for anybody else? (8) 10 14. Amphibian turtle ﬂipping easily, at ﬁrst backwards. (3) 16. West country show of French in centre of common marsupial. (5) 17. Little creature that no self-respecting naturalist keeps in 14 captivity. (3) 19. Game question in salutation, often described by 1 down. (8) 20. Thanks to the force of the sea, a body of water is preserved. (4) 23. Somebody talking about you if you are within this? (7) 19 25. Took a picture to capture a ruminant. (5) 26. Afterthought following addition of drains. (5) 27. Polite ladies are warming to good sounds of cattle. (7)

DOWN

Cryptic Crossword (with thanks to Mike Morris) ACROSS

13 15

20 22

15. Proposition to put inverted ﬁsh eggs in with the others. (7) 18. Building barriers could be seen as dodging the issue. (7) 19. He's well within the limits of class game of strategy. (5) 21. French qualiﬁcation in the very best class of calculators. (5) 22. Puts loop over horses used in this activity. (4) 24. Appropriate label for children's game? (3)

www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr you’ll ﬁnd all the answers on page 4 !

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Word scramble test your knowledge of French food and drink! 1. CIUEQH RONLERAI 2. TFTTLREIEAT 3. FBUOE RUOOGGNIBNU 4. IOLUERALTTA 5. OTPEUL BASAIQSUE 6. URUEOHOCTC 7. EINDESV UA ANJMOB 8. EFHCELUMAMK 9. QOC UA NIV 10. OIAAUESBSLBLI

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Building & Renovation

DARREN LAWRENCE Railing & Plasterboarding Renovation Work Painting, Decorating & Tiling Wood Flooring Carpentry Bathrooms & Kitchens Contact Darren Lawrence Tel: 05 49 94 64 90 Email: lawrenceassociates79@gmail.com Based near Parthenay. Siret no: 802 238 964 00018

H&R Building & Renovation Services < Roof repairs < Carpentry < Renovations and Refurbishment < Blockwork and Brickwork < Boarding and Plastering < Velux and Dormers < Groundwork, Patios and Paving < Kitchens (Howdens) & Bathrooms

tel/WhatsApp: 06 29 62 81 26 email: hjrizzlor@hotmail.com web: tinyurl.com/HeathRutherford

SIRET: 8414 0681 200013

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DPS Services

Gardener | Handyman

Garden maintenance, grass cutting, strimming, hedge cutting, weed control, planting, pruning, pathways & patios Fence Installation and repairs Interior & exterior decorating Regular visits or one-off jobs Local & dependable

Darren Stutter

Building and Renovation Services SIRET: 51086916700013

All aspects of building work undertaken:

• Roof repairs/new roofs • Carpentry • Floor sanding • Bathrooms & Plumbing

Tel: 07 76 69 46 64 or 05 49 64 41 81

email: buildingandrenovationservices@orange.fr web: renovationservices79.wixsite.com/website

Phone: 05 49 94 27 29 | email: dpstutter@gmail.com | L'ancienne Ecole, 79310

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40 years experience in construction, including 18 years in France

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La Deuxième Chance 7 rue de la Croix Cholette 79120 Bois de Messé Opening Times Tuesday 10am - 5.30pm Weds - Fri by appointment only

telephone: 05 49 27 12 62

www.ladeuxiemechance.com SIRET: 752 225 953 00021

FOSSE AND GROUNDWORKS 79

Had an eye watering quote for your fosse? Don't panic! We’re here for you! Based near Chef Boutonne and covering a 50km radius. We also offer all aspects of groundworks including:

• all types of fosse septique installed • machine and driver hire • drainage • driveways • foundations • tree stump removal • ground clearance • trench digging for electric/water/services

mobile: +44 7725 233726 10 Year Decennale Insurance

email: fosseandgroundworks79@hotmail.com

www.fosseandgroundworks79.com

Siret: 882 747 348 00010

with over 40 years experience in:

The Deux-sèvres Monthly |

Building & Renovation STEVE COUPLAND Based 79130 Secondigny

SIRET: 491 711 354 00036

Property Services including:Plumbing Tiling Dry Walling

www.facebook.com/SRCplumbingandrenovations

Mobile: 07 89 30 95 86

email: steve.coupland@hotmail.com

www.srcplumbingandrenovations.fr

FULLY QUALIFIED & INSURED 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE Domestic & commercial Deux-Sèvres & surrounding areas Available 24/7

MICHAEL MOORE TEL - 06 49 61 26 68

EMAIL - 79ELEC@GMAIL.COM

SIRET - 881 860 506 00016

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jon-thecarpetman 1000’s of modern carpet samples available to choose from..... Ask for our At Home service and we’ll bring the samples to you!

GLENDEE Property Services

Membre de la Chambres de Métiers et de l’Artisanat Fully Insured

Building / Brickwork Property Maintenance Patios & Decking Repointing

SIRET 851 535 930 00016

Roof repairs Garden Maintenance Landscaping Tel: 05 49 94 63 59 Mob: 07 80 66 70 96 email: glenrodger63@gmail.com

40 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

Covering all of Deux-Sèvres and neighbouring departments

Free estimates - no obligation

35 years experience ~ Fully registered and insured

Contact Jon Prince Tel: 09 63 56 23 10 Mob: 06 42 19 82 12 Email: jonthecarpetman@gmail.com or visit our website to find out more

www.jonthecarpetman.com Find us on Facebook

PRINCE S.A.R.L. siret 538 076 688

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Call, Text or WhatsApp Owen on 06 73 50 14 41 email: kmpropertymaintenance@outlook.com

The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 41

Our Furry Friends new beginnings at hope , but it's business as usual! Volunteers are the lifeblood of Hope 79, and the team are always ready to welcome new members. If you're interested, you can contact Hope 79 in person at the store, through their website, or via Facebook Messenger. Hope 79's online presence has also had a makeover. They've launched a new website, www.hope79.org, and a new Facebook page, 'Hope 79 pour Les Animaux charity shop Sauzé Vaussais.' Visitors can still find a wide range of items at the Hope 79 Shop, from clothes to DIY supplies, toys to CDs. The Furniture Barn remains a haven for those kitting out their homes or looking for pieces for upcycling projects. Best of all, every purchase supports animal charities, making every bargain a boost to a worthy cause. As they start this new chapter, Hope 79 Pour Les Animaux remains committed to their mission. They're looking forward to welcoming back customers and continuing to raise funds for animal charities. You can be sure that at Hope 79, every bargain you snap up helps animals in need. From 4 January 2024, Hope 79 Pour Les Animaux has become an independent association. This means they now own the Hope 79 Shop and all its assets. It's a big deal for this charity, which has been a keen supporter of animal charities in and around the Deux-Sèvres for many years. The team at Hope 79 are keen to thank their customers and volunteers for their ongoing support and dedication. "We couldn't exist without you!" they say, underlining the importance of community involvement to their work. Despite the change in status, Hope 79's mission remains the same: "To support organisations that provide care to unwanted, injured or shelter animals." Through the hard work of volunteers and the generosity of donors, Hope 79 raises essential funds to help those who are providing this critical care. While there have been changes behind the scenes, it's business as usual when you visit the shop. The opening hours are still 10h00-16h00 every Thursday and the first Sunday of the month at the Main Shop, and 11h00-15h00 at the Furniture Barn. They also continue to accept donations on Thursdays between 11h00-15h00. The Brit Shop, popular with customers craving a bit of British comfort food, is staying the same. This corner of the shop offers a taste of home, from snacks to cakes and refreshing drinks.

For more information, check out their new website at www.hope79.org or visit their Facebook page: 'Hope 79 pour Les Animaux charity shop Sauzé Vaussais'.

Lend a Paw En route needs your help to foster dogs We at En Route are being asked more and more often to help rehome dogs for private families who are no longer able to keep their dogs. We can only help those people if we have foster families able to give those dogs a temporary home while we search for their new humans. If you're interested in fostering and live within an hour of Sainte Soline 79120 please get in touch for a chat. You can contact us via email at henri@assoenroute.com or pm on our facebook page 'Association En Route' You don't need to be available all of the time and can specify the type of dog you're able to help. Please get in touch.

recycle your unwanted gifts and items and donate them to arK

Do you have any unwanted gifts from Christmas or just having a general clear out for the new year and wondering what to do with them? ARK 79 would love to receive them.

If you have new items which we can use in the auctions, these can be handed into the tearoom area (when the shop is open) to go directly for the auction.

The gate is open so donations can be made any day and can be left in the donations shed at the far end of the property please note we do have CCTV for security reasons.

Thank you for supporting ARK79 we appreciate all your donations.

We are on Tuesdays, and the last Saturday in February between 10h00 - 14h00 and would love to see you.

42 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

As long as the items are new, nearly new or in good condition we are able to sell them at the shop in St. Soline or in our auctions and raise funds for the various animal charities we support.

Do you know of a pet rescue charity that could use this free spot to advertise? Send us the details and we’ll try to include them next month. Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

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insurance and asset management advice in English Isabelle Want

Hello, my name is Isabelle Want. For the past 10 years, I have been working for Allianz as an asset manager. Being married to an Englishman and having lived in the UK for 8 years gives me a better insight into what British

people are experiencing and what they need. Being French and born in the Charente has enabled me to oﬀer some answers. I am, as always, available for any free advice on the following subjects:

- INHERITANCE LAW (who inherits, death duties, solutions) -TAXES (everybody's fear! The month of May tax forms, etc) -INVESTMENTS (what is available, what rate, etc.) -LIFE INSURANCE (how to protect your loved ones) -FUNERAL COVER (preparing for the inevitable, unfortunately!) -TOP UP HEALTH INSURANCE (why you need it and how much it is) -INSURANCES (get a free quote to see if you could save money)

I work in the Allianz oﬃces in Ruﬀec, La Rochefoucauld, Roumaziere Loubert and Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure and my contact details are below. Please do not hesitate to contact me for free advice on any of the above or if you think you are paying too much on your insurances and want a free quote. We have a dedicated bilingual team to deal with claims. Finally, we have an English website with all sorts of useful information and tips on all of the above subjects: www.bh-assurances.fr/en Isabelle Want, BH Assurances Conseiller Financier/ Asset Manager Mob:+33(0)6 17 30 39 11 Email: isabelle.want@bh-assurances.fr N° orias : 07020908/07021727/07004255

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Our Furry Friends Shop

Shop and Café Open every Wednesday 11am - 4pm

Open 10am to 4pm, Thursdays & 1st Sunday of the Month

Oh my lord Francks fish and chips second Wednesday of the month from 12h00

2 Rte de Vauthion 79190 Sauzé Vaussais

Furniture Barn Open 11am to 3pm, Thursdays & 1st Sunday of the Month

Magasin et Café Ouvert tous les mercredis de 11h à 16h

1 Rte de la Mare aux Loups Louba 79190 Clussais-le-Pommeraie

Oh my lord Francks fish and chips le 2ème mercredi du mois à partir de 12h00

No RNA: W792009674

Facebook Groups: Hope79 Sauze-Vaussais Furniture for Sale Hope Associaton Charity Shop 79

hELioS

THE ASSOCIATION EN ROUTE tel: 07 69 18 56 81 or email: henri@assoenroute.com

Helios is 11 years young and his raison d'etre is to ﬁll his people's lives with joy.! He's a bit fussy about some dogs and will chase cats, so is probably best as an only dog but promises to brighten your life with his charm. Please contact us if you'd like more info henri@assoenroute.com.

www.assoenroute.com

zzAssociation: W792005754

Donations welcome Monday 10am - 12pm Wednesday 11am-3pm Les dons sont les bienvenus les lundis 10h - 12h et mercredis de 11h à 15h

Email shopseventynine4hope@gmail.com

The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 4

money matters

Can you make france a tax-efficient home? by Catrina Ogilvie, Blevins Franks When you research French taxation online, the facts and figures can appear discouraging at first glance. But if you look deeper into the system and establish what compliant tax planning arrangements are available, you may be pleasantly surprised. In many cases it is possible to legitimately re-engineer your financial arrangements to make France your own tax haven, especially if you are retired.

Is France a fiscally attractive place to retire? While the UK and French income tax systems appear fairly similar, this is before you consider the French parts familiales system. In France, income tax is calculated on a household basis, where everyone’s income is added together. That figure is divided by the number of parts (household members) and the income tax liability calculated using that amount. This levels out the household’s income. For example, couples where one partner has built up a substantial source of pension income, while the other just has a small pension, can find the parts system is very beneficial.

Can British retirees still apply for an S1? Form S1 is alive and well and one of the most valuable things every British expatriate needs to consider. Having a UK Form S1 in France means you do not need to buy costly medial insurance or pay into the French PUMA healthcare system. The other major advantage of an S1 is the exemption you are granted which suppresses French social charges. It completely exempts you from paying the 9.1% pensions social charge, and the rate for investment income drops from 17.2% to just 7.5%.

44 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

Form S1 could save you quite a bit of tax each year – another plus for spending your retirement in France.

From a tax perspective, is better to die in the UK or France? There’s no one answer here. It depends on who your beneficiaries are and what estate planning you set up in advance. Without appropriate arrangements, such as holding investment assets in an assurance-vie in France, your heirs could easily pay more tax than they need to. In France, the beneficiaries each pay succession tax, not the estate, and the tax rate varies according to the relationship between the deceased and beneficiary and the amount inherited. If the recipient is not of your bloodline they’ll pay 60% tax on their inheritance –this includes unmarried partners and stepchildren. Children receive €100,000 tax free as standard. With appropriate planning this could increase to €252,500. This is from each parent to each child. Take specialist personalised advice to establish exactly how the French tax system affects your family, and what compliant tax planning opportunities in France will suit your circumstances and objectives. Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice.. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com.

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Expert advice

ask amanda

hi amanda, i have been reading that i should review my finances each year. very little has changed in my life during the last 12-1 months, why should i review my finances? Firstly, I would like to wish all the readers of The Deux Sevres Magazine and their families a very Happy New Year! When and how often you should review your financial position is a question I often get asked by people attending my financial surgeries and seminars . There are several questions which I feel are important to consider when looking at whether you are due for a financial review: 1) When did you last sit down and fully review your finances? If you have not had a review for 12 months or more, you may not be aware of legislation changes or new opportunities which may be open to you.

2) have your personal plans and aspirations changed since your last review? Are you now looking at taking early retirement or wish to look in more detail at inheritance planning? Perhaps you are looking at downsizing and want to make any surplus monies work eﬃciently for you? ) how are any investments or savings you hold performing? When you took out an investment or savings plan, it is likely you looked at how they had performed and this past performance made a sizable contribution to your choices. That information is now out of date and replaced by more recent information. Reviewing this new data is vital in ensuring your money is still working for you to its best ability. 2023 was a challenging year and knowing what is happening with your investments is very important.

4) Do you need to take more income to keep the same standard of living? 2023 saw huge increases in the cost of living, not only on our heating bills but day to day shopping basket. Reviewing your income and expenditure early on in the year, can help you plan for the year ahead. ) is your attitude to risk v reward the same now as when you took out your investments? When took out your investments, your adviser will have spoken to you about the length of time you could comfortably put the money aside for, and how much risk you were prepared to take over this timescale. That may well have changed and if so your portfolio will need to be adjusted. Just because your last year feels fairly standard, you should not underestimate how external factors can have an eﬀect on your ﬁnancial security and your ability to make the best use of any money you have worked hard to earn. Whether you want to register for our newsletter, attend one of our road shows or speak to me directly, please call or email me on the contacts below & I will be glad to help you. We do not charge for reviews, reports or recommendations we provide.

Amanda Johnson tel : 06 73 27 25 43

e-mail : amanda.johnson@spectrum-ifa.com

www.spectrum-ifa.com/amanda-johnson

Amanda Johnson works as an Independent Financial Adviser with the Spectrum IFA Group tel: 06 73 27 25 43 or email: amanda.johnson@spectrum-ifa.com www.spectrum-ifa.com/amandajohnson Whether you want to register for a newsletter, attend a roadshow or speak Amanda directly, please call or email her. The Spectrum IFA Group do not charge for reviews, reports, or recommendations.

« The Spectrum IFA Group » is a registered trademark, exclusive rights to use in France granted to TSG Insurance Services S.A.R.L. Siège Social: 34 Bd des Italiens, 75009 « Société de Courtage d'assurances » R.C.S. Paris B 447 609 108 (2003B04384) Numéro d'immatriculation 07 025 332 - www.orias.fr « Conseiller en investissements ﬁnanciers, référence sous le numéro E002440 par ANACOFI-CIF, association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers »

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The Deux-sèvres Monthly | 4

This month’s advertisers Aﬀordable UK Designs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Alcoholics Anonymous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Association Escoval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Assurances Maucourt (GAN Parthenay) . . . . . . . . 21 Beaux Villages Immobilier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 BH Assurances / Allianz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Blevins Franks Wealth Management Limited . . 2, 44 Building and Renovation Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Chris Bassett Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Clean & Clear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Closerie Les Roches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Darren Lawrence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Dave Murphy - Hypnotist & Life Coach . . . . . . . . . 11 DPS Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Eazy Moves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Fosse and Groundworks 79 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Franglais Deliveries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Gingers Kitchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Glendee Property Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 H & R Building Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Hallmark Electricité . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Home Pool Services Vendée . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Irving Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Jeﬀ’s Metalwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Jon the Carpet man. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 KM Property Maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 KM Services 79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 La Deuxieme Chance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 La Petite Ferme d'Alpagas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Leggett Immoblier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Leggett Recruitment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 LPV Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Magic Renovations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Maison Secondaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Mann Upholstery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Mark Sabestini . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Michael Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Michel Barateau - Cabinet maker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 ML Computers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Mr T's Friterie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 MT Menuiserie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Mutuelle de Poitiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Poppy Appeal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Rob Berry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 RT Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Simon the Tiler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Smart Moves Removals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Spectrum IFA Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Stephen Shaw EI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Steve Coupland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Strictly Rooﬁng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Sunny Sky Cars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 The Fixer Administration Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 The French House Satellite TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Val Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Vendée Pools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Vienne Tree Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Thank you to all our advertisers - your support enables us to print and distribute the magazine every month!

Puzzle answers Easy Crossword

B A N A N A A S P I R T U H U E P H O T O A V A R I C E H H R P E S N E E R R E C L U S S N Y E S S T U D P O K E R T I O M S T H I C K E T S P I T R A T E R F O R T U N E F R A I N E R O N M E D D L E F O R A G

Cryptic Crossword 1

C H I N E S E

C H E S S

R I C K E T D I I N E R T S A E L L S M O D R F T R O D H A E H E Q U E R O G A R S H O T E T A U M P S G 2

T H E I R R P U A I L I N G C T B N O P O L Y L M E O E L F R E S T A R N P B C O K A P I L C N L O W I N G 5

4 | The Deux-sèvres Monthly

sudoku Easy

Medium

Very Hard

Word scramble

1. CIUEQH RONLERAI 2. TFTTLREIEAT 3. FBUOE RUOOGGNIBNU 4. IOLUERALTTA 5. OTPEUL BASAIQSUE 6. URUEOHOCTC 7. EINDESV UA ANJMOB 8. EFHCELUMAMK 9. QOC UA NIV 10. OIAAUESBSLBLI

QUICHE LORRAINE TARTIFLETTE BOEUF BOURGUIGNON RATATOUILLE POULET BASQUAISE CHOUCROUTE ENDIVES AU JAMBON FLAMMEKUCHE COQ AU VIN BOUILLABAISSE

LOCAL KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN TRUST Our selection of properties for sale in the Deux-Sèvres

EXCLUSIVE

Recently Reduced

Beautifully Renovated

River Views

Ref: A24091 - 3-bedroom property with views, garden and outbuildings.

Ref: A25456 - 5-bedroom water mill with château views and a new pool.

Ref: A19229 - Pretty 2/3 bedroom house with gardens and outbuildings.

EXCLUSIVE

€194,400 Chef-Boutonne

Beugnon-Thireuil

8% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: D Climate class: B

Superb Opportunity

Vernoux-en-Gâtine

6% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: B

Renovation Project

Alloinay

€44,480

Ref: A25907- Two adjoining houses to renovate, with a small courtyard garden. Agency fees to be paid by the seller. DPE: Not required

5% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: D Climate class: C

Secluded Setting

€333,900 Valdelaume

Ref: A10243 - Three gîtes and owners home, 10 bedrooms in total and garden.

€599,999 Le Vert

€251,450 Vanzay

7% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: B

€239,784

Ref: A18103 - Renovated 3-bedroom farmhouse with cottage, barn and garden. Agency fees to be paid by the seller. Energy class: C Climate class: C

Maison de Maître

Charming Property

Ref: A22739 - 5-bedroom manor with bungalow, gîte, 4 hectares and barns.

Ref: A25753- 4-bedroom maison de maître-style property with a gîte.

€262,150 Brion-près-Thouet

Ref: A20139 - Stunning 4-bedroom house with workshop and garden.

Income Potential

€425,000 Alloinay

€149,500

7% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: E

Agency fees to be paid by the seller. Energy class: D Climate class: C

7% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: B

EXCLUSIVE

L’Absie

Plenty of Space

Riverside Location

€136,250 Chiché

Ref: A25787 - Spacious 3-bedroom house with apartment, garage and garden. 9% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: F

€347,000 Melle

Ref: A24668 - Beautiful 5-bedroom property with a 3 bedroom apartment. 6% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: D Climate class: B

Blank Canvas

€77,000

Ref: A25524 - 2- bedroom house for renovation with large garden.

10% agency fees included paid by the buyer. DPE: Not required

We have helped 1000s of clients buy and sell property in France and have 8000+ properties listed on our website. If you are looking to sell, contact us for a free market appraisal.

. & £ f¶ § Ě² N

+33 (0)5 53 60 84 88 · leggettfrance.com · info@leggett.fr

Information on the risks to which these properties are exposed is available on the Geohazards website: www.georisques .gouv.fr

www.beauxvillages.com

05 56 71 36 59 info@beauxvillages.com

EXCLUSIVE

SECONDIGNY €404,255 Ref: BVI72823 Two homes with two fishing lakes and 2.1 hectares of land

VANZAY €239,784 Ref: BVI72289 3-bed renovated farmhouse with gardens and cottage to renovate

Fees : paid by the vendor Climate class: E Energy class: B

Fees : paid by the vendor Climate class: C Energy class: C

Winner of Best Estate Agency France and Best Website France

EXCLUSIVE

THOUARS €1,250,000 Ref: BVI57873 Established campsite situated in over 3 hectares of parkland

SAINT-COUTANT €121,500 Ref: BVI67441 Renovated 2-bed village property in a sought after village

MELLE €1,150,000 Ref: BVI65034 A 10-bed manor house, 2-bed guest house with gardens and pool

Fees : paid by the vendor Climate class: D Energy class: B

Fees : paid by the vendor Climate class: C Energy class: C

Fees : paid by the vendor Climate class: E Energy class: B

MENIGOUTE €249,845 HAI Ref: BVI72273 5-bed Maison de maître with large garden - walking distance to amenities

PARTHENAY €269,000 Ref: BVI72643 A large 3-bed, 2-bath modern property with sauna, yoga studio and pool

MESSE €482,300 HAI Ref: BVI72497 A stunning 3-bed property with 2-bed gîte, pool and gardens

Fees: 7% paid by the buyer Net price: €233,500 Climate class: E Energy class: B

Fees : paid by the vendor Climate class: D Energy class: B

Fees: 6% paid by the buyer Net price: €455,000 Climate class: D Energy class: D

Join our team! We’re recruiting independent property consultants across all areas of South West France. Want to know more? Email Tina, Head of Recruitment at tina.anderson@beauxvillages.com

Information on the risks to which these properties are exposed is available on the Geohazards website: www.georisques.gouv.fr

Siret : 501 191 720 00199 - Sas Beaux Villages Immobilier au capital de 2 000 € - RCS 501 191 720 Bordeaux - CPI 3301 2018 000 027 010 Bordeaux