deVere France S.a.r.l. are regulated by ANACOFI-CIF and ORIAS which will only recommend French regulated products.
Helen Booth works as a financial adviser for deVere France S.a.r.l. part of deVere Group, one of the world’s leading independent financial consultancies. Helen, who lives in the Deux-Sèvres region, worked in the financial services industry in the UK for 15 years and prides herself on being fully diploma-qualified for the services she provides in France.
With more than $10 billion of funds under its advice and administration, and with more than 80,000 clients around the world, deVere Group truly offers a myriad of unique products and notes that are not available anywhere else in the market. This, as Helen puts it, gives clients the pick of the crop when it comes to investing.
deVere France can advise you on ways to help safeguard and increase your wealth, as well as helping with HMRC-recognised pension transfers to a Qualified Recognised Overseas Pensions scheme (QROPS) to give you potentially more flexibility in your pension plans.
If you would like to know more about how deVere France can help you, contact Helen Booth DipPFS , EFA
Mobile: +33 (0) 77 171 2879
Email: helen.booth@devere-france.fr
Dénomination sociale: deVere France S.a.r.l, RCS B 528949837, 29 Rue Taitbout, 75009, Paris, France. Gérant: Mr. Jason Trowles. Registre avec ANACOFI-CIF (Association Nationale des Conseils Financiers). Nombre enregistré: E008176, association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers. Courtier d’assurances ou de réassurance, Catégorie B, inscrit à l’Organisme pour le Registre des Intermédiaires en Assurance (ORIAS) numéro enregistré 12064640. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances. Registered name: deVere France S.a.r.l, registered company number RCS B 528949837, 29 Rue Taitbout, 75009, Paris, France. Gérant: Mr. Jason Trowles. Registered with ANACOFI-CIF (National Association of Financial Advisers). Registered number: E008176, association approved by the Financial Markets Authority. Insurance and re-insurance brokers, Category B, registered with the Organisation for the Registration of Assurance Intermediaries (ORIAS). Registered number 12064640. Financial and Professional Liability Insurance Guarantee conforms to article L 541-3 of the Monetary and Fiscal Code and L 512-6 and 512-7 of the Assurance Code. 6XKWSX • V1.1/230418
Hello and welcome to the November issue of the Deux-Sèvres Monthly magazine!
November is a time of reflection, when we honour the brave souls who gave their lives in the First World War and in all the conflicts since. Living here in France, the impact of these wars is very personal and poignant. In our close-knit rural community, the names on the memorials are familiar - people we know or hear about in our everyday lives. When we are out and about, we are constantly reminded of the courage of the resistance fighters by the memorials dotted in the countryside. This is a far cry from the light-hearted portrayal we remember in ‘Allo ‘Allo'.
The twinning movement was born out of a desire for unity and understanding after the Second World War. Back in Wales, we were actively involved in twinning the towns of Raglan and Parcé-sur-Sarthe. Over the years, we have forged deep friendships with our friends in the Sarthe that continue to this day. Some may think that town twinning is outdated or only for retired people, but our experience is exactly the opposite. Even with a young child and a full-time job, we found it incredibly rewarding. So if you have the opportunity to get involved - whether it's by hosting a family or helping with translationstake it! Especially now, with Brexit limiting opportunities for young people, these connections are more important than ever.
If, like us, you sit and scratch your head at the cryptic crossword every month then we have good news. Mike Morris has put together some tops tips on where to start to solve those cryptic teasers.
You’ll also find some simple seasonal recipes, plus one for Christmas pudding that doesn’t use the elusive suet.
We’ve noticed that the Christmas spirit has crept into this month’s What’s On section, with Christmas events on offer everywhere. There's only eight weeks until Christmas when this issue hits the shelves, so get in touch if you'd like to promote a festive event. Just email us at info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr.
We wish you peace on earth and look forward to seeing you again in December!
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
insurance. Before embarking on a long journey to attend a published 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
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
Assemblée Evangélique Le Rendez-Vous. Every 1st Sunday in St Hilaire de Voust for bilingual worship, Bible study & lunch. Other Sundays we meet in home groups. Contact: 07 75 75 07 52 email: contact@lerendezvous85.com www.churchinfrance.com Word of Life Fellowship Sundays 3:00pm. 10 Rue de l’Huilerie, 79110 Chef-Boutonne. Please visit our website for more… www.word-of-life.net
Monday a.m.
Tuesday a.m.
Wednesday a.m.
Thursday a.m.
Friday a.m.
Saturday a.m.
Cerizay 79140 place des Halles
Bressuire 79300 place Dupin
Coulonges-sur-l'Autize 79160 Centre Ville
La Creche 79260 rue du Marché
Lezay 79120 place du Marché
Niort 79000 place des Halles
Thouars 79100 place Lavault
Vasles 79340 la place du 25 Août
Celles-sur-Belle79370 Centre Ville
Niort 79000 place des Halles
Parthenay 79200 rue Jean-Jaurès
Argenton-les-Vallées 79150 place Philippe de Commynes
La Motte St Héray 79800 place Clémenceau
Niort 79000 place des Halles
Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 Centre Ville
Coulon 79510 place de l'Eglise
Melle 79500 place Bujault
Niort 79000 place des Halles
Nueil les Aubiers 79250 place Pierre Garnier
Thouars 79100 place Lavault
Airvault 79600 place Saint-Pierre
Bressuire 79300 place Dupin
Cerizay 79140 place des Halles
Champdeniers 79220 Centre Ville
Chef-Boutonne 79110 Centre Ville
Coulonges-sur-l'Autize 79160 place des Halles
Le Tallud 79200 place de l'Église
Lezay 79120 place du Marché
Mauleon 79700 place du château
Mauze sur le Mignon 79210 place de l'Eglise
Moncoutant 79320 Centre Ville
Niort 79000 place des Halles
Parthenay 79200 rue Jean-Jaurès
Saint Maixent-l'Ecole 79400 place du Marché
THE ENGLISH SPEAKING CHURCH OF THE VALLEY OF THE LOIRE “ESCOVAL”
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 : gcfrance6052@gmail.com
Jim Burrows : 05 49 22 41 78
Carole Taylor : mumsikins@hotmail.com
Sunday a.m.
Chatillon sur Thouet 79200 place du Parnasse
Coulon 79510 place de l'Eglise
La Creche 79260 rue du Marché
Niort 79000 place des Halles
Saint-Loup-Lamairé place du Marché
Thénezay 79390 place de L'Hôtel de Ville
Local Markets in neighbouring departments
Monday a.m.
Benet 85490 place du Champ de Foire
Doue-la-Fontaine 49700 place du Champ de Foire
Tuesday a.m. Civray 86400 place Leclerc
Montrueil-Bellay 49260 place du Marché
Mortagne-sur-Sèvres 85290 place Hullin
Surgéres 17700 rue Audry de Puyravault
Wednesday a.m. Fontenay-le-Comte 85200 place du Commerce
Lusignan 86600 place Isabelle d’Angoulême
Ruffec 16700 Centre Ville
Vihiers 49310 place Charles-de-Gaulle
Thursday a.m. Aulnay 17470 Centre Ville
Pouzauges 85700 les Halles
Surgéres 17700 rue Audry de Puyravault
Friday a.m. Civray 86400 place Leclerc
Saturday a.m.
Doue-la-Fontaine 49700 place René Nicolas
La Châtaigneraie 85120 place de la République
Cholet 49300 place du 8 Mai 1945
Fontenay-le-Comte 85200 place du Commerce
La Châtaigneraie 85120 place de la République
Pouzauges 85700 place de l’Hôtel de Ville
Ruffec 16700 Centre Ville
Surgéres 17700 rue Audry de Puyravault
Sunday a.m.
Aulnay 17470 Centre Ville
Latillé 86190 place Robert Gerbier
Valence-en-Poitou 86700 place du Marché
40TH INTERNATIONAL
ORNITHOLOGICAL FILM FESTIVAL
29 October - 3 November
Ménigoute
This renowned festival showcases wildlife films from around the world, featuring the latest nature documentaries. The event offers film screenings, conferences, exhibitions, and environmental activities, attracting people of all ages and backgrounds. menigoute-festival.org
REACTION BOOK CLUB
6 November, 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 : ‘Our Missing Hearts’ by Celeste Ng. reactiontheatre.eu
FÊTE DES ROSIERS D’AUTOMNE
9 - 11 November
Doué-en-Anjou (49700)
Celebrate autumn with a vibrant rose festival featuring a vast collection of over 800 rose varieties, expert gardening advice, and delightful rose-based products. Enjoy free entry to the market and special events. lescheminsdelarose.com
ARMISTICE DE 1918
11 November
Throughout France France commemorates the end of World War I with military parades, ceremonies, and a moment's silence at 11am. Like the poppy in the UK, attendees typically wear a Bleuet (a cornflower), a symbol of remembrance for the fallen. bleuetdefrance.fr
MARCHÉ DE BOISMÉ
15 November
Boismé
Experience a vibrant farmers' market every third Friday of the month, featuring local producers offering poultry, beef, honey, cheese, and more. Enjoy live music and refreshments on site. boisme.fr
PORTES OUVERTES
15 November
Sanzay, Argentonnay
Explore La Colporteuse, a vibrant hub where you can learn new skills and help the environment. Discover soap making, beekeeping, and a bar associative, among other activities. Meet our team and learn about our community projects. lacolporteuse.net
LE SALON DE L’HABITAT
15 – 17 November
Bocapole, Bressuire
This event brings together experts from the home construction, renovation, and decoration industries in one convenient location. Explore the latest trends and innovations, ensuring you have everything you need for your home projects.
puzzle-centre.fr
MARCHÉ DE L'AVENT
16 November
Gourgé
Experience a warm, family-friendly atmosphere at Les Jardins de la Cure. Savour traditional mulled wines, ciders, and soups while children enjoy sending letters to Father Christmas. A perfect festive gathering for all ages. gourge.fr
CAFÉ RÉPARATION
16 November
Melle
Join us at a repair café where volunteers assist in fixing broken items. Share your repair, maintenance, or sewing skills, or learn from others in this communitydriven event. Everyone is welcome to contribute and learn. lebetalab.fr
SALON DU VIN NU #3
16 - 17 November
Aiffres
Discover natural wines at the Salon du Vin Nu. Meet winemakers from Anjou, Creuse, and Languedoc-Roussillon, taste their unique wines, and discuss their methods. Entry is €5 and includes a free glass.
Facebook: La Salasso
SALON DU MARIAGE
16 – 17 November
Bocapole, Bressuire
Prepare for your big day! The Salon du Mariage offers diverse services including catering, venues, attire, florists, decor, photography, videography, wedding planning, beauty services, and more. Featuring 30 exhibitors and fashion shows over two days. puzzle-centre.fr
NATURAL WINTER DECORATION
WORKSHOP
17 November
Bêta Lab, Melle
A workshop dedicated to crafting winter decorations using natural elements. This full-day event requires registration and
includes a shared meal. Participation is free of charge.
lesateliersdelasimplicite.com
VISITE ANIMÉE DE LA CLASSE 1900 17 November
Courlay
Travel back in time at La Tour Nivelle's 1900 classroom for a fun and nostalgic experience. Explore the Ernest Pérochon museum and a teacher's lodging on a self-guided tour. Admission: Adults €6.50; Children 6-18 years €4.50; Under 6s free. tournivelle.fr
ET PATATI ET PATATA... ET PAUSECAFE!
20 November
Chef Boutonne
Join a monthly gathering at the médiathèque to share your favorite books, music, films, and cultural topics over coffee and treats. Enjoy engaging conversations and make new friends mediatheque@chefboutonne.fr
REACTION POETRY GROUP
20 November
Fenioux
An afternoon of poetry and drinks with Reaction Theatre members and friends. The Reaction Poem & Pints group meets every 3rd Wednesday at 3pm at Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. We share our favourite poems – this month's theme is Favourite Poems. Everybody welcomecontact John Round at 05 49 95 03 65 if interested. reactiontheatre.eu
LE BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU EST ARRIVÉ!
21 November
Let's raise our glasses to toast the arrival of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau. Keep an eye out for upcoming events in the Deux-Sèvres region, which will be announced on the Deux-Sèvres Monthly Facebook page. Sante! beaujolaisnouveau.fr
Regular venues including:
• Argentonnay 79150
• Funny Farm Cat Rescue 79200
• Genneton 79150
• Louin 79600
• Noirlieu 79300
Remember to pick up your copy of The Deux-Sèvres Monthly!
Find us on Facebook:
Oh my Lord Franck’s fish and chips or email: lordmaurin@yahoo.com
MARCHÉ DE NOËL
St Aubin du Plain
23 - 24 November
With more than 30 exhibitors housed in charming wooden chalets, the event offers a festive atmosphere with mulled wine to warm your spirits. Enjoy a variety of entertainment options and immerse yourself in a winter wonderland with a snow machine creating a magical snowy landscape.
saintaubinduplain.fr
CHRISTMAS FAIR AT THE FUNNY FARM
24 November
St Germain de Longue Chaume
Celebrate a festive day with raffles, tombola, sales of party clothes, books, and Christmas grotto with mulled wine and mince pies. Enjoy hot soup, cakes, and Christmas nail painting. All proceeds support feeding and caring for rescued cats over Christmas.
Facebook.com: The Funny Farm Cat Rescue
SALON DE NOËL
24 November
Chiché
Discover local artisans and vendors offering a wide selection of Christmas gifts. Admission is free, there is a raffle and a wide selection of kitchen utensils, jewellery, leather goods, clothing, fine food, candles and games.
Facebook: Salon de Noël Chiché 79
MARCHÉ DE NOËL
24 November
Augé
Experience a beautiful semi-nocturnal Christmas market in Augé featuring pretty tree decorations, Santa's arrival, and a magnificent fire show. Enjoy delicious offerings from food trucks with on-site dining options. facebook.com/Mairiedauge
NOËL ET DÉVELOPPEMENT DURABLE
27 November
Cerizay
Join us for a creative afternoon transforming waste into beautiful Christmas decorations. Learn the art of furoshiki, a Japanese technique for wrapping gifts in fabric. Perfect for individuals or pairs.
bibliotheques.agglo2b.fr
IT'S SNOW TIME - A CHRISTMAS SHOW!
29 - 30 November
L'Absie
Join Reaction Theatre for a night of entertainment at Le Foyer. Tickets are 10€, available via email or at the door. Enjoy a show full of variety and humour, suitable for all ages, in both English and French. reactiontheatre.eu
MARCHÉ DE NOËL AU MZ
29 November - 1 December
Thouars
Visit the Marché de Noël at the MZ café, featuring a dozen creators, artisans, and artists with unique gifts. Stroll through the café and explore exhibitions in this former school setting. Discover original holiday gift ideas. le-mz.org
ATELIER CADEAUX GOURMANDS
30 November
Bêta Lab, Melle
Join the culinary workshop, Atelier Cadeaux Gourmands, from 10am-12pm. Organised by "Les Ateliers de la Simplicité", promoting daily actions for reduced ecological impact since 2011. Fees range from €12 to €20 based on resources. lesateliersdelasimplicite.com
MARCHÉ DE NOËL
30 November - 1 December
Saint-Loup-sur-Thouet,
Experience the magic at this popular Marché de Noël with over a hundred exhibitors, artisans, and producers. This charming market attracts more than 15,000 visitors annually, making it a must-visit event in Deux-Sèvres. rendezvoussaintloup.com
ARK79 CHRISTMAS FAIR
30 November & 3 December
Saint-Soline
A festive two-day event featuring stalls, tombola, hot food, mulled wine, Santa paws associations,, and a variety of Christmas food and much more! Enjoy the holiday spirit with fun for everyone. ark79.com
TERVES CHRISTMAS MARKET
1 December
Terves
Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere at our Christmas market in the Salle des Fêtes, featuring artisan stalls with clothes and jewellery, delicious treats like fish & chips, mulled wine, and homemade cakes. Enjoy live music and a fun colouring competition all in aid of Association Violet.
facebook.com/AssociationViolet
HOPE79 CHRISTMAS MARKET
1 December
Sauze-Vaussais
Join us at the Hope79 Christmas Market! Enjoy craft and food stalls, raffles, tombola, and Christmas goodies. Meet animal associations and support our cause in raising money for animals in need.
hope79.org
MARCHÉ DE NOËL
1 December
Fenioux
Enjoy a festive day at the Salle des fêtes, Fenioux with over 50 exhibitors. Delight in pony rides, p'ti train, and a visit from Father Christmas. A perfect start to the holiday season.
facebook.com/Toutinfoin
MARCHÉ DE NOËL
2 - 3 December
Villiers-en-Plaine
Join us for a festive weekend featuring a breakfast for all, 8 km walk, disabled sports activities, and a Christmas market with artisans, pony rides, and luxury car exhibitions. Proceeds benefit the Téléthon.
agenda.niortagglo.fr
MEANDERS EXHIBITION IN NIORT
Until 11 January 2025
Niort
Discover the poetic perspectives of photographers exploring the Marais Poitevin and Niort. This outdoor exhibition celebrates 30 years of regional exploration through captivating photography.
niortmaraispoitevin.com
SAVARY DE MAULÉON EXHIBITION
Until 5th January 2025
Mauleon
Discover 'Savary de Mauléon, a life of adventure' at this temporary exhibition featuring items from prestigious museums and the research of art historian Marie-Pierre Baudry-Parthenay. Explore the life of this medieval lord. Admission is free.
agglo2b.fr/culture/musees/musee-demauleon
10 euros: email reactiontheatrefrance@gmail.com or pay at the door
Presents in French and English......
4 November 1918, just one week before the armistice, British poet Wilfred Owen is killed in action during a British assault on the Sambre Canal. He is now celebrated as one of the greatest English poets of the 20th century, known for his famous poem "Anthem for Doomed Youth" which captures the waste and sacrifice of war.
10 November 1880, artist Jacob Epstein in born on the Lower East Side of New York City. Celebrated as a leading sculptor, he is renowned for his works including “Saint Michael's Victory over the Devil” outside Coventry cathedral, and the striking "Christ in Majesty" sculpture in Llandaff Cathedral.
11 November 1918, at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, the Great War comes to an end. Germany, facing the imminent invasion and lacking resources and manpower, signs an armistice agreement with the Allies in a railway carriage outside Compiégne, France.
14 November 1840, Claude Monet is born in the ninth arrondissement of Paris. As a leading French Impressionist painter, he creates masterpieces such as 'Impression, Sunrise,' 'Water Lilies,' and 'Rouen Cathedral,' profoundly influencing the art world with vibrant light, dynamic colour, and fluid brushstrokes..
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS, RELIGIOUS AND FEAST DAYS
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
19 November 1949, chef Raymond Blanc is born in Besançon, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Entirely self-taught, he now owns Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a two-Michelinstarred restaurant in Oxfordshire, and has mentored famous chefs including Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White.
24 November 1864, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is born in Albi. The painter and illustrator is acclaimed for his vibrant depictions of Parisian nightlife. Famous for capturing the spirit of the Moulin Rouge and cabaret scenes, he provides a poignant insight into the bohemian life of late 19thcentury France with his distinctive style and perspective.
28 November 1757, William Blake, is born in Soho, London. A visionary poet, painter, and printmaker, he is celebrated for works including the poem "Jerusalem," and the iconic painting "The Ancient of Days," noted for its vivid portrayal of a divine figure measuring the universe.
30 November 1609, Galileo Galilei begins observing the moon with his telescope, discovering it has mountains and valleys, like Earth. His findings contradicted the beliefs of the time and were published in Sidereus Nuncius, making him famous throughout Europe.
Pâques Easter Sunday Sunday 20 April 2025
Lundi de Pâques Easter Monday Monday 21 April 2025
Fête du Travail Labour Day
Thursday 1 May 2025
Victoire de 1945 VE Day
Thursday 8 May 2025
Ascension Ascension Day Thursday 29 May 2025
Dimanche de Pentecôte
Whit Sunday
Sunday 8 June 2025
Lundi de Pentecôte
Whit Monday Monday 9 June 2025
Fête Nationale "Bastille Day" Monday 14 July 2025
Assomption Assumption Day
Friday 15 August 2025
An Historical Weekend
For some reason, Mr Ryanair has decided that flights landing at Poitiers Baird should be moved to the middle of the night (with the now standard delay added on). I was going to pick up our four-month-old granddaughter (she wasn't travelling alone, her parents were visiting too). It was to be her first time on French soil, and we were very excited. A cot had been erected, nappies from Aldi (size 3) purchased, and a large Tupperware container was ready to act as a makeshift steriliser.
The first part of our airport run is cross-country, and having done the route so many times, it has become second nature, but driving at night was a different matter. I found myself creeping along at 60 km/h, trying to avoid all the wildlife that decided to commit harakiri when my car passed by; a fat ragondin just outside Gourgé hurled himself towards the front tyre (luckily my ninja driving skills kicked in, and I managed to dodge the big fella), there was also what looked like a pine marten jogging alongside the car as I approached Thénezay.
So by the time I reached the airport, I was an emotional wreck. No sooner had I bought a packet of roast chicken flavoured crisps from the vending machine to calm my nerves, they entered through the Stars-In-Their-Eyes sliding doors: ma, pa, baby in pram, and the biggest suitcase I have ever seen, trundling along beside them. It is always lovely to watch loved ones being reunited at the airport arrivals, and so it was with me, my son Murray, Emma, and little Ari. When we arrived home at 11:30 pm, and after I had nearly given myself an aneurysm carrying their suitcase upstairs, we found that Anna, my wife, had lit a fire so her granddaughter didn't get cold. The house was positively tropical. After shedding several layers, I asked if I could open the back door as I was worried about the baby, who was the colour of a tomato in her vest, baby-grow, and knitted cardigan combo. At four months, Ari can now support her head, follow you around the room with her beady eyes (which can be a bit disconcerting, as though she knows more than she is letting on) and sleeps 90 instead of 99 percent of the time.
At four months, Murray and Emma have become a crack team at sharing nappy-changing duties (front to back), drool wiping, bottle sterilising, outfit changing, bathing, feeding, carrying, pushing, bouncing, tickling. Murray has perfected a move called the 'joystick' for burping: he sits baby on his knee with one hand on Ari's back, the other under her chin, he then rotates her in a clockwise fashion, and...purp! Every time.
The Deux-Sèvres sun was shining on the Friday, and we sat outside drinking cocktails and soaking up the last few rays of summer, debating whether we should put suntan lotion on. For the rest of the weekend, it rained, so we had to drink indoors.
Their visit coincided with the European Heritage days. A weekend when
Stephen Shaw
you can snoop around somebody's house in the name of culture. On the Saturday, we visited the medieval Château de Tennessus (which is just round the corner from us and cost €5 entrance fee [Anna was outraged]). Complete with moat, drawbridge, tapestries, and chain mail hanging on the walls, the castle did not disappoint. We were allowed to snoop around the kitchen, dining rooms, and three bedchambers, which can be booked by people who want to experience the medieval way of life (which didn't seem that different from our own French lifestyle). Costumes can be hired too, presumably medieval, for those with an inclination.
On the Sunday, we snooped around the château in SaintLoup (which is just round the corner from us and cost €8 entrance fee [Anna was apoplectic]). I had the honour of wearing the papoose, and Ari slept throughout, strapped to my warm moobs as we wandered around the donjon, orangerie, gardens, pigeonnière, canal pavilion, and part of the moated château (the river Thouet had been turned off somewhere upstream for work to be carried out, so the château was surrounded by a muddy trough, much to the confusion of the ragondins).
We have a few fruit trees, which we laughingly call 'the orchard' (as no fruit has ever been forthcoming other than a few mirabelles). This year, for some reason, one of the pear trees has been dripping with fruit, and so for the crowning glory of our farewell feast together, Anna made a pear Tarte Tatin, which was delicious and wolfed down by all, apart from Ari, who took 50 minutes to finish 150 ml of formula...(joystick)...purp!
On arriving at the airport and hearing the flight to Stansted was delayed by an hour, we said our goodbyes, and I watched as they disappeared through passport control, their jumbo suitcase bursting at the seams. I was feeling a little emotional, so thought I would give myself a boost with a detour to
Declutter your mind... How meditation can help
If you’re anything like me, sometimes, life feels like your brain is a web browser with 20 tabs open at the same time – and one of them is playing a video, but you can’t find which one.
And that’s when meditation can come to your rescue – solving the seemingly unsolvable problems like a cosmic IT support worker, but without the fantasy-novel-film-adaptation, official tshirt.
With regular practice it can help declutter your mind and make it all a little less frenetic!
First off, studies have shown that regular meditation can lower your stress levels. And who doesn’t want that?
Lower stress means lower blood pressure, better sleep, and a happier you.
But wait, there’s more!
Meditation doesn’t just chill you out; it also sharpens your focus. In the same
way that lifting weights builds muscles, meditation strengthens your brain’s ability to concentrate. It’s like upgrading your mind’s operating system, making it more efficient and less likely to crash when you need it most.
And meditation can also boost your creativity. By quieting your mind, you make space for new ideas to pop up. It's like clearing the junk out of your attic so you can finally see all the hidden treasures. Many artists, writers, and musicians swear by meditation as their secret sauce for inspiration.
It all sounds great, but a little bit fluffy and airy fairy, I hear you cry… OK, then here’s the science bit…
Meditation can actually rewire your brain. Really.
It’s called neuroplasticity, and it means your brain can form new neural connections – so in the same way that water follows the same path down a hill, with regular practice, your brain can
Written by David Murphy - Clinical Hypnotherapist and Life Coach DavidMurphyHypno@gmail.com
create new pathways to make a habit of things like resilience, focus, and a happier outlook on life.
Alright, enough with the benefits. Let’s get to the good stuff—how to actually do it. Here are a few simple techniques to get you started:
Mindfulness Meditation
This is the Poster Boy of meditation in the modern world – just find a comfy spot, sit down, and focus your attention on your breath. Notice the breath flowing through your nose – cooler as you inhale, warmer as you exhale. Your mind will wander, and that’s okay. Just gently bring it back to your breath without judging yourself.
Body Scan Meditation
Lie down and close your eyes. Slowly bring your attention to each part of your body, starting from your toes and working your way up to your head – ball of your foot, ankle, knee, etc.
Notice any sensations, tension, or relaxation. It’s like giving your body a mental massage.
Guided Meditation
There are tons of apps and online videos that can guide you through a meditation session. This is a great option if you’re just starting out and need a bit of direction.
Walking Meditation
Not all meditation has to be done sitting still. Take a slow, mindful walk. Pay attention to each step, the feeling of the ground beneath your feet, and the sounds around you. It’s a great way to blend meditation with a bit of exercise.
So, there you have it! Meditation doesn’t have to be complicated or timeconsuming. Even a few minutes a day can make a world of difference. Give it a try for just 5 minutes a day for one month and see how you feel - who knows, you might just find that peace and calm you’ve been searching for!
Everyday yoga for everyone
In this article, I am going to share with you some sobering statistics about falls. No, not the collective term for ‘autumn’ for our American cousins, but the kind where you unintentionally lose contact with the ground, specifically with regard to older adults.
I’m not talking about the kind of spectacular falls you might suffer from skiing or biking or some other sporty activity. I’m talking here about the most common causes of fall-related injuries in older adults, which are your ordinary garden-variety trips, slips, and stumbles.
First, the bad news. Did you know that for people over the age of 65:
• Falls are the leading cause of hospitalisation and the leading cause of death.
• About 25 per cent of people who fall and break a hip or femur are not going to be alive in one year.
• Of those who are not dead in one year, half of these people will have a complete reduction of function. This means that:
˚ if you walked freely, you will now need a cane.
˚ if you used a cane, you will now need a walker.
˚ if you used a walker, you will now need a wheelchair.
• The likelihood of ending up in a nursing home is increased up to 10fold after a fall.
About one in four people aged 65 years or older take a fall every year, so you can see how serious an issue this is. And it is not just the immediate physical repercussions of a serious fall that negatively affect our quality of life. Loss of mobility, our independence and ability to self-care or to take care of others, as well as reduced opportunities for healthy social
Rebecca Novick
interaction, all massively impact our quality of life as well, and this makes us more prone to mood swings, brain fog, and more serious mental conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Yes, these are scary facts, but the good news is that we can do something about it. We can build a buffer now, today, so that we are less likely to fall and become one of these statistics.
A fall occurs when a challenge to balance overwhelms our ability to stay upright. This can occur as the result of many different factors such as poor eyesight, bad footwear, foot problems, cognitive decline, incontinence, changes in blood pressure, being overmedicated, and so on. But the people at highest risk are those who have low muscle strength, and gait and balance problems.
Exercise, especially walking, is widely considered to be one of the best activities to guard against falls. And gentle movement and body attention activities such as yoga are increasingly recognised as helping to target and improve the strength, gait, and balance that you need.
If you would like to learn how to improve your strength, gait, and balance, join our friendly regular class at 10:15 Thursday mornings in Le Tallud, 79200.
To learn more and for information on private yoga sessions and breath coaching, contact me at: lavieenyoga@gmail.com
Respect yourself, explore yourself.
Rebecca
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Potential clients are welcome to visit James in the Century 21 office in Fontenay le Comte on market days or contact him on 06 70 41 75 52 email: james.colling@century21.fr Don’t fall for it
Book Club
Avoiding the dry creative well
The creative well is the part of you that feeds your imagination. If it’s kept at a healthy level, it will help ideas for your writing flow to you more easily.
You may not realise it, but it’s bubbling away in the background all the time. The push for writing my first series of alternative Roman thrillers had been nurtured by my fascination with Roman mosaics five decades before I started drafting my first novel. But I hadn’t consciously realised that I was filling my own creative well as an eleven-year-old on a hot day in Spain.
A dry creative well isn’t writer’s block. Or even writer’s fright, burnout or blank mind. Nobody’s mind truly is blank. But sometimes it becomes dammed up and needs a bit of prodding to release it. Throughout the years, I’ve needed to find ideas for my next creative project, but somehow they appear. And I’m fairly certain it’s because I keep my creative well topped up.
We might think inspiration is about imagination and the muse (whoever she is) but you do need to be pro-active and not wait for it to spring up in front of you. Keeping your well full requires exposure, curiosity and awareness.
How to keep the creative well full and brimming over Embrace it as an ongoing process – you can’t wait for it to rain and fill up on demand.
Think about what’s important to you – your values and goals. What message in life do you want to send out into the ether? New ideas may well be triggered by what you are writing now or have just written. I was writing the fourth book featuring one character and was struck by a mystery surrounding a secondary character. I’d developed her character in those four books as an older person but was suddenly struck by a desire to uncover the secrets she was guarding from her youth. She’d always been reluctant to talk about it – a mystery to solve. I ended up writing four more books! Something you saw on Google maps or down a research rabbit hole. You never know how the name of an odd place on a map or a fascinating marginal detail of your main research can trigger your imagination. Where you live and your current situation. I’m a French/British dual national and live here in the Deux-Sèvres. When I started a new type of thriller series, my heroine was born in the Deux-Sèvres with a French father and British mother.
Wishful thinking – I wanted a Roman environment, a woman leading the action and a twisty plot. This wasn’t possible in Ancient Roman times so I took a leaf out of Robert Harris’s Fatherland and altered the historical timeline. (But not so much as to create a weird world!)
Your own experience – Where you studied and worked, where and how you raised your family and where you’ve travelled all inform your writing. Of course, you’ll change the details and names, but real life events can be a rich seam of inspiration. Read background books about what you’re truly interested in not necessarily related to your writing – and keep doing it.
The same applies to websites, YouTube videos – any medium.
Go for a walk – I’m always sending my Franco-British heroine into the trees! It calms her but also makes her think creatively about the case she’s investigating.
Listen to music – I love something really emotional like Rachmaninov, the Deer Hunter theme or a bit of Vivaldi. I’m also an ABBA fan…
Paint or sketch or take photos. Visual contributions to the well make a strong, lasting impression.
Do mundane stuff – weeding, emptying the airing cupboard, shopping – anything that puts your mind into neutral.
Bumble around a library or bookshop. Make specific time and absorb the beautiful covers and range of book subjects. Watch films and television , especially dramas – HBO Rome, All Creatures Great and Small, Bridgerton.
Do something completely different. I love jigsaws; another friend rings church bells; another trains dogs.
Interact with people. Talk to the cashier, the parcel delivery person, the pharmacist, the shop assistant – anybody. And listen to them. You never know who anybody is and how interesting their life could be until you do.
And if the pennies permit, go on site visits – Smell the air, look at the horizon, soak up the atmosphere.
Above all, be curious about everything. And I mean everything. Listen, watch , smell and touch. Actively absorb the detail of everyday life – colours, textures, birds in the garden, the smell of rain. Your brain will store all that for the future and release it when you need it.
Alison has compiled a selection of articles from this column into ‘The 500 Word Writing Buddy’, available in print and ebook on Amazon and other retailers. EXSILIUM, her new historical novel set in AD 395, is now out.
Alison Morton
Book Club
This month’s book reviews
The Lost Queen
by Carol McGrath review by Jacqueline Brown
Living in the modern-day Nouvelle Aquitaine, I am fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine and her extraordinary life as Queen of France (as wife to Louis VII) and of England (as wife to Henry II) in the Middle Ages. This is a period in history that seemed to elude me at school, therefore, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to step back in time with this book, and it didn’t disappoint.
Even in her later years, when this book is set, Eleanor is not afraid to trek across France, cross the Alps in winter and head towards the heart of the crusade action in the east Mediterranean. Her mission this time, for this wasn’t her first epic journey, is to accompany Berengaria, a princess from Navarre, who will become her son, Richard the Lionheart’s bride, and Queen of England. Their journey is long, slow and arduous, with harsh winter weather and danger from enemy attack, and all that before the treacherous sea crossings they must then undertake.
This book gave me a fascinating insight into the period, life on the road and at court. Berengaria and her ladies came alive as they occupied their days sewing, storytelling and singing as they awaited news from the battle lines, always ready to drop everything when messengers informed them of a return of the King and his troops. There were frustrations when her ideas or points of view were dismissed and the fear of not producing an heir hung over her. They too lived the highs and lows of victories, defeats, injuries and losses, as the Christian Franks and the Saracens fought over Jerusalem, the Holy Land desired by both Christians and Muslims.
I still find it quite bizarre to think that Richard, with his French lineage was King of England (despite spending little time there), married a Spanish princess in Cyprus, who then travelled to the Middle East on a crusade to take Jerusalem as Queen of England, despite never having set foot on English soil.
I do love an historical fiction that adds flesh and personalities to my limited knowledge of real-life events in this period, but I also enjoyed the vibrant colours of the silks, flavours of the fruits, and perfumes of the middle east as I immersed myself within the pages.
The French Country Escape
by Jennifer Bohnet
review by Jacqueline Brown
As always, being back between the pages of a Jennifer Bohnet book is like a comforting hug from an old friend, as well as a fizz of excitement and anticipation about discovering new characters, whose lives will be forever changed with a touch of magic only France can provide.
A French Country Escape didn’t disappoint and one of the first things I loved about this book were the strong family links between the characters. From brother and sister, Freddie and Sasha, making the move to France together at a difficult time in their lives, to Ingrid and Peter, doing everything they could to support their daughter Penny but also determined to solve a family mystery from the past.
As the book progressed, we learned that both Sasha and Penny have taken bold steps to free themselves of troubled pasts and I enjoyed witnessing them create the next chapters of their lives. Sasha blossomed through her art, Penny through her love of food, but they both soon found the Breton village community, with the château at its heart, a welcoming and healing place to be.
There were unexpected twists, plus the romance of bringing old buildings back to life, creating new possibilities for everyone involved. I smiled a lot whilst reading this book, and not just at the antics of the various animals, who play as important a role as any of the other characters.
If you are looking for an escape to Brittany, with plenty of humour, but that doesn’t shy away from difficult emotional situations, then I am sure you will enjoy A French Country Escape.
La Vie en France
Life is a puzzle
As the end of the year rushes towards me once again, one of the things that puzzles me the most is how can time possibly fly by so fast? The 2024 season at the Château de Javarzay finished once again with a new treasure hunt game for Hallowe’en. Whilst I get as much fun and enjoyment creating the games and activities as the visiting children do taking part, as we lock the doors for the final time, my mind freefalls into a ‘what now’ void. What projects can I find to fill my days this winter? Luckily, this year, Ed came up with a great idea by buying me a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle for my birthday, beautifully depicting the miroir d’eau in Bordeaux, one of my favourite cities in France.
I can’t even remember the last time I invested my free time in attempting a jigsaw, but I’m guessing it’s been over ten years. I’ve always quite enjoyed them, but with lots of demands on my time, I’d come to regard them as frivolous luxury I couldn’t really afford. That’s the lovely thing about someone buying you something you would never have bought for yourself.
As with every puzzle, there is a methodical way to approach it. Firstly, I had to tidy away the stack of books awaiting my attention on my desk, then there was the inevitable dusting that needed to be tackled following their relocation. It was
only then that the excitement of opening the box and having a first rummage could begin, and the smell of the new pieces aroused the same happy feelings that opening a new book gives me.
It was surprising how long it took me to locate the four corners and then what I thought were all the edge pieces. A second trawl located the five missing pieces, and it was rather satisfying to see a thin frame of colour appear around a huge blank void. I now have something relaxing to occupy my free time this winter.
Since I discovered Terra Aventura, the Nouvelle Aquitaine’s geocaching app, where over seven hundred outdoor treasure hunt routes are available for free on my phone, I’ve enjoyed the challenges of working out their quests and puzzles, alongside discovering new places all over the region. One of our recent Deux-Sèvres discoveries was Exireuil near Saint-Maixent-l’Ecole, where a
Jacqueline Brown
short walk through a picnic area led us to some steeply descending, rough-cut steps, that seemed to go down forever. We eventually arrived in a deep gorge with a small river tumbling over giant boulders, and it felt like we’d entered another world. Even at our age, we had great fun clambering around rocks, crossing narrow bridges and solving the puzzles set, keeping our minds and bodies active.
Playing games is also something we do at the France Alzheimer’s support group I volunteer for, as stimulating the mind and having fun with others is such a vital thing for all of us. Whatever puzzles or games you prefer, it doesn’t really matter, it’s the problem solving and using your brain cells that is important.
Sophie Hargreaves
Farm life and festivities
Last month, I wrote about the risk of bluetongue disease to ruminants in Europe, affecting sheep, cattle, goats, camelids such as alpacas, and wild ruminants such as deer. The situation is constantly updating and has worsened over the last few months, and so we made the decision to vaccinate our alpacas. Even though this decision came with a very large price tag, having discussed the situation with our vets, it was the right thing to do to protect our animals.
Strain BTV-4/8 of the disease has been around for many years, but has recently had a new outbreak. With BTV-4/8 having made its way across France from the south, and now the new BTV-3 strain approaching from the north, it was time for us to take action. We were fortunate to receive both vaccinations for our herd by the time of our appointment with the vet.
The authorities in France are taking preventive steps to help farmers and attempt to reduce the spread of the disease, including setting a restrictive movement zone where it is not permitted to move ruminating animals outside of these restricted zones without several tests and measures in place first. At the time of writing, the restricted zone affected about half of France, including Deux-Sèvres, and appeared to be spreading further south each week. Another measure taken was that millions of free vaccinations were offered to sheep and cattle farmers in the north of France.
If you are worried about the disease and any effects it may have on your animals, I recommend you speak to your vet and keep informed of any restrictions in place.
As the disease is predominantly carried by infected midges, it is hoped that from November, the spread of the disease will slow down as the cooler temperatures are with us.
The cold November evenings here remind me of standing in a cold field watching fireworks back in the UK. A tradition I found really difficult to explain to one of my neighbours
recently with its origin meaning. I have gotten used to enjoying fireworks on midsummer nights now here in France, although I do love wrapping up warm in winter. Of course, for me, that includes mittens, scarves, and hats all made from our super-soft alpacas’ wool.
Yes, as November is upon us, my main activity is knitting and sewing in natural whites, greys, browns, almost blacks, and beiges, creating our 2024 produce from the farm and getting ready for the Christmas markets. And I mean it when I speak about it keeping you warm as alpaca fibre has a double insulation with its natural crimp and interior air pocket. This helps me with daily motivation to go out in the cold to do the outdoor work needed, and if I’m really lucky, I may be able to lean against an alpaca in the field and use their warmth first-hand.
There’s nothing I love more than speaking about our alpacas and their amazing produce; it’s the top of the top, and so it’s easy to go on and on about it to everyone everywhere! I hope we can catch some of you at the Christmas markets this year so I can tell you more, and you’ll be able to see it and feel it yourself. We start our first one near Bressuire at St Aubin du Plain on 23rd and 24th November, and we finish the Christmas season at Bressuire Christmas market on 21st and 22nd December, with a couple more dotted in between. I really love the magical Christmas markets in all of the villages (small and big) around us; the entertainment is huge with such a small community feel. As usual, they’re also where I do my shopping for the big day, celebrating the local artisans and admiring their incredible craftsmanship.
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Town twinning in the Deux-Sèvres
Over the years, many towns in the Deux-Sèvres have embraced the concept of twinning, or jumelage, and created strong links that go beyond geographical and political borders. Some of them are linked to towns in Great Britain and Ireland. This enduring tradition, which has grown in importance in the post-Brexit era, continues to promote friendship, cultural exchange and mutual understanding.
Town twinning emerged from the ashes of the Second World War as Europe looked for ways to heal and unite. Originally supported by the British Council, they were designed to promote peace and prevent future conflict. Over time, these partnerships have evolved into more informal but deeply rooted friendships.
Jean Bareth, a pioneer of the town twinning movement, summarised the essence of this initiative: "Twinning is the meeting of two municipalities who have chosen each other to confront their problems and develop fraternal links, leading to better understanding and peace."
One notable example of successful twinning in Deux-Sèvres is the partnership between Cerizay and
Ongar. On the 40th anniversary of the partnership, the two towns celebrated their anniversary with cultural exhibitions and joint events, demonstrating the warmth and friendship that characterise their relationship.
The town twinning between Coulon and Irchester has existed for over thirty years. In May 2024, Coulon welcomed 43 British guests who enjoyed a lively cultural programme that underlined the strong Anglo-French bond. This partnership, promoted by the CoulonIrchester Twinning Association, emphasises hospitality and inclusivity. Hosting British guests or travelling to England is a celebrated aspect of this exchange in which both communities eagerly participate.
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Regular visits and cultural exchanges between these communities have enriched the inhabitants and given them a deeper understanding of each other's traditions and way of life.
The twinning between Horsham and Saint-Maixent-l'École began in 1982, marking Horsham's first twin town relationship. The connection started
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Civray in the Vienne has also built up a close relationship with Downham Market.
Irchester, Northamptonshire
Fraserborough Harbour, Aberdeenshire
Downham Market, Norfolk
with Horsham Rugby Club, which had been visiting Saint-Maixent since 1974. The twinning is symbolised by a red UK telephone box outside the Mairie in SaintMaixent.
Meanwhile. the link between Bressuire and Fraserburgh demonstrates the unique relationships fostered by twinning. With a shared passion for the Highland Games, the annual event in Bressuire not only brings a flavour of Scotland to France, but also strengthens their friendship. Bressuire is also twinned with Leixlip in Ireland as well as towns in Spain, Togo, Poland, Romania, Morocco and Germany. Every year, the Comité d'animation des Amitiés Internationales organises the film festival "Les Jumelages font leur cinéma" at the Fauteuile Rouge cinema and shows a film from the country of the respective twin town.
The town twinning between Niort and Wellingborough is yet another example of the long-standing cultural and social benefits of these partnerships. Founded in 1977, the partnership was originally based on shared interests in the leather and insurance industries. Since then, it has developed into a lively exchange of ideas and experiences. From joint cultural events to English lessons and sports competitions, the NiortWellingborough Twinning Association actively promotes understanding and connection between the two towns.
A poignant event in its history was the planting of 'peace roses' by Wellingborough representatives in France to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. As it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, L’Association Jumelage Niort-Wellingborough continues to promote friendship and harmony under the leadership of new President Lesley Emerson. As Lesley says: “In a world where hate and prejudice are so prevalent, getting to know people from another country and culture, learning to appreciate our differences, finding our common humanity are to be encouraged.”
ASSURANCES MAUCOURT
TWINNED TOWNS AND VILLAGES IN THE DEUXSÈVRES AND ITS NEIGHBOURING DEPARTMENTS
Moncoutant-sur-Sèvre New Ross, County Wexford 1999
Niort Wellingborough, Northamptonshire 1977
Nueil-les Aubiers Attleborough, Norfolk 1997
Parthenay Tipperary, 1992
Poitiers (86000) Northampton 1979
St Maxient-l’Ecole Horsham, West Sussex 1982
Nantes (44000) Cardiff 1964
Pouzauges (85700) Eye, Suffolk 1988
Thouars Helensborough, Argyll & Bute 1983
Les Herbiers (85500) Newtown, Powys 1999
Cholet (49300) Solihull, West Midlands 1999
Vihiers (49310) Walley, Lancashire 1988
Saumur (49400) Warwick 1976
Horsham, West Sussex
Leixlip, County Kildare
Taking Better Photographs...
TheHeartoftheFlower
Flowers can make beautiful photographs and for me the most beautiful are those where the bloom of the flower fills the entire frame. And that is not always easy. Getting close enough to your chosen bloom can be difficult.
To fill the entire sensor in your camera or phone and therefore your entire picture with a single bloom often hits
the difficulty that there is a minimum distance that your camera must be from the subject to produce a properly focused image.
You can overcome this with specialist lenses, known as macro lenses, that are designed to allow the photographer to get very close to the subject. An alternative is as a long telephoto lens that has at least a 300mm zoom, so the camera can be well back from the flower and the lens can zoom in. And both of these are expensive.
But do not despair, especially if you want to take pictures for display on a computer or other screens. Most modern cameras, and this includes almost all smartphones, will produce images with far more pixels than you can display on phone or laptop. Typical computer screens are about 2000 pixels across. Images taken on smartphones are often 4000 pixels on the longer edge, and cameras may well be more.
Human beings cannot differentiate between 2000 separate pixels. An image of alternating black and white pixels will just appear grey to our eyes. And that gives you a lot of leeway. It
means you can crop down a long way before you start to lose resolution. The art is still to get as close as you can so that the bloom fills as much of the frame as possible.
If you are using a single point of focus then you will get the best results by focusing that on one of the parts of the bloom closest to you. Under most circumstances cameras can hold a range of distances in focus, called depth of field, and the majority of this is beyond the point of focus. Area or matrix focus will attempt to focus all parts of the image but may not be sharp where you want it. Each flower and lighting set up is different, even the sun keeps moving, so a few test shots may help.
Aperture priority is usually best. This means you can set the camera to a high aperture number, which means a small hole and a substantial depth of field. Again, test shots help to ensure you have enough light reaching the sensor. On a mobile phone you should have a portrait option or touch the screen at the place you want to be in sharpest focus.
It is also really important to take your time with these photographs. You can just point and press and if you are lucky capture something fabulous. But look with care at the available blooms and how the light strikes each. If you are using the sun as your light source a full on shot will usually leave your shadow across the flower. Side-lighting can be dramatic and if you can get some back-lighting into your image that can multiply the colour shades.
Cutting the flowers and positioning them so that the light falls as you wish can help you achieve the image you want. I recommend this is only done with the explicit approval of the gardener, as these are people who have secateurs and they can be dangerous if you cut their blooms without permission.
As well as cropping carefully for most images I usually recommend increasing the contrast but for flower photographs this must be done very delicately. Most flowers
will have well-lit areas and places with deep shadow. Too much contrast can make this very stark so adjust with care.
I also recommend adjusting and increasing the saturation. The camera will tend to lose some colour in every shot, though modern cameras and phones are getting better at this, and flowers are a subject that almost always benefits from a little added colour.
If you would like to share your photography, whether or not of flowers, and look at the work of other photographs please get in touch at stevemarshall128@gmail.com
A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CRYPTIC CROSSWORDS
For those of you who are new to cryptic crossword puzzles or are completely baffled by them, here are some tips. I will cover maybe one or two a month; hopefully that will help!
In this first column, I will refer to the crossword on page 36 as often as possible. A very simple trick is to use some of the initial letters of words in the puzzle to give all or part of the answer. In this month's cryptic crossword, 4 Across uses this tactic, indicated by the phrase “especially of which”. Follow the first letters from there and you will arrive at a "plague" of sorts. 16 Down uses exactly the same idea, this time indicated by the phrase “the leading ones”. So the tactic is to look for the word or phrase that might indicate what's happening; other examples are “primarily”, “first of”, “origins of”, “originally” etc. etc. 18 Across uses the same trick, but with a twist!
Sometimes the first letters can only provide part of the answer, as in this clue from another of my crosswords; “Cult is found among the leaders of an American mental hospital” (5)
The answer is the AMISH sect; the letters IS are enclosed by “the first letters (“heads of”) of the American mental hospital AMH ("found among").
Look out next month for more helpful hints!
Mike Morris
Power Games
VIEW FROM THE VENDÊE
“Anything else for the dishwasher before I put it on?” I shouted through to David as I was loading the machine after breakfast. “Just a couple of glasses, but can you wait an hour or two before putting it on” came the reply.
Of course, I keep forgetting that we’ve recently had solar panels installed on the roof, so the sun now tells us the best time to wash, iron, or even take a shower!
We decided to do our bit for the environment (and hopefully future-proof our energy bills) when we moved house last September. As we were downsizing to a 2-bedroomed bungalow, we calculated that 7 panels would produce enough electricity for our modest needs. Apparently said panels can generate up to 3kw of power when the sun shines brightly, so just as well that we live in the sunny south-west of France!
This all means of course that I’m having to rethink my household tasks. Having been used to working with les heures creuses and les heures pleines for the last 10 years (a bit like Economy 7 in the UK), it’s now a case of checking out the weather forecast before using an electrical appliance! Or, better still, click on the easy-to-use Enphase app on the mobile; it must be easy to use as even I can understand the simple little diagram showing our ‘live status’ (eg. Producing 1.8kws/Consuming 1.2kws/Exporting 0.6kws).
One of my main concerns when having the panels fitted though, was that they’d be invisible. “Invisible?” repeated the poor technician who was deciding where best to install the panels. “Well, as invisible as possible” I quickly added. Fortunately the back of our house is south facing, so with the 7 panels neatly placed on the far corner of the roof, unless you
Karen Taylor
stand at the bottom of the garden and look up, they really are virtually invisible. Full marks to Monsieur le Technicien! Interestingly, just last year our local sports centre had a major make-over, including adding a huge roof of solar panels covering the car park. Not only that, but as you enter the reception area, there’s a large digital screen showing a live read-out of the power being generated from above. Bizarrely, I found myself standing watching the numbers click round –weirdly hypnotic!!
A final word on renewable energy. Last year we bought an allsinging, all-dancing campervan and, yes, you guessed it, it has a solar panel on the roof! Whatever next, I ask myself – the family car, scooters, pushbikes…?? The mind boggles!
Expert Property Advice from Anne Spillings
Anne Spillings, Independent Property Consultant with Beaux Villages Immobilier, began her real estate career in 2016. She speaks Norwegian, English and French. Here she tells us about two of her properties:
€225,000
EXCLUSIVE TO BEAUX VILLAGES!
This lovely 330m² stone farmhouse has been divided to create two homes. Perfect for a multi-generational family!
The property is ideally situated in rolling countryside, in 1.85 ha of private land, with numerous outbuildings, lovely views and no immediate neighbours. With the necessary permissions, the outbuildings could be converted to provide further accommodation. Only 5 minutes from the local village with a bakery and shop.
Fees: Paid by the vendor Energy class: D Climate class: D
€1,278,000
A beautifully-renovated medieval chateau offering 860m² of living space, nestled in a private park of 9.5 ha comprising flower gardens, orchards, terraced vegetable gardens, meadows and woodland. Built in the 15th century and significantly redesigned in the 19th, the property is presented in excellent condition and features an efficient and ecological heating system. The estate comes with a 3-bed, 2-bath caretaker’s cottage, 2 garages, lots of storage buildings and is crossed by a small river that feeds the canal and the medieval wash house located below the chateau.
Fees: Paid by the vendor Energy class: C Climate class: A
Contact Anne by email to view either of these properties : Anne.Spillings@beauxvillages.com
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Clessé , Deux-Sèvres
Parthenay, Deux-Sèvres REF: BVI72820
Twinning in action
During our research on Twinning in the Deux-Sèvres, we met with Lesley and Brian Emerson, who have both been integral to the Niort-Wellingborough Twinning Association since its inception. Lesley is the new Présidente of the L’Association Jumelage Niort-Wellingborough and has kindly provided a report on this year’s visit to Wellingborough.
This year, the Niortais made their way to Wellingborough for the annual "official" twinning visit, a tradition that has been maintained for over 40 years. These visits usually take place on a bank holiday weekend in late spring and offer both long-standing members and newcomers the opportunity to take part.
The group flew from La Rochelle to Stansted, were welcomed by members of the Wellingborough Twinning Association and taken to their destination in a coach. The trip was characterised by warm hospitality and the evening provided an opportunity to rekindle old friendships for many who have been connected since the early days of the twinning.
Originally, the trips were organised on weekdays so that the hosts could keep to their working hours. Today, many hosts are retired, but the tradition continues, with hosts often accompanying their guests. This year's outings included a visit to Burghley House near Stamford and an all-day trip to the Shuttleworth Collection, where a picnic was taken in the grounds. The events coincided with the commemoration of the Battle of Britain, which added a special dimension to the visit. For some, Burghley was a nostalgic re-encounter, while Shuttleworth was a new experience, enhanced by the perfect British summer weather with blue skies and a light breeze. The weekend was always an opportunity to explore Wellingborough and its surroundings at leisure. Saturday evening traditionally sees a Soirée Conviviale where hosts, guests and club members come together over a meal. This year the event was held at the local golf club where, to everyone's delight, there was excellent food and a convivial atmosphere. On the final day, the group gathered for a traditional Sunday roast in a village pub and had the opportunity to explore the area further or relax. The four-day visit not only
refreshed old friendships, but also made new ones and left the participants with fond memories. The feedback from the participants was consistently positive: they praised the programme, the sumptuous meals and the sunny weather.
The next visit is planned for late May or early June 2025, when the residents of Wellingborough will be travelling to Niort.
The committee in Niort is already preparing an extensive programme of activities and is starting to make preliminary plans for the anniversary celebrations in 2027, which will mark the original signing of the friendship treaty by the then mayors René Gaillard and Charles Robinson.
One of our members hosts a monthly coffee morning at the Columbus Café, place de la Brèche on a Thursday morning, anyone can drop in and enjoy a chat in English. More formal English lessons are run by three members of the Association every week during term-time.
And what about the future? French is no longer a compulsory subject in state schools in England, so there is much less interest from younger people to get involved in the Wellingborough-Niort twinning.
And what of the future? French is no longer a compulsory subject in state schools in England, so there is far less interest among younger people in getting involved in the Wellingborough-Niort twinning. Will it survive beyond 2027? Only time will tell, but those who are still involved know just how valuable these links are.
In a world where hate and prejudice are so prevalent, getting to know people from another country and culture, learning to appreciate our differences, finding our common humanity are to be encouraged –and both twinning associations are determined to keep the flag of friendship, understanding and harmony flying.
Anyone who is interested in becoming involved in the twinning – and particularly in hosting next May/June - should contact the Présidente, Lesley Emerson. Her e-mail is: lesleye@hotmail.com
Shuttleworth
Fish & chips at the Dog & Duck
Inside Burghley House
Burghley House, Stamford
Lesley Emerson
Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Niort
ANTHONY MASI FROM
bringing the outside in......
Preserving the Shapes and Colours of Autumn
Chillier days mean the leaves are falling, seed heads ripening, and the bright colours and scents of the summer are replaced by textures and structures, and a whole new spectrum of autumnal shades. These won't last long if you prefer to tidy your garden for autumn, but you can still enjoy them in these simple creations. This simple idea works best using a double glass frame rather than one with a solid back (although these can still be effective). I prefer the double glass—I found the frames in Action—because you can stand them on a windowsill or in front of a light source and appreciate the shadows or light passing through the forms as well as the image you create. All you need is some autumn foliage or seed heads and some glass frames.
I prefer to press my samples first, simply leaving them between the pages of a notebook, held down by heavier books for a couple of weeks. It makes arranging easier. They can become fragile, so do handle them carefully. Collect more than you think you will need, as some may get damaged or not press and preserve as effectively as you imagine. Remember, it's not just about colour; partly broken or decayed leaves can form amazing lacy structures. Seed heads such as honesty have an amazing translucent quality, definitely worth preserving in some manner. Collect a good selection and see what works best for you.
Ensure that whatever you press will be extremely flat once finished so that it will fit between the glass in the frame. Bright autumn berries look great in vases but don't work so well once squashed!
Once dried and flat, arrange your foliage on one layer of glass and carefully place the other over, ensuring not to move your display. If you avoid using glue, you can refresh your display seasonally. Glue also has a tendency to cause discolouration, so try to avoid it if possible. Gently slide the finished arrangement, held between the two glass plates, into the glass frame. Et voila! Your display needn’t be complicated. Nature is wonderful and doesn’t need over-complicating.
Please contact me via @cueilletteetdecouverte on Facebook or Instagram.
Sophie Stokes
Understanding AI: A simple guide
Artificial intelligence (AI) may sound like something out of a science fiction film, but it’s actually a part of our everyday lives. From the virtual assistant on your smartphone to the recommendations from your favourite streaming service, AI is working behind the scenes to make things easier and more convenient. But what exactly is AI and how does it work? Let’s take a closer look.
What is AI?
AI refers to machines or software that can perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. These tasks include understanding natural language, recognising patterns, learning from experience and making decisions. The goal of AI is to create systems that can work intelligently and independently.
Types of AI
There are two main types of AI: Narrow AI and General AI. Narrow AI: This is the AI we encounter most often. It is designed to perform a specific task, such as recognising speech or playing chess. Siri and Alexa are examples of Narrow AI.
General AI: This type of AI aims to perform any intellectual task that a human can do. It is more advanced and can adapt to new situations. At the moment, General AI is more of a concept than a reality.
How does AI work?
AI works through algorithms, which are rules or instructions given to a computer so that it can learn on its own. Here is a simple example:
Learning from data: imagine teaching a child to recognise cats by showing it pictures of cats and non-cats. Similarly, AI
learns by processing large amounts of data and recognising patterns. This is known as Machine Learning (ML). Making decisions: Once AI learns from the data, it can make decisions or predictions. Netflix, for example, uses AI to suggest shows you might like based on your viewing history. Improvement over time: AI systems get better and better as they are exposed to more data. This is called deep learning, a branch of ML in which the algorithms are modelled on the neural networks of the human brain.
AI in everyday life
AI is already having a major impact on our lives: Healthcare: AI helps doctors diagnose illnesses and plan treatments.
Transport: Self-driving cars use AI to navigate and avoid obstacles.
Finance: Banks use AI to detect fraudulent activity and manage investments.
Customer service: Chatbots provide instant support and answer questions.
In conclusion, AI is not just a futuristic concept, but a technology that is changing many aspects of our lives today. By understanding the basics of AI, we can better appreciate the convenience and efficiency it brings while preparing for the developments to come. The further AI develops, the greater its potential to benefit society, which makes it an exciting field to watch.
Jason Khan
by Peter Lowth
Winter Fishing
For many anglers, the winter months are often overlooked, as the fish become less active and feed less, making fishing far more challenging.
In match fishing circles, winter fishing is often seen as a bit of a leveller. For winter matches, the difference between winning and losing can simply be the luck of the draw rather than one’s ability, as you have no control over the part of the lake you are drawn to fish or the weather conditions!
The unpredictability of winter fishing and its more challenging and sporting nature, makes it one of my favourite times of year to fish. Fishing during the less popular winter months can be a particularly rewarding experience, when watercraft and a knowledge of how, when and where the fish are feeding are essential components to catching.
When fish feed in the winter, they will predominantly feed on the bottom of the lake or river. Consequently, whichever method of fishing you choose to use, expect the fish to be right on the bottom where the water temperature is at its warmest during the cold winter months.
The key to success in winter is not to concentrate on just one area of your chosen swim. With less active fish who are conserving energy levels, it is imperative to investigate your swim thoroughly whether you are using a float rod, lead rod, feeder rod or a pole. Don’t be afraid to cast around your swim to find your fish, despite being less active than in other months, the fish still need to feed.
Winter fishing also lends itself more to natural baits such as maggots, worms, casters and small maggots called pinkies. In conjunction with small balls of groundbait or small feeders, the results can be surprising, even with the larger fish.
Another key element to getting the most out of winter fishing is having the right gear. To quote Alfred Wainwright– he of the many walking books “There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Ensuring you are physically comfortable, primarily keeping warm and dry while the temperature drops, is key to enjoying winter fishing. There are a myriad of companies selling suitable winter fishing gear and my advice would be to buy the best you can afford. Not only will it do the job effectively, but it will last for years. I have had my selection of bib & braces, fleece-lined jackets and waterproof trousers for over 30 years. Another top tip would be to make sure you wear adequate base layers and always carry a spare dry set, just in case!
During the winter months, I will often take an easy-to-erect day shelter umbrella to keep out the wind and the rain. Combine this with a comfortable chair and a hot flask of tea/coffee/soup and there’s no reason not to get out there and enjoy the challenge of winter fishing when the mercury drops. So till next month, tight lines!
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
Trout Fishing on Lake Maligne, Jasper, Canada
A Visit to Château Coutet
Among the many amusing tales Adrien, the joint owner of Château Coutet along with his family, told was that of his dog Wolfy. Often I’d be commuting to/from work and notice a dog wandering around Saint-Émilion, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. I often worried that he had no owner! One day I mentioned this to my colleague as we were walking towards our cars after a day of work and he chuckled and said, “Oh him, that’s just Château Coutet’s dog, he’s here all the time, he should be our mascot!” I thought it strange but said nothing of it. Then nothing more was said on the matter until I visited Château Coutet.
Wolfy trundled around with Adrien, my partner, and myself while we were given one of the nicest tours I have ever been on. Autumn had graced us with her presence, crispy orange leaves adorned the old barrels in the small garden adjacent to the Coutet estate. Rustic wooden wheels stood against the stone brick wall while old, rusty machinery lay among the leaves in the garden, as well as stood in front of the house. It almost felt like the rusticity of
the grounds was etched in all that surrounded, from the trees to the vines, to the house and, of course, the history.
“Yes, Wolfy does tend to wander into Saint-Émilion, as does my other dog, I often have to drive to pick them up! Nothing I can do about it!” Adrien laughed, while he took a puff of his rollup, but seemed very nonchalant about his vagabond dogs. That being said, I’ve rarely seen happier dogs.
Coutet is all about biodynamic farming and promoting healthy winemaking strategies. Wildflowers grow among the vines, and due to using only natural products, even species of flowers that have become extinct grow within the vines. This was a point of pride while Adrien took us through the wildlife and flowers that had been photographed. “We don’t intervene with the vines, nature does its own thing.” Walking around, you could definitely understand why Saint-Émilion is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Everything about this vineyard oozed harmony; it was extremely peaceful. The average age of the vines on the estate is around 41 years old, some of them dating to more than 80 years old. Mainly the Merlot grape is grown in the vineyard, around 60%, 30% Cabernet Franc or ‘Bouchet’ as the SaintÉmilionnais call it, then 3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% of Pressac (local Malbec). Ironically, people often think Malbec originates from Argentina, but in fact, it originates from France. Wandering through the cellar, it felt very authentic. Unlike some of the top estates in Bordeaux with brand new pristine cellars, with white walls and cement tanks or stainless steel vats, Coutet cellars were untouched which gave it a nostalgic atmosphere. “We believe in preserving the wines and cellar as naturally as possible.”
Coutet estate is 16 hectares, roughly 40 acres, of which 13 hectares are vines and is surrounded by some of the most famous estates in Saint-Émilion, with the likes of Angélus, Bellevue, Beauséjour Bécot where you’ll find none finer soil. The magical thing about the winery is that it feels hidden from the rest of the world, almost as if when you left, you’d be unsure to find it again, a bit like Neverland. A lost world among concrete giants.
The wine itself tasted divine. Imagine tasting nature in a glass, rain on slate stone, the clay earth and limestone rock of the soil, the greenery of the grass, the depth of tree bark, the coolness of autumn wind with the bite of a misty morning. The most amazing part, it wasn’t that expensive, 30€ for a bottle, one that can age for many years. I would highly recommend a visit and buying!
www.instagram.com/theloiregirl
A Year To Forget?
As we approach the end of another year it is normal to look back and consider how it went before we start to think about 2025 and what it will bring. At the beginning of 2024 we were overjoyed to find that all of our honey bee colonies had survived the winter, and we looked forward to seeing them thrive over the spring and summer. What we didn’t expect was all that rain!
As we’ve mentioned in previous articles, the weather really sorted the men from the boys this year. The excessive rain washed the nectar out of flowers so that when the bees were able to fly and look for forage there was none to be found. The union of beekeepers in France issued a warning in several regions that starvation was a real threat and that colonies would have to be fed, a situation almost unheard of outside the winter months. The bad weather also resulted in the poor mating of queen bees who had limited time to find suitable mates in sufficient quantities. The knock-on effect of this was weaker colonies and colony numbers not increasing as expected. Fewer bees, less foraging, less pollination; several people have
remarked to us about the lack of fruit on their trees this year. Everything was delayed by the wet spring, the one positive being that this included the appearance of Asian hornets around our bee hives. Honey harvests have been affected too, with many regions reporting “une année à oublier”, with yields much lower than usually expected, and in some cases zero honey being taken. Expect honey prices to rise next year!
There isn’t anything we can do about the weather but we can protect our bees from it by ensuring that their homes are safe and secure, and insulated against cold and damp. It’s important to remember too that we can only take surplus honey for ourselves; if forage has been scarce then we may need to feed them too. If our colonies are small or weakened by poorly-mated queens then it’s a good idea to merge them with stronger ones so that they have a greater chance of making it through to 2025 when we can start again with renewed optimism for a better year.
Hopefully we will emerge from the winter with all our colonies alive and in good health, and we’ll start 2025 with a spring clean. As soon as we are able to open the hives, when the ambient temperatures are greater than 14ºC for a few days in a row, we will be replacing some of the older comb with clean wax foundation in new frames. Over time the wax comb becomes blackened due to use – the bees love this as it smells of brood, pollen and nectar, but unfortunately bacteria also loves it and that’s not great for the ongoing overall health of the hive. We usually only have to replace a couple of older frames, and this can be done without delaying the growth of the colony too much. During the next few months, as part of our preparation for a better year, we’ll be cleaning equipment and assessing the condition of spare hives and frames. Fingers crossed, we’ll be busy managing our bees’ swarming
behaviour – being prepared for swarms is half the battle won! We’ll also ensure that our ‘swarm kit’ is ready to go if we receive any calls to collect swarms. If you would like to learn more about beekeeping then now is the time to start planning. Over the winter you can read books, watch videos, and enrol on a course so that, come spring, you’ll be ready to start your own “année inoubliable”, a year to remember. Please get in touch via email (info@13bees.co.uk), phone (05 45 71 22 90) or take a look at our website (www.13bees.co.uk) for more information.
Fortnightly deliveries to the Deux-Sèvres.
Hassle-free customs clearance.
Careful removal service between UK-France-UK.
Full house moves, part loads to single items and vehicles.
Free pre-move storage for part loads.
Deliveries accepted on your behalf between 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday.
French-speaking crew. Owner operated since 1995.
International transport licence.
PLEASE CALL STEPHEN on +44 (0) 7966 287430 or email: smartmovers@hotmail.co.uk
Well, time waits for no man, as my Grandad used to say! November dawns with All Saints and All Souls' days, often a time for family and friends to gather for meals and visit the cemetery. It's often a stormy time weather-wise which can find us gardeners sheltering inside, watching the clouds scud across the sky and the trees bend in the wind. There's always lots of jobs to do, and of course, planning ahead for the year to come, so if it's very stormy you can relax and read the seed catalogues!
The end of September, whilst writing this, has once again seen us both ill with colds, coughs, virus things despite doing our best to avoid populated places; maybe the trip to the market or supermarket should come with a health warning! Then my laptop decided to give up the ghost, so after a lot of research, a new one was purchased although it has an AZERTY keyboardheaven help me!
Whilst walking the dogs, I am once again saddened to see one of my neighbours removing perfectly good trees and, most recently, a whole orchard has been taken out in 3 days, with 2
machines and a chipper. I could not believe my eyes. It seems my village has given up on nature and plants and just wants a grassy area to mow with a rideon mower or, worse, more concrete paving for more parking. Is it me, I ask myself? What are they thinking? As a nature lover, garden lover, and someone who cares about the planet we call home, it shocks me that others seemingly have turned a blind eye. I would love to know where they think the rainwater will go now more areas are lost to concrete. I'd be interested to know if you are noticing this in your area too. You can find me on Instagram, details at the foot of the diary. So, let's all get out there and support our local garden centres, tree growers, plant nurseries, and go and buy some trees to plant this November.
Gardeners Unite! We can make a difference to the wildlife in our gardens and the wider area if each of us does something positive - a step in the right direction, so to speak. Of course, trees have a lifespan and a productive life too. Believe me, that local orchard was very productive; we have seen lots of fruit on the trees each year since 2017.
Well, here are a few jobs for you this month; as mentioned, November is the perfect time to plant new fruit trees and bushes, and bare-root plants including roses, as long as the ground is frostfree, and not too wet. Here’s hoping! The saint's day on 25th November, Saint Catherine's Day, is traditionally the perfect time.
Take note of where the prevailing wind is coming from, and stake the new trees to protect them from those winter
Clare Hill
gales. Remove a big circular area of grass around the new tree, keep the weeds down and don't over-mulch the area, a little will be enough. If it is a really dry winter, keep these young trees well-watered, and for the first 2 summers, watering will be essential. A good 11-litre watering can-full weekly, rather than a more frequent dribble.
With fruit trees being planted, remember to check which varieties will crosspollinate. A good nursery will provide a list of which varieties will pollinate and cross-pollinate others. Then wait until the following year to watch the blossom and later the fruits appear. I usually check on the RHS website to be doubly sure of the varieties.
On a dry winter day, take a look at existing fruit trees and thin out some of the new growth that can become too congested. Tie in new tiers of espaliered fruit trees and prune apple, pear, quince, and medlar. If the trees have got very big and unmanageable it may be time to call in an expert to help you winter prune them. This time of year, you will find the best availability of bare-root roses, and hedge plants too. The “Roseraie - Chemins de la Rose” near to Doué-la-Fontaine just over the border into Maine-et-Loire has its Fête des Rosiers d'Automne for 2024 from 9th to 11th November. Over 800 varieties including climbers, rambling roses, standards, and shrubs to choose from. Free entry and a pruning course is available for 10 Euros per person.
In the Vegetable plot: Now is the time to prepare areas of the vegetable plot, using either dig or no-dig methods, removing the biggest perennial weeds, and adding well-rotted organic matter. You can sow a cover crop/green manure which will have
filtrations, liners, pool cleaners, heating, pipework and water quality, electrical and plumbing.
We cover the Vendée and surrounding area.
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the benefit of keeping weeds down and adding organic matter and nutrients back to your soil when you dig it in. Win-win!
You can sow overwintering broad beans outside in a sheltered spot. Garlic can be planted in November too, right up until Christmas, for harvest next June. Our neighbour Rene used to check that I had the garlic planted by the shortest day and often brought me his spare ones to plant out with mine.
You can still sow salad leaves, and spinach, try sowing on a bright windowsill or a sheltered spot outside like a cold frame or greenhouse. If you want some chilli peppers, some varieties can be sown at any time of year, just give them a little warmth and a bright spot.
If you have parsnips or leeks in the ground they can be left until needed, or harvested and stored. Celeriac can
also be left in the ground, if an early frost is forecast then protect with a thick mulch of straw. In the flower and ornamental garden; November is the time for tulip bulb planting too, either into the ground or in pots. In recent years the method of "lasagne bulb" planting has become popular; start with the biggest bulbs deepest, then cover with soil, then add smaller bulbs, e.g., narcissi, cover, then smallest bulbs nearer the top, e.g., muscari. This will ensure your display sees you through several months from early Spring until early Summer. Beware of planting tulips too early, as this can lead to Tulip fire disease. I like to add some pretty violas to the top of my pots, or the ornamental cabbages can look a little different and add colour over winter.
Sweet Peas can be sown in Autumn too, which gives earlier flowering plants than Spring-sown ones, which with our climate here is a positive thing. Autumn into the winter season sees a carpet of leaves. What to do with them all? Well, you could rake some and pop into a plastic bag, pop some holes in, put the bag in a corner, forget about it, then when you look in a few months you will have black leaf mould, which can be added to your other garden compost. You could sweep some from the grassy areas onto your borders, which is less disruptive for the wildlife making a home in the leaf, or leave the leaves where they fall.
I use a mixture of methods. Some goes into bags, left for 6 months, and some I put on the borders, others I used as a thick mulch to protect my dahlias from frost. The Hazel leaves I usually put into the main compost bins, and some I leave on the grass. I love a walk which involves kicking leaves and love to watch the dogs dash around in them too.
Keep warm now and don’t blow away, see you in December.
À bientôt,
About Clare
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.
Clubs & Associations
AlcoholicsAnonymous - 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
Call Christian for more information: 05 49 63 04 78
CONVERSATION WORKSHOP FRENCH/ENGLISH IN THOUARS
An opportunity to have a friendly contact, to form friendships,and improve mutual understandings of different cultures. Come along every wednesday, from 7.30pm to 9pm, at Centre Socio-Culturel 21 avenue Victor Hugo 79100 THOUARS Contact : v.venotbonnet@gmail.com or eugene_mc_cabe@hotmail.com
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. Please email us at: clessenetball@gmail.com
Clubs & Associations Submission: Include title and 40-word max entry (with contact details) and optional logos if space allows. Free ads rotate monthly; for guaranteed monthly printing, pay a 4.50€ monthly fee (54€ annually). Email submissions to: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Vasles Netball Club - Keep fit, have fun & meet new people. Join us each Monday 5.30-7pm & Thursday 6.30-8pm at Salle Omnisports Vasles, 79340. For all aged 14 years and over. All abilities & are welcome. 2 free taster sessions. FB@VaslesNetballClub Email: vaslesnetball@gmail.com
Combined Services Support Group - CSSG is a community of ex services, police, and firefighters. We meet socially and raise funds for ex-service charities. For information, email Andrea Cornwall: andreacornwall79@icloud.com. For confidential welfare support contact Geoff Godfrey: geoffandhelen@hotmail.co.uk.
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
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
poetry meetings at Fenioux. New members warmly welcome. For more information email reactiontheatrefrance@gmail.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
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 www.avf.asso.fr
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
Bringing new life to old furniture
One of the biggest project activities we get involved in at the Repair Shed is taking in donated furniture which needs to be refreshed, repaired or in some cases transformed entirely. In the last few months, we have had a wide range of items come through the doors and we are delighted that many of these have found new homes and owners so they can be used for many more years to come.
Recycling and repurposing is an important part of our Association as not only does it save items from landfill, but also provides an opportunity for our members to have a go at taking on a little project of their own which can either be worked on at ShedQuarters or in their own homes.
As an Association, recycling furniture is also an important way to raise funds. This money is then reinvested back into the Repair Shed to enable us to keep providing workshops and space for people to come and enjoy making and creating.
Here is a before and after photo of one of our recent projects.
If you would like to take on a project, we have plenty of interesting things waiting for you. We are always on hand to help or guide you through the process.
Email info@therepairshed.fr or telephone 05 49 80 39 57.
Lisa Jones
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
British and French cultural association consisting of theatre group, choir (Keynotes), book club and poetry appreciation. Weekly choir rehearsals at Scillé. Monthly book and
Clubs & Associations
It’s nearly Christmas and as promised, the Reaction Theatre Association will be performing, “It’s Snowtime! Un Spectacle de Noel,” at the Foyer Theatre in L’Absie on Friday 29 November at 19h30 and on Saturday 30 November at 15h00. Please see our separate advertisement within this edition.
We are principally a British group, but with a growing number of French members and a bilingual Keynotes choral director who also works with several other French choirs. We are breaking new ground this year by producing a performance of songs, sketches and comedy in both languages which we hope will be largely understood by a mixed audience!
A reminder from our president, “It’s not too late to join in, providing you don’t mind a bit of catching up! We have an electronic database of all the voice parts for our songs, so with a bit of time and effort, you could be up-to-speed quite quickly.”
The audience feedback from last year’s show was instrumental in deciding the content for this year. Their comments were invaluable.
This time we will be ‘asking the audience’ again for their reviews. Once again, a bottle of champagne will be won by a person lucky enough to have their form chosen from a lucky dip. For tickets, you can either pay at the door on your chosen performance date or email in advance to: reactiontheatrefrance@gmail.com
Oh, and did I mention that there will be a bar open serving alcoholic drinks, mulled wine and mince pies as well as an assortment of beverages? Funnily enough, when I dealt with ticket sales and enquiries last year, a recurring question was, “Do you have a bar?” Naturally, we are very happy to oblige. So please come and support us. We’d love you to join us for either the evening or matinée performances, or become a member of our association yourself.
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Christmas. Contacts as always: www.reactiontheatre.eu
Email:reactiontheatrefrance@gmail.com
Facebook: Reaction Theatre Association
Vienne & Deux-Sèvres
One of the events organised by National Cancer Aid France takes place every year in September. It's called 'Activity4Life'. This year, it was the Médoc region's turn for our activities. In addition to cycling, they were able to offer a daily walk for walkers with different abilities (and their dogs) as well as a marche aquatique or longe-Côte (water walk). The photos published in our national magazine 'Touchlines' clearly show what a convivial time everyone had. The après cycling and walking seemed to me to be an important component and would certainly have been an incentive! The combination of physical and social activity is good for our wellbeing and can help us cope with the difficult challenges that life inevitably brings.
Many of the associations are organising their own events to celebrate this fundraising. For many reasons, it's good to keep things local. I was wondering if there is anyone in the Deux-Sèvres who could organise a walk or bike ride next year to raise a small amount for the CSF? Maybe there are already groups that could recognise the 'Activity4life' in September 2025, so very little extra work would be needed. Give it a thought, because it would be wonderful to be able to include your photos in this article.
Let me give you an example of what my group of cycling friends has achieved this year.
The South Vienne 86 cycling group meets every fortnight from the beginning of spring until the end of October. Whenever we can't find a café along the way, Stella Buckle arrives with refreshments and a pot for coins. This year - and it's the first year I've tried to combine my hobbies and interests - all of the group's donations, totalling €192, have gone to our Association.
Note: We start from different points in the south of the Vienne. We usually cycle 30 kilometres and support the local economy by finishing with a meal in one of our many restaurants.
You can find the magazine 'Touchlines" on the national website. If you'd like to participate in 'Activity4life' 2025, please contact me by email: Activity4life@thedsm.fr
At Association Violet, we support families of children with complex disabilities who are facing financial challenges with their children’s health and rehabilitation. Here we would like to share the stories of two amazing children, Lewis and Emma, to show how your generosity makes a difference.
Lewis's Journey
Lewis recently had complex surgery on his legs. While the surgery was covered, his rehabilitation and related travel expenses are not. His family faces:
November 2024: One week of therapy in Madrid - €1,815.91, plus approximately €800 for accommodation.
March 2025: Two weeks of therapy€3,334.12, plus approximately €1,100 for accommodation.
Your support helps fund his essential treatments, easing the family’s financial burden and helping his recovery.
Emma's Story
Emma, recently diagnosed with hip dislocation, will undergo surgery on 11th October. She will be in a full-body cast for 30 days, followed by three weeks of intensive rehab on Île d’Oléron. Her family is working hard to arrange this care. Your support can help them through this journey.
How your donations are used
All funds raised from our events –including the Garden Party, quizzes, and bingo nights – directly support families like Lewis's and Emma's. Our team of six works tirelessly to keep costs low, achieving only 10% in expenses last year. Your continued support allows us to aid more children while minimising overheads.
Upcoming events – how you can help
• Terves Christmas Market: 1st December.
• Christmas Hampers: Located in local bars.
• Online Raffles before before the end of the year.
• Monthly Quiz Nights at Le Nouveau Bar De La Poste.
The impact you make
By supporting these events, you directly help children like Lewis and Emma. The more we raise, the more we can ease their paths to recovery. Your contributions, no matter how small, make an enormous difference.
Other ways you can support us
• Donate via charity tins in our local community.
• Organise a fundraising event for Association Violet.
• Donate via PayPal: fundraisingav@outlook.com.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Together, we can give these children fuller, more inclusive lives.
With the warmest of thanks, Suzette and Team Violet
Philip Buckle
Anne Friend
Seasonal Recipes
Jerusalem Artichoke Soup
(serves 4)
Have you ever wondered what you can do with topinambours (Jerusalem artichokes) the gnarly little vegetable that pops up in the shops at this time of year? Here's a simple soup recipe that's perfect for a quick lunch or starter. During the Second World War, many French people used Jerusalem artichokes as a potato substitute due to rationing. Our older French neighbours often shunned them because they associated them with the occupation, but they seem to be making a comeback.
INGREDIENTS:
700g Jerusalem artichokes
3 shallots, chopped
30g butter
1 litre chicken or vegetable stock
125ml 35% cream, whipped chopped chives for garnish (optional)
Salt and pepper
METHOD
• Peel the jerusalem artichokes, chop them to approx thumb size and place them in a bowl of cold water with a squeeze of lemon to prevent browning.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Add the chopped shallots and cook gently for about 5 minutes until they are soft but not browned.
• Drain the jerusalem artichokes and add them to the saucepan with the shallots. Pour in the stock, cover, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 40 minutes or until the jerusalem artichokes are tender.
• Puree the soup with a stick blender until smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the soup into bowls. Top each serving with a dollop of cream and a sprinkle of chives. Serve immediately. If you're feeling particularly decadent then you can also add a drop of truffle oil.
Rabbit with beer and pain d’epiceS (serves 4)
As pain d'épices begin to fill the shops for the festive season, we have a unique way to use them. Rabbit, which is available all year round in France, is particularly in season now - the perfect time to try this dish. Reminiscent of the sweet and savoury Flemish dish Lapin à la Flamande, this recipe combines tender rabbit with the rich spices of pain d'épices. If you don't want to use rabbit, you can also use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
INGREDIENTS
600g rabbit pieces
3 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, sliced
1 shallot, chopped
1 garlic clove, peeled
1 tbsp plain flour
250ml pale ale (bière ambrée)
250ml hot water
1 tbsp chicken stock powder or 1 cube (fond de volaille)
1 bouquet garni
Salt and pepper to taste
60g pain d’épices, diced
METHOD
• Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the rabbit pieces and brown them on all sides. Remove the rabbit pieces and set aside.
• In the same pan, add the sliced onion and chopped shallot. Cook until they become translucent.
• Return the browned rabbit pieces to the pan with the onions and shallots. Sprinkle the flour over the rabbit and mix well.
• Pour in the beer, hot water, and add the chicken stock, garlic clove, and bouquet garni. Season the mixture with salt and pepper. Cover the pan and allow to simmer gently for about 20 minutes.
• After 20 minutes, add the diced pain d’épices to the pan. Stir to ensure the pain d’épices is covered with the sauce. Continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes or until the pain d’épices has melted into the sauce.
• Remove the bouquet garni before serving. Plate the rabbit pieces with the sauce and serve with pasta or potatoes.
Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of making your own Christmas pudding?
No worries! Why not visit the Christmas Fayres we've advertised, where you’re sure to find ready-made options at the British food stands!
Traditional Christmas Pudding
Celebrate the festive season with this delicious Christmas pudding, perfect for France where butter is easier to find than suet. With the rich flavours of dried fruit and a hint of booze, this pudding is a wonderful treat.
Stir Up Sunday, the traditional day for making this festive dessert, falls on 24 November. Gather your family, make a wish while stirring and enjoy!
• In a bowl, combine dried fruits and chopped apple. Add orange juice and your choice of spirit. Stir well and let soak for one hour.
• In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, muscovado sugar, and orange zest until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in the eggs, adding a little flour to prevent curdling if needed.
• Sift the remaining flour and mixed spice into the creamed mixture. Fold in breadcrumbs and flaked almonds. Stir in the soaked fruits along with their soaking liquid.
• Grease a 1.2litre (2 pint) pudding basin thoroughly. Line the base with a disc of baking parchment.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared basin, pressing it down gently. Cover with a pleated layer of baking parchment and foil, securing with string.
• Place the pudding in a steamer over simmering water for eight hours. Ensure the water is replenished as needed. If a steamer isn’t available, place an upturned side plate in a saucepan, place the pudding on top, and fill with boiling water halfway up the basin.
• Once cooked, let the pudding cool, then wrap it in foil and store in a cool, dark place.
• On Christmas Day, steam the pudding for two hours, or microwave if your basin is microwave safe. To microwave, cover with baking parchment and heat on full power for about 4 minutes. Let stand for 2-3 minutes, then heat for another 3-4 minutes until hot.
• Turn the pudding out onto a serving plate. Warm some extra brandy, pour over the pudding, and ignite for a spectacular finish.
Layered Kiwi Parfaits (serves 4)
Did you know that France is one of Europe's top kiwi producers? These vibrant fruits are in season from November through to May. This layered kiwi parfait combines the fresh, tangy flavour of kiwis with a scrumptious homemade granola. If time is short you could use a ready-made nut granola
INGREDIENTS
For the Granola:
200g rolled oats
5 tbsp chopped mixed nuts (almonds, walnuts etc)
4 tbsp seeds (sunflower/pumpkin)
4 tbsp honey or maple syrup
50g melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp ground cinnamon
A pinch of salt
For the Yoghurt Layer:
250g Greek yoghurt
3 ripe kiwis, peeled and sliced
2 tbsp honey
Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
METHOD
• Begin by preheating your oven to 150°C and lining a baking tray with greaseproof paper. In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, chopped nuts, seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then stir in the honey or maple syrup and vanilla extract until well blended. Pour this wet mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is evenly coated.
• Spread the granola mixture evenly on the baking tray, and bake for 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway through to ensure it turns golden brown. Allow it to cool completely before use.
• Sweeten the Greek yoghurt with honey, mixing until smooth. To assemble the parfaits, layer some granola at the bottom of each glass or serving dish. Add a layer of Greek yoghurt on top, followed by slices of kiwi. Depending on the size of your serving glasses, you can repeat the layers, finishing with granola on top.
• Chill the parfaits in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before serving to allow the flavours to meld together.
Pear, Blue Cheese, and Ham Canapés
(makes 16)
Kick off the festive season with these delightful canapés that perfectly combine sweet, juicy pears, tangy, creamy blue cheese, and savoury, thinly sliced ham. These warm little treats are not only pretty but are also bursting with flavour, making them an ideal appetiser for any holiday gathering.
INGREDIENTS
2 ripe pears, cored and sliced into 8 wedges
100g Bleu d'Auvergne, crumbled
100g Parma ham or Jambon de Bayonne, thinly sliced
A handful of walnuts, chopped
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Olive oil for brushing
Salt and pepper to taste
Honey for drizzling
1 baguette, thinly sliced into 1cm rounds
METHOD
• Preheat your grill to a medium-high setting. Arrange the baguette slices on a tray and brush lightly with olive oil on one side only. Pop under the grill until this side is lightly toasted.
• Take each pear wedge and gently press a small amount of crumbled cheese onto a cut side. Place a small sprig of fresh rosemary on top of the blue cheese on each pear wedge.
• Wrap each rosemary-topped pear wedge in a slice of ham, ensuring the cheese and rosemary are securely held in place. Place the prepared pear wraps on the untoasted side of the baguette slices.
• Place the tray under the grill for about 4-5 minutes, or until the ham is crisp and the blue cheese begins to melt slightly into the bread.
• Remove from the grill and drizzle a small amount of honey over each canapé then sprinkle the chopped walnuts over the top.
• Serve warm.
Rustic Swiss chard and haricot bean soup
At the moment, French markets are full of the bright green of chard, which makes a colourful picture with its large leaves and crunchy white stems. The region is also known for its diverse selection of dried beans, including mogettes, cocos de Paimpol and haricots, which are prized for their rich flavour and versatility. This recipe uses tinned beans, so you can make a hearty chard and haricot bean soup with little effort. It's a delicious way to enjoy the season's harvest while keeping comfort and flavour in mind.
INGREDIENTS
1 large bunch of Swiss chard
60 ml extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, sliced
½ tsp piment d'espelette
2 x 400g tins haricots blancs, rinsed and drained
1½ tsp salt
1 tsp dried thyme or herbes de Provence
500 ml water
500 ml chicken or vegetable stock
1 ripe tomato, chopped Parmesan rind (optional)
4 tsp pesto
METHOD
(SERVES 4 - 6)
Dairy Dilemmas!
We were asked a while ago to include some information about navigating the French dairy aisle. If you're struggling to know your fromage blanc from your fromage frais, here are few tips on !
In France, the equivalent of UK double cream is referred to as "crème épaisse" or "crème entière." It has a rich texture with a fat content typically ranging from 30% to 40%, which is slightly lower than the UK's double cream.
The equivalent of whipping cream is known as "crème fleurette." It typically has a fat content of 30-35%, making it suitable for whipping. you can buy a product in the patisserie section of the supermarket called Chantifix that will stabilise whipped cream. The equivalent of single cream is referred to as "crème liquide" or "crème fraîche liquide." It typically has a lower fat content compared to double cream, making it suitable for pouring and light cooking.
• Chop the Swiss chard stems into small strips and shred the leaves. Rinse thoroughly in a bowl of cold water and drain in a colander.
• In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and piment d'espelette, and sauté for about 2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant.
• Add the chopped Swiss chard stems to the pan. Cover with a lid and let it cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the rinsed beans, salt, and dried herbs.
• Pour in the water and stock, and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Add the chopped tomato, chard leaves, and Parmesan rind if you have one. Allow to simmer for about 15 minutes, then remove and discard the Parmesan rind before serving.
• To serve, place a teaspoon of shop-bought pesto at the bottom of each serving dish. Ladle the hot soup over the pesto, allowing it to melt and infuse the soup with its vibrant flavours.
• Taste the soup and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve hot, with a crusty baguette and some cheese if you like.
If you want to use dried beans instead of tinned, you'll need about 200 grams of dried beans. This amount will give you roughly the equivalent of two 400g tins of beans once cooked. Remember to soak the dried beans overnight and then cook them until tender before adding them to the soup. For safety , boil dried beans for ten minutes before reducing to a simmer until they are tender. This step helps to eliminate any potential toxins and ensures the beans are fully cooked.
Fromage blanc is a fresh, creamy cheese with a texture similar to sour cream but with a milder, less tart flavor. You often find it served as a dessert in French restaurantswith a choice of a red fruit coulis or sugar. Fromage frais - is a thick slightly sour cream. It's commonly used in cooking and for sauces you can find it with a fat content of 0%, 20% or 40%. The higher fat content ones usually work better when cooked eg in a pasta sauce - although experience has shown that you can't whip fromage frais! Greek yogurt is a type of yogurt that has been strained to remove most of its whey, resulting in a thicker, creamier texture compared to regular yogurt. This straining process also concentrates the yogurt, making it higher in protein and lower in carbs. You can buy authentic Greek yogurt in large containers.
Yaourt nature - that's a set yogurt that's allowed to solidify in the container you buy it in. That come in natural, with vanilla or with sugar. They are usually made with full fat milk - you can sometimes get 0% products which are all grouped together in the supermarket fridge.
Yaourt brassé - this is yogurt that's been stirred to make a more runny yogurt more like the natural yogurt you would buy in the UK.
Easy Crossword
ACROSS
1. Cartoon where a rat becomes a chef (10)
7. French cheese known as "Le Colonel" (7)
9. Elected official (5)
10. An island in the Channel Islands (4)
11. Root vegetable related to celery (8)
12. Vital energy point in the body (6)
14. Seafood often served in cocktails (6)
17. Sparkling perry known for its deer logo (8)
19. Famous shark movie (4)
22. French business registration (5)
23. Element used in batteries (7)
24. Fortified medieval city in the Languedoc (11) DOWN
1. Aussie ___ football (5)
2. Greek-style dining establishment (7)
3. Part of a car that contacts the road (4)
4. London borough with famous walk, Oi! (7)
5. Welsh name for Snowdonia (5)
6. Muscle located in the upper arm (6)
8. Overly quaint or dainty in style (4)
12. Art style developed by Picasso (6)
13. Scale for measuring earthquakes (7)
15. Language of Rome (7)
16. Author of "Matilda" (4)
18. Acid used in antiseptics (5)
20. Site of a major World War I battle in France (5)
TAKE A BREAK
21. Prenom of "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay" singer (4)
Cryptic Crossword
(with many thanks to Mike Morris)
ACROSS
1. Ditch the Foreign Office directions on energy? (5)
4. Being the foremost of those bringing us blight of newts in coming plague. (7)
8. Record company boarding ship with very small parts of discharged products. (9)
9. Evidence of forthcoming delivery, but powerless, leading to low quality deal, for example? (3)
10. Strain of first lady following agreement in Madrid? (5)
11. Choose to have no leader on front part of ferry in current form? (7)
13. Gentle rep near arrangement for ambition of ecologists? (7, 6)
15. French peer installed in marsh plant to get less, 8 Across, for example? (7)
16. Ladies have triumphed over this crossword compiler? (5)
18. Garment for church leaders of Baptists leaving and then coming back. (3)
20. In the early stages of "I'm Corbyn" e-broadcast? (9)
21. Support ambition of leaderless Dane? (7)
22. Catches about direction in homes for flyers? (5)
DOWN
1. Fossil, for example, driving our society, for now? (5)
2. Having unusually weird hens will call up the old farmer. (9)
3. Follow in French, then bring court action. (5)
4. Read a bible! God! This sort of language could lead to a breakdown! (13)
5. Following personal hygiene problem, rich guy becomes a biographer? (7)
6. Rubbish container tipped over to make a point? (3)
7. Finding love for politician in how much paid for rubbish? (7)
12. Eastern men living in camp end up in apartment building? (9)
13. Bishop hiding in out-building is to be put out? (7)
14. Unfinished lunch thrown onto organ produces a kind of energy? (7)
16. Entry of those leading women and young infant nurses? (3-2)
17. Steals from country boys following NH exchange event? (5) 19.
walk on the lead. His housetraining ensures a smooth transition to a new home and he is happy to have a secure garden to explore and play in.
This Christmas, let's try again to give Helios, a 12-year-old collie mix, the loving home he so deserves. You may remember Helios from last year when we first reported on his story. Although he did find a new home, Helios is once again in search of a forever family who can give him the stability and love he craves.
Helios is the epitome of a perfect companion: clean, calm, well-mannered and lovingly independent. He was rescued from the streets of Poitiers and has developed into a gentle soul who loves to be with people, loves cuddles and is always ready for a car ride or a leisurely
Helios is described by his foster family as "young at heart". He is full of energy and fun to be with. He generally gets on well with other dogs, although not with certain male dogs and he doesn't like cats and will chase them. With an EU pet passport in hand, Helios is ready to accompany his new family on all their adventures, wherever they may lead.
Sarah, his current foster carer, says: "I can't emphasise enough what a sweet, gentle boy he is. I really hope for his sake that his next home will be a forever home."
If you are willing to open your heart and home to Helios, please contact Association En Route in Sainte-Soline, on 07 69 18 56 81 or email henri@assoenroute.com
Let’s make this Christmas unforgettable for Helios by finding him a loving home.
Hope79, the animal welfare organisation based in SauzeVaussais, is warning the public about the fraudulent sale of the "Hope 79 Pour Les Animaux" calendar. These unauthorised activities are not condoned by the organisation and are preying on to good will of unsuspecting supporters. Amanda Willingham, on behalf of Hope79, stated: "We would like to make it clear that there is no official calendar for this year, although there may be plans for a calendar in 2026. All current sales are a scam."
Hope79 asks anyone wishing to purchase this calendar to report the incident immediately so that the gendarmerie can be involved.
For reports or further enquiries, please contact Hope79 directly by email at info@hope79.org or visit their website www.hope79.org.
Stay informed and vigilant to protect yourself from fraudulent activity. LET’S MAKE CHRISTMAS UNFORGETTABLE
Association Galia need volunteers!
It's the perfect day for a walk, but you dont have a dog? No problem! At Refuge Galia in Fontenay le Comte 85200, there are plenty of furry friends looking forward to a walk. Whether you fancy giving them a hug or tidying up their kennels, you'll find all shapes, sizes, colours and breeds. Volunteering only takes up 2-3 hours of your day, usually from 9am to 11am, earlier on hot days.
Come and meet these wonderful dogs - and our fantastic volunteers too! It's rewarding, fun and good exercise. Why don't you give it a try?
Contact Sue Hetherington: pitway@live.com or Mandy Whitehouse: mandywh1910@gmail.com for more details.
Angelique Moore Managing Director
The 100% Health PlanA Positive Reform for Policyholders
The «100% Health» reform, introduced in France in 2021, aims to improve access to healthcare for all citizens, particularly for dental, optical, and hearing care. It’s main goal is to reduce the remaining costs for patients, meaning the amount policyholders must pay after reimbursements from the Social Security and their top-up health insurance.
This reform consists of several key components:
1. Healthcare coverage: The 100% Health plan provides a list of healthcare services and equipment that are fully covered by Social Security and top-up health insurance. This includes dental prostheses, glasses, and hearing aids, ensuring that patients do not have to pay anything for these essential treatments.
2. Quality of Care: In addition to financial accessibility, the reform places a strong emphasis on the quality of care. Healthcare professionals are required to meet quality standards for the equipment and services offered under the 100% Health plan.
3. Support: The reform also includes measures to inform and assist policyholders in making healthcare decisions. This involves providing tools and resources to help individuals understand the available options and their rights as patients.
4. Broader Access: The 100% Health plan is part of a larger initiative aimed at improving healthcare access for the most vulnerable populations, ensuring easier access to quality care without any additional costs.
In summary, the 100% Health reform represents a significant step towards improved healthcare coverage in France, ensuring that everyone can access essential care without the financial burden. It plays a key role in promoting a more equitable society and enhancing public health outcomes.
However, while it has improved healthcare coverage, the reform has also led to increased costs for insurance companies, which explains the notable rise in top-up health insurance premiums in recent years.
We are the leading agency for English-speaking clients in France, offering dedicated services for all your insurance needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us !
Visit our website www.bh-assurances.fr/en to view previous articles under “practical information” and register to receive our monthly newsletter.
Don’t hesitate to contact us!
money matters
New pension transfer tax
How do you know if transferring your UK pensions abroad is advisable?
Transferring a pension abroad has always been challenging and requires specialist financial advice. The answer could lie in where you live and work. If you live abroad permanently and have no intention of returning to the UK, then transferring your pension might be the answer.
Before transferring your pension abroad, be aware of the new legislation on pension transfers.
The UK government has abolished LTA and brought in a new transfer charge when transferring to a QROPS. Pension transfers over the limit of £1,073,000 could now be subject to a 25% overseas transfer tax in certain circumstances after new tax legislation is introduced on 6 April 2024.
Currently, transfers to qualified recognised overseas pension schemes (QROPS) can be made free of UK tax provided certain conditions are met, irrespective of the amount transferred.
Previously, any transfers to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) were subject to a tax charge of 25% on the
by Helen Booth, deVere
amount over the current Lifetime Allowance (last LTA was £1,073,033).
This new legislation, which basically reverts to pre-6 April 2023 tax laws where pension excess was subject to the lifetime allowance charge of 25%, seems to repeat the previous law but in new packaging.
Due to Brexit restrictions, if you live abroad, your financial adviser in the UK may not be able to advise you, and there could also be restrictions as to how you can draw on your pension.
Also, if the value of your pension is nearing the £1,073,000 limit, now is the time to talk to a financial adviser about moving your pension abroad before you incur tax liabilities. There is an opportunity for overseas residents who hold large UK Pensions to review their objectives and consider an overseas transfer to mitigate the new OTA charge. Also, be aware of potential changes to UK death benefit tax charges on pending UK pensions and any possible changes that might occur after the next general election.
Non-UK residents should also consider the volatility of the pound since Brexit.
When transferring a pension overseas, always make sure it is to a recognised overseas pension scheme approved by His Majesty’s government; otherwise, your pension may not be transferrable, or you could be subject to pay at least 40% tax on the transfer.
Ensure that your portfolio is as taxefficient as possible. Use the services of a financial adviser who is qualified in the jurisdiction and lives in the country where you live and work. They must be fully knowledgeable of the tax implications of moving pensions abroad and have expert knowledge of the different taxefficient solutions available that suit your individual financial needs.
Contact Helen Booth at deVere France for a free, no-obligation consultation at: helen.booth@devere-france.fr
Please note, the above is for educational purposes only and does not constitute advice. You should always contact your deVere adviser for a personal consultation.
* No liability can be accepted for any actions taken or refrained from being taken, as a result of reading the above.
Ask Amanda
For this month’s article, I thought I would write about the questions that people have asked me this year. As we head towards December and the end of the French tax year, now is always a good time to reflect on the year before the festivities of December.
I have met and spoken to many interesting people who have either already made their permanent move to France or are in the final steps of doing so. There are always lots of questions and here are some I have answered this year:
I have just sold in the UK and have some capital. Why should I see a financial planner?
So that all the financial options available to you in France can be explained, allowing you to make an informed decision based on your personal circumstances and aspirations. Also to understand the tax implications and how you can reduce tax going forward. I already have a family financial adviser in the UK. Why should I see a French financial planner?
A UK financial planner is specialised in the UK, where the financial rules and regulations differ to France. Talking to an “in-country” specialist will enable you to keep up to date with the current rules relating to your finances and future changes as they arise.
If I need cash at a later date, can I easily release some equity in my French property?
This is more complicated than in the UK. The banks look very closely at what your plans for the money are and your personal circumstances. This is especially tricky if you find that your income has reduced since moving to France. Equity release schemes are very rare in France, so talking to me before you move to France can ensure you have sufficient money to cover all future expenses.
I have made a UK will, is that sufficient in France?
If your main residence is in UK, then a UK will is fine. However, if your main residence is in France then it is necessary to make a French will.
Expert advice
If I move to France before retirement age, what happens to my UK pensions until I am old enough to draw them?
There are many options available to you depending on your personal circumstances and this is an area that the needs looking at very carefully. Being an expatriate does allow you certain flexibility with historic employer pensions. I have noticed during 2024 that the choice of flexible drawdown with many of the UK pension schemes has been withdrawn to non-UK residents and this is something I can help with.
I have UK investments. Can I get tax efficient investments in France?
Yes, the French government give allowances to French residents, and I can explain these to you, as well as whether the tax status on UK investments has changed with your move.
How much will it cost me to see a financial adviser?
The Spectrum-IFA Group does not charge a fee for consultations. We get paid by the companies we deal with. Please ask for a copy of our customer charter which explains how we work.
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Building and Renovation Services
Café du Miracle
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Chris Bassett Construction
Cooke Couverture.
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Holly Services (SAS).
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Renovations
Maison Secondaire
Mark Wazny Handyman Services
ML Computers.
MT Menuiserie.
Mutuelle de Poitiers
Oh my lord! Franck's fish and chips.
Robert Mann Upholstery
RT Construction.
Smart Moves Removals
IFA Group.
Coupland
Thank you to all our contributors and advertisers - your support helps us to produce the magazine every month!
Ref: A31811 - 4-bedroom property with gîte and several outbuildings.
Agency fees to be paid by the seller.
Bressuire
€347,743
Ref: A22841 - Beautifully renovated 3-bedroom stone farmhouse.
6% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: C Climate class: A
Vernoux-en-Gâtine
€194,400
Ref: A23285 - 4-bedroom farmhouse with pool and outbuildings.
8% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: C
Genneton €82,500
Ref: A32426 - Charming 1-bedroom cottage in the heart of a village.
10% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: B Perfect Holiday Home
Souvigné
€296,800
Ref: A28952 - 4-bedroom house with pool, gîte, studio and workshop.
Gourgé
6% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: C Climate class: C Country Living
€318,000
Ref: A32354 - 6-bedroom house with over 2000m2 of laņdscaped gardens.
Moncoutant-sur-Sèvre €249,000 Ref: A32012 - Superb 4-bedroom villa-style house with garden.
St. Maurice Étusson €144,970
Ref: A30238 - 3-bedroom house with garden and vegetable plot.
9% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: E Climate class: E
€182,000 Ref: A31314 - 3-bedroom house with outbuildings, conservatory and garden.
€318,000
Ref: A28135 - 3-bedroom house with 2-bedroom gîte and outbuildings.
class: D Climate class: B
Fomperron
€319,990
Ref: A26693 - Superb 4-bedroom 230m2 property with pool.
6% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: D Climate class: D
Our selection of properties for sale in the Deux-Sèvres welcomes you ! The Leggett family
Moncoutant-sur-Sèvre €136,250 Ref: A31683 - 2-bedroom former station house with 1-bedroom gîte.
9% agency fees included paid by the buyer. Energy class: F Climate class: E Holiday Home
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.
Vanzay
Paizay le Chapt
The Good Life
MELLERAN
€159,950 HAI
Ref: BVI75740 Charming 3-bed, 2-bath village house with private courtyard and garden Fees: 8% paid by the buyer Net price: €148,102 Energy class: E Climate class: B
CLUSSAIS-LA-POMMERAIE
€174,950
Ref: BVI76536 Traditional 3-bed hamlet property with outbuildings and small orchard Fees: paid by the vendor Energy/climate class: NA
MELLERAN
€199,950
Ref: BVI76479 3-bed village house with walled garden, open barn and workshop Fees: paid by the vendor Energy/climate class: NA
EXOUDUN
€162,000 HAI
Ref: BVI74927 2-bed, 2-bath village house with original features to finish renovating Fees: 8% paid by the buyer Net price: €150,000 Energy/climate class: N/A
VOUVANT, VENDEE
€295,000 HAI
Ref: BVI76871 40 mins drive from the beach is this delightful 3 bed house and guest suite Fees: 6% paid by the buyer Net price: €278,302 Energy class: E Climate class: E
LONGEVILLE-SUR-MER, VENDEE
€739,950
Ref: BVI77099 4-bed coastal home and barn, plus an adjoining plot with building consent Fees: Paid by the vendor Energy class: E Climate class: B
AIRVAULT
€820,000
Ref: BVI67332 Medieval château fort with guard’s house, restaurant and own chapel Fees: Paid by the vendor Energy class: E Climate class: E
LONGEVILLE-SUR-MER, VENDEE
€546,000
Ref: BVI77097 Attractive 4-bed, 3-bath property with barn, just 15 mins walk to the beach Fees: Paid by the vendor Energy class: E Climate class: B
