'The Deux-Sèvres Monthly' Magazine August 2015

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Welcome! to Issue 54 of

‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’ magazine.

Hello again.....don’t these months fly by?

We are now into August and enjoying the gorgeous warm weather eagerly awaited. It’s funny, we love the sunshine but then hope for some rain to help fill the water-butts and water the garden and vegetables! We just can’t win!

So, what’s in this issue? Well, it’s another packed one featuring (amongst other things) ‘Les plus beaux villages’ in our region and this month’s calendar of ‘Nuits Romanes’ events. These free, nightime spectaculars are well worth a visit...what the performers achieve using dance, light and music are really inspiring and shouldn’t be missed.

Also Homechef79, Hazel, tempts us with some great recipes to help us use up some of our glut of fruit and vegetables. If like us you know you will have courgettes coming out of your ears, then the Courgette and Mushroom Frittata will be the one for you! I know I’ll be trying it myself this month....

So, until next month, enjoy your Summer and I look forward to catching up with you very soon.

Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr Website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

à plus, Sarah

Emergency Numbers: 15 SAMU (Medical Advice) 17 Gendarmes (Police) 18 Pompiers (Fire Service)

112 European Emergency 113 Drugs and Alcohol

Contents

What’s On 4 Getting Out & About 6 Les Nuits Romanes 10 Hobbies 12 Clubs & Associations 16 Health, Beauty & Fitness 18 Our Furry Friends 20 Take a Break 22 Communications 23 Les Plus Beaux Villages de France 25 Home & Garden 28 A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres 32 Food & Drink 33 Motoring 38 Building & Renovation 40 Business & Finance 46 Property 49

This Month’s Advertisers

79 Renovations ABORDimmo Ace Pneus (Tyre supplier & Fitter) Affordable UK Designs (Kitchens & UPVC Double Glazing) AKE Petit Travaux (Builder) A La Bonne Vie Allez Français Amanda Johnson - The Spectrum IFA Group Andrew Longman (Plumbing & Heating) Antique Clock Repair & Restoration ARB French Property Arbrecadabra Tree Surgery Argo Carpentry BH Assurances / Allianz - Isabelle Want Bike Hire Direct Bill McEvoy (Plumber / Heating Engineer) Blevins Franks Financial Management Blightyshop (UK Shopping Delivered to France)

45 49 39 2 45 34 51 48 43 28 51 29 44 47 8 43 46 34

Bowen Technique with Suzanne Cole-King 19 Brico 79 29 Building & Renovation Services 45 Camping Les Prairies du Lac 49 Caniclôture Hidden Fences 20 Centre Régional Resistance & Liberté 8 Chris Bassett Construction 41 Chris Parsons (Heating/Electrical/Plumbing) 43 Christies (English Book Shop & Tea Room) 6 CJ Electricité 40 Clean Sweep Chimney Services 44 CSB Construction 42 Currencies Direct - Sue Cook 48 Cut 46 Hair Salon 19 Darren Lawrence (Renovations etc) 42 David Cropper (Stump Grinding & Jungle Busting) 31 David Watkins Chimney Sweep 44 Deb Challacombe (Online counsellor) 19 Down to Earth Pool Design 49 Dry Stone Walling Specialist 31 Duncan White - Agent Commerciale 50 Ecopower Europe (Solar Power) 40 Emilie Baudrez (French Classes & Translation) 9 English Paints, English Prices 44 Franglais Deliveries 39 French Wine Tours 35 Futuroscope 52 GAN - Assurances Maucourt 39 Give the Dog a Comb 20 GoGo Bike Hire 8 Hallmark Electronique 40 Inter Décor (Tiles & Bathrooms) 42 Irving Location - Digger Hire 41 Irving Location - Septic Tank Installation & Groundworks 41 Jb Plumbing 43 Jean David Art 13 Jeff’s Metalwork 44 John Purchase - Mobile Mechanic 39 John Snee Groundworks 41 J.P. Lainé Chimney Sweep 44 Julia Hunt - Agent Commerciale 50 Julian Dor-Vincent (Farrier) 21 Keith Banks Pool Services 49 Kelly’s Cleans 29 La Deuxième Chance (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint supplier) 28 La Germondière (Private Fishing Lakes and Holiday Gites) 14 Lamb Studio Pottery 13 La Vendée Chippy 34 Leggett Immobilier 50 Les Ecuries du Saumort (Horse Riding) 21 Madame Mural (Children’s Wall Art) 28 Mad Hatter’s Kitchen 33 Mark Sabestini Renovation & Construction 45 Michael Glover (Plasterer, Renderer, Tiler) 42 ML Computers 24 Motor Parts Charente 39 M. Page Landscaping 28 Mr Piano Man 13 MSS Construction 45 Mutuelles de Poitiers Assurances 39 Nathan Foster Building Services 45 Needa Hand Services 31 Pamela Irving (Massage & Reflexology) 19 Paul Woods - Agent Commerciale 49 Plan 170 (Professional Scale Drawings) 43 Plantagenêt Plantes 29 Polar Express 33 Premier Autos 39 Projet Piscine (Swimming Pool solutions) 49 Restaurant des Canards 33 Rob Berry Plastering Services 42 Robert Lupton Electrician 40 Ross Hendry (Interface Consulting & Engineering) 23 Saint Pardoux pension pour chats 20 Sarah Berry Online (Websites & Graphics) 24 Sarl Down to Earth Construction (Groundworks and Micro Station Installer) 41 Satellite TV 24 Simon the Tiler 42 Steve Coupland (Property Services) 43 Steve Robin (Plumber) 43 Sue Burgess (French Classes & Translation) 9 The English Mechanic & Son - Tony Eyre 39 The Perfect Pig Company 34 This Month’s Advertisers 3 Val Assist (Translation Services) 9 Victoria Bassey Jewellery 18 Yoga Vendée 19

© Sarah Berry 2015. All rights reserved. Material may not be reproduced without permission. While care is taken to ensure that articles and features are accurate, Sarah Berry accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction. The opinions expressed and experiences shared are given by individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the publisher. Please ensure you verify that the company you are dealing with is a registered trading company in France and/or elsewhere. <<The Deux-Sèvres Monthly>> est édité par Sarah Berry, 3 La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny. Tél: 05 49 70 26 21. Directeur de la publication et rédacteur en chef: Sarah Berry. Crédits photos: Sarah Berry, Clkr, Shutterstock, GraphicStock et morgeufile.com. Impression: Graficas Piquer SL, 29 Al Mediterraneo, Pol. Ind. San Rafael, 04230, Huércal de Almeria, Espagne. Dépôt légal: août 2015 - Tirage: 6000 exemplaires.

Siret: 515 249 738 00011 ISSN: 2115-4848

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 3

What’s On...

August 2015

For ‘Nuits Romanes’ events please see pages 10 and 11 or visit their website: www.nuitsromanes.poitou-charentes.fr

The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, Poitou-Charentes, hold English speaking monthly services.

1st August - Anne Dressens Trio perform At Coulonges. See advert on P6 for information.

1st-2nd August - Night Light Show in Arçais At 10pm at the Port, a spectacular show of around 90 minutes reliving 60 years of life by Boat in the Marais Poitevin. Tickets 6-10€ (free for children under 12). Reservations at the Tourist office of the Marais Poitevin Deux-Sèvres. Tel: 08 2020 00 79 3rd August - CSSG Quiz at St Pardoux 5th August - Open Mike Night at Nieul sur l’Autize At the Auberge de la Cloître, free and open to all.

5th August - Polar Express re-open for Business See article and advert on P33.

7th August - Music in the Garden with Alibi Rock At Mad Hatter’s Kitchen, Caunay. See advert on P33.

7th-8th August - The Night of Stars at Lac Cebron Free entry to an evening discovering the stars and the mysteries of the sky. From 9pm - 11.30pm.

9th August - Fête of Franco-British Friendship At Place du Bail, Vouvant from 11am. See poster on P7.

14th August - Anne Dessens Trio perform At Damvix 85240. See poster on P6.

14th-16th August - Mad Hatters Music Festival For more info see poster on P7.

15th August - Fête de la Nature At Le Beugnon from 2pm. Spend a family day at the source of the Gâtine. Various activities arranged: Wood workshop, Wooden games, botanical outing and walks. More information at www. letheatredessources.com 21st August - Music/ Bistro Night At Mad Hatter’s Kitchen, Caunay. See advert on P33.

22nd August - Fundraising Vide Grenier At St Germain de Longue. For more info see P21.

23rd August - Fête des Escargots at Boësse 27th August - Music/ Bistro & Bar At Mad Hatter’s Kitchen, Caunay. See advert on P33.

27th-29th August - Charroux Literary Festival For more info see poster on P7.

28th August - Live Jazz Music with Dinner At A La Bonne Vie restaurant, Le Beignon. Welcoming Abtuse Jazz Band from 7.30pm. See advert on P34.

29th August - Live music night with ‘One Fret Away’ At Restaurant des Canards, Chef Boutonne. See advert on P33.

29th-30th August - Sketchbooks, Easels & Watercolours 10 discovery walks for painters and sketchers in the most beautiful sites in the department. For details please email: gatineautizecommunication@orange.fr

•

What’s Coming Up...

6th September - Phoenix Chorale Autumn Concert In Taize-Aizie Church at 5pm.

11th September - TheatriVasles Soirée 25th September - Book & Coffee morning In aid of Cancer Relief in Mauzé Thouarsais 26th-27th September - Métiers d’Art et Artisans du Patrimoine 26th-27th September - Plantaganet Open weekend Near Douè La Fontaine. See article on P29 for details.

4th October - Fête des Plantes, Faymoreau 11th October - Fête des Plantes La Haye-Fouassière 17th & 18th October - Fête des Plantes, Prissé la Charriere 18th October - TheatriVasles 10 minute play festival For more details about the festival, please see article on P6.

The National Holidays, Religious and Feast Days 2015 Saturday 15th August Assumption of Mary (Assomption) Sunday 4th October Grandfather’s Day (Fête des Grand-pères) Sunday 1st November All Saint’s Day (Toussaint) Wednesday 11th November Armistice Day (Armistice) Friday 25th December Christmas Day (Noël) Dates in blue are celebration days, not public holidays

4 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

1st Sunday at 10.30am: At St Leger, near Melle.

Followed by tea & coffee.

• 2nd Sunday at 11.00am: the home of Ann White, Jassay • 4th Sunday at 10.30am: the Presbytery Rooms, rue de la Citadelle, Parthenay (opposite St Croix Church). Followed by tea & coffee, and a ‘bring and share’ lunch.

A warm welcome awaits everyone for a time of worship and fellowship. For further information please take a look at our website www.church-in-france.com or contact us by email: offfice.goodshepherd@orange.fr The Filling Station ~ Poitou-Charentes The Filling Station is a network of local Christians of all denominations who meet together regularly for spiritual renewal and evangelism purposes. ALL WELCOME. Please see our bilingual website for details of meetings and summer programmes www.thefillingstationfrance.com or contact Mike & Eva Willis on 05 17 34 11 50 or 07 82 22 31 15 ALL SAINTS, VENDÉE - Puy de Serre We hold two services each month, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at the church of St Marthe, Puy de Serre, at 11am.

After each service, tea and coffee is served in the parish room and everyone is invited to a `bring and share` lunch. For details of all our activities, our Services in the west of the Vendée, copies of recent newsletters and more information, please check our website: www.allsaintsvendee.fr The Rendez-Vous Christian Fellowship welcome you to any of our meetings held throughout the month in the Deux-Sèvres and the Vendée. 1st & 3rd Sunday at 11am in The Barn near St Germain de Princay, Vendée and 2nd & 4th Sunday at 11am in two locations: one near Bressuire, Deux-Sèvres and the other near Bournezeau, Vendée. Meetings last about an hour and are followed by a time of fellowship & refreshments. Find out more by contacting Chris & Julie Taylor 09 60 49 78 50 or Des & Elizabeth Vine 05 49 74 18 27 or visit: www.therendezvous.fr The English Speaking Church of the Valley of the Loire (ESCOVAL) Meet at the R.C. Church in Arçay every 3rd Sunday at 11.00am.

We welcome and embrace all Christians from all denominations and warmly invite you to join us. Following the service, coffee is served, and for those who wish to stay a little longer, we enjoy a light, bring and share lunch.

Please see our website for details www.escoval.org

LOCAL MARKETS Mondays.........

Tuesdays.........

Wednesdays....

Thursdays........

Friday...............

Saturdays........

Sundays............

Benet 85490 Lencloître (1st Monday in month) 86140 Lezay 79120 Coulonges-sur-l’Autize 79160 Thouars 79100 - and - Bressuire 79300 Parthenay 79200 Celles-sur-Belle 79370 Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 Niort 79000 La Mothe St Héray 79800 Thouars 79100 - and - Melle 79500 Bressuire 79300 - and - Champdeniers 79220 Chef-Boutonne 79110 Airvault 79600 - and - Niort 79000 Saint Maixent-l’École 79400 Fontenay-le-Comte 85200 Coulon 79510 - and - Neuville-de-Poitou 86170

SHARE YOUR EV ENTS !

Entries into the What’s On listing (P.4) are FREE! (Businesses pay 10€ unless already advertising)

Plus free entry onto our Facebook page....

www.facebook.com/thedeuxsevresmonthly Don’t forget to LIKE us!

Email all event details to:

events@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Paperback Jan Books in English

Open 6 - 8pm

Fish 4 Chip + Authentic Indian meals

Find me at these venues during August: 1st 10am - 12.30pm 79400 St Maixent l’Ecole. Bar Le Chauray.

4th 1pm - 5pm 79240 L’Absie. Chez C&K, 64 rue de la République 5th 2.30pm - 4.30pm 85120 Vouvant. Café Cour de Miracle.

6th 2pm - 4.30pm 79450 St Aubin le Cloud. Bar Palais.

7th 11.30 - 1.00pm 79100 Thouars. Bar de la Paix.

7th 3pm - 5pm 79160 Fenioux. Café des Belles Fleurs.

9th 11am - 7.30pm 85120 Vouvant. Franco-British Fête.

11th 1pm - 5pm 79240 L’Absie. Chez C&K, 64 rue de la République 12th 3pm - 5pm 79600 St Jouin de Marnes. Au Bec de Vin. 13th 2pm - 5pm 79240 L’Absie. Pause! café Traders Day. 18th 1pm - 5pm 79240 L’Absie. Chez C&K, 64 rue de la République 25th 1pm - 5pm 79240 L’Absie. Chez C&K, 64 rue de la République 26th 2.30pm - 4.30pm 85390 Mouilleron-en-Pareds. Le Clemenceau 27th 11am - 12pm 79300 Bressuire. Bar Vue du Chateau.

27th 2pm - 3.30pm 79350 Clessé. Le Relais des 2 moulins.

For more info contact Cindy on: 06 08 30 73 29 or email: paperbackjan@gmail.com

Top Hat Quiz & Curry

From 7pm

Dates & Venues for August: 3rd: Limalonges

6th: Chef Boutonne (Friday) 7th: Theil Rabier

12th: Aigre 13th: Champniers

Tel: 05 45 71 70 91 - more info at www.tophatquizzes.com

Mondays: Tuesdays: Wednesdays: Thursdays: Fridays:

Bar Tilleuls, Champniers (near Civray) Sauzé-Vaussais (Main square) Chef Boutonne (near Chateau) Sauzé-Vaussais - Evening (Main square) Mansle (car park of Simply Supermarket)

Tel: 06 37 53 56 20 - www.mobilefishandchipsfrance.com

Mr T’s Friterie

With regular venues at: • • •

Aulnay 17470 (from 6pm) • Beauvais-sur-Matha 17490 • Gourville 16170 •

Open 6.30-9pm

St Hilaire de Villefranche 17770

St Jean d’Angély 17400

+ Saintes, August 8th & 9th

See www.frying4u2nite.com for details or call 06 02 22 44 74

Reel Fish & Chips

Open 6.30-9pm

August

(See our website for venue details)

5st & 19th - Etusson 20th - St Martin de Sanzay 6th - La Coudre 21st - La Chapelle Thireuil 7th - Bouillé-Loretz 22nd - Genneton 15th - Bressuire 28th - Quiz at Tigne Tel: 06 04 14 23 94 - www.reelfishandchips.net

Open 6-8.30pm

La Vendée Chippy PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO MENTION ‘THE DSM’ when responding to an article or advert...

Thank You

Weds: Bar ‘Auberge le St Vincent’, 85110 St Vincent Sterlanges Thurs: Bar ‘La Coussotte’, 85570 St Martin des Fontaines Fri: Bar ‘Le Clemenceau’, 85390 Mouilleron-en-Pareds Sat: Every Saturday in August, Bar ‘Au fil de l’eau’, 85120 Mervent See our advert on page 34 for further info or visit our website Tel: 02 44 39 16 73 - www.lavendeechippy.com

Visit www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 5

Getting Out & About

TheatriVasles Announces Celebrity Judge for 10-Minute Play Festival

by Bernadine Smith

TheatriVasles has quickly acquired a reputation for innovative, enjoyable, quality theatre and its latest project, France’s first ever Ten Minute Play Festival, is its most challenging and exciting yet.

The closing date for entries has now passed but with applications from all over the world – writers and performers – this promises to be a thrilling and varied theatrical experience the likes of which has never been seen before in France.

With so much variety and talent on offer, TheatriVasles has decided to introduce an element of audience participation and competition to the Festival. This is your opportunity to attend a unique event and at each performance you will have the chance to vote for your favourite 10-minute play. The winner of the ‘People’s Popular Choice’ will be announced at the Gala Lunch on Sunday 18th October.

The range of plays and performers is so broad and exciting that TheatriVasles felt strongly that it merits an experienced, professional viewpoint as well. So it is with enormous pride and pleasure that we can announce that Edwin Apps has agreed to be the Celebrity Judge for this first Ten-Minute Play Festival.

Edwin has had a full and varied career, making him the perfect choice for Celebrity Judge. As coauthor of the hilarious TV series ‘All Gas and Gaiters’ (ground-breaking in its time as the first TV sitcom to

make fun of the church, it also launched the long and successful career of Derek Nimmo as a bumbling cleric) and more recently of his enchanting autobiography ‘Pursued by Bishops’, he has an understanding and flair for the written word.

As an actor in TV series’ ranging from ‘Steptoe and Son’ to ‘The Avengers’, Edwin also has huge experience and skill in acting and performing. Perfect!

This 10-Minute Play Festival is a cultural and theatrical first for France and it’s happening in the Deux-Sèvres at Vasles, just 10 minutes from Parthenay, on 16th, 17th and 18th October. Don’t miss it!

Finally – so much happening, so little space, but just enough room to tell you about the TheatriVasles Soirée on Friday 11th September at Vasles. This is an occasion for you to get to meet us all and have a great evening of entertainment with Jim Luff, a delicious supper and even a ‘taster’ 10-minute play to really fire up your enthusiasm for October’s festival. Tickets (10 euros) and more information from theatrivaslestickets@gmail.com.

For more information about TheatriVasles or if you would like to become a member, email us: theatrivasles@gmail.com, see our website www.theatrivasles.com or check out the TheatriVasles page on Facebook.

Have you LIKED us on Facebook?

We post regular updates, things to do and promote special offers on our page, so why not pop over and say “Hello”! www.facebook.com/thedeuxsevresmonthly

6 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Charroux Literary Festival 27 28 29 August 2015

Talks, debates, workshops, book-signings, poetry, theatre skills, meet the authors Kate Mosse // Sarah Harrison Katherine Gallagher //Alison Morton Diana Morgan-Hill Barry Walsh // Jacqui Lofthouse James Vance // Gordon Simms André Teilhet // Margaret Clarke Clara Challoner– Walker Isabel Ashdown // Elizabeth Haynes www.charrouxlitfest.com facebook.com/charrouxlitfest

Fabulous Turnout for Patchwork Expo

In June’s issue, we told you about the Patchwork Expo being held in Ligne to raise money for the charity ‘Fleur d’Isa’ - a charity set up in 2008 to improve the conditions of daily life for people affected by cancer.

The weather for the expo was lovely and hot and the event attracted over 200 visitors from all over the Charente and the Deux-Sèvres. With 50 exhibitors this year, the theme was flowers, with visitors voting for their ‘best in show’.

‘Salon du Thé’ style cakes were made by friends and patchwork ladies, and customers were asked to make donations to the charity.

Everybody gave generously, raising a huge 526€ for the charity, almost doubling last year’s total.

www.fleurdisa.org

Thinking about placing an ad?

Why not take advantage of our Special Packages for New Advertisers?

Call Sarah for more details: 05 49 70 26 21 The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 7

8 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Bestioles et Autres Bébêtes

by Sue Burgess

Bugs and other creatures!

Well August is upon us and with it long sunny days to spend outside in the French countryside. Rural France with its farm and woodland is the perfect habitat for bestioles (bugs) and bébêtes (baby word for creatures or animals).

The mosquito (la moustique) and the midge (le moucheron) are common predators as night falls.

You are also likely to see a moth (un papillon de nuit) but a Stag beetle (un lucane or un lucane cerf-volant) may be more difficult to spot. They live on rotten wood (bois pourri) and are prey (la proie) to jays, magpies, foxes and cats. They are a member of the beetle family (un coléoptère).

In the dark evenings without artificial lights look out for glowworms (le ver luisant). A French proverb says that it is better to see a spider in the evening than in the morning (araignée du matin chagrin, araigneé du soir espoir) – a spider in the morning means chagrin, a spider in the evening means hope.

There are lots of butterflies (les papillons). A ladybird or ladybug (une coccinelle) is supposed to be lucky so don’t brush it off when it lands on you.

It is easy to see firebugs (les gendarmes). They are usually found at the bottom of tree trunks or on old tree stumps. They are part of the stink bug family (la punaise) but on the contrary to Green shield bugs (la punaise des bois) they don’t stink when crushed.

In August watch out for chigger / harvest mites (aoûtat). They are a small member of the Acaridae family (un acarien) and tend to bite, particularly in warm damp places – under the arms, etc.

Cats and dogs need to be checked for fleas (les puces) and ticks (les tiques) and children may pick up headlice (les poux) or nits (les lentes) Vocabulary / Vocabulaire: l’abeille ...................................

bee

l’acarien ..................................

mite

le cafard ..................................

cockroach

le bourdon ..............................

bumblebee

la larve ....................................

larva

la mouche à viande ................

bluebottle

la chenille ................................ caterpillar la mouche ................................ fly la cigale .................................... cicada le fourmi .................................. ant le frelon ................................... hornet le grillon .................................. cricket la guêpe ..................................

wasp

la demoiselle ........................... damselfly la libellule ................................ dragonfly la luciole .................................. firefly le ver luisant ............................ glow-worm la sauterelle ............................. grasshopper le puceron ............................... aphid greenfly

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 9

Baignes-Sainte-Radegonde, 2012

L

es Nuits Romanes is a festival organised by the administration of the Poitou-Charentes region to highlight the rich abundance of Romanesque churches and other historic sites in the region.

With over 800 churches and abbeys, our region is one of the richest for prestigious Roman heritage in France. There are few regions who still preserve their heritage buildings, sculptures, paintings and furniture in such vast quantity. Rather than let these monuments remain ‘sleeping beauties’ the festival offers visitors the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with exceptional historical buildings and to rediscover them in a new light with shows performed by professional artists, designed to fit with the architectural environment.

With over 170 FREE concerts and shows and over 500 artists, the events are being held across the four departments, with a huge range of acts including street arts, visual arts, pyrotechnics, music (jazz, rock, contemporary, classical, gospel, soul), dance and circus acts.

The events often include local food producers offering you the chance to taste their specialities.

With the departure of the frigate Hermione Rochefort to the United States earlier this year, the 2015 Nuits Romanes festival celebrates this special occasion by welcoming four American groups to represent the American culture and diversity, with Cajun music, gospel, jazz and soul. These started with Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens last month and continue with ‘Dr John’ at La Couronne (16) on 12th August, followed by ‘Malted Milk and Toni Green’ on 7th, 9/10/11th August at various towns and Feufollet on 25-28th August.

The closing event will be held in Melle on 5th September at the UNESCO World Heritage site ‘les Chemins de St Jacques de Compostelle’. The company ‘Décor Sonore’ will present a spectacle 10 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

of sound and light art that will transform the Saint-Hilaire church.

Inspired by the site itself, the company claim this will be an event that will never again exist anywhere else.

Thousands of volunteers give their time and skill to this festival, which is the largest of its kind in France and which attracted more than 164,000 spectators in 2014. There’s still chance to visit an event near you this month....

Remaining events in the Deux-Sèvres:

August

rtin de Sanzay • 1st – St Ma • 1st – Cha il uin de Marnes • 2nd – St Jo • llud • 4th – Le Ta oux • 5th – Pampr ize nges-sur-L’Aut • 6th – Coulo rs • 7th – Thoua Vaussa is • 7th – Sauzé oir-sur-Niort • 9th – Beauv a is • 12th – Vanç euf • 14th – Bécel

Blanzay, 2013

Blanzac-sur-Porcheresse, 201 2

• • • • • • • • • •

Melle, 2011

17th – Airvault 18th – Coulon 20th – Mauzé-sur-le-M ignon 21st – St Ouenne 22nd – Soudan 23rd – Pougne Herisson 26th – St Soline 27th – Echiré 28th – Périgné 29th – Ardin

• 5th September – M elle

Melle, 2012

Photos: © RégionPoitou-Charentes

Soudan, 2013

For full event details, including other locations in the PoitouCharentes, visit the La Nuits Romanes website:

www.nuitsromanes.poitou-charentes.fr

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 11

Hobbies More from local writer Alison Morton...

Please see back issues of ‘The DSM’ if you would like to see previous articles.

Memoir Most of us recognise an autobiography; it’s the story of a life written by the subject, sometimes with a ghostwriter’s assistance.

Memoir is a story from life, an account of a particular episode or aspect of the author’s life that has a theme, a universal idea that we can all understand, e.g. courage in the face of opposition, conflict between mercy and justice, a parent’s loving sacrifice.

Often it contains a powerful reflection on everyday life which can have lessons for us all.

Memoirs deal with childhood, travel, family, competitive sports, starting a company, turning points in family relationships, and today, a way of passing down a personal legacy. Sometimes, writing memoir gives a new perspective on the writer’s own life, particularly eye-opening and even cathartic for the writer if there is a deep-seated issue fighting to be to be resolved.

Being personal and vulnerable Readers enjoy details that connect with them, whether heartrending insights, daily trivia or small domestic objects. Good writers work their way into our hearts by being vulnerable, sharing the ugliest parts of their story, the parts any normal person would prefer to hide. Although they expose themselves, even embarrass themselves, they show their humanity. And that’s what makes them so believable.

Practical tips Some people have a burning story to tell; others may feel there is something bubbling under the surface which they can’t quite identify. It may emerge naturally as they carry out a few writing exercises.

• Read other memoirs. You’ll discover many different ways to approach point of view, style, tone, pace, chronology and more.

• Pick a theme for your memoir. Forgiveness? Justice?

Redemption? Overcoming fear? Survival?

• Choose a scene in the story that’s interesting, which drives the theme, and write that scene, sharing personal details but also universal truths. Aim for 250 – 550 words.

• Recall the first ever memory of doing X or feeling Y. • Describe yourself at 5, 10 or 20 doing the theme even if you’re not going to set the memoir at any of those times in your life – it fires the creative mind.

• Plot your life’s six most significant moments: critical choices, influential people, conflicts, beliefs, lessons learned, even mistakes. When you do it thoughtfully and honestly, one pivotal event will stand out as particularly intriguing and/or meaningful.Don’t tell your story chronologically – start from the theme/impact/pivotal point.

A few things to bear in mind…

Writing is never neutral, completely fair or perfectly accurate.

Writers debate long and hard about poetic licence and how far a non-fiction writer can go in crafting accounts of true events.

If you have kept a journal you will at least have a written record of what you thought on the day certain things happened.

Interviewing other people who were there when the events happened can be critical; two or more sources dramatically improve the quality of the facts.

And lastly, you will be putting personal information out in public which may be about other people - think through the consequences.

Happy writing!

Alison has compiled the articles from this column into The 500 Word Writing Buddy, available on Amazon.

Her fourth novel, AURELIA, is out now 12 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

YOUR Book Reviews We love to receive your reviews....please do keep sending them to us! Thanks to Dennis Walby and Terry Hawker for this month’s contributions.

Rule Britannia 1972

by Daphne du Maurier This was the author’s last novel and I only read it as it lay on a pile of books that was for disposal. Yet again, how I wished I had read it sooner. The amazing coincidences.

Britain has just voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. This was written in 1972! The result is a rather unlikely union between the English speaking countries of the world.

For reasons never adequately explained, the Americans occupy the UK and a little corner of Cornwall in particular.

The location is no accident, as many of du Maurier’s novels are set in this familiar landscape. The characters are somewhat standard, the unlikely retired actress ruling a household of six young people and an infuriating 20 year old grandchild Emma, who finally ‘grows up.’ The plan to make Britain into a huge theme park has echoes in the present day.

It is still difficult to remember what attitudes were like in the seventies. More than forty years ago, as recent exposures have shown, people were more accepting of the hierarchy.

Challenging famous people or ‘aristocrats’ was less likely.

Rule Britannia is almost a historical novel and the occupation of Cornwall by the USA somewhat reminiscent of World War 2.

It is a good read that cracks on at a pace not characteristic of many of the author’s other novels. This is detrimental to many of the characters who have little space to develop. The ending seems to descend quickly and full of hope. This possibly reflects du Maurier’s philosophy that people are generally bound by community responsibilities.

Heart Songs

by E. Annie Proulx Many are averse to a volume of short stories but an exception must be made for those by Annie Proulx. Her novel, ‘The Shipping News’ is well known, but as a long time addict to her intense descriptive style, and that Annie started writing late in life, I gave ‘Heart Songs’ a go and was not disappointed.

‘Heart Songs’ is eleven raw tales of the American plains, the wide open spaces in the back of beyond, old farms, trailer life, and the folk who hunt, fish and connive to get by. It is difficult to single out a story as better than the rest; they are all absorbing against this common backdrop and brilliant prose.

So, proof is in the pudding. Try this from On the Antler, “Hawkheel’s face was as finely wrinkled as grass-dried linen” or from a Country Killing, “the store was in a river valley among scrolled cornfields that broke green against sudden cliffs. The road ran along the river, into the northern spruce, to Quebec.

Because it went to Canada the road had a blue mood of lonely distances and night travel”.

Amazing and poetic. For me, Annie can do no wrong, just close this book gently on reading and sniff the breeze coming off the prairie!

Art Mondays at Jean David Atelier

by Jean David

Now that it is finally completed, I am delighted to let it be known that my regular Monday class will now take place in my studio which is located in Semoussais (79).

To celebrate the opening of the studio, we will be holding an Open Studio afternoon on Sunday the 6th of September, to allow visitors to inspect the studio and get additional information on the courses. Paintings for sale will be on display, and samples of authentic Chinese cooking will be on offer.

Following on from the success of my first life drawing/painting workshop in May, and that the jury of the Salonne d’ Automne have selected one of my figure paintings for their 2015 exhibition in Paris, I will be scheduling regular life and portrait painting/ drawing sessions as a part of the class. These will be in addition to our regular studio work sessions. I also plan to hold another one-day life drawing workshop in September.

Drawing the figure directly from life is a time honored and proven way to improve your drawing skills, and has been in use in all of the best academies and schools for centuries. It is fun, relaxing and enjoyable.

For more details on location, times and costs, please visit www.jeandavidfineart.com, and we look forward to seeing you at the open studio.

FILMS IN ENGLISH There are cinemas in our department which show films in their original language. Marked as ‘VO’ (version originale), these films can be seen at a selection of locations.

Use the websites below to check your local cinema for screenings.

Bressuire Le Fauteuil Rouge: www.lefauteuilrouge.fr Parthenay Cinema: www.cinema.foyer.cc-parthenay.fr/foyer Melle cinema: www.lemelies-melle.info Niort CGR cinema: www.cgrcinemas.fr/niort/# L’échiquier at Pouzauges: www.echiquier-paysdepouzauges.fr and find others at www.allocine.fr

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 13

Bonne Pêche

by Simon Tee

Catch and Release, with CARE! Part IV - The One that Didn’t Get Away In this generation of ‘selfies’ it is now fairly easy to take a photo of yourself holding the fish. I have a bank stick that screws into the bottom of my camera, so I never miss out on a photo opportunity.

If you get someone else to take the photo, it is advisable to ensure they know how to use your camera before this moment.

Tip some water over the fish, not only is it keeping the fish wet and calm, it looks better for the photo. When holding the fish, keep low, and hold the fish above a mat or cradle, just in case you drop it. Slide your hands under the fish and tip it upright before you lift.

You can usually feel if a fish is going to flip, if you do, lay it down on your mat and gently hold it in place. Try not to pull it to you, your clothing is dry and will remove the fish’s protective membrane.

Weigh it if you think it is justified and the fish hasn’t been too long out of the water. Apart from your scales being zeroed to ensure an honest reading(!) ensure the weigh sling is WET. Again, keep low.... your fish weighs the same 2 inches or 2 feet off the ground.

Bearing in mind the fish is exhausted, don’t just ‘chuck it back in’.

Kiss it for luck, if you believe in the superstition. Suspend it in the water first, with your hands or a net, until it has some visible life in it, and then gently let it go.

Before you re-cast, spend a few minutes getting everything organised again. Give your equipment a quick rinse and you will be ready to repeat the process for your next catch.

VASLES NETBALL CLUB TAKE ON THE WORLD

by Sue Fitzgerald

It was with some trepidation that fourteen women piled into cars and trains on a sunny June weekend to make our way down to Toulouse for the first International Netball Tournament to be held in France.

It’s just six months since we formed an Association and officially became Vasles Netball Club. When we started training, the majority of us hadn’t stepped out onto a netball court since our school days, so under the experienced guidance of our coach Paula, it’s been a steep learning curve of remembering rules, improving fitness levels and coping with aches and pains in muscles we’d forgotten that we had. Having an international tournament on the horizon certainly focused our minds and bodies!

Netball is a relatively new sport here in France, so we were delighted to have the chance to put our new-found skills and fitness to the test by taking part in a tournament with teams travelling from across France and Switzerland. The day started early with our players doing stretches and drills at a time many of us didn’t know existed on a Saturday morning. Sporting our brand new kits, emblazoned with our logo of the Vasles ‘Mouton Village’ sheep, morale was high and we relished the prospect of playing competitively as a team for the first time against other, more established clubs.

The standard of games we played in were high, with end-to-end action and no shortage of scoring. We competed in four tough matches and our improvement in the short time since the club was established was evident throughout. Our passing and movement were slick with both our defence and attack competing tirelessly.

We quickly established a formidable reputation (albeit for our humour, dancing and positive thinking) and by the end, it was clear that we’d won the support of every neutral supporter in the building (including the local rugby team!). Although the results didn’t go entirely our way, we had a fantastic day that none of us will forget and are already looking forward to the prospect of returning and taking the tournament by storm next summer.

I’ll be Fishing!

At Vasles we’re a mixed group with members varying in age, experience and fitness. In just a short time we have come together with incredible camaraderie and team spirit (which we finely hone in the local bar after every training session). We are proud to be a club where we love our netball, we work hard to reach our potential but, above all, we value having fun. We welcome new members all the time and would love to see you at our training session at Vasles on a Monday night and who knows, next year you too could be piling into a car with us to head down to Toulouse...

Bonne Pêche

For further information, please contact us by email: susan_ beale@hotmail.com

Images Simon Tee

I hope this advice has been helpful – but you know where to find me should you need to ask me anything...

Above: Vasles Netball Team. Back from left to right: Michelle Bailey, Yvette Castle, Sue Fitzgerald, J Smith, Debs Adamson, Paula Stokes (Coach), Vivienne D’Incau, Sarah Berry, Caroline Durant. Front from left ro right: Kelly Knight, Lauren Cottrell, Anita Wilson, Vicki Ivens and Debbie Fisher.

14 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

How the Military

by Tony Barrett

Influenced Fashion

F

rom the front line to the catwalk, war has had an enormous influence on men and women’s fashion throughout the years.

Originally designed simply with practicality in mind, military clothing now regularly re-emerges as a key trend in fashion.

In a previous article I looked at how the iconic trench coat was advertised in the First World War to the soldiers on the front line. Originally developed as an alternative to the heavy serge greatcoats donned by British and French soldiers, the invention of the trench coat is claimed by both Burburry and Aquascutum.

It was the Duke of Wellington who instructed a shoemaker, Hoby of St James’ Street to make modifications in the 18th Century to the Hessian boot to create his ‘Wellington Boot’ which during the First World War and the technology of Charles Goodyear using the vulcanization process for natural rubber created a boot that was ideal for the flooded conditions in the trenches. The success of the process resulted in the production of 1,185,036 pairs to meet the British Army’s demands.

The ‘cardigan’ inspired by James Brudenell, the 7th Earl of Cardigan who led the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, birthed the idea of the garment with a heavy knit that could withstand blustery conditions but still retained the appearance of a British waistcoat.

‘Khaki’ first arrived on the scene in the mid 1800’s when British troops in India began rubbing dirt, tea leaves and even curry onto their uniforms to provide camouflage and probably alleviate the constant need for washing out stains. The word khaki originates in the Hindustani language and translates as ‘dusty’.

The duffle coat owes its popularity to the British Royal Navy, which issued a camel-coloured variant of it as an item of warm clothing during World War I. The design of the coat was modified slightly and widely issued during World War II. Large stocks of post-war military surplus coats available at reasonable prices to the general public meant that these coats became a ubiquitous and popular item of clothing in the 1950s and 1960s.

The year was 1941, and the soldier, well he wasn’t just any infantryman, he was Nathan Clark, and he’d been sent to war with two missions. First and foremost to protect his country, and secondly, to discover some new shoe designs for his family’s company. It was during his travels in the Middle East he noticed numerous officers wearing sand coloured chukkas that had originally been commissioned to Cairo cobblers by South African soldiers whose old-military issue boots had failed them out on the desert terrain. They wanted something that was both lightweight and grippy which led to the creation of a boot with suede upper on a crepe sole which became known as the ‘Desert Boot’.

Cargo pants were first worn in 1938 by British military personnel.

These trousers were part of their Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs).

The original cargo pants style featured one pocket on the side thigh and one on the front hip. The side cargo pockets initially were only on paratroopers’ uniforms, providing them with easy access to ammunition and radios.

Cargo pants surged onto the fashion scene in the mid-to-late 1990s. The white tee shirt often associated with the teenage rebellion of the early 20th century had its origins in the US Navy and was designed to provide superior mobility and comfort while performing duties aboard ship. In the mid 1960’s the ‘fishtail’ parker became associated with the scooter riding Mods and was originally designed for the use of American soldiers in the Korean War to be warm, but not cumbersome and waterproof. The classic bell-bottomed trousers so beloved of the hippie generation was modelled on the flared pant leg of the Navy uniforms during the Vietnam War. Many pre Second World War U.S. Air Force pilots were reporting that the glare from the sun was giving them headaches and altitude sickness. Thus, a new type of eyewear/goggles was commissioned by the Army Airs Corps to Bausch & Lomb, which was then ultimately brought to the public for consumption in 1937. It featured plastic frames and the classic aviator shape, which reduced the sun’s intensity on pilot’s faces and instruments.

A year later, a slight remodel in the form of metal frames and the official designation as ‘Ray-Ban Aviators’.

Originally called the flight jacket and bomber jacket the garment was designed and cut from thick leather to keep pilots and crews warm during missions in draughty cold aeroplanes. Nowadays the design can be in many materials including nylon, silk and even denim.

Camouflage was invented with military use in mind. The term ‘camouflage’ itself is based on the French theatrical slang word for ‘disguise’ or ‘makeup’ and was first used in World War One and has been used in fashion since the early 1920’s.

In December 1917 the Horological Journal, the journal of the British Horological Institute, noted that ‘The wristlet watch was little used by the sterner sex before the war, but now is seen on the wrist of nearly every man in uniform and of many men in civilian attire’, and was to become one of the foremost functional accessories in the modern era.

Photos sourced from Wikimeadia Commons. Duke of Wellington, Dress Wellington boots (public domain), Clark’s Desert Boots, Aviator sunglasses: Rich Niewirowski Jr. and Fashion cardigan 1947: Erik Holmen Nordiska Museet

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 15

Clubs & Associations ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS

We are a photography club who meet twice a month at Terves. We run work shops, and also arrange photoshoots. If you want to learn more then please go to our website www.photofocus.info

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 experience, 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 A.A. membership and A.A. 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.

Telephone: Angela: 05 49 87 79 09, Roger: 05 55 76 22 65 or Nancy: 02 54 24 09 74.

Email: publicinfo.swfrance@aa-europe.net or visit www.aafrancesud-ouest.com for details of English-speaking meetings.

TheatriVasles

A vibrant group based in Vasles (79340) offering quality theatre productions. Coming this autumn: France’s first International Ten-Minute Play Festival. New members always welcome. Contact www.theatrivasles.com, Facebook or Richard on 0549 634109.

TTL Photography Group

Local photography group on the Deux-Sèvres / Vendée border. New members always welcome, and at all levels of expertise and knowledge. Contact us via the website to find out about our meetings. www.ttlphotographygroup.net CLE (Charente Limousine Exchange) is a non-profit organisation for exchange of news, views and information. We work to protect member’s best interests, run social activities, events and clubs, helping members to make new ex-patriot and French friends.

Barry Leech 05 49 87 19 85 contact@cle-france.com www.cle-france.com.

Bilingual LitFest: 24-26 June 2016, Voulmentin 79150

We would welcome volunteers to distribute publicity, act as marshals, offer technical support, transport or accommodation. To join the team and register as a friend of the festival contact Howard Needs: needsho@cc-parthenay.fr THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION LINAZAY, POITOU-CHARENTES BRANCH

Please visit the branch website: www.rblpoitou-charentes.fr

RAINBOW WARRIERS for healing and fun. Native

American Indian Deerskin Drums. Host a drum circle at your home for free. I have 7 drums, I will travel an hour from Bressuire and we need a big space. 15€ per guest (max 5). Call Pam on 05 49 65 55 25 or email: irving.philip@wanadoo.fr

Craft Café Creatif

Do you enjoy knitting or sewing in the company of others?

Join us in L’Absie for an enjoyable afternoon over a cup of tea and a piece of cake. For details contact Margaret on email: knight.margaret@orange.fr

The Phoenix chorale

An English speaking choir. We sing 3 or 4 concerts of seasonal and classical music, often including readings and poetry. Based near Charroux (86), we are always looking for new members.

If interested, call 05 45 89 14 84 or 05 49 48 29 68.

JUST BRASS 79

A British style band, who meet each Tuesday at 8pm, at the Salle de la Cendille, Limalonges (just 1km from the N10).

All levels welcome.

Contact www.justbrass79.fr or Penny on 06 38 78 99 92

Woodturners/Woodworkers

Are there any other amateur woodturners/woodworkers out there who might be interested in forming a club to share ideas, tips etc? Any level of ability, beginners to experienced.

Contact Roland 05 49 96 44 10, preferably evening.

CAPELLA GROUP

If you enjoy singing and would be interested in starting a close-harmony group near Chef-Boutonne, please get in touch! Email me, Christine for further information: chezloubigne@aol.com

2nd Sunday Motorcycle Club Come and join us for a bike ride, or just a cup of coffee and a chat, with bike-minded people. As the name suggests, wet meet on the 2nd Sunday of every month. New members are always welcome.

For more information, visit our web-site. www.2ndsundayclub.fr

ARE YOU A MODEL RAILWAY ENTHUSIAST?

Alone in France?

The Harmonics Singing Group

Acceuil des Villes Françaises A French association dedicated to welcoming newcomers, from across France & abroad, to their new environment; helping them to integrate, speak French and feel ‘at home’ through social www.avf.asso.fr events and activities. pjhenderson@orange.fr

If so, join a group of like-minded friendly modellers who meet on a monthly basis to visit member’s layouts and swap information. If you are interested please contact Gerry Riley for more information on 05 49 63 34 01.

Based in the Salle d’Annexe in Civray. We meet each Wednesday 2pm4pm. No experience necessary, just a willingness and commitment to learn. We sing all sorts of music in several languages. Contact: Dave Lee: 05 49 87 53 93 / dave.lee@cegetel.net

We are a group of people living alone in the L’Absie area who meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 11am for coffee at the Pause! café in L’Absie. Our lunches are at different venues each month. A warm welcome awaits you. More details from Ros 09 67 49 21 44.

Franglais Anglo-French Group Thouars - Centre Socio-Culturel

Thanks to the support of the Centre we meet every Wednesday 7.30pm-9pm, at 7 rue Anne Desrays, for conversation in English & French, for a mutual understanding of each other’s language and culture. Contact 05 49 66 35 11 or the Centre 05 49 66 76 40 email jpc.allorent@orange.fr or eugene_mc_cabe@hotmail.com 16 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Combined Services

Support Group (CSSG)

by Pauline Tonks

On the 19th July, John and Sue Blair, once again kindly hosted our Summer Garden Party. As this magazine goes to print before then, we can only hope that is was again a great success and that this glorious weather continued.

During the day we drew the lucky winners of our Cryptic Towns and Cities Quiz. A big “Thank you” to all who purchased the quiz. We received 13 totally correct answer sheets back and we will let you know the winners names in the next edition of ‘The DSM’.

Here are all the answers.

1. Bath, 2. Swansea, 3.Dover, 4. Winchester, 5. Tenby, 6.

Edinburgh, 7. Doncaster, 8. York, 9. Saundersfoot, 10. Exeter, 11.

Folkestone, 12. Fulham, 13, Penarth, 14. Norwich, 15. Crewe, 16.

Nottingham, 17. Newport, 18. Holyhead, 19. Stoke, 20. Leicester, 21. Airdrie, 22. Preston, 23. Oxford, 24. Reading, 25. Dumfries, 26. Margate, 27. Coventry, 28. Carlisle, 29. Manchester, 30.

Paisley.

Our fortnightly quizzes, held at the Foyer Rural in St Pardoux are proving to be very popular and we now have regular teams turning up for each quiz. However, there is still room for more teams, so if you fancy a light hearted fun evening come along and join in. We give prizes for winners and losers. Quiz starts at 7pm. Tea, Coffee and cakes and sometimes a few savoury snacks are available. Please feel free to bring your own bottle if you prefer. Our next quiz will be on the 3rd August.

If you need directions to the Foyer Rural or would like more information on any of the above or about CSSG, then please contact me by email: cssgroup@outlook.com Our next general meeting for members and non-members will be at the Cafe des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux on 5th September at 11.00 am.

Clubs & Associations Submission Guidelines Wordcount: Title of entry+ 40 words (max. including contact details).

Logos can be supplied and will be added if space allows.

Adverts meeting the above specifications can be added free of charge, and will be rotated on a monthly basis to allow everyone to participate.

To guarantee the advert is printed each month, a small fee of 45€ per annum will be requested.

by Kate Jouanneau

Recently Ralph Bramley, who was appointed social secretary at the last AGM in February, and I (supposedly) in charge of publicity, got together to discuss content for the new Facebook page (Reaction Theatre Association) and the website (www.reactiontheatre.fr). He is quite the wiz on the old computer and we hope to have something worthwhile to add in the coming Autumn. Whilst working away Ralph spoke to me a bit about his previous experience in all things theatrical and how he came to be part of Reaction Theatre.

“In the mid 70’s a job change gave me more free time and I joined a light opera group in West London. It wasn’t long before I was invited to join other groups performing musicals such as ‘Hello Dolly’, ‘Bitter Sweet’ and ‘Carousel’ etc. in well known theatres like Richmond Theatre and The Questors in Ealing.

I was asked by a producer to design lighting for a show, and when a couple of other producers asked me too, I realised this was my ideal of theatre. In 1984 I was made redundant, however, after only a few days, producers were contacting me offering me paid lighting jobs, so I became a professional. I eventually set up a sound and lighting hire company and was covering corporate functions in addition to over 24 shows a year all over West London.

In 1999, I had a lifestyle change, bought a house in France, settling permanently in the Deux-Sèvres back in 2013. My love of the theatre drew me to the Reaction Theatre group and I climbed on board to help out with the sound and lighting with the 2014 Spring production of ‘Entertaining Angels’ - and I’ve been helping out ever since.”

Many subtle differences, including the use of LED lights in our last play, ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’, have been introduced by Ralph, whose expertise has helped create the perfect feel for every scene. If you are interested in learning more about the technical side of a performance he is a very good person to approach (especially as that’s how he got started in the game).

Along with his prowess as a gaffer, Ralph is also part of Keynotes, where his skills as a sound technician are now being put to good use by Margaret (Round). He has started recording our concerts and the odd rehearsal to help enhance our ability to hear the choir sing as a whole. This is hugely beneficial, as it just proves to us how important it is to listen to (and watch) Margaret and each other during each performance.

Another feather in Ralph’s hat is his competence at throwing a good bash, as many of you will know having attended the RT Summer party on the 11th July. Fun and games, devised by the man himself, were the highlight of this social event, along with the band ‘3+1’ and their usual lively enthusiasm. We all had a lovely time and I know everyone from Keynotes, the Art Scene and Reaction Theatre, as a whole, would like to say a big thank you to Ralph for organising such a lovely day out. u u

Contact Email:

Kate Jouanneau on 06 77 51 55 16 kscks9@hotmail.com

Do you Want to Integrate into your Local Community?

by Len Millar

How to SUBMIT your entry: 1) Complete the short form on ‘Submit Article’ page of our website (under the ‘Content’ menu) or 2) Simply email the details to us:

Why not join the Club? Most villages in the Deux-Sèvres have a club for residents who are normally retired, to meet weekly for cards, bowls, scrabble etc. to enhance their friendships.

Trips, holidays, meals and walks are also organised for those interested.

info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Your local Mairie’s office can give you the details...just ask for ‘Troisième Age’.

website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

I found it most helpful when integrating into my village and it certainly improves your French.

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 17

Health, Beauty & Fitness Birthstone for August...

Peridot

by Vicki Bassey

Popular in early Greek and Roman jewellery Peridot has been coveted since 1500 BC. Peridot was mined at night as its natural glow could be seen more easily. The Egyptians believed this gem was invisible in the sunlight. Cleopatra’s ‘Emerald’ collection was predominantly Peridot.

Be SAFE in the Sun

Peridot is one of the few extraterrestrial gems having been found in Meteorites and in 2003 Peridot was discovered on Mars making it the first gemstone to be discovered on another planet.

We all need some exposure to the sun as it is our primary source of Vitamin D, (allowing us to absorb Calcium for stronger bones) but we must remember how powerful the sun’s rays can be.

Too much exposure to the sun’s Ultraviolet (UV) rays damages the skin and can lead to skin cancer.

Sunlight contains three types of ultraviolet rays-UVA, UVB and UVC.

1. UVA rays cause skin aging and wrinkling and contribute

to skin cancer, such as melanoma. The UVA rays pass through the Ozone Layer and make up the majority of our sun exposure.

2. UVB rays are also dangerous and cause sunburn, cataracts and effects on the immune system. They can also contribute to skin cancer. The Ozone Layer absorbs most of these rays, but enough pass through to cause damage.

3. UVC rays are the most dangerous. Fortunately these rays are blocked by the Ozone Layer and don’t reach the Earth.

Peridot ranges in colour from golden lime green to rich grass greens and is coloured by the presence of iron. The way Peridot bends the light gives it a velvety, silky appearance with a shining rich glow.

In ancient times, Peridot was believed to keep away evil spirits. It is still used as a protective stone for the aura.

Major sources Burma, China, Kenya, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, USA, Vietnam.

Peridot is the zodiac gem for Libra and is given on a 16th anniversary.

Remember! SPF = time to burn.

The SPF number (Sun Protection Factor) indicates how much additional time you can stay outside without burning. For example, if your skin would normally burn in 10 minutes without any sun protection, applying an SPF 15 will allow you 15 times longer exposure, or 150 minutes (2.5 hours) before your skin will burn.

It is recommended to use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF 15.

Skin protection is essential. Protect yourselves from exposure to UVA and UVB rays and be safe in the sun this summer.

18 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

u u

Vicky Bassey on 05 49 97 01 29 www.victoriabassey.com Follow Vicki on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/victoriabasseyjewellery

Helpful French Vocabulary...

A & E Dentisit Doctor Nurse

....... les urgences .......dentiste .......médecin (m) / docteur (m) .......infirmièr(e)

Ache, pain .......douleur (f) Arm .......bras (m) to Blister .......cloquer (verb) to Break .......casser (verb) Dehydration .......déshydratation (f) In case of an Eczema .......eczéma (m) Emergency Eye wash .......collyre (m) Hand .......main (f) Head Call 112 ....... tête (f) Hearing aid .......appareil (m) or 18 Leg .......jambe (f) Neck .......cou (m) You can spea to Overheat in English - wait fok .......échauffer (verb) r an Prescription .......ordonnance (f) Interpreter to to Scald come on the line. .......ébouillanter (verb) Seizure, fit; attack .......accès (m) Do not hang up!

Shoulder .......épaule (f) Skin allergy .......allergie cutanée Sprain .......entorse (f) Stroke .......apoplexie (f) Sunscreen .......écran solaire (m) Sunstroke (to get) .......attraper une insolation Swelling .......enflure (f) Tablet .......comprimé (m) Tonsilitis .......amygdalite (f) Tooth .......dent (f)

CONTRIBUTIONS...

We are always looking for new articles for consideration in future issues.

Do you have an experience to share?

Are you a tradesman with a Top Tip? or perhaps an avid reader who would like to contribute a book review?

Whatever it may be, either long or short, we would love to hear from you.

You can call Sarah on 05 49 70 26 21 with any ideas, or send them on an email to: info@thedeuxsevresmonthlyfr The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 19

Our Furry Friends Sweet...

by Nigel Franks, NALA

Recently we popped into the Police Municipale at Les Herbiers to look at their statistics for the town animal pound for 2013 and 2014. We had already received details of the previous years and were not impressed by their rate of euthanasia. We were, therefore, pleasantly surprised to see that in 2013 they signed a contract with an animal shelter and that, since then, all the unclaimed animals have been adopted. In addition, they have nearly finished the construction of a pound especially for cats, a real rarity in France. We have a sneaking suspicion that this is the result of our very first meeting with the veterinary services (DDPP) of the Vendée in 2012 where we pointed out that, on its website, Les Herbiers stated that strays would be put down after 8 working days. This is, of course, illegal as an animal can only be put down on a vet’s advice. Exercising a modicum of restraint and displaying our diplomatic skills, we refrained from asking the chief of police if their change in policy was the result of a “suggestion” from the DDPP. The courtyard of Le Clemanceau bar in Mouilleron-en-Pareds overflowed with music on the evening of Saturday 11th July. The Portraits, a folk duo: Jeremy and Lorraine, accompanied by Vincent on violin, played a free concert on behalf of NALA to thank all the people who have supported us over these last 5 years. You’ve probably never heard of them because they don’t have a contract with a big label. However, they have had quite a bit of air play in the UK and have played Glastonbury Festival four times in a row. Their performance for NALA was their first show since Glastonbury this year, testified to by the bits of dried mud that their equipment cases left behind.

Their songs are quite thoughtful, ‘Fairylights’ was inspired by a night flight during which Jeremy wondered whether the lights below, all caused by Man, were beacons of civilisation or the fires of war. ‘Payback’ is a response to hearing that Sir Bob Geldof has suffered personnel tradegies, including the loss of a daughter, in spite of doing so much to help other people. I think that the audience enjoyed the show, I did. If you want to know what you’ve missed, you can see them at the La Rochelle Jazz Festival on 15th August BTW the Portraits are more than pleased to play at small venues, even private houses, for 20 or more people as part of their campaign to increase awareness of the need for stem cell donors.

See www.theportraitsmusic.com/house-concerts for more details.

You can find more details about us on our website: www.nosamislesanimaux.com

ECOLE DU CHAT LIBRE DE POITIERS 1 Place de Fontevrault 86000 POITIERS 05.49.01.39.25 (answerphone) Ecoleduchat.poitiers.free.fr

Facebook: ecole-du-chat-libre-de-Poitiers

ecoleduchatpoitiers.forumactif.org

For any information, please contact: Isabelle Paris by email: chatlibrecaillerot@gmail.com or visit the website: www.chatlibrecaillerot.lebonforum.com 20 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Fund Raiser for Kitties....

by Heather Rosemary

A few weeks ago, we were contacted about a couple of kittens who were currently still with their mummy, but whose time was running out as the owners were about to drown them.

We made the decision to take on these gorgeous little white and cream kittens, 2 more to add to our 20 cats, most of whom we have rescued, bottle fed or had left with us. My daughter bottle fed them, weaning them and they are now wonderful, friendly, loving little babies.

I then read a facebook post on LIFT saying that someone had come across 5 tiny kittens in the woods. I offered my little cattery as a home for them as we had space, the only problem was lack of money. All those wonderful people out there who care for kittens all the time know how much it costs to bring them up. So for once I asked the LIFT ladies for help. I received much needed help from people who donated money, time, cuddles, milk, litter and weaning food.

CHAD

CHAD is a gorgeous, almost pure white, male, Lemon Setter. Placed at 4.5 years old, but we think he is younger. He is a thin 24.5kg, needing to gain a good few kilos.

CHAD was found wandering with no collar or id and no one has reported him as missing nor claimed him. He is now enjoying life in his foster home in dept. 86.

A super lad, he is easy going, well balanced and well behaved.

He is great with other dogs, male & female, and he also just ignores pigs, cows and horses, but is not quite so affable with cats, ferrets and rabbits -oops!

He is affectionate, gentle, readily seeking cuddles. Perfect in the house, clean, quiet, non-destructive when left by himself or with other dogs, and the same in the car. He has a good grounding in education, walks nicely on the lead, though can he can be a bit pulley when walking in fields with sniffs and other distractions – so this will need more work. An active dog, but not excessive, a good long walk or two and the chance to play and run in a large garden will keep him happy.

CHAD has been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated including rabies, so he has a full passport, and he has been treated for worms, fleas and tics. An adoption fee of €150 will be asked for to help towards his medical costs to-date.

If you would like more information on CHAD then please contact Caroline on 05 45 96 02 79, or by email at OrfeeInEnglish3@gmail.com. www.OrfeeInEnglish.com www.facebook.com/OrfeeInEnglish

It was touch and go for a while as they were very cold, dirty hungry and poorly when we got them, but with the help of the vets, warmth, love and plenty of milk they are now thriving.

The little tortie needs an operation for a hernia soon but is doing ok. I have worked out that so far it has cost around 500€ and we haven’t finished yet.

So, we are holding a Vide Grenier on the 22nd August from 10.30-1pm at Le Grand Beaupuits, 79200 St Germain de Longue Chaume to raise funds for the sterilisation, vaccinations and ongoing care.

!

We have lots of space available for other stall holders, if interested please email me heather.rosemary33@gmail.com for details.

We hope to see you all there, Thank You for reading. www.facebook.com/events/116110305394021/

The hope association charity shop 79 Open every Tuesday from 10am - 5pm And the last Saturday of every month 10 am - 5pm

hundreds of Books at 1€, pre-loved clothes, gifts, jewellery, cds and dvds, hand-made greetings cards and much more If you would like to volunteer or bake a cake, please contact hopeshop79@outlook.com Donations for the shop can be made during opening hours

Find us at: 19 route de la moinauderie, 79120 lezay

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 21

Take a Break 8. Any mature animal (5) 9. Landlocked republic in eastern Europe (7) 10. Handled clumsily (7) 11. A particularly difficult or baffling question (5) 12. Made better or improved in quality (8) 13. Selects as an alternative over others (4) 15. Bind with a rope (4) 17. Able to bend easily (8) 21. Laugh at with contempt (5) 22. Of or relating to the heart (7) 24. Highest mountain (7) 25. Having a sharp inclination (5)

DSM Toughie Crossword Across: 1. Most importantly, at both ends of the field (5,3,4) 7. Opportunity to put unknown quantity in pigeon stew (7) 9. Serious digging to be done? (5) 10. Must have messed up first garden? (4) 11. Could be the most beautiful north of the border (8) 12. Seed of force removed from garbled message (6) 14. Intelligent use for fallen statue (6) 17. Land a reward for the good life? (8) 19. The tomb itself houses some parts (4) 22. Pressure off problem situation makes us cheery (5) 23. Not all of it is one-sided? (7) 24. The serious offence of stealing a piano in the US? (5,7)

Down:

1. One of two equal parts (4) 2. The warmest season of the year (6) 3. Handwriting style (7) 4. A blemish made by dirt (6) 5. Run away to marry (5) 6. Wag one’s tongue (6) 7. Racket sport (8) 12. Joined the military (8) 14. Rapid transportation of goods or mail (7) 16. A sudden short downpour of rain (6) 18. Find (6) 19. Cooked in hot water (6) 20. Later on (5) 23. To face and deal with a problem (4)

Down: 1. Confess after French gave a stern

look (5)

formerly? (7)

let down? (5)

the briar patch? (4)

2. Coral dwellers with loose joints

3. Follow a story, by all accounts? (4) 4. Sagas of the very limits of extremities (7) 5. Let off one kept in case of being 6. Kind I took away from non-Jew (6) 8. Bluebottle, for one, was a part to be played (4) 12. Mates following directions only see outside parts of bloomers (6) 13. I’m stone, but can be wet when upset (7) 15. Bring into play terrible lie about wrong suit (7) 16. Merkel, politician that she is, embraces weed from oceanic territory (4) 18. Essex town among London garden centres (5) 20. Daft result of large number taken off the isles? (5) 21. Rabbit aiming to talk his way into

Well, what do you know?

With thanks to M.Morris

Monthly quiz by Roland Scott...... how many can you get?

1) Who became lead singer of the Australian folk/pop group ‘The Seekers’ in 1963?

8) Which TV series ended every episode with the words, “Goodnight John-boy”?

2) What are the 3 ‘R’s?

9) What is the common name of the plant from which Absinthe is distilled?

3) Which London street was home to most National newspapers until the 1980s?

4) Which international motor company’s first British assembly plant was opened in 1911 at Trafford Park in Manchester?

5) Who was responsible for Michael Parkinson’s, “That bloody bird”?

6) Paul Weller of The Jam and Mick Talbot of Dexys Midnight Runners formed which group?

7) Which British band had their last no1 hit with ‘Merry Christmas Everybody’?

22 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

10) What material was used to build, among others, St Paul’s Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and The Cenotaph?

11) What is the name of the private club used by characters in the TV series ‘Minder’?

12) On a British Monopoly board, which property is on light blue squares with Euston Road, and The Angel, Islington?

And finally, assuming you have 12 correct answers, what is the connection between those 12 answers or parts thereof and which is the odd one out?

Copyright RJS 2014

Answers on our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

DSM Easy Crossword Across:

Communications Passwords - How to Create a Great Secure Password for Everything!

by Ross Hendry

In the past month two disturbing reports have been made.

Apple users have been advised that it is possible to crack Apple’s password-storing keychain, break app sandboxes, and bypass its App Store security checks. Attackers can exploit these bugs to steal passwords from installed apps, including the native email client, without being detected.

Six university researchers were able to upload malware to Apple’s app stores, and passed the vetting processes without triggering any alarms. That malware, when installed on a victim’s Mac, raided the keychain to steal passwords for services including iCloud and the Mail app, and all those stored within Google Chrome.

Lead researcher Luyi Xing told El Reg he and his team complied with Apple’s request to withhold publication of the research for six months, but had not heard back as of the time of writing. They say the holes are still present in Apple’s software, meaning their work will likely be consumed by miscreants looking to weaponise the work. Apple was not available for immediate comment.

The second report in a security article on entrepreneur.com (www. entrepreneur.com/article/247387) ‘On 16th June LastPass, a popular password manager program, just admitted it’s been hacked. In a blog post published today, LastPass’s Joe Siegrist writes, “The investigation has shown ... that LastPass account email addresses, password reminders, server per user salts, and authentication hashes were compromised.”

It’s important to note that this breach does not mean that hackers have full access to the passwords of every LastPass user. What it does mean, however, is that if users use a weak master password or have used the same password for another website, there’s a likelihood that hackers could gain access.’

So what are the most hacked passwords?

SplashData the company who provide SplashID, another password management application, have compiled a list on the most hacked passwords of 2014 and here it is :No.

Password

No.

Password

No.

Password

1

123456

9

dragon

17

access

2

password

10

football

18

shadow

3

12345

11

1234567

19

master

4

12345678

12

monkey

20

michael

5

qwerty

13

letmein

21

superman

6

123456789

14

abc123

22

696969

7

1234

15

111111

23

123123

8

baseball

16

mustang

24

batman

One password for everything but it’s simple to remember and to use and very tough, if not impossible, to crack.

Here’s how I do it .....

I like the idea of creating a secure password that forms the core of all of my passwords, let me give you an example:I chose a favourite poem, song or something only I am likely to know, for example, I like this from dear old Will Shakespeare ..

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day

I will take the first two letters of each word and exclude single letter words and the preposition - “to”

sh co th su da This would probably do, however, they insist that you have to have capital letters, numbers spaces and even special characters on some sites, so we need to tweak it some more.

Lets substitute some letters with numbers so that...

sh co th su da becomes 5hC0th5uda add a space for effect...

5hC0t h5uda

and you get a nice strong password, 10 characters plus 1 space.

You can then use this for all of your accounts simply by adding a prefix or suffix denoting to you which account or email etc you are accessing, this also gives you the opportunity to add a special character such as a ‘/’ or ‘-’ or ‘?’.

Let me show you some examples: •

For my bank account - 5hC0t h5uda/lyd - I am with Lloyds so I miss off the vowels and one of any double letters

•

For my email account - 5hC0t h5uda/ggl - my email is with Google and the same rules above apply

•

For my Amazon account - 5hC0t h5uda/AMUK or 5hC0t h5uda/AMFR - here I have a different password for my UK Amazon account than my French one.

The principle is quite simple. Create a really strong core word that you can remember, then use rules for the suffix or prefix that are consistent and you can have a different “un-crackable” password for every account without having to have a brain the size of a planet to remember them all.

I hope this helps, just remember to be consistent with your substitution and prefix/suffix rules and you will not have to worry about a password ever again.

Ross Hendry is the proprietor of Interface Consulting and Engineering, who has over 42 years experience in Communications, Computer Technology and Direct Marketing. (See advert below).

Ironically the 25th most hacked password was ‘trustno1’.

Sadly having a weak password does not only affect the person whose created it, but potentially exposes those in their contacts list to the attention of the hackers. Having a weak password exposes all of us. Even if we do not get hacked, we could be the target of spam emails looking like they have been sent from the hacked account! I have seen examples of this, where the hacked person’s very young grandchildren received pornographic emails, totally undesirable.

There are many web pages that will tell you how to create a secure password, See the full Microsoft page here windows.microsoft. com/en-gb/windows-vista/tips-for-creating-a-strong-password or have a look at my password solution . .

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 23

Useful English Language Numbers...

Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres

05 49 64 59 96

French State health insurance advice line

08 11 36 36 46

Elizabeth Finn Care (Grants and advice if in Financial need)

04 68 23 43 79

Orange helpline

09 69 36 39 00

EDF International Customer Service

05 62 16 49 08

CLEISS (Social security advice between countries)

01 45 26 33 41

Funeral Information (AFIF)

01 45 44 90 03 or www.afif.asso.fr

Passport Advice

0044 208 082 4729

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+ We can add your event to our Facebook page....www.facebook.com/thedeuxsevresmonthly Please email all the details to: events@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

24 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Les Plus

Beaux Villages de France

by Mick Austin

Over time, some 32,000 villages have shaped the French countryside into how we know it today. And those villages that are members of the association Les Plus Beaux Village de France (The Most Beautiful Villages of France) all share the same passion and ambition.

That is to make the exceptional quality of their heritage known and recognised and to invite us to share in their history, their land, their culture and their inhabitants.

er17 Aubeterre-sur-Dronne © Cobb

T

oday the association includes 156 villages spread over 21 regions and 69 départements, all aiming to “avoid certain pitfalls such as villages turning into soulless museums or theme parks… to reconcile villages with the future and to restore life around the fountain or in the square shaded by 100-year-old lime and plane trees.”

Although the Deux-Sèvres does not, as yet, have a village on the list there are plenty in the nearby départements for you to explore.

CHARENTE (16) Aubeterre-sur-Dronne On the borders of Charente and Périgord, Aubeterre clings to a grassy cliff on the banks of the Dronne. The monolithic underground Church of Saint Jean and the Romanesque Church of Saint Jacques, with its stunning façade, are evidence of the village’s religious past. Pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela used to stop there.

Don’t miss: Specialist shops including a leather worker and potters.

More info: www.aubeterresurdronne.com

Ars-en-Ré © Pepper

CHARENTE MARITIME (17) Ars-en-Ré At the westernmost tip of the island of Ile de Ré and easily spotted thanks to its church steeple. Its 40-metre high black and white spire still serves as a landmark for sailors. The village grew up around the salt marshes in the 11th Century and 60 salt workers still farm the Fier d’Ars salt marshes today.

Don’t miss: Church of St Etienne, L’Huitrière de Ré oyster farm.

More info: www.iledere-arsenre.com

GCOM La Flotte © PH

La Flotte A pretty little fishing and yachting port on Saint-Martin-

de-Ré, with its rounded, 200-metre long jetty built in 1840.

Peaceful, flower-decked streets with low-roofed houses whose sparklingly white walls provide a luminous background to the green or blue shutters.

Don’t miss: Fort de la Prée, Maison du Platin (life on the island), remains of the Cistercian abbey of the Châteliers.

More info: www.laflotte-iledere.fr

All images for this article are sourced from Wikimedia Commons Mournac-sur-Seudre © Cobber17

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 25

Mornac-sur-Seudre An old fishing and commercial port which today focuses more on oyster farming and the salt produced by its marshes. A classic example of a Charente coastal village, with its white-painted houses with green or blue shutters that are often hidden by hollyhocks.

Don’t miss: Church of Saint Pierre, the marshes and its oyster farming, craftsmen selling jewellery, leather, painting and pottery.

More info: www.tourisme-mornac-sur-seudre.fr Talmont-sur-Gironde Just 15kms south of Royan,

Talmont sits on a rocky peak overlooking the Gironde estuary. It still has its original bastide (fortified) layout, built in 1284 by Edward 1, Duke of Aquitaine. Towering above the village, the magnificent church of Sainte Radegonde is still protected by ramparts. In the village, whitewashed houses and blue shutters peep out behind hollyhocks Don’t miss: History and fishing museums.

More info: www.talmont-sur-gironde.fr

Talmont-sur-Gironde © JLPC

Belvès © Mossot

Beynac-et-Cazenac © Asp

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle © Steve Bennett

Domme © JochenJahnke

La Roque-Gageac © Jebulon

DORDOGNE (24) Belvès A medieval town perched on a rocky spur

above the Nauze Valley in Périgord Noir, it boasts seven bell towers. Despite wars and invasions, the town has managed to preserve superb relics from its history.

Don’t miss: Cave dwellings, The Castrum and the Organistrum Museum and hurdy gurdies!

More info: www.perigordnoir-valleedordogne.com

Beynac-et-Cazenac Lies 10kms south-west of Sarlat,

on the banks of the Dordogne, and boasts an imposing castle, once besieged by Richard the Lionheart, around which are built ‘lauze’ stone slab-roofed houses with creamy façades.

Don’t miss: Beynac Castle, the Archaeological Park and La Causerie Médiévale (history of the Périgord told through tapestry).

More info: www.sarlat-tourisme.com/en

Castelnaud-la-Chapelle Overlooks the confluence

between the Dordogne and Céou rivers in an exceptional landscape opposite the beautiful villages of Beynac-etCazenac and La Roque-Gageac. Well known for its two castles, the medieval one superbly restored with its Museum of War in the Middle Ages and the Milandes castle. The village itself and its typical Périgord architecture is also worth discovering.

Don’t miss: Gardens of Lacoste castle, Museum of Périgord Nut. More info: www.tourisme-ceou.com

Domme Perched on a breathtakingly high cliff for an exceptional view of the Dordogne valley, this creamy-stoned bastide boasts a successful combination of architectural, natural and gastronomic heritage typical of Périgord Noir.

Don’t miss: Church of Notre Dame de l’Assomption, Templars’ Tower, Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions.

More info: www.perigordnoir-valleedordogne.com La Roque-Gageac In Périgord Noir at the foot of a

south-facing cliff, the creamy stone houses with their ‘lauze’ stone slab or brown-tiled roofs are mirrored in the waters of the River Dordogne where the famous ‘gabares’ (traditional flat-bottomed boats) laden with goods used to travel in the 19th Century.

Don’t miss: Troglodyte fort built in the cliff face, exotic gardens and Ferme Fleurie garden.

More info: www.sarlat-tourisme.com

Limeuil Situated where the rivers Dordogne and Vézère

meet. It lived through Viking invasions and the 100 Years’ War but today only three fortified gates are left to bear witness to those times. A bustling river port of old, the medieval village with its stone-built, dark-tiled houses so typical of Périgord Noir is now a charming, refreshing place in which to stop.

Don’t miss: Saint-Martin’s church, the castle grounds.

More info: www.limeuil-en-perigord.com

26 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Limeuil © Symac

GO69 zier © Monpa

Monpazier Labelled a ‘Grand site national’, it has no less than 32

listed buildings and is regarded as the prime example of a bastide among the 300 in south-western France. An outstanding fortified village founded by Edward 1 of England in 1284.

Don’t miss: The Bastideum (interactive museum about Monpazier’s heritage and architecture), Church of Saint Dominique.

More info: www.monpazier.fr

Saint-Amand-de-Coly Close to Sarlat and Lascaux, it stands

comfortably between two small wooded valleys. Its 12th Century abbey is considered the most beautiful fortified church in Périgord.

Don’t miss: La Maison du Patrimoine (heritage museum) and a guided tour of the abbey-church.

More info: www.saint-amand-de-coly.org

Saint-Jean-de-Côle The River Côle, a beautiful river

spanned by a medieval bridge, runs through a village that boasts ochre-walled houses with brown-tiled roofs. Its history is linked to the 12th and 15th Century Chateau de la Marthonie, which overlooks the pretty Place Saint-Jean, and to the priory whose old Romanesque-Byzantine style church has an original layout.

Don’t miss: Guided tour of the village, Church of St John the Baptist.

More info: www.saintjeandecole.fr

Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère Halfway between Lascaux and Les Eyzies, this former flourishing port on the River Vézère nestles in typical Périgord countryside. The village is well guarded by its castles – the Manoir de la Salle at the entrance to the village, Château de Clérans above the river and Château de Chabans, jewel of the Côte de Jor – and hosts the Music Festival of the Périgord Noir in its beautiful 12th Century Romanesque church.

Don’t miss: Buddhist study and meditation centre, dinosaur park, cave dwellers’ site and fossil museum.

More info: www.saint-leon-sur-vezere.fr HAUTE-VIENNE (87) Mortemart This delightful village is in Limousin country

Saint-Amand-de-Coly © Pymouss

Saint-Jean-de-Côle © Traumrune

and has grown up around a castle built in the 10th Century

by Abon Drut, Lord of Mortemart. It was destroyed by order of Cardinal de Richelieu and all that remains today is the tower keep and a few rooms that host exhibitions.

While the Carmelite and Augustinian convents bear witness to the village’s religious past, the old covered market and leading citizens’ houses serve as a reminder that Mortemart was also a prosperous commercial centre.

Don’t miss: The Dukes’ castle, Carmelite convent.

More info: www.mortemarttourismelimousin.fr

MAINE ET LOIRE (49)

Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère © Pére Igor

Mortemart © Nitot

Montsoreau Lies between Anjou and Touraine and has the River Loire as its setting. The 15th Century castle made famous by Alexandre Dumas’ novel La Dame de Montsoreau is reflected in the waters of this legendary river. All around, flower-decked streets with slate-roofed, white tufa houses and green pathways lead to the Saumur vineyards.

Don’t miss: Church of Saint Pierre de Rest, Le Saut-auxLoups mushroom farm.

More info: www.ville-montsoreau.fr VIENNE (86) Angles-sur-l’Anglin On the borders of Berry and Touraine,

Montsoreau © Manfred Heyde

Angles-sur-l’Anglin © JochenJahnke

it gets its name from the Angles, the Saxon tribe that invaded England in the 5th Century, and from the river that separates the upper part of the village from the lower one.

Its reputation has been established over the past 150 years thanks to its ‘jours’ – a form of hand-made, drawn-thread embroidery. The village is also famous for its 15,000-year-old Magdalenian sculptures of the ‘Witches’ Rock’.

Don’t miss: Jours d’Angles embroidery workshop, the stronghold, Museum of the Witches Rock.

More info: www.anglessuranglin.com

VENDEE (85) Mick Austin is a freelance journalist based in the Paysde-la-Loire. He has had his work published in several expat magazines and newspapers and has also written the Mayenne Tourist Board’s only Englishlanguage brochure. He also runs a gîte business at

www.gitefortwo.com.

Vouvant Embraced by a loop of the River Mère and standing behind a well-preserved fortified wall. The origin of the village is linked to the legend of the Fairy Mélusine, an ancestor of the Counts of Lusignan, who is said to have given the village a castle overnight. The keep, called Mélusine Tower, is all that remains of that building and it watches over the village’s whitewashed houses.

Don’t miss: Church of Sainte Marie, Nef Théodelin exhibition chamber, Mélusine tower and house.

More info: www.tourisme-sudvendee.com

Vouvant © ChrisSampson87

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 27

Home & Garden Deadline:

of the month

ASK about our special packages for

New Advertisers!

They are a great way to kick-start your marketing campaign....Call Sarah on 05 49 70 26 21 to find out more!

DÉCHETTERIES Within the area of the SMC79 (Haut-val-de-Sevre and Sud-Gatine), there’s been a change of opening hours of déchetteries since May 2015.

Please visit their website for details:

www.smc79.fr

For waste disposal outside of this area, there’s an alternative website

www.decheteries.fr/79/

28 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Plants, Garden Design and Maintenance… ….from an English speaking company with 17 years’ experience in France.

PLANTAGENET nursery grows a wide range of plants well adapted to the local climate with a large selection of drought resistant perennials and grasses that can survive the hottest driest summers without any watering.

David and Bella GORDON set up PLANTAGENET PLANTES near Doué la Fontaine (49) in 1998. Over the years they have increased production to over 100,000 plants annually and developed extensive display areas to help customers imagine news ways of planting their gardens that don’t require too much maintenance.

Many of your favourite varieties, which you can’t find at the local Garden Centre, are available at Plantagenet and if they don’t grow it they can probably source it for you.

PLANTAGENET offers a garden design service that has completed numerous projects for private customers, and includes the Conseil General at Niort and the Garden Festival at Chaumont sur Loire amongst its bigger customers. A complete garden creation service is available, from the design and the landscaping to the planting.

The experienced team also carries out garden maintenance to ensure your garden is always looking good when you arrive in France.

The PLANTAGENET open weekend on the 26th and 27th of September is the perfect opportunity to meet David, Bella and their staff and see the nursery and gardens. You can buy from more than 700 varieties of perennials, grasses and small shrubs, discuss any garden projects, enjoy homemade cakes at the temporary café and try local Anjou and Saumur wines with an organic wine producer from the village.

You’ll find more information in French and lots of photos at www.plantagenetplantes.com. For further information in English send David and Bella an email to: plantagenet.plantes@ wanadoo.fr or ring them on 02 41 38 14 62.

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 29

THE AMATEUR GARDENER

by Vanda Lawrence

Tomatoes © Wikimedia Commons/Fastily

Turn the compost heap regularly and if the weather continues to be very hot and dry you will need to give it a soak occasionally to aid breakdown.

W

hile I’m writing this article in July we are having the heatwave of heatwaves! I never complain about being too hot but at the moment I’m admitting defeat and looking forward to a (slight!) drop in temperatures.

And our poor vegetables - it’s an absolute necessity to get out there in the evening or early morning to give them all a drink.

Having said that, they are repaying our care with lots of pickings.

However, often in the vegetable patch as plants get bigger, it’s a job to get between rows to water everything. Try using lengths of plastic guttering. Make small holes along the bottom and put between two rows of plants. Pour water into one end and the water will run along the gutter giving each plant a soak.

Keep harvesting peas, beans, cucumbers etc – regular picking encourages plants to keep producing. Pinch out the growing tips of pumpkins and squash to keep them under control, otherwise they will take over the garden, never mind the vegetable plot! Runner beans also need to be pinched-out once they reach the top of their supports.

Raise marrows off the ground to prevent them rotting underneath.

Protect ripening marrows from birds and other pests by pulling tights or stocking over each marrow and tie at each end; (now ladies - there’s a novel reason for saving old tights … waste not, want not!).

Tomato Compost

heap ©

mons/Fae

Com Wikimedia

side shoots must be kept in check otherwise the plant will waste energy making unnecessary bushy growth.

Here also you should pinch out the growing tip once the plant has reached its optimum height according to the variety. Also, as the tomatoes develop you can remove the lower leaves from the plant to allow light and air to get to the fruits. Feed with high potash fertilizer.

Earth up celery by putting paper between the stems and the soil. Also, as the leaves of your onions, shallots and garlic turn brown and wilt you can lift them and leave to dry off before storing.

30 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

If you have a greenhouse you will need to damp down the floor each morning to create a humid environment for the plants inside. Do not damp down in the evening.

Harvest blackberries, raspberries and loganberries and cut back the fruited canes. Tie in new canes as they appear ready for next © Wikimedia Commons/ Jürgi-würgi year. As strawberries finish producing remove old leaves and any straw mulch around them to prevent a build-up of pests and disease. If your plants are 3 years old pot on new plants from runners ready for next year.

If you have fruit trees now is the time to summer-prune and tidy up. Remove diseased/damaged fruit; not only will this stop the spread of disease but it takes the weight off heavily-laden branches which might snap in high winds. Sun and air can also circulate around the fruit. If the tree is particularly heavily laden it’s worth removing the smaller fruits so the tree’s energy goes to improving those remaining. As you pick the fruits you will notice what needs pruning. Remove dead wood and crossing branches, also new shoots growing into the centre of the tree or straight up in the air. Keep new fruiting branches and those that have fruited this year but remove those of 3+ years. This will let the sun in and air circulate and if you do the job during dry weather any cut edges can seal themselves quickly.

Your grape vines will be looking good now – but remove some of the foliage to allow the sun to ripen the fruit and air to circulate to avoid mildew. I think there are special bags available which you can use to protect each cluster of grapes from birds and insects.

In the May issue I mentioned the French ‘Calendrier Lunaire’ for gardening according to the phases of the moon. Since then I’ve done some research. Apparently, this idea goes back to ancient times when the sun, moon and stars were used to guage the different seasons and farmers noticed that certain plants grew better when planted during different phases of the moon.

Plants appear to respond in the same way that oceans respond to the gravitational pull of the moon. Moon phases are divided into four: first quarter, second, third and fourth quarter. The first two phases are known as ‘waxing’ and the third and fourth the ‘waning’ phases. During the waxing phase of the moon water levels rise and plants absorb nutrients from the ground, therefore an ideal time to plant; the waning phase is the best time for pruning and weeding.

This planting-by-the moon cycle is known as the Synodic Cycle but there is another method of lunar planting, namely ‘Biodynamic’, which relies also on the 12 zodiac signs. There is far too much information about all this for me to explain here, but you can look on-line and find much more information if you are interested - try www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk u u

Stay cool everyone – happy August!

Contact Vanda Lawrence Email: amateurgardener@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Dry Stone Walls in Deux-Sèvres

by Pip Howard

Anyone living in, and many who visit, Deux-Sèvres cannot fail to notice the abundance of dry stone walls in the landscape.

Indeed Deux-Sèvres is one of the richest areas in the world for dry stone walls of high cultural value, rivalling even Yorkshire. Some of the oldest dry stone wall structures in the world are found in the region, which helped influence dry stone construction for our ancestors across Europe, including the internationally important Tumulus de Bougon, near La Mothe Saint Héray, some of which is over 7000 years old.

The simplicity of a dry stone wall belies the extraordinary benefits both in engineering and environmental terms that the wall establishes in the landscape in which it exists: Built from the stones that hinder agricultural into a structure which helps agriculture – protecting crops against adverse weather and regulating surface water (a dry stone wall provides highly effective

drainage), in times of both flooding and drought.

For every linear metre of an average dry stone wall there is a flat surface area of 1.6m², providing a habitat for a host of beneficial animals for protecting crops, furthermore there is evidence in many walls of deliberate construction of cavities built specifically to encourage the slug munching gardeners’ favourites; toads and hedgehogs.

There is at a present a burgeoning renaissance in dry stone walling across Europe as realisation of the multiple benefits becomes common knowledge. This is helped further by the high costs of materials for alternative construction, making dry stone work one of the cheaper options, and for many the most attractive.

Homes for Insects Insects will use man-made structures to lay eggs or to hibernate in through the winter.These structures can range from woodpiles, garden canes to holes in brickwork and garden sheds.

A fun way to help insects is by building your very own bug hotel!

Making a luxury hotel is easy to do, and you’ll be surprised how many of the materials you already have lying around your home and garden.

You can make your structure as large or as small as you like by using the materials at your disposal. Be creative and provide lots of nooks and crannies for the insects to discover.

Some materials that are useful include plastic bottles, corregated paper/cardboard, tubes, bamboo canes, straws, logs etc.

If using hollow tubes, it’s best to block off one end to prevent it becoming a wind tunnel.

It’s ideal to place your bug hotel before the spring, and if you can try to tilt the front slightly so any water can drain out.

Some insects including ladybirds, lacewings and solitary bees like narrow, vertical roosting and butterflies prefer slots for hibernating. Ladybirds look for a honeycomb-like shelter (perhaps made up using some insulating material) with a louvered frontage.

It’s easy and anyone can have a go...why not try it yourself?

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 31

A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres LUCHÉ SUR BRIOUX In the valley of the river Boutonne at the edge of the plains of Niort, you can find the small commune of Luché sur Brioux with its 145 Luchéens. The commune is crossed by three rivers, La Boutonne, La Somptueuse and le Dauphin whose spring is in the communal wash-house. The village is dominated by the church and a pigeon loft.

The commune is made up of the main village and four hamlets. La Grange du Bois on the banks of the Dauphin is the largest.

The name Luché appeared for the first time in 928 (in a circular from the Abbey of Saint-Jean-d’Angély). The name also appears as Villa Lupchiacus and Luchiacum.

A VOIR / MUST SEE

Above: The Dovecote in Louzy. Wikimedia, Père Igor

LOUZY

•

The Church. The church of Luché-sur-Brioux has six large butresses and is of romanesque style. It certainly dates from the end of the 10th century. Despite its simplicity, the church has a stone vault and not just a simple wooden carpentry as in the majority of the romanesque churches.

The gothic style entrance dates from the end of the 15th or beginning of the 16th century. The stone bell tower houses one bell.

•

Le Lavoir. Situated at the south of the village, in a green setting, the washhouse is the source of the river Dauphin.

The wash-house was renovated in 2009.

•

The Pigeon Loft which dominates the village is a private property Image: vallee-boutonne.n2000.fr which once depended on a former farm. It is situated near to the old Niort – Ruffec railway.

by Sue Burgess

The commune of Louzy, in the north of the Deux-Sèvres, is situated 4 kilometres north east of Thouars. The commune is made up of the villages of Louzy, Bouchet, Launay, Monceau, Magé and Vitray.

The 2012 census counted 1285 inhabitants in the commune. The inhabitants of Louzy are the Louzéens.

LUCHÉ THOUARSAIS

When digs were undertaken in 1990 prior to the construction of a football field near the church, the remains of a castle were found.

The 421 inhabitants of Luché Thouarsais are the Luchéens and Luchéennes.

There is written evidence that the castle existed in 1584 and was bought in 1703 by the last duke of La Trémoïlle. The princess of La Trémoille had slept there in 1639 with her court, on her way from Holland to Thouars. The buildings were probably destroyed in the 19th century for financial reasons.

The quarry situated at La Ménardière extracts gravel and sand.

Before 1793 the commune was simply called Luché. It has only changed its name once.

A VOIR / MUST SEE •

St Pierre Church. Built in the 11th and 12th centuries by the village inhabitants, the church of Saint Pierre has belonged since 1122 to the chapter of Saint-Pierre de Thouars. Located on a road linking Fontevraud to Thouars, the church features a fairly large chapel dedicated to the apostle James. The presence of a sarcophagus near the apse has led some people to believe that the church had been built on an older shrine. The modern stained-glass windows dating from 1966 harmonize fully with the medieval construction. They were made by Abbot Joseph Bressolette and installed by Abbot Sachot.

The church outbuildings were restored in 2003-2004. This fine ensemble of buildings comprises a dovecote, a large mansion called the résidence du château, the presbytery porch and a small lake, formerly belonging to the park of Louzy castle.

It would seem that the central village of Breuil was used for retired people. Each house had a garden, a hen house and a stable. There was a village wine-press.

There was once a fortified house in Luché however it cannot be seen on the 1828 land registry. There is a path called «des châtelains» and a raised piece of land nearby. This could well have been the area where the fortified house used to stand.

There are no listed historical monuments on the commune.

A VOIR / MUST SEE •

Les Adillons Leisure area and campsite at La Bourelière.

Many different activities are available on site - supervised bathing in the summer, a fishing pond, tennis and volleyball courts, table tennis, games and play area for children, paths for rambling, giant games placed along the pathways.

More A-Z of the Communes of Deux-Sèvres next month...

32 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Food & Drink

Opening for Business Wednesday 5th August Firstly we would like to thank all existing Polar Express customers for their patience whilst we have been relocating the business to its new site in L’Hopiteau. Preparing the shop and storage facilities has been a major project.

We have received many enquiries over recent weeks and have therefore taken the decision to open with some of the site landscaping work in progress. None of this will impact your shopping experience.

The opening of Polar Express achieves two major lifetime ambitions for us, firstly to operate our own business and secondly to live in France. We hope that Paul’s 36 years of experience with a major UK retailer will help us to give you a great shopping experience.

Taking over such an established and successful brand is a tremendous privilege. We would both like to thank Kim and Darryl White for their support during the transfer of the business which they have worked so hard to establish.

We would also like to thank Mark Wilson for his work translating documents and talking with various authorities and service providers, needed to open Polar Express.

Our aim is to offer you a range of your favourite products together with some new ranges. We are planning to further develop our vegetarian range in particular. We are happy to consider stocking a broad range of products so your suggestions and feedback are always welcome.

Paul & Caroline look forward to welcoming you to Polar Express at its new location in L’Hopiteau. You can find us on the D176 13km south east of Parthenay on the road to Vausseroux.

Contact Paul & Caroline Savory 5 L’Hopiteau, 79420, St Martin Du Fouilloux Tel: 05 49 69 02 05.

Email: pexpress@hotmail.com www.polarexpress.fr Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm.

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 33

Free-range Rare Breed Pork We have a selection of succulent pork joints, sausages and bacon for sale at our farm shop, Le Logis, Cours 79220 - call for availability on 06 48 22 14 64.

Also you can find us at Champdeniers Market on Saturday and Lezay on Tuesday mornings.

Summer Specials Suckling pig; porchetta and good old-fashioned gammon steaks... call for details or to reserve.

www.theperfectpigcompany.com T: 05 49 75 52 89 M: 06 48 22 14 64 Follow us on FB www.facebook.com/theperfectpigcompany and Twitter @BerkiesinFrance for the latest ‘pork talk’.

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34 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Hubert and The System

N

o, this is not about some French winemaking equivalent to Florence and The Machine or Huey Lewis and The News, but a rather engaging tale of a by-the-book Vendée winemaker turned ornery – gamekeeper to poacher.

There must have been a time when Hubert Macquigneau was quite a confused, not to say dispirited, young man. By his own admission, he was not the greatest student at school. Military service followed, as night succeeds day, then he was back home on the family farm contemplating a life of cow rearing.

All well and good, you might say; an honourable profession, you would think. Problem was Hubert wasn’t that keen on cows. What interested him far more was the one hectare of vines that provided the annual quota of family wine. Couldn’t something more be made of this? He and his young wife Michelle rather thought so.

Bit by bit, year after year, they bought up plots until they were the proud owners of 16 hectares. In 2004 they joined forces with neighbours Daniel and Lydia Brisson, fourth generation winemakers with 24 hectares of their own. So was born Macquigneau-Brisson.

So far so not-so-very unusual.

by John Sherwin

cassoulet from Toulouse would go also, being a fussier version of the same thing.

Grilled or roast meat, soft cheeses too. But most of all it’s a vinous celebration of the past, of being different – not just for the sake of it, but because it matters. I’m sure Florence and Huey would agree, and I’m sure you will too.

Vignoble Macquigneau-Brisson, Le Plessis, 85320 Rosnay. Tel: 02 51 30 59 54

u u

John Sherwin, French Wine Tours 02 51 66 13 05 or www.french-wine-tours.com

But Hubert started out in the wine business when a small group of winemaking contemporaries, Vendée compatriots, had greater goals in mind than reproducing the same simple wine as their forefathers: the holy grail of AOC recognition. The self-styled Fiefs Vendéens, an informal grouping of Vendée wine producers, had need of a co-ordinator, a President, someone to take their case to the Institut Nationale des Appellations d’Origine (INAO, or Wine Police) and Hubert was their man. For twenty one years he attended meetings, prepared dossiers for the INAO, pushed papers, pushed the cause, all the while perfecting his own winemaking.

It’s no surprise to hear him talk ruefully of how his children almost needed a photo to recognise the man who only occasionally had time to sit at the family dining table.

Then the big day came. In 2011 that august body, the INAO, declared that Vendée wines had, at long last, achieved full AOC status. How Hubert celebrated I do not know, but I dare say it was with due modesty.

These days he declares himself ‘worn out’. Well, if looks are anything to go by, I beg to differ. As he reaches the retirement years, the eyes are still sharp and the enthusiasm burns on.

Twenty one years is a long time to toe the line and do as you’re told by the INAO, and sometimes you ruefully find it’s a case of ‘be careful what you wish for’. One of the rules is that to display your ‘Fiefs Vendéens AOC’ status on the label the wine must be a blend of at least two different grape varieties. And Hubert does make a range of excellent AOC wines, white, rosé and red (his red ‘Moulins Brulés’ regularly wins medals in the posh wine show in Paris). Indeed, it would be odd to turn your back on the status you had worked so hard and sacrificed so much to attain.

But Hubert had another bee in his bonnet – the rare grape variety Négrette. This was widely planted in the Vendée in the 19th century before phylloxera (the deadly wine bug) almost destroyed wine production throughout France. (Thankfully a cure was found, but that’s another story). The only other region known for this variety is Fronton, near Toulouse. Négrette is a difficult variety to grow being more than usually prone to oidium and mildew, and the phylloxera plague gave grape growers the perfect excuse to uproot their Négrette and plant other varieties. But for some reason or another, Hubert was left with some old parcels of Négrette and was damned if he was going to see them disappear.

So, to cut a long story short, he now makes a 100% Négrette which, not being a blend, cannot display AOC on the label. But he makes it anyway, and you should rejoice.

The wine is fruity and elegant, with aromas of violet, blackcurrant, blackberry, raspberry, liquorice and pepper. Hubert recommends drinking it with jambon mogettes, that Vendée classic, but a

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The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 35

Summer Crops

I

by Hazel Foster

love this time of year. It brings such a choice of fruits and vegetables. I keep buying all these punnets of fruit but with my other half not eating it, it’s up to me to eat it all before it goes too soft.

Also, your veg plots may be heaving with excess tomatoes and courgettes by now. The first year I had my veg patch I decided 12 courgette plants was a good idea! Needless to say we had courgettes coming out of our ears for weeks and I even resorted to courgette jam, which wasn’t great.

So, this month, recipes for that excess fruit and veg we have around. Enjoy!

Tomato and Feta Bake (Serves 4) This recipe was given to me by a friend ages ago (thanks Dee!).

It makes a lovely lunch or supper dish and is ideal if you’re catering for veggies. Serve it with hunks of crusty bread to mop up the juices.

• • • • • • • • • •

French Fruity Chutney – Makes about 2 litres. ent for I love chutney, well, it’s just such a good accompanim many so only are (there fruit up use to way great a it’s cheese, nt to differe hing somet it’s find also I and plums you can eat!), give as a pressie to the neighbours.

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

900g plums 550g granny smith apples (2-3 apples) 450g pears(2-3 pears) 300g apricots (about 10) or nectarines/peaches (3) 900g dark brown sugar 500ml cider vinegar 2 medium white onions, chopped 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 1 tbsp mustard seed 1 rounded tsp ground coriander 1 tsp crushed dried chillies 1 tsp salt 1 cinnamon stick

tarines/ Halve, stone and chop the plums and apricots/nec the peaches and put into a large saucepan. Core, peel and chop fruit. other the to add and pears and apples der, Stir in sugar, vinegar, onions, garlic, mustard seeds, corian on cinnam the drop then pan, the into salt crushed chillies and occasional stick on top. Heat slowly for about 20 mins, giving anchutne y to stir, until the sugar has dissolved. Now leave the onally until occasi stirring lid, a t withou pace, steady a at r simme juice. This reduced and thickened, but still with some syrupyDiscar d the will take about 1½ hrs. It will thicken once it cools. cinnamon stick. for While still hot pour the chutney into sterilised jars. It will keep place. dry cool, a in year a about

Hazel Hazel Foster Foster ~ ~ Homechef Homechef 79 79

Personal Chef for dinner parties, special occasions Personal Chef and for dinner parties, special occasions catering services and catering services Tel: 05 49 63 29 98 ~ Email: homechef79@gmail.com Tel: 05 49 63 29 98 ~ Email: homechef79@gmail.com 36 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

3 red onions, sliced 3 cloves garlic, chopped 1-2 packs of feta cheese, cubed 8-10 tomatoes, cut into chunky pieces 1 tbsp pesto Fresh basil leaves 1-2 tbsp capers (optional) 1-2 tbsp olives (optional) Salt, black pepper and sugar Extra virgin olive oil

Heat oven to 180˚C. In an oven-proof dish with lid put sliced onions, garlic and 3-4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Put in the oven for about 20 mins until onions are soft, not crispy or browned. Add half the tomatoes, dot half the pesto about, half the basil leaves, half the capers and/or olives if using, and half the feta, and season with salt, pepper and a pinch of sugar.

Repeat using the rest of the ingredients and finishing with a drizzle of olive oil over the cheesy top. Put in oven for about 30 mins then take the lid off and leave in oven for another 10 mins.

Courgette and Mushroom Frittata • • • • • • • •

1 large onion, chopped 2 courgettes, sliced 8 mushrooms A handful of cooked potatoes, sliced 2 cloves of garlic, crushed (optional) 6 eggs 2 tbsp fresh parsley or 2 tbsp pesto Olive oil for frying

Preheat your oven to 190C. In a large frying pan, fry the onions, mushrooms and courgettes together until the onion is translucent and the courgettes are softening. Add the garlic and cook for one minute.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the herbs or pesto, then stir in the vegetables and mix.

Pour the mixture into a greased, lined baking dish and bake for 20-25 minutes until puffy and golden.

Summertime

Cooling Off...

It’s Summertime and with temperatures soaring during August, we need plenty of cooling refreshments!

Here are a few recipes to try....

SANGRIA • • • • • • •

1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine 1/4 cup brandy 1/4 cup orange liqueur 2 tablespoons sugar 2 sliced oranges 1 sliced green apple 1 1/2 cups sparkling water

Mix the wine, liqueur and sugar in a jug until sugar dissolved, then add the fruit. Refrigerate for at least an hour and up to 1 day before serving.

Add the sparkling water just before serving.

APPLE MOJITO • • • • • •

Small handful fresh mint, crushed 1 cup ice cubes 1/4 cup apple juice 1/3 cup vodka 2 red apple slices, for garnish 2 green apple slices, for garnish

In a tall glass, add the crushed mint, apple juice and vodka to the ice. Garnish with red and green apples slices and serve.

PIMMS • • • • • •

Ice cubes 4 lemon slices 4 cucumber slices 1 cup sparkling water 1 cup lemonade 3 cups Pimms

Fill 4 highball glasses with ice cubes. Divide the lemon and cucumber slices among the glasses. In a large jug, pour in the sparkling water, lemonade and Pimms. Stir to combine, then pour mixture into prepared glasses.

SIMPLE SINGAPORE SLING

Shake 2 shots of pineapple juice, a generous shot of gin and a squeeze of lime juice in a shaker with ice, then strain into an ice-filled glass. Add a dash of sparkling water and grenadine; garnish with a lime wedge and a cherry.

Enjoy!

T

by Jacqueline Brown

he arrival of summer sees a change in my normal daily routine. School is over and this summer Ed has taken (and passed) his Brevet, so school as we know it is over forever. September will see him start a more independent life as a boarder at lycée. My English conversation club at college has finished and the taxi-ing to music lessons is over too, but the daily watering, weeding, picking and preserving in the potager is more than filling those hours I’ve gained, although I’m quite enjoying the lie-ins.

The first courgettes picked from the potager are always celebrated, cooked simply in butter, salt and pepper and savoured or made into an omelette (as we still have plenty of eggs), but once the glut begins so does the work. The oven is kept busy roasting vegetables (courgettes, patissons, squash, onions and beetroots) to become soups or purées to freeze. When the temperature exceeds 30 degrees this isn’t always ideal, but a through-draught in the kitchen and the thought of all the delicious meals I will be enjoying over winter make it bearable. I found a chilled bowl of creamy courgette purée was just perfect, used as a dip or a spread, when the heat-wave ate my appetite.

It was a great year for blossom and I always find it so exciting to see the trees heavy in flower and then slowly watch the tiny fruits begin to form. We had a very decent cherry crop and so far the plums, peaches, nectarines and apples are heavy with fruit. I hope the warm temperatures continue to ripen them and we don’t get too many storms that can cause branches to be ripped off and fruit lost. The raspberries and strawberries that I feared were slow to start soon began taking over the end of the potager, in a good way, but I’m sure I eat more when I’m picking than I bring indoors.

This summer I will be taking part in my first garden show, which is exciting, although somehow I’ve been volunteered to take an active part in organising it too, which is a little daunting. I’m really hoping my vegetable garden doesn’t let me down at the last minute as having a set of three identical sized, not too big, not too small, of each fruit or vegetable to be entered, that are ready to pick on the day isn’t as easy as it sounds. As well as the freshly picked produce categories there are the homemade categories too so I’ve saved a couple of jars of chutney to enter. I know my family; especially my mother and father-in-law love them, but what if the judges don’t?

I won’t deny I’m nervous, but I have to remember my own advice to the members: we are an amateur club and our show is for fun, it is not an RHS event. However, I’ve a bit of a reputation for chutney making so this could make or break me!

u u

www.frenchvillagediaries.com Email: frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com The TheDeux-Sèvres Deux-SèvresMonthly Monthly, ,August August2015 2015 | | 3737

Motoring

Back in the Bubble !

T

hese days small, economical, compact urban cars are all very “a la mode” and “green”, but cars of this genre have been around longer than you might think.

Back in the 1950’s and 60s, they were know as ‘Bubble Cars’.

The name came from the fact that many of the cars had an aircraft style canopy and small rounded appearance.

Bubble Cars became popular in Europe at that time as a demand for cheap personal motorised transport emerged and fuel prices were high, due in part to the 1956 Suez Crisis. Most of them were three-wheelers, which in many places, including the UK, qualified them for inexpensive taxes and licensing as motorcycles.

Most Bubble Cars were manufactured in Germany by the former German military aircraft manufacturers, Messerschmitt and Heinkel. Automobile and motorcycle manufacturer BMW also manufactured the Italian Iso Rivolta Isetta under licence, using an engine from one of their own motorcycles. France also produced large numbers of similar tiny vehicles called voiturettes, but unlike the German makes, these were rarely sold abroad.

by Helen Tait-Wright

economy transport in Germany had diminished as the German economy boomed. A similar situation developed in other parts of Europe such as in the manufacturer’s biggest export destination, the United Kingdom, where sales were particularly affected by the increasing popularity of the Mini.

Around about 61,000 cars were built in total.

Kabinenrollers sold well and, because of their simple construction and ease of maintenance, they had a high survival rate which means they’re not too difficult to find. These quirky vehicles have a strong following and today, with interest in ‘bubble cars’ having been on the rise for some time, many view the tandem seat Messerschmitt’s as the cream of the crop. While some examples have fetched over £60,000 at auction a more average example would set you back between £10,000 and £25,000.

Forget the Renault Twizy, the Messerschmitt has much more style! u u

Helen Tait-Wright Email: helen@stodel.org

Probably the most instantly recognizable Bubble Cars are the Isetta and the Messerschmitt. A friend of mine recently saw a Messerschmitt for the first time, and it was this that prompted me to write the article!

After the war Messerschmitt were banned from producing aircraft and so were open to the production of other commodities. In 1952 they were approached by Fritz Fend, a former aircraft industry worker, with the idea of manufacturing small motor vehicles based on his invalid carriage.

While the Messerschmitt name and insignia were used on the car, a separate company was created to manufacture and market the vehicle.

The cars were designated with KR model numbers, KR standing for Kabinenroller meaning “scooter with cabin”, and Cabrio and Roadster models were also produced!

The car clearly displays its aviation connections. In appearance, it looks like a tiny fighter plane without wings.

Entry is via a plastic domed canopy with sliding plastic side windows and a glass windshield which hinged open from one side. Just like in a plane’s cockpit, the driver and passenger sit in tandem. While this plastic dome permits excellent visibility, hot, sunny weather turns it into a sauna.

Rather bizarrely, reverse gear is accomplished by starting the two stroke engine backwards and putting the car in gear. This led to the discovery that the car could be driven in reverse in all four gears, and it would go faster backwards because it was more aerodynamic going in that direction!

In 1956, Messerschmitt was allowed to manufacture aircraft again and lost interest in Fend’s microcars.

Messerschmitt sold the Regensburg works to Fend who, with brake and hub supplier Valentin Knott, formed a company to continue production of the KR200 and his other vehicles.

Production of the KR200 was heavily reduced in 1962 and ceased in 1964 as sales had been dropping for a few years. The demand for basic 38 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Photos: all-oldtimers.com, prettycarz. com, staticflickr.com and humster3d.com

In the early pre-1955 cars, the controls were located on the handlebars (or tiller), allowing the car to be driven without using one’s feet, which in fact made it ideal for disabled people and in particular wheel chair bound Veterans from WWII, as per Fend’s original idea. The tiller is only 32 inches above street level giving what might be termed a roadkill view of the surrounding traffic.

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 39

Building & Renovation

40 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

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Tel: 05 49 0 26 21 Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr www.magazineanglais79.com

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The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 45

Business & Finance Investing in Uncertain Times

by Bradley Warden, Partner, Blevins Franks

T

temporary market volatility. A chart from Blackrock shows how a £10,000 hypothetical investment in the FTSE All-Share Index would have grown to £96,310 in the 25 years 1989–2013. This in spite of major events like September 11th, the subprime crisis, Lehman Brothers collapse and European sovereign debt crisis.

Provided your portfolio has been strategically set up in the first place, it is advisable not to react emotionally to events and market volatility.

Markets usually soon settle down, and bounce back quickly after falls.

Being out of the market at the wrong time can have a detrimental effect on returns.

Diversification is also critical in determining the success of your portfolio – it decreases overall risk and enhances the potential for long-term returns. You need a good spread of investments, across asset classes and geography, market sectors etc.

he uncertainty over Greece’s debts and whether it could leave the Eurozone has been unsettling investors recently.

What should they do with their investments in times like this?

Buying and selling assets in response to events is in effect trying to time the markets. To be successful you would need to correctly identify the best time to buy and best time to sell, and even experienced investors cannot get this right. Many events and market movements are unpredictable.

Time in the markets is the wiser strategy for most private investors, rather than timing.

Every market cycle has up and down days. Often a few very good days account for a large part of the total returns over a cycle. If you are not invested, you risk missing out on these best performing days, which can result in significantly lower returns over the longer-term.

If you are invested for the long-term, your portfolio should rise out

46 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

Your portfolio needs to be created and managed to meet your particular circumstances, aims and risk profile, and avoid undue risk. The starting point is to obtain a clear and objective assessment of your risk tolerance, and then make sure your portfolio matches your risk profile.

This sound investment approach can be taken a step further. Multi manager funds can reduce your reliance on individual investment managers making the right decisions in all market conditions.

You also have to review your portfolio on a regular basis and adjust the strategy accordingly. This helps control risk and can have a positive effect on performance.

Last but not least, build up a good relationship with your financial adviser, so that they understand your needs and concerns and will guide you through market turbulence as needed.

Do not risk your financial security. Protect your wealth against threats and make sure your adviser is well qualified and regulated by a body which imposes strict code of conduct requirements.

Introducing BH Assurances

I

by Isabelle Want

t occurred to me that as I have now been writing articles in ‘The DeuxSèvres Monthly’ for almost 2 years it would be a good time to introduce you to the rest of the team! Correct, I can’t do all this work on my own!

So please find below all the information regarding our company and its friendly and helpful staff.

“BH-Assurances” is our name and we are an agent of Allianz but also a broker which enables us to sell every type of insurance.

BH Assurances 22 rue Jean Jaures 16700 Ruffec Tel: 05 45 31 01 61 Mob: 06 17 30 39 11 N° Orias 07004255

We have three offices based in the Charente:

Ruffec Office

La Rochefoucauld

Chasseneuil Office

Tel 05 45 31 01 61 Fax 05 45 29 68 55

16110 La Rochefoucauld Tel 05 45 63 54 31 Fax 05 45 62 19 79

16260 Chasseneuil-sur-Bonnieure Tel 05 45 39 51 47 Fax 05 45 22 55 54

Opening hours: Monday 2pm - 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday 9am - 12noon

2pm - 6.30pm Saturday 9am - 12noon

Opening hours: Monday 2pm - 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday 9am - 12noon

2pm - 6.30pm Saturday 9am - 12noon

10 Blvd du 8 Mai 1945

22 rue Jean Jaures 16700 Ruffec

102 Av. de la Republique

Opening hours: Monday Closed Tuesday to Friday 9am - 12noon

2pm - 6.30pm Saturday 9am - 12noon

Our bilingual staff are based based in in the the Ruffec Ruffec office office but but Isabelle IsabelleWant Want and Thierry Hatesse are available by appointment at any of the three and offices.

Thierry Hatesse are available by appointment at any of the three offices.

Thierry Hatesse

Angelique Moore-Rigoulay

is the owner and manager.  His email address is: thierry.hatesse@bhassurances.fr

is our claim specialist. (photo right) You can contact her if you have a claim on your insurances or regarding reimbursment on your top up health insurance.

Her email address is: angelique.moore-rigoulay@bhassurances.fr

Isabelle Want

is our Insurance and Financial advisor and has also been trained as an asset manager. (photo left).

You can contact her if you have queries of any of these subjects French inheritance law, French tax, Funeral cover, Life insurances, Investments, Savings, vehicle, house, health top up and professional insurances.

Her email address is: isabelle.want@bh-assurances.fr

Sylvie Cordeau and Corine Segeat are our two

lovely assistants. (left)

They are not bilingual but speak good English. You can contact them for anything administrative such as changes on your insurance contracts (e.g. change of car registration plates, change of vehicle, adding a room in your house or changing from holiday to main residence, etc.), payment of your contract or even to make an appointment with Thierry Hatesse or Isabelle Want.

Their email address is: H916492@agents.allianz.fr

We have a website: www.bh-assurances.fr on which you can find all the previous articles written by Isabelle Want for ‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’ magazine relaying information on subjects such as French inheritance law, French tax, Insurances, etc. To read them go to the English site and then to the ‘Practical information’ page.

We also have a Facebook page on which we notify our followers about weather alerts, bank holidays or news regarding our agencies.

Find us at ‘Allianz Jacques Boulesteix and Thierry Hatesse’. You can also follow us on Twitter @charenteinsure.

The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 47

How do International Currency Transfers work?

Ask Amanda

by Sue Cook

Over the last few months I have received lots of unsolicited cold calls telling me I need to speak to someone urgently regarding the new pension reforms. Is this true?

Does any “real” money, like coins and cash, ever move?

The short answer is no – most currency transfers today are electronic. So although money is changed from one currency into another, the days of taking a cheque, bag of coins or pile of notes into a bureau de change are long gone, although there may be exceptions in some countries.

Sending money abroad is now much easier than it used to be – and, luckily, banks aren’t your only option anymore.

Currency specialists don’t charge hidden fees and they offer more competitive exchange rates than the typical high street bank does.

Those savings on fees and the exchange rate can make a huge difference – especially if you’re buying property overseas or making regular transfers (for example, a pension or mortgage payments).

If you saved 5% on your transfer for a new home abroad, that could be the equivalent of your relocation costs.

If the currency specialist offers you an online service, they can also save you time and hassle as well as money. You can buy a currency when the markets move in your favour, even if you don’t need to make the transfer straightaway. This is a great idea if you want to take advantage of the current rate to make a future payment.

Currencies Direct offers a secure money transfer service, run by a friendly team of experts

Let’s talk currency.

u u

Sue Cook of Currencies Direct 05 55 03 66 69 or 06 89 99 28 89

48 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015

The British government have made changes to UK personal pensions which came into force in April 2015. These changes allow people 55 years of age and older to access their pension pot and this gives increased freedom to either take the whole amount now, partial withdrawals as suits your needs or still purchase an annuity (guaranteed income for life).

As a French resident whichever of these options you chose has tax implications which vary from those of UK residents, so it is important to take advice from a company who are specialists in France. French residents also have other options which are not available to UK tax residents, however, these are not right for everyone and it is important to investigate them carefully.

These changes are in place now and whilst it is good to be aware of what is available, there is no urgency to act hastily.

If you would like to understand more of the pension reforms and their tax implications, and to discuss your options you can either pop along to one of my financial surgeries or call me to chat.

Whether you want to register for our newsletter, attend one of our road shows or speak to me directly, please call or email me on the contacts below & I will be glad to help you. We do not charge for reviews, reports or recommendations we provide.

With Care, You Prosper. Amsterdam, Luxembourg, Lausanne, Paris, Cote d’Azur, Barcelona, Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, Madrid, Mallorca, Rome. «The Spectrum IFA Group » is a registered trademark, exclusive rights to use in France granted to TSG Insurance Services S.A.R.L. Siège Social: 34 Bd des Italiens, 75009 «Société de Courtage d’assurances» R.C.S. Paris B 447 609 108 (2003B04384) Numéro d’immatriculation 07 025 332 - www.orias.fr «Conseiller en investissements financiers, référence sous le numéro E002440 par ANACOFI-CIF, association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Fin

u u

Amanda Johnson of The Spectrum IFA Group 05 49 98 97 46

Property

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The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015 | 49

Was Maigred really ‘Afraid’..?

D

by Joanna Leggett

uring the War, Georges Simenon, author of the Maigret books (which lead to the beloved TV series of the 60s and Michael Gambon’s latter-day interpretation), lived in the Chateau de Terreneuve. Here he began his autobiography and later, in 1953, he actually based ‘Maigret Afraid’ in the lovely town of Fontenay le Comte.

But Simenon, was not the most famous visitor to this town just over the border from Deux-Sèvres in the Vendée. When Napoleon visited with Josephine in 1808, he reputedly smashed an earthenware vase when he heard General Dupont had lost the battle of Bailem! Clearly justification for a plea of ‘Not tonight Josephine!’ or perhaps its echoes frightened the intrepid detective?

A Renaissance town, Fontenay le Comte is considered one of the prettiest in France. It sits aside the river Vendée, was once a port and fording town on the old Roman coastal road. With its narrow winding streets and lovely architecture dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, its heart is now a conservation area which includes a pretty little medieval garden beside the remains of its castle.

Moving on to modern-day entertainment, Fontenay has excellent restaurants, a cultural centre in the old train station and reportedly provides more cultural and sporting events, per capita, than any other town in France!

Bordering the Marais Poitevin, this is a beautiful place to live.

Between Niort and Fontenay, an immaculate villa is on the market (Leggett ref: 43420, see photo below) with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. Built in 2006, it has all mod cons and is warm,

airy and practical. The vast garden, partially enclosed with stone walls, includes a children’s playground, fruit trees, vegetable plot with room for a swimming-pool. This large plot could be divided into two, with lapsed planning permission to build a second house or perhaps gite; similarly the house is suitable for bed and breakfast. Recently reduced to 278 200€.

Situated in the countryside outside Fontenay, is another option...here we have listed an attractive two-bedroomed bungalow with the boon of a south-facing conservatory (Leggett Ref: 47760, 152 600€).

This charming house is light, airy and spacious; has central heating, double garage with electric door, and potential to extend the living space on the lower ground floor.

Leggett Immobilier is one of the leading estate agents in France. You can access all our local property listings at www.frenchestateagents.

com/poitou-charentes-property u Leggett Immobilier u www.frenchestateagents.com

50 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, August 2015