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Welcome! to Issue 51 of
continued...
‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’ magazine.
Welcome back to another packed issue! May, the month of bank holidays...this year we have four! It will be nice to catch up on some sleep and to venture out and about... it may even allow us to further discover the vast country we now call home. I’m looking forward to it already! There are many events included this month, so lots of things to keep you all busy. Whilst you are out and about, keep an eye on the cows you pass by - can you recognise them from Mick Austin’s top 25?! As always we’d like to thank you for your continued support and readership. Our local community benefits hugely from having this publication, and we appreciate all the feedback and contributions received. Of course, all made possible by the support of our advertisers. Until next time...
à plus, Sarah
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr Website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Emergency Numbers: 15 SAMU (Medical Advice) 17 Gendarmes (Police) 18 Pompiers (Fire Service)
112 European Emergency 113 Drugs and Alcohol
Contents What’s On Getting Out & About Hobbies Take a Break Clubs & Associations Health, Beauty & Fitness Our Furry Friends A Land of Cows Home & Garden A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres Communications Food & Drink Motoring Building & Renovation Business & Finance Property
This Month’s Advertisers
79 Renovations ABORDimmo Accents (English language skills) Ace Pneus (Tyre supplier & Fitter) Affordable UK Designs (Kitchens & UPVC Double Glazing) AgriPelle (Equipment Sales, Hire and Repairs) AKE Petit Travaux (Builder) A La Bonne Vie Allez Français Amanda Johnson - The Spectrum IFA Group Andrew Longman (Plumbing & Heating) An English Nursery in France ARB French Property Arbrecadabra Tree Surgery
4 6 12 17 18 20 22 25 28 31 32 34 37 39 45 49
41 49 10 38 2 44 42 35 51 48 41 30 51 30
Argo Carpentry 41 Atelier JM Toledo (Rug repairs and Cleaning) 28 Bar Le Coulongeois 5 BH Assurances / Allianz - Isabelle Want 45 Billaud-Segeba (Motoculture) 30 Bill McEvoy (Plumber / Heating Engineer) 40 Blevins Franks Financial Management 46 Buzz Transport 38 Camping Les Prairies du Lac 11 Caniclôture Hidden Fences 22 Chat-eau Cattery 22 Chris Bassett Construction 42 Chris Parsons (Heating/Electrical/Plumbing) 41 Christies (English Book Shop & Tea Room) 6 CJ Electricité 43 Clean Sweep Chimney Services 43 Currencies Direct - Sue Cook 48 Cut 46 Hair Salon 20 Darren Lawrence (Renovations etc) 41 David Cropper (Stump Grinding & Jungle Busting) 30 David Watkins Chimney Sweep 43 Deb Challacombe (Online counsellor) 20 Down to Earth Pool Design 49 Duncan White - Agent Commerciale 50 Ecopower Europe (Solar Power) 43 Emilie Baudrez (French Classes & Translation) 10 English Paints, English Prices 39 Equi Libre Immobilier 49 Franglais Deliveries 38 French Tuition with Pascale Terry 10 French Wine Tours 34 GAN Assurances 38 GoGo Bike Hire 8 Hallmark Electronique 43 Hope Association 3 Day Book Sale 23 Inter Décor (Tiles & Bathrooms) 40 Irving Location - Digger Hire 44 Irving Location - Septic Tank Installation & Groundworks 44 Jb Plumbing 40 Jeff’s Metalwork 40 John Purchase - Mobile Mechanic 38 J.P. Lainé Chimney Sweep 43 Julia Hunt - Agent Commerciale 50 Keith Banks Pool Services 49 Kelly’s Cleans 28 La Deuxième Chance (Annie Sloan Chalk Paint supplier) 28 Leggett Immobilier 50 Madame Mural (Children’s Wall Art) 28 Mad Hatter’s Kitchen 34 Mandy Moat (Personal Trainer) 20 Margert Benson (Advanced Dressage Rider & Freelance Trainer) 22 Michael Glover (Plasterer, renderer & tiler) 42 ML Computers 33 Motor Parts Charente 38 M. Page Landscaping 28 Mr Piano Man 16 Mutuelles de Poitiers Assurances 38 Nathan Foster Building Services 42 Needa Hand Services 30 Pamela Irving (Massage & Reflexology) 20 Paul Woods - Agent Commerciale 49 Plan 170 (Professional Scale Drawings) 42 Projet Piscine (Swimming Pool solutions) 49 R & A Services (Full & Partial Renovations) 41 Reiki Relaxation en Deux-Sèvres 20 Restaurant des Canards 35 Rob Berry Plastering Services 39 Robert Lupton (Electrician) 43 Ross Hendry (Interface Consulting & Engineering) 32 Saint Pardoux pension pour chats 22 Sarah Berry Online (Graphic Design & Websites) 33 Sarl Down to Earth Construction (Groundworks and Micro Station Installer) 44 Sarl Faucon 44 Sat-Elec 33 Satellite TV 33 Siddalls (Financial Advisors) 47 Simon the Tiler 40 Simply Homes and Gardens 30 Sophie’s Therapy Room 20 Steve Coupland (Property Services) 41 Steve Robin (Plumber) 40 Sue Burgess (French Classes & Translation) 10 The English Mechanic & Son - Tony Eyre 38 Val Assist (Translation Services) 11 Victoria Bassey Jewellery Boutique 21
© 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: mai 2015 - Tirage: 5000 exemplaires. Siret: 515 249 738 00011 ISSN: 2115-4848
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 3
What’s On...
Until 7th June - Exhibition - La Mothe-Saint-Heray By Martine Hoyas as part of the Printemps de l’Orangerie. Open Thursdays-Sundays and bank holidays afternoons. See P.6. Until 21st June - Exhibition - Parthenay Parisian artists Michèle Taupin and Simon Bohbot exhibit at the Museum in Parthenay. 1st May - Fête des Plants ‘Jardiniers du Paradis’ At Champdeniers St Denis. Free entry. 9.30am-6pm. Please see www.jardiniersduparadis.over-blog.com for details. 1st & 2nd May - Arsenic & Old Lace at Secondigny Performed by The Reaction Theatre group. www.reactiontheatre.fr 2nd & 3rd May - Marché aux fleurs, Saint-Benoit (86) The 13th edition of this flower market, the theme this year is Fruit Trees. See www.ville-saint-benoit.fr for details. 3rd May - Plant swap in Loubillé 7th May - Fabrics Galore Patchwork Expo at L’Absie Dotty Rose fabrics at ‘Maison pour Tous’, 2-5pm, everyone welcome. 10th May - Fundraising Ramble 9am in Queue d’Ageasse, ramble, lunch and a games afternoon. Contact Sam 06 58 04 26 73. 10th May - Clear your Clutter for Charity at Paperback Jan’s See P.6 for further information. 15th - 17th May - HOPE Assoc. 3 Day Book Sale At Clussais la Pommeraie. Please see advert on P.23. 16th May - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Information & Open Day See advert on P.28 or www.ladeuxiemechance.com for details. 17th May - Red Bull Cliff Diving World Championship 2015 at La Rochelle. See www.redbullcliffdiving.com 21st May - Start of Photofocus Exhibitions at Vouvant (See P.13). 23rd May - Spring Concert at Brux (86) Phoenix Chorale perform at the church at 5pm, followed by Vin d’Honneur. 23rd May - Deadline for Short Story & Poetry Competition See advert on P.7. 26th May: Music in the Gatine Festival At Oiron Chateau at 8.30pm, Bach XXL - works of Bach, Bartok, Ligeti, Ysaye and Escaich. David Grimai violin and Maude Gratton Clavischord. For further information and reservations, please email: reservation@musiques-gatine.fr. 29th May - ‘Ofrenda, the breath of the old and the new world’. At Gourgé Church from 8.30pm. A journey through the musical universe of the flutes of ancient civilisations. Pierre Hamon recorders, double and triple flutes, ocarinas, flutes of Pan etc. For further information and reservations, please email: reservation@ musiques-gatine.fr. 29th May - La Chantonge Choir’s Summer Concert See info on P.11. 30th May: Music in the Gatine Festival Airvault Salle du Cuvier in the museum 8.30pm. ‘Music in Shakespeare’s time’. Consort music by the Ensemble Spes Nostra. Violas da gamba. For further information and reservations, please email: reservation@musiques-gatine.fr. 31st May - Fête des Plantes ‘Vivre au Jardin’ At Sainte Christine (85). Please See www.vivrelavie85.com for details. 30th/31st May - Nightime walk ‘The Return of Galipotes’ Organised by the Cultural Association of Autise (19th year!) A nightime ghoulish walk including picnic! Fun for all ages...to register visit www.lesgalipotes.com or call 06 22 72 49 96. 31st May - Fête du Pain at Gourgé 6am-6pm. Vide grenier, food, drink and entertainment. 31st May - Charity Walk in aid of Clin d’oeil d’enfant In and around Niort, please see details on P. 8.
Coming Up...
6th/7th June - Arc en fil (Lace & Embroidery) Exhibition See P.8 for details. 6th & 12th June - La Chantonge Choir’s Summer Concert See info on P.11. 7th June - Fête dela Gatinelle, St Martin du Fouilloux See P.8 for information. 10th June - Live Opera at CGR Cinema Niort ‘La Bohème’ at 8.15pm. See P.9 for discounted tickets! 13th & 14th June - Fêtes des Plantes At Domain de Peré, Prisse ls Charrière. 20th June - Fête de la Musique at Fenioux Church, 3pm 20th June - Summer Fayre in La Chapelle Thireuil 4 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
May 2015 The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, PoitouCharentes, hold English speaking monthly services. 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 La Chapelle Notre Dame at Ranton every 3rd Sunday at 11.30am. 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
The National Holidays, Religious and Feast Days 2015 Friday 1st May Labour Day (Fête du Travail) Friday 8th May Victory in Europe Day (Fête de la Victoire) Thursday 14th May Ascension Day (Ascension) Sunday 24th May Pentacost (Pentecôte) Monday 25th May Pentacost (Lundi de Pentecôte) Sunday 31st May Mother’s Day (Fête des Mères) Sunday 21st June Father’s Day (Fête des Pères) Sunday 21st June World Music Day (Fête de la Musique) Tuesday 14th July National Day (Fête Nationale) 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
Small Colour Advert
only 35€
Paperback Jan Books in English
Open 6 - 8pm
Fish 4 Chip + Authentic Indian meals
Find me at these venues during May: 1st 11.30 - 1.30pm 79100 Thouars. Bar de la Paix. 1st 3pm - 5pm 79160 Fenioux. Café des Belles Fleurs. 6th 2.30pm - 4.30pm 85120 Vouvant. Cafe Cour de Miracle. 7th 2pm - 4.30pm 79450 St Aubin le Cloud. Bar Palais. 9th 10am - 12.30pm 79400 St Maixent l’Ecole. Bar Le Chauray. 10th 10am - 4pm 79390 La Ferriére-en-Parthenay.Jan’s Home 13th 3pm - 5pm 79600 St Jouin de Marnes. Au Bec de Vin. 14th 2pm - 5pm 79240 L’Absie. Pause! café. 20th 2.30pm - 4.30pm* 85390 Mouilleron-en-Pareds. Le Clemenceau 28th 4pm - 6pm 79350 Clessé. Le Relais des 2 moulins. 29th 11am - 1pm 79300 Bressuire. Vue du Chateau. 30th 1pm - 5pm* 79240 L’Absie. Chez C&K, 64 rue de la République, L’Absie *NEW! venues 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 May: 4th: Limalonges 7th: Chef Boutonne 11th: Theil Rabier 13th: Aigre 14th: Champniers Tel: 05 45 71 70 91 - more info at www.tophatquizzes.com
SHARE YOUR EV ENTS ! Entries into the What’s On Listing (P.4) are free ! (Businesses pay 10€) Plus free entry onto our Facebook page.... www.facebook.com/thedeuxsevresmonthly
Don’t forget to LIKE us! Send all event details on an email to: events@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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) Matha 17160 Gourville 16170
• •
Open 6.30-9pm
St Hilaire de Villefranche
17770
St Jean d’Angély 17400
See www.frying4u2nite.com for details or call 06 02 22 44 74
Reel Fish & Chips
Open 6.30-9pm
May (See our website for venue details) 6th & 20th - Etusson 21st - St Martin de Sanzay 8th - Coulonge Thouarsais 22nd - La Chapelle Thireuil 9th - L’Absie 23rd - Genneton 10th - La Ferriére-en-Parthenay Tel: 06 04 14 23 94 - www.reelfishandchips.net
Open 6-8.30pm
La Vendée Chippy Weds: Bar ‘Auberge le St Vincent’, 85110 St Vincent Sterlanges. Thurs: Bar ‘La Rando’, 85200 Mervent. Fri: Bar ‘Le Clemenceau’, 85390 Mouilleron-en-Pareds. Sat: 1st Saturday of the month, Bar ‘Le Marmiton’, 85120 Antigny Tel: 02 44 39 16 73 - www.lavendeechippy.com
Visit www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 5
Getting Out & About
Paperback Jan: Chapter 2
The time has come for Jan to hang up the keys to her van and rest her aching feet. She is passing the reins on to new owners, Keith and Cindy MacLennan, who have already taken up the challenge and are travelling around the department with the good-as-new books that have been Jan’s trademark for the last ten years. The business name, telephone number, email address and Facebook page will all remain the same. Keith and Cindy are not planning any changes to the current venues but are open to suggestions for additional ones.
The Official Handover is taking place at The Big Book Fayre on Sunday 10th May. You are invited by Jan, Keith & Cindy to come along and raise a glass with them at 2pm!
The Big Book Fayre
incorporating Clear Your Clutter for Charity – 3rd year! Come and donate your clutter to charities on site or take a place yourself and join in the fun. As always, the fayre is being held at ‘Book Towers’ on the same day as the massive vide grenier in the village of La Ferrière-en-Parthenay (79390) which always ensures lots of visitors to the area. If you’d like a stall for yourself, or would like to sell on behalf of a charity please email: paperbackjan@gmail.com The Big Book Barn is the main attraction with all 5,000 books at a fabulous price for the day. There are 1000s of different books in stock with quality up and prices down! There are books covering everything; whether it’s fiction, sports, pets, famous folk, travel, quizzes or books for children, there’s something for you.
A Great Big Bring & Buy Sale with Something For Everyone Enjoy a Classic British Dish from Reel Fish & Chips, on-site from 12 noon. Where else can you help charity, clear your unwanted clutter, stock up on lovely books, find a bargain AND have a great day out?
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!
6 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
SPRING 2015 SHORT STORY & POETRY COMPETITION Are you a prolific writer, a closet writer, been published, never been published, got lots of short stories or poems filed away? Now is your chance to spread your wings. on-site
winning entries
This is a BRAND NEW competition which it is hoped all writers will enter. Subject matter is whatever you wish wherever your imagination takes you! All the details can be found on website: www.thisfrenchlife.com/deuxsevres/
Closing date is midnight 23rd May 2015.
Outside Edge, TheatriVasles Reviewed by Sally Pearson of the North Deux-Sèvres Writers.
‘Outside Edge’, a cracking comedy (director: Gordon Simms, producer: Jenny Harfield) was performed in Vasles’ fine theatrecum-cinema by an enthusiastic company who transported us from a grey Saturday afternoon in France to the delights of an English summer’s day spent at a village cricket match. TheatriVasles ensured that Richard Harris’ complicated, witty script was delivered at the necessary breath-taking pace (26th & 27th March). Saturday’s performance opened with Test Match Special’s Brian Johnston’s immortal fit of the giggles at Ian Botham getting his ‘leg over’, which got the audience in the mood for the subsequent shenanigans. The characters’ entangled relationships unfolded with impeccable timing as we witnessed the various personalities struggle to find a place, both in the team and in the hearts of those around them. The small pavilion onstage expanded before our eyes as we witnessed characters arguing, sniping, cheating, bullying and threatening nervous breakdowns. The tension heightened further in Act 2, as key players directed our gaze to a nail-biting, doomed, cricket match, brought alive in the auditorium by the use of some excellent lighting and sound effects.
dedicated teamwork as the cast cranked up the momentum to the climax. Debbee Adamson’s commanding presence made her and Richard Smith’s performances a focus for much hilarity, and we all enjoyed seeing Peel’s dastardly Denis getting his comeuppance. Bob’s increasing drunkenness was a convincing foil to his wife’s dark-voiced accusations of misbehaviour, and the brittle end to Miriam and Roger’s patchy relationship was finely revealed. For me, Sue Fitzgerald’s Sharon was woman of the match: her brilliant timing, sensitive reactions and portrayal of full-bladder agony as she attempted to gain entrance to the offstage toilet were right on the wicket!
Miriam (Nicky Marshall), prickling with prudish angst, set the tone as she strove to satisfy Roger’s (Steve Marshall) domineering match-obsessed demands, and then attempted to cover-up the fact that Bob (Robert Maloney) was apparently cheating on his glamorous but disillusioned second wife (Kate Cottrell). Add to this the roving eye of Alan Peel’s suave Denis, Maggie’s (Debbee Adamson) out-sized physical desire for her diminutive Kevin (Richard Smith), plus the confident exuberance of Alex (Tim Fitzgerald) as he trailed his excruciatingly out-of-her-depth girlfriend Sharon into the field - and the game was on! There was
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The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 7
L’Association ‘La Gatinelle’ at St Martin du Fouilloux ‘La Gatinelle’ was created in 2001 at St Martin du Fouilloux following the installation of a series of information panels, located in places of interest in the village and along the route to the ‘Terrier’ de St Martin du Fouilloux, which, at 272m above sea-level, is the highest point in the Poitou region. The panels tell the story of life in the village, from prehistoric man through the arrival of Jacques du Fouilloux, born in 1519. They tell of the creation of ‘la crèche animée’, created by l’Abbé Rochard, who was resident in the village for 20 years from 1953 - this crèche now forms a large part of the crèche currently displayed at Bressuire. The panels also refer to Singles’ Balls which were very popular events in the village during the late 1950s and 60s, featuring nationally-acclaimed performers such as Marcel Amont, Sacha Distel and many others. The association organises several activities and events in the village, amongst which are...a monthly walk, on a Saturday afternoon of 8 - 10kms along the paths of the Gâtine and in November a Soirée Pot-au-Feu and society games, held in the Salle Polyvalente.
The Chateau of Mursay
The main event of the year is ‘La Fête de La Gatinelle’ which takes place on the first Sunday of June (this year, 7th June). The day includes: • • • • • • • • •
Signed walks of 6, 11 and 15kms VTT routes of 10, 35 and 50kms Vide Grenier. ALL EXHIBITORS WELCOME - FREE OF CHARGE. Contact details are below. Craft and Produce market 30-piece street band ‘Les Chabanais’ Free games for children (including a bouncy-castle or similar) Raffle with assorted prizes A lunch of local produce can be reserved in advance Bars and BBQ
For further information, please call: French: Camille Ferlac: 05 49 70 23 27 or Claudette Pin: 06 82 14 56 63 English: Mark Wilson: 05 49 95 28 73 Clin d’oeil d’enfant invite you to join them for a charity walk on 31st May to help vital genetic research for blind children. 5€ entry (under 14’s free). The circuit is 17kms (other shorter versions available) and will start at the ‘ancient marie’ in Saint Pezenne 79000 and we will meander our way along the Sevre Niortais to the centre of town. Our lunchtime picnic stop is at Pré Leroy in the centre of Niort before we wind our way up through the old town and head back to the starting point. If you want to come along please contact Lucie Grellier at clindoeldenfant@gmail.com or call 06 70 62 30 76.
Surrounded by moats and four towers, the Chateau of Mursay in Echiré was extended and embellished at the beginning of the 17th century by the famous poet and soldier, Agrippa d’Aubigné. It was there that Françoise, the future Marquise of Maintenon and wife of Louis XIV was brought up. You can visit the grounds all year round, walking along the Sèvre Niortaise. You are invited to join the Friends of Chateau de Mursay for a free event in the garden of the Chateau: OPEN-AIR MOVIE
‘La Cité des Fantasques Disparus de Sébastien Maye’ An original fiction, reflecting imaginary music and famous people around Auguste Tolbiecq.
3rd July - Doors open at 8pm www.lesamisduchateaudemursay.fr
Lace & Embroidery Exhibition
The entrance fee is 2€ but for the needlework enthusiasts amongst you, it will be 2€ well spent.
ARC en fil are holding their annual lace and embroidery exhibition in the Salle des Fêtes de Soulièvres, Airvault on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June.
As well as the many different stands and exhibitions showing finished peices of work, there will be stalls selling specialist scissors, materials, threads, buttons and so on. And if the weather is good you can finish off your day out with a walk in the beautfiul Soulièvres Park. If you are interested in sewing in any form, this exhibition is a must.
The exhibition is open from 10am to 7pm on the Saturday and from 10am until 6pm on the Sunday.
8 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Wednesday 10th June, 8.15pm (Opera: 4 acts, duration 2hrs 50 mins)
LIVE
Opera Season 2015
La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini
Royal Opera House Orchestra and Choir
Fans of classical music and dance will love this! In conjuction wil the Royal Opera House, the regular operas and ballets continue to be broadcast LIVE to your local CGR cinema in Niort. The greatest tenors, sopranos and orchestral leaders come directly to you highlighting the best of this classical medium. To find other cinemas particpating in this season of live Opera, please visit the website: www.rohaucinema.fr
FREE Tickets!
When Rodolfo, a penniless poet, meets Mimì, a seamstress, they fall passionately in love. But their happiness is threatened when Rodolfo learns that Mimì is gravely ill. Rodolfo, painfully aware that he cannot afford the medicine and care Mimì needs, separates from her. At the end of her life Mimì returns to Rodolfo’s garret. They ecstatically embrace – but, despite the care of Rodolfo and his friends, Mimì dies.
We have 2 pairs of tickets to giveaway for each live Opera showing at the CGR Cinema in Niort. For your chance to win these free tickets, simply go to our website www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr and register your name* and email address with us. A name will be drawn randomly 7 days prior to the next showing, and the winning tickets sent to you. *Only one registration allowed per person. The names will rollover to the next draw. If you don’t have access to an email address, please send your name, address and telephone number by post to: Sarah Berry, 3 La Bartiere, 79130 SECONDIGNY.
Plus a Special Discount for DSM Readers! T H E R O YA L O P E R A
YOUR TICKET TO THE OPERA
LA BOHÈME
13 19
ONLY
LOVE IS FOREVER BUT LIFE IS FRAGILE MIMÌ
MUSIC
ANNA NETREBKO | RODOLFO JOSEPH CALLEJA
€
INSTEAD OF
€
OFFER VALID ON PRESENTATION OF THIS COUPON IN YOUR CGR CINEMA OF NIORT
GIACOMO PUCCINI | DIRECTOR JOHN COPLEY | CONDUCTOR DAN ETTINGER
LIVE FROM LONDON 10 JUNE 2015 AT 8.15PM
www.cgrcinemas.fr The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 9
Fête du Pain
by Sue Burgess
The twentieth edition of La Fête du Pain (bread festival) will be held between the 11th and 17th May 2015. La Fête du Pain is the opportunity throughout France to meet bakers and discover their profession and their produce in a festival atmosphere. The theme of this year’s festival is Le Pain et les Enfants (Bread and Children) and it aims to encourage people to understand the importance of le petit déjeuner (breakfast) and le goûter (a sort of elevenses that children have when they get home after school). The word boulanger can be a noun referring to ‘the baker’. It can also be a verb meaning ‘to bake’. Bread used to be round (une boule) not long and thin as the baguettes that we now know. Hence the origin of the word boulanger. La Boulangère is the baker’s wife or a female baker. La panification is bread making. In a lot of villages you will find impasse de la Panique or rue de la Panique. The names of these streets have nothing to do with the English word panic. They simply indicate the part of the town where all the activities connected with baking used to be found. There was probably a village oven (un four banal). And the baker probably had his workshop or shop here. Breadmaking is highly regulated in France: le pain normal (everyday bread) must be made from soft wheat flour (Farine de blé tendre (froment)). Bakeries must be closed one day a week which is why supermarkets generally have one day when there is no fresh baking. (Although they can sell products such as sliced and bagged bread and packets of bread that have been prepared the day before). Different loaves have different names according to their weights. • • •
A miche weighs about 1 kilo. A pain or pain long is 400g. A baguette is 250g and a ficelle is about 100g.
There are lots of different varieties of bread in different areas and regions and lots of different words to describe these different sorts of bread.
Small Colour Advert
Vocabulary / Vocabulaire: avoir du pain sur la planche ... to have a lot on your plate c’est pain bénit ........................ it’s a blessing ça ne mange pas de pain .......
it can’t hurt/it can’t do any harm
une corbeille de pain ..............
bread basket
un couteau à pain ................... bread knife un dépôt de pain ..................... fresh bread delivery (in a grocer’s or a tabac) un four à pain ............................ bread oven un gagne-pain .......................... A breadwinner/a way of making money
Pétrir ....................................... to knead Un robot boulanger ................ a breadmaking machine Une machine à pain ................ a breadmaker Une hûche à pain ..................... breadbin La mie de pain ........................... soft white part of the bread Une miette de pain .................. breadcrumb
10 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
only 35€
HELP IS AVAILABLE WITH YOUR TAX RETURNS..... Val will be available on appointments only at the following places and dates :
• Fontenay-le-Comte, Le Lotus (85200) 27th April and 4th May • L’Absie, Pause Coffee Shop (79240) 29th April and 7th May • Vouvant, Café Cour du Miracle (85120) 30th April and 6th May Please contact Val Assist on 06 84 78 21 57 to check available times.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) Linazay Poitou-Charentes branch would like to say a huge “THANK YOU” to everyone in Deux-Sèvres for their efforts raising the magnificent sum of 11 945,51€ for the 2014 Poppy Appeal! All monies raised have been sent to the central Poppy Appeal fund and will be used in the welfare work throughout the world for ex-servicemen and women, and their families.
La Chantonge SUMMER CONCERTS Now that the weather is getting warmer we can all look forward to guests/visitors arriving for the Summer. Why not bring visitors to one of the Summer concerts being performed by La Chantonge in May-June. La Chantonge is an International Choir based in the Charente Maritime. Concert dates and venues this Summer are as follows: Friday 29th May Temple Protestant COGNAC at 8.30pm Saturday 6 June Temple Protestant SAINTES at 8pm Friday 12 June Eglise St Herie, MATHA at 8pm
Ticket price 8€ for adults, children free. Please visit the website on www.lachantonge.eu for further details and to pre-order tickets. You will always receive a warm welcome.
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 Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 Niort 79000 La Mothe St Héray 79800 Thouars 79100 - and - Melle 79500 Bressuire 79300 Chef-Boutonne 79110 Airvault 79600 - and - Niort 79000 Saint Maixent-l’École 79400 Fontenay-le-Comte 85200 Coulon 79510 - and - Neuville-de-Poitou 86170
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 11
Hobbies More from local writer Alison Morton... Please see back issues of ‘The DSM’ if you would like to see previous articles.
Pricing your book
But first, a reader has asked where to find the editors, assessors, proofreaders I discussed in March. My experience is in the UK only, and I went to the Society for Editors and Proofreaders (www.sfep.org. uk) for the first and third. For the second, I recommend Cornerstones (www. cornerstones.co.uk) or H&H Editorial Services (www.hheditorial.com).
----------------Today, publishing a book yourself is fun as well as hard work. But if you are going to sell rather than give your book away, then you need to think about the selling price before your book is ready to release. Consider the book’s potential audience, and what you hope to accomplish with the book. Are you looking for readers or sales? While most authors would probably say both, when it comes to pricing strategy, it’s best to focus on one and let the other follow.
Sadly, there is no secret formula. Every book is different. Every author is different. Every reader is different. Whether you’re working on your first book or your twentieth, consider these four things. 1. Put the reader first You’ve spent a lot of time working on your book. If you’ve hired professional editors and designers, you’ve also spent some money. But think about people who know nothing about your work. To them, your book is just one of hundreds of similar books. So instead of starting from ‘what is my book worth?’ ask ‘what are readers willing to pay for THIS book? Do they know my writing, or are they taking a risk on an unknown writer and their work? Are they going to get fair recompense for their reading hours invested?’ 2. Consider your status For unknown authors, a lower price can attract readers who could be willing to take a chance on 99 pence ebook. However, authors with an established fan base from previous work, or a good social media platform, can charge more for their work. You may think it a good strategy to set a low price for your first book in order to become well known and thus increase your fan base for your second book. 3. Consider your genre Focus on books from your own genre when comparing prices to get the most accurate picture of the market. If you write in a genre where people buy frequently and read quickly, such as romance or crime, a low price can make a big difference to a buyer’s ability to buy more. For literary fiction or nonfiction your readers may buy less frequently and have different price expectations. I suggest beginning at under £5 for a fiction ebook, and test out different pricepoints with short-term promotions. Retailers like Amazon pay higher royalties for ebooks priced between £2.99 and £9.99. 4. Print books are different beasts Publishing a print book means there is a manufacturing cost for that physical product. This base price is the minimum amount you can charge the buying public. However, you’ll wish to add a markup that enables you to at least cover your expenses and make a small profit. And you should leave a little margin that allows you to give a small discount on special occasions. Print books are often not viable as such, but they make excellent gifts and there is nothing quite so lovely as the feel of a solid book in your hands. Happy publishing! Alison has compiled the articles from this column into The 500 Word Writing Buddy, available on Amazon. Her fourth novel, AURELIA, is out in May 12 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
by Kate Jouanneau
Writing this article before the opening night of the production of Arsenic & Old Lace seems a little strange. It’s never a given that a show will be a success but, if sheer enthusiasm and hard work is anything to go by, this play will be, as usual, a huge hit with our audiences. The cast and crew have done a sterling job of bringing you this brilliant production and when it’s all over I’m sure everyone will be able to sit back and reap the rewards of a job well done! The troupe welcomed two new recruits to their ranks in the form of Brian and Susan Hudson. Brian was a regular performer in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas for 25 years back in Scunthorpe. When they retired over here last year he wanted to continue his passion for the Arts. After attending last Summer’s garden party, as guests, they became full members of Reaction Theatre in September 2014. “We bonded with a lot of like-minded people” explained Susan. “Wanting a joint venture we decided to join the Keynotes choir, which we both love.” When the auditions were held for ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’ Brian went along, accompanied by Susan. She ended up auditioning as well and was cast for the role of Officer Klein. “I have no experience on stage and have only ever helped in the props department for school plays”, Susan confided. “I felt like a rabbit in headlights, but with support from the rest of the team, I really enjoyed myself.” Brian was cast as Jonathan Brewster, so I asked him how he felt doing a straight play instead of an operetta. “The work is very different, but I’ve appreciated being directed by Tony (Murdoch) and through his guidance I’ve really learnt a lot about the mechanics of stage work.” Brian and Susan also put their time and energy into helping with the props and the set construction. If you, too, would like to get involved with the next production, either on or off the stage, don’t hesitate to contact a member of Reaction Theatre for more details.
Keynotes
Rehearsals for this year’s new line up are going well, but we are still short of sopranos, basses and tenors. We have a lot of fun and always warmly welcome new members. You can email Margaret Round on keynotesdeuxsevres@gmail.com. Our next performance is on Saturday 20th June at 3pm, Fête de la Musique, Fenioux Church. We would love to see you there.
The Art Scene
Every Friday John Blair hosts interesting workshops catering to everybody from beginners to experienced artists. The next guest artist to put on a workshop is Nicola who will be teaching oils on the 15th and 22nd May. You’re very welcome to participate. Contact johnblair@btopenworld.com. For further details concerning our different groups please visit our website or if you have anything you’d like to share, email me directly. Have a look at the Reaction Theatre website for information on all three groups and their activities: www.reactiontheatre.fr u u
Contact Kate Jouanneau on 06 77 51 55 16 Email: kscks9@hotmail.com
YOUR Book Reviews
Camera Club Our amateur photography club, www.Photofocus.info, is delighted to announce that it will be presenting two exhibitions this year.
on-site
The first is at the Church Hall, in Vouvant, from May 21st to 31st, with the opening times being 2.30pm to 7pm on weekdays, and 10am to noon and 2.30pm to 7pm at the weekend and on bank holidays. The second exhibition will take place at Bressuire Museum on the weekends of May 30th to 31st and June 6th to 7th, from 2.30pm to 7pm.
Our members have been hard at work, and more than 200 photographs will be on sale at both exhibitions, as well as greeting cards. In addition, our portrait photographer will be at the Vouvant exhibition to take pictures of individuals, couples or family groups, with portraits presented in A4 folders that are available to take away on the day. winning entries
An exciting new venture this year has been the photographic competition for young people, which has been organised with the help of the town hall of Bressuire. The winning entries from the region’s best young photographers will be on display at both exhibitions. At last year’s Vouvant exhibition, 583€ were raised for Cancer Research. This year the new club, Photofocus.info, has chosen Médecins Sans Frontières as its charity, and is grateful to ‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly magazine’, for waiving the normal advert fee, which is being donated to the charity. New members would be made most welcome at our club, which meets at Salle La Charmille in Terves, on the second Tuesday of the month, staying in touch between meetings via its Facebook page. Or if you would like to have a chat to find out more about our progressive, friendly club, our secretary will be on hand at the Vouvant exhibition to provide more information.
www.photofocus.info
Some of you have been busy reading this month......thanks go to Gordon Simms and Dennis Walby for the following book reviews... How to Make a Friend by Fleur Smithwick This has an intriguing plot concerning the reappearance of a make-believe childhood friend, Sam, who returns to haunt the adult life of Alice. The author’s sharply attuned ear for realistic dialogue and recounting of believable situations ensures the story never disappoints as it reaches its cliff-hanger ending. The author won the Segora Story Competition in 2012 and has read at both the Bilingual LitFests staged in St Clémentin, Deux-Sèvres. Gordon Simms. www.poetryproseandplays.com
Last Bus to Woodstock The Way Through the Woods and The Jewel That Was Ours - by Colin Dexter Is there an age to properly appreciate nostalgia? I expect there are a few readers of this magazine young enough to remember the boy band ‘Take That’ and wonder what the fuss is about with ‘One Direction.’ But it’s not the pop world I am thinking about at the moment. There are so many good books being written today and some not so good ones of course. It’s easy to forget that there are many really good reads languishing in charity shops and on second hand book sales stalls. Those who may remember Inspector Morse series on television the first time round may never have read the original books. If I had read the books first, I may well have been quite displeased with what tv had done to the characters. If you are in the position of having seen the series but not read the books, I heartily recommend one or more of them to have a different perspective on the character. If you have not seen the series, read the books instead, but John Thaw is always worth watching...except in that dreadful thing about living in France. The character develops evenly through the series. ‘Last Bus to Woodstock’ is the first when the detective was a humble inspector. If one was to read only one of the novels, it should be ‘The Way Through the Woods.’ It has all the elements for a good yarn and of course a surprising end. Some nice people turn out to be not so nice and many suspects keep the reader guessing right to the end. I also read ‘The Jewel That was Ours,’ drawn by the usual publication ‘blurb.’ They often are good to whet the appetite. With a heap of unlikely characters, it is fun but not demanding. I haven’t read the others, save ‘The Remorseful Day,’ only to see how Colin Dexter dealt with the detective’s death differently to the TV adaption. I was not disappointed. A word of warning. If you liked John Thaw’s version of the detective, you may feel less drawn to the original. Dennis Walby
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 13
Operation ‘Vinogel’
I
by Tony Barrett
n April 1954 during the French Indochina War, the beleaguered Foreign Legionnaires of the 1/13e Demi-Brigade de Légion Étrangère, watched as the supply planes flew over dropping their vital supplies to the camp at Dien Bien Phu. April 30th had dawned dry and humid and it was the anniversary of Camerone, the Legion’s feast day. Since the airstrip had fallen to the Viet Minh the defenders of the camp relied on airdrops for their supplies, and a lot of the parachutes ended up falling behind enemy lines or into the noman’s land between the French and Viet Minh positions. Fifty metres to the front of the Eliane strong point (E2) held by the Legionnaires commanded by Major Robert Coutant, were two identifiable crates containing Vinogel, but the problem was they lay under the sights of two Viet Minh machine gun bunkers. For the Legionnaires to celebrate Camerone Day without a drink was unthinkable, and although General de Castries had generously sent the battalion his last four bottles of wine (one bottle between each company), it was hardly enough even in their weakened ranks to satisfy even ‘la poussiere’ the ‘dust layer’. Vinogel became standard issue to Legionnaires in 1850. Nicknamed ‘Tiger Blood’, this was a red wine - reduced and concentrated to one third of its original volume and the alcohol titrated to preserve its alcohol level. It was gelled like a hard-packed pink jelly with a consistency similar to Vaseline, and it was intended to mix one part Vinogel with two parts water to result in a 12% wine. Troops in the field, usually Legionnaires distained such niceties and mixed it one for one (or less!) or ate it straight from the can when water was at a premium or unavailable. Throughout the day four Legionnaires kept their eyes on the two containers and finally approached Major Coutant to mount a mission to retrieve the valuable cargo. At first he refused but under mounting pressure relented and finally agreed to a fighting patrol. A commando of eager volunteers was organised and as one nonlegionnaire noted, this was one mission that everybody would have volunteered to undertake. As night fell the raiders set off from their fortified positions. In the act of the ‘rescue’ mission the Legionnaires encountered a couple of fortified Viet Minh machine gun positions which they destroyed, one with plastic explosive, and severely damaging another during which they killed some ten of the enemy and wounding numerous others, but at no loss to themselves. The knocking out of the enemy bunkers had been a mere tactical necessity to the success of the operation to retrieve the Vinogel. At 2200h, de Castries’ headquarters reported to Hanoi a successful raid on the Communist trenches and fortifications south of E2 by Major Coutant’s 1/13 Foreign Legion.
A map showing the positions of the Elaine strong points at Dien Bien Phu.
It was only after the Legionnaires had been decorated for bravery that it was discovered what the real objective for the raid had been. All Legionnaires celebrate ‘Camerone Day’ the best that they can, thinking with some nostalgia of the traditional festivities that must take place elsewhere. The Battle of Camerone is the greatest symbol of the French Foreign Legion. It is a sample illustration of bravery and determination of fighting to the death. On April 30, 1863, a small Legion unit led by Captain Jean Danjou was protecting the French convoy as a part of the French intervention in Mexico. Near the Mexican village of Camerone, these 62 men and three officers were attacked and besieged by a force that reached almost 2,000 Mexican infantry and cavalry. Captain Jean Danjou, his Legionnaires and two officers (Lt. Maudet and Lt. Vilain) held out in an old hacienda. When the Mexican commander demanded the surrender of Danjou and his Legionnaires, Danjou replied “We have munitions. We will not surrender” and swore to fight to the death. Nearly all were killed, including Cpt. Jean Danjou. The last five Legionnaires had fought until their ammunition ran out, then decided to charge with bayonets fixed. When they did, the Mexican commander ordered his troops to cease fire and spared the surviving Legionnaires. He also allowed them to form an honour guard for the body of Captain Danjou.
Battle of Camerone © Wikimedia Commons/Davric
14 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
MOVIES
by James Luxford
Blockbuster season is just around the corner, but before the big explosions and stars of summer, here’s our pick of the best (and worst) the cinemas have to offer in May.
The Pyramid (6th May) A grizzly horror following several archaeologists as they explore a mysterious pyramid, only for the horrified group to discover that once they get in, there is no way out. A trashy and unpleasant horror film, a wafer thin script and unbelievable performances lose your interest from very early on. Some jumpy scares may satisfy some horror fanatics, but for most this is an expedition to avoid!
1,000 Times Good Night (6th May) Legendary French actress Juliette Binoche plays a photojournalist who risks life and limb every time she goes into the war zone. Fending off pleas from her family to give up the job, she takes one more assignment that will underline just how much she risks every day. Binoche is as wonderful as ever in the lead, bringing a strength to the character without ever sacrificing the human aspect. This performance is countered by strong support from Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, playing Binoche’s overwrought husband. A powerful drama that never relies on schmaltz. Say When (13th May) Kiera Knightley stars as Megan, a woman in her late twenties who has lagged behind when it comes to career, relationships and family. Caught off guard by the impending marriage of an ex-boyfriend, she escapes for a week with a new found friend (Chloe Grace Moretz) and her father, discovering a little bit about herself along the way. While the plot doesn’t lead anywhere unexpected, this film benefits from three likeable leads (Sam Rockwell joins his two female co-stars as a single dad), and wanders to a foreseen but satisfying conclusion.
Michèle Roberts, Creative Writing Workshop Written by Jocelyn Simms
Michèle Roberts, an exceptional tutor, was back in St Clémentin to give an inspiring workshop exploring the use of memoir in writing. Participants travelling from as far as Normandy, Charente and Charente-Maritime were joined by members of the Nord DeuxSèvres Writers Group. An intensive day of writing and sharing was interrupted by a convivial lunch at Chez-Didier.
Here is a comment from Kate Britten, organiser of the first Charroux LitFest, which takes place on the last weekend in August 2015. “Many thanks, the organisation was spot on! What a gracious and generous tutor listening to our writing and commenting with such thoughtfulness” Our next event involves local people sharing memories of Marie Madeleine Davy rescheduled for the 10/11th October in St Clémentin. You can contact Jocelyn Simms, Creative Director of the Bilingual LitFest by email: jocelynsmms@gmail.com.
The Boy Next Door (20th May)
A hokey thriller starring Jennifer Lopez as a single mother who starts an affair with her younger next door neighbour. Once the affair ends, however, she fears for her life as the young man becomes dangerously attached. Lopez’s star may not be quite as high as it once was, but she puts her all into what is otherwise a rather terrible film. Increasingly ludicrous as the twists roll on, her commitment is to be commended but while this may find an audience for it’s cheesy melodrama, overall this is another movie misstep for the singer/actress.
Release dates are nationwide in France.
For English language films, search showings marked ‘version originale’(VO). Parthenay Cinema: www.cinema.foyer.cc-parthenay.fr/foyer Niort CGR cinema: www.cgrcinemas.fr/niort/# Melle cinema: www.lemelies-melle.info Bressuire Le Fauteuil Rouge: www.lefauteuilrouge.fr
Contact ‘The DSM’
on 05 49 70 26 21 or by email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 15
Bonne Pêche
by Simon Tee
Catch and Release, with CARE! Part I Originally intended for conservation, the practice of catch and release is where the fish are unhooked and returned to the water before experiencing serious exhaustion or injury. Techniques are constantly being refined to increase the survival chances of the released fish, so I thought I’d share some advice to enable you to approach your catch and release fishing with success and confidence. Although torn fins and missing scales usually grow back, you should do all you can to prevent this damage in the first instance. Before you even cast out First and foremost, get prepared. Ensure that you are properly equipped and that everything you need for the landing, photographing and weighing is to hand. Think of fish welfare long before you hook one. Find a knot you are confident with. An insecure knot means you could lose a fish with the hook intact. I recommend you learn the knotless knot and the blood knot. You can find plenty of information (including videos) on the internet and you won’t go far wrong using either technique. Should you ever be in a situation where you believe a fish may be tethered, always tell the lake owner so that they can attempt to free the fish. Use rig tubing for carp fishing (but not surface fishing). This is a thin rubber sleeve that you thread your line into which stops the hook link from wrapping around the main line on the cast, preventing a tangle. More importantly, it stops the fish coming into contact with the line during the fight, which is how scale damage can occur. It comes in various colours and is designed to blend in. The debate on barbed versus barbless hooks will undoubtedly continue, particularly as it is not conclusive one way or the other. Put simply, there are beliefs that barbless hooks are better for fish survival, but give a greater risk of losing the fish. A barb keeps the hook firmly in the flesh of the mouth, but this has consequences for the carp if it is not landed or where an angler isn’t experienced in removing barbed hooks. Either way, lake owners apply their rules to their own water. Know and follow the rules at your chosen fishing venue, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. Until next month....Bonne Pêche
The Local Art Scene Not local artists, I know, but until the 21st June the Municipal Museum in Parthenay are showing paintings by two Parisien artists, Michele Taupin and Simon Bohbot. Entry is free of charge. If you like life drawings or figure painting you may like these. Michele Taupin’s paintings were recognisable as people, Simon Bohbot’s on the other hand were a little more abstract but very colourful. The paintings by Michele got me thinking about the recent art programme on BBC TV, “The Big Painting Challenge”. I don’t know if you watched it but I felt the standard of the artists didn’t reflect the best of British artists. I must admit the tasks asked of them were both wide ranging and very challenging but some of the mistakes that were made were very basic. The lady judge was very direct with some of her criticism but although I agreed with her, in the main, it just showed how people’s opinions vary. For example, if you remember when one of the artists chopped off her model’s feet in her painting she was criticised for doing it, have a look at Michele Taupin’s painting and you will see her style is to chop off her model’s feet! I guess that if you intend to chop off the feet that’s OK but if you run out of space it’s not. Anyway, in my opinion the judges managed to choose the best all round artist, possibly due to a lack of real competition. What do you think?
Images Wikimedia commons Raboe001
We all have different taste in what we think are good paintings and that’s how it should be. Choose a painting you like not one by the name of a specific artist or the price.
Happy painting!
16 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Take a Break DSM Easy Crossword Across:
8. Last letter of the Greek alphabet (5) 9. Structure that impedes free movement (7) 10. Planet (7) 11. Social gathering for pleasure (5) 12. Capable of being seen (8) 13. Italian white wine (4) 15. Very young person (4) 17. Physical power (8) 21. A theatrical performer (5) 22. Give the right to (7) 24. Slightly wet (7) 25. Accumulate (5)
DSM Toughie Crossword Across: 1. At a participation in reformation, has everybody talking! (12) 7. Consents to wild mushroom being in parts of play? (7) 9. MB exchange gets girl out of scene of confusion (5) 10. Consumes re-brewed teas (4) 11. Put together information, covered two sides (8) 12. Fast Scottish river running backwards with spy about (6) 14. Big hole made by tracer exploding (6) 17. Credit Al for creation of a kind of apprenticeship (8) 19. Back issue nursing a light touch (4) 22. Thai olives with mayonnaise as an ingredient (5) 23. Ape told to prepare compound for young amphibian (7) 24. A sport ripe in disorganization can make you sweat (12)
Down:
1. Give temporarily (4) 2. Place of worship (6) 3. Japanese warrior (7) 4. Lower oneself with a rope coiled around the body (6) 5. Small very thin pancake (5) 6. Genus of fruit grown in warm regions (6) 7. Small freshwater lobster without claws (8) 12. Having the character of a loud deep sound (8) 14. The part of the day when you go to sleep (7) 16. Glass container (6) 18. Written agreement between two states (6) 19. Style of architecture developed in northern France (6) 20. Star sign (5) 23. Takes in food (4)
Down: 1. Bird large enough for heavy
lifting? (5)
accessory (7)
about penny (4)
opportunity to travel around (5)
involvement (4)
2. Have the nerve to hold down US 3. Observe rendition of agreement 4. Acrobat likely to break if dropped? (7) 5. Superior bitumen gives 6. Messing about led Sir to give the slipper (6) 8. Peaks retraced in search for particular place (4) 12. Fake object put together for tribal priest (6) 13. Disapproves when creed is undermined (7) 15. Spilt oil on journey to Mediterranean city (7) 16. Quite an achievement of extremities we hear? (4) 18. Time to put on tights for more of that (5) 20. Seabird follows direction to back of boat (5) 21. Notion of rapid, early
Well, what do you know?
With thanks to M.Morris
Monthly quiz by Roland Scott...... how many can you get?
1) Tony Curtis, WC Fields and Marlon Brando are among many famous people who appear on which iconic album cover? 2) With which phrase did actor Jack Lord end almost every episode of the original ‘Hawaii Five-O’? 3) Which actress played Nanny McPhee? 4) What adjective to describe corrosion derives from the common word for iron oxide? 5) The song “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is from which stage and screen musical? 6) David Nixon, Rodney Bewes and Derek Fowldes have all appeared on TV with which puppet? 7) Which Scottish mountaineer was the first to climb the South West face of Everest?
8) By what name is Robert Zimmerman better known? 9) Which scientist presents ‘Stargazing Live’ with Dara O’Briain? 10) Which Italian city is the capital of the Tuscany region and is considered to be the birthplace of the renaissance? 11) In which film did Ronald Reagan first co-star with a chimpanzee? 12) In the gospels, who is the father of James and John? And finally, assuming you have 12 correct answers, for an extra point, what is the connection between those answers or parts thereof? Find the answers on our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Copyright RJS 2014 The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 17
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.
Alone in France?
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.
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.
ANYONE FOR TENNIS?
Tennis players wanted, reasonable standard, Secondigny area. Contact Mick Morris on 05 49 64 95 33 or email: mimorris@live.fr
THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION LINAZAY, POITOU-CHARENTES BRANCH
Please visit the branch website:
www.rblpoitou-charentes.fr
We are a netball team in Vasles (79340). We meet every Monday 5-6pm at the Salle Omnisports in Vasles for training with our qualified English coach. It’s fun and a great way to keep fit, so come along or contact: susan_beale@hotmail.com. 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.
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
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
The Harmonics Singing Group
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
ARE YOU A MODEL RAILWAY ENTHUSIAST?
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.
Cancer Support Vendée
Helping to improve the lives of people affected by Cancer in the Vendée. Helpline: 02 51 00 58 21 or email: presidentcsv@orange.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
CALLING ALL QUIZZERS!
Grumpy’s Fun Quiz is looking for new victims. Maximum 20 people for each monthly quiz. For all details contact me by email: roland.scott@wanadoo.fr. Next Quiz is 23rd May
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
I’m Francis. I am 52 years old, French and have been learning English for a few years. I live in Aiffres (nr Niort). I would like to meet with English speaking people near me, to spend a couple of hours per week to speak in French or English. We could both improve our language skills this way. Contact me on francis.gaboriau@bbox.fr or 06 85 92 58 33.
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
18 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Combined Services
Support Group (CSSG)
by Pauline Tonks
Isn’t this sunshine lovely? It’s great to be able to eat outside and have all the doors and windows open. It has to last until at least October, with all the planned outdoor events. Our St George’s Day Party was held on 25th April, and we drew the winner in our Grand Prize Draw. But, as this magazine goes to press before the event was held, we can’t give you the name of the lucky winners until June. On 10th May we shall be at Paperback Jan’s ‘Clear Your Clutter for Charity’ event and book sale, with our tombola stall and brocante. We will also be catering for your hot drink needs along with homemade cakes. If anyone would like to make and donate a cake we would be very grateful. Please let Terri Laverick know by email: terri. laverick@outlook.com. If during your spring clean you have found any redundant items, bring them along too. We accept anything except furniture and clothing. If we can sell things for even just a small amount, it all helps to support those that have served or are currently serving in the armed Forces in UK and France. This year’s Summer Garden Party will be held on 19th July in St. Pardoux. We will have lots of games, including Play Your Cards Right and Roll-a-Coin, and our Tombola stall and Brocante. Hot and Cold drinks will be available together with home-made cakes, ice cream, fish and chips etc. There is plenty of space for other stalls (crafts, cards, books) so if you would like to book a place please contact John Blair by email: johnblair@btopenworld.com. Sorry, still no date to share with you for the Race Night, but as soon as a date has been arranged we will let you know. Sometimes events are arranged at such short notice that we are not able to include them here. To avoid missing out on some of these, why not join our emailing list? You do not have to become a member of the group. For any information, contact us by email: cssgroup@ outlook.com.
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. 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: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
A DIFFERENT FRENCH EXPERIENCE In last month’s account of my experiences with the internet organization, On Va Sortir, for people who seek others to go out with in Niort, I mentioned a restaurant date for the group I am with who meet each week to speak English together. I would be happy to devote this whole article to that evening, it was so enjoyable! I love the mixture of ages, so relaxed together, ranging from me at sixty eight to two girls in their twenties, and it was so lovely to hear all those French people saying such things to each other as “Are you enjoying your meal?” In fact, the only French spoken was because I had brought along as a guest the lady I have met through OVS; she doesn’t speak English, so our table broke the rules occasionally! The evening started well, as it turned out. The venue originally booked couldn’t take us, so Dany, the meal organiser, had reserved two large tables in a nearby Italian. However, the patron of the first restaurant, who is closing and moving to La Tranche, invited us all round for free aperos to make up for the cancellation. I felt this in itself was amazing as he is unlikely to see any of us again! As I have observed before, the alcohol with the meal was both important as a discussion point, but at the same time incidental; we had one bottle of wine between the seven on our table, and they all live locally. Poor Dany got the usual nightmare of splitting the bill between fifteen of us, but harmony prevailed. This “English” group gets bigger every week, which is a credit to Romain, the young man whose idea it was; he knew nobody and now, through his openness and desire to progress in the language, has brought himself and the rest of us a lovely bunch of friends. They have various reasons for wanting to learn English; many love to travel and are aware that in many parts of the world English can be the language used. Others purely want to improve their current level. Some I have met want to be able to communicate better with their British neighbours, which I find a bit bizarre. There is also a lot of talk about a trip to UK with me as a guide. I would welcome any ideas on how this could be accomplished, should it come off. I don’t have a clue! The next event I attended was away from the “English” group, a repeat of the Blues Fathers concert at Cafe L’Agape. Followers of this column may remember that this had been the first OVS function I went to, and now, what a difference. This time without trepidation, not going on my own and being greeted by name by the patron and by many people I hadn’t met before. Best of all, a couple of members made our table their spot for the evening, with the opportunity of three other OVS tables to choose from. As I found before, at a rock band performance in a bar in town, at least half the people present were with OVS. I very much feel a part of the Niort group now; I have recently met another two English people, a young, attractive lady who loves dancing and an older man very involved with teaching English to small groups. It is also very gratifying to have some of the youngsters from the “English” group coming along to play pool at my suggestion. I have also been contacted through the magazine by a guy who would like to be introduced to On Va Sortir and their activities – so, any more out there?
Contact ‘The DSM’
on 05 49 70 26 21 or by email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 19
Health, Beauty & Fitness
Copy deadline:
of the month
Benefits of Vitamin D We know that too much exposure to the sun can be harmful, but did you know that regular sunlight allows cells in our bodies to synthesise vitamin D? Increasing your Vitamin D intake has several health benefits... 4 Aids absorption of nutrients (Calcium and Phosphorus) to ensure strong bones and a healthy immune system. 4 Can help to prevent Osteomalacia and rickets. 4 Aids prevention of osteoporosis and athritis. 4 Can regulate blood pressure, reduce stress and tension, and relieves aches and pains. 4 Can improve cardiovascular strength by providing a protective lining for blood vessels. It can also be recommended in the treatment of several diseases. As well as a daily dose of sunshine, try to add vitamin D-rich foods into your diet. These can include fish, cod liver oil, milk, eggs, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables.
20 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Birthstone for May... Emeralds
by Vicki Bassey
To own an Emerald is to own a piece of history, a piece of nature and a work of art. An ancient stone, mined over 4000 years ago in Egypt, this precious stone has been held in high regard since antiquity. Many virtues are ascribed to this jewel – said to promote constancy of mind, to quicken intelligence, and drive away evil spirits. Emerald is believed to bring wisdom, true friendship and foresight in to the future. The name Emerald derives from the Greek smaragdos, which means ‘green stone’ and in ancient times, referred not only to Emeralds but also probably to most green stones. Representative of the ‘colour of spring’, Emeralds are said to signify hope, new growth and eternal life. Shah Jahan, the architect of the Taj Mahal, wore them as talismans inscribed with sacred text. His Mongul Emerald is noted as one of the two most famous Emeralds, dating back to 1695. It is an impressive 10cm tall and weighs 217 carats. In September 2001 it sold for $2.2 million dollars at auction to an anonymous bidder. The second most renowned Emerald is the 632 carat ‘Patricia Emerald’ and is on display in the National History museum in New York. Only available in one colour, Emerald is the most precious stone in the beryl group and each one is truly individual. Its green is incomparable and is therefore called ‘emerald green’. Minute traces of chromium, vanadium and iron combine to create its unique colour. The green crystal grows slowly and its size is restricted by the host rock, making large Emeralds rare. Some Emeralds have an almost velvety appearance, and are one of only a few gems where inclusions are not only tolerated, but considered to be part of the gem’s character. As a general rule, a vivid Emerald, full of inclusions will normally demand a higher price than a flawless one paler in colour. Its price is often greater than Diamonds of a similar carat weight.
u u
Vicky Bassey on 05 49 97 01 29 www.victoriabassey.com
Emeralds displaying bluish overtones are sourced from Colombia: these are highly coveted and considered by connoisseurs to be some of the world’s finest. They are usually the most vivid green and are of exceptional quality. However, they are becoming increasingly rarer as mine owners are having to dig deeper and deeper and with very little success. Major sources: Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Colombia, Pakistan, Russia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. Emeralds are given on a 20th and 35th anniversaries.
Annual Subscription Costs: 31,00€ within France, 20€ UK addresses. (Unfortunately the cheaper ‘printed papers’ rate cannot be applied to addresses within France, only when sending abroad) Full Name:....................................................................................... Postal Address:................................................................................ ........................................................................................................ Postcode:..............................Country:............................................. Tel:................................................................................................... Email:............................................................................................... Please make cheques payable to SARAH BERRY.
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 21
Our Furry Friends A Country Chat-eau for Your Cats!
When did you first decide to open a cattery?
I bought my house in France 18 years ago and started using a UK cattery. I decided then to one day run my own, and moving here allowed this dream to come true.
What else inspired you?
During a visit to Korea, I went to a Cat Café where you could drink coffee while enjoying their beautiful cats. I loved how the whole room was designed to pamper cats. I have aimed to do the same thing at my Chat-eau.
What do you mean, ‘Where cats and water mix happily’? The name Chat-eau plays on both the name of a luxurious home as well as the French words for Cat and Water so in keeping with this, I named the suites inside after rivers (Amazon, Grand, Loire, Tigris, Thames, Nile, Mississippi and Seine) and serve the cats their water in crystal bowls.
What was the hardest thing about getting set up?
In 2015 they introduced a mandatory three day course to get the Certificate of Capacity I needed to work with animals. The course was delivered in rapid French, followed by an exam also in French, a daunting challenge. I was greatly relieved to get 27/30, surprising the rest of the class as much as me.
Who helped you get started?
I went to visit Suzette’s ‘Pension Pour Chats’ in St Pardoux for ideas and advice. She was very helpful and gave my partner’s 15 year old son William and I a tour. William paid close attention! He then recreated toys like handmade bridges from wood and even suspended a cat bed from the ceiling, firmly supporting it against the wall to avoid movement which could scare cats. His wooden plank runs, tree trunk perches and multiple sleeping areas on high were inspired by Suzette’s creations.
u u
Contact Joyce Roberts, Chat-eau Tel: 06 44 10 20 34 Email: Chat-eau@hotmail.fr
22 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Feedback Required by Nigel Franks, NALA
L
ast weekend (as I write) saw the Annual General Meeting of NALA. Much to our surprise only one member turned up to see what the Committee had to say. At previous AGMs we’ve had a dozen or more people present, so we were a little concerned at the small attendance. At one extreme it could be seen as a good sign: we do such a fantastic job and put the annual report on the website, so people don’t see the point in coming. At the other extreme, have we upset people such that they don’t want to come? Although I tend to favour the first possible explanation, I believe that it’s still necessary for people to come to the AGM. Over the years since NALA was first created our mission has evolved: we spend less time on adoption and more time on prevention. Our animals are identified, vaccinated and sterilised (or, if too young, adopted with a voucher for sterilisation). Unfortunately our competition consists of people giving unidentified, unvaccinated and unsterilised animals away for free... so we can’t ask too high a price for them. In fact, we lose on average €50 per animal. That’s why we think that subsidising sterilisation and identification is important. For €90, less than the amount that we would spend on adopting just two cats, we can subsidise the sterilisation of three male and female cats. In the first year that prevents two litters of up to five kittens per female, so 30 kittens that would probably need new homes. And there is also the added benefit that sterilised animals are healthier and tend to have less behavioural problems. We’ve also started to invest more time in contacting the authorities to take measures to ensure that the rules are respected and to remind people of their responsibilities as pet owners. I think that from their perspective we are often seen as the “other people”. However, the question is, are the members of the Association and the non-members who support us happy with what we’re doing? There is less of the warm, fuzzy feeling when we publish a photo of a newly adopted bundle of furry joy and more dark messages about human mistreatment of animals. Einstein is reported to have said, “Only two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former”. I would like to add human cruelty to his list. We feel that we can’t just sit back and not do anything about it. But do you agree? We would like to know what you think, so please drop us a line at nala85480@hotmail.com.
Teddy You can find more details on our website: www.nosamislesanimaux.com
For any information, please contact: Isabelle Paris by email: chatlibrecaillerot@gmail.com or visit the website: www.chatlibrecaillerot.lebonforum.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
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 23
MORK – a 9 and a half year-old Spitz Mork was taken to the SPA pound with his life-long friend, Yorkshire Terrier, Mindy, when their owner died. Mork was to be euthanized, as he was considered a bit long-in-the tooth and is slightly handicapped. He has a little of his left front leg missing just below his knee joint but, trust us, it doesn’t stop him running around the garden! He is a lively little lad and plays a mean game of football despite his leg! He won’t need long walks and he is happy if he can have a good run on a soft surface like grass. He is able to put his left leg down to balance himself and he now gets up and down the steps without a problem. He is clean in the house and he responds well to a firm NO when needed. He travels well in the car inside a dog crate and his recall is very good outside. Mork would love a family home where he got lots of cuddles and attention and especially a home with another smallish dog, as he just loves canine company. He is chipped, neutered, de-parasited, vaccinated and wormed. If you’d like to meet this pretty little lad, please contact his foster carer, Margaret, on 05 45 30 10 39 or email: maggieslap52@hotmail.com www.phoenixasso.com
The HOPE Charity Shop The Hope Charity Shop is open every Wednesday and the first Saturday of every month, 10am-5pm. Hundreds of books, all priced at 1€, CDs, DVDs, pre-loved clothes, jewellery, hand-crafted greeting cards and more. If you can volunteer to help at the shop, bake cakes, donate unwanted items for us to sell to raise money for animals in need please email: linda.burns4hope@gmail.com. Join us for a cup of tea/coffee and a slice of cake and a chat. We would welcome any old blankets, towels, bedding and dog/cat food. Find us at: Bar Route 66, Ave de la Liberation, 87320 Bussiere Poitevine www.hopeassoc.org
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
24 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
IDOLE is a superb 18 month old male Dalmatian. Taken by his owner to the vets to be PTS, the vet called Consultante Canine to save him. With the backing of Orfée and the TLC of Consultante Canine, in dept 16, IDOLE is now flourishing. It didn’t take long to appreciate that IDOLE was deaf (a common issue with Dalmatians), and hence required a different approach to his training and handling. He is a young, energetic lad who needs confident owners with firm handling so he feels secure, and plenty of exercise. He is great with other dogs, very playful, and affectionate. He is obedient with hand signals and walks very nicely on the lead. He is fully house trained - clean, quiet and non-destructive. IDOLE has been neutered, microchipped, vaccinated - including rabies so he has a full passport, and has been treated for worms fleas and ticks. An adoption fee of €160 will be asked for to help towards his medical costs. If you would like more information about IDOLE then please contact Caroline on 05 45 96 02 79 or by email at: OrfeeInEnglish3@gmail.com For the lastest information visit our French Forum.... www.association-orfee.forumactif.com and our Orfée In English website: www.orfeeinenglish.com
www.OrfeeInEnglish.com www.facebook.com/OrfeeInEnglish
A Land of
Cows
by Mick Austin
France is undoubtedly a land of cows. Estimates vary but of the more than 20 million in the country 85% is represented by just five breeds – Prim’Holstein, Charolaise, Normande, Montbéliarde and Limousine. Many are raised for beef, many for milk (no surprise given all that cheese!) and some for both. Some, like the Prim’Holstein and Charolaise, can be found almost everywhere. Others, like the Bordelaise and Maraîchine, are regarded as conservation breeds.
Abondance © Walpole
Aubrac © Jesmade
D
o you know your Aubrac from your Blonde d’Aquitaine, or your Parthenaise from your Tarentaise? Here are just a few of the many French cattle breeds. See how many you can spot the next time you travel down a country lane. A whey you go!
Aure et Saint-Girons © Eponimm
Abondance
D Hails from the northern Alps in Haute-Savoie and is a champion of difficult terrain. About 80% of Abondance milk is used to produce Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) cheeses such as Reblochon, Abondance, Tome des Bauges and Beaufort, along with Tomme de Savoie and Emmental de Savoie.
Aubrac
M Named after the mountain range in Aveyron with a history dating back to the Middle Ages when it was looked after by the monks of the Abbey of Aubrac. Only a few dairy lines are kept today, helping in the manufacture of Languiole cheese.
Aure et Saint-Girons
A breed developed in the MidPyrenees by crossbreeding Aure (a draught oxen used to haul timber) and St Girons (a dairy cattle used to make Bethmale cheese). Also known as Casta. Pretty rare to spot, but you never know.
Bazadaise © Henry Salomé
Bazadaise B An ancient working breed, it’s now a nursing breed specialising in the production of high-quality meat. Gets its name from its native home region of Bazas, in the Gironde. Originally a draft breed, it’s now mainly used to produce suckling veal and young bulls. Has a reputation for fine-flavoured, well-marbled meat. Blonde d’Aquitaine
B One of the champions of beef cows. Created in 1962 by combining the three branches of south-western French Blonde breeds and has quickly progressed from a regional to an international breed. The Label Rouge ‘Bœuf Blonde d’Aquitaine’ came in 1992 to promote sales of lean, tasty Blonde meat.
ine Blonde d’Aquita © Myrabelle
Bordelaise
A dairy breed from the Bordeaux region that spread to neighbouring areas from where it was used to provide Bordeaux city with fresh milk and butter. Today it’s also used for its meat. KEY
Dairy Mixed
All images for this article are sourced from Wikimedia Commons
Beef Under conservation Bordelaise © RR De Facto
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 25
Brune D Also known as the French Brown. First brought into France in the 17th Century, today south-west France and the Chatillonnais region around Yonne and Aube are the areas it is most prevalent. Its excellent milk is used to make the high-quality AOC Epoisses cheese. Charolaise
B The leading French beef breed, this hefty beast is one of the easiest to spot in the field. But if you can’t see one then just visit almost any butcher’s shop! It produces more milk than any other specialised beef breed, meaning male calves can gain at least 1200g a day in live weight. Originally from Sâone-et-Loire, north of Lyon, it’s now found all over France and around 70 countries worldwide.
Ferrandaise
M C Traditionally bred in the Puy-deDôme department of the Auvergne, this dual-purpose breed is now used for beef production and cheeses like Saint-Nectaire and Fourme d’Ambert.
Brune © Daniel Schwen
Charolaise © Marie-Lan Nguyen
Ferrandaise © Cyrille Bernizet
Froment du Léon © Eponimm
Gasconne © Père Igor
Jeraiaise © Bart Laridon
Froment du Léon D C Consider yourself lucky if you spot one of this little-known and rare breed originally from the Cotes d’Armor in Brittany. It provides a very fatty milk rich in carotene (the pigment found in carrots) that gives its butter a rich, golden colour. Gasconne
The stocky Gasconne, native to the steep hillsides and mountainous slopes of the Pyrenees, is renowned for its ability to cope with poor weather and terrain and the quality of its meat. Essentially used to produce weaned calves that are sold for fattening after summering on the high-altitude pastures, the Gasconne is equally able to make optimal use of richer rations under lowland systems
Jersiaise
D Probably originated from the Normandy/Brittany area and today rated in the top three dairy breeds in the world. Its milk is known for its quality and it is particularly rich in protein and minerals. The purity of the breed on the island of Jersey is maintained by a ban on imports that has been in force for more than 150 years.
Limousine B Often described as ‘rustic’ this is one of France’s oldest and most exported breeds, now present in more than 80 countries worldwide. The silhouette of this ancient breed has often been compared to cattle painted in the famous Lascaux caves near Montignac, in the Dordogne, which date back more than 25,000 years. Maraîchine M
C Native of the French Atlantic coast in a marshland area running estuary-to-estuary from the Loire to the Gironde, this breed was reintroduced to the region as a conservation measure.
Mirandaise
The Mirandaise is the traditional native Gascon breed from the Gers. The beef is known locally as ‘Nacrés de Gascogne’.
Limousine © Jacme31
Mirandaise © Eponimm
Maraîchine © Eponimm
26 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
nciaux incent A rde © V a li é tb Mon
Montbéliarde
M From the Montbéliarde region of Franche-Comté, it currently ranks second French dairy breed in terms of numbers after the Prim’Holstein. And it’s the French passion for cheese that keeps the Montbéliarde so popular, with Comté the most obvious along with Emmental, Gruyère and Vacherin.
Normande © Stanzilla
/ Ben23 lstein © Prim Ho
Normande M Instantly recognisable if only from the pictures on boxes of Camembert – although the Normande is more often brown and white than black and white. Third French dairy breed in terms of numbers, it is present in almost every department. Milk is also used in the production of Pont l’Évêque and Livarot cheeses. Also highly valued for its meat. Parthenaise
B Originally used to produce both milk and draft bulls from the area around Poitiers but its numbers plummeted in the 1970s80s due to competition from specialised dairy breeds. A genetic improvement programme turned the breed towards specialised beef production. The quality Label Rouge ‘La Parthenaise’ was obtained in 2006.
Parthenaise © Eponimm
Prim’Holstein or Holstein
D A champion of cows. It quickly adapted to the conditions of factory farming and can be seen in farms all over the country. In fact the Holstein is the No1 milk producer in the world and accounts for 30% of French national cattle stock and 60% of French national dairy stock and produces 80% of all milk collected in France. A real milk factory, the best Holsteins can produce 11,000kgs per year, compared to an average of around 8,500kgs.
Rouge des Prés © Eponimm
Salers © B Navez
Simmental française© Richard Bartz
Tarentaise © Cyrille Bernizet
Villard-de-Lans © Alrom
Vosgienne © Eponimm
Rouge des Prés
B Today’s Rouge des Prés traces back to crossbreeding between the hardy dairy-based Mancelle cattle and the beef-based Durham. It originated from NW France, which even today has 90% of Rouge des Prés flock numbers. Long known as the Maine Anjou until the term became sidelined for the beef protected AOC in 2004.
Salers
M Horns big enough to make other cows jealous! An ancient breed native to Cantal in the Auverne, the Salers is prized for its milk, producing cheeses like Cantal, Blue d’Auverne, SaintNectaire, Fourme d’Ambert and, of course, Salers. Its red, marbled meat is also much appreciated.
Simmental française M Although originally established in eastern France, it has spread across the rest of the country, especially the Massif Central and the Aveyron where it produces virtually all the dairy input to AOC Laguiole cheese. Tarentaise
D Mainly found in the Alps and Massif Central, it is valued for its high-fat milk which is used to make cheeses like Emmental, Tomme de Savoie and Beaufort. It’s often also used as a ‘seasonal worker’ in ski resorts to maintain the sloping meadows in the summer months!
What a load of bull
Native to the Lans mountains in Vercors in the Rhone-Alps, its fatrich milk is ideal for producing cheeses like the AOC Bleu du Vercors-Sassenage.
I’ve always thought French cows look content with their life and sometimes even pretty, but it’s never occurred to me to use an online dating website! It’s true. The site at www.trouverlebontaureau.com (‘find the right bull’) has been set up to help French farmers find the perfect mate for their cows and so increase their herds. The site looks just like a traditional dating site except all the profiles are of bulls.
Vosgienne M No confusion about where this one comes from. The Vosges and down the eastern side of France. And often seen with a large bell round its neck. Excellent milk for cheese production, especially Munster.
Mick Austin is a freelance journalist based in the Pays-de-la-Loire. He has had his work published in several expat magazines and newspapers and has also written the Mayenne Tourist Board’s only English-language brochure. He also runs a gîte business at
Villard-de-Lans
www.gitefortwo.com.
The The Deux-Sèvres Deux-Sèvres Monthly Monthly,, April May 2015 | 27
Home & Garden
Copy deadline:
Thinking about placing an ad? Call Sarah for more details Tel: 05 49 70 26 21
28 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
of the month
THE AMATEUR GARDENER
by Vanda Lawrence
Last year our neighbour planted 28 different tomato varieties, just for interest, so he could compare one variety against another. He has very kindly passed this information on to me so that I can share it with you – Thank you Daniel ! Taste
Season
Red
Good
Good
Early
Red
Good
Good
Early
Medium
Red
Good
Very good
Mid-season
Clémentine
Round, cherry
Orange
Coeur de boeuf reifred
Large-v.large
Rose-red
Dagma’s perfection
Medium-large
Gary O’Sena
Large
Variety
Appearance
Colour
Productivity
Bison
Medium
Irma
Medium-large
Bulgarian Triumph
Grosse rouge du Very large Portugal Large-v.large Old German
Variegated
Very productive Good Very good Good
Mid-season
Very good
Mid-season
Medium
purple-red
Good
Very good
Red
Good
Very good
Mid-season
Mid-season Mid-season
Variegated
Medium
Good
Mid-season
Pink
Good
Good
Mid-season
Very good
Variety
Colour
Productivity
Purple-pink
Taste
Good
Season
Good
Late
Med-large
Boloto
Red-brown
Med-large
Medium
Good
Late
Brandywine Black
Green
Med-large beefsteak
Good
Red-brown
Good
Late
Medium
Good
Late
Daniel’s
Large-v.large beefsteak
Pink
Medium
Good
Late
Ernesto
Large-v.large
Hungarian
Red
Med-v.large
Medium
Pink
Good
Late
Good crop
Very good
Late
Medium, heart-shaped
Belle du Collège
Marceline
Large-v.large
Marmande Jaune
Variegated
Medium
Medium
Yellow
Good
Late
Medium
Good
Late
Negib Jaune
Medium
Yellow
Medium
Medium
Mottled
Good
Late
Medium
Very good
Late
Large-v.large
Purple-pink
Good
Very good
Late
Large-v.large
Red
Medium
Medium
Yellow-orange Medium
Good
Late
Good
Late
Patty’s surprise
Large-v.large
Peron Sprayless
Medium-large
Red
Medium
Pierrette
Medium-large
Red
Medium
Good
Pink Ping-Pong
Round, cocktail
Pinky-red
Good
Good
Orange fleshed Mid-season Purple Smudge Mid-season Purple Hillbilly Mid-season Royal
Yellowish
Medium
Good
Mid-season Russe Rouge
Zeas sonnabend Medium-large white
S
o it seems that choosing a tomato variety could be as difficult as deciding which variety of potatoes to plant! Talking of which, I hope you’ve made your decisions and your seed potatoes are chitted nicely? Then let’s get planting … In England they say ‘Easter’ is the time to plant potatoes, so here in France you might already have planted your ‘first earlies’ which take about 100 days before you can harvest. ‘Second earlies’ take 16-17 weeks so you can harvest from late June – beginning of August. ‘Main-crop’ potatoes will be ready to lift 18-20 weeks after planting ie July-October. Remember though that there is no absolute right or wrong; so much depends on site, soil and weather. Last year our Rosabelle earlies were rubbish so we’re hoping for more success this year. This year, for the first time, we’re trying ‘Bintje’ main-crop because I read that they are nice large potatoes, good for roasting or baking in their skins.
Appearance
Belize Pink Heart
Siberian gold
Two years ago I mentioned taking cuttings for a new hedge and rooting them in a container of water with a piece of willow added - the chemical released from the willow supposedly encourages the cuttings to root without using hormone rooting powder or gel. Well, it worked and I now have a little hedge growing. It’s nice to have a success story to share every now and then. Our weather has finally bucked up and we’ve had some lovely sunny days, but this of course means that the mosquitoes are with us again. Plant Citronella, Horsemint (aka Beebalm), Marigolds, Ageratum or Catnip. These are all mosquito repellent plants which will help alleviate the problem if you plant them near doors/ windows and outside seating areas in your garden. Another friend recently mentioned that his French father-in-law did all his gardening jobs ‘according to the moon’. He thought it was an annual booklet with lists of plants/seeds to deal with each month. I’ve done a bit of research and found the following computer link which might be of interest: www.graines-et-plantes.com where you then choose ‘calendrier lunaire’. It’s quite fascinating to see each month, day by day, which type of plant should be planted and there are days when no gardening should be done at all ... goodness me! According to this calendar there are days when the moon affects the root systems of plants; other days when fruit and seed production are affected or stems and leaves of plants; the moon also affects flowering plants and vegetables on certain days too. Well, I seem to have well and truly side-tracked myself this month, so instead of listing jobs to do I’ll just say au revoir until next month and hope you have enjoyed looking at gardening from a different angle for a change. I’ll think of you all when I’m just sitting in the garden (what’s that?) on days when the Calendrier Lunaire tells me I must not do any gardening. Keep smiling …. u u
Contact Vanda Lawrence Email: amateurgardener@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 29
Is your garden equipment broken, or are you looking to buy something new? For all repairs and sales of new lawnmowers, ride-ons, automatic robot mowers, quad bikes, cultivators, hedgetrimmers, brushcutters, chainsaws and much more, come to BILLAUD-SEGEBA! We currently have Spring Special Offers in operation - valid until 30th May 2015. For any questions our English speaking expert, Lee Gill, is available to meet you in store.
You can also discover available products on our website: www.billaud-segeba.com.
An English Nursery in France, near CHIVES, 20 minutes from Chef-Boutonne. I have the largest stock of English fruit trees in our part of France, all in bio-planting bags, extending the planting season until the end of May. Hundreds of home grown shrubs from 5€, Ornamental trees, all sizes. I deliver to all areas or please visit the nursery - the opening hours are on the advert opposite, kettle is always on.
Diary Date!
June 13th & 14th I will be at Fête des Plantes, Domaine de Peré, 79360 PRISSE LA CHARRIERE. Come and say “Hello” or order your shrubs or trees and collect at show.
Mike Curtis
30 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres LHOUMOIS
by Sue Burgess
The commune of Lhoumois is bordered on the western side by the river Thouet, a tributary of the Loire. The small village of Lhoumois is crossed by the D121 and the village is 12 km northeast of Parthenay and 16km south of Airvault. A VOIR / MUST SEE • Château La Roche Faton. The main building of the château of La Roche Faton has been listed as a historical monument since 1973. The wings were listed in 1993. The château of Guy de la Rochefaton was mentioned in writings in 1179. It was burnt down in 1417 and then rebuilt in the 15th and 16th centuries by Mathurin Pidoux. In the 17th century the Vassé family transformed the château and designed French gardens, built the wings to replace the fortifications and fitted out the salons in the style of the time. Charles Marie Auguste de Beaumont, a famous Vendéen general died here and his remains are laid to rest in the chapel. The chateau is privately owned but guided visits of the gardens are often proposed for heritage weekend in September. Charles d’Autichamp (1770 - 1859), a famous Vendéen General who fought for religious freedom, died at the chateau La Roche Faton. •
The Church of St John the Baptist. Before the revolution, the church at Lhoumois, which was first mentioned in the records of the abbey of St Jouin de Marnes in 1179, was dedicated to Saint Hippolyte. Today it is dedicated to St John the Baptist. The nave and the bell-tower date from the 12th century. The porch was added in the 19th century.
•
The stained glass triptych in the choir (right)
•
Les Jardins du Gué are a 4 acre floral park situated on the banks of the river Thouet. There are seven gardens with nearly 2000 different varieties of plants..
LIMALONGES In ancient texts, from 950 onwards, ‘Villa Lumalonga’ or ‘Limalonga’ is mentioned. It was a Roman villa from the second century AD. In the middle ages, there was a romanesque church, a monastic barn, several large manors and château. However there is not much infomation about the château of Pennessac, of Limalonges or of Aubanie. Richelieu is supposed to have visited this château in the 17th century and Louis XIV visited the château of Pannessac. The battle of Limalonges took place in 1349 during the Hundred Years War. The battle was won by the British. A VOIR / MUST SEE • The Dolmen de la PierrePèse. Not far from Saint Saviol, but on the territory of the commune of Limalonges, can be found a huge tablelike stone, held up by three short, thin supports. •
The Church of Saint John the Baptist. The building was listed as a historical monument in 1975. Although it has been renovated and altered since the 12th century, a certain harmony and beauty still remains, particularly in the Romanesque part of the church.
•
The Monastic Barn. This beautiful house dates from the 13th century. It was classified as a historical monument in 1967. The building is recognised as one of the most beautiful buildings of the Middle ages in Deux-Sèvres. It is known as ‘Grange Monastique’ or ‘Hôtel des Templiers’. There was probably a link between this beautiful building and the church opposite it. There is also, under the current town hall square, another vaulted room which resembles the vaulted cellars of the ‘Grange Monastique’. At the east of the commune, Glassac is a small wooded hillock which has been classified as a site of ecological interest because of its flora and fauna. There are oaks and hornbeams, mixed with box and hazelnut trees. There is a wide variety of flora and some of the flowers that can be found here are quite rare in the region.
The park is situated at the Gué du Flais where a ford makes the crossing of the river Thouet possible. There is a Florentine garden with fountains and a scented rose garden. In 2015 the gardens are open from April to the end of October. Guided visits are possible or you can visit on your own. Part of the garden is accessible for people in wheelchairs and it is possible to borrow an audio guide so you can have information about the different plants. Admission costs 5€ for adults (children free).
Photo:Père Igor
More A-Z of the Communes of Deux-Sèvres next month...
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 31
Communications Preventative Maintenance:
Windows and Disk Storage by Ross Hendry Clean Up (Part 4)
T
he Windows operating system has to be updated regularly as constant use of your system means that temporary files are created. These day-to-day features of Windows mean that it does need a good clean out. Although it does provide some of the tools to do this itself, Windows has one of the most popular utility programs to do this - ‘CCleaner’ - a free and very effective tool to maintain the Windows registry and help you keep your hard disk free of temporary files. It also includes other tools to keep your system running in tip-top condition. CCleaner has been around since 2003 and was created by Piriform, originally called “crap” cleaner and designed to remove the rubbish from windows. It was recently voted the best free windows cleaning tool and optimizing tool. The current version is version 5 and has been updated to work well with windows 8.1, and has changed its look to the new Microsoft “metro” style to match. One of the best features are that it is safe, fast and reliable.
The Disk Cleanup utility is the first module I run, this removes temporary files that accumulate as you browse the internet. They are created to speed up the browsing process and are seldom removed. (These are often the cause of slow internet response and need to be kept to a minimum). If you have and use more than one browser it cleans them all, well. It also removes unused files from your system and frees up valuable hard disk space including your recycle bin and many of the temporary files that are created as Windows and other programs operate.
The Registry Cleaner.
Windows has a central file/program that maintains the rules that your particular version works with. Clearly as it is updated the entries change, but sadly the Windows updates do not always work, or when an amendment is made, they do not always clean out the former entries. As Windows looks at the registry for instructions, this unnecessary data slows down the process. Ccleaner’s Registry tool will check the registry for errors and other incorrect entries (called Issues) and list them. Before it fixes them it offers to backup the registry and I strongly recommend that you do, by simply accepting the backup offered. Once the back-up is complete it will clean the registry.
32 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Tools.
The tools section brings together many tools to maintain your system, some of which are included with Windows such as the program uninstaller. I use the “Startup” to check the programs Windows runs on its start-up. This can help when your PC seems slow to boot-up. The tool makes it easy for you to enable, disable and delete entries. I tend to disable suspect programs and restart the PC to test the system and run it for a few days, if all is OK, I go back and delete the disabled program. My recommendation is that you read and understand what the tools do before using them. You can get great advice here www.piriform.com/support/ccleaner#204043854. If you want a copy please be sure to download it from either the Piriform website www.piriform.com or a known reputable distributor such as Cnet. Do not be tempted to get it from any old site as you may get other not-so-welcome additional programs such as viruses or other malware! You may safely down load it from :• www.download.cnet.com/CCleaner • www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download I advise my customers to run Ccleaner once per month and to use the Disk Cleaner utility and Registry Cleaner Tools. If you find after a couple of months that it is not removing much from either section then reduce the run frequency to once every two months or longer. I also suggest that if your PC seems slow then it is well worth running these two options to try to improve the speed. With the announcement of Windows 10 due in May I am currently evaluating a copy and will report on it in the June issue of ‘The DSM’. I am hearing rumours that it will be offered to all users of Windows 7. 8, and 8.1 free of charge. The latest Windows updates have just updated Windows upgrade features, I guess in readiness for upgrading to Windows 10.
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).
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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The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 33
Food & Drink And the First will be Last
T
his is the time of year when the phrase ‘en primeur’ raises its head in wine circles. Put simply, it is the practice of buying wine before it has been bottled, sometimes also referred to as ‘wine futures’. Mostly prevalent in Bordeaux, the procedure has also spread to Burgundy and the Rhone. So how does it work? What’s it for? What’s the point? And most importantly – why, Daddy, why?
Now, I had intended to write a moderately serious article about the whole thing, so seriously does it seem to be taken. But I’m sorry, I couldn’t, I really couldn’t. I researched, I delved, I ferreted, and the more I did those things the less I learned about wine and the more I found out about price trends and market forces and strategies and middle men and courtiers and cons and shams. But it’s a shame to keep all of that world weariness and ennui to myself, so here we go anyway. The basic idea is pretty simple. You make a wine in year one. This wine needs to be cared for and matured until it’s ready to be brought to market in year two or three. So, instead of waiting until year two or three to cash in, you, as wine producer, sell it now at a discounted price. You, the wine producer, get cash flow (another of those non-wine things I learned about), and the buyer gets….well, what? Hope, expectation? Certainly. A smashing wine at a bargain price compared to what he would have to pay in year two or three? Maybe. Excuse the irritating phrase, but ‘it all depends’. It’s a bit like Dyson showing you a roomful of bits and pieces and expecting you to pay now for something they should, all things being equal squire, figure out how to put together in the fullness of time. How do you manage this conjuring trick, this sale? You can’t expect consumers to take your own, biased wine producer word for it, so you summon experts, of course, our favourite people. They assemble in the chateaux of Bordeaux (and other similar dives) to taste young wine and pontificate. The wine shows promise; the vintage was good. Or, everyone agrees it was a difficult year (= bad), but producer X can always be relied on when the chips are down. And so on. Problem is, they’re not unbiased either. Once they buy the wine from the producer, they have to justify the base price they paid, and therefore the markup, when they sell it on to you, oh happy end consumer. For producers with little capital behind them, you can see the point. They’re the ones who really need that pesky cash flow. But the larger, more famous names? It all comes down to a simple, distasteful equation: amongst the variables and coefficients are – what did we charge last year? what are our competitors doing? what will the market take? how much can we get away with? are the Chinese buying? do I need a new Mercedes? But the constant, the constant constant is greed. What’s to be done? Are we not mere pawns in the game? I suppose we are if that’s what we’re happy with. Always been done that way, innit? I don’t know how it’s all worked out but I’m willing to take a punt (another good, investmenty, serious word) having read the reports. But here’s a thought: don’t, just don’t. If there aren’t any buyers, then… It’s to be noted that one of the greatest Bordeaux First Growths, Latour, decided to opt out of the en primeur system altogether from the 2012 vintage onwards. They will keep wines in their cellars and mollycoddle them until they, Latour, decide that they’re ready to drink (and therefore to sell). You might think this is rather pompous and condescending; or you might think, hang on a minute – isn’t that a fair point? And isn’t the sound of middle men squealing when they’re ignored music to the ears? As a final point: not to be confused with ‘en primeur’ is plain old ‘primeur’, an equally tacky manoeuvre but at the other end of 34 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
by John Sherwin
the calendar year. Some wines (from here, there and everywhere it seems these days) are called ‘primeur’ when they are bottled and sold within weeks of the harvest. Also known as ‘nouveau’, as in ‘Ze Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!’ Avoid. Don’t encourage them. Don’t affront Nature. I promise to lighten up next month. However, if you’d like a sneak preview, I’d be happy to send you a few random phrases en primeur. I accept cheques. u u
John Sherwin, French Wine Tours 02 51 66 13 05 or www.french-wine-tours.com
Getting My Fingers Dirty
I
by Jacqueline Brown
was sitting in the garden eating my mid-season lunch, having moved on from the homemade soups that sustain me over winter to a filled baguette, while waiting impatiently for the fresh, ripe tomatoes from the potager to liven up my summer salads, and I was reminded once again how important food is to the French, but in particular their lunch.
We occasionally treat ourselves to a lunch out as part of a bike ride (I can then convince myself this a zero calorie meal) and find it’s not unusual for us to be the only couple in a restaurant. The other tables are often taken by groups of work colleagues eating together from the set menu, but not every worker gets the opportunity to dine out every day. My quick baguette, eaten in the garden with the sun shining on my face and listening to the birds singing was lovely, but if the sounds that were coming from the small caravan parked right outside our house were anything to go by, the French workmen were tucking into a full lunchtime feast. Our road was home to a small team of building contractors carrying out a huge rainwater drainage project and I had to smile at the fact that the first thing to arrive on site at the beginning of the project was their caravan/lunch room. Everyday for almost a month they started early in the morning, before the eight o’clock Angelus had rung, and worked hard all day with their only break being at lunchtime when they made their way back to the caravan, each one carrying a family sized cool box. While some headed to the boulangerie for bread the others fired up a generator and started cooking, whilst wishing us and each other a bon apetite. I have no idea what was being prepared and eaten but I was sure it was no pot noodle or sandwich. It may have just been a microwaved ready meal, but if so it was served on real plates and eaten with real cutlery. I could hear the clatter of crockery and the gentle chatter of happy colleagues eating and socialising together over lunch. There was no shouting or loud music and it didn’t take much for my overactive imagination to visualise a tablecloth, pitcher of wine and a vase of flowers to accompany a full threecourse meal. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in the caravan to see if I was right, but having had a peek through the window, the caravan was definitely a man space and the poster on the wall made me blush! One day, disaster struck. The generator that had been their faithful companion for almost three weeks wasn’t on site. Our doorbell rang and there stood the foreman with a very polite request to plug an extension lead into our garage, which I couldn’t refuse as I’d hate to be the one who came between a Frenchman and his lunch.
u u
www.frenchvillagediaries.com Email: frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 35
© Wikimedia Commons / RhubarbFarmer
W
e appear to have turned the corner weather wise and have already enjoyed some lovely sunny days in the 20˚s, you might even be getting your BBQ's out! – So this month I thought something lighter for those sunny days, using the delicious asparagus that is in season at the moment (and low-fat, especially if you leave the dressing off – as sun = bikini!). Then another seasonal ingredient, rhubarb – which reminds me of childhood, picking it straight from the garden and just dipping it in sugar for a snack, heaven! Enjoy!
May The month with 4 bank holidays! Hopefully all of them sunny... by Hazel Foster
b Coconut Cream with Poached Rhubar (makes 4)
k well with pineapple, (If you can't find rhubarb it would rwor n you poach – just a whe suga the need 't won although you lla) little water and vani 2 sheets leaf gelatine 400ml can coconut milk 6 tbsp caster sugar 1 vanilla pod 300g rhubarb, cut into short lengths r with cold water. Leave Put the gelatine into a bowl and cove Heat the coconut milk d. ene to soak for 5 mins until soft g to a gentle simmer, then Brin . pan a in r suga tbsp 2 with tine from the water and remove from the heat. Lift the gela ing until the gelatine has stirr Keep . milk stir into the coconut glass dishes or dessert ll sma dissolved, then pour into four cool a little first). When to bowls (if using glass, leave the milk e and leave to set. fridg the to sfer tran , cool the creams are re and put into a pan with Split the vanilla pod down the cent sugar. Bring slowly to tbsp 4 g ainin rem the and r 2 tbsp wate rhubarb and poach the add then r, suga the the boil to dissolve 3-4 mins. Leave to ut abo hy, mus not gently until softened but ms to serve. crea nut coco cool. Spoon the rhubarb over the vitamin C and calcium. It is Rhubarb is a good source of fibre, rol diet as it has cholesteroleste also good as part of a low-chol s ertie prop lowering
* Please note that if you tried to make last months hot cross buns you will have noticed that the Easter Bunny stole the first ingredient from the list – so, if you do want to use the recipe sometime, the first ingredient is 300ml milk. I usually take longer trying to decide what recipes you, the readers might like, than actually typing up my article! If you have any feedback or requests on the types of things you’d like to see and try yourself, please email me! E: homechef79@gmail.com 36 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Warm Poached Chicken and Asparagus Salad
(adjust ingredients according to how many you are cooking for) Whole chicken Green or white asparagus Rocket and baby spinach leaves New potatoes Red onion, sliced into thin half moons Dressing 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tbsp lemon juice 2-3 tsps runny honey 1 tbsp water Sea salt and ground black pepper To poach the chicken simply place the chicken breastside down in a large pan with about 1 litre water (depends on size of pan – you want the water to be about 2”-3” deep – don't let it boil dry), put the lid on the pan and leave it on low simmer for around 1hr 10 mins (depending on the size of your chicken) and turn it over about half way through cooking. Once cooked and cool enough to handle you will find that the chicken falls off the carcass very easily. (for those of you with cats and dogs, the poaching liquor will go jelly like as it cools and they will love it). To make the dressing place all the ingredients into a jar, put the lid on and shake until combined – adjust to taste. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus and steam for 3-6 mins. Simmer new potatoes in salted boiling water until tender (about 10 mins) – once cooked, drain and you can toss them in a little of the dressing or butter whilst still warm. Depending on their size you may wish to half them at this stage. To assemble the salad toss the salad leaves in a little dressing and heap onto plates, then add your slices of red onion, chicken, asparagus and new potatoes.
Hazel Foster ~ Homechef 79 Personal Chef for dinner parties, special occasions and catering services Tel: 05 49 63 29 98 ~ Email: homechef79@gmail.com
Motoring MORRIS Memories
W
hen I was a little girl my favorite book was the ‘Ladybird book of Motor Cars’, which I studied religiously. Thanks to my Mum’s strong hoarding instinct, I still have it, held together with yellowing sellotape.
On page 10 of the 1968 edition (price 15p), we find the Morris 1100, pictured in pale blue, which was exactly like my Grandad’s car. I always thought it had a happy little face, and just seeing the picture again has brought back many happy memories of family days out. Like the Mini, this car was designed by Alec Issigonis. The “correct” name for the family of cars was the BMC (British Motor Corporation) ADO16 (Amalgamated Drawing Office project number 16), and several models were included in the range.
by Helen Tait-Wright
The estate version followed in 1966, called Countryman in the Austin version and Traveller in the Morris one, continuing the established naming scheme. The Austin 1100 Countryman appeared in the legendary ‘Gourmet Night’ episode of ‘Fawlty Towers’, in which the short-tempered Basil Fawlty gave it a “damn good thrashing”. This episode was first shown in October 1975. In common with the Mini, the ADO16 was designed around the BMCA series engine, mounted transversely and providing the drive to the front wheels. As well as single piston swinging caliper disc brakes at the front, which were not common on mass-produced cars in the early 1960s, the ADO16 featured a unique and pioneering “Hydrolastic” interconnected fluid suspension system designed by Alex Moulton.
The vehicle was launched as the Morris 1100 on 15 August 1962. Alec Issigonis said “We have tried to produce a good looking, functional car – while cutting out as far as possible the risk of things going wrong. My main plan was to design a motorcar to travel as efficiently as possible from A to B, with full comfort over really rough roads. The world will decide whether we have succeeded.”
The system replaces the separate springs and dampers of a conventional suspension system with integrated, space efficient, fluid filled, displacer units, which are interconnected between the front and rear wheels on each side of the vehicle.
For the decade following the launch, the ADO16 was consistently the UK’s best-selling car.
These days only around 600 of the 1,119800 examples built still remain in the UK, thanks to the achilles heel of all mass produced cars of the era - rust. However, more than fifty years on it still has a devoted following around the world, including Australia, where it went on sale in 1964 after considerable stress testing in the outback.
If the trade and the public had treated Mini with a certain amount of suspicion, they had no such reservations about the 1100 and immediately took the car to their hearts, despite the fact that, like the Mini, it was not the most reliable car in its class; not by a long chalk. In the years following the Suez Crisis, the British car market had changed dramatically, with demand for small cars increasing hugely. This had the effect of shifting the centre point of the market downwards. Through a combination of luck and good judgment, the Morris 1100 hit this sector of the market square on. The range was subsequently expanded to include several rebadged versions, including the twin-carburettor MG 1100, the Vanden Plas Princess (from October 1962), the Austin 1100 (August 1963), and finally the Wolseley 1100 (1965) and Riley Kestrel (1965). The Morris badged 1100/1300 gave up its showroom space to the Morris Marina in 1971, but Austin and Vanden Plas versions remained in production in the UK until June 1974.
I remember as a kid, it used to make me feel dreadfully sick!
Dainty styling and chrome detailing have matured in a way that makes the 1100 seem so much less utilitarian than it did in its day. There is a healthy and active Club for 1100’s (www.the1100club.com) if you chose this to be your foray into the Classic car scene, and they’re easy to maintain and cheap to run. £3000 should buy you a decent example ...... always assuming, of course, that you can find one the tinworm hasn’t got to first! PS, a tartan picnic blanket is obligatory!
u u
Helen Tait-Wright Email: helen@stodel.org
left: www.curbsideclassic.com right: 1100. Photograph by Adrian Pingstone,1966 Morris Wikimedia.
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 37
38 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
Building & Renovation English Paints, English Prices! My husband and I, having spent the last three years renovating our house, discovered we really didn’t get on with French paint. Either it needed about six coats or was just horribly expensive. So, after months of negotiating and research and a lot of help from a friend, we have finally come up with a solution. I have set up as an agent for Crown Interior and Sandtex Exterior paints. With a full range available from basecoat, undercoat and primers, matt, silk and eggshell Eemulsions, gloss, satin, matt and eggshell for wood and metal, Kitchen and bathroom, and Easyclean ranges from Crown, plus masonry paints and exterior gloss, primer and undercoat from Sandtex. We currently have order points where you can browse the catalogue at any time, place your order and then collect it on the date stated (if it is not in stock). All orders must be received by the 20th of the Month for delivery around the 30th, collection of orders can be made from any order point or from Le Busseau. Home delivery can be arranged at an additional cost. Pause! café in L’absie has a catalogue and order point, or meet me there at the Traders day (2nd Thursday of the month at 2pm) where I will have a stock of basic emulsions, masonry paint etc to buy (alongside Books in English, British bon bons, Phoenix cards, Ross Hendry, British groceries and more). Charlie’s (English shop) in La Chataignerie also has a catalogue and order point, as does Café des belles fleurs in Fenioux, and I will be there the 1st Friday of the month at 2pm with stock and brochures. We are looking for more order points, so we can serve a more extensive area without our customers incurring large delivery charges. All orders will arrive via Crown paints UK. Colour charts are available, or you can check out the Crown and Sandtex websites on line. The Crown App is also available to download, where you can experiment with different colours on your walls. All items in stock are available from our home in Le Busseau, and from traders days and markets in various venues. Prices are very competitive, even beating many UK prices as you will see from the catalogues and don’t forget to check out our monthly special offers. Feel free to email me at lez.sutherland@hotmail.com if you would like a brochure or to be added to our mailing list to receive details of venues and special offers - or give me a call on 06 04 15 79 16 to discuss your requirements. I look forward to meeting you soon,
The Paint Lady u u
Contact Lesley Sutherland 06 04 15 79 16 or Email: lez.sutherland@hotmail.com
Contact ‘The DSM’ on 05 49 70 26 21
or by email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 39
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Business & Finance Income Tax Forms
O
h no! It is that time of the year again when you have to fill in your income tax form. It’s all in French and there are lots of pages and boxes to fill in.
Well, worry not, help is at hand. I will try to explain it to you and make it more simple (my boss Thierry is laughing. Simple? Income tax? Bonne chance!!) I will only cover the most common revenues so for more technical information, contact me directly.
Who?
Well, here we go, everybody who is a French resident (lives in France more than 6 months per year) whether you are employed, self-employed or retired and even if you are obliged to pay taxes in the UK, has to fill in an income tax form. If it is your first time, you have to go to the Trésor public office and ask for the form.
the 2042 (page 3, section 1). Annuities are taxed differently in France so you have to enter the amount in the age bracket when you first started drawing it out as the tax office gives you a discount (e.g. if you were 62, they will only tax you 40% of the amount). In section IV, on page 2 is where you put the interest you earned on savings in the UK. And yes, ISAs and Premium bonds are taxable in France as you are French resident. So you have to fill them in at the bottom of page 2 in the box “interest”, then you report the amount on line D and TR (still bottom page 2). Then you report the amount in line 2TR, page 3, section 2 of the 2042. In section VI, you put the revenue from government pension (military, police, NHS, civil servant, etc) and rental income from property in the UK (those will always be taxed in the UK whether you are French resident or not). Then you report the amount in line 8TK, page 4, section 8 of the 2042. 3916: If you have a bank account outside France, then you have to declare it on that form (section1 and 4). One form per account.
Non-residents who rent their French residence have to fill in a form as well (2042C) and send it to the French tax office for non-resident.
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Important dates
Don’t forget to date and sign the forms.
You have to declare your revenue for the year 2014 (1st January to 31st December). However, the tax office accepts that you use the revenue corresponding to the UK tax year. You can start filling the forms online (if it is not the first time) from the 15th April until the 26th May (Charente, Charente-Maritime) or until the 9th June (Vienne, Haute-Vienne and Deux-Sèvres). You will start receiving the paper forms from 8th April and you have until the 19th May to hand it in or send it by post. The result (the bill) is called Avis d’ imposition and is sent to you from mid-August. You have until the 15th of September 2015 to pay it. Note that if you have to pay more than 342€ of income tax and have not chosen the monthly payment, then the tax office will ask you to pay next year’s income tax partly in advance (accomptes provisionnels). e.g. In September 2015, you have 1000€ income tax to pay, then in February and May 2016, you will have a bill of 1000/3=333€, then in September 2016, 333€ minus or plus the difference between September 2015 and September 2016 tax.
What forms and how do you fill them in?
The exchange rate for 2014 is 1.24 (that is the average of last year). If your pension has been directly transferred to your French bank account, just add up all the figures for last year.
Social charges
If you are of retirement age, are from within the European Union and in receipt of the S1, the social charges are not applied to your pension income. Investment income is not exempt. Note that annuities are seen as investment income, so it is a calculation to make whether you should declare annuities as annuities (and get an income tax discount) or as a pension income (and not pay social charges). You do not pay social charges on rental income from the UK.
Help
If you are one of my customers, you are entitled to free help in our office: • Ruffec on Tuesday 12th May (2-5pm) • Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure on Thursday 7th May (9-12am) • La Rochefoucauld on Thursday 7th (2-5pm)
The 2042 is the blue form that everybody has to fill in and it is on this form that you report what you have filled in on other forms.
If you are not one of my customers (well, you should be!), I will be offering free help at the following locations:
But there are different versions of the 2042:
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2042: For the first time you declare. 2042SK: It is the simplest version of the 2042 usually used by employed people as it is already filled in with their salaries, so you only have to check that it is correct. 2042K: This is the one most of you should use as you can report revenue from abroad whereas you can’t on the 2042SK. Check or fill in the information on page 1 (name, address, etc). On page 2, check or fill in the information asked as they can give you allowances or discount (invalidity, number of children living with you, etc). Check or fill in page 4 (it is for tax reduction) and especially section 7 if you have children who go to school (you can get money back for that). If you give to charity, you also get a tax discount. 2042C: If you are self-employed in France, this is where you fill in your professional revenue. This is also the form you use if you have to pay the wealth tax (if your worldwide assets are worth more than 1.3 million euros). It’s complicated so contact me. This is also the form to use to declare revenues from Gites or chambre d’hôtes. 2042QE: This is the form to fill in to claim taxes back when you have done some work on your house. This work had to be done by a registered tradesman and is related to energy saving (something to do with saving the environment). e.g. Insulation of roof or walls, solar panels, etc. 2047: This is the pink form on which you enter your revenue from abroad. Enter your pension revenues on page 1, section 1 in the box called “Pensions, retraites, rentes” and the annuities on the box called “rente viagères à titre onéreux”. You then have to report pensions to the pension section on
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Lemon Tree in Sauzé-Vaussais Tuesday 12th May, 10am -1pm Café Bar de la Terrace in Suris (16270) Monday 11th May, 11am-1pm
Who knows? You might like to ask for free quotes on your insurances! And remember to check out our website where you can find all my previous articles under the ‘Practical Information’ page on the English site: www.bh-assurances.fr You can also follow us on Twitter@charenteinsure
N° Orias 07004255
BH Assurances 22 rue Jean Jaures 16700 Ruffec Contact Isabelle Want: Tel: 05 45 31 01 61 Mob: 06 17 30 39 11 Email: isabelle.want@bh-assurances.fr The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 45
Not All Assurance-Vie Are Equal
W
ill your investment structures provide the benefits you expect them to?
Assurance-Vie are an effective savings vehicle in France, used by many French nationals to save considerable tax. They are successfully used by expatriates for tax and succession planning, but I often come across people who have policies which are not suitable for French residents and do not provide the expected benefits. There are many different types of Assurance-Vie (life policies, endowments, insurance bonds etc). They can be based in various jurisdictions, and both the type and jurisdiction can make a difference to the advantages they offer. Assurance-Vie provide various tax advantages. One of them is that the longer you own the policy, the less tax you pay. Once you have held the policy over four years you can pay tax at a fixed rate of 15% instead of the income tax rates up to 45%. After eight years this tax is just 7.5%, and the first €4,600 (€9,200 for a couple) of growth withdrawn is tax free. But this only applies to EU policies, and so not to Isle of Man and Channel Island policies. You could also have difficulties getting the necessary information for your tax return from non-EU arrangements.
46 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
by Bradley Warden, Partner, Blevins Franks
If you set up a policy before age 70, on your death each beneficiary receives an extra €152,000 tax free allowance on distributions from your Assurance-Vie. They only pay 20% tax on the excess (31.25% for amounts over €700,000). These considerable savings are only possible if your policy allows you to nominate beneficiaries. Many policies in the Isle of Man and even UK and Ireland do not provide a defined beneficiary clause, so you miss out on these tax breaks and your heirs could pay significantly more tax. Another issue to be aware of with UK policies is that you pay tax within the funds that cannot be reclaimed, and you could have problems getting information for your tax return. Many people have been sold policies which are not suitable for France, usually by UK advisers, and end up paying much more tax than necessary. Most UK advisers do not have the in-depth and up-todate knowledge of the French tax regime needed. So take local advice, and check if your existing arrangements are set up in the most efficient manner to gain the full tax and succession benefits, and ensure they comply with the requirements of the French authorities. Do not miss out on considerable tax advantages. Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should seek personalised advice.
Inheritance Tax Liabilities by David Hardy “I am a single man resident in the UK with two non-dependent children; I do not own a property in the UK but own a property in France value approx. £150,000. Presently I am assessing the inheritance tax liabilities on my estate in the UK and need advice on the inheritance tax liabilities on the French property in either the UK and/or France.
Protect your wealth
I understand that I can gift the French property to my two children and this would eliminate the liability to pay inheritance tax in France but would this also mean there is no inheritance tax liability in UK?”
I
f your place of domicile is the UK, the value of your French property would be included in your worldwide estate for UK tax purposes, with credit being given for any tax paid in France. Your children would be subject to French succession tax (equivalent to UK inheritance tax) on the value of the French property. The tax allowance is currently 100,000€ per child, so, as long as your property is worth less than 200,000€ and you leave it to both children equally, there would be no French tax to pay.
If you were to gift the property to your children, during your lifetime, French gift tax (droits de donation) would be payable. The gift tax allowance in France is also 100,000€ per child, and it is renewed every fifteen years. Therefore, based on the current valuation, there would be no tax payable in France assuming that you have not gifted any other French assets to them in the previous fifteen years. There would be no further French inheritance tax payable by them on your death. Were they to sell the property on your death, they would be liable to French capital gains tax on any gain made since the date of gift. They would normally also be subject to CGT in the UK, with credit being given for any tax paid in France.
French finance in plain English
For fully compliant and expert financial advice David Hardy, Regional Manager: 05 56 34 75 51 bordeaux.office@siddalls.net
www.siddalls.net Siddalls France SASU, Parc Innolin, 3 Rue du Golf, CS 60073, 33701 Mérignac Cedex, forms part of the Blevins Franks group of companies - RCS BX 498 800 465. C.I.F. No E001669 auprès de ANACOFI-CIF association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers et Courtier d’Assurances, Catégorie B - ORIAS 07 027 475. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances.
However, in the UK you have to consider the impact of both capital gains tax and inheritance tax, if you decide to gift the property. In the UK, worldwide gifts made by UK tax residents are subject to capital gains tax. If you have lived in the French property at some stage, it is possible that at least part of the gain will qualify for an exemption under the UK Principal Residence Relief. The gain would be calculated based on the current market value of the property since the gift is made to a ‘connected person’. If a chargeable gain arises, the tax is levied at either 18% or 28% depending on the level of your UK taxable income. You are also entitled to an Annual Exemption of £11,000 (for the year ended 5th April 2015). If you are UK domiciled, your worldwide assets are subject to UK inheritance tax. Life-time gifts to children are normally classified as Potentially Exempt Transfers. This means that the value of the assets gifted is not included as part of your taxable estate on your death provided that you survive for seven years after the date of the gift. However, if you continue to use the property yourself, the gift could be considered a ‘Gift with Reservation’. In this situation the UK tax authorities argue that you have not made a genuine gift and the value of the property would still remain in your taxable estate. It is possible to avoid this by paying market rent to your children for the periods that you occupy the property personally. You should also consider non-tax implications of the gift; for example, the children would have control of the property and could sell it even if you wished to keep it available for your use during your life-time. You may wish to consider retaining a type of life-interest (called usufruit in French). The rules governing gifts are complicated and it is always advisable to get expert cross-border advice if you’re considering gifting a French property. David Hardy is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Adviser, specialised in personal tax, inheritance, pension and investment planning for the British community in France since 1996.
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Siddalls France, Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net 05 56 34 75 51 or www.siddalls.net The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 47
Le Tour
by Sue Cook
Le Tour de Finance rolled into the DeuxSèvres again last month to a packed house after two successful days in the Loire. With recent changes to pensions and tax and the fantastic exchange rate, ex-pats are looking to make the most of their money, hence the wonderful turnout at Chef Boutonne. The range of speakers meant that a number of subjects were covered and there was an opportunity, over a buffet lunch, to further question speakers about more in-depth individual matters. The seminars gave Currencies Direct the opportunity to speak about how the currency market is affected by outside influences which I covered in my column last month. We emphasized the fact that money being transferred is your money and it is crazy to give some of this away to the banks in fees when you can transfer with us fee-free. Amanda Johnson from Spectrum IFA was supported by a number of partners who explained about Assurance Vie and the tax and inheritance benefits of taking these out. They also covered how to open a Sterling bank account when living abroad and how your money is invested. Peterson Sims accountants then went on to explain the changes in taxes both in the UK and France. We received many positive comments from our audience about the range and relevance of the information given. We will be planning more events in the future so, if you think this may be of interest, have a read of one account from Micala Wilkins www.alacimassociates.com/blog/le-tour-de-finance-the-yellowjersey-of-financial-planning-in-france. If you wish to be informed of future events please do not hesitate to contact me or check out the website www.lettourdefinance.com
Ask Amanda
In both this issue and next month’s issue, I will be sharing some helpful tips regarding taxation in France.
Beware of the DIY approach Always discuss your situation with an experienced and knowledgeable Expertcomptables/Accountant. Taxes in France can be very different to other countries in Europe and might not be as onerous as you think, if done the right way. DIY’ers rarely utilise the tax breaks and could end up paying more tax than they need to. A Tax Residence of choice does not work Just because you are spending 3 months of the year in the UK does not mean you automatically qualify for UK tax residency when, in fact, you are actually spending more of your time in France. The double tax treaty will not cover you in this case. Don’t think you can hide If you are French tax resident i.e. you spend more than 183 days a year and/or your social economic interest (family, house etc.) is in France then the Centre des Impots can find you. There is always a paper trail, utility bills, mobile phone records, school fees, airline tickets, credit card and bank statements, as well as visual evidence from neighbours, gardeners, cleaners etc. It is much better to have your affairs “regularised” and know that the knock on the door is highly unlikely. Beware the UK 90 day rule Trying to claim UK tax residency because you go back to the UK for at least 90 days a year out of the last 3 years, does not always work. This is not a law and can be ignored by the courts. The French tax authorities would swiftly brush this aside as an excuse if they were trying to determine tax residency in France or not. Don’t rely on a double taxation treaty to protect you A double taxation treaty is merely an agreement between 2 countries that if you are taxed in one you will not have to pay the same tax again in the other (although any top-up tax may need to be paid). You have to be resident in at least one country in any one year. The French will quite quickly assume that you are French tax resident if there are any signs of regular/permanent establishment in the country, e.g buying a property, children at school. Be very wary of trying to be non-resident anywhere If you are claiming to be non-tax resident anywhere then you could misunderstand the rules of the countries that you are living in. It is possible but most countries will deem you to be tax resident even if you spend less than 6 months of the year in the country. They just do not accept that you can be non-resident anywhere these days. 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 and I will be glad to help you. We do not charge for reviews, reports or recommendations we provide.
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Sue Cook of Currencies Direct 05 55 03 66 69 or 06 89 99 28 89
48 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015
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 Financiers»
Property
Small Colour Advert
only 35€
The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015 | 49
Could it be Your Time for... a ‘Messabout about on the by Joanna Leggett River’?
W
ith the first taste of summer starting back in mid April, thoughts naturally turn to how we want to use warmer weather – which, here in Deux-Sèvres, can be at least until the end of October!
And, if you’re looking for a new home, or holiday home, have you considered the joys of living in the Marais Poitevin? Admirably located, between Niort and the coast, this region is famed throughout France as the ‘Green Venice’ with its networks of canals and waterways … could anything be better than taking a punt along a tranquil river on a lovely sunny day? For the more actively inclined there are walking and cycling tracks aplenty in this green oasis; yet the joys of the coast are 45 minutes away with golden sands and fresh seafood. While it retains its out of this world feeling of tranquillity, the Marais is very easily accessed, fly into La Rochelle or Poitiers, the TGV and excellent road links are close by .. really the best of all worlds! Coulon, one of ‘les plus beaux villages de France’, is the capital of Green Venice – its waterside frontage is lined with restaurants and quaint cottages. A magnet for painters, here you can hire a traditional flat bottomed boat to explore the tree-lined canals. On its outskirts, Leggett’s Fabien Barbiot-Legrand has a large traditional stone house for sale at 238,500€ (ref: 48547 - photo right). This five bedroomed, two bathroomed home with garage offers heaps of scope as it boasts several outbuildings which could provide further accommodation (B&B or gîtes?). A walled, gated entrance leads you into the property with its large garden. This house just awaits new owners who will, no doubt, welcome its new gas heating system come winter: the asking price is negotiable too! Slightly closer to Niort, she has a simpler, smaller stone house for sale (ref: 36265 - photo below) – this property has two simply vast bedrooms on its first floor, an empty attic ripe for conversion, as well as an unusual stone-clad bath among more traditional modcons! On the ground floor the lounge features beautiful beams and all is easily heated by its large woodburner; outside is a very private terrace overlooking the church tower and gardens. Recently reduced in price to 118,800€, this property could be the ideal ‘lock-up-and-leave’ in this ‘green and pleasant land’.
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 u
Leggett Immobilier www.frenchestateagents.com
50 | The Deux-Sèvres Monthly, May 2015