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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Welcome! to Issue 33 of
‘The DeuxSèvres Monthly’ magazine.
As I sit here writing this piece of text, it is mid October and I am already thinking about the “C” word! This issue is packed with interesting articles plus, we already have some notices of festive Carol singing, Marchés de Noël and open houses, so you can start your Christmas shopping early! I’ve managed to omit the Santa hats, presents and stars this time, but next month will see a very twinkly Christmas issue and will be available from 28th November. Don’t forget to grab your copy or read it online. Happy November and see you next month!
à plus, Sarah. Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Emergency Numbers: 15 SAMU, Medical 17 Gendarmes, Police 18 Pompiers, Fire
112 European emergency 113 Drugs and alcohol
CONTENTS
What’s On.....................................................................................4 Hobbies, Clubs & Associations.....................................................6 Take a Break.................................................................................7 Getting Out & About....................................................................8 Health, Beauty & Fitness............................................................16 Our Furry Friends.......................................................................17 The Great Outdoors...................................................................19 A-‐Z of the Communes in the Deux-‐Sèvres.................................21 French Life, Food & Drink...........................................................21 Motoring....................................................................................25 Communications........................................................................27 Building & Renovation...............................................................28 Business, Finance & Property....................................................34
THIS MONTH’S ADVERTISERS 79 Renovations.....................................................................................................31 A La Bonne Vie (Restaurant)................................................................................ 22 All Things Equestrian........................................................................................... 17 Ace Pneus (Tyre Supplier & Fitter)...................................................................... 26 Affordable UK Designs (Kitchens & UPVC D/Glazing)......................................... 2 AKE Petits Travaux (Builder)................................................................................ 30 Alan Pearce (Plumbing & Heating)..................................................................... 32 Andrew Longman (Plumber)............................................................................... 32 ARB French Property........................................................................................... 37 Arbrecadabra.com (Tree surgery)........................................................................19 Assurances Maucourt (GAN)............................................................................... 25 BH Assurances / Allianz....................................................................................... 34 Bill McEvoy (Plumber / Heating Engineer).......................................................... 33
...continued.
Blevins Franks Tax & Wealth Management......................................................... 35 Bois Nature Energie (Firewood & Fencing)......................................................... 19 British Mobile Mechanic (John Purchase)........................................................... 26 Café des Belles Fleurs.......................................................................................... 24 Caniclôture (Hidden Fencing for Dogs)............................................................... 17 Carolyn’s Cakes.................................................................................................... 23 Chez Tante Mabel (Gift Shop)............................................................................. 9 Chris Bassett Construction.................................................................................. 29 Chris Parsons (Heating/Electrical/Plumbing)...................................................... 33 Christies (English Book Shop and Tea Room)...................................................... 9 Cleaning Services by Karen.................................................................................. 37 Clean Sweep Chimney Services........................................................................... 30 Come Dine with Dave (Dining experience)......................................................... 11 Concept Construction......................................................................................... 29 CSB Construction................................................................................................. 29 Currencies Direct (Money Transfers)................................................................... 36 Cut 46 (Hair Salon).............................................................................................. 16 DB Electricité....................................................................................................... 31 D.W Cooper (Carpenter, Roofer, Mason)............................................................. 30 David Cropper (Stump Grinding & Jungle Busting)............................................ 19 David Watkins (Chimney Sweep)........................................................................ 30 DJ Jeff (Professional DJ)....................................................................................... 9 D.J Maintenance (Handyman)............................................................................ 31 Down to Eart Pool Design (Swimming Pool Design & Construction).................. 29 EcoPower (Solar Thermal Trading Company)...................................................... 31 Electricien Anglais en France.............................................................................. 31 Environmental Heating Services......................................................................... 32 Equi Libre Immobilier Conseil............................................................................. 39 Etat d’Esprit (Ladies Fashion, Jewellery & Gift Shop)......................................... 8 Franglais Deliveries............................................................................................. 26 French Tuition (Pascale Matéo)........................................................................... 15 Fresco Interiors.................................................................................................... 10 George Rayner Computers.................................................................................. 28 Hallmark Electronique (Electricians & Sat. Engineers)........................................ 31 Heather’s Pet Care Services................................................................................ 17 Hippychick Ltd (Baby & Toddler Products).......................................................... 9 Homes In France (Tony Murdoch)....................................................................... 39 I C O Electricté..................................................................................................... 31 Insink Plumbing................................................................................................. .. 32 James Harris (Plasterer)....................................................................................... 31 Jon Crocker Photography..................................................................................... 19 JP Lainé (Chimney Sweep)................................................................................... 30 Julia Hunt -‐ Agent Commercial............................................................................ 37 Karen Renel-‐King (Sworn Translation)................................................................. 15 Kelly & Sue’s Pampering Events........................................................................... 16 L’étable Gastronomique (Restaurant).................................................................. 23 La Deuxieme Chance (Annie Sloan chalk paint supplier).................................... 33 Laura Walker Jewellery........................................................................................ 9 Leggett Immobilier.............................................................................................. 38 Les Jardins St Laurent (Bistro)............................................................................. 23 Le Logis -‐ The Perfect Pig Company..................................................................... 21 Le Petit Cadeau................................................................................................... 9 Mark Sabestini Renovation & Construction........................................................ 30 MB Plumbing & Building Services....................................................................... 33 Michael Hobson (Painter & Decorator)............................................................... 33 ML Computers..................................................................................................... 28 Motor Parts Charente.......................................................................................... 26 Mutuelle de Poitiers Assurances......................................................................... 26 Nathan Foster Building Services.......................................................................... 30 Needa Hand Services........................................................................................... 33 Pamela Irving (Massage & Reflexology).............................................................. 29 Pause! café.......................................................................................................... 24 Philip Irving (Mini Digger hire)............................................................................. 29 Plan-‐170 (Professional Scale Drawings).............................................................. 28 Polar Express (Frozen Foods).............................................................................. 23 Premier Autos (Mechanic).................................................................................. 26 Red, White & Blue (English groceries)................................................................. 21 Restaurant des Canards....................................................................................... 22 Robert Walker Plomberie.................................................................................... 32 Ross Hendry (Interface Consulting & Engineering)............................................. 27 Sandy G (Hairdresser).......................................................................................... 16 Satellite TV (Nigel Gubb)...................................................................................... 28 sarl Down to Earth (Fosse Installations & Groundworks)................................... 29 SCP Notary........................................................................................................... 38 Siddalls (Financial Advisors)................................................................................. 37 Silverwood Books................................................................................................ 14 Simon The Tiler.................................................................................................... 32 Spectrum IFA Group (Amanda Johnson)............................................................. 37 Steve Enderby...................................................................................................... 33 Sue Burgess (French Courses & Translation)....................................................... 15 The Craft Cabin (Card Making and Crafts)........................................................... 10 The English Mechanic & Son -‐ Tony Eyre............................................................ 26 The Market.......................................................................................................... 10 Total Renovation Services (Michael Dominey)................................................... 32 Trisha Mobile Hairdresser.................................................................................... 16 Vendée Carriers................................................................................................... 26
© Sarah Berry 2013. 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, 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 et morgeufile.com. Impression: Raynaud Imprimeurs, zone industrielle, BP13, 79160, Coulonges-‐sur-‐l’Autize. Dépôt légal: novembre 2013 -‐ Tirage: 4500 exemplaires. Siret: 515 249 738 00011 ISSN: 2115-‐4848
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
What’s On... November 2013
What’s Coming Up...
1st December -‐ Christmas Market At Pause! café, L’Absie from 11am -‐ 5pm. Lots to see and do including a visit from Santa! See advert on P.24 1st December -‐ Christmas Lunch with Live Jazz At Restaurant des Canards, Chef Boutonne. Reservations required. Please see advert on P.22 1st December -‐ ‘Red White & Blue’ Christmas Groceries On Sale At Pause! café, L’Absie Christmas Market. 11am -‐ 5pm. See advert on P.21 for details and other venues. 3rd December -‐ ORFEE’s Marché de Noel At Salle des Spectacles, Civray. See advert on P18. 6th December -‐ ‘Keynotes’ Christmas Carols At A La Bonne Vie Restaurant, Le Beugnon. See advert on P.22 7th December -‐ NALA Christmas Fair -‐ “A Touch of Xmas” At Chateau de Puybelliard, nr Chantonnay. See advert on P.2 8th December -‐ Terves Xmas Market For details, please see P5 19th December -‐ Phoenix Chorale Christmas Concert at Charroux church, 7.30pm.
Christmas Carol services with the English speaking Church in Poitou-‐Charentes. The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, Poitou-‐Charentes, invites you to join any of their Christmas Services below. All services are in English unless indicated otherwise. 12th December: Cognac (16) 6.30pm 16th December: Civray Carols, in French & English (86) 6.30pm 18th December: Parthenay Carols, in French & English (79) 6.30pm 18th December: St Dizant de Gua (17) 6.30pm 19th December: Courcelles Carols, in French & English (17) 6.30pm 22nd December: Jarnac Carols, in French & English (16) tba 24th December: Alloue Holy Communion and carols (16) 6.30pm 25th December: Genouillé Holy Communion and carols (86) 10.30am • 25th December: Jarnac/Courcelles Holy Communion and carols (16/17) 10.30am • • • • • • • •
For further informaion about locaion of churches and about what else is happening near you, please take a look at our website www.church-‐in-‐france.com or contact us by email: office.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 website for details of meetings and spring programmes www.thefillingstation.org.uk or locally contact 05 49 87 18 58 or email:michael.willis@sfr.fr
Local Markets • • Tuesdays: • • • Wednesdays: • Thursdays: • • Fridays: • • Saturdays: • • • • • • Sundays: Mondays:
Benet 85490 Lencloître (1st Monday in month) 86140 Lezay 79120 Coulonges-sur-l’Autize 79160 Thouars 79100 Parthenay 79200 Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 Niort 79000 Thouars 79100 Melle 79500 Chef-Boutonne 79110 Airvault 79600 Niort 79000 Coulon 79510 Saint-Maixent-l’École 79400 Neuville-de-Poitou 86170
Photo: Lisa Roberts
2nd November -‐ Big Party with GPS at Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. See advert on P.24 3rd November -‐ Live Jazz & Sunday Lunch At Restaurant des Canards, Chef Boutonne. See advert on P.22 4th November -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Limalonges See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 7th November -‐ Kelly & Sue’s Pampering Event At Pause! café, L’Absie. See advert on P.24 7th November -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Chef Boutonne See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 13th November -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Aigre See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 14th November -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Champniers See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 16th & 17th November -‐ Hope Assocation Charity Shop Weekend At 10 rue Robert Lapayriere, 87210 Le Dorat. See advert on P.8 16th November -‐ Commemoration of the landing at Perigné On the night of November 16/17th, 1943, one of the RAF Lysander aircraft, flown by British Robin Hooper, had a turbulent landing near Périgné. The ADIF (Association of Deportees, Internees and families Deux Sèvres) commemorate this event on November 16th at 11am in Périgné (next to the church) and in Niort at 4pm at the Monument to soldiers without uniforms (at the bottom of the Rift). Please come along for this tribute to the French, Belgian and British resistance. 21st November -‐ Machine Embroidery Workshop Workshop with Jenny Wren, ‘Learn to Draw in Stitch’ with a Christmas theme. Afternoon workshop at Pause! café, L’Absie. 12.30pm -‐ 4.30pm. 22€ p/person. Places limited, please email Jenny for details: harris4j@hotmail.co.uk. 22nd & 23rd November -‐ Ladies Night At Pause! Café, L’Absie. See advert on P.2 23rd & 24th November -‐ Open House Christmas Sale at The Craft Cabin, Melleran. For further details, please see P10 24th November -‐ Classical Concert At St. Maixent l’école. For full details please see article on P.11 27th November -‐ Book & Coffee Morning At 46 Rue du Bois Baudron, 79100 Mauzé Thoaursais, 10am -‐ 12.30pm. All proceeds to go the The Helianthus Association animal charity. 29th November -‐ Concert with Mister Blackjack at Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. See advert on P.24 30th November -‐ Annual Christmas Fayre At The Market, Luché sur Brioux. Please find details on P.10 30th November & 1st December -‐ Open Day At Le Logis, Cours. Please see advert on P.21 30th November & 1st December -‐ Salon de Mariage 2 day wedding event at Abbaye Royale, St Jean d’Angely. Including planning ideas, catwalk shows and Trade stands. Open from 9am to 6pm. Entry 5€ Adults, Children go free. 30th November & 1st December -‐ Marché de Noël At Salles des Fêtes, Fenioux. See advert on P8 for details.
The National Holidays, Religious and Feast Days 2013 Friday 1st November......... All Saint’s Day (Toussaint) Monday 11th November... Armisice Day (Armis9ce 1918) Wednesday 25th December. Christmas Day (Noël)
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
The Terves Christmas Market
Paperback Jan Books in English
Sunday 8th December 2013 Organised by Aidez Association
1st Nov: Bar de la Paix, Thouars 79100. 12pm -‐ 2pm 3rd Nov: Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux 79160. 2pm -‐ 4pm 6th Nov: Café Cour de Miracle, Vouvant 85120. 2.30pm -‐ 4.30pm 7th Nov: Brasserie Vue du Chateau, Bressuire 79300. 11am -‐ 1pm 7th Nov: Bar le Palais, St Aubin le Cloud 79450. 2pm-‐5pm 8th Nov: Jan’s home, La Ferrière-‐en-‐Parthenay 79390. 11am -‐ 4pm 9th Nov: Cafe Le Chauray, St Maixent l’Ecole 79400. 10am -‐ 1pm 13th Nov: Les Jardins St Laurent, Parthenay 79200. 10.30am-‐12.30pm 13th Nov: Le Don Jon Bar, Moncontour 86330. 2pm -‐ 4pm 14th Nov: Pause! Cafe, L’Absie 79240. 2pm-‐ 5pm 27th Nov: Jan’s home, La Ferrière-‐en-‐Parthenay 79390. 1pm -‐ 6pm 28th Nov: Le Relais des Deux Moulins, Clessé 79350. 4pm -‐ 6pm 29th Nov: Le P’tit Bar Boucard, Ménigoute 79340. 4pm -‐ 6pm For more info contact Jan on: 06 08 30 73 29 or email: paperbackjan@gmail.com
Open Fish 4 Chip Fish, Chips & mushy peas!
6-8pm
Mondays: Bar Tilleuls, Champniers (near Civray) Tuesdays: Sauzé-Vaussais (Main square & can be eaten in local bar) Wednesdays: Chef Boutonne (near Chateau) Thursdays: Sauzé-Vaussais - Evening. (Main square & can be eaten in local bar) Fridays: Mansle (Car park of Simply Supermarket) Tel: 06 37 53 56 20 ~ www.mobilefishandchipsfrance.com
Mr T’s Friterie
Open 6.30
-9pm
With regular venues at:
F oire 16170 (27th month) • Aulnay 17470 (from 6pm) • Rouillac • St Hilaire de Villefranche 17770 • Gourville 16170 • Matha 17160 • St Jean d’Angély 17400 + See www.frying2nite.com for details or call 06 02 22 44 74
Reel Fish & Chips Traditional English style Fish & Chips
6th Nov The Canteen, Etusson 18H30 - 21H30 8th Nov Bar Tabac, Bouille-Loretz 18H30 - 21H00 9th Nov Bar Vue du Chateau, Bressuire 18H30 - 21H00 20th Nov The Canteen, Etusson 18H30 - 21H00 21st Nov Bar Tabac, St Martin du Sanzay 18H30 - 21H00 22nd Nov Bar Le Chaps, La Chapelle Thireuil18H30 - 21H00 Tel: 06 04 14 23 94 or visit: www.reelfishandchips.net
Supporting Local French Charities
The Aidez Association, Promising yet another spectacular event for all. With 34 Stalls, Keynotes booked to sing some of our favourite Christmas Carols and Father Christmas calling in at some point during the afternoon, this year it will be an event not to miss. This is our eighth year at Terves for which we are very grateful to the Mayor, Mr Dufes, who enjoys and supports our event each year. The hall is booked and confirmed for Sunday December 8th and this year we will again open the doors at 11h00 and close at 18h00. We only have a few spare tables left (thanks to all who pre-‐booked their tables at our Summer Market and also at the Christmas Market last December). If you have any queries or require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. Lin Adams, President Tel: 05 49 64 84 95. Email: Lin.adams1@gmail.com
Combined Services Support by Terri Laverick Group (CSSG) Organization for the Beer Fest on 19th October is in full swing, and will be a memory by the time this piece comes to be read. But, all things considered we are hoping for a large turnout. With British style bitter coming from Le Brewery in Normandy, Bratwurst sausages from a well known supermarket in the UK, locally made chips and wine from a local vineyard, it cannot fail to be a success. The choir has been rehearsing some drinking songs and ‘3 + 1’ are raring to go. The ladies of Aidez Association are making cakes and ensuring there will be enough tea and coffee, so all tastes are covered. The ladies and gentlemen who are bringing their crafts, books and wines are looking forward to good trading for those early Christmas presents. Hopefully, we shall have lots more money to add to that ready to go to SSAFA France, to swell their coffers. I will let you know next month how we got on. On the 11th November, some members will be attending the ‘Parc du Jardin’ in Parthenay for the act of Remembrance, while others will go to the ceremonies held in their own communes. CSSG have been asked to place a wreath on the memorial in Parthenay, and this will be done by Will Rowe BEM. Our next meeting will be the Annual Group Meeting on 14th December at the Café des Belles Fleurs, in Fenioux followed by a Christmas Lunch. Anyone interested in coming please contact our Social Secretary Pauline Tonks by email and she will give you all the details. To join us please email: cssgroup@outlook.com or come to one of our bi-‐monthly meetings, where you will be warmly welcomed. Details can be sought via the email address or at any event our members attend.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Hobbies, Clubs & Associations... Cancer Support Deux-Sèvres
Cancer Support aims to improve the lives of people affected by Cancer. ---------------------------
Don’t worry alone - Pick up the Phone Contact June Searchfield on 05 49 64 59 96 Email: junesearchfield@gmail.com
We are here to support you and your family
All Girls Together A new group formed for company, fun and laughter for girls 18-‐80. Next meetings are 13th and 27th November at Fontenille-‐Saint-‐ Martin-‐d'Entraigues, 79110, 2 -‐ 5pm. Please ring Vivien for further information and directions on 05 49 27 51 98 I am a Jewish man with a non-‐Jewish wife from the UK looking for Jewish people of any nationality living in the area of La Chataignerie who would like to meet for tea and conversation. Please email: suelauris@hotmail.co.uk
Rubber Bridge:would any of you bridge players out there in the Deux-Sèvres, be interested in making up an occasional 4? Email David Rowe: djfrowe@hotmail.com or' phone 05 49 63 26 57.
Association Meridien Green We are an Anglo-‐French group which was founded in 2001 for mutual understanding of each other's language and culture. We meet twice weekly in the Salle des Associations in St Coutant, 79120. The best way to find out more is to visit our website -‐ www.meridiengreen.asso.fr or contact Maureen Dalby: 05 49 29 94 50. The name of our group comes from the fact that St Coutant is on the Greenwich Meridian!
Le Tallud Boules en bois are offering sessions every Wednesday from 16h to 18h from April through to September at the parc de Loisirs, Le Tallud. Everyone is welcome to come and play or learn the game of boules en bois. We have all the equipment, just turn up for half an hour or more for a bit of exercise and socialising. D e t a i l s f r o m R o s e m a r y W i l l i a m s o n rw.williamson@orange.fr
Alone in France? We are a group of people living alone in the L'Absie area who meet regularly for coffee and lunches. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 11am for coffee at the Pause cafe in L'Absie. Our lunches are at different venues each month. There's a warm welcome if you'd like to join us. More details from Frank 05 49 69 80 47. Open Door Lending Library Over 7000 fiction and non-fiction books and DVDs Open Tuesday and Friday mornings from 10am to midday at 18 rue Pierre Pestureau, Civray (86400) Individual membership 6€, family membership 10€ www.opendoor-civray.com
Book Group....meeting 2nd Thursday of the
month from 3pm at Christies Tea Room & Bookshop, Gençay, 86160. Take a look at the Book Group page on the website: www.chezchristies.com for more information.
Craft Café Creatif
Do you enjoy knitting or sewing, crochet or papercraft, but prefer to do it in the company of others, over a cup of tea and a piece of cake? If so, why not come and join us in L'Absie for an enjoyable afternoon with like-‐minded people. For further details contact Margaret on 02 51 69 50 32 or email knight.margaret@orange.fr
2nd Sunday Motorcycle Club www.2ndsundayclub.fr If you would like to attend our coffee mornings please contact us via the website........New members always welcome!
Book Club Thouars. Do you enjoy reading a cracking good story? And talking to others about it? Do you live in north 79, south 49 or north 86? Come along to our book club..... Contact Alison Morton at info@bookclubthouars.fr for more details.
Les Amis Solitaires We are a group of people living alone in France. We meet up for coffee mornings from 11am, every 2nd & 4th Thursday at The Lemon Tree in Sauzé Vaussais. More details from Gwen on 05 49 87 91 79 or email gwanshep@gmail.com
The Harmonics Singing Group. Based in the Salle
d'Annexe behind the mairie in Civray. We meet each Wednesday from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. No experience necessary just a willingness and commitment to learn. We sing all sorts of music and in several languages, whatever the music dictates. We are a small and friendly group who would love to meet you. Contact: Dolly Ait Boualou: 05 45 22 89 32 or sylvia.murray@wanadoo.fr
Through the Lens Group Local photography group meets on the last Monday in each month to chat about all things photography! New members welcome. For further information contact: Ian Gawn: 02 51 00 84 52 or Brian Preece: 05 49 72 09 94
A R E Y O U A M O D E L R A I L W A Y ENTHUSIAST? If so, join a group of likeminded modellers who meet on a monthly basis to visit members' layouts and swap information. We are based on the DeuxSevres/Vendee border but also have members in the Vienne and Charente. If you are interested please contact Gerry Riley for more information on 05 49 63 34 01. Secondigny Running Club... Put the bounce back in your step. Join our friendly and supportive running group. All abilities welcome. Email Kelly for more details: kellyencezelle@hotmail.co.uk
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Take a Break... DSM Easy Crossword Across: 8. Jewelled headdress (5) 9. A ray of natural light (7) 10. Annoy; rub up the wrong way (7) 11. Before (5) 12. Stick out (8) 13. Spend money on the high street (4) 15. An uncomfortable feeling on the skin (4) 17. Eleventh month (8) 21. From a definite past time until now (5) 22. Five more than ten (7) 24 . Convert illegally obtained money to legal money (7) 25. Sways to and fro (5)
DSM Toughie Crossword Across: 1. Party after taking exam being complete fulfilment (12) 7. Let the dogs out after wild Huns swallowed bad ale (7) 9. Venues for the racing fraternity are in these joints, so they say (5) 10. Platform given for Middle East port in trouble (4) 11. Cockney facial expression for clash of universities? (4,4) 12. One playing on the street finds us stuck on the wrong kerb (6) 14. Very keen to get to Bard’s forest ahead of Qme (6) 17. Obvious vessel to upend? (8) 19. Encourage one to have a flutter? (4) 22. Early version had an air leak, we are told? (5) 23. Presided over a meeting about hard ice (7) 24. Station to use to change for description of exhibition (12)
Quiz-tastic!
Down: 1. Sicilian volcano (4) 2. Public building used for gambling (6) 3. Shockingly repellent (7) 4. Move upwards (6) 5. Incompetent (5) 6. Spicy and savoury condiment (6) 7. Not right (8) 12. A light gym shoe with rubber sole and canvas top (8) 14. Benefits provided to those in need by a government (7) 16. A periodic count of the population (6) 18. English university city (6) 19. An agent that makes things white (6) 20. Prepared (5) 23. Facial feature (4)
Down: 1. Solid noise? (5) 2. Sat awkwardly, strangely like acting together in the films (7) 3. Delay in execution of visit? (4) 4. One offering new term for exotic pet organisation (7) 5. A rope thrown into dramatic situation (5) 6. Act about odds and evens brought into view (6) 8. Humble carrier has nothing aboard to give to distinguished carrier (4) 12. Females common in the wide south (6) 13. Give authorisation to teen in concise literary organisation (7) 15. Roam around and beg for change en masse and sanctions will follow! (7) 16. Rice cocktail for the red Dane (4) 18. Formerly mornings were used for short tests? (5) 20. After a little time, much altered side will come in waves (5) 21. Is not able to talk of hyprocrisy? (4)
With thanks to M.Morris
Monthly quiz by Roland Scou.....how many can you get?
1) What is the name of Captain Pugwash’s ship?
8) Which English actor played Blofeldt in ‘Diamonds are Forever’?
2) Who played Ena Sharples in ‘Coronation Street’?
9) Name the only UK number one hit by ‘ The Scaffold’.
3) Name the State Capital of Louisiana USA.
10) By what name are the Dominican Order of Monks more commonly known?
4) In 1974 which horse became the only winner of the English and Scottish Grand Nationals in the same year? 5) What is the title of Walt Disney’s first feature length cartoon film?
11) In which village does Postman Pat deliver the mail? 12) Which cocktail consists of Tia Maria, Vodka and Cola?
6) In which film would you hear the following lines? “It’s 106 miles to Chicago. We’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, its dark and we’re wearing sunglasses”.
Finally, award yourself an extra point if you spot the connection between all twelve answers, assuming you have twelve correct answers.
7) Which was the world’s first National Park?
Copyright RJS 2013. Page 7
THE DEUX-SĂ&#x2C6;VRES MONTHLY
Getting Out & About...
IN D REM
ER
as issue
Place your adverts for the Christm before 15th November! Page 8
THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Small Colour Advert only 34€
Go Visit Aunty Mabel! Chez Tante Mabel is a little shop opened in 79190 Pers by Bev & Paul Barker. Stocking a varied supply of handmade soaps, jewellery, dolls houses, home-‐made cakes and gift ideas, the shop is the perfect place to visit to while away a few hours.
You can find more information including dates, opening times and brochures on the website. You will always be sure of a warm welcome at Chez Tante Mabel -‐ so if you're passing, pop in, the kettle is always on! You can also find Chez Tante Mabel 'on the road' with regular stalls at Chef Boutonne and Lezay markets. They will also be at many Christmas markets in the coming month -‐ a full list can be found on the website: www.cheztantemabel.com
Chez Tante Mabel are proud to offer the largest range of 'The Dolls House Emporium', houses, furniture and soft furnishings anywhere in the South west of France. Pricing is very reasonable, with house Items from only €2, houses from €78 and houses fully decorated with electrics and lights from €470. They can also offer a complete 'build' service of your dolls house, or if you prefer to build your own or to make your own dolls-‐house furniture, Bev & Paul have an extensive library of books that can be borrowed at any time. Bev's passion is her cakes and leading up to Christmas she is offering the perfect solution to a dull winter's day....to try your hand at decorating your own fruit cake! You can pop along to the shop and spend an afternoon or evening at Chez Tante Mabel. A four inch Fruit cake will be provided, with all the necessary icing, tools and explanation required. The experience is 'washed down' with some mulled wine, mince pies and loads of Christmas spirit -‐ all for an inclusive price of €15. Page 9
THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
A Fresh Look for The Market at Luché sur Brioux
The new look Market and Language Centre at Luché sur Brioux can now offer a warm, cosy interior with a comfortable nook beside the wood-‐burning stove for those cold winter days. Externally we also have a new profile thanks to Sue Hackney, who is responsible for the wonderful murals. The menu has been extended to include sandwiches, toasties, paninis and homemade soups. The shopping experience is varied incorporating the products of more than twelve local artisans and businesses with lots of festive goodies arriving in the run-‐up to Christmas. The Language Centre continues to run French & English language courses throughout the week, including conversation groups with native speakers at only 5€ per person with Cream Tea. Two dates not to be missed are: • 12th November, Craft Taster Day • 30th November for the annual Christmas Fayre
The website www.15luche.com contains further details of these and all other activities, or you can call 06 98 05 48 79. Please note our new opening times are: Tuesday to Friday, 10am-‐5pm.
OPEN HOUSE CHRISTMAS SALE
SAT 23rd & SUN 24th NOVEMBER 11am -‐ 4pm ELLERYMAY LA FLEURISTE + LAURA WALKER JEWELLERY THE CRAFT CABIN + THE MARKET BOUTIQUE This two day event at The Craft Cabin in Melleran will offer a selection of Christmas gifts including: table decorations, poinsettias, crackers, door wreaths, handmade cards, wrapping paper, beaded & glass jewellery and real pressed flower jewellery, handcrafted by Laura. Boxed Christmas cards (all under 5€ a box), scarves and lots of other great gift ideas! For creative ones, there will be Christmas craft materials for card making and scrap-‐booking! Everyone is welcome and light refreshments will be offered. We are holding this event over two days this year, but please note that The Market will only be p r e s e n t o n S a t u r d ay 2 3 r d November and Laura Walker will only be present on Sunday 24th November. Ellerymay la Fleuriste & The Craft Cabin are present both days. The venue (Denise Eyre’s home address) is situated on the road b e t w e e n M e l l e ra n & C h e f Boutonne (D109), approx. 1.5 kms out of Melleran on the right hand side going towards Chef Boutonne. There will be a sign at the end of the drive. For more details please contact Denise on 06 75 89 95 55 or email: denise.eyre@wanadoo.fr. Address: 1 route des prés Guillon, 79190 Melleran. (GPS Coordinaes: N 46˚07’18” W0 ˚01’03”)
Hope you can make it!
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Come Dine With Dave
A WEEKEND OF MUSIC...
David Burns arrived in France two years ago. In that time he has been renovating his traditional french home. It has always been his wish to share his undoubted culinary skills by offering an exclusive dining experience. He has gained considerable experience working in the UK, Europe and the Middle East. Described by a national newspaper as one of the country's most promising Chefs, he received numerous accolades including various entries in the ‘Good Food Guide’ and 1 star in Michelin’s Red Guide for his French Classical food. David has always wanted to promote excellent food with his honest down-‐to-‐earth style, respecting the quality produce of the region, and choosing to give this exclusive experiences ensures just that. The cost of the dinner menu is 29,50€ per person, which includes an apéritif, canapés and half a bottle of good quality wine. Our next available event will be on Saturday 16th November and early booking is advisable as numbers are limited. Cookery Classes/Demonstrations will also be available for small groups of 8 people. This includes morning coffee on arrival followed by a demonstration in which you are welcome to participate in the preparation of lunch (2 courses plus a glass of wine). So why not get your friends together, come along and have some fun? All for 25 Euros. A typical late autumn menu: • Baked cod loin with a herb crust and tomato chive butter • Roasted free range chicken breast, Cep mushroom, tarragon & Vermouth • Caramelised apple pastry with honey and calvados ice cream • Coffee and petit four (additional cost of 3€) David’s contact details and location can be found in the advert below.
In November, St Maixent l’Ecole hosts a weekend of unique concerts that may well appeal to “les Britanniques en France,” not least because there will be a rare chance to hear Sir John Stainer’s ‘The Crucifixion’ live, here in Deux-‐Sèvres on Sunday 24th November. This much loved and performed oratorio of 1887 was well received in two concerts in May 2012 when it was introduced to French audiences. So it will receive a special performance at the Temple in St Maixent l’Ecole as part of the weekend programme. The choir will be Via Musica, plus the four soloists from the Saturday concert. On Saturday 23rd November, the celebrated organist, Michel Milhères, will introduce his invitées from Paris and Chauvigny, Julien Girard, tenor and organist, Romain Jurmande, baritone and harp, and Annie Stamatakis, soprano. The programme of music, ranging from the baroque to the 20th century, will of course include Bach (whom I like to think of as the grandfather of western music) to Nino Rota, the Italian film composer who composed the music for famous films by Fellini, Visconti, Zeffirelli and Frances Ford Coppola. If these are famous names from the past, let me jog your memory: he wrote the music for The Godfather parts I & II. He received an Oscar for that. One piece will no doubt require great agility by the performers, two organists playing on the same keyboard (4 hands and feet). The music was written by Gustav Merkel, a pupil of Robert Schumann’s. And with music by Louis Vierne, the great French organist, the concert should prove to be a satisfying as well as an entertaining evening well spent for the audience. The organ is of great interest to musicians. It is a rare portable pipe organ by François de la Brunetière, which he built to replicate the organ installed in the church at Arrou in the central region of France. It will be played at both concerts. The Saturday concert starts at 8.30pm. Sunday’s concert is at 5pm. Both are timed to avoid the traditional French dinner-‐time, which is of course sacred! Tickets can be obtained at Service Culturel de St Maixent (Mon-‐ Thu, 9-‐12.30 and 1.30-‐5.30; Fri, 9-‐12.30 and 1.30-‐4.30 (tel 05 49 76 13 77) service-‐culturel@saint-‐maixent-‐lecole.fr or at the door. A pass for the two concerts costs 16€, while each is individually priced at 12€. Reduced prices of 10€ are available to groups, the unemployed and students. If you are under 15 years of age, it’s free for you! Via Musica website: www.viamusicaniort.sitew.fr Page 11
THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Place de la Breche, Niort 1815
by Tony Barrett
Even today as I leave the underground car park and walk across the recently renovated manicured lawns of the ‘Place de la Breche’ (below), I can still imagine that day nearly two hundred years ago when lines of Napoleon’s finest light cavalry stood in stoic ranks in this very place. Their colourful braided uniforms and tall shako’s plumes nodding imperceptibly as they sat astride their beautiful mounts awaiting their final order.
The 7th Hussars (7eme Regiment de Hussards) had been formed at Compiegne in 1792 and had fought as part of Napoleon’s light cavalry in battles from Austerlitz (1805) to Waterloo (1815) and were proud of their reputation as being one the finest Hussar regiments in Napoleon’s Army. With the final abdication of Napoleon signed four days after the Battle of Waterloo, the authorities decided to disband Napoleon’s army. Even from St Helena the long grey coat and cocked hat still cast a long shadow over France and to keep so many men under arms who still idolised their ex-‐Emperor as much as they despised the king would have been too much of a risk. The 7th Hussars was such a regiment. On July 24th, 1815 the Regiment was ordered to replace their tricolour cockades with the hated white Bourbon cockade, which they did in total silence. The authorities, in spite of the Regiment’s submission, decided to disperse the 7th Hussars pending its dissolution and ordered them to Amboise to await further orders. Unknown to their Commanding Officer, the men had disobeyed their Commanding Officer and had not destroyed the tricolour cockades, but had hidden them under the leather flap at the rear of their tall cylindrical shakos, which was normally only pulled down over the neck in wet weather. As the Regiment moved southwards and entered Vienne the heavens opened, and the men lowered their back peaks to stop the rainwater running down their necks, exposing the tricolour cocades in a strongly royalist area, which if noticed would have caused a riot. Immediately, the Commanding Officer ordered the instant removal of the cockades, luckily before the townspeople had spied the offending items.
From Amboise the Regiment was ordered to Niort via Saint Maixent to await the date of the disbandment. Inspector-‐General Mermet, a former soldier under Napoleon, but had changed loyalties was chosen to perform the disbandment of the 7th Hussars, as he was trusted by the authorities and it was felt safer to have a hero of the old Empire perform the duty rather than some court dandy. On December 7th 1815 the Regiment arrived at Niort, their appearance was impeccable, professional to the end as they formed up in a line on the Place de la Breche where Mermet presently arrived to carry out their final inspection. Mermet was impressed at the splendid appearance of the men and horses and the condition of their weapons and equipment and was heard to say that it was a crime to disband such a unit as this. The men sat astride their mounts with sabres drawn as was normal practice in the presence of a General Officer, the Commanding Officer knew that when the order was given to return their sabres to their scabbards it would be for the last time, and could not bring himself to give the command. Handing the parade over to a subordinate he looked away with some emotion as the hussars sheathed their sabres, which were then collected and taken away to be put in store. Nine days later the 7th Hussars horses were handed over to the livestock market at Melle for sale and on the 27th December 1815 the disbandment of the 7th Regiment of Hussars was officially pronounced. On the 28th September 1840 the 7th Hussars were reformed and after seeing action in Algeria (1854-‐56), the Italian Campaign (1859) and the Franco-‐Prussian War (1870) they were garrisoned in Niort in the Du Guesclin Barracks in 1892 becoming known as the 7eme Regiment de Hussards de Niort. They remained there until 1919. A postcard dated 1910 (right) showing 7 th Hussars riding down ‘Les grands Escaliers du Square de la Breche returning to the very place the Regiment had been disbanded some ninety five years earlier. In just a couple of years after this photograph was taken the 7th Hussars would find themselves in a brutal war beyond their wildest imagination, the bloodbath that was the 1st World War. Gone would be the flamboyant uniforms and the horse as king of the battlefield.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
ARTicles
by Josie Bounds
AD Reinhardt 1913-‐1947 The challenge for Reinhardt was to build on and take forward Kandinsky and Mondrian’s quest for artistic unity. Reinhardt pursued this goal through his ‘ultimate paintings’, nothing but subtle shades of black. ‘Challenging the audience in a quasi-‐ religious manner: he was directing their vision towards a zone of sublime, utter stasis1. From the 1950’s Reinhardt painted exclusively black pictures, in 1960, he restricted himself to square formats and a single compositional scheme. Reinhardt’s black canvases are subtle in colour they reveal themselves slowly. They are objects of contemplation, serene events of the spirit; elegant in their mystery they invite meditation. ‘Ad Reinhardt is the conscience of the twentieth century art world’2. Reinhardt was active as an artist in anti war and civil rights protests, this self appointed title reinforced Ad Reinhardt Abstract Painting No5 1962 (Figure 23) Reinhardt’s manifesto against this period of political and social unrest in Americas quest for world domination. Described as the ‘dogmatist of abstraction whose writings appear at once, both clear and vague, cynical and contradictory’3. Ad Reinhardt’s writings on art read like a litany of negative aphorisms. To understand Reinhardt’s esoteric brand of Zen is to understand that there is no contradiction between many others. It is also useful to be aware that Reinhardt once defined nirvana as: oneness, nothingness, all in one, nothing.‘ The one standard in art is oneness and fineness, rightness and purity, abstraction and evanescence. The one thing to say about art is it’s breathlessness, lifelessness, deathlessness, contentlessness, formlessness, spacelessness, and timelessness. This is always the end of art’4. Widely read as he was Reinhardt was aware of aspects of Eastern philosophy and art, to which he would be particularly sympathetic5. Reinhardt uses these Eastern influences to satisfy his search for an antidote to the climate of Cold War America, a product of the modern world. However sealed tight Reinhardt’s black paintings may seem, they were not created in a void.
STOP PRESS Unfortunately due to illness we have had to cancel our plans for a play this autumn. This is always something that can affect all amateur theatre groups where resources and people are limited and that is why I am always canvassing for more volunteers. Reaction Theatre has a proud record of producing some excellent plays and performances over the years and it is our intention to do so once again in 2014. All is not lost though; we will be providing a Christmas carol sing-‐ a-‐long and short sketch show for our regular supporters. This will include a pie and pea supper and aperitifs and drinks after the show, more details can be seen on our website: As I mentioned last month, our singing group ‘The Keynotes’ have started practicing Christmas carols and songs in both French and English. During October we performed at the Combined Services Support Group’s Beer Festival, which was a great success and raised lots of needed support for SSAFA (The Soldier, Sailors and Air Force Association.) Dates for the future include:-‐ • Saturday 30th November: Carols at Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux starting around 8.30pm • Friday 6th December: Carols at restaurant A La Bonne Vie, Le Beugnon, starting around 8 o'clock.
The Art Scene
Our weekly Friday morning art group has been working on water colours and Pen & Wash during September and October and I have planned a range of different topics for the rest of this year. If you are interested in finding out our plans, send me an email and I will forward a programme of events to you. Don’t forget our Alternative Calendar Girls calendar is still for sale at the following four venues and would make a great Christmas present for everyone, and is so easy to pack and send to the UK or wherever your loved ones may be: Restaurant A La Bonne Vie at Le Beugnon, Café des Belles Fleurs at Fenioux, Pause! Cafe at L’Absie and Cafe Cour du Miracle at Vouvant. If you would like to join any or all of our groups (promise you don’t have to ride a bike or jump out of a plane) then send me an email johnblair@btopenworld.com or telephone 05.49.63.23.50.
Reinhardt’s attraction to the mystical side of negation arose from his appreciation of Eastern art and religion, and the meditative, ascetic quality of Zen Buddhism. Through his old friend Thomas Merton and the seminars of D. T Suzuki at Columbia University in the early fifties, Reinhardt immersed himself in Zen Buddhism, ‘because it goes over and over something until it disappears 6.’ For Reinhardt the process of painting over and over again was important because in the act of painting over and over he lost himself to get what he describes as ‘that rightness, no composition and colour and expression, but invisibility.’ For Reinhardt, Mondrian did this 7. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Bell J (1999) What is Painting? Representation and Modern Art, Thames & Hudson, U.K. MOMA (1991) “Ad Reinhardt and the Museum”, Quarterly 8, summer, p. 7. Rosenthal S (2007) Black Paintings, Haus der Kunst, Munich, p. 35. Rose B (1975) Art as Art The Selected Writings of Ad Reinhardt (edited and with introduction by Barbara Rose) University of California Press, Los Angeles. Lippard L (1981) Ad Reinhardt, Abrams Inc, New York. “Ad Absurdum,” Time, Jan 11, 1963, p. 68. Lippard L (1981) Ad Reinhardt, Abrams Inc, New York.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY More from local writer Alison Morton... Please see back issues of ‘The DSM’ if you would like to see previous articles.
NaNoWriMo What? National Novel Writing Month takes place every year when thousands of wannabe writers set out to write a novel of at least 50,000 words between 1 and 30 November, an average of 1,666 per day. In 2011 out of 256,618 participants worldwide, 36,843 ‘winners’ reached the 50,000 word mark by 30 November. Now, it can be exhilarating to achieve this. Writing that much text is a high physical achievement let alone a mental and emotional one. The NaNoWriMo organisation structures the whole project, instilling writer discipline, a sense of fun and community and buzz throughout the month. However (and you knew there was a however…), 50,000 words of text does not a novel make. Most agents, publishers and readers consider 65-‐70,000 words as a minimum; 50,000 is a short-‐change. The other big point is that such fast writing will produce a first draft and not a finished novel. Like tea, a manuscript needs to brew. Any professional writer will tell you that the first draft should go into the drawer for at least six weeks before you take it out and self-‐edit. You’ll be appalled at the mistakes, sloppy writing, plot holes and banalities you’ll find, trust me. Can you glue yourself to your keyboard and find 1,666 words every day plus thinking time plus research, plus real life? Some professional novelists write 500 words a day, some 3,000 a day or more. Some spend time on planning and research, others spend a year or more writing. Be advised that NaNoWriMo is not a guaranteed route to literary success. But back to the positive. You’re not trying to write the Great British Novel, you’re trying to have a go at a flawed story whose bones are good but which needs fleshing out and moulding. Put December aside, or more practically January to become NatEdRubbMo or ‘National Edit Your Rubbish Month.’ When you come back to it, then the real work begins. If you want to do this novel writing thing, then you must come to terms with the fact that rewriting is an essential part of it. Writing is when you make the words. Editing is when you make the novel. So, if you take part, how do you get the best out of the experience? • Aim for, but don’t despair if you don’t reach the 50,000 mark. • Know that you will have to work for several months afterwards on any text you produce. • Interact with others in the NaNoWriMo groups -‐ you may make some wonderful writing friends who will encourage you now and in the future. • If you get to the end of the month with a manuscript -‐ finished or not -‐ celebrate! Eat chocolate, drink a glass or two of bubbly, dance around the garden at midnight on 30 November. NaNoWriMo is seen by some as a gimmick. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With an artificial month deadline and 50,000 word count, writing a novel becomes a challenge with a visible end-‐point that takes away a lot of the fear from the idea of trying to write a book. Writing becomes something achievable. As a gimmick, it’s a pretty impressive one. Happy writing! Alison Morton writes alternate history thrillers, blogs about wriBng and Romans at hDp://alison-‐morton.com/blog/
News from the Pays de Gâtine! by Julia Salvat
Knowing your rights!
Voting at the Municipal and European Elections Citizens of the European Union living in France can vote at their local council elections on 23rd and 30th March 2014 and at the European elections on 25th May 2014. However in order to vote you must put your name down on the specific electoral lists at your town hall and you must fill in the appropriate forms before 31st December 2013. An important point to take into account also is that if you put your name down on your local European electoral list to vote here in France you cannot then vote at this election in another country. Certain rules and conditions apply as for French voters : • You must be 18 years old • You must be a European Citizen • You must have been living on a permanent basis in your commune for the past six months • You must not have had your right of vote taken away from you either in France or in your birth country. Take with you your passport and proof of your address (a recent electricity, gas or telephone bill etc). Further information can be obtained at your town hall or at the Préfecture who will also answer any questions you may have or you can look at their website: www.service-‐public.fr (elections-‐ politiques). You might even be asked to be a councillor but, without taking out French nationality, you could never become mayor or assistant mayor of a French commune!
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
One man and his (hunting) dog went to hunt a... by Sue Burgess
close to a house and shoot away from it, provided that they have a clear open view. If there is an ACCA in the town or village, then it is forbidden to hunt within 150 metres of a house.
Like it or hate it, hunting (la chasse) is an important part of French rural life. It is an old tradition and many people still hunt. King Louis XI had a hunting lodge at Missé near Thouars and the château at Oiron was originally built as a hunting lodge.
La Chasse à Courre is hunting on horseback for animals like foxes and stags. There are few Chasse à Courre in the Deux-‐Sèvres.
This year the hunting season in Deux-‐Sèvres opened on the 8th September and will close on the 28th February 2014. In this Département, there is no hunting on Tuesdays except within the framework of le plan de chasse. Hunting dates for some animals also depend on the plan de chasse. Hare hunting (chasse au lièvre) is regulated in this way. It is authorised between the 20th September and the 8th December in the following communes: Le Breuil Bernard, Chanteloup, La Chapelle Saint Laurent, Courlay, Moncoutant, Neuil les Aubiers, Pugny, Clazay and Terves. Hunting for boar (sanglier) must be authorised by the prefecture. The Fédération des Chasseurs des Deux-‐Sèvres organises hunting in the Deux-‐Sèvres. Their website gives information about hunting and the different dates for the different species. They organise the tests for the hunting permits (permis de chasse). The number of animals that can be killed is fixed by the PMA (Prélèvement maximum autorisé) and differs for each type of animal. For example: partridge -‐ 3 per hunter per day of hunting, Boar -‐ 5 p/ day, Snipe -‐ 2 p/day with a maximum of 6 p/week and 30 for the season. Hunting certain animals in the snow, when the ground is covered is forbidden.
Saint Hubert is the patron saint of hunters and is celebrated on the 3rd November. There are masses and the churches are decorated with stuffed trophies and greenery. Hunting horn players are often present, sonneurs de trompe de chasse, with their velvet jackets and hard hats. It was Louis XI (the one who had the hunting lodge in Missé) who decreed that Saint Hubert should be celebrated in a special way. Vocabulary / Vocabulaire : le lapin ...................................... rabbit le lièvre ..................................... hare le perdrix ..................................
partridge
le faisan ....................................
pheasant
la bécasset................................
woodcock
le permis de chasse .................
hunting licence
un fusil de chasse ....................
a shotgun
You will have all seen signs marked ACCA. ACCA is the local town hunting association. Association Communale de Chasse Agréée. If your local ACCA has incorporated your land in its hunting grounds, you can apply for your land to be a réserve de chasse et faune -‐ a part of the territory where hunting is not allowed. The ACCA must give over at least 10% of its territory to réserve de chasse. You can also apply to the prefecture for hunting to be forbidden on your land chasse interdite. Hunters cannot shoot towards houses, railways, roads or pathways, à portée de fusil (within striking distance). However, they can stand
Contact ‘The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly’
Colour Advert Size A or B, only 38€ per month or from 33,33€ per month for 12 months.
La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny.
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 ~ Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr or see our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Health, Beauty & Fitness...
2013 Beauty Recommendations... Samantha’s Trends for this Season...
It’s one of my favourite times of the year, sure I am upset to kiss goodbye to the summer sun but I am secretly excited about wrapping-‐up warm for winter too! With my Bridal season now finished, the question on everybody's lips is, “What's hot this season?” I have been doing my usual research to see what’s on trend this season and all I can see jumping out at me is textures! From soft leathers to rich metallics, there seems to be a fabulous mixture and this can been seen in this season’s make-‐up trends too. Metallics are a massive influence -‐ look out for soft greys, blues and rich reds for this season's nail colours and you can also find beautiful greys and blues for the eyes too. For the lips I recommend a high gloss to lift any metallic look this season. If you need personal tips, please feel free to email me through my website: www.themakeupgirl16.com, quoting 'Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly Beauty' and I will come back to you with makeup tips and tricks personally for you, free of charge for readers.
Emma says... Autumn makes for the perfect time to change your hairstyle and colour and to tone down those added highlights from the sun. It’s time to get your hair back into condition and add some warmth. New for this season seems to be hair accessories. The latest accessories to hit the market are bandos, which are big alice bands with wire inside that shape around your style. Bun bows are a fun way to add sparkle or colour to a quick up-‐do, chignon or add an applique hair-‐band to add some interest to a down-‐ style with some curls. Lots of these accessories are bejewelled in a variety of colours to suit you. But the best so far, that I love, is the vintage-‐inspired brown wool hat. Rest assured no one will notice your messy bad hair days with this stylish chapeau . Plus it keeps you warm for these autumnal days to come. Charente Hair & Make Up Tel: 05 45 31 56 93 / 06 50 04 37 30 www.charentehairandbridal.com
Small Colour Advert only 34€ Page 16
THE DEUX-SÉVRES MONTHLY
Our Furry Friends...
Phoenix Association rescue and re-‐home animals in need. Please visit our website: www.phoenixasso.com
MAX - 2 year old Border Collie cross
Max is a big softie. He is completely endearing and we can't fathom why he has still not been re-‐homed. He's beautiful, bright, loving and good with other dogs. He's un-‐ tested with cats.
Tina Hatcher
Max is not a barker but he is a talker. He likes to give you a story in the mornings, which is another of his endearing qualities, as well as liking to put his head on your lap. He'll do this when it's thundering, as he's a bit of a scaredy cat! Max is castrated, microchipped, vaccinated and de-‐parasited. For more information, please contact Foster Carer, Yvonne at yyanderson87@gmail.com or call on 06 02 38 20 70.
MAYDAY MES AMIS Mayday Mes Amis has been formed to help animals in need in l'Absie and the surrounding area. For more information please email: jill.zub@sky.com.
Equine Rescue France
We are always looking for new members and we are in need of donations so we may continue to help equines in France. Please support the ERF.
Please contact Equine Rescue France via their website www.equinerescuefrance.org HOOF (Horse Orientated Open Forum)
HOOF is open to anyone with an equine interest. You do not need to own a horse! We meet about once a month for talks, visits etc. Interested? Contact Jo Rowe on: 05 49 64 30 59
APPEAL This beautiful female cat is sterilised with a clean bill of health and is looking for a new home after her owner left her at St Junien golf club. If you’re interested in giving her a good home please contact Emma, 06 62 13 54 82. The cat is currently at Ventouse between St Cloud and Mansle but can be collected from the golf club. The Hope Association is a non-‐profit making charity that raises funds to help animals in need. Hope donates regularly to Animal Rescue associations throughout France, raising funds through numerous events held throughout the year, so if you fancy becoming a volunteer and be a member of 'The Team', please email: linda.burns4hope@gmail.com For further information and other cats and dogs for adoption go to www.hopeassoc.org.
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THE DEUX-SÉVRES MONTHLY
Expanding our Role
NALA started 3 years ago (doesn't time fly?) as a service for rehoming animals. Since then as we've grown older and better informed (I wouldn't say wiser) our role has expanded. This was mainly due to the realisation that just rehoming animals is a Sisyphean task as there seems to be an inexhaustible supply of abandoned/unwanted cats and kittens. The solution, of course, is to reduce the supply. So, for a start, all the animals that we re-‐home are sterilised or, if too young at the time of adoption, with the obligation for them to be sterilised before a certain date. As an experiment we have organised, in cooperation with a vet, a Sterilisation Day when people can have their animals sterilised at a discount. If it works well, we aim to repeat the exercise next year with more vets. The Sterilisation Day was fully subscribed in no time and one of the participants asked if it would be possible to get a discount for identification as well. The vet was amenable, so that also became an option. This is something that we should have thought of ourselves, as identification makes it easier to find the owner of a lost animal and makes abandoning an animal much harder. Another thing we've learnt is that it's not always necessary to rehouse an animal. Sometimes people just need a little bit of help to get them over a rough patch and then they can keep their pet. Of course, help generally means money, so fundraising has become a necessity. The vast majority of NALA's income goes towards helping animals, mainly vet fees and medicines as well as food and cat litter. Thankfully there are a number of generous people who organise events in order to raise money for NALA's activities. We are very grateful to them and encourage you to support them. Please try to come to the ‘Taste of Christmas’ on the 7th of December at the Chateau de Puybelliard near Chantonnay 85110. Another issue is the indifference of the authorities towards the plight of strays. Too many mayors don't fulfill their reponsibilities. So we're learning how to take them on. It's an “interesting” experience... on the one hand there are a lot of Sir Humphreys out there who try to delay and deflect, whilst on the other there is the Commission for access to administrative documents (*Commission d’accès aux documents administratifs) and also the Defender of Rights (Défenseur des droits). Once we get the facts, then we can see the size of the problem and hopefully we can work with the authorities to find a solution. But that's not going to happen any time soon, and at the moment we've got cats and kittens that need a new home... So, Ladies and Gentlemen, please allow me to introduce Danaé... a slightly built young lady of somewhere between 18 -‐ 24 months old. She has an easy-‐going temperament but is cautious about other cats. Her natural habitat is on someone's knees where she will accept to be stroked as much as you like. She is currently residing with a foster family in Moutiers-‐sur-‐Lay, 85320. For more details please contact us at 06 52 60 08 84 (Nathalie, English speaking) or by email: nala85480@hotmail.com. Nos Amis Les Animaux 85480 (NALA 85480). Tel: 07 70 31 54 59
Email: nala85480@hotmail.com www.nosamislesanimaux.com
Lucky....we hope so This gentle German Shepherd was found recently wandering in the commune of Civray and taken to the local pound where he was never claimed. We have called him Lucky, and we hope he will be. You deserve a more magnificent name like Prince or Star because you are a handsome, loyal and gentle dog who was abandoned without a second thought. You are not perfect, you are shy of strangers, but if they are gentle and take their time, you will lick them. You are not used to other dogs, but loved your little playmate in the cell next to yours and were sad to see him go. You are not in the prime of life and yes, your back legs are weak and you must take *medication to help you. So who will want you Lucky, Prince or Star? One of our volunteers walks Lucky every day to build up the strength in his legs. We think he must always have been tied up because he still pees like a little girl and when he gets excited and knows he is going out, he whimpers like a puppy. He walks enthusiastically but a bit wobbly on the lead, and is friendly and gentle when he gets to know you. Micro-‐chipped (250269802199968), vaccinated including rabies so has full Passport. Not neutered. *Lucky has had an X-‐ray which shows that he has degenerative problems in his spine and has been prescribed Candilat for the remainder of his life. Orfee will help towards the cost of this ongoing medication and we have been assured that he is in no pain and will benefit from regular gentle daily exercise. Once you have met him you will be smitten. English enquiries: Nicolette on 05 49 27 26 20 Email: orfeeinenglish@gmail.com Mary on 05 49 50 69 41 Email: orfeeinenglish2@gmail.com French enquiries: Isabelle on 09 77 48 71 43 Email: asso.orfee@laposte.net www.orfeeinenglish.canalblog.com
Marché de Noêl TUESDAY 3rd DECEMBER 2013 Salle des Spectacles (next door to the Mairie) CIVRAY 86400. 9.30am - 4pm Association Orfée will be running the bar throughout the day and we will be offering festive mulled wine and delicious home-‐made mince pies together with lots of other mouth-‐watering Christmas yummies!! Come along and meet us, have a chat, join in the festive spirit and start your Christmas shopping early at the indoor and outdoor markets. We look forward to seeing you there, please come and support us. WE CANNOT DO IT ALONE, WE NEED YOUR HELP Saving dogs lives…
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The Great Outdoors... THE AMATEUR GARDENER by Vanda Lawrence
Some time ago I gave you a list of good and bad neighbours in the vegetable garden, but I have now found that there are also good and bad neighbours in the storage shed too! Apparently most produce emits something called ethylene gas. This is a natural, odourless gas which triggers the ripening process and some fruits/veggies give off more than others. Those that don't give off much ethylene are very sensitive to it and immediately start to produce it themselves if they come into contact with it. This speeds up the ripening process which can be good or bad news. The good news is that if you have some under-‐ripe fruits and don't want to wait a few days for them to ripen on their own, you can help things along by putting them in a closed brown paper bag to concentrate the ethylene gas and speed up ripening. Alternatively, put them in the fruit bowl next to a ripe banana, for example, which gives off high levels of ethylene gas -‐ this will also do the trick. On the other hand, the bad news is that you must be careful which fruit/veg you store alongside each other in the storage shed, so the following lists might be useful: Fruits/Vegetables that emit HIGH levels of Ethylene gas: Apples Apricots Avocados Bananas Cantaloupe Figs Honeydew melons Kiwi fruit Nectarines Papayas Peaches Pears Plums Tomatoes
Fruits/Vegetables that emit LOW levels and are sensitive to Ethylene gas: Asparagas Broccoli Brussel sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celery Cucumber Eggplant Grapefruit Green beans Lemons Leafy Greens Limes Peas Peppers Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Summer Squashes Watermelon So separate the high gas-‐yielding produce from the others in the store house. You can refrigerate fruit/veg to slow down the ripening process but obviously this is not practical in large quantities. It goes without saying that all your produce needs to be checked regularly, to make sure that the odd piece is not spoiling from an unnoticed bruise or blemish, because in only a few days this will damage its neighbours.
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Life on the Farm...
by Peter & Jenny Sebborn.
I’m sure many of our readers appreciate how busy our life is on the farm. With all the livestock, veggie plot, garden, poly-‐tunnel as well as building houses, mucking out, planting trees, cutting firewood plus the maintenance to fences, outbuildings etc etc..... OK, OK I know I make it sound tough, but for us it has become a way of life which we love. So it has been a tough decision to cut down our numbers slightly over winter (we do say this every year and every year we fail) to give ourselves a bit of free time or adjusting the work/life balance as they say. When I broke my finger trying to catch the last lamb we took it as an indication that it was a good time to slow down. For the first time since we started keeping animals we will be without pigs over winter. So, with a few less to look after and no births imminent, the offer from my son and his girlfriend to farm-‐sit whilst we had a few days away was kindly accepted. Ok, so we didn’t go far just in case they had any problems, but a few days on the coast was a welcome break, our first together since moving here in 2010. It has surprised us that even by reducing numbers by a few, it has changed our mind-‐set so that we now feel that we have more time to do a few of the things on our wish list. So what have we been doing to occupy ourselves? Two years ago we had a lot of apples from our orchard but by the time we got round to thinking about harvesting them the weather had the better of us and we missed out. Last year we had very few apples because of the early, bad weather. So a
priority this year was to make the most of our apples instead of just feeding them to the pigs. We have been picking our apples and have made two trips to the apple press in Secondigny to produce juice. Some of which we have taken unpasteurised to make cider and the rest is bottled for the year ahead. The pigs haven’t missed out because we brought the pulp away as well. It was great fun to do because we actually did most of the work ourselves under the watchful eye of the staff. If you are a health and safety professional it is probably not the place to visit as all the machinery is accessible. Even if you don’t have enough apples to make up the 200 kilo minimum, it is well worth clubbing together with a few friends and enjoying some excellent juice. We also pressed some of the pears to make juice and perry and of course the pulp of that went to the pigs as well. A word of warning, the pulp needs to be used fairly quickly or pigs will get tipsy as it can start to ferment. So, with the kitchen like a mini brewery I thought I’d also make some stout. We have also made some summer fruit vodka, rosehip vodka and next on the agenda is chilli vodka. With three of the pigs gone (including Stinky, who we sold to the abattoir, but it’s still not a good idea to mention it as Jen’s still not forgiven me!) we have made some sausages, bacon and ham so our freezer is well and truly stocked at the moment. We have also been pickling onions and the last of the cucumbers, bottling tomatoes, preserving jams and chutneys and making cheese, Cheshire this time. Unfortunately goat’s cheese all tastes the same to me. Jen’s also been busy making soups, courgette and tomato, spicy vegetable and a traditional Halloween treat, pumpkin. We had Axelle, a French student, come to stay again this year (we clearly didn’t work her hard enough last year as she wanted to come back!). After a few days of watching Jen milk Polly our goat, Axelle wanted to try and after a couple more days she insisted she could do it by herself. Jen was feeding the other animals when Axelle came running over saying “quick I have a problem!”. The problem was perfectly clear, Polly had kicked the bucket and Axelle was wearing the milk -‐ all of it!! It was in her hair and running down her cheeks and all over her clothes. Luckily she found it hilarious, as did we -‐ shame we didn’t have a camera at the ready. Did I say cutting down and no births imminent? Whoops we seem to have some eggs in the incubator, Dot the rabbit is pregnant again and I’m looking at buying a breeding pair of hares. .. oh well, that’s life on the farm.
Peter & Jenny Sebborn. Breeders of pigs, lambs and poultry. La Gauteliere, 79220, Pamplie. Tel: 05 49 28 38 57.
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A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres A-Z of the Communes of the Deux-Sèvres. by Sue Burgess COULONGES THOUARSAIS Coulonges Thouarsais is a small village which stretches over 17,3km and has 443 inhabitants. The population has been rising since 1999. Surrounded by the communes of Luché Thouarsais, La Chapelle Gaudin and Sainte Gemme, Coulonges Thouarsais is situated 16km North East of Bressuire. The inhabitants are known as the Coulongeois and the Coulongeoises. The stream running from the pond of De Juigny is the main waterway which crosses the commune. If you are ever driving through Coulonges Thouarsais, it is important to note that vehicles coming out of roads on the right have priority in this village. So even though you would seem to be on the main road through the village, BE CAREFUL! The origin of the name Coulonges comes from the words ‘colonia’ and ‘colonica’, which indicate former Roman colonies. In 1080, the commune was called Colongia according to a parchment in the Abbey of Saint Jouin de Marnes. The market town of Coulonges was built on the two sides of an old Gallic Roman road which was used until the Middle Ages. A VOIR / MUST SEE • Les Pierres Levées du Bois Migou Some standing stones can still be seen today -‐ the Pierres Levées du Bois Migou – and even if most Coulongeois know that they were erected and aligned using cattle and yokes in order to plant vines, no-‐one knows where the stones came from or why there are so many in such a small space. La Pierre aux Lièvres (the hares' stone) is another place of local legends. COURLAY Courlay is situated in the North West of the Deux-‐Sèvres, about 10km from Bressuire. There are about 2500 Courlitais according to the last census.
A VOIR / MUST SEE • La Tour Nivelle – school museum Ernest Perochon, one of the most famous writers of the Deux-‐Sèvres, was born on the 24 February 1885 at Tyran. He was born into a family of protestant farmers and, as luck would have it, in that same year, a public school was built in the hamlet of La Tour Nivelle. Jules Ferry had made schooling free, non-‐denominational and compulsory in 1881. Ernest loved school and the teachers soon realised that this boy was particularly gifted. He went on to study in Bressuire and then in the teacher training college in Parthenay. After three years of study, at the age of 18, he became a primary school teacher. His first post was at Courlay and from there he went on to teach in several different schools in the Deux-‐Sèvres. Ernest Perochon began to write poems in 1908 whilst teaching at St Paul en Gâtine. In 1920 he was awarded the Prix Goncourt for one of his novels. He stopped teaching at the age of 35 to devote himself entirely to writing. The school at La Tour Nivelle is now a museum and shows you what school was like -‐ with blackboard, desks, inkwells, pen holders and well kept exercise books. You can even put on one of the old school overalls and take part in a dictation class. • La Chapelle du quartier de la Plainelière La Chapelle du quartier de la Plainelière is part of La Petite Eglise. This church was formed by a group of dissidents after the revolution during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1801, when Napoleon signed a Concordat to try to put an end to the anarchy in the church. Pope Pius VII authorised Napoleon to nominate the bishops and archbishops himself. La Petite Eglise was therefore formed by groups of people who did not agree with the changes in the church. Today there are three Petites Eglises in Deux-‐Sèvres; at the Chapel in Courlay, Cirières and Montigny. The masses are held in latin in chapels and last about 2 hours. The Petite Eglise celebrates all the religious festivals that were omitted from the Concordat and are particularly conscientious about following strict eating rules during Lent.
More ‘A-‐Z of the Communes of the Deux-‐Sèvres.’ next month...
French Life, Food & Drink...
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French Village Diaries
by Jacqueline Brown.
I will be honest and admit I would have liked more sunshine this October. After such a lovely summer, the damp days drove me nuts and I hope it is not a sign of what we have to look forward to this winter. In the nine years we have lived here many of my autumn days have been spent c o l l e c t i n g wa l n u t s i n t h e sunshine, laying them out in crates to dry in the sunshine, can you see a pattern emerging here? Damp walnuts are not happy walnuts, much the same as a damp me is not a happy me. I love everything about walnuts; from the size and shape of the two old trees we have in the orchard, to the smell of their leaves and of course their delicious taste and versatility in the kitchen. Even the raking of the damp leaves on a chilly winters day is good exercise for the body, and the mind too, when the air is heavy with their fragrance. The autumn walnut harvest is one of the last harvests of the year for us so it is always a bit sad to know the orchard season is drawing to a close, but it is a special time too. In terms of quantity it is our biggest harvest and has to be the easiest one, especially as the windfalls don’t bruise like the fruit, although it can take some scrubbing to get rid of the blackening of your fingers as you battle to remove the husks. Some years we have big nuts, some years they are smaller, but there are always more than we can eat. Thankfully once dry they store well in open trays in a cool, dark place so we can enjoy them all year round and give them to friends and family too. We are also very lucky not to have to share our crop with squirrels, as despite seeing them when walking in the woods outside of the village, none have ventured into the orchard. Having grown up in leafy Surrey where the huge grey squirrels ruled the garden, I love to see the little red squirrels here, but I’m quite happy they are too shy to live in the village. We have only ever had one problem with a mousey thief who moved into the walnut store over winter, but we soon sorted him out and moved him on. Walnuts are reported to be a super food with one portion of nuts (about 14 halves) providing your daily dose of omega-‐3 fatty acids that may help to lower blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular disease. Some of my favourite things to make and bake with the walnuts are pesto, bread, coffee and walnut cake, Christmas mincemeat and walnut liqueur. Such is my love of these trees I have even asked my husband to scatter my ashes under the biggest of our walnut trees -‐ a natural soil enhancer in a place I would be very happy to spend my days. For recipes please email me at frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com or visit www.frenchvillagediaries.com
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Are you a bit of a Bookworm? If you are an avid reader and would like to share your books with us -‐ we would love to publish your book reviews here. Please send to us by email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr or alternatively complete the ‘Written Contributions’ form on our website. www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr. Reviews should ideally be 150-‐200 words long.
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Contact ‘The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly’ La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny.
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 ~ Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr or see our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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The Co-op ~ Good with... Wine by John Sherwin.
The advantages of co-‐operation and teamwork have been recognised since prehistoric times. Og was strong and had a big club but not much between the ears. Ig was a weed but knew where all the tasty animals were. Working together, they put meat on the rock. Little did Og and Ig realise that their need for a good T-‐bone of a Friday night (not that Fridays existed then) would lead to Friendly Societies, Mutual Organisations, and Utopian Socialism based on voluntary co-‐operation. What goes around comes around, as Ig would have signed. So I come to the French caves coopératives, long seen (often rightly) as offhand makers of iffy wine. But one can’t ignore organisations which, collectively, account for half the area of French vineyards and half the number of French grapegrowers/winemakers. Yes, for some co-‐ops the image is still of Pierre, Gitane stuck to his lower lip, filling his 20 litre cubi by hose from a concrete vat or stainless steel tank, but many more either continue fine wine-‐making practice or have recognised the need to up their game if they are to compete in terms of quality not just price. I list below some examples of excellent coopératives, in no particular order, but leaving the most local to last. One of the most highly renowned co-‐ops is La Chablisienne. Founded in 1923 and based in the town of Chablis it represents 300 grapegrowers. Of a total 4700 ha in production in the whole of Chablis, the co-‐op accounts for an impressive 25%. Importantly, it makes fine examples of all the Chablis appellations from Petit Chablis through to Grand Cru. Their website (English available) is full of interesting background www.chablisienne.com. Moving down to the northern Rhone, the Cave de Tain l’Hermitage was founded in 1933. It receives grapes from 1000 ha, producing Hermitage, Crozes-‐Hermitage, St Joseph, Cornas and St Peray. Also excellent Vin de Pays, reds 100% syrah full of red berries, violets and spiciness; whites 100% marsanne, fresh and floral. The website is a little on the commercial side, but this is no bad thing as you can shop online www.cavedetain.com. Back up to Alsace, the Cave de Turckheim was founded in 1955 when it brought together 180 grapegrowers with 109 ha – that’s an average of 0.6 ha per grower, hence the need to huddle together! In 1956 they produced 1620 hl. These days their cuverie holds 80,000 hl with 2 million bottles in stock. From little acorns… They claim to still demand the same quality from their growers and the same finesse and attention to detail from their winemaking team, and I believe them. Check www.cave-‐turckheim.com. Perhaps the most impressive in terms of size and area covered are Les Producteurs Plaimont, a grouping of five co-‐operatives in the south-‐ west with 5300 ha of vines stretching from the Pyrenees up into Gascony farmed by 1000 growers. Fascinating wines from the appellations of St Mont, Madiran, Pacherenc-‐du-‐Vic-‐Bilh and Cotes de Gascogne. No single installation, but eight shops in the south-‐west which you can locate at www.plaimont.com where you can also shop online. Last but not least, the Cave du Haut Poitou in Neuville-‐de-‐Poitou represents grapegrowers from Vienne and Deux Sèvres. Their website at www.cavehautpoitou.free.fr isn’t very good, so I will report in more detail next month after I’ve visited. For the time being, you can buy online at www.lesvinsdeneuville.fr. John Sherwin, French Wine Tours. Tel: 02 51 66 13 05 Email: johnsherwin@orange.fr ~ www.french-wine-tours.com Page 24
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Motoring... Rally Memories
by Helen Tait-‐Wright
Back in the late 80s my winters were spent out marshalling on rally stages as a member of Knutsford Motor Club. We went to the Welsh forests, the Yorkshire Forests, to special stages at Oulton Park and Chatsworth, and anywhere else we were needed. It was great fun, despite the freezing early morning starts, and are days of which I will always have fond memories.
For those unfamiliar with Group B, the rules gave car manufacturers much greater scope to produce full blown competition cars without the need for a current production model. Group B had few restrictions on technology and design and the number of cars required for homologation to compete was only 200. Weight was kept as low as possible, high-‐tech materials were permitted, and there were no restrictions on boost, resulting in the power output of the winning cars increasing from 250hp in 1981, the year before Group B rules were introduced, to there being at least two cars producing in excess of 500 by 1986, the final year of Group B. The Group B regulations fostered some of the quickest, most powerful and sophisticated rally cars ever built and is commonly referred to as the “golden era of rallying”. Amongst these brutal, bulky and aggressively designed cars was a machine whose elegant lines almost looked out of place in the harsh environment of the rallying world. Lancia’s Rally 037 was designed in 1980 to meet with the newly conceived Group B regulations due to be implemented in 1982, and in compliance with this, 200 road going examples were produced prior to the 037s first competitive outing in the 1982 World Rally Championship season.
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Although by then the heyday of the Group B era was over, the legendary Group B cars were still being campaigned in those days by private teams and clubman racers, and the entry lists featured Audi Quattros, Manta 400s, Ford RS200s, Metro 6R4s, and Peugeot 205 T16s to name but a few.
The car had a mid engine, rear wheel drive configuration, and was extremely lightweight, thanks in part to its polyester resin and fibreglass body. With drivers Markku Alen and Attilio Bettega at the wheels of the works 037s, the 1982 season was plagued with retirements, mainly related to gearbox issues, but the new car did manage to achieve several wins including its first win at the Pace Rally in the UK. While Bettega convalesced after an accident, Walter Röhrl joined Alen in the driver’s seats in 1983, and after a considerably more successful season, Lancia took the 1983 World Rally Championship Constructors title.
Contact Helen at: helen@stodel.org.
In the 1984 season, despite improved engine power, the rear wheel drive 037 was no match for the 4WD competition, and the Quattro in particular, and for the last event of the season the 037 was pensioned off by the works team in favour of the supercharged and turbo charged 4WD Delta S4. Bettega continued to drive an 037 for Martini racing, and sadly lost his life in the car in 1985. Today the Lancia 037 is a rare beast, and if you should be lucky enough to find one for sale, you would expect to pay around £200,000 for this part of automotive history. I still love rallying, but it just isn’t the same these days ....
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Communications... Understanding, Using and Extended WiFi at Home - Part3 by Ross Hendry
Extending your WiFi to other buildings around your property is not too complex. The optimum way would of course be to run an Ethernet cable from your router (LiveBox/Neufbox/etc) to the building(s) and connect this to an internal hub/switch for network cables or WiFi access point. If you are in the planning stages and have to run services underground to the building, I strongly recommend you incorporate this solution. Cabling is more secure and obviously cheaper if you are already committed to running other cables or pipes to the destination building/s underground. However, most of us already have power in our outbuildings and so need another less expensive solution than digging trenches. In this case I suggest using a ‘Wireless Bridge’ between the buildings. The concept is quite simple, you place a device called a ‘Wireless Access Point’ on the outside of the building that you already have the internet service in, connecting this to your existing router via WiFi or preferably by cable. This Wireless Access Point (the source) should be on the side of the building facing the other building(s) where you wish to have internet access. On the destination building(s) you place another WiFi Access Point, that is preferably in sight of the source Wireless Access Point. You may then take a cable from this to another router or Ethernet hub/switch in the building and this distributes the internet services to your building. Clearly this solution is a little more complex to set-‐up than a simple WiFi service but should not be beyond the capabilities of more confident PC users. The secret is to take it one stage at a time, get that working then move to the next stage, until you have the internet available where you need it. You must, of course, keep the service secure so I would recommend setting up the same type of security as you have on your WiFi, demanding that any device that wants to connect to your WiFi has a security code to gain access. When I set-‐up this type of network, I disable the security until I have the connections working as I need them to and once they are, I set-‐up the security and test it to make sure no one may access the network without having the security code.
The cost? The smallest and most powerful Wireless Access Point cost around £100.00 each, generally it is best to have two of these. My choice is the Ubiquiti Networks PicoStation M2-‐HP. These devices give a range of up to 500 metres outdoors and are able to provide very fast connections. On the receiving end you may want or need to use a cable from the Wireless Access Point to another router or Cable switch/hub in the building, so you should budget around £25 -‐ £50 for this device plus around the same if you wish to provide a cabled network in the building. Installation of this type of network extension is usually possible in a few hours depending on the complexity of fitting the devices to the outside of the buildings and the level of cabling in the destination building(s). When providing a service such as this I survey the property checking the topography of the site, from information gleaned during this, a detailed quotation may be compiled.
I believe this to be a perfect solution for those of you that have Gîtes and wish to provide internet access to your guests. More and more visitors are demanding that they have an internet connection and those Gîtes without internet are getting less rentals than internet enabled ones. If you require this type of WiFi extension contact the technician that looks after your Personal Computer needs, I am sure that they will be able to help you. As ever if you need any further information please send me an email (rs.hendry@gmail.com) and I will be pleased to advise you. 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 for more information).
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Contact ‘The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly’ La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny.
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 ~ Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr or see our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
Building & Renovation... Planning Your Renovation We are very excited to introduce Plan_170, specialising in the production of professional plans and visualisations to scale for building and renovation projects, focusing mainly on projects falling below 170m2 total floor plan, where no architect is required. Although, in this circumstance, an architect may not be required, it is still necessary to submit a Déclaration de Travaux or Déclaration Préalable. The requirements when submitting a Déclaration have become more in-‐depth, complex and stringent necessitating accurate, technical drawings to scale and photographs as well as the written paperwork that goes with it!
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This is where we come in! We can take care of all of the above, leaving you with just the written application to deal with! A project of over 170m2 total floor plan requires a qualified French-‐registered architect to prepare and submit a planning application. However, to save on extremely valuable time and early architect costs, we can do an initial survey to get accurate measurements, offer advice, discuss ideas with you, and put them on paper ready for the architect, providing a perfect starting point for them to take over. Every architect works in a different way, so whether they choose to re-‐draw the plans, or use our technical file to continue with, a great amount of time and costly architect fees will have been saved just by having clear, accurate drawings to scale ready for them. Having 20 years experience of AutoCAD design within the building/ property industry, strong technical and practical knowledge and experience in hands-‐on property renovation, we can offer you: Page 28
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CONTRIBUTIONS.... We are always looking for new contributions 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@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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For a full list of our advertising rates, please phone 05 49 70 26 21 for an advertising pack or download from our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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Business, Finance & Property...
HOUSE INSURANCE Your house is the most expensive thing you own so make sure it is insured properly! House insurance in France can be different to what you are used to in the UK so here are the important things you need to know about it: 1.
House insurance is only an obligation by law if you are a tenant. It is not obligatory if you are the owner of the property. The minimum cover you can subscribe to is fire, storm and water damage (very rare to be proposed this contract unless you specifically ask for it). All the rest can be optional so make sure you check what you are covered for before you claim! For instance, cover for the breakage of goods is usual in the UK, but not in France so you need to ask for this option.
2.
One of the bases for the premium is the number of rooms the property has. What counts as rooms are bedrooms/living room/dining room and offices. Bathrooms, toilets, kitchen, landing, corridors etc are not counted, but rooms over 40m2 count as 2 rooms!
3.
This is why it is very important to inform your insurance company of any work you are doing to your house. If your original contract is for 3 rooms and you transform a barn or an attic into new rooms, then those new rooms won't be covered (robbery, fire, etc) unless you inform your insurance company. This is the same if you add a conservatory or a swimming pool.
12. Insurances do not cover if the damages come from a lack of maintenance so if you have a decrepit barn or roof and it collapses, insurances won't pay!
4.
Do tell you your insurance company if you use part of the house as a business (gîte, hairdresser, nursery, etc) for public liability.
14. Best to keep all your receipts and photos of expensive items (even when the guarantee has expired) as it will help in case of robbery/vandalism to prove the value or even for electrical items to prove that it is less than 10 years old.
5.
Don't forget the amount of the excess when you have a claim and check them when you have a quote as they make a difference on the price of the premium.
6.
When you make a claim, it has to be in writing. It is France, we love paperwork!
7.
Do check the value of contents you are insured for. This amount makes a difference on your premium. If you are insured for too little and your house burns down, you're not covered enough. But if you are covered for 100 000€ and your content is only worth 60 000€, you would have paid too much premium as the expert will only give you up to what it is worth.
8.
Do not confuse the value of the house and the value of the contents. Insurance companies will never ask you for the value of your house.
9.
Insurances in France do not cover robbery if the building was locked with a padlock! Please ensure you change your locks to proper ones or make sure there is nothing valuable inside.
10. For a storm to be officially recognized, the wind must blow higher than 100km/hour and loose garden furniture is not covered, so bring it in if a storm is coming! Garden sheds are optional.
11. If you have a secondary house, valuable objects are not covered. You also must turn off the water in winter and don't forget to drain it as toilets can freeze and break and would then not be covered fully.
13. Loss is not covered so if you lose your jewellery or your iPad, tough luck!
This is only a summary of what I think you must look out for, but if you would like any more information on the complicated subject of house insurance please don't hesitate to contact me on the details below.
SPECIAL OFFER...
We currently have a 2 months free offer available until the end of the year, so why not contact us for a free quote. The offer is even valid if your expiry date is next year! Also, we have a dedicated bilingual person to deal with claims!
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
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
THE 2014 FINANCE BILL e Finance Bill for 2014 is currently making its way through parliament. Households and businesses have every reason to be wary, after being hit by €70 billion of tax hikes over three years. ere is more tax pain to come, with the government aiming to collect an additional €3.4 billion in tax revenue next year (not including the VAT increases). Although the tax rises are much smaller than previous years, this is small consolation for taxpayers living with one of the highest tax burdens in Europe. Households shoulder most of the burden this time.
by Brad Warden, Partner, Blevins Franks
but now applies to remunerations (salaries, bonuses, benefits etc) over €1 million. It will be paid by businesses. Capital gains made on the sale of shares are now taxed at the scale rates of income tax. e Bill proposes a general abatement of 50% on gains where the shares have been owned for between two and eight years. It increases to 65% for shares owned for longer than eight years. As previously announced, the budget also revises the taper relief system for capital gains made on the sale of immoveable property. is applies to sales from 1st September 2013, even though it has not been formally approved.
Here are some of the key elements of the proposed Finance Bill. It may change before it is finalised.
Currently you have to wait 30 years for a property to be free from capital gains tax and social charges. Under the new system, gains will be free from tax after 22 years. You still need to wait 30 years to be exempt from social charges, though the scale has been revised.
After being frozen for two years, the scale rates of income tax will again be indexed to inflation, so the income tax brackets for 2014 (2013 income) will increase slightly.
There is an extra 25% reduction for sales between 1st September 2013 and 31st August 2014.
e quotient familial ceiling will be reduced from €2,000 to €1,500. is affects around 1.3 million wealthier households. e tax reduction for families with children in secondary or higher education will be abolished. e La Décote tax relief for low income families will increase from €480 to €508.
Don’t pay more tax than you need to. Seek specialist advice on how to lower your tax liabilities in France.
President Hollande’s 75% tax rate (including social contributions and exceptional tax) is back on the table for 2013 and 2014 income,
To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.
Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should take personalised advice.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Money Talk...
by Sue Cook
Le Tour de Finance -‐ Bouvet Ladubay Saumur For those of you who could not attend our recent event at Bouvet Ladubay I thought I would share some of the information given on the day.
Ask Amanda. October 4th saw The Spectrum IFA Group & Currencies Direct hold a Tours de Finance Seminar at the prestigious sparkling wine house of Bouvet Ladubay near Saumur.
Many of us think about using a currency transfer company like Currencies Direct when they are buying or selling their house but not many consider how much they could save with regular transfers. If you have private pensions or need to transfer monies regularly for mortgage payments or school fees, this service provided by Currencies Direct could be exactly what you need.
T h e m o r n i n g c o m p r i s e d v a r i o u s presentations by industry experts and professionals followed by canapés and a little fizz to allow delegates to speak to the presenters in an informal environment. The following areas were covered:
As the table below shows, over a 5 year period you could save nearly €2000 on your pension transfers, this extra money could be used to buy a new car, take a holiday or just help with day to day living costs.
I introduced a seminar and spoke about how The Spectrum IFA Group is set up, regulated and how important regulation is for our customers. I also explained our extensive coverage and capabilities which enable us to provide our customers long term financial peace of mind. Sue Cook of Currencies Direct showed the delegates how using a specialist foreign exchange partner can save you money. Michael Lodhi explained that Currencies Direct were not just a partner of The Spectrum IFA Group but our foreign exchange provider of choice, due to the excellent service they provide.
No one likes to waste money but few of us consider how much we are losing by not taking 5 minutes to register with Currencies Direct. They process is extremely simple and can be done on line by logging on to www.currenciesdirect.com. Once registered the monthly transfer can be set up by Direct Debit so your money will be transferred each month hassle free. So if you need any further information about this or would like us to organise a Tour de Finance event in your area give me a ring.
Michael Lodhi, CEO of The Spectrum IFA Group covered clients’ concerns for tax efficiency, pensions and succession planning. He also highlighted the effect of inflation on essential expenditure and how important it is to regularly review your investments to ensure they are working for you. Michael finished with an explanation of QROPS and the importance of taking professional advice to see whether it is correct for you. Andrew Wallace of Prudential emphasised the strength and history of their brand throughout the world. He focused on how financially secure they are in their market, with the AA (Stable) rating from Standard and Poors. Andrew also discussed their French Assurance Vie (through the Spectrum-‐IFA Group) which is fully tax compliant in France and can be held in Euros and Sterling for British Expatriates living in France. Chris Wanless of The Jupiter Group also discussed their financial strength and the importance of client confidence. He explained that Jupiter currently have over 33.9 bn Euros under management. Chris stated the importance of ensuring you are dealing with a company experienced in volatile markets and understands the need to match your ‘risk profile’ to total investments you hold. Whether you want to register for our newsletter, attend one of our road shows or speak to me directly, please contact me using the details below and I will be glad to help. We do not charge for reviews, reports or recommendations we provide.
Sue Cook, Currencies Direct Tel: 06 89 99 28 89 ~ Email: sue.c@currenciesdirect.com
Amanda Johnson, The Spectrum IFA Group. Tel: 05 49 98 97 46 Email: amanda.johnson@spectrum-‐ifa.com
www.spectrum-‐ifa.com/amanda-‐johnson
or “Ask Amanda” at finance@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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Small Colour advert only 34€
THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
A Quick Look at the DeuxSèvres Property Market by Trevor Leggett, Chief Executive
This month’s column looks at the property market in this wonderful department of ours. Getting reliable statistics on the state of the market is always like pulling teeth, but the figures below have been taken from the ‘Notaires de France’ so should be as reliable as they get. The notaires split the Deux-‐Sèvres into three areas: 1. The region in and around Parthenay. If you don’t know it, this is an ancient and fortified town with decent access to the A10 motorway and the airport in Poitiers. The river Thouet is particularly pretty here and riverside property is always popular. The town itself is well worth exploring with fortified ramparts and we really like the St Jacques gate and bridge. Despite all this, the Notaires tell us that this area has the lowest property prices in the department with a current average of just €85,000. 2. The area around Bressuire has slightly higher prices. Bressuire overlooks the Dolo which is a tributary of the river Argenton and its name comes from the ancient words for “hill” and “fortress” which should give you an idea of what it’s like. A little further north of Parthenay it sits pretty much midway between Poitiers and Nantes, with easy access to both -‐ ideal for commuting or using either of the airports. The average house price here is currently €105,000. 3. Finally, the area in and around Niort is where you will find the prime prices in the Deux-‐Sèvres. This is not particularly surprising as Niort itself has a population of over 60,000 and is a driving force behind the local economy. It is famous throughout France for being home to all of the major banks and mutuels and hosts the head offices of MAAF, MACIF and other financial institutions. The average house price in this area is €130,000.
End
All three areas saw prices drop by around 1.2% in 2012/13 and all three have their supporters amongst our local agents. At the last count we had 412 properties for sale throughout the department so there is plenty to choose from and, ultimately, it will come down to personal taste as to which area you like the best. If you are interested in either buying a house in the Deux-‐Sèvres or putting your house up for sale then we’d love to hear from you. We’re also looking to expand our network of nigh on 40 agents covering Poitou Charentes -‐ if this could be of interest to you then see www.frenchestateagents.com/pages/recruitment for details.
Above: Photo of Parthenay by Penny Brewer
Leggett Immobilier is one of the leading estate agents in France. You can access all their local property listings and articles at www.frenchestateagents.com/poitou-‐charentes-‐property. Page 38
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