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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Welcome! to Issue 32 of
‘The DeuxSèvres Monthly’ magazine.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned our barn and renovations for a while have I? Well, they are still ongoing, but with such a busy summer for both Rob and I, we haven’t managed to progress very far! We have just celebrated our 5th year here in Deux-Sèvres and on thinking back to 2008, we were sure on arrival that our house renovations would take a year to complete, two at the absolute most! Priorities certainly change - and whilst we enjoy being comfortable in our home, there certainly isn’t any rush to get things finished. Funding of course has to be taken into account as well as keeping on top of our work. We also enjoy weekends away instead of renovating! There’s the rub! Hope you’re enjoying your renovations - as I’m sure many of you reading this will be busy with one project or another! Happy October to you all 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 Getting Out & About....................................................................7 Take a Break...............................................................................19 Health, Beauty & Fitness............................................................20 Our Furry Friends.......................................................................21 The Great Outdoors...................................................................24 A-‐Z of the Communes in the Deux-‐Sèvres.................................27 French Life, Food & Drink..........................................................28 Motoring....................................................................................31 Communications........................................................................33 Building & Renovation...............................................................35 Business, Finance & Property....................................................41
THIS MONTH’S ADVERTISERS 79 Renovations.....................................................................................................39 A2B Food Services............................................................................................... 29 A La Bonne Vie (Restaurant)................................................................................ 28 All Things Equestrian........................................................................................... 21 Ace Pneus (Tyre Supplier & Fitter)...................................................................... 32 Affordable UK Designs (Kitchens & UPVC D/Glazing)......................................... 2 AKE Petits Travaux (Builder)................................................................................ 39 Alan Pearce (Plumbing & Heating)..................................................................... 37 Andrew Longman (Plumber)............................................................................... 37 An English Nursery in France.............................................................................. 25 ARB French Property........................................................................................... 45 Arbrecadabra.com (Tree surgery)........................................................................24 Bar/Brasserie Vue du Chateau............................................................................ 29
...continued.
BH Assurances / Allianz....................................................................................... 41 Bill McEvoy (Plumber / Heating Engineer).......................................................... 36 Blevins Franks Tax & Wealth Management......................................................... 44 Bois Nature Energie (Firewood & Fencing)......................................................... 24 British Mobile Mechanic (John Purchase)........................................................... 32 Building & Pool Services...................................................................................... 38 Buzay Auto........................................................................................................... 33 Café des Belles Fleurs.......................................................................................... 30 Caniclôture (Hidden fencing)............................................................................ 21 Chris Bassett Construction.................................................................................. 40 Chris Parsons (Heating/Electrical/Plumbing)...................................................... 36 Christies (English Book Shop and Tea Room)...................................................... 7 Cleaning Services by Karen.................................................................................. 45 Clean Sweep Chimney Services........................................................................... 38 Concept Construction......................................................................................... 38 CSB Construction................................................................................................. 39 Currencies Direct (Money Transfers)................................................................... 42 Cut 46 (Hair Salon).............................................................................................. 20 DB Electricité....................................................................................................... 35 David Cropper (Stump Grinding & Jungle Busting)............................................ 26 DJ Jeff (Professional DJ)....................................................................................... 7 D.J Maintenance (Handyman)............................................................................ 35 EcoPower (Solar Thermal Trading Company)...................................................... 35 Electricien Anglais en France.............................................................................. 35 Environmental Heating Services......................................................................... 37 Franglais Deliveries............................................................................................. 32 French Tuition (Pascale Terry)............................................................................. 17 Fresco Interiors.................................................................................................... 38 Gardening & Cleaning Services........................................................................... 45 George Rayner Computers.................................................................................. 33 Give the Dog a Comb (Dog Grooming)............................................................... 21 Glass 2 France...................................................................................................... 2 Hallmark Electronique (Electricians & Sat. Engineers)........................................ 35 Heather’s Pet Care Services................................................................................ 21 Holistic Therapy -‐ Soul to Sole............................................................................. 21 Homes In France (Tony Murdoch)....................................................................... 47 I C O Electricté..................................................................................................... 35 Insink Plumbing................................................................................................. .. 37 John Etherington Home & Garden Care.............................................................. 26 John Snee Groundworks..................................................................................... 40 Jon Crocker Photography..................................................................................... 45 Julia Hunt -‐ Agent Commercial............................................................................ 45 Karen Renel-‐King (Sworn Translation)................................................................. 17 Keith Banks Pool Services.................................................................................... 36 La Deuxieme Chance (Annie Sloan chalk paint supplier).................................... 39 Laura Walker Jewellery........................................................................................ 7 Leggett Immobilier.............................................................................................. 46 Les Jardins St Laurent (Bistro)............................................................................. 29 Le Logis -‐ The Perfect Pig Company..................................................................... 30 Le Petit Cadeau................................................................................................... 7 Man & Van........................................................................................................... 33 Mark Sabestini Renovation & Construction........................................................ 40 MB Plumbing & Building Services....................................................................... 36 Michael Hobson (Painter & Decorator)............................................................... 39 ML Computers..................................................................................................... 33 Motor Parts Charente.......................................................................................... 32 Mutuelle de Poitiers Assurances......................................................................... 32 Nathan Foster Building Services.......................................................................... 40 Needa Hand Services........................................................................................... 38 Pamela Irving (Massage & Reflexology).............................................................. 21 Philip Irving (Mini Digger hire)............................................................................. 40 Polar Express (Frozen Foods).............................................................................. 29 Premier Autos (Mechanic).................................................................................. 32 Reiki with Suzanne Cole-‐King.............................................................................. 21 Restaurant des Canards....................................................................................... 28 Rob Berry (Plasterer)........................................................................................... 38 Robert Walker Plomberie.................................................................................... 37 Ross Hendry (Interface Consulting & Engineering)............................................. 34 Salon International du Mariage........................................................................... 8 Sarah Berry Online (Graphics & Website Design)............................................... 33 Satellite TV (Nigel Gubb)...................................................................................... 33 sarl Down to Earth (Groundwork & Construction)............................................. 40 SCP Notary........................................................................................................... 46 Siddalls (Financial Advisors)................................................................................. 43 Silverwood Books................................................................................................ 10 Simon The Tiler.................................................................................................... 37 Spectrum IFA Group (Amanda Johnson)............................................................. 42 Steve Enderby...................................................................................................... 39 Sue Burgess (French Courses & Translation)....................................................... 16 The English Mechanic & Son -‐ Tony Eyre............................................................ 32 The Market.......................................................................................................... 7 Total Renovation Services (Michael Dominey)................................................... 37 Tracey Bowring (Hairdressing & Nails)................................................................ 20 Vendée Carriers................................................................................................... 32 Vendée Pools.................................................................................................. 36
© 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: octobre 2013 -‐ Tirage: 5000 exemplaires. Siret: 515 249 738 00011 ISSN: 2115-‐4848
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
What’s On... October 2013 1st-‐ 31st October -‐ Exhibition ‘Couleur dans les Églises’ Exhibition of photos of church wall paintings, polychrome statues and carvings and church windows by Howard Needs. At l’Office de Tourisme du Pays Mellois, Melle. Info: 05 49 29 15 10. 3rd October -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Chef Boutonne See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 3rd October -‐ Harmonics Concert In the Salle d’Animations next to Marie in Civray. Doors open 7.30pm and start time 8.00pm. Tickets 5€ per adult, children under 12 free. Tickets may be obtained at the door. Contact Dolly Ait Boualou by email: sylvie.murray@wanadoo.fr 4th October -‐ Tour de Finance For financial advice and more, visit this event in Saumur. See details and advert on P.42/3 for details or contact Amanda Johnson or Sue Cook. 5th -‐ 13th Ocober -‐ Pomm’Expo Big event in Secondigny spanning two weekends. Various events scheduled including cycle race, brocante, markets etc. Further details can be found on http://pommexpo.fr. 6th October -‐ Fete des Plantes In the grounds of the Chateau, Bressuire 9.00am -‐ 7.00pm. Entry Fee 3€ for adults, children are free. See Advert on P8. 6th October -‐ Fete des Plantes At Parc de la Verrerie, Faymoreau 85240. 9.00am -‐ 6.00pm. 7th October -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Limalonges See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 9th October -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Aigre See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 12th October -‐ Disco Night At Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. For info please see advert on P.30. 13th October -‐ Fete des Plantes Les Pepites Botaniques, la Haye Foussiere 44690. 10.00am -‐ 6.00pm, Free entry. 13th October -‐ Book Launch Alison Morton’s Perfiditas Book Launch at the Journée du Livre, Sainte-‐Verge 79100. 9.30am -‐ 6.00pm at the Salle Alcide-‐d'Orbigny. FREE entry. 14th October -‐ Financial Seminar By Blevins Franks, at Château du Griffier, Niort. 10.30am-‐12noon. For details please see advert on P.44. 14th October -‐ Top Hat Quiz & Curry at Champniers See www.tophatquizzes.com for more information. 18th October -‐ Fun Mexican Themed Evening At A La Bonne Vie Restaurant, Le Beugnon. For details please see advert on P.28. 18th-‐20th October -‐ Hope Book Sale At the Salle des fetes, at Clussais-‐La Pommeraie from 10.00am -‐ 4.00pm. If you have books, DVDs, CDs, bric-‐a-‐brac and pre-‐loved clothes in good condition, of if you would like to volunteer to help, please use the contact form on our website. www.hopeassoc.org. 19th October -‐ The Fenery Beer Fest At Fenery, 11am-‐4pm. Entry 3€. Please see advert on P.8 for details. 19-‐20 October -‐ Fetes des Plantes Domaine de Péré, Prissé la Charrière 79360. 5€ entry for adults, free for children. 21st October -‐ Blue Week Coffee Morning At Salle de Fêtes, 4 Bel Air, Viennay 79200. See Page 10 for details. 31st October -‐ Halloween Night At Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux. For info please see advert on P.30.
What’s Coming Up...
16th-‐17th November -‐ Hope Assoc Charity Shop Weekend See details on advert on P.8 30th November & 1st December -‐ Salon de Mariage 2 day wedding event at St Jean d’Angely. Please see article on P.8 for more information. 7th December -‐ NALA Xmas Fair At Chateau de Puybelliard, nr Chantonnay. See information opposite for details.
Monthly services at the English speaking Church in Deux-‐Sèvres Jassay The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, Poitou-‐Charentes, has a Home Group Service at Jassay commencing at 11.00am every 2nd Sunday in the month. It is held at the home of Ann White, where a warm welcome awaits everyone for a time of worship and fellowship. Chef-Boutonne The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd also holds services on the 1st Sunday of each month at 10.30am at The Little Stone Church in Chef-‐Boutonne. After each service tea or coffee is served and there is an opportunity to meet other people in the area. Parthenay The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd also holds services on the 4th Sunday of each month at 10.30am in the Presbytery Rooms, rue de la Citadelle, Parthenay, opposite St Croix Church. After each service, tea or coffee is served and everyone is invited to a 'bring and share' lunch. For further informa\on about loca\on 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 at 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
Only 67 days until our NALA Xmas!!
A Taste of Xmas
The NALA Animal association is holding a Xmas Fair on Saturday 7th December at the Chateau de Puybelliard near Chantonnay. A great chance to visit this lovely chateau, buy your Christmas presents, wreath, decorations, crackers and indulge in wonderful, traditional Christmas foods: glorious cakes, mince-‐pies, puddings, sausage rolls and much more! Those who have attended our afternoon teas know that we have some of the best bakers around giving their time and expertise so it’s definitely an occasion not to be missed! There are some stands still available so traders please contact chateaupuybelliard@yahoo.fr. Or for further information, visit our website: www.nosamislesanimaux.com. Page 4
THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Local Markets
Paperback Jan Books in English
2nd Oct: Café Cour de Miracle, Vouvant 85120. 2.30pm -‐ 4.30pm 3rd Oct: Brasserie Vue du Chateau, Bressuire 79300. 10am -‐ 12pm 3rd Oct: Bar le Palais, St Aubin le Cloud 79450. 2pm-‐5pm 4th Oct: Bar de la Paix, Thouars 79100. 12pm -‐ 2pm 4th Oct: Le Tipsy Bar, Coulonges-‐sur-‐l’Autize 79160. 4pm -‐ 6pm 6th Oct: Café des Belles Fleurs, Fenioux 79160. 2pm -‐ 4pm 9th Oct: Les Jardins St Laurent Hotel, Parthenay 79200. 10am-‐12pm 9th Oct: Le Don Jon Bar, Moncontour 86330. 2pm -‐ 4pm 10th Oct: Pause! Cafe, L’Absie 79240. 2pm-‐ 5pm 11th Oct: Jan’s home, La Ferrière-‐en-‐Parthenay 79390. 11am -‐ 4pm 12th Oct: Cafe Le Chauray, St Maixent l’Ecole 79400. 10am -‐ 1pm 19th Oct: Beer Fest at Fenery. 11am-‐4pm 30th Oct: Jan’s home, La Ferrière-‐en-‐Parthenay 79390. 1pm -‐ 6pm 31st Oct: Le Relais des Deux Moulins, Clessé 79350. 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!
• • Tuesdays: • • • Wednesdays: • Thursdays: • • Fridays: • • Saturdays: • • • • • • Sundays: Mondays:
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 - Lunchtime & Evening. (Main square & can be eaten in local bar) Fridays: Mansle (Car park of Simply Supermarket) Tel: 06 37 53 56 20 or visit : www.mobilefishandchipsfrance.com
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
Looking for Authentic, Fresh Products from Our Region?
The Thursday weekly market of La Mothe St-‐Héray fulfills all these functions. In addition this summer, a novelty. On the 1st Thursday of July, August, September and October, the market will run throughout the day. Local residents and residents of nearby villages and tourists can take advantage of this opportunity to find products that will delight the taste buds and other small pleasures. Do not miss this opportunity! Information : 05.49.05.01.41.
Miss English Films? If the answer is “YES!” you will be pleased to read that there are cinemas in the area showing films in English.
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 • St Jean d’Angély 17400 • Loulay 17330 • Matha 17160
+ See www.frying2nite.com for details or call 06 02 22 44 74
Reel Fish & Chips Traditional English style Fish & Chips
2nd Oct 4th Oct 5th Oct 16th Oct 17th Oct
The Canteen, Etusson 18H30 - 21H30 Bar Tabac, Bouille-Loretz 18H30 - 21H00 Bar Vue du Chateau, Bressuire 18H30 - 21H00 The Canteen, Etusson 18H30 - 21H00 Bar Tabac, St Martin du Sanzay 18H30 - 21H00
Tel: 06 04 14 23 94 or visit: www.reelfishandchips.net
It’s difficult to have advance dates of screenings in time for publication, but you can ask to have your name added to the mailing lists so you are kept up-‐to-‐date of screenings throughout the winter months. Send your email to: Parthenay cinema: cinema.foyer@gmail.com Melle cinema: lemelies.melle@wanadoo.fr La Chataigneraie cinema: stella.freeman@wanadoo.fr
The National Holidays, Religious and Feast Days 2013 Friday 1st November......... All Saint’s Day (Toussaint) Monday 11th November... Armis\ce Day (Armis9ce 1918) Wednesday 25th December. Christmas Day (Noël)
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Hobbies, Clubs & Associations... 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 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
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 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!
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
Getting Out & About...
Small Colour Advert only 34€
Presentation to Croix Rouge.
The President of the French Red Cross, Jacques Chevessier welcomed representatives of the Association Aidez last month to receive a cheque for 500€. This was the result of recent Christmas and Summer markets, and Paperback Jan’s “Clear Your Clutter” event in May. The Association Aidez was founded there three years and consists of eight members including Lin Adams and Linda Reffold (pictured below).
HOPE BOOK SALE 18/19/20 OCTOBER 10am - 4pm Salle des fêtes, Clussais-La-Pommeraie, 79190 (D45 Sauze Vaussais to Lezay Road) Thousands of English and French books, fiction and non-fiction for adults and children, each for just 1 euro. If you have books, DVDs, CDs, bric-‐a-‐brac and pre-‐loved clothes in good condition, or if you would like to volunteer to help, please use the contact form on our website. Someone will be in touch for collection asap.
Above: Jacques Chevessier with Lin Adams and Linda Reffold of Association Aidez. Photo: www.lanouvellerepublique.fr
Please see www.hopeassoc.org for further details.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY Combined Services Support Group Present
The Fenery Beer Fest Saturday
19th October, 2013 Salles des Fetes Fenery
11.00 to 16.00hrs
Tickets €3.00 per person to include 1 free drink
Admission by ticket only British Draught Beer Sausage and Chips Tea, coffee and cakes Raffle, stalls and Entertainment In aid of SSAFA
Contact: Mick and Terri Laverick 05 49 64 07 24
or
Ali Sherwin 05 49 95 62 71
Salon International du Mariage The first international wedding exhibition is being organized by wedding planner, Samantha Bottomley at the stunning historic Abbaye Royale which is situated in the centre of the picturesque town of St. Jean d'Angely in the Charente Maritime.
During the two days there will also be catwalk shows with examples of wedding dresses, hair, make-‐up and accessories. For more information: www.salon-‐international-‐du-‐mariage-‐ en.com or telephone 05 46 32 60 60 or 07 85 62 73 03.
Open from 9am until 6pm on Saturday 30th November and Sunday 1st December, this exhibition plays host to a great variety of professional companies and individuals who specialize in the wedding and event planning industry. Featuring Goodmoon Reception, who organize weddings across the region, Hotel Golf de Saint Junien, which is a superb location for a reception and David Page, Terry Keep and Objectif Sourire who are all professional photographers. In addition we have the calming influence of Sam and Emma from Charente Hair and Bridal, who transform brides on their special day. Harriet Carpenter is launching her new business as a videographer Créa-‐Mémoires. In addition we have DJ's and a classical pianist in the form of Brian Sanders. We have wedding dress designers, travel agents, jewellers, florists such as Ellerymay, professional pastry chefs and caterers such as The Kitchen Ambassador and Crique Patisserie, who design the most divine wedding and celebration cakes, and a number of other exhibitors. We even have a mobile crèche facility, Silly Billy's, who you can hire for your event to keep your younger guests occupied. You may need help planning your wedding, birthday party or wedding anniversary and we will be able to discuss your plans face to face with a host of experts, both French and British who will be showcasing their products and services on the day.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
News from the Pays de Gâtine! by Julia Salvat
La Semaine Bleue. 21st – 25th October 2013 La Semaine Bleue is a national week for the elderly and retired which aims to inform people of the services available for an ageing population. As part of this, on 15th October 2013 a forum (entry free) is being held at the Bocapole in Bressuire. Various conferences, workshops and stands have been organised by the Caisse de Retraite and the CLIC offices in Bressuire, Thouars and Parthenay. On Monday, 21st October 2013 at 10.00am at the Salle des Fêtes, 4 Bel Air, 79200 Viennay, a coffee morning has also been arranged for the many British, Dutch and German families living in the Gâtine. The presentation, in French and English, will cover the work that the French Social Assistants carry out through the Antenne Medico-‐ Sociale (Health & Welfare centres) and is for people of all ages. The Social Assistant is central to getting help with any worries you may have, whether they be at home, school or work or if you are concerned about the welfare of a loved one or find yourself in financial difficulty. Although you might not need help today, you might in the future, or you might know someone who needs help. The work Social Assistants do could be vital to you, your family or friends. In order to attend this free presentation please contact: Julia Salvat, Pays de Gâtine. Email: julia.salvat@gatine.org . Julia SALVAT, Pays de Gâtine. Tel: 05 49 64 25 49 ~ Email: julia.salvat@gatine.org Website: www.gatine.org
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Preparing Your Work for Publication Have you written a book? Do you plan to see it in print? Whether you’re submitting your work to a literary agent, a traditional publisher, or you intend to fund the publication yourself (to self-‐publish) it’s vital to make sure your work is the best it can be before you take the next step. Your manuscript says a lot about you and your professionalism as a writer, so aim high with these practical steps: 1. 2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
Draft and re-‐draft. Don’t submit the first draft of the first book you’ve ever written to an agent or publisher. Take some time to learn your craft. Put your finished manuscript aside for a couple of weeks to get some distance. Go back to it with fresh perspective – you’ll be surprised at what you see when you re-‐read! Find a beta-‐reader – someone who has a background in writing, publishing or editing who can give you honest feedback about what’s working (and what’s not). Friends and family might be too polite to highlight anything negative. Format your manuscript professionally – most literary agents and publishers want to see a document prepared in Microsoft Word, double spaced, in 12 pt type, using an easy-‐to-‐read serif font such as Times New Roman, with all pages consecutively numbered. Hire a professional copy-‐editor or proofreader. They’re trained to spot inconsistencies and errors, and will go through your manuscript on a microscopic level. Never try to proofread your own work – you’re too close to it to spot the errors a professional will pick up in an instant. Decide who to submit your work to, and devise a submission strategy. Approach literary agents or traditional publishers in a professional way, researching what they expect and how to make the correct approach. If self-‐publishing, work out how much you want to do yourself and where you need expert help.
Good luck, and enjoy the process however you choose to publish! Helen Hart is Publishing Director at SilverWood Books, a professional publishing services company which helps self-‐funding writers produce high quality books. www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk Page 10
Volunteer Firefighter (SPV)
Become a Young Firefighter (JSP)
In France, nearly 200,000 men and women choose to live with a daily commitment to serving others, in parallel with their job or their education.
The Young Firefighters formation is centered around relief to people, fight against fires and the protection of property and the environment. It also includes information on the operation of the emergency services section.
They represent 80% of the total numbers of firefighters at national level in France and we must act now so that it continues for future generations. Every day, these women and men show their commitment and bravery for their local area and for the people within. Why not You? The department is always looking for new recruits and has asked us to help spread the word to the English speaking community. The language should not be a reason why you can’t train to be a volunteer Firefighter. All that is asked is that you can communicate well enough to ‘get by’ -‐ the rest will come with time and what better place to learn and integrate than in such a well-‐supported role.
How to Become a Voluntary Firefighter? Pass the assessment of the ability to exercise the activity of SPV Be aged at least 18 years (except for the old JSP SDIS79) Be at least 1m 60cm tall (tolerance 3cm) Meet the requirements of medical fitness assessed during a medical examination • Being the holder of the Certificate of Formation ‘First Aid Civic 1’ • Have no criminal record • Make a commitment for five years For more information contact your local centre de secours. A full map showing all centres is available on the SDIS79 website: www.sdis79.fr/organisation-‐opérationnelle/centres-‐de-‐secours/ • • • •
By becoming a Young Firefighter, young people can live a unique experience, discover the power of teamwork and most importantly, learn life-‐saving. A JSP will learn about different firefighter’s missions and regularly participate in sporting activities. The Young Firefighter will acquire knowledge, expertise and know that it will be useful throughout life. They may even go on to become a volunteer or professional Firefighter in the future. In France, the training of JSP 101 rests with Departmental Unions Fire Department or Departmental Association’s Youth Fire Brigade, affiliated with the National Federation of Firefighters of France. In Deux-‐Sèvres, the Departmental Association of the Young Firefighters Deux-‐Sèvres (ADJSP79) coordinates the JSP, their training and their supervision. For more information about becoming a JSP, please visit their website: www.adjsp79.fr or visit your local centre de secours.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Church Wall Paintings II
by Howard Needs
Two months ago I wrote a short article on the wall paintings that can be found in the churches in France and looking through it I think it is worthwhile expanding upon.
Lastly, more of my photos can be seen in the exhibition room above the Office de Tourism in Melle during October -‐ the title is “Couleur dans les Églises”.
In the Deux-‐Sèvres I have found eighteen churches with the remnants of their old wall paintings. Of those, the following are worth having a look at -‐ that is to say have the best preserved paintings.
L’Office de Tourisme du Pays Mellois Contact : 3 rue Emilien Traver, 79500 Melle, tél. 05 49 29 15 10
• • • • • • •
Bressuire, Chapelle Saint-‐Cyprien Geay, Eglise Saint-‐Maixent (usually open) L'Absie, Abbaye Notre-‐Dame Loizé, Église Saint-‐ Pierre (usually open) Pioussay, Église Saint-‐Martin (usually open) St Clémentin, Chapelle Notre-‐Dame des Rosiers St Gemme, Chapelle Saint-‐Guillaume (private)
And in the Vendée: • Mesnard la Barotière, Église Saint-‐Christophe (usually open) • Vieux Pouzauges, Église Notre-‐Dame (usually open) • La Pommeraie-‐sur-‐Sèvre, Église Saint-‐ Martin (usually open) Unfortunately, vandalism and theft are closing more and more churches and I have found that before undertaking a trip of any distance, it is wise to find out at the local Mairie if the church is open, and if not, how the key can be obtained.
Painting at: l’église St Martin, Pioussay, Pays Mellois
Because the paintings were tutorial, biblically and morally, it is not surprising to find reccurring themes which were subject to stylistic constraints such that the people of those times could read much more in them than we ordinary folk can. Art historians can interpret the paintings and their explanations are fascinating -‐ they in fact can decode the pictures and reveal hidden information in gestures and colours, but nothing mystical or world shaking of course. Themes to be found include: • The three living and the three dead • The seven deadly sins • The “danse macabre” • Various hunts of Saint Hubert, St Gilles and Saint Eustace • Saint Michel and the beast • Saint George and Saint Margaret of Antioch killing their respective dragons • The three wise men • The slaughter of the innocents.....and so on Saint-‐Savin-‐sur-‐Gartempe in the east of the Vienne is also a good place to start not only because it has such a wonderful nave full of the story of genesis, painted almost paragraph by paragraph, but also because it has such a good Visitors Centre. It includes a documentary film of how the painting of the nave could have taken place and so giving a good idea of how the itinerant artists worked and the materials and techniques they used. St Savin is the start of the route ‘la vallée des fresques’ which leads ultimately to Montmarillion -‐ information can easily be found on the net using that search term. I haven't followed the route completely but the following two churches, not far from St Savin, are well worth while visiting: • Vienne, Jouhet, Chapelle Funéraire Saint-‐Catherine • Vienne, Antigny, L'Église de Notre-‐Dame (usually open) Painting at: l’église St Pierre, Loizé, Pays Mellois.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
PERFIDITAS is Published! This month the second in my Roma Nova thriller series, PERFIDITAS, is published. Hooray! A year and a half of slog -‐ researching, writing, and polishing -‐ have led to this moment. Will it be as exciting as the launch of INCEPTIO? I hope so! Hard to believe it was only just over seven months since we gathered at the Bar de la Paix in Thouars to launch INCEPTIO. It was so crowded, I hardly had time to speak to anybody properly, but the smiling faces said it all. The French launch of PERFIDITAS The PERFIDITAS launch will be on Sunday 13th October at the Journée du Livre at Sainte-‐Verge, just outside Thouars. I was honoured to receive a personal invitation from the organisers. Somehow they’d heard about INCEPTIO and popped a note in at Le Petit Cadeau in Parthenay where I’d given a talk a few weeks before. Perhaps it was the owner of Librarie L’Antidote in Parthenay, which stocks INCEPTIO, who had mentioned me. The effect of making connections… I’ll have a pile of lovely new books to sign plus I might be giving a talk -‐ TBC. So what’s PERFIDITAS about? Like INCEPTIO, it’s a thriller set in an alternate timeline where the mysterious Roma Nova has battled its way from a small colony in the late fourth century into a high tech, financial mini-‐state in the 21st century. Located somewhere north of Italy, Roma Nova runs on Roman Republican values, but is ruled by women. Stories with Romans are usually about famous emperors, epic battles, depravity, intrigue, wicked empresses and a lot of sandals, tunics and swords. But imagine the Roman theme projected sixteen hundred years further forward into the 21st century and with a more equal society. In PERFIDITAS we catch up with Carina, the heroine of INCEPTIO, six years later. She’s married, has children and seems settled in her new, exciting career. But there’s betrayal in the air… Captain Carina Mitela of the Praetorian Guard Special Forces is in trouble -‐ one colleague has tried to kill her and another has set a trap to incriminate her in a conspiracy to topple the government of Roma Nova. Founded sixteen hundred years ago by Roman dissidents and ruled by women, Roma Nova barely survived a devastating coup d’état thirty years ago. Carina swears to prevent a repeat and not merely for love of country. Seeking help from a not quite legal old friend could wreck her marriage to the enigmatic Conrad. Once proscribed and operating illegally, she risks being terminated by both security services and conspirators. As she struggles to overcome the desperate odds and save her beloved Roma Nova and her own life, she faces the ultimate betrayal… Simon Scarrow, the author of the Macro and Cato Eagle series of Roman historical novels, has joined with Jean Fullerton, historical novelist, and Sue Cook, broadcaster and writer, to give me their support and endorsements. PERFIDITAS will be available as paperback and ebook. I’ll be touring the Deux-‐Sèvres with Paperback Jan from mid-‐November, so if you can’t make the launch, I‘ll see you then. For more about Alison’s Roma Nova novels, and the latest news visit her blog at: www.alison-‐morton.com or Facebook page: AlisonMortonAuthor.
YOUR Book Reviews... A huge “ Thank You” to Mar]n Hole for this month’s book review.
DEVIL’S BROOD by Sharon Kay Penman You have probably seen the road sign shown below in your travels around Deux-Sèvres. The DeuxSèvres, along with the Vendée and Vienne, was part of the Angevin Empire and within the Duchy of Aquitaine. Henry II married Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, in 1152, inherited the English throne from King Stephen and was succeeded by their sons Richard I and John. All had an enormous impact on the area, and the results of this can be seen from Taillebourg, near Saintes, through Niort and Thouars up to Saumur, in their legacy of churches, castles and fortifications. This book is part of the story of the kings and queens, the routes, the castles, the intrigues, and the people involved. Devil’s Brood is Part 3 of the Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy by Sharon Penman, being preceded by “When Christ and his Saints slept” and “Time and Chance”. They cover the 12th century part of the medieval period, reflecting the social upheavals, political machinations and general dark times that existed. The books are very well written and researched, and Penman vividly brings to life the reality of a dark, brutal anarchical time that, paradoxically, provided the basis of future more efficient systems of government and justice and relationships of the monarchy with the Church.
She does this with a great deal of skill which brings together historical events and people with a few key fictional characters to provide a colourful and realistic depiction of the period. It is not a period of history that I was familiar with, but I found these books to be absolutely intriguing, thoroughly enjoyable and informative, and very relevant to an area I live in. A great trip back to the 12th century along the well trodden highways and byways of our region!
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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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.
Your Writing Space Writing is deeply personal, as well as individual, so you need a place to work in that’s comfortable, light and not subject to interruptions. Must-‐haves for the writing environment include a computer with appropriate software and Internet connection, a supportive chair and some bench or desk space for notes and reference books. Yes, I still use some print books such as a complex thesaurus, style guides and a Latin grammar! But mostly, I use the Internet for dictionaries and basic thesaurus as the first place for looking things up. Obviously, when researching anything online, you have to be extra careful to assess the source of the information on the screen and cross-‐check everything, but it’s quick and instant. For more profound or academic research, then it’s the specialist libraries or even the British Library if all else fails. Libraries can be good places to write as long as you can get to one without too long a journey eating into your writing time and they have a quiet room. Wherever it is, it’s best not to have a window that looks out on to an interesting view – too distracting. Nor a nook under the stairs where everybody passes by with a cheery “How’s it going?” every ten minutes. Virginia Wolf maintained you had to have a room of your own to write in. Thomas Mann preferred writing in a wicker chair by the sea. Corinne Gerson wrote novels under the hair dryer in a beauty shop. William Thackeray chose to write in hotel rooms. And Jack Kerouac wrote the novel Doctor Sax in a toilet in William Burroughs' apartment. JK Rowling wrote her first Harry Potter in cafés. Ernest Hemingway said simply, "The best place to write is in your head."
twenty minutes of free-‐writing at your worst time of day is better than no writing. And write daily! I mentioned a connection to the Internet earlier; this gives you access to the world’s knowledge, but while emailing people and talking on Facebook and Twitter can be fun, you need to ensure that you're not chatting and surfing online at the expense of your writing. As you may know, messing around on the Internet can be absorbing. But it’s the biggest time-‐suck known and if you’re not disciplined you can forget to get on with the writing. Happy writing! Alison Morton writes alternate history thrillers, blogs about wriCng and Romans at hEp://alison-‐morton.com/blog/
Toby’s Tails by Susan Keefe About the Book See the world through the eyes of a delightful sheepdog named Toby, who just happens to live in the beautiful French countryside. Toby’s Tails relates the first year in the life of author Susan Keefe’s Border Collie, starting on the French farm where he was born. His life changes forever when Toby is adopted. He bonds with his new family, their goat, Molly, and Lucky, the old Golden Retriever who becomes Toby’s mentor. “ We h a v e a n a u g h t y sheepdog too and our nine-‐ year-‐old farming-‐crazy grandson loved this book; he was totally absorbed by Toby’s story.” -‐ Anne Loader, Léonie Press.
How to write in that place You’ll probably find it easier to establish a regular writing schedule if you can write during your most energetic time of day. If you tend to procrastinate, try getting up an hour earlier each day to write. The advantage of morning writing is that you are fresh from the night's sleep. Also, once you’ve written the number of words you promised yourself to write, you’re free from guilt about procrastinating all day. Not everyone's body clock is the same, of course. You may prefer to write in the evening; that’s fine so long as you can produce meaningful work.
“The author has created in ‘Toby’s Tails’ an enchanting book to educate children about the needs of animals and the importance of kindness to all living creatures. In this delightful story, Toby the lovable Border Collie relates in a lighthearted manner the adventures of his animal companions, both domestic and wild, and touches sensitively and gently on the occasional inevitable small tragedies that are a part of their life cycle. I believe this is a perfect book to inform and entertain younger readers about the wonders of the animal kingdom.” -‐ Susie Kelly, Author. Available in Amazon stores worldwide, Barnes & Noble and most other online bookstores.
When circumstances prevent you from writing at your best time of day, however, don’t use this as an excuse not to write at all. Even
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Combined Services Support Group (CSSG) by Terri Laverick Reaction Theatre have finally decided to perform a play called “Third Week in August” written by Peter Gordon. Peter’s plays have had over 1200 professional and amateur productions world-‐ wide. He is well-‐known for his ‘Inspector Pratt’ trilogy of plays, together with a number of other comedies. The production will be performed on the 22nd and 23rd November 2013 at the Petit Theatre in Secondigny. But what’s it about? Third Week in August -‐ When Sue decides to try a 'get away from everybody' caravan holiday, little does she realise that she's booked into the caravan site from hell. She is soon taken under the wing of expert but inadequate caravaner, Neville … that's when he's not engaged in battle with his wife or trying to cope with his difficult sister-‐in-‐law. Very funny play which is directed by Paul Chandler.
This summer our singing groups ‘The Keynotes’ performed at a number of events the last of which being the Deux-‐Sevres Gardening Club’s Annual Produce Show at the Chateau Logis, Du Theil. Many compliments were received and I’m sure we will be asked again in 2014. One of the songs sung was entitled “Sumer is a cumen in”, no not my bad spelling just the song title, but for us I’m afraid it’s “Christmas is a coming” as we start rehearsing Christmas songs and carols!!
The Art Scene
The Art Scene artists put on an exhibition during the Trade Fair in Secondigny, which was organized once again by The DSM’s very own Sarah Berry. Our weekly Friday morning art group has now started. We have a number of new members this year and would like to welcome them all and particularly Grace & Philip, who have come all the way from Arizona in the USA. Just shows how good our group is doesn’t it? But we still have room for a few more if you would like to join us. Congratulations to two of our members who have carried out spectacular deeds this summer to raise funds for various charities:-‐ • Jane Gawn cycled all the way home to the Vendée from Paris, not my idea of fun but at least it was down hill all the way! • David Brennan did a parachute jump and raised a staggering 7,000 € to build fencing and buy an electricity generator for a dog refuge in Pedrera, Seville. Very well done both of you. Don’t forget our Calendar is still for sale at the following four venues and will remain so for the rest of the year: 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. So let me have your news and views and if you want to join any or all of our groups, send me an email. John Blair: johnblair@btopenworld.com
I just think, “that's it, another one done” and then realise that actually it is time to do it all again. “What?” I hear you ask, well you are now reading it -‐ I hope. This month I have to write it even earlier as I am off on a trip to a brewery and then on to the furthest reaches of northern France, for a short holiday. September has been a very busy month for the team from CSSG, we attended four events and raised considerable funds for SSAFA France, not all the amounts are in yet, as I have to write this article prior to the two final events. Namely ‘The DSM Trade Fair’ on 21st September and ‘The Big Book Fayre’ on 29th September. At the first event, the Gardening Club Produce Show at the Logis de Theil, our Tombola Table did a roaring trade, and you very kindly donated the sum of 77€. Also many winners re-‐donated their prizes, which was much appreciated. All in all we had a lovely day there. The weather was kind and the entertainment by the Keynotes Choir was enjoyed by all, as were the refreshments organised by the club members. Hopefully we shall be at the Chateau again next year. Our second event was the Dog Show in St Pardoux and on this occasion, our members, John and Pauline Tonks, very kindly ran a Brocante stand and raised 10€. Ticket sales for the Beer Fest are going well, so please ensure that you get yours in plenty of time. The beer (we have been to the brewery and tasted it!) is being readied for collection, the sausages are in my freezer and the chips have been sourced. The ladies and gentlemen of Aidez are ready with their tea/coffee pots and cakes, and the choir is limbered up with drinking songs at the ready; Three Plus One are ready to go, so all we need now are you there on the day. Our money raising ventures cannot be done without the hard work put in by our team of volunteers, and may I and our committee take this opportunity to thank them for their sterling work, we could not do it without them. To you, our readers and friends, thank you for your support. If you wish to join us our email address is as follows, 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.
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 Contact ‘The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly’ La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny.
Tel: 05 49 70 26 21 Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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Bon, bon, du bon et du bien by Sue Burgess
The French word bon literally means "good" and it is also used in many idiomatic expressions.
Vocabulary / Vocabulaire : à bon chat bon rat ...................
tit for tat
à la bonne franquette...............
informally, pot luck
à quoi bon? ..............................
what’s the use?
Bon is an adjective which has four forms; bon masculine singular, bonne feminine singular, bons masculine plural and bonnes feminine plural, depending on the word being described.
ah bon?.....................................
oh yeah? I see
In general the adjective bon is placed IN FRONT of the word it is describing rather than after. The majority of adjectives in French are placed after the word they describe.
avoir un bon fromage ..............
to have a cushy job
bon appétit...............................
enjoy your meal
So in the masculine singular form we can find Bon voyage (have a good trip), Bon Appétit (have a good meal/enjoy!), Bon anniversaire (have a good birthday) and Bon courage! (good luck, because you have something difficult or a challenge up ahead of you). The feminine singular form is found in Bonne chance (good luck as in a superstition or a game) and Bonne journée (have a good day). The feminine plural bonnes can be found in the expression bonnes vacances (have a good holiday). If you arrive de bonne heure you are in good time, i.e. you are early, but are you de bonne humeur (in a good mood)? You say bonsoir when you meet someone in the evening, bonne soirée when you want to wish them a nice evening and bonne nuit when you are going off to bed.
avoir bonne mine ..................... to look healthy
bon après-‐midi ......................... have a nice afternoon bon chien chasse de race ......... Like father, like son bon débarras! ..........................
Good riddance!
un bon de caisse ......................
cash voucher
un bon de commande .............
order form
un bon de livraison ..................
delivery slip
un bon de réduction ................
coupon
bon gré mal gré ........................ (whether you) like it or not bon marché ..............................
inexpensive, cheap
Bon is an adjective and as such should describe a noun. La tarte est bonne (the pie is good), votre travail est bon (your work is good). Bien on the other hand is an adverb and should describe the way something is done. Votre travail est bien fait (your work is well done), la tarte est bien cuite (the pie is well cooked). Therefore c'est bien is it's well (done) and C'est bon is it's good (to describe something you are eating or drinking for example).
! n o b t C’es
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THE THE DEUX-SÈVRES DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY MONTHLY
Official Translations are Vital for French Administration FRANCE is a country renowned for its paperwork – but living here can go much more smoothly if you can provide the right documents for all your administrative purposes in the right language: French. No matter how confident you are speaking or reading the language, it is not always possible to translate documents yourself. A sworn translation is essential for important literature such as birth certificates, driving licences, property documents and contracts.
Karen is based in Amiens, but the distance from the Dordogne is no obstacle: the documents can be provided by post or email. For more information or a quote, contact Karen Renel-‐King.
In these cases, there is no substitute for an official translator. Not everyone is qualified to provide a sworn translation and that is where Karen Renel-‐King steps in. A bilingual, fully qualified translator, she is regularly called upon by English-‐speakers who need documents for their notaire, mairie, préfecture or social security office -‐ and in many cases she can provide results within 24 hours. Whether it involves setting up a business, getting planning permission, inheritance matters, marrying or getting pacsed, Karen has the specialist skills and experience to help by providing sworn translations of the official documents required. Sworn translations by Karen leave no room for error or misunderstandings, and being able to provide the authorities with official translations will make the process quicker and more efficient. Karen arrived in France from America in 1964 and understands first-‐ hand the struggles many English speakers come up against. She has a qualification in translation and interpreting from the Sorbonne in Paris, plus experience working as a sworn translator since 1985. Whatever your particular situation, seeking help from a company run by a bilingual professional who lives in France and speaks your language as their mother tongue is ideal.
Please mention ‘The DSM’ when responding to an advert Annual Subscription Costs: 28€ within France, 18€ UK addresses. (Unfortunately the cheaper ‘printed papers’ rate cannot be applied to addresses within France, only when sending abroad) Please tick:
‘The Deux-Sèvres Monthly’
‘The Vendée Monthly’
Full Name: Postal Address: Postcode:
Country:
Tel: Email: Please make cheques payable to SARAH BERRY.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Take a Break... DSM Easy Crossword Across: 8. Not tense or taut (5) 9. A feeling of deep regret (7) 10. Lured into temptation (7) 11. Show a response (5) 12. Recall from memory (8) 13. Violent young criminal (4) 15. Sensation of discomfort (4) 17. A region of central France (8) 21. Church passageway (5) 22. In no respect; to no degree (7) 24 . The range within which a voice can be heard (7) 25. A violent weather condition (5)
DSM Toughie Crossword Across: 1. Go well on the first course of activating component (7,5) 7. Ordains a new way to make progress (7) 9. Tories win Grimsby, concealing a trend in votes cast (5) 10. Coveting neighbour’s vine initially we hear (4) 11. Small theatre company gets increase of 500 for repeated performance (8) 12. The French, torn about, give in (6) 14. Informer on the inside of the financial insNtuNon? (6) 17. A number leave modelling to organise a sure-‐fire source of income (4,4) 19. Palindromically, what was I ere I saw Elba? (4) 22. Sound idea about how one loosened the knots (5) 23. Fishing boat delivered from back of lorry after WI exchange (7) 24. Red who France cast out from here (12)
Quiz-tastic!
Down: 1. Paste (4) 2. The lower part (6) 3. A greeting or reception (7) 4. Headgear for a horse (6) 5. Clever (5) 6. Decorative pin worn by a woman (6) 7. A seven-‐sided polygon (8) 12. Put something back; substituted (8) 14. A struggle between rivals (7) 16. Put into something (6) 18. Cause to combust (6) 19. Any member of a ship’s crew (6) 20. A city in north central India (5) 23. Willing to face danger (4)
Down: 1. How big does a container for ecstasy get? (5) 2. A right adversary makes an entrance (7) 3. The amphibian pulled, so they say (4) 4. Watch former pupil taking on garbled verse (7) 5. Well known gravy mix used to make little items for those who are late (5) 6. Bungled raid going after silver in Morocco (6) 8. Get out of this and you may be on your own (4) 12. Casserole is not included after magazine published by students (6) 13. Confused comedian out east is not settling down (7) 15. Oddly, able to change oil mixture but then made a bloomer (7) 16. Sign attestation to limit little creature (4) 18. Left before a bum deal and got the wooden spoon (5) 20. Went wrong when posh car slipped into Scottish river backwards (5) 21. At first, looked around in river for burrow (4)
With thanks to M.Morris
Monthly quiz by Roland Scoa.....how many can you get?
1) Name the 80s & 90s rock band fronted by Gene Simmons? 2) Which TV series revolved around the Boswell family?
8) What family name is shared by the following people -‐ Stephen; actor, writer and TV presenter: Elizabeth, 19th century reformer: and Joseph, 18th and 19th century chocolate manufacturer?
3) Which operating system is used on PCs?
9) Where are the Tourist Trophy races held?
4) What nationality was Pope John Paul 2nd?
10) Whose record releases include ‘Light my Fire’, ‘Hello, I Love you’, and ‘Riders on the Storm’?
5) Which radio programme, presented by Alastair Cooke, ran from March 1946 until February 2004? 6) Which group had hits in the 70s with ‘Knock 3 Times’ and ‘Tie a Yellow Ribbon’? 7) Which actor played Richard Sharpe in the TV series Sharpe?
11) The white cliffs of Dover are mostly formed of which common substance? 12) Which character was presenter of ‘ The Muppet Show’? Copyright RJS 2013. Page 19
THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
Health, Beauty & Fitness...
2013 Beauty Recommendations...
For our first year of working together we have managed a fantastic bridal season of 19 weddings with happy brides, photo shoots for venues, radio broadcast and lots of events in between with plenty more to come.
Small Colour Advert only 34€
Hi Everyone, We cant believe another year has flown by already and this is our 12th article for ‘The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly’ so we thought we would give you a little run down of our year so far.
Individually our work has gone from strength to strength with mobile hairdressing, nails and mini makeovers. We have really enjoyed writing our articles for this magazine which has kept us all up to date with new trends and hair & beauty recommendations. Looking ahead for next year the bridal trends and general themes has been inspired by the film release of ‘The Great Gatsby’. Vintage is still here so I will be hoping to share with you some easy creations for styles from the 1920s and 1940s. I for one love theses styles and even though they are a trend, I feel they are a timeless look. For Make Up this upcoming year, it is still in the peaches and nude colours for bridal but the latest on New York Fashion week has been a hit with Midnight Blue and Golds for the eyes with bright bubblegum pink lips and an introduction to petal and berry stain matt lipstick. Thank you to all who have read our articles and we look forward to keeping you all up to date for another year.
Emma & Samantha xx
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.
Charente Hair & Make Up Tel: 05 45 31 56 93 / 06 50 04 37 30 www.charentehairandbridal.com
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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Our Furry Friends...
Tina Hatcher
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY Phoenix Association rescue and re-‐home animals in need, Please visit: www.phoenixasso.com
FRANKIE - 5 months Old.
"Hello, my name is Frankie. I'm whispering as I write this as I am a little shy and cautious. I don't know how it happened, but I was homeless when I was tiny. I cried at a holiday home and the holiday-‐makers felt sorry for me and took me to Phoenix.
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
Most people who come and visit us don't notice me as in a crowd, I hang around the edges. My foster mum really loves me and I give her lots of cuddles right back. I could play for hours and hours, but in our foster home there is only one mummy to go around. So please can I come and live with you and have lots of toys of my very own?" Frankie is in Issac, Dordogne. Contact Lynda on 05 54 81 30 44 or email lapuille@gmail.com
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.
Refuge SPA de SAINTES route des GAUTHIERS, 17100 SAINTES Tel: 05 46 93 47 65 ~ www.spa.de.saintes.free.fr/
L’Association Galia is a recognized public utility aiding the adoption of dogs in the shelter of Fontenay Le Comte. We help dogs out of impound, found stray or abandoned to find new families. Refuge de l'association Galia Chemin des perchées (ancienne déchetterie), 85200 Fontenay Le Comte Tel : 02 51 52 06 19 or 06 28 18 13 72, association.galia@orange.fr http://association-‐galia.forumactif.com
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
APPEAL “Look at me, look at me!! My name is Heaven. I am so handsome and only 9 months old. Ok, I’ll be honest, I’m not very good on this lead thingy. I need you to show me and I bounce a bit, but if you know what you’re doing I am the perfect pup for you. My poor foster mum has broken her leg and we can’t cope so please come and get me! Mum was a Lab and dad was a Newfoundland or was it the other way around? Who knows? I love kids and other animals and have been chipped and vaccinated so I am ready for you!”
“Hello, my name Is Hank and I am 15 months old. I need your help. I love to run and I love to swim but at the moment I am stuck in a tiny courtyard and I am bored. I love children and other dogs and cats and love going out in the car. Sadly my human can’t keep me and I am not really happy, so I need you to come and get me please. I am chipped and vaccinated and have been very well cared for. I don’t pull on the lead and if you tell me to come back I will, so I am obviously perfect for you!” 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. Hope raise funds through their 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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How Old is Old Enough? According to French legislation you are allowed to sell kittens once they are 8 weeks old. But is it a good idea to separate young ones from their mothers so soon?
Kittens looking for Forever Homes... Below are two of a seven kitten litter currently in a foster home in Bazoges-en-Pareds. If you might be interested in adopting one of these little balls of fluff, please contact NALA on the details below.
We don't think so. In the wild, a kitten only 8 weeks old would not survive by itself. Although nominally weaned, it wouldn't be able to find its own food and it would be vulnerable to sickness and predators. We prefer to keep kittens with their (step)mother and/ or siblings until they are at least 12 weeks old or longer if possible. This has many benefits for the kitten as they pass through a number of essential development milestones. Socialisation and Behaviour As well as providing nourishment to her kittens during their first few weeks, the mother is also teaching them and guiding them. From her they learn to recognise and understand cat language so that they can interact appropriately with other cats. She also guides them as they explore the world and discover new things to play with, eat or avoid.
Nos Amis Les Animaux 85480 (NALA 85480). Tel: 07 70 31 54 59
Email: nala85480@hotmail.com www.nosamislesanimaux.com
As they nurse less often and eat food, the mother will eventually stop them from nursing altogether. This is also an important lesson, as it teaches them how to cope with the frustration of being refused what they want. If a kitten is separated from its mother before it has learnt this lesson then it may develop behavioural problems. We know of one cat that was orphaned very young who now, even though an adult, suckles his owner's shirt... while the owner is wearing it. Cute the first time, but unpleasantly soggy on subsequent occasions: an adult cat contains a lot of slobber.
Tess, a sweet li+le Teckel looking for a forever home.
Probably the most important lesson that a kitten learns, at least from the owner's perspective, is the correct use of a litter tray. Not only doing their business in the right place, but also covering it up afterwards. Health and Immunity Kittens gain some initial immunity via the antibodies in their mother's milk which serves them in good stead whilst their own develops. However, separating them from their mother and putting them in a new environment is an additional source of stress that can make them more likely to become ill. As well as being a risk to the well-‐being of the kitten, it's also not very pleasant for the new owner to have to deal with a sick kitten. A change of environment and food can lead to diarrhoea which can be life threatening for a tiny kitten through dehydration and weight loss. Coupled with a deficiency of litter tray skills that is a thoroughly unpleasant prospect for all concerned. NALA's policy is to keep kittens with their (step)mother for as long as possible in a foster home. As well as allowing the kitten to benefit from being brought up by its (step)mother, it will also learn to interact with people in a positive way. Many of our foster homes have other pets, and even children, which exposes the kitten to different experiences in a safe environment. This means that when adopted they can adapt to their new home with the minimum of stress. Which brings me to the final reason why we like to wait until they are at least twelve weeks old. All our cats are identified by microchip before adoption, not only is this a legal requirement, but it's a very good idea. But have you seen the size of the needle..?
This is a lovely lady of only 11 years young. Tess was adopted a year ago but due to a change of circumstances outside her control the poor darling is now looking for a new home. Tess would make an ideal companion for an older person or another dog as she is a nice little girl who gets on well with dogs and cats, walks well on her lead and enjoys her daily promenades. Tess has a calm disposition, loves her cuddles and is house-‐trained. She will need a garden (not large -‐ but secure). A lot has happened to this little lady recently due to her changed circumstances, but we feel that provided she has a few days to settle in with her new family, and allowances are made for her upheaval, then being a very sensible little dog she will settle down happily. Tess has been micro-‐chipped (250268730101996), neutered, vaccinated and wormed. There is no adoption fee but a donation to help other dogs like Tess would be gratefully appreciated. If you think you can give Tess a good home, please call Isabelle on 09 77 48 71 43 or email: asso.orfee@laposte.net for more information. www.association-‐orfee.forumactif.com/f49-‐english-‐corner Please note: Where possible Orfee Assoc.will conduct a home-‐visit.
Orfee Association are always looking for good foster families, if you think you could do this valuable work please contact us now for more details.
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The Great Outdoors...
Bonne Pêche
by Simon Tee
As this is my last contribution, I’m going to focus on autumn and winter fishing. There’s no need to stop fishing in the cold spells, it is a good time to target different species of fish. Check all your predator fishing gear. Trebles, hooks, wire traces, spare spools of wire, making new ones if needed. Sharpen all hooks on your spinners and plugs -‐ it’s much easier to sharpen them in 20° temperatures in your shed, than on the bank in 5°! Pike and Zander are top of the predator fishing list. You fish for both in much the same way, but you can make a slight adjustment if you want to concentrate on just one species. Pike are the more aggressive, and not fussy. So stinky dead bait or live bait will work. Use treble hooks to give you more chance, 1 for the bait and 2 chances to hook the fish. Zander are much more finicky. They don’t like any resistance, and will drop the bait immediately if they feel any. To minimise that risk, use a foam ball on the line as an indicator. I make my own using foam balls with 2 map pins to trap the line. A nice small roach would be my bait choice. Chub and perch are also good to fish for in colder spells as they continue to feed, unlike carp which almost ‘shut down’. Fish for them near snags in the water and use a dead or live minnow (or ball of cheese paste for chub). There’s No ‘i’ in Team! If the thought of sitting alone on a bank in the colder weather doesn’t appeal, why not consider ‘team fishing’? It’s one of the fastest ways to learn how best to fish new waters as well as a good excuse for a ‘jolly’. Meet up with 4 or 5 angling buddies and agree to the rules! The main one being; don’t keep any secrets about how you are fishing, the methods and bait that you use. All try to target different species of fish in close proximity. Say you each have 3 rods out. One on a buzzer for tench, carp or bream. One with a dead or live bait for pike, zander or big perch and a feeder or float rod for anything else! All located in different areas, identifying potential hotspots. Consider how much you can learn in a 5 hour session this way, compared to the number of hours it would take you on your own to try all those different approaches. It should turn out to be an entertaining and rewarding day. You will learn so much about the water that you will be in an excellent position the next time you choose to fish there alone. Well, I hope some of the tips I have given have helped you catch more fish. Whatever your level of experience, contact me for further information on fishing my lakes. I will always give advice freely when I’m on the bank!
Bonne pêche, Simon Simon Tee is the proprietor of 2 coarse fishing lakes in Secondigny (www.francefishinggites.com)
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THE AMATEUR GARDENER by Vanda Lawrence
Well, autumn is here again. After a slow start we had a lovely summer but now it's time to knuckle under and get the garden tidied for winter. Shall we start with the vegetable plot? There is always plenty to do in the way of cropping and storing at this time of year but the soil is still warm so you can plant onions, shallots and garlic now. Rhubarb and strawberry plants are available in the garden centres too. When your peas and beans have been picked, cut the plants off for the compost heap but dig the roots back into the soil -‐ they are a natural fertilizer, putting nitrogen back into the soil. If you grow winter spinach put cloches over the young plants to protect them from frosts. Tomatoes are about finished but the last fruits need to be picked before the first frosts. Green tomatoes will ripen indoors so won't go to waste. Fruit trees need sticky grease bands around the base of the trunks to protect against female winter moths climbing up from soil level. This is the last chance to prune stoned-‐fruit trees (such as plums or cherries) while they are in active growth, but pipped-‐fruit trees (apples, pears, crab-‐apples) can be done during mild spells in winter. It's much easier then because the branches are bare and you can see what you are doing. Now for the shrubbery and flower beds. Remove summer bedding now, so that wallflowers, polyanthus, forget-‐me-‐nots, winter pansies etc can be planted while there is still some warmth in the soil to encourage new roots. Do not manure these beds at this time of the year because this will encourage soft, new growth vulnerable to frost damage. Preferably add bone-‐meal, a slow-‐acting fertilizer, which the plants can make use of in spring when growth begins again. When bees emerge from hibernation at the end of winter they will need plenty of flowering plants to work on so 'think bee' when choosing your winter/spring bedding at the garden centre. Helleborus 'Christmas Rose' flowers during the winter and into spring so is great for them; also Pulmonaria, Snowdrops, C ro c u s e s , Wa l l f l o w e rs , Mahonia, Sarcococca and Honeysuckle. Dahlias can be cut down to 6" once they are blackened by frost. Lift the tubers and stand upside-‐down to dry out in a frost-‐free shed.
Later you can store them crown-‐uppermost in boxes of slightly damp peat. Keep crowns above the peat and dust with flowers of sulphur. Check every couple of weeks and if you notice they are looking shrivelled just plump them up again by dropping them into a bucket of tepid water overnight. Shrubs and climbers such as Chaenomeles, Honeysuckle, Clematis, Rhododendron, Skimmia, Wisteria and Hydrangea can be layered any time now. Choose a vigorous, flexible stem which is long enough to reach the soil. Make a slanting cut on the underside of this stem, just below a node. Dip this stem-‐cut into rooting powder or gel and bury in the soil, secured with a piece of wire or heavy stone and water well. Test for roots after about 6 months. Hardwood cuttings from Forsythia, Philadelphus etc can be taken from mid-‐autumn to early winter. Choose fully ripened/hardened growth from this current season, dip in hormone rooting powder and plant 5-‐6" deep into the back of the border. If you have bought a 'fussy' shrub or plant with particular soil requirements you can do a quick, easy soil test before planting -‐ scoop some soil into a container and add ½ cup vinegar. If the soil bubbles or fizzes it is alkaline. If nothing happens get a fresh soil sample and mix with ½ cup water then add ½ cup baking soda. If the soil bubbles or fizzes it is acidic. Should you need to amend an alkaline soil add sulphur or pine needles; to make an acidic soil more alkaline add wood-‐ash or lime. Also, when buying new shrubs the plant label will normally classify the plant as 'hardy', 'half-‐hardy' etc. Here is a list of temperature terms which might be useful: • Tender perennial -‐ lives for several years but will not withstand frosts. • Half-‐hardy -‐ cannot withstand temperatures of freezing or below. • Frost tender -‐ plants need at least +5˚ C • Frost hardy -‐ can survive temperatures as low as -‐5˚ C • Fully hardy -‐ can survive temperatures down to -‐15˚ C (Varieties within each species might differ slightly so check your gardening encyclopedia or dear old 'Google'). Lastly, if you have a pond, now is the time to remove any rotting vegetation. This produces methane and could be fatal to fish and other pond life, especially if the pond freezes over. If you net your pond to stop leaves falling into the water please be sure that the net is fixed securely around the edges to stop small animals getting underneath and finding themselves trapped in the water. Well, I'm worn out just typing this lot so 'bon courage mes amis' .... until next month.
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THE DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY We thought we heard a cheep coming from one of the eggs. We took the egg and sure enough it was still alive. We decided to get the chick out of the shell which is not always a good idea as there is often a reason for its failure to hatch. We got the chick and carefully placed it in the nest but mum rejected it; It was getting cold so we took it inside and warmed it up, popping it back in the nest when it was warm and dry just like the other two. Thankfully she didn’t notice an extra one and the babies snuggled under her wings. All are doing well.
Life on the Farm...
by Peter & Jenny Sebborn.
So is that it, summer’s over? The mornings and evening are a touch chilly but we are well stocked for the coming autumn and winter. With the very productive garden we have a freezer full of fruit and vegetables as well as chutneys, jams, pickles, soups, chilli sauce and marinades to have with some home grown pork ribs... mmmm. For the animals for the winter we have stored lots of monster squashes and courgettes. The pigs have really been spoilt. They have been well fed on windfall apples, pears, mirabelles and plums, plus last years walnuts, whey, bread, hazelnuts, courgettes, squashes and cucumbers (we have always been told pigs don’t eat cucumbers but ours do!) as well as any of our spare milk. The other animals have also had a treat of maize. With the farmer’s consent we collected up all the cobs that had fallen on the ground after the field nearby had been harvested. The goats, chickens and rabbits all love them. This month’s arrivals are 7 guinea fowl by a broody hen and 10 baby rabbits from Dot. She does have the cutest looking babies. If anyone is thinking of a good alternative to chicken, then rabbit is worth considering. Very little fat, low in cholesterol and great in a slow cooked casserole with a few dumplings and easy to raise at home. 12-‐14 weeks from birth to a size ready for the pot -‐ about 1.25 kilos. Talking of rabbits, our friends have bought a new buck. Apparently it’s grumpy and grey and they have called it after me.... charming! Our guinea fowl also went broody, but the problem was she was out in the open hiding in some apple crates. We tried several times to move her, even under cover of darkness, but she went crazy and started attacking us. It was recommended to us that we should wait until one keet hatched and then it would be easier to move her -‐ that didn’t work either. She had hatched two when I donned some leather gloves and went in. I grabbed the guinea fowl while Jenny grabbed the two babies and the unhatched eggs.
The only thing we haven’t had a glut of lately is eggs. Despite having more layers (some we bought from a friend’s smallholding and some we swapped for some garden produce) there is a serious lack of eggs. We thought perhaps we had a problem and treated them for fleas and mites, and will worm them. Hopefully they will be back on track soon. One of the goats is now in the freezer and we have had the first goat curry or should I say curried goat? With our fresh milk we have had a go at making some cheese. The first attempt was not very successful after the recipe said to heat the milk to 80˚C which apparently is a typing error and should be 30˚C. The second attempt was much better, except there were a few problems along the way. We had no lemons (so we used limes) and we didn’t add the rennet to cooled boiled water, Jen just chucked it in (no surprise there then). We added some more in the correct way and left it overnight to separate or whatever the technical term is. The result was a nice mild soft cheese. Just a word of warning -‐ with the nights drawing in and the temperature dropping, the local foxes will start to get hungrier than ever. Your poultry pens will prove very appealing and is the countryside equivalent of a fast food take away. Poultry and any vulnerable animals need to be locked away before dark. If Mr Fox comes calling and is successful he will probably come back again -‐ he loves a free meal. That’s all for now. Stay warm and see you soon. 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-SUR-L’AUTIZE 23 hamlets and groups of houses depend on the commune of Coulonges sur l'Autize. The village of Tourteron towards Saint Pompain existed in the Merovingian period because of it’s money-‐making workshop. The first mention of Coulonges appears in 978 when it was a Villa Ecoloni, a simple agricultural domain. This farm was probably at the origin of a community of inhabitants. A century later, the town of Colongia was born around the church and the castle. Coulonges-‐sur-‐l’Autize is first mentioned in 1207, when there was a lordship. In the middle ages, the town was called Coulonges-‐les-‐ Royaux or Coulonges-‐le-‐Royal. The lords of Coulonges, the Madaillan d’Estissac, were distinguished members of the royal household in the service of the King, until Louis XI had the castle knocked down. However, the Chamberlain of Charles de Guyenne replaced it with a renaissance style chateau. From the 8th to the 18th September 1469, during a hunting party, the King, Louis XI himself, stayed at Coulonges-‐les-‐Royaux in the chateau of Magné which was owned by the sire of Malicorne. In 1709 after a bad harvest, times were hard. The peasants who were armed, pillaged the royal grain stores so that the grain would not be taken to another region. Today the market town of Coulonges is organised like a small town. There are three different parts. The medieval part, which is a little bit outside the centre, can be found around the church and the chateau. It is characterised by the way it is organised in concentric fashion with its winding streets where some details show that this part of the town dates from the medieval period. There was a second period of urbanisation in the 16th century with the building of the renaissance chateau and the fitting out of its surroundings around a large square. The 19th century was a prosperous period. This thriving economy and the exploitation of the lime kilns can be seen by the building of large roads, the railway and the market halls. The 19th century bourgeoise houses and the villas dating from the beginning of the 20th century bring an architectural unity to the market town. During the first half of the 19th century, the leather industry was one of the main economic activities of Coulonges along with the lime kilns. In 1812, the mayor, in a letter which was addressed to the prefet, mentions 13 establishments at Les Tanneries, three in les Crevasses and one in the village of Tourteron. The development of the activity of lime kilning and the coming of the railway meant that there were about 20 lime kilns in the canton of which about ten belonged to the Des Houillères company. The area was prosperous. Coal from the mines at Saint-‐Laurs and Faymoreau was sold to feed the kilns. The lime was sold and a considerable amount of transport was needed to transport the coal and the lime. A VOIR / MUST SEE • Saint-‐Etienne Church The oldest part of the church dates from the 12th century. The building, in the shape of a cross, was composed of a nave and three spans. There is a transept and a choir with a semi-‐circular apse.
The size of the nave was doubled in the 15th century and the apse was replaced by a span. The inside of the church is rather sober. The chapiteaux of the columns are sculpted with designs of plants and leaves. The church is a listed historical monument. • The Renaissance Chateau An 11th century castle existed in the medieval market town near the church. However, it was destroyed in 1465 as the King needed to reduce the number of fortresses in the region to protect himself against a revolt. The rebuilding began in the 16th century with a square pavillion which was placed at the intersection of the two present wings. It was finished in 1568. The building is a listed historical monument. (photo: www.ville-‐coulonges-‐sur-‐lautize.fr) • The Indoor Market The old market halls, which were acquired by the town council in 1821, were destroyed and replaced by a new stone building in Neo-‐ classical style. The halls were meant for the butchers and there is an inscription on the gable end of the main wall -‐ “Sous le règne de NAPOLEON III, LOWASY de LONIVILLE étant préfet, PLASSIART, MAIRE, cette halle fut bâtie. 1857.” (“This market hall was built in 1857, during the reign of Napoleon III, Lowasy de Lonivelle was the prefet and Plassiart the mayor”). Because of the economic development of the town, the town council voted for a new market in 1888. The construction with metal beams is the work of the architect Mongeaud. The wrought iron parts were made by Michelin in Paris and Lemaire in Niort. The indoor market has the advantages of Baltard style market halls. The metal structure means that the inside space is wide open and the glass work means that there is a lot of light. The building is a listed historical monument and one of only five of its type still existing in the Deux-‐ Sèvres. • The Tall Chimney Near Pilorges, the chimney is one of the last remaining vestiges of the lime kilning activity. • The Wash-‐houses The wash-‐houses were an essential part of family and village life. There are several on the commune. Other places of interest • The museum of barrel making and wheelwrights. The only one in Deux-‐Sèvres. The museum is in the chateau. • The old Roman road linking Angers to Saintes.
More ‘A-‐Z of the Communes of the Deux-‐Sèvres.’ next month...
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French Life, Food & Drink... French Village Diaries
by Jacqueline Brown.
We seem to have left the extreme heat of summer behind us and there is a glimpse of autumn colour in the hedgerows, but what a brilliant summer it has been. With great weather and even better harvests I’ve got no complaints, especially as the summer storms left us reasonably untouched with only a bit of tree damage. On a recent wet Sunday morning, the first day of rain we had for weeks, we saw our French neighbours acting rather strangely. They are both well into their seventies and still to be found cycling the lanes around the village, so our first thoughts as we watched them stopping, dismounting, cycling, then stopping again, was that there was a problem. As we got closer we noticed they were actually collecting the huge snails that had appeared after the rain. They explained they had gathered about 250 snails that would now spend the next month or two in a cage with no food or water, before being ready to cook. Monsieur did add that a little grilled bread and red wine would do them no harm, but I’m never too sure if he is pulling my leg or not. I am not adverse to a little bit of hedgerow foraging, but at this time of year it is normally only for blackberries and sloes (for sloe gin), but maybe I should add snails too, especially when Madame values their haul at around 60€. They assure me their snails are delicious and something both of them have enjoyed since their childhood, although they never eat them in restaurants. The main reasons for this were price, quality and being wary of frozen imports, but they also agreed that snails should be enjoyed at home so you can make as much mess and noise (sucking the shells) as you like, without worrying about what you look like. As snails are something new to me, they have promised me a taste when this current batch is ready to eat this winter. They were happy to share their recipe with me too. They sauté a grey shallot in butter until soft, then add some pork rillettes for flavour, an onion, peeled but left whole and studded with a handful of cloves, garlic, thyme, two bay leaves and the snails (ready to cook, not fresh from the garden). These are then seasoned with salt and pepper and simmered in white wine. If you are in a rush, which is not recommended by Madame, you can put them on to cook at 8am and they will be ready for lunchtime however, she prefers the slow-‐cooked method. On day one, cook for at least three hours and then leave to cool. This allows the snails to infuse all the flavours. Repeat on day two. On day three, reheat and eat. It may be free food, but it is quite a lengthy process from foraging to eating. I promise to let you know how they taste when I get my sample! For recipes please email me at frenchvillagediaries@gmail.com or visit www.frenchvillagediaries.com
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THINKING ABOUT PLACING AN AD? For a full list of our advertising rates, please phone 05 49 70 26 21 or download our Advertising Pack from our website: www.thevendeemonthly.fr
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 DEUX-SÈVRES MONTHLY
A Franc Confession
by John Sherwin.
I haven’t always been unfashionable. Once upon a time, I pestered my parents for Ben Sherman shirts and a crombie. Past the age of scrounging, I took to flares and granddad shirts, then onto suits with shoulder pads, then black everything. Ch-‐ch-‐ch-‐ch-‐changes, as the man said. You had to be up with the times, or you were ch-‐ch-‐ chopped liver. To a great degree, the same could be said for wine trends, or fads if you prefer. Everyone was giving wine and cheese parties with spectacularly inappropriate pairings -‐ and the choice of vino and comestibles wasn’t up to much either. How we squealed with glee and gorgeous anticipation when the “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrivé” sign went up in the local wine shop. How we adored our oaked Cab Sav and Chardonnay. How wrong we were. After all that misplaced hullabaloo, isn’t it good to get just a little older and wiser? Isn’t it good to get down-‐home and righteous? Isn’t it good to confess that I have grown immensely fond of Cabernet Franc? What! The country cousin of sophisticated Cab Sav? Well yes. Cabernet Franc is often considered to be the ‘other’ variety of Cabernet. It’s the one that is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot when these two alone can’t give of their best. But before you dismiss it out of hand, consider that the wines of Chateau Cheval Blanc in St Emilion, whose bottles sell at prices akin to Lafite, are made up of two thirds Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Franc is the archetypal red wine grape of the middle Loire valley. The best examples of the grape (anywhere in the world) come from the areas of Chinon, Bourgueil, St Nicolas de Bourgueil, and Saumur-‐Champigny. The aroma is often described as herbaceous, weedy, farmyard, pencil shavings. A little more specific: green pepper, raspberry, tobacco, violet. The colour is lighter than Cab Sav and the taste less tannic, more juicy, fruity, with an attractive acidity. They are wines to be drunk and enjoyed young. The wine writer Willie Gluckstern, who once so astutely described the over-‐oaking of Cab Sav and Chardonnay as ‘the MSG of wine’, reckons a ‘well-‐made Saumur-‐Champigny [substitute any other Loire Cab Franc] with its medium weight, ripe, piquant fruit and delicate herbal finish, must be the best red wine for food’. Add ‘best value for money’ and you’re really getting to the point. You will find excellent bottles at your local supermarket from €3 to €6. Good food matching is key to get the most out of your bottle(s). Your wine is a weird and wonderful mix of elegant, silky, farmyard, high-‐falutin’ and down-‐home. Think game, duck, marbled beef, charcuterie, toasted walnuts, Anjou pear and blue cheese crumble: in other words, think autumn. And if you really want to continue to be a fashionista, what could be more chic than a Parisian bistro? And what is every classic bistro’s wine of choice for a whole range of dishes such as roast chicken or steak-‐frites? Answer on a postcard, but no prizes…
John Sherwin, French Wine Tours. Tel: 02 51 66 13 05 Email: johnsherwin@orange.fr ~ www.french-wine-tours.com Page 30
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Motoring... Magnificent Seven
by Helen Tait-‐Wright
With the autumn sun still warm enough for open top motoring as I write, this month I am drawn to an instantly recognisable British sportscar, and its derivatives, as popular today as it was when it was launched 56 years ago...... the Lotus Seven. Designed by the great Colin Chapman, the Lotus Seven embodies his ethos of ‘performance through lightness’ better than any other road-‐going car that Lotus produced. With a background in engineering and a passion for motor racing, Chapman founded Lotus cars in 1952. Although he had already produced other cars, it was with the Lotus Seven that he found public recognition. The original model was highly successful, due to its attraction as a road-‐ legal car that could be used for Clubman racing. The original car wasn’t fast by today’s standards; it did 0-‐60 in just over 16 seconds and ran out of steam around 80mph. That was pretty good in 1957, and combined with the lightweight Seven’s nimble handling made for a highly effective clubman’s racer, the factory prototype taking victory in it’s very first race.
As well as the Caterham models on the market today, there are a host of other Seven replicas, often known as Se7en’s, allowing the concept to be accessible to all. Some of the best known Marques are Westfield, Tiger, Dax and Robin Hood Engineering, and most offer the option of factory built or build your own. The kit car approach harks back to the 60’s when there was no purchase tax to pay if the car was supplied in parts, and indeed Chapman himself supplied cars in that manner too. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Colin Chapman would be pretty chuffed to see how many copies of his Seven are now available. But whether you buy Caterham or Lotus, factory-‐built or kit, you’ll have a hoot every time you get behind the wheel.
Enjoy!
Contact Helen at: helen@stodel.org.
Inevitably the demands of competition soon called for more, and the car was tweaked and modified until 1961 when the “Super Seven” version was given a Cosworth engineered Ford engine which propelled the car to 60mph in less than 8 seconds; only the fastest Ferraris, Jags and Mercs could match it. Already a star on track, in 1965 the Seven became a star on TV too when Patrick McGoohan drove one in his cult series The Prisoner. The Seven’s success continued into the 70’s, but by 1973 Lotus was firmly established as the leading and most innovative Formula 1 constructor, and the Seven didn’t fit the glamorous image and up-‐ market direction Chapman had planned for his company. However, there was still a demand for the Seven’s raw driving thrills, so rather than kill it off Chapman sold the production rights to Caterham Cars, who by then had become the Seven’s sole distributor. Caterham adopted the ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach, and the car continued to be successful. So successful in fact that in 1976 the RAC banned the Seven from racing in the UK because it won too much, leading Caterham boss Graham Nearn to produce T-‐shirts bearing the slogan ‘ Too fast to race’. By the mid 80’s, Caterham were refining and developing the Seven concept, while retaining its classic look, and the Seven took to the track once more for its own single make race series.
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Communications...
Contact ‘The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly’ La Bartière, 79130, Secondigny.
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Understanding, Using and Extended WiFi at Home Extending the range of a WiFi service in your home should start with positioning your router in the correct place, ideally it should be in the centre of the property. The router should also be at desk height or higher and not concealed in a cupboard or tucked away in a window sill, as these positions will weaken the signal.
where you want to receive the network signal. This device maybe a WiFi one or a cable one. If you chose to use the cable variety you will need to connect your PC via another Network cable. These systems vary in price starting for the non-‐wireless one at around £38 and rising to £138 for the fastest, best quality WiFi ones. The WiFi and cable repeater/extender will allow you to use the existing parameters of your router such as the SSID (Name of the Device/network) and the Password; alternatively you may set-‐up a totally different Network Name and password. In any event you should always secure your WiFi service. As the
If you live in a three story house the best place for maximum coverage would be on the middle floor in the middle of your home. This month we will consider extending the WiFi using two methods, one using the mains power around your home known as Power Line Adapters, and with a Wireless repeater or Wireless Access Point. In my opinion the Wireless repeater/access point method is the simplest way of extending your WiFi network and the cost for these devices start at around £25.00. Wireless repeaters/extenders work in two ways, they can connect by either WiFi or Cable to your router. If you are using a cable between your WiFi Extender and router you can position the WiFi extender in the centre of the area you want the WiFi signal. If however you are using the Extender as a wholly wireless device, it will need to be placed at the extent of the range of the existing router. Think of the ripples in a pond, the extender would be placed where the ripples get weaker and the router's signal starts to "drop-‐off". Another method of extending your network around your home is to use existing cables. Clever manufacturers have devised a system that carries the Network Data over the mains power supply around your property. Called "Power line" adapters, these systems permit extending your network both wired and WiFi all around your home. Usually purchased in pairs, the first one connects to the mains power supply beside your router. A network cable is taken from the back of the router to the power line adapter. This carries the network data from the router to the power line adapter and the adapter enables the transmission of the network data over the mains power supply. The second device is placed in the room
subscriber you are responsible for what is downloaded on your WiFi, so if someone unknown to you downloads material that is subject to copyright you may be liable. Until July 2013, HADOPI monitored downloads in France and would contact you if you were found to be infringing anyone's copyright. However, the HADOPI law was revoked on 10 July 2013 by the French Government because the punitive penalties imposed on copyright infringers was considered to be disproportionate. I have been watching the press to see what, if anything, will replace the legislation and nothing has been put forward as yet. Do rest assured that your internet activity is recorded by your ISP and will be available for the authorities to monitor when they are ready to. Please ensure that you keep your WiFi/Network secure and that you know who is using it and when, if you do permit access to others. Next month I shall review options to provide a WiFi connection to buildings on your property. For example extending your network to a summerhouse, Gîte or office workshop. 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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Building & Renovation...
ARTISANS & TRADESMEN... Do you have any top tips you can share with our readers?
For more details, please see the ‘Submit Article’ page on our website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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Business, Finance & Property...
IT WILL HAPPEN TO US ALL...So Why Not Talk About It! For my first article in ‘The Deux Sèvres Monthly’, it is probably not the best subject to choose, but it is probably the most important. So, what are the formalities after death in France?
Who Establishes a Death?
It is always a doctor who declares someone dead and provides a medical death certificate (certificat de deces). In case of violent death (suicide or car crash for example) it is the police or gendarmerie who do this.
Where do you Declare the Death?
• Death at home. In case of a death at home, it is a family member who does the declaration of death as they have the IDs of the deceased, but in most cases the undertakers (pompes funebres) will do it for you. • Death in hospital or retirement home. In case of death in hospital or any institution, they will do it for you.
What Delay?
It has to be done within 24 hours of establishing the death by the doctor (outside weekend and bank holidays).
Where?
At the mairie in the village where the death occurred or the mairie where the deceased lived.
What Documents are Required? • An ID of the deceased. • Your ID. • The medical death certificate.
Following that, the mairie establishes an Acte de deces which is an official death certificate. This is free and you will need lots of copies of it.
Burial and Cremation
The burial or cremation must be done between 24 hours and 6 days maximum. You can be buried in the commune where you live or have lived in the past. Cremations are done in the crematorium of your department. The undertakers do all the formalities for you.
Cost
• Funeral: the average cost is around 3000 euros. • Tax and notaire fees. You have up to 6 months to declare the death to the local tax office. That does not mean you will have to pay some taxes. In the declaration, you mention the amount you inherit. The percentage of tax you will have to pay will depend on your relationship with the deceased (no tax between spouse, allowance of 100000€ per children, then 20% tax, etc).
with roughly the same amount each otherwise the survivor will not be able to access it. Banks are authorised by law to pay the undertakers from the bank account of the deceased (providing there is enough money in it). The notaire will pay the death duties (inheritance tax, if any, and notaire fees) out of the assets of the deceased. So he will pay the inheritors their share, minus the fees and tax. Note that if they inherit a house and need to sell it to pay the tax and fees, they could have penalties to pay as you only have 6 months from the death to pay them! Funeral cover. If you don't have any savings, you can subscribe to a funeral cover. You can be insured between 3000€ and 10000€ without a health questionnaire. There is an exclusion of death through disease or suicide for the first year (in this case, the insurance company pays back the amount you have paid in). You are insured for death by accident straight away. It is not like a normal insurance whereby if you stop paying your premium you stop being insured. You receive a statement every year showing 3 lines. The first one shows how much you are insured for and it follows inflation. The second shows how much you are insured for if you stop paying the premium. The last shows how much is available if you want to shut down the policy completely. That means that if you are still alive after 10 or 15 years, you can afford to stop paying the premium as you will have enough cover already. As an example, a person born in 1947 and insured for 3000€ would pay around 20€ per month with my company and we offer a 10% discount for couple subscription. Assurance Vie. These are not a life insurance, they are savings accounts with advantages. It is one of the most popular accounts in France, as you can name the beneficiary. Therefore, the beneficiaries have access to this money on the death of the owner and not 6 months after! It also gives an allowance of 152500€ to each beneficiary (on top of the other allowance via notaire) as long as you put the money in before you are 70 years old. Otherwise it is an allowance of 30500€ for the policy and not per beneficiary. Please feel free to contact me for any further information on all the above or even for a free quote on a funeral cover (all I need is your birthdate and how much you want to be insured for), or an Assurance Vie. I can also calculate the amount of death duties and/ or notaire fees your loved one could have to pay. Yes, this is FREE.
It is the job of the notaire to do that for you and he will take fees for doing it which will be around 2-‐3% of the assets which belonged to the deceased. No declaration is needed if the assets of the deceased are less than 3000€ or 50000€, and it is the spouse or children who inherit.
How are the Costs Paid and Calculated?
Assets of the deceased. It is important to note that any bank/saving accounts that are in the name of the deceased will be blocked until the notaire finishes his work (usually takes up to 6 months). If you are married and have a common bank account, do make sure it is under Mr OU Mme. All the other accounts, other than current accounts, are in individual names, so make sure you have one each
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
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Ask Amanda.
“I have just bought a house and plan to be a resident in France. What does this mean in terms of my UK pension and any investments I hold?”
I was recently speaking to an estate agent who has seen a large increase in the number of British and Irish people looking at houses, with plans to move to France to live. When I sit down with new arrivals they are very interested in how regulations differ in France to those they have left behind. Here are several key differences.
Investments
It is worth reviewing any investments held to ensure that they are as tax efficient as possible under French legislation. As an example the French authorities do not recognise UK Trusts. Yet there are facilities for investing in France which can be tax efficient, protect you from inheritance tax, and are portable, should you need to move back to the UK in the future.
UK Private Pensions
Moving to France can open up several options not available to UK residents, regarding private and company pensions. A QROPS (Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme) can provide additional benefits to expats. These are not appropriate for everybody but it is worth exploring your personal circumstances.
Inheritance Tax Planning
As mentioned in more depth in the August edition of ‘The Deux-‐ Sèvres Monthly’ magazine, rules and regulations in France differ greatly from those in the UK and Ireland when it comes to inheritance tax. Individual allowances and tax rates differ significantly and understanding your inheritance tax liability is an important aspect of financial planning. Whether you are new to France or have been here some time and want to ensure your finances are in order, I will be happy to help. If you want to know more about these areas you can either drop in to the Café des belles Fleurs in Fenioux where I hold a financial surgery on a Thursday morning, come and see me at Open Door in Civray last Tuesday morning in the Month or you can arrange to see me for a free financial review by getting in touch on the contacts below.
Amanda Johnson, The Spectrum IFA Group. Tel: 05 49 98 97 46 Email: amanda.johnson@spectrum-‐ifa.com
www.spectrum-‐ifa.com/amanda-‐johnson
Money Talk...
by Philip Ryan
Le Tour de Finance Are you interested in finding out how to make the most of your money in France? Do you have pressing questions about making international payments, pensions, tax, wealth or the healthcare system? Why not take the time and come to a local event, bring some friends and make it a great day out? Le Tour de Finance is the financial forum for British expats which will help you with a range of different financial products and services. Just as Le Tour de France takes a route throughout the regions of France, so too does Le Tour de Finance. We want to reach expats where you live so that you can seek advice particular to your local area. Tax advice, pensions, mortgages, healthcare, schools, business advice and making the most of your assets are just some of the subjects that expats need to know more about. Le Tour de Finance is the ideal opportunity to find answers to the most pressing questions facing British people living in France. The forum will bring together key players who assist British expats settling or already living in France. It will also be an ideal opportunity to socialise by enjoying a free Buffet lunch and meeting people in similar circumstances in your neighbourhood. Le Tour de Finance will be at Bouvet Ladubay, Saint Hilaire-‐Saint Florent, 49400, Saumur on Friday 4th October. The event starts at 09.30 with a welcome café and ends at 14:30. Enjoy brief presentations from experts on a range of topics including; finance, money transfer, health, tax, legal changes and advice on property rental FREE BUFFET LUNCH and chance to talk to the speakers and network with fellow expats... Register now on www.letourdefinance.com and book your place, limited availability.
Sue Cook, Currencies Direct Tel: 06 89 99 28 89 ~ Email: sue.c@currenciesdirect.com
or “Ask Amanda” at finance@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr
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USEFUL FRENCH VOCABULARY -‐ FINANCIAL agio (m) -‐ bank charge ancien solde (f) -‐ previous balance assurance (f) -‐ insurance assurance-‐vie (f) -‐ life insurance assuré -‐ insured s’assurer -‐ verb -‐ to take out insurance assureur (m) -‐ insurer bancaire -‐ banking banque (f) -‐ bank
chèque (m) -‐ cheque chèque de banque (m) -‐ banker’s draft chèque sans provision (m) -‐ bounced cheque chèquier (m) -‐ cheque book code confidentiel (m) -‐ PIN number code guichet (m) -‐ branch code compte (m) -‐ account compte à terme (m) -‐ deposit account compte bancaire (m) bank account compte courant (m) -‐ current account compte d’épargne (m) -‐ savings account crédit hypothécaire (m) -‐ mortgage crédit relais (m) -‐ bridging loan découvert (m) -‐ overdraft dépôt (m) -‐ deposit endosser -‐ verb -‐ to endorse a cheque impôt (m) -‐ tax monnaie (f) -‐ coins/change prélèvement (m) -‐ direct debit prêt personnel (m) -‐ personal loan reçu (m) -‐ receipt rejeter un chèque -‐ verb -‐ to bounce a cheque relevé de compte (m) -‐ bank statement remise (f) -‐ remittance retrait d’argent (m) -‐ withdrawal of money solde (f) -‐ account balance taxe foncière (f) -‐ property tax taxe habitation (f) -‐ habitation tax virement (m) -‐ bank transfer
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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Advance Tax Payment on Interest and Dividends By Brad Warden, Partner, Blevins Franks
If French tax was not complicated enough, the new rules on interest and dividends taxation make it even more so. The flat tax rates that used to apply to interest and dividend income (and capital gains on the sale of shares) were abolished from this year. You will now pay tax according to your income tax bracket. However, you may still need to pay an advance tax - Prélèvement Obligatoire Non Libératoire - when you receive interest and dividends, and this is at the old fixed rates of 24% and 21% respectively. This is not necessarily the final tax due. You will pay any balance when you submit your income tax return. You are obliged to pay this advance tax every month you receive interest or dividends. Where the paying agent is in France, they will deduct it at source along with the 15.5% social charges. If outside France, you must submit form 2778-SD for interest and 2778-DIVSD for dividends, with the tax due, by the 15th of the following month, or try and give the financial institution a mandate to file and pay the tax on your behalf. The latter option only applies within the European Economic Area (so not to the Channel Islands or Isle of Man. Late payments are subject to a 10% fine.
If your household’s income for the penultimate year was below a set reference income, you can avoid the advance payment by submitting a waiver request to your financial institution. For 2013 income it had to be submitted before 31st March. In future the deadline is 30th November of the previous year. The reference income for interest is €50,000 for couples (filing jointly) and €25,000 for single taxpayers, and €75,000/€50,000 for dividends. This is an extra tax headache for many expatriates in France. You could consider moving your savings and investments into alternative structures which would avoid all this hassle and are generally more tax efficient. Social charges on UK income Another area of complexity is the issue of tax and social charges on UK source income. Different French tax offices take different views. The position of the Direction de la Legislation Fiscale is that where a French resident receives a UK government service pension and/or UK rental income, provided that this has been declared to the UK tax authorities they should receive a credit for the French income tax and social charges. With any tax related issue, you should seek professional, personalised advice. Summarised tax information is based upon our understanding of
current laws and practices which may change. Individuals should take personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.
m
se s
ar
in
21 new French finance acts in 5 years. Need help protecting your wealth? We need to talk. Has your wealth or estate planning been affected by these tax changes? How tax efficient are your assets? Our seminars will discuss these changes and also look at the impact of increased cross-border exchange of financial information. For further information visit... www.blevinsfranks.com NIORT Monday 14 October, Château du Griffier, 10 for 10.30am until 12 noon DOUÉ LA FONTAINE near Saumur Tuesday 15 October, Hotel La Saulaie, 10 for 10.30am until 12 noon
S01-fr
05 49 75 07 24
bradley.warden@blevinsfranks.com
Blevins Franks Financial Management Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, reference number 179731. Where advice is provided overseas, via the Insurance Mediation Directive from Malta, the regulatory system differs in some respects from that of the UK. Blevins Franks Tax Limited’s advisers only give taxation advice and are fully qualified.
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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
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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Autumn Markets
by Trevor Leggett, Chief Executive
What’s new on the Market in the Deux-Sèvres this Autumn? It looks as though that fabulous summer is well and truly behind us now as the farmers get ready for the vendange and thoughts turn towards putting the heating back on and closing the swimming pool down. Here at Leggett Immobilier we have been busy taking on houses for sale and preparing marketing plans aimed at both local and international buyers. A quick trawl through our website will reveal that we are rapidly closing in on the 10,000 properties for sale across France mark, with over 2,500 of these being in Poitou Charentes, some of them undoubtedly being owned by readers of the super The Deux-‐Sèvres Monthly! This month we thought that we would look at a sample of houses that have either just come on the market or have been reduced in price to make them stand out to buyers. We have included the reference numbers so that you can find them on our website www.leggettfrance.com. As an example, we have taken on a beautiful detached farmhouse with four bedrooms and a swimming pool which sits within 3,115m2 of gardens and is surrounded by farmland close to the village of L’Absie. The property has been well renovated and offers lovely family accommodation for €318,000. With more and more international families choosing Poitou Charentes over other regions of France this is exactly the kind of property we like to have within our portfolio (ref 34811MB79, photo below). End
Alternatively, we have just agreed on a price reduction of over €75,000 on a four bed family house with 6,649m2 of land that is within 14km’s of the bustling town of Niort. On the market now for €240,750 this is a property that comes with a pool and stable boxes and with the price reduction now in place it could well prove an attractive proposition for both locals and UK buyers (ref 33060CT79). Finally, why not take a look at the 360 degree virtual tour we have created for a detached, stone, longère on the outskirts of Coulon in the heart of the Marais Poitevin. On the market for €265,000 it comes with five bedrooms, two bathrooms and an abundance of charm. There is a walled and gated entrance to the pretty gardens of 2,989m2 with several stone outbuildings attached to the property (ref 30459GCB79). As regular readers of this column will know, Poitou Charentes was the only region in France to see an increase in the number of international buyers last year, so we are hopeful that our marketing efforts will pay dividends. This month alone we will be exhibiting client properties at exhibitions in London, Birmingham, Brussels and Bordeaux -‐ there are not many local agents in France that can say that! 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 46
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