The Deux-Sèvres Monthly Magazine - May 2022 Issue

Straw Bale

What's On

More photography tips

Latest from the vineyard Gazelles update

Tax forms explained

April was fun. We rescued a dog (not ours) from the roof (yes ROOF) of a nearby house (it wasn't as difficult as it sounds).

We visited our family in the UK (some of whom we have not seen since before COVID). The next President of France was selected (although the second round of voting happens AFTER we go to print so we cannot comment on the winner). Perhaps life IS starting to return to normality after all.

Hopefully the weather improvement we are seeing as we go to print will continue as we head towards summer. While it does make the grass and weeds grow, it is more than made up for by being able to spend more time outside (we continue to tell ourselves).

Hope you enjoy this month's offering.

Stay safe

Tel: 07.68.35.45.18

Tony & Lynne

Email: info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Website: www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

Bulletin Board

‘BEE PREPARED’

is time of year is the time we can nd that bees have taken a shine to our homes, out-buildings (or even cars).

Get expert help with swarm removal

Kevin & Amanda Baughen

16500 Confolens 05.45.71.22.90

info@13bees.co.uk,

Paul & Anne Clark 86250 Genouillé 05.49.87.52.37 paul@bees86

Steve Sissons

Within 30 minutes of 85120 St Maurice des Noues 06.11.43.17.07

Why not advertise YOUR event on our Bulletin Board pages.

info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

CHURCH NOTICES...

The Filling Station - Poitou-Charentes. Local Christians of all denominations who meet for spiritual renewal and evangelism. www.thefillingstationfrance.com or Carolyn on 05 45 84 19 03.

ALL SAINTS, VENDÉE - Puy de Serre We hold two services each month (+ Sunday school), on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at the church of St. Marthe, Puy de Serre, at 11am. www.allsaintsvendee.fr

The English Speaking Church of the Valley of the Loire (ESCOVAL) meets at the R.C. Church in Arçay every 3rd Sunday of the month at 11am (just off the D759, Thouars to Loudun).

Eglise Vie Nouvelle

Bilingual (French / English) weekly service based in Civray

See www.vie-nouvelle-civray.com Contact 05 49 87 49 04

The Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, Poitou-Charentes, normally holds Sunday services in English. Please see our website for current information: www.churchinfrance.com

Christian Fellowship - Chef Boutonne

Meeting each Sunday at 15h.

Visit www.chef-boutonne.net or telephone 05 49 29 81 34

07 68 35 45 18

info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr www.thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

The National Holidays, Religious and Feast Days

2022...

Sat 1 January New Year’s Day (Jour de l’an)

Sun 17 April Easter Sunday (Pâques)

Mon 18 April Easter Monday (Pâques)

Sun 1 May Labour Day (Fête du premier mai)

Sun 8 May VE 1945 (Fête du huitième mai)

Thu 26 May Ascension Day (Ascension)

Sun 5 June Whit Sunday (Pentecôte)

Mon 6 June Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte)

Thu 14 July Bastille Day (Fête nationale)

Mon 15 Aug Assumption day (Assomption)

Tue 1 November All Saints’ Day (Toussaint)

Fri 11 November Armistice Day (Armistice)

Sun 25 December Christmas Day (Noël)

source www.publicholidays.fr

WHAT’S ON DIARY

01/05 CONSECRATION 18h00 Consecration service in the presence of Bishop of Europe, the Right Reverend Robert Innes, the Archdeacon of France, the Venerable Dr. Peter Hooper and the Area Dean, Revd. Tony Lomas at Church of the Good Shepherd www.churchinfrance.com

01/05 BOURSE AUX TIMBRES THOUARS 79100. Market for stamps, coins etc and several exhibitions. 9-6pm. Free.

01/05 AUTO/KART-CROSS FENIOUX 79160. The first race of the Poitou-Charentes/Vendée championship. Bar and catering on site. €6 under 14s. Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINTE VERGE 79100, Refreshments available. Free entrance from 8am.

01/05 PLAYMO PARTH' PARTHENAY 79200. Part of the Spring games event. A major exhibition with the sale of figurines from private collections. Raffles and refreshments.10-5pm €2 under 12s: Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINT- COUTANT 79120

Refreshments available. Free entrance from 8am.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER FENERY 79450. Also petanque concours. Refreshments available. Free entry from 8am.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER AIGONDIGNE 79370. Refreshments available. Free entrance from 8am.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER LA CRECHÉ 79260. Refreshments available.8-6pm. Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER PAS DE JUE 79100. Refreshments available.8-6pm. Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINT MAIXENT L‘ÉCOLE 79400. Refreshments available.8-6pm. Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINT SYMPHORIEN 79270. Refreshments available.8-6pm. Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER LA CRECHÉ 79260. Refreshments available.8-6pm. Free.

01/05 VIDE GRENIER MAILLEZAIS 85240 Maillezais campsite. Refreshments available.

01-02/05 FOIRE DE NIORT NIORT 79000. Fair with theme of French Polynesia. Exhibitions, gastronomic village, entertainment, concerts. Free.

07/05 MARCHÉ DE PRINTEMPS LORIGNE 79190 local products, creators and artisans. On-site catering. 10-5pm. Free.

07/05 OLI PARK BRESSUIRE 79300 SPORTING SHOW including skateboarding, dancing, BMX, parkour. From 6.30pm.€6 under 12s €3.

08/05 EXPOSITION-VENTE CELLES-SUR-BELLE 79370

Exhibition-sale by Creative craftswomen. Refreshments available. From 10am. Free.

08/05 VIDE GRENIER LA FÉRRIERE EN PARTHENAY 79390. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

08/05 VIDE GRENIER MELLE 79500. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

08/05 VIDE GRENIER VILLIERS EN PLAINE 79160. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

14/05 LA NUIT DES MUSÉES AIRVAULT 79600. As part of the European Night of Museums, the Jacques Guidez municipal museum will be open from 2:30 p.m. to midnight. Free.

14/05 LA NUIT DES MUSÉES FAYMOREAU 85240. As part of the European Night of Museums discover the museum and the temporary exhibition in an unusual way- bring a headlamp or torch. From 9.30pm.

14/05 CARNAVAL CERIZAY 79140. Carnival of Cerizay. Free.

14-15/05 BOURSE DE PIÈCES AUTOS CELLES-SUR-BELLE 79370. Refreshments available. Free.

14-15/05 STRUCTURES GONFLABLES VASLES 79340. Inflatable structures and giant wooden games. €6.

14-16/05 L'ACCROPATCH EXPOSE LE TALLUD 79200. Le Tallud Patchwork Group exhibition). 10am - 6pm. Salle Socio-Culturelle. Free entry. Sale of fabric. Tombola.

15/05 VIDE GRENIER ARGENTONNAY 79150. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

15/05 VIDE GRENIER COULANGES SUR L’AUTIZE 79160. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

15/05 VIDE GRENIER LE TALLUD 79200. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

15/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINT CHRISTOPHE SUR ROC 79220. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

15/05 VIDE GRENIER SOUVIGNÉ 79800. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

15/05 LA BALADE DES 2CV THOUARS 79100. 2CV rally with viewing at 8.30 am in the orangery of the Château de Thouars and en route. Free.

15/05 MARCHÉ AUX PLANTES VALDELAUME 79110. Plant, gourmet and flea market. Refreshments available. From 8am-7pm. Free.

15/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINT-MARTIN-LARS-EN-SAINTHERMINE 85210. Refreshments available. Free entrance from 8am.

15/05 MARCHÉ AUX PLANTES VOUVANT 85120. Plant sale. Refreshments available. From 10am. Free.

15/05 CONCOURS DE BOULE EN BOIS LARGEASSE 79240. Boule competition.

15/05 FUND RAISER FOR UKRAINE REFUGEES ST PARDOUX 79310. 11, Route de Parthenay. 11am - 5pm. Plant stalls, entertainment, tea & cakes.

21-22/05 LES MÉDIÉVALES DE MAULÉON MAULEON 79700. Medieval festival with jugglers, fire-eaters, musicians, falconers etc, craft and medieval market, children's workshops. 2€. Child (+12) 1€ (-12) Free.

22/05 LA FÊTE DU PAIN SAINTE-VERGE 79100. Watch bread being baked in the old oven with a market and entertainment.

22/05 VIDE GRENIER SAINT MARTIN DE BERNEGOUE 79230. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

22/05 VIDE GRENIER VERRUYES 79310. Refreshments available. 8am-6pm. Free.

22/05 CONCOURS DE BOULE EN BOIS LARGEASSE 79240. Boule competition.

26-29/05 FANTASTIQUES JOUTES SAINT-ANDRE-SURSEVRE 79380. Jousting festival and exhibition. 2.30 6.30 pm.6€ (child 5-14) 4.50€.

26-29/05 FANTASTIQUES JOUTES SAINT-MESMIN 85700. Jousting festival and exhibition. 2.30-6.30pm. 6€ (child 5-14) 4.50€.

28/05 MARCHÉ AUX TISSUS NIORT 79000. Fabric market and creative hobby show with a wide range of materials, accessories and ideas for your creations From 9.30-5pm. Free

29/05 CONCOURS DE BOULE EN BOIS LARGEASSE 79240. Boule competition.

The information here is as accurate as we can get it but PLEASE check events have not been cancelled or altered before you leave the house.

Christie’s

is Open throughout May

The MonthofFriendship including:

Thursday 26t h

Friday 27t h

Saturday 28t h for:

GREAT GIFTS & BEAUTIFUL CARDS

Tapestry, Jewellery, Puzzles, Scarves, Mugs, Bamboo Socks, Heat Packs, Books, Insulated Bottles, Candles

DELICIOUS HOME-BAKING

Scones, Cupcakes, Rich Fruit Cake, Brownies, Muffins, Cookies

Serving Warm Welcomes Since 2004!

TUES-FRI:10am-12noon:3pm-7pm SAT:10am-12noon:3pm-6pm

WWW CHEZCHRISTIES F R 05 49 50 61 94

‘ C hez Ch ristie’s G ençay ’

GENÇAY (86)-behindtheMairie Siret:47876969800018

FRYER TUCKS

Fish and Chips

British Indian Curry

Kebab - Burgers

Château de Saugé

2 Saugé 79400 Saivres (border of Exireuil)

Chambre d'hôtes, Gites, Vintage Tea Room, Event Space, Trading Post Shop

OPEN every Saturday & Sunday 12.00 – 6.00pm

info@chateaudesauge.com 06 29 15 36 55

www.chateaudesauge.com

MR T’S FISH & CHIPS

Regular venues at:

MARKEY’S PORK ‘N’ PIES TRADITIONAL

Venues :

Saint Jouin de Marnes - outside the boulangerie - back to evenings now so 18h00 to 20h30 every Tuesday

Louin (Le Cafe de l’Union) - 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month from 18:30 - 21:00

Bar Genneton - 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month from 18:30 - 21:00

Funny Farm Cat Rescue - Booking required by email. Last Wednesday of each month 12h00 - 14h30

darren@fryertucks.fr

AVAILABLE FOR

Tel: 06 23 25 48 36

www.facebook.com/fryertucks1 SIRET

• Aulnay de Saintonge 17470

• Beauvais Sur Matha 17490

• St Jean D’Angély 17400

• Sauzé-Vaussais Hope 79 79190

• La Chaumière, La Chapelle 16140

• Charroux 86250

• Private catering

Tel: 06 02 22 44 74

mrt.fishandchips@gmail.com

www.frying4u2nite.com

Sat: Fontenay-le-Comte (marché), Vendée and at Saint-Jean-d’Angély (marché intérieur), Charente-Maritime

Sun: Aulnay (marché), Charente-Maritime Open

LA VENDÉE CHIPPY

WEEKLY VENUES FROM 18h30 to 20h30

Weds - Pub le St Vincent, 85110 St. Vincent Sterlanges. Fri - Bar Miton, 85120 Antigny

Tel: 06 31 42 47 52

vendeechippy@gmail.com

Facebook @lavendeechippy

SIRET : 881 211 213 00015

May

May 2, 1933

The modern legend of The Loch Ness Monster is born when The Inverness Courier relates an account of a local couple who claim to have seen “an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface”. The story of the “monster” (a name chosen by the Courier editor) became a media phenomenon with London newspapers sending correspondents to Scotland and a circus offering a £20,000 reward for its capture.

May 4, 1994

Harry Cohen, then a Member of Parliament, uses a pun that would spawn its own holiday. He said “May the 4th is an appropriate date for a defence debate. My researcher said that it should be called ‘National Star Wars Day'”. 2015 marked the first known celebration of Star Wars Day in space, when astronauts aboard the International Space Station watched Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

May 9, 1671

Thomas Blood, an Irish adventurer better known as “Captain Blood,” is captured attempting to steal the Crown Jewels from the Tower of London. Disguised as a priest, Blood and three accomplices were caught in the act when the keeper’s

son showed up and raised the alarm. All four men were arrested. Blood was brought before King Charles II who was so impressed with Blood’s audacity that, far from punishing him, he restored his estates in Ireland and made him a member of his court with an annual pension.

May 10, 1994

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is sworn in as the first Black president of South Africa. In his inaugural address, Mandela, who spent 27 years of his life as a political prisoner of the South African government, declared that “the time for the healing of the wounds has come.”

May 15, 1941

The jet-propelled Gloster-Whittle E 28/39 aircraft flies successfully over Cranwell England, marking the first test of an Allied aircraft using jet propulsion. The aircraft’s turbojet engine, which produced a powerful thrust of hot air, was devised by Frank Whittle, an English aviation engineer and pilot generally regarded as the father of the jet engine.

May 16, 1770

Louis, the French dauphin, marries Marie Antoinette, the daughter of Austrian Archduchess Maria Theresa and Holy Roman Emperor Francis, in a ceremony at Versailles. France hoped their marriage would strengthen its alliance with Austria, its long-time enemy. The celebrations continued until 30 May when fireworks on Place de la Concorde killed 132 people. It was a grim omen of a reign that would prove to be so tragic.

May 19, 1536

Anne Boleyn, the infamous second wife of King Henry VIII, is executed on charges including adultery, incest and conspiracy against the king. Henry’s marriage to Anne lasted only 3 years and 3 months and she is often referred to as ‘Anne of the Thousand Days’ Henry showed her a small ‘mercy’ by granting her request to die by sword rather than an axe. Less than 24 hours later, Henry was formally betrothed to Jane Seymour; they married just 10 days after the execution.

May 21, 1932

Five years to the day that American aviator Charles Lindbergh became the first pilot to accomplish a solo, nonstop flight across the Atlantic Ocean; female aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first pilot to repeat the feat, landing her plane in Ireland after flying across the North Atlantic. Earhart travelled over 2,000 miles from Newfoundland in just under 15 hours.

May 29, 1953

Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal become the first explorers to reach the top of Mount Everest. After a freezing, sleepless night, the pair reached the South Summit by 9 a.m. and completed the final climb to the "top of the world" at about 11:30 a.m. Due to the amount of time it took to descend the mountain it was June 2nd before the rest of the world were told about the conquest.

Netball Club, Les Étoiles de Clessé An update!

Since our creation in September last year, the club has got off to a flying start and had a busy few months!

We have been lucky enough to secure three sponsorship deals with Estate Agents, Leggett Immobilier; this popular magazine, The Deux-Sevres Monthly, and gite complex in Civray, Les Grands Coudrais This sponsorship has enabled us to invest in sports equipment and club T-shirts.

We played our first match against local Deux-Sèvrian team, Vasles Netball Club, in December and have another planned in the coming weeks. Between us, we plan to make these friendly matches a regular event three or four times a year.

As well as local press and social media coverage, we continue to promote the sport of netball in our corner of France. We welcome players (male or female, adults or children 14yrs +) to either revisit the sport or to learn it from scratch, in a friendly and supportive environment. We are English and French spoken and will be delighted to see you if you are interested in joining us either as a player or a supporter.

We meet every Monday evening at the Salle Omnisports, Clessé 79350 from 7pm to 8.30pm.

We warm up, partake in fun training drills, and then play netball! It’s great fun and a fantastic way to meet new people, get moving and keep fit. We are offering one free taster session to everyone interested in playing. If you are interested in joining us one Monday evening, please send us an email on clessenetball@gmail.com and we will look out to greet you.

As a fledgling club, we appreciate all social media shares and promotions to help us grow.

Thank you for helping us ;-)

Facebook: facebook. com/clubdenetballclesse

Email: clessenetball@ gmail.com

LOCAL MARKETS

Mondays......... Benet 85490

La Châtaigneraie (last Monday in month) 85120

Lencloître (1st Monday in month) 86140

Tuesdays......... Lezay 79120

Civray 86400

Coulonges-sur-l’Autize 79160

Thouars 79100 - and - Bressuire 79300

Vasles 79340

Wednesdays.... Parthenay 79200 - and - Celles-sur-Belle 79370

Thursdays........

Fridays...............

Ruffec 16700

Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 - and - Niort 79000

La Mothe St Héray 79800

Gençay 86160

Thouars 79100 - and - Melle 79500

Secondigny 79130 (pm)-and-St Aubin le Cloud (pm)

Civray 86400 (small food market)

Antigny 85120 (1st and 3rd Fridays - pm)

La Mothe Saint-Héray 79800 (Place Clémenceau)

Melle 79500 (la Place Bujault)

AIGONDIGNE 79370 (Place de la Gasse, 4pm-8/9pm)

Saturdays........ Bressuire 79300 - and - Champdeniers 79220

Chef-Boutonne 79110

Airvault 79600 - and - Niort 79000

Saint Maixent-l’École 79400

Fontenay-le-Comte 85200

Ruffec 16700

Magné 79460 and Moncoutant 79320

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

Coulon 79510 - and - Neuville-de-Poitou 86170

Thénezay 79390

Saint-Varent 79330

Saint-Loup-Lamairé 79600

Hello Everyone,

We have oven gloves for sale. They are double oven gloves incorporating poppy fabric in a patchwork design.

If you would like to buy some, which you can see are a double all in one mitt (hard to come by in France), then all we ask is 10 Euros (incl. postage).

ALL proceeds go to the appeal. Thanks for supporting us.

You can place orders by email: poppybox2020@gmail.com

Sunday 27th March saw the first performance of any kind this year from Reaction Theatre when the Keynotes Choir were invited to sing three songs at the postponed ‘mayor’s wishes’ concert in our new base at Scillé, near L’Absie. The Covid pandemic had prevented us taking part in January when the concert had to be called off, but the reorganised event provided us with almost the whole population of the commune to sing to, and they warmly cheered our efforts! Fourteen members of the choir plus musical director Liam Maguire were able to make the event, but we gave a good impression of ourselves which really helped us successfully launch into the life of the commune and give a taster of our full concert there on 11th June.

We’re still planning a ‘platinum jubilee’ concert on Saturday 4th June to celebrate the Queen’s amazing milestone, but unfortunately the venue we had chosen was already booked for that date so we’re searching for a replacement. If anyone knows of a suitable outdoor venue in the Deux-Sevres that ideally has a covered performance area, then please let us know using the email address below. Along with other performers, we’re also hoping to be part of the musical event being held at the château in Vouvant (Vendée) in the evening of 18th June.

Reaction Theatre’s annual general meeting took place on Wednesday 13th April, with a new committee elected and discussions on how the theatre-side might start activities again after a two-year lull during the pandemic. More details to follow.

It’s a great time to join us and not too late for anyone wanting to take part in Keynotes’ summer concerts. There remain a few

Let us know how many you would like and we will send them to you by post (we will need your full postal address of course). We will send you a payment request with your order. All cheques payable to “The Royal British Legion” or pay via our Just Giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/little-fatnorm.

All funds raised are credited to the Poppy Appeal for the Bordeaux & SW France Branch of the Royal British Legion Account. Thank you for your continued support. Pat and Kay Johnson.

by Sally Cox

rehearsals until then and any new members can familiarise themselves with voice parts for each song using our electronic database of recordings. We sing in both French and English, but fluency in either language is not required.

More good news, the Keynotes Ensemble (formally known as the Town Band), have reformed and started meeting in readiness to accompany Keynotes during their summer concerts. Anyone who is looking to dust off their instruments is most welcome to join us. Do please get in touch on the email below.

We’ll also be looking to update our website in the next few weeks so expect a new look in the not-too-distant future.

If you’d like to join us or find out more, please email: info@reactiontheatre.eu or go to our website www.reactiontheatre.eu

Satellite TV and Internet

AsI sit here in the wee small hours, typing away far faster than I should and very grateful for auto-correct, it doesn’t really feel like spring has arrived. It’s wet and very windy (and also dark, but that’s because it’s 12.17am so not really the fault of the weather). ‘A bit like your bum’ Mrs W kindly said to me. It’s the little things like that which keep us together. That said, I’m glad she went to bed. Can I even say ‘bum’ these days? Is that allowed? It’s hard to keep up with the world. Ricky Gervais said it best when he said that you can say whatever you want. You just have to accept the fact that some people may find it offensive. Then, you need to decide whether you give a duck (thanks auto-correct) or not. Anyway, hello everybody. I hope you’re all keeping safe and well. Shall we just get on with it? Let’s stop ducking (thanks again auto-correct!) about.

I know I say it every month, but Freesat is not the same as Freeview.

For those of you with a Sky subscription package who purchase a new digibox, you need to be aware that if you pay for the premium services such as sports and/or movies, you’ll need to pair the viewing card to the new box. You can do this by going to www.sky.com/quickfix. You’ll need your Sky ID and password, but once logged in, you can enter the details of the new digibox and the pairing will be done almost instantly. It’s way better than the old system of having to call them and hoping you don’t reveal that you’re based in France!

Whilst on the subject, I have seen various websites saying that ‘Sky TV is now available in France!’. Well, it always has been so that isn’t really news. It’s just that these companies are trying to legitimize it. However, it is still not technically allowed by Sky. The viewing card is not supposed to be used outside of the UK or Channel Islands. So, yes you can have Sky TV in France, but don’t believe any company which tells you it’s not dealing in shades of grey!

If you have a Freesat box, be aware that you don’t have to enter your WiFi code to use it. The only reason to link the Freesat box to your WiFi is if you plan to use the catch-up services like BBC iPlayer. However, to do this, you’ll need to have a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which makes services like iPlayer think you’re in the UK. So, if you don’t use a VPN then there is no need to worry about the WiFi code.

If you subscribe to the Neosat satellite internet service (and why not? It’s pretty good), then you need to ensure that you have the activation codes they send you, to hand. I have been to more than one installation where the letter containing all the required details is not readily available. This letter from Nordnet contains not only the service activation code, but the exact longitude and latitude details

by Stuart Wallace

required for set up. Without this, it is usually impossible to finish the job.

I went to a call out last month where another ‘installer’ (I use that term loosely) had told a client that even though the dish was literally hanging off the wall (one top fixing bolt was missing and another was barely hanging on) that all would be fine as he’d managed to get a (rubbish) signal. This was despite the fact that when the wind blew, the dish and bracket moved. There was barely any signal in good weather and nothing at all in bad. To be clear, the installer concerned does not advertise in this magazine. However, whoever you may choose to use, do not accept shot (thanks once again auto-correct) like that.

As always, please feel free to get in touch if you would like any further information or would like to discuss your requirements. Contact details can be found on the advert. Have a good month.

Stuart runs The French House Satellite TV tfhsatellite@gmail.com

Other contact details in his advert in the Buildings & Renovations section of the magazine

TECH BYTES

Alexa - Amazon Wish List Notifications

COMING SOON ….. If you have an Amazon Alexa device and make use of wish lists on the Amazon web site, you will soon be able to use a feature that will give you verbal warnings when/if any item on your your wish list is about to become available at a sale price. You will be able to order by simply asking Alexa.

For those of you who feel this is NOT a feature you want, the good news is that you will have to enable this feature for it to work. It is not yet available in Europe.

Post BREXIT Mobile Roaming Fees

Like many, I retained my UK mobile contract following my move to France. It allowed friends and family to contact me without an international call and meant I didn’t have to contact loads of people with a new number. Recently, my UK provider (Three) blocked my service with 7 days’ notice because I had been out of the UK too long. Fair enough – COVID meant I had not visited for many months.

I needed the number to be available for several important reasons at the time, so tried to convince Three to enable my account - they were unwilling to do so.

Looking for other options I have come across XPATFONE (which is DEVYCE by another name). They offer a VOIP (internet based) service which, to a caller, mimics a UK mobile number; allows incoming and outgoing calls and SMS. They also allow the transfer of your old mobile number to them. The service costs less than £10 a month (equates to the cost of a UK contract in my view). There are offers of a few free days to try the service (without needing to transfer your number). I tried it, I liked it and I have now transferred my Three account to them, and it works a treat.

Be aware though – you MUST have a local (French in our case) mobile contract with a data package attached as the XPATFONE/DEVYCE requires internet access to function. Of course, once indoors the data is provided by my broadband but when out and about my French mobile package provides that data.

Microsoft OneDrive Changes

If you use OneDrive as your cloud solution and have not yet moved on from Windows 7, 8 or 8.1, you should be aware that, as from March 2022, your OneDrive is no longer automatically synching between your laptop/PC and the cloud folders.

You can still manually upload files to your OneDrive folders via the web service but this is fiddly and not really recommended.

QR Codes : Pros & Cons

QR codes have been around for a while now but seem to, recently, be gaining more of a foothold. If you are not familiar with them, they are (generally) square, bar code like images (there is one on our front cover) that will allow you to scan them with a mobile phone to display information or provide a link to a website (as ours does). This all sounds fine and dandy BUT as they become more popular, the pond scum out there will start trying to scam us by using them.

The problem may come from directing you to a web site that either immediately downloads some malware to your phone or presents a scam of some kind to you.

As with all this sort of thing, the vast majority of QR codes are absolutly fine but you should treat them like any other unsolicited contact (e.g. an email). Some tips for protecting yourself ...

1. Don't scan a QR code from a source you do not trust. If you are not sure, don't do it.

2. Only use a QR reader application with built-in security features. Understand that some QR reader apps are more secure than others. One important feature to look for is the reader showing the content of the link before it is visited. More advanced applications will check the link presented by the QR code against a database of known malicious links.

3. If you are scanning from a poster, or similar, feel the QR code to see if a sticker has been applied over the original and legitimate QR code.

If you do find a malicious QR code, report it to the owner of the business where you discovered it.

Neither the author nor The DSM magazine gain any benefit, financial or otherwise, from the organisations mentioned in these articles.

La Vie En France

All in the Merry Month of MAy

The month of May, the 5th month of the year, has 31 days. The word May « mai » probably comes from the Latin maius, in celebration of the Greek goddess « la déesse grecque » Maïa. However, the poet, Ovid, states that the word comes from the Latin word maiores, which means ancester « ancêtre ou aïeul », in contrast with the month of June which is supposed to come from the word iuniores, juniors, « les jeunes ».

The month of May is the King of Bank Holidays « jours fériés » ! Although this year in 2022, two of those holidays fall on a Sunday.

First of all the First of May, « le 1er mai », is Labour Day, « la Fête du travail ». Officially recognised as a bank holiday by the government in 1947.

It MUST be a paid holiday when no-one works, « un jour chômé et payé » in all public and private companies.

A week later, « une semaine plus tard », also on a Sunday this year, the 8th May, « le 8 mai » is also a bank holiday. It celebrates the 8th May 1945, date of the end of the fighting of the Second world war in Europe, « fin des combats de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale ». The 8th May is dedicated to the commemoration of the Second World War and to paying hommage « rendre hommage » to those who lost their lives in combat.

Then comes Ascension Day « le jeudi de l’Ascension », another Bank Holiday with a religious origin. It celebrates the Ascension of Jesus, 40 days after Easter. The date varies every year between the 30th April and the 3rd June because of the date of Easter. This year Ascension Day falls on the 26th May.

by Sue Burgess

Mother's Day « La Fête des Mères » is the last Sunday in May (except when the « lundi de Pentecôte » (whit Monday) falls at the end of May. This year « La Fête des Mères » is the 29th May.

The Neighbours' Festival « La Fête des Voisins » where neighbours get together for a picnic or drink « un apéro » is often held sometime at the end of May.

Vocabulary / Vocabulaire

Le muguet lily of the valley (given on the 1st May)

Le bleuet cornflower worn on the 8th May to remember the fallen of the 2nd World War

Les parties d'une fleur parts of a flower

La tige stalk

Une feuille leaf

une pétale petal

une racine root

une grenouille frog

un nénuphar water lily

un oiseau a bird

un oisillon a baby bird

un nid a nest

Bringing your dog to France How to move with a pet

by Chloé Louise Moore

Are you thinking of moving to France from the UK with your pet? With a little preparation, moving overseas with a pet can be an easy and stress-free experience for everyone involved!

Planning ahead is key, so making sure you’re organised before the big move is very important. Having all the necessary paperwork in order and at hand will allow a smooth trip for you as well as your furry (even feathery or scaly!) friend.

France has a few regulations and restrictions when it comes to importing pets into the country:

• All pets imported from non-EU countries MUST be declared and presented to Customs, whether it be a first import or not.

• The person importing the pet must be the owner or a person willing to take on the owner’s responsibility of said pet and paperwork.

• You cannot import more than 5 pets at a time for it to be considered a pet importation, and not “commercial”.

For dogs, cats and ferrets:

• Your pet must have a microchip that can be scanned, or if your pet got tattooed before July 2011 make sure the tattoo is clearly legible.

• The anti-rabies vaccination is mandatory and must be valid. If it’s the first rabies vaccination your pet is having or if the vaccination has not been kept up to date, you will need to respect a 21-day period after completion of the vaccination protocol before travelling.

• You will also need a rabies antibody test performed on your pet. This is done via blood test and the customs advise you to get this done 3 months before the travel. This is proof the pet has antibodies present against rabies and can enter France. This test can be used as lifetime proof as long as you keep up to date with the vaccinations. You cannot import a pet less than 3 months old that hasn’t yet been vaccinated against rabies.

• A health certificate provided by your Vet that must contain information on the pets identification, anti-

rabies vaccination and antibody test. You will need both the health certificate, as well as the documents stated above.

For birds:

• Upon arrival the bird will have to have a 30-day isolation period if it hasn’t had the vaccination and at least 1 follow-up vaccine against influenza H5&H7 in the last 6 months or 60 days before the travel OR if you cannot provide a negative H5&H7 PCR test after the 3rd isolation day and keep the bird isolated 10 days before the trip.

• Your birds also need a health certificate from a vet.

• You will need a sworn statement that you are not intending on selling the birds upon arrival, and that you will respect the isolation period.

• The bird will need to be in a private home and cannot be in a bird gathering facility.

For fish, rabbits and reptiles:

• They will need a health certificate from a vet.

Not respecting these rules while importing your pet will lead to sanctions:

• Depending on the situation, your pet can be returned to the UK, quarantined or even be put down.

• You can get a fine of up to 15,000€ and 2 years imprisonment if they believe you’ve involuntarily or helped spread disease.

• If the health requirements are not respected, you can also get a fine and up to 3 years imprisonment.

So, whether you’re moving to France with your pet or just wanted to know more about the process, I hope this article was helpful. And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions – I’m happy to help!

Life in 79

TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING

When we moved to France we had romantic notions of wandering around the markets squeezing the melons and sniffing the tomatoes. Anna, my wife, even purchased a wicker basket to carry home the produce. But, in reality we do our weekly shop at Lidl and the basket is used to store our phone and iPad cables.

Every week Anna will stagger back from town with our three bags-for-life full of all the fruit and veg we have to eat before it goes off (so much for squeezing and sniffing). The carrots seem to last 24 hours before giving up on life and the potatoes' black bruises can require continuous peeling until there is nothing left. We like the lack of choice you get in Lidl (not the greatest advertising slogan) and Anna loves the non consumable items at the back. She did the 'big' shop one week and came back with a sewing machine!

When it comes to dining out we are equally as unadventurous. We once spent a day in Milan and ate in McDonalds ...twice! We have had Big Macs in some of the finest cities in Europe: Barcelona, Lisbon, Parthenay. It is shameful, I know (we don't even like McDonalds that much), but we know the system.

Going into Panda Wok for the first time was a daunting experience. For those who don't live in the greater Parthenay area, Panda Wok is an industrial warehouse where you can eat as much as you like. Food from around the world is sitting in trays (a bit like classy school dinners) and you can help yourself. It is a legendary tourist attraction with visiting family and friends. “How about a trip to the largest Oriental Gardens in Europe or we could explore the architectural wonders of Château Brézé?” I ask, “Pan-da wok! Pan-da wok!” they will chant back.

It was lovely to receive our first visitor from the UK since the Covid rules were relaxed. And, as our MSG levels were low, a trip to the warehouse of dreams was suggested. The establishment now has a small robot which takes you to your table with flashing lights and music playing. Everyone looks round at the new greedy people arriving.

I'm not one of these adventurous people who will pick a raw piece of surf and turf to be cooked on the spot by the man with the wok. No, for my dining experience I will have three plates of the beige food which has passed through

by Stephen Shaw

the deep fat fryer, I will then complain that I am full and want to go home. I'm not proud, but that's the way I am ... predictable.

One of the many good things concerning the Wok is that you pay when you enter, so there is no faffing about at the end of the meal, trying to get the waiter's attention. No, you just put your coat on and stagger out, clutching your stomach.

I am an all-or-nothing sort of person. I cannot enjoy a glass of wine or two, I will continue to the end of the bottle and then suggest opening a second. An alcoholic if you will. Anna didn't drink much when we first married (apart from Diet Coke), but over recent years she has acquired a taste for the red stuff (show her a bottle of Barefoot and her pupils dilate) and we now argue over who has poured themselves the fuller glass. We lower ourselves to coffee table level to assess the who's got more. Pathetic, but there you are.

Similarly when we cruised round the Mediterranean a few years ago we could not believe the amount of food on offer. When sunning ourselves on the poop deck the first afternoon, a bell was rung and people around us jumped up and started queuing for afternoon cake. How desperate, we thought. A couple of days later we were jumping up with the rest of them. Pavlov would have been proud. By the end of a two week cruise I struggled to get into any of the clothes I had arrived with, apart from my pyjamas.

With a long list of friends and relatives coming to visit this year, I may well be calling on the services of my trusty pyjamas come September.

NB - Other supermarkets, fast food restaurants and eat-asmuch-as-you-like-food-from-around-the-world warehouses are available.

If you would like to read more ramblings from Mr Shaw, go to www.lifein79.blogspot.com

Photo courtesy of STEPHEN SHAW

Knight Rider in France

by Roxanne Knight

Iamwriting this article with red cheeks, following an unexpectedly warm show yesterday! Hopefully the crazy snow and storms are now behind us.

Éclair and I must train whatever the weather. One because we must keep Éclair’s fitness up to compete and two, because show inscriptions are paid in advance, and it is rare that a show is ever cancelled. There is no point in being a fair-weather rider because this would then cause problems for us when the weather is bad at a show. We see it often, with many horses disliking the wind and rain and therefore miss behaving in the show ring!

Lately, Éclair and I have been in the show ring a lot. Because we broke Éclair in slowly, he doesn’t have that much experience jumping full courses and we must practice, practice, practice to improve our consistency. I am very lucky that he loves to jump and is rarely spooked by the size, shape, or colours of a jump. Our biggest challenge is brakes. Éclair has two speeds – slow or very fast and we are making small changes here and there to try to regulate our speed. Inconsistency in speed affects when a horse takes off and if they take off incorrectly, this is generally when a pole gets knocked down.

Eclair has fully settled into his new yard, and he is now at his correct weight with a good fitness level. We have 2 lessons per week, and I ride a further 2-3 times per week depending on whether we have a show or not. We have also added in a Monday evening walk in hand if we have had a long show day on the Sunday. This allows him to gently walk off any stiffness he may have and then eat

some nice, lush grass as a treat. It’s good for me to walk off my aches too! To give you an idea, a couple of weeks ago we arrived at the yard to load the horses at 5am to head off to Angers for a competition. Éclair and I did our first class as the sun was rising at 8am and our second class at 5pm - We returned to the yard at 8.30pm!

We have a very exciting weekend ahead of us. We are heading to Le Mans for Easter weekend for our first ever 3-day show! Éclair will stay in a rented stable and we will compete 4 times in 3 days. I am hoping that having a stable rather than being tied to a lorry will help Éclair to perform well and that competing repeatedly will improve our consistency. When we get it right, Éclair is an amazing jumper, and we are hoping that this weekend will be his time to show everyone what he can do when we stay focused and he remembers his brakes!

If you would like to follow our journey, please head over to my YouTube channel, “Knight Rider in France” or search for us on Instagram or Facebook. Your support means a lot.

Thank you to The DSM magazine for their support and thank YOU for reading.

A très bien tôt!

With thanks to my sponsors - Sarah Berry Online, Daisy Vie, Leggett Immobilier and Jeka Yoga and Massage. Special thanks also to Cheval Chic and my family!

the enD of An erA

by Jacqueline Brown

Spring arrived with a week of sunshine, blue sky and warmth, that made me smile and encouraged buds and new growth everywhere. I enjoyed picnic lunches in the grounds of the chateau and sitting on the steps with a coffee, the sun on my face and the creamy stonework glowing golden. Then the frosts returned. The following weekend’s cycle commute to work involved three pairs of gloves and seven layers of clothing, but still left my fingers red and stinging when I arrived. Lunches were back in the warm kitchen and by mid-afternoon, most of my cycle clothing was layered underneath my work clothing. I’m discovering that working in a five-hundred-year-old chateau isn’t as glamorous as I imagined and that flagstone floors are bitterly cold. The noises that accompanied the strong north winds set my imagination into overdrive, something that was not helped by discovering some of the windows mysteriously open by themselves.

The cherry trees were looking superb this spring, back when it was warm. Their huge, frothy white blossoms set against cloudless skies were possibly better than I’d ever seen them. As I write this, the wind and rain are lashing down sideways outside the window and what is left of the blossom petals, now brown and frost burnt, are tumbling around the garden. It might not be the best year for fruit after all. For us, this is a disappointment, for the many fruit producers and vineyard owners all over France, it is a disaster and I feel very sorry for them all.

This month marked the end of an era for our dabble into self-sufficiency. Having stumbled into bird ownership in 2005, when a duck made himself at home in our orchard and we bought him some female company, we are now bird less for the first time in seventeen years. Our last feathered friend was Brucie the goose, who was still queen of the orchard and happily laying us eggs at the impressive age of thirteen. She might never have curled up in front of the fire, or accompanied us on walks, but she’d

earned her place in our family after all these years, and the garden seems very empty without her. A dog attack was an upsetting end, but again I can’t help but think how lucky we are compared to the devastating news that over 800,000 birds have been culled in Deux-Sèvres alone, in an attempt to prevent the spread of avian flu. Whether it’s crops, fruits, vines, or livestock, it’s not an easy time to be a farmer.

We won’t be replacing our birds, for the same reason we won’t be going mad in the potager this summer – it’s not fair to expect Ed, or anyone else, to look after crops and livestock when we are off having fun on the bikes. I will be sowing a few courgette seeds and maybe a butternut squash or two, as I’m not yet ready to totally quit my courgette addiction, but I think I’ll wait for the weather to improve a bit first.

Advertising in The Deux-Sèvres Monthly is not as expensive as you might think.

Up to 15,000 potential customers see the magazine every month.

A colour advert this size for a business costs as little as 40€ per month*, less for an event on The Bulletin Board pages.

Why not find out more by dropping us a line at ... info@thedeuxsevresmonthly.fr

For waste disposal outside of the Deux-Sèvres there’s an alternative website www.decheteries.fr

Photograph by Jacqueline Brown

*This price is based on a 12 issue, colour, size B advert (same size as this advert) paid annually in advance. Other options are available and a range of discounts are also available for multiple month adverts.

A-Z of the Communes in the Deux-Sèvres Thénezay

by Sue Burgess

All photographs by Sue Burgess

Interior of the church at Thénezay

Thénezay, with its population of around 1400 Theneziens, was a centre of judicial administration from the Xth century onward. The parish depended on Poitiers Cathedral and the bishop nominated the priest of the parish until the Revolution.

The XIth century church was originally dedicated to Saint Pierre. Then a new Romanesque style church was built in the place where today’s church stands. This church was at first dedicated to Saint Mathias and then from the XVth century to Saint Honoré. The relics of Saint Honoré’s skull are kept in the church. The church was modified several times in 1685, 1753 and 1784. It was closed from 1791 to 1802.

In 1250, an animal dealer from Buzançais, called Honoré, came to Thénezay to buy cattle and take them back to the Berry region to sell them. He was a good man who donated a lot of his profits to charitable works. While in Thénezay he was assassinated by two of his servants who he had reprimanded for stealing a cow. The dealer Honoré’s decapitated body was found near the well at Buzay, near Thénezay, by people sent from Berry by the dealer’s mother who wanted the body taken back home. As the carriage was passing the church in Thénezay, the horses stopped and refused to move on. The dealer’s head was left in Thénezay and the rest of the body taken back to Buzancais.

Honoré was beatified in 1444 and Thénezay became a place of pilgrimage which was visited by a lot of people, before the Revolution. The Catholic church in Thénezay, part of the diocese of Poitiers, is now dedicated to Saint Honoré.

The dangerous state of the building meant that the church had to be demolished at the end of the XIXth century. The new church was rebuilt between 1901 and 1903 in a neoRomanesque style with a high bell tower, following plans by the architect Girard from Niort. The new church was consecrated on the 17th October 1903 by Monsiegneur Pelgé, the then Bishop of Poitiers. The church has three naves which are illuminated by brightly coloured stained glass windows, some of which are very high up. The choir stalls date from the XVIIIth century, and were bought in 1825 by the priest of the parish. The stalls come from the disused Cistercian Abbey of Le Pin at Béruges. They were transferred into the current church in 1903.

Two years later, the church was confiscated to become the property of the state, after the 1905 law separating the church and the state.

The main altar in white marble, which had been paid for in 1903 by the Countess of Talhouët-Roy was sold in the 1970s and replaced by a wooden table altar so that the priest would be facing the congregation.

The stained glass windows in the choir were made by the glassmaking company Touan in Paris and represent the life of Jesus.

In 2003, the main bell collapsed and a new bell was founded using the metals from the old bell, by the foundary Bollée in Orleans. The new bell was paid for by the local people and it was blessed in October 2003.

Today the parish of Thénezay no longer exists and the church is part of the Parish of Saint-Jacques-en-Gâtine.

There is no longer a weekly mass held in the church but there are often weddings and funerals.

The church of Thénezay still houses the relics of Saint Honoré. Originally his skull was placed in an ebony case which had been paid for by the Duke of La Meilleraye, the lord of Thénezay. But in 1793, during the revolution, the skull was thrown onto the steps of the church. The fragments that a parishioner managed to pick up were placed in a glass case and then in 1834 into a new painted wood case and finally into a reliquary made of golden coloured copper which is where the relics can still be seen today.

A VOIR /MUST SEE

Le Four à Chaux (The lime kiln)

The lime kiln was built for Désiré Grassin in 1887. The date when the kiln stopped working is unknown. In front of the oven is a hallway covered by a barrel vault. A ditch about 2.80 metres wide and 1 metre deep was built about 3.5 metres from the oven mouth. The ditch was probably used for loading wagons. The oven itself was partly dug out of the rock. The whole thing is about 8 metres high.

Heading towards Gourgé, after the place called "bas de buzay", park at the entrance to a walking track. Walk down there a few hundred metres and the lime kiln is on your right. You can picnic there.

of le Chateau du Thay. There used to be an outside staircase. In the XVIth and XVIIth century the knights of the Coindardière lived there. The latrines at the base of the tower lead directly into the water.

From Thénezay, take the road to La Peyratte and go immediately left towards La Boissière. A few kilomères along here after a bend, you can see the remains of the castle.

Le Logis de la Grande Forêt (Private property)

The first traces of this property go back to 1451, when Eustache de Luains became the owner of the Château de la Forêt. There was also a chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine.

This family, who also had other properties on the commune (Logis de Puysan) was originally from the area around Mirebeau. Several families lived in the chateau and then the knights of la Coindardière who also owned the chateau du Thay.

Around 1830-1834 the Grassin family took over the property and the chateau remained in the family until 1995 when it was bought by the Marquis family.

Major Grassin (the first owner in 1830-1834) had 7 houses built for his 7 children. One was built near the chateau, and it is where the current owners live. The other houses are at Villeneuve, Vautebis, Lhoumois, and "Le Chiron" (Commune of la Peyratte).

There is a cellar in which the entrance to two underground passages can be found. They are now blocked off and probably went towards la Moinie and Buzay.

There are also the remains of a wine press and old wine making tools.

There is a horseshoe shaped staircase that leads to a large room where the lords of the manor lived. There is a fireplace and a window with a window seat called a "coussiège" (where seamstresses sat to sew using the daylight).

The tower was probably where people used to sleep. There are cupboards, sinks and a dry toilet.

This is a private property, but viewing is sometimes possible during heritage weekend or by appointment.

Le Chateau du Thay (The castle of Le Thay)

A large square tower with arrow slits is what remains

Le Chateau du Thay

GAzelles UpDAte MAy 2021 : All for A GooD CAUse G

by Helen Tait-Wright

By the time you read this it will be 7 months since I got home after the 2021 Rallye des Gazelles, and it may seem that all has been quiet from me since.

In fact, there has been a lot going on behind the scenes, including Priscilla having a rebuild in the UK with a new chassis and a swanky new custom made exhaust system, in preparation for new adventures.

It’s great to have her home after 10 weeks away, and we are straight back into training.

I have started fundraising again for my personal charity project, the little school at Talataste in Morocco, and I would like to thank all the people that came along to our Quiz night in March in aid of this cause.

I have already hit the 50% mark of the amount I need to enable all the children joining the school in September to receive their personal school supplies; rucksack, pencil case,

pencils, crayons, exercise book, pencil sharpener, colouring pens, ruler etc, as we did in 2021.

This relatively small gesture really does make such a big impact on the children and their families.

At the end of March a new cartoon book was released by the Bioparc at Doue la Fontaine, which features mini stories about all the species at the zoo that are endangered, and we are amused and flattered to be the subject of the story for the Dama gazelles following our support of the project alongside the 2021 rally!

Do go and buy the book if you can; it’s in French, naturally, but very informative about the conservation projects and the animals, and supports the wonderful work of the Bioparc team.

Naturally we have rallies planned too, and in fact the first event is at the end of May in the east of France.

The Rallye Dames de Coeur is small in comparison with the Gazelles, but all the proceeds from the event go towards medical research into screening and treatment of women’s cancers.

The event is now in its 7th year and is organised by a fellow Gazelle who competed alongside me in 2019, and I am very pleased to be taking part.

My team mate for this event is Isabelle, a friend from the 4x4 Club at Cholet. No dunes for this, we will be in forest terrain, navigating using a road book and GPS so a whole new challenge!

There is a bit of a theme for this years events as at the beginning of October Priscilla and I will be heading back to Morocco to participate in the very first edition of a brand new rally, also in aid of cancer research.

The Rallye Aventurieres Solidaires (100% RAS) will not only give all of the profits to this cause, 70% to the CHU at Poitiers and 30% to a Moroccan facility, but it also supports another Moroccan village, this time in the Moyen Atlas, where we will be distributing donations.

I do not have a confirmed team mate at the time of writing but my intention is to run as an all female team in the mixed event, which covers a wide range of terrain over the 2022km route from Fes to Agadir.

I imagine that all of us have been touched by cancer at some point in our lives, either personally, or through family and friends, and to be able to participate in a rally for this cause and contribute to the vital research seems to me to be a worthwhile thing to do.

For the 100% RAS there are sponsorship opportunities if you have a business that you would like to promote alongside our participation, (contact me for details) and I have a stock of the wonderful Munchy Seeds for sale to add to funds too.

This time I can offer larger 125g packs of Honey Roasted and Tamari for 4 euros as well as the usual 25g 1 euro snack packs.

The snack packs are available only in limited quantities as my stock depends on the available factory stock when I visit!

We will shortly also be receiving special bottles of Cremant de Loire Rosé Sec with our personalised labels from our partners Veuve Amiot, for sale at 10 euros a bottle.

If you would like to stay abreast of further news on forthcoming events, please contact me via email, helentw@ me.com and ask to be added to our mailing list, and of course follow the social media accounts on Instgram and Facebook @gitigazelles Thank you! Helen

Taking Better Photographs ... Composition

Photographic composition – it sounds like something that long ago my English teacher would have given me as homework.

Photographic composition has a lot of rules – and as my English teacher would have said – I do not always have much respect for rules. So I prefer to think of them as

by Steve Marshall

guidelines – to be used as and when needed rather than as laws that must be obeyed.

One of the joys of being part of a group of photographers is that everyone stimulates everyone else to want to continually improve the images they are creating. And discussing photographs and how the ‘rules’ have been used is one way to do this.

These are guidelines that apply to every camera. Today there will be no discussion of aperture or shutter speed –just what is in the frame.

My first rule is fill the frame. If your photographs are mainly background then you need this rule.

Photo 1 is a close-up of a dahlia. It was taken as close as I could get and still keep it in focus. As an added bonus it had just stopped raining. Nothing enhances flowers like a little rain. And if necessary cheat by using a spray bottle of water.

Then the rule of thirds. There is that dreadful ‘rule’ word again. But if you can remember the grid for 0s and Xs then you are away.

Photographs by Steve Marshall

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Most people will put the subject in the centre but usually photographs look best if the key part of the subject is on one of the intersections of the vertical and horizontal lines.

This gives space for a subject to look into so that the viewer’s eye follows theirs wondering what they are looking at.

Photo 2 is another dahlia this time with a butterfly. I have cropped the original image which contained two dahlias to position the flower on the first vertical and the butterfly looking off to the right on the intersection between that vertical and the upper horizontal.

You can do this entirely in camera by focusing on the subject, half depressing the shutter, recomposing and then taking the shot. There are also ways of doing this on a mobile phone, but that is for another day.

Photo 3 is a rather extreme example of the rule of thirds. The top of the silhouetted trees is on the bottom horizontal and the top of the underlit clouds is on the top horizontal.

Photo 4 was taken in the Basque country. Usually I would want to lose or hide cables in a landscape but here I love the way the cables mirror the mountain as they both descend into the morning mist in the valley.

Left to right is the way most people in this society see and view images. Photo 2 has the butterfly looking right so the eye travels left to right. Photo 4 has the lines descending left to right as they get further away.

Both feel right to me. I am a right handed European who learnt to read left to right. There is some evidence that cultures that read right to left ‘see’ images in the same way. And there are some suggestions that people who are lefthanded also see images right to left.

Another ‘rule’ – the rule of odds. Odd numbers really –threes and fives and so on. An odd number of objects or people or trees or what you will tends to draw the viewer around your image – from the first to the second to the third . . . and then back to the first, where different detail may be noticed.

Photo 5 is a Ranunculus asiaticus or Persian buttercup, the eye is drawn around the three main blossoms and then the two as yet unopened blooms.

Also, this one was taken with a mobile phone. It was three overlapping shots stitched together in some editing software.

Leading lines can be a very useful way of directing the viewer through a photograph. Buildings and bridges, roads and railways, and paths and trails can all be very useful at drawing the eye. And they do not have to be straight lines.

Odd numbers usually create something else that is very powerful in images – triangles, which have the same effect of odds and add dynamic tension.

This creates a stability and eventually allows the eye to settle. Whereas if you only have two elements as in photo 6 then the eye tends to go back and forth never finding a stable place to view the image.

And the most important rule is – enjoy your photography.

If you are interested in meeting up with some fellow life-long photographic learners please get in touch on stevemarshall128@gmail.com

Take a Break

DSM Easy Crossword (with thanks to Rob Berry)

Clues ACROSS

1. Someone who runs a steady, slow pace (6)

4. Leave (6)

8. The second nearest planet to the sun (5)

9. Strong green spirit flavoured with wormwood and anise (7)

10. A sweet yellow liquid produced by bees (5)

11. Small triangular bone protecting a leg joint (7)

12. Inflammation of the liver caused by a virus or a toxin (9)

15. Large open container filled with water to wash in (7)

16. A foot traveller who goes on extended walks (5)

17. Be false to; be dishonest with (7)

DSM Toughie Crossword (with thanks to Mike Morris)

18. A collection of maps in book form (5)

19. The capital of Greece (6)

20. Mistakes (6)

Clues DOWN

2. The king of the fairies (6)

3. Swiss cheese (7-6)

5. The person who is head of state in England (5-8)

6. A despicable person (6)

7. Treacherous person posing as a friend (11)

13. Natural abilities or qualities (6)

14. Put something back into working order (6)

Clues Across

1. He who puts together the reactor? (7)

5. Lilts shakily and finally is silent? (5)

8. Sticks brush in bank, earning sum of money at first? (5)

9. Duncan perhaps raids wearing essence of woad? (7)

10. Slam back money given to the poor. (4)

11. Magnetos generating massive quantities? (8)

14. Ear bent over time? (3)

16. Make a speech with love and respect? (5)

17. New era for organ of sound. (3)

19. Bizarrely, megatons used to make tiny motors? (8)

20. Criticize alms being handed over? (4)

23. Nuclear power generator established by new creator? (7)

25. Moral grounds? (5)

26. Liars turning up in secret hideouts? (5)

27. Initially only some type of silicon is forming bone? (7)

WORD SQUARE

How many words of three or more letters can you make from the letters in our square? ere is one word of nine letters. If you want to make it harder, only allow words that contain the centre letter. We estimate about 120 words are possible.

0 - 30 Not bad 61 - 90 Very good

- 60 Quite good 91 + Expert

Clues Down

1. Greens’ taxi takes a b.......! long time! (7)

2. A course of salts? (5)

3. Assess how long it takes to emit rubbish? (4)

4. French king spotted taking part in Rio revolution? (3)

5. Revamps are safer for ocean traveller. (8)

6. Type of carbon perhaps exists to setback zero exercise? (7)

7. Lairs trashed; they won’t own up? (5)

12. Orate creatively on the muse of love? (5)

13. Leading tradesman’s excellent sales up in new store earning awards? (8)

15. Hang about in a financial institution, one from Kabul? (7)

18. Comments about communist are heard? (7)

19. Molar pulled out; let that be a lesson to you! (5)

21. Still managed to get some nice sounds? (5)

22. Time taken up to give out? (4)

24. French king resettled in resort? (3)

M C G A A N E P H

CONNECT FOUR

What connects the following ...

1. a. 3

b. 11

c. 23

d. 37

2. a. Lithium

b. Sodium

c. Vanadium

d. Rubidium

3. a. Thomas Jefferson

b. James K Polk

c. Benjamin Harrison

d. Richard M Nixon

4. a. 11

b. 1011

c. 10111

d. 100101

Word Search Generator

JOHNSON

CAMERON

BROWN

BLAIR

MAJOR

THATCHER

EYQYXWMHEATHULEEBSKW

ZGFRJPITTPTZIORRVLJX

CGDNOCZMPGUGBALOKEYB

URAPHHZTWRJKRWANVYRL

VSSQNUPPZUJLKUILNDWA

PEELSRWHRBAFJENYYVJI

OZMCOCVBNHXWALPOLEPR

AJPYNHOWILSONNBSYIBC

ZNHOQIPWKMRROLNLXHAH

JDOUPLLEELAHBROWNULQ

LLWXLLMACDONALDTKYFG

AYFYBUJHRGLADSTONEOV

KROROHGFHHGSSKFBVUUV

UKQUDJJLHTRKVQDPFHRA

EPZXUDBSDISRAELITLKS

HEATH

WILSON

MACDONALD

CHAMBERLAIN

CHURCHILL

ATLEE

BALFOUR

GLADSTONE

DISRAELI

PEEL

PERCEVAL

PITT

WALPOLE

WELLESLEY

Step Three : Western Brittany

Anotherday, another nearly empty campsite and another very quiet town. Benodet is a modern holiday resort on the mouth of the river Odet. A modern town appears to be a rarity in Brittany, but it does mean they have planned in cycle lanes.

Having been in a modern town for a few hours, we obviously had the yearning to see more historic buildings so set off for Locronan, a perfectly preserved medieval town. This gives me chance to comment on French road signs which have an annoying habit of directing you from fifty miles away but then disappearing completely as you actually approach your destination. The French highways agency must have had hours of fun working out how to make visitors feel lost. In the case of Locronan they excelled themselves by also changing the spelling on each signpost. Sat Navs have ruined much of this fun for the French so now they appear to have moved their attention to footpaths. In Locronan a signpost promised a view 0.5km up a hill. The path then split into multiple options, of course with no clue as to what direction we should follow. We emerged hours later having forced our way through woods, hedges and people’s gardens dishevelled, wet and with a 6 o’clock shadow (and that was just Sherril).

majors had obviously been trained in rural British planning departments and just said no to everything. Roman Polanski filmed Hardy’s Tess here and only felt the need to cover the streets with mud and sh*t to make it feel more English. Like every other town or village in western Brittany, it is centred around a Gothic and ornately designed stone church. Bretons in medieval times were either extremely religious in the ”hell and damnation vein” or they had an excess of stone masons on YOP schemes whose time had to be filled. Wandering past Locronan’s church into the equally Gothic and ornate graveyard, we were confronted by a snarling, growling and salivating Great Dane looking down from a wall above. It was like a scene from the Omen - or would have been if it wasn’t daylight and the Great Dane hadn’t been backed up by a small collie. Still, it frightened the colour out of my photos.

Locronan did live up to it’s billing though, there is not a single non-medieval building in the town and every building there has been perfectly preserved. The various

Pointe du Raz is France’s equivalent of Land’s End. Again, well signposted until you get within 30 miles, then nothing. We parked and lunched in a huge bay between Pointe du Raz and Pointe du Van (it’s smaller equivalent) with a scattering of other people and Brittany’s surfing school. We

Photographs courtesy of Russell Adams

by Russell Adams

Photo : Locronan

then set out on the rough cliff paths for the most western part of France. A few hundred yards up the path was a small wooden sign indicating the way to Pointe du Raz. The contrast with Land’s End is extreme, no car parking charges, no ice cream stalls, no coach trips, I know which one I prefer.

shop specialises in hundreds of different varieties of tinned sardines, each to their own. We came here in the evening for dinner and found a lovely restaurant in the old town with a courtyard.

As well as holidaying at the same time, all the French eat at the same time. The vast majority of restaurants work strictly between 12 noon and 2pm for lunch and 7pm and 10pm for dinner. This can be particularly annoying for the typical Brit on holiday. After too much wine the night before you scrape yourself out of bed for 9 o’clock, manage to eat breakfast around 10, by the time the wife has messed about and you go somewhere its 11:30. You’re still picking bacon out of your teeth when you find that if you want a table you have to think about lunch. The fact that all the French eat at this time means that not only is it hard to get tables, but if you aren’t ready to eat there is little

We found out later that the bay where we had lunch was called “Baie des Trepasses” or the bay of the dead. Apparently it got this name because so many corpses of shipwrecked sailors used to wash up here. Might explain why it was so quiet.

Concarneau is France’s 3rd largest fishing port and while the working town is what you would expect, the old town is a fortified island in the bay that is now a tourist attraction full of restaurants and shops selling local produce, one

else to do because all the shops and activities shut while they go for lunch. They really need to sort this out.

I mention all this because it means that, for reasons of practicality and economy we have taken to eating some of our lunches and drinking the accompanying wine in the parks of whatever town we are visiting- at a time to suit us. See the picture above of Quimperle park, a pleasant enough town (and yes, with some old buildings).

For us Brits there are obvious conclusions drawn about the people who participate in day time drinking on park benches. For this reason, we have developed certain rules:

• Napkins must be used on the knee, not just for wiping cheese or pate off your shorts.

• Alcohol should be drunk from glasses, not the bottle and should be “appellation controlee” wine, not white lightning.

• Cups for loose change should only be put out if the park is very busy.

• Shouting abuse at passing strangers should be kept to a minimum.

On to Southern Brittany .....

What

are the biggest challenges you face as a writer? Some possible solutions…

by Alison Morton

This month and the next, I’m doing some quick-fire answers to the most commonly reported problems writers face.

Editing while writing

Problem: The temptation to go back to the previous day’s work and edit it until it’s perfect is overwhelming. But scenes will never be perfect because you can always think of new things to add or delete.

Solution: Develop the habit of continuing where you left off when you sit down again to work. Once you become absorbed in what you’re currently writing, you’ll be able to leave the previous work alone. Editing comes when you’ve finished the whole thing.

Never-ending research

Problem: Research is crucial whatever your genre or subject. Extensive research is even better. But there is only so much time you can devote to research because you have a book to write. But becoming enthralled in the useless research tunnel is a huge problem and a major time suck.

Solution: Concentrate on specific research topics and seek out reputable sources for your research so you can get it finished efficiently without spending all your time on it.

Distracted by the internet

Problem: You’re sitting at your laptop to write and you find yourself checking your email, then your social media accounts. Next, you start following links and before you know it, you’re frittering time away.

Solution: You have a job to do, so work for a specific time, e.g. an hour, two hours before you even log on. Set a time, e.g. 12 noon for fifteen minutes when you could ‘reward’ yourself with a little time-waste. Put your phone in another room while writing.

Forgetting brilliant ideas

Problem: You’re out with friends or travelling to work and suddenly the perfect solution to a plot problem drops into your head. By the time you have finished whatever you are doing, the idea has faded away.

Solution: A habit of carrying a notebook (or even a scrap of paper) and a pencil on you should solve this problem.

Or you could use Notes on your phone and tap down your thoughts quickly.

Lack of partner support

Problem: Many writers face lack of understanding and support from their partners or spouses. Your partner might push you to get on with housework, decorating or gardening just when you want to write.

Solution: This is a serious problem that can only be solved by having a heart-to-heart talk with your spouse. Claim your working hours but also be available for your partner’s needs. You should be able to work at your job just as they do!

Overwriting

Problem: You simply seem unable to stop writing even when the point of that particular piece has long been explained and finished. You are bursting not just with ideas, but also with words that seem to spill out.

Solution: Find an editor, preferably a ruthless editor who will cut down on the size of your work to a more readable level. You can be sure your readers don’t want to read a novel with superfluous padding!

Not enough time to write

Problem: With a full time job, a partner, children or just all the stuff of Real Life, you may find making the time to write seriously very difficult. Everything seems to eat into your writing time.

Solution: While it is important to earn money, do routine life jobs and give time to your relationships, you must steel yourself to miss out on some relaxation activities such as bombing out in front of the television. Be disciplined and organize your schedule to fit in everything you need to do. Waking up half an hour earlier in the morning and using this for writing is a good way to start the day.

More Q&A next month. In the meantime, happy writing!

Alison has compiled a selection of articles from this column into ‘The 500 Word Writing Buddy’, available on Amazon (click here).

Her latest thriller, Double Pursuit, part set in Poitou, is now out.

This Month’s Book Reviews

Glass Half Full

by Caro Feely

Review by Jacqui Brown

My local author review this month is for Glass Half Full, the third memoir about raising a family on an organic vineyard in Saussignac, Dordogne, by Caro Feely.

Running a vineyard is not an easy life. Since day one, Caro and Sean have invested time, money and their hearts into the vineyard. Caro takes us through each stage of the organic wine making process - work that never ceases and that can be affected by many things, all year round, that they have no control over. To market their brand then takes more time, money and effort. In addition to this, Caro established herself as an expert wine tour guide of the region, something she enjoys and ultimately helps their wine sales, but also has to fit into her already busy schedule. At times it seemed Sean and Caro each had so much to do there was no time left for each other.

This book is Caro’s journey to take back control. She shares the dark times, and also the hope; that by getting in some help, learning to listen to her body and making time for each other, things will begin to move in the right direction. There are times when this is a difficult read, but there are also times when their enthusiasm is contagious. I really felt part of their daily life and thanks to Caro's beautifully worded descriptions I could visualise the vineyards and the views, and taste the meals (and wine), grown by Sean and served at the family table.

This book has been out for a while, but I have it on good authority that book four in this series of memoirs is on its way and I can’t wait.

Date With Betrayal

by Julia Chapman

Review by Jacqui Brown

I’vebeen a huge fan of Julia’s writing since I first fell into Fogas, the community she created in the Pyrenees and the series of novels that brought this typical French mountain village to life. With the Dales Detective Series, the location may have changed to the wilds of the Yorkshire Dales, but Julia’s eye for detail and ability to bring a fictional community to life is still very much there. This is book seven in a series that just keeps on giving.

The danger that has been following Bruncliffe black sheep, Samson O’Brien since his return from London has just got closer to home and his business partner Delilah must work out who can be trusted as she attempts to protect him. In the time she has been around the disgraced Met detective,

Delilah has picked up a few tips and by playing on the strengths of those around her, prepares the townsfolk to do their best against an invisible threat. What they lack in skills and experience, they make up for in grit, determination and enthusiasm.

I tried to take my time when reading this book, to savour every Yorkshire nuance and enjoy every twist and turn in the plot. I wanted to keep a clear head so I could draw my own conclusions and work out where it was taking me. However, from the first page, time took on a life of its own as I devoured chapter after chapter, barely having time to breathe.

As the events of an extraordinary day in Bruncliffe slowly play out, each minute ticking by only adding to the drama, the suspense was palpable. It is a cruel pen that makes the reader suffer alongside characters they have come to love. A small victory for the community is followed by another twist, and my heartrate rose once more, and then the next minute, I’m laughing - being in Bruncliffe has this effect on me. The combination of the attention to detail in the mannerisms of the characters and the complexity of the storyline make me believe I’m there, in the pub, at the allotment or over at the Dales Detective Agency, with Tolpuddle the dog carefully keeping watch.

This book is pure escapism from life, but be warned, if you read one book, you will want to read them all.

Smog by Isabelle llasera

Review by Jocelyn Simms

Isabelle llasera’s engaging style takes the reader, without preamble, straight to the heart of the story she is telling. Her empathy and compassion for her characters bring them vividly alive, laying bare their strengths, weaknesses, hopes and desires.

There is an autobiographical element and in Smog, the title chapter, we learn to appreciate the impact of language and its structure on the developing psyche. The author was brought up in London but her family’s heritage is Provençal. The sense of not quite belonging will resonate with anyone who has lived in more than one country or who has experienced the contrast of rural versus urban living. The everyday is described in a sensuous manner with the sounds and smells of the environment enveloping the reader with dizzying delight. The deep rifts of history are examined: the wrongs that can never be righted, the hurts that fester and re-emerge. Three linked stories intriguingly explore lust and its consequences amongst a closely-knit community in the South of France. The sequence concludes with an account of the callous displacement of an ancient village. A richly satisfying collection which stays in the mind.

Our Furry Friends

Tac & Toe

They are 2 years old and very sweet brothers. Toe just loves cuddles all day long. They are all ready for adoption. Come and visit us on Wednesday’s 11am-4pm and meet them and all our other lovely cats.

Le Grand Beaupuits, 79200, Saint-Germain-de-Longue-Chaume Association number W793001884. www.facebook.com/The-Funny-Farm-Cat-Rescue

Email: thefunnyfarmrescue@gmail.com

KNOW OF A PET RESCUE CHARITY THAT COULD USE THIS FREE SPOT TO ADVERTISE ANIMALS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION?

GET IN TOUCH WITH US. INFO@THEDEUXSEVRESMONTHLY.FR

Badger

We would love to find Badger a home of his own where he will be loved forever. He is so affectionate but needs somewhere with no other cats or young children. Born June 2017, Badger adores cuddles. Sadly he was ill-treated and then thrown out on the street to fend for himself. He desperately needs someone to help him re-adapt, in a calm and loving home, where he can continue learning to trust people again. (Badger is sterilised, vaccinated, and id-chipped).

Chats de Chatillon Cat Refuge & Pension

Email : chatsdechatillon@gmail.com

Phone : 06 85 63 55 94

Website : https://chatsdechatillon.com/adoptions/

Miaa

Date of Birth 27/02/2015 (estimated). Sterilised, vaccinated (inc Rabies), flea and worm treatments are up to date.

Miaa is such a sweet, cuddly and calm girl who loves her walks and to play in the park, she is a little love bucket that deserves to discover the love of a family and the warmth of a home. Clean in her kennel (usually a good indicator of being clean in the house), not destructive, she will give you her loyalty and love in return for a basket by the fireside, a secure garden for her to wander around and any amount of hugs and cuddles. She is great with other dogs and often plays in the park with Aggi.

Feel free to come meet her at the refuge in Fontenay le Comte or fill in our adoption form

www.association-galia.fr

email : assogalia85@gmail.com (in English or French)

Chemin des Perchées, 85200 Fontenay le Comte

SIRET : 508 517 455 000 12

Sally

Sally is an adorable smallish (14kg) seven year old griffon x who loves to be with you but not too much fussing. She's got a good relationship with the cat she's living with and has lived with other dogs, but seems happier without too much competition. We're not sure if she can be left for extended periods of time so someone at home most of the time and an enclosed garden would be good for her.

The Association En Route tel: 07 69 18 56 81 or by email: henri@assoenroute.com Visit the website: www.assoenroute.com

Charity Shop

:

Malda

The Lovely Malda is a cracking girl who just wants to be part of a family. Smiley Malda is a Cross Anglo Beagle only one year of age (21 kilos) who loves hugs, kisses and hanging around with her human and canine friends playing and going for lovely walks. Malda has been sterilized, vaccinated, and microchipped and is up to date with her flea and worming treatments.

A soulful girl with a winning personality who is missing out on a home to call her own ... currently living with dogs, cat and children. An adoption fee and home check apply ... Malda is currently in Thouars (79). Contact asso.orfee@laposte.net or call 09.77.48.71.43

The Assocation Orfée tel: 09 77 48 71 43 or by email: asso.orfee@laposte.net www.facebook.com/OrfeeInEnglish/

Please check the website for shop opening hours as they are subject to change and/or temporary closure due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Home and Garden

The Thrill Of The Chase

To someone who’s not a beekeeper, a swarm of bees can be noisy, alarming, and completely incomprehensible. For no apparent reason there will be thousands of bees swirling about in the air, making a loud buzzing noise and darkening the sky. As terrifying as it can be to a casual observer, to a beekeeper it’s extremely exciting!

The past couple of years have been especially tough for bees, with renewed pesticide spraying, late frosts, excessive damp, and unrelenting predation from Asian hornets. So to see a swarm is hugely encouraging and reassuring. It means that a colony is prospering, so much so that it decides to reproduce itself by swarming.

Beekeepers learn and use certain methods to manage swarming behaviour, mainly so they don’t lose their bees when they swarm. However, on occasion, the bees manage to keep their preparations secret and pour out of the hive without the beekeeper noticing. We’re not the only ones who’ve missed a swarm; opening up a hive and finding almost half of the bees have gone is not a unique experience in the beekeeping community! Sometimes the beekeeper will be in luck and actually witness the swarm in progress, with bees flying upwards in ever-increasing circles. Hopping around trying to get into a protective suit, banging a tin (called ‘tanging’ which sometimes works in disrupting the bees to the extent that they drop down and cluster nearby), while keeping an eye on the bees is fairly difficult. If you don’t spot where they land, you’ve lost them – unless you were able to ‘tang’ them into staying close (check out our blog if you want to know more about how banging saucepans can control a swarm of honeybees!).

Usually the queen doesn’t initially fly very far, and so she will land…anywhere, really, a fence-post, a branch, farm machinery, but all the bees will quickly land too and form a cluster around her. The queen may take off and land again somewhere close, and the bees will once more cluster around her. As she leaves her scent wherever she goes, some bees may be confused and continue to cluster around

by Amanda Baughen

where she was, even though she’s not there. However, they soon get the message when the scent fades, and they’ll be attracted to the dark ball of bees that has formed around her. The cluster will stay very still while some of the bees will scout for a new home, and it will remain there for a short time or several hours depending on how long it takes for the new home to be found. Once the decision has been made, that’s it, off they go again.

We are very much looking forward to receiving ‘swarm calls’, when people phone to tell us they’ve spotted a swarm and ask us if we can come and collect it. Off we’ll go with our kit and we’ll try and collect the cluster of bees before they leave. Our wish-list this year is the same as it is every year: we’d like the bees to be calm and healthy, for the cluster to be as large as a watermelon if not bigger, and for them to be gathered in an easy-to-reach location. Of course, the best bees always cluster in the most awkward of places, and these occasions are always the ones where the person who called us decides to stay and watch. So, not only do we have to work out how best to get the bees before they leave, without risking life and limb, but we have the added pressure of putting on a stellar performance too.

Hats off to our friend Stephen who, during lockdown last year, was called to collect a swarm that had clustered on a lamp-post in a residential street in the UK. When he arrived at the scene he realised that all the inhabitants were avidly watching from their houses; it was the most exciting thing that had happened to them in weeks. Luckily it was a balmy summer evening and the bees behaved perfectly. Stephen was happy to take a bow to applause from the doorstep spectators!

We’re not seeking this kind of attention but please do think of us here at 13 Bees, or any other beekeepers you know of in your area, if you see a swarm this spring, and we’ll try and put on a good show where possible.

If you’re interested in trying your hand at capturing swarms and keeping bees, please get in touch with us on 05 45 71 22 90 or visit our website www.13bees.co.uk

love yoUr GArDen

by Greenfingers

After having some beautiful spring like days with unseasonably high temperatures, we were lulled into a false sense of security and tempted fate by planting out spring plants, filling troughs with bedding plants and working outside in short sleeves! Winter suddenly descended again and left its’ scars! The violas were decimated, the pear tree blossom was ‘pinched’ and the pieris, so beautiful this year, had its’ flowering parts completely damaged. But this is climate change and we have to be prepare for the unexpected, unprecedented levels of rainfall, stronger and more violent winds and temperatures more unpredictable. However, the damage can be repaired, plants can be replaced and a lesson learned. I can be disappointed, but not depressed, this is reality. As long as I can carry on gardening that’s the important thing for me. The blossom on the peach tree is still going to open and I have bought primulas in flower to replace the violas…instant gratification!

I decided that every pot on the upper terrace should be cleaned and tidied…..one of those decisions that you make and after an hour you wonder why you thought it was a good idea! However, the pots and their saucers look pristine and it was a good opportunity to really look closely at each plant and check for damage to foliage, potential pests and a chance to take cuttings. I have many hostas in pots and as much as I love them in those pots, I think it is time to split them and replant some into the flower bed at the bottom of the garden. This is a bed I’ve recreated and dug over, removing weeds, reforming the edges and replacing all the plants. I haven’t finished the work yet, but I’m approaching it in a more structured way, so unlike me, as I love colour and mixing different types of plants together. I started by planting quite large groups of primroses beneath the two trees that frame the bed and they have been blooming away happily. I then put in a miniature flowering cherry, which has been smothered in tiny white blossoms. Fruit is predicted, but I’ll wait and see if the recent frost has spoilt that chance. I’m going for overkill and do not want to be able to see the earth……hopefully this will discourage the regrowth of the weeds and it will make the bed look full of life and interest.

The birds have been feeding like mad and I’m going to have to increase the bird food budget at this rate! The insect hotel on the front wall has had a large number of bumble bees hovering around it. The other day, they were inspecting the various bamboo cane openings……now lots of these have been sealed up, so I’m hoping that eggs have been laid and we may see some young bees emerging later.

The Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra) plants have become huge and the flower stems are heavy with blossoms. The winds have taken their toll and at the moment these stems are supported by bamboo canes to prevent them from snapping. I’m going to try taking cuttings from them soon….the first time I will have tried with this plant, so we’ll see what happens. They are very reliable flowerers, but do look a bit fragile when heavy with blossom.

After tidying up my workshop….(a posh name for an old dependance) I found at the bottom of a bag some summer bulbs that I had forgotten about, so these will be planted in the next few days. I bought two plants of tetrapanax at a plant fair last year, and didn’t think they would survive the winter, but I kept them in the old greenhouse and new leaves have started sprouting. These plants have the most amazing foliage, absolutely enormous indented leaves, which I find so interesting. They make quite a ‘statement’ in the garden. I think I will put one in the ground and the other in a pot and monitor their growth. I have planted lots of Jersey Lilies (Nerines) this year. These flower in early autumn and bring colour to a pot or a flower bed when other flowers are fading a little….and they are perennials and can survive the winter which is a bonus.

I’m hoping that this year there will be more plant shows organised. Perhaps with Covid still around, but to a lesser degree and most older people having been vaccinated, we can enjoy a bit of ‘normality’ once again. It’s wonderful to have an opportunity to look for unusual and different varieties of plants and just to be able to talk to people with a shared interest. Lots of advice is available for the asking and it’s free which is so useful.

Our walking continues and we have begun to take photos of the plants we see….a bonus of having a mobile ‘phone! It is nature almost at its best. The banks and hedgerows aren’t cut and the wild flowers and plants have their own way. The variety never ceases to please. The lesser spotted orchids were beginning to bloom last weekend and I expect their number will be greater on Sunday next. Their purple colour is so deep……a real ‘royal’ purple…. a simple plant, and yet beautiful. The celandines are beginning to ‘go over’ and large clumps of cowslips have taken their place. The native violet is blooming in abundance and the contrast between that and the white ‘eye’ of the Speedwell is very pleasing. The various shades of yellow, blue and violet, mixed with the white of the Stitchwort is lovely. The hazel foliage is beginning to unfurl and that will be completely open by next week. A gardener couldn’t do better. The ‘chap’ we watch clearing the forest, is still hard at work and has made so much progress. I’m going to ask him to save me a ‘souche’ from one of the trees so that I can put it into a flower bed and grow things in it and on it. There is still a little water left in the natural pond, but without any recent rain it looks muddy and not very appetising. We await the song of frogs soon!

Green ngers

What to do in your garden now:

• Prune spring flowering shrubs such as exochorda, spirea, flowering currant and forsythia, as soon as flowering has finished. Prune to maintain a good shape, cutting every third stem back to ground level and stems that bore flowers to lowest new shoots.

• Some more tender shrubs may have been damaged by winter frosts or strong winds; choisya and viburnum can be affected in this way, so prune out any damaged stems or foliage, always cutting back to a healthy bud or side-shoot.

• Any perennial plants which look straggly or frost damaged can be trimmed back to new growth and ‘encouraged’ with the addition of a mulch and a feed of fertiliser.

• Low growing perennials such as aubretia, pulmonaria and saxifrage can look a bit tatty once they have flowered, so will benefit from a good trim all round to keep them compact and encourage further flowering.

• Weed flower beds regularly to prevent perennial weeds establishing. If weeding on a warm day, leave the weeding ‘debris’ on the ground to dry and shrivel, then add it to the compost heap.

• Start to take softwood cuttings from fuchsia, hydrangea and mallow. Choose non flowering shoots of between 5-10cms long. Remove all excess foliage and pinch out the tips. If the stem has hardened a little, scrape off a little of its’ covering to expose the creamy coloured underneath part and plant up in the usual way. This may help the cutting to root earlier.

• Always keep fleece handy as frosts can still take us by surprise this month. Check the metéo for frost warnings and cover young and tender plants to protect them.

• There is a tendency in ponds that have water lilies growing in them, for the roots to become large and rise above the surface of the water. This being the case, lift the plants and divide them by cutting small rhizomatous growth from the central crown and re-potting the offcuts using aquatic compost.

• When the foliage on potato plants has reached about 20 cms, earth up around them to prevent the tubers being exposed to sunlight and turning green. Green tubers are potentially not safe to eat. When earthing up, make sure the resulting ridges are at least 30cms high, the tubers will then be well covered and the greening will be prevented, making them safe to eat.

After pruning, add an all-purpose fertiliser and mulch well to deter weed growth.

• Water any newly planted trees or shrubs thoroughly and regularly, to prevent plant stress or collapse due to drought. Windy days increase this stress, so check the earth around the bases of these newly planted additions and water when it feels dry.

• Cannas in pots can be hardened off now, ready to be planted into flower beds. Check potted dahlia tubers and if making good growth harden these off in the same way.

• If you have been busy sowing cucumber, chilli, tomato or aubergine seeds, once the roots of the young plants have filled the pots, re-pot into larger containers. Keep them sheltered until the warmer weather comes.

• Continue sowing crops such as beetroot, carrots, lettuce and spinach to ensure a good supply.

• Raspberry, blackcurrant, strawberries and other soft fruit will need fine net coverings to prevent birds from helping themselves to your harvest! Check gooseberry bushes for saw fly caterpillars and pick them off and destroy them if you find any.

• Hang pheromone traps in apple and pear trees to try to prevent the codling moth getting a foothold. These moths lay their eggs in the fruit and the ‘maggots’ will eat their way in, making them inedible to us.

• Rosemary can have its’ annual trim now to stop it from becoming ‘leggy’ and less productive. This will keep the plant a more compact shape and increase its’ life span. Hard prune if necessary, but don’t cut into old wood. Other herbs such as parsley, basil and coriander can be sown directly outside now.

• Pinching out lemon balm and mint will prevent them from flowering and will encourage healthy bushier growth.

• If your daffodils did not perform very well this year, they may have become congested. When the foliage has turned yellow and is well on its way to dying back, lift clumps of the bulbs and divide into smaller clumps and replant in different places around the garden. Don’t forget, the bulbs need to be replanted at least three times their height in depth.

• Keep a look out for beetles on viburnum and lilies. I’ve already seen the scarlet pests on my lily foliage and I’m

dealing with them on a daily basis…. better that, than to have the appearance of the plant completely spoilt.

• Wildflower plug plants are becoming more available to buy online, so it is easier to create a wildflower ‘meadow’ however small. I have an area behind a flower bed that is currently just ‘grassland’. I was lucky enough to receive a ‘rake and shake’ box of wild flower seeds for Mothers’ Day, so I’ll be converting this area by ‘raking and shaking’!

• May is the month when many moths are on the wing at night and planting night scented stock, nicotiana and evening primrose will help to attract and feed them when they come into the garden.

• Examine plants closely for aphids, especially the young foliage of roses and fruit trees. They are easier to spot at this time and a soap solution spray or insecticide will destroy them before they get established and become a real pest.

• Slugs love tender young green shoots too. Nematode treatments and organic slug pellets are available now and the use of those will keep the slug population under control…….or they can just be picked off the plants and squashed!

• Put up nesting boxes for later nesting birds….finches and swifts are amongst these.

• Clear ponds of pond weed, but leave it to dry near the pond before composting and this will allow any hidden wild life to return to the water.

• Sow tender climbing vegetables….runner beans, French beans and peas, under cover for now, and direct sow outside when the weather is a bit warmer at the beginning of next month.

• Don’t cut hedges until after nesting has been completed.

• Invigorate citrus fruit bushes by giving a hard prune. Remove any damaged, straggly or overcrowded growth and some of the oldest branches, which will encourage new and vigorous shoots.

• Many tulip bulbs do not flower for a second year but the chances of re-flowering the following year, can be increased by deadheading. The plants energy will be used in seed making if you leave the flowers on. Deadheading diverts that energy into the bulb, making it more likely to flower again the following year. Another way of encouraging re-flowering is to lift the bulbs as soon as flowering has finished and putting the still green plants into pots without soil, so that they can absorb as much of the goodness as possible before the leaves die completely.

• Make sure that new growth on taller plants is staked well to prevent stem snapping under the weight of flowers or damage by strong winds.

• Don’t forget to feed plants, which will be growing quite strongly now and need all the nourishment they can get. Once a week feeding is enough for the moment…don’t forget to follow the recommended dilution levels on the container. Plants lose water through transpiration so extra watering will be needed on hot days.

• If you grow asparagus, now is the time to start harvesting it. When the spears reach a height of about 20cms, cut just below the soil surface and lift them out.

• Keep on top of weeding by lightly hoeing between plants and beds.

• If agapanthus roots have filled the pot, re-pot now in a slightly larger container with a loam based compost at the base of the pot. Tease the roots out, cutting some of them may be necessary to help lift the plant out. Place the plant in the middle of the new pot, and backfill with compost.

• Lilac can be lightly pruned once flowering has finished.

• Turn the compost heap to allow air to circulate.

• Turn the tops of plastic bottles into mini cloches by cutting the bottoms off the bottles and placing the other part over young plants. Leave the caps off to allow air in. Surround by grit to deter slugs and snails.

May Song

• Prepare any empty beds for planting by removing weeds and sprinkling a good organic fertiliser all over them.

• Plant out sweet peas next to netting or stakes to aid their climbing.

• Hebe cuttings root well during the summer. Select thicker shoots from a good plant; reduce its’ length to 10cms and remove the lower leaves. Pinch out the soft tip and plant into a pot containing compost and water thoroughly.

• Remove all the flowers from newly planted strawberry plants. Check regularly and remove any flowers that form. This will lead to a much improved crop for next year when the plants have become stronger and better established. Whatever you do in your garden, enjoy the fresh air; stand back every now and again to look at what you have achieved, however small and tiring it was. Know the good this activity is doing you and the positive results for the planet……. increased diversity, enhanced bird and insect populations, good wholesome food being grown…….and a beautiful environment to live in!

Green ngers

Birds in the green of my garden, Blackbirds and throstle and wren, Wet your dear wings in the tears that are Spring’s And so to your singing again! Birds in my blossoming orchard, Chaffinch and goldfinch and lark, Preen your bright wings little happy, live things; The May-trees grow white in the park. Birds in the leafy wet woodlands, Cuckoo and nightingale brown, Sing to the sound of the rain on green ground— The rain on the leaves dripping down! Fresh with the rain of the May-time, Rich with the promise of June, Deep in her heart, where the little leaves part, Love, like a bird, sings in tune!

Edith Nesbit 1858-1924

DONNA IN HER POTAGER May 2022

Let The Conditioning Begin

What strange weather we had in Normandy at the beginning of April! In one day, we had rain, snow, sleet, hail, sunshine, a thunderstorm and it was cold. I hid in the house until it warmed up a little but have now returned to the potager with a vengeance! Weeds have been pulled, decisions made and my enthusiasm is back with a bit of a bang.

Once the cold snap had passed, it was time to start conditioning the bales. This means following a regime of applying a nitrogen fertiliser and watering the bales to wash it in. This accelerates decomposition of the bales right in the middle which provides the growing medium., but the first thing to do is saturate the bales. The outside bales have spent the winter being rained on, so they were sodden but the polytunnel bales needed soaking first, apart from those that had been outside and moved inside.

by Donna Palframan

I found a bag of urea, which is 46% nitrogen and started the conditioning off with this but unfortunately only bought one bag but 4kg didn’t go very far and as I bought it on line, had to go hunting for more. As you can see from the chart, a balanced fertiliser is needed towards the end of the conditioning to ensure there are other basic nutrients in the bale for good plant development. My local garden centre didn’t look very promising and seemed to have a poor range of fertilisers…at first. Having a little wander, I discovered a whole range of balanced and specialist fertilisers and grabbed 10kg of 15-15-15. Slightly higher than the 1010-10 recommended but I need as high a nitrogen as I could find. For those of you who don’t spend their lives reading fertiliser bags, the numbers correspond to the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the fertiliser: NPK, for short. This bag should finish the conditioning and if I need more, I know where to find it now!

At the time of writing, I’m a third of the way through the regime so apart from the bales being very wet, they don’t look very different. Interestingly,( well, it is for me!) the bales that had been rained on then moved to the polytunnel have started to decompose without fertilising – the tell tale sign being little black mushrooms appearing

All photographs by Donna Palframan

and a certain odour! Now I’m just waiting for day twelve when I can start sowing and planting and as it will be later than our last expected frost date, I’ll be able to get a lot started! I started off some tomato seeds which started off well but now don’t seem to want to grow. It might be because our kitchen isn’t exactly balmy so I’ve moved them in a covered propagator to the polytunnel where they will get better light and be warmer and I was pleased to see the second set of cotyledons developing but I might just have to buy some tomato plants that can go straight into the bales as I really didn’t have enough tomatoes last year! I might have mentioned this before, but plum tomatoes can be wiped and frozen whole. I didn’t believe it either until I tried it! I found it preferable to making sauces etc – I froze them in 400g bags, the same weight as a tin of tomatoes. Chillis are another fruit that freezes well whole and I’m pleased to say that eight of my chilli plants have successfully overwintered and are now sprouting leaves. My biggest jalapeño was put in the polytunnel and lost it’s new leaves to the frost but I’m hopeful it will survive and new leaves will soon be sprouting.

Other news is that I decided to message Sergio, my manure man who said he had ‘un peu de fumier’ for me so off we went and filled the trailer… three times! So far, some of the manure has been used in the

flower garden and some in my potager on the no dig beds and the fourth trailer load we get will be for my hugulkultur bed which I started but ran out of compost, so it has just been sitting there getting rained on and just waiting to be finished which will be very soon. Parts of the no dig beds have been sown with radish, broad beans, parsnips ( I know, I said I wasn’t going to but had some seed left so thought I might as well sow them. I’m thinking parsnip chips… for me) and some spinach and soon I shall be sowing in the bales – some seeds will be duplicated in no dig and bales so it will be interesting to see which do best. Sergio is also giving me ‘un petit cadeau’ of a big hay bale and a part bale. The part bale will be used as a mulch for my strawberries and artichokes while the big bale will be conditioned and used for squashes – I have this picture in my minds eye of squashes tumbling down the hay bale. Watch this space! Sergio has asked me to send him photos – I think he is interested in this mad Englishwoman’s approach to the potager!

Not a lot is left to eat in the potager now, a few leeks and the different varieties of kale that are left are being allowed to go to seed, although I have been taking a few leaves off, but the rainbow chard is still growing well in the old straw bed I made for it and will be used until the spinach becomes available. It won’t be long though until I’m harvesting beautiful home grown vegetables again.

http://www.gite-stvigor.com/

As well as the potager, Donna operates Gîtes St Vigor & St Martin in Basse Normandie

Fertiliser on the bale

Fertiliser watered in

A small black mushroom shows that the bale is progressing

Please ensure that you check with any club or association you are planning to visit BEFORE setting off.

Clubs and Associations

The Vineyard Guys

Mayhem in May on the Vineyard

by Rob Brimfield and Steve McMahon

Afterbeing struck by frost again back in April the vineyards of France are recovering to a degree. The three consecutive nights of minus figures that we experienced in Bordeaux damaged a lot of the early growth on vineyards across the region but there is hope as the vines fight back and they push new growth forward to greet the warmer days that follow. There will be losses but until we see the quantity of flowers that turn into bunches of grapes it is hard to quantify. Many vineyards that demand high prices for their wine, use frost prevention techniques, candles or lamps between the vines, fires on the end of the rows, large fans erected in the vine, hot air blowers and even helicopters. The cost of these is not insignificant and often, for smaller more affordable wine producers, the cost of these interventions are more that the value of the harvest saved.

With the warm weather, greenery everywhere, the flowers and the buzz of the insects, May is a great

time of the year here at Clos Vieux Rochers. With nature going full speed this also means that we have to match this energetic foray. The tractor gets very little rest, cutting the grass and weeds between the vines and turning the soil in the alternate rows. This with the increase of visitor numbers to the region requires good planning as each day is crammed full.

May is also the time when we bottle our wine that has been aging for the past 18 months, careful tasting of each barrel to ensure the final blending is as good as it possibly could be, then a short rest before bottling. We have a great father and son team that visit us on bottling day, their immaculate machine is removed from a lorry that has seen better days but when

it comes to the care and maintenance of the bottling equipment, they are almost OCD and every season we watch with pride as our hard work of the past year or so, fills the bottles and the cork is pushed home. The clinking sound of the bottles as they enter the machine empty and are removed from the track full is a joy which is hard to explain. Bottling days always end with a meal and the opening of the first bottle. Although it is happier if left to rest for a while, this is an industry of tradition and it must be done in ceremonial fashion.

As the weather improves, the taste of many wine drinkers turns to Rosé. A refreshing glass of pink delight on a sultry afternoon often works wonders, but what is the history of rosé and how do you make it?

The first records of rosé wine are around 6th century BC in ancient Greece, where light red wines were diluted with spring water. The drinking of water was highly risky and to drink full wines all day an obvious problem. The harmful bacteria that existed in a lot of water at this time was killed off by the alcohol in the wine and the possibility of falling over before the day was complete, lessoned greatly. Roman soldiers were allocated one litre of wine each day and drank it similarly with the addition of water and in some legions up to three litres daily. How did they grow the Roman Empire, well not after lunch anyway.

Marseille was where the Phocaeans introduced vines and this method of drinking light or diluted wine quickly spread throughout the Roman Empire due to their amazing trade routes and logistic capabilities. This region of France remains known for its Rosé but these days it is far from the diluted wine of history.

So there are three ways to make Rosé, however only two are accepted as the third is to mix red and white wines together totally wrong, illegal in France and many other countries. There are two methods used generally to make a true Rosé. Areas that predominately make large quantities, such as Provence, harvest their red grapes at an early point of ripeness and press them immediately. This gives you a pale juice as the contact of the juice with the skin is minimal and produces a colour that you

would know as “Blush”. Slightly riper grapes or a longer contact with the skins, allows for a more salmon coloured juice to be pressed, the juice is then fermented and the yeast begins to consume the sugar within the juice. In areas such as Bordeaux, where the production of red wines is more prominent, the juice for making Rosé is obtained slightly differently. Once the ripe red fruit has been harvested and the whole fruit is transferred to the vat, a quantity of juice is extracted from the vat, the sooner the extraction the lighter the colour but often closer to the salmon colour of traditional Rosé than the modern trendy blushes. The extracted juice is then fermented in the same manner.

Many Rosé are sweet and between 10% and 11% ABV. This lower degree of alcohol is achieved by artificially lowering the temperature towards the end of fermentation which kills the yeast, stops it transforming the sugar to alcohol therefore producing a sweeter Rosé. We, however, allow our Rosé to finish fermentation naturally, the yeast turns the majority of sugar to alcohol, approximately 12% and gives our wine a fruity start with a dry, crisp green apple finish, easy to drink on its own yet big enough to serve with food. Our wine is quite unique as the majority of producers will opt for a slightly sweeter Rosé wine.

So why not come and buy a bottle or two and try it for yourselves, a short break or a day trip you will be made more than welcome at Clos Vieux Rochers where you can see how we make our traditional Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux and our Rosé. See our website for details.

We have an on-line store for those that can’t get to us or need to restock their cellar. For readers of The Deux-Sèvres Monthly Magazine who would like to try our Clos Vieux Rochers – Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux or our Rosé, we have an offer for delivery to France.

Carton of 6 use DSM6 and get €5 discount on deliveries to France only.

Carton of 12 use DSM12 get €10 discount on deliveries to France only. For more information on Rob & Steve, their wine, vineyard tours and accommodation ...

MAY RECIPES

Cheesy Chicken Cutlets

1 vegetable stock cube crumbled

Finely grated rind of a small lemon

Pinch grated nutmeg

Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Place chicken breasts between two sheets of clingfilm and beat lightly with a rolling pin or meat mallet to flatten to a depth of 2cm.

Mix together breadcrumbs, stock cube, nutmeg and seasoning in a shallow dish or plate. Place beaten egg on another shallow dish. Dip one chicken breast into the egg mixture and then into breadcrumb mixture until coated. Continue with the remaining pieces. Transfer onto a clean plate, cover and chill for 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200C/190C fan/gas 6.

Transfer chicken breasts to a non-stick or pre-lined baking tray and bake for 25 minutes until golden brown and centre is no longer pink.

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

6 tbsp breadcrumbs

1 egg beaten

6tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

Blue Cheese Chicken Roulade

To serve, make several cuts in each breast and fan out on serving plate. Try serving with savoury rice and green beans with a little lemon mayonnaise.

INGREDIENTS

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1tbsp vegetable oil

125g blue cheese of your choice

2 tbsp breadcrumbs

1tbsp sour cream

Black pepper to taste

1 small lemon quartered for serving garnish

METHOD

Place chicken breasts between two sheets of clingfilm and beat lightly with a rolling pin or meat mallet to flatten to 6mm depth.

Mix together cheese, breadcrumbs, sour cream and pepper. Spread a quarter of filling mixture over one chicken breast, leaving a border of 1cm around the edge. Starting at the short end, gently roll the meat up to encase the filling. Secure with a cocktail stick. Repeat with remaining breasts and filling.

Heat the oil in a large non-stick fry pan over a medium heat. Add chicken and cook for 15-18 mins until juices run clear when chicken is pierced, making sure to turn frequently to avoid burning.

Garnish with lemon slices. Try serving on a bed of kale or spring greens.

Onion Crunch Potatoes

1tsp dried thyme

1tsp dried rosemary

1 tsp Italian herbs

Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

Cut potatoes into 6mm slices and boil for 10 mins then drain.

Preheat oven to 220C/200 fan/gas7.

Lay potato slices in a large ovenproof dish slightly overlaying each other. Brush over with margarine and sprinkle over garlic, salt, pepper, rosemary and thyme.

INGREDIENTS

900g potatoes

1 large onion

2tbsp soft margarine

2 cloves garlic crushed

1 small egg

60ml milk

75g wholemeal breadcrumbs

Cherry Swiss Roll

Whisk together egg and milk in a small bowl. Combine together breadcrumbs and Italian herbs in another bowl. Cut onion into rings.

Dip each onion ring into egg mixture then breadcrumbs and lay over potatoes. Bake for 30 mins or until onions are crisp and golden.

INGREDIENTS

3 large eggs

60g self-raising flour

75g caster sugar

15g ground almonds

½ tsp almond essence x2

1tsp cornflour

150ml orange juice

350g jar of stoned cherries drained

Icing sugar to dust

METHOD

Preheat oven to 180C/ 165 fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 30x20cm Swiss roll tin.

Whisk together eggs, caster sugar and 1 portion of almond essence until beaters leave a ribbon trail. Then fold in flour and almonds. Pour mixture into lined tin and bake for 12-15 mins until pale golden and springy to the touch.

Lay a sheet of baking paper onto a damp tea towel and dust with icing sugar. Tip hot sponge onto paper and peel off lining paper that was used for cooking. Roll gently from the short end (with baking paper inside) Place on wire rack, cover with a tea towel and leave to cool.

Make the filling by blending cornflour with 2 tbsp of the orange juice. Add remaining juice and heat gently, stirring until thickened. Allow to cool slightly then stir in remaining almond essence and cherries.

Remove tea towel from sponge and unroll. Discard paper and fill with cherry mixture. Reroll and chill for at least one hour before serving.

Try drizzling 2 tbsp of brandy or liqueur of choice such as Grand Marnier over the sponge before filling with cherry mixture.

Sau gé ntage Te a Ro om

Château de Saugé

79400 Saivres 06 29 15 36 55 Info@chateaudesauge.com

On Sunday 29th May we celebrate ‘Bonne fete Maman’

Traditional French Mother's Day celebrations involve flowers, food, and perhaps an outing -anything from a picnic in a park to a river cruise or a day trip excursion in the countryside.

Whatever you do, have a wonderful day with the ones you love.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Perfect for that picnic or car trip and yummy

Ingredients

•125 g Unsalted Butter

•100 gLight Brown Sugar

•75 gWhite Granulated Sugar

•1 Large Egg

•1 tsp Vanilla

•300 g Plain Flour

•1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

•1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda

•1/2 tsp Sea Salt

•300 g Chocolate Chips (150g Dark, 150g Milk)

Instructions

Add butter and sugars to a bowl and beat till creamy. Add the egg, and beat again with the vanilla.

Add the plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and salt and beat till a cookie dough is formed!

Now add your Chocolate Chips and beat till they're distributed well!

Each cookie should be around 120g each – roll into balls, and put your cookie dough in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, or in the fridge for an hour

Whilst the cookie dough is chilling, preheat your oven to 180C

Take your cookies out of the freezer/fridge and put onto a lined baking tray and bake for 12-14 minutes.

Once baked, leave them to cool on the tray for at least 30 minutes then sit back and enjoy.

Lily of the Valley is a soft and delicate flower we canexpect to flower in May as well aDicentra, forget me knot, anchusa and linaria

Youwill be able to pick a glorious range of centaura, anthriscus ravenswing and cornflowersand

Peonies by the end of May

Donna

The 1st May –Labour Day and fête du travail et du muguet

May Day is a public holiday in France, it is officially in honour of work and workers. However, May 1st is also the feast of the lily of the valley.

Lily of the Valley is traditionally a flower that brings good luck. Moreover, according to the language of flowers it means " return of happiness " ... It is said that whoever finds a sprig of lily of the valley with 13 bells will be particularly favoured by fate!

But beware, lily of the valley remains a very poisonous plant.

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Kosher salt and pepper

4 slices bread, toasted

4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced

1 bunch small multi-coloured radishes, Chopped fresh chives and sesame seeds for serving

Instructions

In medium bowl, smash avocado with lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

Spread on toast and top with eggs and radishes and sprinkle with chives and sesame seeds.

after the Greek goddess Maia, the month of May brings warmer temperatures, blooming flowers, and the fresh beginnings of Summer.

MEGAN’S KITCHEN

Gluten Free Recipes

PATATAS BRAVAS

Recipe

A popular and easy Spanish dish 2-3 servings.

Ingredients:

12 large new potatoes

340g chopped tomatoes or passata

1 small onion chopped

1 red chilli pepper crushed

1 garlic clove chopped

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp chopped parsley

½ tsp paprika

Salt and black pepper to taste

Optional: 170g dry white wine

Method:

Boil your potatoes until almost tender. Meanwhile make the tomato sauce. In a small saucepan slowly heat 3tbsp olive oil and add your onion and garlic, cooking for three minutes. Then add the chilli pepper, tomatoes, wine if using, salt and pepper. Cook on a low heat for about 15 minutes until sauce has thickened.

Cut your potatoes into four wedges, brushing each wedge with remaining olive oil. Season with paprika. Grill for 5-6 minutes.

Transfer potato wedges into a serving dish and pour over the tomato sauce. Finish by garnishing your Patatas Bravas with parsley.

Health, Beauty and Fitness

Everyday Yoga for Everyone

GENTLY DOWN THE STREAM WITH BOAT POSE

Navasana or Boat Pose is an intermediate hatha yoga pose that is excellent for strengthening the core muscles. This pose also strengthens the muscles of the lower back, the hip flexors and the muscles of the pelvic floor, and stimulates the abdominal organs, improving the functioning of the digestive system.

The following versions of Boat Pose increase in difficulty. The first three are variations of Ardha Navasana (Half Boat Pose) and the fourth is Paripurna Navasana (Full Boat Pose).

Build up gradually, easing into the posture and letting the muscles relax as much as possible. Keep your focus on where your body contacts the floor as this will help to maintain your balance and focus. Try to remain in the pose for a round of 5 slow and even breaths. Choose your favourite river and imagine floating along on a lovely sunny day.

VERSION 1:

1. Sit with your knees bent, legs together, and feet flat on the floor.

2. Slide your hands a little behind your hips, fingers pointing toward the feet and elbows bent away from you.

3. Lean back slightly without rounding the back and lift your heels an inch or two off the floor.

4. Draw your shoulder blades together by rolling the shoulders back to lift and open your chest.

5. Inhale, and lift your legs higher off the ground until your shins are parallel to the floor.

6. Lift the sternum towards the ceiling to elevate the spine.

7. Balance on the ‘tripod’ of your sit bones and tailbone.

VERSION 2:

1. Sit with your knees bent, legs together, and feet flat on the floor.

2. Slide your hands a little behind your hips, fingers pointing toward your feet and elbows bent away from you.

3. Lean back slightly without rounding the back and lift your heels an inch or two off the floor.

4. Draw your shoulder blades together by rolling your shoulders back to lift and open your chest.

5. Inhale and lift your legs higher off the ground so that your shins are parallel to the floor.

6. Now lift the hands off the ground and slip them behind the

by Rebecca Novick

backs of your knees to support the pose so that the arms are straight.

7. Lift the sternum towards the ceiling to elevate the spine.

8. Balance on the ‘tripod’ of your sit bones and tailbone.

VERSION 3:

Perform the same steps as 1-8 of VERSION 2, then:

9. Once you feel stable, slowly release your hands from behind the knees and extend your arms out straight parallel to the floor, palms facing inwards so that the hands end up either side of your knees.

10. Keep your gaze fixed on your big toes to keep your head at the correct elevation.

In this version of Navasana, the arms and shins are in line, parallel to the floor.

VERSION 4: Paripurna Navasana (Full Boat Pose)

After you have mastered Version 3, you can deepen the posture even further to perform Full Boat Pose. Slip your hands behind your knees for support and slowly begin to straighten your legs through the heels until they are at a 45-degree angle to the floor and your whole body makes a V shape. Release the hands and bring the arms straight out, palms inwards. The eye line will now be at the middle of your shins. Be careful not to round the back. Too often we focus excessively on straightening the legs at the expense of an upright torso and straight spine.

Full Boat Pose takes more balance and makes the core and lower back muscles work harder. This version of Navasana is quite a bit more advanced than Version 3, so I recommend gradually building up your core muscles with the other versions.

For info on private classes and breathing courses contact rebecca@yourgroundyoga.com

Respect yourself, explore yourself.

For info on private classes and courses, please email rebecca@yourgroundyoga.com

Health Matters

by Sue Lennon

Hi,I’m Sue Lennon, an ex-Macmillan nurse from the North of England. I’ve been living in France for 6 years already (time truly does fly!). I’m registered under the ME regime with a few strings to my bow, all under the umbrella of health. I’ve been invited to write a series of articles in the DSM that are health related, educational and, where possible, a bit light-hearted. Tony suggested I start by introducing myself, so this is me.

I had a 28 years career working in cancer care, finishing my career in Harrogate, where I worked for 14 years as a Macmillan Nurse. My role was to support people with urological malignancies through their cancer journeys from diagnosis, through the information gathering and treatment decision making process, recovery and on to long-term follow up or sadly for some, on to palliative care. I ran a nurse-led follow up clinic for men with prostate cancer and started a very successful support group for these men and their partners and was part of a multi-professional team that developed and delivered lots of innovative services.

It was early on in my time in Harrogate that I realised that no one was really talking to patients about the impact of urological cancer (or cancer treatment) on sex lives, despite the huge body of evidence that demonstrates the potentially catastrophic effects on sexual function, fertility and relationships. I decided to change that and was funded by Macmillan Cancer Support to train as a psychosexual therapist (and a nonmedical prescriber) and two years later launched a sexual rehabilitation service for oncology patients. Of course, it didn’t end there – in fact that was only the beginning of what has turned out to be an incredible career adventure that has taken me around Europe speaking at numerous nursing conferences, writing patient support booklets, recording podcasts and guesting on webinars, as well as seeing clients of course.

In the early days, other departments in the hospital discovered that oncology had this new sex therapy service and I started getting requests to see people following heart attacks and strokes, people who had had bowel surgery, especially those who had an ‘ostomy’ (a bag for their poo or wee), diabetics, amputees and people with spinal cord injury.

Since moving to France (and especially due to the pandemic) my work changed enormously. No more travel to nursing events for starters and having to work differently means that new IT skills allow for such a lot of my work being done over Zoom, but that’s fine by me as it allows me to stay in France, with the added bonus of it being better for the planet!

So, these days I run an online rehab psychosexual therapy service for people who are suffering the sexual consequences of a life changing illness or spinal cord injury and who want to recover that aspect of their life. That is my main job. My clients find me in many different ways, sometimes through charities such as the Cauda Equina Champions Charity (who fund 6 sessions of therapy for their members who need help), some through compensation lawyers after trauma that caused a Spinal Injury, some through specialist nurses or physiotherapists or simply through social media that links to my website.

The second part of my job is the educational component. Its pretty common for health care staff to say that they don’t really know how to deal with ‘those issues’, that they are afraid of embarrassing themselves and / or their patients and its so awkward that they just avoid the subject, so I get involved in all sorts of teaching linked with assessing and addressing the sexual impact of disease. Along with a colleague I’ve delivered workshops at every spinal unit in the UK and will be ‘Zooming’ education to specialist nurses in Oz soon!

Linked with this is writing. I’m not a professional author but I write a blog for my website, and I really like the process of putting together something that, hopefully, someone somewhere in the world will find useful or thought-provoking. I’ve written on subjects from Menopause to Inflammatory Bowel Disease and I thought ‘If I’m writing anyway, why not try and contribute something to The DSM readership community?!’

And now this is the disclaimer bit. I’m not a doctor, my clinical practice is now 6 years out of date and I am VERY aware of that. Nor am I an expert on every aspect of health care in France but I will try to find out! My goal with my articles is to empower people, to encourage folks to develop a good therapeutic relationship with their doctor and seek their advice or reassurance when required. Nothing I write can be a replacement for that!

See you next month!

Sue.

“... only the beginning of what has turned out to be an incredible career adventure .....”

TAKE A BREAK - SOLUTIONS - PAGES 26 - 27

Toughie Crossword ("Anagrams")

WHEN YOU CONTACT ONE OF OUR ADVERTISERS, PLEASE MENTION THAT YOU SAW THEIR ADVERT IN ‘THE DSM’. IT HELPS THEM, AND US.

SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

... OR THEY WON’T BE THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM

Problematic Proverbs

Probably the most famous proverb associated with May is "Ne’er cast a clout ‘til May be out". Clout is from an Old English word for cloth or clothing, and the saying was a reminder not to discard the winter woollies too early.

The French proverb - 'En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil; en mai, fais ce qui te plaît' agrees, as the translation reads 'In April, do not shed a single thread; in May, do as you please”.

But does it really refer to the month of May or the blossom of the Hawthorn tree – also known as May?

The Hawthorn has long been a potent symbol of rebirth and appears, as May, in other old rhymes; for example, 'Here we go gathering nuts in May'. That is probably a corruption of 'here we go gathering knots of May [blossom]' as there are no nuts to collect in England until Autumn - certainly none in May. Hawthorn blossom has always played an important role in Mayday celebrations, not only as the main flower used to beautify the May Queen, but it is also traditionally the key decoration used on the Maypole. The Maypole and its related dancing symbolises renewed life and the bringing together of people in marriage – the ribbons joining together as the dancers go around the pole.

However, May was once considered an incredibly ill-omened time to get married. There is a proverb “Marry in May and you’ll rue the day.” It’s not clear

where exactly the saying comes from, but there must have been a pretty good reason not to get married in one of the most beautiful months of the year! May isn’t just a bad time to get married though as there also a Cornish superstition that buying a new broom in May is unlucky. Superstition says you shouldn’t buy a broom or wash a blanket as “Brooms bought in May sweep the family away”, and “Wash a blanket in May, wash the family away”.

Business and Finance

Ask Amanda

by Amanda Johnson

Amanda, I have been living in France since 2006 and I think I should be looking at what I can do to ensure that I have pension income when I retire? Where do I start looking?

This is a question that recently came up after talking with friends who, like me, are loving the work-life balance living in France and are still a way from retirement. We are a generation who moved out of the “rat race” and started a new adventure for ourselves and families in France! Smaller or no mortgage payments, older cars, lunch for 16 Euros including wine and local holidays (we do after all live in one of the most beautiful parts of France, so no need to travel far!).

We are, however, a generation not currently paying into the UK National Insurance contribution scheme and as such cannot expect to receive a full UK state pension upon retirement, so we need to look ahead to ensure our idyllic life continues when we retire.

Your first point of call is to find out what you have already in place. If you have worked in the UK then you will need to obtain a pension forecast and this can be done by logging onto www.gov.uk . On the same website there is also a pension tracing service that you can contact to find out if you have any pensions elsewhere in the UK. For French pensions you will need to contact either your employer or if you are self-employed www.lassuranceretraite.fr , or you can do a simulation and look at your contribution history on www.info-retraite.fr

Once you have all this information, please feel free to contact me. I do not have a magic wand, but I do have

the experience and tools to help you plan for a better retirement and let us face it, we still have time to do something about it. I know how hard it is to run a business in France and I know that if you pick up the phone to call me, I can help you.

Whether you want to register for our newsletter, attend one of our roadshow events or speak to me directly, please get in touch. We do not charge for our financial planning reviews, reports, or recommendations.

Amanda Johnson

Tel: 05 49 98 97 46 or 06 73 27 25 43

E-mail: amanda.johnson@spectrum-ifa.com

www.spectrum-ifa.com/amanda-johnson

INCOME TAX FORMS 2021

Ohno! It is that time of the year again when you have to fill in your income tax form. It’s all in French and there is lots of pages and boxes to fill in! And they may have changed it again!

Well, worry not, help is at hand. I will try to explain it to you and make it simple. I will only cover the most common revenues so for more technical information, contact me directly.

1) Changes

I have not noticed any so good news.

2) Important dates:

You have to declare your revenue for the year 2021 (January 1st to 31st of December). However, the tax office accepts that you use the revenue corresponding to the UK tax year.

You can start filling the forms online (only if it is NOT the first time) from the 7th of April and until the 24th of May 2022 for Departments 1 to 19 (Charente is 16), 31st of May 2022 for Departments 20 to 49 and 8th of June 2022 for Departments 50 and above (Deux Sevres is 79 and Vienne 86).

Deadline to send or deposit your paper tax form is the 19th of May 2022.

The result (the bill !) is called Avis d’ imposition and is sent to you from mid-August.

Note that in September 2022, the French government will then readjust the amount that they take out of your current account Monthly according to what you have filled in (so more or less or even reimburse you if you had less income than 2020). Or change the % tax on your salary if you are an employee.

3) What forms and how do you fill them in:

The 2042 is the blue form that everybody has to fill in and it is on this form that you report what you have filled in on other forms. But there are different versions of the 2042:

2042: This is the normal blue 2042 form that everyone has to fill in - no exception.

Check or fill in the information on page 1 (name, address, etc). On page 2, check or fill in the information asked for (marital status, etc) and make sure it is correct as they can give you allowances or discount (invalidity, number of children living with you, etc).

2042RICI: This is the form on which you report things that give you tax credits such as having kids at college,

lycee, etc or doing some work on your house related to saving energy and ecology. Note that this year, the box for employing a gardener or cleaner, giving to charity is on the normal 2042.

2042C: This is the form to have if you are under the French health system via an S1 (you are receiving a state pension).

You need to tick box 8SH (declarant 1) and/or 8SI (declarant 2) to avoid paying Social charges on your interest. Box 8TK which was on the last page on the normal 2042 before is now on this form. This is the box that people with government pension or UK rental need to tick. You can also find box 8VL which is the 17.7% tax credit on your dividends. Those boxes are on the last page of form 2042-C.

2042C Pro: If you are self-employed in France, this is where you fill in your professional revenue.

This is also the form used to declare revenues from Gites or chambre d’hôtes nonprofessional.

2044: This is the form to fill in if your rental income is superior to 15 000 euros per year.

2047: This is the purple form (or pink) on which you enter your revenue from abroad. It is better if you start with this one and then report the result on the other forms. Here is how to do it:

Enter all your pension revenues (even those from civil servant that are taxed in the UK) on page 1, section 1 in the box called « Pensions, retraites, rentes”. Be careful, you now must tick the box stating if the pension is public (ex-civil servant) or Privé (private and state pension/ old age). So, if you have both, tick both boxes. You then have to report pensions to the pension section on the 2042, page 3, section 1, line 1AM (or 1BM for declarant 2) for pensions taxed in France (state pension and private pensions) and line 1AL (or 1BL for declarant 2) for pensions from UK government employees such as teachers, civil servant, military, NHS, etc).

In section 2, on page 2 is where you put the interest you earned on savings in the UK. And yes, ISAs and Premium bonds are taxable in France as you are French resident! So, you have to fill them in at the bottom of page 2 in the box 230 “intérêts”. Enter the country of origin, then you write the amount on line 2TR, line 252.

Then you report the amount in line 2TR, page 3, section 2 of the 2042.

You also need to tick box 2OP on form 2042, page 3 if you want the interest to be taxed according to the rest of your income and not at 12.8% flat tax.

In section 4, you enter the revenues from house rental abroad. Then report on section 6 to get the tax credit (because it is taxed in the UK) and report on line4BE and 4BK, section 4 of the 2042. If revenues from rental are > 15000 euro, you have to fill in the 2044 form and report the figures on line 4BA and 4BL on form 2042.

In section 6, you put the revenue from government employees pension (military, police, NHS, civil servant, etc) and rental income from property in the UK (those will always be taxed in the UK whether you are French resident or not). Then you report the amount in line 8TK, last page of the 2042C. This is because those revenues/ income get a tax credit in France equivalent to what the tax would be on it in France as they are taxed in the UK. You must enter the gross amount (before tax for pensions or expenses for rental).

4) Help

A complete guide on how to fill in your tax form online is on our web site:

https://bh-assurances.fr/taxes/ if you can’t find it, email me!!

If you are one of my customers, you are entitled to free help in 2 of our offices (no appointments, just turn up):

- Chasseneuil sur Bonnieure on Thursday the 12th of May (all day apart from 12-2pm-my lunch)

- Ruffec on Tuesday the 10h of May (all day apart from 12-2pm-my lunch)

3916: you have a bank account outside France, then you have to declare it on that form (section1 and 4). One form per account. Or if you have a lot, on a blank A4 paper.

Don’t forget to date and sign the forms!! If it is your first, join a RIB and copy of your passport.

The exchange rate for 2021 is 1.16 (that is the average of last year). You can get another rate from your local tax office, use theirs if it is lower than 1.16! Note that when you ask the official Paris tax office they tell you to use the rate from the “banque de France” on the day you got paid! Or use the average of the year.

If your pension has been directly transferred to your French bank account, just add up all the figures of last year as long as it is a gross amount (not taxed at source).

Please make sure you have all the figures ready and the relevant forms (you can get them from your local tax office or online) when you come to see me. Otherwise I get very grumpy!

And remember to check out our web site www.bh-assurances.fr/en for all my previous articles and register to receive our monthly Newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook: “Allianz Jacques Boulesteix et Romain Lesterpt”

And don’t hesitate to contact me for any other information or quote on subject such as Funeral cover, inheritance law, investments, car, house, professional and top up health insurance, etc…

No

07004255

How does inflation impact your retirement savings?

by Catrina Ogilvie, Blevins Franks

With inflation surging in France, the EU and UK, now is the time to review your savings and investments to establish if they are suitably structured to provide protection from this threat. Even low levels of inflation can erode your spending power over time and retirees need to plan for this.

Inflation for the Eurozone as a whole has been hitting new records this year. France tends to have lower inflation than the average, but it has been climbing here too. It was a flat 0% in December 2020 before hitting 3.4% in December then 4.5% in March (estimated). UK inflation has been rising at its fastest pace for 30 years. Much of the initial inflation surge was caused by factors relating to the pandemic and economies re-opening after lockdowns, and was expected to be temporary. Electricity prices had also risen sharply. The crisis in Ukraine then introduced new uncertainty to the outlook; in particular energy prices are expected to stay higher for longer now.

Protecting your retirement savings

You cannot just consider inflation rates on their own, you need to compare them to your earnings. If your savings generate a lower return than inflation, the real value of your money is falling and your income will buy less than it used to. Put very simply, and ignoring the impact of compounding, if your bank account pays 1% interest but inflation is 2%, after 10 years you will have 10% more money, but goods and services will cost 20% more. In real terms, you’ll effectively be 10% poorer.

Official figures are based on a representative basket of goods and rarely reflects our own personal inflation rate. As an illustration, a personal annual rate of 4% would reduce the spending power of 100,000 to around 67,000 after 10 years; after 20 years it will have lost around 55% of its value.

To generate returns that outstrip the rising cost of living, you need to invest in assets that historically generate returns in excess of inflation over time. Work with a wealth management adviser to reduce risk and follow a disciplined investment process:

• Establish your goals and time horizon.

• Determine your attitude to objectively.

• Construct a suitable, well-diversified portfolio to achieve goals.

• Use quality investment managers.

• Review your portfolio annually to keep it on track.

• Be patient and stick with your plan – it is time in the market, not timing the market, that is likely to help you achieve your longer-term goals.

Holding your portfolio within an arrangement which is tax-efficient and compliant in France will help protect your savings from both inflation and taxation.

This article should not be construed as providing any personalised investment advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com

www.blevinsfranks.com

FOR A NEW HOME WITH INCOME by Joanna Leggett

After a couple of decidedly circumscribed years (to put it mildly), doors have opened up for the ‘great get-away’ and holidays in the beautiful countryside of Deux Sèvres more than appeal – in fact you might say holidaymakers will be attracted like bees round the honeypot!

Having a home with a gîte has many benefits – of course there’s opportunity to generate additional income however they also provide real space. It’s great to be able to stash visitors into your gîte or, if you’re now working remotely, it could be perfect for work. Commute to work across the garden then just shut the door behind you at the end of day - no distractions of housework or the fridge beckoning!

We’ve picked three of the best properties with gîtes to whet your appetite as this could be the ideal time to move!

The first, tucked away in the south western ‘corner’ of the département outside Paizay-Le-Chapt, is surrounded by lovely countryside. This charming stone house (A12096) has lots of character, an atelier and mature garden as well as two bedroom gîte! The main house has a large kitchen, light filled salon with double height ceiling and wooden beams, new wood-burner and flagstone floor. Upstairs to the large en-suite bedroom with walk-in closet. The gîte offers open plan living and two bedrooms. Outside there are several small stone outbuildings in a large garden – 152,600€!

The Gâtine is verdant, lush with fruit trees and rolling countryside and this delightful property in Vernoux-en-Gâtine. just 5 kms from L’Absie (A10243), offers a lovely lifestyle and income. With

no less than three gîtes, each with private outdoor dining area, a games field, wild flower meadow, vegetable plot, swimming pool and even a small lake, it really does have it all! The main house offers the owner flexible living space with private garden space to the rear of the house. The gîtes each have two bedrooms, generous living spaces and lots of character – in all, there are 10 bedrooms spread across the property – La Rochelle and Poitiers are just 79 kms distant and it’s all set in just under two acres for sale at 333,900€.

With wine and the châteaux of the Loire on the doorstep, this impeccable property (A12067) is in the heart of the village of Saint Martin de Mâcon not far from the medieval market town of Thouars. With high quality finishes throughout, the light-filled main house has vast reception rooms and every comfort. Living spaces include the kitchen/family dining, reception room, garden room, office, second reception ready for a large kitchen at one end and five bedrooms including parental suite. The two luxury one bedroom gîtes have underfloor heating, there’s a cellar, loft and lovely four acre garden with mature trees- 371,000€. Opportunity knocks it could make a great venue!

Joanna Leggett is marketing director at Leggett Immobilier –you can view their full portfolio of properties for sale in France at www.leggettfrance.com

garage and garden.

Couture-d’Argenson €550,000 HAI

Ref. 115890 - 7 bedroom logis in excellent condition with guest house and approximately 12 acres of land.

Lezay €214,000 HAI Ref. A11639 - Charming 5 bedroom farmhouse in a quiet hamlet near a popular market town.

Beugnon-Thireuil €487,600 HAI

Ref. A11417 - 2 recently renovated houses and a barn, perfect for 2 families or as a gîte/B&B. Large garden.

Argenton-les-Vallées €44,600 HAI

Ref. 70864 - Characterful 20th century 2 bedroom house to refresh; within walking distance of all amenities.

• BVI is an award-winning and rapidly evolving estate agency in France

• We value your ability more than your qualifications or experience

• Self-motivation, confidence and great people skills are essential qualities

• Our training team will equip you to become the best that you can be

• Speaking an additional language is a big advantage

• You need your own transport, laptop and mobile phone, be comfortable using a database, and have basic IT skills

• Our commission scheme is motivating and progressive, paying up to 70% of the agency fee - and there is no limit!

• You’ll be your own boss, but you won’t work alone; you’ll be supported by our experienced and understanding management, administration and legal teams - we’ve got your back!