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Bulletin Board
The National Holidays, Religious and Feast Days
2021...
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Fri 1 January Sun 4 April
New Year’s Day (Jour de l’an) Easter Sunday (Pâques) Mon 5 April Easter Monday (Pâques) Sat 1 May Labour Day (Fête du premier mai) Sat 8 May VE 1945 (Fête du huitième mai) Thu 13 May Ascension Day (Ascension) Sun 23 May Whit Sunday (Pentecôte) Mon 24 May Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte) Wed 14 July Bastille Day (Fête nationale) Sun 15 August Assumption Day (Assomption) Mon 1 November All Saints’ Day (Toussaint) Thu 11 November Armistice Day (Armistice) Sat 25 December Christmas Day (Noël)
source www.publicholidays.fr
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 Ruffec 16700 Thursdays........ Sauzé-Vaussais 79190 - and - Niort 79000 La Mothe St Héray 79800 Gençay 86160 Fridays............... 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) 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
CHURCH NOTICES...
The Filling Station - Poitou-Charentes. Local Christians of all denominations who meet for spiritual renewal and evangelism. www.thefillingstationfrance.com or Carolyn Carter 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 11.00am (just off the D759, Thouars to Loudun).
Eglise Vie Nouvelle
Bilingual (French / English) weekly service based in Civray See www.vie-nouvelle-civray.fr 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
Things are changing day-by-day as we go to print. 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. “WHAT’S ON” DIARY
28/09-03/10 EXHIBITION OF ARTIST TANDY
PENGELLY CELLES-SUR-BELLE 79370. Large vibrant art display. Free entry. 03/10 FÊTE DE L'AUTOMNE ST DENIS DU PAYRÉ 8558. See advert at bottom of this page,
28/09-03/10 EXHIBITION: THE LORDS
OF PARTHENAY PARTHENAY 79200. The museum focuses on the lords who ruled the territory throughout the medieval period. Free.
02-03/10 SCIENCE FESTIVAL: UNDERFLOOR
HEATING, THIS ROMAN INVENTION ROM 79120. Discover the ingenuity of the Romans. 2pm-6pm. Free.
28/09-24/10 FROM TRADITIONAL TALES TO
FANTASTIC CREATURES LA MOTHE-SAINTHERAY 79800. “The Great Exhibition” is interactive. Both children and parents can handle the machines.2.30-9pm. Free.
28/09-31/10 EXHIBITION-STAINED GLASS
THE ART OF COLOUR PARTHENAY 79200. Discover the reproductions of stained-glass windows of the churches of the ParthenayGâtine. Most afternoons 2-4pm. Free.
03/10 VINYL AND COMIC BOOK SHOW
SAUZE-VAUSSAIS 79190 . Records, CD’s, vinyl’s, k7, comics, comics, illustrations, accessories and special guests.9.30-6pm. Entrance fee 2€.
03/10 FÊTE DES PLANTES BRESSUIRE 79300. Plants and fruit shrubs, garden decorators and organic products See advert on the following pages. 9-7pm. Free.
28/09-03/10 EXHIBITION OF ARTIST
FAUSTIN BESSON THOUARS 79100. Exhibition on the decorator to the Parisian aristocracy. Entrance fee 2€.
09-10/10 LA BALADE D’AUTOMNE LA CHATAIGNERAIE 85120. Artists will come to paint live in the gardens of the town hall.
10/10 MUSHROOM FESTIVAL PRAILLES-LA COUARDE 79370. Programme of activities around mushrooms: mycological exhibition, nature exhibitions, mushroom textile workshop, craft and food market, lectureshow “The unusual world of mushrooms”, musical interludes, cavage demonstration, meal on reservation. 06.72.20.10.04
10/10 BROCANTES & VIDE-GRENIERS
VOUILLE 85450. Many houses participating with different streets identifiable by a balloon. 9-6pm.
10/10 AUTOMOTIVE - HISTORIC RUN LA MOTHE-SAINT-HERAY 79800. Demonstration of historic motor vehicles and motorcycle and prestige cars between La Mothe and Souvigné. Free.
10/10 NATIONAL AGILITY COMPETITION
VAL EN VIGNES 79290. Dog agility competition. Masks to be worn at all times. 15/10 GAZELLES FAREWELL BIOPARC DOUÉLA-FONTAINE 49700. See Motoring section for more details.
16/10 LA BALADE D’AUTOMNE - PAINTER’S
PATH LA CHATAIGNERAIE 85120. Along the 2km path, you will discover the works of local painters. From 3pm.
17/10 MARCHÉ - LE LIVRE LA MOTHESAINT-HERAY 79800. Book Fair at the Orangery Booksellers and regional authors. 9-6pm. Free.
15-17/10 AUTUMN GAMES: SURPRISE
PARTIES PARTHENAY 79200. Come play and join in the playful madness in Parthenay.
23/10 AVF ANNUAL MEET-N-GREET
PARTHENAY 79200. Contact for details of venue and timing pjhenderson@orange.fr
23-24/10 RE-ARRANGED 1ST NIORT
CLASSIC CAR RALLY COULONGES-SURL’AUTIZE 79160.
23/10-07/11 BIOPARC DOUÉ-LA-FONTAINE 49700. Storytellers immerse children in the world of animal tales! 10-6pm.
31/10 CLOCKS GO BACK ONE HOUR AT 3am
If you are aware of any events coming up in November or December, please let us know so we can tell everyone else.
DON’T FORGET
Clocks go back one hour at 03:00 (to 02:00) on 31st October
th Christie’s
Thousands of High Quality Cards
Rang ges as Beautiful as they are Varied! * and from Tuesday 5th October * CHRISTMAS CARDS & CRACKERS Great Gifts for Family & Friends
Scarves, Tapestry, Heat Packs, Candles, Insulated Bottles, Jewellery, Mugs, Bamboo Socks, Handmade Chocolate, Books, Bags, Notepads, Pens, Stocking Fillers …
Delicious Home-Baking
Scones, Cupcakes, Fruit Cake, Brownies …
Serving Warm Welcomes --and
Since 2004!
TUES - FRI: 10am - 12 noon : 3pm - 7pm SAT: 10am - 12 noon : 3pm - 6pm Please Note: Closed for Stocktake on Fri 1st Oct Latest details on our Website : WWW.CHEZCHRISTIES.FR
05.49.50.61.94 GENÇAY (86) behind the Mairie
Siret: 47876969800018
MR T’S FISH & CHIPS
Regular venues at:
• Aulnay de Saintonge 17470 • Beauvais Sur Matha 17490 • St Jean D’Angély 17400 • Sauzé-Vaussais Hope 79 79190 • Villejésus 16140 • Charroux 86250 • Private catering
Tel: 06 02 22 44 74
mrt.fishandchips@gmail.com www.frying4u2nite.com
SIRET : 537 606 972 00025
LA VENDÉE CHIPPY
WEEKLY VENUES UP TO 29TH OCTOBER 2021 :
WEDNESDAYS 18h30 - 20h30
Pub le St Vincent, St. Vincent Sterlanges, 85110.
FRIDAYS 18h30 - 20h30
Bar Miton, Antigny, 85120.
Tel: 06 31 42 47 52
vendeechippy@gmail.com Facebook @lavendeechippy
SIRET : 881 211 213 00015
FRYER TUCKS
Fish and Chips British Indian Curry Kebab - Burgers
Venues :
Saint Jouin de Marnes - outside the boulangerie - every Tuesday evening 17:30 - 20:00 Louin (Le Cafe de L’union) - 1st and 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 - Saint Germain de Longue Chaume - October 27th 12:00 - 14:30 (pre-order only) AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS Tel: 06 23 25 48 36
www.facebook.com/fryertucks1
SIRET : 850 442 203 00012
MARKEY’S PORK ‘N’ PIES
TRADITIONAL BRITISH COOKING
Sat: Fontenay-le-Comte (marché), Vendée and at Saint-Jean-d’Angély (marché intérieur), Charente-Maritime Sun: Aulnay (marché), Charente-Maritime Open mornings WE DELIVER THROUGHOUT FRANCE
Tel: 05 46 01 54 65 www.markeys-pies.com
SIRET : 484 920 285 00018
Le Café Civray
Full English Breakfast Pies, pasties, cakes & buns all made on site Regular hours 9am-4pm Tuesday-Friday 24 rue du commerce 86400 Civray www.lecafecivray.com
SIRET 820 301 299 Check out our events on Facebook @LeCafeCivray Prailles La Couarde (79) Maison Peleboise
MushrooMs
Since 1993
festival
mycological exhibition guided picking - craft market performance conference
about mushrooms Sunday, oct. 10th
Infos : 06 72 20 10 04 prailles-lacouarde.fr FREE
Château de Saugé
2 Saugé 79400 Saivres
Chambre d’hôtes, Vintage Tea Room, Gites, Event Space, Trading Post
Siret: 848 904 181 00015
A Unique Place for your Special Event
Luxury Accommodation - Event Planning Catering and Decoration - Approved suppliers Contact us to discuss Email: info@chateaudesauge.com Tel: 06 29 15 36 55 www.chateaudesauge.com
International Day of .....
... World Mental Health Day (10th October)
by Beryl Brennan
The last 18 months have been tough for everyone, lockdown has had a huge impact on our lives, whether it is ongoing sickness from the virus or loss of jobs, businesses, homes – any or all causing an enormous increase in mental health problems in people of all ages from the youngest to the oldest. Before the pandemic it’s thought around 154 million people around the world suffered from depression. So the World Health Organisation (WHO) created World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of mental health issues and to get us to talk openly about it, its treatment and prevention. The World Federation of Mental Health, founded in 1948, is also involved.
At what age does mental health illness begin? WHO believes aged 14 years with suicide the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds, the majority being young men, although more women might attempt it as a cry for help. Decades ago it was an unrecognized condition, especially after the First World War with soldiers suffering from shell shock. In more recent times post traumatic stress disorder has its roots in combat stress, war neurosis and other battlefield-related mental health ailments. Nowadays recognised factors include life experiences such as stress or abuse, especially as a child, chemical imbalances in the brain or a brain injury, misuse of alcohol or recreational drugs or exposure to toxic chemicals during pregnancy. Any of these can lead to depression, anxiety disorders, personality disorders or psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. Grief after the death of a close relative is also a serious contributor and it’s only in the last 60 years that sufferers have been able to turn for help to Cruse. Was making Princes William and Harry walk behind their mother’s coffin before the whole country a contributory factor to their mental health issues? For decades there has been a stigma attached to mental health which caused a damaging attitude and sufferers have found it difficult to seek help. Even family members find it hard to understand depression, for example. How often have you said to someone ‘oh, snap out of it’? It’s not that easy, people withdraw into themselves, shun socializing, which in turn causes further withdrawal from life. It can lead to many emotional and physical problems, including day to day activities such as at work, school, even your relationship with a partner. In younger children bullying and racism can affect a child and impact on their mental and physical health, leading to anxiety disorder or depression. In teenagers, whilst we expect mood swings, signs of mental illness developing can be anger, poor performance at school, using drugs or alcohol, self-harm. Schools don’t have the resources to meet the needs of these children.
According to the Samaritans and the National Confidential Inquiry suicide rates during the pandemic have not increased. However, the effects of job losses etc during the pandemic have not yet been collated and history has shown that during a recession suicide rates rise, especially in middle aged men who see loss of these things as total failure and mentally cannot cope. Some people have experienced more suicidal thoughts during lockdown, including people from ethnic minority groups and young people with an already diagnosed mental health condition. Self-harm has increased, especially again amongst young people but at least they can now discuss the topic with Shout, a text mental health service.
It’s already documented that the suicide rate in farmers is too high. Charities say the farmers are suffering partly because of the pandemic and bad weather but also due to Brexit where it has been hard to get agricultural workers. Some farmers are on suicide risk. How many times do we see a lone tractor at work in the fields from early morning till late at night? Farmers are on their own with their own thoughts far more than the majority of the working population. We mustn’t overlook the emergency services where recent research shows that 69% of emergency responders believe their mental health has deteriorated during the pandemic. The MIND charity is working with the Ambulance Staff Charity, Police Care UK and the Fire Fighters Charity to ensure they have access to mental health support. Many doctors and healthcare professionals including care workers have experienced feelings of distress during the pandemic and the NHS risks losing thousands of nurses, doctors and other key workers due to burnout.
Many years ago I carried out research for an article on Depression for French News and was not surprised to find that depression is a significant factor in a person’s ability to cope with moving to and settling in a foreign country away from family and friends, especially in young Mums without the support of close family. A self-help group is needed, maybe with the use of Zoom, as sufferers are spread far apart in the Hexagon and professional help is prohibitive due to cost.
How you can help. Recognise the many signs of mental health discussed above and offer sympathy, understanding and support. Don’t say ‘snap out of it’ and walk away, especially on World Mental Health Day.
Letter From BLighty
by Beryl Brennan
October 2021
Can’t believe I’ve already packed away shorts and T-shirts and am wearing winter trousers and sweatshirts! So much for global warming, it hasn’t reached our bit of Blighty this year. We had a baking hot February, then nothing since but mostly grey clouds. I’ve been surprised how windy it is in the garden. I expected that, as we’re surrounded by high fences and on the edge of town, we’d be sheltered but no such luck. Wind resistant plants are now on the list for planting in the redesigned garden, my poor hibiscus from France are not happy! I brought lots of cuttings with me – memories of my French garden and plants friends gave me – just hope they survive with the change of climate. Not been a happy time recently. As you know, we brought our last three dogs with us. We lost Polar in April, and now in the last month we’ve lost both Bracken and Bebe. It’s been a shock; for the first time in our lives we are dogless, in fact we’ve no animals and it takes a lot of adjustment. We will get another dog, but we’re taking time out to grieve as well as recover from the cost of vet fees and the pet insurance company making excuses as to why they won’t cover the costs! So we’re taking advantage of not having any ties at home and going to visit family and friends around England and catch up with their lives. Britain really feels like a third world country to us. Latest problem is that because of the lack of lorry and refuse drivers some rubbish will now only be collected every 2 weeks so some people just leave their rubbish bags at their gates to be torn open by vermin. Add to that the local tip has withdrawn its booking system so it’s a free-for-all entry to get rid of our rubbish and recycling. Thinking we’d go at a quiet time in early morning, we ended up having to queue down a busy road with HGV lorries passing us heading for the nearby distribution centres and factories. We brought some bits and pieces with us in case we needed them for whatever new property we bought. We don’t need a few of them so time to offload them and make more room in the garage. That’s the next problem. Tried advertising them, no takers. Offered them to charities, they don’t want them unless they are perfect - I don’t remember them being so choosy! The dishwasher was turned down because there was a miniscule chip of paint off the bottom of the front door. Doesn’t affect how it works, it’s only 4 years old. So I said I’d paint it. ‘Can’t accept it’, said the man, ‘might have lead in the paint’! We knew health and safety had gone bonkers but ..... Whatever became of recycling? A bit of good news. D has found a local AmDram group who want someone to run their lighting system so he’s a happy bunny and I’ve found a local RDA group who are short of helpers so I’ll get my fix of horses again. Makes a change to write a positive. Signing off, speak soon.
We are pleased to say that KeyNotes choir restarted informal rehearsals on Friday 3rd September in a member’s garden (whilst ensuring that we conformed to local guidelines). This was a little earlier than we usually restart in autumn, but we were all keen to get going again rehearsing the program for our Christmas concert with our new musical director Liam Maguire.
Decisions have yet to be made on venues for the Christmas choir concerts, but we will be singing a collection of traditional English and French carols with some modern Christmas classics. We are continue the search for additional venues for rehearsing. In these difficult times of social distancing some of our present venues are just too small for us, although we have seen some beautiful halls around the area between L’Absie, Secondigny and down to Fenioux. If you should know of possible accessible venues within that area (or maybe even a little outside it) which are not too expensive, do please get in touch ... info@reactiontheatre.eu. The theatre group and Keynotes choir are hoping to organise events during the coming year, and to do this we of course are looking for new members – singing, acting, backstage and technical are all areas that new members can be involved in. It is hoped that we can organise some improvisation sessions,
by Sally Cox
soon, to enable us to see what talents we have within the group. Please get in touch if you are interested ...
info@reactiontheatre.eu
A little while ago, Ian Gawn wrote in Deux-Sèvres Magazine and the Reaction newsletter about the apparent lack of a writing group locally (there is one in Vienne but that is about 2 hours from most of us). There was some interest, but many of us were emerging from covid constraints and too busy to think about new projects. As we anticipate the autumn and even winter, perhaps the time is ripe for those of us with a writing interest to find a way forward. If enough current Reaction members, and any newcomers, are interested in forming a Writing Group within the Reaction ‘umbrella’, then please contact ian.gawn@orange.fr who will help organise such a group.
Coming soon – keep an eye on our Facebook pages where some interesting videos will soon be posted.
For more information visit www.reactiontheatre.eu or find us on Facebook
October
October 3rd 1990
Less than a year after the destruction of the Berlin Wall, East and West Germany come together on what is known as “Unity Day.”
October 4th 1957
The Soviet Union inaugurates the “Space Age” with its launch of Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite. Named Sputnik after the Russian word for “satellite,” it launched at 10:29 p.m. Moscow time from the Tyuratam launch base in the Kazakh Republic. Visible with binoculars before sunrise or after sunset, Sputnik transmitted radio signals back to Earth strong enough to be picked up by amateur radio operators.
October 14th 1066
King Harold II of England is defeated by the Norman forces of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, fought on Senlac Hill, seven miles from Hastings, England. At the end of the bloody, all-day battle, Harold was killed – shot in the eye with an arrow according to legend – and his forces were destroyed. He was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
October 16th 1793
Nine months after the execution of her husband, the former King Louis XVI of France, Marie Antoinette follows him to the guillotine.
October 19th 1781
Hopelessly trapped at Yorktown, Virginia, British General Lord Cornwallis surrenders 8,000 British soldiers and seamen to a larger Franco-American force, effectively bringing an end to the American Revolution.
October 21st 1805
In one of the most decisive naval battles in history, a British fleet under Admiral Lord Nelson defeats a combined French and Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, fought off the coast of Spain. Dividing his 27 ships into two divisions, Nelson signalled his message from the flagship Victory: “England expects that every man will do his duty.” In just five hours, the British devastated the enemy fleet, destroying 19 ships with the loss of no British ships, but 1,500 British seamen were killed or wounded in the heavy fighting. Nelson was shot by a French sniper and died below decks about 30 minutes before the end of the battle.
October 22nd 1797
The first parachute jump of note is made by André-Jacques Garnerin from a hydrogen balloon 3,200 feet above Paris. Leonardo da Vinci had conceived the idea of the parachute and Frenchman Louis-Sebastien Lenormand jumped from a tree in 1783,using a kind of parachute made from two umbrellas but Garnerin was the first to design and test parachutes capable of slowing a man’s fall from a high altitude.
October 24th 2003
Concorde makes its last commercial passenger flight, travelling at twice the speed of sound from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to London’s Heathrow Airport.
October 25th 1415
During the Hundred Years’ War between England and France, Henry V, the young king of England, leads his forces to victory at the Battle of Agincourt in northern France. Almost 6,000 Frenchmen lost their lives during the Battle while English deaths amounted to just over 400. Henry had won one of the great victories of military history. After further conquests in France, Henry V was recognized in 1420 as heir to the French throne and the regent of France. He was at the height of his powers but died just two years later of camp fever near Paris.
October 8th 1871
The most devastating fire in United States history burns in Wisconsin. Some 1,200 people lost their lives and 2 billion trees were consumed by flames. Despite the massive scale of the blaze, it was overshadowed by the Great Chicago Fire, which began later that night about 250 miles away. The two-day Chicago blaze kills 200-300 people, destroys 17,450 buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes damages roughly equivalent to $4 billion today
October 12th 1810
Bavarian Crown Prince Louis marries Princess Therese. Munich citizens are invited to attend the festivities, held on the fields in front of the city gate with horse races concluding the popular event. The decision to repeat the festivities and the horse races the following year gave rise to the tradition of the annual Oktoberfest, which now begins in late September and lasts until the first Sunday in October. More than 1 million gallons of beer being consumed there annually.
October 30th 1938
“The War of the Worlds”—Orson Welles’s realistic radio dramatization of a Martian invasion of Earth—is broadcast on the radio. Extremely realistic, with Welles employing sophisticated sound effects and his actors portraying terrified announcers, thousands of anxious and confused listeners believed it to be real. Although the program included a reminder at intermission that it was a dramatization; police departments, newspapers and CBS were besieged with phone calls and New Jersey national guardsmen wanted to know where they should report for duty.
