Deux-Sèvres Life

Fun Dog Show, Craft Fair, Archery and much more!

Here it is, THE event of the year - a great family day out at St Pardoux.

Event Fun Dog Show, Craft Fair, Have A Go archery and more!

Date Sunday, 12th September, 2010

Where Les Metairies, St Pardoux (79) – between Niort & Parthenay D743
(direction signs from the main road)

Time All day, first class for dog show 10 am.

Jacket potatoes and bbq, Fish ‘n Chips, tea, coffee and cakes

Entry free, car parking 1 euro

Proceeds to L’Europe des Levriers (Spanish greyhound rescue)

Fun classes for dogs include

Les Jardiniers du Poitou Produce Show, 4th September, Verruyes

Verruyes is the place to be this Saturday, 4th September, when Les Jardiniers du Poitou hold their 2nd Annual Produce Show. Here's what Glynis Best, President of the club, has to say.

'We have new categories this year so don't forget 'have a go' - if you can't get there yourself in the morning perhaps someone can take your entries down for you. Also, you may have something in your garden that you are particularly proud of but that does not fit into any category - please bring it along. The aim of the show is to create interest and to learn what people can grow successfully or otherwise here in France.

If you are entering, the doors will be open from 10.30 - 11.45 am in order to give you plenty of time to set everything up. Judgins will take place in private from 12.00 - 13.30, doors reopen at 2pm. So even if you haven't entered, come along, bring family and friends, and have a look at all the lovely displays'.

Details of the classes and entry form are on the club website.
Place - Salles des Fetes, Verruyes (by the lake, follow signs to Camping La Fraternee)
Date - 4th September
Entry is 0,50 centres public, 1,00 euro entry per class
Access is good for disabled
No dogs inside the hall

NB I have been waiting for the club to sort out access to the entry form, it still doesn't seem to be working, so herewith the classes

5 cherry tomatoes
5 tomatoes
5 onions
5 potatoes
1 pumpkin
1 plateau of 5 different vegetabls
5 root vegetables, all the same variety
1 small box of fruit such as blackberries, black currants, strawberries, raspberries
5 tree fruits such as apples, pears, peaches,
5 gree beans
a vase of flowers, garden or wild
1 rose
3 dalias
home made jam
home made chutney
home ade produce such as bottle veg, wine, vinaigrette
6 eggs, not ought
a scarecrow

Lumières en Baroque at the Abbaye Royale, Celles-sur-Belle, 24-29 August

Summer continues to be a festival of music throughout Deux-Sévres, and next week is no exception.

Celles–sur-Belle, the beautiful Abbaye Royale and the Eglise de Verrines sous Celles will be hosting this year’s edition of Lumières en baroque from 24-29 August. Discover the music of Rosenmüller, Muffat, Schein, Schütz, Froberger, Pachelbel, Telemann and Bach performed by renowned international soloists and the Choir of the Abbaye Royale directed by Manuel Simonnet.

The concerts are organized by the Association Mensa Sonora. To book tickets, telephone 05 46 00 13 33 or email cathymensasonora@wanadoo.fr. Website http://www.mensasonora.com

Of particular note for those needing disabled access, there will be a concert in the gardens of the Abbaye on Saturday, 28th August at 4.00 pm. However, there are a lot of steps to the Abbaye itself.

Tools for Self Reliance - donate your unwanted tools and sewing machines

‘Open Door’ (Association La Porte Ouverte) is a drop-in centre in Civray, just over the border of 79 in Vienne, where you can have a cup of coffee and chat and borrow a book or DVD. I shall be writing more about it in another article. It has decided to support the work of the English based charity 'Tools for Self Reliance'.

Lynn Beaumont explains.

For people in Africa with skills and drive, a good set of tools can help them earn a living for themselves and their family.

L'Absie British Shop sold

Breaking News - The British Shop at L'Absie has been sold. The new owners are French but as yet it is not known whether it will continue to serve the expat community living in the area.

The remaining stock is being sold off from now with a 20% discount, except the sausages and beans which are already reduced. So for those Patak curry sauces and pork scratchings, now is a good time to stock up on your British treats.

Festival du Nombril, 13 & 14 August.

Legend has it that in the village of Pougne-Hérisson, north of Parthenay, there was a mine of tales into which men went to collect stories generated by the granite stone, where words rested. It is even said that the stones in Stonehenge come from the mine in Pougne-Hérisson and that they constitute a fantastic collection of stories! During the One Hundred Years war, men no longer went down into the mine and from then on, tales no longer travelled and the mine ran dry.

In June 1944 an American, John Barney Ferguson, parachuted onto Pougne-Hérisson, fell into the abandoned mine and rediscovered it. He became friendly with the village blacksmith, Robert Jarry and together, for several years, they examined the role of the village in the world, culminating with Ferguson writing his theses ‘The Navel. Why? How?’ This revealed the vocation of Pougne-Hérisson as the Navel of the Earth. Unfortunately this work disappeared along with its author in a mysterious fire in the Great Library in July 1958.

Family Fun Day & Picnic, Loubille, Sunday, 15th August

Live near Chef Boutonne? Here's a fun day out on 15th August.

The villagers of Loubillé (just south of Chef Boutonne) are holding a Family Fun Day and Picnic on Sunday 15th August.

Bring your own food and drink, games will be provided for your entertainment;
Darts
Badmington
Table tennis
Pétanque
Cricket
Archery

From 12h 00 in the park behind the church. This event is FREE and open to anyone wanting to enjoy themselves!

Reaction Theatre website launched - book now for 'Allo 'Allo

Since leaving the UK to live in France, one of the things I really miss is live theatre. From being a small child, my mother and sister and I have been theatre fans, whether it be ballet, musicals, drama, pantomime - live theatre has always been a part of my life.

There are also a few thespians living in 79 who miss live theatre, whether it be performing or helping out behind the scenes. Reaction Theatre is a group of such people, who have been performing a couple of shows a year for the past 4 or 5 years in venues across the department including La Chataignerie, Secondigny, Cherveux and Vasles.

They produce 2 shows a year, one in the Sprin and one in the Autumn and their next production is 'Allo 'Allo in November. For August only, there is a special offer on tickets and you can find out how to take advantage of it, and read all about the group on their website.

They are always looking for new members and have now introduced a Friends of Reaction Theatre for those who are unable to commit to being involved in a production. Check out their website for full details of dates, venues, ticket prices and how to book.

Cucumbers galore? Try Cucumber Soup for a refreshing lunchtime snack

Last year I only got about 3 cucumbers from my plant, so this year I decided to put two cucumber plants in my potager. Of course, with the mixture of rain last month, plus all the sunshine this month, they are extremely prolific!

I was chatting to a friend as to what I could do with all these cucumbers, and she suggested Cucumber Soup as a refreshing lunchtime meal. This recipe is delicious and refreshing served cold, with a swirl of creme legere and some small cubes of croutons.

Water Restrictions in your Commune? Check this website for information

Water restrictions are now in place in many communes. This website, although in French, will give you information about any restrictions in your commune. Simply click on the map on the left of the home page, and then click on the nearest commune to where you live.
http://info.eau-poitou-charentes.org/

The French Week - France's new weekly English language newspaper!

For those of you who still miss French News, I am pleased to tell you that, as from the end of July, The French Week will be appearing in shops around the country. It's being launched by Miranda Neame, redactrice of French News, with Robert Harneis as Editor, and many of the team of contributors will be familiar names and faces from French News.

It will comprise 16 pages with 6 pages of news, analysis and comment, including some regional newsbriefs, 2 pages of updates and advice on law, admin, technical innovations, business and finance, two pages for one or two features (regional or on a theme), a bilingual language page and five pages on entertainment, leisure (arts, sports, nature, DIY), property etc

So, besides sending me any items of interest for Deux-Sevres life, make sure you get your weekly dose of French news in The French Week.