Week 52 2012

Hello!

Just 1 'sleep' to go...

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and all the very best for the New Year.

Thank you very much for your continued contributions and support.

Enjoy the holiday season and I'll be back with more activities and events in and around the Gironde and the Dordogne area at the beginning of January.

With very best wishes,

from Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Post lunch snooze...

Week 51 2012

  Can you ever have too many Christmas Trees?

Hello!

Only 8 ‘sleeps’ to go… Hope you have your trees up and decorations festooning the house – not to mention putting a strain on the National Grid with a light display in the garden!

Libourne begins their Christmas celebrations this week and they have an ice-rink at the Esplanade François Mitterrand.

Thanks to JC for the picture of the Village des Crèches at Castelmoron d’Albret.

Have a good week,

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 51

There are some musical events and concerts in Bordeaux over the holiday period.  For more listings go to http://www.bordeaux.sortir.eu/classique

Monday 17 December

16 – 23 December : Marche de Noel at St Denis de Pile à la boulangerie PUJOS au rond-point de St Denis.

Tuesday 18 December

18 décembre 20h30 : Concert - Les Grandes Heures de Saint-Emilion . Château Cheval Blanc,

Mickaël Rudy, piano  Prokofiev, Moussorgski, Listz

Wednesday 19 December

19 -26  December : Ste Foy begins its week long Christmas festivities with Father Christmas in the centre of town, accompanied by his elves.  There will be hot wine, and in the Place de la Mairie you will find activities and displays.

19 – 30 December : Libourne celebrates Christmas with a ‘Village des animations’   To find the full programme go to http://www.ville-libourne.fr/ma-ville/la-ville-de-libourne/fetes-de-fin-d-annee/509-village-des-animations.html

Thursday 20 December

Friday 21 December

21 -  30 December :  For the fourth consecutive year, the town of Libourne has 160 m² of ice skating rink at the Esplanade François Mitterrand.
Open from 14h to 20h and Dec. 25 from 16h to 19h.

21st December :18.30

Songs for the Winter Season at Lauzun Church

Chansons pour la saison d'hiver

Carols and songs of past times with

The North South Divide

(estimated finish 19:45)

For those of you who don't know, The North South Divide is a five piece a capella group who sing Folk and Traditional Music. The Church in Lauzun will be chilly, so wrap up warm. Entry is free. All welcome.

21 December 18h – 21h : The Vitrine de Pays Foyen which is next door to the new big Pineuilh Leclerc is hosting a late night Christmas event with plenty of things to see, taste and do.  Including hot wine, roasted chestnuts, exhibitions and a quiz.

21 December  19h30 : An evening of Jazz Piano (with Anthony Sycamore from the Jazz Lamp) at La Terrasse de Duras (opposite the chateau in Duras). Their phone no is 0553842962, laterrassededuras@gmail.com, www.laterrassededuras.fr.

If you don't know it, it's quite a small restaurant (in winter) with great food and quite an intimate atmosphere.

Saturday 22 December

Sunday 23 December

23 December 10h – 20h : Marche de Noel au Salon De Coiffure, Le Clos, Libourne.

 

23 December : A Creche and Christmas Carols in the Rue de l’Eglise in Sainte Foy in the morning.

23 December : Marche des Puces at Rauzan.  Last chance to bag an original ‘up-cycled’ gift for Christmas!

Coming up…

And finally…

Please be careful if you are approached by official looking people holding clipboards and asking for money for charity.  There has been an unsettling incident outside the Leclerc in Castillon when scammers tried to part a kind hearted friend from her money.  They asked her for a donation, and then asked her for her credit card so that they could correctly copy her name.  If it hadn’t been for a warning shout from a passer-by in a car, the credit card would be long gone by now…  So please take care, we are all so busy this time of year and it’s so easy for these things to happen.

Week 50 2012

Hello!

Please excuse the delay in posting, I nipped over to the UK for a weekend with family and friends and it was lovely.  They have Christmas Markets too – with delicious street food which is so tempting!  Like a night market here in the summer, but with hats, scarves and gloves.

Lights at the airport

For those of us who like to count our ‘sleeps’ until Christmas M&S has a helpful Santa.  I couldn’t resist taking a photo…

There are lots of Christmassy event coming up. There are a few Carol concerts this week, but I haven’t heard of any happening in the week running up to Christmas.  If you hear of any, then please let me know.

In the meantime, enjoy all the upcoming event.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 50

 

Monday 10 December

Tuesday 11 December

11 December 18h : Christmas Carol Service at Saussignac Church.

Wednesday 12 December

12 December18h : Chants de Noel at Eymet Church, followed by hot wine at the Place de la Bastide.

Thursday 13 December

13 – 14 December 20h : ‘Monsieur Satie – l’homme qui avait un Petit Piano dans la Tête’ at the Centre Culturel de Castillon-la-Bataille.  Free entry

Friday 14 December

14 December 20h : ‘Monsieur Satie – l’homme qui avait un Petit Piano dans la Tête’ at the Centre Culturel de Castillon-la-Bataille.  Free entry

14 décembre 20h30 : Concert - Les Grandes Heures de Saint-Emilion

Château Faurie de Souchard,

Quatuor à cordes Matisse Haydn, Dvorak, Debussy

Saturday 15 December

15 décembre : Marche de Noel.  Organisé par le comité de Jumelage Port-Sainte-Foy / Plobsheim

Salle Jacques Prévert et Parking Rue Eugène Tricoche, 33220 Port-Sainte-Foy-et-Ponchapt

15 December 18h30 : Noel en Gospel a Capitourlan at the Chapelle Sainte Marguerite.  Entrance €5

15 décembre 20h : Concert de Jazz - Saint-Emilion - Chai Pascal,

Thierry Valette Quintet avec les musiciens : Serge Moulinier au piano et synthés, Christophe Jodet à la contrebasse, Didier Ottaviani à la batterie et leur invité d’honneur Carl Schlosser au saxophone ténor. Standards des années cinquante et improvisation jazz hard be-bop.
Prix d’entrée de 10 euros avec un verre de Clos Puy Arnaud offert par Thierry Valette.  For more information http://www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/fr/agenda.html?m=12&id=696

15 December 20h30 : Gospel Concert at the Church at Castelmoron d’Albret.  Entrance €12

15 – 16 – 17 December : Visit the Salle Cascante next to the Tourist Office in Castillon for the exhibition of seasonal arts and crafts.  Open daily from 10 – 13h and 14h30 – 18h.

15 - 16 December : Marche de Noel at Graves de Pompeyrat, Flaujagues.

Sunday 16 December

Christmas tree brocante style

16 December : The Rauzan Marche des Puces is open.  You might just find that unusual, one-off vintage gift you need.  I mean, can anyone ever have too many glass vases?

16 December : Marche de Noel at Eymet

16 December : Christmas Market at Bazas

16 December : Marche de Noel at Duras

16 December : Castelmoron d’Albret 33540 comes alive with the Village des Crèches.  There are Crèches displayed in house windows and more to be seen in the church.  Meanwhile there is a market in the streets and wandering entertainers.  Sounds like it’s worth a visit.  There is a carpark at the top of the village, but don’t try driving into the village as you might get stuck in the narrow lanes.

 

16 – 23 December : Marche de Noel at St Denis de Pile

Coming up…

18 – 31 December : Village Artisanal de Noel, Place Cayla, Maison des Vins and the Cloître des Recollets, Bergerac

 

And finally… A message from Jackie Henson

'I have a beautiful white fluffy kitten that need a good home. He is 11 weeks old and very tame.'

If you are interested please call her on

05 53 23 92 46 or e mail jackieinfrance@yahoo.co.uk

Many thanks

Jackie Henson

P.S.  I hired a car for the trip to the UK and there was an all-singing all-dancing in car stereo system that tried so hard to keep me up to date with what was playing...  Here is my favourite photo of my visit...

Week 49 2012

Hello!

As we launch into the festive season and the countdown to Christmas here’s a photo to bring a smile to your face (though I’m told that close up it’s more grey than white!)

We went along to the Brocante and Christmas Market in Bordeaux on what was probably the coldest day of the year so far.  The Brocante was a nice surprise because as well as the traditional stands with three incredibly beautiful and expensive pieces of furniture, a rug and a lamp, there were also stands with stacked shelves and lots of interesting things to discover.

Lots to see in Bordeaux

For those of you who like to count… 22 ‘sleeps’ until Christmas and plenty of things to keep you busy in the meantime.

Have a good week,

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 49

The Brocante and the Christmas Market continue in Bordeaux.

Monday 3 December

3 – 28 December : Painting Exhibition at la Halte Nautique, route de Cabara,  33420 Branne.

Tuesday 4 December

Wednesday 5 December

 

5 – 19 December : Exhibition ‘La nature depuis Mondriaan’ featuring 7 artists at the Salle Capitulaire de la Cour Mably, 3 rue Mably, Bordeaux.

Thursday 6 December

6 December 18h : Vernissage for the painting exhibition at la Halte Nautique, Branne.

6 December 18h : Vernissage for the art exhibition at the Salle Capitulaire de la Cour Mably, 

Bordeaux

6 – 7 – 8 December Mads presents ‘Living Together’ by Alan Ayckborne at Chateau Issigeac.  Tickets  from €8. For more information including ticket sales go to http://www.mads-theatre.org/MADS/Home.html

Friday 7 December

7 December 19h30 : Fete du Cremant.  Sur le site de la cave des vignerons de Saint Pey de Castets : en présence des vignerons, une soirée avec animation musicale, dégustation d'huîtres, jambon à la coupe, lunch, accompagné de crémant produit par la cave. Adultes : 10 €, enfants (-12ans) 5€ : Réservation - places limitées : 05.57.40.52.07

7 December 20h30 : Concert - Les Grandes Heures de Saint-Emilion Château Cantenac,

Quatuor de saxophones Morphing, Chabrier, Bord, Haydn, Tanada, Mendelssohn

7 – 8 – 9 December : Foire Bio de Bergerac at Salle Anatole France, plaine de Picquecailloux, rue Anatole France, Bergerac.  For information including lists of the stands and times of events go to http://foire-bio-bergerac.fr/visiter

7 – 8 – 9 – 10 December : Marche artisanal de Noel at Château Font Vidal, 33890 Juillac.

 

Saturday 8 December

 

8 December : Marche de Noel du Lussacais at the Espace de la Mairie de Lussac.

8 December 10h – 18h : Marche de Noel at the Salle des Fêtes Jean Teyssandier, Branne 33370

8 December 10h30 – 18h : Christmas Craft and Gift Fair at the Salle des Fetes, St Colomb de Lauzan 47410.  Including a Christingle festive workshop for children in the afternoon.  For more information call 05 53 94 78 13  or visit http://www.oldschoolfrance.com/

8 December 19h30 : Concert at the church at Ste Florence, 33350.

8 – 9 December : Le Supermarché de Noel de l’I.Boat Bordeaux.  For directions and a list of Stands go to http://iboat.eu/main/?portfolio=sam-8-12-dim-9-12-le-super-marche-de-noel-de-li-boat

 

8 – 9 December : Marche de Noel des enfants at Creon.

  

8 – 9 December : Marche de Noel, Saint-Emilion - Cloître de l'Eglise collégiale.

 8 – 9 December : Marche de Noel des 4 Communes, 4 Salles in Saussignac, including for the first time ‘les gourmandises de Noel’

 

Sunday 9 December

9 December : The covered flea market in Rauzan continues.  Always worth a visit, but wrap up well and wear at least 2 pairs of socks!

9 December : Marche de Noel – vide coffer a jouets in the centre of Sainte Florence 33350.  

9 December : Marche de Noel and Vide grenier at Le Sauvetat de Dropt 47800  in the Salle des Sports and the surrounding area.

Coming up…

Tuesday 11 December 18h : Christmas Carol Service at the church in Saussignac.

And finally…

The rain and frost has finished off most of the plants in the garden, so I was quite surprised to see these just by the front steps.