Week 32 2013

Hello!

What was left of the vines after the storm...

What a week of weather!  The storm on Friday lead to the cancellation of the Battle of Castillon for the second time this year.  The site was once again subject to enormous hail stones,  gale force winds of over 100km/h and wild electric lightening – quite spectacular to watch from the safety of my bedroom window, but not at all good for the region. 

St Magne, the commune next to Belves, was also hit by these freak weather conditions, and as I drove through the village on Saturday I was shocked at the damage to the vines and the trees.  Some of the vines were left bare of leaves and fruit.

Due to the cancellations the Battle has added an extra date to their performance calendar.  The final week now has 3 dates: 14 – 15 – 16 August.  If you had tickets for either of the cancelled performances, you can contact the Battle Office in Castillon to apply for a refund. Call 05 57 40 14 53.

There is plenty to do in the region, don’t forget the sun tan lotion and/or umbrella, and have a lovely time.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 32 2013

25 July – 16 August : L’Ete Musical en Bergerac http://www.festivalbergerac.com/

2 – 10 August : 22^nd edition of the international festival of street art in Libourne.  Over 140 shows in the town over the week.  To see the full programme go to http://www.festarts.com/

Monday 5 August

5 – 11 August : 20 Chateaux in the region are hosting Portes Ouvertes this week.  To see who and where and when go to http://www.tourisme-gironde.fr/Visiter-et-bouger/Agenda-Gironde/Nos-chateaux-Vignobles-et-Chais-en-Bordelais-vous-ouvrent-leurs-portes-le-week-end-de-Paques3/%28language%29/fre-FR and follow the link in black.

5 August 20h15 : Concert, Les Cordes et Voix Magiques d’Ukraine at the Centre Cultural in Castillon la Bataille.

5 – 16 August : Painting Exhibition by Lee Berty and Sculptures by Bamadou Traore at the Salle Cascante, next to the Tourist office in Castillon la Bataille

5 August 21h : "Music for the Queen" in Coubeyrac

musique baroque à la cour d’Angleterre
Annabelle Cavalli, flûte à bec / Florian Vogt, clavecin

Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde

Tuesday 6 August

6 August 21h : Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde – Concert Decouverte a Pellegrue.  See the full programme http://ocg.free.fr/spip.php?article45

6 August : Night markets in St Emilion, Castillon la Bataille and Le Pizou

Wednesday 7 August

7 August 21h : Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde – Cncert Decouvert at St Vincent de Pertignas Church.  See the full programme http://ocg.free.fr/spip.php?article45

7 August : Night markets in Blasimon and Monsegur

Thursday 8 August

8 August 19h : You are invited to the Vernissage (opening) of the Painting Exhibition by Lee Berty and Sculptures by Bamadou Traore at the Salle Cascante, next to the Tourist office in Castillon la Bataille.

8 August  21h15 : Guided flamelit historic walk through Ste Foy la Grande.

8 August : Winemaker’s Quiz-rally.  An amazing discovery of local wine producers who open their doors and introduce you to the secrets of wine.  For more information visit Vac’Dor Voyages by the Grand Pineuilh Leclerc.

8 August : Tapas and wine evening.  Let Elizabeth guide your tastebuds through the paring of wines and tapas. For more information visit Vac’Dor Voyages by the Grand Pineuilh Leclerc.

8 August : Battle of Castillon.  Gates open at 19h, lots to do, see and eat before the amazing show starts as the evening gets dark at 22h30. http://www.batailledecastillon.com/

The fabulous finale

8 August : Night markets in Ste Foy la Grande, Duras and Eymet

Friday 9 August

9 August 18h45: Blues Concert, Wine tasting and Painting Exhibition at Chateau du Chainchon.

9 August 20h30 : Les Haricot Rouges in Concert as part of the 4^th edition of Jazz sur les Quais, Port-Sainte-Foy

9 August  17h - 19h: Vitrine du Pays Foyen Wine class : Appellation Bergerac, Montravel and Saussignac  €18/workshop. Contact Frédérique LEUSIE

" Association des Vignes aux Vins en Pays Foyen"
VITRINE DU PAYS FOYEN

Centre commercial Grand Pineuilh

Avenue de la Résistance
33220 PINEUILH
T- 05.57.41.21.79
Mail - vignesauxvins@gmail.com

9 August : Battle of Castillon.  Gates open at 19h, lots to do, see and eat before the amazing show starts as the evening gets dark at 22h30. http://www.batailledecastillon.com/

9 August : Night markets in Villefrance de Longchat and Pellegrue

 

Saturday 10 August

10 August 18h : A Glimpse Inside The Mind of Charles Swan III is showing in VO at la Breche cinema in St Foy la Grande.

A graphic designer's enviable life slides into despair when his girlfriend breaks up with him. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray.

10 August : Battle of Castillon.  Gates open at 19h, lots to do, see and eat before the amazing show starts as the evening gets dark at 22h30.

 http://www.batailledecastillon.com/

Sunday 11 August

11 August  : Brocante at Pujols 33350

11 August : Vide-Greniers at Pellegrue

11 August : Fête de la rivière at St Antoine et Lamothe Montravel

 2:00 pm à 11:00 pm

 St Antoine Lieu dit La Moutine à 14h30 : descente de la Dordogne en canoë, pause rafraichissement à St Seurin de Prats, arrivée au quai de Lamothe Montravel vers 18h30
Prix : 7€50 par personne
Quai de Lamothe Montravel à partir de 15h00 : informations, animations et initiation au kayak
Quai de Lamothe Montravel à partir de 19h00 : marché gourmand avec les producteurs locaux
Réservations: 06 82 39 99 47 ou 05 53 82 20 24

11 August 20h45 : A Glimpse Inside The Mind of Charles Swan III is showing in VO at la Breche cinema in St Foy la Grande.

A graphic designer's enviable life slides into despair when his girlfriend breaks up with him. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray.

Coming up…

Helen Franklin from Franklin Farm will be making deliveries of locally reared lamb and pork products. She will be in your area next week.

If you want something specific please let her know before Wednesday 7th so she can be sure to have it for you.

A reminder of the website with a list of prices is www.franklinfarm.fr

Lamothe Montravel- Helen and David Furniss gites at Keirmasi, Le Matelin 24230 12.15 till 12.45

St.Méard de Gurçon, 24610, outside the church 1.30 till 2.30.

And finally…

 

Franco British Part 3

One of the great fun events of the FBW is the “Design a Hat” competition which is now in its 3^rd year, and is one of the focal events of the great picnic which closes the FBW on Sunday 1^st September . On which note those who are very observant and have good memory of my earlier blog will note that I got the day wrong.  So for your diaries the picnic is on Sunday 1^st September.  

We have seen many wonderful creations during the past two years, from a glorious hat made of banana leaves interwoven with other leaves, a hat which had two polar bears on an iceberg, marvellous floral creations and  to last year’s winner, a magnificent hat designed and made by the artisan patissier, Syvain Mazzocco.

This year we have widened the completion by making it a creative battle between the French Boater and the British Bowler Hat.  These hats, for you to customise, will be available during the weeks leading up to the FBW, from many shops in Pays Foyen – Gurcon – Montraval area.  So keep your eyes open to get one and get your creative and competitive ideas flowing.

Of course there will be valuable prizes to be won for the best ladies, gentlemen and children’s hat.  So please excuse the pun and “Get your thinking caps on.”

One of the great bonuses of living in, or visiting Pays Foyen, is the opportunity of enjoying excellent wines to accompany local produce.  But how well do you know your wines?   Michel Baraton, the owner of Cave Laregnere , with tastings on 27, 28 and 29 August, starting at 4pm  will help you to widen your knowledge with specialist tastings . Tuesday, cheeses and their wines  at 25 Euros,  Wednesday, Basque – Spanish delicacies and their wine at 25 Euros and on Friday an exceptional afternoon devoted to truffles and their wins at 40 Euros.  Without doubt you will need to reserve your places on 05 57 46 31 23.

To prepare yourself for these tastings come and enjoy wine games at Vitrine du Pays Foyen at Grand Pineuilh on Saturday 24 August from3 to 5pm.

I hope that we have whetted your appetite for the Franco British Week and want to know more.  You should by now be seeing the poster appearing in many shops and also at the Mairies in the Pays Foyen, but the most valuable tool is the complete programme. This you can now down load from two web sites:-  www.cepf.fr  or  www.francobritishweek.com and follow the telecharging / downloading instructions.

We do advise you to book early for some of the venues have limited capacity.  If you have any general queries, or wish to make a reservation, Caroline Elliott will be able to help you, by phone on 06 34 96 81 92 or by e-mail carolineell@gmail.com