Week 22 2020

Hello!

The lockdown is easing and shops are opening up again.  It's up to each shop to decide if they want the clientele to wear masks or not.  Hand sanitizer is available at the entrance of the premises and after a quick squirt, you have access. I must say, the varieties and effectiveness of the sanitisers available are up for question...

Our garden is blooming beautifully and the roses are fabulous.  I keep cutting them, so we can have colour inside and out.

Whatever you do in your 100km radius, keep well and safe.  I believe the PM is announcing next steps on Thursday.

Keep well and safe.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 22

Many restaurants are offering a takeaway service. If you have a favourite, it would be worth giving them a call and seeing what they offer.  Libourne has compiled a list of the operating restaurants

The wood fired pizza restaurant - Au Four de la Rive is opening on Saturday evening for takeaway pizza.  You need to call ahead.

The weekly brocante/flea market in Rauzan has re-opened and is operating on a Sunday for the foreseeable future.

Rauzan Brocante

Coming up...

And finally...

If you are like me, and continually at a loss to know if French words are masculine or feminine, then at least the question of le/la Covid 19 is resolved.  Find out more at the Connexion

'Confusion reigned on the internet but the Académie Française has spoken: the virus is feminine.'

Week 21 2020

Hello!

France is starting to re-open and the shops are welcoming customers, putting in place the necessary health and safety restrictions.  I'm pleased to say I picked up our masks from the mairie without having to provide too many pieces of paper.  Many thanks to everyone who has been making these masks.

So, businesses are beginning to get back on their feet - but not before we have a jour ferie, this one is L'ascension and it always falls on a Thursday because it's 10 days before Pentecost Sunday.  It marks the day that Jesus ascended to heaven following his crucifixion and resurrection.  Please be aware that public services and many shops will be closed.  Whether, as it's followed by a Friday, many businesses take the opportunity to 'faire le pont' is to be seen.

Whatever you do in your hundred km radius, keep well and stay safe.
Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 21

21 - 22 May

The Asian takeaway last week was delicious - why not give it a go?

https://www.aufourdelarive.fr/english

midweek asian takeaway

Head Chef at Chateau Rigaud, Nick Street Brown is starting the first of a planned five week series of menus inspired by his travels in the Far East, this week it's Thai. 

Week two Menu

Thai red curry with duck or vegetarian sweet potato

Steamed coconut rice

Fried aubergines, peanuts, coriander and chilli

Asian pickles

Please let us know when you order whether you want the duck or sweet potato (we have limited vegetarian option)

It's a fixed menu at 16 euros per person 

A free bottle of Le Canon rosé on orders of 4 persons or more. 

You need to book a collection time in advance, between 6pm and 9pm. 

Delivery is possible to Gensac Clock Tower on Wednesday night and Castillon Market Square on Thursday. 3 euros per delivery. 

 

And finally...

Glaze trials on bowls with colour blends.  The things that aren't bowls are little free standing test tiles that help to keep track of the tests.

Which do you like?

Week 20 2020

Hello

Goodness, we've had a lot of rain!  And it's taken away the river bank down the road from us.  So, if you're travelling from Castillon to collect a pizza or takeaway from Au Four de la Rive, you'll need to take the Mouliets main road, then the first left after the end of Mouliets.

Whatever you do this week in your 100km radius, keep safe and well.
Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 20

Lockdown has lifted for the moment, with restrictions in place, including the wearing of masks.  Each person is entitled to one free mask.  How they are distributed is up to each Mairie, we have to take identification equal - or possibly more - to the purchase of a house and present ourselves at the Mairie, others have had them hand delivered to each household.  (Curiously, the letter which informed us of the procedure was hand delivered by the Mairie!)

Here's an article from the Connection  : France deconfinement May 11: What is allowed or not?

If you're wondering how to calculate the 100km, here's a great link from French Property News:

How to Calculate 100km from home 

We can get to the city of Bordeaux, and just to the Basin d'Arcachon, but not to the coast.  So the beach will have to wait.

Sauveterre is well within limits...

13 - 14 May : Au Four de la Rive are continuing their pizza take away on Saturday nights and also adding Asian food to their repertoire. Head Chef at Chateau Rigaud, Nick Street Brown is starting the first of a planned five week series of menus inspired by his travel in the Far East. This week it's Chicken Satay which is of course Indonesian. It's a fixed menu at 18 euros per person with a free bottle of Le Canon rosé on orders of 4 persons or more. You need to book a collection time in advance, between 6pm and 9pm. Delivery is possible, to Gensac Clock Tower on Wednesday night and Castillon Market Square on Thursday. 3 euros per delivery.

And finally...

Always a relief to open the kiln room and see the firing has completed successfully.  Now I have to wait for it to cool so that I can open it.  Firing takes up to 10, sometimes 12 hours, and the cool down takes just as long. 
Fingers crossed that the kiln gods have been kind 🤞

Week 19 2020

Hello!

I hope this finds you all well?  Current thinking suggests we'll be able to move a little more freely from 11th May.  With this in mind, we are re-opening the Maison des Artisans in Sauveterre from Tuesday 12 May.  All precautions will be in place, masks, hand sanitiser available and social distancing procedures will be in place.

La Boutique comprises of 9 independent artisans who form an association and together we take it in turns to man the shop.  We also offer workshops, take commissions and promote 'buy local'. We've all been hit hard with the closure of the shop, so, it would be great to see you.

I had just updated my stand when we the Corona virus hit us.  Here's a sneak preview.

Whatever you do this week, keep safe and well, and we may see each other soon.
Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

There has been plenty of people taking the time to create during the lock down.  One such couple is Claire and Barry Scofield.  They are talented artists, have a look at them singing and find out more about their art projects.

Claire and I have making a few music videos during lockdown, and would like to share them with you. There are a few to watch, here's a link to one of them.

Also I wanted to share with you my new website/project.  My project which is providing drawings for people to paint pictures that don't have very good drawing skills. I now have it running (although it will be continual work in progress) so find out more about it below. It's called Accademia Art.  www.accademiaart.com

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Au Four de la Rive are continuing their pizza take away on Saturday nights and also adding Asian food to their repertoire. Head Chef at Chateau Rigaud, Nick Street Brown is starting the first of a planned five week series of menus inspired by his travel in the Far East. This week it's Chicken Satay which is of course Indonesian. It's a fixed menu at 18 euros per person with a free bottle of Le Canon rosé on orders of 4 persons or more. You need to book a collection time in advance, between 6pm and 9pm. Delivery is possible, to Gensac Clock Tower on Wednesday night and Castillon Market Square on Thursday. 3 euros per delivery.

https://www.aufourdelarive.fr/english

And finally...

The garden is coming along really well...