Week 20 2016

Hello!

It always seems like summer is here when Bonhoste has their May Portes Ouvertes. It’s like the first night market, food stalls, entertainment and long tables with sharing platters of oysters, charcuterie and cheeses. Not forgetting the Bandas.  Here’s a little clip to get you into the feel of summer!

Many thanks to everyone who has sent items for the Newsletter.  All contributions are welcome and gratefully received. Whatever you do this week in the Dordogne and Gironde regions, summer is round the corner, so have a great time. 

oysters & wine at Bonhoste

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 20 2016

Monday 9 May

Tuesday 10 May

Wednesday 11 May

11 May 19h45 & 21h45 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

Thursday 12 May

12 May 19h45 & 21h45 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

Friday 13 May

13 May 19h45 & 21h45 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

13 May 20h30 : Jazz concert at Chai Pascal in St Emilion. A group of 6 musicians including Path Metheny on guitar in concert. Free entry. Reservations recommended 05 57 24 52 45

13 - 14 - 15 - 16 May : St Antoine sur l'Isle celebrates the weekend of Pentecote.  Shows, concerts and fireworks.  Something for everyone over the long weekend.

Saturday 14 May

14 May 19h45 & 21h45 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

14 May : Vide Grenier at St Magne

14 -15 May : The young people’s UK charity Lords Taverners are hosting a weekend of events on ^th May with golf at Chateau des Vigiers and cricket at Eymet on Sunday 15^th.

Saturday 14

On Sunday the sound of leather on willow will resound round the cricket ground at Eymet  when the Lords Taverners Celebrity team under Captain Mike Gatting and a number of ex England players will be playing against a cricket team from South west France in the first 30 over match of its kind. Everyone is welcome and the entrance is free. Get there early and you can buy a ticket to have lunch with the players and celebrities.

The Lords Taverners party will include Chris Tarrant, Nicholas Parsons and Mike Gatting. Gloucestershire and England cricketer Martyn Ball will be in the party together with former Essex player Paul Pritchard. From soccer there will be Dave Lee who played 115 times for Chelsea. Chris Adams the former England and Derbyshire cricketer, former Derbyshire player Paul Aldred and England and Middlesex fast bowler Sport Price will be there. Television presenter Jonnie Irwin, well known for his Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country programmes, will be in the party.

You can have lunch with the stars, Euro 15 each, but better book at bobkennedy01@gmail.com as we only have 200 seats for lunch.

Cricket - Sunday 15^th May 10.30am at Eymet in aid of Lords Taverners. The ground is behind the Carrefour supermarket, turn at the lights. Please come, Sunday 15^th will be a fun day.

14 – 15 – 16 May : 36^th Marche des Tisserands at Chateau de Varaignes.  An festival of all things   Find out more here

made from fabrics.

Sunday 15 May

15 May 19h45 & 21h45 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

15 May : 21^st Vide Grenier at Cursan

15 May : Vide Grenier and Brocante at Eymet

15 May : Vide Grenier at St Philippe du Signal

15 May : Floralies and vide grenier at Le Fleix

15 May : Vide Grenier and Flea Market at Le Pizou

15 May : Vide Grenier and Flea Market at St Quentin du Baron

15 May : 300 singers join together in celebration of song at St Macaire

 

15 May : Balades en Pentecotes in Creon.

15 – 16 May : Foire aux Vins in St Antoine de Breuilh

Coming up…

Monday 16 May - Lundi de Pentecote

16 May : Vide Grenier de la Pentecote at St Antoine sur l’Isle

16 May 18h15 & 20h30 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in 

Libourne.

22 May 17h45 & 20h30 : The Sea of Trees (nos Souvenirs) is showing  in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

And finally…

Where in the world did I see this?

Week 19 2016

Hello!

Have you ever wondered how they make the barrels that we see all around us, the ones they put the wine into?

We went and visited the Tonnellerie Nadalie in the Medoc to see how they are made.  They have a wonderful tour and as we walked through the barrel making workshop we learnt all about them.

Starting with the oak, sourced from French forests, through the cutting of the staves, the toasting of the wood and the forming of the barrels, it was almost all done by hand. It’s a great tour, there a super restaurant next door, and there’s wine tasting too – after all, you need to find out what goes into the barrels.

Whatever you do this week (a week of not 1, but 2 jour ferie) have a great time in the Gironde and Dordogne regions.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 19 2016

Quinconces. – The big Brocante in Bordeaux runs  from 22 April – 8 May, there’s still time to get there.

 

Monday 2 May

Tuesday 3 May

Wednesday 4 May

Thursday 5 May

5 May : Brocante Vide Grenier at Coutras

5 May : Vide grenier and flower festival at St Martin de Gurson

5 May : Flower festival at Grezillac

Friday 6 May

6 May : Vernissage for the painting exhibition by Marielle Bouillhac and Jean-Jacques Prade at The Vitrine  Tourism et Vin, in Pineuilh.  Exhibition runs from 2 – 30 May.

Saturday 7 May

7 May : Vide grenier and flea market at Castillon school (next to the graffiti covered swimming pool)

7 May : Peformance arts in Creon. Presented by the students of the ChoreArt et L&Culture de Latresne in Creon at the Centre Culturel.  Tickets €10

 

7 May : St Emilion Boxing night at the Espace Guadet

Sunday 8 May

8 May : Brocante and Vide Grenier at Colombier

8 May : Sale of organic and heirloom vegetables at the Ferme d’Escambert Naujan et Postiac.  It’s not far from the Orchid Farm

8 May : Bonhoste Portes Ouvertes.

 

8 May : Vide grenier and flea market at Montpon Menesterol

8 May : Vide grenier and more fleas at Pessac sur Dordogne

8 May : Omelette a l’aillet in Lamothe Montravel.

8 May : Portes ouvertes and flea market a Pineuilh

Coming up…

And finally…

Eric the coffee man, a friend of Mr Notjustfortheholidays has  been spotted by AR.  Thank you for the photo and text.

Amazing coffee preparations! The lad at the back is roasting raw Ethiopian coffee beans over a wood fire in a bean roaster he had to keep turning by hand. The guy with the hat is hand-grinding the beans using a coffee grinder made 120 years ago by the Peugeot brothers. The final results of this hard labour were stunning!

These guys have been smoking the Ste Foy market out for months every Saturday morning, but only today have I finally given them a try. Will definitely be back...

Week 18 2016

Hello!

I have such talented friends and this week one of my lovely friends is exhibiting her paintings in an exhibition in St Emilion.  Opening this week to coincide with the Portes Ouvertes the Association des Artistes Amateurs Amis des Arts d’Aquitaine,  or l’Atelier Six A, have an exhibition of their works in the Logis de Malet in St Emilion, opposite the Maison du Vin.

Go along, it’s free and enjoy the paintings on display.  Make a day of it and visit the chateau in St Emilion as this weekend many are opening their doors to the public. Find out more about it here.

Sunday is a Jour Ferie, lots to do, fingers crossed for sunshine!  Whatever you do this week in the Dordogne and Gironde regions, have a great week.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 18 2016

Monday 25 April

Tuesday 26 April         

26 April : L’Omelette a l’Aillet at Port Saint Foy et Pochapt.  Something between a garlic and a spring onion, aillet is excellent in an omelette, but also good in salads, with baked potato and in a stir fry.

Wednesday 27 April

Thursday 28 April

28 April - 2 May :  Interior and decorative arts sale at Chateau Feret-Lambert, Grezillac, daily from 10h - 19h.  Featuring artwork by Constance de Maistre.

Friday 29 April

Saturday 30 April

30 April : Portes Ouvertes at Le Puch, Sauveterre.  This rather nice garden centre is holding an open day with food stands, live music, pony and trap rides and games and activities for all the family.

30 April 18h : The Castillon-Pujols Ecole de Music are in concert at the Salle des Fetes at Chateau de Castegens (behind the site of the Battle of Castillon)  Entrance €5

30 April 19h30 : Apero-Concert at the Espace Cedrus next to the train station in Castillon. Live music and dancing. €6

30 April 20h : Soiree Cabaret  featuring Diamond’s Girls at the Salle des Fetes in Lamothe.  Reservations recommended. €20

30 April – 1 May : Portes Ouvertes in St Emilion. Over 90 chateau open their doors and welcome you in this weekend, to see the full list click here

30 April – 1 May : Not just wine in St Emilion this weekend,but Chateau Cardinal Villemaurine is also showcasing oysters and duck delicacies as well as art and pottery.

30 April – 1 May : Lac des Dagueys in Libourne is the host for the 25^th Coupe de France rowing competition.  Teams from all over the country come to row for the cup.

30 April – 1 May : English Book Sale in Mezin. Proceeds to Medecins San Frontieres

Sunday 1 May

1 May : Trail in St Emilion, find out all about it here

1 May : Les Quetes at Ste Foy La Grande.  Not really sure what this is… looks like something for the youngsters.

1 May : Vide grenier and Flea Market at Frontenac

1 May : Flower festival and flea market at La Reole

1 May 11h30 : Omelette a l’aillette at the Stade Mezieres , Pays Foyen

1 May 12h : Omelette a l’Aillet at Saint Philippe du Seignal

1 May : The Floralies at St Meard de Gurcon

 

1 May : Vide grenier at Lamothe Montravel

 

1 May : Vide grenier at Moulon

1 May : Vide grenier, flower market and arts and craft at Pellegrue

 

1 May : Vide grenier, brocante and flower market at Saint Medard de Guizieres

1 May : Vide grenier and omelette a l’aillet at Villefranche de Lonchat

1 May : Vide grenier at La Force

1 May : Vide grenier at Mussidan

1 May : Vide grenier at Lamonzie Saint Martin

1 May : Golf Competition at the Grand St Emilionnais Golf Club see more about the golf club here

1 May 21h : Room is showing in VO at the Cinema Eden in Monsegur

A kidnapped mother and son escape from a room in which they have endured imprisonment for the entirety of the boy's life. Upon breaking free from its confines, they experience a dramatic homecoming, provoking insight into the depths of imagination and the extent of a mother's love.  Starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay and Sean Bridgers.

Coming up…

2 May 21h : Room is showing in VO at the Cinema Eden in Monsegur

The young people’s UK charity Lords Taverners are hosting a weekend of events on Saturday 14^th May with golf at Chateau des Vigiers and cricket at Eymet on Sunday 15^th.

On Sunday the sound of leather on willow will resound round the cricket ground at Eymet  when the Lords Taverners Celebrity team under Captain Mike Gatting and a number of ex England players will be playing against a cricket team from South west France in the first 30 over match of its kind. Everyone is welcome and the entrance is free. Get there early and you can buy a ticket to have lunch with the players and celebrities.

The Lords Taverners party will include Chris Tarrant, Nicholas Parsons and Mike Gatting. Gloucestershire and England cricketer Martyn Ball will be in the party together with former Essex player Paul Pritchard. From soccer there will be Dave Lee who played 115 times for Chelsea. Chris Adams the former England and Derbyshire cricketer, former Derbyshire player Paul Aldred and England and Middlesex fast bowler Sport Price will be there. Television presenter Jonnie Irwin, well known for his Place in the Sun and Escape to the Country programmes, will be in the party.

You can have lunch with the stars, Euro 15 each, but better book at bobkennedy01@gmail.com as we only have 200 seats for lunch.

Cricket - Sunday 15^th May 10.30am at Eymet in aid of Lords Taverners. The ground is behind the Carrefour supermarket, turn at the lights. Please come, Sunday 15^th will be a fun day.

And finally…

Can you help me please?  I was asked by guests in one of the holiday homes we manage, where they could go for a Truffling adventure.  I’m looking for any information you may have, any opportunities you know about to discover more about this hidden treasure, how it grows, how you find it, training the dogs (or the pigs) and using it in recipes.  Anything really, related to 

truffles.

All information gratefully received.  Thank you!