Wednesday 29 January 2020

Week 5 2020

Hello!

Did you know that the Catholic holiday of Candlemas, on 2 February, is a feast to commemorate the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of baby Jesus. In France, this holiday is called la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière, or jour des crêpes.

Not only do the French eat a lot of crêpes on Chandeleur, but they also do a bit of fortune telling while making them. It is traditional to hold a coin in your writing hand and a crêpe pan in the other, and flip the crêpe into the air. If you manage to catch the crêpe in the pan, your family will be prosperous for the rest of the year.  There is also a train of thought that suggests you should keep this well flipped pancake on the top of the wardrobe for the year to doubly ensure good fortune…

Enjoy your pancakes and whatever you do this week in the Gironde and Dordogne regions – have a great week.
Best wishes,
Helen

Week 5

Monday 27 January
Tuesday 28 January
Wednesday 29 January
https://www.cinema-pays-foyen.com/
Thursday 30 January

Friday 31 January



Saturday 1 February



Sunday 2 February

Coming up...


And finally...  
Come and make a Valentine gift (or keep it for yourself!) from ceramics on Saturday afternoon in Sauveterre.  I'll be showing you how to use coils for heart shaped wall hangings, plates and pots.
Contact me for more information, or even if you like the idea, but can't make the date, I can set up a workshop for a group of friends.


Wednesday 22 January 2020

Week 4 2020

Hello!

This weekend celebrates the Chinese New Year.  This year is the year of the Rat.  There is a big parade in the centre of Bordeaux to celebrate.  It starts at 14:30 at the Place de Victoire, it threads through the city and ends at the Placette de Munich at 17h.  See the full route here.


If you want to find out more about the Chinese New Year and which is your Zodiac animal, then have a look here. Looks like I'm a 🐓

Whatever you do this week in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a good time and Happy New Year: 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè)

Best wishes,
Helen 
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr


Week 4


Monday 20 January

Tuesday 21 January

Wednesday 22 January

Cinema La Breche in Ste Foy

Thursday 23 January

Friday 24 January



Saturday 25 January




Sunday 26 January







Coming up...







And finally...

Here are some of the monsters we made at the Pottery Workshop in Sauveterre - cute and fierce...

Contact me for details of up-coming workshops.

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Week 3 2020

Hello!

Headed out on a Sawdays inspection yesterday I drove by this beautiful chateau.

Chateau de Montastruc
It's at Lamonzie Montastruc.  It's currently privately owned, available to rent, but not with Sawdays, so I didn't get to check it out!

Whatever you do this week in the Gironde and Dordogne region - have a great time.

Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 3

Monday 13 January

Tuesday 14 January

Wednesday 15 January

La Breche Cinema in Ste Foy

Thursday 16 January


Friday 17 January

St Denis de Pile
Jazz Club Libourne

Cafe L'Orient - Libourne
Pour cette premier édition de 2020, nous serons réunis autour du répertoire d'un guitariste et compositeur d'exception à découvrir ou redécouvrir ensemble !

Hommage à Wes Montgomery.

Personnage fascinant, Wes Montgomery est l'exemple type de l'autodidacte touché par la grâce. Il commence en effet la guitare à l'âge 19 ans entouré de ses frères musiciens, et est très vite remarqué par les plus grands tandis qu'il est encore ouvrier-soudeur le jour, musicien la nuit, et père de huit enfants.
En dix ans (1958-1968) il enregistre 31 albums à son nom, sublimant l'art de ces prédécesseurs et mentors Django Reinhardt ou Charlie Christian, et laisse de superbes compositions qui constituent à elles seules un véritable style. On le qualifie alors de Hard-Swing ou de West Coast Blues, tant il mêle les styles Hard-bop et Rythm'n'Blues de ces début 60's au Swing des années 30-40. Il meurt hélas à l'âge de 45 ans d'une crise cardiaque, il est alors au sommet de sa gloire ...


Saturday 18 January






Sunday 19 January





Coming up...


And finally... 

Apple and date cake - it's healthy and delicious!  Not too sure if the salted caramel topping is as healthy, but it's so good... 😋

Recipe from David Lebovitz