Week 2 2026

Hello!

In case you missed it, Tuesday 6 January was the last day of the Christmas season and traditionally the day Christmas decorations get taken down and packed away for next year in my house.  The 12^th night is the day that the 3 wise men arrived in Bethlehem, taking gifts to the baby Jesus.

The French celebrate this day with a special cake called the ‘Galette des Rois’ (the King’s cake).   

Note the plate with numbers to ensure it's divided equally!

This frangipane filled cake is served up according to tradition on 6^th January.  A lucky charm – known as a fève (originally a bean, but now more often a little porcelain figure) is baked into the cake.  As story goes, the cake is divided into enough slices as people present, and one extra, for the first poor person that passes by.  The youngest person in the group decides who has which slice, and the person who finds the fève is crowned king or queen for the day.  When you buy a Galette des Rois it usually comes complete with a paper crown.

 

You can still find them in the shops and the bakeries, and each year more exotic flavours are added to the recipe, a hit this year was the chocolate chip brioche style galette!

 

Whatever you do this week in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a lovely time.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfotheholidays@orange.fr

 

Week 2

 

https://www.cinema-eden.com/

https://www.cinema-pays-foyen.com/

 If you don't know what to do with your Christmas trees...

 

 10 January

 

Coming up...

 

 And finally...

 

My new Saturday pottery programme is out for the upcoming months.  Starting with a windmill. to go along with the castle and the house candle-lights.

 

 

Feel free to contact me if you'd like to take part, or if you're interested in trying your hand at pottery - it's a wonderfully therapeutic process. 
 

 

Christmas 2025

 

Hello!

 

Thank you very much for everyone who continues to follow and support Notjustfortheholidays. 

Whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, I hope you have a happy and joyful Christmas and New Year, and I'll be back in 2026.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 50 and onwards...

Hello!

Father Christmas arrived into Flaujagues on Sunday evening by boat! A beautifully lit up boat carried him across the water after an amazing fireworks display.  (Have I ever mentioned how much I like a firework?!?)

Here's a rundown of things going on in the run-up to Christmas

Whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne regions have a great time.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

 

Week 50 

  

https://www.cinema-pays-foyen.com/

 

https://www.cinema-eden.com/

 

 

 

 13 December

 

14 December

Coming up...

 

And finally...

I love how creative the potters are who came into the studio... how's this for a set of Santas? 

Week 49 2025

 Hello!

This weekend brings Christmas markets everywhere, and it's also combining with the Telethon. You will find events everywhere.  Flaujagues has been working all week putting up really lovely cabins decked with greenery and Christmas cheer.  You'll find me there on Sunday with my ceramics, perfect gifts! And better still, there are fireworks on Sunday evening, on the banks of the Dordogne.

Whatever you do this week in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a lovely time.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

 

Week 49

 

https://www.cinema-pays-foyen.com/

 

5 December

 

6 December - some of these events are for Saturday and Sunday, and some are a starting date for a longer period. 

Flaujagues

7 December

 Coming up...

And finally...

My chipped, botched and failed ceramics end up at home where I use them all.  It's very pleasing when, by chance, my selection of hummus match my pots!