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. 
 

 

Week 11 2024

 Hello!

After a soggy start, Monsieur Carnaval was successfully set alight in Sauveterre last weekend.

If you're wondering why... Monsieur Carnaval… is responsible for all the wrongdoing people do throughout the year. At Carnival time in France, Monsieur Carnaval is judged for his behavior throughout the preceding year. Usually he’s found guilty and an effigy of him is burned at the Carnival. He is generally blamed for the terrible weather and poor crops too.

Seems that the burning of Monsieur has brought about the lovely weather, so whatever you do in the Gironde and Dordogne regions, have a great week.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 11

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

16 March 

17 March

Coming up...

And finally...

Birds and animals are popular makes in the pottery studio.  What would you like to try your hand at?

There are so many different techniques to try, and skills to explore.  Give me a call if you'd like to give clay a go! 📞0630898536

Week 35 2023

 Hello!

Seems like even the weather knows that it's back to school next week. I've gathered together a gallery of the beautiful pottery projects from the budding potters in my studio and put a display in the shop window.

If you fancy trying your hand at making something from clay then get in touch - 06 30 89 85 36. No previous experience necessary.  You can come with a group of friends and spend a couple of hours creating and escaping into the clay, you can come on your own and learn a new skill and meet new people, you can bring visitors and have a unique experience.  I love working with clay, and I really love sharing that with others.

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 35

31 August

Last night markets...

1 September

2 September

3 September

Coming up...

And finally...

A lovely example of a holiday clay project, grandmother and grand children made a set of coasters for Grandma's sun room.