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 47 & 48 2025

 Hello!

It's been a busy week in the studio - so this is a bumper 2 week episode. 

There are beautiful autumn wreaths decorating the wall on the landing at the Maison des Artisans, but they won't be there for long as the creators are quick to collect.

 

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr 

 

Week 47

 

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

22 November

23 November

 

Week 48

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

 

 

28 November

 29 November

30 November

 

Coming up...

The following weekend is the Telethon weekend and so many places have combined this with Christmas Markets. I'll be at Flaujagues - which is obviously the best! However, there are plenty of others to choose from.

 

And finally...

Well done if you've got this far... It's my final Saturday pottery workshop for this year on 6th December and we're making Christmas bells in the shape of a Christmas tree.

 

There are still a few places left in the afternoon, or if you'd like to come along on a different day and make a few, don't hesitate to get in touch. 📞06 30 89 85 36

 

Week 42 2025

 Hello!

They were up fixing something on the roof of the church in Sauvetere and took a photo of the square, and it reminded me of a photo I found a few years ago, taken from almost the same spot.

 

 I love looking at old photos of places I know.

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

 

Week 42

 

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

 

https://cinema-eden.com/

17 October

https://www.saint-emilion-tourisme.com/en/

 18 October

 

 

 

19 October

Chateau Carbonneau

 Coming up...

 

And finally...

There are still a couple of places if you'd like to make some little houses to decorate your home.