Week 18 2021

Hello!

Hooray!  I got the vaccine... completely by good luck.  I went to the vaccine centre in Sauveterre after seeing the signs through the town.  I couldn't find a site to book through, so I dropped in at the end of the day.  And, yes, it's true, they do use up the leftover doses at the end of the day.  I arrived at exactly the right time and they had 2 leftover doses. 

 

So, it's worth dropping into your local vaccine centre, if they don't have a spare dose that day, they explained that they have a waiting list - you can leave your number and they'll call you up if they have a surplus. 

I also got the chance to use my new carte de sejour... and I have the appointment for round 2.

The vaccine roll out has spread to the pharmacies too, my friend has just had hers there, without an appointment.

So, it seems that things are opening up slowly. Keep safe and take care in the Gironde and Dordogne regions.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

 

Week 18 and onwards...

8 May is a bank holiday - Fete de Victoire de 1945

Coming up...

And finally...

The Maison des Artisans boutique is still closed, but behind the scenes we have been busy in our studios.  Below is a timetable of workshops for May and June.  We are also planning a range of summer activities which will be perfect for both full time residents and summer visitors. So watch this space for more news on that.

Week 48 2020

Hello!

The president has spoken.  These are from The Connection.

 

The great news is that the small independent shops including the Maison des Artisans Boutique in Sauveterre and Mon P'tit Baz'Arts in Ste Foy can open their doors again on Saturday.

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@ornge.fr

Coming up...

Venues are starting to promote Christmas Markets.  

And finally...

To all my American friends 

Week 41 2020

 Hello!

I'm so excited to be working full time out of my new pottery studio!  Workshops and pottery sessions are underway and I'm offering a whole host of activities to give you time to relax and take time for yourself, your friends and your family.

Studio hours match those of the boutique (more or less) with a couple of evening sessions, a perfect time to gather a group of friends after work hours.

Tuesday & Thursday 14h30 - 21h

Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10h - 18h

Access is via the shop. The person on the desk will be one of the other artisans and they will direct you up the stairs, but take time to discover the beautiful arts and crafts for sale in the boutique 

Find the Maison des Artisans in the corner of the square in Sauveterre de Guyenne, opposite the Tourist Office.

I look forward to seeing you, just pop in and say hello, there's coffee and homemade cookies too!

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 41

 

Monday 5 October

 

Tuesday 6 October

 

Wednesday 7 October

La Breche cinema in Ste Foy

Thursday 8 October

 

Friday 9 October

 

Saturday 10 October

 

Sunday 11 October

 

Coming up...

 

18 Oct La Breche cinema

 

And finally...

 

On 1st of June a crazy localised storm brought down a tree in the stream that borders our garden, it blocked the road and took down the electricity! (Typical bank holiday event...) Finally this week, the remains of the trunk and the root ball were removed from the stream.  It was no easy task.

 

 

Week 20 2020

Hello

Goodness, we've had a lot of rain!  And it's taken away the river bank down the road from us.  So, if you're travelling from Castillon to collect a pizza or takeaway from Au Four de la Rive, you'll need to take the Mouliets main road, then the first left after the end of Mouliets.

Whatever you do this week in your 100km radius, keep safe and well.
Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 20

Lockdown has lifted for the moment, with restrictions in place, including the wearing of masks.  Each person is entitled to one free mask.  How they are distributed is up to each Mairie, we have to take identification equal - or possibly more - to the purchase of a house and present ourselves at the Mairie, others have had them hand delivered to each household.  (Curiously, the letter which informed us of the procedure was hand delivered by the Mairie!)

Here's an article from the Connection  : France deconfinement May 11: What is allowed or not?

If you're wondering how to calculate the 100km, here's a great link from French Property News:

How to Calculate 100km from home 

We can get to the city of Bordeaux, and just to the Basin d'Arcachon, but not to the coast.  So the beach will have to wait.

Sauveterre is well within limits...

13 - 14 May : Au Four de la Rive are continuing their pizza take away on Saturday nights and also adding Asian food to their repertoire. Head Chef at Chateau Rigaud, Nick Street Brown is starting the first of a planned five week series of menus inspired by his travel in the Far East. This week it's Chicken Satay which is of course Indonesian. It's a fixed menu at 18 euros per person with a free bottle of Le Canon rosé on orders of 4 persons or more. You need to book a collection time in advance, between 6pm and 9pm. Delivery is possible, to Gensac Clock Tower on Wednesday night and Castillon Market Square on Thursday. 3 euros per delivery.

And finally...

Always a relief to open the kiln room and see the firing has completed successfully.  Now I have to wait for it to cool so that I can open it.  Firing takes up to 10, sometimes 12 hours, and the cool down takes just as long. 
Fingers crossed that the kiln gods have been kind 🤞

Week 19 2020

Hello!

I hope this finds you all well?  Current thinking suggests we'll be able to move a little more freely from 11th May.  With this in mind, we are re-opening the Maison des Artisans in Sauveterre from Tuesday 12 May.  All precautions will be in place, masks, hand sanitiser available and social distancing procedures will be in place.

La Boutique comprises of 9 independent artisans who form an association and together we take it in turns to man the shop.  We also offer workshops, take commissions and promote 'buy local'. We've all been hit hard with the closure of the shop, so, it would be great to see you.

I had just updated my stand when we the Corona virus hit us.  Here's a sneak preview.

Whatever you do this week, keep safe and well, and we may see each other soon.
Best wishes,
Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

There has been plenty of people taking the time to create during the lock down.  One such couple is Claire and Barry Scofield.  They are talented artists, have a look at them singing and find out more about their art projects.

Claire and I have making a few music videos during lockdown, and would like to share them with you. There are a few to watch, here's a link to one of them.

Also I wanted to share with you my new website/project.  My project which is providing drawings for people to paint pictures that don't have very good drawing skills. I now have it running (although it will be continual work in progress) so find out more about it below. It's called Accademia Art.  www.accademiaart.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Au Four de la Rive are continuing their pizza take away on Saturday nights and also adding Asian food to their repertoire. Head Chef at Chateau Rigaud, Nick Street Brown is starting the first of a planned five week series of menus inspired by his travel in the Far East. This week it's Chicken Satay which is of course Indonesian. It's a fixed menu at 18 euros per person with a free bottle of Le Canon rosé on orders of 4 persons or more. You need to book a collection time in advance, between 6pm and 9pm. Delivery is possible, to Gensac Clock Tower on Wednesday night and Castillon Market Square on Thursday. 3 euros per delivery.

https://www.aufourdelarive.fr/english

And finally...

The garden is coming along really well...