Hello!
As I sit here by the side of the river (thanks to wifi...) watching the swans and the fish I feel sure that our little weather blip is over.
We had a super Saturday evening at Font Vidal. Lots of lovely food stands to choose from, we were quite spoilt for choice, oysters, pate, goats cheese salad, moules, frites, steak, paella, and a host of breads and cakes. What a great turn out too, not many empty places at the tables.
It was beautifully warm, right into the night and it was great catching up with friends we haven't seen for ages.
Thanks for all your wonderfully positive feedback about the newsletter and blog. If anyone is interested in advertising here then please contact me.
Lots to do this week, the festival of street art in Miramont looks interesting, especially if you have children. There are plenty of mime artists and clowns in the listings.
Have a great week,
Helen
Week 31
Monday 1 August
For youngsters who like cricket, here is the chance to get some practice and a bit of coaching at junior cricket week at St Aulaye cricket club near the village of Chenaud, Dordogne, Mon 1st to Sat 6th August. For details look up St Aulaye cricket club web site and follow junior cricket week link. For more details contact Wynford Hicks at
wynford@hicksinfrance.net
Tuesday 2 August
2 August : Flanerie et degustation. Lalande-de-Pomerol 05 57 51 15 04 – 05 57 25 00 58
2 August : Un jour, un vin, des Patrimoines, visite-degustation. Montagne 05 57 74 56 89
2 August 14h : Circuits en bus a la rencontre d’artistes, d’artisans, de producteurs locaux. Montpon. Depart de l’Office de Tourism sur reservation 05 53 82 23 77
2 August 18h : Marche nocturene, Les Festines. La Pizou
2 August : Critierium, Castillon. Le Tour de France comes to Castillon. 30 laps around the Cotes de Castillon.
2 August 21h : Concert - Orfeo di Cracovia Saint-Emilion - Eglise Collégiale www.collegiades.com
Wednesday 3 August
3 August : Nocturnes « Au temps d’Henri IV » Château de Vayres 05 57 84 96 59
Thursday 4 August
4 – 10 August : Exposition Lucette Germain. Saint Emilion, Salle Gothique.
4 August : Tablées nocturnes. Castillon-la-Bataille
4 August :
Battle of Castillon – an amazing show not to be missed. Re-enactment of the final battle of the Hundred Years war. A huge open air performance with horses, battle scenes, fireworks and cannon, dance and theatre. http://www.batailledecastillon.com
4 August 18h30 :Apéritif Musical, Vieille Halle Gensac. 24th Festival de Gensac, Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde 05 57 47 43 69
Friday 5 August
5 August : Soiree Moules Frites at Guinguette de Lac de la Cadie, Mouliets et Villemartin 15 € avec le dessert, 1/4 vin et la soirée dansante 05 57 49 75 01
5 – 7 August : Direct Wine/Laithewaites Open Day. Castillon Chai au Quai
5-6-7 August : 17th bastid’art at Miramont-de-Guyenne.
International Festival of Street Art.
More than 80 free acts to watch performing in the streets.
Check out the website – it looks like great fun for all ages.
http://www.bastidart.org/
5 August :
Battle of Castillon – an amazing show not to be missed. Re-enactment of the final battle of the Hundred Years war. A huge open air performance with horses, battle scenes, fireworks and cannon, dance and theatre. http://www.batailledecastillon.com
Saturday 6 August
6 August :
Battle of Castillon – an amazing show not to be missed. Re-enactment of the final battle of the Hundred Years war. A huge open air performance with horses, battle scenes, fireworks and cannon, dance and theatre. http://www.batailledecastillon.com
6, 7 August : Portes Ouvert Domaine de Niotan , Pujols - old cars, wine tasting, cheese, oysters, regional products, duck
6 – 8 August : Brocante et fete locale on the Quais in Branne.
6 August : Les samedis oenologiques de Pomerol, Maison des Vins res 06 99 49 07 11
6 August : Confrérie des Vins de Sainte Foy Bordeaux is having the Grand Chapitre du Raisin
Here is what has been scheduled:
10H Défilé de la Confrérie dans les rues de Ste Foy
11H Cérémonie œcuménique au temple de Ste Foy
12 Intronisation sur le parvis de la Mairie
12H30 Apéritif vigneron
13H Banquet à la salle des fêtes avec musique
Menu :
Cocktail d’avocat aux crevettes
Coq au vin de Bordeaux et crouton aillé
Pièce de veau rôtie périgourdine avec garniture de légumes
Salade et ronde de fromages
Pêche melba et amandes grillées
Café
Vins
Prix du repas 45€
6 August 19h : Rencontre musique et gastronomie – point Relais Velo. Concerts, et marches de producteurs, artisans traiteurs
6 August 10h :Concert Promenade sur quatre sites
10H00 MASSUGAS Orchestre de Chambre de la Gironde Musique de Holst, Fauré, Dubois ; 11H30 - 15h – 17h ST. AVIT de SOULEGE Marcelo Montes, violoncelle Musique de Bach, Cassado, Dutilleux ;
11h30 -15H -17H- COUBERAC Carte blanche à Matthieu Ben Hassen Musique pour claviers à percussion ;
11h30 – 15h -17h, ST. PEY-de-CASTETS Julien Laffaire, clarinette et Marianne Lecler, harpe.
Pass Adhérents : 23€ ; Pass Non-adhérents : 25€ ; 12-18 ans : 12€ ; billet individuel : 9€ Renseignement : 05 57 47 43 69
6 August : Marche nocturne Pineuilh, Place de la Mairie 06 21 21 01 69
6 August 20h30 : Concert - Duo Cor et Orgue Saint-Emilion - Eglise Collégiale, www.collegiades.com
Sunday 7 August
7 August : Brocante vide grenier. Gensac
7 August 10h30 – 18h : Marches a la Ferme. Moulin de Moustelat, Pessac sur Dordogne. Beatrice and Robert Barriere welcome you. Visit 18th century watermill, flourmill and traditional wood fired bread oven. 05 57 47 46 77 – 05 57 47 48 62
7 August : Fete Locale. St-Avit-de-Soulege
7 August : Brocante vide greniers. Pujols, Tertre du château, derrière la mairie.
7 August : Vide greniers Artisanat. Cleyrac
What a lovely surprise Gensac brocante was, I had no idea that it was so big, along with Felix Barry and a 3 piece group playing great live music. 
Plenty to do this week, street theatre in Libourne and it's the last weekend for the Battle of Castillon. The brocante in Pellegrue is also quite big. You might just find that hidden treasure there!
We had a super Saturday evening at Font Vidal. Lots of lovely food stands to choose from, we were quite spoilt for choice, oysters, pate, goats cheese salad, moules, frites, steak, paella, and a host of breads and cakes. What a great turn out too, not many empty places at the tables.
It was beautifully warm, right into the night and it was great catching up with friends we haven't seen for ages. 
4 August : Battle of Castillon – an amazing show not to be missed. Re-enactment of the final battle of the Hundred Years war. A huge open air performance with horses, battle scenes, fireworks and cannon, dance and theatre. http://www.batailledecastillon.com
5 – 7 August : Direct Wine/Laithewaites Open Day. Castillon Chai au Quai
6 August 10h :Concert Promenade sur quatre sites 
But what a show... at one stage I was crying with laughter... Bruno Biutenhuijs, Isabelle Drault, Cecile Heraud and the rubber faced and versatile Bertrand Antigny are brilliant entertainers. Mixing traditional Barber Shop tunes with modern adaptations the show was upbeat and fun to watch. The audience was a mixture from the grand children to the grand parents and there was something for everyone.