Week 15 2015

Hello!

Castillon came alive over the Easter weekend when the fair came to town!  The whole village, from the stone bridge up to the train station was taken over by the travelling fair.  Add to that the weekly Monday morning market, it made Castillon the place to be…

 

… and I found my holiday favourite churros/chichi!

 

If you know of any plant markets coming up, please let me know.  If you see a poster, take a photo on your phone and send it to me!  Many thanks.

Whatever you do this coming week, the weather looks great in the Gironde and Dordogne regions,

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 15 2015

Monday 6 April

Tuesday 7 April

7 April 18h : Birdman is showing in VO at La Breche in Ste Foy la Grande.

In this comedy drama a washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of his Broadway play.  Starring Michael Keaton, Zach Galifianakis and Edward Norton.

7 April 9pm : Live music at La Cave des Chevaliers in Villefranche de Longchat.

Wednesday 8 April

8 April 20h30 : Selma is showing in VO at La Breche in Ste Foy.

A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.  Starring David Oyeowo, CamerenEjogo, Tim Roth.

8 April18h : The Voices is showing in VO at La Brech in Ste Foy.

In this comedy crime thriller, a likable guy pursues his office crush with the help of his evil talking pets, but things turn sinister when she stands him up for a date.  Starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton and Anna Kendrick

Thursday 9 April

9 April 20h30 : The Voices is showing in VO at La Brech in Ste Foy.

Friday 10 April

10 April 20h15 : Swan Lake performed by the Royal Ballet is showing at the Grandecran in Libourne

10 – 11 – 12 April : The grande Brocante in Rauzan.  Over 140 stands with antiques and collectables.  Entrance €2.50.  There is a restaurant at the back, so go along and make a day of it.

Saturday 11 April

11 April : Vide grenier et March aux puces at the Avenue du Port du Roy inLibourne

11 April 13:30 : This looks like a lovely thing to do… paddle down the Dordogne in the sunshine from Ste Foy to Castillon as part of a flotilla of boats.  Call ahead 06 32 10 00 27 to book and find out more about the event.

11 April 14h30 : The Musee du Pays Foyen s holding a conference at the Salle Paul Broca’De la guerre d’Espagne au pays foyen, hoistoire des flux migratoires’  Free entrance.

 

11 April18h : The Voices is showing in VO at La Brech in Ste Foy.

11 April 20h30 : Recit’Phonie 4 at the Church in Castillon.  Songs and recitals on the subjest of wine along the Dordogne river.  Entrance €5

 

11 April 20h30 : Josem (Jeune Orchestre Symphonic de l’Entre Deux-Mers) in Concert at Liburna in Libourne.  Organised by Rotary to raise funds for the Jeunes des Papillonns Blancs du Libournais – an association set up to help support families with children with special needs. Entrance €15

11 April 20h45 : The Dottie Bart Jazz Quartet in Concert ay the Foyer in St Laurent des Hommes.  Entrance €7

Sunday 12 April

12 April : Vide grenier and marche aux puces in Branne

12 April : Vide greniers at Marche aux puces at Espiet

12 April : Vide grenier at March aux puces at Langon

12 April : Vide grenier at Saint Christophe des Bardes

12 April : March aux Fleurs and Vide grenier at Port Ste Foy et Ponchapt.

12 April 8h : Competition fishing at the Etang Communal de St Meard de Gurcon.

12 April 9h : Car treasure hunt setting off from Castillon for a day of challenges and discoveries. Contact Cercle Esprit 77 on Facebook.

Coming up…

Monday 13 April 20h : Inherent Vice is showing inn VO at the Grandectan in Libourne.

In 1970, drug-fuelled Los Angeles detective Larry "Doc" Sportello investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Josh Brolin and Owen Wilson

And finally…

The Universite du Temps Libre in Libourne is getting their new programme together and have already organised a French course for August.  http://utllibourne.com/stages-danglais-et-francais-langue-etrangere/

Week 14 2015

Hello!

Cassie

Last weekend we went to the dogs!  There was a friendly race meet at Mouliets et Villemartin.  Never having been to the dogs before we had nothing to compare it with, but despite the freezing blustery weather it was fun to watch.

2 dogs race round the course chasing a plastic ‘hare’ which looks like a big plastic bag pompom.  The ‘hare’ is pulled round on a wire which was re-laid after each race. There were Greyhounds, whippets and Salukis. We met a lovely owner and his beautiful whippet Cassie who explained all the rudiments of the sport.  Many thanks.

Easter is coming up, whatever you do and wherever you go this Easter week, have a great time.

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 14 2015

Monday 30 March

Tuesday 31 March

31 March 14h15 : The Voices is showing in VO at the Grandecran cinema in Libourne.

In this comedy crime thriller, a likable guy pursues his office crush with the help of his evil talking pets, but things turn sinister when she stands him up for a date.  Starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton and Anna Kendrick

Wednesday 1 April

1 April 18h : Balkan Way Acoustic group are performing at Chai Pascal in St Emilion.  Live music with a glass of wine and a plate of Tapas, a great way to spend a Wednesday.  Click the link to get a taste of their music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzy_CK3MGYg

1- 30 April : 18 Photographic Exhibitions open up in Bordeaux.  To find out who is where and when, go to http://www.itiphoto.com/

1 - 30 April : Exhibition at the Vitrine du Pays Foyen (next to the big Leclerc on the Ste Foy bypass) featuring artist and poet Gisele Gall

Thursday 2 April

Friday 3 April

3 April 21h30 : Concert at Le Chai Bar in Ste Foy.  Featuring 3 bands – Decembers – Maniard – Kick Kung Fu.  Entrance €3, Proceeds to the ESMI

3 April : Big Ed & the RedBalls in concert at La Cave des Chevaliers in Villefranch de Longchat.

Saturday 4 April

4 April : Vide Grenier in Frontenac

4 April : Journee Vins et Chocolate.  Chocolates from la Maison Guinguet join with Les Guinots wine Co-operative – 2 of my favourite things! Held at Les Guinots in Flaujagues.

4 April 15h : Birdman is showing in VO at La Breche in Ste Foy la Grande.

A washed-up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of his Broadway play.  Starring Michael, Zack Galifianakis, Edward Norton

4 – 5 April : La Charrette Bleu on the D936 below Velines is organising a Brocante vide grenier for Easter weekend.

4 – 5 – 6 April : Castillon hosts the big Easter Fair.  A travelling funfair fills the village square right from the stone bridge up to the train station.  On Monday the weekly market is there too.

4 – 6 April : Photo Exhibition at the Salle Cascante in Castillon

4 – 5 – 6 April – Printemps de Duras.  A whole host of events and activities in and around Duras this weekend, tours, visits, meals, wines, entertainment and brocantes.  Find out the full programme here http://www.paysdeduras.com/ 

https://durasprintemps.wordpress.com/  

 

 

 

Sunday 5 April

5 April : Easter Egg Hunt at the Chateau de Vayres.

5 April 20h45 : Birdman is showing in VO at La Breche in Ste Foy la Grande.

Coming up…

And finally…

Pâques (Easter) is celebrated with a plethora of chocolate, including eggs, bunnies, chickens, ducks, fish and bells. 

Hmmm… fish and bells?  Well, apparently, the fish are carried over from the 1 April which often falls on or around Easter weekend and tradition dictates that mischievous children stick paper fish on the backs of unsuspecting adults – who reward them with chocolate fish!

The bells - Cloche volants – Flying Bells have a religious significance, because on Good Friday all the bells in France fly off to the Vatican in Rome taking with them the grief of those mourning Christ’s Crucifixion.  The church bells in France are then silent until Easter Sunday when they return and ring out to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.  They also spread chocolate and decorated eggs over the gardens of France which the children collect when they hear the bells.

So, chocolate fish and bells – who knew?

Week 13 2015

Hello!

Bordeaux start

The silence was shattered this weekend with over 120 classic and collectable cars joining together for the annual trip from Bordeaux to Castillon and then time trials around 3 courses amongst the vines.   

The day started at the Allees du Tourney in Bordeaux with overcast skies and the rains held off until late afternoon.

Cars racing through the vines is quite a sight.  Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a bit of an armchair petrolhead, so cars whizzing right by my house was (quite literally) just up my street!

Have a great week in the Dordogne and Gironde regions, I’m looking forward to the longer evenings from next weekend.

Racing in the St Emilion vineyards

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 13 2015

22 March – 25 March all cinema tickets are €3.50 to celebrate spring. 

There are loads of films coming up this week – please check with the cinema for the timings as sometimes they change. http://www.grandecran.fr/libourne/

Monday 23 March

Tuesday 24 March

Wednesday 25 March

25 March 21h45 : American Sniper is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind. Starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller and Kyle Gallner

25 March 21h45 : Selma is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.  Starring David Oyeowo, CamerenEjogo, Tim Roth.

25 March 21h45 : The Voices is showing in VO at the Grandecran cinema in Libourne.

In this comedy crime thriller, a likable guy pursues his office crush with the help of his evil talking pets, but things turn sinister when she stands him up for a date.  Starring Ryan Reynolds, Gemma Arterton and Anna Kendrick

Thursday 26 March

 

26 March 19h15 : Selma is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

26 March 19h30 : Big Eyes is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

A drama about the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s. Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Walz and Krysten Ritter

26 – 27 – 28 March : MADS production of Run for your Wife.  John Loved Marriage so much he had 2 of them. Tickets for this comedy available at mads.bookings@gmail.com

Friday 27 March

27 March 13h45 : Selma is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

27 March 14h : Big Eyes is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

27 March 14h : The Voices is showing in VO at the Grandecran cinema in Libourne.

27 March 16h10 : American Sniper is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

27 March : Dinner and a concert at the Comptoir de Genes.  TexMex dinner followed by a Country Blues Concert.  Reservations recommended 05 57 47 90 03

Saturday 28 March

 

28 March : Belves de Castillon invites you to join them on their Pathway to a healthy heart (Les Parcours du Coeur) A full day of events and activities centring on the wellbeing of your heart.  See the poster for the full details.

 

28 – 29 March : Clocks change tonight, we may lose an hour in bed, but all of a sudden we get nice long evenings!

 

Sunday 29 March

29 March : Vide Grenier and Flea Market at Langon

29 March : Vide Grenier and Marche des Puces, Lac de la Cadie in Mouliets et Villemartin

29 March 11h : Greyhound racing at the Lac de la Cadie in Mouliets et Villemartin.

29 March 15h : Recit’Phonie 4 at Salle Rene Chauvin at Le Fleix.  A concert with songs and stories focusing on life along the Dordogne River.

29 March 20h30 : Big Eyes is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

29 March 20h30 : Selma is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

29 March 20h30 : The Voices is showing in VO at the Grandecran cinema in Libourne.

29 March 20h30 : American Sniper is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

Coming up…

30 March 14h15 : Big Eyes is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne

30 March 14h15 : Selma is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

31 March 14h15 : The Voices is showing in VO at the Grandecran cinema in Libourne.

And finally…

It's not quite Easter, but it is spring, and here are our hens... not really spring chickens any more, but still great layers.