Week 15 2016

Hello!

After the excitement of the fun fair last weekend in Castillon, this week it was back to the traditional farmer’s market.   Where else would you go to get your livestock? Chickens or rabbits anyone?

 

From one kind of market, to another… this weekend brings the return of the big twice yearly Brocante in Rauzan.  Go along, have a rummage, find that hidden antique! One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 15 2016

Monday 4 April

4 -  6 April: Grand tasting 2016 by 10 Winemakers at the Salle Gothic , Rue Guadet in St Emilion

 

Tuesday 5 April

5 April 18h : The English Choral Experience are in Concert at the church in Gensac – all welcome.

Wednesday 6 April

Thursday 7 April

Friday 8 April

8 April 21h : concert at the church in Porte Sainte-Foy, Anthony Sycamore is accompanying Vox Vesunna ("Dordogne's only male voice choir").Entrance €8

8 – 9 – 10 April : Grande Brocante in Rauzan. Over 140 stands indoor and outside. Entrance €2.50

Saturday 9 April

9 April 20h : A Sturgeon dinner at St Magne de Castillon.

9 April 20h30: A concert of Basque Country Songs at the church in Castillon la Bataille. Entrance €15

9 April 21h : Go dancing in Civrac Sur Dordogne at Le Pintou.

Sunday 10 April

10 April : Vive le Printemps.  Celebrate flowers and all things spring – plant swaps, and sales, and a vide grenier at Porte Sainte Foy et Ponchapt

10 April : Vide grenier at Montazeau

10 April : Brocante and flea market at Cadillac

10 April : Vide Grenier and plant swap at Saint Quentin de Caplong

10 April : Vide Grenier at Saint Ferme

10 April : If you like to dance head over to Saint Pey de Castets and learn the Salsa and the Cha  Cha Cha and dance all day.

Coming up…

 

And finally…

The parking police are out in force in Castillon.  Beware and have your parking disk prominently displayed in your windscreen if you park in a blue zone.  Disks are available from the shops or the Mairie and cost €1. Then you have free parking up to one and a half hours in the blue parking bays.  The disks work anywhere in France where they have the blue lines.

Week 14 2016

Hello!

The fair in Castillon was as big as ever! It stretched all the way from the river up to the train station with rides and attractions spread through the village.

I got my fill of delicious nougat from Maison Segonzac and had a look at the rides!  If you couldn't make it, here's a glimpse of what you missed!

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

Best wishes,

Helen
notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 14

Monday 28 March

Tuesday 29 March

29 March 19h30 : Concert at St Laurent des Hommes featuring La Chorale 'Poly Sons'

Wednesday 30 March

30 March - 1 May : Exhibition Herbettes et Vinoglyphes at the beautiful Chateau La Croizille Saint Emilion

Thursday 31 March
 
Friday 1 April

Saturday 2 April

2 April 17h : Gospel Singers at the Church in Ste Foy la Grande. Free entry.
 

Sunday 3 April

3 April : Vide Grenier in Espiet

3 April : Floriac Vide Grenier

3 April : Frontinac Vide Garage and all things car

3 April : Garage sale in Pineuilh at the school

Coming up...

And finally...

One of my favourite deserts explained by Len Deighton

Week 13 2016

Hello!

Due to Windows 10 being totally out of my control, this week brings a late and rather shortened version of the weekly newsletter. Images may well follow later. 

The big news of the upcoming week is the fabulous Easter Fair in Castillon. This tradition fun fair takes over the whole of the village, stretching from the stone bridge up to the train station and on Monday it combines with the weekly market. It's huge!

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

Best wishes,

Helen

Notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 13 2016

2-26 March: Art Exhibition by Elizabeth Boutin L'hopital and Dominique Prout at the Espace Tourism at Vin in Pays Foyen

Monday 21 March

Tuesday 22 March

Wednesday 23 March 

Thursday 24 March 

Friday 25 March 

25 March 20h45: L'Ebinisterie, 8 rue Chanzy in St Foy la Grande presents 'So French!' An evening of French songs and English in between. Looks like fun! Reservations recommended 05 24 244659

Saturday 26 March 

26 March : Foire Artisanal with photograph exhibition and our favorite potter Jo McKinnon at the Salle de Carbonnier in Castillonais

26-27-28 March: all things Spring and Easter in Duras. Go to paysdeduras.com for more information and the full programme.

Sunday 27 March 

27 March : La Grande Chase aux oeufs at Chateau de Vayres

Coming up...

Monday 28 March 15h : Chateau Soutard in St Emilion invites you to join them for a Grande Chasse a l'oeuf.  Free entry with reservation 05 57 24 71 41

And finally...

Don't forget the clocks change this weekend. They 'Spring Forward'.  So we lose an hour of sleep on Saturday night, but the light evenings 'magically' get longer!

Week 12 2016

Hello!

Friday evening took us to a wonderful photo exhibition in Gensac.  Held in the beautiful vaulted gallery chez Mr Penny we viewed a collection of photos from the photoclub de la Dureze.

Subjects ranged from architecture to nature to portraits – impossible to choose a favourite!  

 

The exhibition is on display at the Mediateque de Gensac from 18^th March – 30^th April.  Free entry, pop over and have a look.

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

Best wishes,

Helen

notjustfortheholidays@orange.fr

Week 12 2016

Monday 14 March

Tuesday 15 March

Wednesday 16 March

 

Thursday 17 March

17 March : Celebrate St Patrick’s Day at the Gensake in Gensac .Join a genuine Irish evening, take your musical instrument, add to the music, eat Irish food, join the craic and if your name is Patrick or Patricia, there’s a free beer too!  Reservations recommended  05 57 47 41 04

17 March 20h45 : 45 Years is showing in VO at La Breche in Ste Foy la Grande.

A married couple preparing to celebrate their wedding anniversary receive shattering news that promises to forever change the course of their lives.  Starring Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courney and Geraldine James.

Friday 18 March

18 March 20h : Soiree Spectacle at the Stade de Mezieres in Porte Saint Foy. Live music and dinner.  Tickets €35.

18 March : Repas de Carnival and Soiree Dansant at the Foyer de Rauzan.  Dress up in black and white and join the fun.  Tickets €12

 

18 March – 3 April : Ever wanted to learn to play golf?  Chateau des Vigiers invites you to a free initiation.  Find out how to contact them here

Saturday 19 March             

19 March : Welcome the new Rose and White wines for 2015 here isn Flaujagues, Les Leves and Villefranche. Taste, try and buy!

19 March 15h : Carnival in Targon

19 March 14h30 : St Meard de Gurcon have organised a Dictee!  If your French dictation skills are tip top – this is the event for you!  Personally, I quake at the idea of an English one!

19 March 10h – 16h : British clothing and shoe sale in Razac d’Eymet.

19 March : St Patrick’s Soiree at the Salle Polyvalente in Pellegrue.  Reservations 06 21 53 49 66 / 05 24 25 11 35

 

19 March 20h30 : Soiree Cabaret at the Foyer Socio Culturel in Trelissac, featuring the Mozaic Jazz Band and Jeunesse Musicale Trelissacoise.

19 March : Concert at Chai Pascal in St Emilion.  Reservations recommended.           

19 - 20 March :Fermes en Fete in Langon.  Activites, fairs, artisans and music in Langon.  Plenty to do and see over the weekend.  Have a look here.

Sunday 20 March

20 March  : Brocante and Puces de Cadillac

20 March 20h45 : The Revenant is showing in VO at the Grandecran in Libourne.

A frontiersman on a fur trading expedition in the 1820s fights for survival after being mauled by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy and Will Poulter

20 – 23 March : All cinema tickets are €4 in Libourne.

Coming up…

And finally…

Now’s the time to set your hornet traps.  They are easy to build and amazingly successful, just don’t empty them out, top them up with more bait, it’s true, nothing seems to be more effective at attracting another hornet, than a trapped one!  Though the first traps should be laced with a mixture of beer, dry white wine and syrup (grenadine flavour is good, but any sweet syrup will work).  The beer and syrup attract the hornet and the white wine will repel the bees.