Feb 11 - N for Normandy Magazine

http://www.nfornormandy.com

The Anglo Magazine for Normandy February 2011

NforNormandy

Valentine’s Issue

2 • www.nfornormandy.com • February 2011

Impending Digging 6New Regular Feature from Crime-Writing AuthorMel Comley

Guess the Location 11New Regular Feature from Professional Photographer Valérie Jardin

Guest Châteaux of Normandy 12The Incredible Charm of Château de Canisyby Diane Ohanian

You just can’t beat a Retreat 17by Wendy Wide - Facilitutors

Currency Corner 21by Judy Mansfield - First Rate FX

Education 24France - a different approach - Part 1by Stephanie Godwin

February Contents

www.nfornormandy.com • February 2011 • 3

Diagnostics Immobiliers 27The basics explainedby Peta Morton

KAS Update 32Bastogne Weekend

The Watercooler 34A bit of business

Pets Corner 36Donkey Daysby Equine Rescue France

The Road to Rack and Rouen 41Part Oneby David Scherpenhuizen & Nathalie van Koot

Food & Drink 45Moules à la Marinièreby Lindsey Sermon


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Cover Picture © Cate Chambers

Well I hope everyone enjoyedthe festivities over Christmas? I don’t know about you, butonce Christmas is out of the wayI tend to think the springtimeand warmer weather are justaround the corner. Apart fromthe snow we had in earlyDecember I think so far the win-ter has been quite mild.On a recent sunny day, needing a break from editingmy latest thriller, I had a quick wander around my gar-den and was surprised at how good the plants looked,and pleased that there didn’t seem to be many casual-ties, unlike last year.

Well, while the plants looked good, the same couldnot be said for the lawn. I lost count how many moleholes had appeared over the last few weeks, aren’tmoles supposed to hibernate? There must have been atleast 50 of the darned things and I’m not just talking lit-tle mounds here. The earth was heaped that high it leftme wondering if there is any dirt left under the grass, orif the next time I walk around the garden they’ll have toring search and rescue to come and find me!

By the way, if anyone has any tips on how to get rid ofthe little blighters, please email me @ [email protected]’ve tried everything over the years, from trying to drown

the beggars to spending a fortune on the little sticks ofdynamite you can buy, which unfortunately, nearly blewme up at one time, but that’s another story and one thatI’m too embarrassed to tell you.

Here’s the things to do list for this time of the year. Generally tidy up the borders when the weather is

fine. Prune winter-flowering shrubs once blooms are

over; mulch and apply a general fertilizer. Cut suckers growing from the bases of any trees dot-

ted around your garden. For those of you who like to grow your own vegeta-

bles, place cloches in position to warm the soil forseeds sown in early spring.

Garden colour hopefully will be from Hellebores,snowdrops, crocus, violets, pansies. Viburnum tinusand dogwood.

Till next month folks keep gardening!


Impending Digging

By Mel Comley


Bedfordshire bornAuthor ReleasesCrime ThrillerLuton born author, Melanie Comley, has published hercrime thriller, IMPEDING JUSTICE, in ebook format. IMPEDING JUSTICE features feisty new Brit Cop, DI Lorne Simpkins in a gritty crime novel set in London.After The Unicorn kills her partner, Lorne knows if shedoesn't bring the underworld criminal to justice soon, shewill be his next target. It's a race against time, she has a 24hour deadline to meet before her kidnapped daughter isused as a human bomb by the Unicorn. Can Lorne trackthe criminal down before it's too late...

You can buy the book at these sites:

Kindle edition: - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0045UA6F0

Paperback: - http://melcomley.blogspot.com/

Mel Comley left her job as a store manager inWorcester and moved to France nine years agodespite never having set foot in the countrybefore. She renovated a French property, decorating 22 rooms in six months.

Renovation completed, she began to follow herdream of becoming a writer. After completing a creative writing course she penned a romancewhich was a near-miss with Mills & Boon. Thenshe decided to turn her hand to crime writing andDI Lorne Simpkins was born.

Impeding Justice is the first in a series of novelsfeaturing Lorne Simpkins. The book has gained aGold Star on the writer's site, Authonomy, with a

Harper Collins editor saying, "It keeps the reader focussed on the dramatic interest of the story."

One of Mel's biggest influences is James Pattersonand she hopes she has achieved her aim of making Lorne as memorable as his ‘Alex Cross’.Impeding Justice has reached number 37 in theAmazon Kindle chart and Mel hopes it will beavailable in print in the near future. She is currently finishing the sequel which should becompleted in the new year.In her spare time, Mel loves pottering in her gardenwhich has, for the past few years, won a localaward. She also enjoys painting and walking herdogs.

For Saleby Owner

See more properties for sale - or list your property at:

http://www.propertiesinnormandy.co.uk

10 • www.nfornormandy.com • February 20118 • www.n4normandy.com • August 2010

CHATTANOGA CHOO CHOO

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

BIE MIR BIST DU SCHON

PERHAPS PERHAPS PERHAPS

QUE SERRA SERRA

EIDLEWEIS

SING SING SING

IF I LOVED YOU

A TISKET A TASKET

YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE

RUM AND COCA COLA

I’LL BE SEEING YOU

Kas has selected a mixture of happy and moving melodies from the 1940’s, with a few songs from more

TRIBUTE TRACKSBRING HIM HOME

INTO THE ARMS OF AN ANGEL


Guess the location!by Valérie Jardin

Je suis Normande! I was born inVire, lived near Lisieux most ofmy childhood and graduatedfrom the University of Caen. Inow live in the state of Minnesota in the US. I am acommercial photographer, spe-cializing mostly in interior/lifestyle photography as well asfood and products. I also exhibitmy photography and sell online.Since I spend my summers inNormandy and I have thousandsof images of home, I offered tostart this new monthly section‘Guess the Location’ in N4 Normandy. I would love you getyour feedback!

You can find me on Facebook www.facebook.com/valeriejardinphotography or by visiting my website www.valeriejardinphotography.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Last Months Location was ...Street in Mont Saint Michel


The Incredible Charm of Château de Canisy

Guest Châteaux of Normandy

By Diane Ohanianau Château

Nestled on a verdant seven hundred forty acres in Normandy with its own lake, theChâteau de Canisy near St Lô has been in existence for 1000 years. It is of historicimportance in the region, and has a presence of monumental proportions. To make it more special, it has been in the same family for all those centuries and is thefamily home.

It was the marriage of Hervé de Carbonnel to Anne de Matignon that inspired the major restoration work of 1588using troisgots, the beautiful violet-colored local stone with amethyst highlights evident at Canisy today. Thisresulted in a château of unique color and dimension, unlike any other fine homes in the region. From 1940 thechâteau was occupied by the German military as a base of operations, and in August of 1944 it suffered extensive damage as the battlefront drove through the village of Canisy in the wake of Operation Cobra and theAmerican breakthrough.

From the 1960s through to the present time extensiverestoration work has taken place creating a most won-derful, welcoming château for guests. Today, thosewho stay here can enjoy the spacious and tastefullydecorated bedrooms providing modern amenities in atraditional atmosphere. Each of the seventeen roomsin the château is elegant, and each bedroom's décorrepresents a theme. This room is called Empire for theEmpress Josephine who was in the family of Countessde Kergorlay.

The guest bathrooms, many in beautiful marble withantique tubs, are breathtakingly luxurious ~ some ofthe most luxurious we have ever seen. The fine mar-ble bathroom in Suite Empire contains a copper bath-tub that is an exact replica of that of EmpressJosephine ~ now, there is something to enjoy at the endof a busy day! Guests will find themselves in the lapof luxury when they come to the château. They will besurrounded by magnificent family portraits, rich tex-tiles, fine wall coverings, and period French furniturein the warm and inviting salons and dining room.

The views of the château park from every window willmake it hard to remember you aren't dreaming! Thelake is delightful, and one is tempted to just strollalong its banks for hours watching the water fowl andother birds who have discovered it. Exquisite mealsare prepared by the château staff, and your hosts willencourage you to take dinner au château to immerseyourself in the relaxing ambiance of Château deCanisy ~ especially on the evening of your arrival.

In addition to bed and breakfast accommodations, thechâteau is offered for rent by the week or for a fewdays for family celebrations, weddings and otherimportant events. Many fine birthday and anniversarycelebrations have taken place at Château de Canisywith the participants enjoying hot air balloon rides,delightful barbecues, and other outdoor activities. For those who would like to dance, the château offersa discothèque, complete with lighted floor and music.But that's not all. A fine grand piano and harp fill thecorner of a lovely music room where friends and



family can gather for conversation, sit in front of a lovely fire, or listen to one of their traveling companions playa few tunes.

There is also a billiard room (French billards), the aforementioned disco, a spacious bar, a comfortable salon anda large dining room adorned in tapestries and candelabra. There is no lack of things to do at the château, and thesurrounded countryside is filled with historic sites and interesting attractions.

Château de Canisy is very convenient to the port of Cherbourg for those coming across the Channel, and it isnear important historic sites of World War II including the landing beaches, Ste-Mère Eglise, and St Lô itself.The charm of the Cotentin Peninsula with its vast array of waterfront villages, history, and closeness to Le MontSt Michel, makes it a rewarding destination for those who live elsewhere in France or are coming from anothercountry to spend their holiday.

We will take you to other wonderful Normandy getaways in future issues of N4Normandy, so please be sure tolook for them! Until then, do visit Château de Canisy on the au Château web site. Contact information follows.

[Photo credits: All photos are courtesy of Count and Countess de Kergorlay and protected by copyright. All rights reserved.]

Château de Canisy: http://www.au-chateau.com/Canisy.htm

au Château - the Ultimate Lodging Experience in France: http://www.au-chateau.com

©2000-2011 Cold Spring Press. All Rights Reserved.

This is the traditionally the time of yearwhen you take stock of your life, lookingback at what has gone before and for-ward to what is to come. Maybe thingsdidn’t turn out quite the way you hadplanned…Maybe you didn’t have a planat all! We all get swept along by the tideof events and the desire to please othersand often wish we could just take thetime to really think and put our lives backon track. So, have you ever thought ofgoing on a retreat to find a place andtime to think? Well, I’ve been talking toDanuta Karpinska of the Radha CaudetYoga Retreat Centre about her work, thecentre and the people who go there.

You may be surprised to learn that there is nothing“New Age” going on at Caudet, it is not full of oldhippes and although a lot of Danuta’s guests have prac-ticed yoga before some of them have no experience ofit at all. So what brings people to Caudet? There’s thesetting, which is just perfect, in the rolling hills of the

Gers. Then Caudet itself, which is a high quality,high comfort haven, lovingly created by Danuta andSteve over the last four years. But Danuta told me thatmost of her guests come to Caudet because they aredriven by a fundamental question, such as “What am Idoing with my life?” or “Who am I?” At Caudet youare away from the distractions of everyday life andresponsibilities, you’re free to concentrate on yourself,to get in touch with your intuitive side and deal withthose questions. But don’t expect Danuta to give you

You just can’t beat a Retreat!

by Wendy WiseFacilitutors


answers, what she provides are the tools which enableyou to find them deep within yourself. “Tools forunderstanding how your mind works, seeing you havechoices and accessing the courage to make thosechoices”. You don’t come to Caudet to wave yourlegs around for a day or two,Danuta says “Taking a course herecould change your life”.

Danuta has been an instructor ofHatha Yoga for more than 25 yearsand is dedicated to helping othersovercome problems with their livesor their work. She is a guide to theself-reflective practices of SwamiSivananda Radha, renowned fortheir crystal clear guidance. Youcan come for a couple of days orfor much longer; everyone is wel-come, people of all ages and of allreligions and none. Danuta offersa variety of different courses suchas Strategies for Life Weekends where you will learnto stretch and flex your body, be aware of your breath-ing and achieve relaxation. You discover the hiddenlanguage of the postures and learn to listen to the mes-sages that your body gives you. You explore the lan-guage of your dreams and learn to make your own

interpretation, something only you can do. You cantry the Steps to Freedom course which lasts five days,this uses the Kundalini system to explore how yourmind, body and consciousness work together. Youstudy the symbols which represent the whole of life

and find their relationship to yourown life and challenges. Theinsights that you gain will amazeand inspire you to find new direc-tion and purpose. If you’re con-cerned about your health you mightopt for a weekend of healing yoga,Danuta has experience in workingwith those recovering from illnessor injury, from children to seniors.

An option which is particularlypopular with Steve and Danuta’syounger guests is to become aKarma Yogi which only costs 30Euros a day. Karma Yogis partici-pate in the yoga courses but they

also help with the work that needs to be done atCaudet. So depending on your skills, you might findyourself helping to prepare meals, working in the gar-den, repointing a wall or doing something on a com-puter. Your work is carried out as an offering, simplybecause it needs doing and you reflect on the symbol-ism of what you’re doing and how it applies to otheraspects of your life.

Whatever your needs, Danuta is there to help youdecide and even when you go home after your retreatshe is just a phone call or an e mail away. You will findyour time at Caudet to be a joyful experience andalthough people often have to face difficult areas intheir lives, there is support from other members of thegroup and nobody is obliged to go deeper than theywish into those areas. You don’t even have to do yoga,you can just enjoy the peace and quiet and the deli-cious homemade food.

But isn’t all this concentration on the self a bit, well...self-ish, I asked? Danuta told me that rather than being self-ish, it’s a good thing to take a kind, compassionate inter-est in oneself and at the end of this path of self-discoveryyou will find out what you have got to offer to others. Iwill leave you with a fantastic quote from AscentMagazine “This process may not be exciting to view fromthe outside, but from the inside it has all the thrills of thewildest adventure vacation, and far more benefits.”For more information here is Danuta’s websitehttp://www.radhacaudet.com/



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Hello from Currency Corner!

Where did January go? Itseemed to whizz by for us atFirst Rate FX. We had a stand atThe France Show at Earl’sCourt, London, where 17,400people came through the doorsover the weekend. Friday andSaturday were very busy andalthough Sunday was quieterthan expected, we seemed tobe working non-stop!

There seems to be a renewed optimism about buyingin France, and certainly with the low interest rateFrench mortgages available, it does make sense tobuy this way. If you are repaying a fixed rate euromortgage from a sterling source, don’t forget to con-tact your foreign currency company to forward bookyour repayments for up to 2 years ahead. This pro-tects you from any adverse fluctuations in the curren-cy markets, and also helps you budget properly asyour exchange rate and thus your repayments won’tchange.

Do check that your FX provider won’t charge you forthis service - some companies have a minimum trans-fer amount - we don’t!

Monthly round-up...

The financial mood of the year so far has been one ofrisk and uncertainty - and this has been no different inrespect of the currency markets. At the turn of theyear, sterling was very buoyant against the Euro, asreports of our debt-ridden European neighboursappeared on every news bulletin and in every news-paper. One after another, Greece, Ireland, Spain thenPortugal came under the spotlight as their financialstanding was endlessly debated. Even Belgium didn’tescape press speculation...

As a result of this uncertainty, there was intensive sellingof the Euro by investors buying into what was seen as‘safer’ currencies, namely The UK Pound, Swiss Franc,US Dollar - these currencies all gained against the euro asa result. We saw the pound climb very quickly against theeuro from 1.16 to just break the 1.20 ‘resistance barrier’.

Currency Cornerby Judy Mansfield First Rate FX

City Analysts were very gung ho, and began forecast-ing possible exchange levels of 1.23 - 1.25. We didsee these rate pronouncements being repeated onvarious websites, but at First Rate FX, we will notspeculate on what future rates may or may not be.This is because we simply don’t know how the marketwill react to any given situation. Anyone who claims toknow where the rates will be tomorrow, let alone nextweek or next month, is either very optimistic or plainfoolish!

Needless to say, at the time of writing, the anticipated1.23-1.25 rate has not materialised. The Eurozoneacted very quickly to calm fears and to stop the sell-offof the Euro. They began to discuss the possibility ofrepackaging the debt, so instead of a ‘country-specific’debt (eg Irish debt, Portuguese debt etc), there wouldbe a reclassification as a ‘Europe Debt’, which wouldinclude the better-performing European nations such asFrance and Germany. As a result, the prospect of buy-ing this debt became much more attractive to investors,and those countries with current account surpluses, forexample China, talked of buying the debt outright. Thisall helped boost the Euro, and we saw the currencystrengthen as a result.

The effect of the Euro strength weakened the BritishPound which, coupled with the surprise contraction ofthe UK economy in the GDP results for Q4, meant thatsterling quickly lost its recent gains and dropped backto 1.15. This equals catastrophe for anyone looking topay for an overseas property who hadn’t used an FXBroker to fix their rate of exchange, as the differenceon even a modest home would cost the buyer severalthousand pounds.

So this year alone, we have seen GBP-EUR movefrom low 1.16s, to 1.20+ and back to 1.15s.

The implications for anyone sending moneyoverseas are worth noting.

Let’s use the example of Mr and Mrs Smith buying their overseas property that is on the market for 250,000 euros:

The cost of their house if GBP-EUR is 1.19 = £210,084

The cost of their house if GBP-EUR is 1.14 = £219,928

This is a difference of almost £10,000 - and as wehave seen above, a fall like this can happen in a mat-ter of days.

The January Interbank rates for GBP-EUR were:

January average - 1.1838High: 1.2069Low: 1.1534

I hope this is helpful to you - do contact us if you wouldlike any information about protecting your money frommarket fluctuations.

A la prochaine!

Judy Mansfield [email protected] In France, on 02 31 31 50 23

and introducing our FX Market Specialist:

Chris Canning [email protected] In London, on +44 (0)207 038 8075


We offer all N4Normandy readers apreferential rate –

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The French education system couldn'tbe more different to that present in theUK at the moment. This does not posemuch of a problem to young familieswho first attend school this side of thechannel but for older kids (and there-fore their parents) and especiallyteenagers, the differences can proveinsurmountable and may often lead tothe students in question wanting toreturn to the UK.

Here are some of the issues I consider con-tribute to this difference:-

• Teachers are considered to be civil ser-vants (fonctionniares) first and foremost.Their vocational training as such istowards passing the civil service examsand the most educational theory theyabsorb is based on an education technol-ogy approach to learning.

• This means that rote learning and subse-quent testing, especially in the primariesand collèges, is the foundation of theteachers' approach. Moreover, so anypupil can change school and theoreticallysee no change the lessons are all from universal lesson plans and thereis little creativity or the personal touch.

• The marks are arrived at through a sys-tem of averages – usually out of 20 butsometimes 10 in the primaries. Thismeans that to do well a student must workhard at everything and it is difficult to geta top mark if you have even one blankspot. However, to give the un-academicstudent a chance; music, sport and art areall treated equally so the keen student,even if untalented can catch up.

• However, if you consistently fail toachieve near the average (less than 8)then you may be asked to redouble theyear. This is miserable as the studentsees all his/her friends go up and there-fore it is bitterly resented. But it does provide a second chance – if the brevetyear is failed for instance it can always be repeated, as can Bacs and even university courses.

• There is a tremendous emphasis onmaths and French – this means that thestyle of French education is much moreacademic than in the UK. In the earlyyears at primary even the pupils are tack-ling grammar etc that would be part of anA level course in the UK

• Teaching is necessarily very formal – dic-tation, comprehension, learning verbstructures, tenses and forms is an every-

Education

France – a different approach to Education – part 1

by Stephanie Godwin


day occurrence in all languages and thestudent is expected to study at least 3(French, English; & Spanish or German orLatin or Greek)

• Education civique is a concept that istotally unheard of in the UK and might becalled (unkindly) brainwashing!Everything that might be considered asnecessary to the making of a good anddutiful citizen from form filing to the law iscovered here. It is very important andgoes with social studies which is classedas histoire/ géographie

• Discipline in the schools is not consideredthe province of the teachers but that of theCPE. This is a department within theschool but is actually under the control ofthe gendarmerie and the head of the CPEin turn appoints surveillants (usually olderstudents) to run the study classes, theplayground activities and general disci-pline such as lateness, truancy and otherhorrors. This is all under the umbrella ofthe Vie Scolaire and a mark out of 20goes towards the final mark of the brevetand is also a vital part of the selectionprocess for lycée.

• Hours are long, even in the primaries.There is also a garderie (primaries) andétudes (collèges) where your kid can belooked after more or less free of chargefrom 7.30 until 18.30.

• There is no choice in school if you stay inthe state system – you are obliged to goto the primary of your commune and then

the collège of your catchment area. Youare allowed to choose your lycée and uni-versity – however you have to prove thatthe lycée course you want is not offeredcloser to you. Generally students go tothe university closest to them or at least intheir region. Choice is more possiblewhen you get to the level of 2nd degreessuch as Masters.

• Your choice however can be exercised ifyou choose the Catholic system of educa-tion at primary and collège level. The costof this is not just in the school fees whichare minor compared to UK private schoolfees but in the transport as you wouldhave to provide it yourself in most cases.

I have selected these issues in particular toshow that the French education system ismuch more academic and requires a lot morecommitment and hard work from the student.Teachers do not have to put up with badbehaviour and pupils with discipline problemseither, as this is not considered their job whichis simply to impart knowledge. It is the CPEwho have responsibility for this and it can bea hard and unforgiving process if your childfalls foul of him or her. Primary and collègeare there to provide a strong foundation forthe choices which come after.

In part 2 I shall look at the options and choices available to post brevet students.

Stephanie Godwin MA ED


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Diagnostics Immobiliers

The basics explainedby Peta Morton

Buyers of property in Francehave traditionally always beenvery well protected by the lawwith a whole raft of experts’reports or ‘Diagnostics Immo-biliers’ that are attached to theCompromis de Vente at thetime of signing. However,January 2011 saw the introduc-tion of some important changesthat increase the obligations onanyone selling or rentingFrench property further still.

Energy Efficiency Rating(Diagnostic de Performance Energétique)

Widely known as the DPE, the rating (a bit likeyou find on washing machines and fridge freez-ers) must now be displayed by anyone advertis-ing the property, whether they are private orprofessional. Many of the major French realestate websites are now geared up to block anyadverts not showing a DPE rating and there canbe hefty fines for anyone advertising a propertywithout one. An existing DPE is valid for 10years, so if you already have one it will still bevalid, if not the examination should be relativelyinexpensive. It applies to any property used asliving accommodation that has a fixed heatingsystem.

Private Waste Water Drainage(Assainissement Non-Collectif)

With effect from 1 January 2011 all property witha private drainage system will need to forwardan inspection document (a 'controle d'as-sainissement' carried out according to the rulesof the local authority SPANC) to their estateagents and buyers and the report must beannexed to the Compromis de Vente or SousSeing. The inspection applies to septic tanksand private water treatment systems and isdesigned to see if the installation functions cor-rectly and conforms to current regulations. Ifthe system is not up to standard then the buyerswill be expected to ensure the system complieswith regulations within 1 year of the purchase.All property linked to mains drainage will requirea certificate from the Mairie or Local Authoritydeclaring that this is the case.

Asbestos (Amiante)

This report is compulsory for any property thathad planning permission prior to 1 July 1997 andis valid for life. It is an advisory report and offersrecommendations with how to deal with anyasbestos that is found. The sellers are notobliged to carry out any works but the purchasersmust be advised and a copy of the reportannexed to the Compromis de Vente.

Electricity (Electricité)

Since January 2009, owners of any property withelectrics installed more than 15 years ago have toprovide a report, again annexed to theCompromis. This is once again for informationpurposes only and does not oblige the sellers tocarry out any works. It is estimated that some 7million properties in France are not up to norms,around 2 million of which are thought to be ‘dangerous’.

Gas (Gaz)

This certificate is compulsory for gas installationsover 15 years old and is valid for three years. Ithighlights any safety issues with the gas system(pipe work, joints, combustion, carbon monoxide,ventilation etc). It does not specify if a system isup to norms, but whether it is dangerous or not. Ifa system is particularly dangerous the inspectorcan take it out of use immediately. This reportrelates to fixed gas installations, cookers andheaters using bottled gas are excluded.

Lead (Plomb)

Required for any living accommodation builtbefore 1 January 1949, this report is valid for life ifno lead is detected, and for 1 year if positive. It is

targeted towards detecting old lead paint that canflake when old and which is poisonous – it has asugary taste, which can be appealing to children.

Termites & parasites(Termites/Etat Parasitaire)

The termites report is only required for propertiessituated in a zone designated as being ‘at risk’and is only valid for 6 months. For the time beingthere are no termites in Normandy and Brittany. Ifyou are buying or selling a property over 25 yearsold then experts will often advise on having the building examined for other wood-related parasites.

Natural risks (Etat de risques naturelles &technologiques or ERNT)

This report highlights any natural risks such asflooding, landslide, subsidence etc and techno-logical risks such as industrial & biological waste,to which a property could be exposed. It is validfor 6 months. It relates to the area and does notreplace a structural survey.

Surface area certificate (Métrage loi Carrez)

This certificate is not required for individual hous-es but is needed for shared properties (co-pro-priété) such as flats and commercial propertiesbigger than 8m_. It is valid for life unless furtherwork is carried out.

You can find an 'expert' locally by looking in theyellow pages under 'Diagnostics immobiliers' orby searching on the Internet under 'diagnosticimmobilier'.

Peta Morton is a Director of France Equestrewww.franceequestre.com. She is a registered independent Agent Commercial specialising in equestrian property and also offers relocation assistance and equestrian translations.




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The Battle of the Bulge started onDecember 16th 1944. Hitler hadconvinced himself that thealliance between Britain, Franceand America in the Western sector of Europe was not strongand that a major attack and defeatwould break up the alliance.Therefore, he ordered a massiveattack against the Allies. TheAmerican forces Patterns 3rdArmy were ill equipped, badclothing, lack of supplies andammunition. It was estimatedthere were 70 to 89,000 Americancasualties, 19,000 died in this battle.

Steven Speilberg and Tom Hanks took StephenAmbrose book basing their hit series the BANDOF BROTHERS. Portraying the experiences ofEasy Company, a section of the 2nd Battalion,506th parachute regiment, these were a part ofthe 101st Airborne Division that fought and diedthere.

Being a fan of this series for many years, I lovedthe theme music. When I realised there had beenwords written to this theme, I had to sing it. I


KAS - Sweetheart to the Forces

Bastogne Weekend


began singing Requiem for a soldier, (Band ofBrothers) almost 4 years ago. This wonderfulsong was the reason I was invited to go along andsing at the Militaria Bastogne store and then othervenues in Bastogne and throughout Europe.

This is the 3rd Year I have been fortunate to beinvited to sing in Bastogne, for the NUTS week-end, commemorating the Battle of the Bulge,singing every year at the Militaria Bastogne storeand through them, I have been fortunate to havemet so many people, especially veterans from 66years ago from the 101st Airborne division andmaking many friends and fans along the way.

It was an honour this year to sing at the 101stAirborne Museum, meeting Vincent Speranzaand Herbert Suerth, the Easy Company presi-dent. I am sure the Museum when completedand the move of the Militaria store to the Museumin 2011 will be a huge success.

We want to thank Marco, Hans’s and Marion, forall their hard work and organisation, as withouttheir dedication we would not see these amazingveterans in Bastogne and keep their memoriesalive. We wish them every success.

The Normandy Business Groupgot off the ground with an ener-getic first meeting! The Groupnow has 46 members, which,considering the launch onlyhappened on 5 January, is veryencouraging indeed. Manymembers turned out on a coldwet January evening forCheese, Wine and networkingat The Secret Knight pub in thevillage of Le ChampSecret (61).

There were many different trades and skills repre-sented; from estate agent to blacksmith, from giteowner to plant hire company. What a talentedhardworking lot we are!

Ray Clancy, co-organiser, took some great photo-graphs on the night. Ray is a professional journalist and photographer, and at a future meet-ing, we will all have the opportunity to havedecent pics taken for our websites and businesscards. Admit it, how many of us have scrabbledthrough our holiday photos for one to use where

you don’t look either mad, dangerous or drunk(and yes, I admit my current one is cropped froma holiday snap!).

The next meetings are already on the cards.There is a MasterClass arranged for An intro-duction to Social Networking, to be held in Vireon March 15th. Places are limited, but they canbe held in other locations according to demand.Check the website for details.


The Watercooler A Bit of Business

MeetUp - The Normandy Business Group by Judy Mansfield

Other MasterClasses will include subjects suchas ‘Using WordPress’, ‘The Twitter Revolution’,‘Accounting and Tax’, ‘Getting more Bookings foryour Gites/B&B’,

There is a social side to the Group too – it’s not allabout work! We have lots planned to include:Ten Pin Bowling Tournament, Quiz nights, CurryEvening, Summer Family Picnic, and ‘NormandyNetwalks’, a monthly Sunday walk with network-ing as you go! It’s a great way of getting fit, see-ing a bit more of our beautiful Normandy area,and chat business issues at the same time!

International Women’sDay – 8 March 2011This is for the ladies in the group (sorry chaps!).To celebrate the 100th Anniversary ofInternational Women’s Day, we will be holding aseries of hosted Ladies Lunches across theNormandy Region. So far, there is one set up at

The Secret Knight, hosted by Shirley, which willinclude a Clothes Swap; one in the St Pierre surDives area, and one scheduled for Lisieux. Therewill be more coming, and details will be added tothe website, so if you are in business in or withNormandy, do go and register.

The group is run along Loi Association 1901 lines,and membership is completely free. Because thegroup status means we can’t make a profit, allmeetings are at a very reasonable cost :-)

We have already been approached by otherexpat business groups in France to ‘twin’ withthem and so extend our influence and contactbase. It is a very exciting development, so dojoin us!

Website address:http://www.meetup.com/Normandy-Business-Group/

A la Prochaine!


Living in France, many of usdream of looking after donkeysbut just don’t know where to start.We asked long time donkey loverand ERF supporter Diane Lindsayto share her thoughts on theimportant things to consider….

« Lots of people talk to animals, but not verymany listen, though. That’s the problem. »Benjamin Hoff

With that endearing face, those dark penetratingeyes, that distinctive bray, and lively intelligence,the donkey has a way of capturing your heart. Bynature, donkeys are curious, patient, sensitive,

dependable, and kind, making them ideal aroundchildren and good with people with disabilities.The calming effects of donkeys on nervous live-stock are well documented.

They learn quickly and do not forget what theyhave learned. Their undeserved characterizationas « stubborn » or « stupid » is a human misun-derstanding of their strong instinct of self -preser-vation, which is much stronger than that of ahorse. Donkeys are careful and contemplativeand not prone to panic or carelessness; theyreflect and consider a situation before acting. Ifthey know they can trust and depend upon you,they will want to please and accommodate you.

Because of their stoic nature and capacity forendurance, donkeys have often suffered abuseand neglect at the hands of humankind. But, withtime, patience, and love, donkeys can show aremarkable facility to forgive the past and learn totrust again. And all donkeys deserve to be safe,well cared for, and appreciated for who they are.Life with donkey companions can bring loads oflove, challenges, fun, and endless delight.

Acquiring a DonkeyBefore acquiring a donkey companion, thoughtshould be given to the time, effort, and expenseinvolved in caring for these marvellous creatures.Donkeys can have a life span of over 40 years;therefore, caring for them represents a long-termcommitment. For your happiness and wellbeing,and that of your donkey companions, here aresome factors to consider:


Pet’s Corner Donkey Daysby Equine Rescue France

Manon

• Why would you like to be a donkeyguardian?

The purpose of having a donkey may simply be tohave a wonderful and loving companion animaland to give a deserving animal a second chanceat a safe and happy life. With proper equipmentand training, you may also enjoy activities withyour donkeys such as driving, walking, children’sriding, showing, and doing light draught work on asmall holding. Reflecting upon why you desire tohave donkeys helps you choose the right donkey-in terms of age, temperament, character, and size– to fit your needs and expectations.

• Do you have the time and commitmentneeded to look after your donkeys?

A minimum of about two hours a day is needed fordaily feeding and grooming, as well as muckingout of field and shelter. Because donkeys arenatural stoics, an illness or injury may be welladvanced before they show obvious signs of dis-comfort. Early recognition of problems such as ill-ness and lameness is possible when you arefamiliar with your donkey’s normal behaviour andmovement, appetite and thirst patterns,faeces/urine, eyes, nose and respiration, hooves,coat and skin. Time spent observing your don-key’s health and behaviour each day is the key tothis early recognition.

• Do you have a minimum of one hectare(2.47 acres) of paddock/pasture landper two donkeys?

It is essential to have adequate and correctlymanaged pasture for grazing and exercise. Beingfamiliar with good pasture management for don-keys helps avoid problems such as obesity andlaminitis (a painful hoof problem), the spread ofworms, and the ingestion of toxic plants.

• Is your pasture enclosed with safe secure fencing?

There are several types of recommended fenc-ing for donkeys, including electric and post andrail. Donkeys can be great escape artists, socare should be taken that all fencing is secureand does not pose a danger to your donkeys. Anideally managed pasture can be divided into twoor three paddocks to control grazing. It is essen-tial that fencing should be arranged to allow donkeys free access to shelter and fresh waterat all times.

• Do you have adequate shelter?

Donkeys require access to a barn or other ade-quate shelter to allow them to avoid the heatand flies of summer, as well as the inclementweather in winter. Donkeys do not produce asmuch natural protective grease on their skin ashorses do: their coats are not waterproof!Adequate shelter protects them from uncomfort-able exposure to rain, wind, and snow that canlead to conditions such as rain scald and mudfever.

The shelter (at least 9 sq. meters for a pair)should have at least three and a half sides and bewell drained with adequate ventilation and goodair circulation. It should be protected from prevail-ing winds, away from areas prone to fly nuisance,and have a dry non-slip floor. Clean beddingstraw or wood shavings on the floor of the shelterallow a warm dry place to lie down. Regularcleaning prevents the build up of bacteria in themanure, which can attack the donkey’s hoovescausing foot problems.


ERF's Wilbur & Piona

• Do you have a means of providing afresh clean water supply and electricityto the pasture/paddock?

Donkeys can be fussy about what they drink.They have been known to refuse to drink ratherthan drink dirty water. They should always haveaccess to a clean fresh water supply in well-scrubbed containers. In cold weather, care shouldbe taken to see that the water supply is notfrozen. Most donkeys will not break the ice withtheir hooves, as horses often will.

• Do you have a supplier of good qualityhay and straw and a dry and protectedplace in which to store it?

The grass hay and barley straw fed to your don-key should be examined to ensure that it is ofgood quality and should be stored in conditionsthat protect against mould, dust, moisture, androdent infestation, etc. Mouldy, dusty, or spoiledhay or straw must never be fed to a donkey.

• Will your donkey have a companion?

Donkeys require companionship and naturallyform strong bonds with each other. They shouldnever be kept alone, and should preferably bekept with another donkey. Where this is not possi-ble, a horse or pony may make a suitable com-panion. If your donkey is to live with horse(s), it isimportant to be aware of their differences in termsof: nutrition and feeding, behaviour and tempera-ment, shelter, tack, training, and hoof trimming.

• Have you located a qualified equine vetfor routine treatments?

A local equine vet should be available to callwhen you have concerns over you donkey’shealth and well-being.

• Your donkey will also require annual tetanusand influenza vaccinations. Consult yourequine vet about other vaccinations that maybe required in your area. During his annualvisit, the vet can also check the overall health ofyour donkeys.

• The number one worldwide killer of donkeys isparasites. Donkeys will usually need to bewormed every three months, rotating worming

products to ensure effectiveness against alltypes of parasites. Many owners do the worm-ing themselves, purchasing worming productsfor equines at local feed stores or veterinary clin-ics. Seek the advice of your equine veterinarianregarding worming schedules for your area.

• Donkeys can develop sharp points on their teeththat can create sores in their mouths, making itpainful and difficult to eat. They need an annu-al dental check, and, if necessary, will need tohave their teeth floated, or filed, by an equinedentist. An older donkey or one with teeth prob-lems may need to be seen more often.

• Have you located a farrier for routinehoof care?

Donkeys’ hooves differ from horses’ in both angleand form: they are more upright, smaller, tougher,and more elastic. You will need a farrier who isexperienced trimming donkeys’ feet and is gentlewith your donkey to visit every 6-10 weeks.


ERF BelleGuardian Needed


All too common foot problems and diseases indonkeys can be avoided or minimized thoughproper feeding, daily hoof care, and regular visitsfrom the farrier. The old saying, “no hoof, nohorse”, applies to the donkey, too!

• Are you well informed about the basicsof donkey husbandry?

Your knowledge of the basics of donkey care andwelfare is essential to the health and well being ofyour donkey: nutrition and feeding requirements,daily care and grooming, behaviour and generalhandling, general health and hoof care. You cannever know too much about your companion ani-mal. (See the ERF website for a list of suggestedreading materials).

Who is born a donkey will not die as a horse ~Italian Proverb

• A note for those familiar with caring forhorses:

While many aspects of donkey and horse hus-bandry are similar, there are also many importantdifferences. If your donkey is to live with horses, itis important to be aware of these differences asthey pertain to: nutrition and feeding, behaviourand temperament, shelter, tack, training, and hooftrimming.

• Can you afford the ongoing costs ofcaring for a donkey?

These costs can be roughly estimated to be anaverage of 500 Euros per year.

There will also be initial costs for equipment, fenc-ing, shelter, tack and grooming aids that willdepend upon existing equipment and facilitiesavailable.

• Do you have an adequate contingencyfund to meet unexpected veterinarybills?

Even with the best care and attention, there willbe times when you need to call out the vet. Giventhe long distances involved, the costs can quicklymount up and it is not unusual for a simple visit tocost in the region of 75 – 100? without the cost ofany medicines.

Once these basics are all taken care of, you and your donkeys will have a wonderful future together!

*****************************************

At Equine Rescue France, we often have don-keys that require new long-term guardians. Wenever sell our animals, all our equines are placedon loan under contract so that we can be surethey are safe and well looked after for the rest oftheir lives. If you are interested in finding outmore, please contact us at [email protected] or through our websitehttp://www.equinerescuefrance.org/

If you would like to support the work we do herein France, please consider making a donation -every centime goes towards helping equines.

Rouen is the capital of Normandy anda city steeped in history, local lore andmysteries. Come with us on a journeyof discovery and sample some of thedelights and surprises Rouen has tooffer.

Monet’s cityOur tour kicks off at Place de la Cathédrale, infront of the city’s remarkable, ornate Office deTourisme. It’s a fine starting point because theTourist office is a beautiful renaissance buildingthat served as a tax office in the 16th century.It’s not hard to see where the hard-earned

money of the citizens of Rouen went. Directlyopposite the building looms Rouen’s pride; themagnificent cathedral of Notre Dame. Thefamous impressionist Claude Monet paintedmore than 30 studies of the towering edifice inall kinds of weather conditions as the deepshadows played across it’s rough-hewn exterior.Many of theimpressive can-vasses werepainted on thetop storey of theTourist Office,which was a lin-gerie store at thetime. Monet satat the pane-glass window,hidden behind ascreen, workingintently whilecustomers triedon corsets andsuspenders. Notsurprisingly, Monet was quite happy with thearrangement but the clients were less satisfiedand he was politely but strongly urged to lookfor a different studio. The cathedral is the high-light of any visit to Rouen but the city has muchmore to offer so let’s save the best for last andfirst go on a stroll through the rest of Rouen.


The Road to Rackand Rouen

Part OneBy David Scherpenhuizen &Nathalie van Koot

The saint and the monsterLeave the square in front of the church via theleft-hand corner, which leads into Rue St.Romain, named after Rouen’s patron saint.According to local lore, the city was being ter-rorised by a fearsome monster, a gargouille, wholurked in the waters of the Seine. First the popu-lace tried to appease the abomination withhuman sacrifices but Bishop Romain eventuallydecided to no longer give into fear. He confront-ed the loathsome beast in the raging waters ofthe Seine, accompanied by a condemned con-vict, who hoped to be given a pardon for his self-less deed. Romain and his ally finally managedto kill the creature and displayed its body andhead proudly on the city walls to the relievedpeople of Rouen. This legend is said to havespawned the gargoyle phenomenon, which canbe seen glowering down from churches andcathedrals throughout the country. The victory

was celebrated every year with the release of acondemned man, a tradition that lasted until theFrench Revolution.

Mysterious waysJust a little further on the left you come acrossone of the narrowest and cutest streets inRouen, Rue Chanoines, which basically means‘Monks Street’. The houses on opposite sidesare only a metre apart in some places. Onceyou’ve peeked inside the narrow alley and per-haps ventured into its dark confines, return toRue St. Romain and continue your walk. On theright you will pass the palace of the archbishop,where Joan of Arc was condemned to death.Two plaques on the wall commemorate her fieryfate and her eventual rehabilitation. It is sad torealize that the same church which consignedher to the flames for witchcraft and heresy,repealed her sentence less than a quarter ofcentury later. The church’s ways are mysteriousindeed. A high gothic window looms betweenthe two plaques, offering a fine view of thecathedral. It is particularly enchanting at night,when the tower is bathed in light.

The mysterious churchof St. MaclouCross the street to Place Barthélémy, which issurrounded by beautiful timber-framed houses,which are so characteristic of Rouen. The tim-bers are generally in good shape and the wallsare painted in soft pastel colours. The wonderfulfacades are ‘for the eyes what a good wine is forthe tongue’ as a local saying goes. It’s almost asif you’ve wandered onto a stage but it’s not arti-ficial or gaudy. Quite the contrary; it’s enchanti-ng, especially at night. On the same square youwill find another little jewel; the church of St.Maclou. With its five highly ornate arched por-tals, it’s a fine example of the so-called flamboy-ant style and flamboyant it certainly is with itsgraceful, soaring flying buttresses, making itlook like a huge, exotic flamingo. The church,however, suffered much during France’s manywars and it is in bad shape. The western façade


has three entrances with enormous woodendoors from the 16th century. They are finely dec-orated with delicate wood carvings. The rightpanel of the central doorway shows the baptismof Jesus and to the left you see his presentationin the Temple. Both scenes depict initiation ritu-als, which are significant to the Freemasons andthe Templars. The latter were named afterSolomon’s Temple in Jerusalem and John theBaptist is their patron saint.

The left entrance is equally fascinating. On thebottom panels you can see strange, Hindu-likefigures, which spark the imagination. Whatinspired them? Only the gods know.

Masonic tracesThe contrast between the flashy exterior and thesombre interior couldn’t be greater. The insidemainly consists of the nave and elegant archgalleries on both flanks. The church’s mostremarkable feature is an enormous woodenorgan supported by two Corinthian columns onboth sides of the entrance, like Boaz and Jachinat the entrance of a Masonic temple. St. Maclou

is often described as ’mysterious’ and it doesindeed reek of mystery and yet it’s hard todescribe just exactly what the riddle is. A senseof enigma hangs over the tiny building like a pall.You leave the building with the lasting impres-sion that the small church contains many secretsit wants to reveal but the many deprecations ithas been subjected to has silenced it for good.

The Arc of theCovenantTo the left of the church entrance you enter RueMartainville. St. Maclou’s northern portal is possi-bly even more fascinating than the frontentrance. On the right-hand wooden panel youcan see the Queen of Sheba, the lover of KingSolomon, who had his temple designed by HiramAbiff, the apocryphal founder of freemasonry. Tothe left of that, there’s a depiction of the fabledArc of the Covenant, which is often associatedwith the Knights Templar. These allusions to theMasons and Templars make you even more curious about the secrets held by St. Maclou.

Defying gravityRue Martainville is one of Rouen’s most pictur-esque streets. Once you have admired thenorthern façade of St. Maclou, turn around onemore time and gaze at the building at the top ofthe street, a fantastic timber frame house whichis leaning over to an alarming degree, almost indefiance of gravity. It’s hard to believe it hasn’tcollapsed yet. Nowadays it serves as a cham-bre d’hôte but only for the stout hearted. Thestreet has a number of cosy restaurants withtimber frame facades, where you can dine onlocal delicacies such as ‘canard à laRouennaise’ and an irresistible dessert withregional Calvados called ‘soufflé Normand’.Delicious fragrances fill the air like perfume,adding to the general ambience of bonhomie.

Next time we visit the Aitre St. Maclou, theChurch of St. Quen and Place du VieuxMarché, where the tragic fate of Joan of Arcunfolds.


And the winner is...

*** Cate Chambers ***

Last month we held a competition for a Romantic picture of Normandy to beused for the cover of this Issue.

Valerie Jardin judged the competition - and the first prize awarded is a £20gift voucher - kindly supplied by Judy Mansfield and First Rate FX.

Well done Cate - we enjoyed the story behind the photo too. The prize will be on its way to you.


Food and Drink

Moules à la Marinière

By Lindsey Sermon

40g butter1 large onion 1 garlic clovecelery (optional)1.5kg mussels in their shells

250ml white wine125ml waterFreshly ground black

pepper30ml chopped parsley


Prepare some garlic bread

Finely chop the onion, and crush the garlic


Melt the butter in a large saucepanAdd the onion, garlic (and celery). Cover and cook for 3 mins without browning.Finely chop the parsley


Add the mussels, wine, water and a good grinding of pepper

Cover and cook for 5 minutes - gently shaking occasionally until the mussels open


Add the parsleyGive them a good stirDiscard any un-opened ones - then ladel into a bowl.


Prepared by Lindsey Sermonphotos © Greg Hughes.


These are the Runner Up images - well done to you all


© Wil & Amanda

© Klaas van Huizen

© Klaas van Huizen

© Cate Chambers


© Cate Chambers

© Cate Chambers

© Ron Doidge

© Kate Walsh

Hidden France: In Searchof France's Occult Legacy

(a synopsis)

Come with us on a journey throughtime and space.

Follow the winding path back intothe past and witness those events,which fell through the cracks ofrecorded history.

Back to ancient Egypt where a groupof Gnostics founded a faith based onself-perfection.

Back to the dawn of Christianitywhen Jesus sowed the seeds of anew religion but was his true mes-sage recorded in the Bible?

Back to the mid first century whenMary Magdalene washed up on theshores of southern France bringingwith her Jesus’ true legacy.

Back to the fall of the JerusalemTemple and the birth of Christianitywhen the Church fathers usurpedJesus’ teachings.

Back to the twilight of the 11th cen-tury when a small cabal of mysticsand visionaries hatched a daring plotto retrieve the secrets buried underSolomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.

Follow the Crusaders as they fighttheir way across Asia Minor to lib-erate Jerusalem.

Witness the birth of the mysteriousKnights Templar and see their riseto wealth and power.

See the emergence of the first cathe-drals in France, testimonies to theglory of God and man’s ingenuity,and repositories of esoteric knowl-edge.

Who built the cathedrals and why?

Watch as the Crusaders’ kingdom inthe Middle East slowly shrinks andis eventually swept away by the tideof history and see the KnightsTemplar broken on the rack of theFrench king’s avarice and ambition.

Watch as the forces of the Churchsweep across the Languedoc like thewrath of god to crush the Catharheresy.

See how the legacy of the KnightsTemplar is scattered to the fourwinds and slowly coalesces into anew form; Freemasonry.

Finally, see all the strands of histo-ry come together in the tiny villageof Rennes-le-Château, where theparish priest makes a startling dis-covery.

Travel to the dark forests of thesouthern Ardennes and visit the cas-tle of Godfrey of Bouillon, one ofthe leaders of the First Crusade.

Visit the mysterious Abbey ofOrval, a centre of esoteric knowl-edge and learning.

Cross the border into France andstop in Reims to marvel at the tow-ering spires of its awesome cathe-dral and unlock its secrets.

Move on to Troyes with its timber-work houses and rich history. Visitthe nearby abbey of Fontenay andthe tiny village of Lirey, where theTurin Shroud first appeared.

Travel on to Vézelay, a centre ofMary Magdalene worship.

Alight in Paris, a veritable treasuretrove of mysteries and Masonic her-itage. Visit Chartres, home to oneof the world’s most beautiful cathe-drals, and stroll through Rouen,where Joan of Arc met her fiery end.

Move south to Avignon, the one-time seat of papal power. Stand onthe shores of Mediterranean at thetiny village of Saintes Maries,where Mary Magdalene came ashore.

Then westwards into the Languedocwhere the bloody crusade against theCathars was waged. See the tragedyand admire the majesty of the coun-tryside, steeped in mystery and tra-dition.

See Béziers, the site of the firstmassacre. Wander through the nar-row, cobblestone alleys of medievalCarcassonne. Climb the windingroad to the enigmatic village ofRennes-le-Château. Visit the myste-rious crag of Montségur, the lastbastion of the hapless Cathars. Ourjourney of discovery concludes withthe splendour of Toulouse.

Hidden France is a special book by David Scherpenhuizenand Nathalie van Koot about esoteric and occult locations in France. It was firstpublished in the Netherlands in 2006. You can sign a petition for an English versionby visiting our English-language site on facebook. Just enter the search term“Hidden France”.

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Feb 11 - N for Normandy Magazine