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Leave us alone – wedid NOT win €162m

gossipsmake life hell forCalvados coupleA SPECIAL announcement -the first ever of its kind - fromlottery organisers Françaisedes Jeux means millions to oneCalvados couple – because itsaid they had definitely NOTwon €162 million in last year’sSeptember rollover.Christine and Richard

Leconte’s life has been anightmare after false rumoursstarted that they were thesecretive winners of therecord Euro Millions prize.

The real winner had askedto stay anonymous so that hecould “contemplate his win inserenity” – which sparked amad race to identify anyonewho was showing signs ofbeing better off.

Unfortunately, that shat-tered the serenity of Christineand Richard as it happenedthat they revealed they werelooking at starting a new life

abroad – and put their hairsalon in Argences near Caenup for sale.

“At first we just laughed,”said Christine, “but then itstopped being funny.”

The couple realised theirfamily and friends had heardthe rumours but did not dareask them for the truth

Then salon clients thoughtthey were being greedy foropening on December 31

Other clients arrived want-ing to get their hair done bythe secret celebrities

And people came into theirsalon to ask for help in fund-ing business projects

When Française des Jeuxconfirmed the couple werenot the winners Christineand Richard added: “We’venever even entered the lottery– and we’ve certainly neverwon anything!”

However, that means thatthe real winner of the €162m

by SAMANTHA DAVID

NEW STADIUM AND TRAMSTAKE SHAPE IN LE HAVRE PAGES

4-5

Turn to Page 2

Christine and Richard Leconte aredelighted that Française des Jeux agreedto help them out

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FREEGRATUITpublishers of

February 2012 - Issue 26www.normandyadvertiser.com

NORMANDYADVERTISER

SWISS oil refining firmPetroplus says it plans to sellits refinery in Petit-Couronnenear Rouen after its lendersrefused any further credit,leading to what was hoped tobe a temporary shutdown.

Some 550 jobs are at stakeas struggles continue to savethe refinery, one of fiveowned by the firm. Petit-Couronne and two others inBelgium and Switzerland areclosed while the firm man-aged to keep others at Cory-ton, Britain, and Ingolstadt,Germany, still working.

Petroplus chief executiveofficer Jean-Paul Vettier saidat the turn of the year he wastalking to an unnamed oilcompany (widely assumed tobe Total) to secure new creditand crude oil but that seemedto have fallen through withthe news of the sale plan.

Thirteen lenders hadrefused to extend the group’sUS$1 billion credit facilityafter it lost $415 million in

the first nine months of 2011.It had been hit by the slow-down of the European econo-my and cheaper products

2 News Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

Mysterystill over€162mwinner

With a story, email:normandynews@connexionfrance.com (pleaseinclude a daytime contactnumber)

With a subscription or advert query call:From France: 0800 91 77 56 (freephone)From UK: 0844 256 9881 (4p per minute)or by email:sales@connexionfrance.com

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Directrice de la publication: Sarah Smith.

Printed at Nice-MMatin,214 Route de Grenoble,06290 Nice Cedex 3.

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cagnotte is still keeping mum– as are the winners of twoother recent big-money pay-outs in Calvados.

Just a week after the €162mwin another departmentplayer scooped €4m in theLoto draw – and kept their

name out of the headlines.Then, last month, anotherresident won a half share of a€73m Euro Millions jackpot– scooping €36,556,783.Again, the winner’s name andprecise location have notbeen revealed, except that thewinning ticket was bought inCalvados.

Richard and Christine’sexperience will not persuadethem to come forward.

Their nightmare startedafter the €162m win andFrench TV stations set up abattery of cameras inArgences where the couplelive to talk about the hunt forthe mystery winner.

At the time TV staff saidthat they had stopped justoutside Caen because theywere coming up to theirdeadline for a filmed reportfrom Calvados and it was avillage near the main road.

However, since the pressseemed to be convinced thewinner lived in Argences, thetownspeople started to won-der which of them hadanonymously scooped thejackpot... just as Christineand Richard Leconte werefinalising long-standing plansto try life abroad.

They put their hairdressingsalon on sale – and triggeredthe rumours.

Word flew around the town

that the couple were openinga chain of hairdressing shopsin China, the biggest salon inNew York... and whenChristine bought a DaciaDuster (from Renault’s budg-et range) it was being saidthat she had treated herself toa top end Audi A8.

The stress began to tell.Christine and Richard foundthey were sleeping badly,waking up at the slightestnoise, nervously taking theirson to school rather than let-ting him go on his own.

But there was nothing they

could do until they thoughtof contacting Euro Millionsorganisers Française des Jeux.

The FDJ public statementconfirming that Christineand Richard had wonabsolutely nothing madethem feel that they had wonthe lottery.

FDJ official Brigitte Roth,works with the new winnersto ease them into the new lifethat has landed in their lapsand said that she had neverbefore had to step in to helppeople who had not won. Herefforts to help Christine and

Turn from Page 1

Blow for workers by SAMANTHA DAVID

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coming from the Far East. Petroplus PR Catherine

Desgrandchamps said:“Naturally, Petroplus is still

hoping for a positive outcometo this crisis."

However, union leaders arelosing faith in the manage-ment and are pegging theirhopes on the government tosave the day.

“We want them to take overthe refinery and get someother company to run it,” saidYvon Scornet, a spokespersonfor the unions representingPetit-Couronne workers.

Speaking after the announce-ment of the sale plan, he said:“For those who still believed inPetroplus this is a blow – forthose of us who stoppedbelieving it is rather goodnews as it gives us a free handto find a buyer.”

Just four months before ageneral election he said theywould be a “stone in theshoe” of presidential candi-dates to remind them of theneed to save French jobs.

Analysts speculate that with

President Sarkozy keen toavoid large-scale industrialredundancies he may beencouraging Total to helpPetroplus.

Total boss Christophe deMargerie has not flatly deniedthe rumours but says thatTotal is supplying French cus-tomers of Petroplus “ratherthan assisting” the group.

Industry observers say,however, that there is no rea-son for Total to assistPetroplus, and that an Asianor Russian bid would bemore likely.

ING analyst Jason Kenneysaid the European refiningindustry suffers from over-capacity as it concentratesmainly on gasoline ratherthan the diesel which mostEuropean motorists prefer.

He added: “It’s obvious that(refining) capacity has to beshut in Europe. One way orthe other, it’s got to happen.”

TWO Muslim organisationsplanning to build mosques inEvreux have received supportfrom the Catholic church andother local groups.

The UCME (Union Cultur-elle Musulmane d’Evreux), anewly-formed group ofsmaller associations, is rais-ing funds for its as-yetunveiled projectwhile the AME(Association desMusulmansd’Evreux) haspresented its ownplans for a four-storey cube.

The €3.5 mil-lion AME plan ison a 5,000m²plot, housingplaces for wor-ship, a culturalcentre, library, crèche, multi-use spaces and offices. Thereis no minaret.

It is designed by Seine-Saint-Denis architect KrimeAli Hadjour, who designedmosques in Créteil andRosny-sur-Bois. Public dona-tions will pay the costs.

Asked about the UCME

proposals, AME ex-presidentMustapha M’Bodji said: “It’sup to the community tojudge; to tell us we supportthis or that project, or wantboth projects to be merged.”

AME hopes to apply for abuilding permit this year, andopen the mosque in 2015.

Reactions have been posi-

tive with the Catholic churchsaying it would make collabo-ration easier. Other groupssay it is normal for Muslimsto want their own place ofworship.

The National Front’s Em-manuel Camoin said resi-dents feared their taxes werebeing used to fund a mosque.

News 3Normandy Advertiser February 2012 www.normandyadvertiser.com

Richard were a first: “That’sthe first time we have donethat. I can assure you thatthese people have not wonEuro Millions.”

The real winners of themassive jackpot – the largestin France and the secondlargest in the history of thegame – instantly became the246th richest people in thecountry and, if they investedit well, would be able to sitback and enjoy the €18,000 itwould earn each day.

However, they will not needto declare their winnings

with their May income taxdeclaration ... they will waituntil June to declare their for-tune so that they can pay theImpôt de Solidarité sur laFortune.

Despite having three majorwinners in four months,organisers at Française desJeux say there is no point in aexodus to Calvados toincrease the chances of a winin Lucky 14 – and that therecent jackpots do not reducethe chances of another win.

“It really is complete luck.We don’t know where or who

the next winner is. It could beanyone.”

Being in France is luckyenough as there have been261 jackpot-winning drawssince Euro Millions started in2004 and 65 of them havebeen French.

Each Euro Millions playerhas a one in 116,531,800chance of picking the correctnumbers and is joined by 40million in nine countriesacross Europe trying theirhands. The target is the mini-mum jackpot of €15m or apossible rollover.

Evreux mosqueplans get awarm welcome

in refinery sale bid

VIOLENT storms havetaken their toll on seabirds,especially guillemots, andNicole Girard, of the Centrede Sauvetage des OiseauxMarins, in Gonneville, nearCherbourg, said they wereworking flat out to cope.

Diving birds like guille-mots are badly affected asthe fish head into deeperwaters in bad weather. Thestorms make it difficult tofloat on the sea and rest andthe birds become hungryand exhausted, and theirfeathers lose waterproofing.

Fatigued birds have beenfound on beaches andNicole said that althoughthey could only collect birdsfound in Manche, peoplecan bring birds in or phone02 33 22 93 02 for advice.

Seabirds badlyhit by storms

AME project has a cultural centre plusworship space, library and crèche

Petroplus refinery outside Rouen

is up for sale

4 News Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

Dynamic plans TWO major civic projects inLe Havre are on schedule forcompletion this year.

The Grand Stade will openon July 12 and the long-await-ed tramway on December 12,although it is expected to startrunning unofficially in mid-August. The two projects arecosting the region about half abillion euros.

Mayor Edouard Philippesaid that the projects were“new signs of the dynamismof our city”.

The tramway is a majoradvance and it will run its13km route seven days aweek from 5.30am to mid-night. It serves 23 stationsand links the beach to thecity centre. Unusually, cyclistscan take bikes on board.

The Y-shaped line has end-stations at Grand Hameau,Porte Océane and Caucriau-ville and the three arms meetat Place Jenner.

A range of sporting and cul-tural events are planned at theGrand Stade and it will have25,000 seats for footballmatches and accommodationfor a further 3,000 VIPs. Itreplaces the current StadiumDeschaseaux.

With solar panels covering1,500m of the site, the stadi-um is designed to producemore energy than it uses.

Other projects include apleasure port at Vauban,which is almost ready for thefirst vessels to drop anchor.

In the centre of town, the oldprison is finally being demol-ished although as yet, it isunclear exactly what willreplace it and a consultationwith residents in the Dantonarea, which is in need of majorrenovation, is planned before

making any solid decisions.Mr Philippe said that the

completion of a new buildingto house the departments ofthe National Institute ofApplied Sciences and presti-gious grande école Sciences-Powill add to the higher educa-

tion facilities in the city. Bothare set to be finished for thestart of the academic year inSeptember.

Elsewhere, and showing adifferent side to city life, atriathlon is being organised atthe end of June involving a

AT the age of 65, Dr PierreDuval should be enjoying thestart of his well-earned retire-ment, but instead he’s stillworking full-time.

“I do 70 hours a week,” hesays, “and I can’t retirebecause there’s no-one toreplace me”. The idea of sim-ply leaving his patients in thelurch isn’t one that he willconsider for even a minute.

Dr Duval has been a GP inEcouché, with its populationof 1,400, for 38 years and,with a large number ofpatients on his books, feelsresponsible for their health.

He works in a group prac-tice with two other doctors,but in a rural area not every-one has a car (or convenientpublic transport) so housecalls are a large part of histime. When he’s finished, hiswaiting room is often full ofwaiting patients.

Not that he minds. There’sno point, he says, in a coun-try GP dreaming about a 40-hour week. Either you’re pas-sionate about the job, or youshouldn’t be doing it.

Dr Duval said increasingnumbers of newly-qualifieddoctors wanted to work inspecialised areas of medicine,

because generally it meansregular hours in a large hos-pital or clinic. Even morewant to live in urban areasand fewer than 10% want tobe GPs – and very few aim towork in the country.

But it’s not a new problem.The poster in the waitingroom, warning about a lackof doctors, dates from 1998.

Rural practices, he says,

have to offer new doctorsbetter working conditions.

Group practices are one waybut he says employing foreigndoctors isn’t a long-termsolution. He suggests all newdoctors should have to spenda fixed term – between twoand five years – in rural gen-eral practice before movingon to either a new practice orto specialist medicine.

I can’t retire, says GP–I’ve no replacement

Dr Pierre Duval won’t leave patients in the lurch

The tramway

The Grand Stade

Railway station

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News 5Normandy Advertiser February 2012 www.normandyadvertiser.com

Did you know that the smallest village inthe département of La Manche has only29 inhabitants, and the mairie atReigneville Bocage is housed in the sacristy of the ruined church?

There is precious little else in thediminutive commune; no church, nocemetery, no school or war memorial...there certainly isn’t a village square.

Nor are there any shops; you won’t finda baker, a butcher or a café selling beersin Reigneville Bocage.

There’s just a farm yard and the remainsof the church where the mayor,

Dominique Lemenuel, meets with theeight members of the village’s councilonce a month.

All the practical details of daily life happen at the neighbouring village ofOrglandes, where the commune’s fivechildren go to school and where theirdead are buried and their war heroesremembered.

Orglandes is also home to a war cemetery containing more than 10,000Second World War graves, including 22German prisoners of war, who were killedin an accident while clearing mines. boost Le Havre

swimming event in theBassine Vatine, a cycling raceto Etretat and a walking eventin the Docks area.

Other ongoing projectsinclude Tetris at the Fort deTourneville, which will houseperformance spaces for mod-

ern music of all sorts, as wellas studios and rehearsal space.It will open in autumn 2013.

A record number of cruiseliners are also set to departfrom Le Havre in 2012; withthe first being Cunard Line’sQueen Elizabeth which set off

for Florida as part of a round-the-world cruise on January 6.

A Le Havre town councillorsaid: “This will certainly be ayear full of great changes forLe Havre. There may be aneconomic crisis, but it’s timeto get positive!”

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Did you know?

Port Vauban

The old sacristy – and themairie – of Reigneville

Have aquery about healthcare in France?

For more information visit

www.connexionfrance.com

or order by calling(free from France)

0800 91 77 56

ONLY€€7.50

PLUS P&P

This 20-page guide explainsclearly a vast range of

issues surrounding Frenchhealthcare, including:

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Pharmacies Mental health

Dentists, eye and ear careCancer

6 What’s On Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

February 16 Guided Tour of Linen Cooperative 14.30 - Upper Normandy produces more linenthan any other region of France; the soil and climate are just right for flax.This

co-operative grows, prepares and combs linen, as well as doing research into breeding and newvarieties.The visit includes fields, factory and laboratories, as well as showing the process of

weaving. Price €4Call 02 35 84 19 55

Saint-Pierre-le-VigerSeine-Maritime

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CULTURE

February 3 Cadran Palais desCongrès - Swan Lake 20.30 - A rare chance to experienceTchaikovsky's most famous ballet interpreted by theMoscow Ballet. One of the jewels of the classical repertoire, choreographed byPetipa in 1895, it includes theVenetian Dance, the Mazurkaand, of course, the Dance ofthe Swans.Tickets €42Call 02 32 29 63 00

Eure Evreux

Photo: © Paata Vardanashvili-w

ikimedia.org

BALLET

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Seine-Maritime Rouen CONCERTFebruary 24 Théâtre des Arts -Vivaldi 'Four Seasons' 20.00 - Vivaldi'sbest-loved work performed by aneight-piece ensemble led by KennethWeiss, preceded by Bach'sBrandenburg Concerto No.5;Tickets €10-€30Call 0810 811 116www.operaderouen.fr

Photo: © Opéra de Rouen Haute Normandie

Calvados Lisieux FAMILY

noticeboard

THE ROYAL British Legion’sNormandy branch is active fromFebruary to November every year.Based in Ranville, a village well knownfor the famous Pegasus Bridge, wherethe first gliders landed on D-Day, thebranch’s office window at rue desAirbornes looks out to the RanvilleBritish War Graves Cemetery and is apermanent reminder of those whogave their lives and what the BritishLegion is all about.

The branch provides assistance to ex-servicemen and women and their

dependants throughout Normandy-and ex-service branch members, nomatter where they are.

The group’s welfare assistance coversa very wide area in Haute- and Basse-Normandie.

There are 27 war cemeteries inNormandy. Those that cannot be visit-ed around June 6, for the D-Day com-memorations, have ceremonies atother times of the year. To find outmore about the group, and how youcan lend your support, visithttp://rblnormandy.wordpress.com

RBL’s work is more than D-Day

Goal to improvelinks with FrenchWhen did the group start up andwhat are its goals?The Anglophone Association ofCoutances came into existence, in itscurrent format, in 1994. The organi-sation was created with the aim ofproviding a social network thatcould offer help and support to thoseBrits recently arrived to the area, inan as yet unfamiliar country. Inaddition to being a social network,each year we support a chosen chari-ty and raise money during some ofour events. Over the past year wehave supported two charities:Handi’Chiens and Cancer SupportFrance.

How many members are there?At the present time, the associationhas 65 members and the member-ship is mostly British. This is some-thing that we have been trying tochange, and we are very keen toattract French members who speaksome English. This also has thepotential benefit of improving eachothers’ language skills. A difficulty seems to be that the

majority of our members are overthe age of 60 and so have more free-dom to be able to come to daytimeor weekday events.We would love to hear of any sug-

gestions people may have forencouraging French people of a sim-ilar age to try out, and hopefullyjoin, our association.

What events do you organise?We hold monthly events throughoutthe year. These have included suchthings as a quiz evening, a fish andchips and train ride lunch, mix andmatch events such as a visit to thebell foundry and a copper workshopin Villedieu, a Chinese meal and avisit to a chocolate maker. We alsohave an annual summer event, suchas a hog roast, in July. For those who enjoy some outdoor

exercise, a series of walks in a varietyof settings are organised. These allend with lunch at a local restaurantand people can just turn up for oneor both things. We intend for theseto be repeated this year, as they werequite successful.

How can people get in touch ifthey would like to get involved?The organisation certainly gives anopportunity for people of differentages and backgrounds to make newfriends and have access to informalhelp and advice. Anyone who wouldlike to join can get more informationat www.anglophones.fr

Featured group: The Anglophone Association of Coutances

GGeettGGeettIInnvvoollvveedd!!IInnvvoollvveedd!!

Promote your community event, send details to eventsnormandy@connexionfrance.comFebruary 11-26 Skating rink 'Lisieux sur Glace' 10.00-12.00. 14.00-19.00 - The annual visit of the portable rink to the centre of Lisieux, right in front of the Cathedral. 375square metres of space, fun for all the family. Don't forget your gloves, they won't let you onthe ice without them.Adults €4, under-12s €2Call 02 31 48 41 50

What’s On 7Normandy Advertiser February 2012 www.normandyadvertiser.com

February

February 17-21 Join the 120,000 people who come every year for this, the138th Granville Carnival. It began in the 19th century as a send-off for the

fishing fleet departing for six months off Newfoundland. You will find afairground with 85 different attractions, a concert on the beach, a fancydress ball, a battle of flowers (well, confetti), a children's parade and on

the last day a real Mardi Gras party experience with 38 floats and 15bands in the parade. For a few days in February, Granville goes wild!

Price: MOSTLY FREECall 02 33 91 30 03

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Calvados Caen

February 26 Salle Condé-Espace - Sewing and Fashion Market09.00-18.00 - Yes, another flea market, but a rather specialone, with 60 stalls selling clothes, shoes, accessories andjewellery from the 70s, 60s, 50s and earlier, as well as everything a needleperson needs; fabric, buttons, lace,embroidery, old linen, patchwork and notions of all sorts.Entrance FREECall 02 31 22 94 64

Manche Condé-sur-Vire

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CONCERT

February 11 to March 3 Exhibition: Pottery and Ceramics from Le Perche 21.00 - One ofthe best things about country France is the chain of little local museums; the Écomuséedu Perche is a very fine example, encouraging country crafts and offering a glimpse ofthe history of the ordinary people of the region.This exhibition, entitled 'Yesterday'sArtisans, today's creators' concentrates on local pottery from the rope moulds of theancient potters to the art potters of today.Adults €4.40, under-18s FREECall 02 33 73 48 06

Orne Saint-Cyr-la-Rosière CULTUREFebruary 1 and 22 Visit to Chocolateworkshop 14.15 - Alençon has been

a centre for chocolate for a century, and there has been a

Glatigny chocolate shopthere for 35 years, but now

they also have a smallfactory in the ZI Nord.

With any luck, you'll getto try a 'Sieur d'Alençon',

hazelnut paste flavouredwith Calvados and

covered in darkchocolate and icingsugar. €2 including

tasting.Call 02 33 26 18

23 or OT Paysd'Alençon

02 33 80 66 33

Photo: © photoCD - Fotolia.com

February 7 Arctic Monkeys in Concert 21.00 - A group which any teenager will tell you needsno introduction, performing at the Zénith.Tickets available at the door (if you're very lucky)or from ticket agencies such as www.fnac.com or www.premierrang.trium.frAll tickets €32.50Call Fnac 08 92 68 36 22, Premier Rang 02 31 50 32 30

Calvados Honfleur

February every Wednesday Guided Tour in English 15.00 - Discover the picturesque old streetsof Honfleur and its monuments including the salt store and the unique church of St. Catherine;a superb chance to get a guided tour in English of one of the loveliest old ports in France,organised by the Office de Tourisme.Adults €6, children €4, families €20, under-10s FREECall 02 31 89 23 30

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FAMILY

Manche GranvilleCARNIVAL

ART

WHAT could be more romantic than gettingmarried in a medieval hilltop village, by theMediterranean or in an ancient château? Thereis no shortage of beautiful wedding venues inFrance and you will find bilingual weddingplanners on hand to help English-speakingcouples find everything they need.

The legal ceremony is conducted by themayor at the mairie closest to where either the

bride or groomwill reside for atleast 40 consecu-tive days beforethe main event.This shouldallow time formarriage bannsto be publishedand put on dis-play for 10 days.

Residents willneed to provideproof ofdomicile alongwith their birthcertificates andpassports andvarious other

documents, such as a Certificate of Celibacy,or Certificat de célibat, and a Certificate ofLaw, or Certificat de coutume.

Official translations of all documents mustalso be certified.

The British Embassy website is a good placeto start for general information on the formal-

ities required, but a British person wishing tomarry under French law must seek advicefrom the mairie where the marriage is to takeplace.

Beth Stretton, a wedding planner who worksin the Dordogne area, said that by law inFrance you have to marry in the mairie andyou can then go on to have a religious bless-ing, often on an entirely different day.

In spite of the paperwork involved, residentshave every reason to say “I do” in France. MrsStretton believes good food and wine play a

part in the decision for many, while others cite“more chance of sun and something morerelaxed and less formulaic” as having helpedthem decide to marry abroad.

But beware. “Being married under Frenchlaw is not advisable if you do not live here full

time,” says Mrs Stretton. A better idea may beto hold the legal ceremony at home and thentravel to France for a religious or humanistblessing. “Options vary depending on theregion,” she says.

Mrs Stretton sees an increasing number ofpeople who wish to renew their vows. Thesecouples tend to opt for simpler ceremonies:“The older we get the more we forget aboutthe smaller details. A focus on the key thingsin life is most important when planning a cele-bratory event.”

Thalia and Jason Douglin traded Coventryfor Languedoc when they married in summer2011. “I always wanted to get married abroad,”says Mrs Douglin, who had first consideredthe Caribbean but thought family memberswould find the long journey a struggle forfinancial or medical reasons.

“My husband has an aunt who lives inFrance and he used to vacation there when hewas younger,” she says.

“After looking into France as a destination, Ifell in love with the beautiful scenery and itseemed the weather was likely to be good,” sheexplains. “Another big advantage was that wegot four days to spend with everyone.”

Mrs Douglin found her venue, the Châteaudu Puits es Pratx in Ginestas, Languedoc, on

8 Valentine’s Day Normandy Advertwww.normandyadvertiser.com

France has a reputation for romance, sowhere better to tie the knot, renew your vowsor just celebrate Valentine’s Day?ELEANOR FULLALOVE looks at what is involved

Lo e andmarriagein France

“I fell in lovewith the beautifulscenery and the weather was likely to be goodThalia Douglin

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The legal marriage ceremony is carried out

in the mairie

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ADVERTISING FEATURE

Valentine’s Day 9www.normandyadvertiser.comtiser February 2012

Wedding traditionsacross the countryDuring the medieval and renaissance periods, weddingdresses were basically more elaborate versions of contempo-rary dresses and did not require any distinctive colouring.The bride’s best dress was transformed into a wedding dress,embellished by jewellery, embroidery, laces and small bits offinery, such as ornamental tags, bows, tassels, ribbons,beading etc. In fact, up until the late 19th century, brideswore just about any colour for their wedding, includingblack if the intended bridegroom was a widower. The whitewedding dress as a token of the bride’s purity and inno-cence, is a relatively new concept. In biblical tradition, whitesymbolised joy, whereas blue represented purity.

In a church filled with incense and flowers, the couple standbeneath a silk canopy. A predecessor of the veil, a square ofsilk fabric or carré, is held over the head of the bride andgroom as the couple receive the priest’s final blessing. Thecarré was believed to protect the couple from descendingmalice. The same veil is used for the baptism of their newborn child.

During the Middle Ages, wedding guests would bring smallcakes which would be stacked in a pile, as high as possible,in the centre of a table. If the bride and groom could kissover them without knocking them over, it was thought tosymbolise a lifetime of prosperity. The traditional Frenchwedding celebration cake, known as croquembouche ortoday’s common term, la pièce montée, was invented by aFrench chef at the end of 17th century. The cake is made ofsmall, creme-filled pastry puffs piled in a pyramid and cov-ered in a caramel glaze and spun sugar.

The tradition of a garter originates from the ancient Jewishsociety where fidelity was symbolised by the ribbon worn bythe bride on her wedding day. Tossing of the bride’s garterbecame popular in the 14th century. In France, the bestman was in charge of stealing it from the bride or thegroom, who would take off the garter and sell it in smallpieces to wedding guests. Alternatively it is said to be thebride who would throw her garter to the guests before asometimes unruly drunken mob tore it off her.

It was believed that pieces of the bride’s attire would bringgood luck to whoever caught them. There is no such tradi-tion in the Maritime Provinces. Today, the bride throws herbouquet to the guests instead.

Chiverie was the practice of interrupting the wedding coupleat night by a crowd clanging pots and pans, ringing bellsand horns. The bride and groom were then expected toappear in their wedding clothes and provide treats for theirtormentors.

According to French tradition, a variation of this is prac-ticed for widows or widowers who were getting remarriedor for grooms coming from another village. The groom hadto pay fines, by inviting all the young men from the bride’svillage for refreshments. The tradition became widespreadin Europe and later in the New World. In rough pioneer set-tlements, the shivaree, as it came to be called, was very pop-ular and often elaborated into a ritual humiliation of thebride and groom.

“The French prefera croquemboucheor pièce montée toa three-tier cake

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decorated with ribbons and driven throughthe streets honking their horns.

Because of the costs involved, some guestsmay be asked to join the newlyweds fordessert rather than attend the full celebration.

The French prefer a croquembouche (alsoknown as a pièce montée) instead of a three-tier wedding cake. Profiteroles are piled highand held in place by spun sugar.

At the reception it is usual for games to beplayed. Jeu de la jarretière sees the bride’sgarter auctioned off to guests who bid to helpthe newlyweds cover the cost of their wedding.

Once in their bedroom, husband and wifemay be interrupted by friends wielding achamber-pot filled with a suggestive “energydrink” containing chocolate, champagne andwhole bananas. Known as la rôtie, it is a tradition that is being revived.

Before the happy couple set off on honeymoon, friends will decorate their carand prepare a panier des mariés — a basket ofsilly presents, such as a gnome for the garden,to equip them for married life.

the internet. She did point out one drawbackto this, however: “The flowers, decorationsand food were arranged by the venue and I didnot get to see them before the wedding day.”

As non-residents, the couple were not able tohave a legal ceremony in France, but MrsDouglin was determined to celebrate theirwedding across the Channel: “We loved theidea of a French wedding so much that wewent to the register office the day before weleft and made it official.”

If you would like to celebrate your nuptials àla française, here are some of the traditionsobserved across the country to give someinspiration:

In France it is not only usual for the brideto be walked down the aisle by her father butthe groom may also be accompanied by hismother, or the couple can make their entrancetogether with any children they may have.

After the ceremony is over and before thewedding reception, guests will be invited toraise a toast to the happy couple in a ritualknown as the vin d’honneur, where a regionalaperitif or Champagne may be served.

Cars driving to the reception venue are

French wedding costume

Wedding ceremony

Wedding reception

Garter - La jarretière

Chiverie - Le Charivari

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE Auberge du Lac bar and restaurantin Vezins, Normandy, has now beenopen since 15 December and enjoyed agourmet Christmas day followed by asuccessful New Year’s party. Marcus andAmanda are pleased to have alreadypicked up bookings for Christmas andNew Year 2012. January has so farexceeded expectations and word appearsto be spreading.

There has been much excitementamong the locals surrounding the re-opening, which is not surprising giventhe new menus, theme nights and plansthat Marcus and Amanda have puttogether. “We are offering a specialValentine’s menu so you can show that

special someone that you care,” saidAmanda. “The menu will be three cours-es, including a ‘strawberry fizz’ cocktail,for €20 per person and is available onboth Saturday 11 February and Tuesday14 February.”

Starters include smoked duck saladwith caramelised oranges, quails’ eggsand juniper dressing and main coursesinclude sirloin steak, Breton bacon andgreen peppercorn crust, with port winejus.

The Auberge offers a menu du jourconsisting of three courses for €11 withwine and traditional Sunday roasts.Vegetarians are well catered for with adaily dish on the specials board so they

do not have to eat the same thing eachtime they dine. The unique selling pointof the new and improved Auberge duLac is that unlike many bars in France, itoffers a warm cosy atmosphere with aroaring fire in which to have a drink.

There is also a bar menu that serves upBritish favourites such as homemadepies and chunky chips; perfect food toaccompany to a drink while enjoying theSix Nations Rugby tournament whichwill be shown in February and March.

As the warmer weather approaches youcan enjoy a drink and bar food in thebeer garden, which overlooks the lake.“We will be hosting children’s fun days,BBQs, a Paella night and even a beer

festival during thesummer months.Summer is such alovely time at theAuberge,” Amandasaid.

Marcus andAmanda are current-ly looking forward totheir wedding day on31 January. “We aretravelling to LasVegas to get marriedby Elvis,” saidAmanda.

This longstandingcommitment willmean that theAuberge will be clos-ing for two weeksfrom 23 January to 7February inclusive.

“We don’t want to disappoint anyone,but we are sure that all the romanticsout there will understand,” she added.

02 33 48 03 48aubergedulac@ymail.comwww.aubergedulacvezins.com

Love is the word at the Auberge du LacBusiness boomed over Christmas for recently-opened Auberge du Lac and owners AmandaFleay and Marcus Gledhill say it is fast becoming the hub of the community again

Amanda and Marcus run the Auberge du Lac

10 Food Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

ANYONE living in or visiting southern Francewill quickly become aware of the Italian influ-ence on the regional cuisine. The most obvi-ous being such things as the ubiquitous pizzaand pesto, that appear in Provence as theonion pissaladière and (minus pine nuts andcheese) pistou respectively.

However, these are dishes which have nowspread throughout the world. If you were tosuggest to a French gourmet that much ofwhat they would consider to be French hautecuisine originated in Italy, you would be con-sidered stupid.

If such people knew about history as well asfood they would know that in the 16th centuryCatherine de' Médici arrived in France to bemarried to the boy who was to become HenryII. The 14-year-old was accompanied on thejourney from Florence by cooks, trained in theelegance of Renaissance cooking.

It was a far cry from the heavy, almost peas-ant, food enjoyed by the men of the French

court with ladies only being invited to theroyal table on special occasions.

Two centuries earlier, in Avignon, there hadbeen a lesser Italian influence when PopeClement V took up residence.

Lesser because, in fact, he and his successorsfor the next 67 years were French. However,many of their retinue including the cookscame from Rome and were said not to appre-ciate much of the local cuisine.

This month's recipe for Papeton is but oneexample of how they adapted and refined theproduce they found.

The undoubted influence of Catherine'scooks may have been predated by an even ear-lier Italian connection. French king CharlesVIII had, a century before, brought Italian gar-deners to recreate in the Loire Valley the gar-dens he had admired in their native land.They introduced peas, cauliflowers, spinachand perhaps even artichokes.

On the other hand, Catherine's cooksbrought rather more sophistication in theform of things like aspics, truffles, ice creamand macaroons.

In 1652, during the reign of Henry IV andhis Italian wife (Marie de' Medici, Catherine'scousin), a very important cookery bookappeared. Le Cuisinier François was written byLa Varenne, the famous chef who had learnthis craft in Marie de’ Médici's kitchens.

From this began what we now know asFrench gastronomy: that the ingredients beallowed to speak for themselves, and season-ing and flavouring should enhance rather thandisguise the taste.

Italy is the basis forFrench gastronomy

After winning the firstBBC MasterChef in 1990JOAN BUNTING was soonwriting a food column anddoing local radio for theBBC. Now the formerteacher has retired andmoved permanently toher home in France butshe is still keen to tellreaders about good food

Preheat the oven to 180C.

Heat the oil in a pan and add theaubergines, shallots, garlic, thyme, bay leaf,and salt and pepper. Cover and simmeruntil the aubergines are very soft.

Push the mixture through a sieve using awooden spoon, or for speed, though slightly less smooth, whizz in a blender orprocessor.

Butter a terrine or rectangular tin.

Stir the eggs and cream into the mixtureand pour into the terrine.

Put the terrine in a roasting tin and pourin enough boiling water to come ¼ of theway up. Bake in the pre-heated oven

Serve hot or cold with a fresh tomatosauce.

INGREDIENTS6 large aubergines – peeled and sliced 6 tbsp olive oil 3 shallots – chopped 2 cloves garlic – crushed

Sprig thyme 1 bay leaf 1 tbsp crème fraîche 3 eggs – beaten

METHOD

Tried and tested by us – PapetonA member of the Normandy Advertiser team tested out the recipe and reports: Be prepared for alot of vegetable chopping – I found the easiest way was to cut the aubergines into thick slices, thencut the skin off those. You will also need a very large pan with a lid to cook all the ingredients.

I blended the mixture rather than pressing it through a sieve and ended up with a slightly coarse-textured terrine a bit like a vegetarian meat loaf. From start to putting it in the oven tookabout 45 minutes. There is plenty of mixture so allow quite a big dish for cooking. Sitting it inwater kept the terrine underneath moist while it browned on top. With sauce made by heating con-cassée de tomates with some seasoning and olive oil, it made a tasty meat-free option – but youneed to really like aubergines!

Delicious hot or cold,the Papeton is anaubergine mousse CUT OUT

& KEEP!

Caline Montfort, of Julien de Savignac wine merchants (www.julien-de-savignac.com), says: Cotes du Rhône red from the highly reputed proper-ty Chateau Mont 2010. €7.80. This wine is a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah. TheMediterranean flavours of red fruits, spices and herbs will enhance the delicate flavours of the papeton and bring you a summer and southern atmosphere!

Which wine should I drink with this?

Papeton

Ask around to find best vet for your pet

HOW do you find a vet?Most people turn to thephone book – or more likelythe internet – but if you arenew to your area, you shouldask around.

Who are neighbours,friends and work colleaguesregistered with and why? Donot be afraid to ask questionsabout why they recommend(or don’t) their vet. Also askwhom to avoid!

Remember when your pet isill the availability, proximityand the aptitude of the vetyou are registered with canmake all the difference whendealing with a life-threaten-ing situation. Indeed, manyexisting pet owners will travelto a nearby department for apreferred vet.

Once you have some rec-ommendations of vets whosee the species of animalsthat you have, the next step isto call or stop by at their sur-gery – which will have a bluecross on display outside.

The following are somepoints to think about: are thereception staff friendly,

helpful, and knowledgeable? If your ability to communi-

cate in French is limited, dothey speak English?

Will their appointmenthours work with yourtimetable and life? What isthe after-hours, holiday andemergency coverage?

Are the veterinary staff

(doctors, technicians, assis-tants) professional andknowledgeable?

Do they have a good “bed-side manner” when relatingto you and your pet?

Are they a healthy blend ofold-fashioned country vetand hi-tech modern vet?

If your pet has “special

needs” do they seem confi-dent to be able to deal withon-going ailments? Don’t beafraid to ask if they have anyother pets registered with thesame condition.

Finally, take a look at theirtariffs. Prices can vary fromvet to vet as there is no setscale of charges that theymust adhere to; but theymust display fees for consul-tations and the routine vac-cines they normally give.

These tariffs are usually ondisplay in the reception orwaiting area.

You can ask for a devis fortreatment or a surgical proce-dure and should, for example,confirm that this includes thecost of ongoing pain reliefand other medication such asantibiotics.

If none of the veterinarypractices you have visitedmeet these criteria, you may want to keep lookinguntil you can be assured yourpet is receiving the best pos-sible care.

Be honest; explain to theveterinary staff you aresearching for a vet, andspecifically what you arelooking for. Never be afraidto ask questions.

Work with your veterinari-an; ask about routine careand about diseases or issuesthat you need to be aware ofin France.

Different practices spe-cialise in different animals so,for example, if you own a dogand live in the countryside itis worth finding out who thelocal hunt uses when dogs areinjured.

Similarly, if you have cats orhorses ask cat breeders orfriends with horses foradvice.

Finally your local SPA(Société Protectrice desAnimaux) can recommend avet if you genuinely do notknow whom to approach.

For information in your area also try: www.veterinaire.fr

and www.spa.asso.fr

TTeell.. 0066 5588 0011 8822 7766WWeebb.. wwwwww..sseeuulleemmeennttnnaattuurreell..eeuuEEmmaaiill.. mmaarrcc..ssoommsseenn@@cchhaarrddeeyyrree..ccoomm

This column is sponsored by

Pet Care

When you arrive in France with your family – plus four-legged friends – you should registerwith a médecin traitant for your family’shealthcare, but you also need to register petswith a vétérinaire, says SAMANTHA BRICK

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You can ask the vet for a devis for typical treatments

Business 11Normandy Advertiser February 2012 www.normandyadvertiser.com

FINANCE

RUNNING a B&B is a great business to make use of yourhome but it is important to be aware of the legal require-ments, security and other issues before you get started.

You will need to decide whether you intend to offerevening or other meals, as this will determine what kind oflicence you need; licensing rules for B&Bs have recentlybeen relaxed, but those concerned with the preparation offood for an evening meal have been tightened up andinclude a course which explains rules and requirementsabout kitchen hygiene etc. An “English” style breakfast, forexample, includes cooking eggs, and there are very stricthygiene rules on this.

A declaration at your mairie will be required, which willalso register your business for the cotisation foncière desentreprises (replacement for the taxe professionnelle), get youset up for taxe de séjour if applicable for your area and alsoprovide a classification of your B&B. This is not a bad thing,as getting to know your mairie could also provide localbookings from French clients for weddings, family gather-ings and musical festivals etc. There is a significant lack ofaccommodation available in country locations following thedemise of the many small hotels which could not upgrade tonew security and property standards (“normes”)

The registration process will normally be through thechambre de commerce if you plan to advertise - this is nottoo complicated, but you do need to factor in paying socialcharges on your earnings which could eat into your profitmargin if you do not build these in from the start. You alsoneed to consider whether you need to be registered for TVA– there is still a reduced rate for accommodation whichcould help if you have expenses to get set up – you canrecover the TVA on your expenses, but will need to accountfor TVA due on your sales.

Other tax issues that you need to consider include whetheryou want to be taxed on the micro regime (you get a fixeddeduction of 50% from your sales income) or whether youdeclare on the “réel” basis (actual income less actual expens-es). Your business will also be subject to "taxe foncière pourles entreprises" which is worked out on the basis of the splitbetween business and personal use of your property. The taxoffice will ask you to complete forms to enable them to cal-culate this. Your annual income declaration will normally bemade in April/May. If you have opted for the “réel” there willalso be a separate business declaration to make.

You also need to make sure that your insurance covers youfor public use, and check with your local préfecture for pooloperating rules (there are national security rules for fencingetc, but water hygiene is controlled at a local level).

Information on grants can be obtained from your localmairie or tourist board office – EU funding has howeverlargely been withdrawn in this area.

My wife and I bought a beautiful vicarage in ahamlet in the Cotentin peninsula a few yearsago and have often thought about opening aB&B for the summer. What are the rules and regulations and what business model wouldmost suit us? Are there any French bodies wecould turn to for advice or possible grants? P.T.

Photo: © Elenathew

ise - Fotolia.com

JUDY MANSFIELD has lived and worked in Calvados fornearly nine years. She is an agent commercial, andworked at an estate agency in Lisieux for several yearsbefore branching out into business development,primarily for currency specialists First Rate FX andlatterly for small businesses in Normandy.

ARE YOU passionate aboutyour business? Do you letthat show? You should,because it demonstrates topresent and future clientshow much you care aboutwhat you do.

That instills confidence inthem that you will provide agreat product or service aswell as giving them enthusi-asm to buy from you and torecommend you to others.

Shyness and Laissez Fairehave no place in business, nordoes appearing laid-back ortoo ‘cool’… unless of courseyou are a fashion model, popstar or club DJ! Assumingyou’re not, you will need towork at what you enjoy, notthat which you find tedious,boring, irritating, annoying...

Passion also translates intomotivation. If itisn’t there, itshows. Itbecomes verydifficult to dowhat you shouldbe doing if thethrill has gone.

Take a hard look at yourrelationship with your busi-ness. Do you sigh when youswitch on the PC or whenyou see what you have to dothat day? Do your customersirritate you just by beingthere? Is everything a chore?

It may be you have fallenout of love – but there areseveral things you can do.

First, decide if this state ofaffairs is temporary. Maybeall that is needed is a bit ofTLC! If you are feeling jaded,then maybe it is because youhave been working too hard.

Try a short holiday. Toomany people work too longhours and don’t take a holi-day, feeling they should beavailable every second ofevery day “just in case”. Evenif you don’t actually go away,factor in some real time off.

Turn off the PC! Leave an

out-of-office message on yourphone and email with a datewhen you will be back, orpeople will imagine you havegone for good!

Use the time to switch offcompletely and recharge yourbatteries. Go for walks, catchup on films, spend time withthe family, enjoy your garden.

Stepping back from yourrelationship with your busi-ness can often help you see itmore clearly. You will return

with renewed vigour. But if business still isn’t giv-

ing you the same buzz, it mayneed a tweak – could youchange direction slightly?

What part of your job doyou really enjoy? Can youmake more of that? Don’t beswayed by what brings in themost money, because if itdoesn’t ease the irritation,eventually the income willdry up too. Follow the pas-sion not the pension!

Could you collaborate withsomeone in a similar or com-plementary business to sharethat part of your workloadwhich doesn’t turn you on?

Perhaps it’s admin? So, paysomeone else to do it. Yesthere is a cost, but it can notonly save you money, buthelp you make more money.

Think about it. I travel a lotwith my job, so I must checkwebsites for transport or

accommodation... it’s boringand can take the best part ofa day to fix a two-day trip.

While doing that, I am notspending time in my busi-ness: where I earn my money.

Now I use a Virtual Assist-ant (VA) to do this. I tell herwhere and when I need to goand my budget, then voila! Itis all done and sent to me –all while I have been concen-trating on my main role.

I get invoiced and can claimit as a businessexpense. I’m con-sidering findingsomeone to organ-ise my paperworkand invoicing as itis something I pro-

crastinate on. I’d be betterpaying someone as it costsme less per hour than I canearn doing my own job!

If you are stuck, perhapscall in a business coach tohelp you clarify where youare stuck and why, and howto get your mojo back and

your business moving again.I make no apologies for

bringing you this extractfrom one of the world’s mostsuccessful entrepreneurs. Itworked for him!

“Ideally, since 80% of yourlife is spent working, youshould start your businessaround something that is apassion of yours. If you’reinto kite-surfing and youwant to become an entrepre-neur, do it with kite-surfing.

“Look, if you can indulge inyour passion, life will be farmore interesting than ifyou’re just working. You’llwork harder at it, and you’llknow more about it.

“But first you must go outand educate yourself onwhatever it is that you’vedecided to do – know moreabout kite-surfing than any-one else. That’s where thework comes in. But if you’redoing things you’re passion-ate about, that will come nat-urally.” - Richard Branson

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Without passion yourbusiness will suffer

My recommended reading this month is Robert Clay’swww.marketingwizdom.com

Robert is one of the foremost marketing experts around,and gives very generously of his time and knowledge.

You can sign up to receive his free eBook, Learn how togrow your business…in just 2 hours. I’ll be discussingRobert’s approach in next month’s column.

Recommended Reading

Passion is the theme asSt Valentine prepares hisarrows. As Charles M.Schwab said: “The person who does notwork for the love of workbut only for money is notlikely to make money norto find much fun in life.”

Judy can be contacted through TheAdvertiser or by email:

normandybizgroup@orange.fr She is onTwitter at @NormandyBizGp

12 Directory Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

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Ad No. 19187

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email:chateaucrosville@orange.fr

LE BREWERY10 years of brewing in Normandy

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www.NormandyandBrittanyhousesforsale.comSiret: 519 751 465

Andrew Morgan

Electrician All works guaranteed and carried out to

French regulations standard.Tel: 02 31 67 34 40

Email: morbox@orange.frRegions Covered: 50,61,and 14 - Siret: 49427469900011

French WithoutTears

One to OneLanguage Course.

Tuition with Accomodationwww.cours-a-cucugnan.com

Tel: 06 78 15 19 29Siret: 521701474 - Ad No. 17685

NORMANDYFRENCH TUITION

Qualified bilingual teacherSmall groups, 1 to 1 online,

intensive courses, translationTél: 02 33 65 39 73 Mob: 06 15 76 37 34

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Crafts at Les LandesSpinning and other crafts.

Half, Full day tuition orresidential B&B

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Sworn TranslationsHelp with the French system

Interpreting, phonecalls Admin & paperwork

Call Hilary on 00 33 (0) 6 10 69 05 53www.leapfrogservices.net

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with SylvieTel: 02 31 32 28 83

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JS MenuiserieJohn Shipton - 02 14 16 14 47Carpenter/Joiner

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Directory 13Normandy Advertiser February 2012 www.normandyadvertiser.com

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Directoriescontinueon page 15

IT IS currently not unusual for the priceof a pair of bog standard varifocal glassesto top the €500 mark and with the costof living increasing daily that figure isnot likely to decrease in the near future.

Fortunately high quality spectacles canbe purchased online, and one UK firm,Spex4Less, has developed a way of pro-viding a quality optical service to expatsin France.

Slightly different to many online retail-ers of cheap glasses, Spex4less offers thebest of both worlds, with glasses from

just £19.95 and high quality designerbrands, such as Gucci, Dior and Prada.In addition to this, all of the company’svarifocal lenses are manufactured withinthe UK by Hoya and most of the design-er frames are handmade in Italy.

Spex4Less not only supplies prescrip-tion glasses worldwide, but also offers awide range of sunglasses, prescriptionsunglasses, prescription sportswear andoptical accessories, from prescription skigoggles down to prescription divingmasks, as well as a service for utilising

old frames.All of the company’s optical staff are

highly qualified and can assist you withany query, whether by telephone, emailor an online chat session. It is comfort-ing to know that the team has over onehundred years of combined optical expe-rience in total.

Managing Director John Styles hasspoken about the cost of glasses abroadand feels Spex4Less can help provide agood balance of price and quality whileensuring customers still receive the verybest solution for their visual needs.

“We have striven to achieve a balancebetween the expensive high street chainprices and the bargain basement pricesfound all over the internet,” said John.“Our ethos is such that we treat all ourcustomers with respect and communi-cate with them on a personal basis. Ourexperience is that customers are sick ofbeing on an anonymous conveyor beltwhen buying on the internet. We stick tothe old-fashioned values of great cus-tomer service and empathy with our customers’ needs.

“We’re always contactable and you canspeak to a familiar voice on the end ofthe phone. We serve thousands of Britishexpats worldwide and many live inFrance where I have personally seen theexorbitant cost of eyewear throughoutthe country.

“Spex4less helps out many of our expatcustomers by providing a timely, friendlyand cost-effective way of buying reason-ably-priced eyewear direct from the UK.In fact, it has proven so popular thatword has got around and native Frenchspeakers are now buying directly from us- I think that speaks volumes.”

A simple look at testimonials left onreview sites and forums highlights thelevel of service that every customerreceives - and it is something that hasnot gone unnoticed. A recent customer,Mr J Lakin from Minzac, France, said:

“Spex4Less has provided a fantasticservice. We live in France and whileeveryday living and understanding theFrench language is no problem, forexpats the technical ‘stuff ’ is oftenbeyond us - and buying glasses is noexception. Because of this it is easy to goto the opticians and spend a fortune.

“Online glasses retailers are starting toappear, but to the uninitiated they can behard work and full of potential hazards.Although they can be offset againstCPAM and assurances, the amounts aresmall.

“Our entire customer journey, from theinitial phone call down to receiving sixpairs of glasses that are of the highestquality, makes the service and pricing atSpex4Less impossible to beat.”

It is quite clear to see that the companyhas all bases covered, and that the teamhas invested a lot of time into ensuringthat international service levels are thesame as are currently provided in theUnited Kingdom.

Spex4Less has ensured that it is fullycapable of translating and interpretingany foreign prescription and Europeanpostage is priced at a sensible £7.95.

With the price of eyewear in Franceconstantly rocketing, it makes perfectsense to give Spex4Less a try.

+44 (0) 151 632 6611info@spex4less.co.ukwww.spex4less.comOnline, UK-based Spex4Less aims to provide a high standard of customer service as well as affordable, quality eyewear

Good value glasses provided by online retailerAs the cost of living continues to rise, affordingbasic essentials is moreexpensive than ever before.But when it comes to sourcing high quality, sensibly-priced eyewear, UKonline company Spex4Lesshas glasses for all budgets

“We have striven toachieve a balancebetween the expensivehigh street chain pricesand the bargain basement prices foundall over the internet.

RICHARD Kroon, founder and directorof Houses on Internet, an internet-mar-keting company that helps private own-ers of French properties to sell withoutusing an agent, is obviously very pleased with this ongoing success of his company.

Based in the Creuse, Limousin, Houseson Internet covers all of France with afull-time staff of four and 69 local free-lancers throughout the country. Theynow have properties for sale in 19 of the22 regions.

The difference in sales between theregions are huge though, Richard says.In 2011 the Limousin was the best per-

forming region, followed by Normandyand then Languedoc-Roussillon.

Traditional buyers of French propertyhave always been French, British, Dutchand Belgian, but the number of national-ities is rapidly increasing. The key is howto reach those people and for Houses onInternet the answer is simple: continuousglobal advertising.

“An excellent Google ranking is crucialand so we keep optimising our websiteand advertise all over the internet, liter-ally worldwide,” said Richard.

Over the past six months more than110,000 people each month, on average,have visited the company’s website from

26 different countries. Last year over 1.2million people visited the site.

Richard added: “That is where it starts:first you advertise and then you keepadvertising until traffic to the websiteincreases. As a result sales also increase,even in a shrinking market, as most ofthese visitors are potential buyers ofFrench property.”

In 2011, all of this resulted in sales topeople from countries like Finland,Sweden, Russia, United Arab Emirates,South Africa, Canada, USA, Australiaand New Zealand.

“This is why we have managed to keepgrowing,” said Richard. “The ‘traditional’buyers are more careful now and inmany cases have to sell their own housefirst to be able to buy another. So wehave to look for ‘new’ buyers a little bit further away. That is why global

advertising, something we did from theday we started, is crucial.”

05 55 65 12 19www.housesoninternet.com

New sales record for Houses on Internet in 2011Despite the struggling economy, Houses on Internet managed to increase the number of sold properties by 25%in the past year - and the company’s turnover rose by 27%

Richard Kroon is the founder and director of Houses on Internet

14 Property Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

DIY tips

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Keep gutters clear of the leaves that cause leaks

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Herbs areoften usedto addpiquancy toFrench food,and growinga herb garden inyour kitchenmeans that

you can have a sprig ofthyme or leaf of basil atyour fingertips and bringsome herbal fragranceindoors. REBECCA LAWNshows you the basics.

WHEN choosing whichherbs to plant, go for themost versatile ones and thosethat are easiest to look after.First, check that the plantsare healthy to avoid bringingunwanted pests into thehouse.

“Most people prefer to growculinary herbs indoors foruse throughout the wintermonths and in general, theseherbs are small and ideal forindoor containers,” says JayneWatkins, of Penstemon andHerb nursery in Indre (www.penstemonsandherbs.com).

Common indoor herbsinclude oregano, thyme,parsley, mint, chives, bay androsemary. Basil is a favouritefor use in cooking but is noteasy to grow.

“If you’ve got an establishedplant, then it will do OK on awindowsill, but you do needthe right conditions and itmight not be sunny enoughin winter,” said Jayne.

Light is the most importantfactor when it comes togrowing herbs indoors. Someherbs in particular aresun–worshippers, especiallythyme, sage, rosemary andoregano.

“Optimum conditions need-ed for herbs to grow are asunny windowsill, providingat least five hours a day ofsunlight, good humidity androom temperature. The plantscan be placed outside to graba bit of sun when possiblethroughout the winter if thelight is a problem.”

If there is not enough sun-light in the final wintermonths, you could also useclamp–on reflector lightswhich have compact fluores-cent bulbs. Rotating yourplants every week will stopthem leaning to one side, and

be sure to leave windowsopen slightly for an hour orso each day as the herbs willneed fresh air.

As for whereto plant them,there are manyoptions, fromhanging bas-kets, to windowboxes, woodencontainers andclay pots.

Most herbswill grow wellin containersand indoors,but the size ofthe plant needsto be consid-ered. “Theherbs will get trimmed foruse in the kitchen so pruningis not really a problem.”

Herbs with a tendency tospread, such as oregano andmint, can be grown in con-tainers and need their own

pots. Theseshould rest insaucers andhave drainageholes.

“Humidityis important, soput containerson a tray withgravel or smallstones that iskept damp toallow water toevaporate andhumidify theplants above.

“It is essentialto have free–draining pottingmedium – a good compost ora mix of compost and soil.”

To keep the plants healthy,Jayne says to pick a fertiliserthat has a low level of phos-phorous, as you are growingherbs for their leaves, notflowers.

“We use organic plant feedmade from nettles or com-frey, but a liquid feed orlong–lasting pellets will do.They should be fed whenpotted up and then everycouple of months, as thecompost loses its nutrients.

“Most herbs don’t like to beoverwatered, which is shownby yellowing leaves, but theydon’t like being dried out,either

“If the grower has houseplants, they can generallytreat herbs in much the sameway. In general, annual herbstaste best before they flower.”

For a taste of Francegrow a herb garden

A sunny spot near to a kitchen window can make an ideal spot for growing herbs,where sunlight, a supply of fresh air and good drainage will help them to thrive

Phot

os: ©

Car

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LEAKING gutters may seem harmless but if left they canbe the cause of damp inside your house which can result insevere damage such as rot in timbers. Checking them regularly and making repairs if necessary should be anessential part of your house upkeep.Metal guttersThese are difficult to take apart due to corrosion of thejoint bolts, so it is best to try to seal leaks with a sealant. Itis important to clean the section first by scraping it andthen drying it. Next inject the sealant using an applicatorgun. Leave to harden then test that it is watertight by pour-ing water into the gutter. If this has not worked then thesection will need to be dismantled.

To do this: using a hack saw, cut through the bolt so thatit is flush with the bottom of the gutter. Next gently tap thejoint with a hammer to separate the sections. Be careful notto damage anything. Clean the inside of the joint using awire brush to take off rust and a flat-headed screwdriver ifneed be to gently chisel away any old sealant. Apply a layerof metal primer to the cleaned parts; once this is dry applya thick layer of gutter sealant on both the joint piece andthe gutter section, fit them together and bolt firmly togeth-er with a new bolt.Plastic guttersLeaks in plastic gutters are usually due to a fault with therubber gasket that the section sits on in the union pieceand then forms the seal. Either dirt has accumulated and isforcing the seal open or the gasket is worn. In many casesleaks can be fixed by simply cleaning out the guttering. Ifthe gasket is worn then it obviously needs to be replaced.

To check what the problem is squeeze the sides of thegutter section to release it from the union piece. If there isdirt simply clean it out and replace the section. If the gas-ket is damaged then peel it off and fit a new one. If youcannot find a new gasket to fit then another solution is tofill the space left by the old gasket with gutter or siliconesealant. To put back into place squeeze the section of gut-tering and gently slide back into the union piece.

If sealant has been used instead of a new gasket then it isadvisable to apply a layer of sealant on the outside of theguttering as well just under where the union piece and gut-ter section meet.Gutter maintenanceYou should check your guttering annually and have a goodclean out of any leaves and natural debris. A good tip is tocover the opening of the down pipe before clearing any-thing so that nothing dislodges and gets washed down thepipe potentially causing a blockage.

Fix leaky guttersto protect house

oregano – l’origansage – la saugerosemary – le romarinthyme – le thymeparsley – le persilmint – la menthechives – la ciboulettebay – le laurierrosemary – le romarinbasil – le basiliccompost – le compostsoil – la terreto prune – taillerto trim – tailler (légèrement)

Useful Translations

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.com

“Most herbs don’t like to be overwatered,which is shown by yellowingleaves, but theydon’t like beingdried out, either

Herbs thrive in decent pots and kept humid – but over-watering turns leaves yellow

Phot

o: ©

Val

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Fot

olia

.com

Property 15Normandy Advertiser February 2012 www.normandyadvertiser.com

PROPERTIES IN NORMANDY

Buying or selling a property in oraround Normandy? We can help.

Our website www.connexionfrance.comcarries details of more than 14,000homes for sale across France.

We also feature properties for sale in thisdedicated section of the paper eachmonth. To find out more about any par-ticular property, go to www.connexion-france.com and enter the ref: codeshown under the property.

For sellers, the adverts are also displayedacross a range of popular English–lan-guage websites and are seen by thou-sands of potential buyers EVERY day.Our 3+3 package costs just €200TTC

and gives you three months onlineadvertising as well as a print advert inthree editions of The Advertiser. Our6+6 package is best value at €330TTCand provides the same, but for sixmonths via each channel.

Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com

More details on all these properties – and how to contact the seller directly – can be found in the property for sale section of

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Younger gardeners can help out with winter tasks

Keep active withthose winter jobsFEBRUARY can be the coldest of the winter months eventhough spring is just around the corner. How much you areable to do in the garden this month will depend on thetemperature and the weather conditions.

It would be better to put off sowing seeds if the ground iswaterlogged, as seeds will rot rather than germinate but ifthe ground is not waterlogged or frozen, the soil will retainsome warmth, so now is a good time to plant a new hedge,shrubs and trees. You can also replace roses as the warm soilwill encourage root growth. Draw up a list of hardier speciesto replace those lost during the winter.

At this time of year, moss will grow at a faster ratethan grass. However, you can kill it with ferrous sulphate(le sulfate ferreux) which allows grass to grow in its place.

If you have a snowdrop display, clear away any dead leaves,so that you can enjoy the first signs of spring. Draw up plansfor your summer garden, taking into consideration yourview from different angles in the house. During aseason when the garden is not full of colour, you can betterassess the structure of the garden. Trees with attractive bark– such as birch – draw the eye naturally all year round.

On your patio, protect any less hardy shrubs and climberswith hessian or straw during cold patches and force anypotted spring bulbs such as tuberous begonias, hyacinthsand Achimenes planted during the autumn. Prune winterjasmine once it has finished flowering, and wisteria.

In the greenhouse, sow cucumbers and tomatoes andprune climbers around your conservatory, but try to avoidoverwatering in cold weather. Outside, it is time to planttrees and shrubs and lay lawns when conditions arefavourable. Prepare vegetable seed beds and cut backdeciduous grasses.

If you have been dreaming about a pond in the garden tosit around during the summer, now would be a good time todig it and allow it to fill with spring rain. The deepest sectionshould be at least 60cm (2ft) deep to reduce the risk of thepond freezing entirely. Gentle gradients between the bankand pool, and shallow and deep sections will encouragewildlife and make shallow water plants look more natural.

A grille over the pool is a good idea if you have youngchildren. Judge the size of the mesh to prevent accidents,while allowing access to wildlife and do ensure that themesh does not detract from the natural beauty of the pool.

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16 People Normandy Advertiser February 2012www.normandyadvertiser.com

Inheritance SolutionsFrench inheritance rules may mean that your worldwide estate will not be distributed according to your wishes.

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Photographer putsfocus on residentsSTÉPHANE Janou loves Normandy.“I arrived here as a biology teacher 20

years ago and fell in love with theplace,” he says. “Now I feel I’ve com-pletely absorbed the local culture, theway of life, everything. It’s beautifulhere – so full of different scenery. Youdrive just 15 or 20 kilometres and thecountryside changes.”

In fact, it was the scenery which ledhim away from teaching biology andinto photography. He explained: “Istarted taking photos of rocks, andthen one thing led to another and Istarted photographing people.”

His book Vivre à Vire is a collectionof portraits resulting from his workwith the association Labomylette,which he set up in 1998.

“I had been working as an independ-ent photographer for five or six yearsand I just wanted more contact withpeople,” he said.

The association has grown and nowincludes about a dozen artists who eachspend a month implanted somewherein the region. At a roundabout, forexample, or in a park or outside a fac-tory. The idea is that the artist pro-duces whatever is inspired by the loca-tion; a poem, a sculpture, a painting, aphotograph, and displays it at the site.

Rather than displaying all the work at

the end of the month, it is posted on anongoing basis, so that local people cansee what is happening and comment onit if they want to.

Janou said: “Some people join in quitesimply by commenting on the work,others will give suggestions of things tolook out for, but sometimes the interac-tion goes deeper than that and theyinvite the artist to see their homes or

workplaces. Sometimes, in my owncase, people have even wanted to takethe photos themselves.”

The idea, says Janou, is not particu-larly to encourage people to becomeartists, but to facilitate contact betweenpeople and bring communities togetherby presenting them with an artist’s viewof their daily routines.

“I did seven projects in seven differ-ent areas over a period of four years,

and the book is a resumé of those

installations really. The idea is to givethe inhabitants back the art that wasinspired by them. Dominique Bussilletwrote the text to accompany the photo-graphs.” Janou says the nameLabomylette comes from “labo” fromlaboratory. “And then it’s sort of scram-bled from mobylette – it’s such a veryFrench thing, a mobylette. Not a scoot-er, not a motorbike, not an electricbicycle ... a thing that gives you mobili-ty without cutting you off from yoursurroundings like a car does.

“You can stop anywhere with amobylette. And the artists fromLabomylette go anywhere, stop andlook at anything interesting, interactwith their inspiration.”

Born in Paris, Janou says he remainsa traveller at heart. “I’ve lived inCanada and would love to see Bulgaria,Romania and Hungary.

“My work with Labomylette is reallyonly half of what I do.”

He is also what might be called anindustrial photographer. “I photographpeople at work, cement-makers forexample. To show their lives, theirsavoir-faire, their jobs... I get commis-sioned by a company, for example tomark a 50th anniversary, and I photo-graph the workers, their products andthen hold an exhibition either at theirworkplace or somewhere locally.”

Vivre à Vire can be bought at cahiersdutemps.com/f-vivre-a-vivre.php

Photographer Stéphane Janou talks to SAMANTHA DAVID about his book, Vivre a Vire, which was inspired by residents

One of the portraits in Stéphane Janou’s book, Vivre a Vire

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“It’s beautiful here – so full of different scenery. You drive just15 or 20 kilometres and the countryside changes.”- Photographer Stéphane Janou