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publishers of September 2011 - Issue 21
www.normandyadvertiser.com
NORMANDYADVERTISER
1,000 fishermen‘could lose their livelihoods’
Wind farm invasion
Proposal for upto 100 turbines off D-Day beaches
FULL STORY
PAGES 2-3
NewsFast Paris train route debate
PropertyBuild your owndream homep4 p8/9
What’s OnYour guide tolocal events p6/7
On a visit to Courseulles-sur-Mer, ecology minister NathalieKosciusko-Morizet scans the horizon – a view that could bedominated by 100 wind turbines if government plans are approved
Residents fearvalue of seafronthomes will plummet
Photo: PHO
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2 News Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
Inheritance SolutionsFrench inheritance rules may mean that your worldwide estate will not be distributed according to your wishes.
Look after those that matter.Jennie Poate, Regional ManagerTel French Head Office: 05 56 34 75 51Email: [email protected]
www.siddalls.frFrench finance in plain EnglishSiddalls France SASU, Parc Innolin, 3 Rue du Golf, 33700 Mérignac - RCS BX 498 800 465. C.I.F. No E001669 auprès de ANACOFI-CIF association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers et Courtier d’Assurances, Catégorie B - ORIAS 07 027 475. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances.
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NORMANDYADVERTISER
years. The wind turbines are to be placed outat sea to maximise the wind power.
Plans for a further two wind farms off theNormandy coast have also met with strongopposition. At Le Tréport, between the Seine-Maritime and Somme departments, turbineswill stretch across 110 square kilometres, anarea more than four times the size of Caen,and will generate 750MW at full capacity.
The second, an 88 square kilometre site, willbe built at Fécamp, also in the Seine-Maritime,and will generate 500MW.
Homeowners in Normandy have expressedconcern that the presence of masts so close totheir homes will decrease the value of their properties. It is feared house values could dropby at least 20 per cent.
Cathy Steven, vice-president of LaizonEnvironment, lives near a wind farm inMaizières (Calvados). She said: “The landscapehere is what makes the country special andidyllic, like England in pre-motorway days. It isa time that people are still yearning for, and aquality of life we are willing to travel to get.
“It’s very obvious that nobody will buy ahome with windmills on their doorstep.”
Politicians claim building the turbines willbring jobs to the area and there will be opportunities for local businesses. Basse-Normandie president Laurent Beauvais haspledged that the project will not be to thedetriment of fishermen or of the tourist industry. However, Courseulles fisherman
Didier Lebelhomme said that it was likely todramatically reduce their trade.
He said: “I don’t know one fisherman whodoesn’t feel the same way about this. We willcertainly be less productive as a result.”
There are 54 groups protesting against thewind farm plan in Basse-Normandie alone.Although it is said that wind farms generateany additional energy that might be neededfor their maintenance within six months to ayear, protest groups claim that wind is not anefficient form of energy, as it only works abouta quarter of the time.
The D-Day beaches have been put forwardas a Unesco world heritage site and MrBeauvais said that there was a desire to markthe area as a memorial site. However, he saidthat the region is also committed to developing renewable energy resources.
“Once details of the wind turbines become apparent, it will be possible to work out howthe two can be compatible,” he added.
FISHERMEN claim the wind farm will jeopardise their livelihood and could lead toan increase in imported shellfish.
Didier Lebelhomme, who fishes off theCourseulles coast, said the turbines will bebuilt in the main area for fishing scallops. As aresult, he said, boats will be forced further out to sea to less-productive areas.The smaller boats, which cannot go as far out,may no longer be able to fish at all.
He said: “This will lead to a dramatic reduc-tion in fishing, but what is the livelihood of 1,000 fishermen compared to thegovernment’s environmental policy?”
Mr Lebelhomme believes that the movecould spell the end of some businesses.
“Some of the fishermen will disappear andthe others will see the difference in their busi-ness figures. I’m retiring in two or three years,but I feel for young people just starting up. Fishing has always been a part oflife around here. Nobody worries about fishermen. In 15 years, the damage will bedone and fishing will have disappeared.”
Protest groups also highlight the fact that forall the jobs created by the wind farm, therewill be jobs lost and that for each fishing boat lost, three jobs are lost on land.
THE GOVERNMENT is facing internationalprotest over plans to build a large offshorewind farm overlooking the D-Day landingbeaches.
By 2016, up to 100 wind turbines are set toappear just off the coast of Courseulles-sur-Mer, opposite Gold and Juno beaches.
Veterans and their families have expressedconcern at the changes to be made to theseascape of this “sacred memorial site”.
More than 5,000 people from 48 countrieshave signed petitions in protest, and campaigngroups are appealing for the withdrawal of the
plans, which were announced by PresidentNicolas Sarkozy earlier this year.
The project is attracting worldwide mediaattention. Chairman of European PlatformAgainst Windfarms, Jean Louis Butre, said:“So many people have very firmly said: ‘Youmustn’t do this. Leave the place alone.’
“Soldiers died in those waters. It amounts todesecrating their graves. This is a real case ofcitizens battling industrial superpowers.”
The project is part of a €20bn nationalprogramme to increase France’s renewableenergy production by 20%, and is to be funded through a 4% increase in each household’s electricity bill over the next five
Storm brewsas wind farmthreatens‘sacred’ coast
Fishing industry ‘will besunk’ if plans go ahead
We will fightthem on thebeaches,promise fishermen,veterans,and residentsfurious overD-Day sitewind farmproposals
A wind farm of up to 100 turbines could
By AMY McCORMACK
Photo: PHO
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A poster in Le Tréport urges action
News 3Normandy Advertiser September 2011 www.normandyadvertiser.com
BATTLES against wind farms are beingfought – and more often than not lost –across the region.
Under current law, an environmentalimpact assessment and planning permissionare required to build a wind farm, and challenging potential sites can be a drawnout process.
For the past three years, Didier Marchandfrom Crosville-sur-Scie, Seine-Maritime, hasbeen protesting against plans for seven wind turbines near his home. He has set up aprotest group, Association for the Defence ofthe Rights and Interests of the CrosvilleCitizen.
The town council has already approved theplans and an independent commission alsocame out in favour. The protest group’s nextmove is to meet with the prefet.
Mr Marchand said: “These turbines will be200 metres high. They’ve offered to planttrees, which won’t even hide the windmills’knickers. A tree takes 30 to 50 years to reachfull height. The value of our home will drop
by something between €30,000 and€70,000. We didn’t work our whole life tojust lose what belongs to us. If we’re fighting,it is because we’re within our rights to. Ican’t stand the idea of being stamped uponlike this.”
Jeanine Robiolle, 52, from Meautis-Auvers(Manche), lost her fight, and has been living360m away from a wind farm since 2005.She said she has suffered from headaches,sickness and ear problems as a result, andfinds it very difficult to sleep at night.
She said: “It’s hell, unimaginable. The noiseis constant, except if the wind blows in theother direction, then the neighbours get it.We don't want to sell. Our roots are here. It’sour home – and who would want to livehere anyway?”
Protest groups are also fighting to preservethe Mont Saint Michel from wind farmprojects. Permission has already been grant-ed for two stations near the site and thereare 10 more schemes outstanding in thenearby Ille-et-Vilaine department.
VETERANS and their families believe thatbuilding a power station off the landingbeaches will be an intrusion into their sacredplace.
Thomas Milner, 87, was part of theHertfordshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion, andhis role on D-Day was to clear the beaches. Hereturns most years to visit the beaches and the cemetery at Bayeux.
He said: “Some of my friends were killed onthat day. The wind farm will be an intrusion toan area that is rather sacred to us. Most peopledon’t have any feelings for Normandy, but itwould spoil it for people like us.”
Elizabeth Styffe, from Ottawa in Canada, hasvisited Juno Beach several times. She is theniece of Major Edward Grieg Styffe, whoserved in the Lake Superior Regiment anddied in the liberation of Normandy.
She said: “I am really saddened to think thatthat is where the windmills are going to beplaced. We have come to appreciate the sacrifice made by all the soldiers from thecountries involved.
“It is quite moving to be standing there atJuno Beach, to look out over the sea, so beautiful and calm and to imagine what happened there, what a horrendous time thatwas. I don’t understand the decision to put theturbines there.
“My uncle’s body and the bodies of so manypeople who died outside their own country areburied there. There is a wonderful true senseof ‘lest we forget’ there.”
A street was named after Major Styffe inMaizières, where his body was found.Protestors facing
an uphill struggle
dominate views off the D-Day beaches if plans annouced by the government are agreed
‘It’s a desecrationof soldiers’ graves’
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Protestors mass against the plans for two wind farm stations at Mont Saint Michel
Canadian Major Edward Grieg Styffe, whodied during the liberation of Normandy
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4 News Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
DELAYS to the opening of anuclear power plant on safetygrounds have raised concernamong residents.
EDF has announced a two-year delay in building a next-generation EuropeanPressurised Reactor (EPR) atits plant in Flamanville, onthe coast near Cherbourg.
The company said the delaywas due to extra safety testsprompted by the Fukushimapower plant disaster in Japanearlier this year.
However, villagers were not reassured by the news.
Didier Anger, a campaignerwho lives at Les Pieux, sixkilometres away from the
plant, said: “Statistically, itwould be logical for France tobe the next country to bestruck by nuclear disaster.
“People have started askingquestions, like: ‘Would we beable to get out on time ifthere was a problem?’Farmers worry about whatmight happen to their cattle.”
Overall, he said the villagetends to be divided, accord-ing to those who work at theplant and those who do not.
“If you want to stay in thearea and work, you work atthe factory. Those who workthere either pat themselveson the back or keep quietabout it.”
Henri-Louis Védie, themayor of Bricquebec, nearFlamanville, said he is astrong supporter of nuclearpower “as long as it is safe”.
FILM director Francis FordCoppola is the star guest atthe Deauville film festival.
Actors Danny Glover,Naomi Watts and ShirleyMaclaine will also be hon-oured at the annual Americanfilm event this month.
Coppola, who is famous forfilms such as The Godfatherand Apocalypse Now, willtake part in a question and
answer session at the event. There will also be a number
of premieres includingRobert Redford’s TheConspirator, starring JamesMcAvoy, and Famke Janssen’sBringing Up Bobby withMilla Jovovich.
The festival is in its 37thyear. For more informationon the festival, seewww.festival-deauville.com
Tests delay nuclear plan
A DRINK DRIVER has been sent to prison after going thewrong way down a motorway and causing an accident.
The 32-year-old, who does not have a driving licence,drove straight at an oncoming car. The driver of the othercar, a Polish man, was able to avoid a head-on collision.There were three passengers, also Polish, in the car.
The man, who also had a passenger in the car, had 2.8mgof alcohol in his blood when he was tested after the accident which happened in Precey in the south of theManche. He was sentenced to three and a half years inprison by the Coutances court.
Wrong-way driver drunk
Coppola is festival guest
High speedrail optionson agenda
Stick to pathto avoid risks
Hacker hitspréfecture
A FIRE chief has warnedtourists about the dangers ofstraying off the main pathacross to the Mont SaintMichel.
Every year the emergencyservices are called upon torescue those trapped whilstwalking on sands around themount. Manche fire chiefMarc Leprince said: “Beaware of the risks and dan-gers linked to rising tides.”
The tourist informationoffice encouraged visitors toread the signs displayed inthe car parks and at theentrance of the site.
THE MANCHE préfecturewebsite was down for morethan a fortnight after a hack-er identified weaknesses in itssecurity.
Hacker SaMo-Dz broke intothe website and left nothingbut a signature across thescreen.
The préfecture was forcedto close down the site.Visitors were only able toaccess a holding page withbasic information.
Marc Lugand-Sacy,spokesman for the préfecture,said: “We decided to take thesite down completely whilewe improve its security.
“We’re having to find outhow the hacker got into thesite in the first place in orderto fix it.”
The motives for hackingthis site – along with those ofother prefecture websites –are unclear.
“Hackers usually want tofind a fault in the system,”said Mr Lugand-Sacy.
A NEWLY-built mosque hasopened in Herouville-Saint-Clair following a racist attackearlier this summer.
The place of worship, whichis the largest mosque in LowerNormandy, was targeted onBastille Day, July 14.
Vandals wrote racist graffiti on the walls in whatthe AICC, the Calvados department’s Islamic group,dubbed ‘a desperate provocation from those hankering after racism andhatred’.
The new building is nearthe Bois de Lébisey district ofthe town. The town’s Muslimworshippers will be celebrating Eid, the three-day holiday marking the endof Ramadan, this month.
Race attackmosque open
MEETINGS will take placeacross the region to gatherpublic opinion on the location of a high speed trainline linking Paris andNormandy.
The government is commit-ted to the project, but it isstill unclear which ofthree routes will bepursued: viaNormandy linkingCaen and Rouen, viaEvreux or via anunderground routeconnected to the LeHavre estuary.
National consulta-tion organisation,CNDP, will hold 12meetings betweenOctober and January.Residents will hearpresentations and willbe able to ask questions and airviews.
There will also be anonline debate andpartners will submitreports stating their interestsand concerns.
In January, the CNDP willrelease a report with a recommendation. RFF, therail network, will then have afurther three months to makea final decision.
Basse-Normandie presidentLaurent Beauvais said: “It’sdecision time. This will throwlight on the three scenarios."
Once the selection has beenmade, financial discussionswill begin with funders. MBeauvais hopes the detailswill be ironed out before thenext general election.
He said: “We want every-body to break into their piggy
bank and make this a priority.
“We haven’t got high speedtrains here yet and we would-n’t like to be forgotten aboutaltogether.”
There will be a launch inRouen and Normandy’smeetings will then take placein Caen, Le Havre, Evreux,Cherbourg, Lisieux, Bernay,Saint Lo and Vernon.
TGV - coming to a station near you?
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News 5Normandy Advertiser September 2011 www.normandyadvertiser.com
ACCIDENT and emergencyhospital staff in Caen havebeen striking because, theysay, bed shortages are preventing them from doingtheir job properly.
Over the summer, patientsat the Centre HospitalierUniversitaire, the universityhospital, in Caen have spentup to 36 hours on stretcherswhile they wait for beds tobecome available. Hospitalstaff are concerned that theservice is becoming so overstretched that accidentscould happen.
The problems arose whenthe hospital removed 20 percent of its beds over thesummer to allow staff totake summer holidays. Twoof Caen’s private hospitalsthat run an accident andemergency department alsoreduced their beds by 40 or50 per cent.
The joint director of theCHU in Caen, Alain Lamy,said: “It was this lack of bedsin the whole city that endedup blocking the emergencydepartments.”
To resolve the situation,the CHU called upon ARS,the regional healthcare
agency, to coordinate thepublic and private establishments. A meetingtook place and 15 to 20 bedswere reinstated in the private hospitals.
However, members ofUNSA, the NationalFederation of IndependentUnions, are calling for betteroverall funding and morestaff to cope with demand.
Pascal Dubosq, a medic at
the hospital, said problemsare heightened in the summer: “Mood is very lowat the moment.
“We have got the besthealthcare system in theworld, but I am not sure weare going to be able to keepit that way. Patients aren’tdealt with properly.
“Funding used to be on aneeds basis. Now it is linkedto the number of patients.”
Strike over beds crisisbrings call for funding
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire in Caen
Briton’s bodylay in housefor 7 months
Kangarooson the hop
Rats flee astide turnsTIDES got rid of vermin on aNormandy beach.
When residents reportedseeing rats on the shore atArromanches-les-Bains, thetown council was quick totake action.
But a change in the tidesdealt with the rodents,according to a spokeswoman.“We carried out pest controlboth before and after thesightings but they went awayon their own,” she said.
TWO kangaroos are onthe run in the Normandycountryside.
The National ForestryOffice is searching forthe two animals, one ofwhich is albino. It is notyet known where theyhave come from, but it isthought they could haveescaped from a privatezoo in the area.
A Manche préfecturespokesman said: “We donot know where theyhave come from, but it isunlikely they hopped ona plane. I hope not, fortheir sake, given theweather.”
The préfecture is advising people not toapproach the animalsand to contact the policeor fire department if youspot them.
The préfecturespokesman added: “Theymight bite or becomeaggressive.”
THE BODY of an elderlyBritish man was found in hisNormandy home, sevenmonths after his death.
David Peter Bromley, 70, isthought to have died at hishome in Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte in January.
Although mail was gathering in his letterbox andhis car was parked on hisdrive, his death was not discovered until a neighbour,alerted by the over-growngarden, called the police, whofound the body on August 2.
It took a long time for anybody to notice MrBromley was missing becausehe had limited contact withother people in the villageand would often go back tothe UK for months at a time,leaving his property empty.
The authorities have had togo by bank statements anddates on unopened mail towork out when Mr Bromleydied.
Cherbourg prosecuto, EricBouillard said the death waslikely to have occurred during the coldest part of thewinter.
He said: “Mr Bromley islikely to have died in his sleepfrom natural causes.
“The house was closed upand he had stuck pieces ofaluminium foil in the gapsaround the windows anddoors to keep out the cold.
He was found wrapped in anelectric blanket.”
Although Mr Bromley, whoretired to France in 2004, wasoriginally not thought to haveany family, the BritishConsulate is now trying totrace his brother.
The Manche village is saddened by news of the pensioner’s death, which hasraised questions about ruralisolation.
Mayor Michel Quinet saidthe Englishman did not speakto anybody, and had barricaded the entrance to hishouse with breeze blocks,seemingly to deter callers.
He said that if some Englishpeople were isolated it waslikely to be because of thelanguage barrier.
He said: “English peoplehere fall into two categories:those who are surprisedwhen the French don’t speakEnglish and those whointegrate well.”
Mr Quinet added that thetown does keep a list of residents living in isolationand checks up on them inextreme weather, but MrBromley was not singled outas being at risk.
He said: “Even though wedo not feel directly responsible for Mr Bromley’sdeath, we are going to listento people more and offermore information services.”
RESIDENTS from a sea-side town are fightingplans to build housesbetween their seafronthomes and the beach.
The houses on Rue desDunes in the Passousarea of Agon-Coutainville(Manche) are the nearestto the sea and sit behindsandy dunes.
But the owner of one ofthe properties in thestreet has been grantedpermission to build onland in front of his house.
Neighbours say the newbuildings will spoil theirviews of the sea and haveset up a protest group“Save the Dunes in theRue des Dunes”, whichnow has 200 members.
The town councilopposed the plans but thedecision was maderegionally. Mayor MaxAvenel said it would notaffect the way the seafront looked.
He said: “People want tokeep their sea view and
they want their house toget the sun, but when thetide is out, if you standback and look, it will stillbe a straight line.”
He added that protestgroups seemed to be “thenew democracy”.
The project is on holdbecause the landownerwishes to build two houseson the same plot and themayor has opposed theplans. But he saidenquiries had already beenmade about other plots.
Sea view at risk for homes
Photo: CHU
Caen
6 What’s On Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
notice board
COMMUNITY CHOIR Ville-Beau-Son celebrates its secondbirthday this month.
Musical director, Sylvia Miles,pictured right, believes music andsinging should be enjoyable, andthe atmosphere at the weeklyVillebaudon choir practice reflectsthat. All you need to do to join isdemonstrate that you want to sing:no auditions, no requirement toread music and no pressure.
The 30 members work on a varied repertoire, including folksongs, African music, lullabies andpop songs.
Ms Miles, a former primaryschool teacher, arranges the musicand selects pieces based on thevoices in the choir. She said: “Ibelieve everybody can sing, so ifyou want to sing, you are welcome.I’m not trying to put on oratorios.We are just trying to sing and havea lovely time.” Choir members are
French, English,Dutch andGerman, andthey singpieces in allfour languages.The emphasisis on fun.
Ms Milessaid: “New mem-bers seem to fit inquickly because the others are so welcoming. There are usually littlefractions within choirs – we don’thave that. People are nice to eachother.” There are several concertseach year and the choir sings at vil-lage events upon request. Ms Milesinvites anybody interested to goalong to the Salle des Fêtes deVillebaudon at 8.30pm onWednesdays.
For more information callStephen Bonner on 02 33 51 13 20.
Raise your voice andhave some fun
September 7, 14, 21, 28 Seine River Cruise, 14.00 – A trip around the River Port of Rouenon board the pleasure boat 'Cavalier de La Salle'. Rouen has always been one of the greatriver ports of France, where sea-going ships transferred their cargoes to barges for the journey up to Paris. Discover the past and present of the port, its people and their trades.Duration 1 hour 15 minutes. Departure from the Embarcadère Jehan Ango on the Left Bank,opposite the town centre
Adults €7, children 3-12 €5. Under 3 FREE. Call 02 32 08 32 40
FAMILYRouenSeine-Maritime
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Seine-MaritimeOUT AND ABOUT
September 10-11 Elbeuf-sur-Fête, from 11.00 – The annualtransformation of the streets of Elbeuf features open-air
circus, bouncy castles for the under-12s, parades withgiant cuddly toys, stilt walkers, clowns and a New
Orleans jazz band, climbing wall, roller rink, games,sports, music, and market stalls. FREE.
Call 02 32 96 90 [email protected]
Elbeuf
MancheFAMILY
Lessay
September 9-11 Foire Sainte-Croix – Lessayis a cheerful, sleepy village of 1,800 peopleclustered round an ancient Abbey, but forthree days in the second week of September,42 acres of its fields are transformed into amarketplace, attracting more than 400,000visitors.The fair, founded at the same time asthe Abbey under William the Conqueror,offers demonstrations of old and new trades, thousands of stalls selling a range of productsfrom household equipment to farm animals, food, cars, garden and agricultural tools, a fairground, a whole street of hot food stalls and up to 1,000 puppies, kittens and other petsfor sale. Don’t miss this one – nobody else does! FREE.Call 02 33 45 14 34 [email protected]
September 10-11 Weekend du Vent – Everysport which depends on the wind, and a few thatdon’t – kites, kite-drawn buggies, mountainboards, windsurfers, kite-surfers, kayak, equiglisse(riding a surfboard pulled by a horse in shallowwater), skimboard, surfing, bodyboard,boomerang, para-gliding – all take place on thebeach at Carolles or from the cliffs atChampeaux on the northern shore of the bay ofMont Saint-Michel. FREE to spectatorsCall 02 33 79 38 67 or [email protected]
Manche
SPORTCarolles & Champeaux
Manche SPORTOmonville-la-Rogue
September 24-25 Plantes et Saveurs d’Automne Saturday 14.00 to 18.00, Sunday 10.30 to18.00 – At the topmost tip of the Cotentin peninsula is La Hague, a fascinating, wild andwindswept region of granite cliffs and sturdy houses.The Manoir du Tourp is home to thearea’s museum and lovely gardens, and in September hosts a market for regional produceand plants. If your garden suffers from blustery weather, these are the people who can tellyou what to plant. As a bonus, there's also an exhibition of cinema posters.Adults €2.50, Under-18s FREE.Call 02 33 01 85 89 or email [email protected]
Photo: FranceInPictures.com
Photo: Manoir du Tourp
Photos: Comm
unauté de Comm
unes Sartilly
Photo: RSVDTO
Promote your community event, send details to [email protected]
JENNIE Poate advises expats newly arriving inFrance on how their UK based investments andpensions will be taxed in this country and howthey can make the most of the French regula-tions. Ms Poate is the regional manager forBrittany, Normandy and Picardy for financialand tax advice company Siddalls. Ms Poate whowas an independent financial adviser in the UK,bought a house to renovate in Normandy nineyears ago and has a good level of French.
Saddle up for horse festivalHORSE lovers in Calvados are in for atreat this October. Every year an entiremonth is devoted to horse festival, Equidays, with art exhibitions, racing events and guidedtours of local stud farms and stables.See www.equidays.com for fullpro-gramme.
Budget taxing? Get free helpGET advice on French taxes at a freeseminar in Saint-Lô. Groupe Lavialeaccountant, Michel Deudon, andBlevins Franks partner, Brad Warden,will run the free session in English on
the morning of Tuesday, October 18, atthe Hotel Mercure in the centre ofSaint-Lô. To book, call 01 70 36 96 94or go to www.laviale. co.uk
Passion blooms at exhibitionVIRE is celebrating the historical andscientific contributions of its 19th cen-tury botanists. Exhibition Flore,Passionnément reveals details of theirdiscoveries, lives and research meth-ods. Events include a literary tour,guided tours and talks.
For details, go to the museum’s website museedevire. blogspot.com.The exhibition is open until November13, Wednesdays to Sundays, and costs€3 for adults.
Profile: Tax advice for new arrivals
What’s On 7Normandy Advertiser September 2011 www.normandyadvertiser.com
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September September 17-18 Train à Thème Journées du Patrimoine 14.50onwards – The little Eure Valley Railway is celebrating thisSeptember's European Heritage Days with exhibitions andtours of its workshops, various entertainments and activities,and a chance to travel in time, as well as along the picturesqueand winding Eure valley. You can combine this visit with another by going first to Jouy-sur-Eure, where there’s a vastboot bair at the fishing lakes, and taking the historic train fromJouy to Pacy.Tickets for the whole day:Adult €8.50, 4-15€6.50, Family pass (2+2) €26. Under 4s FREE.Call 02 32 36 04 63 or email: [email protected] fair at Jouy: Call 02 32 36 39 60 or email: [email protected]
Eure
WORTHVISITING
Eure Évreux CULTURE Until September 9 Rollon, un Viking à Évreux 09.30 to18.30, Sundays 10.00 to 12.30 – 1100 years ago theKing of France signed a treaty with the Viking chiefRollo, giving him all the land which is now UpperNormandy, but not before Rollo had brought his shipsup the little river Iton and pillaged the town of Évreux.This exhibition at the Office de Tourisme gives aninsight into the life, customs, religion and character ofRollo's people and their impact on what was tobecome Normandy.Entrance FREE.Call 03 32 24 04 [email protected]
CalvadosFESTIVALDeauville
September 2-11 Festival du Cinéma Américain – A film festival of world importance since its beginnings in 1974,Deauville offers 18 premieres and previews, as well as the 12entries in the competition around which it is based.There areshowings day and night throughout the 10 days.This year’sguest of honour is Francis Ford Coppola.
Full details in English can be found on www.festival-deauville.com/GB/accueil_GB.php or youcan just come to Deauville and spot the stars!Festival Pass €150; Day Pass €30; Night pass €10Call: 02 31 14 14 14
Calvados CULTUREChâteau de Crevecoeur-en-Auge September 17-18 Fête des Traditions – For two days inSeptember, the 21st century gives way to the 19th. Come andmeet townsfolk and peasants as they recreate the lives of theirancestors.There’s a local market, of course, and the children can help to bake bread in the castle oven, milk cows,churn butter, and make jam; spinning wheels will be turning,embroiderers stitching, ladies preening.Visit the castle museum,which records the careers of the Schlumberger brothers, whogot rich by inventing the instruments used in prospecting foroil. Entry €4.50, under-7s FREE.Call 02 31 63 02 45 [email protected]
Orne MUSICSées Cathedral September 3 The Choir of RadioFlamande 20.30 – Part of the SeptembreMusical de l’Orne season, an originalprogramme in which selections from J SBach’s Well-Tempered Clavier are interspersed like moments of reflection between the movements ofDvorak’s Stabat Mater, sung in its original version.Tickets €20.Call 02 33 26 99 99www.septembre-musical.com
Orne
FESTIVALBagnoles de l'Orne
September 3-4 Bagnoles & Bikes Show –What could possibly be the connectionbetween a sleepy little spa town and fast,noisy motor-bikes? They must have something in common, because the bikersare back at the racecourse for a second year.Choppers, bobbers, hot-rods, custom paintjobs, rock concerts, big hairy bikers in painted leather, even the dancing girls – itshould be quite a weekend! There’s campingon the site (showers available) and of courserefreshments of all kinds. Day ticket €5;weekend €10Call 02 33 30 44 40 [email protected]
September 24 Vienne et la Valse 20.30 –Also in the framework of Septembre Musicalde l’Orne, an evening of Viennese waltzes byStrauss (three of them) and also Schoenberg,Webern and Alban Berg; performed by theSalzburg Chamber Soloists.The Forum is amodern building with a wide auditoriumwhich can be adapted to seat 500 or 1300,and excellent acoustics.€25.30 to €28.60Call 02 33 26 99 99 www.septembre-musical.com
OrneMUSIC
Flers
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Photo: Rouen Cathedral
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9
Pacy-sur-Eure
8 Self-build www.normandyadvertiser.com
MOST English-speakers looking tobuy a property in France do notconsider building their own houses.They are likely to be deterred by thelanguage barrier, the bureaucracy, orthe time and effort involved.
However, people who choose theself-build option say it is the idealopportunity to create a dream homeand, increasingly, a good way way tobreak into the market in areas such asBrittany, Languedoc, Normandy andthe Dordogne.
Building a house yourself is not anew idea, of course. English-bornpicture framer Martin Mackenzie andhis second wife, Denise, began build-ing their first house in the communeof Penne in the Tarn about 20 yearsago. “We wanted a complete changeof scene but we didn’t have muchmoney,” says Mr Mackenzie. “Weknew we couldn’t afford a lovelyready-made house in the mountains,but at the time you could buy a ruinfor almost nothing.”
The couple secured a small mort-gage for a rundown cottage and twostone barns and decided to buildtheir home from scratch. To save oncost, they moved into the propertyimmediately and undertook most ofthe work themselves.
“It’s not for everyone. You learn alot, but it takes time and you have tounderstand that the work is veryweather-dependent and that thereare setbacks,” says Mr Mackenzie.
The first step towards beginning aself-build project in France is tosecure a site and get permission forbuilding and development from thelocal commune.
Many sites can be purchased witha certificat d’urbanisme indicatingthe land has been set aside for resi-dential building. Once the certificathas been secured, the law states anarchitect must be hired to draw upplans for any building over 170m2.
Architect Sean Rawnsley, from theArchitecte Sud group in the Tarn inMidi-Pyrénées, has helped English-speakers to obtain planning permis-sion and while some have gone onto hire a local builder, many choseto do most of the work themselves.
“But these are not complete
novices,” said Mr Rawnsley. “Oftenthey have worked as builders backhome and know what they’re doing.It’s definitely possible to build yourown home and it can be a lot cheap-er. But, you have to be careful andyou have to do your homework.
“You’ll need to know about soilconditions and, having obtainedplanning permission, what to dowith the site, how to insulate andprotect your property, etc. You’realso likely to be confronted withnew techniques and new materialsand regulations. Of course, it’s mucheasier if the property takes up lessthan 170m2.”
It was for this reason that TheoNoordewier, part-owner of the holi-day home marketing websitewww.gites.eu, chose to limit the sizeof his property. Mr Noordewier,from the Netherlands, built a smallhouse, with a bedroom, bathroomand cellar and ordered a ready-to-assemble wooden frame fromLithuania for the second storey.
“We didn’t have the money toemploy an architect and didn’t feelwe needed one,” he said. Doing mostof the work with his wife and broth-er, he hired a mason for thestonework and an architect from thefactory in Lithuania to supervise theassembly of the frame over twoweeks.
“You have a sense that you are cre-ating something. When you look atthe house you really think, ‘I didthis.’ That’s a very different feelingfrom buying something.”
Mr Noordewier and his wifemoved into their home in 2009 andare now adding a 60m2 extension.
Another way of minimising costswhile delegating the project to aprofessional is to follow the exampleof most French people and sign acontrat de construction de maisonindividuelle (contract to build anindividual house, or CCMI) with abuilder. The contract allows you topick a standard design and set outthe exact cost and timeline for theproject beforehand.
That is by far the most secure wayof doing things, says YannickBilloux, director of the Bordeaux
branch of government housingagency, ADIL (AgenceDépartementale pour l’Informationsur le Logement).
The ADIL has offices in everydépartement and offers free adviceon buying or building. The Conseild’Architecture d’Urbanisme et del’Environnement (CAUE) also givesfree architectural and planningadvice and most mairies offer accessto an architectural adviser.
“If you are a foreigner buildingyour own house in France, you mustbe prepared and you must protectyour investment,” Mr Billoux said.“If you do the work yourself, thestandard of the work won’t be ashigh, you might run way over dead-line and you probably won’t save alot of money in the end. With a
CCMI, if anything happens or thecosts are miscalculated, the addi-tional costs will be covered by thecontractor.”
However, anyone looking to builda more individual property mightfind the CCMI too restrictive. Threeyears ago, David Mailer set up thecompany French Adventure to helpEnglish-speakers build their idealhomes. He specialises in projectsworth €200,000 and upwards andhas completed four houses in theCharente-Maritime.
He said: “People have very specificideas of what they want – a nicekitchen and bathroom, an open-plan living space. If you want thatkind of a property in the right loca-tion, you just won’t find it.”
Tarn home-builders Martin
Mackenzie and wife Denise agree. In2005 they sold their completedhouse and bought a building in needof complete renovation. The budgetwas €260,000 and they haven’tspent all of it yet, though they plan
Martin Mackenzie and Denise decided the best way to create theirdream house was to do it themselves (right), but that required thatthey get involved in some serious construction work
Finding the perfect property at the rightprice and in the right place can be difficult;so people are choosing to build their ownhouses, as Hélène Hofman reports
Live the dream – but you have Normandy Advertiser
Self-build 9www.normandyadvertiser.com
to install a swimming pool and esti-mate work will continue for a fur-ther three years. A similar housewould have cost about €450,000 onthe open market, they believe.
“You’d be very lucky to find your
ideal house ready-made,” says MrMackenzie. “When you do it your-self you can tweak it to make it justright for you and at the end of theday you have something you canreally be proud of.”
Get free advicefrom local expertsIF YOU are looking to build your own home you can callupon a wide range of expert advice, free of charge.There are housing information agencies (ADIL) in a lotof departments. These non-profit organisations varyfrom area to area, but all provide advice on legal, finan-cial and tax issues linked to housing. Some depart-ments also provide a list of all the new homes andbuilding plots for sale and to let. Architects are also available to offer free advice. Theyare based at the Council for Architecture, Town Planningand the Environment (CAUE) in eachdepartment. Professionals will offer advice on new builds orextension projects, to help ensure quality standards aremet. They may advise on which materials to use orexplain local planning laws. The organisation also seeksto ensure that new buildings are in keeping with theirsurroundings. There are fact sheets available on the websites andlocal surgeries take place. Local contactsFor free legal advice on all aspects of housing, get intouch with your local ADIL.Eure: www.adil.org/27/ or call 02 32 24 06 66. Orne: www.adil.org/61/ or call 02 33 32 94 76. Seine Maritime : there are offices in Le Havre (02 35 4371 61) , Rouen (02 35 72 58 50) and Dieppe (02 35 0494 17). Call for more information. There are no offices in the Calvados and Orne areas butyou will find general information on the national web-site www.anil.org. If you feel that your project would benefit from theadvice of an architect, call the Conseil d'Architecture,d'Urbanisme et d'Environnement (CAUE) to arrange afree meeting. They advise on other areas too - andhave useful online resources. Calvados : www.caue14.fr or telephone02 31 15 59 60Eure: 02 32 33 15 78Manche: www.caue50.fr or telephone 02 33 77 20 77Orne: www.caue61.org or telephone 02 33 26 14 14Seine Maritime: www.caue76.org or telephone02 35 72 94 50 Environmentalists who are looking to use renewableenergy sources will find ObjectifEko a useful site: searchfor professional advice by region, find out about anyfinancial support available and plan your project online.Find out more at www.objectif-eco-habitat.com
to build it yourself
IF YOUR new-build rural home is unconnectedto the sewerage system you have two options fordealing with your waste water: a traditional septictank system or a “mini water-treatment plant”(micro-station d’épuration).
The traditional fosse septique uses a tank wherebacteria break down waste and the end liquid isspread under the garden through a piping system.
A micro-station does not require the pipes, so iswell-suited to properties without large, flat gar-dens, and is a more high-tech solution. However,they are now subject to specific quality rules, so ifyou have one put in, make sure it is agréée.
Mairies are obliged to ensure all individualwaste water systems meet safety and efficiencynorms before the end of 2012. House sellers areobliged to get a check, costing about €100, doneand show the certificate to the buyer. If it revealsproblems which may, for example, cause pollutionthese must be put right by either owner or buyer.
Country-dwellershave waste options
Pages 12 - 13
DIRECTORYPAGES
Find registered tradespeoplequickly and easily
THE authoritative guide to buying a home in France
Available in English from The Connexion,
priced €7.50 or £7(plus postage and packaging)
See our websitewww.connexionfrance.com
Written by theNotaires de Franceand published by Conseils des Notaires.
September 2011
10 Food Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
A collection of restaurants in Normandy
Advertising Feature
INGREDIENTSMakes about 250g (9oz)
1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped4 garlic cloves,
peeled and finelychopped
4 tbsp olive oil3 large ripe
tomatoes, coredand roughlychopped
1 tbsp tomatoconcentrate
2 tbsp balsam-ic vinegar
2 strips driedorange zest
Salt and fresh-ly ground blackpepper
METHODSweat the onion and garlic in the olive oil for5 minutes until soft but not coloured. Addthe tomatoes, tomato concentrate, balsamicvinegar and orange zest, and cook over amedium heat, stirring occasionally, for about10 minutes until most of the liquid has evap-orated. Season well and keep warm.
THE MASSES of bright red fruits hanging onyour tomato plants now might not contributeto the 540,000 tonnes of tomatoes France produces each year for the fresh market, butthey probably do represent something of aglut. So what do you do with them? Well, hereare some creative suggestions to please thetaste buds and give you a health kick.
There is strong evidence that tomatoes canhelp protect against cardiovascular diseaseand cancer and researchers want it to be oneof the five-a-day fruit and vegetable portions.
The scientists from Lycocard, a five-yearproject funded by the EU to study the potential health benefits of the red plant pigment lycopene, say tomatoes could make adifference and they are working with theFrench agricultural research institute, INRA,to assess how blood cells absorb lycopene.
So, eat healthily with some traditionalFrench cuisine that will make the best of yourpotager tomatoes.Two favourite tomato recipes of award-winningcook and food writer Alex Mackay – authorof Cooking in Provence (Ebury Press), whichwon the Gourmand World Cookbook Awardfor Best Book on French Cuisine in English –are his tarte fine aux tomates and compote detomates. The tart was inspired by one he cameacross in a bustling Saint-Tropez restaurantand you can eat it hot or cold, he says. Thecompote is perfect for fat, juicy, ripe tomatoesand can be kept in the fridge for three days orfrozen (see Alex’s recipes, right).
Another candidate for the glut pot is thecourgette. If you have a vegetable patch, it islikely many are resembling marrows by now,or green footballs. Courgettes can be used in anumber of ways: as ratatouille, in a curry, battered and deep fried, and they can be stir-fried, steamed, boiled, roasted and baked. Buthave you ever made marmalade out of them?
Susie Kelly, an author living in Poitou-Charentes, discovered the mouthwateringdelights of courgette marmalade last year.
Well known for her book Best Foot Forward,in which she painstakingly travels throughFrance on foot, she has just published TheValley of Heaven & Hell (available fromwww.amazon.co.uk), an account of cyclingaround France with her husband. Yet in spiteof her travels, Susie is a homebody at heartand has a passion for her vegetable patch, hervarious animals; and now, lemon courgettemarmalade.
Susie first decided to make the marmalade(see the recipe right) after finding in herpotager a round courgette that weighed no
less than 5kg.“We had grown a lot of massive round cour-
gettes and I found them really unmanageablebecause you can’t cut them in slices,” saidSusie.
“Being frugal by nature, I didn’t want towaste it, but what do you do with a creaturethis big?”
She sought help via the internet and, havingfound a recipe, adapted it to her own tastes.
She wanted a strong lemon flavour with “a small quantity of ginger to give it a slight zing”, and lemon courgette marmaladewas born.
She says: “This year I’m going to leave someof my courgettes deliberately to become enormous so I can make as much marmaladeas possible. Everybody loves it and it will benice as Christmas presents, plus it keeps well– we still have some from last year.”
METHODSlay and eviscerate the courgette, then addthe flesh to a heavy pan and pour over a littlecold water. Bring to the boil and simmer forabout 20 minutes until tender. Drain well andthoroughly mash the flesh.
Meanwhile, chop the lemons in half,squeeze the juice and flesh into a bowl, thencarefully cut away the pith from the peel andslice the peel very finely.
Add the rind, flesh and juice of the lemons, and the ginger, to the drained,mashed courgette.
Bring to the boil and then remove the panfrom the heat. Add the sugar, stirring untildissolved, and then boil again till the jam isthick, about 20 minutes. Pour into warmedsterilised jam jars.
The result is an amber-coloured jam, fra-grant with lemon, the courgette merely pro-viding bulk without imparting any flavour.
INGREDIENTS6lb (2.7kg) courgette flesh4 lemonsJuice of 1 lemon1 teaspoon ground ginger 6lb (2.7kg) normal sugar
Compote de Tomates
Lemon courgette marmalade
Tarte Fine aux Tomates
Do not worry if after half an hour the tomato tart looks an absolute mess: it’ll all dryout, says Alex Mackay in his book Cooking in Provence
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bIf you have a potager you may findat this time of year you have toomany tomatoes and courgettes on your plate. Frances Cook findsways to deal with this abundancewith tried and tested recipes thatwill also be good for your health
Transform your garden gluts into taste sensations
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To advertise yourrestaurant with
us call 0800 91 77 56
Prices start from just €35 HT
per month.
INGREDIENTSServes six 350g (12oz) puff pastry 1.5kg (3lb 5oz) tomatoes, all around
the same size 150g (5.5oz) mascarpone cheese 50g (1.75oz) Parmesan, finely grated 1 biggish bunch fresh basil, leaves
picked from the stalks, sliced Salt and freshly ground black pepper 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil
METHODPreheat oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas 6. Rollpuff pastry to a circle slightly larger than30cm (12 in) in diameter. (If you don’t havea ring this size, use a plate.) Put pastry cir-cle on a tray and let it rest in the fridge for20 minutes or so while you prepare thetomatoes. Remove cores from tomatoes andslice about 5mm thick. Keep all the slicestogether and put the ends in a separate pile.
Mix the mascarpone cheese with theParmesan and basil and season well. Spreadthe mascarpone across the centre of the
pastry circle, leavingabout 10cm (4 in) atthe edges. Layer thesliced tomatoes roundthe outside of thecheese, making a fullcircle. Continuetowards the centre inever-decreasing circles,overlapping the earliercircle each time. Tuck
the tomato ends under each layer to pre-vent them from caving in, then continuetowards the centre. Put the last slice right inthe middle and drizzle with the olive oil.
Bake the tart in the preheated oven for30 minutes, then turn the oven down to150ºC/300ºF/Gas 2 and bake for a further45 minutes. When cooked there should bealmost no liquid left in the tomatoes andthe pastry base will be crisp.
Signed copies of Cooking In Provenceare available from Alex Mackay's website: www.alexmackay.com.
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Why not give Susie Kelly’s lemon courgette marmalade a try?
Caline Montfort of Julien de Savignac wine merchants (www.julien-de-savignac.com) says:I chose for this dish Chateau la Colline 2009. Bergerac rouge. €7.40. This wine ischarming, elegant and fruity and will go perfectly with this summer dish. The ageingin oak brought a nice vanilla touch and a new world style.
Which wine should I drink with this?
BY THE time you read this, your summer visitors will have gone, andFrance will be entering the periodknown as La Rentrée – offices, schools,businesses all returning after the longsummer break.
What better time to get your office orworkshop in order, clear out the clutterand start the ‘new term’ with a clearworkspace. A clear space means a clearmind and a clear path to running yourbusiness successfully.
I have a tendency to gather piles ofpaper. These include back copies of mag-azines, articles printed from the internet,books I mean to get around to reading…Of course, I can never find what I needat a particular time. I have a clear-outevery now and again, but back the pilescreep. Once I start using the window sill,it is time to get the bin bags and theshredder out. Does this sound like yourwork area?
If you work in a cluttered environment,your thoughts will be cluttered too, asyour energy will be sapped by the over-flowing in-tray. If you stop and investsome time making your work space clut-ter-free, your productivity levels will risein direct proportion.
Someone I know has a beautiful study,which her family treats as their part ofthe house, dumping shoes, newspapers, atrade journal, a piece of schoolwork. Sheeventually joined in, plonking ‘stuff ’ inher lovely office. Before long, this ladywas finding excuses to do anything otherthan work… the pets needed cleaningout; there was a new recipe to be triedfor dinner; a friend popping in for coffee; shopping that just had to be done.Her procrastination was down to the factthat she was avoiding her workspace andshe wasn't valuing her own space.
Once she recognised what was happen-ing, she had a clear-up, laid some groundrules for the family and got her work'mojo’ back. If you work electronicallyand operate a ‘paperless office’ that helpsenormously, but many people like toprint something off and read it through.
My aim is that everything I don’t needwill be binned. I had a huge pile ofFrench lifestyle magazines going back 10years. There were articles I needed, but Ihad no idea where. I delegated the taskto someone else - keep what I need andbin the rest. Job done and another shelfcleared!
Procrastination – the art of putting offwhat needs doing now until tomorrow(or indeed the day after tomorrow, orbetter still next week) – can quickly tipover into demotivation. To deal with it,firstly, do as my friend did and have aclear-up so at least your environment is apleasant place to be.
Next, examine what it is you don’t wantto do. Is there a job estimate you can’tface calculating? Do you have a longreport to write up? Are your accountsoverdue? The trick is to eat the elephantone bite at a time. Breaking a job downinto bite-sized pieces and finishing itbefore you move on can work wonders.
The overriding advice is to just dosomething. Don’t worry about
perfection. Don’t try to do it all in onego. And don’t beat yourself up. Guilt isgreat for prolonging procrastination.Even if you just do one small thing offyour list, do it. Give yourself a target anda reward. It doesn’t have to be a hugereward – a cup of tea does it for me!
Get someone to nudge you – we dothis within Normandy Business Groupall the time. I know if I ask someone togive me a motivational kick, I get it!
We support one another through difficult tasks or those that make usnervous. Fear of failure is diminished ifyou can share that fear.
Next month, I will talk about JointVentures, and how partnering withsomeone can push your business along. Normandy Business Group(www.meetup.com/normandy-business-group) - if you are in business in or withNormandy, you should join this group. Itis free, inclusive, and very supportive.We have regular MeetUps, MasterClassesand social events. It’s FREE, it’s fun –come and join us! Meetings can bearranged at a location near you. Comingup this autumn, we have masterclasseson:
Social networking for beginnersStarting to blogEffective press releasesSpeaking in publicMastering photoshopCold calling potential clients
Jelly – Thanks to Dan and Gretchen,Normandy Jelly has found a permanenthome! Jelly takes place on the firstTuesday of every month between 10amand 3pm at the Jug and Jazz in Ger.FREE wifi, tea, coffee and great biscuitsavailable all day. Restaurant open forlunch. More details on the NormandyBiz Group website.
Can YOU offer a home to Jelly? Weneed venues across the region. All that isnecessary is wifi, tables or workspaces.Tea and coffee facilities (or even just akettle will do!) are a bonus. Setting up aJelly, it is really easy – give me a shoutand I’ll pass the details on to you.
Business 11Normandy Advertiser September 2011 www.normandyadvertiser.com
FINANCE
The new UK/French treaty came into effect for the Frenchtax year 2010. Under the old regime, the income continuedto be fully taxed in the UK, with the net UK rental incomethen being added to your “worldwide” income under the“taux effectif ” regime in France. This calculation workedout if you should be a paying a higher rate of tax in France.
The UK rental income will now be taxable in France, witha tax credit to provide relief for double taxation (capped tothe equivalent French tax on the UK income). Your UKstate pension continues to be taxed in France.
French Social Charges are applied to all individuals taxresident in France. The net for sources of income subject tothese social charges is very wide, and the latest Frenchbudget provisions have extended the net further, to helpplug the shortfall in government coffers, in particular forthe French pension burden.
Your UK sources of income should have been declared ontax form 2047. You can claim for your state pension to beexonerated from social charges if you have form S1.
Based on your income figures above, assuming that youare married and both of you are over 65, you will have topay extra income tax this year of approximately €600, compared with the same calculation under the “taux effec-tif ” rules. The French social charges on UK rental incomewould be €3075, with a tax credit of about €1800. Therewill be €1450 CSG available as a deduction against your2011 income tax bill. Overall, your 2010 French income taxand social charges will give an average tax rate of just over10% on your total income of €40,000.
To avoid paying tax twice, contact the UK pension department to confirm that your tax residency is in France,and arrange to receive your state pension gross.
UK income tax on the rental income is approximately£600 each, assuming the income is split between you andyour wife, and that you both qualify for age allowance.
The UK rent received is subject to withholding tax. Thistax paid should be shown on your UK rental self-assessmentreturn. You can go ahead and make your UK returns, nowthat April 6, 2011, has passed, and apply for any UK repayment.
Even with the new rules, you will still be paying less in UKand French tax and social charges combined, than if youhad stayed in the UK.
It remains to be seen how local tax offices will deal withthe new rules.
How to avoid thedouble tax trap
I have my main residence in Dieppe and rent out myhome in Hampshire. I understand from my localFrench tax inspector, that under the new double taxation treaty, my 2010 tax will be worked out differently. I will now have to pay social contributionson my UK property rental income. I earn €25,000from the latter and have a UK state pension of€15,000 a year. Please could you tell me how much Iwill now have to pay the French government?
Judy can be contacted through The Advertiser or by email: [email protected] She is also on Twitter at @NormandyBizGp
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.
Don’t drown in your old paperwork
Approaching La Rentrée witha tidy desk and a tidy mind
Photo:© Argus - Fotolia.com
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12 Directory Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
ANIMALS & PETS
BUILDERS & RENOVATION
BUSINESS & WEBSITES
CARPENTERS
EDUCATION & LANGUAGE
ELECTRICIANS
ESTATE AGENT
FINANCE & INSURANCE
FOOD & CATERING
LE BREWERY10 years of brewing in Normandy
Art is an AleGreat beer for all occasions
www.le-brewery.comTel: 02 33 37 77 26
61320 Joue-du-Bois
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HOUSES ONINTERNET
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Our fee is only 2.5%Find out how on:
WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.COM
Tel: 05 55 65 12 19
English and Fluent French speakingagent, always needing more houses
for sale, 8 years [email protected]
TEL FR: +33 (0) 6 19 17 34 61TEL UK: +44 (0) 7880 501 116
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: [email protected] Covered: 50,61,and 14 - Siret: 49427469900011
French WithoutTears
Your Own PersonalLanguage Course.
Tuition with Accomodationwww.cours-a-cucugnan.com
Tel: 06 78 15 19 29Siret: 521701474
NORMANDYFRENCH TUITION
Qualified bilingual teacherSmall groups, 1 to 1 online,
intensive courses, translationTél: 02 33 65 39 73 Mob: 06 15 76 37 34
www.normandyfrenchtuition.com
Crafts at Les LandesSpinning and other crafts.
Half, Full day tuition orresidential B&B
www.crafts-at-leslandes.comtel: 00 33 (0)2 33 960904
SIRET No 489 459 438 00011
Help with theFrench system
• Paperwork, Phone calls• Translation, InterpretingCall Hilary Reynolds
00 33 (0) 2 33 59 17 07www.leapfrogservices.net
Mascha TaniaTranslation-Administrative Help
Lifetime experienceof the French system.Privacy Guaranteed
Tel: 02 31 67 60 55 / 06 79 86 22 69Siret: 451 736 318 00010
FRENCH TUITIONOnline through Skype
with SylvieTel: 02 31 32 28 83
JS MenuiserieJohn Shipton - 02 33 55 15 90Carpenter/Joiner
All kinds of handmade furniture and carpen-try work. From door fittings to kitchens.
email: [email protected] 499 313 658
English Carpenter/JoinerMichael Bambridge BSc
Very experienced in renovation and carpentry including stairs and furniture
Tel: 02 33 50 40 24Email: [email protected]
Siret: 48131662800017
Stuart Upton CARPENTRY & ROOFING
Full 10 year Insurance Backed GuaranteeTel: 02 33 64 89 28 / 06 06 43 52 28Email: [email protected]
Regions Covered 61, 14, 50Siret 48036552700013
Penny Graphicswebsites from
75€including design, hosting and
domain name
pennygraphics.net02 33 90 92 15
SW COMPUTERSPC repairs,upgrades, sales.help with
internet connections, call out or bring to us.Tel: Mark 02 33 90 64 93
Mob: 06 72 66 61 51www.swcomputers.eu
Siret: 48397386300028
LOW COST PRINT IN NORMANDY
Business Cards - Leaflets - Flyers - Postcards -Banners - Vehicle Graphics - Colour Labelswww.AardvarkPrintandDesign.com
02 33 91 88 [email protected]
WWW.BOCAGERENOVATIONS.COM
For All Your Building &Renovations WorksLarge or Small Projects
( Many can be Viewed )Backed up by 10 year Insurance
14 years working in France
Tel: 02 31 67 62 51Mob: 06 19 91 29 48
Email: [email protected]: 48877612100011
DEVILLE PROPERTYSERVICESBarn & attic
conversion specialists. We undertake all aspects ofrenovation & improvement
projects.We legally employ English
speaking staff& do not sub-contract.
Full 10 year insurance backedguarantee.
TEL: 02 31 67 76 90www.devilleservices.com
Areas: 14 , 50 , 61 Siret: 5026366000018
Andrew Hadfield
BUILDERAll building works undertaken.
Mini digger, Full Registered,10 year decennale insurance.
Tel: 02 33 61 72 90 - Email: [email protected]: Near St Hilaire - Siret: 499 532 059 00015
MesnilRenovation
Areas 14/50/61Full / Part Renovations,
carpentry, masonry, plaster-ing, tiling, kitchens, replace-
ment windows and doors.www.buildersnormandy.com
Tel. 02 31 09 26 54Siret 48423125300010
GENERAL BUILDERRoofs, Loft conversions,Plumbing & Electrical,
Groundworks.Experienced team forall renovation work.__________________________
TIMBER PRESERVATIONEradication of rot andwoodboring insects
20 year certificated guarantee covering all France
Tel: Jim +33 (0) 679274563Email: [email protected]
Siret 488081233
David Pickering CompleteBuilding Services
Specializing in Installation of FosseToutes Eaux - Mini Digger/Dumper Hire
Email: [email protected]: 02 33 17 24 82
Mobile: 06 20 14 73 69 Siret: 481 189 991
Chenil du Val KennelsSmall, friendly, professional kennel
Special care/attention for your pets.Quarantine alternative
Contact Angie: Tel 02 33 17 17 61Between Periers/Coutances/St Lo
Email: [email protected] 50993743900016
GOLDENWAYINTERNATIONAL PETS
World Wide PetTransporter / Relocator
Ministry approvedNo. 61195004 – 61195001Offices CDG Airport Paris
Offices and Kennels NormandyTel: 01 48 62 87 25 CDG ParisTel: 02 33 38 41 32 Normandy
www.goldenwaypets.comSiret: 397549551
Acorn Kennels & Cattery
Qualified and professional careof your pet while you are away
www.AcornKennelsandCattery.comTel: 02 33 49 63 22
Siret: 479 825 168 00012
ANIMAL COURIERSExperienced couriers specialisingin pet travel between France / UK /
Spain or within France. Pet passport advice.
Tel: 0044 (0) 1483200123Email: [email protected]
Web: www.animalcouriers.com
NORMANDY KENNELSSmall, caring and qualified
English run kennels and catteryContact Jon or Sue Tel 02 31 67 93 48
Near Vire Dept 14www.normandykennels.com
[email protected] 48914001200019
Chenil Les Mille Calins
English Run5 Star accommodation
for Dogs/CatsComprising of underfloor
heated kennels Qualified staff
Top Quality food and exerciseOnly 45 minutes south of Caen
Convenient Ferry AccessSAFETY COMFORT AND CARE FOR
YOUR PET, PEACE OF MIND FOR YOUwww.goldenwaypets.comTelephone 02 33 37 49 19Emergency 02 33 38 41 32
Fax 02 33 38 44 16
NORMANDYADVERTISER
Advertise here ALL YEAR from just €165HT
Call free on 0800 91 77 56
or email: [email protected]
NORMANDY DIRECTORY
Directory 13Normandy Advertiser September 2011 www.normandyadvertiser.com
GARDENS & POOLS
GENERAL
MOTORING
PROPERTY SERVICES
ROOFING SPECIALISTCCoommpplleettee wwoorrkkss//rreeppaaiirrss uunnddeerrttaakkeenn
BBaasseedd iinn tthhee SSoommmmee aarreeaaAAllll NNoorrtthheerrnn rreeggiioonnss CCoonnssiiddeerreeddContact Chris or Barbara Wood
Tel: 03 22 32 59 [email protected]
Siret: 502368103
CHIMNEY SWEEPBlack Cat Services
Expert English Sweep, Mess FreeRegistered, Insured.
Certificate de Ramonage IssuedTel : 02 33 50 84 91
Email: [email protected]
Chris HuttENGLISH TV INSTALLER
TV & Internet - all works guaranteed
www.ashnormandie.comTel: 02 33 91 69 29
Email: [email protected]: 491 624 367
CHIMNEY SWEEPPROPERTY MANAGEMENT
DEPT 50Stephen Ramsbottom - 0233172361
e-mail: [email protected]
siret: 51114827200012
TEMPLIERS SECURITEPROTECTION PRIVEEALL ASPECTS OF PERSONAL &
PROPERTY SECURITYEVENT SECURITY MANAGEMENT
STUD FARMS
152 Ave de Flandre75019 Paris
Tel: 09 81 72 17 02Mobile : 06 61 32 77 91
Email : templierblanc@hotmail.frwww.templierssecuriteprotectionprivee.com
SARL QUESNEE
HOME & PROPERTYSECURITY SOLUTIONS
COMPLETE RANGE OF ALARMSGATES- GARAGE DOORS -CCTV
FREE ADVICE & QUOTES
VIRE - 02 31 68 95 00CAEN - 02 31 85 27 62
POWER & LIGHT SERVICESELECTRICAL & PLUMBING
SERVICESALL WORK FULLY INSURED.
Tel: 02 33 70 88 24Email: [email protected] Covered: 50,14,61,22
Siret: 515 210 847 00015
ELECTRICIAN / PLUMBERand HEATING ENGINEERFrench Registered - Over 35 years experience
David Christie - 02 33 51 05 91Mobile: 06 31 97 58 15
Email: [email protected] Manche Siret: 481 604 411 00019
Kilrush Cars Ltd
A large selection ofEuropean
Left Hand Drive
CarsOne owner - FSH - C.O.CTel: 00 44 (0) 1252 782883
www.kilrushcars.com
ENGLISHLANGUAGEFUNERALS
Your needs, your wishes09 65 35 17 56
www.englishlanguagefunerals.fr
Seans Garden ServicesLawns – Hedges – TreesOvergrown plots cleared.
Free quotes for one-off jobs.Call Sean 02 31 09 27 00
Email: [email protected]: 50139841600013
GARDEN MAINTENANCEGarden Clearance - Grass Cutting
Hedge Cutting - Strimming and WeedKilling
Tel: Charlie 02 33 91 78 05Email: [email protected]
St Sever Area Siret 49763502900018
Mark Dupee LANDSCAPE GARDENER
Est 1994Tel: 02 33 90 92 28
Mobile: 06 68 74 83 41Email: [email protected]
Siret 49509842800016
Le Chateau deCrosville sur Douve
Welcomes you to our newrestaurant
Varied menu each weekOpen Thurs, Fri & Sat evenings
Sunday lunchtimesTel: 02 33 41 67 25 / 06 98 76 60 60
Photos onwww.chateaucrosville.com
email:[email protected]
ADVERTISING FEATURES
WOOD Stove Studio’s traditionalopen weekend on 22 and 23October this year will become a spe-cial event as proprietors Nigel andJulie Campen celebrate the compa-ny’s fifth anniversary. Not only thatbut this year, instead of special pro-motions just running over the week-end, offers will run througout theentire month of October in celebra-tion of the company’s success.
“When we moved to France andset up Wood Stove Studio it was a
calculated gamble, we did loads ofmarket research but you never knowhow successful the venture will beuntil you have made that commit-ment,” said Nigel. However, the hardwork has paid off as a result of thecouple’s determination to be “best inclass” in all aspects of running thebusiness, both in terms of serviceand prices.
This approach has proved so pop-ular with clients that around 40% ofthe company’s new business is nowa result of customers’ referrals.
Nigel and Julie meet annually withsuppliers to negotiate costs. Thisenables the company to offer clientsquality branded products throughUK and European suppliers at high-ly competitive prices, as well as reg-
ular promotionaloffers. “With a rangeof almost 400 stoveoptions we have astove to meet eachclient’s requirementand budget,” saidJulie, going on to
explain there are about 30 stoves onpermanent display at their show-room in St Gervais des Sablons.“Our business mandate is ‘to alwaysgive the best advice we can to ourcustomers and to offer the bestproducts at competitive prices,’ andthis is backed up by Nigel’s meticu-lous attention to detail and bestpractice installation work ethic,” sheadded.
As winter approaches the companyalways sees business levels increase,so Nigel and Julie make sure thebest-selling models are in stock andreadily available for immediatedelivery and installation, along withthe flexible liner and twin wallchimney products.
The company also supplies stovesthat meet the government’s criteriafor a 22% return on the value of thestove, through the crédit d'impôt,and charge TVA at just 5.5% if theyboth supply and install a client’s newstove.
The Wood Stove Studio website isconstantly updated, and a popular
section is the “Ask the Specialist”feature. Here the company answersquestions from clients with one ofthe most common asking whatassurance décennale is for. “This pol-icy is very important,” said Nigel.“By law any individual or companysupplying and installing a woodburning stove should have an assur-ance décennale policy that covers thescope of works associated withinstalling stoves, chimney liners and twin wall stacks.”
Julie and Nigel always advise cus-tomers to check that the companysupplying and installing their newstove has this certificate.
“Ask to see the certificate and ifthey do not have it then our adviceis: no décennale, no order - simple.It is there for your safety and securi-ty and with fire you do not takechances,” said Julie.
www.woodstovestudio.com02 33 12 57 26
Save on a new wood stove
Wood Stove Studio is celebrating its five-year anniversary in Octoberby offering customers big savings across its range of 400 stoves
Around 30 stoves are displayed in the showroom
NORMANDY-based printerAardvark Print & Design arerenowned for providing a low-costprint alternative.
The company, established byJonathan Boughey and based nearVire (department 14), helps busi-nesses to market themselves effec-tively by providing a whole range ofprinted items at very competitiveprices.
As a result of working from ahome-based production suite,Jonathan is able to keep his over-heads low and pass on these savingsto his customers. Furthermore, dueto his professional printing back-ground he can offer both new andestablished businesses plenty of
advice on making the most oftheir often limited marketingbudgets.
Local business Mobsby’sBrasserie Artisanale
(www.mobsbys.com), amicro-brewery, relies onAardvark for a wholerange of products to pro-mote its business (suchas display materials,leaflets and vehicle liv-ery) and to brand itsproducts in various ways,for example, by using labels or pack-aging stickers.
“Jonathan has been a huge help tous by giving our product an identityand a very professional look.Having someone who is happy todiscuss ideas and can respond toour often last-minute demands is abig relief,” said owner Steve Mobsby.
A newcomer in Normandy, JohnBaines wanted to set up a motorcy-cle engineering and restorationbusiness and needed an identityquickly and at a low cost. Jonathanwas able to meet with him andcome up with a design for businessand advert cards. Sending proofs viaemail meant that the finished itemswere ready within days of the firstcontract starting.
Budget considerations are impor-tant for Normandy-based charitableassociation Cancer Support France(www.csfbassenormandie.com).“We run a number of eventsthroughout the year and, althoughwe want to raise as much money as
possible for the charity, we have topublicise what we are doing andJonathan helps us to do this veryeconomically,” said President Jenny Luck.
“More recently, with Jonathan'shelp and encouragement we havebranched out into branded ‘dona-tion merchandise’ including wrist-bands, car stickers and T-shirts.Without his help we would havestruggled and probably made someexpensive mistakes.”
Aardvark Print and Design hasquickly established a reputation forprofessional service, meeting dead-lines and being able to match all butthe most discounted of internetoffers.
Jonathan is always pleased toreceive calls or emails from newcontacts and will offer his professional advice on projects bothbig and small.
www.aardvarkprintanddesign.com02 33 91 88 16
Aardvark Print & Design providesa low-cost printing service thatenables businesses to marketthemselves effectively
Many companiesrely on Aardvarkfor a wide rangeof products
Starting up a business usually means money is tight, yet it is exactly the moment to invest in a strong corporateidentity. Aardvark Print & Design can help you with your design and marketing needs at a surprisingly low cost
Print company helps businesses to grow
REMOVALS & TRANSPORT
RETAIL & COMMERCE
To advertise here
call freephone in
France
0800 91 77 56 /
from UK 0844 256
9881 (4p/min) or
email directory@
connexionfrance.com
BRITISH BEDSBY BEAUX
RÊVES2 & 4 Drawer Divans
Headboards & BedsteadsMemory Foam - Pocket Sprung
Vacuum Packed MattressesZip & Link Divans
Mattresses from 99€Beds from 99€
Opening Times - Tues, Thurs, Fri9.30-12.00 14.00-17.00Wed, Sat 9.30-12.00
Closed Sun, Mon23 rue de Bretagne
53120 GorronTel - 02 43 11 26 77
Email - [email protected]
WOODBURNERSAsh Grove Stoves
Supplier ofHunter - Villager
- Clean Burn - Fire Visible - Boiler versions available- Deliveries all over France- Prices on our website
Lowest Prices Guaranteed
Tel: 00 44 (0) 1392 861579www.ashgrovestoves.com
WOOD STOVE STUDIOWood burning stoves and Cuisinieres from
Cashin Camina CleanburnEsse Hunter Parkray
Stovaxon display at our dept 61 showroom
Selkirk chimneyand flexible liner
Full installation servicewww.woodstovestudio.com [email protected]
Tel 02 33 12 57 26Siret 498 597 632 00013
LE BON CHOIXDEPOT - VENTE
Tel: 02 43 03 37 72www.lebonchoixdepotvente.com
DIRECT LOISIRSN°1 in all of France for direct
sale of mobile homes andchalets. Looking for a plot by
the sea?
DIRECT LOISIRS can offer sitesto rent or buy in small
residential parks.
Visit our permanent display in Gavray.ZA Route de Coutances
50450 Gavraytel: 02 33 91 16 80
www.directloisirs.com
WOODBURNERSBY THE STOVE SHACK
ESSE - HUNTER - WOODWARM- Full lining and installation
of all Stoves - Free Survey and Advice
in Depts 14,50,61- Stoves eligible for
Credit d'impots- 20 yrs experience - HETAS and NVQ Qualified
Tel 02 33 17 25 [email protected]
www.thestoveshack.euSiret No 510 070 535 00016
MOVINGTO OR FROM
FRANCE?Weekly services to
& from FranceFull or part loads, 4wks free storage,
25 Yearsexperience
Contact:Anglo French RemovalsTel: +44 (0) 1622 690 653
Email: [email protected]
REFLEX MOODYS LTDSALISBURY
REMOVALSUK - FRANCE - UK
• Weekly Service • Full & Part Loads• Container Storage
• BAR Members• On-line Quotation
• Internet Shopping Deliveries00 44 1722 414350
[email protected] Regn No: UK 5186435TVA / VAT No: UK 864 7217 04
D & KREMOVALSLight Removals to and from
France. Best prices, best service.T: + 44 (0) 079705 30723
INVICTA INTERNATIONALLIGHT HAULAGE SERVICESStore Collections, General Removals,
Motorcycle Recovery.France, UK, Europe.Tel: 02 33 64 99 31
Email: [email protected] Number 51407345.1-0001.5
FISHFACE REMOVALS UK - FRANCE - UK Full and part loads You pack,
we move, you save! 0044 (0)1327 264627 UK
Email: [email protected] www.fishfaceremovals.com
SELF STORAGE FACILITY 61SECURE SITE
NEW STORAGE CONTAINERSCOMPETITIVE PRICES
Tel: 02 33 30 89 20Email: [email protected]
Web: www.pjmselfstorage.comSiret: 41153948300020 - Regions: All of France
Chimney SweepWood StoveInstallationProperty
ManagementIain Davison
www.propertycarepeople.comTel: 02 33 14 09 55
Email: [email protected]: 494799968
14 Property Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
DIY tips
TOLLEVAST02.33.88.54.54
QUERQUEVILLE02.33.01.88.00
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DID you know that hunters have the right to huntacross your private land?
As the main hunting season gets under wayagain this month, you be aware that this ruleapplies unless you explicitly oppose it.
However, how simple a task that is depends onwhere in France you live.
Hunting rights depend on whether the huntersin your area belong to an association communalede chasse agréée (certified communal huntingsociety – ACCA) or a simple association de chasse(hunting society). Between them there are about70,000 hunt societies in France.
In the ACCA areas you own the hunting rights onyour land but are deemed to have given tacit per-mission for others to hunt on it unless you explic-itly oppose it.
“The courts take the view that ‘he who doesn’tspeak up, consents’”, says French wild animal char-ity Aspas.
If you do not ban hunting then hunters cancome as close to your home as they like, saysAspas. The group adds that, contrary to what isoften thought, in association de chasse areas thereis no set 150m perimeter around homes wherehunting cannot take place, merely a certain dis-tance, set by the local prefect, inside whichhunters cannot shoot towards homes.
In the ACCA areas, often in the south, you haveto apply to the prefect to have hunting banned onyour land, though a 150m zone around homesdoes apply, Aspas says.
Your mairie should be able to tell you which isthe case in your area.
Either way, a simple way to alert hunters of yourchoice, or be helped through the procedures for aban, is to sign an agreement with Aspas to desig-nate your land as an Aspas refuge.
If you are in a société de chasse area they willsend you “no-hunting signs” to put up straightaway. They will also advise on how to make sureyour land is an ideal environment for wildlife.
In ACCA areas, Aspas will help you with theadmin involved. Also, the fact you are backed bythe charity will add weight to your application.
Aspas director Madline Reynaud said: “To pleasethe hunters the law has been made far from simplewhen it comes to withdrawing your land from thehunting areas.
“You can really only do it once every five years,on the anniversary of the creation of the ACCA inyour commune.
“In the end, to protect nature, individual initia-tive has to take the place of the failings of theauthorities.”
Ms Reynaud added: “If you are an owner or ten-ant, and not a hunter, you can have your right tohave no hunting recognised and live in completesafety and tranquillity. Thanks to creating a refuge,your land will be a haven of peace for fauna and flora and the natural habitats.”
For more about Aspas, the Association pour laProtection des Animaux Sauvage, see www.aspas-nature.org
Fitting a smokealarm is a must
ALL homes in France must have at least one smoke detectorfitted by law and whether you are the owner or tenant of aproperty it is up to you to make sure that one is installed andregularly tested.
It has been obligatory since February 2009 when the loiMorange et Meslot came into force and it applies to holidayaccommodation and furnished apartments.
The simplest alarm to install is a battery powered one, itcan be fixed anywhere – although it is best on the ceiling –and is available in all DIY stores. If you choose to have ahard-wired system then it is best to get an electrician to visitand fit it properly.
The first step is to choose where you need to install thealarm. It is advisable to install a detector on each floor butavoid mounting them near windows or doors as smoke canescape before reaching the detectors.
Kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms should also beavoided as steam from kettles or cooking, candles or fire-places can cause the alarms to go off.
The detector should be ideally mounted on the ceiling andat least 30cm away from walls. If you have an uneven ceilingplace it at the highest point as smoke rises. Place the casingin the chosen spot and, with a pencil, mark out the fixingpoints. See packaging for the size of holes to be drilled forthe wall plugs and screws provided.
Screw the casing in place and then put in the battery andfix on the cover. Once assembled it is very important tocheck the alarm is working by pressing the test button.
It is recommended that smoke alarms be tested once aweek. Again do this by pressing the test button which shouldset the alarm off. You can also do test it by blowing out acandle below the alarm, the smoke created should set off thealarm.
At least once a month remove any dust from the alarm bygently vacuuming it and dusting down the case. Never usewater or any cleaning products.
The batteries on battery-powered detectors must bechanged regularly and it is recommended to change themevery year even if low battery signal has not been triggered.
Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.
Once the smoke detector is fitted it is important to doregular tests on its operation and battery
Photo: Serenethos - Fotolia.com
Say No to avoidthe hunt comingonto your land
Boar are one of themost commonly-huntedlarge game
Phot
o: ©
woj
ciec
h no
wak
- Fo
tolia
.com
Property 15Normandy Advertiser September 2011 www.normandyadvertiser.com
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Buying or selling a property in or around Normandy? Wecan help.
Our website www.connexionfrance.com carries details ofmore than 14,000 homes for sale across France. We also fea-ture properties for sale in this dedicated section of the papereach month. To find out more about any particular property,go to www.connexionfrance.com and enter the ref: codeshown under the property.
For sellers, theadverts are also dis-played across arange of popularEnglish-speakingwebsites and areseen by thousandsof potential buyersEVERY day. Our3+3 package costsjust €200TTC andgives you threemonths online
advertising as well as a print advert in three editions of TheAdvertiser. Our 6+6 package is best value at €330TTC andprovides the same, but for six months via each channel.
Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email [email protected]
More details on all these properties - and howto contact the seller directly - can be found in
the property for sale section of ww.connexionfrance.com
Simply enter the code under each home to find out more
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New Consumption and Emission Chart- e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions
THE harvest continues in the orchard and hedgerows thismonth, with the first grapes and with plums, figs andblackberries – an ideal time for making jam.
As the saying has it, “Septembre nous produit les plusdélectables des fruits”. Many apples, pears and peaches alsocome to ripeness this month, as well as quinces – try themgently, if they are ready they should come off very easily.
Throw away or burn any diseased fruits, as they will contaminate your compost heap, and do not leave fallenfruit rotting under trees to avoid the trees being affected bycertain diseases.
Picking blackberries – your own or ones from the wild –is one of the easiest ways to get the fruit to make jam: greaton toast for breakfast or le goûter.
It is traditional in this season to hunt for blackberries inthe country hedgerows: watch out for the spines on thebranches – it is best to wear gloves for the job – and fill abasket, rather than a bag (in which they tend to getsquashed).
It does not matter if some are a little unripe, as they willhave more pectin, which helps the jam to set.
Wash and drain them. Use about 60% as much sugar as fruit, say three kilos of
blackberries to two of sugar. Every cook has their favouriterecipe, with some insisting on pureeing the blackberries ina moulin à légumes on a fine setting to strain out the pips.
Otherwise, a simple way is to start them off in a big potwith about a glass-and-a-half of water; once simmeringadd the sugar and stir again until boiling, then simmer,stirring regularly until you obtain a thick jam. Add thejuice of a lemon a few minutes before the end and thenpour into pots. Plums and figs also make wonderful jams.
Also this month, if you have vines, as the grapes ripenyou should pluck off excess leaves shading the bunches.
In the vegetable garden, the last tomatoes will also be ripeto pick now (as with grapes, remove any leaves that areshading your tomatoes) as well as potatoes and carrots.
It is a good idea to give vegetable plots a good weedingthis month.
It is also time to start pruning fruit trees such as applesand pears; and there is sowing to be done: onions, Lamb’slettuce, spinach, leeks, winter turnips and radishes, andyou can plant out strawberry plants.
If a few fruits are not fully ripe it helps jam to set
Phot
o: R
ages
oss
REF: 13220s
€€107,237
ENERGY RATING = Not given
Créances, MancheAncien Moulin a Vent home on3 Levels DRC: Living room,kitchen and bathroom. 1st floor:1 bedroom. 2nd floor: 1 bedroom. Garage septic tank,ground of 1000m2
REF: 40691
€€153,000
ENERGY RATING = Not given
Saint-Fraimbault, OrneThe property comprises 3 double bedrooms and a bathroom with shower, akitchen, a laundry room, WC,shower room, a lounge with fireplace and a patio.
REF: 7742
€€215,000
ENERGY RATING = Not given
Forges-les-Eaux, Seine-MaritimeThis delightful and generouslyproportioned period 'farmhouse' style property is situiatedin a small hamlet of six houseswith countryside views.
REF: HNO-235
€€390,000
ENERGY RATING = Not given
Lyons-la-Forêt, EureThis detached, spacious andcharacteristic "Maison deMaître" from 1840 has been ren-ovated. Comprises four bed-rooms, attached staff house/barnand 3,000sqm garden.
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GHOSTS come back to teach us something about the way we live,according to Normandy ghost hunterErick Fearson.
As a child, Erick had no idea that thethings he saw and felt were different. Hisfather was a magician, and he countedpsychics, hypnotists and fortune tellersamong his relatives, so when he startedpredicting events and finishing people’ssentences, nobody was surprised.
“Everybody in my family was the same,it was normal life for me,” he said. “ThenI got to secondary school and I discovered that what was normal for mewas paranormal for everybody else.”
For a while, he struggled with this difference and even started to doubt andlose his gift.
“But then I realised that two visions ofthe world can co-exist, and that I wasn’tinsane. From then on, I’ve always takenthat middle road,” said the 43-year-oldfrom Deauville-Trouville.
Mr Fearson still feels this way about hiswork. He is quick to point out that hedoes not chase ghosts away. He worksout why they are there and what they arelooking for.
He has gained quite a reputation.People who think their house might behaunted track the ghost hunter downand ask for his help. He goes to theirhome and opens up what he describes asan investigation.
His equipment includes an infra-red camcorder, an electromagnetic fielddetector and an infra-red laser thermometer to detect changes in
temperature. And he uses his gift, the ability to sense when spirits are present.
“I like to go to the place on my own,spend a night there, get a feel for theplace,” he said. “I can sense them. It’shard to express. I try to listen to them,sometimes I see them.”
It is perhaps just as well that MrFearson is not afraid of ghosts.
He said: “I have never been afraid,excited perhaps, but never afraid.
“Spirits cannot do anything to us. Bybelieving that they can, we invest a certain power in them, and it becomes asort of reality.
“When you get a negative feeling in ahouse, you are getting a sense of the
ghost’s personality, its character when itwas a human. That’s all.
“I’ve never met an evil spirit, they havealways been neutral.”
Once Mr Fearson has detected thepresence of a spirit and has got a feel forwho they might have been, he goesabout investigating the history of thehouse to find out if any previous tenantsfit the bill.
He believes there is always a purpose:“They come back to tell us something.When faced with a ghost, don’t run away,ask yourself what he is trying to tell you.The questions are more important thanthe answers.”
Mr Fearson realises that most people’spoint of reference is the 1980s filmGhostbusters. “I guess I do use some ofthe same technology, but that’s about it,”he said. He is also aware there are a lot ofcynics out there.
“What I’d say to them is go out and experience it yourself. Go to somewherehaunted and see how you feel.”
Mr Fearson also works in telepathy andmentalism. He runs conferences andtraining sessions as well as guided ghosttours of Mortemer Abbey, near Lyons-la-Forêt in the Eure.
He has written a manual for would-beghost hunters. Details are available fromwww.maison-hantee.com.
16 Profile Normandy Advertiser September 2011www.normandyadvertiser.com
Peacemaker for spiritsAs a child, Erick Fearson thought it was perfectly normal to be able to predict events and feel the presence of spirits.Amy McCormack spoke to him about his gift, and how he hasbuilt up his reputation as a ghosthunter
Phot
os: J
ulie
n B
oisa
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