Editorial
May2012
By Julia Dunbar
‘My candle burns at both ends
It may not last the night
But oh, my foes, and oh, my friends –
It gives a lovely light!’
by Edna St Vincent Millay
That’s such a short, succinct piece of poetry by unconventional, Pulitzer prize winning feminist poet and playwright Edna St Vincent Millay, that sums up life – perhaps she is saying, in my mind anyway, find the joys in life, live them, for tomorrow they may be gone.
There is nothing more pertinent than the sudden death of a friend that makes you reflect on life and recall how important it is to savour every moment as who knows when there won’t be any more. I am speaking here of John Clayton, or Bill as I knew him, Mr Buzzy Bee as others knew him, who without fail came up with his beekeeping article every month for Creuse News and who recently and suddenly died, my thoughts are with his wife Carole and family.
I know people were saying that we needed rain but I think we have had quite sufficient now, my small stream has flooded over my little bridge, the pony can’t get across the stream, the chickens are paddling around in mud and my water barrel is overflowing. There seems to be a plethora of plant fairs and sales happening in May so let’s hope for a little sunshine and dry weather so that we can all get out into our gardens to do a little planting, surely the last frost has been and gone!
You may find it interesting to visit the Recyclabulle shop on the industrial site in Guéret, an excellent idea where volunteers recuperate thrown away objects, sort them, repair and restore them if needed and resell them at reasonable prices, in an effort to reduce waste and take care of the planet, their article is inside Creuse News, you can even donate things that you no longer have use for, your waste is another’s treasure ….
Thanks once again to everyone who has helped producing this month’s Creuse News, I hope you enjoy reading it and of course I have to finish with a quote –
‘They who plant a garden plant happiness’
Julia Dunbar,
Editor
STOP PRESS
ANNUAL ‘JOURNEE DES PLANTES’ at the Arboretum de la Sedelle. Taking place this year on 12th and 13th May from 10 am to 7pm is the traditional plant market at the Arboretum near Crozant. Plant specialists from all over France will be selling a wide range of sometimes rare specimens and offering their advice too. Conferences will also be taking place over the weekend and guided visits of the arboretum will be every hour, of course food and drink will be on offer, organised by willing volunteers. Entrance is 6 euros, free for those under 15 and for members of the Arboretum association, boots could be a good idea, for this exceptional ‘plant day’. Arboretum de la Sédelle 05 55 89 83 16 http://arbosedelle.free.fr
ANGLO-FRENCH OUTING ...A number of us are trying to launch an informal meet-up group, with a mixture of Expats and French people. For our next outing, we would like to propose a visit to the Ferme des Clautres, close to Gouzon, on Sunday May 6th in the afternoon. The farm is run by a very nice family. Fully organic and eco-friendly, it specializes in breeding « unique » animals such as very rare birds, tiny goats, pigs and cows, etc. The visit includes an indoor explanation of what life was like here 100 years ago. The visit lasts 2 hours and costs 7 euros per person. If we have time, we can also have a look at fragments of frescoes dated before the year 1000, in Les Forges church, Gouzougnat. Please contact us if you are coming. Barbi Simons (barbiusa@yahoo.com)
Featured Article:
LES PRINTANIERES
a celebration of the garden and nature,
St Léger Bridereix, Sunday 13th May from 9am to 6pm
This will be the 3rd year that this nature and garden festival will have taken place, offering a spectacular array of everything for those passionate gardeners and countryside lovers.
Over 80 stands and demonstrations covering all kinds of subjects linked to gardening and the countryside will be there from vegetable gardening, biodiversity, orchards, the protection of the environment etc...It is planned so that you can spend the whole day at the Fête, taking your time to visit the six themed sections, talk to experts, eat, drink, exchange ideas and make your purchases.
The sections include – The Garden, Nature and the Environment, Flavours, Nature and Culture, Beauty and Well-Being, Children & Nature. In the Garden section there will be a ‘vide jardin’ an opportunity to exchange and sell no longer needed tools etc., an anti-waste workshop, a grafting demonstration, zero pesticide, suspended and roof gardens, plenty of plants, shrubs, trees, seeds for sale, hand-made objects and sculptures in wood and metal to decorate your garden.
Nature and the environment offers you a look at weeds, insects, wild life, farmyard animals, walks into the countryside. In the Flavours section you can taste local produce, dine on Fondu Creusois and discover soups, jams, cakes etc..
Beauty and well-being offers artisanal jewellery, cosmetics, woollen products and weaving and in the cultural exhibition there will be photographs, paintings and workshops, plus plenty for the children with games, books, activities and demonstrations.
Many different kinds of exhibitions are on show ranging from amazing trees, local Creusois gardens, orchids, garden furniture, aromatic plants, garden machinery, rock gardens, just too much to mention, you need to go along and have a look …
A whole day out offering something for all the family at St Léger Bridereix, situated between La Souterraine and Dun le Palestel on the D 951.
IN BRIEF MAY 2012
CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE Cancer Support France provides English speaking support to cancer sufferers and their families. The Creuse plus branch have produced A4 laminated posters about their work to go into doctor’s waiting rooms. If you could arrange for one of these to go into the waiting room of your doctor’s practice please contact Mike Walsh on walsh515@gmail.com
AIPB ACTIVITIES Now that spring’s here, the AIPB (Amitiés Internationales du Pays de Boussac) is springing into life. First of all, on Sunday 6th May we are holding an English cake stall at the spring market in Lavaufranche (Marche Prinantier). We will be selling our famous homemade cakes and marmalade, starting at 09h00 until everything is gone! Our stall will be inside the gymnasium alongside other stalls - bric -a- brac, plants, arts and crafts plus numerous other items. Food and drink will also be available. All home made donations for our stall will be gratefully received. For more info: phone 05 55 65 70 06
On Sunday 3rd June, we are inviting the the local Boussac population to a Tea Party (une journée de partager) to join with us to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the Queen and the French Fête des Voisins. We will be serving typical English sandwiches with, of course, our delicious home made cakes and English tea. Coffee, soft drinks and wine will be available too. The event will be free of charge. Find us in the square in Boussac, 15h30 until 18h30. A children's painting competition will be held with wonderful prizes for the winners. Games to occupy the children will be organised. More information coming soon!
A practical guide to Pays Combraille en Marche and a calendar are now available. With the Easter holidays, the practical guide and calendar are available in the tourist offices of the North East of the Creuse. Full of ideas for week-ends or longer holidays. This guide is a joint-venture of the 6 tourist offices of The Pays de Combraille and aimed at giving you the most information available for you to discover and enjoy our region from The Pierres Jaumâtres to The Sainte Valérie Abbey, the Spa of Evaux-les-Bains, the Lake at La Naute and the Golf Course of La Jonchère (Gouzon) and of course restaurants.... Its 5 pages in English introduce the region to the many English speaking tourists. Leaflets, which contain a calendar of all major events including music concerts, exhibitions, sports events, walks, tea dance, village fairs, local markets, are also available. This project has been partly financed by European Union (Leader program) and communities of commons (Auzances Bellegarde, Carrefour des quatre provinces, Chénérailles, Evaux-les-Bains, Chambon-sur-Voueize, and Pays de Boussac). 5 000 guides and calendars have been published and are available, free of charge, at the tourist offices of Boussac, Gouzon, Chambon sur Voueize, Evaux-les-Bains and Auzances Bellegarde or on request from the same offices. From the beginning of May, the guides will also be available in all the tourist offices in The Creuse; and at certain tourist sites of the area.
