Editorials

Here are the editorials from some previous issues. Click a link below to jump to the relevant one. We'll be adding more shortly!

January 2008
February 2008
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009

January 2008

Editorial

ALREADY the fifth edition of Creuse News, how time flies. There seems to be a snowball effect taking place now with the news of the paper spreading.

We’ve had coverage on Radio France Bleu Creuse which encouraged quite a few people to telephone or email us. Also the France3 TV interview generated interest, particularly from French people. The interview is on our website if you feel like taking a look.

It’s very nice to have more French people contacting us with information or to advertise as one of the ideas of the paper is to try to create a link between the French and the English communities.

We’ve also been contacted by a new Radio Station in Guéret who have asked us to do a regular one hour slot, in English, we have a free hand to include what we want with our first broadcast in March, so we are in the process of throwing ideas around, if you have anything to say please contact us – it’s all very exciting.

There’s a good mixture of articles in this issue with some interesting facts and figures and also new advertisers from selling greetings cards, to hiring diggers and beautiful puppies for sale.

On a personal note our most amazing news it that Olivia, my daughter, gave birth to a son on Friday 25th January, a new little grandson for me and one youngster ‘de plus en Creuse’. A very big thank you to all the wonderful staff at Guéret hospital.

We hope to hear from you with any news, thanks once again to all our volunteer delivery people.

February 2008

Editorial

Here’s our 6th edition of Creuse News – with lots for you to enjoy – I hope – thanks to those who have contributed articles (it means I have to write less) and with our twice a month radio show about to start in April on RPG (Radio Pays de Guéret 96.5) we’re going to need lots of news to report and guest studio speakers, so please contact us if you have something to impart.

Len Tondel has written an interesting article about his mill/museum. Do try and visit it and if this beautiful February weather continues it may be possible to have a picnic by his river, which he invites people to do, definitely one to put on your visit list. Len and Marian are very welcoming and full of information.

It’s very nice to have more French people contacting us and I’ve left a couple of articles in French as many French people are asking for Creuse News to be in French, but that would be quite a task, so the odd article in French is good for everyone.

Something new this month are our photo pin-ups (bet you can’t wait to turn the page)! They’re our 4-legged friends who are looking for a home, thanks to Brian Page for suggesting this regular monthly slot, he adopted Bianca from the Dog’s Home and she’s just lovely and happy.

People’s determination, motivation, ingenuity never fail to astound me, the sheer variety of things people are doing are worth a mention from clock repairs, chainsaw carving, singing, translating, darts, gardening, building, market sellers, hairdressing, massage, greetings cards to name but a few and you’ll find them all inside!

Finally, don’t forget to vote in the Municipal Elections, if you’re registered that is.

Bonne lecture - Happy reading.

February 2009

Editorial

Here we are already in February and quite a few of our advertisers are thinking of St Valentine’s Day on Saturday the 14th, you’ll find inside a few opportunities to treat your loved one to a romantic dinner and we even have a St Valentine’s crossword.

Otherwise we have news from the Chambre de Métiers, which could be a regular feature now as Olivia has started her job there as translator for English speaking people wanting to set up a business. The new autoentrepreneur status is stirring up a lot of interest, so you might find a few of your questions answered inside this edition of Creuse News.
There is a lot of information being given out and articles written about alternative energies at the moment, and quite rightly as the environment and the state of the planet is all our concern. Energy expert Marc Asker wants to give some free talks in the Creuse on alternative choices, have a look at his article, and if you want to go along to his presentation then please get in touch with Marc.

Thank you to all those people who have contributed articles to Creuse News this month, please keep them coming, it is really nice to have a variety of subjects and it means I have to write less!

Despite Internet newspapers are still the most iconic outlet for news and other journalistic articles - so long may we continue to survive and grow …..

Enjoy reading Creuse News and see you next month...

March 2009

Editorial

We have had some lovely sunny days in February, Spring is just around the corner, the signs are there, the bulbs are peeping through, I’ve seen the cranes (les grus) flying over coming back from warmer climes and the sunshine shows up all that Winter’s dust in my house!

Time to start thinking about jobs that need doing, we have plenty of artisans advertising their services - a swimming pool maybe, yes you can! - we have those in this edition too.

If you want to see what’s in store for you this month we have a new feature of a Horoscope in Creuse News (I always read mine in magazines, just to see). Perhaps it is better we don’t know too much about the future in these uncertain times. I recently had an interview with the newspaper ‘La Montagne’ about the ‘exodus’ of the British back to the UK, but as I said to them I don’t see it happening at the moment, houses aren’t selling very easily, so we have to sit tight and ‘wait and see’. The Commercial Manager of Limoges Airport seemed to agree with me, you can read his letter on our ‘Letters Page’ inside.

We ventured over the border last month into the Corrèze for a radio interview with Radio Pac based in Pompadour, you can read all about it and the history of this famous horse-breeding town in this issue. Really nice to have a day off and see another part of the Limousin, where instead of cows it is rows and rows of apple trees in the fields.

The self-employed autoentrepreneur system is still smiling on those who have taken advantage of this lightening of the process of becoming self-employed. A reform that has been a long time coming but can only be beneficial both to the taxman, it encourages people not to work on the black, and to people registering. It has certainly been welcomed by many of our readers and advertisers.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this edition, please continue with your ideas, feedback, letters and articles - just off to do some dusting!

April 2009

Editorial

Welcome to the April edition of Creuse News.

You may think that I put Creuse News together in a calm, relaxing inspirational way when in fact I am often typing with one hand, preventing my 14-month-old grandson Elie, who is laying across my knees, from crashing my computer, after having listened to the theme tune of Postman Pat (on the computer) five times in succession and once in German! This can then be followed by a video of moving tractors - he likes the noise they make! By this time my brain is a little tired, but what a joy to see this little chap already saying words in both English and French.

We have a few changes in the Creuse, a new Prefet, Jean Fabre, he is the representative of the government here in the Creuse (in next month’s issue we will try to explain his role) and Phlippe Daly is the new Director of the Chamber of Commerce (let’s hope he stabilises a turbulent time at the CCI).

I was recently invited to a debate about the future of the Creuse and I would like to report that the President of the Conséil Régional, Jean-Paul Denanot, made a point of thanking the British residents here for adding life and hope to many dying villages in rural Creuse - nice to hear this positive opinion. Also adding that one of the main reasons that British people come here is for the quality of the life and perhaps this is something that isn’t advertised enough to attract people to come and live and work here. The president of the Chambre de Métiers, Mr Delagrandanne, was also positive seeing an increase in artisans in the department, although road and rail communication was seen as a weak point as well as a lack of training for specific careers. Nevertheless, in general the debate decided that there is a future for rural areas like the Creuse and the British are an important part of its survival.

I hope you enjoy this month’s Creuse News, there is a real mixed bag from swimming pools, gardening, restaurants and recipes and thanks to all those who have taken the time to pass on their thanks and congratulations for ‘our little paper’ we really appreciate your comments.

Just off to listen to Bob the Builder with my little friend Elie, ‘Can we fix it, Yes we can!’

HAPPY EASTER

May 2009

Editorial

This last month I seem to have been involved in a wave of interviews on the subject of the Brits leaving France.

Personally I don’t see the mass exodus that some people have predicted; there have always been people who return to the UK for one reason or another. Of course the economic climate is very difficult at the moment and surviving on a lowered income is not easy, but what is the alternative? - is it easier to survive in the UK? It seems to be a case of hanging on in there until the situation improves.

Anyway, on a more positive note, we have lots of interest in this issue of Creuse News, with something of a scoop from the Education Nationale who are planning an experimental programme for English speaking children in the Creuse who are finding school life difficult.

There is an interview with the new Director of the Chamber of Commerce who tells us he plans to arrange an informal get-together of all British people registered at the CCI and perhaps later create a business club and also a group of people who are worried that the Creuse is losing its ‘quality of life’ - read on inside.

May is the month of ‘jours fériés’ in France - bank holidays - which doesn’t really make much difference if you’re not employed but for those who are it’s very nice to have those long weekends (faire le pont - ‘make the bridge’) and get into the garden or take some time off to visit a Creusois tourist site. All the new brochures are in the tourist offices and the ‘Passeport Inter-sites’ is particularly good offering you reduced entrance fees.

Thanks again to all contributors, advertisers and delivery people for making Creuse News what it is - an informative, helpful, friendly, modest publication!

Have a lovely May, see you next month.

June 2009

Editorial

Everything in the garden is rosy - I mean that literally - at this time of year the gardens seem so full of life and the roses are just lovely, of course the sunny weather helps the plants and our frame of mind too.

I have just recently returned from a trip to England where I learnt that thousands of fruit trees and bushes are to be planted in Manchester’s 135 parks. People will eventually be able to help themselves to the fruit, nuts and vegetables. The scheme was started off as the Parks’ boss was amazed by the number of young people who didn’t know where fruit and vegetables came from. I find that a little sad, so opposite to children who have grown up in the country or in the Creuse - like the Monahan family - you can read their story inside.

But perhaps all is not ‘rosy’ in the Creuse, we have a couple of articles this month from people seeing the gradual erosion of the ‘quality of life’ that we originally came here for. See what you think after reading their opinions and please pass on your comments to us.

Thanks go to the family who saw the lovely old dog Vagabond in Creuse News who was in need of a home and have now offered their home to him, News like this makes it all worthwhile.

We bravely ventured out of the Creuse and into the Indre this month to visit Argenton-sur-Creuse. I had never been into the town before I only know it as a train stop on the way to Paris. What a pleasant surprise, read all about it inside.

And to finish on a funny note - I would just like to pass on this classified advert that was really put into a paper - ‘For Sale By Owner. Complete set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 45 volumes, excellent condition. £200 or best offer. No longer needed, got married last month. Wife knows everything.
That just about says it all...

Have a blazing June, see you next month.

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