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February 2012 - Issue 7

We sailed around theworld in just 45 days PAGES

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GENDARMES have scotchedrumours that five firebug attacks in aquiet coastal village were directedagainst British homeowners.

Homes in Larmor-Baden whereblazes broke out in recent weeks“were French people’s second homes,”said the Vannes gendarmerie, whichis treating them as criminal.

It added there were similarities ineach attack and said: “Firefighterswere able to get the fires under con-trol quite quickly, so damage was lim-ited. Investigations are under way.”

Such attacks were rare and thehomes in the Gulf of Morbihan vil-lage were empty at the time.

Pompiers attended the most recentblaze on January 16 at a house on thePort-Lagaden shore after a neighboursmelled smoke. It was a slow-burningfire that caused considerable damageto furniture and beams inside.

Police say it may have been lit ataround the time of another arsonattack three days beforehand on anunoccupied flat above the village postoffice. That blaze destroyed the roofof the building, forcing the post officeto close and move to nearby Baden.

Earlier, fires were started on thenight of December 17 when threebuildings in the same street in the vil-lage centre were targeted.

Mayor Denis Bertholom sought tocalm fears among the 830 residentsand said: “People must keep theirheads and not panic and must give amaximum of information to police.”

Empty holiday homestargeted by firebugby OLIVER ROWLAND

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An empty flat above the post office in Larmor Baden was set on fire, destroying the roof of the building and forcing the office to close

THOUSANDS gave LoïckPeyron and his 13-man crewa hero’s welcome as theysailed home to Brest aftersailing around the world in arecord 45 days.

The feat was also a personaltriumph for the only Britonon board who comparedsteering Peyron’s high-techtrimaran to racing a FormulaOne at top speed.

Brian Thompson and thecrew of 11 Frenchmen, aSwiss and a Spaniard set anew circumnavigation sailingrecord and smashed the pre-vious record by three days.

The Southampton-based

helmsman also became thefirst Englishman ever to cir-cumnavigate the globe non-stop for the fourth time.

Loïck Peyron, 52, and hiscrew crossed the finishingline between the Lizard inCornwall and the island ofUshant off Brest in the west-

ern Channel in the 40m maxitrimaran Banque Populaire V.

On the evening of January 6the trimaran completed the29,002 nautical mile course in45 days 13 hours 42 minutesand 53 seconds to take thecoveted Jules Verne trophy,named after the writer whowrote Around the world inEighty Days who, like Loïck,was born in Nantes.

The boat maintained anaverage speed of 26.5 knotsand finished the race twodays and 18 hours ahead ofits nearest rival.

Peyron and his crew sailedinto Brest the followingmorning to be welcomed bythousands of wellwishers whobraved grey skies and Bretondrizzle.

Thompson, 49, has nowjoined the ranks of legendaryBritish sailors like round-the-world pioneers Sir FrancisChichester and Dame EllenMacArthur.

He holds more sailing worldrecords than anyone else onthe planet having clocked up29 offshore race wins andbroken 25 official world sail-ing speed records.

As he stepped on to dryland after a month and a halfat sea Thompson, a regularvisitor to France and Brittanyin particular, told BrittanyPages: “There were some real-ly magnificent sights at sea…sights that reminded me ofold Captain Cook-style paint-ings I loved as a boy.

“We even saw albatrosses. “We sailed close to an ice-

berg, a massive lump of icehalf the size of the Isle ofWight in the southern seasbetween New Zealand andCape Horn. We picked it upon the satellite and logged itssize and took time off to takea closer look. It was just fasci-nating to study the variouslayers of ice and the colourswere marvellous.

“When you are sailingtogether with a crew it’s a bitlike in the Army. There isstress on equipment and people. Sometimes the stressshows… and it takes its toll.

“As far as the other 13

members of the crew wereconcerned it was a joy tosail with them. The onlydifficulty was communi-cating in French all thetime as my French is notas good as it should be.

“It was a joy, a real joyto be with them. Therewas good humour andlaughter. They weretalented, hardwork-ing, and tremen-dous fun to bewith.

“I am more inlove with Franceand the Frenchthan I wasbefore this trip.I even sang theMarseillaisewith the oth-ers at theend of thetrip.

“They are all dedicatedprofessionals.Everything was done ina very professionalway.

“Loïck Peyron is thebest of skippers. He knowswhat he is doing.

“My job was helmsmantrimmer. Which meantthat I was on duty threehours a day… It wasvery, very intensive

2 News Brittany Pages February 2012

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BRITTANYPAGES

“I’m more in love with France and the French than ever beforeBRIAN THOMPSON

Icebergs andalbatrosses...then back toBreton drizzleby TIM FINAN

Flying the flagstogether as LoïckPeyron and BrianThompson celebratebeing the fastestmen to sail roundthe world

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Brian Thompson’s faceshows sheer delight

News 3Brittany Pages February 2012

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Brian backs charity bid

work, rather like doingFormula One trials.

“What’s it like being backon land after 45 days at sea?What I want more than any-thing is a hot shower.

“The water temperature inthe south seas went down to2 degrees and we had to heatup pans to wash. We had towear thick gloves and verywarm clothing.

“My immediate plans? I’llbe preparing for the 2012Vendée Globe singlehandedrace.

“I took part in 2008 andcame fifth. This year I have aboat lined up and a projectbut I am looking for sponsorship.”

Loïck Peyron’s round the worldtime was three days faster thanFranck Cammas’ 45 days 7hr 44min in Groupama 3 in 2010.

The previous record was held byBruno Peyron, Loïck’s elder brother, who achieved a time of50 days and 16hr in 2005 on thecatamaran Orange II. He was thefirst winner of the Jules VerneTrophy in 1993 – and is the onlyperson to have won it three times.

Steve Fossett of the USA clocked 58 days 9hr in Cheyenne in 2004.Fossett was a prodigious record-breaker: he also completed the firstsolo balloon circumnavigation in2002 and the first non-stop, non-refueled solo circumnavigation in anaeroplane in 2005. In total, he set116 records in five different sports.

Robin Knox-Johnston of the UKand Peter Blake of New Zealandwon the Jules Verne Trophy in1994 with a new record round-the-world time of 74 days 22hr.He was the second winner afterBruno Peyron the previous year.Sir Robin had earlier, in 1969,become the first person to sailsingle-handed and non-stoparound the world.

The previous speed record washeld by Sir Francis Chichesterwho circumnavigated the globe single-handed in 274 days in1967. He was knighted byQueen Elizabeth using the samesword as was used to knight anearlier record holder...

... Sir Francis Drake, whobecame the first Englishman tosail round the globe in 1580. Hetook two years and 10 months.

The first woman to sail round the world was JeanneBaret, who sailed on botanist Philibert Commerson’sexpedition in 1766 disguised as a boy. She did notreturn to France until 1775.

Around theworld in 45 days

GLOBAL FEATS

Franck Cammas

Steve Fossett

Sir Robin

Sir Francis Drake

ROUND-the-world helmsman Brian Thompsonis an active supporter of the Toe in the Waterassociation which helps men and women whohave sustained often traumatic injuries, includ-ing loss of limbs, to overcome disabilities by get-ting them into competitive sailing. It helps thembecome “re-inspired by life”.

As a key ambassador for the charity, Briangets involved whenever he can, bothskippering ex-servicemen and womenand promoting Toe in the Water’s work.

No distress – justdelight as the BanquePopulaire V crew celebrate becoming thefastest round-the-worldsailors

Loïck Peyron and the Banque Populaire V crew covered a distance of 29,002 miles

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PAGES 12 & 13

DIRECTORYPAGES

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Mayor bansmademoiselleon documents

News 5Brittany Pages February 2012

SHE was born in 1898, the sameyear as Gracie Fields, and the yearthe Dreyfus Affair shocked thecountry and now Marie-ThérèseBardet has, at the age of 113 anda half, become the oldest womanin France.

According to staff at the homenear Nantes where she lives, sheis still in good health and theysay she has her own way of stay-ing so: lots of water and littlemedicine.

Asked by a journalist about herrecipe for a long life, a 78-year-old friend of Marie-Thérèsereplied on her behalf: “She hasalways drunk nothing but waterand she only takes half of all the

medicine that the doctors pre-scribe for her”.

But life was no bed of roses forMarie-Thérèse as at the age of 15she contracted typhoid and near-ly died. She survived to marryLéon Bardet in 1925 and the cou-ple had two children. After herhusband died in 1953 Marie-Thérèse went to live with her sonin St Nazaire. However, when shewas 84 she decided the time hadcome to move into a nursinghome.

Now she has seven grandchil-dren and 15 great grandchildrenwho are helping her get ready forher next big event – on June 2,when she will be 114.Driver fined for

wearing veilA WOMAN in St Brieuc hasbeen fined €35 for drivingwhile wearing a veil.

A police spokesman said:“The police noticed a womandriver who seemed to bedriving hesitantly. On closerexamination they realised shewas wearing a veil.

“It causes problems of dex-terity, safety and visibility,”said the spokesman, whocompared it to driving with afrosted windscreen, whileeating a sandwich or whilesmoking at the wheel.

Harp legendStivell takeson ParisTHE renowned Celtic harpistAlan Stivell, who was theinstigator of the revival ofinterest in Breton music inthe 70s, is to play at the ParisOlympia on February 16,with the bagad of St Malo.

Described as one of thegreat ambassadors of Bretonculture, his first harps weremade by his father, GeorgesCochevelou in St Malo.

Now in his 60s, he becameworld famous with his albumRenaissance de la HarpeCeltique.

He said on his blog his con-cert would include materialfrom his first Olympia date in1972 up to the present day.

A DUTCH demolition com-pany has started to dismantleand remove the massive bulkof the freighter TK Bremen,which was driven ashore inDecember during a storm.

The red Maltese-registeredship ended up on the beachat Kerminihy wildlife reservenear Erdeven, sparking fearsof pollution damage.

The breakers brought in alarge mechanised saw to cutoff sections of the ship's hulland, after just a week of work,only the bridge, stern andsuperstructure remained.

Workers then began thedelicate task of removingthousands of gallons of sea-water polluted by fuel fromthe engine room and bilges.Floating pontoons were setup to prevent any oil leachingout into the sea and to pro-tect other beaches.

During the coming months,lawyers and judges are tobegin the painstaking task ofattributing responsibility forthe wreck and allocatingcompensation payments.

Morbihan tourist officialsare confident that Kerminihybeach, a favourite with natur-ists, will be cleaned up byEaster.

THE Huffington Post website hasvoted the traditional Breton cakedelicacy Kouign Amann second inits top 10 food discoveries of 2011.

Jay Weston, who writes a columncalled Los Angeles Restaurants onthe US site, told food fans: “Thepastry has an unpronounceablename... kouign amann (pronouncedQueen-a-man; it means buttercake).

“Pastry chef Roy Shvartzapel (ofthe Bouchon bakery, Beverly Hills)told me that he first experienced it

while working at Pierre Hermé inParis many years ago. A product ofBrittany, bakers there told him ittakes them at least 20 years to learnto do it right. He has obviouslylearned his lesson, for it is absolute-ly astonishing!

“Chef describes it as a ‘love child’of a croissant and a palmier; crois-sant dough but with yeast. It is alaminated pastry, for it is 97 (!) lay-ers of thin dough, layered with but-ter and sugar, then baked in a panwith butter and sugar on top so the

outside and corners carmelise to anice flaky crunch.

“I ate one, then took anotherhome, ate it when I got there andwent back the next morning for twomore. Dreamed about it last night...and will go back this weekend foranother. Obsessive, yes... but wait tillyou taste it. You will then under-stand what I mean.”

Top place in the survey went to“tater tot poutine” from Canada –fried potato chunks topped withcheese and gravy.

Breton pastry named among world’s best

Beachedfreighteris beingbroken up

Marie, 113, tellssecret of long life

Nantes may becomeBreton again

THE Loire-Atlantique departmentand its capital Nantes couldbecome part of the region ofBrittany again if the Senate in Parissupports an amendment alreadyapproved by the AssembléeNationale.

Polls have shown 70% of peoplein Loire-Atlantique and 60% in thepresent four Breton departmentswant Nantes restored to Brittanyfrom the Pays-de-la-Loire and ademonstration in Nantes last sum-mer drew 5,000 supporters.

The surprise move comes after avote on January 10 when MPs

backed by 287 to 27 a call for a ref-erendum in Loire-Atlantique onwhether it should be restored toBrittany after 70 years – withoutneeding the backing of the otherfour Pays-de-la-Loire departments.

Now senators will vote on theproposal by two Loire-AtlantiqueMPs for the department to becomethe fifth Breton département, as itwas until 1941.

While no decision has yet beenmade – and even if agreed by sena-tors the proposal has to go to theConseil Constitutionnel – Nantes isthe administrative capital of the

Pays-de-la Loire region and a moveto be Brittany’s fifth departmentwould be a vast upheaval.

Historically, Nantes and its sur-rounding territory first becamepart of Brittany in AD 851 whenthe Treaty of Angers was signed.For just under 1,100 years Nantesand the Loire-Atlantique were partof Brittany.

Then, in 1941, Maréchal Pétain,leader of the government in Vichywhich sided with the Nazis inWorld War 2, signed away Nantesand the Loire-Inférieure, as thedépartement was called then, into

the Pays-de-la-Loire region as partof the Nazi reorganisation of occu-pied France.

After the war the reorganisationwas left in place, although Bretonshave long called it a “mutilation”.

The department’s architecturalheritage closely resembles itsBreton cousins and the most fam-ous monument in Nantes – or, inCeltic, Naoned – is the Château desDucs de Bretagne.

With around 1.3 million resi-dents, Loire-Atlantique makes upnearly a third of the population ofthe Pays-de-la-Loire.

Marie-Thérèse Bardet is France’s oldest woman

Kouign Amann – wins Huff Post votes

THE title Mademoisellewill no longer appear ondocuments to designate aFrench ‘Miss’ or unmar-ried woman in Cesson-Sévigné, near Rennes.

Socialist mayor MichelBihan said the “existenceof two titles to designatemarried and unmarriedwomen constitutes dis-crimination, as there areno separate titles for sin-gle or married men”.

He added that his movewas aimed at removingall terms likely to be dis-criminatory or indiscreetand was in line with aEuropean directive.

Rennes stopped usingMademoiselle in 2007and equality groups areasking other towns acrossFrance to follow suit.

One of theicons of

Nantes, themechanicalelephant ispart of the

Machines ofthe Isle

exhibition and gives

breathtakingviews over

the Loire

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6 What’s On Brittany Pages February 2012

noticeboard

ARTISANS du Monde, which hasa fair trade shop at 16 rue Hochein Rennes, is committed to provid-ing a decent income for small pro-ducers in developing countries.

It pays for orders in advance andsets a fair price for the work doneat all levels of the production line.

It is France's oldest charitableassocoation running a network ofshops, created in 1974. In Rennes,the store offers 1,000 productsfrom craftsmen and 120 foodproducts (such as coffee, rice,chocolate, spices and jams). Fiftyvolunteers take turns to serve cus-tomers and place orders.

The public can also find outabout fair trade and support one

of the campaigns the associationruns. For example it campaigns forchanges in global rules and prac-tices of international trade.

Throughout France, Artisans duMonde relies on volunteer workfrom more than 6,500 members.The association also creates jobs: itis the number one fair tradeemployer of in France, with morethan 100 staff members.

In Rennes it opens 10am-7pm,Tuesday to Saturday, 2-7pm onMonday. Call 02 99 63 27 65 orvisit www.boutique-artisans-du-monde.com

To make a donation seewww.artisansdumonde.org/faire-un-don-en-ligne

1,000 plus products at fair trade shop

February 4-5 Bourse exposition de minérauxet fossiles, Le Grand Pré, 10.00-18.00 – Thisexhibition of minerals and fossils is a uniqueevent in the Côtes d’Armor. Professional andamateur exhibitors will help you discover thewonders of our planet. Start or extend yourcollection of fossils and beautiful minerals ofall shapes and colours. Children can enter acontest on the theme of mineralogy.Adult€1.50, FREE for children under 16.Call 0825 00 22 22www.baiedesaintbrieuc.com

Côtes d’Armor Côtes d’Armor

February 5-9 Sophrologie - Manage stress -During this three-day workshop, get to knowsophrology techniques to manage stress andemotions.You will also learn how to improveconcentration, use visualisation techniques andkeep a harmonious body-mind relationship.€70 per person or €105 for a couple.Advanceregistration required.Call 02 96 27 71 19www.abbaye-st-jacut.com

Photo: © Yuri Arcurs - Fotolia.com

BobitalFebruary 3 Viel chante Brel,Le Bourg Salle polyvalente,20:30 – Laurent Viel interprets the songs of thegreat Jacques Brel in aunique and elegant way.Adult €14, €11 for under18.Call 02 96 87 03 11www.codi.fr

MUSIC

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Langueux OTHER Saint-Jacut-de-la-MerOTHER

February 12 Course de Lenteur, Halles Georges Brassens, 10.30 – In this high-speed world,here’s a welcome celebration of taking your time: a slow race. Saint-Brieuc’s rue Fardelwill be tackled by ponderous machines such as tractors, carts and makeshift vehicles, anascent that is harder than it looks. FREECall 08 25 00 22 22www.cotesdarmor.com

Côtes d’Armor

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All welcome at church

Côtes d’Armor Saint-Brieuc

SAINT Bartholomew’s AnglicanChurch, built in 1871, is situated justup from Dinard’s seafront.

The Reverend Gareth Randall hasbeen serving St Bart’s congregationsince 1994, and has been Priest inCharge since January 2007.

He is available ‘all hours’ and lives ina modern vicarage almost next door.The church is of great historical inter-est, and has a walled garden with seat-ing, providing a perfect oasis of calm.

St Bart’s is well known for its Englishlanguage library, under the excellentguidance of David Norris, and open tothe general public, whether or not theyare church-goers. It is just one of themany ways the Church in Dinardserves the local community, and holi-day makers alike.

There are concerts, afternoon teaclubs, coffee mornings, a lunch club,and the highlight of the social calendaris the annual garden party. This is heldon the first Saturday in August in the

grounds of one of the malouinières, theold merchants’ houses lining the riverRance. There is a carol service everyChristmas, and last year more than280 people attended, including manyFrench people. It is very much achurch for everyone, and all denomi-nations are welcome.

Communion services are held everySunday at 11:00 and Thursday at10:00. Baptisms, marriages, hospitalvisits and funerals as requested.

Call Gareth on 02 99 46 77 00 oremail garethrandall@nordnet.fr.

GGeettGGeettIInnvvoollvveedd!!IInnvvoollvveedd!!

FAMILY

Promote your community event, send details to: brittany@connexionfrance.com

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What’s On 7Brittany Pages February 2012

February

February 6-12 Open de tennis de Quimper,Tennis Creac’h Gwen –The Open de Quimper, one of 12 most important tennis

tournaments in France, brings together players from all over theworld. Come and see the future stars of tennis in action, with

more than 60 players, some of whom have come straight from the Australian Open.Adult €5. FREE for children under13.

www.opendequimper.comPhoto: © opendequimper.com

Morbihan OUT AND ABOUTArzon

February 15, February 22, February 29 Nature et détente: Animaux, fleurs et plantes,14.15, .A chance to look more closely at the fauna and flora of the Suscinio swamps, the

Pointe de Penvins, the Golfe du Morbihan… During this walk, you will be guided by a professional from the nature reserve of Séné.Adult €5.50, €4.50 for children under 12.

Advance booking required at the Tourism Office.Call 02 97 53 69 69

www.crouesty.fr

February 19 Geology coastal walk, Maison de la Nature, 09.30 – For discovery and bracingbreezes, join this guided walk around the coast of Belle-Île. Starting from the Maison de laNature at 09.30 or the entrance to Grand Village at 10.00.Adults €5, 12-16 €3.50, under 12sFREE.Call 02 97 31 40 15, www.belle-ile.com

FAMILYMorbihan Belle-Île

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MUSICCesson-SévignéIlle-et-Vilaine

February 2 Zazie, Carré-Sévigné – A chance toenjoy one of France’s mostcreative female singers,now promoting her sev-enth album. Orientalflavours, acoustic and elec-tronic blended with a dashof humour, Zazie’s musichas been used on sound-tracks and even theLondon Underground.Cost: €22 to €332www.zazie7.comCall 02 99 83 52 00

February 4 Cours de cuisine avec Pierre Legrand, Restaurant Le Coq Gadby – Spend a morningwith a starred chef and learn his secrets! Pierre Legrand will show you how to choosegood, healthy and beautiful ingredients and get the best out of them.The two-hour work-shop is followed by lunch (starter, main course, dessert and wine).The price for the work-shop and the meal is €75.Advance booking required.Call 02 99 38 05 55 www.lecoq-gadby.com

Rennes FOODIlle-et-Vilaine

FinistèreQuimperSPORT

8 Valentine’s Day

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

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

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

Residents willneed to provideproof ofdomicile alongwith their birthcertificates andpassports andvarious other

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

Official translations of all documents mustalso be certified.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thalia and Jason Douglin traded Coventryfor Languedoc when they married in summer2011. “I always wanted to get married abroad,”says Mrs Douglin, who had firstconsidered the Caribbean but thought familymembers would find the long journeya struggle for financial or medical reasons.

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

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

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

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

Lo e andmarriagein France

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

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The legal marriage ceremony is carried out

in the mairie

THE Tour de Finance is coming to Dinan,Brittany, on March 19. The event is totallyfree and includes complimentary lunch aswell as a chance to chat to other expats inyour area.

There will be opportunities to speak toa number of specialist companies on allthe issues that concern expats such ashow to save money on internationaltransfers; how tax affects your pension;investing your money; healthcare andbanking. "I found the seminars reallyinformative without being too lengthy.

Each presenter explained their servicesclearly and succinctly and I was thenable to spend more time with those com-panies who had services I need over thecourse of the event," explained one visi-tors to the event in Cognac last year.

Speakers include:Spectrum IFA which has a team of

qualified, professional advisers who areexpatriates themselves so know exactlywhat it is like to change lifestyle, cultureand fiscal situation and will assist youwith your global investments and otherfinancial products and planning.

Soficas which can help you to under-stand the French medical system andwhat health insurance will best suit yourneeds - and all in English.

Currencies Direct, the internationalpayments specialists in France, whichwill give a presentation aimed at helpinganyone looking to find out how to send

money in and out of France without feesand with significant savings on rates.

Other speakers include local banks andmarket leading experts.

Another visitor from last year said: "It was really informative. We found

out about a number of important Frenchlaws which impact the small business weare planning to establish. A well organ-ised event, where you could tell you weredealing with top quality businesses "

It is also an ideal opportunity to meetlike-minded people in your area overlunch and refreshments. We look for-ward to seeing you there!

To find out more contact Pippa Maileon Tel: +33 (0)4 89 82 92 06 / +33 (0)6 72 09 64 95; or email her on letourdefi-nance@currenciesdirect.com.

A full fact sheet inlcuding directions tothe venue can be found atwww.letourdefinance.com

Le Tour de Finance BRITTANYDate: Monday March 19Time: 09:30 - 14:30Location: Hôtel BEST WESTERN Hotel

Jerzual, 26 Quai Des Talards, 22100Dinan - LanvallayGPS coordinates: 48.454366, -2.047327

Meet like-minded people and learn more about life in France from experts

The Tour de Finance is coming to BrittanyLe Tour De Finance is theleading expat event forthose wanting informationon financial issues affectingthose living in France andinvestment opportunities.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Brittany Pages

Valentine’s Day 9

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

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decorated with ribbons and driven throughthe streets honking their horns.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cars driving to the reception venue are

Tying the knot in BrittanyAnglo Info has a useful guide to the complexities of civilmarriage and PACs union. The page is onhttp://brittany.angloinfo.com/countries/france/marriage.asp

A fascinating website about modern-day and traditionalweddings in Brittany. Includes an interesting account of therites and rituals of a Breton wedding. Why not do it theBreton way?www.mariage-en-bretagne.com

Music and dancing at a traditional Breton wedding. Watchthis youtube clip to see how the locals do it!www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ue4khiiouM

Comprehensive information on civil marriage in France,from the French Consulate in London: 21 Cromwell Road,London, SW7 2EN

Anglo Info

Mariage en Bretagne

A Breton wedding

French Consulate in London

BUYING and selling property in Franceis vastly different than in the UK andfinding an estate agent who can reliablyguide you through the process is notalways an easy task. DelamarcheImmobilier together with its Englishpartner company PWT Normandy andBrittany Houses for Sale supports its cus-tomers in all aspects of property owner-ship, including sale and purchase, andworks with other professionals for prop-erty and project management, transla-tion, foreign currency exchange, mort-gages, inheritance issues, accountancyand tax advice.

"We have built up an excellent networkof professionals to ensure our customers

have the best advice and support," saidPhilippa Weitz. "Supporting people asthey settle into France means they are farmore likely to succeed in their new lifehere.”

Philippa works for DelamarcheImmobilier in Gavray specialising in thearea from Coutances to Saint-Lô downto Villedieu-les-Poêles and Avranches,but also selling property in the rest ofNormandy and Brittany. She hasachieved this by successfully workingwith partner agencies and therefore canmanage your sale in English for you. Shealso runs the UK-based company PWTNormandy and Brittany Houses for Sale(www.normandyandbrittanyhousesfor-

sale.com in both French and English)."Delamarche also has partnerships witha number of agencies in the UK, else-where in France and the Channel Islandsthat refer customers to Philippa.

Philippa's latest venture is provingrather a hit as well - The Normandy andBrittany Property Show in Jersey on 17thand 18th March 2012. Also there are sec-tions for private house sales, gite rentalsand small business advertising - eachsmall ad for these costs £50 - intention-ally affordable. You should contactPhilippa via email urgently if you wouldlike to take up one of these ads or tobook a trade stand. www.nor-mandyandbrittanypropertyshow.com.

While many property agencies acrossthe country struggle to stay afloat,Philippa's hard work and customer com-mitment at Delamarche Immobilier ispaying off. "We've just completed a very

strong 2011 and have invested innew software. "With all the uncer-tainty of the euro crisis, difficultiesin getting mortgages and the elec-tions that are looming, 2012 islikely to be uncertain. We are luckyin the local Gavray area, becausewe have excellent tourism, prettycountryside and easy access by avariety of routes. It's all about pric-ing in the end,” says Philippa,those who really want to sell andprice their houses keenly will sell…. it is a buyers' market, not a sell-ers' market.” It is for this reasonthat working with an agent com-mercial such as Philippa can beincredibly beneficial to those look-ing to buy and sell.

"I can tap in to French and inter-national markets, and not just theBritish market," said Philippa.

One stop property shop inNormandy and Brittany.

One stop property shop in Normandy and BrittanyADVERTISING FEATURE

Many estate agents say sales are slow and prices are falling,but for agent commercial Philippa Weitz, owner ofNormandy and Brittany Houses for Sale, business is booming

www.normandyandbrittanypropertyshow.comwww.normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.cominfo@normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.com+33 6 19 17 34 61 or +44 7880 501116

Philippa taps intoFrench, UK and international markets

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

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

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

French wedding costume

Wedding ceremony

Wedding reception

February 2012

10 Food Brittany Pages February 2012

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Italy is the basis forFrench gastronomy

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

Preheat the oven to 180C.

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

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

Butter a terrine or rectangular tin.

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

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

Serve hot or cold with a fresh tomatosauce.

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

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

METHOD

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

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

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

& KEEP!

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

Which wine should I drink with this?

Papeton

Ask around to find best vet for your pet

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

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

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

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

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

helpful, and knowledgeable? If your ability to communi-

cate in French is limited, dothey speak English?

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

Are the veterinary staff

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

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

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

If your pet has “special

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

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

These tariffs are usually ondisplay in the reception orwaiting area.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

and www.spa.asso.fr

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

This column is sponsored by

Pet Care

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

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You can ask the vet for a devis for typical treatments

Business 11Brittany Pages February 2012

FINANCEJIM ADCOCK moved to France in 2007 after many years’ experience in corporate and small businesses, including practicalfreelance support. He runs Stairs2measure.com, providing made-to-measure wooden staircases, and is a founder member of The Brittany Business Network. He will be writingregularly for the Brittany Pages on local business issues andwelcomes your feedback, comments and input.

FRANCE has been regardedas the fifth most powerfuleconomy in the world,although with the rise of thelikes of Brazil and India thismay be changing.

However, what does notbode well is that France ratesonly 29th out of 183economies for doing busi-ness, with UK 7th andGermany 19th. This rankingis three points worse in thelast year and covers a rangeof areas from starting a busi-ness to getting credit andtaxes (source The WorldBank/IFC).

Whilst these globaloverviews are focused onlarge companies, the declinein ease of starting business ata time when AutoEntrepreneur was introducedis disappointing.

However there is somegood news – the threat ofaccounts for AutoEntrepreneurs having to becertified by an accountant hasbeen withdrawn from theparliamentary debate. Thelast thing needed is toincrease the burden on thenew regime.

Business in France is gener-ally very structured, and thiscan be frustrating.

I was involved in the past asa director of a company sub-contracted on a major UKpublic building project forwhich we sourced productsfrom a major French manu-facturer. The client suppliedsigned-off architectural draw-ings and was horrified when Iinformed them the factoryrequired five or six weeks“study time”.

However, when understand-

ing their process fully, it wasobvious that they were plan-ning in advance to a verydetailed level to include exactprocurement of raw materi-als. When they pushed theproduction button, every-thing then flowed smoothly.

The ease of getting credit in

France has been rated in thepreviously mentioned surveyas No. 48, with the UK atnumber one!

This is probably of littlesurprise to those already inbusiness here, and again wecan see it as restrictive, but italso means companies andindividuals here do not havethe heavy burden of debtwhich can be terminal in adownturn, as the UK has

recently seen. Unfortunately,this does not apply to someFrench banks which haveheavy exposures in SouthernEurope, the main cause ofconcern to France’s credit rat-ing.

The structure in businesshere and difficulty in gettingcredit can be seen as barriers,particularly to those of uswho have been involved inbusiness in the UK.

However, they can also beseen as strong points. Theissue now is whether theFrench economy can growfrom the current position.What is needed is not a free-for-all, but a gentle liberalisa-tion, with a strong emphasison small businesses. It is thissector that can generategrowth in the short term.

The proposed capping ofturnover levels for AutoEntrepreneurs until 2013 canbe seen as a negative move.Surely one would want thissector to grow at this time,not try to stay under an arbi-trary limit?

Perhaps this is the time tobe brave, to offer some realincentives to small businesses

by way of grants and tax orsocial charges credits. Thereare many ex-pats here inBrittany and other parts ofFrance – why not target thisgroup, many of whomalready have entrepreneurialflair. Also the provision of anEnglish-speaking dedicatedcontact at RSI/URSSAFwould be a great investmentto speed up resolution ofissues and free up people toconcentrate on running theirbusinesses (before anyonecomments I agree we shoulddo this in French - I did - butwhy not make it easier foreveryone). The point is thereare relatively simple thingsthat could be put in placequickly that can help the localand national economy, wejust need to convince theright people!

Easing into recoveryThe economic outlookis tough…. so how isFrance positioned todeal with 2012 andbeyond? Ph

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Making trading

easier wouldhelp France

competeglobally

“France has beenregarded as thefifth most powerful economy in theworld

The Brittany BusinessNetwork www.synergienet.com

To find Siret numbers: www.infogreffe.fr www.manageo.fr www.societe.com

Useful websites

To contact Jim Adcock directly, email brittany@outsourced-org.com

Ferry company hitby €1million scamAN investigation is underway aftercross-channel firm Brittany Ferries fellvictim to a scam costing the businessalmost €1 million.

Con artists were able to set up severalinternational transfers by sending thecompany a document which staffbelieved had on it the CEO’s signature.

Brittany Ferries has pressed chargesfor fraud and the investigation has beenhanded over to police at the section derecherches investigation unit in Rennes.

The company’s management did notwish to comment on the case.

The fraud comes just months after air

line Brit Air suffered a similar attemptwhen fraudsters addressed a fax to oneof the company’s accountants in August,asking for tens of thousands of euros tobe sent to a UK account, which was acover for one in Israel. Brit Air realisedit was fake and pressed charges.

In September, two more attempts weremade at companies near Rennes. At one,con artists imitated directors’ voices.

The direction centrale du renseigne-ment intérieur, the intelligence agencyattached to the Ministry of the Interior,is advising businesses to be aware thatsuch frauds are “always preceded by aninformation search, with the aim offinding out which employee is likely toprocess the transfer”.

McDonald’sappeals over overtime rulingA 33-YEAR-OLD woman employee ofMcDonald’s in Guingamp has beenawarded €250,000 by the Conseil desPrud’hommes for allegedly unpaid over-time and time off which she was unableto take.

The employee started as a waitress, butwas promoted to manageress. Sheclaimed to have been forced to work 90hours a week, sometimes from 7am tomidnight, over a period of several years.A lawyer for McDonald’s gave notice ofappeal against the Prud’hommes’ deci-sion .

Fear over wealth tax

We would like to spend more time in France andbecome French residents. However we are concernedabout wealth tax. We have read that changes areplanned for 2012 relating to this. Could you pleaseoutline in general terms how this may affect us? T.T.

FRANCE is the only EU country to levy a wealth tax, apartfrom Spain which has brought one in temporarily to help itin the economic crisis. France’s is called the impôt de soli-darité sur la fortune (ISF).

New arrivals have a five-year grace period during whichonly assets held in France are assessed for the ISF. Thismeans the value of a UK home or any investments in theUK or offshore will not be counted during this period.After you have been resident for five years, all of yourworldwide assets will be included in the calculation.

There are indeed widespread changes for 2012. These willreduce the number of people affected and also lower totaltax raised. In fact, the changes were instigated in 2011,which has been a transitional year. 2012 will be the first fullyear of a new structure, which will be simpler than before.Here is how it is worked out:

Total assessable wealth of €1.3-€3 million = 0.25%Total assessable wealth of more than €3 million = 0.50%

Note that tax is payable from the first euro. So, for exam-ple, if you are worth €1,299,999 you will pay no ISF but ifyou are worth €1,300,000 you will pay €3,250.

“Assessable wealth” gives you the clue that not all of yourassets count towards this tax. You can, for example, reducethe value of your principal residence by 30%. Antiques andworks of art are exempt. There are also allowances forinvesting in small European companies.

From 2012 onwards you only need to file a wealth taxreturn if your assets exceed €3 million. If your net assess-able wealth is less than this, you will make the declarationon your annual income tax return. You undertake the valu-ations yourself (though you may wish to seek professionalones for any bricks and mortar property). Do not overesti-mate, and remember it is the value as of January 1 thatcounts. For the very rich, there are also ways of spreadingyour wealth out among your family but specialist advice isrequired to avoid the pitfall of gift tax in this process.

To end on a note of caution, you must take the initiativeto declare and pay wealth tax, so do not be tempted toignore it. The French taxman is patient and he gets to seedetails of all kinds of financial details and transactions. Ifhe becomes interested in you and finds that you have beenavoiding ISF, he can investigate you for the previous sixyears and apply hefty fines in the process.

The advice in this column is based on current legislation,which is subject to change. It is not intended as a substitutefor individual professional advice.

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IN BRIEF

12 Directory Brittany Pages February 2012

Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily

English-speaking firms near youFor your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities

BRITTANYPAGES

ANIMALS

ARCHITECTS

BUILDERS & RENOVATION

BUSINESS & WEBSITES

ESTATE AGENTS

GARDENS & POOLS

GENERAL

INSURANCE & FINANCE

MOTORING

PLUMBERS

PROPERTY SERVICES

REMOVALS

RETAIL

Kitchens &Furniture

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Tel: 0297398742www.bretoncountrycottages.comwilkinson.bcc@wanadoo.fr

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with all trades undertaken.Registered Carpenter.

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Ian TorodeServicing / repairs for most makes of

vehicle / garden machinery.Car Help - Advice - Parts.

Web: www.mowermaninbrittany.nete-mail: admin@partsbroker.net

Tel: 02 97 39 95 52

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EExxcclluussiivveeHHeeaalltthhccaarreeYour Helping Hand to the

French Health System

+33 (0) 4 94 40 31 45www.exclusivehealthcare.com

Anna PathfinderYour life coach in Brittany

www.annapathfinder.comTel. 02 99 44 38 09

Le Jardinier Anglais.com

Tree surgery services

All tree work undertaken within 150km ofRennes. Specialists in dismantling difficult /

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FREE CONSULTATIONenquiries@lejardinieranglais.com

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Les BocagesDavid Robins

Royal Forestry Society trained Arboristwww.lesbocages.com

Felling, pruning, plantingall aspects of tree care.

Tel: 02.97.39.99.82 56160 LOCMALOSiret No. 480 997 584 00028

JARDINERIE HOLLANDAISEGarden Centre and Garden Maintenance

Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday or on 'RDV'Le Garly 56480 Ste. Brigitte

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Tel: 05 55 65 12 19

bml angloagence.comEnglish registered cars

House insurance - Health cover1700 British clients trust us

02 96 87 21 21contact@angloagence.com

Dinan, Brittany

English and Fluent French speakingagent, always needing more houses

for sale, 8 years experienceinfo@normandyandbrittanyhousesforsale.com

TEL FR: +33 (0) 6 19 17 34 61TEL UK: +44 (0) 7880 501 116

www.NormandyandBrittanyhousesforsale.comSiret: 519 751 465

A BUSINESS TO PROMOTE

A PROPERTY TO SELL

ADVERTISE FOR FREEwww.brittanyforeveryone.com

BRETON BUILDCarpenter, roofer and general builder

specialising in the renovation of traditional Breton Properties.

info@bretonbuild.com02 97 38 57 61

www.bretonbuild.comRegions 29/56/35/22

Siret: 489 314 278 00032

C L CBuilding & Property Maintenance

Renovations, Repairs, Conversions, ExtensionsTel: 06 59 71 50 29 or 02 98 86 95 37

Troleron 29530 Plonevez du FaouStonework Block work Plastering Plasterboarding Roofing

Email: clc-chrislynn@hotmail.comAd No. 17612

56 MORBIHAN 56All types of work, Exterior-Interior,

New - Renovation-Repair.Entreprise Brown Robert

Tel/Fax: 02 97 51 10 11Siret: 424 531 069 00013

Bilingual EnglishElectrician/Plumber

Registered and insured in France

Mike and Pam DerbyTel: +33 (0)2 96 84 86 28

Email: catch22services@aol.comWeb: www.electricianbrittany.com

Siret: 480 938 083 00015

St Malo, Dinard, Dinan

SARL BCBPStonework, RenovationGroundwork, Gardening

Full and Part Renovations & Conversions

Connection to MainDrain and Septic Tank

From Mini-Diggersto 20t Diggers

Paving & DeckingPerfect English Spoken

Bruno BonnierTel: 06 71 05 60 82

www.bcbp.fr Email: bonnier.cleran@orange.fr

Siret : 47942748600010

Wellesley House SurveyingRegistered and Based in Brittany

Property SurveysBrittany/Normandy/Loire - English Style

Contact: Nick WarnerTel: (France) +33 (0)296 31 83 30

Email: info@french-property-survey.comWeb page: www.french-property-survey.com

SIRET No. 452 539 273 00014

Canine BehaviouristSolving your dog and puppy problems

using calm, assertive and positive reinforcement methods

Tel: 02 96 36 65 61Mob: 06 45 79 01 67

Email: locarn1@yahoo.co.ukSiret. 481 238 483 00012

BRITTANYDIRECTORY

ADVERTISING FEATURE

GUILLAUME Poissant has been work-ing as an Agent Général in Locminé, inMorbihan, Brittany, since 2008. He hasbeen with AXA for over twenty years invarious positions, including an actuaryin Paris and an underwriter in Cardiff,where he learned the ins and outs of theUK insurance system.

Guillaume has found that British cus-tomers greatly appreciate this extraknowledge that he brings to the table. “Aclient recently told me that it had beenextremely useful and important to have aFrench insurance agent who could speakin English and that understands both theUK and French system,” said Guillaume,who provides expat customers with abilingual service.

As the main insurance company inFrance, AXA covers all areas of insur-ance, from private to professional mat-ters, but car, health, house and profes-sional insurance are the most common.

But this team does far more than justoffer advice about their insurance poli-cies. They make sure their clients avoidproblems by engaging with each individ-ual client’s situation and even liaise withthe authorities and official departmentson their behalf.

“We were recently helping a client toregister with social security,” saidGuillaume. “He received an answer, butit was in French and he didn’t under-stand it, so he faxed us the documentand we called him to explain what it was

about. We then sent off documents forhim so he could get his registration.”

Guillaume ensures that customersknow what to expect from their insur-ance policy and will explain what clientsare and are not insured for.

“For example, in the UK accidentalcover is included in household policies,but this is not the case in France,” saidGuillaume. “In France, however, publicliability is included, but this is part of aseparate insurance contract in the UK.”

Health insurance can also seem com-plicated if you are not used to the sys-tem, particularly reimbursement figures.He added: “The system for reimburse-ment is based on 100%, but with glasses,for example, the 100% might mean €18,

so if a client has been quoted for insur-ance and offered 200% for glasses, Imake sure they know that means €36 -even if their glasses cost €800.”

To help customers further the team haswritten up a range of documentation, inEnglish, that helps clients to navigate allthe different administrative processes.

Guillaume can work with a client onthe telephone, via email and the internetor through face-to-face meetings - andhe is happy to meet at 6pm rather than4pm to fit in with clients’ schedules.

English speakers can find out more bycontacting Guillaume and his team onthe office number or by emailing.However, the company has just launcheda new English language website, whichexplains all the company’s services andproducts in full detail.

02 97 60 08 23agence.poissant@axa.frwww.axapoissantinsurance.com

Guillaume Poissant and his teamenjoy helping English speakers makethe right insurance policy choices

French insurance policies explained in EnglishGuillaume Poissant’s AXA team provides a fully bilingual service to expats and goes theextra mile to make sure you avoid the pitfalls and have everything covered

Directory 13Brittany Pages February 2012

Villager, Hunter, Aarrow& Stratford Stoves

Esse Cooking RangesQuality Stoves Delivered throughout Francewww.woodburningstovesandcookers.com

Tel: 02 97 74 73 48Based in Josselin 56

Advertise your business from just €165 HT

Get even more impact by adding a one off Advertorial from €250HT. This popular advertising option allowsyou the space to explain what your business offers using a combination of words and photos.Call Clare on 0800 91 77 56 or email directory@connexionfrance.com

ADVERTISING FEATURES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

forming region, followed by Normandyand then Languedoc-Roussillon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

05 55 65 12 19www.housesoninternet.com

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

Richard Kroon is the founder and director of Houses on Internet

SECOND home owners are spendingmore time in their property.

“They are no longer seen as just aninvestment to generate additionalincome, but somewhere to enjoy a holi-day and escape the pressures of workinglife,” said Breton Country Cottages’Marion Wilkinson.

Having spent time and money makingtheir holiday cottage comfortable, many

owners are then nervous about letting tostrangers.

Breton Country Cottages can offer aflexible and secure intermediary lettingservice to reassure owners.

“We do not demand a specific numberof weeks when we rent the property. Wework with the owner on availability,” saidMrs Wilkinson.

Breton Country Cottages offers anadvertising and booking service alongwith key holding and caretaking.

“We will visit the property and adviseon ways to improve its letting potential. Ipersonally manage the bookings fromthe first email or phone enquiry, throughto visiting guests at the property toensure that all is running smoothly,” saidMrs Wilkinson, “I am on hand should aproblem arise.”

“I have been managing holiday homes

for 20 years, so I have a good idea whatholidaymakers require and I am happyto help others with the challenge of rent-ing their homes,” she said.

Owners are encouraged to be honestwhen writing the description of theirhome and the local area, mentioningevery detail. Photos are very importanttoo. On reserving the property, guestspay a non-refundable deposit of 25 percent and the balance six weeks prior tothe start of their holiday.

Breton Country Cottages holds a secu-rity deposit which is not returned toguests until the property has beeninspected.

Breton Country Cottageswilkinson.bcc@wanadoo.fr0033 (0)2 97 39 87 42www.bretoncountrycottages.com Mrs Wilkinson will check up on guests personally

We take the strain out of letting your home for holidaysWith 20 year’s experienceand a personal touchBreton Country Cottagescan help you let out yourhome to holidaymakers easily

14 Property Brittany Pages February 2012

DIY tips

WHY NOT SPONSOR & ADVERTISEYOUR BUSINESS HERE?

SPONSOR & ADVERTISEYOUR BUSINESS HEREFOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL0800 91 77 56 (FREE FROM FRANCE)

Keep gutters clear of the leaves that cause leaks

Photo:© rekem

p – Fotolia.com

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

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

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

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

Fix leaky guttersto protect house

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: northwest.office@siddalls.net

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.

Herbs areoften used toadd piquancyto Frenchfood, andgrowing aherb garden inyour kitchenmeans that

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

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

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

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

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

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

oregano. “Optimum conditions

needed for herbs to groware a sunny windowsill,providing at least five hours aday of sunlight, good humidi-ty and room temperature.The plants can be placed out-side to grab a bit of sun whenpossible throughout the win-ter if the light is a problem.”

If there is not enough sun-

light in the final wintermonths, you could also useclamp–on reflector lightswhich have compact fluores-cent bulbs. Rotating yourplants every week will stopthem leaning to one side, andbe sure to leave windows

Grow a herb gardenA sunny spot near to akitchen window can makean ideal spot for growingherbs

open slightly for an hour orso each day as the herbs willneed fresh air.

As for where to plant them,there are many options, fromhanging baskets, to windowboxes, wooden containersand clay pots.

Most herbs will grow wellin containers and indoors,but the size of the plant needsto be considered. “The herbswill get trimmed for use inthe kitchen so pruning is notreally a problem.”

Herbs with a tendency tospread, such as oregano andmint, can be grown in con-tainers and need their ownpots. These should rest insaucers and have drainageholes.

“Humidity is important, soput containers on a tray withgravel or small stones that iskept damp to allow water toevaporate and humidify theplants above.

“It is essential to havefree–draining potting medi-um – a good compost or amix of compost and soil.”

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

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

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

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

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Over-watering turns leavesyellow

Photo: © evangelo6

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Property 15Brittany Pages February 2012

Sponsored by

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Jul

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.com

Compost is the best way to add structure to soil

NO DOUBT with all the itchy fingers that accompanythe arrival of seed catalogues it is tempting to start dreaming about the rows of orderly lettuces, wigwams ofbeans, well staked tomatoes... but where does all this start?

The basis of all good gardens lies in the soil and the bestway to get results from the veggies is to ensure the soil iswell-structured, nutrient-rich and able to hold moisture. Iwill outline three techniques this month that will get youof to a flying start when planting out finally comes.

Compost layeringThis is the best known method of adding structure andvigour to your vegetable patch. It has to be well rotteddown – at least 12 months old, and the texture that I ammost fond of is “Crumbled christmas pudding”. Thisdescribes a rich brown, crumbling but not soggy texture.There may be a slight earthy/mushroomy smell but itshould not be overly pungent. In this condition themicrobes have broken down the raw material – vegetableor animal manure – which is ready for the worms, beetlesand grubs to complete the process of binding it to the soilparticles. A layer about 6 to 10cm thick needs to be laiddown six to four months before planting out and, to speedup the process, a cover like black tarpaulin or a bache canbe staked over it. This raises soil temperature, increasesworm activity and reduces nutrient loss in heavy rain.

Cover crops or green manureThis is a method of using living crops to enrich the soilbefore planting with the main crop

Mustard, clover and vetch are good short-rotation plantsto use. Lightly dig over ground that has been tilled lastyear and scatter the seed in handfuls – six to eight weeksbefore the crop planting is planned. You are not aiming forrich crop, just enough to germinate to cover the soil. Picka day 10 days before the first planting then dig the covercrop in roughly. This gives the cover crops time to wilt anddie off, but they will still be releasing nutrients and holdwater for the young plants, like dying leaves in a forestrelease nutrients for saplings – but on a shorter timescale.

Stale seed beddingIf you find yourself with just a few weeks until the cropsneed planting out and you are too short of time to spreadcompost or sow a green manure, you can still use theweeds to your advantage. Take a hoe – a dutch or swinghoe is best as the head pivots and cuts the heads of theweeds nicely – and incorporate the weeds into the toplayer of soil. After five to seven days, repeat with the newweeds that have grown back. Repeat this at least three (andif possible four or five) times before the vegetable cropgoes in. This utilises the nutrients released from the weedsbut breaks the cycle of seeding as with each hoe pass, theweeds never get a chance to reproduce – no plant can sur-vive repeatedly having its leaves removed!

You can now get ready to plant.

les bocages

DAVE ROBINS - ARBORISTTrees inspected, crown-lifted, reduced or felled Hedges trimmed, renovated and pruned Forestry management plans prepared

Free consultations and quotes Copious amounts of advice given

Tel. 00 33 (0) 2 97 39 99 82 david.robins@wanadoo.frwww.lesbocages.com

GardeningFacts

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

REF: 40017

€€159,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Corlay, Côtes-d'ArmorThere is a kitchen, a dining area,a living room, 2 bedrooms, abathroom and toilets. The mainhouse is completely renovatedand does not need any work. Setin a peaceful area.

REF: 10350

€€160,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Plancoët, Côtes-d'ArmorCharming semi-detached stonehouse with large living room withfireplace, fitted kitchen and 3bedrooms - one on the groundfloor with bathroom. Garden ofabout 845m².

REF: 2113

€€256,400

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Fougères, Ille-et-VilaineA splendid large 5 bedroomBreton Longére style farmhouseset in its own grounds of about1.25 acres. Rural location withlovely views and convenient toboth the local village and town.

REF: 765

€€278,200

ENERGY RATING = E

Gourin, Morbihan A great opportunity to buy thisnicely appointed 4 bed detachedhouse with heated swimmingpool situated in 3008m2 of wellestablished gardens and bordered by a very pretty stream.

REF: 944

€€481,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Plogastel-Saint-Germain, FinistèreThis 3 bed property consists of alarge lounge/diner with excellentinsert wood burner, modern fitted kitchen, utility room,downstairs bedroom, office, andlarge luxury shower room.

REF: 11317

€€201,950

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Dinan, Côtes-d'Armor3 bedroom bungalow with verylight interior. Large living roomwith woodburner and open plankitchen. Small garden withmature trees and shrubs.Wheelchair access.

PROPERTIES IN BRITTANY

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

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

We also feature properties for sale in thisdedicated section of the paper eachmonth. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com and enterthe ref: code shown under the property.

For sellers, the adverts are also displayed

across a range of popular English-language websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERYday. Our 3+3 package costs just€200TTC and gives you three monthsonline advertising as well as a printadvert in three editions of The BrittanyPages. Our 6+6 package is best value at€330TTC and provides the same, butfor six months via each channel.

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

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

www.connexionfrance.comSimply enter the code under each home to find out more

New Consumption and Emission Chart- e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions

Houses for sale in and around Brittany

The adverts above cost from just €200TTC for three months of web advertisingand three months of print advertising in the Brittany Pages.

Let our distribution get you a sale.Contact our sales team on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com

La Souterraine, CreuseLarge 6 bedroom stone housewith land of 2700m2 and barn.The house is comprisingentrance on a lounge with chimney, living room, kitchen,another lounge, bathroom andtoilets, pantry. REF: 81129 - C21 LA SOUT

€€150,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given REF: IFPC19770

€€180,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Montmorillon, Vienne3 bed house, self containedapartment, established lawnedgardens, woodland, building plotand fabulous river views. Largelounge, dining kitchen, pantry, 3bedrooms, bathroom, sep. WCand sep. apartment.

Fismes, MarneKitchen, living room, diningroom, office and large entranceon the ground floor, and 4 bedrooms including one with aprivate bath, second bathroom,WC, and large foyer on the second floor. Attic, cellar, garage.REF: IFPC21772

€€258,000

ENERGY RATING = E & F REF: 81359. C21 GUERET

€€299,600

ENERGY RATING = F & G

Boussac, CreuseSplendid property comprising: 2halls, reception room, kitchen,living room, dining room, office,6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, dressing, 2 WC’s. Attic, outbuildings, cellar, garage. Allon a closed garden of 1000m2.

Chantilly, OiseUnderneath the 4 bed property isa large basement and the wholehouse is designed and built to thehighest standards, with a marblestaircase, the gorgeous fullyequipped kitchen, 4 luxuriousbathrooms and a sauna.REF: PIC-502

€€498,000

ENERGY RATING = E & C REF: 134518

€€649,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Valbonne, Alpes-MaritimesThe villa offers 2 en-suite bedrooms with shower roomsand a 3rd one, fully equipedkitchen with laundry, loungeand dining area. Large terraceand landscaped garden. Parkingfor 3 cars.

Prepare a good soiland reap benefits

16 News Brittany Pages February 2012

City boy finds his rural idyllWHEN he was 20, Emmanuel Fernetdecided that life in the city was not forhim. With his girlfriend, a Bretonwoman named Mauricette, a chestnutshire horse named Poulette and a farmcart, he headed west.

As the young man and woman and thehorse reached the outskirts of Paris, theyquit the busy main roads and took to thecountry roads and farm tracks.

They had rigged a canvas hood overthe wagon and it protected them fromthe rain and wind. At night they campedout, cooked on fires and found grass andhay for Poupette.

They travelled about 15 kilometers aday. If they liked a place they would stopfor a few days or a couple of weeks. Ittook them four months to reach theirfinal destination – St-Jacut-les-Pins, inthe Morbihan.

“I am an enfant du pays,” saidMauricette. “I thought Emmanuel wouldbe happier here than in the city, so Iwent to Paris and brought him back.”

The couple decided to settle in Brittanyand began restoring an old grey granitefarmhouse in the Valley of the Arz.Emmanuel found work picking fruit andhelping out on the farms.

“Life in Paris wasn’t what I wanted,” hesaid. “I have always loved horses and Iwanted to work with them. I was work-ing at a riding stable and one day I saw afarrier shoeing horses.

“I needed a trade, so I started asking

questions. One old farrier, YvesGoulouand, who was the only farrierworking round here, told me: ‘You’re tootall to be a blacksmith. You have to benddown all the time.’ I wasn’t put off...

“I learned the art and started shoeinghorses for a living. I’m a farrier, not ablacksmith. Years ago, there were a lot ofblacksmiths working round here, repair-ing farm machinery. Now there are morefarriers shoeing horses. It’s a sign of thetime – horses are more popular.

“It’s a hard job but I like it. Sometimesyou get difficult horses or ponies. Youhave to apply a mixture of firmness andgentleness. It’s not always easy.

“I have a van and my furnace is in theback, so I spend a lot of time on the road.

“The job is hard physically and you

have to look after yourself if you want todo it. You’re bending down and tappingnails into horses’ hooves all day and it’s atremendous strain on the back.

“I go to the swimming pool once aweek and swim three kilometers. It’s thebest exercise for the back,” saysEmmanuel.

The farrier of St-Jacut is now 52, andhe and Mauricette have four grown-upchildren. One of their greatest pleasuresis to drive a carriage on the lanes aroundtheir home. Poulette is long departedand her place has been taken by a sturdyFjord pony.

More than 30 years after setting outfrom Paris, they have never regrettedtheir decision to hit the road and headtowards the setting sun.

Farrier Emmanuel Fernet explains to TIM FINAN how he swopped his life in Paris for the open road with hisgirlfriend, and eventually found a life as a farrier in the Breton countryside

Phot

os: T

im F

inan

EmmanuelFernet andMauricettewith theirfirst daughter,in the cartthey travelled toBrittany in,and right,Emmanuelat work asa farrier