Today I discovered from two friends, one Italian who saw the announcement in the Press yesterday, that the Maire and four associates have resigned.
http://www.lanouvellerepublique.fr/Vienne/Actualite/Politique/n/Contenus/Articles/2016/08/17/Angles-sur-l-Anglin-le-maire-et-quatre-elus-demissionnent-2811528
I am not surprised. They have had a battle.
I THINK it is to do with the fact that the Management of the Chateau and the Centre d'Interpretation de Roc aux Sorciers has been taken over by a company from Dordogne and something about insufficient care about PATRIMOINE! This is only what I ahve been informed!
All this organised by higher authorities.
Ok, ticket prices are inexpensive for one but I think expensive for a family, and the guided visits are only open until the end of August. I must go next week!
I met people oit and about before July who were seriously upset that they had come to this plus beaux village only to find they could not acces the inside of either monument!
The grue ( crane) has been in place since about March...( what is THAT costing!?). I have only ever seen it work the once which was amazing but as I don't live in the Chateau I don't always know what goes on down there or even in the High Town. I must go and see what they have done inside. I am told they have made pathways and therefore ruined the natural grass of what was left on the ground floor plan!
MAYBE we need the ENGLISH to breach La Tranchée d'Anglais encore and give the French something to think about! JOKE!
I am sad because I think the new Maire and his team were doing their very best with the higher authorities where they have had no control of expenditure etc.
This is a tourist village and in the winter there are not enough people and in the summer it is heaving.
How can a village survive with such demands unless it is given support?
The Tourist Office has survived this year but next year there may be no money to employ anyone!
I have just been translating and reproducing the leaflets in English for tourists. Would you believe the Tourist Office did not have any?
SERIOUSLY, this village is too split with factions, organizations and associations and the different groups need to work together. We can't even get Credit Agricole to install 'un distributeur' (cash withdrawal machine and I witnessed over 20 inquiries, only for visitors at Book festivals and ordinary days to be told they have to go to the next town(s).
Showing posts with label Angles sur L'Anglin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Angles sur L'Anglin. Show all posts
Sunday, 14 August 2016
Thursday, 11 August 2016
Before fireworks on the same day
"Oh how magazine" says a friend for morning coffee re the kitchen!
We sat for longer than I thought she had time yet I was pleased to chat.
Even though I'd forgotten about my intended trip to Le Blanc, where 350 stalls were showing ancient and modern ware in intense heat, I went with three hours to spare. It was worth the pistachio ice cream but I did not find what I was looking for. On the way I took a route that I was not familiar with (was thinking about something else, so travelled much further cross-country than I relished).
On the edge of one of the many woodlands a sleek, golden brown buck bolted across the road looking into my eyes as I approached at speed!
Then I thought of at least two friends who like sports vehicles!
The second one is for me!
Whizz home to leftover lamb (all leftover veg had been eaten in three days), quick shower, dress business-like for two hours voluntary work which made my head spin!
Whizz home to calm quiche making from THE FRENCH KITCHEN ... page 55 and my first pastry making session in three years, I am sure! Bit short but it yummy. Not enough tomatoes in the fridge so adapt with red peppers. No cream so add the festering feta cheese and left over cube of pokey Cantal diced small with Herbes du Provence. YUM. Any bacteria is blasted by the heat!
Gently stroll at twilight along places where people gather to watch fireworks as mist hovers above the river pressed down by colder air before the fun of the fair.
(Does that need commas? Perhaps or not?)
Not often are stages set with people cooking, eating, walking, searching, sitting, waiting for the best viewing place, whilst that grand chateau under repair and fortification has waited for 11 centuries for this day to look down upon us.
It is under new management by a company from Dordogneshire - a company that manages several National Monuments. Unfortunately, the Forteresse and the Roc aux Sorciers will, as far as I know be closed at the end of August, so come this month if you would like tickets for the two sites.
We sat for longer than I thought she had time yet I was pleased to chat.
Even though I'd forgotten about my intended trip to Le Blanc, where 350 stalls were showing ancient and modern ware in intense heat, I went with three hours to spare. It was worth the pistachio ice cream but I did not find what I was looking for. On the way I took a route that I was not familiar with (was thinking about something else, so travelled much further cross-country than I relished).
On the edge of one of the many woodlands a sleek, golden brown buck bolted across the road looking into my eyes as I approached at speed!
 |
| I rather like the fusion of wood and metal and thought of my son who could make something such as this or these. |
Whizz home to calm quiche making from THE FRENCH KITCHEN ... page 55 and my first pastry making session in three years, I am sure! Bit short but it yummy. Not enough tomatoes in the fridge so adapt with red peppers. No cream so add the festering feta cheese and left over cube of pokey Cantal diced small with Herbes du Provence. YUM. Any bacteria is blasted by the heat!
 |
| in the oven |
 | ||||
| out of the oven, on the new grill, on top of the new induction hob and the lovely silk print of frangipani flowers selected by me from Sri Lanka 20 years ago! |
 |
| a slice of! |
(Does that need commas? Perhaps or not?)
 |
| Three clicks of the camera and the theatrical stage view changes slightly! |
It is under new management by a company from Dordogneshire - a company that manages several National Monuments. Unfortunately, the Forteresse and the Roc aux Sorciers will, as far as I know be closed at the end of August, so come this month if you would like tickets for the two sites.
Tuesday, 9 August 2016
More images of fireworks
... this time from the ipad, which I had to send to my email address and receive on the computer, then download to downloads then search for TODAY, then upload to here.
Whether they shall stay, or not, I do no know! I have since then uploaded from downloads to iphoto Events, then merged 9 photos one by one...
Rather laborious in this high tech world me thinks!
( for smart readers.. I have added this post respectively so it is in a better order!)
Until next year... That tree needs to come down!
Whether they shall stay, or not, I do no know! I have since then uploaded from downloads to iphoto Events, then merged 9 photos one by one...
Rather laborious in this high tech world me thinks!
( for smart readers.. I have added this post respectively so it is in a better order!)
Monday, 8 August 2016
Looking back - starting to update
Looking back from today
starting with yesterday
I shall begin to recreate
a kind of replicate
in photo
in word.
Yesterday 7th August was the 80th anniversary of the Feu d'Artifice which began in my village in 1936, only interrupted during WWII and in 2012, when a very stormy, rainy day, which had cleared by 22h cancelled the event. It was started to celebrate the first time the people of France had been given paid holiday.
The first candle of a firework fountain or torch burned from the castellations in 1936. Another has been added each year!
I have been privileged over the years to view the drama, hear the commentary and music from several places, I still think the best was the year that "Carmina Burana" belted out! Although, I have never sat on the island, methinks that next year that would be the pace to be! Since 2006 I have sat on each side of the river. Once I shared a home made pizza picnic with my lover. Another time I shared a picnic alone. I sat since the afternoon to preserve myself a place, forlorn with the realisation that love was lost. One year, at the last minute, I climbed the *** to disturb others, to squeeze a place to sit to watch the spectacle. It was extremely crowded that particular year; I forget which! For various years I have stood in a friend's garden by the side of the river. In 2015 there was a splendid view as the high trees blocking the view had been removed. It was a good social occasion. In 2014 and this year I viewed the chateau from not quite as high, but high from the balcony of the grandmother's house of my French-English friends. A sociable, welcoming family.
This year there seemed to be fewer people. Some are too afraid to be in crowded settings. Some have been advised not to attend such events. The village employed extra security and this is a possibility why some have been intimidated. Several people seemed to be walking in the wrong direction at the wrong hour! Every year there is a charge. Currently 7e. I don't mind paying. However, I think it is a lot of money for a family for less than one hour's entertainment when many firework events are subsidised and free. So many people were confused this year about parking arrangements and whether they would be able to get home; get out of the village. I think much more should be done to inform the public. Small notices are not always clear. This year there was much more deliberation to remove all vehicles from the streets. Tractors blocked the entrances to the village and near my house one vehicle flouted the regulation. I also witnessed verbal abuse insulting an elderly man who works voluntarily. The French 4x4 local driver was unnecessarily arrogant just because he could not drive through at 5pm precisely.
After the spectacle I went to the funfair. The children always like to have a go on the ducks, expensive at 4e for ten ducks but they always are given a prize. The older boy loves to do Shooting the three balloons "Hit Rifle" and after their three family paid sessions I paid for one more. That meant I could have one shot, the children each one, mum and dad each one and then the older boy an extra shot. I was so surprised to pop two balloons in one having never done it before! After that I promised the seven year old a dodgems ride. It's called "Racing Cars". I haven't driven one since I was in my thirties! Last year, my former partner drove and it was wonderful to LAUGH! I had to brace myself against the whiplash but this year I seemed much better at physically handling the experience.
It was 5e for three tokens .. three rides, but they gave me four! Although the boy wanted to hold the wheel and drive I had to take control otherwise we wouldn't have been motionless and prey to all bumpers! Whilst driving, which was great fun, he wanted to bump the others and I pointed out that there was skill in getting around without bumping or being bumped! We did a few 360 degree circles! Then I gave each of the younger twins a ride! Again they held the wheel and eventually allowed me to take control of which direction we were going, my arm around them protecting them from being thrown out of the car.
It was half past one when I returned home. Sandbags were in strategic positions.. I am sorry but I thought security was OTT... six officers overseeing the funfair at that time of night!
Still, it was necessary, I am sure, and the organisers felt supported in their quest to uphold this traditional event for the general public. In the current climate the village were not intimidated.
I always forget to set the camera on a programme which will take night bright moving light firework shots. This year I also took some with my ipad. These are from the camera.
I have only edited with ENHANCE and CROP and rather like the weird atmospheric colour!
starting with yesterday
I shall begin to recreate
a kind of replicate
in photo
in word.
Yesterday 7th August was the 80th anniversary of the Feu d'Artifice which began in my village in 1936, only interrupted during WWII and in 2012, when a very stormy, rainy day, which had cleared by 22h cancelled the event. It was started to celebrate the first time the people of France had been given paid holiday.
The first candle of a firework fountain or torch burned from the castellations in 1936. Another has been added each year!
I have been privileged over the years to view the drama, hear the commentary and music from several places, I still think the best was the year that "Carmina Burana" belted out! Although, I have never sat on the island, methinks that next year that would be the pace to be! Since 2006 I have sat on each side of the river. Once I shared a home made pizza picnic with my lover. Another time I shared a picnic alone. I sat since the afternoon to preserve myself a place, forlorn with the realisation that love was lost. One year, at the last minute, I climbed the *** to disturb others, to squeeze a place to sit to watch the spectacle. It was extremely crowded that particular year; I forget which! For various years I have stood in a friend's garden by the side of the river. In 2015 there was a splendid view as the high trees blocking the view had been removed. It was a good social occasion. In 2014 and this year I viewed the chateau from not quite as high, but high from the balcony of the grandmother's house of my French-English friends. A sociable, welcoming family.
This year there seemed to be fewer people. Some are too afraid to be in crowded settings. Some have been advised not to attend such events. The village employed extra security and this is a possibility why some have been intimidated. Several people seemed to be walking in the wrong direction at the wrong hour! Every year there is a charge. Currently 7e. I don't mind paying. However, I think it is a lot of money for a family for less than one hour's entertainment when many firework events are subsidised and free. So many people were confused this year about parking arrangements and whether they would be able to get home; get out of the village. I think much more should be done to inform the public. Small notices are not always clear. This year there was much more deliberation to remove all vehicles from the streets. Tractors blocked the entrances to the village and near my house one vehicle flouted the regulation. I also witnessed verbal abuse insulting an elderly man who works voluntarily. The French 4x4 local driver was unnecessarily arrogant just because he could not drive through at 5pm precisely.
After the spectacle I went to the funfair. The children always like to have a go on the ducks, expensive at 4e for ten ducks but they always are given a prize. The older boy loves to do Shooting the three balloons "Hit Rifle" and after their three family paid sessions I paid for one more. That meant I could have one shot, the children each one, mum and dad each one and then the older boy an extra shot. I was so surprised to pop two balloons in one having never done it before! After that I promised the seven year old a dodgems ride. It's called "Racing Cars". I haven't driven one since I was in my thirties! Last year, my former partner drove and it was wonderful to LAUGH! I had to brace myself against the whiplash but this year I seemed much better at physically handling the experience.
It was 5e for three tokens .. three rides, but they gave me four! Although the boy wanted to hold the wheel and drive I had to take control otherwise we wouldn't have been motionless and prey to all bumpers! Whilst driving, which was great fun, he wanted to bump the others and I pointed out that there was skill in getting around without bumping or being bumped! We did a few 360 degree circles! Then I gave each of the younger twins a ride! Again they held the wheel and eventually allowed me to take control of which direction we were going, my arm around them protecting them from being thrown out of the car.
It was half past one when I returned home. Sandbags were in strategic positions.. I am sorry but I thought security was OTT... six officers overseeing the funfair at that time of night!
Still, it was necessary, I am sure, and the organisers felt supported in their quest to uphold this traditional event for the general public. In the current climate the village were not intimidated.
I always forget to set the camera on a programme which will take night bright moving light firework shots. This year I also took some with my ipad. These are from the camera.
I have only edited with ENHANCE and CROP and rather like the weird atmospheric colour!
Wednesday, 18 May 2016
Saturday, 26 December 2015
The first and second of twelve
I am beginning to think I shall end this blog...
but I won't,
until I have completed 'the kitchen' in a way that is fulfilling in my senior days!
I think that by then I will WILL be ready for a new life, and, hopefully, by then, in 2016, I will have developed a better sense of Thoughts, Needs, Hopes, Dreams, Regrets, AND moreover what I DO NEED to achieve before I can't.
This has been the red curtain hanging open upon my stage... it's still open and until the day I cannot BE, it isn't yet the final curtain.
I am trying hard to appreciate the difficulties that other persons experience.... and how it must be that HOPE is so hard to think about.
The glass is half or more full in my life despite whatever black dogs haunt me!
It is true that I've felt tired of blog posting, but not tired of being creative, if I can harness a positive stimulus. However, being human, I am proud that I can confront / express emotion without sweeping debris under the rug or into a box to put upon a shelf. It is better out than in. I write for me and not for an audience! I write so that I can begin to understand LIFE as it is doled out ... or as I take whatever I take!
SO... an idea arose on my walk today: 45 minutes trailing The American Way leading to 'La Tranche Anglaise' with the final ascent then descent back to MY HOME. Oh yay, my home. Am I not fortunate to not yet be homeless! Let's Step back one day to yesterday...
On the first day of Christmas LOVE brought to me:
On the second day of Christmas LOVE brought to me:
Indeed - Allez ... up!!!!!!
but I won't,
until I have completed 'the kitchen' in a way that is fulfilling in my senior days!
I think that by then I will WILL be ready for a new life, and, hopefully, by then, in 2016, I will have developed a better sense of Thoughts, Needs, Hopes, Dreams, Regrets, AND moreover what I DO NEED to achieve before I can't.
This has been the red curtain hanging open upon my stage... it's still open and until the day I cannot BE, it isn't yet the final curtain.
I am trying hard to appreciate the difficulties that other persons experience.... and how it must be that HOPE is so hard to think about.
The glass is half or more full in my life despite whatever black dogs haunt me!
It is true that I've felt tired of blog posting, but not tired of being creative, if I can harness a positive stimulus. However, being human, I am proud that I can confront / express emotion without sweeping debris under the rug or into a box to put upon a shelf. It is better out than in. I write for me and not for an audience! I write so that I can begin to understand LIFE as it is doled out ... or as I take whatever I take!
SO... an idea arose on my walk today: 45 minutes trailing The American Way leading to 'La Tranche Anglaise' with the final ascent then descent back to MY HOME. Oh yay, my home. Am I not fortunate to not yet be homeless! Let's Step back one day to yesterday...
On the first day of Christmas LOVE brought to me:
- a cycle ride along a strait then walking long shallow ascents on the return (TOTAL time : an a hour and a half)
- a reindeer in a tree ( amusing )
- champagne and oysters...eaten in warm sunshine ... all we needed was the beach! I provided a delicious Lanson Champagne... I am sold!!!
- delicious Christmas flavours, Anglais sur l'assiette.. which isn't what mine host envisaged. As I said to her later, we learn from Christmases we experience. Those who served were instructed to get the food portioned onto the plate before it lost heat! ... the plus side were the wines, the humour and that it was achieved in true French fashion ... eating over six hours with pleasant intervals when various people removed themselves from the table to return at the appropriate moment!
- the fun and joy of children interacting with adults...
How delightful to see a 4 year old eating more than one!!!! 
The beautiful hand made tablecloth from Emmaus for less than ten euros!!!!! 
At least 20 plates / dishes of different sizes portraying Hummingbirds ? Colibris from Emmaus for ten euros! 
I do like a boy chicken! 
Whilst a modern pudding much like a steamed sultana pudding with a caramel type sauce was interesting I much prefer a real Christmas pud of home made quality but it has been some years since I have had the desire to make one!
On the second day of Christmas LOVE brought to me:
- a glorious warm spring-like day temperature about 15C!!!!!
- laziness feeling being content...
- a 45 minute walk to my friends' house to find out my holiday duties ...
 |
| Trees lopped or felled to provide logs for the owners of the land and to provide a clear view of the mill house! |
 |
| Le Tranche Anglais - allez -up! |
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