We have received the following diary information from the British Community Council. Its author, Claire le Monnier writes: ‘As a result of subjects brought up at the Brexit Briefings, I have elaborated a list of Useful Links, which I hope will answer some questions for some people. Please therefore forward the BCC Diary, into which the list is integrated, to others who you may know are asking questions about some of the subjects listed above and feel free to contact me on clairelem@hotmail.com if you have any subjects you would like to see covered.’
Villa Arnaga
A hot 4th July did not deter a group of members and partners from driving into the far south west of our region to enjoy the delights of the French Basque countryside around Cambo and the city pleasures of Bayonne. The highlight of our day at Cambo was a visit to Edmond Rostand’s Villa Arnaga, with its superb gardens featuring a thousand Hortensias, and a French garden with its pergola, canal and water mirror leading to the house and surrounded by beautifully laid-out beds.
In 1902, the immense success of Cyrano de Bergerac enabled Rostand and his wife Rosamonde to design and have built a magnificent house in the Basque style, with splendid interiors (see the web site), further embellished by recently restored fairy-tale decor by the then-contemporary caricaturist Jean Veber.
This visit was preceded by a good lunch in the Hotel Bellevue, which does indeed have a fine panoramic view of Cambo Bas and the sight of circling vultures (our lunch nevertheless untroubled!).
The day ended with a committee meeting enhanced by tapas and wine in the Hotel des Basses-Pyrennees in Bayonne. Many thanks to Marion for organising us so efficiently.
British Embassy Events
We have received the following from the BCC with attachments from the Embassy which draws attention to this website: http://gov.uk/living-in-france:
I attach a letter addressed to the British Community Committee of France from Pam Deegan, Director Consular Services at the British Embassy.
As the letter explains, the Embassy and Consular Services are holding various outreach events around France to inform and keep up to date UK nationals living in France on their resident rights and how these might change when (if!) the UK leaves the EU.
As requested by Pam Deegan, we are circularising the letter to our member associations and would ask you to kindly forward it to your association’s own members. In addition, if you are able to, you might like to print the attached British Embassy Poster (if possible on A3 paper) and distribute copies around your local community where UK nationals might see it, such as your local mairie, doctors, vets, etc.
If you or your local mairie or any other local organisation would like hard copies of the posters to be sent by post, then please contact Pam Deegan at her email address at the top of her letter.
Howard Norman, Chairman, BCC
Bauduc
Our OUS SW France association has made a regular habit of chateau visits, characteristically to chateaux in vineyards. Such was our visit on 9th May to the British-owned Chateau Bauduc, notable as a supplier to top chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Rick Stein and (for those who know North Wales well) Bryan Webb, in whose restaurant members first encountered Bauduc.
It was not the best day for sunning ourselves amongst the vines, but we did note the black vines first planted in 1947 and the netting being tested to protect against the hail which often destroys substantial percentages of the annual production. The chai contains two sections for red and white, generating a substantial volume of production that seemed immense to your correspondant. Shipping to bottling requires an exercise of military precision.
The Chateau has its own website which tells the story of the Quinney’s successful venture and it was Angela who very kindly greeted us in their chateau-home for an extensive degustation of Crémant de Bordeaux, whites and reds.
Sensible planning by Nigel ensured that we were not late for lunch at la Table in Créon where we enjoyed an excellent menu around a single large table, as the photos display (other photos can be found at OUS Bauduc ).
2019 Sainte-Mere Festival
Our member Piers Killeen writes:
2019 marks a new step forward. Sainte-Mère Festival has supported over 50 talented young musicians and one of the most promising new quartet ensembles in Europe. This year we are also supporting an exceptional young composer. The Festival has been fortunate enough to join the famous Aldeburgh Festival of England and The Philips Collection of Washington, in a co-commission of a new piece for string quartet by Freya Waley-Cohen. The European premiere forms part of this year’s exciting summer programme. The details are now on the website.
With best wishes,
Piers
Monteton Chamber Choir Music, April 7
If your taste is for Tallis, Handel, Elgar, Lauridsen, this should not be missed:
Toulouse Music in April: Spanish Royal Funerals
