New Gems for Sarlat.

I never get tied of taking a picture of the stunning architecture around Sarlat Medieval Quarter and this sunny morning was no exception. The square was beginning to come alive for the tourist season with huge parasols welcoming people to sit down, have a rest, drink coffee or delicious hot chocolate and take in the sights.

Medieval Quarter.
 

A sculptor has opened a shop to show his art so take a walk inside and look at the many exhibits, they are very good so you may be tempted to buy a few.
 

This shop is full of witches, trolls, dragons and of course ducks!
 

If you like olives this is the place. Yummy.
 

All the artisan cheese you could ever wish for, plus a good selection of wine. They even have truffle cheese which you can taste before you buy.
 

Walk down any street in old Sarlat and you will find interesting buildings dating back to ancient times. On the monumental portal, an inscription in Latin signifying: “May God watch you enter and exit”. (Psalm)
 

A new leather goods store selling all hand made items. I particularly like the handbags.
 
 

Events:

Put on your dancing shoes for this event in Sarlat.
 

Also, do you own a Château?

Do you own and run your own French Château? Or are you planning to buy one with renovation in mind? Kindling Media would like to talk to British Château owners about a potential series of Escape to the Château DIY, with Dick and Angel Stawbridge. Which will be filmed and shown on British television.
If you are interested please email info@kindlingmedia.tv with your contact details and write a few lines about your story.
 
 

All I need is a Château!

A Brocante in Daglan village always draws in the crowds from far and wide. Paul and I were there early in search of a bargain or two. We are still looking for a wardrobe for the guest bedroom and a chair for the veranda. But sadly we could not find what we were after. However, the following are just a few of my favourite things that I loved in this years Brocante.

Ne Pas Toucher. I just wanted to have one small touch.
 

Paul and a neighbour. “I love that painting, and the china dishes”.
 

Superb selection of just about everything was to be found over the weekend period.
 

Somehow I have a magnet that always draws me to the vintage linen stall.
 

Now these bed warmers would be handy for next Winter.
 

All I need now is a Château to go with the spinning wheels.
 

Think CSI Las Vagus and the miniature serial killer – or is it just me. Where is the miniature body? For anyone who did not see this series of CSI Las Vegas, a miniature model of the room that murder was in to be committed was cratered by the murder in such fine detail that it was an exact copy of the room were the body would be found.
 
 

Upcoming changes to the opening hours of our village 8 à Huit Supermarket. Summer is nearly here.
 
 

Grantchester.

This blog is about a beautiful village just a couple of miles from Cambridge which I visited a few weeks ago. I wanted to visit for two reasons: first to see the church and the cottages which were depicted in the television series “Grantchester” which was adapted from James Runcies “The Grantchester Mysteries”. Secondly to visit “The Orchard” were in 1897 a group of students persuaded the owner of the apple orchard to serve them tea. After which it became a regular meeting place for everyone including “The Grantchester Group”, Rupert Brooke and Virginia Wolfe where just two of the people who sat for hours drinking tea and exchanging ideas.

The famous Grantchester Group.
 

Virginia Wolfe and Rupert Brooke sitting in the apple orchard. It is such a beautiful spot still today where you can buy tea, scones, etc. and sit under the gorgeous apple trees.
 

Statue of Rupert Brooke in the grounds of the Manor House. According to legend, an underground passage is said to run from the Manor House to Kings College. It is also said that a fiddler who offered to play his fiddle while walking through the passage started to walk and was never seen again.
 

Chocolate Box houses meander through the village.
 

Grantchester is also famous for “Grantchester Meadows” (composed and sung by Roger Waters) a member of Pink Floyd. One other band member David Gilmour, who lived in the village a few years later composed the song “Fat Old Sun” which also related to the village.
 

St Andrew and St Mary Church.

A picture taken from the ITV series Grantchester. The actors from the television series would hire bikes from the train station in Cambridge and ride to Grantchester.
 
 

Events to look forward to:-

9th June across France is National Rosé  Day. What a great excuse to crack open a bottle. If an excuse is needed of course.
 
 

Market Day in Daglan.

Our Sunday market in Daglan is expanding as we approach Summer. Slowly at first with an extra stall or two, growing to what you can see today, with more to follow over the next few weeks.

Wine of course is year round unless the weather is pretty horrible and the vegetable stall is a regular weekly visitor.

I do love it when the flower stall appears gingerly at first with a few hardy plants. Then ‘wow’ a burst of colour which always sends me running from our home to purchase bedding plants.

Today was no exception I just had to get more plants.
 

Here is a new stall selling ladies and men’s wear. Gorgeous cotton and linen, plus t-shirts in a variety of colours.
 

Only a short blog today a larger blog to follow.
 
 

V-E Day

8th May 1945 was the date that Charles de Gaulle announced the end of World War Two and which is celebrated each year through out Europe. In France it is marked as a public holiday were people come together not only to celebrate the end of the War but to remember those who fought courageously and who would never return to their loved ones.

Proudly carrying the French flag through the streets of Daglan.
 

It always brings a lump to my throat when I see the flag being raised. I remember all of the French Resistance documentaries that I watched many years ago.
 

A bugler played the last post, then a minute silence was performed which was followed by the French National Anthem which I really must learn. Our Marie reminded us all about what the people fought for. Liberté, égalité and fraternité.
 

After the commemoration ceremony everyone was asked to go to the Marie for an apero and delicious nibbles.
 
 

Event:- this Saturday in Sarlat a Brocante next to the College. See you all there. I am still looking for a chair or sofa, plus a wardrobe to restore.