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By 2017 Brittany will join the high-speed railnetwork. Will this bring the benefits claimed for it?

Full speed ahead

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million in EU funding.Eiffage Rail Express (ERF), an Eiffage sub-

sidiary, will build and maintain the high-speedline between Le Mans and Rennes, along withconnections to an additional 32km of theexisting rail network. The SNCF forecasts anincrease in passengers of 40% in 2020.

ERF says that more than 10,000 jobs will becreated during the construction phase of thenew high-speed line, which is due to be com-pleted by the autumn of 2016. The companyhas promised more than 30% of the work willgo to local firms.

When the first TGVs were put into servicemore than 30 years ago, environmental issueswere not considered as important as they arenow. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the new LGV hasnot been met with unanimous support, andthere have been protests from groups such asthe Fédération ALTO (Alternative auxNouvelles Lignes de TGV Ouest), which haschallenged the building of the new line.

ALTO argues that the time saved will notjustify the huge costs or the environmentalimpact of the work. It believes a cheaperoption would be to improve existing lines, atan estimated cost of €400 million, rather thanbuilding a new high-speed line.

But those in favour of the project believe thateven with the energy consumption of high-speed trains, the LGV network will still beenvironmentally sound when compared toshort-haul or medium-distance air travel, orthe use of private cars.

They point out the convenience of fastercentre-to-centre journey times on the TGVnetwork and believe the rail network couldcompete with air travel if the prices are nottoo high. This would result in fewer domestic

flights and the possible closing down of someair routes, which would reduce damage causedto the environment by air travel.

When the new line opens, journey times willbe cut by 37 minutes between Paris andRennes and by an hour between Paris andBrest and Paris and Quimper. Rennes will alsogain a more direct link to other French cen-tres, such as Lyon, Marseille and Massy-Charles-de-Gaulle.

In addition, there will be quick and easyaccess to a dozen European cities via Paris orLille. A link at Sablé-sur-Sarthe will provide abypass around Le Mans for trains to Nantes

In November 2010 a survey was undertakenin Brittany and Paris to look at the expectedeconomic effects of the LGV. The Network ofPlanning Agencies of Brittany (Réseau des

STAFFORD AND JENNY TAYLOR have beenrunning the B&B and gîte Manoir de CoatAmour in Morlaix, Finistère, since 2005. Weasked them if they thought the new rail con-nection would make a difference to their lives.

Do many of your guests use the train tocome to you?No, most customers use the plane. We cannottell in percentage terms how many arrive bytrain, but it is relatively few. Our clients tendto be from abroad and they find it easier to

rent a car locally. A few from the UK arrive bytrain, but they often regret it as it takes toolong. Most fly to Brest, Dinard or Rennes, orthey come by ferry to Roscoff, Saint-Malo orCaen. Others from the south-east of the UKwill use the Channel Tunnel.

What impact do you expect on your business?Potentially we expect to have more customerscoming from Paris, but we are not expectingthe new high-speed train to bring us morefrom the UK.

WORK will soon begin on extending the high-speed rail network from Le Mans to Rennes,providing Brittany with a link to many moremajor European cities.

“This great railway project will create one ofthe longest high-speed lines in Europe, run-ning for 360km between Paris and the west ofFrance,” says Hubert du Mesnil, president ofthe rail network company Réseau Ferré deFrance (RFF). Construction is expected to takeabout five years, with engineering work start-ing at the end of 2012.

The new Bretagne-Pays de la Loire ligne degrand vitesse will extend the Paris-Le Mansbranch of LGV Atlantique to Rennes by a fur-

ther 214km. The transport minister, ThierryMariani, the RFF president and representativesfrom Brittany and Pays de la Loire, signed anagreement confirming the public financepackage in July.

The €3.3 billion contract for constructionand maintenance of the line was assigned toRFF and Eiffage. RFF will contribute almost42% of the total, €1.4 billion, with the remain-ing 58% to be co-financed by the governmentand by regional authorities. The proportionpaid will depend on the benefits received.Of the total cost, Brittany will contribute €858million and Pays de la Loire €86.9 million.The project has already benefited from €11

High hopesfor the newhigh-speedrailway lineBrittany willsoon get fastaccess todozens ofEuropeancities, butnot everyonewants it,reportsISABELLECARVALHO

A TGV at Rennes station: by 2017 it will be able

Above left: TGV Atlantique travelling between

Plans are little benefit

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News 3Brittany Pages September 2011

agences d’urbanisme de Bretagne) interviewed240 professionals in business, tourism, culture,education and research. Most agreed withHubert du Mesnil that the LGV “will be abenefit for economic development and theattractiveness of the areas it serves”.

The vast majority of those surveyed believedthe LGV would have a positive impact in threemain areas: high-tech industries, higher edu-cation and research, tourism and culture.

The tourism industry expected to see strongbenefits from the new LGV, although mostvisitors to Brittany, whether on business or onholiday, do not travel by train.

According to the Departmental Committeeof Finistère, only 14% of visitors to the regiontravel on the rail network. The TGV is bestsuited for short stays, especially “city-breakers”,

those who frequently leave large cities to relaxfor a few days.

The impact of the high-speed line on theproperty market is also expected to be high ina region where property prices have driveneconomic development.

Brittany is one of the most attractive Frenchregions in which to live, both for people whohave retired and for those still working. Theconstruction of the LGV is expected to resultin higher property prices in the region, partic-ularly on the coast and near railway stations.

Not everyone, however, welcomes the possi-bility of rising property prices. Local familieshave already been forced to move away fromthe coast and they fear an increased demandfor second homes would make it even harderfor them to to buy a house they can afford.

THE SURVEY carried outlast November by the plan-ning agencies in Brittanyrevealed a common concernbased on greater competitionin the frequency, timetablesand prices of the new trains.

At the moment, 20 TGVsstop daily in Rennes andlarge Breton cities get six tonine TGVs per day, whilesmaller ones have two to foura day.

Those surveyed wantedtimetables changed to suit agreater number of customers.They particularly wantedmore flexible early-morningtrains, from 06.00 to 09.00.

They also wanted timetablesto allow for a working day tostart at 09.00 in Paris orBrittany. This is only possibleat present on trains to andfrom Rennes.

The same logic applies tobetter evening timetables,with demands for trains leav-ing Paris between 17.00 and18.00. This would make itpossible for commuters andtourists to arrive at the tip ofBrittany before 21.30 on aThursday or Friday evening.

SNCF has not yet releasednew timetables, but it hasannounced that there will betwo additional daily returntrips to Paris from the mainstations in Brittany.

The increase in train fares isamong the concernsexpressed by those inter-viewed. High prices on theTGV from from Paris to

Brest, for example, mean thetrain cannot compete withlow-cost flights.

Suggestions were made todevelop specific deals – forleisure, business and weekendpackages, perhaps – to attractmore customers.

Better access to stations,more parking spaces andimproved access to mobileand internet networks arealso on the list of requests.

SNCF has announced that10 stations will undergo sig-nificant changes, with new orreorganised infrastructures,and the introduction of newservices.

The tourism industry will

also need to improve facilitiesto cope with the new flow ofvisitors. The construction ofbetter mid- and high-endhotel facilities close to railwaystations remains a priority,especially for business people.

Big problems remain on theroutes between stations,major tourist sites and ferryterminals.

For instance, there is a lackof public transport service toMont Saint-Michel, Quiberon,the Presqu’île de Rhuys andsouth of Cornouaille.

The ferry terminals atRoscoff and Saint-Malo alsoneed better connections torailway stations.

Are you satisfied with the timetable andprices currently offered on the TGV?If you book ahead, you can get a sensibleprice and taking the train is a comfortablealternative to flying or driving. But if you wantto book a trip for tomorrow, it is expensive.And taking the train is only just quicker thandriving .

What is the ideal journey time from Paris foryour customers?ASAP!

to carry passengers to and from Paris in less than an hour and a half

Demand formore trains,good prices

Morlaix and Brest. Above right: Rennes station, soon to be a high-speed hub

For more information visit www.connexionfrance.comor order by calling (free from France) 0800 91 77 56

or from UK 0844 256 9881 (4p/min)

Our guides addressquestions about everyday life in Francethat we regularlyreceive. These includehow to fill out a Frenchincome tax form, local

taxes, residential carehomes in France,employing help athome such as a

gardener and lettingout your Frenchhome to tourists.

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FROM

€5PLUS P&P

for visitors182km of new line between Le Mans andRennes by 201748.5km in Ille-et-Vilaine, 59km in Mayenneand 74.5km in Sarthe€3.3 billion budgetEstimated travel times:Paris-Rennes: 1h26Paris-Nantes: 1h53Paris-Saint-Malo: 2h09Pari-Saint-Brieuc: 2h15Paris-Brest: 3h08Paris-Quimper: 3h08Lille-Rennes: 3h20

The LGV in figures

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Treasures of Crozonrecognised

4 News Brittany Pages September 2011

THERE is some good newsfor property owners inBrittany. Sales have returnedto 2007 levels, according toBreton notaries. There are,however, marked variationsdepending on the area andthe type of property.

In urban areas, sale pricesof apartments and houses

have been increasing. InRennes, prices have reachedan average of €2,180 per m2,a 6% increase, and in Vannesthe increase is almost asmuch, while in Saint-Brieucit is €1,200 per m2.

But it’s not all good news.Second home ownership andnew apartments are proving

less popular. The Scellier law,which gave tax reductions upto 37% on a 2010 newbuildproperty, made sales soar atthe end of that year, but theyfell back again at the begin-ning of 2011.

Only large conurbationsstill have a strong market fornew apartments.

The largest sales increasehas been in Côtes d’Armor,where there has been a rise of6% in a year. Prices inFinistère and Ille-et-Vilainehave seen a 2-3% increase,while those in Morbihanremained stable.

In Finistère and Morbihan,existing apartments are notselling as well as they used to,and the price per squaremetre has fallen by 1-10%.

THE LAST “white” areas of Finistère, that isthose areas without a high-speed internetconnection, will soon get broadband. This willgive access to 40,000 inhabitants through thepublic initiative network Penn Ar BedNumérique.

The President of the General Council, PierreMaille, visited the Bernard family in Briec-de-l’Odet in June, the first home to benefit fromthis development. Marie-Françoise Bernard isdelighted: “Before, I could drink a coffee anew page would load,” she says. “Now I candevelop the booking site for my gîte.”

With the widespread use of triple play offers

(internet, unlimited landline use andtelevision), and soon quadruple play offers(to include mobile phones), the need forbroadband internet continues to grow.

Over the past five years, the speeds of DSLtechnologies have been multiplied by 40, upfrom 512kb to 20mb per second. The GeneralCouncil is now thinking of the next stage –fibre optics. “We voted on June 23 to allocate€300 million for the installation of this tech-nology in Brittany,” said Pierre Maille.

Find more information on 0811 88 29 29 oronline at www.pennarbed-numerique.fr.

Mixed news on property

THERE are signs of economic recovery in Morbihan.Three indicators were favourable in July, with a 50%reduction in redundancies, a significant drop in the use ofpartial unemployment, and declining requests for theaveraging of fiscal and social debts.

Activity in the construction sector has recovered andthe shipbuilding sector has a satisfactory workload planfor the coming months, according to the Prefecture.

The unemployment rate is stable at 8.2%.

Hopeful economic signs

Broadband speeds upPop-up storein Brest

White lioncubs born

Informationfor women

Miss Francein Brest

Futuristicart galleryfor Rennes

CHRONOSTOCK opened its65th shop in Brest in July.This chain of temporarystores operates in France andBelgium, selling brandedkitchenware and other house-hold goods at 20-50% belowrecommended retail price.The Brest store will close at

the end of January 2012,but another temporary shopmay open elsewhere in Brestor in another Breton city,according to Chronostock’sco-founder Bruno Poncet.It depends on whether suitableunoccupied city-centre prem-ises become available.

A RARE event took place atthe Pont-Scorff zoo this sum-mer when four white lioncubs were born. They maylook like kittens, but soonthey will be as big as their150kg mother or 210kgfather. The pair of white lionscame from South Africa toPont-Scorff last winter. Thecubs will eventually go toother zoos to prevent theproblems of inbreeding.

THE Centre for Informationon Women’s Rights, CIDFF,has re-established itself inMorbihan, having beenforced to close in 2010. Thenew association received gov-ernment approval in June.

In Vannes and Lorient, theCIDFF provides legal infor-mation to women and helpsthem search for jobs. It alsowelcomes victims of violence.

The CIDFF will have a pres-ence in Lanester from thisautumn and later on inPontivy and Ploërmel.CIDFF tel 02 97 63 52 36

MISS FRANCE 2012 will beelected in Brest, birthplace of2011 winner Laury Thilleman,the first Miss France fromBrittany for 50 years. TF1 willbroadcast from the Parc dePenfeld in front of 4,000spectators on December 3.

FROM October 2, Air France will offer flights between Brestand Marseille as part of 13 new direct routes from the southernhub. The move is a response to competition from low-cost air-lines. The company wants to offer “attractive prices whileretaining the services of Air France.” One-way tickets from €50will include all taxes. Ryanair says it plans to relaunch its Brest-Marseille and Nantes-Marseille routes from the end of October.

Cheap flights from Air France

MANY tourists worry aboutthe environment. This is whythe Arzon Office, the Amisde Port-Navalo and theCrouesty Yacht Club areplanning to commission aboat powered by solar panelsto allow tourists to see theGolfe du Morbihan in silenceand without polluting.

They are thinking of a cata-maran capable of carrying 12passengers to areas currentlyinaccessible by tourist boats.

The new boat wouldapproach resident and migra-tory birds and enable the dis-covery of marshes, mudflatsand oyster beds in a morerespectful way.

Eco-friendlycatamaran

THE geological treasuresof the Presqu’île de Crozonare to enter the circle ofEspaces remarquables deBretagne, the outstandingareas of Brittany.

The Presqu’île deCrozon is an open airPaleozoic museumthat traces 500 millionyears of geologicalhistory in Brittany. Itnow joins 26 sitesselected in the region.

Brittany can alsoclassify sites as region-al nature reserves, topreserve their heritageand promote tourism.

Six emblematicBreton landscapesalready benefit fromthis label, includingthe Sillon de Talbertand the moors ofCragou and Vergam. NowCrozon has been designatedthe seventh of this group.

The overall annual budget is€72,000-€107,000, mostlycoming from the region, withGeneral Council funds and a

contribution from the EU.The project is also helpingthe Maison des minéraux(House of minerals) of Saint-Hernot out of its financialdifficulties. The museum is

suffering from a structuraldeficit of €5,000 each year.

The mayor of Roscanvel,Patrick Le Guillou, welcomedthe museum’s chance “to startanew on solid foundations” asan educational showcase.

Mineral-rich: Pointe de Saint-Hernot

FRAC, the Regional Fundfor Contemporary Art(Fonds Régional d’ArtContemporain) will openan ambitious new build-ing next year in theBeauregard district ofRennes, after 10 yearsof construction work and

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BRETONS are known fortheir individuality andnowhere is this seen moreclearly than in their sports.

Two world championshipswere held on the same dayin June in the Presqu’île deRhuys in the Golfe deMorbihan.

The third World MudRacing Championship washeld at Le Hézo. About 50competitors raced 200metres over mudflatsin “clogs”, or boardsattached to rubberboots.

It may look funnybut it is very hardwork, and severalpeople got boggeddown in the Moulinmudflats, enjoyingthe odd free facial.

Drawing on a localtradition dating fromthe last century, the racebegan as a game betweenfishermen, before becominga world-class competition.

Meanwhile, in the Port deLogeo in Sarzeau, theBathtub Sea Race was aworld premiere. Forty par-

ticipants took part in groupsof five tubs at a time, eachwith one or two people onboard. It might look easybut it certainly wasn’t.

“Keeping balance is diffi-cult,” said one of the bravecompetitors inaugurating

this world event. Some ofthese strange little boatswere unstable and capsizedbefore reaching the dock.

By the end of the day,seven races had been heldand all the winners receivedshiny gold medals.

World championshipsin Presqu’île de Rhuys

Did you know?

News 5Brittany Pages September 2011

Sturdy men in clogs in Le Hézo, racing bathtubs in Port de Logeo

DRIVERS tempted to speedin Morbihan this summermay find themselves arrestedsooner than expected.

Under new legislation, theMorbihan rapid interventionbrigade have acquired apowerful new car capable ofcatching motorists at speedsup to 250 km per hour.

The Mercedes CLS coupé,valued at €66,300, can reach246 km per hour in just 14seconds, and the vehicle nowin the possession ofMorbihan police was seizedfrom a reckless driver.

“He was driving without alicense,” said CaptainEmmanuel Bougon. “Thevehicle has now beenassigned to us, and we willuse it to fight certain types ofrisky behaviour, such as theuse of mobile phones whiledriving, overtaking danger-ously, or non-compliancewith safety distances.”

The guidance and planningfor homeland security bill (Leprojet de Loi d’orientation etde programmation pour la

performance de la sécuritéintérieure – Loppsi), adoptedin the National Assembly,allows property to be seizedfrom certain offenders by thepolice or gendarmerie wholead the investigation. In thiscase, the property seized hasbeen put to good use by thepolice in making the roads ofMorbihan safer.

The annual fuel cost for theMercedes CLS 350 CDI is€1,368, based on covering anestimated 15,000 km over theyear. It will be used withanother sports car, a SubaruImpreza, in the rapidresponse brigade.

Both the German Mercedesand the Japanese SubaruImpreza, however, will soonbe replaced by Renaults. TheFrench cars have been chosento equip the gendarmerie, sothis summer, 65 Mégane RShave been issued to the policethroughout France.

The Mégane can reach270kph, and is much fasterthan either the Mercedes orthe Subaru.

Crackdownon speedersin Morbihan

Borrow toysin Brest

Four stars for Brittany Ferries READERS of Which? magazine have voted Brittany Ferries thebest ferry company in a customer satisfaction survey publishedin July. The survey looked at nine ferry companies operatingfrom the UK, polling 2,159 readers, all of whom had travelledby ferry in the last two years. Readers gave the company fourstars for overall satisfaction, likelihood to recommend, ease ofbooking, on-board facilities, comfort and cleanliness of the ships.

Aubry plansto revisitSHE came to Finistère in Julyfor the Entre Terre et Merfestival in Morlaix, and nowMartine Aubry is comingback in September. TheSocialist presidential candi-date will take part in the Fêtede la Rose, organised by theSocialist Party, on September11 in Moëlan-sur-Mer.

Car-sharingin NantesMARGUERITE, the carsharing service of Nantes, isgrowing. It has opened twonew docking station termi-nals, one in front of theChantenay mairie, and theother on the Ile de Nantes.The service allows flexibleaccess to a car for at least anhour, 24/7. Marguerite nowhas 520 subscribers and 20stations, mainly in the citycentre of Nantes. It aims toreduce the use of cars in thecity and to replace the secondcar of households in Nantes.

A TOY library will openin Brest in September,with nearly 6,000 gamesfor children and adults.There will be space forworkshops, tournaments,parties and team-buildingevents. For €15 a year,members can take a gameout for three weeks or, forno charge, they can playin the 500 m2 libraryat 231 Rue Jean-Jaurès.

a €15 million budget. Itwill provide largeexhibition spaces forcontemporary artistsworking in Brittany andelsewhere in France, aswell as for internationalartists.

The new building will

host more than 4,000works over 5,000 m².

Conservation, documen-tation and educationfacilities will be provided.There will also be openpublic spaces, such as acafé, a bookshop andinformation points.

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notice board

A MIXED nationality discussiongroup called Dis Want Scrignac wasformed four years ago to improvecommunication between new andexisting residents of the village. Itsname comes from the Breton worddiwan, meaning a Breton school, theFrench word dis for “speak”, and theEnglish word “want”, conveying thegroup’s aim to talk to each other.

“It’s a small but interesting groupwith about 24 members,” said DavidRosemont, a founding member of DisWant. “There are French people fromdifferent parts of France, as well asBritish newcomers,” he added. “DisWant is for people who want to makecontacts in the community, and tomake a contribution to village life.”Dis Want meets on Monday evenings

at Scrignac school in term time, andmembers meet for outings and spe-

cial events in the holidays. The annu-al vide grenier, organised by David,has a mix of high quality goods onoffer, as well as local producers sellingdelicious food. The event usuallyattracts more than 500 people, withall profits going to the local parentteacher association, amicale laïque.

The Dis Want annual membershipfee is €20, with members payingtheir own way at special events, suchas restaurant meals or theatre tickets.

A typical evening meeting beginswith a discussion of future arrange-ments, and moves on to topical orcultural events, taking in anythingelse members wish to talk about.

For more information visit the blog:diswantscrignac.blogspot.com orcontact the president Pauline Bruceon 02 98 78 20 02.

Discussiongroup aims tocross threelanguagebarriers Dis Want members in a tug-of-war

at the annual village games

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

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Côtes d’Armor Hillion to Saint-Brieuc

Côtes d’ArmorMûr de Bretagne

Côtes d’Armor

September 10-11 –Marathon photo -Amateur and experienced photographersof all ages are invited to take part in a12-hour photo marathon, starting at07.30 in Saint-Quay-Portrieux.Participants will be given six surprisethemes in the morning and they cantake a maximum of two photos foreach theme. Prizes of €1,500, sharedbetween three winners, will be givenon Sunday morning.There is a €50registration fee, which includes film,photo processing, printing and teabreaks.Advance registration required.Call 02 96 70 80 80 or 02 96 70 4744, or see Saint-Quay-Portrieux website, www.saintquayportrieux.com

September 10-11– Foire régionale biologique- Discover one of the largest organic farming shows in the west of France – itattracted 13,000 visitors last year.You willfind 250 exhibitors showing food and wine,crafts, fashion, plants, alternative health,renewable energy and environmental safety.Many activities on offer, including organicmeals and a fest-noz on Saturday evening.Call 02 96 28 51 41 or 02 96 26 09 15

OTHERSaint-Quay-Portrieux

OTHER

MorbihanVannes SPORT

September 3-4 – Triathlons de la Presqu'île -The Triathlons of the Peninsula are heldannually on the first weekend of September.About 100 competitors meet at Saint-Pierre-Quiberon for a triathlon on theSaturday, a sprint race on the Sunday morningand a short distance race in the afternoon.For the first time this year, there will be separate ranking for young athletes.

In the evening you are welcome to join apasta party.Call 06 08 60 68 07 or seewww.quiberontriathlon.fr

September 30 (20.00) – Zazie concert -Four years after her triumphant TotemTour, singer-songwriter Zazie hits the roadagain in 2011 for a national tour, where shewill sing from her repertoire, includingsongs from her long-awaited seventh albumZa7ie. Zazie decided to record this newalbum in her own home, working sevendays a week, writing on seven themes ofeveryday life… a full 49 songs.Tickets fromSaint-Brieuc Tourism Office and usualoutlets. €43, €13 for unemployed.Call 02 47 49 80 03 or seewww.baiedesaintbrieuc.com

Côtes d’ArmorMUSICSaint-Brieuc

OUT AND ABOUT

September 9 – Baie de Saint-Brieuc:Traversée Nocturne - Explore nature at the Baie de Saint-Brieuc at night with a guide.A unique experience that will let you to see the bay thatnever sleeps from a different angle.The walk, which is four kilometres long, will start at thePlage de Lermot in Hillion at 21.00 and last for three hours.You will end up at the Plage duValais in Saint-Brieuc and return by bus. €5-€9.Advance booking required. Bring a flashlight.Call 02 96 32 27 98 or see www.baiedesaintbrieuc.com

September 10 – Initiation à la pêche à la canne - dans le Golfe du Morbihan au Bono.A day to introduce you to the art of angling.You can realise your dream of becoming afisherman at the Vieux Pont du Bono (old Bono bridge) where you will learn about allthe appropriate equipment, baits and fish.You will also learn about environmental issuessurrounding fishing so you can fish sustainably and respectfully.Advance booking required.Adult €2 (fishing equipment provided). Call 06 30 17 43 81

PluneretOUT AND ABOUT

Morbihan

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September 3-4 (Saturday afternoonfrom 14.00 and Sunday from 10.00):Portes Ouvertes sur le Sport (sports openday) at the Salle Omnisport, Dinan. Signup for your children or yourself: rugby,swimming, ballet, archery, badminton…

September 6 (from 12.30): Royal BritishLegion monthly social meeting at Relaisde L’Oust, Rue de Pontivy, Josselin. Meetnew friends, buy books, videos andDVDs. All proceeds donated to RBLBranch Funds. Call 02 97 38 74 13.

September 10 (15.00-19.00): ChristChurch Brittany Summer Fête at MaisonMère des Frères, 1 Boulevard Foch,Ploërmel. FREE admission. Stalls withplants, cakes, bric-à-brac, crafts, books,games, tombola, clay modelling. Livemusic and bell-ringing demonstration.Call Barbara Dunford on 02 97 27 19 37.

September 10 (from 20.00): A l'écoutedu brame (Association Promenons-nousdans les Bois), Saint-Fiacre. Spend anevening listening to the calls of deer inthe breeding season. A night stroll willtake you to places where bucks roam insearch of does. Advance bookingrequired.Call 02 96 74 46 27 or 02 96 11 00 09.

September 18 (from 08.30): The ninthCourse Rémy Corfmat Leucémie espoir(Rémy Corfmat Leukaemia Hope Race)organised by UCLH. Start at Halle deLocastel, Inzinzac-Lochrist. For cycliststhe distances are 60, 65 and 90 km, formountain bikers distances of 15km to35km, and there is also the optionof hiking (start at about 10.00). Allregistration fees will go to theAssociation Leucémie Espoir 56. Call 02 97 36 01 16.

Community events this month

Profile: Tax advice for new arrivalsJENNIE Poate advises expats newly arriving inFrance on how their UK based investments andpensions will be taxed in this country and howthey can make the most of the French regula-tions. Ms Poate is the regional manager forBrittany, Normandy and Picardy for financialand tax advice company Siddalls. Ms Poate whowas an independent financial adviser in theUK, bought a house to renovate in Normandynine years ago and has a good level of French.

What’s On 7Brittany Pages September 2011

where holidays begin

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If you travel frequently, join our Travel Club and not only will you save on our fares, you’ll also save miles of driving through northern France.

Visit brittanyferries.com/club or call +44 (0)871 244 0163

September

September 2-4 – Championnat de Bretagnede Musique Traditionnelle - The Championshipof Traditional Music of Brittany is held eachyear at Tronjoly in Gourin. Since 1956, thebest players of the biniou-bombarde andcornemuse-bombarde bagpipes come to fightit out for the title Champion de Bretagne.And that’s not all: there are dance competitions and fest-noz over the weekend, as well as exhibitions of Bretoncultural heritage, including painting,traditional crafts and storytelling.Adult €6-€9 (FREE entry on Saturday),FREE entry for under 15s.Call 02 97 23 55 81 or see www.championnatdessonneurs.com

Morbihan

MUSICGourin

CULTUREPoullaouën

Finistère Châteaulin

September 15-18 – Nuit de laGavotte - This is now an importantevent in the cultural life of centralBrittany. Held in Poullaouën, itbrings together more than1,000people around the theme of thegavotte, a traditional folk dance.Get ready to tap your feet forhours on end, attend music work-shops, a cabaret evening and muchmore besides. €6-€30 (prices tobe confirmed). FREE entry onSeptember 15.Call 06 85 04 60 81 or seewww.danstro.com

OUT AND ABOUT

Finistère OTHERLe ConquetSeptember 17 – Journée mondiale de nettoyage du littoral - Ar Viltansou is a non-profitorganisation which aims to raise public awareness about the impact of waste on the coastlineand in the sea. Every September they organise the International Coastal Cleanup Day.Youcan volunteer to clean up the beaches of Blancs-Sablons and Ria du Conquet (meet at 13.30Place de Manigod, Le Conquet) or check Ocean Conservancy’s websites for other beachesin Brittany. Bring a good pair of gloves, boots and bags.Call 06 11 81 58 83 or see www.arviltansou.org or www.oceanconservancy.org

September 17 – The Notre-Dame de Rumengol is a 1945 listed barge moored in Brest.This 22-metre boat, which used to carry freight, now accommodates up to 27 people onsea outings. On September 17, you can enjoy a day trip from Brest to Châteaulin,accompanied by three sailors (return by bus). €55 including coach return.Call 02 98 20 06 58 or see www.antest.net

September 16-18 – Jazz aux Ecluses - After the successof the 2010 event, which attracted 15,000 spectators, Jazzaux Ecluses continues to lead the public in the discoveryor re-discovery of a variety of jazz styles, from traditional(blues, New Orleans) to bebop and modern jazz. Musiclovers and the merely curious of all ages are invited tocelebrate jazz in this unique spot, the 11 locks of Hédé-Bazouges on the Canal d’Ille et Rance betweenRennes and Saint-Malo.As well as free and paid concerts,you can also enjoy listening to music in the middle ofthese natural surroundings and get to know the musiciansand regional artists.FREE and paying concerts (€5-€22)Call 02 23 22 04 28 or see www.jazzauxecluses.com

Ille-et-VilaineHédé-Bazouges MUSIC

Ille-et-VilaineSaint-Malo ARTSeptember 11-12 – SolidorMétiers d'Art - Some 40 professional craftsmenand young artists will display col-lections of jewellery, painting, pot-tery, clothing and art at this year’sseventh Solidor show. Start at thefoot of the Tour Solidor, and don’tmiss demonstrations and talksgiven by the artists.There will bea design competition around asurprise theme on Sunday.Call 06 71 58 18 64 or see www.ville-saint-malo.fr or http://malometiersdart.free.fr/

Photo: © Championnat de Bretagne de Musique Traditionnelle - Gourin

Photo: © Championnat de Bretagne de Musique Traditionnelle - Gourin

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Finistère

8 Self-build

MOST English-speakers looking tobuy a property in France do notconsider building their own houses.They are likely to be deterred by thelanguage barrier, the bureaucracy, orthe time and effort involved.

However, people who choose theself-build option say it is the idealopportunity to create a dream homeand, increasingly, a good way way tobreak into the market in areas such asBrittany, Languedoc, Normandy andthe Dordogne.

Building a house yourself is not anew idea, of course. English-bornpicture framer Martin Mackenzie andhis second wife, Denise, began build-ing their first house in the communeof Penne in the Tarn about 20 yearsago. “We wanted a complete changeof scene but we didn’t have muchmoney,” says Mr Mackenzie. “Weknew we couldn’t afford a lovelyready-made house in the mountains,but at the time you could buy a ruinfor almost nothing.”

The couple secured a small mort-gage for a rundown cottage and twostone barns and decided to buildtheir home from scratch. To save oncost, they moved into the propertyimmediately and undertook most ofthe work themselves.

“It’s not for everyone. You learn alot, but it takes time and you have tounderstand that the work is veryweather-dependent and that thereare setbacks,” says Mr Mackenzie.

The first step towards beginning aself-build project in France is tosecure a site and get permission forbuilding and development from thelocal commune.

Many sites can be purchased witha certificat d’urbanisme indicatingthe land has been set aside for resi-dential building. Once the certificathas been secured, the law states anarchitect must be hired to draw upplans for any building over 170m2.

Architect Sean Rawnsley, from theArchitecte Sud group in the Tarn inMidi-Pyrénées, has helped English-speakers to obtain planning permis-sion and while some have gone onto hire a local builder, many choseto do most of the work themselves.

“But these are not complete

novices,” said Mr Rawnsley. “Oftenthey have worked as builders backhome and know what they’re doing.It’s definitely possible to build yourown home and it can be a lot cheap-er. But, you have to be careful andyou have to do your homework.

“You’ll need to know about soilconditions and, having obtainedplanning permission, what to dowith the site, how to insulate andprotect your property, etc. You’realso likely to be confronted withnew techniques and new materialsand regulations. Of course, it’s mucheasier if the property takes up lessthan 170m2.”

It was for this reason that TheoNoordewier, part-owner of the holi-day home marketing websitewww.gites.eu, chose to limit the sizeof his property. Mr Noordewier,from the Netherlands, built a smallhouse, with a bedroom, bathroomand cellar and ordered a ready-to-assemble wooden frame fromLithuania for the second storey.

“We didn’t have the money toemploy an architect and didn’t feelwe needed one,” he said. Doing mostof the work with his wife and broth-er, he hired a mason for thestonework and an architect from thefactory in Lithuania to supervise theassembly of the frame over twoweeks.

“You have a sense that you are cre-ating something. When you look atthe house you really think, ‘I didthis.’ That’s a very different feelingfrom buying something.”

Mr Noordewier and his wifemoved into their home in 2009 andare now adding a 60m2 extension.

Another way of minimising costswhile delegating the project to aprofessional is to follow the exampleof most French people and sign acontrat de construction de maisonindividuelle (contract to build anindividual house, or CCMI) with abuilder. The contract allows you topick a standard design and set outthe exact cost and timeline for theproject beforehand.

That is by far the most secure wayof doing things, says YannickBilloux, director of the Bordeaux

branch of government housingagency, ADIL (AgenceDépartementale pour l’Informationsur le Logement).

The ADIL has offices in everydépartement and offers free adviceon buying or building. The Conseild’Architecture d’Urbanisme et del’Environnement (CAUE) also givesfree architectural and planningadvice and most mairies offer accessto an architectural adviser.

“If you are a foreigner buildingyour own house in France, you mustbe prepared and you must protectyour investment,” Mr Billoux said.“If you do the work yourself, thestandard of the work won’t be ashigh, you might run way over dead-line and you probably won’t save alot of money in the end. With a

CCMI, if anything happens or thecosts are miscalculated, the addi-tional costs will be covered by thecontractor.”

However, anyone looking to builda more individual property mightfind the CCMI too restrictive. Threeyears ago, David Mailer set up thecompany French Adventure to helpEnglish-speakers build their idealhomes. He specialises in projectsworth €200,000 and upwards andhas completed four houses in theCharente-Maritime.

He said: “People have very specificideas of what they want – a nicekitchen and bathroom, an open-plan living space. If you want thatkind of a property in the right loca-tion, you just won’t find it.”

Tarn home-builders Martin

Mackenzie and wife Denise agree. In2005 they sold their completedhouse and bought a building in needof complete renovation. The budgetwas €260,000 and they haven’tspent all of it yet, though they plan

Martin Mackenzie and Denise decided the best way to create theirdream house was to do it themselves (right), but that required thatthey get involved in some serious construction work

Finding the perfect property at the rightprice and in the right place can be difficult;so people are choosing to build their ownhouses, as Hélène Hofman reports

Live the dream – but you have t

THE authoritative guide to buying a home in France

Available in English from The Connexion, priced €7.50 or £7 ((pplluuss ppoossttaaggee aanndd ppaacckkaaggiinngg))

Written by the Notaires de France and published by Conseils des Notaires.

See our website www.connexionfrance.com

Brittany Pages

Self-build 9

to install a swimming pool and esti-mate work will continue for a fur-ther three years. A similar housewould have cost about €450,000 onthe open market, they believe.

“You’d be very lucky to find your

ideal house ready-made,” says MrMackenzie. “When you do it your-self you can tweak it to make it justright for you and at the end of theday you have something you canreally be proud of.”

THE BRETON housing stock is more recent than that of therest of France, with 69.3% of its dwellings having been builtsince 1948, against a national average of 63.9%. Over thepast decade, about 275,400 housing units were started inBrittany, making 15.6% of the total stock in 2009.Nationally, the proportion of new housing is 11.3%.

Brittany is in fourth position for new builds – just behindPays de la Loire. Planning permission for nearly 17,000individual homes was granted in 2010 in Brittany, a 12.3%increase over one year. Morbihan raises the average with a28% increase, while Ille-et-Vilaine has had only a 4.7%increase in planning permissions.

In terms of new starts, the number has been stable since2009 thanks to strong activity in Ille-et-Vilaine, but theother three departments show a decline in this sector.

The Agences Départementales d’Information sur leLogement or ADIL (departmental agencies for informationon housing) provide comprehensive free advice on legal,financial or tax issues. They can be found in all Bretondepartments.

ADIL Finistère: tel 02 98 46 37 38 for Brest, 02 98 46 37 38for Quimper, www.adil.org/29

ADIL Côtes d’Armor: tel 02 96 61 50 46, www.adil22.orgADIL Morbihan: tel 0820 201 203, www.adil.org/56 ADIL Ille-et-Vilaine: tel 02 99 78 27 27, www.adil35.org

IF YOU ARE starting a new build with individual sewerageand you are looking for technical information, get in touchwith the Site de l’Assainissement Non Collectif or SPANC(site of non-collective sewerage) in your municipality(Communauté de communes), or visit the general websitefor information, www.spanc.fr.

Communauté de communes of Concarneau Cornouaille:tel 02 98 97 71 50, www.cc-concarneaucornouaille.fr

Communauté d’Agglomération of Saint-Brieuc:tel 02 96 77 20 00, www.saintbrieuc-agglo.fr

Lannion-Trégor Agglomération: tel 02 96 05 09 00,www.lannion-tregor.com

Communauté de communes of Pays de Matignon:tel 02 96 41 15 11, www.ccpaysdematignon.fr

Communauté de communes of Pays de Baud:tel 02 97 39 17 09, www.baud-communaute.fr

Communauté de communes of Liffré: tel 02 99 68 31 31, www.pays-liffre.fr

to build it yourself

IF YOUR new-build rural home is unconnectedto the sewerage system you have two options fordealing with your waste water: a traditional septictank system or a “mini water-treatment plant”(micro-station d’épuration).

The traditional fosse septique uses a tank wherebacteria break down waste and the end liquid isspread under the garden through a piping system.

A micro-station does not require the pipes, so iswell-suited to properties without large, flat gar-dens, and is a more high-tech solution. However,they are now subject to specific quality rules, so ifyou have one put in, make sure it is agréée.

Mairies are obliged to ensure all individualwaste water systems meet safety and efficiencynorms before the end of 2012. House sellers areobliged to get a check, costing about €100, doneand show the certificate to the buyer. If it revealsproblems which may, for example, cause pollutionthese must be put right by either owner or buyer.

Country-dwellershave waste options

Where to findself-build advicein Brittany

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September 2011

10 Food Brittany Pages September 2011

To advertise your restaurant with us call 0800 91 77 56.

Prices start from just €35 HT per month.

INGREDIENTSMakes about 250g (9oz)

1 large onion, peeled and finely chopped4 garlic cloves,

peeled and finelychopped

4 tbsp olive oil3 large ripe

tomatoes, coredand roughlychopped

1 tbsp tomatoconcentrate

2 tbsp balsam-ic vinegar

2 strips driedorange zest

Salt and fresh-ly ground blackpepper

METHODSweat the onion and garlic in the olive oil for5 minutes until soft but not coloured. Addthe tomatoes, tomato concentrate, balsamicvinegar and orange zest, and cook over amedium heat, stirring occasionally, for about10 minutes until most of the liquid has evap-orated. Season well and keep warm.

THE MASSES of bright red fruits hanging onyour tomato plants now might not contributeto the 540,000 tonnes of tomatoes France produces each year for the fresh market, butthey probably do represent something of aglut. So what do you do with them? Well, hereare some creative suggestions to please thetaste buds and give you a health kick.

There is strong evidence that tomatoes canhelp protect against cardiovascular diseaseand cancer and researchers want it to be oneof the five-a-day fruit and vegetable portions.

The scientists from Lycocard, a five-yearproject funded by the EU to study the potential health benefits of the red plant pigment lycopene, say tomatoes could make adifference and they are working with theFrench agricultural research institute, INRA,to assess how blood cells absorb lycopene.

So, eat healthily with some traditionalFrench cuisine that will make the best of yourpotager tomatoes.Two favourite tomato recipes of award-winningcook and food writer Alex Mackay – authorof Cooking in Provence (Ebury Press), whichwon the Gourmand World Cookbook Awardfor Best Book on French Cuisine in English –are his tarte fine aux tomates and compote detomates. The tart was inspired by one he cameacross in a bustling Saint-Tropez restaurantand you can eat it hot or cold, he says. Thecompote is perfect for fat, juicy, ripe tomatoesand can be kept in the fridge for three days orfrozen (see Alex’s recipes, right).

Another candidate for the glut pot is thecourgette. If you have a vegetable patch, it islikely many are resembling marrows by now,or green footballs. Courgettes can be used in anumber of ways: as ratatouille, in a curry, battered and deep fried, and they can be stir-fried, steamed, boiled, roasted and baked. Buthave you ever made marmalade out of them?

Susie Kelly, an author living in Poitou-Charentes, discovered the mouthwateringdelights of courgette marmalade last year.

Well known for her book Best Foot Forward,in which she painstakingly travels throughFrance on foot, she has just published TheValley of Heaven & Hell (available fromwww.amazon.co.uk), an account of cyclingaround France with her husband. Yet in spiteof her travels, Susie is a homebody at heartand has a passion for her vegetable patch, hervarious animals; and now, lemon courgettemarmalade.

Susie first decided to make the marmalade(see the recipe right) after finding in herpotager a round courgette that weighed noless than 5kg.

“We had grown a lot of massive round cour-gettes and I found them really unmanageablebecause you can’t cut them in slices,” saidSusie.

“Being frugal by nature, I didn’t want towaste it, but what do you do with a creaturethis big?”

She sought help via the internet and, havingfound a recipe, adapted it to her own tastes.

She wanted a strong lemon flavour with “a small quantity of ginger to give it a slight zing”, and lemon courgette marmaladewas born.

She says: “This year I’m going to leave someof my courgettes deliberately to become enormous so I can make as much marmaladeas possible. Everybody loves it and it will benice as Christmas presents, plus it keeps well– we still have some from last year.”

METHODSlay and eviscerate the courgette, then addthe flesh to a heavy pan and pour over a littlecold water. Bring to the boil and simmer forabout 20 minutes until tender. Drain well andthoroughly mash the flesh.

Meanwhile, chop the lemons in half,squeeze the juice and flesh into a bowl, thencarefully cut away the pith from the peel andslice the peel very finely.

Add the rind, flesh and juice of the lemons, and the ginger, to the drained,mashed courgette.

Bring to the boil and then remove the panfrom the heat. Add the sugar, stirring untildissolved, and then boil again till the jam isthick, about 20 minutes. Pour into warmedsterilised jam jars.

The result is an amber-coloured jam, fra-grant with lemon, the courgette merely pro-viding bulk without imparting any flavour.

INGREDIENTS6lb (2.7kg) courgette flesh4 lemonsJuice of 1 lemon1 teaspoon ground ginger 6lb (2.7kg) normal sugar

Compote de Tomates

Lemon courgette marmalade

Tarte Fine aux Tomates

Do not worry if after half an hour the tomato tart looks an absolute mess: it’ll all dryout, says Alex Mackay in his book Cooking in Provence

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Transform your garden gluts into taste sensations

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INGREDIENTS

Serves six 350g (12oz) puff pastry 1.5kg (3lb 5oz) tomatoes, all around

the same size 150g (5.5oz) mascarpone cheese 50g (1.75oz) Parmesan, finely grated 1 biggish bunch fresh basil, leaves

picked from the stalks, sliced Salt and freshly ground black pepper 3tbsp extra virgin olive oil

METHODPreheat oven to 200ºC/400ºF/Gas 6. Rollpuff pastry to a circle slightly larger than30cm (12 in) in diameter. (If you don’t havea ring this size, use a plate.) Put pastry cir-cle on a tray and let it rest in the fridge for20 minutes or so while you prepare thetomatoes. Remove cores from tomatoes andslice about 5mm thick. Keep all the slicestogether and put the ends in a separate pile.

Mix the mascarpone cheese with theParmesan and basil and season well. Spreadthe mascarpone across the centre of the

pastry circle, leavingabout 10cm (4 in) atthe edges. Layer thesliced tomatoes roundthe outside of thecheese, making a fullcircle. Continuetowards the centre inever-decreasing circles,overlapping the earliercircle each time. Tuck

the tomato ends under each layer to pre-vent them from caving in, then continuetowards the centre. Put the last slice right inthe middle and drizzle with the olive oil.

Bake the tart in the preheated oven for30 minutes, then turn the oven down to150ºC/300ºF/Gas 2 and bake for a further45 minutes. When cooked there should bealmost no liquid left in the tomatoes andthe pastry base will be crisp.

Signed copies of Cooking In Provenceare available from Alex Mackay's website: www.alexmackay.com.

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Why not give Susie Kelly’s lemon courgette marmalade a try?

Caline Montfort of Julien de Savignac wine merchants (www.julien-de-savignac.com) says:I chose for this dish Chateau la Colline 2009. Bergerac rouge. €7.40. This wine ischarming, elegant and fruity and will go perfectly with this summer dish. The ageingin oak brought a nice vanilla touch and a new world style.

Which wine should I drink with this?

EMPLOYING someone who is working“on the black” renders both the clientand the supplier of goods or servicesliable to legal sanctions. However, thereis a wider issue in Brittany because thisis a relatively poor department, with anageing population. For those of us whomake our lives here, and for those withlong-term second homes, it is importantto see the local economy prosper.

The more successful registered busi-nesses become, the more they are likelyto contribute to the local economy byreinvesting, and spending their incomein the region. A better economic environ-ment will also see an increase in youngerfamilies moving here to seek work or tostart a business.

Money is tight in the worldwide econo-my, but do think twice before choosingto go au noir, using a business that is notproperly registered. It can have a long-term impact on the region where youhave chosen to live.

You can find out if someone is regis-tered by checking if they have a Siretnumber on the websites below.

The Auto Entrepreneur scheme, intro-duced in 2009, may have helped somepeople working illegally to come in fromthe cold. Nearly 13,000 registrationswere seen in Brittany in 2010, a signifi-cant number, but the ratio per capita wasless than four per thousand, compared

with five-and-a-half per thousand seenin metropolitan France.

The largely rural nature of much ofBrittany will always be challenging, butgrowth must come from small businessesas well as larger corporate structures.This begs the question as to what partthe expat community can play, particu-larly when it comes to new businessesmoving to Brittany, and what help orencouragement there is for them.

Finding and accessing information isoften difficult for new businesses. TheBretagne Développement Initiativesscheme in Centre Ouest Bretagne ismainly for the young and unemployed.

There is financial help available if youare registered as looking for work withPôle Emploi through the NACCRE pro-gramme, and you can seek help fromyour local Boutique de Gestion. Speakfirst to your Chambre de Commerce etd’Industrie or Chambre de Métiers.

If you approach your bank and they arereluctant to lend to you, there is a similaroption to the UK Small Firms LoanGuarantee Scheme, through OSEO, abanking organisation that will guaranteethe loan to the bank.

Access to incentives and availablegrants in Brittany are not readily avail-able, and there is the thought that grantsare accessible primarily if you know the

right person. This is an area we willdevelop further in this column over thenext couple of months. Various authori-ties (including the Agence économiquede Bretagne and the Regional Council ofBrittany) will be approached to poolinformation and publicise opportunitiesthat may exist, and to find out how totake advantage of them.

Please write to me direct at the emailaddress below with any experiencesregarding business grants or incentives.Let’s see what we can do to encouragebusiness growth in our community.

Business 11Brittany Pages September 2011

FINANCESponsored by

CONGRATULATIONS on taking the plunge!The most important thing to do before you leave is to

take advice on any tax planning opportunities that need tobe put in place before you become a French tax resident.Talk to a specialist financial adviser with experience in theFrench system, and have a review of your investments. It isimportant to think about inheritance tax planning, too.

When you sell in the UK, normally your principal resi-dence will be free of capital gains tax. When you no longerhave a UK base, you can establish French tax residency.

If the Vannes house purchase does not quite happen insync with the purchase of a new property and you don’tleave the UK straight away, then you would normally still beconsidered a UK tax resident until you can show the UKauthorities that you have left on a permanent basis. This willmean that you are still liable for UK tax.

Filling out a P85 form on leaving the UK will advise theUK tax authorities of your change in status and your taxaffairs will be transferred to the UK centre for non-residents.

HMRC will confirm its interpretation of your status. If,for example, your move takes place half-way through theyear, you can apply for “split year” treatment, otherwiseyou might still be considered resident in the UK until theend of the tax year – that is, until April 5 after you leave. Ifyou need to continue to complete a UK tax return for UKsources of income, they will also confirm this to you.

Once you have actually moved to France, you should letthe French tax authorities know, so that they have a recordof your arrival for taxe d’habitation, and so they know thatyou are resident in France on a permanent basis.

Completing your first French declaration (form 2042) isnormally sufficient to get you into the system, and don’t besurprised if, when you go to the tax office, that this is allthey tell you to do. The “arrival” process in France is lessformal and waiting to complete your first French income taxreturn may not seem very proactive, but until this declara-tion has been made and processed, the French authoritieswill not recognise you as a French tax resident.

If you have sources of income that are still being taxed inthe UK, then you need to send a FD5 form with yourFrench income tax return to apply for confirmation of yourFrench tax status. This will then be relayed to the UK centrefor non-residents.

You can also make a repayment claim for UK income taxsuffered at source, which is not due because those sourcesare now taxable in France.

It is time-consuming and potentially complicated tounpick the double tax you will have inevitably paid, and it’sat this point that an expert comptable with UK and Frenchexperience can really help you.

Our main family home, where we have lived for thelast 25 years, is now on the market in the UK.We are planning to move to Brittany as soon as wecan, so once the UK property is sold, we will starthouse hunting in and around Vannes. I assume it isnecessary to register with the French tax authoritiesand de-register with the UK ones at the same time.

Signing up to anew tax system

Photo: Alcelvision

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

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

SPONSORED BY:

Living, Working and Enjoying Life in Brittany

The Brittany Business Network www.synergienet.com

Agence pour la Création d’Entreprises www.apce.com

Chambre de Métiers Brittany www.crma-bretagne.fr

Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie(CCI) Brittany www.bretagne.cci.fr

Boutiques de Gestion www.boutiques-de-gestion.com

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

Useful Websites

Work ‘au noir’ – oh, noIt may be tempting to do ajob “on the black,” both forthe supplier and for theclient, but apart from any legalconsequences, the impact onthe economy cannot be ignored.Being a registered business is better for all concerned

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12 Directory Brittany Pages September 2011

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

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COMPUTERS, TV & INTERNET

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MOTORING

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PROPERTY SERVICES

RETAIL

Villager, Hunter, Aarrow& Stratford Stoves

Esse Cooking RangesQuality Stoves Delivered throughout Francewww.woodburningstovesandcookers.com

Tel: 02 97 74 73 48Based in Josselin 56

BRETON COUNTRYCOTTAGES

Property Management andHoliday Letting ServicesWe will take care of your

second home or holiday propertyleaving you free to enjoy it.

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

All Plumbing and Heatingrequirements

Oil Boiler Breakdowns & Servicing - Chimney Sweeping. Prompt /reliable service

TTeell:: ++3333 ((00)) 22 9966 2244 7788 1111 oorr MMoobbiillee ++3333 ((00)) 66 4422 7722 3399 0000EEmmaaiill:: vviinnccee@@vvbbpplloommbbiieerr..ffrr - WWeebb:: wwwwww..vvbbpplloommbbiieerr..ffrr

Contact: Vince or Mandy Boon

Ian TorodeServicing and repairs for most makes of

vehicle and garden machinery.Car Help - Advice - Parts Sourcing.

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

Tel: 02 97 39 95 52

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

Le Jardinier Anglais.com

Tree surgery services

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

dangerous trees, wood chipper, stumpgrinder, extreme hedge cutting.

FREE CONSULTATIONenquiries@lejardinieranglais.com

www.lejardinieranglais.com+33 (0) 7 86 53 67 26

Siret: 483 859 203

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

English TV in yourFrench Home

EVERYTHING SATELLITE!Professional installations in Brittany &

NormandyMail-order throughout FranceFree, friendly, helpful advice

TVBrittany & TVNormandyRing Trevor on

02 97 74 24 56www.tvbrittany.com

To advertise here callfreephone in

France 0800 91 77 56 / fromUK 0844 256 9881 (4p/min)

Whoever you are- Whatever you want-Wherever in Brittany

brittanyforeveryone.comDEDICATED TO PROMOTING

BUSINESSES IN BRITTANY

BRETON BUILDCarpenter, roofer and general builder

specialising in the renovation of traditional Breton Properties.

Covering all Brittany.

info@bretonbuild.com02 97 38 57 61

www.bretonbuild.comSiret: 489 314 278 00032

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

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

St Malo, Dinard, Dinan

SARL BCBPStonework, RenovationGroundwork, Gardening

Full and Part Renovations & Conversions

Connection to MainDrain and Septic Tank

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Bruno BonnierTel: 06 71 05 60 82

Email: bonnier.cleran@orange.frSiret : 47942748600010

CATCH 22 Services is a family busi-ness located in Tredias, run by Pamand Mike Derby, offering electricaland plumbing services.

Having moved to France in 2002,English electrician Mike worked fora French company for two years andthen requalified under French regu-lations. He then launched Catch 22Services with his wife Pam approxi-mately seven years ago. “All in allwe’ve got about 23 years of experi-ence,” said Pam.

While the company is based inCôtes d’Armor, Mike travels as farafield as Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine to carry out work for cus-tomers. Services include large com-plicated jobs, such as full rewires on

new-builds or complete renovationsto investigating why a property hashad a socket go out.

One of the most useful aspects ofCatch 22’s services is that Mike andPam both speak French andEnglish. “This is very important tomost of our clients as it is what theyhave the most difficulty with,” saidPam. “Some jobs could be done bythe customers themselves if theywere able to speak the language, butas they are not this is where Mikeand I can step in and help.”

For Pam, using her English andFrench skills to assist a client is oneof the most interesting parts of thejob. “I deal with EDF, Consuel andthe water companies and Mike com-

municates in English and French onsite with builders, and duringinspections or connections,” saidPam.

“Sometimes he will find himselftalking to the neighbours too,explaining what is going on, as veryoften the people around do notknow what is happening at a prop-erty so keeps them in the picture.”

When British expats buy a proper-ty in France, to live in or to rent out,many think that they can do theelectrical work themselves. Often itis a surprise that the system inFrance is completely different tothat in the UK and they then realisethat they need help to follow theregulations and get the work done.

In summer time, says Pam, it isrenovation work that is more popu-lar among clients as well as electri-cal jobs that complement outdoorliving, such as patio lights and gar-den lighting. However, in autumn,and as winter approaches, a differ-ent set of needs emerge.

“People start to think about new

bathrooms, plusthey want their cen-tral heating tested,their boiler updatedand radiators added- that tends to bethe type of workthat is required,” said Pam.

Catch 22 Serviceswill provide a devis(estimate) for freeand is fully regis-tered and insuredin France, with allwork carrying a fullten-year decennaleassurance to ensurepeace of mind.

Catch 22 offers win-win solutionsWhen you have got a plumbing or electrical issue onyour hands it can be difficult to solve the problem -especially if your French language skills are not up toscratch and you need to call EDF. Catch 22 Servicesis a bi-lingual electrical, heating and plumbing servicethat can help no matter how big or small the job

02 96 84 86 2806 06 50 42 07catch22services@aol.comwww.catch22servicesbrittany.com

Mike Derby is a qualified bilingual electrician

Directory 13Brittany Pages September 2011

ADVERTISING FEATURES

WHEN Roger Pearson and his wifeJosie retired and moved to Molac inthe Morbihan department ofBrittany in 2005, Roger was able toindulge his passion for photography.However, after some time herealised he needed an additionalchallenge and set about learninghow to build websites. “I wanted tostimulate my ‘little grey cells’ so Ipurchased a website-in-a-box andstarted to teach myself how to pro-duce a site,” said Roger. “I needed tochoose a domain name and it was atthat point that Brittany ForEveryone was born.”

Following the addition of twosatellite websites, Brittany Propertiesand Brittany Gites, and with the slo-gan: Whoever you are, whatever youwant, wherever in Brittany you canfind it atwww.brittanyforeveryone.com,Roger is now looking for peoplewith businesses or a property for

sale to advertise on his site, free ofcharge, in order to fulfil that slogan.

The aim of the site is to offer a no-frills directory for Brittany and, asRoger is retired and not looking tomake a living from the site, all smalladvertising is free. “Brittany ForEveryone does not take a part in orseek monetary gain in any transac-tions,” said Roger. “The sole aim ofthe site is to introduce a customer toa supplier.”

To help with the costs of runningthe website Roger has allowed a PolePosition advert on most pages,which he intends to fill using theGoogle Adsense scheme. In the

meantime if a supplier or propertyowner is interested in a PolePosition advert on a certain pagethen this can be organised by get-ting in touch with Roger directly.

“If business owners in Brittanywant to advertise or people have aproperty to sell they can enter it forfree on the site and make www.brit-tanyforeveryone.com the place to beseen 24/7,” said Roger. “Those inter-ested in advertising or requiringmore information should go to thewebsite or contact me by email.”

roger@brittanyforeveryone.comwww.brittanyforeveryone.com

New site aims to be top directory for Brittany

Roger Pearson’s desire to learn how to build a website led to the creation of Brittany For Everyone, a business listings site for Brittany

Roger Pearson has set up an online directory for businesses located inBrittany so that customers can easily find suppliers in the area

STUART Lee, gardener and quali-fied arborist, started Le JardinierAnglais in 2003 when he moved toFrance. The company provides arange of pruning, tree surgery,hedge cutting, gardening and land-scaping services, but specialises inthe felling of problematic trees,which, Stuart says, there is far more

to than just holding a chainsaw. “If you go on You Tube you will

see a lot of funny videos of home-owners having a go themselves andtaking out their neighbour’sMercedes or fence, or, worse, ahouse,” said Stuart, who goes on tosay that most trees need to be dis-mantled rather than cut down, andtaken apart piece by piece.

“We specialise in taking downdangerous and difficult trees in con-fined areas,” said Stuart. “I’m quali-fied to climb trees and use a chain-saw with a rope and harness. It’squite risky, as the tree could be rot-ten or very weak, so the team and Iare trained to manage the risk safelyand effectively.”

The team at Le Jardinier Anglaisconsists of Stuart and three others:Sebastien Corlouer, who is the sec-ond climber and currently trainingto be an arborist; Rob Ingall, a tree

expert with 40 years’ experience;and Didier Orly, the company’swoodman who harvests sustainablefirewood to sell locally in andaround Liffre, near Rennes, wherethe firm is based.

The question of where the tree isgoing to fall is an additional riskmanagement issue that many property owners do not evaluateaccurately. “When you cut down atree it won’t necessarily fall whereyou expect it to. There could bewind pushing it and the weightfrom the crown can affect where itfalls too. We have the equipment,qualifications and experience to pulla tree down where it is supposed togo,” said Stuart, explaining that theteam often gets called out by peoplewho have encountered difficultieseither during the process of cuttinga tree down or with where it hasfallen.

“It is far more expen-sive to clear up a mess,so we’d rather managethe whole project fromthe start. A tree occupy-ing 20 metres of airlooks very different onthe ground,” he added.

The team use a woodchipper to break downthe remains and encour-age customers to keepthe wood chips as itmakes excellent mulchfor the garden. It canalso employ the use of astump grinding machineto decompose the stumpinto the ground, takingthe headache away ofwhat to do with thestump itself - as the déchetteries inFrance do not accept them - and thehole that is left.

In terms of travel, the team takeson jobs that are up to 150km awayfrom Rennes and will provide a freequote for each job.

02 99 23 59 6307 86 53 67 26enquiries@lejardinieranglais.comwww.lejardinieranglais.com

Qualified arborist and gardener Stuart Lee is an expert in managing and disassembling large and complex trees in hazardous situations. He explainswhy only a qualified tree climber should attempt to take on such risky work

Cutting hedge tree solutions

BRETON Build was founded byPeter Maguire and is based inCrédin, department 56, so it is ide-ally placed to carry out works in allareas of Brittany.

A fully registered and insuredbuilding company, with over 30years’ experience in the construc-tion industry, it was first establishedin France as a roofing and carpentry

company, specialising in thereplacement and repair of tradition-al Breton-style roofs.

“At Breton Build we pride our-selves on being experts in all aspectsof renovation and repair works,”said Peter. “We specialise in the ren-ovation of traditional Breton prop-erties, be it the total renovation orminor repairs.”

The company is also able to takeon smaller construction jobs. In thespring of 2010 Breton Build wasapproached by a customer who hadbeen impressed with the result of a project carried out on a localproperty.

“The customer wanted to con-struct a half-octagon shape conser-vatory at the entrance to his prop-erty,” said Peter.

“The specification was that it hadto be built from green oak, with anatural slate roof and wood double-glazed windows and doors. Theplanning permission was obtainedand work started in May 2010. Allthe oak was cut to shape and thejoints were made in the workshopthen assembled on site.

“The roof was cut and pitched onsite then slated; the windows and

doors were fitted along with thestone work below the windows; thefloor was tiled and a ceiling boardedwith pine planking.” The project wasfinished just one month later inJune 2010.

Over the last four years BretonBuild has project managed fourmajor renovations. All of the prop-erties were derelict and requiredeverything: from obtaining theplanning permission to installationof a fosse septique and the completerefurbishment of the property to thecustomer’s requirements.

One of the renovation projectsrequired the complete overhaul of aproperty, with serious structuralfaults, to create a four-bedroomhouse. The front and rear walls hadto be removed and these wererebuilt using concrete block wallsand faced using original stone. A

chimney was built, so a wood burn-ing stove could be fitted, and two Aframes were constructed andinstalled on site.

“After the roof was fitted internalworks could start, the floor was con-structed out of pine floor boardsand the walls using timber studwork and plaster board,” said Peter.“Four bedrooms one en-suite and afamily bathroom were installedupstairs. A kitchen diner, lounge,utility room and WC were con-structed on the ground floor.”

Breton Build is fully insured andprovides a ten-year guarantee for allworks carried out.

02 97 38 57 61www.bretonbuild.com

Company providesrapid renovations

This elegant octagonal conservatory has transformedthis property’s entrance

Before: This building had major structural damage After: A four-bedroom home ready for family life

From large renovation works to smaller construction projects, if you have a property in the Brittany area that needswork then Breton Build’s Peter Maguire will be able to help

14 Property Brittany Pages September 2011

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DID you know that huntershave the right to hunt acrossyour private land?

As the main hunting seasongets under way again thismonth, you be aware that thisrule applies unless youexplicitly oppose it.

However, how simple a taskthat is depends on where inFrance you live.

Hunting rights depend onwhether the hunters in yourarea belong to an associationcommunale de chasse agréée(certified communal huntingsociety – ACCA) or a simpleassociation de chasse (huntingsociety). Between them thereare about 70,000 hunt soc-ieties in France.

In the ACCA areas you ownthe hunting rights on yourland but are deemed to havegiven tacit permission forothers to hunt on it unlessyou explicitly oppose it.

“The courts take the viewthat ‘he who doesn’t speakup, consents’”, says Frenchwild animal charity Aspas.

If you do not ban huntingthen hunters can come asclose to your home as they

like, says Aspas. The groupadds that, contrary to what isoften thought, in associationde chasse areas there is no set

150m perimeter aroundhomes where hunting cannottake place, merely a certaindistance, set by the local pre-

fect, inside which hunterscannot shoot towards homes.

In the ACCA areas, often inthe south, you have to apply

Say No if you don’t wantthe hunt calling in on you

Boar are one of the most commonly-huntedlarge game (inset – a refuge sign)

to the prefect to have huntingbanned on your land, thougha 150m zone around homesdoes apply, Aspas says.

Your mairie should be ableto tell you which is the casein your area.

Either way, a simple way toalert hunters of your choice,or be helped through the pro-cedures for a ban, is to signan agreement with Aspas todesignate your land as anAspas refuge.

If you are in a société dechasse area they will send you“no-hunting signs” to put upstraight away. They will alsoadvise on how to make sureyour land is an ideal environ-ment for wildlife.

In ACCA areas, Aspas willhelp you with the admin in-volved. Also, the fact you arebacked by the charity will addweight to your application.

Aspas director MadlineReynaud said: “To please thehunters the law has beenmade far from simple when itcomes to withdrawing yourland from the hunting areas.

“You can really only do itonce every five years, on theanniversary of the creation ofthe ACCA in your commune.

“In the end, to protect na-ture, individual initiative hasto take the place of the fail-ings of the authorities.”

Ms Reynaud added: “If youare an owner or tenant, andnot a hunter, you can haveyour right to have no hunting recognised and livein complete safety and tran-quillity. Thanks to creating arefuge, your land will be ahaven of peace for fauna and flora and the naturalhabitats.”

For more about Aspas, theAssociation pour la Protec-tion des Animaux Sauvage,see www.aspas-nature.org

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Fitting a smokealarm is a must

ALL homes in France must have at least one smoke detectorfitted by law and whether you are the owner or tenant of aproperty it is up to you to make sure that one is installed andregularly tested.

It has been obligatory since February 2009 when the loiMorange et Meslot came into force and it applies to holidayaccommodation and furnished apartments.

The simplest alarm to install is a battery powered one, itcan be fixed anywhere – although it is best on the ceiling –and is available in all DIY stores. If you choose to have ahard-wired system then it is best to get an electrician to visitand fit it properly.

The first step is to choose where you need to install thealarm. It is advisable to install a detector on each floor butavoid mounting them near windows or doors as smoke canescape before reaching the detectors.

Kitchens, living rooms and dining rooms should also beavoided as steam from kettles or cooking, candles or fire-places can cause the alarms to go off.

The detector should be ideally mounted on the ceiling andat least 30cm away from walls. If you have an uneven ceilingplace it at the highest point as smoke rises. Place the casingin the chosen spot and, with a pencil, mark out the fixingpoints. See packaging for the size of holes to be drilled forthe wall plugs and screws provided.

Screw the casing in place and then put in the battery andfix on the cover. Once assembled it is very important tocheck the alarm is working by pressing the test button.

It is recommended that smoke alarms be tested once aweek. Again do this by pressing the test button which shouldset the alarm off. You can also do test it by blowing out acandle below the alarm, the smoke created should set off thealarm.

At least once a month remove any dust from the alarm bygently vacuuming it and dusting down the case. Never usewater or any cleaning products.

The batteries on battery-powered detectors must bechanged regularly and it is recommended to change themevery year even if low battery signal has not been triggered.

Smoke detectors should be replaced every 10 years.

Once the smoke detector is fitted it is important to doregular tests on its operation and battery

Photo: Serenethos - Fotolia.com

Property 15Brittany Pages September 2011

PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE

REF: IFPC18043

€€129,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Quimperlé, FinistèreThis house has 4 bedrooms,extensive outbuildings including a working cider press,pretty longère and useful barnboth double storey.

REF: M706-32914169

€€144,450

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Carhaix-Plouguer, FinistèreCharming 2/3 bedroom stonecottage set in 11,700m² of gardenbordered by a river with waterfall. Very rural and peaceful areain the heart of the Regional Parkfar from the main road.

REF: IFPC19701

€€190,000

ENERGY RATING = C

Fougères, Ille-et-VilaineLongère consisting of a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom house.Plus a self contained 3 bedroom2 shower room Gite. Situated ina small Hamlet at the end of aquiet country lane.

REF: IFPC19640

€€215,000

ENERGY RATING = D & B

Pontivy, MorbihanGround floor open planlounge/diner, well equippedkitchen, wet room and separatetoilet, 4 bedrooms, study/bedroom. Underfloor heatingand wood burner.

REF: 1171

€€256,800

ENERGY RATING = C

Plougasnou, FinistèreThis brand new 4 bedroomhouse has been cleverly designedto optimise the light and the seaviews of the beautiful Finisterecoastline and situated in a quietlocation.

REF: 39292

€€159,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Mohon, MorbihanThis 4 bedroom detached stonehouse is set in 0.9 acres of landand comes with a garage. Itcomprises an equipped kitchen,a living room with a fireplaceand 2 washrooms.

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REF: IFPC21385

€€180,000 St Jean de Maurienne, Savoie4 bedrooms, end of substantialvillage house at 1410m lookingup to the Grand Coin and acrossthe Valley. Cross Country skiingon site. Wonderful walking. Laidout as two apartments.

REF: IFPC21284

€€620,000Naucelle, AveyronAuthentically restored 4 bedroomcountry house with 11 hectares ofestablished gardens close to thevillage of Naucelle. Includes 2storey stone barn with considerable potential.

ENERGY RATING = D & A

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Saintes, Charente-MaritimeLarge sitting/dining room,kitchen, entrance hall, pantry, 3bedrooms/study, bathroom,recreation room(formerly anoffice and now a music room),garage. Large cellar.REF: IFPC21202

€€186,500

ENERGY RATING = D & E

Saint-Gaudens, Haute-GaronneA large, elegant house built in1817. Three bedrooms, threebathrooms, large kitchen dinerand large living/dining room.Internal garage. Recent 10m x 5mheated swimming pool.REF: IFPC21392

€€410,000

ENERGY RATING = D & E

REF: 100360

€€216,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Le Bugue, DordogneThis house, within walking distance of a market town in theDordogne, can be used in half aswell in a whole. It has anapartment and a convertedbarn with a passage inbetween.

REF: 12241

€€355,100

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Allemans, DordogneThis house comprises 4 goodsized bedrooms, 2 fullyequipped and modern kitchens,large lounge with fireplace, patio door, dining room, office and tower.

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 par-ticular property, go to www.connexion-france.com and enter the ref: codeshown under the property.

For sellers, the adverts are also displayedacross a range of popular English-speak-ing websites and are seen by thousandsof potential buyers EVERY day. Our3+3 package costs just €200TTC and

gives you three months online advertis-ing as well as a print advert in three edi-tions of The Brittany Pages. Our 6+6package is best value at €330TTC andprovides the same, but for six monthsvia each channel.

Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephonein 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

The adverts above cost from just €179TTC for a whole year of web advertisingand one edition of 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

Make cash from your unwanted items. Classified advertsare FREE for private sales of items under €€250. Place your

advert via our website sales@connexionfrance.comCLASSIFIEDS

Ideal seasonto make jamby STAFF REPORTER

THE harvest continues in the orchard and hedgerows thismonth, with the first grapes and with plums, figs andblackberries – an ideal time for making jam.

As the saying has it, “Septembre nous produit les plusdélectables des fruits”. Many apples, pears and peaches alsocome to ripeness this month, as well as quinces – try themgently, if they are ready they should come off very easily.

Throw away or burn any diseased fruits, as they will contaminate your compost heap, and do not leave fallenfruit rotting under trees to avoid the trees being affected bycertain diseases.

Picking blackberries – your own or ones from the wild –is one of the easiest ways to get the fruit to make jam: greaton toast for breakfast or le goûter.

It is traditional in this season to hunt for blackberries inthe country hedgerows: watch out for the spines on thebranches – it is best to wear gloves for the job – and fill abasket, rather than a bag (in which they tend to getsquashed).

It does not matter if some are a little unripe, as they willhave more pectin, which helps the jam to set.

Wash and drain them. Use about 60% as much sugar as fruit, say three kilos of

blackberries to two of sugar. Every cook has their favouriterecipe, with some insisting on pureeing the blackberries ina moulin à légumes on a fine setting to strain out the pips.

Otherwise, a simple way is to start them off in a big potwith about a glass-and-a-half of water; once simmeringadd the sugar and stir again until boiling, then simmer,stirring regularly until you obtain a thick jam. Add thejuice of a lemon a few minutes before the end and thenpour into pots. Plums and figs also make wonderful jams.

Also this month, if you have vines, as the grapes ripenyou should pluck off excess leaves shading the bunches.

In the vegetable garden, the last tomatoes will also be ripeto pick now (as with grapes, remove any leaves that areshading your tomatoes) as well as potatoes and carrots.

It is a good idea to give vegetable plots a good weedingthis month.

It is also time to start pruning fruit trees such as applesand pears; and there is sowing to be done: onions, Lamb’slettuce, spinach, leeks, winter turnips and radishes, andyou can plant out strawberry plants.

If a few fruits are not fully ripe it helps jam to set

Phot

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Houses for sale in and around Brittany

16 Profile Brittany Pages September 2011

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.

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MARTINE GAUFFENY began hercareer in 1992 as communicationsofficer at the Abbé Pierre Foundation,an organisation which works to pro-vide adequate housing for the disad-vantaged. Now 51, her work hasalways been in the field of social andhumanitarian action.

She comes from Lantic and afterwhat she calls a 10-year exile inParis, she returned to her nativeBrittany, where she led Cultures duCœur (Cultures of the Heart), anassociation based in Côtes d’Armor,that aims to give everyone access toculture.

Martine Gauffeny’s commitmentto the defence of human rightssparked a special interest in LatinAmerica, and she especially admiredthe brave struggle of IngridBetancourt against corruption inColombia. After Ingrid’s kidnapping

by the FARC in 2002, she joined theFrench support committee andbecame president of the Bretonassociation for the release of IngridBetancourt, Clara Rojas and otherColombian hostages.

It was at that time that Martinebecame aware of the extent ofhostage-taking in the world.Together with a group of people inthe support committee, and with thehelp of some former Frenchhostages, she founded Otages duMonde (Hostages of the World) inSeptember 2004.

The activities of Otages du Mondeare varied: “First, we lead campaignswith French MPs to raise awarenessabout the lack of recognition formerhostages receive after the traumasthey and their families suffer. Thenwe support hostages’ families whiletheir loved ones are in captivity,” she

explains. “One of our strategies is tomobilise public opinion and tomake elected officials aware whenFrench citizens are in danger.” Shebelieves that the media can providea kind of “life insurance” forhostages by bringing their plight tothe attention of the public.

Otages du Monde also providesguidance to ex-hostages and their

relatives. “Our ambition for 2012 isto create a dedicated help centre inFrance – and why not in Brittany?It would be a place for formerhostages and their families, withprofessionals, such as psychologistsand lawyers on hand,” she says.“It could also be an internationalresearch and information centre onhostage-taking in the world.” But

before this can happen, Otages duMonde needs to raise funds. “We areappealing to all those who wish tohelp us financially so the centre canbe created as quickly as possible.”

Martine’s work is rewarding inmany ways, but the most dramati-cally emotional times are when ahostage is released: “Each time ithappens, it gives me incredible joyto see the relief and happiness onthe faces of former hostages and theirrelatives,” she says.

One recent meeting with a formerhostage made a deep impression onher: “The most powerful momentrecently was when I met Clara Rojasin Bogota,” she says. “I had talkedand thought about her sufferings inthe jungle with my friends in thesupport committee so much that Ialready felt I knew her. It was a veryfriendly meeting, over lunch athome with her mother.”

Martine found Clara’s ability toremain optimistic inspirational. “Wetalked about the simple things inlife, how her son was born in captiv-ity, her desire to learn French. I wasvery moved by so much simplicity,humility and faith in the future,despite the terrible hardships.”

To help Otages du Monde see thepage nous aider on the websitewww.otages-du-monde.com.

Twitter account @otagesdumondefollow them on Facebook:www.facebook.com/pages/OTAGES-DU-MONDE/185730244822321.

Martine Gauffeny is general representative of Otages du Monde, agroup which helps to free hostages and supports their families.ISABELLE CARVALHO talks to her about her work and herhope for an international hostage information and research centre

The joy ofhelping hostages

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On this page last month, thephotograph of Janick Breton wastaken by Thierry Becouarn

The role of the media is vital inraising awareness of the plight ofhostages, says Martine Gauffeny