Wednesday 23rd April 2008 Mike and Jenny's Website
and woods north of the Gironde estuary
midway between Cognac and the sunny beaches and picturesque islands
off the Atlantic coast. Very warm in the frequent sunshine; and
mild in the shadeThe prices of our various gites and B & B are here TARIFF.html
Other pages of interest can be found by clicking on the links.
For an aerial view try below and play with the image. We are on the junction of rue du Peu and rue des Barriéres http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&t=h&ie=UTF8&ll=45.880568,-0.681238&spn=0.027545,0.05785&z=14&om=
23rd April 2008
Fast heading for May, the month of four holidays in France and consequent frustration for those having building work done.
Fortunately, Labour (travail) and Ascension days both fall on the first; no edict has volunteered a replacement but with VE Day on a Thursday, the eighth, then they will probably”fait un pont” take a bridge across to Saturday and Sunday. I hope that the weather has improved by then. Today, in England, it is St George's Day but no chance of a day off or much celebration, I feel that politicians are afraid of English nationalism for their usual array of selfish motives.
Most of this French year has been elections, we have now a new Mayor and local-commune- council so will see if there is plus ca change. Maybe the Saint Savinien fountain which has been dry all year (Perhaps to save our taxes) will flow on wine and other fair days; even for the 14th July: Brocantes (sort of car-boot sale) are in action even in the rain which has been too frequent for comfort. Yesterday the field approaching Taillebourg was flooded and a storkflew in to seek its lunch In the evening we went to Rachel's Pigs in Space, A farm about 5 miles distant where the lady, having removed from Devon, breeds English pigs in some freedom and butchers them in our traditional way. It was an open evening to taste the pork
,sausages and ham. We recently bought a quarter of pig from her at a good price and made piglets of ourselves. Her pond was busy with frogs which raised a cacophonous racket until approached.
The Colza (rape seed)is now in full bloom around the fields with its deep scent and amazing splashes of colour. The church beyond is Saint Savinien. Green is the preponderant emblem as Spring asserts itselfwith the cherry flowers giving way to burgeoning fruit though sadly, the first sprouting of leaf buds on the walnut tree were frost nipped as they opened..A rather thin
show from the wisteria this year yet the vine is shooting out.
The happy evidence of spring is in the air. We have watched the arrival of swallows, storks-as above, hen harriers, buzzards wheeling and calling as they pass, herons, egrets and flocks of lapwings. We impress on them all to be energetic in their desire to feed the nestlings as they arrive, in hope they will reduce the insects, ants and other vermin which might invade our calm. The owl nests once more in the church tower and his call is often heard and the bird a delight to view in flight. Out in the courtyard the lizards are emerging to bask in the sunshine and surprise us when we move a window box. My interest in wild animals, reinforced by recent visions of hare and deer scampering across fields was influenced at Sunday school with songs of "Gladly”, thy cross-eyed bear: though I will never be a David Attenborough, or, please God, a Bill Oddie.
We are out and about again and visiting the countryside. One of our favourites is Fenioux which has a lanterne de mort and splendid carvings round the church door and windows. The picture is taken from the foot of the lantern. Briefly, its all happening with flower festivals, farmers markets, and Coquilles Saint Jacques on the fishmongers slab; asparagus is with us again, come over and spoil yourself..Jenny and Mike
The residence, No 9 Rue des Barrieres is in the small town of Saint Savinien sur Charente. this region is famous to many as it has a micro climate with warm summers and mild winters - one reason we have moved here from the North-East of England
Another is the location. Saint Savinien is known locally as "tranquille". It is about four and a half hours from St Malo where Brittany Ferries dock at 8.00 a.m after a pleasant meal and a nights sleep on board. It is twenty minutes from the A10 autoroute at St Jean d'Angely. As a holiday destination it has much to offer. We are in comfortable reach of the Atlantic coast, Royan with a ferry across to the vineyards of the Medoc, Rochefort with its naval history and present construction of an 18C frigate and the delights of Saintes.
The hinterland has much
to offer. The region is proud of its Gallo-Romain background
and the architecture of its many churches,
often dating back to the 12th Century when this area was busy
with pilgrims to St.Jacques de Compostelle. Twenty minutes to
Saintes with a Roman arch and amphitheatre, the pedestrian streets
with bars, restaurants, shopping and all facilities of a large
town with hypermarkets and on the motorway only 90 minutes to
the centre of Bordeaux.
The food is another plus. The Charentais melon is famous; our local aperitif, Pineau des Charentes, well known, and seafood live and jumping (the oysters are somnolent) in the markets. Local wine is inexpensive and enjoyable as is the cognac. The hypermarkets are full of other regional wines at decent prices together with anything you may need for the holiday or to take home and make the neighbours jealous.
Click here for an itinerary for TOURISTS in the TOWN
Saint Savinien is on a curve of the river Charente. A canal was constructed to cut off the "D" and create a leisure island. This has, in season particularly, a child's boating lake with miniature ferries, stern wheelers etc a boules court, a bistro restaurant - le Bec Fin- swimming pool, crazy golf and plenty of space for picnics and bike riding. The town itself is on a limestone hill which has been quarried for the lovely stone which is used in all the main houses, constructed in the mid 19th C. It is a very pretty traditional Charentais village with a Saturday market and shops, pizzeria, banks, doctors and many local festivities as, in August, the wine fair.
We are close to the XIVc church at the top of the town with a five minute walk down to the river, bakers, tabac and the Ile de la Grenouillette ( little frog) in the bend of the river.
Click here for TOURISTS ROUND and ABOUT
Mike Boustred and
Jenny JamesDue to the difficulty in removing the lingering smell, we prefer our guests to smoke, if they must, outside the rooms.
Note my continuing address -You are welcome to send e-mails from here
by snail mail, 9 RUE des BARRIERES, 17350 SAINT SAVINIEN, FRANCE.
Phone number :-0033 5 46 90 85 12- from England
This and other properties may be viewed on http://www.rent-a-holiday-home-in-france.info
and also on http://www.whereonearthgroup.com/
http://www.worldvacationrentals.net/docs/e/index.html">Vacation Rentals around the World</a><br>
