WHEN Clare Worthy began quilting, using dresses her daughter had grown out of, little did she know that her pastime would wrap around the world.
From her home in the Dordogne, Clare has called on a network of quilters to help raise awareness of Leukaemia research after her brother-in-law was diagnosed with the illness.
ALTHOUGH airlines are always keen to start new routes to France, if financially viable, just what impact do they have on the local economy?
The tourism trade and property sector are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries, but as the residents of Deauville highlighted the welcome mat is not always rolled out.
BUYING a home or investment property in France is exciting!
There is just about every type of home and property one could wish to find, writes David Seymour.
France is a large and diverse country, and you are sure to find your dream home whether it be a superb town house in Bordeaux, a prestigious chateau in Gironde or a holiday home in Lot-et-Garonne.
The French government introduced the EVIN law in 1991, which gave everyone the right not to be exposed to smoke from someone else’s cigarettes. However, the law seems to have been effectively ignored. Recently ministers issued guidelines to businesses which are open to the public that they should, wherever possible, provide non smoking areas.
In October 2005 Swiss born Felix Leisinger became the new owner of the 350 year old Hôtel Saint-Louis in Autun, Saône et Loire, after working for many years in London.
The department of l’Yonne (89) is the leading producer in France of rapeseed and has therefore become the first department to launch a project involving a new fuel for cars.
The fuel, which consists of 30% diester ®, an elaborate mixture of rapeseed and sunflower, is seen as a bio carburant that presents multiple advantages. It is designed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25%, thereby reducing the reliance on petrol and fossil fuels.
Eager to see a solution to the effects of pollution, the scheme is backed by the *Conseil Général*, the services of state, *prefecture*, Ddass *(Direction Départementale des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales)*, the members of the professional organisations involving agriculture, *Chambre d’agriculture*, *Mutualité sociale agricole* and FDSEA *(Fédèration départementale des syndicates d’exploitants agricoles*), which have been supplied with the bio diesel for some time.
If the procedure develops the oil producing outlets can be assured, by preparing themselves, they can play an active economic role in the department and throughout the rest of the country.
SOMETHING that I have always thought goes well together is a blog and an artist, be they a painter, sculptor or photographer.
But despite France being home to many artists there are not that many showing off their work and offering advice and tips to willing amateurs.
The children have grown up and retirement looms. Your thoughts turn to owning a place in the sun, the pictures that your mind conjure up are idyllic. Time to spend together visiting places, soaking up the sunshine, relaxing in a small café.
Then the penny drops you are not as mobile as you once were, in fact some of you may be disabled, but don’t let this put you off. All it needs is more thought, more planning and a checklist of your needs.
For many people who buy a property abroad or, especially, those who retire abroad, the reason they are not happy is because they haven’t done their homework. That lovely little village where you spent a wonderful two weeks last July will most certainly seem very different in February!
IF you are looking for a bit of an ‘Arthur Daly’ style deal on property then I may have something that could interest you.
Then again what about the odd motorcar, some kitchen equipment or even a small aeroplane?
WITH the resurgence of property renovation by French and foreign homebuyers throughout France, René Fontaine recognised the necessity to safeguard the traditional rural houses and further their upkeep and restoration in accordance with the techniques and know-how of the various regions, writes Coral Luke.
For this purpose in 1965 he set up Maisons Paysannes de France (MPF) to advise owners and prospective purchasers of ancient buildings and to make them aware of both the pit falls and the most authentic ways of restoring these properties.
ONE of the most popular magazines in France for the private sale of homes and property is De Particulier à Particulier.
It provides a range of properties for sale and to rent the length and breadth of France and seeing that it was founded in 1975, the magazine is one of the best on the shelves.