DLCI 2022 Magazines - July
2022
July
Cucumbers loving the South facing wall
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Firstly just a quick reminder that this edition of the magazine will be the last one available by email. From the 1st August all editions will be online. Please remember to register for the Members Only part of the website as bookings for lunches/events will also only be taken online. The process is very simple on the DLCI Website following the instructions that were sent out during the week of 26th May.
If you require assistance please email DLCIWebsite@gmail.com
Summer is a busy time in the DLCI calendar as it is membership renewal time! Many of you have renewed your annual membership – extremely good value at 25 euros once again – but we are still waiting for many more ….. The deadline has now passed for receipt of renewals by cheque but it is very easy to pay by online transfer. Please contact Rosemary on DLCIMembers@gmail.com if you have a problem but otherwise, our new bank details can be found elsewhere in this magazine. Not everyone’s account is in the name we know you by so it is important to put your name as a reference so that we can identify you!
The second important thing we need to do in July is collect nominations for DLCI charity awards. All paid up members are allowed to nominate – instructions as follows:
We award three donations annually, one each in the category of ADULT, CHILDREN and ANIMAL charity. Charities must be local from one of the categories and have a legal reference number. Please let us know briefly why you particularly want to nominate any charity you propose, and give the name of a seconder, if you have one.
You are reminded that we cannot award the same charities in consecutive years, so you are unable to propose France Alzheimer Dordogne, the sensory garden project at L’Hôpital des Enfants at Bergerac or Phoenix. That still leaves plenty of scope and there are many charities out there deserving of our support.
There is a new Charity Nominations form on the website, in the Members Only section, which is the easiest method to use. Hopefully you have all registered for the private Members Only area by now! If not, please do so as soon as possible as this issue of the magazine is the last to be sent out by email. In future, the monthly magazine will only be available through the members’ secure area on the website.
https://dlci.weebly.com/charity-nominations.html
The ‘Evening with Martin Walker’ in early June was extremely successful and we had a wonderful time at the beautiful Maison des Vins. Martin was an enthralling speaker and the wine and canapés were excellent. Thank you to all who have taken the time to write to me to thank the committee for organising such a superb event – we appreciate your appreciation! It was also successful from a fundraising point of view, raising over 650 euros. Thank you to all, and to Martin, for your generosity. You can read more about the evening in this issue and see the many photographs of members in the Members Only pages on the website.
The Book Clubs continue to go from strength to strength, and the Bergerac meetings, run by Dawn Kidd, have attracted several new members.
Dates for your diary:
You will have received an email by now regarding the lunch at La Closerie de la Beyne on Friday 15th July with Nancy Dawson. The restaurant is very popular and Nancy is a fascinating speaker, so don’t miss it!
25th August lunch will be at Les Marronniers, Lanquais.
Advance warning that our extra-special anniversary lunch on 15th September will take place at La Salle des Châteaux at La Tour des Vents under the direction of Michelin starred chef, Damien Fagette, who will be in charge of our lunch. With only a year’s delay (for obvious reasons) we are celebrating our 36th anniversary together with the Dordogne Organisation of Gentlemen, also founded by Jennifer de Chabaneix, who are celebrating their 35th.
Our AGM will take place on Tuesday 28 September in the Salle Jean Barthe, Bergerac and our long-awaited Quiz Night will be on Tuesday 11 October at the Salle des Fêtes in Creysse – a lovely venue overlooking the river. Full details of all these events will follow next month.
We have a very busy time in store and I would like to thank the committee, on our behalf, for all the hard work they put in towards planning these super events for us all.
Wishing you a very happy start to the summer, as schools begin to break up for the holidays and many of us will be looking forward to visits by our families.
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
I would like to ask members to now renew on line not only for their convenience but that of the Treasurer and Membership Secretary. As we all know, internet banking is fast and efficient and avoids the necessity to write a cheque and use an envelope and stamp! If you are experiencing difficulties with payment or you do not wish to renew your membership please email our Membership Secretary, Rosemary at DLCIMembers@gmail.com
WE HAVE CHANGED TO A NEW BANK AND THE DETAILS ARE GIVEN BELOW:
BNP PARIBAS
IBAN : FR76 3000 4007 1200 0102 7370 112
BIC : BNPAFRPPXXX
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Friday 15th July LUNCH AT LA CLOSERIE DE LA BEYNE, Lieu Dit la Beyne, Nausssannes
We are delighted to announce our return to La Closerie de la Beyne.
Details as follows:
12 noon on Friday 15 July - 30 euros per head including wine, payment to be made on the day directly to the restaurant.
Deadline for booking is 8 July and after this date, no shows or cancellations will be charged the full price. Partner or guest will be most welcome
You will need to register to use if you haven't already done so. It takes less than ten seconds and is very easy!
https://dlci.weebly.com/july-lunch---15th-july.html
If you need assistance please email DLCIWebsite@gmail.com
When you complete the online booking, please choose your lunch from the following options:
STARTER
Cold tomato and red pepper soup with basil pesto
Peach salad with cured ham and feta cheese
MAIN
Free range chicken tajine with green olives and preserved lemon
Mackerel fillet, beetroot puree, braised fennel and orange sauce
DESSERT
Elderflower panna cotta with strawberry coulis, watermelon
Roasted apricot with vanilla ice-cream and crumble
Our guest is NANCY DAWSON, an American writer and journalist who lives near St Avit Sénieur. Nancy is an experienced, warm and engaging speaker who has great experience of issues affecting women today and is a member of the Veteran Feminists of America Pioneer Histories Project. www.nancyedawson.com.
LUNCH AT LES MARRONNIERS, Lanquais
Wednesday 25th August – details to follow
ANNIVERSARY GALA LUNCH at Salle des Chateaux, Tour Des Vent, Monbazillac - Thursday 15th September
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, Salle Jean Barthe, Bergerac on Wednesday 28 September
NB not at our usual venue of the Orangerie, which is being refurbished.
No formal lunch will be arranged but there are many venues to choose from including the Bistro d’En Face which is very close.
JULY BIRTHDAYS
Juliet Acland
Helen Anderson
Jane Barber
Annie Beleyme
June Davies
Susan Durst
Brenda Gallagher
Maurean Holland
Annie Kerdraon
Pat Machado
Pam Myers
Janice Rayns
Jacinta Standen
Lesley Waddington
DLCI/DOGS ANNIVERSARY GALA LUNCH
WILL BE HELD AT
SALLE DES CHATEAUX AT THE TOUR DES VENTS, MONBAZILLAC
ON THURSDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2022 AT 12 NOON
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF
MICHELIN STARRED CHEF, DAMIEN FAGETTE
WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF OUR LUNCH ON THE DAY
The above event has been organised to mark the 36th and 35th anniversaries respectively of our organisations, both of which were founded by Jennifer de Chabaneix, whose original vision was to bring together women who had relocated to this area of France to offer them friendship and support. As is the case today, this was achieved through the creation of an interesting and varied social programme, including lively monthly lunches held in a variety of different restaurants. Most of the activities we undertake are regarded as fundraising opportunities and we continue to support three different charities annually. Our colleagues in DOGS run their association slightly differently, and this purportedly came into being because the ladies of the household were off to attend DLCI events, leaving the menfolk at home, perhaps feeling they were missing out!
We are delighted to be able to invite you to attend the above anniversary Gala lunch to help us to celebrate this milestone (which has been on hold because of the pandemic) and which will help us to forge closer links with our colleagues in DOGS.
The cost of the lunch will be 37 euros per person and payment should be with us by 31st July at the latest as the restaurant will be paid for the booking in advance.
We would encourage members to pay by online bank transfer to the DLCI using '<your name> SEPT GALA' as reference.
When completing the Bank Transfer online, please remember we are now with BNP Paribas and NOT LaPoste,
In order to make a reservation, please go to the website : https://dlci.weebly.com/dlci-and-dogs-anniversary-gala-lunch.html
Your booking will be received and automatically confirmed.
If you need assistance, please email DLCIWebsite@gmail.com
MENU
Kir ET canapés
oOo
Amuse Bouche
oOo
Salade de tomates mozzarella, pesto roquette et copeaux de parmesan
Tomato mozzarella salad, arugula pesto and parmesan shavings
oOo
Croustillon de saumon mi-fumé, fine ratatouille, coulis de cresson
Crispy semi-smoked salmon, fine ratatouille, watercress coulis
oOo
Cheesecake aux fraises d’ici, basillac et sorbet plein fruits
Cheesecake with local strawberries, basil and full fruit sorbet
oOo
Vin rouge, blanc ou rosé inclus
Red, white or rosé wine included
oOo
Café (ou thé) inclus
Coffee (or tea) included
Please note that anyone with an allergy or intolerance to any of the above should notify Isla immediately and an alternative will be requested.
We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to help us to celebrate our joint DLCI/DOGS commemoration lunch and to remember with gratitude the great work Jennifer did in establishing our two organisations.
Isla Cathcart Secretary
GARDENING IN FRANCE
By CHRISTINE LEES
SENSORY GARDEN
DLCI this year has funded a sensory garden for the children's hospital in Bergerac as one of its charities. A sensory garden will contain elements to stimulate or calm the senses - including sound - eg from water or grasses - touch, from the texture of different plants, such as lamb's ears, and sight from the colours and patterns of the plants. However one of the most common features of a sensory garden is the presence of scented plants, and this can be recreated in your own garden to provide scent at all times of the year.
Shrubs can provide scent as well as colour - many roses of course are scented beautifully with different kinds of scent, and other summer flowering scented shrubs include Abelia, Buddleia (honey-scented and also attracting butterflies), Choisya, lavender, lilac, Magnolia grandiflora (I have a lovely specimen with lemon-scented flowers), Philadelphus, and Pittosporum tobira.
In the winter scent is particularly powerful to attract insects, and Chimonanthus praecox (wintersweet), with yellow/maroon flowers, Hamamelis (witchhazel) including a wide range of orange and yellow flowers, Mahonia with racemes of yellow flowers, Sarcococca (Christmas box) with tiny scented white flowers, all provide treats in the winter garden. Camellias in late winter and early spring are also scented.
As well as many climbing roses, scented climbers include Clematis montana, Jasmine, honeysuckle, and Trachelospermum jasminoides (star jasmine). Akebia quinata has chocolate scented flowers.
Some annual flowers are very scented, including night-scented stocks which open in the evening, and there are also many scented bulbs, including of course lilies.
It is lovely to plan an area of the garden where you will have scented plants close to you when you sit during the day or the evening - and of course they will also make lovely cut flowers to bring the scent into the house.
JUNE’S EVENTS
AN EVENING WITH MARTIN WALKER, Maison des Vins, Bergerac
Held on Friday 9th June
Review by Christine Kenyon
Bruno would have approved. A perfect Dordogne spring evening, a historic venue, and a group of locals enjoying a shared passion.
The DLCI charity fundraising event featuring Martin Walker, author of the popular “Bruno, Chief of Police” series, took place on June 9, 2022, at les Maison des Vins, Quai Cyrano, in Bergerac.
The evening began in the magnificent wine cellar, where Martin spoke about his years as a journalist, what brought him to the Dordogne, and the creation of the wonderful fictional character of Bruno. He spoke with eloquence and humour for about an hour, taking us from the prehistoric caves of Lascaux, to Washington DC where he was an international correspondent.
After his talk, Martin sold and signed books, and then joined us for wine and canapés in the beautiful Cloitre des Récollets. There was a draw for prizes which Martin donated, including the grand prize of a morning at Le Bugue market, a tour of local spots of interest, and lunch chez Martin. Congratulations to the two lucky winners – Janice Rayns and Jackie Colgate.
This event gave lovers of Bruno a chance to meet the author and celebrate books that bring to life the region that we have all chosen to call home. Cheers to that!
PRIZE WINNERS DAY OUT WITH MARTIN WALKER
By Janice Rayns
Photographs by Jacqueline Colgate
Market day was in full swing at Le Bugue as myself and fellow raffle prize winners, Liz, Jackie and Ben arrived at Café Vézère to claim our prize of a day in the company of local author, Martin Walker. Over coffee Martin delved, for the first of many times, into his wealth of local and historical knowledge to explain why he referred to Le Bugue as “The Black Country of the Dordogne” because of its industrial past. After a brief wander around some of Le Bugue’s charming narrow streets we piled into Martin’s VW Caddy which was to double as our tour bus for the day.
Our first stop was at Chateau de la Vitrolle which was once the secret headquarters of the resistance. A plaque on the wall recognized the contributions made by Andre Maraux, Colonel Berger, Jacques Poirier and Buckmaster. In front of this Martin recounted stories of the resistance.
Our next stop was the Eglise Saint Martin, near Limeuil. Previously the site of a Roman temple the church was built at the request of King Henry II of England to atone for the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, in 1170. It was opened in 1194 by Richard the Lion Heart just before his first crusade. Romanesque in style it was one of the first churches built with a dome and also contains a number of fresco paintings.
Our final open air history lesson took place on the riverside at Limeuil where the Vézère meets the Dorodgne. Here Martin delighted us with stories of the discovery of what may have been the first art school and the exploits of the beautiful Isabeau de Limeuil, one of Catherine de Medici’s ‘flying squad’.
Lastly we stopped at the premises of Julien de Savignac, Marchand de Vins et Spiriteux which may have provided a bit of inspiration for Martin’s novel ‘The Dark Vineyard’. Amongst its vast array of wines and whiskies can be found a bottle of Bruno Bergerac red.
Martin then drove us back to his home where over a Kir Royale we learnt his books are available in 19 languages and impressively he could recount nearly all of them off the top of his head. We were then treated to a delicious lunch of homemade gazpacho, houmous and tapenade plus an array of local goodies. Of course no meal would be complete without a bottle of Bruno wine.
During the day it was evident that Martin’s surroundings and the history of the area have provided a lot of inspiration for his novels. Any aspiring authors, like myself, will know that coming up with an idea for a story is the easy part. Like many an author Martin told me he sets himself a daily word target. The other piece of advice he gave was when writing don’t stop of the end of a chapter, page, paragraph or sentence.
Sadly despite stretching our lunch out until almost 4 pm the day came to an end and we had to say farewell to our generous host. It was an amazing experience, one I will remember for a long time.
DORDOGNE LADIES BOOK CLUB
This month’s excerpt is from the most wonderful book I was instructed to read by a friend!
The Leopard by Guiseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa
Chosen by Lin Green
I had never heard of this novel before but as I have discovered it is highly regarded – and rightly so.
The Independent wrote :
‘Every once in a while, like certain golden moments of happiness, infinitely memorable, one stumbles on a book or writer, and the impact is like an indelible mark. Lampedusa’s The Leopard, his only novel, and a masterpiece, is such a work.’
‘The daily recital of the Rosary was over. For half an hour the steady voice of the Prince had recalled the Sorrowful and the Glorious Mysteries; for half an hour other voices had interwoven a lilting hum from which, now and again, would chime some unlikely word; love, virginity, death; and during that hum the whole aspect of the rococo drawing room seemed to change; even the parrots spreading iridescent wings over the silken walls appeared abashed; even the Magdalen between the two windows looked a penitent and not just a handsome blonde lost in some dubious daydream as she usually was.
Now, as the voices fell silent, everything dropped back into its usual order or disorder. Bendico, the Great Dane, grieved at exclusion, came wagging its tail through the door by which the servants had left. The women rose slowly to their feet, their oscillating skirts as they withdrew baring bit by bit the naked figures from mythology painted all over the milky depths of the tiles. Only an Andromeda remained covered by the soutane of Father Pirrone, still deep in extra prayer, and it was some time before she could sight the silvery Perseus swooping down to her aid and her kiss.’
The value of second-hand books was so appreciated by Virginia Woolf she wrote :
Second-hand books
are wild books,
homeless books;
they have come
together in a vast flock
of variegated
feather and have
a charm which the
domesticated volumes
of the library lack.
Besides, in this
random miscellaneous
company we may rub
against some complete
stranger who
will, with luck, turn into
the best friend
we have in the world.
If you are already a Facebook user, you can join-in discussions on the 'Dordogne Ladies Book Club' private group. On there you will find notices, reviews of personal reading, plus any monthly choice of book & the subsequent joint reviews etc.
Just follow this link to the group and put in a request to join.
DL Book Club Private Group
There is also an ongoing list of books recommended by members, which can be emailed to you periodically on request.
Lastly we will encourage and give all possible help to anyone wishing to start-up a new meeting group, with a few friends, in their area.
For more information please email the DLCI Book Club Coordinator, Sue Morrison sue.morrison.france@gmail.com
Please see our website for further details https://dlci.weebly.com/
Monpazier Book Club
The book chosen by the Monpazier meeting to read during June was Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann. We plan to review it at our next meeting on the afternoon of Tuesday 5th July and post our joint review and score out of ten on the Facebook Group Dordogne Ladies Book Club. For more information or to join please contact Sue Morrison at: sue.morrison.france@gmail.com
Sainte Foy Book Club
We will be meeting to discuss our choices towards the end of July beginning of August. We’re on a roll at the moment with the books from the last three meetings achieving an 8 or above!
For more information please contact Lin Green at: Lin.green100@gmail.com
Bergerac Book Club
Our next meeting will be on the 19th July when we will be discussing An Innocent Traitor by Alison Weir. We will be posting our evaluation and marks out of ten on the DL Book Club Facebook site
For more information please contact Dawn Kidd at: Dawn.Kidd24440@gmail.com
Just for fun
Best wishes and take care.
Sue Morrison DLCI Book Club Coordinator
Lin Green Organiser Sainte Foy Book Club
Dawn Kidd Organiser Bergerac Book Club
SHORT BUT TRUE TALES FROM A ONE-TIME YORKSHIRE TOURIST OFFICE WORKER
A quiet lunchtime on the M62 and a young man comes into the office…….
‘Can you give me directions to Norwich please?’
‘Certainly - can I just show you on the map - are you on the westbound side of the motorway.’
‘Well I’ve crossed the bridge to come here’
‘Ok - it’s the M1 or the A1 that goes south but for the east coast the A1 will be the best route.’
Studies the map and decided on the A1
‘Can you exit from there?’
‘Yes no problem’
From the next part of the conversation I learned he had travelled from the coast in mid Wales - come north on the M6 and then on to the M62 to then go south – because……
there are no right turns on the motorway!!!
Yorkshire Lady of wit
CHOCOLATINE OR PAIN AU CHOCOLAT ?
That is the question !
A linguistic survey was carried out amongst many thousand people in France by an expert from the University of Louvain, resulting in the publication of the ‘Atlas du Français de nos Régions’. This little gem is to be found within it: a map of France showing the different names used for one of our favourite viennoiseries.
Mathieu Avanzi and his team discovered other regional variations of the name, as you can see, but it’s clear from the map that, even though where we live it’s called chocolatine, the overwhelming preference is to call it a pain au chocolat.
In 2013 a fake news item stated that a customer in a bakery in Toulouse was beaten up for asking for a pain au chocolat!
When the new regional names were being debated, an internet campaign called for Occitanie to be known as ‘Chocolatinie’
Students from a lycée in Montauban wrote to the President asking for chocolatine to be a valid dictionary entry
There is a Facebook page in honour of the chocolatine
This publicity has at least ensured that even in the regions where pain au chocolat is preferred, people have heard the word chocolatine. But the area of everyday usage remains limited to the area between La Rochelle and Carcassonne, including the cities of Bordeaux, Toulouse and Bayonne.
According to M Avanzi, ‘chocolatine’ has lost the battle but not the war …
(Translated from an article in FranceInfo which first appeared in October 2017, updated on 19 June 2022).
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Summer Chocolate Mousse
Sent by Lin Green
This is a lighter mousse, with no added sugar, that goes well with summer fruits such as cherries, strawberries and raspberries.
This recipe will make 2 to 3 desserts dependent on glass sizes
Ingredients
100g dark chocolate (Lindt 70% Noir Subtil is very good for this but any around the 70/75% will be fine)
3 eggs separated ( you will need 2 yolks and 3 whites)
Fruit of choice
Time
After melting the chocolate it’s a maximum of 10 minutes prep and a minimum of 30 minutes setting in the fridge.
Melt the chocolate by putting it in a bain marie eg chocolate broken up in a bowl and that bowl placed in a larger one containing boiling water.
Once the chocolate is completely melted and smooth remove from the hot water and place it next to the 2 bowls containing the whites and the yolks.
Beat the 2 yolks together with a fork.
Whisk the 3 whites together with an electric hand whisk until they have soft peaks.
Add the yolks to the chocolate bowl and stir in.
Add the whites to the chocolate bowl in thirds and gently combine until smooth (this won’t take long - you don’t want to lose the lightness)
Line your glasses up, put 2/3 fruits in the base and pour over the mousse. Top with fruit to decorate once the mousse has chilled a little. Keep in the fridge until needed.
PETS CORNER
Bertie (left) and Samy (right)
Sent in by Jacqueline Colgate
‘I hope she doesn’t get our food mixed up!’
PHOTO REQUEST
We would love to include more of your photos including those for Pets Corner in the next Newsletter. Simply email me at DLCIMagazine@gmail.com (no later than 25th of the month) with the photo and where it is. They will be published in the next months newsletter
LASTLY
……. And just because this was so wonderful
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Michelle Obama wrote:
I am heartbroken today.
I am heartbroken for people around the country who just lost the fundamental right to make informed decisions about their own bodies.
I am heartbroken that we may now be destined to learn painful lessons of a time before Roe was made law of the land – a time when women risked losing their lives getting illegal abortions. A time when the government denied women control over their reproductive functions, forced them to move forward with pregnancies they didn’t want, and then abandoned them once their babies were born
That is what our mothers, our grandmothers and our great-grandmothers lived through, and now here we go again.
So yes, I am heartbroken – for the teenage girl so full of zest and promise, who won’t be able to finish school or live the life she wants because her state controls her reproductive decisions ; for the mother of a non-viable pregnancy who is now forced to bring that pregnancy to term; for the parents who are watching their child’s future evaporate before their very eyes; for the health care workers who can no longer help them without risking jail time ….
PLEASE NOTE
Centralised email address' have been created for DLCI committee members which will automatically forward any emails to the appropriate person in charge.
WELFARE
Isla Cathcart, our Secretary, is also the Welfare Coordinator. Although all members of the committee step in to help out in their area, it is helpful for members to have one name to contact initially. Please contact Isla (in total confidence) at
If you have an accident and need help with transport, errands or some company during convalescence or if you know of another member who is unwell, has a bereavement or you think is going through a difficult patch. We will do all we can to provide support and we will be totally discreet.
EMAIL UPDATES
If any members have changed their email, address or telephone number could they please let Rosemary Copley know at
DLCIMembers@gmail.com
DLCI COMMITTEE 2021/22
Kathy John
Isla Cathcart
Sheila Harrell
Rosemary Copley
Lin Green
Teresa Tildersley
Isla Cathcart
Jackie Colgate
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Secretary
Magazine Editor
Events
Welfare
Co-opted Member
Information and communications printed in this newsletter are accepted by the Committee in good faith. The DLCI cannot be held responsible for complaints arising from them
All contributions to the newsletter should be sent to Lin Green at DLCIMagazine@gmail.com by the 25th of each month and we hope to have a new monthly issue to you on the 1st of every month to allow you time to plan your calendar.
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS NEWSLETTER.
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO CURRENT DATA PROTECTION LAWS THIS DOCUMENT MUST NOT BE SHARED WITH ANYONE WHO IS NOT A CURRENT DLCI MEMBER