Author Archives: Brian Collinson

Wot, no fish and chips!!! Instead a musical evening in Bretignolles!

Sadly we were unable to have our usual visit to Les Sables for fish and chips as the lady fish and chipper has moved her business to the north coast.  However, our valiant Secretary, Dom’ Morris rose to the challenge by organising a visit to the Rock’Ale bar in Bretignolles.    Malheureusement, cette année, nous n’avons pas pu déguster nos traditionnels “Fish & Chips” aux Sables d’Olonne, car Christine, la proprétaire de la roulotte, est partie définitivement en Normandie!… Cependant notre Secrétaire, Dom’ Morris, a relevé le défi en organisant une soirée tapas/musique au Rock’Ale à Brétignolles.

 

In recent years more of these eclectic and ‘quirky’ bars have sprung up offering much more than the normal, ‘utilitarian’ French bar. Depuis quelques années on a vu fleurir nombre de ces bars/tavernes proposant plus que les bars habituels.

This bar has a very wide variety of wines and beer to offer, together with lots of food – of which we enjoyed a variety. Ce bar propose une grande variété de vins et de bières, de même qu’un assortiment de tapas dont nous nous sommes régalés.

Music was provided by Dom’ .   However such was the air of ‘conviviality’ that I for one was unaware of the music! La playlist musicale a été concoctée par Dom, mais la convivialité était telle, qu’elle est passée au second plan. De plus, de nombreux chanteurs nous ont aussi égayés…     An excellent evening.  Une excellente soirée.

Now for the picnic on July 20th at Lac de Jaunay.

Et maintenant, prochain rendez-vous pour le pique-nique du 20 juillet au Lac du Jaunay, à la Baudrière!

     

Soirée Jambalaya – Tuesday April 5th

For our first meal of the year, we chose to order a Jambalaya from our favourite ‘traiteur’. Pour notre premier dîner de l’année, nous avions commandé un Jambalaya chez notre Traiteur favori de Sion,

absolutedly delicious. absolument délicieux et épicé.

Tables were set with aperos, a kir, and appropriate decorations created by our artist Michèle as usual. Les tables, comme d’habitude décorées par notre artiste Michèle, étaient préparées avec des amuse-bouches et des kirs.

 

 

   

Members soon tucked in as the wine flowed and the noise rose……..

Les adhérents se sont vite installés et le bruit est monté au fur et à mesure que les verres se vidaient….

….. a good time was had by all. Tout le monde a passé un très bon moment!…

Up and running again!

Barring a resurgence in the Covid numbers in the Vendee, we are now almost back to normal. Last Thursday a good crowd of Members were able to enjoy an evening devoted to discussing beer in all its’ forms.   Marie is now in the process of organising an excursion for Members to a brewery locally – doubtless involving tastings!

Friday also welcomed 27 Members and friends to our regular quiz morning, with another new Member.   Welcome J J !

Also in prospect is a ‘Soiree Couscous, to be held of Thursday 7th October at La Baritaudiere.   (15 euros each by cheque for Members)    Also planned is  an end of year/early Christmas meal at a venue which we have all previously enjoyed.   So, watch this space and be ready to sign up with Dominique for these events either on Thursday evenings or Friday mornings.

Happy times are here again!

Picnic at Lac du Jaunay July / Juillet 2021

Bastille Day had come and gone, not with a whimper exactly, but largely unnoticed in the Vendee.   However, the loyal members of Le Pont a Sion were ready to party

Josette arrived early – ‘comme d’habitude’.   to put up the sign and bag the best spot for us all.           

After slicing some saucisson, she was ready for the arrival of everyone else.

 

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A picture is worth a thousand words, someone once said.    And what more is to be said.   It was great to be together again in the summer sunshine.     What about a return match in August??

As usual, our picnic at Lac du Jaunay has been very successful and in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere!… Comme d’habitude notre pique-nique au Lac du Jaunay a eu beaucoup de succès, dans une atmosphère champêtre et amicale!…

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Back in Business!!

Our first meeting after the long lockdown was on Thursday 10th when Josette stood in for Marie and treated us to examples of ‘sayings’ in French and English.    Everyone much enjoyed being together again and were pleased to hear that a trip to Les Sables d’Olonne for Fish and Chips is planned for Thursday 1st July, our last Thursday before the Summer holiday.   We  will begin again on Thursday 16th September.

Friday 11th saw a good crown of Members (29) assemble for a lively quiz morning when Jean Claude gave us an amusing anecdote about Janet Baker, and reminded us of the events coming up at the Bourrine de Lou Lou.  (See the post with the programme)

It is also intended to have picnics at the Lac du Jaunay in both July and August.    Watch this space for date.   HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE AGAIN!!

 

 

You can’t keep a quizzer down!! Round one!

Whilst mantaining social distance and sanitization, eighteen Members of Le Pont a Sion gathered for the first time after lockdown for the Friday morning quiz.

Although not permitted to serve coffee, the atmosphere was nonetheless convivial.

….. but Cecile, having risen late, was not quite up to speed with some music questions!  Will improve  next time and when the ghetto-blaster works better!

 

Rights of British citizens in France after Brexit.

British citizens living in France may still be confused over their rights and obligations after the UK definitively leaves the EU at the end of 2020.   Those with a variety of states of residency, whether as naturalised French citizens, holders of current Cartes de Sejour, or those intending or in the process of applying for one of the above may still have some questions.  Hopefully those will be answered in the document ”Living in France post-Brexit: what you need to know”.

A copy of this document can be found on this site.   Look under Photos and Archives on the home page and follow the link.   The document is not very clear, but if you click upon it,  a clear version will appear – and which you can print.