|
|
|
|
|
I recently came across a magazine - freely on offer on the counter of my little supermarket -- that I took home and read from cover to cover - finding the articles pertinent, well written and informative, and presented in a reader-friendly and attractive way.
In a market already well-supplied with various how-to and setting-you-on-your-way publications, this one appealed to me. It contains just enough to take in in one go.
Expats have no shortage of helpful publications, but often they are so packed with so much information that it is impossible to remember half of it -- let alone remember where to go look for it again when you need the information.
"Impressions" has just enough of a variety of things, and with the clearly defined content, coming back to the correct copy which contains the specific information you will need some time in the future, should be a diddle.
I decided to go look for the person behind this lovely little magazine, "Impressions".
Jon Burton is the man, and he was ready to tell me more:
A: Thank you for your kind words regarding Impressions magazine.
The magazine was launched in April 2003 in the Deux Sèvres department of the
Impressions magazine expanded rapidly in the Deux Sèvres and soon was being distributed in all departments of the Poitou Charentes. It now has a content of 28 pages, a readership of over 20,000 and carries 60+ advertisers.
Q: So it is not a new magazine?
A: No, in the
Q: You say there are 60+ advertisers. Yet reading the magazine, one does not get that 'crowded' feeling with too many advertisements competing for space with the articles.
A: That is good, because it really is a symbiotic relationship ---- the advertisers are not only important to us, but to the reader as well, as they are the people that make up the networking system of the expat in his new home. And of course, the magazine is wholly funded by advertising revenue, keeping it free to the reader ----- thus generating greater exposure for the advertiser. Impressions magazine also has a large subscriber base of readers who have the magazine delivered to their door throughout the world. Being a well-established magazine already, it has become a much relied upon and successful medium and has many advertisers who have been advertising from issue one including Century 21, AXA insurance and local Notaires.
Q: Interesting, because it is not a very 'big' magazine.
A: Yes, but we are confident we can replicate the success of the magazine here in the Dordogne and believe that Impressions magazine will be a good medium for businesses to advertise at a lower cost than other publications. --- Although Impressions magazine is starting as a 12 page magazine for the
Q: Ah! I hope not too big -- because that is exactly what I found was unique about it and made it so attractive to me as the reader -- the 'digestible' size!
A: And its availability, I hope! -----We are also pleased to announce that we have signed a partnership agreement with the Chambre de Commerce et Industry of Dordogne and the Bergerac Airport Authority. This will ensure that the magazine will be made available to a wider audience hence offering better coverage for advertisers.
As well as being available in the Arrival and Departure Halls at Bergerac Airport, 3000 copies of Impressions magazine will be distributed in restaurants, bars, tabacs, banks, supermarkets, immobiliers, Office de Tourisme and insurance offices, initially throughout the areas of:- Riberac, Bergerac, Eymet, Lalinde, Monbazillac, Saint Foy and Mussidan.
We wish Impressions much success in the Perigord Dordogne ---
Look out for it wherever you are and have a look for yourself --
and do let us know what you think about it!
Closer to the patisseries of Paris! Nearer to the best beers of Brussels!
There will be a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants, an international brasserie, the longest champagne bar in Europe and a daily fresh produce market. First Class and Business Class lounges and WiFi connections -- everything a discerning traveler of 2007 demands.
Last night I attended the second of three music recitals in the achingly beautiful Abbey church in Paunat.
This church in Paunat is one of a handful of churches in the area that was consecrated in the first millennium - namely in 991 -- but its construction dates back even further --- to 804. Again, the natural stone and uneven surfaces of the very high walls, provided a perfect accoustical chamber for any music, and the gleaming black Bechstein looked quite at home in the soft golden glow of the cherch last night. Roger Muraro was the pianist who regaled us with his lively and animated interpretation of Mozart, Liszt and Chopin. Muraro is best know for his mastery of Messianen's work, and as this composer was so strongly influenced by the delicacy and refined harmonic work of Chopin, it is probably not surprising that Muraro was able to present a fresh and different approach to Chopin's Funereal Sonata opus 25 and the ever-delightful Andante spianato et Grande Polonaire. The last time I had heard this piece was in the open air of Chopin Park in Warsaw and at the time I thought one should never play this piece in any other setting. Hearing it again last night in the ancient abbey church of Paunat, made me change my mind on that one!
linens for the women and the obiquitous jumper-over-the-shoulders for the men -- I could not help but wonder whether they had all done their homework before the recital and read the same Geoff Brown crit in The Times of last week. Almost the exact words were heard - sounding oh so knowledgeable and erudite, but with nowhere a reference, acknowledgement or a quotation mark in evidence. I shuddered and for a moment thought I had landed back in the counties amongst the Landrover, cashmere and Harrow/Charter House coterie. But how could that have been? Never in Surrey or any of the shires did we enjoy this kind of cultural feast and this quality and variety of entertainment and enjoyment as the French are so good at offering! I was so tempted to mutter out loud the lovely Robert Auden observation about the Brits ---
Tonight I join a group of friends for a completely different experience - A Blues and Gospel evening in the main market square of the beautiful medieval bastide town of Monpazier -- and Monday night it is back to Paunat for a magical evening of six of the best cellists in France, performing together under the masterful direction of Roland Pidoux. Could anything be more beautiful than an ensemble of 6 cellos? -- Let's hear what the Brits have to criticise there!....
The delightful - and colourful! Eugène Lampion from France Bleu drove over from Libourne this morning to the Aquitaine Langues Language School to interview a motley crew of expats living in the area. 
Somebody said to me other day -- "Um, no, we won't be attending a Live Earth party -- it is not really our thing, you know"....
Is the Planet's assured future "not your thing" either?
Thank goodness there are people out there who realise that "A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children." (~ John James Audubon). Thank goodness that there are people who do care -- because thanks to those, ---you - whose 'thing it is not' --- can breathe oxygen, can drink water, can sit in the shade of a tree, can eat healthy food, can enjoy a sunset, can see the stars' exquisite brilliance in a moon-less night sky.
The Tour de France, the arduous and challenging annual cycle race of 3639km, is about to begin, and this year it will come right through the Dordogne so everyone on holiday in France will have an opportunity to see this great annual event first hand! On 27 July the State 18 is between Angouleme and Cahors, going through some of the most spectacular Perigord scenery:
This year, the fifth edition of "Bordeaux fête le fleuve" focused on the river and was dedicated to the port city's relations with the world. It began on Saturday the 16th June with the arrival of three exceptional ships: the Belem, the Cuauhtemoc and the Recouvrance.
This is an example of what is on offer for visitors to the region : A sporty weekend specially for you in the Périgord with the focus on open air activities. To start with, you can enjoy a morning given over to horse-riding (in the village of Tamnies) or to golf (in Périgueux), and afterwards half a day on a mountain bike, another half a day canoeing, both with state-registered instructors on hand for beginners. The local heritage is part of the fun with the Visit of Périgueux, to the Gallo-Roman or Medieval and Renaissance part. The programme also includes a typical – and therefore revigorating – dinner in a restaurant in town to be chosen from a list provided by the Tourist Office. 
There are as many articles written about buying property in France as there are people buying property in France! It is a phenomenon in its own right. Probably because France is one of the most retirement friendly, investor friendly and DINKY- and DITKY- friendly countries -- where property can still be bought for very reasonable money and growth and increase in value is almost 100% assured. In particular the SouthWest of France, here in the Perigord Dordogne, the non-French - as well as the French themselves, are streaming in to profit from the low prices, the number of available properties with potential for restoration and DYI improvements, good weather, friendly locals, diversity of interests and job opportunities and of course the very good and healthy life style. 
In an article by Lucy Alexander in The Times a few days ago, she writes: Posh pads that pay their way
Fancy an affordable luxury home in Bordeaux?
Buying property in France may be a costly tangle of red tape, but that doesn’t seem to deter the Britons who own more than 200,000 properties there, according to figures from Rightmove.com. France’s obvious attractions combined with low property prices would seem to be an effective analgesic for the headache induced by VAT, wealth tax, residents’ tax and legal and agency fees.If your dream is to buy and renovate a rundown farm, an element of expensive hassle is inevitable. But if you’re seeking a holiday home that doubles as an investment, France’s leaseback scheme, which offers tax breaks on the purchase of buy-to-let properties, is an attractive option. The quality of leaseback developments varies, but more luxurious ones are becoming more common as the purchasing power of the pound grows. The Canadian resort operator Intrawest has spotted a market in France, and is now building its first non-ski resort there.
However -- last month good friends of mine from Australia came to Bordeaux for one week, found an exceptional apartment to buy - with a terrace and view over the river - signed the Compromis de Vente within two hours of seeing the apartment for the first time, and all the red tape, all the papers -- every single requirement, within the next couple of days. The contract is with the notaires and the final deed of sale is expected to be signed and possession taken the first week in September. 
Two highly recommended and very good value for money 
