British Association of the Var Putting people and social needs together since 1998 Association Loi 1901 No: W831001750

www.baofthevar.com

August 2012 Newsletter No 123

“Keep Smiling”

BATs, the British Association Thespians, gave two performances this year at Villecroze and Gigaro. In all, over one hundred people were entertained with a mixture of humorous songs, sketches and poems. There was an unfortunate occurrence when a heckler stunned the audience during the opening number by telling the cast to sing up and smile. Not very BAV. It turned out that the heckler was a member of the cast. So the show got off with a laugh, with many more during the 21 items that followed. The show closed with a rousing rendition of Give Me Sunshine.

The regular cast was strengthened by the presence of three new members, Ray Ash, Francis Barret and Pat Powell. They gave an added range to the show with Ray leading the singing and dancing acts, Francis playing the guitar and Pat providing wonderful vocals.

BATs would like to thank Rob and Esther Flanagan and Paul and Carla Washbourne for allowing the cast to perform in their respective gardens.

At the end of the last show the cast presented Mickie Wynne-Davies with a leaving card and mosaic tribute in appreciation of all her hard work as director. BATs kindly donated over 1000€ to the Welfare Fund.

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Forthcoming Events for your diary

Finance Clinic and Book Sale Thursday 9 August - Villacroze

Entrecasteaux Castle & Lakeside Gourmet Lunch

Thursday 16 August - Salernes

Mosaic Works and Abstract Oil Paintings for Sale

Tuesday 14 August

Vendange Lunch Saturday 15 September - Lorgues

_______________________________________________________

“What’s On”

31 July-14 Aug: Musique Dans Les Etoiles, Flayosc. Classical music 17-22€ Tourist office 04 94 70 41 31 To 14 Aug: Festival Les Grimaldines, Grimaud. Variety of events Tourist office 04 94 55 43 83 2-4 Aug: Festival De Jazz de Brignoles. For details

04 94 72 04 21 3 Aug: Fireworks at Entrecasteaux. Tourist office

04 94 59 95 64 or www. festivaldentrecasteaux.fr 3- 6Aug: Fete De La Saveur, Entrecasteaux 3-12 Aug: Piano Dans Le Ciel, Tourtour Classical music and piano 12-22€

Tourist office 04 94 70 59 47 6 Aug: Aïoli at Entrecasteaux 6-8 Aug:- Festival des Nuits Blanches, Le Thoronet. Variety of music Tourist Office 04 94 60 10 94 10-12 Aug: Festival Le Muy - Blues and Rock

Tourist Office 04 94 45 12 70 11-18 Aug: Musique Cordiale festival in Seillans

area, concerts www.musique-cordiale.com To 17 Aug: Les dracénuits Musicales, Draguignan. Variety of music 10-30€. Contact

06 60 90 17 23 or www.festivalgloriana.com 17-19 Aug: La Musique Dans Tous Ses Etats, St Raphael. World music, reggae and flamenco 21h00

Tourist office 04 98 11 89 00 21-28 Aug: Festival De Musique D'Entrecasteaux. Classical and chamber music. To 22 Aug: Les Soirées Gala Du Theatre De La Mer, St Maxime. Variety of events. Free to 56€

Tourist office 08 26 20 83 83 23-25 Aug: Festival Good Vibes, Draguignan

06 11 57 26 25 or c.denizet@laposte.net 26 Aug: Expo Voitures Anciennes, Entrecasteaux

Tourist office 04 94 59 95 64 www.festivaldentrecasteaux.fr

Fête de St Romain, Villecroze On the weekend of 11-15 August there is an annual festival in Villecroze with music and dancing every evening in the square, a fun fair for children and this all culminates in an amazing firework display

in the route de Barbebelle park on the Monday evening at 22h00. The music in the square will then follow. This is one of the best firework displays in the Var so don’t miss it. Then, on 15 August, there is an open Aïoli at midday.

CAD Vocal Concerts: 4 Aug: “Messiah” by Handel. Grand Place, Pourrières. 21h30. 11 Aug: “Lumières” by Jacques Loussier. Eglise Notre Dame, Correns. 21h00

http://www.ensemblecadvocal.fr/

Académie Musicale de Villecroze: Free entry www.academie-villecroze.com

31 August, Hautbois, Maurice Bourgue

Reminder!

Coffee Morning Finance Clinic and Book Sale

10h00 – 12h00 Thursday 9 August

Cost 5€

Members are invited to the home of Ann and Maurice Mitchem for a Coffee Morning with Simon Eveleigh of Siddalls. Please telephone Ann 04 ******** to confirm your attendance, before 6 August. Sorry, no dogs. More details in July Newsletter.

*********, 83690 Villecroze

Reminder!

Guided Tour Château d’Entrecasteaux and Lakeside

Gourmet Lunch 34€ (7€ chateau and 27€ lunch)

On the Thursday 16 August we are arranging for a group to go around the fascinating Chateau at Entrecasteaux at 11h00 prompt followed by a lunch at 12h30 at the Trout Lake about 3km west of Entrecasteaux towards Carces.

For the booking form and more details please see the July Newsletter.

Menu

Gambas à l’ail et aux persil flambées aux cognac

***

Entrecôte aux cêpes à la creme avec ses legumes

***

Assortiment de 3 fromages et son miel d’acacia

***

Profiteroles au chocolat et ses fruits frais ***

Vin et café compris

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VENDANGE LUNCH

We are pleased to announce the ever popular Vendange Lunch to be held by the kind invitation

of Lindsay Phillips at – Domaine St Marc des Omèdes, Lorgues

on 15 September at midday

The cost is 19€ per head and the hard working BAV cookies will be producing the annual feast.

Menu

Tapenade and Gaspachio Soup *****

Roast Duck stuffed with a little pork, apricots, pistachios and thyme

Poached Salmon Vegetarian Quiche

Garnishes *****

Choice of 4 desserts

Christmas Cards & Book Sale

Tables and chairs will be provided but please ensure that you bring your own crockery, cutlery, glasses, sunshade / parasol and sun cream.

The booking form can be found with this Newsletter and only 120 places are available so please book immediately. Please send your booking form to: Lesley Honeywell, ********* 83520 Roquebrune S/A by no later than 31 August 2012.

Directions:

GPS coordinates N 43.48485 and E 6.38797. From

Draguignan on the D562 at the first roundabout on the outskirts of Lorgues turn left. BA directions will

be there. From the north/south/west go on to the D562 Lorgues by-pass to the roundabout after the

Salles des Fetes and then follow directions as for Draguignan ie. Turn right at the roundabout.

Approx. distance down the lane is 3km.

Chairman’s Report

I am starting to write this report immediately after the issue of the last Newsletter and at this time BATSs have just completed their 2 extremely successful productions. Once again, BATs have excelled in thoroughly entertaining audiences in Villecroze and Gigaro Beach and in doing so have donated just over 1000€ for the Welfare Fund. Our thanks go to the whole of the BATs team and especially Mickie Wynne-Davies, the director who pulled the whole show together. There have been numerous messages expressing how relaxed, sociable and perfect the evenings were.

On the subject of the Newsletter I hope that you are finding this an improved read with more general information and information as to ‘What’s On’. We are still however finding it difficult to discover

exactly what is on as even the tourist offices have information which is generally too late for the Newsletter. If you do get to hear of an event taking place in your area then please let us know.

Finally, the annual Vendange Lunch will be in its usual form at Lorgues. Last year we had an incredible 168 requests for places with only 120 places available so please, please ensure that you send in the booking form as soon as possible and don’t leave it to the last minute. I am pleased to say that we will be joined by Simon Taylor, the British Consul from Marseille.

Once again, we are looking for volunteer cookies to make starters and desserts and who will, of course, be reimbursed. Please contact Shirley Wrigglesworth if you are happy to assist.

Mosaic Works and Abstract Oil Paintings for Sale

Danielle, who gives mosaic lessons in her atelier in Salernes, is having an Open Day at which her Mosaics and abstract oil paintings can be bought from 15€-350€.

10% of the takings will be donated to the BAV

Tuesday 14 August 14-18h.00

For details/directions: 06 ******** ********@hotmail.fr

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Lunch with a Financial Digestive A small group of BAV members met on a particularly warm Var day at Cafe de la Tour in Les Arcs. The café, for reasons better known to itself, decided to move us from the room booked to the outside where there was the relief of a breeze but it was not ideal for a seminar.

Following a pleasant lunch, we received introduction of The deVere group to the BAV from Paul Howard and Richard Bayle. Members may not have heard of the group previously but Paul said that deVere is a multi-national company with over 110 offices worldwide in 60 countries and 3 in France. There was then a discussion about some recent tax changes and other current topical matters.

DeVere prides itself at providing a personal service tailor made for the individual rather than one fits all approach and the lunch allowed the representatives of deVere Group to discuss individual’s needs. We look forward to a continuing relationship with the Group.

In order to contact Paul Howard of The deVere Group please call 07 86 86 40 70 or email -

paul.howard@gmail.com _______________________________________________________

NEIGHBOURHOOD NETWORKS

Cabasse, Carces, Correns, Cotignac, and Le Val During the July gathering there was a discussion that there seemed to be less coffee mornings than in the past and less opportunities to buy books. This resulted in an offer to host one. Change of plan: the next meeting will be on 31 August. Michael Wharton

07 ******** ********@cam.ac.uk

Grimaud/Cogolin There will be no meetings in Grimaud in July and August, as parking gets more difficult, but we will still meet at Brasserie Leclerc in Cogolin on 28 August at 10h30-11h50. Pat Heal

04 ******** ********@vol.lu

La Motte and Le Muy The next meeting will be 14 August at 10h00 at Bar des Cascades in La Motte. All are welcome. If

you need any information, call Alexandra Lewis-Smith

04 ******** *********@bbox.fr

Les Arcs, Le Luc, Taradeau and Vidauban We meet on the 2nd Friday of the month at the Café de la Tour, Les Arcs at 10h30 till noon.

Jim North04 ******** ********@wanadoo.fr

Les Issambres We meet every other Tuesday at 11h00 at L'Arpillon café next to Casino. Richard Tolaini 04 ********or 06 ******** ********@aol.com

Roquebrune-sur-Argens - Village & La Bouverie We meet at the L’Auberge d’Argens on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 10h30-12h00.

Lesley Honeywell 04 ******** *********@wanadoo.fr

St Raphael & Frejus Meetings are cancelled until 28 September when we will meet at my house. Please ring for directions:

Diane Jenkins 04 ******* ********@wanadoo.fr

Villecroze, Salernes, Tourtour and Entrecasteaux We meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10h30 at the bar Cercle de l'Avenir in Villecroze. Please check the venue; we may rotate to another village.

Ann & Maurice Mitchem 04 ******** *********@hotmail.com

_______________________________________________________

A big welcome to the following six

New Members: Ivy Court and Ian Neville from Fréjus, Blake & Chris Long of Le Val, and Tony & Judith Few of Flassans sur Issole. _______________________________________________________

FIRE PROTECTION AT HOME

At this time of year there are frequently forest fires around the Var.

There are official recommendations regarding precautions that can be taken and these are: Clear away the undergrowth around the house. Opt for wooden shutters rather than plastic. Do not install PVC downpipes or gutters. Clear your roof every year of leaves and pine needles.

Avoid stacking wood against the house. Ensure that there are no gas bottles or inflammable liquids near the house which may explode. Opt for underground tanks.

There are actions to be taken in the event of a fire: Close all doors, windows and shutters even if leaving the house for just a few hours. Avoid locking your gate in order to allow access for the emergency services.

This information is provided by Association Départmentale des Comités Communaux Feux de forêts du Var.

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More practical advice: ALWAYS REVERSE INTO YOUR PARKING SPACE OR GARAGE in arid summer weather so that you can make a hasty exit in such an emergency. Those seconds turning round could be vital. It’s also sensible to keep somewhere handy an emergency pack with your most important items in it – medication and prescriptions, car and building insurance documents, pet passport and whatever else is vital for you - ready to grab and go at a moment’s notice. _______________________________________________________

Half-year Financial Report Jan-June inclusive

We have a new BAV Committee, and hence myself, Lesley Honeywell, as the new Hon Treasurer, from mid-March this year so this is my first Financial Report to you. I am therefore pleased to say that, despite an inherited decrease in Membership renewals and therefore less subscriptions in November, our reserves remain healthy.

Funds

To date there has been no change in the general cash reserves of the Association and these are still held in four areas. 1. Current working account with Crédit Agricole 2. A ‘Livet A’ Call Deposit Account with Crédit

Agricole earns a low level of interest but is available immediately when welfare and other urgent demands arise.

3. A Fixed Term Deposit Account with the bank has again given us increased return this year of 5%.

4. Loans due to be repaid, some of which have already been repaid or reduced since April.

Income

In addition to repayment of loans, the main income for the year comes, as before, from the following: Subscription from Members Donations Interest Sponsorship Functions It is therefore very important that we retain our existing Members as well as encourage new Members to join. Subscriptions are unlikely to cover administration costs again this year but you in turn can help boost funds by attending the Functions we arrange during the year.

Although impossible to hold the Aups Picnic again this year we had the bonus of the Jubilee Lunch & Quiz, Summer Soirée & Boules, Bring and Share Lunch, Le Petit Maison and Montferrat plus two BATS shows, all of whose donations have added substantially to our coffers. ‘Look after the pennies

and the pounds will look after themselves’ is still a very good adage so do continue to support coin collections, book sales and any other BAV fund raising efforts. Additional Sponsorship for functions as well as Newsletter and Address book is also a much needed source of income.

All these separate items are needed more than ever to secure our reserves in these trying times.

Expenditure

We are currently looking very hard at the costs of running the Association and how and where we may be able to reduce them. Printing costs and postage are therefore being scrutinised again to see how and where we can make effective savings without loss of service to you, our valued members, and this scrutiny of all expenditure will continue.

Finally, using last year’s mid-year report format on our main costs and the first 6 months of 2011 as the comparative:

Comparative Costs over 6 months 2012 2011

Welfare Costs 3,658€ 6,130€ Newsletter and

Address Books 2,711€ 3,370€ AGM Printing and

Posting 799€ 1,475€ 7,168€ 10,955€

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Handmade Cards Workshop

Shirley Wrigglesworth kindly hosted Pat Powell's card making workshop. Two tables of participants learnt how to cut, fold and stick card and paper together to construct unique greetings cards. All materials had been carefully prepared beforehand and clear instructions were given by Pat and her daughter Nikki. This duo was always at hand to help with some of the more intricate work as well as helping us stamp and emboss the cards.

A very happy and productive day was enjoyed by all and we would like to thank Shirley, Pat and Nikki for organising such an enjoyable time. We received 38€ in donations for the refreshments.

Digital Photography Group

At our last meeting before the summer break, we reviewed the photographic output from the group’s recent visit to Le Brusc. The nearby L’Îles des Embiez provided a truly amazing variety of views and natural features, all of which were captured to good effect by the group.

However, the flame of photographic creativity refuses to be extinguished over the summer months and our members have agreed to undertake an individual ‘project’ of their own choosing before we meet again in September. In addition, there will be many local events held in this area over the next two months, the essence of which our photographers will undoubtedly want to record digitally in their own way. For

more details please contact: Mike Harper ********@yahoo.co.uk

Happy Boules

For details about our meeting times and venues please contact: Rob Flanagan

06 ******** ********@hotmail.com

Painting Group

For information about the group and details of our next meeting in September please contact:

Pauline North 04 ********* ********@orange.fr

BAV Christmas cards designs wanted

Budding artists and designers, your chance to shine. Please submit by 14 August your Christmas designs, drawings, paintings or photographs for selection of 3 final designs. These must be submitted by electronic mail in jpeg format to ********@hotmail.com and be capable of reproduction in an A6 format.

Giant Book Sale

The Book Sale on the 18 June, organised by Shirley Wrigglesworth and Pauline North, was held at the BAV storage facility between Lorgues and Taradeau. Considering the work involved, it was rather a disappointment. We raised 150€. The arrangements were ideal with lovely weather as well, plus plenty of parking space.

Our thanks go to Phil Farr and his wife for allowing us to use the facility. Also to those who helped with setting up and packing away, especially the friend of a member who stayed on to help.

If members are not prepared to travel to the venue then perhaps they would like to hold a book sale/coffee morning at their homes. Please contact Shirley or Pauline to discuss. _________________________________________________

Please Note -

We appreciate the support of our advertisers and encourage members to consider using their services; however, BAV cannot take responsibility for the quality of goods and services.

Before taking action in response to articles about law and finance in the Newsletter, please take advice from a suitable qualified person.

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CALLIAN Le Pradon Anglican Church

Fellowship of the Ascension You are very welcome to join us in

our new church home at Le Pradon Maison de Retraite Callian. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of

the month at 11h00 for Family Communion or Morning Prayer (coffee at 10h30)

We also have a Bring and Share lunch afterwards. Please ring Hilary at 04 94 47 70 67 for details

or visit our website at www.lepradonanglican.org

~~~

The ARK, LORGUES L’Oasis Christian Fellowship

Every 2nd Sunday at 11h45 at Arc-en-Provence

1801 Chemin des Pailles and every 4th Sunday at 11h45 at

Notre Dames des Anges Maison de Retraite We have a Bring and Share lunch afterwards.

For details or directions please contact

Rev Peter or Shirley Massey at 04 94 73 93 37 or 06 87 94 04 83 www.arc-en-provence.com/oasis

~~~

St John’s for the Var St John the Evangelist - Ave Paul Doumer,

St Raphaël - Rev Keith Bretel Holy Communion is held every Sunday at 10h30

followed by refreshments and a monthly lunch.

Port Grimaud Church Holy Communion at 17h00

1st Sunday July and August

Grimaud Village Church 1st Thursday of each month at 11h00 except

July and August Please ring 04 94 60 87 05 for details

www.sjevar.com

Beware - jellyfish!

RIVIERA tourist chiefs fear a massive invasion of stinging jellyfish on the Mediterranean coast this summer as hot weather has warmed up the sea, which encourages them to develop.

They forced tourists to flee from the beaches of Monaco, Antibes, Cannes and Nice last summer and researchers have set up www.Jellywatch.fr - an internet site to warn bathers of sightings of jellyfish and to show the direction of currents. These are particularly important as they push the jellyfish towards the coasts - when the currents come from the east the jellyfish arrive immediately on the beaches. Similarly, when there is a strong west wind the jellyfish arrive a couple of days afterwards.

The warm sea means that the jellyfish - known as méduses - mature more quickly and reproduce

quicker. Instead of a year-long cycle some are reproducing every six or eight months. Coastal pollution also plays an indirect role as jellyfish live on small shellfish, which live on the algae which bloom in polluted waters. However, industrial fishing has meant depleted stocks of sardines, which also eat the shellfish and indirectly keep down jellyfish numbers by depriving them of food.

The purple jellyfish Pelagia Noctiluca is particularly feared as it gives a painful sting. It can grow to 40cm across. At night, the jellyfish can give off flashes of light. _______________________________________________________

BEWARE – Another Scam

Do not disclose any of your access codes or passwords for banking or computer use in response to a phone call or e-mail purporting to be from your bank or computer service provider, however plausible the request sounds.

Currently there are phone calls circulating from an Indian person pretending to be from Windows, and warning of a virus on your computer. He then asks for all your access passwords so it can be repaired, when in actual fact he will send a virus to your computer.

There are e-mails which serve the same purpose, using the logos of Orange, SFR, Bouygues and other providers and looking very authentic – ignore them. Even worse are those supposedly from your bank asking you to confirm your details, including secret access codes for on-line banking. Never give this information, and if in doubt contact your bank.

Bargain Basement

Sales and Wants printed FREE for members

email newsletter@baofthevar.com

Matching sets of quality bed linen to fit 3ft (90x190cm) twin beds -from mattress covers to bedspreads. Hardly used cotton and poly/cotton, mainly white or peach. from 30€ per set.

Anne 04 ********

British Association of the Var Welfare Coordinator

Ann Mitchem 04 ******** or 06 43 86 49 01

welfare@baofthevar.com

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Helpful hints for cooks

(This article was written by Sherlie Bretel, a retired

teacher of Home Economics who has lived in France for several years. However, she is also the wife of the

Chaplain at St John’s Church in St Raphaël, Keith

Bretel, who used to be an Army Chaplain so they have lived abroad in several countries for much of his career

– hence her skill at adapting her recipes to locally available ingredients.)

Cream - The absence of double cream in French supermarkets can cause problems and frustration in the kitchen. There are two solutions:

1. Thicken your whipped crème entière with mascarpone cheese. 2. Use ‘Chantifix’, a product that allows you to produce a whipped cream that does not collapse. It comes in a small yellow box and can be found in the home baking section in most supermarkets. Follow the instructions on the box - it really does work. (I tend to use about half the sugar suggested which does not affect the final set of the cream.)

Bread - Another complaint I hear frequently is that bread making at home in France isn’t as successful as it was in UK. Strong flour for bread making is readily available in most supermarkets. There are four varieties:

1. Farine for ‘pain blanc’ (white bread) 2. Farine for ‘pain brioche’ (brioche) 3. Farine for ‘pain aux céreales’ (multi grain

bread). This is not the same as the granary flour you can buy in UK but is an acceptable alternative.

4. Farine de blé ‘ complète’. This is whole meal flour but it is much finer than the UK version.

Like many others I struggled initially to achieve the same texture that I was accustomed to obtaining in UK. I quickly realised that the problem lay with the yeast. French easy blend dried yeast is packaged in 5g sachets whereas UK easy blend dried yeast is packaged in 7g sachets. Thus here in France I use 3 sachets of dried yeast for 1.5kg flour instead of the 2 sachets I used to use in the UK. I also find that I improve the quality of the bread by mixing the flours. For white rolls I use half ‘pain blanc’ and half ‘pain brioche’. For ‘seedy’ bread I use a mixture of ‘pain blanc’, ‘pain brioche’, and ‘pain aux céreales’.

For cake baking there is a self-raising flour available - ‘farine pour gâteaux’ but you may

need to use a little extra baking powder to achieve the results you are used to. By baking powder I mean UK baking powder. The French ‘levure chimique’ is basically bicarbonate of soda and is best used in baking with strong flavours to avoid an after taste in the end product.

Sugar - I have heard that for some, finding the correct grade of sugar for baking can be a problem. Ordinary granulated sugar is found in the value kilogram packs (usually the cheapest available). Castor sugar comes in at least two grades sucre en poudre fin, trés fin or extra fin. Icing sugar is sucre glacé. Soft, dark brown sugar is also available from Béghin Say as Vergeoise brun. Happy baking!!

Newsletter delivery

You may be interested to know that the Newsletter is sent by post to 60 households, and by e-mail to 205. The latter is increasing all the time as most new members opt for the electronic Newsletter. Perhaps now is the time to consider changing from the postal method, especially as the electronic Newsletters are sent out the same day that the others are posted, so they have a slight advantage in arriving in advance.

For next month’s Newsletter

Please let us have your Advertisements, Articles and Reports for the September issue by

Wednesday 15 August Contributions to: newsletter@baofthevar.com

or to *********, 83920 La Motte.

www.baofthevar.com

See list of Committee Members and Forthcoming Events on our

BA website

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British Association of the Var Putting people and social needs together since 1998 Association Loi 1901 No: W831001750

www.baofthevar.com

August 2012 Newsletter Supplement

Declaring your Inheritance Trust in France

British expats are in a state of confusion following a tax clampdown by the French government on inheritance trusts. Thousands of Britons are believed to have set up such trusts to shelter their assets from inheritance tax (IHT), but France’s tax office is cracking down on such schemes and originally gave trustees until June 15 to declare them. Those who fail to do so face fines of €10,000 (£8,000).

This is the first time the French government has launched such a demand and those who do beat the deadline face a bill of between 0.25 per cent and 0.5 per cent if their total wealth is more than £1.05 million.

But there is confusion on many levels. Firstly, the majority of British expats aren’t aware of the new rules to declare these trusts. Secondly, for those that are aware they don’t know how to make the declaration, as no clear guidelines have been released. There is talk that the French government has given an extension of August 31 to make the declaration, although this hasn’t been confirmed. A change in power to the new socialist government may be partly to blame for the delay.

The declaration doesn’t affect those Britons who have simply bought a French holiday home. But it will affect those who have put that property, or other financial assets, into a trust. The financial penalty applies to any size trust, however small. But for trusts worth more than £200,000 the charge rises to five per cent of its value. In the absence of guidance, advisers recommend writing to the tax office declaring the existence of trust assets and their value as at January 1, 2012. There is also confusion over whether Self Invested Pension Plans (Sipps) need to be declared.

Sanef Tolling (cont)

Further to the article about the UK based telepéage tags in last month’s Newsletter Supplement, we recommend that you remove the

tag from the windscreen at the end of each individual journey as these tags are often stolen from cars and used in your name. The tag should be kept in the 'silver' envelope out of sight when not in use.

Crackdown on helicopters in the Var

Every summer, numerous stars, rich business people and well-heeled holiday makers flock to the glamorous seaside town of Saint Tropez, using helicopters as their Villa-to-beach run-abouts. Following a wave of complaints from local residents about the piercing sounds of the helicopter motors, the Prefecture of the Var has enforced a series of regulations for the summer to limit the number of flights to the exclusive resort, stating that helicopters are only allowed to operate at specific times during the day. Helicopter stations in Gassin, Grimaud, Ramatuelle and Saint Tropez will all have to undergo a mandatory break between the hours of 13h00 and 18h00, flights have also been suspended before 10h00 and after 20h00.

The decision comes after significant opposition from local residents who are constantly complaining about the droning sound of rotor blades slicing through the air, some requesting a complete ban on the use of helicopters in the region. Despite protest from helicopter operators the Prefecture will not discuss the suggestion until autumn, leaving them to deal with the restraints this summer. The helicopter regulations for 2012 will be in force until the 28th October.

Commemoration ceremonies for the Liberation 15 August 1944

We urge you to take time out from your summer activities to attend one of the Liberation ceremonies which take place annually in the Var on or around 15 August. These are held in various Var towns and villages where strategic manoeuvres took place leading to the Liberation of France in the Second World War, and at which there is still a genuine exhibition of gratitude shown to the British and US forces who accomplished this amazing feat.

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There are very few of the original soldiers, seamen and airmen who are able to attend now, due to their advanced age, but many have been coming back every year and are well known to the communities who welcome them and treat them as VIPs. In some places there are parades of vintage wartime vehicles, driven by their owners in appropriate uniforms, but always there is a moving wreath-laying ceremony at a monument, attended by the military of today and representatives of the local Resistance, together with the old soldiers mentioned above.

La Motte/Le Muy

At 04h30 on 15 August 1944, in the hamlet of Le Mitan near La Motte, the first of 9000 British and US parachutists of Operation Dragoon landed, transported from Italy in 535 planes, followed at 9.30am by 465 gliders carrying equipment, including jeeps. It was foggy so some missed their drop zone and others crashed, but with the help of the Resistance they were able to secure the area ready for the troops waiting to land on the beaches to consolidate the advance north. There are memorials in Le Mitan on the D47 near St Endreol golf course and in Le Muy on the N7 east of the village.

Sainte Maxime

The beach of Sainte Maxime was at the centre of Operation Dragoon, where US Delta Force from 93rd Evac landed at Sainte Maxime. By the foot of the Harbour pier and by the beach La Garonette (far east in the commune) there are memorials at the respective landing places honouring the US troops. At the Garonette beach the sailing centre is named La Batterie as it was the location of a German artillery battery.

Le Dramont (east of St Raphaël)

The main Dramont beach was one of the principal points for the Allied landings in Provence where 20,000 GIs from the 36th Texas regiment landed on the beach in less than 10 hours with tanks and heavy artillery. The memorial is in the car park.

There are ceremonies planned at many other memorials in the Var, such as Draguignan, Salernes, Le Lavandou, and Cavalaire-sur-Mer – check with your town hall or tourist office for details. Go along and wave the Union Flag or the Stars and Stripes in memory of the brave British and US troops who made such a difference to this lovely area of France.

Second home owners face tax increases

Ex-pat property-owners with second homes in France are about to see a tax increase on rental income from 20 per cent to 35.5 per cent. This will be retrospective, from 1 January 2012. The new Socialist government is also raising capital gains tax on secondary residences from 19 per cent to 34.5 per cent, which will come into effect from the end of July.

Foreign second-home owners are in an uproar following this announcement. While François Hollande tries to plug the massive deficit gap that he has inherited, industry professionals warn the move could further damage the property market in France.

The extra costs have been classified as social charges (les prélèvements sociaux) and were previously only requested from French residents. It will be used to contribute to funds such as health care in France.

The second-home charges were part of a 2012 revision of the budget on 4th July - just days after France’s national auditor declared that the government has a potential deficit of 10 billion euros. The meeting confirmed that France would be imposing a total of 7.2 billion euros in new taxes this year as part of a plan to revive its weak economy.

The steep tax increases on non-resident properties are expected to generate 50 million euros of government funds in 2012, and 250 million euros in a full year.

Cinema in English

Many of you will be familiar with the excellent website www.angloinfo.com with sections that cover two local areas, Provence and Riviera, containing much valuable information about living and working in France, plus classified ads. However, they also keep us informed of films that are showing locally in version originale – English with French sub-titles – throughout the Var and Alpes Maritimes. We have two new comfortable cinemas in St Raphaël and Sainte Maxime, with one planned for Draguignan in 2013, plus showings in Salles de Fêtes in several villages. See http://riviera.angloinfo.com/ under the “What’s On” heading.