We've enjoyed a wonderful autumn here at Le Rigal, and have watched the leaves of the trees slowly change colour around us. We are surrounded by woodland and at this time of year the paths are strewn with prickly sweet chestnut shells and acorns. The mushroom season is nearly over and we have picked our first wild ceps , eaten them and survived!
  We visited a market that was holding its annual pumpkin festival and we were amazed by the huge variety of pumpkins and gourds, every size, shape and colour you could imagine. Needless to say we were tempted to buy a few unusual varieties and have made delicious soups, making sure that we keep the seeds for our own 'potager' vegetable garden next year. Our neighbour, as promised, has kindly ploughed a rather large area of our garden that is to become our 'potager' and already we have planted onions and garlic...well we are in France! Another project that has been started is the creation of  an orchard. We have a few mature apple trees already but should have, in years to come, pears, plums, nectarines, peaches, kiwi and figs. We've had to protect each one to stop the wild boar and deer from having a nibble. All this work would have been impossible without an endless stream of friends willing to get their hands well and truly dirty.
  Meanwhile Alice and Eliza are getting to grips with school and nursery and are practising their French with their new friends. I have been asked to go into school the week before Christmas to share with the children what an English Christmas is like and to do some simple baking with them. Rather conveniently Alice and Eliza made a Christmas cake with their cousins Emma and Rachel when we visited at half term - we will take it into school for the children to try. Christmas is celebrated differently in this part of France,  much more restrained and without  some of the commercialism. 
  Our hen has finally laid her first egg which was very exciting and the three chicks are growing into fine young ladies so we are looking forward to having omelette on the menu. The two female guinea fowl chicks we purchased at the market are now quite clearly Mr and Mrs, so next year we hope for some chicks. 
  The 'Gite' - holiday cottage- is on schedule and is due to be completed early next year as is the swimming pool. Chris is in his element managing the work and somehow manages to communicate very well with the local 'artisans'.
  Our website is now live so if you fancy having a peek at what we are up to then go onto www.rigal-gites-dordogne.com or better still, come and visit us!
  Christmas greetings to all our friends.                                                            Chris, Jacky,  Alice and Eliza Horton

  Those households using the kerbside recycling service will be receiving new calendars during November, please look out for your copy on collection day.
  As well as the collection calendar and information about the kerbside recycling service there is also information about the plastic and cardboard banks that have been introduced over the last year. The calendar includes information about the collection service that will be in operation over the Christmas and New Year period.
  Green waste collections will again be suspended from mid-December to Mid-January and there will be a weekly grey bin collection service; blue box collections will continue on alternate weeks.
  Collections will continue on the normal days until Friday 22^nd December, and will continue as follows:
Week Commencing 25^th December
Monday collections will be made on Saturday 23^rd December.
Tuesday to Friday collections will be made one day later than usual.
Week Commencing 1^st January
Collections will be made one day later than usual.
Week Commencing 8^th January
Collections will return to the normal day.
  If you have any queries about the waste and recycling collections please contact us either through the Customer Contact Centre on 0845 050 4434 or by emailing us at recycling@southlakeland.gov.uk
  Thank you for recycling.
Collection Changes in the Dent and Sedbergh Area.
  Some households in the Dent and Sedbergh area will have their waste and recycling collection days changed at the beginning of December. The affected households will receive an information card along with the new calendar to highlight the change that is taking place. If any householder has a query about the change, or is unsure of their collection calendar, they should telephone South Lakeland District Council on 0845 050 4434.

  We start December with the film show about life in Grisedale, "The Dale that Died", then our afternoon Carol Service followed by tea, we will be taking part in the Carol singing in the community with our Anglican friends to raise funds for The Childrens' Society and NCH, do join us!
  Our joint congregation meeting in November was a happy productive meeting from which various ideas came forth for things to do together. The monthly Bible Study continues, do ring for dates if you would like to join in, we are reading and chatting about Rick Warrens book "The Purpose Driven Life".
  The car-park has been resurfaced, many thanks to all who helped, and the floor-covering should be laid by now. Our schoolroom is available for hire with or without the kitchen. Pray and Share continues in the Prayer Room fortnightly inc December 7th & 21st. Prayer Requests can be left in the Prayer Room.
  A very Happy Christmas to you all.

'Considering Colour Yours and Mine', was the title of the talk given by Carole Hamby to the Art Society in November. We are all conversant with the colour wheel to some extent but Carole asked us to look at it in a different way and consider working within a limited colour range. Taking opposites on the wheel she demonstrated how we can achieve a harmonious combination by mixing in varying amounts, even finding rich darks without resorting to black. We will be giving more thought to how ,what and why we mix in the future.
  December's meeting is on the Friday the 8th when we look forward to  Martin Greenland showing by the aid of slides, how his work has developed. No doubt you saw Martins recent work in the Lakeland Artists Exhibition at Grasmere, It will be interesting to see how he arrived at such an accomplished stage to reach award winning status.
  Our meeting will be held as usual in the Chaplaincy, next to the Health Centre and you are welcome to join us.                               R.A.G.