Brocante rumaging

Horrible January day today so what to do? While my son was out getting wet playing a football match I decided to visit Emmaus in Ruffec which is like a very large indoor brocante or car boot sale selling everything from china to beds. Its amazing the things you can find there, there are some real gems and a lot of rubbish. All the money raised goes to help the homeless. It is very popular with the French who queue up every Saturday afternoon before it opens to get the best bargains. Today I found a lovely chair for 10 euros in good condition. I was tempted to get a coffee table but the corner was chewed. I just missed a lovely stove and classic French sleigh bed both of which were sold in a flash. There are clothes, shoes, bedding with the most exquisite embroidered sheets, books, records, games, lamps, china, bikes and very large furniture items like armoires and dressers. If you buy a large item they will deliver it for you. A great place to spend a wet afternoon also a very good place to send things that you no longer want. Emmaus Ruffec is open every Saturday afternoon and alternate Wednesdays.

Angouleme Cartoon Festival

The city of Angoulême is getting ready for its annual cartoon festival which happens next weekend - January 26th-29th.  La bande dessinée is very popular all over France and thousands of people will descend on the city to grab a copy of the latest comic books and to meet the cartoonists who have created them. 

Although describing the work on display as 'comic strips' is a bit of an injustice because the images that many of the artists produce are quite stunning.

The festival at Angoulême is extremely popular with over 200,000 visitors expected and artists from around the world jetting in, who will be showing off their artwork and meeting fans. You can be sitting in a cafe and have the man on the next table suddenly get out his pocket book and start drawing you in cartoon style! The popularity of the books is a bit of a mystery to us British but this year I am determined to find out more about it. The festival is held over four days in very large tents erected especially for the purpose. There are also displays and events on at the cartoon museum in the city.