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Two-thirds of mainland France remains on drought alert, despite some heavy rain and storms in recent weeks. Water restrictions are in place across 66 departments because of low reservoir levels after an exceptionally dry spring and early summer. The west of France is the worst affected. Ten departments in and around the Poitou-Charentes have called for non-essential water use, such as watering lawns and washing cars, to be avoided. Department 76, in which Ardouval is situated is on low level One alert, which asks residents to be  extra careful with water usage.
 
 
Our returning guests will be interested to hear that a new supermarket has opened in the village of Les Grandes- Ventes which is just a few minutes drive from Ardouval. The little Shopi supermarket has now closed, to be replaced by a much larger Carrefour  Contact, newly built on the edge of the village, en route to Dieppe. Opening hours are 8am to 8pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 1pm Sundays. There is also a 24/7  petrol pump which will accept UK DEBIT cards.
This new supermarket is good news for our guests who like to arrive on a Monday, as in the past the Shopi always closed on that day.
 
 
FRENCH people are living longer and have one of the highest birth rates in Europe, new population research  has revealed. 

According to the latest figures, a child born today will live seven years longer than they would if they were born in 1981. 

Girls can expect to live to 84.5 - up two months on the previous year's estimate. For new-born boys, the life expectancy is 77.8. 

A 60-year-old man in France today can expect to live to 82.2 on average - and 87 for women. The proportion of over-60s continues to rise, now at 23%. 

 France's population grew by 346,000 last year to 64.7 million. It  is the second biggest country in Europe behind Germany on 81.7 million.
 
 
If popping over to France to buy a pack or two of cheap cigarettes is something you enjoy, then an EU directive set to come into practice in France in September may put you off! The decree forces cigarette manufacturers to put shocking images of smoking-related illnesses on cigarette packets. One side of the packet could have a picture such as discoloured teeth or a diseased lung, and the other the usual health warning.
 
 

Worried that  the poorer exchange rate might mean your moules and frites are too pricey? Well the French government has come to the rescue with reduced VAT rates for restaurants from July 1st.
Restaurants and cafes can cut VAT from 19.6% to 5.5% on ten items.
It's reported that consumers should notice the cut on items such as entrees, main dishes, various set menu formules, hot drinks and cold drinks.
A main dish billed at 15 euros for example and with a VAT rate of 19.6% will cost 13,20 euros at the 5.5% rate. This represents a drop in price for the consumer of 11.8%
Sadly alcoholic drinks will remain at the usual 19.6% rate.  C'est la vie!