SEAFRANCE STRIKE COULD BANKRUPT COMPANY

The strike over Easter at SeaFrance which left ferries stranded in Calais after members of the CFDT union walked out in a row over new working practices may bankrupt the company. Tens of thousands of passengers were affected over the Easter bank holiday weekend as all services were cancelled. The dispute is estimated to have cost the company more than £1m and after the strike over Easter the directors of SeaFrance have decided the company cannot continue and are going to request protection of the bankruptcy court.

NEW AIRE IN DORDOGNE

A new aire has recently been completed at Montpon Menestrol, north of Bergerac in the Dordogne & close to the A89. The aire parking is free from 0900 to 1700, but is charged at 7€ for the night -- 5 spaces are available & services including electric are 3€.

BISON-FUTE

For those of you planning a trip to France this year, you may find the following document useful. Bison-Fute is the national road travel information centre in France & the following document has predictions of possible traffic problems throughout 2010. The info can be found at:

http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/Traffic_forecasts_for_2010_cle1dc317.pdf

GARDEN FESTIVAL

19th International Garden Festival of Chaumont -sur-Loire will be held from 29 April to 17 October 2010. The theme this year will be the "Body & Soul of Gardens".

CLASSIC DAYS

On the 1^st & 2^nd May, the third Classic Car Festival will be held at Magny-Cours (58) where there is an exhibition, demonstrations, parade & sales of classic cars as well as a village market. Parking free.

BORDEAUX INTERNATIONAL FAIR

This annual is held in Bordeaux from 8^th to 17^th May, where free parking is provided for motorhomes & this year there is a section "Planete Voyageurs", especially for globe-trotters & for those who enjoy travel.

MEDIEVAL FETE 22/23^rd MAY

Each year the town of Semur-en-Auxois in Cote d'Or (Burgundy) stages a medieval spectacular involving each inhabitant of the town with combat displays, jousting, street theatre, craft market & medieval taverns. There is an aire for motorhomes provided behind the gendarmerie.

GISORS, NORMANDY

Gisors in Eure is holding a festival on the legends of Normandy on 15^th May which will include a music & lumiere show with special effects & fireworks together with a craft market, shows & costume displays.

BRITTANY FERRIES

Brittany Ferries are introducing a new vessel to its fleet, the Cap Finistere will be used for crossings to both Cherbourg as well as to Santander in Spain.

MONACO GRAND PRIX

The Monaco Grand Prix takes place from 13^th to 16^th May and is known as the "mythical grand prix" par excellence that every driver has ever dreamed of winning although it is also the slowest and most demanding circuit of the Formula 1 World Championships.