Be kept busy in August

Now picnic round the pool with the wonderful St. Martin’s Jazz Band

Remember St. Martin’s jazz Band?

Well you can hear them again with a Picnic round the pool at the Domaine de Satou.

All profits to Via Sahel Enfants d’Afrique.

Jazz at Najac

Werner Braun exhibits in Varen

Werner Braun photography

Laguepie

Exposition Varen Août 3 /4 

vendredi 15 a17 h

samedi 9 a midi

Ancienne Marie , Varen

The vide grenier in Varen

What a great week end we had at Mains Tendues 82, fri, Sat, and all day Sunday open for the annual vide grenier.

We sold a lot and took lots of momey for local people and animals.

Now we need to replenish stock so please keep it coming

Taglines82@gmail.com

Festival D’Autan

Bar 4 en concert

Bar 4 en concert

Eglise Saint Pierre, Varen

14 Août à 17 h

Paricipation libre 

Programmes 10 euros

taglines 82@ gmail.com

Good progress being made

Malc has now had his second chemotherapy without problem and will come home from hospital this afternoon.

The change in him is remarkable. He is stronger even after the brutal chemo. Another session next week then it will go to one a month.

He can walk now, rather unsteadly and although he has still not got the use back of his hand we are working on it.

If he is up to it and the weather is cooler we may be seen out and about with the wheelchair, with me having «  L «  plates on my back. 

His spirit is high and I am enjoying having him totally at my mercy. 🤪

No more threats of ironing but we do need to look at cooking gadgets to help as the sooner I can get him back to cooking the better and the pets agree.

Water restrictions

Di Tornai writes

Hi Everyone

It's been madness lately with no rain and high temperatures making gardening a little arduous this last month or so. 

As some of you will be aware, there is talk of water restrictions coming into play if the wet stuff fails to fall out of the sky in sufficient quantities. The following link shows an interactive map allowing you to check what conditions apply to your departement and town/village.

http://propluvia.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/propluvia/faces/index.jsp

From what i understand, the use of hose-pipes and well water is currently/maybe restricted. There are some well-tested strategies to conserve water that may be the difference between your garden making it through or not. In fact, conserving water is always wise.

1. Place a bucket in the shower to collect water while your shower reaches your preferred temperature.

2. Use grey water from your washing machine. Consider using environmentally detergents.

3. Use the water from your condensing dryer reservoir.

4. Use washing-up water.

5. Clean your hard surfaces with a broom rather than hose.

6Place a brick in the toilet cistern to reduce the capacity each flush.

7. Water early in the morning and, preferably, later at night when the lower night-time temperatures allow better/longer absorption and less evaporation.

8. Spot water your plants so that you concentrate on plants that have higher value rather than randomly water the entire surface.

9. Water deeply and less frequently as opposed to lightly sprinkling the surface daily.

10. I'm not going to mention the value of mulching to conserve water - you know my views on that!

11.Similarly, i'm not suggesting showering with a friend, but someone might want to explore the merits and report back!

Do your best to stay cool and hydrated. It will pass, eventually! 

Di

NB the restrictions locally place the Baye, Seye and Bonnette rivers under the maximum crisis alert until 31st October, so if you use these rivers as a source of water check the instructions in the link above.

Wipe out

Do not know about you but this heat wipes me out.

We have holiday makers in the gite who do not seem to mind and are in and out of the pool.

Whereas I am hiding in a cool stone house with all the volets closed

A quick update on Malc who is recovering well from his stroke and eventually the Drs decided they could start chemotherapy treatment.

He has had one session but the powers that be insisted on keeping him in hospital for 3 nights afterwards, the same will happen again this Thursday.

His spirits are still high and he is determined to make a full recovery, I after all these 53 years never doubt him.

Keep enjoying the summer those who love the heat and find the shade for those who do not💕

taglines82@gmail.com

The Health Service in crisis

The Health service in crisis

Having spent nearly two months visiting the hospital in Albi, I have seen how stretched services are. Nurses have badges saying “ although we are working we are on strike”

Locally our Maison de Sante in Varen has lost a Doctor who has moved to a practice nearer her home Albi way. Dr Bouvier who we have seen for nearly 18 years left a week ago.

Dr Grazon retires in 2 months time leaving the centre with one Doctor.

We have been told if Malc is home at weekends and there is a crisis to phone 15 as it is very likely there may not be a local Doctor on call.

It is hard to encourage young Doctors to come and get trapped in the countryside even when a fully furnished house

Is offered.

For physiotherapy there is a notice saying there is a 3 month waiting list.

Something seemingly has to give and I do not know what the answer is but these are worrying developments if one has health issues.

As an aside, Malc is recovering well from the stroke and has started an extensive course of chemotherapy.

taglines82@gmail.com

Ginny Jenkins writes

Sadly I think that the cause of this crisis is something we Brits have never understood. GPs are paid about a third of what they are paid in the UK and so very few are being attracted into the profession. They say that the situation will only get worse as so many of them will be retiring soon. Nurses are paid less in the private sector but have better conditions of employment. A nurse I met in Toulouse Lautrec said she was paid half of what she got as a district nurse for working there but she had to buy her way into the cabinet. Oh dear.

Music event for Sol Handi

Les Jardins de Quercy, near Varen

Les Jardins de Quercy sont ouverts tous les jours de 10 heures à 19 heures durant les mois de Juillet et Août.

Ces Jardins ont été conçus de façon à avoir des floraisons successives durant toute sa période d'ouverture. 
And if you have not yet been to this jewel on our doorstep, make a bee-line to marvel at the group of gardens between Varen and Verfeil.

Picnic in the Park

Picnic basket, bubbly, nibbles, prawn salad, lots of cake 

Just thinking of Picnic and the Park and ideas for your Picnic Hampers.

It is now only 1 day away and the weather forecast is hot and sunny. First there gets a place under the trees.

A reminder, towels if you are dipping, sun tan cream, mosquito cream as the sun sets the little beggars might be out.

Lots of preparations going on behind the scenes to make it a super event.

As the garden is a good size we still have a few places if we want to join the fun. These evenings in the past have been memorable.

Wednesday 24 th of July is our much anticipated musical event set by the banks of the Aveyron in Varen

Some of you are old hands and some of you are new to the area and to this event, so....

Firstly the garden is best found by taking the road by the Moulin in Varen. Probably best to enter the opposite end to the Moulin, see the green gates with balloons, unload your picnic gear then drive to park. A good place will be past the Moulin in the camping ground where there are also toilets.

You will be able to park all around the village of course.

If you have not paid you will be asked for 15 euros, children under 12 are free.

A suggestion if you are bringing children bring a towel as they are bound to want to paddle or swim before the Picnic

Also bring some anti mosquito spray or cream, ( we are by the river) A torch for leaving and candles etc for the table would also be useful. We will have some lighting.

The suggestion is to start the Picnic from 7 onwards

The music will start at 8pm / 20 hrs

Please try to listen to the music and get all your chatting done before hand. This is the time to drink the fizz and enjoy this group who are well known in their native Holland.

Apparently they leave us to do a world tour.

Any questions or queries can be directed to me.

If you want to pay and have not done so and want to ensure your place cheques or money can still be taken and handed to Sarah or Terence at the gate.

The garden is large so we will all fit in and the group will be amplified

Our thanks to newcomer to the village Deborah Eagle for hosting this event.

All money after paying the band will be donated to Jean Marie and Winnie Nosal for their charity Via Sahel Enfants d’Afrique

They have supported street children of Bamako in Mali for many years.

Médiévales de Caylus

Picnic in the Park, by the banks of the Aveyron

More Picnic in the Park news

Wednesday 24 th of July is our much anticipated musical event set by the banks of the Aveyron in Varen

Some of you are old hands and some of you are new to the area and to this event, so....

Firstly the garden is best found by taking the road by the Moulin in Varen. Probably best to enter the opposite end to the Moulin, see the green gates with balloons, unload your picnic gear then drive to park. A good place will be past the Moulin in the camping ground where there are also toilets.

You will be able to park all around the village of course.

If you have not paid you will be asked for 15 euros, children under 12 are free.

A suggestion if you are bringing children bring a towel as they are bound to want to paddle or swim before the Picnic

Also bring some anti mosquito spray or cream, ( we are by the river) A torch for leaving and candles etc for the table would also be useful. We will have some lighting.

The suggestion is to start the Picnic from 7 onwards

The music will start at 8pm / 20 hrs

Please try to listen to the music and get all your chatting done before hand. This is the time to drink the fizz and enjoy this group who are well known in their native Holland.

Apparently they leave us to do a world tour.

Any questions or queries can be directed to me.

If you want to pay and have not done so and want to ensure your place cheques or money can still be taken and handed to Sarah or Terence at the friperie in Varen this week end or next.

The garden is large so we will all fit in and the group will be 

amplified

Our thanks to new comer to the village Deborah Eagle for hosting this event.

All money after paying the group will be donated to Via Sahel Enfants d’Afrique, run buy a dedicated couple Jean Marie and Winnie Nosal, for  many years supporting street children in Bamako, Mali

Taglines82@gmail.com

Thats the the happiness we bring

Vide grenier at Feneyrols

Apologies for lack of news

For the past 5 weeks, or is it 6? Malc has been in Albi hospital having every conceivable test whilst in the middle of it all suffering a stroke.

I have been visiting every day after giving the dogs an early morning walk, then coming back for a late evening walk.

So time has been at a premium.

On Friday we insisted we wanted Malc home and he can travel back to hospital when tests are needed. His spirits and morale are much higher since getting home and getting cuddles from all the animals and last of the line me.

If things improve it will be normal service asap.

Thanks for your understanding.

Val

taglines82@gmail.com

Bal des Pompiers

Hommes sans frontières