Zombie day at Toulouse

Val asks is this something new "Zombie day" ?I remember they had one at Toulouse last year.
Will it become in a 100 years time like the Fenaison at Espinas or The chestnut fair at Laguepie, you know what I mean, part of the patrimoine.
I doubt it very much, but halloween has caught on here coming from the USA.
Malc says they have a Goths day at Whitby.
http://www.toulouscope.fr/festival/zombie-day-toulouse-2015.html

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Greens too red

The French green party, EELV (Europe Ecologie Les Verts) has split into two, with members of the new  Ecologistes party including EELV's former vice president Jean Vincent Place claiming that the greens are now too ultra left wing. The party withdrew its support for the government and allied itself to the far left Front de gauche.
The new group had over 350 interested people at its inaugural meeting and will seek to join the government coalition in due course.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Who will you support now?

So England are out in the world cup rugby. Scottish and Welsh readers well done, to others will you now support France?
I have just asked Malc this question. He is deflated and does not really want to support any one now.
His football team also lost to Reading so not a good day in sports terms.
He was however in my good books as he cracked on at moving the office into the spare bedroom in readiness for the new ensuite bathroom.
Not moving has motivated us to continue with earlier planned projects.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Trapped in his lorry for 6 hours

On the A62 a man in his forties was trapped in his lorry for 6 hours before he could be released. The story in the Depeche says medical services were set to amputate to get him out but it does not make it clear if this happened. The man was then helicoptered to Toulouse, where vital signs were positive.
There are many accidents reported . I reckon you would not want to work in traffic police here unless you had strong nerves. Many years ago we had a relative who was a traffic policeman on a motorway and he had tales too horrific to tell but it did affect him and he and colleagues had regular  counselling.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Mercedes cars just keep going and look good

Mercedez Benz C220 CDi Blue Efficiency Sport AMG

5 door estate

Auto

Diesel

Palladian Grey/Silver Metallic

170,000km (106,000 miles)

Full Service History

Balance of UK Tax, MOT and Warranty until February 2016

3 owners

UK & Europe Sat Nav

Front & Rear Parking Sensors

Electric Tailgate & Folding Mirrors

Electric Adjustable Seatbacks

Leather/Cloth interior

Bought in February 2015 from Mercedes Benz Leeds, to enable owner to move to France

Owner now looking to buy a FR registered LHD car

Would suit Expat returning to UK

Swap possible with car of similar value   

the price of the car !

€14,000 or near offer

Thanks

Mark    info@maisonbelmont.com

Based dept 82
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

More pictures in For Sale tab

Nous sommes le dimanche quatre octobre, au dessus des nuages

One view down to Varen, the other over towards St. Antonin. Not brilliant pictures as taken with my ipad but you can see why we ended up wanting to stay here. We laughed together when we phoned the notaire who we have known for 14 years. He was relieved we were not selling and making a mistake giving up such a beautiful place. He now tells us we should stay till we really cannot manage.. in another ten years time perhaps!
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

A free guided exhibition tour

Dear Val,

I was passed your contact details by Grete McNorton of DRAWInternational in Caylus, who suggested I should contact with regards to the below English guided exhibition tour I'm working on.

I am an arts writer journalist from the UK/New Zealand and I came to Caylus last May to do an artist/writer residency at DRAWInternational. As well as having a great experience with John and Grete, I also loved the area so much I stayed on for most of 2014. After returning to NZ for Christmas I came back in May of this year, and I am now based in the Tarn-et-Garonne (Parisot 82160) while also planning to return to Auckland for some of the winter months to see my mother.

Unfortunately my French is not up to scratch do do arts journalism here, so I am trying to use my work experience, and English skills, as best I can to help both the French arts community and to work on arts related projects for English speakers living in France. 

One such project is the below - a free English guided exhibition tour I will be doing of Patrick Loste and Florence Pauliac's current painting and ceramic shows at Gallery Sepia in Villefranche de Rouergue on Saturday 10th October at 6pm and Thursday 15th October at 11:30am (it will be the same tour on both dates).

I wondered if you'd please be able to list the event on your blog TAG-on line? As it would be wonderful to get this news out to the local expat community.

If this is something you'd be happy to do, please feel free to use the text below with a link to the Gallery Sepia's website and/or I can send you additional text and images. Gallery Sepia's website: http://galeriesepia.com/

Please do let me know if you require any more information or have any questions.

I look forward to hearing from you and have a lovely weekend.

With thanks & best wishes,

Altair

Patrick Loste See Patrick Loste's work Florence Pauliac See Florence Pauliac's work

Visit the exhibition on line

New :: Guided Exhibition Tours in English

Saturday 10 October 6:00pm & Thursday 15 October 11:30am Enjoy an English guided tour of Gallery Sepia's current exhibition, Patrick Loste & Florence Pauliac, with arts writer and journalist Altair Roelants.   Altair will guide you around Loste and Pauliac's work, giving an overview of their practices and highlighting key pieces in the exhibition. The tour will be followed by questions with Gallery  Sepia  owner  Agathe  Thuillier  and time to browse the exhibition.   The guided tour will run for approximately 30mins. No reservation required, so please feel free to come along! For more information, please contact : 05 65 45 57 68. About Altair Roelants

Cakes for Calais tomorrow

 Hi Val

Roll up, roll up, cakes for Calais at the home of Michelle Jones in St. Antonin. Cakes baked will be welcomed. All proceeds raised to go to Sid and Laura who are building temporary shelters for the needy at Calais, concentrating it would appear on housing pregnant ladies and young children. As the week progressed building teams of workers from the refugees. Help build houses for a week to get your own. Clever stuff. 
Tomorrow we will hear how bad conditions really are from Sid and Laura.
Michelle lives just before the Guinguette de la plage car park on chemin du Baton in  st. Antonin.
Venez, venez cakes pour Calais. 12 till 4 pm
see you there
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Apple harvest

These apples are delicious, not golden but after gathering a bagful I walked back from the fields munching. Normally this tree is in the middle of the donkey field and to be honest trying to harvest surrounded by four donkeys who love apples is not easy. This year the donkeys are in a neighbours well secured field over the road so I was able to scrump with out disturbance. I know  scrumping is taking some one else's apples but in the donkeys eyes I have been scrumping.
Do not worry donkey lovers I had one bag for them with blemishes and another for us. Now I need to research storing apples.

• For every 10 degrees above 30°F, the apples' lifespan decreases dramatically.

• You do not want the apples' temperature to fall below 30°F, however, because that will make them freeze and turn to mush when they're thawed. Their cell walls will all collapse.

• Therefore, apples are best stored somewhere around 30-35°F, in a humid environment.

• If storing apples in the fridge, place them inside a crisper drawer and lay a slightly dampened paper towel on top of the apples.

A little more research also taught us that apples are one of the few fruits that really do benefit from being stored in the fridge as quickly as possible. Keep them in the crisper drawer with aforementioned damp paper towel, or else keep them in perforated plastic bags in a cold shed or cellar.

We also discovered the truth of that old adage: "One bad apple rots the whole bunch." Apples give off a lot of ethylene gas, and so just one bruised and rotting apple will give off enough to swiftly ripen (and rot) the others. If you have anybruises or soft spots on an apple, set it aside for eating. Don't store with the other apples.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Perhaps she is a tad bigger than I thought

Little Gitane, little gypsy looks as if she has longer legs than I thought, making her a medium sized lass. Look how calm she is, held by the little old mamie in the fetching pink socks and slippers. But the mamie is only helping out for awhile.
Little Gitane needs a home.
Following on from rehoming this year,  Happy, Eldo, Ruby, Merka, 3 other little dogs can we now pull the cat out of the bag for Gitane . Oh, she is OK with cats by the way.
I just love her face and expressive eyes, she has gypsy in her soul. If you adopt her please keep the name, even if it is Gypsy instead of Gitane.
Orders to Val at taglines82@gmail.com

Disgusted

Here I am an English lady living in France and I am ashamed of both the response of  British and French governments to this humanitarian crisis.

Whether we like it or not ... whether they should be there or not ... whether they are refugees, asylum-seekers or economic migrants ... it makes no difference. There are thousands of human beings gathered at Calais, fleeing from situations we can barely comprehend, living in terrible conditions. Two of our own Sid and Laura have seen this at first hand. I have written a few weeks ago how cold it can be in winter and how you need to have double glazing!! For those refugees already in trauma, no such luxury for them. Many without a tent over their heads, and in truth how many will suffer and perish over the winter if they live outside in such conditions. TAG reports each winter on SDF's who die in the streets (sans domile fixé, /without a fixed address, basically people living on the streets)

The UK's complete lack of action on this (apart from building a £7 million fence) is shameful. At the very least the UK government should set up some sort of a processing centre to deal with the people at Calais, allowing entry to those who are genuinely in need, and helping the French to deal appropriately with those who don't qualify for refugee/asylum status.

My country's and France's  inaction on this humanitarian crisis disgusts me.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

All down to experience

Val says we had problems 8 years ago with a rogue French joiner, who also played the courts. We ended up 10,000 euros out of pocket after the initial court proceedings and were advised  to take it further to the high courts by our advocate in Toulouse. We decided we did not want to have 4 years of turmoil and throw good money after bad so we took the loss and put it down to another  French experience. It hurt for a while but we have put it behind us now.
A lot depends on the amounts involved but it seems nigh impossible to beat the system which seems to be in favour of artisans who know all the legal dodges and are happy to go to court. They probably have " the cheats rule book"
On the other hand we have had some super work from good French and other nationality artisans. It is sorting the good from the bad that is the problem.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Do not bother unless a substantial claim

Val

Having read the recent experience of someone seeking justice in a dispute with their builder, my advice is that unless the claim is substantial, probably in excess of €20k, try and resolve it by the services of a local Bailiff. This is not the same as a bailiff in the UK, the term here refers to a qualified lawyer in the field of construction and a visit and report (including a site visit) would roughly cost €500 assuming the claim is under €20k. If that fails to achieve an amicable solution then in the absence of a small claims court here in France, the next step is a step into the unknown!

I have to say that I tried recently to enforce a French entrepreneur to remedy some defective work albeit not likely to have cost him more than €1,000. Despite a damning report from the Bailiff, this failed to produce any action whatsoever, so apparently the next stage was to submit the claim to the High Court in Montauban. Below is the procedure at this stage:

1)     Appoint your solicitor. It is best to find one within the local jurisdiction of the dispute (e.g. Montauban) as to do otherwise involves the appointment of two lawyers as it’s mandatory to have a local solicitor to act before the local High Court.

 

2)     Your solicitor first drafts a summons before the “juge des référés” of the local High Court to have a judicial expert appointed.

3)     He/she then sends the summons to the Defendant and his insurance company (assuming they are insured and that’s another matter altogether) via a bailiff (about 100€ for each notification).

 

4)     If you are using a solicitor out of the area of jurisdiction as I referred to above (say Toulouse or Bordeaux) they will have to find a local lawyer.

5)     When the Court accepts that you need to have an expert look at your damages and write a report, you’ll have to pay for the expert’s provisional fees which for a construction dispute, are usually a minimum of €2,000, without counting additional costs that the expert can ask for during the expertise.

 

6)     Each party will then be summoned by the Court for the report.

 (By now you’ll be wishing you never started the whole procedure!)

7)     The expert will then draft a preliminary report for which the Defendant will have a certain time to respond to.

8)     When this time has expired, the expert sends his final report to the Court and to each party.

9)     Your solicitor will then have to draft another summons based on the expert’s report, send it to the Defendant and his insurers via a bailiff (same fees).

 

10)  When the bailiff has given the summons to each party, they send your solicitor a copy with their stamp on it and the solicitor can send the summons to the Court for registration.

 

11)  Then you wait for the Defendant and their insurances’ lawyer to respond to the summons to which your solicitor then responds, and so on until the Court decides that they know enough or until lawyers feel that they don’t have anything else to say.

From my experience in the UK, this was the sort of procedure involved in when dealing with major claims of tens of thousands of pounds either in arbitration or litigation and therefore wholly unsuitable for small claims. We decided not to pursue it any further and put it down to experience, principles cost money and here in France emotional as well as financial!
However, even if you win, don’t break out the champagne just yet as you have to enforce the judgement and that’s another matter altogether!
T of St Antonin
comments to taglines82@gmail.com
Malc adds: in the case cited above by Val the court ordered us to pay the joiner what he claimed and said he would rectify the defective work. We are still waiting but won't be taking it further.

Laura replies to Harry

Harry, 

Having just arrived back from Calais in the early hours of this morning I think it might be worth telling you that in 2 weeks spent in the camp in Calais we met 1000's of refugees not one of whom had a story other than that of death & destruction. If people have some savings to get themselves started all the better for them. We have met Eritreans who took a year to get to Europe, we have met many whose entire family is dead, many whose families have put every penny into getting them out of the hell that their country has become & many who cover their faces so that they cannot be photographed in case they are seen on the internet & their families realise that they have totally impoverished themselves to get their loved ones to a camp as bad as Darfour.

I would strongly suggest to you Harry & wife that you get yourselves up to Calais & see the shit, squalor & suffering that are going on there a days drive from your home & then come back & tell me to my face why you feel reticent about reaching into your no doubt well lined pocket.

Laura
Anke says  Seems  to me that people who have actually met and worked with refugees have a more realistic view on this than people in offices.
Elly says - Bravo Laura, this needed saying. Maybe Harry and his wife will have more time on their hands now to get first hand experience of what is really going on in the world.
It will be shocking.

comments to taglines82@gmail.com

500 more radars coming

Manuel Valls has announced there will be another 500 radars in France to try and counter the high number of road deaths.

500 radars de plus sur nos routes et 1000 «faux radars» pour lutter contre la mortalité routière

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Nous sommes le samedi, trois octobre

Theatre at Espinas tonight
A vide grenier at Espinas tomorrow.I will be there early with donations for the Croix Rouge stall.
Check it out if you go.
Val says sorry to Pam

Hi Val
Is the vide grenier still going ahead, I've just been down and there is nothing happening
Pam

Posted the wrong info didn't I , the vide grenier is tomorrow.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Childrens club at Quercy Grimpe

http://www.quercygrimpe.com

Stages les Lundi 19, mardi 20 et mercredi 21 octobre:

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Refugees

Bonjour Val,
Just read on Taglines that some people do such great work for the refugees, my compliments!!
We have been thinking already for some time what we could contribute and now fortunately an initiative is there that we could support.
We will certainly come to Michelle on Sunday afternoon to do a donation, but we wonder if they (Sid and Laura) still have enough place in their car for some of our blankets, shoes etc.. We could bring these on Sunday. Or do you prefer that I contact them myself?
Kind regards,
Ton and Pauline van Ginke
Val says  See you there and yes all donations  and goods happily taken in.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Dogs

Dear Val

It is a good thing that I am on holiday in Sicily or i might come round personally and sell the dog food for those in need in Calais!

Ginny

Val says  Have a good time in Sicily Ginny,  but this one is a bit too obtuse for me.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

A loving little girl

I will keep posting Gitane as I know you are sitting at home thinking about her. 
When you have thought contact me and put the troubles of the world aside as you enjoy your doggy companion. Who said you should not use emotional blackmail?
Val taglines82@gmail.com

Refugees or economic migrants?

Hello Val and Malcolm

My wife and I are new readers after being recommended by a friend.

We have been reading a lot about the refugees on your blog and have found all of the comments varied and interesting. We find the outpouring of sympathy towards the refugees incredibly magnanimous.

Let us say that where the refugees are concerned our hearts go out to them and their plight and personally, we think George W Bush, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown should be funding every penny being spent out of their own personal worth!

That said, we are in fact puzzled by some of the information coming back and have some concerns we feel should be brought into the discussion.

Permit me start with some personal history that we both come from a background of government employment: my wife in the home office, and for my part, a senior position in the civil service branch of the Metropolitan Police. We are both well versed in international laws pertaining to refugee status.

The Syrians who have arrived at Calais have passed through 7 different countries before arrival. As for the Law, they should have applied for refugee status in the first country they arrived in. We assume, looking at a map and liberal route planning of getting from Damascus to Calais,  that the first country was Turkey. So we ask what are the Turkish government doing allowing them to pass through Turkey?  That is of course unless they passed through unknown to the authorities. But how have so many, on foot, got past the Police and officials?

So. Whilst it could be stated, in general terms, that anyone not as fortunate as ones self, and especially if having been put in that position through no fault of their own, must be considered a worthy cause for help and assistance, my wife and I do have a problem with giving help and assistance to those who are in fact not refugees but economic migrants. Migrants who it now appears are beneffiting from the generosity of the givers: some of whom giving may not be as financially viable as some of those accepting the donations (we spoke with a friend in the home office who explained that some of the economic migrants are sitting with substantial savings for use once they gain acceptance for entry to GB).

With this knowledge you will understand why we are retiscent to be as generous as some of your other readers and feel that the people donating, doing the actual work and helping, need to be informed.

We applaud everyone who has donated and helped the refugees. As for the economic migrants? They are a different matter.
Yours

Harold Holt

Val says Hello Harry welcome to TAG, I hope you find it useful and informative on the area and the people who have made this lovely part of France their home.

I think we and our readers are magnanimous, we see people suffering and know we must help. Are you suggesting we means test to discover if people are genuine refugees? Or could you not be like 

me, where you see someone in need and know you have got to help.
Malc says  The trouble is it seems to me that this post offers no solutions, merely blames other people. Bush, Blair and Brown; the Turkish and other European governments, the refugees themselves. No mention of the Taliban, Al Qaeda, ISIL, Assad et al who are making these people's lives a dangerous misery. If no political solution is being found the least we can do is try and alleviate their suffering.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Troubles with builders whatever the nationality

Hello Val

Sorry to hear about the readers troubles.

We had all kinds   of artisans  .

In my opinion none of them are  honest ,hard working   punctual etc yet every week they demand a huge amount of money for very little work  ,very little hours ,even the british ones had got the bug to go to lunch not for one hour ,not two but three hours .

We have a case going with one british macon -gone on four years now.

 A  complete thief -took our money gave us a bad,bad work and charged us vat for new work when all he did just tidy up a little ,left rotten beams and weatherboards  still there on a; supposed; new roof -where in fact were the old tiles .

I  do not wish on my worst enemy the experience we had -not to mention the avocat  fees  and experts.

It has been a living hell !!!

Artisans like this - french or british or dutch who had been over here for sometimes they know the ropes -we are not the first  case -many others before  us .

They know the costly and lengthy  process to take them to court. One even  was bragging ;been to court 37 times with people like you and i lost only 3 times;

At the moment  -again-we have trouble with an english  macon-paid him in advance  for a job because he had  some financial difficulty and now over one year we tried and tried in a amicable manner with no avail to finish for what he was paid  . We had become the personna non grata to him  an enemy in fact !

When we finish this project i shall write a book - an eye openner for anyone thinking of a restoration or even a small job.

Trying to understand how they operate it's a waste of time  .Don Littlewood would have fun   overhere.

The irony of it : they are very, very sensitive like young prima donna if you protest a little .

.Is it a ploy ????

Name supplied to taglines

Comments to  taglines82@gmail.com

Doctors on strike from the 3rd, tomorrow in Toulouse

Les médecins généralistes en grève dès le 3 octobre à Toulouse

Les médecins généralistes libéraux s'opposent à la loi de santé Touraine, toujours en lecture au Sénat. La coordination des médecins libres et indépendants (Coomeli) appellent à la grève dès demain samedi 3 octobre et vont manifester lundi prochain.

Val says it would appear only to be Toulouse at the moment.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Bonny getting a good licking, even if she is not too keen

When ever the news is dire I am cheered by our many pets. Watching them at play gives so much innocent   pleasure. Eldo our latest pet is settled in well and a nicer chap you could not find. We thought he was a very quiet dog at first but as he has gained confidence with us he is more his boisterous doggy self. He is very loving with Bonny and the cats and likes to keep them all clean with a good lick over... never mind if they are not too keen. They put up with it, because they love Eldo.
This is one of those posts where if there was  a " who cares button" Ginny would definitely click.( and probably others)
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Termites at Monesties

One of the "expertises" we had done when considering the sale of our house was to check for termites. Happily there is no evidence here of these destructive insects, but in the Tarn village of Monestiés, only about 20 kms away the problem is so severe that the maire has ordered an urgent intervention.
The insects live underground and infest wood and hence products used in buildings, causing severe and dangerous degradation to wooden structures. The expert checks we had done are mandatory when selling (or letting) a house and in Monestiés the whole village is now classed as infected. 25000 euros has been made available by the commune to treat the worst buildings, using a high density bait which enables people to remain in their home.

Monestiés: one of France's most beautiful villages

Another two accidents leading to deaths with tractors

Faits divers - Labéjan et Barran en deuil

Deux drames, étrangement similaires, sont venus endeuiller le monde agricole gersois à 24 heures d'intervalle. Le premier accident s'est produit mercredi, à Labéjan, où les habitants de la commune sont encore sous le choc. Il était 18 heures environ lorsque les sapeurs-pompiers de Mirande ont été mobilisés pour un accident de tracteur, au lieu-dit «Bonne».

Val says we live in an agricultural area and huge areas of southern France are agricultural. TAG from the Depeche reports swimming pool deaths in summer and farming machinery deaths the rest of the year.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Putin in Paris

Liberation takes Warhol expo in Paris to make a point

The Russian president Vladimir Putin will meet French counterpart Francois Hollande in Paris today.
The talks were designed to be about the Ukraine, but Syria has pushed its way onto the agenda. We as with many others are adamant that the Syrian refugee crisis can only be solved by political action and both France and Russia (as with America and Britain) have decided that military action against ISIS/IL/Daech  will improve things. If Russian planes continue to bomb in western Syria there will be more refugees crossing into Lebanon and Jordan and if US and French action continues in east and central Syria then the position in Iraq could be even worse.
With over a quarter of a million deaths in Syria already it is no wonder folk are fleeing. As a young French friend said yesterday "we cant just leave them to starve and freeze on our doorstep". Let's hope that Putin, Hollande and Merkel can make some real progress n their talks today.

comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Nous sommes le vendredi deux octobre

Yet another sunny morning, I am not complaining as we have more vegetation/ green waste for the tip. We need to get there early before the benne gets filled up.
We had a private email last night from Laura, to say with the money we have all collected between Michelle Jones at St. Antonin and I they will be able to cover the money spent on wood etc. and have a bit left over to take on their trip to the Hungarian / Serbian border in November. The results of monies collected and monies spent will be published when we have all the figures together, after Sunday.
I have had a communication from friends in Canada who are also helping with refugees

Hi Val

enjoying the news you post. The refugee issue makes me weep! We are doing

our bit from here and I am so glad that you have taken up the work as well.

Val says the overwhelming awfulness of the situation makes us all weep around the world and with yesterdays news of the Russian bombings in Syria, my heart sank. I also despair when some blogs on facebook carry on with their good life stories as if there was no major crisis in the world. Why do these people not live in the real world ? They seem to want to protect their French idyll untouched by people living out in the cold , no food or shelter at Calais, and  at the Mediterrean coast towns coming over from Italy. Well on TAG we report  REAL news.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

The last pictures from this trip

Three different faces of Calais...

No1 Idyllic spot by the sea, all is clean & green with the coast of England tantalizingly close.

No2 The construction site getting started for the day

No 3 Not such an idyllic spot by the sea, many would call it a living hell
Laura and Sid

80 houses built, well done

Hi Val
So there we go - our last day. What a roller coaster of emotions, we've seen so much, met such wonderful people, have been made so welcome & treated with such respect. Today we spent working with the Eritreans to perfect the homes we've made them. The construction team has made, with the help of our wonderful multi lingual group a total of around 80 houses. We hope that the team who have taken over will continue in the same vein.

It was sad to leave the strong community we've been amongst but it'll be so nice to get home to where it's clean & green, we are so fortunate to have this option.

Without tag readers & all the many who have donated so generously this wouldn't have been possible, thank you so much for all your support both mental & financial.

Laura & Sid x

Val says we cannot wait to see you on Sunday at 12 at Michelle's Cakes pour  Calais .

Well done both of you

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Who are they and what do they do, Sid with the hat and Laura with the smile.

Can you remember who Laura and Sid are?
As a reminder I am giving you links again


http://www.greenchambredhote.com/

http://www.completefrance.com/living-in-france/real-life/living_green_in_tarn_et_garonne_1_4185850

A good shed for an outside office

Hi Val,
I wonder if anyone knows where we could buy a good shed for an office outside in the garden or someone to build one ?

Thanks Catherine
mcarthurscot@gmail.com
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

It was not me Guv.

Dear Val

Please may I dissociate myself from the comments of the person with whom I share the initial, "C".  You are doing us all a service by highlighting the plight of the refugees, Val, and whilst I defend the right of "C" to express his/her opinions, shouldn't this be done positively, in a way that promotes the cause he/she espouses?  My view is that, no matter how incongruous the juxtaposition of subjects, we should avoid lambasting the wholly unconnected, day-to-day affairs of other readers.  Let's keep TAG's pages informative and a pleasure to read, and save our four letter words to use elsewhere.

xC de Caylus     

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

The incongruity of the two posts together

Hi Val,

I am so sorry that my simple request for help was received with such a vociferous outpouring of malice.

Since my own diagnosis with breast cancer several years ago I have raised over 10,000 for associated charities and continue to do the same now after  my mum's cancer diagnosis 2 years ago.

Recently in the village we provided a meal for 65 villagers and charity workers from around the world .

I have also donated money to the refugees and will continue to help anyone, anywhere who might need support.

I would hope that people who know me treat such a hurtful tirade with the disdain it deserves.

( My partner's response was very much less forgiving than mine!)

Chris

Val says I think it was the incongruity of the two posts side by side, that brought on the comment.

Chris does not need to say what a caring and helpful individual she is. Those who know her can vouch for her compassion.

Something else incongruous

We have just had a lovely lunch and what a great life we have here.

In the next breath I am talking about refugees, with nothing, not even shoes on their marching feet.

Now that is incongruous but I am not going to start telling you how many charities we donate to, or how many pets I have rehomed etc. I am not going to stop having the good life but the good life without helping anyone who needs it would not be a good one in my eyes. There are desperate people out there and I despair of anyone who would not want to help

Life throws up these incongruities and I am glad that we are in the position we are, so we can  help.

Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

We do have French readers

Hi Val,  

Rachel Shamash has asked me to translate a message for her, as she knows a lot of French people. Many of your readers are also French, and so she wondered if you might want to put it on Tag. Lots of love, Michelle

Deux britanniques, Laura Havard et son mari, Sid, qui habitent dans la commune de St Antonin depuis 20 ans ont pris la décision d’aller aider les réfugiés à Calais. Grâce aux dons des gens locaux, ils ont déjà distribué des articles bien nécessaires (couvertures, vêtements, chaussures, imperméables etc.) et ils ont construit plusieurs abris en bois et bâches en plastique en travaillant avec les gens de l'Erythrée, la Somalie, l'Irak, l'Iran, etc. Des familles arrivent chaque jour, quelques-uns sans chaussures, ayant marché d’énormes distances, sans argent et très peu de nourriture. Les conditions de sommeil sont difficiles, les tentes souvent endommagées. Leur donner des kits de construction conçus et commandés par Laura pour faire les abris secs a été une aide énorme.

Sid et Laura ont été  touchés maintes et maintes fois pendant leur bref séjour par la générosité, l’humilité et  la gratitude qu’ils ont reçus.

Ils vont revenir à Calais pour continuer leur travail au début de novembre et sont de retour ce week-end à Saint Antonin pour faire une collecte de plus de dons financiers et d’articles utiles pour aider ces personnes coincées dans des conditions cauchemardesques. Si vous voudriez voir les photos de ce qu’ils ont déjà fait, veuillez voir le blog Tag on-line 82, également la page Facebook de Tag on-line 82. Ainsi vous comprendrez mieux le quotidien dans le camp.

Michelle Jones de Saint Antonin vous invite de prendre un goûter à l’anglaise pour collecter les fonds et tout le monde est bienvenu. Dimanche le 4 octobre, entre midi et 16 heures chez eux -‘Cakes for Calais’. Chemin du Batan, Saint Antonin- juste avant le parking pour la Guinguette.

Pour faire un don, vous pouvez donner à Michelle à St Antonin, également à Laura et Sid qui habitent à Gouvern, ou à Val Johnstone qui habite Mas del Sol, près de Varen. Pour plus de renseignements vous pouvez les contacter par téléphone ou e-mail.

Michelle- michelle.jones0311@orange.fr 05 63 30 56 62

Laura- green.havard@gmail.com 0563315377/0631999431

Val- taglines82@gmail.com 

Trying to keep everybody happy, why?

Hi Val

You mentioned a worry that the blog might offend some people who did not feel the need to help refugees (or even that refugees should not be helped). So what, it is your blog after all. I only read it because of your stand and was a little disappointed to see this content moved to a separate page. However I conceed that editing the mix can be delicat. When a post offering “pay handsomely ” for help to repatriate golf clubs ended up alongside the worthy cause of fundraising for Laura and Sid the words insensitive, egocentric (among others) sprung quite unjustly to mind. I unkindly thought “sell the F***ing clubs and give the money to the cause”, but we all have our own preoccupations! I would probably added a button “who cares”, but that is just me.
C
Val says I agree with you C it is my blog but to make money for my charities I have to balance viewing figures for the people who pay money to advertise. Fortunately figures are shooting up and we are gaining new readers hand over fist. So everyone can be happy.
The idea of a separate label is so we have all the info in one spot but I know the immediacy of being there on the front page is important.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Gitane, a little girl who loves company

Kathy has just been on the phone saying (" there is a sense of urgence with this one Val")
I do wonder if she says that every time but anyway for this little girl it is true.
A foster or all time  home with no male dog for the time being as she is "en chaleur" in season. She is however a four year old griffon bleu who is adorable. From what Kathy tells me she is sweet, no trouble with cats or dogs, just loves cuddles is not too big.
Would need a fenced garden as is a requirement of "Trouffe et Moustache"the group Kathy runs to rehome animals. She is of course chipped and vaccinated, or will be before adoption.
Contact me Val taglines82@gmail.com  where you will be given either a dog or a refugee!! ( just a joke)
or if French speaking contact Kathy 0563682493

School uniform: yes or no?

One of the education reforms stemming from the May 1968 disturbances was the pretty universal abandonment of school uniforms. Since then only a handful of state schools and private establishments have adopted what in Britain is still very common, the wearing of uniforms.
The College Pierre Fermat is one of Toulouse's oldest schools and when in 2014 parents were asked if a return to uniforms was desirable over two thirds voted yes (we dont know if the pupils were asked). The thinking was to get away from the "tyranny of brands" and afford parents equal expenditure, as well as promoting a sense of identity and belonging.. Now a new school director has shelved the idea stating the consultation is not binding - a "soixante-huiter" perhaps?
comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Support helping dogs and cancer research

Hallo Everyone,

Is it me or does the Autumn Book Sale come round more quickly every year ?  As does the Easter one !  Well October is just a sleep away so time to ‘save the date’.  Saturday 24th October and, very importantly,  A  NEW  VENUE !!  For the last few years Lesley has, more than generously, let us have the use of her lovely barn and we are eternally grateful.  This time the sale will be at the Salle de Fetes in the village of St. Pantaleon which is in the Lot about five minutes from Montcuq (Cahors direction) and five minutes from the previous venue. Ample and easy parking in front of the Salle or just down the lane in the village car park.

Apart from the venue, the format is the same, 10 am to approximately 4pm, books and dvd’s at one euro each and our usual famous yummy cakes to enjoy with a cup of tea or coffee.  An EXTRA this year is that we will be offering soup and rolls and quiche and salad for those who would like a snack lunch.  The new venue means that all these goodies can be enjoyed whatever the weather, outside if it is warm enough or inside if it is cold and/or raining.

Every penny, or rather cent, earned will go to dog rescue, helping the thousands of dogs in need and to cancer research.  We hope to make this Book Sale our biggest and best especially because our own special Quercy Cake Goddess, Amanda, whose cakes, scones and hot cross buns you have enjoyed over the years,  is very seriously ill and two other people close to us, Tony and ‘Tricia are having a tough time.  So, please help us to help them by coming along on the 24th October to St. Pantaleon and going away with boxes of books and dvd’s.  Boxes will be provided but if you bring your own, even better !!

See you there !

Love,

Sue x

ps If you have books / dvd’s to donate, please email me at Poorpaws I’ll be away from 3rd to 10th October.

The French want our region to be called Occitanie

Les résultats pour La Dépêche du Midi  / Val says in the Depeche sondage/ vote these are the results.

Occitanie : 34 %

Pyrénées-Languedoc : 11 %

Midi-Languedoc : 8 %

Midi-Méditerranée : 7 %

Pays-d'Oc : 7 %

Pyrénées-Méditerranée : 6 %

Sud de France : 6 %

Languedoc : 5 %

Occitanie-Pyrénées : 4 %

Midi-Roussillon : 4 %

Occitanie-Pays Catalan : 4 %

Septimanie : 2 %Midi-d'Oc : 2 %.

59 530 personnes ont voté sur le site
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Nous sommes le jeudi premier octobre

Can you believe it is October? What fabulous weather we are having just great for gardening, tidying up and preparing for the winter.
So much happens here in October, Festilitt to look forward to, for those who are tractor mad, tractomania  then the Chestnut Fayre at Laguepie.
Yesterday at the dechetterie the  green benne was full of trees and branches and all cars driving in had garden rubbish.
 Enjoy the month and the weather.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Even more photos and a morning challenge

If you look at the post below and try and match up the pictures to the numbers, it is a morning challenge.
Comments to taglines82@gmail.com