Plant swap at Mas del Sol

 It was not raining... but the wind picked up and up as the afternoon went on
 with rafales ( gusts) of 65kms per hour forecast I was glad that we and the
plants were undercover.
 Firstly many thanks to Terry Tippett from Parisot who came with the most
wonderful selection of plants for sale. This was alongside our plant
 exchange ( just in case we did not have enough plants ) There were no
worries about that as the choice was amazing. Gill Catterall receives ' Le
 Prix d' honneur'  for her labelling and descriptions of the plants  she brought and also bringing books to identify plants we did not know. I think second in labelling  class was Jean du Jardin ( yes, he was there, not the film star but Jean Donies from The Jardins de Quercy) I was happy to make the acquaintance of two Dutch Taglines readers Janet Emmelkamp a singing teacher 'Professeur de Chant' and Riet Okken who as well as practising the 'Tomatis ' therapy is a psychological astrologer. I am sure we will hear more of these two interesting  ladies.
 At the last minute we had a visit from a local French farmers wife who was delighted to load up her car with plants , all for free. I am pleased after my apprehension that we
 all decided  Tagline readers and the Fifi gardening group that it was a great success and must be kept in the calendar for next year .
There are a few ground cover plants left over which we will donate to 'The Jardin de Paradis' who are asking for these plants.

Parc de la Lere, Monteils

Be careful parking your car and going for a walk in this Parc de la Lere, Monteils, Caussaude. It is a locally known area for crime, petty theft etc. We have been informed of a couple who had their car  window smashed and bag taken , all in a few minutes. They tell us the first thing to do in that situation is  call the bank to cancel your credit cards, then the Gendarmes

Language teacher needs house rental

My girlfriend and I are looking for a house to rent from the end of May, for 3 months, until the end of August. We are looking for a house or flat with a minimum of 2 bedrooms, and a garden, within no more than 30 minutes drive from Cahors. If anyone knows of a property that could correspond to these criteria, we would be very grateful if you could get in touch with Colin  langues.ensemble@gmail.com

Plants or books ?

Plant exchange Saturday 28th 2 till 5pm at Mas del Sol, directions in earlier post.Undercover facility if it is raining.
Book exchange Monday 30th  gathering as usual at 10.30am at the Gazpacho in St. Antonin Noble Val
Why not do both ?

A gleam of hope from Phoenix

Trying every thing I can think of to find a home for these animals. I have sent emails to 'Liberte des Anes' and 'Phoenix Dog and Horse Rescue' in the Dordogne. . 

We got our elderly black labrador from Phoenix  about 20 months ago. They work very hard to rehome animals here in France.

Reply from Phoenix

I'll forward your email to Letje Visser our equine rescue coordinator. She may be able to help - I hope so. It's always so difficult to know what to do with animals left when people die, or go into hospital! Ho hum...

Dying man needs someone to take his animals.

Martine AILLOUD

 martine.ailloud@orange.fr

  

Bonjour tout le monde !!

  Ce petit mot car j'ai une amie qui fait partie d'une association qui suit les personnes en fin de vie. Il se trouve qu'elle suit depuis deux ans un monsieur qui, hélas, en est au stade final.

 Ce monsieur se fait beaucoup de soucis car il a un cheval hongre de 25 ans et un ane entier de 8 ans et voudrait les donner à quelqu'un qui en prendra soin.

  

 Si l'un de vous est intéressé ou si vous connaissez quelqu'un susceptible de l'être, merci de me prévenir. Ce sera un réel soulagement pour cet homme.

Merci aussi, si vous voulez bien, de faire circuler ce message parmi les amoureux du cheval que vous connaissez

 Mes amitiés à tous

For those who need a quick translation Martine has a friend who works for an association looking after sick and dying people. She is working with an old man who is dying and needs to place his old horse age 25 years and a younger male donkey 8 years still with his dangly bits in a new home. It would be a relief for the old man not to have to worry about them. I have passed this mail on to,'liberte des anes' but I know they are overflowing  with rescue donkeys at the moment.

Johnny Halliday and the Fisc

The Fisc are demanding 9 million euros from ageing pop / rock singer Johnny Halliday. Makes our tax bills look piddling!

Hire or house sit ?

Dutch couple want to hire a house in the South of France for 3-5 month 

this 

year.

There is the prospect of housekeeping, property watch.

We are looking for a little country house, preferably outside a village,

in 

quiet and secluded surroundings. Luxury is not a requirement but two

bedrooms, a kitchen and a terrasse with small garden are preferred.

We love the countryside and views of the landscape.

Reactions or tips: Mail eimbert@home.nl

Alert on tick and flea collars

Check out your dogs flea collar as there are warnings that some contain poisons that can affect children.We use Scalibor which having checked it is not on the danger  list and we use to protect against  ticks and the dreaded leishmaniasis. We also use Advocate monthly  which is for fleas .I enquired about leishmaniasis in a previous post  and Helen Graham informs me that the vaccine is very expensive and as yet unproven.  She also warns about using Advantix with Scalibor apparently a dangerous combination. Helen  who replied to the Tick collar post has bred dogs for 40 years and has a world famous kennel so her information can be relied on. The fact that she does not look old enough means she must have started dog breeding at a very tender age.

Exit polls estimations

Sarkozy 25.7% , Hollande 28.4%, Le Pen 20%, Melenchon 11.5%, Bayrou 9%
High turn out of 80%

Boule / Petanque group at their summer venue

The Boule / petanque group have now moved to the excellent boule pitch at Verfeil sur Seye. Every Friday afternoon promptly starting at 2.30pm, the boulists of all nationalities play till around 4 or 4.30pm. Beginners always welcomed and encouraged, no charge and a relaxed afternoon is promised. If you have not got your own boule there are usually members with spare sets till you decide if it is for you. For more info. if needed contact
Malcolm Johnstone on tel. 0563 64 06 73 or just arrive in time on the afternoon.

End of campaigning, with election Sunday

Overseas voters vote today and tomorrow here in France the election begins. Results will start coming in tomorrow evening around 8 pm. There is a ban now on mentioning polls ( sonndages ) as everyone waits to hear who are the top two who will go forward in the second poll on May 6th.

Patchwork cushion covers

Beautiful handmade patchwork cushion covers, made to order using different original designs and colours. Small (40cms square) or larger as required. 20 euros each per small cover or 35 euros for 2. 30 euros each for larger covers.

Contact: Alison Croft. Email: alisonandian01@hotmail.com. Or phone: 05 63 31 25 32

Listening to Mozart sounds like a good idea

Tomatis-method in your region!
Recently I have become a practitioner in the Tomatis- listen-method. By listening 2 hours a day 2x 14 days to Mozart music, which is specially filtered, your brain gets dynamised and stimulated. Your ear is not used only for hearing. It also stimulates your brain and establishes your balance. So it can be of tremendous help to balance-problems (Illness of Meniere), to energy loss, stress and emotional problems and forgetfulness. Also for improving your voice. (you can only reproduce what you can hear)
See more on www.Tomatis.com. If you are interested, call me. Riet Okken, Caylus. Riet.okken@wanadoo.fr and tel: 0563648084.

Drama group

Ready to try something new? Do you admire Judy Dench, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep? We might not aspire to their dizzy heights of acting, but why not have fun trying!

The aim of this new group, led by Bob Westwood, ex drama teacher/lecturer/ producer of 30 years, is to open up opportunities for everyone to have fun, gain confidence and make new friends. In a supportive, non-threatening environment, suitable for all abilities, you will be encouraged to take part in improvisations, play readings and small scale group performances (for those who wish to).

The cost is 8€ per week for a 10 week course, with each session lasting approximately 75 minutes. Discover your hidden talents (or at least have fun trying!)

Contact: bobwestwood33@yahoo.com

Fifi, Friends in France International

Friends in France International (FiFi) is a group of like-minded women of all ages and backgrounds. Our activities are centred around St Antonin Noble Val, Parisot, Septfonds, Puylaroque and Limogne — but we welcome anyone who lives within easy reach. Our proceedings are carried out in English, but we extend a very warm welcome to ladies of every nationality.

Membership is €15 a year. For more information, go to www.fifi82.org or email secretary@fifi82.org

House Moving sale/Note change of plan

 Claire de Soissons is holding a  pre house move 'Vide Maison, Brocante' at Vieuresque, two minutes from Campagnac, on Saturday 28th April, 11.00am to 6.00pm. Lots of interesting household items and books for sale. Come and browse. Contact Claire on 0563 33 28 63 orclairedesoissons@gmail.com for more information'

 ' Change of plan! Claire's pre house move Vide Maison/ Brocante at Vieuresque, two minutes from Campagnac, has been re-scheduled to Sunday, 6th May, 11.00am to 6.00pm. Contact Claire on 0563 33 28 63 or clairedesoissons@gmail.com for more information.'

 

USED SATELLITE TV GEAR FOR SALE

SATELLITE DISH  -  grey, oval, 65-70cm diameter, in good condition, complete with all fittings and universal LNB head.  Suitable for permanent installation, or for use with camper van (dish and arm hinge together for easy stowage).  €20.

WALL MOUNTING KIT  -  for the above dish, good condition, in rust-proof steel, easy to install.  Lacks one clamp (easily replaced for €5 at Brico Depot ref. 890268).  €12.    

SATELLITE SIGNAL SWITCH  -  top brand, new in March and barely used, fully weatherproof, allows a single cable to feed the output of two dishes down to a FTA set-top satellite receiver, enabling French/English/Dutch TV.  €15.  

ALL OF THE ABOVE  -  €40.  

ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSAL LNB HEADS  -  for the above dish, 2 outputs or 4 outputs, to feed extra set-top satellite receivers for viewing different channels in other rooms.  €10 and €15 respectively. 

All can be viewed now in Caylus or St Antonin, or elsewhere by arrangement.  Contact - chezfoz@gmail.com or call 05 63 31 70 84.  

Computer Support from James

Remember James Sweeting if you need a new website creating, broadband or satellite installation or computer support. If you have any problems in these areas James is 'THE MAN'
Tel. 062146743 or email james@rysuk.com
For more information contact James

Life after France

I have been thinking of late of all the lovely people who have gone back to England whilst we have been here and wondering how they have fared and if they feel they made the right decision for them going back. I know some read Tag and so I am asking them to jot a few lines to tell their friends here how life is for them now. How about Musician Geoff and cake decorating wife Jean Lipscombe. Di Coleman now living in Maidstone, Kent having taken her 4 feral but made in to house cats back with her. Neville and Belinda and Pat Williams the bridge player. What happened to Nigel and Penny who moved on to the South coast and then sold and went back to England?
Send a few words to Tag on your resettlement and the invitation goes to any others I may not have mentioned.
Email me Val Johnstone on mail@bromlea.com