French newspapers are asking why are the British so afraid of eating horse?

A number of French publications asked this same question after witnessing Britain’s horrified reaction to the horsemeat scandal. “Serving horsemeat to the English appears to be as inappropriate as serving beef to an Indian or pork to a Muslim or a Jew,” weekly Le Point observed.

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Pizza Claude comes to Varen Tuesday nights

Pizza Claude is coming to Varen on a  Tuesday evening from 18 to 21 hrs. at 16 Lotissement, Prat Serge, Varen. Phone your order and it will be ready when you arrive tel.  06 17 02 98 01
Marguerite, tomate, fromage, olives 7 euros
Florentine   tomate,jambon, fromage 7.50
Royale The above plus champignons 9.50
Chef    All the above and an egg  9. 50
Chorizo Tomate chorizo, onions, creme fraiche, olives 10.50
Calzone Tomate, jambon,oeufs,champignons,oignons,creme fraiche, fromage 12.50
Lots more including a vegetarian option.
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Ateliers Occitan in St. Antonin

Epicerie Bio Du Terroir Occitan, local bio products now available in this little shop at 6 Rue Droite, St. Antonin Noble Val. They sell terrines, confits, specialities Basques, cereals and vegetables, honey and chocolats, jams  drinks coffee and tea and everything is bio.
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Meet what you eat.

Hello Val,

Without wishing to be too obvious jumping aboard the band wagon, or perhaps more appropriately the horse and cart, the safest way to eat animal protein is to know exactly where it comes from and what it has eaten and been treated with.  Coincidently our organic pigs from which we sell organic pork cuts, sausages and bacon are fed on an organic cereal mix bought from Mimi and Kevin Scragg with a continuous chain of certification from seed to harvest to table. This is without artificial fertilizers and insecticides from Kevin and Mimi's part and for ours definitely not the antibiotics and chemical cocktails administered to most of the non organic pork sold in supermarkets and many butchers.

Strangely enough our organic pork is available monthly, next consignment in the next couple of weeks, with organic beef fed on organic pasture and hay and finished on the same cereal mix from Mimi and Kevin ready late March (see http://www.lasinglarie.fr/our%20produce.html )

For those who wish to "grow their own" pork I can strongly recommend Kevin's piglets, we bought a dozen after one of our sows lost its litter and they have grown into fine animals.

If any one would like to meet what they eat we welcome visitors to the farm!

With best regards

Jamie

________________________________________

Visit us at: http://www.lasinglarie.fr

Tel Intl: ++33 5 65 65 75 53

Tel dom: 05 65 65 75 53

Whose fault is it really?

This was my point David that I made earlier, but I think you need to read Mimmi Scragg's letter.It is the total lack of traceability which is the worry. From Romania to Castelnaudry, Spanghero's headquarters and then on to Luxembourg before coming on to you, the consumer.
For Rugby fans  thought you might be interested in the bit about the Spanghero brothers.                        

This isn't really about food safety, it's about effective food labelling.

British Prime Minister David Cameron

Spanghero was established in the 1970s by two former France rugby players, Claude and Laurent Spanghero. They were bought out in 2009 by Lur Berri, a Basque agricultural cooperative.

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French, Dutch and English Sautou supporters enjoy the misery

A miserable damp evening made us wonder if we would get " no shows" but we ended up with a packed house again for the showing of Les Miserables to raise money for Sautou. ( who run hospitals and schools in Mali)
Resi Van Eeten, a Dutch lady who enjoyed the evening told me that having already painted a picture for the section in TAG "Artists of the area"  that the painting has inspired her to paint a series of paintings on the theme of  Africa and also a  make a sculpture.
Therese Gautier from Verfeil heard about the vide grenier at Sautou and has offered many items of  interest to sell. One thing can lead to another when people are so keen to help. A big thank you to everyone donating, now we need you all to come to Sautou and spend, spend, spend.
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Marriage Bill finally passed yesterday

The Bill giving men and women the right to marry someone of the same sex and have the same rights was passed in France's Parliament yesterday. It is Francois Hollande's first major social change bill to be passed.
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Vaccinations in France "obligatoire"

I did not realize that In France your child  had to be vaccinated against the illnesses mentioned below or your child may be excluded from school. I know it is sensible to have this vaccine but I do not think it is obligatory in England. Just googled to find that it is not obligatory at the moment to have your child vaccinated but there are moves afoot to alter this.
"Le cas de Louna est assez rare. Elle a été exclue de son école pour absence de vaccination, le DTP (diphtérie, tétanos, poliomyélite) étant un vaccin obligatoire pour les enfants."

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Sexting not texting

The French are starting to call them mobiles rather than portables and 80% apparently send intimate photos to one another. More are expected to be sent on Valentine's Day. I think we are talking here about a picture of  private parts rather than a romantic poem. I think it may have past our generation by as our fingers struggle to text never mind hold the phone and take a picture of one's posterior.
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Art Expo and with our own Trevor Carter playing

Trevor Carter, stalwart of the Folk /Jazz Club is playing,  and not only folk music at the 5th Salon de Printemps at Montauban. Looking out of our window at the moment , I cannot see ''Printemps'' anywhere.
Trevor says
Don't get the wrong idea! - I've just been asked to accompany a very fine singer who is performing three french poems set to music (in keeping with the theme of the exhibition.)   The art exhibition goes on for two weeks and should be well worth visiting.  You never know it might encourage the arrival of spring!
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Border collies a plenty

Are your friends still looking for a female border collie because Borderline

Collie Rescue in France have some lovely dogs of all ages.

Here is the link to their internet forum  -

http://borderlinecollie.forum2discussion.com/forum

One or two of the ladies there speak some English and they are all

lovely.

  They also have a facebook page if your friends are on facebook.

Sent by Anne Grose

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Varen makes the Depeche, again

A reporter or photographer for the Depeche must live in Varen. Another photograph of Varen with the river flooding, better at least than the last photo which was a light layer of snow on a car roof of a Varen resident. ( very boring yawn!)
The road around the River Aveyron leading to the Moulin is flooded ( L' Aveyron sort de son lit ) After the snowfalls and the incessant rain the river is in full flood and with more rain forecast, Alors Attention.
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Malc's photos taken yesterday with our muddy dogs in view

Happy day for Anne Alassane and Micheal

Former Masterchef Anne Alassane of Montauban has given birth to a little girl, Margaux. Many of us have eaten at her restaurant a ferme auberge on the outskirts of Montauban. Many of us were shocked and saddened when two of her young children Louise and Rose were killed in a house fire in January 2012. Good wishes from us all to you both and little Margaux.
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What do you expect, c'est hiver!

In the high Pyrenees the amounts of snow this year have been exceptional. One of the villages Barages, is under threat from avalanche and all tourists have been relocated " en bas" On The French news they have been interviewing the inhabitants of that village. They asked a very old French lady what she thought and she did , she really did come out with the standard ( you all know ) C'est hiver !
Get it in quick in any conversation with the French, it must gain you points.
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The road to Sautou

Several readers have expressed a wish to go this weekend to the friperie/vide grenier at the Domaine de Sautou, in aid of Via Sahel Enfants d'Afrique.

The domaine is tucked away in the countryside between Parisot and Castanet.

Coming from the west side (Caylus/Villefranche/St Antonin etc) go to Parisot, then exit towards the Lac de Parisot, on the D84.
Continue past Lacau for about 4 kms until a left turn to Cambayrac. Keep on for about about 3kms then take a right to Sautou. There are small signs for Sautou all the way from the D84.

Coming from the south side (Varen/Laguepie/Najac)  Take the Villfranche/Monteils road (D47) to the L-D Quatre Routes, where you  turn left towards Parisot, onto the D84. About 4.5 kms turn right towards Cambayrac, then as above.

You can contact Sautou on 0563 657264
GPS ref is about 44.16.36N 156.40E  ( though we cannot pin point it more accurately.
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The horsemeat may be donkey.

Jose Bove today has given reasons why all of this " horsegate " saga has arisen. A law was passed 6 years ago in Romania banning horses from the roads and even banning donkeys pulling carts. The law has just recently been enforced sending hundreds of thousands of horses and donkeys to the abattoirs. So the  start of it all is lots of horse and donkey meat going spare. Now did the companies knowingly buy it instead of beef ? French Ministers say action will be taken against any firm who knowingly bought, the saga plays on.
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"Horsegate" rumbles on and on.

In the Depeche quite a big report on  "l'affaire de la viande de cheval" now nicknamed " horsegate" The company Spanghero at Castelnaudry are under investigation by the DGCCRF, Direction Generale de concurrence et de la repression des fraudes, basically the food fraud squad. Proclaimed by the Spanghero family as disastrous, one wonders who and how many will the final finger be pointed at.
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The Pope resigns on Feb 28 th, he is tired.

Because of his age 85 ( a youngster really, says David Clench !) the Pope has announced his retirement from 28th of February. More world  news than French but there are lots of Catholics amongst us.
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Study needed on the source of the Livron in 2013

 Worries  and concerns about water and sources around Caylus. The concerns of water being contaminated and over chlorinated are being raised, and the suggestion is that a lot of the problems arise from water running through the Camp at Caylus. If you want to know more about this contact the Association below.

Association de défense des riverains du camp de Caylus. 05 63 24 03 76 (adricc82@gmail.com)
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Victoria China wants to help Athos

Hi Val,  I wondered if it would help persuade someone to adopt Athos if I sent a word 

about Tapis I think you met him ?  We only had him for a year but he had spent five 

previous years in the dog pound at Figeac.  He was the most amazing dog, kind, 

friendly and completely undemanding.  He was happy with love and a warm bed.  

We would have another ‘griffon bleu’ type hunting dog anytime if we were not 

overpopulated already.  Hope he finds a loving home soon.
Regards,
Victoria

Athos   maeva82@gmx.fr

Hi there! My name is Athos, I am a hunting dog but not hunting at the moment, that’s why I was abandoned. I am still a little too timorous but I am progressing fast, I need to put on ten kilos. I get along well with my fellow dogs (male or female). As for cats, I don’t know yet. I am a sweet dog. I am still very young so please don’t let me grow old in a kennel! If you want to meet me, call 06 77 35 28 30. See you soon!!
Val says Effy may have found a home with an English lady but Athos is still looking.

bonsoir,

je tenais à vous remercier car grâce à votre générosité et à votre aide, Effy a peut être trouvé une famille! Je dois rencontrer une dame anglaise mardi qui est intéressé par la petite chienne!! Le plus dur est encore à faire: Athos, c'est pour cela que je vous fais passer une annonce traduite en anglais! Le toutou mérite vraiment une bonne famille, son début de vie a été vraiment dure!

merci encore

cordialement

Maeva Vayron

Merci Michelle, for a new DVD collection to enhance the swap.

 Michèle Vassal Ring who lives in Caylus has joined our scheme for the DVD swap. Michele brought a carrier bag full of goodies whilst we were " coffeeing" at the Gazpacho this morning. Sorry I did not get chance to say more than a thank you but I hope to see you for the next  swap Michele which will be  Monday 5th in March at the Gazpacho in St. Antonin starting at 10. 30 am. In the meantime keep your eye on the new DVDs on Martyn's site, label at the top of the page on TAG.

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Raffle tickets for painting and now a second prize.

Without too much effort we have collected 165 euros so far on selling raffle tickets. Today I went into Michelle Jones and hubbies shop Maison Noble Val in the centre of the Halle in St. Antonin. They have kindly donated one of their "fait maison" shopping bags /  cabas and I thought it would be a lovely prize to add to the raffle. I picked up the Jeremy Rewse Davies original which had been framed  for free by Martin and Denise  Mackenzie, picture framers.     — http://www.etsy.com/shop/mackenzieframes  ( check them out if you want a picture framing )  We have another chance next week end at the Vide Grenier  at The Domaine de Sautou to sell more tickets and the draw will take place on the Sunday 17th
To everyone who has asked for directions Malcolm will make a post soon so no one gets"lost in France"

The Two Raffle Prizes

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Horse in the Lasagne

Hi Val, The problem with having unregulated horse in food stuffs, is that animals that are intended for human consumption are closely monitored and tagged. A reputable abattoir will not accept an animal that isn't tagged and proven to be fit for human consumption. Jan from the donkey sanctuary tells me that a lot of her donkeys were originally bound for the slaughter house, but because of disease were not accepted. Horses that have found their way to Romanian abattoirs are illegal, in the fact that they may have been treated with drugs over their lifetime that are dangerous to humans or more likely they were never treated for anything, therefore are riddled with all kinds of intestinal parasites, which are easily transferable to humans. Saying that if you regularly eat a Findus frozen lasagna the chances are you are already immune to anything a horse can throw at you! Don't forget the horse element is only the tip of the iceberg, if criminals are using horses as fillers to maximise their profits what else are they using? Dogs, cats, rodents? All of which are perfectly edible if they are "clean".  I am always surprised when I see the adverts for "Iceland" and the like at Christmas time and they are advertising  "30 party canapes" for a quid etc!  How on earth do the general public think they manufacture these products so cheaply? It costs  the best part of a pound to run the factory, package the goods, deliver to the retail outlet and then run the retail outlet. After profit and taxes, how much is left to buy the raw materials to make 30 sausage rolls? Scary isn't it? Enjoy your Sunday roast Mimi x Val says Now that makes you think,  what a good thought provoking letter from Mimi and Kevin Scragg who before Christmas donated a lorry load of hay to the donkey sanctuary.They are ''proper'' farmers and know their horse from their cow.Thanks to you  both Comments to   taglines82@gmail.com

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

In the Pyrenees there is more snow than in the last 30 years , "neige, du jamais vu depuis trente ans "
Many ski resorts have been closed for skiing and many roads are difficult or impassable.
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Contaminated food means what to you?

Am I wrong? I thought contaminated food meant something  was in the food that could make you ill, contaminated with salmonella for example or toxic or microbiotic organisms The wrong product in a food does not strike me as making the food inedible or dangerous . Wrong  labelling but  not contaminated!! Somehow using "contaminated"  makes this horse in your lasagne an even better story.
Val says After reading Mimi's letter  perhaps contaminated is right.
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The headline says it all, nationality is not important, gathering the material is.

 Martyn's reply to Evelyn, The heading says it all

I'd be thrilled if we could get something going along these lines so perhaps we can gather together any people interested in doing this for a meeting. We could check who has what equipment and skills, and then figure out a plan

With regard to getting a copy of the documentary … the full title is "Behind Enemy Lines: The Real Charlotte Grays", and it was included as one of several 'Extras' on the original DVD release in the UK.  I once bought some copies of the DVD online that turned out to be from Holland and the documentary was not included; but all the copies I've bought from Amazon.co.uk over the years - and also a few from the shop at the National Archives in Kew - have included the documentary.

I've just checked on Amazon.co.uk and there are currently two versions of the DVD in stock: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_14?url=search-alias=dvd&field-keywords=charlotte+gray&sprefix=charlotte+gray,aps,234

Neither of the production descriptions mention any Extras also being on the DVD but I bet there are some, so I can only suggest you order one of each and hope for the best!

Incidentally, Amazon.fr is also selling copies of the DVD and one includes a version of the movie with French subtitles.

I hope some the above helps! And thanks again to everyone for your interest and enthusiasm ...

Martyn

Val says . Anyone who is interested in helping Martyn or getting involved in his projects please contact him direct on email  bientrouve@mac.com

Nationality is not important, gathering the material is.

Hi Val,

Just read the TAGlines story about collecting stories from our local French friends. Do you have to be a Brit ex-pat to do this? I'm an American with an interest in helping! I have a neighbor in my village who was a little girl here during WWII, and we've already had a conversation about some of her memories. I would love to do a more formal interview with her if she's willing.

I'd also like to find/purchase if necessary a copy of the documentary that Martyn showed at his talk. My DVD of Charlotte Gray doesn't have it (I bought it in the States and have found that different regions include different 'extras' on DVD's) I've gone to the Channel 4 website and while the documentary is listed, its page isn't available. I don't think I'd be able to view it anyway here in France. Any ideas??

Thanks!

Evelyn Jackson     redbellfarm@gmail.com

Val Says I will pass the letter on to Martyn and get his response.

Is it always this easy?

Hi Val

We lost our e mail and telephone line a week ago last Thursday.

Telecom came on Friday saying the line was OK and maybe we would be reconnected Friday or Monday.

On Monday I rang the English Orange help line just to remind them. They phoned me back on my mobile and very patiently talked me through the process to reconnect the internet.

That same day, some technicians were working on the outside line, came to the house and the phone was working perfectly too.

The following day I received a text message to confirm that all was well and everything was working as it should be.

Thursday morning, while I was out, I received a phone call on my mobile from the patient man who had helped me restore my internet connection, asking if everything was satisfactory and if I had any other queries.

I was so impressed with the service I thought I would like to share the fact.

Who says life is difficult in France??

Well done to Orange!

Carole xx

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Someone else wanting a house to rent

We are a couple looking for a house and workshop to rent in St Antonin or in
the nearby area. The workshop space needs to be around 30m2 or bigger and

could be part of/attached to the house, or in a separate location nearby.

Please contact Sandra or Godefroy on 05 81 52 91 91 or

sandrapisano4@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Regarding the post on "truffle hunting"

We went last year and it was terrific. We particularly liked Marcel the truffle hound.
Go if you can!!!
Sent via my phone from sunny Florida

David Hatfield

Val says  I would not mind quite so much if it was not sleeting and blinkin' cold here today. Enjoy your holiday both.

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More from Martyn Cox

Two weeks ago, when the University of Sussex announced Rod's award of an honorary degree (Doctor of Letters), it also made public the news of the impending creation of a Centre of Resistance Studies plus an Archive of Resistance Testimony: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/newsandevents/?id=17418

Needless to say we're thrilled … and Rod's 100+ audio interviews plus my own filmed oral histories will be the first collections donated to the Archive of Resistance Testimony. I will also be working closely with the Director of the new Centre on the gathering of further testimony and also on outreach initiatives.

It was clear in the interviews featured in last evening's film that "Resistance" in occupied France meant a lot more than blowing up railway tracks or telephone lines … the word also covers many other acts which were just as dangerous to those who undertook them and also their families, such as hiding a Jewish family, Allied evader or agent, listening to the BBC and passing on news or a 'message personnel', helping get food to the local maquis, or distributing an anti-German leaflet.

First-hand accounts of these experiences, and in fact just memories of day-to-day family and working life during the Occupation, are all of great interest to academics and also to the writers of novels set in that era. A very recent example is Kate Mosse's latest novel Citadel about women resistors in SW France - with Rod Kedward's work cited as one of the author's key research sources.

So at our local level it would be great if we could come up with a formal proposition to all interested British ex-pats in the area, and also further afield, that they could link up with French neighbours and friends in order to research and record local wartime experiences while those with the memories are still able to recall these. Many who were adults during the occupation will be dead by now, but their children who would have been teenagers or younger during the war may not.

Some families may already have memoirs written by relatives, and also wartime photos and even artefacts, but these may all get "poubelled" by the next generation without realising their significance. So if local French people are found who do have personal memories of the occupation, and resistance in particular, then their recollections could be simply filmed, or digitally recorded - and staff and pupils or students from a local school or college could even get involved in each project.

I can easily arrange advice on basic techniques for filming, audio recording and scanning using equipment which many people will already own, and so I hope this is something we can discuss next time.

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Mobility scooter down in price

The mobility scooter advertised earlier has been reduced to 925 euros
Contact James Sweeting   Tel James on 0621467743
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Little Effy, you could practically tuck under your arm

Find info. and a picture of little Effy in post further down.
Some friends want a border collie female and I suggested little Effy had the look of a border collie, well the same colouring. They did phone up but Effy was too small weighing in at around 12 kilos. Staring at the  photo she looks a bit like a spaniel cross with the most adorable face. Malc has told me to stop looking at her, he does worry, but surely someone would like a small dog. Think of the lovely accompanied walks you could have, without having your arm pulled out of its socket!
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No mention of Findus horse meat on French TV

Apparently the horse meat found in Findus food in England was Romanian horse meat transformed in Castelnaudary (interesting word "transformed") Very wrong not mentioning it was horse meat but a lot of people acting as if they have been poisoned. Here in France  some customers choose horse meat by preference. But we should know.
There is a report in the Depeche this says the horsemeat was French but the lasagne dishes were prepared in Luxembourg. A fraud taking place somewhere along the line.
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A Quiet Life, I know who would like that!

Thank you to whoever took to the book swap  "Beryl  Bainbridge  A  Quiet Life." I am half way through and the writing is brilliant. Read this
"Madge hadn't even turned up at the funeral. Instead she sent that distasteful letter written on thin toilet paper, from some town in France, suggesting that if they were going to put Mother in the same grave as Father it might be a waste of time to carve " Rest in Peace" on the tombstone."
Now that is writing. The book will be back for the next swap.
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Have you unknown Treasure?

Come along to our very own  Antiques Roadshow  and consult the  experts with your possible treasure.  Monday  25th of March 10.30 am to noon  being held at the Gazpacho in St. Antonin
Malcolm Johnstone will be on hand to check your books and verify for you if it is a first edition and if it has a value.
Val Johnstone will be covering childrens and illustrated books, postcards, photographs and ephemera.
Malcolm and Valerie Johnstone former long standing members of the prestigious ABA, Antiquarian Booksellers Association.

Ann Herbert will be checking over your antiques and giving you an idea if they have a value. Large pieces can be photographed rather than hauled in.
Ann Herbert a former antique dealer in England specialising in furniture but with a working knowledge of pottery and porcelain.
If you,  reader have any expertise in the field  of antiques and collectables please  contact me and come and join us. This is not a buying morning but help and advice can be given if it is discovered you have a treasure and  what route to take with it, eg. insurance, selling to trade or auction etc.
Last year I had a morning looking at books with a Fifi group and one lady had brought in a fabulous book worth a considerable amount of money, so who knows!
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Two feet of snow forecast.

That had you worried! Sent by Alan Palmer, our UK meteorological correspondent.
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Iconic "Liberty " painting defaced

In the Louvre yesterday the painting "Liberty leading the People" by Eugene Delacroix painted in 1830 was scrawled on by a 29 year old lady with an indelible marker pen. The scrawl was AE911 and the media are having guesses what it could relate to. The painting which is an enduring image of the French Revolution adorned the 100 franc note for 2 decades. Let us hope the experts can remove  the marker pen damage.
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Hens at point of lay.

Hi Val

I was hoping you could place an advert on Taglines for me.

6 point of lay hens for sale 5 euros each. Mixed race but pretty !!

Jo Stephens 0565298856

stephensjoanne@gmail.com

Thankyou

Jo x

Jo lives near La fouillade, St. Andre de Najac  way.

Reminder for those booked in to the next extravaganza

If you have booked, and everyone who is coming did before Christmas, so it seems likely that a reminder is needed. A showing of  "Les Miserables" on Tuesday 12th at 6. 30pm at Mas del Sol with drinks and aperos to start, all to raise money for Via Sahel, Enfants D' Afrique will take place. Does that all make sense, although not very good English, exhausted after giving the donkey shed a thorough clean. How does she do it I can hear you say? and  Malc is on the other computer making programmes for the event.
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Saturday April 27th is Plant Exchange day

Last year for the first time ever Fifi and TAG had a joint venture where the  Fifi gardening group and TAG readers brought along plants which were plentiful  in their  own gardens so were able to swap. It was the most successful event and we all ended up with bits and pieces we were pleased with. Along to the event we also asked Terry Tippett from Parisot to come selling some of her wonderful healthy and varied plants. I am delighted to say she is willing to come again this year. The swap is cunningly held on the day before both of the big plant sales at Laguepie and St. Antonin the next day, Sunday. This way you do not pay for plants you could have got for free. Someone last year also bought some huge wisteria seeds and I know from talking to others there are  now many new wisterias in the area. They may  not flower for a few years but  they can grow and develop as patio coverage in the meantime. Mark  this date in your diaries all you keen gardeners and the location once again will be Mas del Sol, just outside Varen
Terry tells me her plant sale will be around 18th and 19th of May but if any reader wants to do a plant sale for others at their homes she will consider it if dates can be fixed.
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Fall in love and take a new lover for Valentine's Day

Adpotez Nous

Bonjour, moi c’est Athos je suis un chien de chasse qui ne chasse pas, voilà la raison pour laquelle j’ai été abandonné ! Je suis encore un peu peureux mais je progresse chaque jour, il me faut prendre encore une dizaine de kilos ! Je m’entends avec mes congénères mâle et femelle et pour les chats je ne sais pas encore ! J’ai un caractère très doux ! Je suis encore très jeune donc svp ne me laissez pas vieillir dans un chenil !! On peut se rencontrer, pour cela téléphonez au 06 77 35 28 30. A très vite !!

Bonjour, moi c’est Effy, je suis une petite chienne de 3 ans qui s’entend avec ses congénères, les chats et les enfants. Lors des promenades je sais marcher en laisse ou au pied, j’aime la voiture, je suis joueuse, très câline et propre. Si vous cherchez un chien de petit gabarit pour l’amener partout n’hésitez plus ! On peut se rencontrer, pour cela téléphonez au 06 77 35 28 30.

If you wanted more fun, more love in your life this year, why not consider one of these darlings who need a home. Both sound adorable. Effy  is fine with other dogs and cats, whilst Athos is great with other dogs but as yet is not used to cats.

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It is Stockfish time

Le Riols Sat 16th Feb. at midi will be a ''Repas Stockfish''  in the Salle des Fetes, you must make a reservation if you want to join in  Tel 0563 65 42 81 or 0563 53 96 64 or 06 76 31 67 56 Participation 23 euros par personne.
Val says I will be at The Domaine de Sautou doing the Friperie Sat and Sun.
Charles says ''Can we have a dislike for the Stockfish item?''
Val says   Dislike noted.
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Calls for UN peacekeeping force in Mali

Laurent Fabius, French Foriegn Minister, is calling on the UN to replace French soldiers with a UN peacekeeping force. Seems to make sense to me; the French soldiers have done the job but now the UN who supported all the moves need to make sure the gains are not lost.
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Sangliers like the warmth of Toulouse

More and more sangliers are being caught and killed in the gardens on the outskirts of Toulouse. There is an "impressionant" picture in The Depeche of  six big dead sangliers caught and killed. A  female sanglier can have up to 15 to 21 marcassins (babies) every two years and sangliers can cause a lot of degats (destruction) of countryside areas.
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Red Nose Day Disco

COMIC RELIEF

60’s DISCO

Friday 15 March 2013

Auty Salle des Fêtes 19h30

Disco, Raffle and Buffet

Bring your own drinks and glasses.

15 Euros

For Tickets R.S.V.P to

Linda Feeney

05.63.03.22.59

pourramond@gmail.com

Cooks within the area will be interested in this.

Jessie Kirkness Parker | award winning author  A TASTE OF ARABIA

Middle east flavour consultant ‣ food stylist

Having had a home here for many years, and being  passionate about her garden, as about her food, you may be interested to look at Jessie's website. Practically makes your mouth water looking at some of the recipes and I see you can order the book.

 www.jessie-parker.com   

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Feeling cold? Dont forget your winter fuel allowance

The rather chilly weather reminds us that EU expats are now entitled to claim for winter fuel payments.
£100 per pensioner, so £200 per household. Older pensioners may claim for earlier years in some circumstances.
Most of you will have done this already, but if not you have until March 31st 2013. You can download a form at

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@over50/documents/digitalasset/dg_202418.pdf

and post it to Winter Fuel Payment Team, International Pension Centre, Tyneview Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne 
NE98 1BA, Angleterre
Details are on the UK Government site at www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment/how-to-claim
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Great day out, truffling hunting, promised

Glynis says
I am organising a truffle hunt Tuesday 19th February and have 4 places left.
We meet in Puylaroque and spend the morning observing the truffle hunt then we move inside
for a truffle lunch and the obligatory wine and you watch the  truffles being sorted.
After that it's off to the truffle market. It's a really interesting day - I promise
The cost is €28 per person
Please email me at vin.rouge@live.co.uk if you would like to come Glynis
Val says , everyone who has been on this day has enthused. If there are any readers who have been on one of these outings and enjoyed it, please let us know.

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Danny Cohn -Bendit, has his say.

On French Tele Matin this morning, Danny Cohn - Bendit at one time called  "Danny the red" talked of David Cameron. "He is a cretin, he says Europe is not efficace, but with members like them who yield their veto all the time what do you expect."
 Talking about Danny, he was one of the 68 ers, involved in the wild cat strikes of May 1968 which brought France to a standstill.
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