Tuesday, 18 February 2014

Concert at La Seye et Vous

Bonjour à tous,
 Vendredi 21 février à la seye et vous, à partir de 19h30 :
 Vous connaissez quelques standards de jazz entre 1940 et aujourd'hui ?
  Alors emmenez votre instrument, venez faire le boeuf autour de 4 musiciens de renommée  intersidérale !
           Frédéric Machmelh : flûtes traversières
          Thierry Scherval : bass
           Olav : guitares
           Eric Boccalini : batterie
Ou simplement pour passer un bon moment.
 Au menu : Poulet curry ou lasagnes végétariennes.
 Renseignements : 05 63 65 22 18.
A trés bientôt.

That kingfisher,

Malcolm, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If to you it was a Kingfisher, then I like to think it was too.
Mimi x

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Portable kennel still for sale

Dear Val,
Please put the following advertisement on Taglines :
FOR SALE!
LARGE PORTABLE KENNEL (VARI-KENNEL) BRAND NEW! Still in its bubble wrap.
Suitable for a largish dog up to the size of a Golden Retriever. Airline approved. Ideal for travel, house training , isolation, bed rest, indoor kennel. 
Measurements:  Length=100 cms.  Height=80cms. Width 68cms. (give or take a centimetre  –measuring is difficult because of bubble wrap) 
Price: 110euros or near offer.
Buyer collects please! 
Mail: dalmusic@wanadoo.fr  Tel:05 63 53 97 62

He could be your Buddy / Buddy is now adopted and called Hugo

Hi there,
Despite doing the rounds of the local vets and putting notice up in Super U, RAGT, the two local Tabacs, the Mairie and speaking to the postman and butcher I have heard nothing for this super little dog 8 days on ...
I would dearly love to keep him but our circumstances preclude this.  He is an absolute charmer.  Incredibly gentle, sweet natured and plays with our two dogs happily.  He is pretty young as he doesn't yet lift his leg and whenever he sees me he rushes up for a cuddle.
He is a griffon and is quite tall, we have called him Buddy.  If anyone is looking for a dog, I couldn't recommend him highly enough ! He loves sitting watching TV.
Contact  Vicki China 
viceroy@nicholaschina.com

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We could have had a lovely picture of a kingfisher.

Walking the dogs along the banks of the Aveyron at Laguepie, Malc suddenly spotted a kingfisher. In a frantic rush to get his camera off his shoulder he passed me his walking stick, dropped a dog lead, dropped his lens cover, but then managed to click away as the bird sat on the opposite bank on a branch.
 It was only when he blow up the picture that he realised it was a bit of blue plastic!
We did wonder if Neville and Peter have this sort of problem?
Doreen says Can we see the picture?
Can you spot him, I mean it! He /it was very blue.
Malc says  Nev and Peter will have these errors, but their wives do not publish them on TAG .

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No news is not always good news

Hello Val,Thank you for your mail. There is nobody. May be never. I went to the “Gers” to buy two kennels that I will have in March. I will try to close one part of the property. Fanfaron try to be a nice dog these days, but, as I ear each time there is a problem “you said that this dog will stay some weeks, and it’s more than a year. He will never go”. When I will be retired, i will have the time..

In any cases, your kindness is good for me.
Best regards.
Cécile
Val says Fanfaron is on Poor Paws and Dog links, two dog rehoming sites and I asked Cécile if she had anything positive to report. Above is her answer. Rehoming hunting dogs is not easy, a shame as they often have very gentle loving natures.
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Singing whilst you paint

Dear Val,Good morning and Thank you !!!!!!
The search for a singer ( not the sewing machine as one reader immediately thought ) has had a great reaction, I have had five people interested and hopefully they can find a match with the same amount of enthusiasm as the musicians !
Also the mention about the Farrow & Ball paint being available has had the desired affect and F&B themselves are even helping us out with the set up !!!!
So I hope you all have a good day and all I want is for you to keep Singing whilst you are all painting !!!
Take care
Steve
CARPETMAN FRANCE
Lot 5b, Voltaire 2
2 Rue Voltaire  82000 Montauban
Tel : 05 63 20 51 59Mail : carpetmanfrance@orange.fr
Facebook : Carpetmanfrance
www.carpetman-france.com

Interested in birds and wild life check out this site

A really interesting site set up by the LPO but covers all wildlife as well as birds.
If you see something unusual you can load it up on the site, for example a wall creeper was seen a couple of days ago at Vabre village. You can use a button translate to see the site in English
http://www.faune-tarn-aveyron.org/

This was still happening in 1982

Jean-Jacques Martial was six years old when he arrived at Orly airport in Paris one November morning wearing flip-flops and shorts. He had been removed from his grandmother's care in the French island territory of Réunion as part of an official scheme to help boost the falling population in the rural heart of the mother country. He had only one idea in his head: "I was going to cultivate myself and I would denounce what had happened to me," he said.
Martial went on to do just that, and on Tuesday the French national assembly will address this shameful chapter of its history for the first time when members vote on a motion to formally recognise the state's role in the scandal of Réunion's "stolen children". From 1963 to 1982 a total of 1,615 children were forcibly dispatched from the Indian Ocean territory, whose population was exploding, in order to repopulate rural areas.    Read the full story by Anne Penketh   in the Guardian

Bees and pesticides

HONEY production is dropping severely in France with beekeepers blaming the use of certain pesticides. Last year’s production was just 15,000 tonnes, compared to 33,000 in 1995, and mortality rates of bee colonies have been rising.

In  our area we know many beekeepers who are also worried about the deaths of whole colonies last year and restricted honey production.
Val says  I read somewhere that bees in city hives were doing better than country bees struggling with farmers pesticides.
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Monday, 17 February 2014

Translators in hospital

For your info.....
everytime I have been to the hospital, Pont du Ch in Mont. I have noticed a sign offering a person to assist for non French speakers.  When I have had to stay in, many many times, the doctors have asked me if I wanted someone.  I am lucky not to need, my french is ok now, I also have St James too!!  But for those who don't speak the lingo, it must be a worry......i suspect some older people will be worrying about talking about ailments with relative strangers too?
On a lighter note, my yearly checkup has been given the thumbs up....long may that continue.
Kx
Val says great news K.

Must be ten years ago I went with a friend to Montauban Hospital, just to keep her company whilst she was having a check up. Her Dr had told her there was nothing to worry about and I am sure neither one of us expected the bad news that was given.  Although it was devasting at the time that friend is now doing very well and I will always be pleased she had someone with her at the time. I could see real bonds developing  with this scheme and users of it. As I would stress again all the people on that list are caring [ they would not have applied if they were not] and they also have sense and discretion

I look down on him, and he looks up to me, is that how the sketch went?

Karen and St. James sent this picture of this mornings sun, when St. Antonin was still in the mist. They have a similar high position as us . Karen asks if we are a bit smug, and maybe we sound like that Karen.
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Erde trailer, as new for sale

Hi Val
We still have our Erde 122 trailer, little used and with seperate cover for sale. To buy new it would cost around 500 euros but we are looking for 300 euros.


Contact Linda:
0581400039/0652029968
pebblestherapies@hotmail.com
Thank you!
PS Do we make donation now or once sold?
Val says  When it is sold

Accompanied hospital visits

The trouble with strung out tests and investigations is that you can't predict at which appointment a diagnosis, and possibly a devastating prognosis, might be delivered.  Good point also about reception staff having little English.  And French anaesthetists often seem to do things differently.  Understanding how you should expect to feel after coming round is awfully important.

Some people do like to assert their rights at the beginning of a process, and I respect that view.  But my own feeling is that if I demanded a free translator at reception, implying that I hadn't bothered to learn much French, I could get labelled an uncooperative person from the start - a reputation that could travel around the hospital with me.  It probably wouldn't bestow any tangible disadvantage, but in the gloom of feeling ill, I might imagine it was affecting how I was being treated.  It's a time when you have to be as positive as you can, and that wouldn't be a great way to start.    
Says a reader 
 
Val says  - I so agree with that reader, and that is one of the reasons I would personally prefer one of our accompanying translators.
Another thing was raised by a reader this morning which I whole heartily agree with. They said I would use this service even though I have good French just to have someone to go with. You cannot be always asking friends  to accompany you, they would soon get fed up, but being able to pay a small fee, not to have to go on my own would be worth a lot.

Spring poems

You know I love poetry by now, and I am dashing off to a group soon where we are reading " poems of spring"
Malc suggested quite seriously I had missed one of the best Spring poems from my list and followed this by standing and quoting these lines from some bard  "or other"
" Spring is sprung,
The grass is ris
I wonder where the birdies is.
the birdies is, on the wing,
but that' s absurd, but that' s absurd
I always thought the wing was on the bird!"
We laughed even more when I transposed donkeys for birds!
Punctuation as always added later when I have more time!

Val says Terri Lumb gives us the real version
The Budding Bronx
Der spring is sprung
Der grass is riz
I wonder where dem boidies is?
Da liddle boids are on da wing
Ain't dat absoid?
Der liddle wings is on da boid!
ANON
Terri Lumb
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Alison Mann presents her work

My name is Alison Mann.

I am a qualified garden designer.

On moving to France , I discovered that garden design is not high on the list of priorities in rural France. I therefore turned to my first love....... painting.

I especially love painting with oils, I love the textures and colour mixes that can be created.

I have found that I can combine my two great loves, gardening and painting, by painting the flowers I love so much. I am inspired by colour, texture, form and the patterns around us in nature, which constantly change and bring so much delight.

I am always amazed that the colours and design in nature can inspire so many different emotions, from energy to peace and tranquility. These I try to capture in my paintings.

To see my work go to my web site www.tarnart.com
Thanks Alison

Val says  I look forward to looking at your website and I will add you to ''artists of the area'' I do love poppies.
I am dashing off to my poetry class soon in St. Antonin so everything will be done on my return.
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Wonderful morning

It is the most wonderful morning at Mas del Sol. Whilst  I was out with the donkeys, Malc appeared on the balcony, checking on my progress. We both marveled at the morning, the sky was blue, light purple, red and there was mist down in the valley. Varenois will not yet know that it is going to be a fabulous morning.
We have renters from Canada staying for  two months in the gite ( it was 20 degrees below when they left home) Sadly as they are still a bit jet lagged they may sleep in and I feel like going and rattling their window saying " look at the sky" Do not worry I won't do it, I am sure we will have other such wonderful mornings.
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Sunday, 16 February 2014

A reader sends this follow up, on hospital visits

For various reasons people may not want someone from the British community to accompany them on a hospital visit. If anyone feels that their French is not up to coping with a consultation they can request that a translator is present and this must by law be provided free by the hospital either in person or by telephone.

If anyone is using a volunteer for a hospital visit, both parties should agree the boundaries of confidentiality before the visit (might be no one else may know, my partner only etc) 

Any volunteer should be quite clear about their own medical knowlege before the visit ie ex medical professional, considerable hospital experience or just good at french

A volunteer should always know the rights of the patient - should be clearly displayed in the hospital or available as a pamphlet and especially how to make a complaint.

Val says - useful information so thanks to that reader.
The first point about getting a translator free by law. I can imagine that being very difficult to organize with out speaking French ( bizarrely) Also help could be needed with complicated registration and seeing an anesthetist 
None of the accompanying French speakers need any medical knowledge, other than a mastery of the French language .
I would expect total confidentiality as a matter of course and as I know every one of the names  on the list I am sure I can vouch for them all in that respect.
All points worth bearing in mind though.

Accompanied hospital visits

I have put the information in a label on the top bar for accompanied hospital visits. So if you would like to go along for example to see a specialist and are worried about the language you can go with someone who can tell you exactly what you are being told and also ask any questions you might want to put to the specialist.
It is important with your health that you understand what is being said to you. Having a guess is not a good idea!
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They all had TAG cast offs!

Out last night, invited to the home of a local talented cook, we laughed as we talked to discover everyone in that company had a rescued pet from TAG.
One lady had an old cat that needed a good home, two years on Jess has fallen on her lovely old  grey paws and is living a good and coddled life.
The dog described as a large black labrador who was going to be put to sleep the next day, so we launched a  rescue mission. He turned out to be some huge black  animal of undetermined background, but he has found a loving home with one of the rescuers.
The third who I thought we had no chance with,  was a  young medium sized three legged dog who had lost its leg by being chained up by it!  This dog now lives  an idyllic country life and is the apple of the  owners eyes.
I have to say the whole group stopped me talking about other pets needing homes, including the mention of those three donkeys.
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There are others you know!

Yesterday someone made the point to me that there are people  other than Andrew and James who can fix the dishes to receive satellite. I know that, but I also support people who place adverts on TAG to give money to my charities. Anyone who wants a mention, has the same option; which is to place an advert.
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You need to book for the repas

 Chers Amis (es)

Veuillez trouver en pièce jointe notre invitation pour la soirée du 22 février 2014 à 18h30 au Domaine de Sautou 82160-CASTANET/Caylus
Venez nombreux, amenez vos amis et vos connaissances ! pensez à réserver pour le repas !!
Jean Marie rentre du Mali, et vous fera un petit compte rendu de son voyage. 
Nous vous attendons pour passer une belle soirée ensemble.
Val says  a book launch, a talk by Jean Marie Nosal about his recent trip to Mali followed by a repas.
I am going with some  friends but surprisingly Malc prefers to watch the rugby.
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Camouflaged animals

Hello Val and Malc,

I have compiled some pictures on the theme of camouflage.

It is normally quite hard to spot wildlife when it is stationary, especially if one is not really paying attention.  Typically, what happens for me is that I might catch some movement out of the corner of my eye or hear sound and then I can try to home in on its location or, in the instance of the Milvus milvus (Red Kites), I saw them landing in the tree from some distance away and I managed to get closer without disturbing them.  How many times have you seen something whilst out walking.

Nev
Val says to read more and see the photos look in Wild Photos.
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Saturday, 15 February 2014

Another good reason to be a Fifi member

Dear Val
I am so pleased that you are feeling better today.
 I think your idea for the community to have translators for a fee will help many people. 
Within FiFi we have a very successful support system called Friends on Call which covers all emergencies, from taking a member or spouse to hospital, temporary care of a pet, hospital visits, cooking food for the freezer for a sick member, doing laundry, rescuing stranded members when a car breaks down and a whole lot more. I'm sure there will be FiFi members who will come forward to offer help to translate for anyone in need in the community.
Well done Val
Love  Linda  
Val says  A very worthwhile idea "Friends on call" for the ladies who are Fifi members. I do think though sometimes one does not want to be indebted and bother friends too much, and  by having a small fee one feels happier and more comfortable with a friendly business transaction and of course all the men are included with or with out a partner.
How many on the list are actually French speakers and it may be worth noting those  members who are reasonable French speakers, who are also prepared to do accompanied hospital visits.

More for the list

bonjour,
je suis ravie des bonnes nouvelles pour vous, Val. Et en même temps choquée
de la façon dont cela s'est passé, et du peu d'écoute de la part de
l'infirmière !!!
Vous pouvez me mettre sur la liste des accompagnateurs potentiels. Mais en
fait vous avez déja beaucoup de personnes très qualifiées et beaucoup plus
libres de leur temps que moi.
Enfin, à toute fin utile, comme on dit, ajoutez-moi à la liste.
amitiés,
Nadette
Val says Nadette who lives at Espinas is a fluent English speaker having taught English.


Val, you can add me to the list of people to accompany non-french speakers
on hospital visits. Jolly good idea;
Jill Spearman

Val says I do think we could do with a couple of men coming forward, sometimes blokes are happier with blokes, do not ask me why?
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Wow, that was quick

The chairs are SOLD !!
Thank you so much. 
We had 3 calls immediately .
 Deirdre 
Val says - if the price is right,  things sell
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What a great response

Hi Val,
 you can put me on the list to help people with hospital visits.  Having done probably nearly 500 over the last three years to hospitals in Toulouse, Montauban and Villefranche, I know the system and the language.  Fortunately, it looks like our visits will be coming to an end by the end of the year so if I can help someone else I certainly will.
Anne Grose


Hi Val,
I hope you've recovered from your unpleasant experience yesterday. Malc
might have told you that he met us at Hyper U. He said he was 'killing
time'. I thought he looked a little preoccupied: now I know why. I'm glad
your results were good, anyway. My husband has had acid reflux and the drugs
do work.
I can live with the four day diet. It's the purge that's hard work!
I'd be very happy to go on the list to accompany non-French speakers to
hospital. I've been here for nearly 17 years and my French is now of
reasonable standard. I think it's an excellent idea. Imagine how your
experience would have been for someone who can't speak French.
Vanessa x


 Good Morning Val!
I’d be more than glad to help as long as I don’t have to do the driving. My training as a  
nurse (allbeit many moons ago) has already been useful in this respect.
Love,
Sally.
Good morning Val,
A very good idea indeed, please put my name on the list for help with French.
Hope your arm hurts less by now. And hopefully the nurse was told to listen to the patient next time!
Love,
Marcia
Val says Marcia will be useful to our Dutch and English readers

More than happy to do this when the need arises -my French is pretty good 
Love linda

Val says  that is so brilliant. I will work on getting Tel. numbers and email addresses
 and any other info 
Like where people live, if they would not want to drive, if they are Dutch speakers. 
If whilst I am doing this anyone else has ideas please pass them on. The label will go on the top of TAG again
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Sounds like a useful site

Hi Val,
I just read Steve's post 'singer wanted' on Tag - thought he was after a sewing machine to start with!
We have a page of small ads on our music school website in Gaillac www.ecolemaestro.net for our students to advertise instruments for sale etc.
Its free, if Steve wants to post a 'petite annonce'. We have lots of budding singers ... and guitarists, and drummers, and violinists and piano players of all ages!
It could also be of interest to any Tag readers trying to sell or buy secondhand instruments.
regards
Jo (Sommard)
Val says it could also be of interest to the local folk club.

On the route RD 926 at Septfonds

Three car pile up at Septfonds, blocked the road for half an hour. One of the drivers had been drinking.
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More than 100 kilometres of bouchons at Toulouse yesterday

Where you in Toulouse yesterday and were you stopped and asked" please support us in our need to use nitrates on the land for farming?" I know what my answer would have been.
We are polluting all our streams and rivers with the over use of nitrates. STOP the nitrates and the pesticides now.
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Helicopter down, Didier killed

Didier Deschoolmeester, 53 ans, responsable de la piste de karting baptisée Karthors à Cahors Lalbenque a trouvé la mort hier dans un accident d’hélico. Ce sont des amis partis en reconnaissance qui ont trouvé l’appareil dans un champ à Lalbenque.

The owner of the carting track Kathors at Cahors has been found dead in a field in his helicopter.

The more I think about it, the more I see the need.

If you are a French speaker of a reasonable level and would like to be added to a list of people willing to accompany non French speaking people on a hospital visit please contact TAG. You do not need any professional skills,  just be able to help anyone with the language. It may be after a first visit it is found that the specialist and reception speak English and you may only be needed for one accompanied visit. I am envisaging 10 euros an hour as the fee just as a guide. I will pass this email on to Fifi and see if they would also be interested in taking up the idea as well for their members.
Be first on the list to help your compatriots, if you are contacted and have already have a rendezvous elsewhere, it would then be possible to phone the next in your area on the list.
In confidence if you have further queries or to go on the list with your area listed contact me.
Malc says  one of Vals better ideas!
Val   taglines82@gmail.com

Friday, 14 February 2014

Dining chairs for sale SOLD

Dining chairs for sale
Eight cane dining chairs for sale. Good condition.
€80 the lot.
Ideal for indoor or occasional outdoor use.


Please contact Greg or Deirdre Honey on 05 63 31 86 73,

Or email dash0049@yahoo.co.uk.

Not a romantic Valentine's Day for me.

Now do not worry friends, those to whom Malc has promised the DVD , it is not going to happen.
Today after the four day special diet and then the purge, I went into Villefranche hospital for a gastroscopie, camera down and a coloscopie, camera up.
The results were excellent news in that the acid reflux can be managed by drugs. The bad news was an accident which could have been worse.
On arrival the nurse came to fit the line for the anesthetic; I said it hurt and was uncomfortable; the nurse said non, non c'est bon Madame;  as she left the room I said  " my arm hurts" she looked at me as if I was a " whinging brit" and repeated " c'est bon"
Down in the theatre I had the piece placed  in my mouth which the camera goes through and the anesthetic pumped into my arm. The nurses were saying soothingly you will soon be asleep but after awhile when I was still awake, they started looking concerned and I tried to say my arm was really hurting. They took the mouth piece out and when  I said my arm hurt, all hell was let loose. The surgeon raised eye brows and left and the others all started working on me.
I  awoke with a tightly bandaged arm which I need to keep tightly strapped for 24 hours and the surgeon gave a very nice apology.
I did wonder after this visit where no one spoke English, how others manage without French; cannot be easy. It made me think a list of French speakers who could be paid to accompany people would be useful.
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Transported back to Saltburn

Watching BBC Tv last night [ sorry to mention it to those who have not yet been fixed] a body on a beach was found under a pier in the Detective series, Inspector  George Gently. Without any  feature other than the pier being shown I said ''that is Saltburn pier'' and after a few shots of the cliffs and the  funicular railway office came in to view, my sighting was confirmed.
Now it is at least 60 years since I was a child playing on those beaches but it brought back memories of ice creams, donkey rides, yes I was always hanging round the donkeys and under the pier, by the pier legs were wonderful crabby, fossily sea- weedy puddles, where I caught wonderful things in my bucket.Oh! gosh and there was always a ''Punch and Judy man''
In the series it was said the posh people went to Whitby on their holidays, and once so did we,and although Whitby is wonderful,   I always loved  Marske and Saltburn best.
Malc says I remember the cold North wind straight off the sea, and the sea mist swirling down!
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She loves the website ...and that Saint

Bonjour:  
Just a note to give another accolade to Andrew Brown, the satellite wizard!  I live in Les Cabannes/Cordes and was going crazy as all thechannels started disappearing.  I don't like going out at night and my TV is my entertainment...I have SKY TV...Well, talk about serendipity!  I tried to call someone who I thought might know about these things and wound up reaching a friend I hadn't talked to in a couple of years!  I must have transposed the numbers.  We started talking, I told her of my problem, she told me about your website and that there were a couple of guys "Andrew and James"  who might be worth calling.

I did and Andrew very kindly replied right away and arranged to come last night, however, he was delayed at another appointment and, when 7:30 arrived, felt it was too late to come to my place...but, miracles of miracles, he called to tell me and ask if he could come first thing this morning.  I understood and was thrilled that here was someone who seemed reliable.  He came this morning and, after an adjustment to my satellite,  I not only have all BBC and ITV channels but all 5's and several others that had disappeared!  No need to buy a larger dish, etc... And a lovely guy, to boot.. I will be referring him to anyone who has satellite or computer problems. 
By the way, love your website...I'll try to get news from this neck of the woods to you!
Carolyn Byrne
Val says That would be great Carolyn if you could let me know what is going on there. TAG is only as good as its reporters.... whereas Andrew is a Saint, perhaps instead of Media Man we will start calling him Saint Andrew.
There is also  another St. James

Half term holiday the next two weeks for the French

Parents and their school aged children will be taking to the roads for the next two weeks on a "congeś" Over the two weeks different department and zones have different holls. At this time of year often they take a skiing holiday, so expect the roads to the Pyrenees to be especially busy, infact classed  "orange"
 Malc says what about the children who are not school age?
Val says leave them with grannies, they are too much trouble on holiday!
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Everything for nimble fingers

Dimanche, foire aux couturières à Septfonds
In the Salle des Fetes at Septfonds this weekend on Sunday 16th from10am until 6pm, there is a foire dedicated to needlework, sewing and related crafts. There will be stalls selling materials, buttons,cottons,and related bits and bobs.

Rugby referees are always right

Watching the rugby internationals you are always impressed by the calm authority of the referees, but Bernard Laporte, former coach of the France XV, former minister of sport and now trainer at top club Toulon, is apparently not so impressed. His criticism of the ref following a match with Grenoble (which Toulon lost of course) included "rubbish", "incompetent" and "dick" and has led M Laporte to be banned from all contact with his team for 12 weeks.
From our sports correspondent, Malc of course.
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It's not all rosy in Toulouse

Le Mirail ("mirror" in Occitan) is one of those 1960's housing estates built with the vision of architects inspired by Le Corbusier, but which today has become an isolated ghetto dominated by gangs of drug dealers. In south east Toulouse the suburb is an important element in the municipal elections next month. All the parties deplore the rise of violence and intimidation in the quarter but there is no unanimity of solutions. Some of the 50 year old high rises are being demolished, but it is more than housing - jobs, leisure, security for those innocent residents are also needed. Toulouse prides itself on being modern and dynamic and this quarter built in the age of Concorde is a blot on the city's image in the age of Airbus.
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Libération in crisis

It is one of France’s most iconic media brands, but the left-wing newspaper Libération has been plunged into crisis in recent weeks, culminating on Thursday in the resignation of its editor-in-chief.

In an interview with rival daily Le Monde,  Nicolas Demorand said he was stepping down following a revolt by the newspaper’s journalists, acknowledging he had become a “polarising” figure in a battle between the newspaper’s editorial staff and its shareholders.
Libération is struggling for survival after losing more than a million euros ($1.3 million) in 2013 as sales plummeted by 15 percent.
Its two main owners, businessman Edouard de Rothschild and real estate developer Bruno Ledoux, have warned they will no longer finance the paper unless a "viable project" is accepted to turn it around.   Read more in News 24

It is Valentine's Day, the 14th of February, a day to celebrate love... and poetry.


             BRINK OF LOVE

O Sea of Love, I stand bewildered on your shores,
 I feel your waters lapping round my heart,
Yet still I can look back to touch and cling to
 That safe, familiar land, ne’er to depart.

How long before you make me lose my foothold?
 How long before your waves engulf my soul?
No longer to reach out and grasp earth’s sanity,
 Adding yet another to your toll.

As I hover on the brink of no return,
 Though I know your Gods will ne’er reveal my fate,
How I long to know what lies ahead of me
 That I may turn back before it is too late.

Will you let me ride the waves and feel the sunlight?
 Will your foamy brine caress and kiss my breast?
Or will you dash me to the rocks in stormy passion
 And cast me to your depths for e’er to rest?
 Sent by T

         FORBIDDEN LOVE

Come, blessed Sleep and let me dream
Come, take away the bonds of Conscience.
Only you can let me love him
Free, without Guilt’s omnipresence.

       Now, my darling, I am yours
       In my dream world fantasy,
       Held so tightly in your arms
       As you nestle close to me.
       I could know no greater pleasure
       As you tenderly caress me,
       Than to rouse your deepest passions
       To our mutual ecstasy.

O that this dream could end but never
Or that I had the right to love you, ever!
Sent by W.

sent in by readers for this day of love.

Thursday, 13 February 2014

Poppies on the route up to Mas del Sol

Opium poppies growing on some newly delivered shale shoring up our little road, seen a couple of years ago. Captured by Tudor Powell with his paint brush and as I look at TAG everyday  this will give me pleasure.Find them, these pretty poppies in the side panel, in art of SW France.

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A problem with the well for our ladies in Mali

Valérie, pour information, je viens de recevoir des photos du jardin des femmes  !!!  il y a un problème avec le puits, je dois envoyer comme je te disais de l'argent pour faire venir un brise roche etc.....l'eau n'arrivant pas à cause de grosses pierres au fond.
Les femmes doivent parcourir des kilomètres à pieds pour arroser leurs cultures.

Bises à toi et à Malcom

Winnie

Val says  Winnie has sent these photos received from some of the women we are supporting,  helping  them with their garden project. 
Some large rocks have been blocking the well, so Winnie has sent some of our money to get it fixed. The women have been walking some kilometres on foot to recuperate and water the plants.
Here is one photo, look in 120 Femmes label to see more and how the crops are growing.
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Remember everyone, photography is art

Does not need saying really, we all know that. When I used to frequent the large auction houses around the world I was always interested in the art sales, often comprising old photos... often very risqué. So although I am not asking for hard porn,  photos having something to do with the area can be exhibited in our local artistes collection.
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Singer wanted

Dear Val,
Just wanted to reach out to the budding singers amonst the TAG readers. 
A small group ( two guitarists and a drummer ) based in Vaour are looking for a lead singer, their songs are mainly in English but some French tunes.
Anyone interested should give me a call in the shop.
Take care and Keep dry !!
Steve
CARPETMAN 
Tel : 05 63 20 51 59
Mail : carpetmanfrance@orange.fr
www.carpetman-france

Les tracteurs bloquent Toulouse demain

If you are going shopping or to the airport  at Toulouse tomorrow, allow yourself more time.
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Tudor Powell loves our kestrels

Brother in law Tudor Powell comes often to Mas del Sol and when he does along with drinking copious amounts of red wine, he paints and takes photographs.He has exhibiited at MIMA in Middlesbrough and also is in a painting group in North Yorkshire.
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Mas del Sol kestrel

A photo of Rosie with ''an itchy bottom"

Our first painter, Bruce Anderson from Penne sends his art for our pleasure

About Bruce Anderson

​
I am a painter and have drawn and painted since a young age, and taught since 1999. I work with pretty traditional materials - oil and acrylic, pencil, charcoal, conté crayon, etc. on canvas and/or paper. Typically I go back and forth between pure abstraction/non-representational work and more realistic landscape and figure work. A solid foundation of drawing skill is important to me (for my work), but I try to avoid sticking to any one style personally and prefer to follow my instinct and inspiration.   My work is nothing less than a reflection of my minds eye and its take on the world around me.  I grew up in Mar Vista California, close to the beach and it's surf culture. In 2010, I moved to the southwest of France to a tiny village named St. Antonin Noble Val. Never have I been so inspired or felt so at home than here in France. It's another world and a chance at another life.


Val says Bruce sneaked in some donkeys for me, so cute.
Find all the details about Bruce by clicking his picture which can be found in the side bar after the adverts.

"It 's the way I tell 'em"

One-third of French people support the Front National’s policies, according to an annual survey conducted for Le Monde, France Info and Canal+. 
Val says  I have just read a report of a survey starting with the headline a third of people support Marine Le Pen and her policies. It added further down that 59% of people do not agree with the solutions that party has to the problems.
When Malc read this same story about the poll from Le  Monde, he told it in much the other way around, that 59% did not agree with the party's solutions. You see often it is the way you tell them with polls.
One policy that party has is to withdraw from the euro, but 79%of people polled did not agree with that.
It would also appear that although Marine is popular, people like her image, but the rest of the party candidates are not as popular. 
Can I add thank heavens!
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Wednesday, 12 February 2014

Oxslips not cowslips

Hi Val
 A botonist cousin tells us that the cowslips are oxslips,twice
as big and no perfume.
Jean
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To the men who give us back our BBC, we are grateful

Both Andrew and James are doing a great job in getting our programmes up and running again for us.
I think we are lucky to have such dedicated people to help us out.
If we get more praise I will send it direct to the two men, who will be pleased.
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And another for Andrew

Hi Val
Another big thank you to Andrew, mediaman82 for coming out to us in the pouring rain and dark last night to resolve our lack of BBC TV. All was in place when he left us. Alan gladly made a sandwich for Andrew as we were sure he had not had time to eat and still probably had a 20 km journey to get home. Most grateful for his assistance and sound advice. We are recommending his services very highly to our friends.
Carole and Alan Stone

Another for Andrew

Hi Val,
More praise for the lovely Andrew Media Man,we were having a problem with
our recorded programmes and Andrew took time out of his evening to call us
and talk us through to a resolution! He is a charming and extremely helpful expert.
David

The TV situation as of today

Hi Val
At the moment the BBC ITV Astra situation seems to be that we CAN receive non HD TV on 60cm dishes here in the St Antonin area - assuming the dish is properly tuned.
Chez the Jones’s (thanks Michelle for the mention!) their Sky box was no longer showing BBC or ITV but strangely reporting that they had a 75% signal strength and 70% quality.
I went onto the roof to look at their dish and my meter reported that it wasn’t actually ‘locked onto the satellite’ because the dish was not pointed at it. Some adjustment later I got their 60cm (but good quality Visiosat dish) pointed as best I could and the Sky box then reported 85% strength and 100% quality and they had all their channels back.
James Sweeting

We love fish!

Someone said " where is the fish, if you have a freezer stocked with chicken, goose, rabbit and pig?" The answer is we eat more fish than meat and it never stays long in the freezer.
In the North East of England in our youth we used to go and get the fish directly from the boats
"When the boat comes in" ( remember that programme?) I wish the coast was just a bit nearer so we could still do that.
When the Boat Comes In is a British television period-drama produced by the BBCbetween 1976 and 1981.
The series stars James Bolam as Jack Ford, a First World War veteran who returns to his poverty-stricken (fictional) town of Gallowshield in the North East of England in the 1920s and 30s.

Chapeau, James Sweeting!

Dear Val,
Just a quickie to say that James Sweeting has saved the day! 'Wot, No Simpson's???!!!' was the boy's lament in the Jones household last night. We can't have that, nor can I possibly miss The Good Wife on Thursday! Luckily, after a quick e-mail, James came over today to sort out our telly and dish. Fantastic service as usual and quick response. One happy boy tonight and one happy girl tomorrow! Thanks James!
One very happy viewer xxx
Michelle
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Where do you find anything for free? Artists on TAG can. I am offering a free shop window.

Hope all you artists in the area are working on your pictures of SW France to adorn the pages of TAG. This is free publicity and with a link to your website could raise your profile. With all those people viewing TAG amongst them must be some art lovers ( and buyers)
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Stockfish repas at Les Deux Rivieres

Sunday 16th Feb. is a stockfish repas at Les Deux Rivieres, Laguepie.
Reservations  0563 314141
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He is re standing the Maire of Varen

I was met on my walk with Bonny this morning by our Dutch neighbour, who excitedly informed me the Maire was leaving and not restanding. I looked confused as I know from the Maire 's smiling face of late and effusive greetings,  that he is standing again.
One friend said " does he think he can make up for 5 years of scowling"
The neighbour went to get evidence that he was leaving, in the form of a poster sent out which says
"Andre Massat, Maire sortant"
I had to explain that he is leaving but also he was representing himself again.

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Louise spotted the first cowslip last year

Checking through TAG archives the first cowslip last year was spotted on the 22nd of February. Hardly surprising this year we spotted our first cowslip on the 12th of Feb., well it has been very mild. W e did not have the camera so you will have to trust me,  as we have not got photographic evidence.
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Pompier caserne at Vaour

I was interested to read about the building of a new pompier caserne at Vaour. 
We have one in St Antonin just across the road from me. 
However, when I reported a small fire at the bins last year, the emergency call went via MONTAUBAN !  This is normal apparently as they are the central control. 
By my third time of calling, the fire was now a major incident and no activity from the local firestation. I kept being assured they were on their way , but I could see they were NOT ! 

They finally arrived and I am just relieved it was not my house on fire. I am tempted next time to phone a local pompier, at least they know the local geography. 

So if the pompiers are slow to respond it may not be their fault. You need to be very precise with your location/address details of the incident.  
Deirdre 
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New pompier caserne under way in Vaour

The first stone of a new emergency centre being built in Vaour has been laid, the work to be finished by July (ndlr: possibly). The centre has 22 volunteer sapeur/pompiers with various vehicles at their disposal and will cover the area around Vaour, Penne, Itzac, St Michel de Vax  and Campagnac.
The work also involves the construction of road infrastructure and a vehicle wash.
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Want your eyes testing? expect a delay.

On average in France the waiting time to get your eyes tested is 77 days, higher in Toulouse at 90 days. Then it tends to be more expensive than in the UK. This is a situation where if you are back in the UK  nip into Specsavers or Vision Express and for a small fee get your eyes tested.
Malc adds and specs are cheaper there
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Chestnut fair seeks helpers

The association De Bogues en Chataignes ( From husks to chestnuts? translation anyone?) based in Laguepie is seeking volunteers to assist in the preparation of its two big annual events: the spring flower fair and the autumn chestnut fair. Residents and visitors alike will know how these events have grown and president Gaby Roumiguieres says that these events can only continue with an enthusiastic band of volunteers. An extraordinary general meeting will be held tomorrow evening in the Salle du Peuple, Laguepie at 20h30 (8.30pm).
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Inspector Valerié, more Clouseau than Morse!

Ok! Julia the French lady owner of the boy donkeys and I are convinced that some chasseurs took down our donkey fence.
We have been up at the wood inspecting the evidence, not only was the electric fence laid on the ground but it could not have been pushed by the donkeys TOWARDS themselves. Then from the road into the wood the barbed wire had been cut and a wooden post it was attached to thrown to one side. This is a worry as it also stopped access to a very deep sided pond, which is full at the moment, any child or animal falling in would not be able to scramble out.
We knew when we clotured off the wood we might upset the hunters who sneak through that way down to the valley bottom. Annoyingly a bit further on is an open track down to the valley bottom which could be used.
I have decided that I will take photographic evidence and if it happens again present the dossier to Laguepie and Varen chasse chefs, who will of course say it is other chasseurs and they may be right.
Varen chasse day is Thursday, Laguepie must be Wednesday and all the other days especially Sunday private groups or friends, basically chassing every day.
I have re-clotured the area and crossed fingers the donkey chums will be safe and the chasse season will be soon over.
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