Which would you choose? Well, Linda ( President of that well known ladies group) decided to go for the Australian option. Just had an email today, enjoy yourself Linda, you deserve it.
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Friday, 7 March 2014
But a winter free of mosquitos for us
WINTER has brought little respite for the hundreds of thousands of residents in the south of France being driven to distraction by mosquitos which have benefited from the wet and very mild winter.
Swarms of mosquitos have been coming off the stagnant pools of floodwater left behind by the storms in the Var and Languedoc-Roussillon and the normal winter break without bites has been very short.
Val says Here in our area we have not been troubled over winter but I imagine we might have more problems earlier this summer and we may not kill moles but we certainly do kill mosquitos Malc and I.
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Swarms of mosquitos have been coming off the stagnant pools of floodwater left behind by the storms in the Var and Languedoc-Roussillon and the normal winter break without bites has been very short.
Val says Here in our area we have not been troubled over winter but I imagine we might have more problems earlier this summer and we may not kill moles but we certainly do kill mosquitos Malc and I.
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Bonny and Twister continue the chasse
Our two dogs are avid mole diggers and catchers, much to our annoyance. ( what are a few mole heaps between friends) The dogs go in to exterminate mode when they see the ground rising, and dig like fury tracking them as they move just below the surface.
Yesterday the two dug up a mole nest with four babies in, so sweet. They ate one each, they do share, before Malc got the other two and covered them over back in the nest. they were fully formed with pointy noses, lovely furry pelts and those digging paws, but tiny, aah! sweet little things. Nature is so wonderful .
Other friends have the mole catcher in or set mole traps but Malc and I are busy rescuing them, it is a funny world. Please do not ask us if we want your moles, ours are enough for us.
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Yesterday the two dug up a mole nest with four babies in, so sweet. They ate one each, they do share, before Malc got the other two and covered them over back in the nest. they were fully formed with pointy noses, lovely furry pelts and those digging paws, but tiny, aah! sweet little things. Nature is so wonderful .
Other friends have the mole catcher in or set mole traps but Malc and I are busy rescuing them, it is a funny world. Please do not ask us if we want your moles, ours are enough for us.
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Thursday, 6 March 2014
Homemade granola
Hi Val
Long time since I posted anything but I've just finished my homemade granola and need to make some more so I thought I'd share the recipe.
The difference between granola and muesli is that granola is baked - my recipe is baked in honey and maple syrup so I think it tastes nicer than muesli. You can play around with the recipe. The other advantage of granola is that you can use it as a topping as well as eating for breakfast with milk. This makes loads.
Love Glynis
Val says check out the recipe in the Cooks label
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Wine racks for sale
Hi Val
Can you please advertise this selection of wine racks for sale. We are having a 'spring clean' and these are surplus to requirements. No, we have not gone tea total?
There are two wooden ones and five black plastic covered one each holding twenty bottles. Another black one holds twenty five bottles. The black ones can be stacked to one another and can be screwed to the wall for security.
We thought about 5euros for each section.
Many thanks
Sarah Massey
Telephone number 05.65.81.80.13
Can you please advertise this selection of wine racks for sale. We are having a 'spring clean' and these are surplus to requirements. No, we have not gone tea total?
There are two wooden ones and five black plastic covered one each holding twenty bottles. Another black one holds twenty five bottles. The black ones can be stacked to one another and can be screwed to the wall for security.
We thought about 5euros for each section.
Many thanks
Sarah Massey
Telephone number 05.65.81.80.13
Two vagabonds in Najac
Too much gardening yesterday pushed us both into an easier lazy day today, but what arrived in the post at lunchtime ? but the copy of ''Two Vagabonds in Languedoc''by Jan and Cora Gordon. You will remember I told you this book first published in 1925 is actually all about the village of Najac [our little jewel in the regions crown] Now we know Najac is just in to the Aveyron, not Languedoc and we also know it is Najac and not Janac, which is the name the authors choose to give it.. My 2007 reprinted version has a foreward by K.J. Bryant of Wiltshire and I tried to discover by googling if K.J. Bryant was still with us.
I could not determine that but found a blog by Laura McKenna with a written post about the Gordons. Laura McKenna has written a book on a totally different subject but I am interested in that now.
So two sites to look at janandcoragordon.co.uk and
http://writeso.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/jan-and-cora-jo-gordon/
On the book by the Gordons I am up to page 37 and seriously nothing has changed nearly a 100 years on. I find the writing very dated, a bit condescending and patronising about the villagers and the odd use of the word'' nigger'' reminded me of the language of that time.All that said it is going to be a good read with many passages worth a ''quote''
The Gordons arrived by chance at Najac getting off the train at Laguepie and being great walkers fancied the walk to Najac. They were told the way was along the railway tracks, which it still is. Jan asked the peasant ''But are we allowed to walk by the railway tracks'' the peasant shrugged his shoulders and said ''Ma foi'', one is not allowed but never-the less one goes that way'' And indeed the side of the railway is a well trodden path, even marked with the spoor of bicycles.[some friends did that same walk last year.]
We have also discussed many times how the Spanish came here, over the borders in great numbers and even before the Spanish Civil War. Spaniards came for work and below is a quote from the book which shows the attitude reflected at the time by the local French.
''Raymond's principal business seemed to be the listing of Spaniards who came into Najac in dusky groups, odorous and unwashed, to work upon the railway. The Frenchman does not like these strangers whom lack of labour forces him to hire: they are counted as pariahs and as dangerous. It is curious how predjudiced we are against a dusky skin, associating it with a suppressed eagerness to kill''
OK, back to the book I go.
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I could not determine that but found a blog by Laura McKenna with a written post about the Gordons. Laura McKenna has written a book on a totally different subject but I am interested in that now.
So two sites to look at janandcoragordon.co.uk and
http://writeso.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/jan-and-cora-jo-gordon/
On the book by the Gordons I am up to page 37 and seriously nothing has changed nearly a 100 years on. I find the writing very dated, a bit condescending and patronising about the villagers and the odd use of the word'' nigger'' reminded me of the language of that time.All that said it is going to be a good read with many passages worth a ''quote''
The Gordons arrived by chance at Najac getting off the train at Laguepie and being great walkers fancied the walk to Najac. They were told the way was along the railway tracks, which it still is. Jan asked the peasant ''But are we allowed to walk by the railway tracks'' the peasant shrugged his shoulders and said ''Ma foi'', one is not allowed but never-the less one goes that way'' And indeed the side of the railway is a well trodden path, even marked with the spoor of bicycles.[some friends did that same walk last year.]
We have also discussed many times how the Spanish came here, over the borders in great numbers and even before the Spanish Civil War. Spaniards came for work and below is a quote from the book which shows the attitude reflected at the time by the local French.
''Raymond's principal business seemed to be the listing of Spaniards who came into Najac in dusky groups, odorous and unwashed, to work upon the railway. The Frenchman does not like these strangers whom lack of labour forces him to hire: they are counted as pariahs and as dangerous. It is curious how predjudiced we are against a dusky skin, associating it with a suppressed eagerness to kill''
OK, back to the book I go.
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Join the Petrolheads
The start of the 2014 season, the first monthly Petrolheads meeting. Come and meet us, with or without a car, all welcome for an informal get together. For information, contact Ian on 06 04 14 32 67. Hope to see you there.Also check out the website www.lespetrolheads.com
 |
| Petrolheads at Parisot Lake, Nov 2013 |
Venue Lac de Parisot 82160. Sunday 6 April 12.00-15.00.
Menu fixe available-for reservations call 05.63.65.70.65.
http://www.campingdulacparisot.com
Menu fixe available-for reservations call 05.63.65.70.65.
http://www.campingdulacparisot.com
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Farrow and Ball from Carpetman
Dear Val,As we are now fully stocked with F&B docs, If any of the TAG readers would like to have a Farrow & Ball colour chart sending to them let me know
Whether you want to find the inspiration in the depth of their colours of just dream of 'that ' room being relooked drop me a line;
They are free after all !
Also last chance to win a rug on our facebook page, the draw will be tomorrow afternoon, just like the page and share the post to be in the hat !
Take care
Steve
Carpetman 05 63 20 51 59
facebook.com/carpetmanfrance
Whether you want to find the inspiration in the depth of their colours of just dream of 'that ' room being relooked drop me a line;
They are free after all !
Also last chance to win a rug on our facebook page, the draw will be tomorrow afternoon, just like the page and share the post to be in the hat !
Take care
Steve
Carpetman 05 63 20 51 59
facebook.com/carpetmanfrance
Sunday concerts in Arnac
The Ecole de Piano in Arnac, Varen, reminds us that the weekly "vesperales" are continuing in March with some appealing offerings.
Sunday March 9th: Schumann, selected works played by Anne Claire Carrere
Sunday March 16th: Vivaldi concerti played by Jean Paul Carrere, followed if you wish by a "repas partage" and a "surprise". You may go just for the concert, but presumably book for the rest of the evening.
Sunday March 23rd:Mozart sonatas played by Anne Claire.
Sunday March 30th: "challenge the pianists to play your scores by sight"
Sunday April 6th: Schubert favourites played by Anne Claire.
All the concerts start at 18h (6pm) and are "participation libre" - pay what you think it was worth.
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Sunday March 9th: Schumann, selected works played by Anne Claire Carrere
Sunday March 16th: Vivaldi concerti played by Jean Paul Carrere, followed if you wish by a "repas partage" and a "surprise". You may go just for the concert, but presumably book for the rest of the evening.
Sunday March 23rd:Mozart sonatas played by Anne Claire.
Sunday March 30th: "challenge the pianists to play your scores by sight"
Sunday April 6th: Schubert favourites played by Anne Claire.
All the concerts start at 18h (6pm) and are "participation libre" - pay what you think it was worth.
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Picasso works given a face lift to match the new decor
It comes as no surprise that the "massive renovation" of the Picasso museum in Paris should have cost twice as much and taken more than twice as long as estimated (Report, 5 March). It comes as no surprise that the architect should celebrate his own renovation as a "development" of spaces that "respects" the listed 17th-century building. Nor is it a surprise that during the building's five-year renovation the contents – Picasso's works – should have been shuttled around the world to raise money to pay for the escalating building work.
What comes as a truly horrible surprise is that all of Picasso's 5,000 works have been "cleaned, restored and reframed" for the opening. It beggars belief that some urgent "conservation" necessity should have struck all of these modern works at the same time. We can only conclude that Picasso's art has been cosmetically spruced-up to match the new decor. The consequence is that all of these works have been severed at the same historical moment and to the same prevailing taste from their previous and likely varying states of conservation or non-conservation. When individual works in a collection are restored and returned to view it is possible to compare them fairly and critically with previously restored and non-restored works. The administrators of this museum have removed that possibility of appraisal at a stroke. We must hope that proper records – including high-quality, directly comparative photographs – were made during the treatment of each work, and that these will be made available to interested parties.
Michael Daley from the Guardian
Director, ArtWatch UK
Director, ArtWatch UK
Malc says I wonder if they have sorted out the eye problems, now an eye on each side!
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Paleo diet
Hi Val,
I eat a Paleo diet...which means, no gluten, no dairy, no sugar, no white starches...basically meats, vegetables, fruit, nuts and I feel fantastic. I follow a few blogs that are really good and have amazing recipes. Some things I have a hard time finding like coconut flour or coconut oil, so I have to order them from the UK. If anyone is interested, here are some good sites to check out. http://www.elanaspantry.com and http://nomnompaleo.com/.
Ali
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Some early risers amongst TAG readers
Before I had put pen to paper at 8 am more than 100 readers had opened TAG to take a peek.
Well they will have discovered already that outside was a nip in the air, but the sun wasted no time rising to chase Mr Frost away. Super day now and so little time to dawdle this morning.
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Well they will have discovered already that outside was a nip in the air, but the sun wasted no time rising to chase Mr Frost away. Super day now and so little time to dawdle this morning.
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Bizet's Carmen from the Royal Opera House
Next Wednesday 12th at 6.30pm Mas del Sol productions are having another Opera evening with proceeds going to Via Sahel Enfants d'Afrique. The seats are fully booked but if for any reason you cannot make it let us know as we have others who will take your place. Our penultimate Opera evening of the season.
The next and last opera is in April is "The Barber of Seville"with Cecilia Bartoli
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The next and last opera is in April is "The Barber of Seville"with Cecilia Bartoli
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Gluten free bread and cakes, the way to go.
Sales of gluten-free products at France’s large-scale retailers have grown tenfold since 2008 to hit €27 million (US $37.1 million) last year, said Brigitte Jolivet, president of AFDIAG, the French association for people with gluten sensitivities.
The industry now points to neighbouring countries like the UK and Italy, where the market for gluten-free products is already worth ten times as much, as evidence that there is vast potential for future growth.
“It is changing from a niche market to a mass market,” says Coralie de Rozières, the head of gluten-free products at Nutrition & Santé, France’s leading manufacturer of gluten-free products.
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A symbolic gesture at Toulouse on the 19th of March
A commemorative meeting will take place in homage to the Jewish victims of Merah on the 19th of March , organised by the Jewish community and the Halle aux grains will be open all evening.
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Pet Alert 82 or 12 on facebook but do not forget www.chienperdu.org
Another site in Midi Pyrenees helping to find your lost pet, it is free to put your " announce"
La page Facebook Pet Alert 31 permet aux propriétaires ayant perdu leur animal domestique de déposer gratuitement une annonce pour le retrouver. La puissance des réseaux a déjà aidé à retrouver des dizaines d’animaux pour le bonheur de leur famille.
Val says I know of amazing results with dogs lost and found on www.chienperdu.org
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Anne says There is a facebook Pet Alert for every departement. So for us it is Pet Alert 82 or for our friend's in the Aveyron it is Pet Alert 12. You need to post the lost dog on the correct departement page.
Val says I know of amazing results with dogs lost and found on www.chienperdu.org
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Wednesday, 5 March 2014
TAG Christmas raffle prize, a night at La Reverie
Hi Val,
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It’s been some time since the TAG Christmas raffle, but the prize of a night in La Reverie chambre d’hote in St Antonin was valid up until Easter, and I thought I feed back as John and I have just taken it now. The prize was actually won by local author, Maree Giles, but she very generously donated it to us, and what’s more, Maree also took in our 3 lively children for the night while we enjoyed our mini break!
La Reverie (website: www.lareveriefrance.com ) is a delightful chamber d’hote, which has been run by Andrea White for over 10 years. There are two guest rooms, both meticulously clean and tidy and nicely furnished. If anyone is in need of accommodation for visiting family and friends, I’d definitely recommend this place. A typical St Antonin building, the medieval town house is nestled into the back streets, in the ancient Tannery area (just behind the Querley’s cinema), giving it the best of both worlds: a peaceful location that also offers quick access to the town centre. For us, living à la campagna, on the plateau above Caylus, it was a novelty to stay in town, where we could enjoy a drink and dinner before strolling back to our room.
Andrea gave us a warm welcome and was really helpful in ensuring our stay was a pleasant one. After living in France for a year now, I’ve become accustomed to the lunchtime closures, but the random Monday closures still catch me out and I only remembered about this after I’d organised our schedule and made the booking. Fortunately, Andrea researched all local restaurants to find some that would be open on aMonday night, allowing us to enjoy our rare treat of a child-free, grown-up dinner! Thanks to Andrea for a great stay, and to you Val, and all the TAG readers for sorting out the Christmas raffle!
Love Debbie xx
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What a stupid thing to do
Albi cinema hit the TV news again today but not for the wonderful newly designed theatre nearby. They had a large bear chained up on stage!! for a number of shows.
Animal lovers were protesting outside the theatre, but how can be sensible people treat wild animals like this. I despair.
Malc says it would be " no picnic for the bear"
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Animal lovers were protesting outside the theatre, but how can be sensible people treat wild animals like this. I despair.
Malc says it would be " no picnic for the bear"
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Yannick Noah hits out at the far right.
A French former tennis star turned musician, Yannick Noah, has enlisted the services of two other national heroes to release a song aimed against the far-right Front National (FN).
Noah, who is regularly voted France's favourite famous person, has released the song Ma Colère (my anger) accompanied by a video featuring former footballer turned actor and photographer Eric "The King" Cantona and singer-songwriter Bruno Caliciuri (known as Cali), whose Italian grandfather fought with the international brigades against Franco
A French former tennis star turned musician, Yannick Noah, has enlisted the services of two other national heroes to release a song aimed against the far-right Front National (FN).
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Debra from London
Hi Val,
I was very interested in the problem Joan is having with her email account as I am having the very same issue with my account over here in London. It may have something to do with the fact that Microsoft have taken over hotmail (and yahoo?) and are adding new security measures -so secure that I seem to be locked out of my hotmail account. Sadly I do not have access to useful media men and am reliant on Microsoft Support which is definitely not!
Another good reason to be spending more time in France I think,
Good luck with the problem solving,
Debra
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I was very interested in the problem Joan is having with her email account as I am having the very same issue with my account over here in London. It may have something to do with the fact that Microsoft have taken over hotmail (and yahoo?) and are adding new security measures -so secure that I seem to be locked out of my hotmail account. Sadly I do not have access to useful media men and am reliant on Microsoft Support which is definitely not!
Another good reason to be spending more time in France I think,
Good luck with the problem solving,
Debra
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to make sure that no TAGophile missed your item on a certain visitor... tu
Good job he has a sense of humour.
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Lunch on the terrace on a special day.
Having been in the garden all morning, lunch on the terrace was a lovely affair, here we are the 5th of March, 2014, our 48th wedding anniversary and who could ask for a better day. I would add the sun shines on the righteous but it probably shines just as strongly for the ungodly.
Enjoy your day in the sun... and for us back to gardening.
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Enjoy your day in the sun... and for us back to gardening.
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Look no further than Mini Monde
Dear Val
Our Dutch neighbors, Kees and Lonneke, are looking for a cot on loan/to hire
for one week commencing 30th March when their Grand Daughter Polly comes
with her parents.
Could we try to find one via Taglines?
Many thanks
Jane
I know that Becky of Mini Monde has cots, pushchairs etc, for hire at very reasonable prices. Click on the picture for Mini Monde and the website should come up.
Love Val
Jane says
Many thanks for this Val, how useful and enterprising!
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Our Dutch neighbors, Kees and Lonneke, are looking for a cot on loan/to hire
for one week commencing 30th March when their Grand Daughter Polly comes
with her parents.
Could we try to find one via Taglines?
Many thanks
Jane
I know that Becky of Mini Monde has cots, pushchairs etc, for hire at very reasonable prices. Click on the picture for Mini Monde and the website should come up.
Love Val
Jane says
Many thanks for this Val, how useful and enterprising!
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Views and film of Najac
'Morning M'am
I'm sending this email to indicate an interest in viewing the film about Najac.
I'll watch for the dates.
Thanks,as always
Di
Val says next Thursday 13th at 6.30pm we will schedule the first viewing. We will flick through the interesting 100 year old views of Najac, followed by the film which is a bit short of half an hour.
Hope you can make this Di, but I will make other dates available later. All invited, just book your seat, gratuit.
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I'm sending this email to indicate an interest in viewing the film about Najac.
I'll watch for the dates.
Thanks,as always
Di
Val says next Thursday 13th at 6.30pm we will schedule the first viewing. We will flick through the interesting 100 year old views of Najac, followed by the film which is a bit short of half an hour.
Hope you can make this Di, but I will make other dates available later. All invited, just book your seat, gratuit.
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Countries of the World
If any one wants to have fun and improve their general knowledge Countries of the World Quiz is addictive! Google 'Jet Punk' and you'll find it. It probably isn't good if you have high blood pressure as you only have 12 minutes to get them all! It took me a lot of goes/days/time to get the 196 countries but as my daughter had already managed i had to perservere! Good luck and don't be put off by a bad first score!
Rachel
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Are your fire and boiler installations safe?
I have just read that three people at Montauban living in a flat have been intoxicated with carbon monoxide fumes.
The reason it rang alarm bells with me was for a few days when the oil fired boiler has been starting up on a morning, Malc and I felt we have smelt smoke fumes. To be on the save side we called out our local plumber. He thinks we may not have one of those silver flue pipes running up the chimney of the boiler house.
We certainly have one from the wood burning stove which we had fitted.
The plumber who fitted the system about 15 years ago lives down the road, so we went on a mission to check if he remembered if the chimney had one. He used to live in the house before us so we often ask him things about the house.
The chimney he says was built solidly but no, it did not have an inner flue pipe, which is probably now needed as a real safety feature.
So our next job is to get that fixed; better safe than sorry. I have just said to Malc but we are not at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning are we? His reply " possibly"
If TAG does not appear one morning and you hear donkeys shouting please check us out, it is the fumes you do not smell that are the killers. Malc says we can also fit a carbon monoxide detector.
A reader tells us
The reason it rang alarm bells with me was for a few days when the oil fired boiler has been starting up on a morning, Malc and I felt we have smelt smoke fumes. To be on the save side we called out our local plumber. He thinks we may not have one of those silver flue pipes running up the chimney of the boiler house.
We certainly have one from the wood burning stove which we had fitted.
The plumber who fitted the system about 15 years ago lives down the road, so we went on a mission to check if he remembered if the chimney had one. He used to live in the house before us so we often ask him things about the house.
The chimney he says was built solidly but no, it did not have an inner flue pipe, which is probably now needed as a real safety feature.
So our next job is to get that fixed; better safe than sorry. I have just said to Malc but we are not at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning are we? His reply " possibly"
If TAG does not appear one morning and you hear donkeys shouting please check us out, it is the fumes you do not smell that are the killers. Malc says we can also fit a carbon monoxide detector.
A reader tells us
We just bought two CO detectors - including P&P they came to £27.50.
Each was on special offer, reduced from £19.99 to £11.06 at Amazon.co.uk.
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They work like smoke alarms, but ignore smoke and detect carbon monoxide.
A detector will tell you if CO is present, and help prioritise any building work...
Val says We have just ordered one this morning and are waiting for a visit from the plumber to measure the size of tube needed for the interior of the chimney.
Val says We have just ordered one this morning and are waiting for a visit from the plumber to measure the size of tube needed for the interior of the chimney.
Glorious, glorious, morning with sun from horizon to horizon
I am glad the donkeys called me early this morning, it was wonderful out there in the fields. A bit of a shock to be met by two hens at the gate, meaning we forgot to lock them up last night, fortunately M. or Madame Fox had not been about.
The sky is blue, blue, blue and the sun, well so strong I needed my sunglasses and the even better news is the forecast is wall to wall sunshine for more than a week or as Malc says " the foreseeable future."
As we speak I am dusting off the sun beds, shaking the comfy outside chair covers, finding sun block, now that is for me, Tudor. For you I have found out gardening equipment, old gardening gloves, etc. nothing like a bit of weeding on your holidays. ( brother in law Tudor arrives Friday, if you remember he is the one whose trousers fell down at airport security, when they asked him to remove his belt and hold up his arms!)
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The sky is blue, blue, blue and the sun, well so strong I needed my sunglasses and the even better news is the forecast is wall to wall sunshine for more than a week or as Malc says " the foreseeable future."
As we speak I am dusting off the sun beds, shaking the comfy outside chair covers, finding sun block, now that is for me, Tudor. For you I have found out gardening equipment, old gardening gloves, etc. nothing like a bit of weeding on your holidays. ( brother in law Tudor arrives Friday, if you remember he is the one whose trousers fell down at airport security, when they asked him to remove his belt and hold up his arms!)
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The BBC film of Najac in the 70's
Malc and I watched last night the film sent by John Dawson recorded by the BBC of Najac in 1974. The narrator was Eric Thompson who was Emma Thompson's Dad and also the narrator of the Magic Roundabout.
Life seemed to go on in very much the same way and with the usual village characters, it did remind me of a more genteel " La Ville comme elle va" the French life of Najac released at least 10 years ago.
We are now looking forward to a night with the old photographs.
Anyone interested in Najac contact us as we arrange a couple of showings.
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Life seemed to go on in very much the same way and with the usual village characters, it did remind me of a more genteel " La Ville comme elle va" the French life of Najac released at least 10 years ago.
We are now looking forward to a night with the old photographs.
Anyone interested in Najac contact us as we arrange a couple of showings.
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Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall fortunately not at the Château de Milhars
Yesterday 20 metres of a 7 metre high wall fell down at the Château at Milhars creating 250 cubic metres of gravats/ stones. The Pompiers have been checking with dogs that no one was under the pile of stones. The recent heavy rain has been blamed for the collapse.
We have also been told by the present Maire adjoint that because of all the rain followed by a broken pipe not discovered until much flood damage had been done, the interior of the station at Lexos is in a very bad, unusable state and would now cost a fortune to bring it up to a reasonable state. What a shame.
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We have also been told by the present Maire adjoint that because of all the rain followed by a broken pipe not discovered until much flood damage had been done, the interior of the station at Lexos is in a very bad, unusable state and would now cost a fortune to bring it up to a reasonable state. What a shame.
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Tuesday, 4 March 2014
Just a little more precision
For communes with a population of less than 1,000 you can choose the people you want to vote for from the list and cross out the ones you don’t want or you can vote for the whole list. If there is more than one list you can vote for people from different lists but you shouldn’t vote for more people than there will be in the mairie/ that are on one list.
For communes of more than 1,000 people you have to choose one list and can not cross any names out. If you do cross out the name of someone on the list your vote won’t count.
For communes of more than 1,000 people the list that wins the most votes will have 50% of seats/places. The rest will depend on what percentage of the population voted for them.
Eg Saint Antonin has 19 seats/places and so if the winning list has 55% of the votes they will have 10 seats plus 55% of the rest (9 places) which means they will have 15 and so the other list will have 4 places/seats.
Rachel Shamash
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Rachel Shamash
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Shame, our Mercedes cabriolet will never be a classic car in my life time... just old.
PS Correct terminology - a vintage car is one built between 1919 and 1930. Older ones are called veterans, and younger ones (very loosely) classic cars. In France, a classic car must be 30 years old to qualify as a vehicule de collection, and so need aControle Technique only every 5 years.
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La Vie de l'Auto
Hi Val
t's a magazine I subscribed to for several years - in fact I stopped because what they were reporting came round again, every year, and I was spending too much time reading it! So whilst I haven't got a current copy, there's every chance a rally will be on again this year. Particularly if, for instance, they describe last year's s the " 11th Rally of Abc ", or something like that - the French like to continue a tradition once they've started one!
Having been a motor club secretary in Lancashire, back in the '90s and '00s, I'm aware also that contact details change only rarely, so there's every chance you can get information from last year's source.
Did you know there's a small monthly rassemblement of classic car owners and their cars once a month in Montauban, at Leclerc's car park, Aussonne? But I'd have to scratch my head to work out which Sunday every month. There's also a very friendly (mostly anglophone) group of classic car owners who meet up and eat at the Lac de Parisot in the Summer - contact there is Valerie Stait (an airline pilot living nearby) and her husband. I do have Valerie's email, if you'd like it.
The nearest full classic car show to here is the annual end-of-May event at Escatalens (82), near Montech, which is quite a big do. I took our old banger in 2011. I believe it has its own web site...
x Chris
Val says I was happily going to tell you about a rally of vintage cars in March when I realised that the information was from last years magazine. I am sure all you " mad on vintage car" people can give me all the info that Chris is telling me about. I just love anything " old with style" which is probably why I like the well matured Malc !
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Val says I was happily going to tell you about a rally of vintage cars in March when I realised that the information was from last years magazine. I am sure all you " mad on vintage car" people can give me all the info that Chris is telling me about. I just love anything " old with style" which is probably why I like the well matured Malc !
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People love reading TAG, before they jump.
I am told this all the time, when people are wanting to change their life styles, they find TAG on the internet. The life sounds so good (which it is) that people really look forward to coming.
I have even heard of one couple who read TAG and were wondering if this life was for them and TAG decided it for them and they are coming soon to house hunt.
Perhaps I should write a disclaimer in case of dissatisfaction.
I am amazed that all the local immobiliers are not fighting to be have adverts on TAG. I have prospective clients from all around the world reading and the only estate agent on is Martine Ravily of AG3, well good on you Martine
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I have even heard of one couple who read TAG and were wondering if this life was for them and TAG decided it for them and they are coming soon to house hunt.
Perhaps I should write a disclaimer in case of dissatisfaction.
I am amazed that all the local immobiliers are not fighting to be have adverts on TAG. I have prospective clients from all around the world reading and the only estate agent on is Martine Ravily of AG3, well good on you Martine
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What a lovely surprise for us all in the post.
John Dawson has posted to us two DVDs, one of his old slides of Najac with 30 or 40 more we have not seen and a copy of a documentary made at Najac he thinks in 1974 ( 40 years ago)
We will arrange numerous viewings of the two on the big screen here at Mas del Sol. If you are interested let me know and I will work out a number of suitable evenings for viewing.
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We will arrange numerous viewings of the two on the big screen here at Mas del Sol. If you are interested let me know and I will work out a number of suitable evenings for viewing.
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A big thank you.
A big thank you to Robert Petersen who has sent over the amount asked for when placing an advert and asking it be sent to Cancer Support
Caroline Mills also asking her donation goes to Cancer Suport
and Colin Scott.
Many thanks all of you.
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Caroline Mills also asking her donation goes to Cancer Suport
and Colin Scott.
Many thanks all of you.
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Joan seeks help
Hi Val
Good morning to you.
I am having tremendous trouble trying to get into my yahoo.co.uk account using microsoft, have you heard of anyone else with the same problem? thank goodness we also have an Apple Mac but the Microsoft is my own laptop and more convenient for me to use when i want to reach the world outside (including TAG). i am not sure if the problem is just with my laptop if so, can you recommend an IT man?
best wishes
Joan
Val says I know of two excellent people that could solve the problem
Andrew Media Man
and James Sweeting, both have adverts in the side bar and come highly reccommended by our readers.
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Can I counter this word with prude [ prudes are us ]
H Val
Be careful using the P*** in anything posted online, you will probably be inundated with spam from people offering their services.
Gill
Val says I will let you know, could make interesting reading!
Malc reminds me about when someone asked for a partner for rubber bridge and we got some very weird replies.
Malc reminds me about when someone asked for a partner for rubber bridge and we got some very weird replies.
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Support Martine at Puylaroque
Hi Val! Much is happening here, and I am referring to the forthcoming elections . I had no idea I was going to join the maire’s team up until the maire came to invite me. Pierre is 75 and some people think he should leave space for younger people. When I asked him that question, he replied he had more to give to the village and I was touched by his humility and selflessness. The previous maire got involved in a nasty court case for being inappropriate with female staff and Pierre had managed to appease the village with his gentle ways. He had also managed to restore the village finances to a healthy state. Not a small job. So I joined the team and we have put together various projects concerning the very centre of the village which like a lot of other villages around is missing life and energy. I find our team to be not only a great bunch of competent men and women but each one of us has a real human contribution to make. The next couple of weeks will be busy to say the least as we’ll be going around seeing all the inhabitants and getting to hear what each and every one of them has to say and talk about our projects for our village. I have never been a councillor and I am looking forward to chatting to a lot of people even though I am aware that some of the stuff we’ll hear will be pretty strong stuff as always….I’ve been told.
Martine Lewis
Puylaroque
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From Linda & Simon .....Hmmm!.....
.... a new career as outside caterers for us then? Food for thought - haha
PS Ginny- the miracle machine made the bread, not me and our new kitchen will be designed around it. It will certainly never gather dust in any cupboard! xXx
Val says Simon is a speciality pavlova chef and Linda has been known to make good bread.
In truth Simon Curtis is an exceptionally clever handyman ( see his advert.) who can make the most fabulous pavlova.
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PS Ginny- the miracle machine made the bread, not me and our new kitchen will be designed around it. It will certainly never gather dust in any cupboard! xXx
Val says Simon is a speciality pavlova chef and Linda has been known to make good bread.
In truth Simon Curtis is an exceptionally clever handyman ( see his advert.) who can make the most fabulous pavlova.
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Gearing up for "les municipales"
Over the next couple of weeks we will start to hear more from our candidates for the local council (conseil municipal) elections.
Voting will take place on two Sundays , the 23rd and 30th March. In the small communes that most of live in - fewer than 3500 inhabitants - we may have a choice of lists, usually representing people with similar aspirations for the commune and often, though not always backed by a political party.
We may pick and choose from within the lists, crossing out the names of those we do not wish to vote for. Or we may simply vote for the whole of one list. (In the bigger communes you have to vote for a whole list). In theory the elected councillors will choose the maire and adjoints from their ranks, though in practice there is usually a "tete de liste" who, if elected will be maire.
In the first round of voting lists or candidates receiving more than 50% of the votes cast by at least 25% of the electorate will be elected there and then. Those receiving less than 50% will go forward to the second round to fill the remaining places.
Any resident paying local taxes may vote, provided they register before the end of the preceding year. And non-French residents may stand, though not become maire. Candidates may often be labelled as "sortant", which means they were members of the previous council and are "re-presenting" themselves for election.
Campaigning must end on the Friday prior to the election date, so brace yourselves for smiling ogres and baby kissing from those after your votes.
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Voting will take place on two Sundays , the 23rd and 30th March. In the small communes that most of live in - fewer than 3500 inhabitants - we may have a choice of lists, usually representing people with similar aspirations for the commune and often, though not always backed by a political party.
We may pick and choose from within the lists, crossing out the names of those we do not wish to vote for. Or we may simply vote for the whole of one list. (In the bigger communes you have to vote for a whole list). In theory the elected councillors will choose the maire and adjoints from their ranks, though in practice there is usually a "tete de liste" who, if elected will be maire.
In the first round of voting lists or candidates receiving more than 50% of the votes cast by at least 25% of the electorate will be elected there and then. Those receiving less than 50% will go forward to the second round to fill the remaining places.
Any resident paying local taxes may vote, provided they register before the end of the preceding year. And non-French residents may stand, though not become maire. Candidates may often be labelled as "sortant", which means they were members of the previous council and are "re-presenting" themselves for election.
Campaigning must end on the Friday prior to the election date, so brace yourselves for smiling ogres and baby kissing from those after your votes.
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Porn at the book swap
In a post about magazines I said " relevant magazines only" and some one asked did this mean no porn. I could only think porn could be relevant to many readers' lives, so porn is allowed!
I picked up two magazines, one on horses and it gives me lots of information that is relevant to donkeys, laminitis, products for cuts or bites, the importance of cleaning the pasture ect.
Another magazine on classic old cars, now I would love a 1950' s convertible Mercedes and if Malc thought it relevant we could buy one... but he does not think it relevant at all.
I am going to be a bit naughty and send round this heading to subscribers... but I bet it gets you all looking!
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I picked up two magazines, one on horses and it gives me lots of information that is relevant to donkeys, laminitis, products for cuts or bites, the importance of cleaning the pasture ect.
Another magazine on classic old cars, now I would love a 1950' s convertible Mercedes and if Malc thought it relevant we could buy one... but he does not think it relevant at all.
I am going to be a bit naughty and send round this heading to subscribers... but I bet it gets you all looking!
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Damp, windy day but good forecasts ahead.
Out in the fields at 7.15 am, it was already light, but drizzling, wind howling and a really miserable morning. The donkeys seemed affected by the weather and were all in grumpy spirits their coats looking damp and muddy. As I tried to fairly distribute hay between the four I narrowly avoided being kicked. It does not help if you get a kick to know it was not aimed at you but another donkey. Anyway the mission was accomplished and I squelched back home to feed the outside cats who were waiting patiently for me in the relative warmth of the barn.
Checking the meteo on my return, the forecast is still looking rosy.
I like my weather forecasts with an early morning donkey twist.
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Checking the meteo on my return, the forecast is still looking rosy.
I like my weather forecasts with an early morning donkey twist.
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Hard working boys having a bit of fun
Val says I like the idea to promote the firefighters by saying "phone us on 18," sorry you got into trouble for it lads.
Although the YouTube clip filmed by a group of firefighters in the northern French city of Lille was a joke birthday gift, bosses certainly did not see the funny side.
The publicly posted video shows the bare-chested guys in their firefighting gear, but also working out and as well as in the shower, while they lip synch to Carly Rae Jepsen's ubiquitous 2012 hit 'Call Me Maybe.'
Quercy Grimpe at St. Antonin Noble Val
Quercy Grimpe is organizing a course for youngsters who are licensed to climb and wish to hone their skills or become trainers. It may be interesting to others who fancy learning or joining to contact the group.
The course is 21 euros.
Quercy Grimpe organise un stage de perfectionnement à destination des jeunes licenciés du mercredi 5 au vendredi 7 mars de 14 heures à 18 heures. Objectifs du stage: améliorer sa gestuelle et apprendre à gérer un entraînement. Mercredi 5 après-midi, le stage se déroulera au gymnase
Renseignements et inscriptions sur quercygrimpe@hotmail.fr, sur www.quercygrimpe.com, au 05 63 24 05 18 («Chris») ou au 05 63 31 18 26 (Agnès).
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Monday, 3 March 2014
Get the Blues on Saturday
Remember John Mayall's Bluesbreakers? Well the 60's legend, "father of European blues" is appearing in Toulouse on Saturday, 8th March at Le Bikini in the suburb of Ramonville-St-Agne. At 20.30 from 29 euros.
Link to John Mayall gig
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Link to John Mayall gig
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Chinese/Asian/ Indian spice grocery shop
I have found a Chinese/Asian/Indian spice/grocery shop in Montauban (probably been there years, but I have only just discovered it). It’s just off the main road at Montauban Nord, at the roundabout take the road to Aussonne, go past the Leclerc supermarket and carry on until you come to the roundabout at Auchan Supermarket, go right around the roundabout and back the way you came, when you get to the first roundabout, on your right there is a sign, just before the roundabout, saying Exotic Store, it’s down the alley way and just on the right. We bought, tin of black beans, bok choy, curry leaves, rice wine, minced ginger, Chinese beers, fish sauce, chillies and rice. They also had a large fresh section and lots of frozen produce, including spring roll pastry and crispy duck pancakes. Well worth a look. Oh and they also have a beauty section for exotic ladies and do something called Hair Mayonnaise, if you try it let me know what it is!
Sue
Betty says
You are right Sue,this shop has been there a long time Betty
Betty says
You are right Sue,this shop has been there a long time Betty
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HOP flies to Rodez
Hi Val
Air France's new cheap arm HOP now flies Rodez - Paris early in the day, to connect with ongoing budget flights.
Their English language web site is here: http://www.hop.fr/en/?gclid=CJ-j4_Db9rwCFSsKwwodlpoAJw
They say flights are priced from 55€ - though many that I saw listed were in the range 88€ to 116€.
It's dearer than driving to airports further afield, like Limoges, Bordeaux and Carcassonne, but a lot more relaxing.
x C
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Water quality, "nowt wrong with it, gerrit down yer" says a Frenchman
God knows why he would say it with a Lancashire accent but Malc has just been talking to a local villager Albert.
Albert was filling up his bottles at the old water source in Varen so Malc stopped to ask him if he was sure the water was OK.
Albert says he and other French villagers have never stopped using the source although it is no longer tested. "Tastes much better than tap water and nobody has ever been ill" he says. Malc then asked if he boiled it before use and received a nonplussed "No."
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Albert was filling up his bottles at the old water source in Varen so Malc stopped to ask him if he was sure the water was OK.
Albert says he and other French villagers have never stopped using the source although it is no longer tested. "Tastes much better than tap water and nobody has ever been ill" he says. Malc then asked if he boiled it before use and received a nonplussed "No."
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Tip toe through the tulips with me
Sometimes you can look a fool even with out wearing a onesie with hood and ears. There I was, tip toeing around the garden trying not to be seen or make a sound when one of our Canadian renters threw open the upstairs window of the gite and shouted down for a chat. I could hardly go ssh! I do not want the donkeys to know I am here; just too rude that would have been.
The lady must have wondered why I was tiptoeing around; yes, positively sneaking about. I bet you are all wondering the same thing.
I am running short of hay! ssh! for heavens sake do not let the donkey chums hear that.
I have three small bales left which have to last till the week end. Now if they could all be more restrained and just have one feed in the morning we could manage it... but if they hear me in the grounds on an afternoon they then go into Oliver Twist begging mode; we want more! This is accompanied by four donkeys hee hawing, and what a din when the four start begging.
We have arranged to get more hay at the week end, but try telling the donkeys they will have to wait.
I just hope we do not have reprisal break-outs.
"Tiptoe Through the Tulips" is a popular song originally published in 1929. The song was written by Al Dubin (lyrics) and Joe Burke (music). ... and no I was not around then.
Malc says He remembers the Tiny Tim version of 1968
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The lady must have wondered why I was tiptoeing around; yes, positively sneaking about. I bet you are all wondering the same thing.
I am running short of hay! ssh! for heavens sake do not let the donkey chums hear that.
I have three small bales left which have to last till the week end. Now if they could all be more restrained and just have one feed in the morning we could manage it... but if they hear me in the grounds on an afternoon they then go into Oliver Twist begging mode; we want more! This is accompanied by four donkeys hee hawing, and what a din when the four start begging.
We have arranged to get more hay at the week end, but try telling the donkeys they will have to wait.
I just hope we do not have reprisal break-outs.
"Tiptoe Through the Tulips" is a popular song originally published in 1929. The song was written by Al Dubin (lyrics) and Joe Burke (music). ... and no I was not around then.
Malc says He remembers the Tiny Tim version of 1968
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We will be watching Broadchurch in French with David Tennant
Millions of French TV addicts will gather around screens across the country on Monday night to see the denouement of British TV crime drama Broadchurch, which has proved a huge success in France.
The crime series, starring David Tennant, which concerns the hunt for the murderer of a young boy, is expected to top ratings once again when France 2 TV airs the final two episodes of the series on Monday.
Audience figures are once again expected to top 6 million, which easily outperforms rival programmes. The local
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They hate those " fish eating cormorants" at Monteils
Fisherman hate cormorants, why this hatred? Well what do they eat but fish? As many lakes, ponds and streams are specially filled for the sport of catching fish, those black devils, those cormorants were always destined to be shot and killed. At Monteils where the chasse have done their worst with the birds over winter, the period of the killing is now over. ( If you are a fisherman, they have done their best)
These views are only mine, I just hate killing. I would rather have mole hills all over the lawns than kill those delightfully beautiful creatures with big hands.
I bet I am on my own with that one!
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These views are only mine, I just hate killing. I would rather have mole hills all over the lawns than kill those delightfully beautiful creatures with big hands.
I bet I am on my own with that one!
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Another good book swap
From my point of view, a great book swap. More than a handful of books for me to read over the month and no dross to bring home and go through.
I reckon of the books taken there are so many authors and titles in good condition, that they all deserve a second time around next time.
So nice to talk to old timers and new faces, hope everyone enjoys it as much as me.
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I reckon of the books taken there are so many authors and titles in good condition, that they all deserve a second time around next time.
So nice to talk to old timers and new faces, hope everyone enjoys it as much as me.
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Replies to bread
Hallo Val
Laguépicerie (on the corner by the market 'hall') is open on a Monday in Laguepie and they sell bread.
Liz
Who needs a bread maker?
Val says - a new job for you there Linda Walsh, can I order 5 loaves of sunflower bread at the commercial rate of course? and if your Simon is ever making a pavlova let us know and we will be there. I know he is a super handyman but talents like his on the "pavlova" front are not to be ignored.
Laguépicerie (on the corner by the market 'hall') is open on a Monday in Laguepie and they sell bread.
Liz
Who needs a bread maker?
Some of the most theraputic time in a day can be spent kneeding bread. Make the dough the night before and leave it to rise in the fridge overnight. Shape the loaves first thing in the morning and it will rise again while you have that first cup of tea and bake while you get the donkeys organised. Voila.
I had some wonderful sunflower seed bread last week made by Linda Walsh from flour bought in Lidl. The price worked out at 50c a huge loaf. Yes, we must support our artisalan boulangieres when they are open but when they are closed we dont need to get out that piece of equpment which clutters up our kitchens the rest of the year.
Ginny
Val says - a new job for you there Linda Walsh, can I order 5 loaves of sunflower bread at the commercial rate of course? and if your Simon is ever making a pavlova let us know and we will be there. I know he is a super handyman but talents like his on the "pavlova" front are not to be ignored.
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Very local news
Varen boulangerie is open today, Monday but is then closed for holidays till the Wed. of next week. Bedel at Verfeil is always closed Mondays as is the lively boulanger ( lively as in alive) so there will be a " bread desert" next Monday.
All the smart Alecs with bread machines, no gloating please.
All the smart Alecs with bread machines, no gloating please.
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Film innovator dies at 91
Alain Resnais, whose play-within-a-film "Life of Riley" (Aimer, boire et chanter) won a prize for innovation at the Berlin Film Festival last month, died in Paris late Saturday "surrounded by his family," said his producer Jean-Louis Livi.
With a shock of wiry white hair and trademark dark shades, Resnais was a much-loved figure of the French film world and a regular presence at top festivals from Cannes to Berlin.
France's foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, paid tribute to "a very great talent, universally known".
Best known for "Hiroshima Mon Amour" and "Last Year in Marienbad"
Best known for "Hiroshima Mon Amour" and "Last Year in Marienbad"
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Chassing finished, pêching begins
Samedi c' est l' ouverture de la pêche dans le Tarn
The sports change with the seasons and trout fishing in the Tarn begins Saturday and the trout are plentiful and rivers are well stocked.
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The sports change with the seasons and trout fishing in the Tarn begins Saturday and the trout are plentiful and rivers are well stocked.
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Book and DVD swap this morning
The Gazpacho in St.Antonin at 10.30 am this morning, bring books and DVDs and swap for others.
Coffee and chat with friends and introduce yourself to people and make friends.
Pick up your ordered spicy foods from " The Spice ladies" or get leaflets for next time.
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Coffee and chat with friends and introduce yourself to people and make friends.
Pick up your ordered spicy foods from " The Spice ladies" or get leaflets for next time.
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Anybody planning a holiday here from next Thursday is in for a good week
Temperatures forecast some days reaching 20 degrees and little pictures of sun everyday on the meteo charts, all next week. Well, if anyone is having visitors from the UK you can promise them a good week.
As it happens we are welcoming brother in law Tudor on Friday for a week and if he is reading this he will be so excited.
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As it happens we are welcoming brother in law Tudor on Friday for a week and if he is reading this he will be so excited.
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Sunday, 2 March 2014
Problems over 5 months with water at Penne.
Dear Val,
You are correct that if the water is bad the village will notify all the residents. We got a notice in the mailbox telling us not to drink our water because the bacterial levels were very high. They are trying to fix the problem, but so far we still can't drink our water. It's been almost 5 months.
Marcos water solution
This doesn't sound too expensive, but unfortunately for our water problem I don't think this is the answer as it doesn't take our the bacteria, which is what we are dealing with.
Ali
Val says we use so much water, drinking it ourselves and then giving it to the animals ( we do have water barrels where we collect water, for the donkeys buckets) but you must use bottle water for everything, even cleaning your teeth I suppose, 5 months is a long time.
Ali,
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You are correct that if the water is bad the village will notify all the residents. We got a notice in the mailbox telling us not to drink our water because the bacterial levels were very high. They are trying to fix the problem, but so far we still can't drink our water. It's been almost 5 months.
Marcos water solution
This doesn't sound too expensive, but unfortunately for our water problem I don't think this is the answer as it doesn't take our the bacteria, which is what we are dealing with.
Ali
Val says we use so much water, drinking it ourselves and then giving it to the animals ( we do have water barrels where we collect water, for the donkeys buckets) but you must use bottle water for everything, even cleaning your teeth I suppose, 5 months is a long time.
Ali,
Les osmoseurs where Marco talked about, are working with a filtratrion osmose inverse what elimenate also bacteries/microbes. The membrane lets through only water molecules, so very pure water.
Miranda
Clean water on tap
Dear Val,
The price for an osmoseur will cost between 300 – 350 €. Than you have clean drinking water free of chlore, heavy metals etc.
The waterfilters Finlay is talking about are only to get the chlore and bad smell out of the water, they cost here around 130 €.
To get the calcaire out of the water, you have to count around 1700 € for a good adoucisseur. Prices HT and without installing equipment like pipes etc. For the installation it depends the situation. If you are interested, Marco can pass by to see and make a quote (Ent. Marco Jean 05 63 24 07 33, marco-jean@wanadoo.fr).
For an osmoseur it is recomendable to have also an adoucisseur but it is not an obligation.
If there are more readers who are willing to order an osmoseur or adoucisseur, maybe we can regroup and negiociate the price.
Marco and Miranda
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Water results published every week
If you go to the Mairie in your town and village, you will find a notice board where every week the water quality of your village will be published.
I would prefer knowing that it was always going to be good, in my hectic life I am sure going to the mairie board every week will never be feasible.
One assumes, as in Penne if there is a real problem with quality the maire's office will contact each resident... one assumes.
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I would prefer knowing that it was always going to be good, in my hectic life I am sure going to the mairie board every week will never be feasible.
One assumes, as in Penne if there is a real problem with quality the maire's office will contact each resident... one assumes.
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The sky at night and this morning
As dinner guests left last night, we all marveled at the clear night sky, a wondrous sight for us all,'' black as night'' with twinkling stars.
This morning that sky is blue but overnight we have had a mild frost, enough to nip my fingers protruding from my woolly fingerless mittens as I serviced the outside pets needs.
The donkeys hee hawed for an hour this morning as I held the pillow over my ears, needing a little more time in bed.
Last night a guest was trying to persuade Malc we needed a cockerel for our two hens to be truly happy. Well I am beginning to go with Malc on this one, and if Penny and Peck miss a cockerell, so be it. Here is a picture of Penny this morning outside our bedroom door and by gum can she cackle, imagine with hee haws, dogs barking, hens cackling and a cockerel crowing. No, it is unimaginable.
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This morning that sky is blue but overnight we have had a mild frost, enough to nip my fingers protruding from my woolly fingerless mittens as I serviced the outside pets needs.
The donkeys hee hawed for an hour this morning as I held the pillow over my ears, needing a little more time in bed.
Last night a guest was trying to persuade Malc we needed a cockerel for our two hens to be truly happy. Well I am beginning to go with Malc on this one, and if Penny and Peck miss a cockerell, so be it. Here is a picture of Penny this morning outside our bedroom door and by gum can she cackle, imagine with hee haws, dogs barking, hens cackling and a cockerel crowing. No, it is unimaginable.
Another tragedy caused by the storms
MORE than 20,000 seabirds died during the storms that battered France's west coast in January and February, according to the French League for the Protection of Birds (LPO).
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Trouble brewing in the Ukraine
Val says France is rightly concerned along with the UK, over Russian troops movements in the Ukraine
"Ukrainians want democracy and we can understand that. They are turning to Europe, to European democracies. It is Ukrainians who must build their future,"
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also said that France was "deeply concerned" over reports of significant troop movements in the flashpoint Black Sea peninsula.
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And you thought it was only France who wanted to protect the French language
Quebec’s language police say a Chelsea store owner’s English Facebook posts violate the province’s language laws, but she argues that the provisions don’t cover social media.
Eva Cooper, owner of clothing shop Delilah (in the Parc), received a letter on Feb. 18 from the Office quebecois de la langue francaise saying it received a complaint that she was not posting to the store’s Facebook page in French.
Some of Cooper’s posts to her store’s Facebook page are in French or bilingual, but most are in English.
Val says - The Canadian friends renting our gite have told us of these language problems in Quebec and then I found this example in the newspapers.
I smiled at the idea of "language police" - can you imagine me getting a letter asking that TAG should be totally in French?
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Le Cirque du Soleil at Toulouse
This famous circus with 52 acrobats is in Toulouse at the Zenith in March.
Le Cirque du Soleil va enflammer le Zénith du Toulouse, du 5 au 9 mars, avec Quidam. Un spectacle qui interroge la société contemporaine dans laquelle évoluent des êtres humains aux prises avec de réels défis et questionnements du quotidien. Inspirés du mouvement surréaliste en peinture - Magritte et Paul Delveaux -, les costumes de Quidam traduisent l’aliénation des personnages de cet univers en apparence sombre. Les 52 acrobates du cirque québécois vous réservent une soirée riche en émotions où vont se succéder des numéros de contorsions, diabolo, jonglerie, clowns… dans la plus pure poésie.
Du 5 au 9 mars au Zénith de Toulouse, mercredi 5, jeudi 6 et vendredi 7 à 20 h. Samedi 8 à 16 h 30 et 20 h, dimanche 9 à 13 h 30 et 17 h. Tarifs : de 37,30 € à 80 €. Tél.05 34 31 10 00.
(www.box.fr).
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Know a good French polisher?
We have an oak table that is showing the signs of its age and needs to
be refurbished. Can anyone recommend a good french polisher orequivalent in our area.
Thanks
Anne annegrose@aliceadsl.fr
Saturday, 1 March 2014
An Officer and a Spy by Robert Harris
The Dreyfus Affair constitutes one of those moments of history that a lot people know of rather than much about. Even among well educated people there's often little more than a headline understanding of antisemitism, a French miscarriage of justice, Devil's Island and Emile Zola's famous attack on the French establishment's conspiracy against the Jewish army officer, Alfred Dreyfus: J'accuse. But the real story is like something from the imagination of Alexandre Dumas, full of intrigue, wrongful imprisonment and heroic effort to establish the truth. In other words, it's a thriller and there is no more deft hand at work in that genre than Robert Harris. But unlike previous Harris thrillers, this is not a historical counterfactual, but, save for a few small fictional details, an almost documentary-like assemblage of what actually took place. Andrew Anthony writing in the Guardian
Val says It is true I know of the Dreyfus Affair and a little about it but Robert Harris is such a good read that I look forward to knowing more about the affair.
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Césars 2014
Val says reading the list the film to look out for is " Les Garçons et Guillaume, a table. Wonder if it has been to the Querlys or is coming?
A coming out comedy called in English, Me, myself and Mum. It won best film, best first film, best
actor, best adapted screen play, all of which were done by a talented newcomer Guillaume Gallienne.
The list does not mention that best supporting actress was won by Adele Haenel not Julie Gayet.
Le palmarès
Espoir féminin. Adèle Exarchopoulos dans La vie d’Adèle.
Premier film. Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table ! de Guillaume Gallienne.
Scénario original. Albert Dupontel pour 9 mois ferme.
Acteur dans un second rôle. Niels Arestrup dans Quai d’Orsay
Espoir masculin. Pierre Deladonchamps dans l’Inconnu du Lac.
César d’honneur. Scarlett Johansson.
Documentaire. Sur le chemin de l’école de Pascal Plisson.
Meilleure adaptation. Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table ! de Guillaume Gallienne.
Court et moyen métrages. Mademoiselle Kiki et Les Montparnos et Loulou et l’incroyable secret.
Musique originale. Martin Wheeler pour Michael Kohlhaas.
Meilleur réalisateur. Roman Polanski pour La Vénus à la fourrure.
Meilleur acteur. Guillaume Gallienne pour Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table !
Meilleur actrice. Sandrine Kiberlain pour 9 mois ferme
Meilleur réalisateur. Roman Polanski pour La Vénus à la fourrure
Meilleur film. Les Garçons et Guillaume, à table ! de Guillaume Gallienne.
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Whats happening, whats happening, no, it is what is not happening.
No white vans racing around the lanes, no packs of dogs with bells tinkling driving our dogs wild, no men furtively hidden in the hedges playing with their ... guns and telephones, no fences taken down and not replaced, no deer dashing in different directions around the fields, just blissful country calm. The hunting / chasse season finished yesterday and we can reclaim our land and walk the lanes not worrying that in THAT brown coat I will be mistaken for a sanglier.
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Paris fashion week
Everybody who is anybody appears to be there in Paris in their best frocks. The best coverage I have found is in the Telegraph where you can scroll through many of the designers exhibits.
I did think there was nothing like my onesie on the cat walk and nothing really suitable to wear for my present country life style... nice to look though.
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I did think there was nothing like my onesie on the cat walk and nothing really suitable to wear for my present country life style... nice to look though.
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FIFI launches a new website
Friends in France International have launched their new website. FIFI has over a 100 lady members in the area all absailing, kite flying, bunjy jumping, canoeing, donkey derby racing, cake making, giving sushi lessons, kung fu kicking courses, horse riding, bee keeping, coffee mornings, well I am not sure if they do all these events but if you want them to, it can be arranged.[ depending on the level of interest] Me.. well I stick to poetry, gardening and creative writing .
Check out the poodle in the side bar to admire the new site and consider joining in the fun.
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Check out the poodle in the side bar to admire the new site and consider joining in the fun.
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WW1 pictures at Albi
An exhibition of 50 photographs taken by Désiré Sic during the 1914-18 war can be seen at the Departmental Archives building in Albi. Discovered by the photographer's grandson the pictures have been enlarged and mounted for display. Described as "a real dive into history" the exhibition also has other memorabilia as well as a slide show of 1450 shots taken by Sic.
on until 15 April.
on until 15 April.
Horaires d’ouverture : lun 13h30-17h30, mar au ven 9h-12h30 et 13h30-17h30, sam 9h-12h. Entrée gratuite.
Val says sounds interesting, must go to that.
Val says sounds interesting, must go to that.
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A record year for a firm at Laguepie
Security shoes sold and sent to 40 countries around the world from Annic MTS from Laguepie. The company are delighted to report sales were up by 20% in 2013 and the good sales are continuing. The number of shoes sold last year were 1,400,000 pairs. Tucked away in quiet side road just above Laguepie, in the beautiful countryside, this small factory churns out those shoes with reinforced toe caps.
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