A couple of things this week

Today Sunday 6th July: Montauban Le Quetzal Folk Club 7pm. If you saw Tony Smith at Mas del Sol last week you may fancy this event.

St Antonin: Guitar Andalouse in the church at 9pm

Bruniquel: at the chateau, 9pm, the Royal Bedoune Blues Band. Homage to Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye et al.

Negrepelisse: 9pm "Coloratura" musical presentation about Florence Foster Jenkins, probably the worst diva to take to the operatic stage - but she was wealthy and lived her dream. Pretty funny.

Wednesday 9th July Laguepie in the church the trio Nou Sorres with a concert of Occitan songs. If you haven't seen these women singers go and have a treat.

Selgues (Verfeil sur Seye) the opening of David Clench's exhibition of paintings to mark the anniversaries of the two World Wars. "In the 21st century all the arts are making effective progress" says David's poster - unfortunately that includes the art of warfare. David, who now lives in Varen also painted the remarkable 15 Stations of the Cross normally seen at Selgues.

Thursday 10th July: Laguepie: Conference in English by Patrick Hutchinson, specialist in medieval occitan literature. Film of the life of Jean Jaures, with a discussion with the director.

Caussade: start of the Estivales du Chapeau, including exhibition of Japanese hats

Friday 11th July: Laguepie Bombes2Bal, concert and dance from 9pm

Caussade: Opening of the International Village of Fashion, designers and artisans market.

Negrepelisse: 9pm, Culinaro Jazz Band. Splendid big band music and vocals.

 

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Jazz at Mas del Sol, picnic in the park Wed. 23rd of July 7pm

For all those people who we talked to in the market Sat, who were interested in coming to the Jazz evening at Mas del Sol, the date is Wed. 23rd of July arrive for 7 pm with a couple of fold up chairs and your picnic. We will provide the music from the the band,  Toulouse's Martin's Jazz Band and of course the sunset.
 Many asked how to find us

The route to Mas del Sol, Varen

From Varen take the main road towards Laguepie, then turn left onto the D20, Verfeil road. At 400 metres turn right (signposted St Martial). 400 metres further take the right fork towards Mas del Sol - look for the little sheep sign for La Bergerie. Climb 2kms until you see La Bergerie group on the left, with white gates. You can enter the parking area  30metres further on.

From Verfeil 

Take the main D20 towards Varen and the St Martial sign is the last on the left - then proceed as above.

Please do not go to St Martial - you will get lost unless you know the way. In desperation phone us on 0563640673

All proceeds will go to Via Sahel Enfants D' Afrique, who in their turn support a school and a hospital in Bamako. Feeding and educating children who need our support.
Tickets cost 15 euros, children are free
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Carlos Gardel, but who was he?

Carlos Gardel (born Charles Romuald Gardes; 11 December 1890 – 24 June 1935) was a singer, songwriter, composer and actor, and the most prominent figure in the history of tango. The unerring musicality of Gardel's baritone voice and the dramatic phrasing of his lyrics made miniature masterpieces of his hundreds of three-minute tango recordings. Together with lyricist and long-time collaborator Alfredo Le Pera, Gardel wrote several classic tangos.

Gardel died in an airplane crash at the height of his career, becoming an archetypal tragic hero mourned throughout Latin America. For many, Gardel embodies the soul of the tango style. He is commonly referred to as "Carlitos", "El Zorzal" (The Song Thrush), "The King of Tango", "El Mago" (The Magician), "El Morocho del Abasto" (The Brunet Boy from Abasto), and "El Mudo" (The Mute).

Val says the report below tells us that the home where he was born in Toulouse is now open to the public. Neither Malc or I had heard of him but he was obviously influential on the music scene in the 20's and early 30's,  king of the tango.

Carlos Gardel, enfant de Toulouse. Malgré les polémiques, le roi du tango chanté argentin est bien natif de la Ville rose. Sa maison natale accueille désormais les touristes.

Un long couloir marbré rehaussé d'une fresque où une magnifique porte aux vitraux colorés ouvre sur un patio à la végétation méditerranéenne. Sur le côté un escalier en bois court dans les étages tandis qu'une panoplie de boîtes aux lettres d'un autre âge accueille toujours le courrier… La maison de Carlos Gardel au 4, rue du Canon d'Arcole dans le quartier de Compans-Caffarelli a été construite en 1880. Le jeune Carlos de son nom d'état civil, Charles Romuald Gardes né le 11 décembre 1880 à l'hôpital de la Grave, va y faire ses premiers pas avant de partir avec sa mère, Berthe Gardes, à Buenos Aires et devenir l'artiste que l'on sait. Et disparaître tragiquement dans un crash d'avion le 24 juin 1935, près de Medellin en Colombie.

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Too sad for these young children, having seen their teacher murdered infront of them.

Look in the Depeche to see this photo and an indepth report of the teacher' s killing at the school Edouard Herriot in Albi. The aggressor was suffering from a mental condition. Just imagine how the children will now worry about being at school. A very hard way to grow up, too soon.
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Unconfirmed report

Our French neighbour told us today that the vet at Laguepie is leaving his practice in the town in September.
The vet's practice is then being taken over by a Belgian vet?
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Passports in 2 weeks in 2013

Hi Val,

Our passports were due for renewal June 2013.We applied in Jan 13 to Paris and received them within 2 weeks.(Downloaded forms from the internet)

The extra 6 months were tagged to the new 10 yr passports.

Lorraine
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George White, first name out of the hat

Hi Val
I gather George White is very good.  Google George White European to find his number.
Saragossa
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London to Lunac, any ideas?

Dear Val

I've been scouring your lovely website but haven't been able to find info on removals. We have a house near Lunac and I want to move a bunkbed there from London. Are you able to direct me to any people who do a regular run from London to the Aveyron? 

thank you so much

Lydia Pendlebury

Val says  can readers suggest the best ways?

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Passport information

Hi Val

The Connexion newspaper touched on this last month.  I seem to recall a year's free extension is available if your passport has spare pages upon which the endorsement can be printed.  Or if a journey becomes essential while the old passport is away in the UK being cancelled and replaced, a temporary travel document is available from the British Consulate - though you have to go there to get it, and there's quite a hefty fee involved.  I believe the process varies according to whether the passport holder has already booked flights/crossings or is planning to.  Best ring the Consulate to find out how it all works.  Hope this helps.  Maybe someone who still has the newspaper could add to it.

C of Caylus       

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A new art gallery in St. Antonin.

Hi Val, 

 I am renting a storefront in St. Antonin 

as a gallery/studio space for the 

summer. It is across from the church on Rue d'Eglise, which is really looking like 

an art district with 4 artist studios. This is a pedestrian street from 1pm-7pm

 through mid September. Stop and say hello if you are passing by.I try to be there Wednesday-Saturday 2-7pm. It's a bit rough at times commuting 
from where I live now north of Villefranche...thus the house hunting.

Je loue un local à St; Antonin, une espace 

atelier/galerie pour été. C'est en face de 

l'eglise, Rue d'Eglise, qui commences d'avoir  

l'apparence d'une quartier de l'art avec 4 

ateliers d'artists. Cette rue est reservé aux  

pietons entre 13h et 19h jusqu'a mi-septembre.

Passez dire bonjour si vous êtes dans le coin. 

J essaye d'etre lå mercredi - dimanche 14h-19h mais c'est difficile des fois parce que je fais 
la route de chez moi nord de Villefranche...donc la recherche d'une maison.
cordialement Jeannine Edelblut
Val says Jeannine is the artist who rescued three horses.

http://helping3horses.blogspot.com

 

http://www.jeannineedelblut.com

À coeur vaillant rien d'impossible.
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Passport worries.

Hi val 

- Would you mind posting this for me?

My passport runs out in October and I have just visited the UK passport
website to renew it. They state a minimum of 6 weeks for processing (I have
heard that delays are in fact much longer), but want me to surrender my
existing one as part of the application for renewal process ... this leaves
me in France with no official ID and, more importantly, no way of getting
back to the UK should anything happen to my elderly, frail parents. I can't
be the only one in this position and was wondering if any tag readers had
already had to deal with this - and what the solution was. I would be
grateful for any advice.
Joanne Nebbia

Val says we sent ours to the British embassy in Paris and got them back within ten days. It was awhile ago.  Anybody got any positive up to date help to offer.
Send to TAG then we have the info. for future reference.

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Looking to rent " a maison de campagne"

aHello Val,

 I am looking  to move from north of Villefranche to the area more south, meaning anywhere around St. Antonin, Parisot, Varen, Bruniquel, Najac, Laguiepie, Cordes etc. Exactly where depends on where I find the right house for me.

Any leads would be greatly appreciated.        jeannine.edelblut@gmail.com
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The Shadows and not a guitar in sight

Dear Val and Malc,

The Shadows and not a Guitar in sight

Strange dark lines in the sky, what could they be: a UFO, anti-matter beams, aliens or none of the above?  Whilst out walking this morning we observed these incredibly dark straight lines on the base of the clouds,  in fact we saw them emerging and becoming stronger in definition as if there was a gianttelegraph pole in the sky casting a shadow from the morning sun.  But the sun was hidden behind the clouds so how was this possible? As the clouds cleared we could see in the sky jet contrails and using the ever useful internet we discovered that the sun can project a shadow from behind the contrail onto clouds below giving these strange dark lines in the sky, so mystery solved and no aliens this week.  For more infomation you can search for "contrail shadows in clouds" with your favourite search engine or you can also look at this URL for further explanation http://contrailscience.com/contrails-dark-lines-chemtrails/.

Nev

A French-Yorkshire Translation Guide For Le Tour Yorkshire

Morning Val
Article: http://huff.to/1qAVTcX
Made me giggle
K
Val says even funnier when you are a lass from Yorkshire
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Puycelsi Choir complete

Dear Val

It is with somewhat mixed feelings that I'm writing to say that the Choir for our September concert is oversubscribed. We are delighted that it is so popular that we are turning people away and saddened that we cannot offer everyone the opportunity to sing in September. Our first of what was meant to be a concert every two years had 36 singers and now we have to turn people away when we reach 60 choristers and we are putting on two concerts every year. Everyone who has been unlucky, a mixture of those who have sung before and newcomers are being offered priority next time.

Tickets will go on sale from 9th August, 4 weeks before the concert on 7th September so put the dates in your diary because we expect that the concert of a wide range of Italian music will once again be over subscribed.

This morning Ross is at a meeting with the mayor and his adjoints, members of the equipe catholique and the architect to discuss the date start to restore the baptismal chapel - probably late October, and what they think should be the next area to be restored. Will keep TAG readers posted as we slowly progress

Ginny

Val says these events are rapidly, indeed have become the do not miss events in all our calendars.
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Festival D'Art International de Parisot

At the market with my clip board.

Manfully on my own till others in the team had got their shopping done, I soon realised a change of tactic was needed in talking about the Salon du Jardin.
At first shoppers thought I was selling something, sign here for photo electric panels, or something equally annoying, but I  was not a sales women in an earlier manifestation with out learning some tricks. Selling books is like selling anything else, try selling a Beatrix Potter to a Japanese Museum... dead easy.
So I approached people to say " Are you in Varen on the 19th." That quickly sorted out the holiday makers from residents and then I was in " for the kill"
Yes, you are here, ah! you don't have a garden but do you have a hobby? You like baking, there you go,why not  make a cake... and so the morning went on as I talked to French, English,Dutch  and Australian.
The rest of the team joined me later for a full onslaught attack and we all felt by the end we had received many positive responses.
Many of the villagers applauded the initiative of the group and I loved the sense of belonging with all the different nationalities. I did notice Malc talking about  " le foot" more than the Salon!

We did smile when a french friend said " how have you have managed to make the rules so complicated, just like French bureaucracy ?" Malc joked back" ah, we got them off a government website, rules 46, amendment b,  then checked with the syndicate of fun, who then passed us on to the prefecture before signing in triplicate"

Marcia spreading the word in the marketplace

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Festival d'Art International Parisot 2014

Morning Val,

Herewith the official flyer for the upcoming International Arts Festival in Parisot on 8-9-10 August. I am one of the artists showing my work during the festival and will send you more information (images, locations) nearer the time. For the moment just putting the dates out there would help. Many of the participating artists will be known to readers of your blog, I am sure. Alan Humphries, Catherine Smedley, Maryvonne Constant, Dana Moreux, Arnaud Elizabeth and Eric Toussaint to name but a few. Here's hoping to see you all there. Official invitations to follow. 

Have a good weekend,

Elly xx

Elly Wright

www.ellywrightart.com

Val says the logo/ poster arrived later and can be seen in an earlier post

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It's all over now

As Private Eye put it " Some people think it's uber alles - it is now!" (with apologies to Kenneth Wolstenholme in the 1966 World Cup final). Once again the Germany team has defeated France in the World Cup. 1-0 the score in a well balanced match. The response of the public to Les Bleus is in marked contrast to 4 years ago when the disgraced team was condemned for not trying and dissension in the camp, including a strike. This time the quality of the play and promise of young stars bodes well for the European Championship to be played in France in 2016.
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Princess Caroline of Monaco visits Montauban

Princess Caroline of Monaco is a "marraine"  a godmother/ patron to a division of the army in Montauban. We met the word " marraine" when many of us became "marraines" to 120 femmes in Bamako.

La princesse Caroline de Monaco, marraine du 17e RGP, présidera la passation de commandement entre les colonels Valès et Tricand de la Goutte, vendredi matin. Ce sera sa troisième visite à Montauban depuis juin 2012.

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England welcomes the Tour de France

It starts today in Leeds, on the flat, tomorrow it will be the hills around Holmfirth and by golly are the Yorkshiremen proud to host the French tour with all the cyclists. I have just listened to the French organiser saying why he choose that area.
 After a helicopter ride over the countryside he felt the area was beautiful and interesting enough to make the Tour something one would enjoy watching. He also felt the warmth and friendliness of the Yorkshire people would be a big asset to the Tour.
Today and the coming days we will see the French and all the other nationality teams get a "real Yorkshire welcome" ( might cost you!)
100 million pounds is expected to boost the local economy.
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Book Swap on Monday 7th at the Gazpacho

At the Gazpacho in St.Antonin, 10.30 am Bring your books and DVD's and swap them for others. It is more imperative you take only good clean books this month as I cannot sort and store them as I usually would. Celia and Brejte will between them take the books and store them till next time. Leaving a bag for them to take books in could be useful.

Hi Val

Don't forget magazines (of appropriate subject matter!) are welcome too - if less than a year old.

x C of Caylus

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It happened at a school in Albi today

A primary school in southern France was in shock Friday after a teacher was stabbed to death in front of her young pupils by a student's mother described as having "psychiatric problems".

After what Education Minister Benoit Hamon described as an "appalling" crime, the 47-year-old assailant fled to her home but was quickly detained by police.

The attack on the 34-year-old teacher took place around 9 am (0700 GMT) as classes began on the last day of term at Albi's Edouard Herriot primary school, which is attended by 284 students aged from three to 11.

Officials said the mother showed up in the classroom with a knife and stabbed the teacher, Fabienne Terral-Calmes, a mother of two young girls, in front of her horrified pupils.

The teacher died at the scene while being treated by emergency services.

The assailant's young daughter had been enrolled at the school for about a month-and-a-half, officials said, but it was unclear if the girl was in the classroom at the time of the stabbing.

"This is an appalling act, a murder, a murder of a teacher in her classroom in front of her students, by a woman who... seems to suffer from significant psychiatric problems," Hamon said after arriving in Albi.

"I want to pay hommage to the memory of Fabienne Terral-Calmes. She was 34 years old, a school teacher and mother to two little girls, Romane and Adele," Hamon said. The Local

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43 edition of musique sur ciel / festival at Cordes from18th to 25th of July

You really need to pick up the booklet for this, so much going on. Worth going to your tourist office and asking for it. Concerts mainly " musique de chambre"
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France v Germany tonight in the quarter finals.

A  big screen in the stadium in Toulouse for the fans and a big screen for a group of Brits ( aw, shucks Anglo Saxons) here  to support France in their struggle against Germany tonight
Allez les bleus ce soir.
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More publicity for the Occitan festival

Hi Val

I made a little blog with all the relevant info on it:

http://laguepia.blogspot.fr/

Please could you put another article on Tag with a this picture and link  to this blog to find out more - concerts, conference in English, films

Thank you !

James

An interesting article on the Sarkozy saga

Val says An interesting article giving the Guardian's view on the arrest of Nicolas Sarkozy, which in the last paragraph mirrors my feelings " a stable outward looking France needed"

Realistically, the arrest might already mark the end, or the beginning of the end, of Mr Sarkozy's time in the top rank of French politics – which would become certain if Mr Sarkozy ended up with the 10-year jail sentence that is the maximum punishment for the corruption charge. It comes just as the former president was beginning his manoeuvres to regain control of the Gaullist UMP later this year, which could be a stepping stone towards a credible presidential run against Mr Hollande in 2017 and a possible Sarkozy restoration.

Both the arrest and the timing are helpful to the currently unpopular Mr Hollande, which inevitably raises suspicions on the right. Hoping to mirror Mr Chirac's landslide win in 2002 against Jean-Marie Le Pen, when the socialists were in disarray, Mr Hollande would probably prefer a second-round run-off in three years' time against Marine Le Pen rather than against a resurgent Mr Sarkozy or a lesser UMP personality such as Alain Juppé. So the consequences of this week's events could be very large and very damaging for France. That's no reason for the investigation not to take its course. But the stakes are very high, particularly at a time when Europe – including a febrile Britain – needs a stable and outward-looking France.

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Tour de Yorkshire

Starts tomorrow and for some reason ends in Paris on 27th of July. Once across the channel it is known as the Tour de France and for most of the 4 weeks it grips the nation. Watching the tour on TV has shown the beautiful countryside the race passes through and the thousands of spectators and hundreds of camper vans lining the routes lending excitement. Let's hope that French viewers (and some of you never-north-of-Watford readers) see and appreciate the wonderful scenery of west Yorkshire.
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What a boost for Cordes sur Ciel

Gaining the title of the most preferred village in France has given Cordes a real boost and they are expecting more than the 700,000 visitors they had last year. For restaurants and shops who find it hard to make a living in such a short holiday period they will really welcome this opportunity which will have a roll on effect for the next few summers.

St. Antonin Noble Val is hoping that the film released in August  "100 step journey" starring Dame Helen Mirren will have a similar  effect. Although in the book, the village used was in another area, the film will use the name of St. Antonin.
Fame for two villages which deserve to be better known and that knock on effect in tourism could, just could raise the profile of the housing market.
Roll on the prices of the Riviera.
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That is it, official: the holidays start Saturday

Le week end s' announce chargé sur les routes.
The holidays begin; the traffic starts, so expect the motorways south to be busy starting Friday night.
Our quiet little paradise will be buzzing for 6 weeks with difficult parking, busy motorways, noisy fêtes and yet we enjoy it all.
On the historical walk yesterday a tourist said to me " but why is everything closed in St. Antonin"
My answer could have been " ca, c'est normale"  but I said  "well the holidays do not officially start till the week end," and  could have added and then many will be on "congé annuel " or even "fermature exceptionelle"
That seems to be our area but we love it anyway, perhaps even more for its lack of living in the commercial world.
Relax, be cool, it is holiday time in SW. France.
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Stormy weather, it's raining all the time.

Orages : 13 départements, dont l'Aude, l'Aveyron et le Tarn en vigilance orange demain

We are shoe horned in between three departments, a literal stone's throw away from the Aveyron and the Tarn, although Varen our commune is in Tarn and Garonne.

What is for sure is the weather is unsettled in all three departments. I do not remember days if not two weeks like this. Sunny and hot one minute, storms the next., and often if the storm misses you, the thunder rumbles ominously in the distance.

We have a barbecue planned for tomorrow night, but it is looking more and more likely we will be indoors.

Rain, rain go away, come again another day... like in September. ( Tudor, brother in law who has booked his holls in Sept. says can I change that to Oct!)

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A terrible deep throated screeching from a gaudy fellow.

This is the field, not the garden !

There we were having lunch in the grange when from the garden came a deep throated screeching. All our ears pricked up and Bonny's were practically horizontal. It was then a race into the back garden to shoo away a pheasant pair before Bonny made mincemeat of them. Bonny has breakfasted on baby rabbits two mornings running, leaving the sweet little head and ears for Max the cat to eat, he is not a fussy eater!

All better than what Twister eats,  which he tells me he cannot decide between green plums, donkey or hen pooh, so he eats them all, just to be sure.

The pheasant pair  live in the bushes by the barn and have taken a liking to chicken food.
It is a womens lib issue why the female is so drab and the male so gaudy, I would have a campaign against gaudy males if I was that female  hen pheasant.
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The historical walking tour in St. Antonin

There must have been six local residents and perhaps 10 or 12 holiday makers for the walking tour around St. Antonin given in English by Francis Hansom.( ex history teacher) It took about an hour and a half and was not a strenuous walk. A very interesting tour with lots of interesting bits of social history thrown. In 12 years although I knew it was there I had never been in the walnut pressing shed, just incredible. I am not going to tell you much about the walk as it would be a shame to spoil it, but I do suggest you go.

Thursday mornings at 10.45 starting from the St Antonin Tourist Board Office (next to the English Bookshop)

Dates are:    July 10^th, July 17^th, July 24^th, July 31^st

                       August 7^th, August 14^th, August 21^st, August 28^th

Price Euros 5 per adult - discounts available for children

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Who can help? Who is going to Toulouse Saturday ?

Dear Val

John broke his leg on Monday whilst walking and luckily someone heard his cries and he was rescued by the pompiers and taken to hospital.

He has a spiral fracture and three broken bones.

Luckily I was flying back from England on Tuesday and my daughter also managed to get on the same flight.

She is flying back on Saturday evening from Toulouse.

 

I wondered if you could put a request in TAG asking if anyone is driving from St Antonin or the surrounding area to either Toulouse or the airport any time thisSaturday 5th. Sarah's flight is at 9.50pm but she is happy to arrive much earlier as it would save me the journey because I don't really want to leave John for too long.  He should be coming home today or tomorrow and is in significant pain and unable to move about. We will of course contribute to the cost.

 

Thank you

 

Love Susan

Val says when I make a heading " Break a leg"  I do not expect you to take it seriously John!

I hope someone can help your daughter with a lift and we wish you a speedy recovery.

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Happy with your first name?

In a recent survey 9 French people in 10 said they were happy with their first name. Since there seems to be a preponderance of  Jean or Marie (or even Jean Marie) it is a bit of a surprise that not more try to change to something more individual. The process of changing one's name by deed poll - whatever the French equivalent is - is apparently long and bureaucratic (quelle surprise) and deters those who wish to become an Elvis or Madonna in place of mundane "machin toutlemonde".(thingummy whatsit).
Easier just to do it and when everyone knows you are called Sting you can forget it's really Gordon.
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Having fun at Cahors

The 6th edition of Lot of Saveurs, now has a song launched. Check out the link and enjoy the choreography and danse to your table. All sounds like a lot of fun, the report is in the Depeche.

Pour sa sixième édition, Lot Of Saveurs innove encore en lançant sa chanson officielle «Lot of Saveurs, Lot of bonheur» composée et interprétée par Jean-Pierre Pili Delpech. 

Elle est à découvrir sur le site http ://vimeo.com/98546619 Pourquoi ne pas apprendre sa chorégraphie : «Je suis Lot of Saveurs, Je suis Lot of bonheur, Jesuis Lot of Couleurs…».

Plus d'informations sur www.lotofsaveurs.fr et sur les réseaux sociaux.

Beautiful mist in the valley morning

What a beautiful morning, the sun is up, the sky is blue and the mist is swirling in the valley bottom. Down below in Varen,  expect the sun breaking though that " brouillard" in an hour or so.
Fed my loveable donkeys, they are gorgeous animals, all so different, just like people.

Rosie has a naughty  "me, me, me" character  just like ... well  me. Lucy is bolshie and intelligent, bit like Malc. Coco is shy but adorable and Filou the big ugly chap seems to know he is a big ugly chap but has realised we love him anyway.
The hens met me in the barn, oops, forgot to lock them up, good job Mr Fox was not up our way.
The dogs are scampering around my legs ready for their morning walk and the cats are coming in to settle down after a hard nights hunting.

We have plans to go on the history walk around St. Antonin given by Francis Hansom 10.45 at the Tourist office, near the English book shop. I will let you 817 people who read TAG yesterday  know if it was interesting.
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Blues et Rhythm'n et Bleus aux château de Bruniquel

Grande Soirée BLUES ET RYTHM’N’BLUES aux châteaux de BRUNIQUEL
DIMANCHE 6 JUILLET 2014 21h00
CONCERTS MKBB et RBBB


1ère Partie :  MAMMOUTH KING BLUES BAND (MKBB) acclimate le blues de Washbord Sam, Howlin' Wolf, Tampa Red, Taj Mahal... au milieu des vignes, à Fronton, près de Toulouse : ils ont ce feeling qui sent un peu la boue du Mississippi et la cuisine créole.
Le groupe est composé de : "Mammouth" Jean-Luc Ribes
chant, dobro, guitare, Kristell Geffroy chant et choeurs, washboard , "Philou" Philippe Orliac piano, percussions Luc Favaro harmonica, guitare, accordéon, Olivier Spénale contrebasse, choeurs
A voir et écouter sur leur site officiel : 
http://www.mkbb.fr/ 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 ème Partie :  ROYAL BEDOUNE BLUES BAND (RBBB) est un groupe de 9 musiciens au service du Rythm'n blues et de la soul des années 60/70. 
Le plaisir que ces 9 là ont à jouer ensemble se propage comme une traînée de poudre au sein d'un public qui reste difficilement de marbre.
Le groupe est composé de : Cécile Perfetti au chant, Greg Perfetti à la guitare, Gilles Carles à la basse, Marc Dechaumont à la Batterie, Bruno Bonnefoi au trombone, Lulu Bonnefoi à la trompette, Nicolas Grandjean au sax, Isabelle Bonnefoi et Sylvie Grandjean aux choeurs. 
A voir et écouter sur leur site officiel :
http://rbbb.fr/ 

7EUR l’entrée, buvette

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Musique at the Chateau de Bruniquel

We knew Cordes would win, did'nt we?

It seemed such a good idea at the time.

The slide was reduced in Unicor's sale and it seemed such a good idea to buy and install for the grandchildren and renters coming this summer. Knowing how busy we are with other things you might think this was a folly,  and you could be right. First assemble the thing, upside down, back to front, every which way but how it should be, with instructions worse than Ikea. Then realise that it will need stabilising, a concrete flat plinth, tying down etc.

Then I have visions of fat bottom renters giving it a try [ no good for me] even though the instructions say ''only for 12's and under '' one grandchild is 13, so there's a conundrum. To top it all I suddenly thought when the pool has it's cover automatically rolled out and over the pool, how many enterprising little tots are going to climb the ladder and go down!

So now we need to find a way of blocking the steps off when the pool is closed.

I just wish I would stop having bright ideas and I cannot even tell you what ''that sub thinks''

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Frank Crooks is in a big band

For anyone interested in Big Band Music, Frank has asked me to give you the dates of his bands' concerts in July/August.

they are as follows :-

7 Juillet - Lac d'eguelaize rdv 18.30 (pres de golf Eguelaize a Gaillac).

11 Juillet - Carmaux, place Candou, rdv 18.30

16 Aout - place du Grand Theatre a Albi, concert a 22h

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Cordes sur Ciel has won the title of village best liked by the French

On France 2 last night amid a storm of applause, Cordes sur Ciel won the vote for best village.

You may remember TAG readers got the chance to vote in this sondage. Malc tells me that we can watch this on catch up TV, 

Last year Cordes had 700,000 visitors and this year are hoping for at least another 30%

Cordes-sur-Ciel (81) - C'est le village préféré des français, hier soir sur France 2

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Do not "Grignoter " between meals

We have just been invited by a French friend to" grignoter" before going to watch a concert.
So we are having snacks or nibbles, I did not know that but Malc points out on adverts on the TV it often says " do not snack between meals"  Evitez de grignoter entre le repas"

Val says  how can that be, another French person has just asked us to "grignoter" next week. I would not have known what they mean't this morning.
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Look out Col Sanders

We are all familiar with the KFC brand (even if the product may not be to our taste), but what about roast chicken and mashed potato as a gourmet experience? Les Poulets de Loué is a major "red label" brand of chicken and the company has decided to branch into the restaurant business with a PP chain (poulet puree), aimed squarely at the nostalgia market. For us rosbifs the dish is quite normal Sunday lunch, but for the French it seems that mashed potato is something grandma made, and we all know things were better then.
The restaurants will not be gaudy takeaway a la KFC, but 18-20 euro 3 course lunch menus. The decor is retro and there are some gimmicks such as prize draws and lessons in how to joint or carve chickens, and you will be able to buy a roast chicken from the Poulets de Loué range to take away.BTW they say there will be vegetarian options.
How long before we see a PP restaurant near here?
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Not what France needs at the moment.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been placed under formal investigation after being held in police custody for questioning over suspected influence-peddling, a prosecutor has said.
Sarkozy had arrived earlier on Tuesday to be quizzed by investigators at their offices in Nanterre, west of Paris.
He was held for questioning for 15 hours over suspicions he used his influence to secure leaked details of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in his 2007 election. 
The investigators are seeking to establish if the former president, with the help of his lawyer Thierry Herzog, attempted to pervert the course of justice.
They suspect Sarkozy, 59, sought to obtain inside information from one of the magistrates about the progress of another probe, and that he was tipped off that his mobile phone had been tapped by judges looking into the alleged financing of his 2007 election campaign by former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
The case could be devastating for Sarkozy's hopes of a political comeback in time for the next presidential campaign in 2017.  Taken from Al Jazeera

Val says  this is not good news for the Sarkozy camp. A strong fight will be needed by the UMP in the next election and as yet nobody else has stepped forward to really take on the challenge of Marine Le Pen in that party.
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Why do you all get up with the lark?

It is not even 7.55 and already 149 people have opened the TAG pages.
Well I suppose it keeps us on our toes and the sub editor has now taken on full responsibility helping me to write posts... and I think he is enjoying his rise through the ranks... he will be "blinkin " editor before you know it!
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Dacia top of the class

The low-cost brand owned by Renault is the best selling new car choice for French private buyers. More than 60000 Sanderos and Dusters have already left the showrooms this year. Starting from scratch in eastern Europe the cars have been on sale in France since 2004 and have made spectacular inroads into the market; now 1 new car in ten bought by a private motorist is a Dacia.
The strategy has been to keep prices down but offer few options, spend little on marketing and offer no discounts - the latter a reason why the fleet buyers still shun the brand. There was a time we laughed at Lada, scoffed at Skoda but they were popular, now maybe the Dacia Duster will join the ranks of low-cost legends.
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Children given English dictionaries by the Mayor

Not the Mayor of Varen, you sillies. I think our Mayor would stop at handing out English dictionaries. The Mayor of Puygazon in the Tarn though has done just that. For the holidays he has given 36 children English dictionaries, so the children can practise their bilingual skills  over the holidays.
Maybe our Mayor should give us all French Dictionaries?

A little bird tells me that Sue Carter from Folk'n'Jazz fame has started with others teaching English to children at Parisot library. Well done Sue.
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Fancy an adventure

Aventure ParcSaint-Pierre-de-Trévisy, 05 63 73 09 03 / 06 81 88 02 04, www.aventure-parc.fr/st-pierre-de-trivisy)

Acro roc (Montroc, 06 70 46 16 66, http ://acroroc81.com).

Libertree

Le Cri de Tarzan (Puylaurens, 05 63 70 81 44, www.lecridetarzan.com)

tendance

Le Geocaching(Saint-Pierre-de-Trévisy, 05 63 50 48 69, www.saint-pierre-de-trivisy.net)

Escalade

Altissimo (Albi, 05 63 38 09 38, www.altissimo-escalade.com)

Canyoning

Tarn escalade canyoning(Labruguière, 05 63 50 82 23 / 06 25 14 49 07, www.tarn-escalade-canyoning.com)

Dans les airs

Aéroclub d'Albi .(05 63 54 27 68

Aéroclub de Graulhet. (05 63 34 51 07).

Aéroclub de Mazamet .(05 63 73 22 45).

Aéroclub les ailes de l'autan(05 63 50 86 13).

Tarn ballon Cadalen, 06 79 23 19 49).(Le Margnes, 05 63 74 84 32) (06 78 26 82 43). Albi, 05 63 54 25 90).(Lagruguière 06 81 65 33 86).05 63 36 80 91).Sorèze, 06 70 71 71 76).

(Montans 06 65 74 38 71). (05 63 34 22 52). (05 63 41 63 22)05 63 71 24 54).(Castelvert, 06 76 31 98 22).(Graulhet 05 63 34 27 10)Sorèze, 05 61 27 65 24

Val says: Lots of activities here for the more adventurous

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Monsters and gargoyles at Montauban

How is this for topical. In the municipal serres/ greenhouses at Montauban there is a display of monsters. Well very soon children of Varen and the region will be exhibiting their " monster efforts" at the Salon in Varen. We have seen one effort from two local boys from Parisot already.

L'Espace Bourdelle Sculpture met une nouvelle fois l'art à la portée de tous. En ce début d'été, c'est une nouvelle exposition insolite dans un espace insolite que propose Christian André-Aquier, directeur artistique de l'Espace Bourdelle sculpture.

En effet, c'est aux parcs et jardin, dans l'univers des serres municipales, qu'il a installé les œuvres des praticiens de l'Espace Bourdelle, aux côtés de celles de 26 artistes, notamment Dautry, Brignac, Gaillard, ou encore Facon, Juda, Kugel et Martin-Robin. Tous ont travaillé sur le thème, «Transfigurations et métamorphoses», ouvrant les portes d'un univers, peuplé de monstres et de chimères. Taken from the Depeche

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Keen on brocantes and vide greniers?

The 6th of July
Castelnau de Montmiral
Puylaroque ( books)

13th of July
Come to Laga, great brocante at Laguepie

16th July
Montpezat de Quercy

17th July
Villefrancge de Rouergue

20th July
Caussade
,Caylus,
 Bruniquel

27th July
Castanet
Varen

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Have a musical talent, like folk music, why not get in touch

Folk'n'jazz needs you
- every month the performers, particularly the regulars, practice hard on their own and give up many hours  to practise together and make sure they put together a full programme even if no other performers turn up. In fact, to my mind, this has been one of the great successes of folk'n'jazz  as it means there is more music being played, everyone is learning new things and getting to know each other better. On the night, every month, no - one would guess how nervous some of them are so it is great for them to get good feedback and see folks come back for more.

Before the new month has even started rehearsals have begun for  very special  folk'jazz on 31st July ( I won't get this date wrong its my dad's birthday and our wedding anniversary) at la Vigerie at St Vincent de Varen. This will be a special evening of music and song to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the first world war in 1914. It was an era when music and song played an important part in people's lives, no TV of course, many homes had a piano, there was the music hall where much of the news was spread through music and song, so there is no shortage of material for the singers and everyone wants to be involved. So this month it is even more important that anyone who would like to make a musical contribution on the evening should contact  John Taylor MC for the evening at folkjazz82@outlook.com   as soon as possible.

It should be a great night, rain or shine - la Vigerie is a beautiful outdoor venue but there is a huge warm dry indoor space as well.

Sue Carter
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Good news for Norbert

Mont-Saint-Michel: Veolia condamné à versé 1 million d'euros à un éleveur 

 Val says what good news for this man who cared about how his large cob horses were used (or abused.) I think we were all willing him to win.
La filiale de la multinationale chargée de gérer les nouvelles structures d'accueil du monument normand dans le cadre du rétablissement de son caractère maritime subit une nouvelle déconvenue financière. 

Le Tribunal de commerce de Paris a condamné la Compagnie des parcs et des passeurs du Mont-Saint-Michel, filiale de la multinationale Veolia-Transdev, au versement d'1,1 million d'euros à Norbert Coulon, l'éleveur normand qui fournissait les chevaux pour transporter les visiteurs au Mont-Saint-Michel.
Norbert Coulon avait décidé de rentrer ses chevaux dans son écurie, à Saint-Malo-de-la-Lande dans la Manche, en décembre 2013, accusant Veolia-Transdev d'avoir recruté des cochets inc... http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2014/07/01/01016-20140701ARTFIG00418-mont-saint-michel-veolia-condamne-a-verse-1-million-d-euros-a-un-eleveur-de-chevaux.php 

Sent by Sarah of St. Martiel
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Crocodiles in Cream

Hi Val
Perhaps I've not looked properly or there was an earlier announcenment,but I can't find where the one -man show is
Betty
Val says  what has happened Betty is the show has changed due to unforeseen circumstances. It is still a one man show but a different person. oh, and by the way it is at Le Colombier Theatre in Les Cabannes, near Cordes.
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Sarkozy arrested this morning for questioning about influence peddaling

Nicolas Sarkozy a été placé en garde à vue ce mardi matin dans le cadre de l'enquête sur un présumé trafic d'influence. Il s'agit d'une mesure inédite pour un ancien président de la République.

Les enquêteurs de l'Office anti-corruption (Oclciff) de la police judiciaire française vont pouvoir entendre l'ex-chef de l'Etat pendant une durée pouvant aller jusqu'à 24 heures, renouvelable une fois. Cette mesure intervient alors que les rumeurs se font de plus en plus précises sur la volonté de Nicolas Sarkozy de revenir officiellement en politique et de prendre la tête de l'UMP.

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We all want to get along and do our bit.

The story with photo has been sent to Caroline the animatrice to get it placed in the Depeche all about our show, le Salon du Jardin d'été. A show that is something completely new to us all ( Malc and I have never been involved in a garden show before)  but we are hoping that all nationalities working together can pull it off. We really mean to have some laughs, we have had some sticky moments, to be expected but lots of universal giggling has gone on.
The story for the Depeche is the change in direction in Varen.
 The Mayor realising that a lot of his residents are now a mixed nationality group and by getting Dutch resident Marcia Scott on to his team he wants to foster integration.

As Marcia says the first step in getting us to mix is by learning the language of our new country.

My  french is only average but I am having lessons again. Malc says he can see an improvement each week.
Now we are so close to the show I really hope everyone will pull together and take up the challenge.
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Some things to do this week

Friday 4th July:     Jamming at the Bar du Forail, Parisot, at 7.30pm
                              Irish pub, Caussade. Folk music based around sea shanties.7pm
Sat 5th - 7th July: Fete Votive at Verfeil sur Seye. Dances each night from 9pm
                             Negrepelisse: Les Voix Au Chateau: a week of concerts, including
                             baroque from Rachel Schiffman on Saturday, 9pm
Sunday 6th          St Antonin Noble Val: recital of Andalusian guitar in the church at 9pm

These events are all in T&G, if you have others in Tarn or Aveyron let us know

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Etiquette out

Those little coloured labels on your medicaments are to be phased out from today. The colour of the etiquette indicates level of reimbursement offered by the Secu, 65%, 35% or 15%. White is the commonest colour and is for the 65% reimbursed for chronic conditions (this leaves aside that for many patients the level is 100%).
The labels are not needed by pharmacies as the data is all in the bar codes on the pack. Some practitioners want to keep them as they can see the date etc on the label without having to scan the pack, but the Secu says it is an unnecessary expense.
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No Merkel/Hollande entente this week

The French football team (Les Bleues) having progressed to the quarter final of the World Cup will renew hostilities with "Der Mannschaft" as the French press likes to call the German team. At least this result avoided a potentially controversial clash with Algeria, who were knocked out by Germany last night.
But French fans with long memories will recall the 1982 semi-final against Germany, which was marred by an horrendous, though unpunished block by the German goalkeeper, Schumacher, on French forward Battiston. Leading 3-1 in extra time the men of Platini saw the Germans equalise and then the foul Schumacher save two penalties in the shoot-out to give Germany victory. Four years later the same outcome as Germany won 2-0.
So on Friday evening World Cup III kicks off at 6pm French time. All dual nationality put aside as we are all French now.
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Aside: This week's Private Eye shows a jubilant Angela Merkel singing "there's only one Jean-Claude Juncker!"

Break a leg !

A  story in the Telegraph about the Roma teenager who was beaten, lynched, disfigured and now lies seriously ill in a Paris hospital. You will all have heard the story of how this young Roma/ Romanian  gypsy was attacked as he was thought to be a thief.
A reporter has tracked down his wife and two children now estranged still living in a gypsy camp in Romania.
She showed a lack of concern when shown the picture of the beaten young man, but others in the camp where furious

“This is injustice!” said the teenager’s uncle, Veres. “They have beaten him and left him disfigured. They could have broken his leg or something, but this!”

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No dual nationality for Marine Le Pen

FRANCE’S Front National leader Marine Le Pen has said that dual nationality should be revoked following riots in several French cities after Algeria’s last World Cup match on Thursday.

Speaking on Europe 1’s Le Grand Rendevous at the weekend, Ms Le Pen claimed that the violence proved “the total failure of immigration policies in our country and the refusal expressed by a number of binational citizens to assimilate”.

A total 74 people were arrested for rioting and looting offences as celebrations turned sour in several French cities - notably in Lyon, Paris, Lille and Marseille - after Algeria qualified for the knockout phase of the World Cup finals for the first time.

Echoing Norman Tebbit’s notorious 1990 “cricket test” comments - in which he claimed that that immigrants from South Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean would not be truly assimilated into the UK until they supported their new country rather than their respective homelands - Ms Le Pen argued that people holding dual nationality should support France in international tournaments.

“There is a not-insignificant number of people that are choosing Algeria over France,” Ms Le Pen said.

“You should pick: are you Algerian or French, Moroccan or French… but you cannot be both.” 

Val says  Fortunately she has no power to enforce this and we do hope that continues.
Malc says now Algeria is knocked out we are all supporting France, us Brits, oops! sorry Anglo Saxons and Algerians
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