book swap tomorrow

As well as the book swap some of you may be staying to eat afterwards.

Helen and David are on holiday so I have promised we will get all the books over to Hans at VIDEPC shop just for this  month.

So all be prepared to carry  books over the road tomorrow.

Enjoy your holiday Helen and David.

And see you all tomorrow

At the Gazpacho St. Antonin 10.30 to 11.30

taglines82@gmail.com

What is happening in the world

Were are our morals, what the heck is going wrong with the world. What is wrong with people who would support a man like this?

Malc and I worry about the world for our grandchildren. Brexit and the extreme right wingers in the UK, the Ukipers,  phew the world has gone mad.

All we can do is keep fighting for sanity, keep helping and loving and showing true respect to all people.

This is circulating the internet this morning.

Seems like an appropriate time to remind readers hat we have an admitted sexual predator sitting in the White House right now...who has offered a lifetime position on the Supreme Court to an alleged sexual predator. 

Birds of a feather, y’all.

Toulouse Lautrec for sale?

Many of us have used the Clinique Toulouse Lautrec at Albi. This clinic specialises in various ailments which can affect the elderly, as well as more common surgical interventions. But because it is owned by the same group as the Clinique Claude Bernard, also in Albi, the competition authority demanded that one of the clinics be sold.
Long negotiations have taken place with the public Centre Hospitalier Albi which wanted to take over the private clinic. But once again the lack of competition worried the authorities and no deal has been done.
It was thought that a buy-out by the staff was possible, but it seems that they were unable (or unwilling) to raise the money needed. Unions representing nursing and ancillary staff want assurances on jobs - preferably via the CH Albi purchase. However it seems that a new private buyer has come forward and all await the next moves.

Varen friperies

Varen friperies, two outlets

Friday afternoons we are now open 15 h to 17 h so as well as donating items to sell you can come and browse and buy.

If you have not been to see our new outlet Friday may suit you better than Saturday (althought the great market is Saturday)

Friday 15h to 17h

Saturday 10 till 12

taglines82@gmail.com

Library Lit presents a talk on Corsica

An illustrated talk

Corsica:  Land of Magic and Mystery

Parisot Library
Saturday 29th September
10.30 talk - 11.30 discussion - 12.00 apéritifs

Vanessa Couchman, popular local author, has visited Corsica many times and in her third novel (the second set in Corsica) and uses her knowledge of the island's rugged beauty and tumultuous history to paint a tale of her 18th century heroine's struggles against entrenched beliefs and superstitions.

Vanessa will present an illustrated talk exploring Corsican history and culture, rituals and supernatural beliefs.

Signed copies of "The Corsican Widow" will be for sale.

Najac concert for the Handsome Family (and Jason Toth)

The Handsome Family have written some of the most haunting and beautiful songs in American music. During their 25-year career Brett and Rennie Sparks (a.k.a. The Handsome Family) have created songs that transform the mundane landscape of modern life into a place of mysterious portent. As Greil Marcus said, “… their everyday surrealism has no parallel in contemporary writing…” 

There are a lot of new faces at their shows these days, thanks to “Far From Any Road,” which became a global hit when it was used as the theme to season one of True Detective. Both Guns ’N Roses and Bruce Springsteen have used the song as walk-in music and it is often played at hockey games. And, believe it or not— David Bowie’s recently published notebooks contain a line that simply says, “Handsome Family.” Who knows what might have been?

Handsome Family “Far From Any Road” / TRUE DETECTIVE title sequence:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRPpCqXYoos

This September, Brett and Rennie, along with Alex McMahon (guitars, steel, keyboards) and Jason Toth (drums, keyboards, sampler) will perform their brand of gothic Americana throughout Spain, France, and Italy, including their stop at Camping des Etoiles in the Aveyron outside of Najac where drummer Jason has been living for almost a year.

Tues 2 Oct 2018
w/ Regis de Najac
Camping des Etoiles
Sourbins, 12270 Najac
8:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/events/239533933572781/

New Yoga courses in Les Cabannes

Yoga Foundation Course with Jo Robertson 

A 6 week Iyengar Yoga foundation course for complete beginners. 

Starting - Monday, 22nd October at 5 to 6.30pm and finishing on the 26th November.

Venue - Bonbousquet, Les Cabannes

Directions - http://www.bonbousquet.com/contact.html

Cost - 96€

Contact - jo@jo-yoga.com

A link to Jo's website for more info:  http://www.bonbousquet.com/yoga.html

Fashion show for Parisot Fripaffaires

FET October: "a truly magnificent piece of theatre"

★★★★★ "a masterpiece of storytelling... a truly magnificent piece of theatre." Broadway Baby

We are thrilled to welcome In Loyal Company, a powerful one-man show hot off the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it won five-star reviews, on Wednesday 17th October 2018 at 7pm.

Performer and co-writer David William Bryan tells the true story of his great uncle Arthur – known as Joe – who never thought of going to war until the Liverpool bombing raids of WWII. He joins up and is sent to Singapore, only to go missing when his ship shinks and ending up in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.

Pieced together by Bryan and his co-writer from family history and documentary research, Joe's story is touching, humbling and at times viscerally exciting, whilst Bryan's acclaimed performance is all the more heartfelt for his flesh-and-blood connection with the hero.

Watch this for audience reaction..

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb_1wsIMdIw

★★★★★ "a great story, and a truly stunning performance." Fringe Guru

★★★★★ "masterful writing and accomplished performance...a hugely powerful and deeply moving piece." Fringe Review

★★★★★ "this epic untold tale of survival is a one-man powerhouse performance." What's On Stage

★★★★★ "a thrilling and intense experience. Don't miss it." The Edinburgh Reporter

The bar will open at 6pm and the performance will start at 7pm.

To book your tickets, please email: fetatlecolombier@gmail.com

Members €15 Non-Members €20

NB: your reservation will only be confirmed on receipt of your cheque

Ruth Etridge FET Secretary

www.fetatlecolombier.com

Two cats urgently needing knees

Two delightful cuddly cats, both are used to knees but happily hunt outside between knee sitting. Both are sterilised, had injections and all that sort of thing. They have been looked after by an elderly lady who is not able (for various reasons I do not want to go into ) keep them anymore

I have met them and given them a cuddle and they really are sweet.

Sarah Wright is looking after them at the moment and she can be contacted on  tel 0648518085

And for such a good cause

No deal does not look good for us, hope for better

https://www.thelocal.fr/20180921/we-will-be-the-collateral-damage-of-brexit-theresa-may-leaves-brits-in-france-angry-and-anxious

Anyone got a wheel chair?

Good morning Val,

I wondered if you could put a request out on your blog. Ive recently broken my foot and have to keep off it. I have been lent a wheelchair that somebody pushes but I wondered if any body can lend me or I can rent a wheelchair with the large wheels that one control's them self.

They can contact me on Mazandadie@hotmail.com 

Many thanks

Marion Cain.

Varen. 

Malc says: have you tried at the pharmacie? They have medical equipment to buy or hire, especially if you can get a prescription.

Our second outlet opened in Varen

https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2018/09/21/2873059-l-association-mains-tendues-82-a-inaugure-ses-locaux.html

A report in the Depeche of the opening of our second outlet, raising money for people in need in the area. I am trying to correct a mistake as the reporter says we gave to one cat association when we actually gave to “ les amis des chats” who sterilise cats in the area amongst  other things. 

This charity who help cats can be found at www.les-amis-des-chats.com

taglines82@gmail.com

Our darling dog has left us.

Some days bad things happen. Today was such a day as our lovely Golden Retriever, Bonny, lost her battle with her heart problem. We knew her heart was much enlarged and affecting her lungs and breathing. The hot weather has not helped her and the vet had no doubt that she had come to the end.

Nearly 13 years old she had given us 13 years of delight. Always patient, tolerant, affectionate and full of fun, if only people had that temperament the world would be a better place. When you lose a beloved pet it is like losing a faithful companion and dogs take your heart like no other pets.

Recently I was re-reading “Lake Wobegon Days” and Garrison Keillor wrote of the death of his old dog – I apologise for changing the sex of the dog and a few details, but it is so right.

“I missed that old dog a lot. She was a good dog to know. She was steadfast of course, as all dogs are, and let nothing come between us or dim her foolish affection for us. Even after her arthritis got bad, she still struggled to her feet when we came home and staggered towards us, her rear end swung halfway forward, tail waving as she had done since she was so young. We seemed to fulfil her life in some way, and even more so in her dotage than in bygone days when she could chase rabbits. She was so excited to see us, and we will miss that…More than her pure affection, however, we will miss our affection for her”

Val visited one of our dogs’ favourite walks and commended her spirit there where Daisy and Twister were no doubt waiting for their lovely companion, Bonny.

Work shops and French/English conversation

The Universite Populaire is currently enrolling for this year's workshops and conferences. There's a vast array of activities to choose from such as Italian, Yoga, Flower Arrangement, Mosaics, Stained Glass and Wood Carving. And following the success of Franglaischange, the English / French exchange group that ran in Caussade last year, we are running two workshops this year, one in Saint Antonin and one in Caussade, and are recruiting Anglophones and Francophones wishing to practice their French and English conversation in a fun and sociable context.

https://www.up-caussade.fr/bienvenue/ateliers-2018-2019/

For more information about Franglaischange contact me: letticelacey@yahoo.co.uk

For information about other workshops or to enrol: up-caussade@outlook.fr

British Film Week in Caussade

Attached is some information about a British Film Festival happening in Caussade from 28th-30th September. In addition to an interesting programme of films, and all screenings at €5, we are lucky to have the Cod-en-Bleu Fish and Chip truck coming on the Saturday night, and a proper English tea made by Glynis (Cakes in France) on Sunday afternoon.

Festiltt restaurant/festival dinner booking open

Festilitt - the Parisot literary festival 19, 20 & 21 October 2018

Priority booking now open   Festilitt friends and patrons can now benefit from 2 weeks of priority booking for the festival dinner on Saturday night.  This event is hugely popular and always sells out very quickly so if you want to secure your place, we suggest that you book as soon as possible - click here to send a reservation email.  Don't delay, the places available are likely to all be reserved within a couple of days.  If you have not yet signed up to be a friend or patron but would like to, click here.   The four course dinner with wine and coffee included costs 27€ and this year it will take place at Verfeil salle des fetes, not Castanet as in previous years.  The route will be well signposted from Parisot for anyone who is not familiar with the area. We're trying a new system for lunches this year so if you want to eat with us at either L'Auberge de la Castille or Fourchettes et Cie you will need to book with us centrally.  We're hoping that will avoid the scramble for places at lunchtime!  L'Auberge de la Castille - Saturday 14,50€, Sunday 20€ Fourchettes et Cie - Saturday 15€, Sunday 17€ If you are booking for the dinner, please just add your lunch reservations to that email.  If you want to reserve lunch but not dinner, please click here.  Please state which day, restaurant and how many people you want to reserve for.

Second-hand book sale It's not too late to donate, so if you have any recent books in good condition, please contact maggietallentire@live.fr to organise a pick up or drop off.  Please do not just leave books at the library without having been in contact with Maggie first.

Volunteering at Festilitt    If you would like to volunteer at Festilitt we have plenty of jobs we can give you!  Please email dokitikpi@hotmail.com if you would like to get involved.

The continuing saga on applying for a carte de sejour

Hello Val

We had 7 working days to produce the documents requested.  We went to Montauban this afternoon to be told that we would need another RDV to give these personally to the Agent.  However, there were NO available appointments until well after this time.  We refused the appointment and were ready to leave the documents on the desk when another women appeared from one of the offices.  She looked at the papers and said that they were OK and took them away with her??

We feel that there is a strong possibility that if couples take seperate appointments it could lead to a situation where, although both have arrived in France together, one could be elligible for a Carte de Sejour and the other not. 

From what I can gather from other people it is just this one women who seems to have a problem.  We will just have to wait and see what happens in our case.

Hazel

taglines82@gmail.com

More information

Hi Val
I have seen Hazel’s post re a carte de séjour from Montauban. Perhaps she should pass on her experience to RIFT’s Facebook page, as they are really helpful in terms of advice and also want to monitor the different processes/attitudes in different departments. Those who have been processed in Montauban have nothing but praise for the staff there. There’s also a non -EU chap looking for advice re citizenship. The Toulouse citizenship Facebook group is really helpful too. It’s called British People Gaining French Citizenship Together in Toulouse but I’ve also seen queries from non-EU people and they may be able to point the man in the right direction if they can’t help him themselves.

Sarah Brown