Telethon this weekend

The marathon TV broadcasts in support of research into various neuro-muscular conditions, as well as support for patients affected, takes place over the next two days. Traditionally over 70000 euros are raised by members of the public and organisations via sponsored events. Generally in local villages pompiers offer car washes and coffee; schools organise sales of cakes; and private individuals offer their services. There is a national dedicated telephone number 3637 and on-line giving facilities.
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Nous sommes le vendredi huit decembre

If anyone has any large ££ to €€ transactions to make today is a good day for it exchange rate 1.15

taglines82@gmail.com
NB: large transactions such as buying a house needed to get near this rate. £10000 quoted at 1.135

More news about internet in the area

Two other dates about the new internet connections, which will be available in the next few months:

 

Cornusson will be connected 28/03/2018

Brézou and Quergoale will be connected 18/04/2018

 

Maybe more information later!

 

Hans,VIDEPC 

LGV Bordeaux-Toulouse abandoned

The plans to make the line from Paris to Toulouse all capable of running TGVs by 2025 has all but been abandoned. The government's infrastructure advisor does not consider the cost to be justifiable at a time when cutting public spending is a priority. This will come as a blow to local authorities who have already invested heavily in planning and up-grading facilities to meet the 200kph trains.
A preferred solution is to make improvements to the existing line, hoping to save 30 minutes on the journey. The 8 billion euro project is not supported by the Environment Minister and there has been some lobbying by airlines threatening to withdraw daily flights.
Originally part of the plans to link Paris to Barcelona by TGV, this may now scupper any super-fast service by having a "hole" from Bordeaux via the Occitanie route.
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Winter visitor

Our bird feeder is attracting lots of interest and not just the usual suspects. Apart from tits of all sizes, nuthatches, woodpeckers and various finches we were pleased to spot a brambling this morning. A species which spends its summers in Scandinavia and comes south for the winter. Probably more common in the UK than here, the brambling is a mid-sized finch with distinctive colour markings. Their preferred habitat is woodland, especially birch, but as seed eaters they are clearly attracted to our sunflower seeds, and may be just passing here to more productive areas. Having had daily visits from the hawfinch we would now like to see a bullfinch, so much scarcer here.

Brambling with siskin and blue tit.

Christmas at Le Jardin de la Mothe

The sun is coming

Bbrrr, but the sun is coming. There was a hard frost on the fields but I noticed the donkeys winter coats have grown as they found the sunny areas to stand in waiting for their breakfast. One of the boys as one of his duties is feeding the donkeys but I have to sneek over later to wish the girls good morning.

The prospect of a lovely sunny day awaits

Nous sommes le jeudi sept decembre

A date for your diary next week, the last production of the year for FET.

Death of a legend

Johnny Halliday, who has died age 74

People of our age are used to iconic figures from the past 50 years dying, but to the French people the death announced today of Johnny Hallyday is akin to the death of Elvis to us anglophones.
Johnny (as he was universally known) has been at the top of show business here since those early rock n' roll days, still touring, changing his appeal to match the times, but retaining the "greatest hits" in his act.
Like so many pop music acts from the sixties, Johnny was a wannabe Elvis, but had the talent to rise above the one hit wonders to become a fixed star in the French music scene. Though in recent years he lived in Los Angeles and was often criticised for tax exile status, his very public fight against cancer did not diminish the affection French people had for their very own king of rock.

Nous sommes le mercredi six decembre

A milder but misty morning, could be a good day when the mist lifts.

After a hectic day out all day yesterday I am going for a quieter day today... I will not tell you what my quieter day entails !

All those who are interested in building new friendships note in your diaries Monday 11th, 10.30 in the Gazpacho, a christmas get  together with mince pies. If you are a maker of mince pies please bring some along they will be gratefully received. It is the first of such meetings.

taglines82@gmail.com

Auto entrepreneurs take note

Hi Val, I thought the following is bound to be relevant to someone out there. Each year auto entrepreneurs have to pay the CFE (cotisation foncière enterprise) We accessed our bill online this year to find that it had almost trebled! Off to see the amazing Stephanie at the maison service public (2nd floor at the mairie in St Antonin). After a couple of weeks of emails to & fro it would transpire that the Chambre de métiers had mistakenly added on e300 to the bill! Most auto entrepreneurs already pay 0.48% to the chambre de metiers when they fill in their trimestriel return & therefore do not have to pay the e300 being demanded just the normal amount of the CFE. I've found 1 friend who has got the same error on their bill & feel absolutely certain that this being the case there will be plenty more people who have got an exorbitant bill by error. I would say to anyone who's uncertain about this to get down to Stephanie asap as it has to be paid very soon & she has all the info.

Laura xx

Better internet connection on the way.

Some good news for people who thus far couldn’t get proper Internet in the region between St Antonin, Caylus, Parisot, St André de Najac, Laguépie.

For many places new small telephone exchanges will be installed, connected in between with fibre optics. This should give a higher speed for many people, but also the possibility to have a good ADSL or VDSL connection where it wasn’t possible before. I have found the following information:

St André de Najac will be connected 12/11/2017, parts around St André 18/12/2017, I have no  information yet for connections in the outside areas of St André.

Lexos and Lexos-Bas will be connected 30/01/2018.

Arnac will be connected 07/02/2018.

Servanac (plateau between St Antonin and Septfonds) and Le Bosc (Bosc de La Cam) will be connected 28/03/2018.

Espinas and Mordagne will be connected 11/04/2018.

La Capelle Livron will be connected 18/04/2018.

Another area I know is Montfermier which will be connected 14/03/2018.

There is probably more work going on, but I don’t have information about that yet.

 

Hans, VIDEPC ST Antonin

Nous sommes le mardi cinq decembre

No frost this morning and much milder. Malc was out before seven at the station and says it was not foggy either.

A little warning about your poele in winter. Firstly make sure your chimney has been cleaned and you have a certificate from the chimney cleaner. Take care with the fire, do not leave the door open and leave it, sparks can fly.

If you have insurance they will only pay out if you have a certificate that the chimney has been swept and that you have taken due care.

Reason for this reminder: an aquaintance's house burned down totally this week end in St. Antonin.

Take care

taglines82@gmail.com

Portable massage couch for sale / SOLD

Purple portable massage couch for sale.  In good condition,  comes complete with carry case (slightly damaged handle).  Up to 30 stone weight limit.  I have electric couch so no longer need it.  Ideal for mobile beauty therapist/massage therapist or in a clinic/salon situation.  I live near Verfeil sur Seye.  Please contact me if you are interested.  For sale at the absolute bargain price of Euros 60.

Caroline Trender  carolinetrender@gmail.com

Password management

Hello there ,

I was using LastPass, which you mentioned on your page here: tag-on-line.blogspot.com/2014/01/managing-passwords.html

It's so great that you shared it. But what I found is that I’m just picking bad passwords (“iloveyou123”), and LastPass will only be able to help me remember this bad password.

After some digging, I found a tool that I recommend sharing on your page also. This complementary tool generates random high encryption passwords. www.vpnmentor.com/tools/secure-password-generator/

In hope I helped back,
Meredith
Malc says in a review of password management tools published last month in PC Mag on-line LastPass is still rated as best free tool and there are several others recommended. Here is a link to the magazine's articles
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2475964,00.asp - for free password managers
https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407168,00.asp - for paid versions
The original recommendation from a reader some four years ago still seems to be valid, but readers are advised to do their own research.
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Just a great book swap

Just got back from the busiest book swap ever. 

We have an absolute car full  of donated items, met some wonderful people. Margaret did a sterling job selling DVD's and CD's and raised 50 euros.

Someone else, the kindest French lady came and donated 50 euros. Chrissie Hargreaves ( happy birthday Chrissie) came along with super things for the lads and also tells me she has a goodly donation from things she has sold. 

Caroline Mills was on coat duty with her two lovely dogs and ended up with a table of warm coats.

 Glynis Howgego donated 6 beautifully decorated cup cakes for my boys tea. ( I will have to stop Malc popping round.)

I sold lots of things on this site which were collected. John Dawson created a lot of interest with his pictures of old St.Antonin and 4 people gave me their email addresses and paid.

A new collection of books flew out.

Quite a lot of us are going next Monday 10.30 am to meet for coffee and mince pies at the Gazpacho again.

We will be forging new friendships and planning meeting regularly. Men and women, singles and  couples.

All in all a great morning, I think the final sum taken was 275 euros, all going into the coffers of Main tendues 82

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Argentine beef to be imported?

The controversial trade agreement CETA between the EU and Canada which came into force earlier this year may be followed by an agreement with the South American trade group MERCOSUR.
Local beef producers fear that it could lead to imports of relatively cheap beef from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay with a favourable tariff regime. With French beef about 20% more expensive this could mean loss of jobs, presumably in the area of products with lower premium rates, such as processed meat. The 100000 tons envisaged for the EU as a whole could, according to Aveyron producers endanger 20000 exploitations. Perhaps corned beef will be cheaper.....
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Cold at the markets

'How cold it was yesterday, a reader reported -3 at the market in St Antonin

At Laguepie the Marche de Noel was a bit disappointing with little to buy other than second hand childrens toys. There was music and Father Christmas and a lot of frozen looking dancing and twirling with pom poms

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Nous sommes le lundi quatre decembre

Your chance on Monday at the Gazpacho to give Val your 20€ charity donation and your e-mail address to receive a link to download a copy of my slideshow of hundreds of old photos of St Antonin and surrounding areas.

John Dawson

21 dogs rescued at St Cirq

In contrast to the sympathetic story about Figeac dog refuge below. a tale of horror unfolded at St Cirq, near Caussade, when the association 30 millions d'amis aided by the gendarmes rescued 21 small dogs which were being housed in cages designed for rabbits, open to the weather, without available food or water. In dirty conditions at the home of a private individual, the dogs are now in a refuge and the association has filed a complaint against the owner. Should readers want more details about any of the dogs telephone 06 78 83 49 73. There is a video on YouTube at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=49&v=P3AqOjvgBWw
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