The life of a refugee has always been hard.

Nothing changes,  the life of a refuge has always been hard. So touching seeing two children missing legs.

Camp de Septfonds

LA RETIRADA

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 Photo légendée : "Le cheminement pitoyable....".

 PHOTO : I' Illustration du 18/02/1939

 PS: l' article traite du passage en France par Cerbère (66).

Organic bird food

Rachel Shamash writes

If anyone is interested in buying ORGANIC bird food ( sunflower seeds) I have found a French source/farm near Puylaroque. He will be sending it all for oil soon so you will need to make contact soon. He sells it at 70 centimes a kilo. Please email me or phone to have his contact details. You will need to take a bag (or two) and bathroom scales but i can also regroup people to go at the same time if there are several interested.      rachel.shamash@orange.fr  05 63 24 07 34

Toulouse street artist at work

100taur is internationally known as a street artist and we have featured his work before on Taglines. Having studied at the Toulouse school of Beaux-Arts, 100taur decided to devote himself to outdoor painting, mainly on public buildings. But he is not simply a "taggeur" randomly defacing public property, but a considered designer, where every element has been planned on his computer before being executed.

mural in progress: pic F.Valery France3

He is currently engaged on a mural of 60 metres x 6 metres of the wall of a boulodrome in Minimes, Toulouse. Estimated to take until the end of the month, the work will feature his trademark love of animals and sea creatures, both real and imaginary, together with references to other artists he admires. As the work progresses he is subject to many inquiring passers-by, curious to discuss the work.

Nous sommes le mercredi dix janvier

Damp, drizzly, mild start to the day. 

Not as many blue skies as we would have liked this year so far. 

My news with Mains Tendues 82 is always exciting, today we go to fix up insurance/ assurance. This afternoon me and some of the boys are going off with the remorque to pick up some rather nice old furniture and tonight we are going to the Vice Presidents house, Caroline Trender to look at her progress with the website. The Treasurer Sarah Brown is nearly there with setting up the bank account, which has been quite complicated but nearly there Sarah. 

We could open in the village very soon, so exciting.

Please if you have any other news for TAG send it, as I am so involved with creating this association, getting goods to sell and looking after young men that I am rather stretched.

taglines82@gmail.com

Working together for a better world

MAINS TENDUES 82

Working together for a better world.

When we started TAGonline we realised we could help local charities and chose Alzheimer's 82, Cancer Support, Liberté des Anes, Via Sahel Enfants d'Afrique

We also helped to rehome local dogs with Truffes et Moustaches, Kathy and Maeva.

Around three years ago we began sending clothes, sleeping bags and tents to Calais and raising money for friends who were going up building chalets.

Then just over two years ago our own refugees arrived here and we started raising money for them.

With TAG we always asked for cheques to be made directly to the associations  

Up till now we have not had our own association to be able to do this but one needs to have transparency of where the money we now work hard to collect is going. 

One of the reasons we have created Mains Tendues 82 with a committee and importantly a treasurer.

Our hopes are to help our local refugees and others in the area in need.

After being able to give 100 euros to each boy at Verfeil, ( 18 of them) we were delighted to be able to give 300 euros to the local enfants/ junior school in Varen before Christmas.

We start 2018 with a healthy balance even after we have paid expenses for housing, feeding and transport for 3 young men who passed winter in the warmth here with us, rather than on the streets of Toulouse.

Taglines82@gmail.com

Natalie has a veggie pop up café

Good morning folks, I thought I'd let you know that my veggie pop up cafe will be starting again next week but I've switched to Tuesdays instead of Thursdays. For reservations please call 06 59 96 25 36

I thought I'd also use this opportunity to tell you a bit about myself. I've been running a vegetarian and vegan catering business for 3 years and I cater for events, retreats and festivals. I also have a vegetarian chambres d'hotes (www.lechevalblanc.net) in St Antonin where I provide fine dining and gourmet breaks for our guests. My new projects for 2018 will be a series of gourmet evenings and the launch of my vegetarian cooking school where I'll be offering both day and residential courses. 

If you're interested in workshops, my gourmet evenings or anything else please send your details to info@lechevalblanc.net and I'll add you to my mailing list. You can also follow our facebook page for updates https://www.facebook.com/lechevalblanc.st.antonin/

Happy New Year,

Natalie x

Nous sommes le mardi neuf janvier

Another good book swap yesterday, lots of new books after Christmas. For me lots of items sold on facebook being picked up and paid for.

After the violent storm the night before the day ended up being very mild. We are beginning to get 

used to these storms but the talk was still of trees and branches down along the roads.

Opposite the Gazpacho is a free book bank on the wall near Hans VIDEPC. People who live in St. Antonin do use it if stuck for a book, so do remember to pop a good book in from time to time.

Lots of people are now passing the winter in Spain and there were notable absences.

For those still enjoying being here in France whatever the weather and also like us having pets to consider, we continue to enjoy our French dream.

taglines82@gmail.com

Nous sommes le lundi huit janvier

A violent storm around 2 am which had me dashing from my bed to unplug the wifi box and tv.

The rain was lashing down and the thunder claps were interspersed only with the lightning and multiple short power cuts, the dogs and cats slept through it. 

Book swap TODAY, hope you remember the date change, only for this month because of the first Monday being New Years Day.

taglines82@gmail.com

Cinema at Milhars

"Cinéma à Milhars" <cinemilhars@gmail.com>

Bonjour,

Nous vous souhaitons une belle année 2018, pleine de belles histoires !

Pour bien commencer cette nouvelle année, nous vous invitons le

Mardi 9 janvier à 20h30, salle G.Bosc

à découvrir ou redécouvrir le fabuleux film

« Farrebique » 

de Georges Rouquier, en version restaurée.

Bruniquel has welcomed its migrants

picture Eric Cabanis:AFP

With the imminent closure of the migrant welcome centres in Bruniquel and Verfeil France 3 TV news has a feature on the village of Bruniquel and how well its inhabitants have welcomed and integrated the 25 or so Sudanese refugees housed there. 11 of the asylum seekers have "got their papers" and are very grateful for the help and affection they have received and advise the rest of their group to be patient. They will be joining the 18 Afghans and Africans housed in Verfeil in a new centre near Parisot later this month.
The link (in French) is a pleasing read for all of us who have been involved.
https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/occitanie/tarn-et-garonne/montauban/bruniquel-tarn-garonne-refugies-prennent-nouveau-depart-1396235.html

Speed limit to be reduced

Government plans to reduce the speed limit on many secondary roads will be announced this week. The current death and accident toll on all roads has risen to 3500 and 70000 after some years of reduction. The 90kph limit will be reduced to 80kph, estimated to save between 200 and 400 lives and prefects have already been asked to identify which stretches will be affected. The measures will take about six months to implement.
The prime minister denied it was simply a way to get more revenue via the radars, and probably the cost of implementation and awareness campaigns will out weigh the revenue for some time. Savings to motorists are estimated at about 120 euros on fuel and environmental savings of about 30% of emissions could be achieved.
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Nous sommes le dimanche sept janvier

On a bit of a high and not just because we live in the heights of Varen. Going to our post box yesterday we had money from items sold, and a cheque for an eye watering amount for Mains Tendues 82

It will really help us to help others and gets us off to a flying start.

Last night at the Maire's Voeux we got a chance to tell villagers about Mains Tendues 82 and the shop coming soon to Varen, the old town hall opposite the halle. We will be open Saturday morning from 10 till 12. You will be able to do your market shopping and then pop in to see if there is anything you need to buy at a good price. We will be selling items not at present needed by the boys for their new apartments. We have tables too large for small apartments, lots of lamps and shades, curtains, garden tools, clothes, childrens equipment, pushchairs, cots, everything that people leaving for the UK have donated for our good causes. 

I imagine that if you do not need anything you may be able to help by donating... but only good quality things, nothing dirty or needing to go to the dechetterie  please.

Help sorting material and hosting the Saturday  opening day will be needed.

We are still looking for storage in the area. Contact me if you have time and would like to offer help.

Val taglines82@gmail.com

Nous sommes le samedi six janvier

Just when you are feeling too tired and down, you get a "pick you up" in the form of flowers.

Lat night feeling exhausted I received a beautiful yellow potted rose bush from all the Afghan boys from Verfeil in gratitude for the help I give them.

One does not need presents but gosh it perks one up.

Also thanks to the two couples who came yesterday morning with lots of donations for the boys and a sizeable donation for Mains tendues82

taglines82@gmail.com

Cannes 2018

The world famous Cannes international film festival, to held in May, has appointed as President of the jury the Australian actress Cate Blanchett. Winner of two Oscars, Miss Blanchette starred in the locally filmed "Charlotte Gray", and has been a leading critic of sexism in Hollywood.
For many years she criticised Hollywood producers for thinking that "women's film" were a niche genre, despite the commercial and critical success of many films featuring women (her own performance in "Blue Jasmine" worthy of any accolade).
One of the first to denounce Harvey Weinstein, with whom she has made two films, she co-founded the association "Time's Up" with other leading women actors with the aim of achieving equality of treatment of men and women in the industry and providing assistance, including legal, to help those who have suffered sexual harassment at work in the cinema and theatre milieu.
Cate Blanchette promises to be a committed President at Cannes 2018.
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Nous sommes le vendredi cinq janvier

Dry at the moment out there. From one window we have a beautiful blue sky, from another it is streaky grey and pink. I am going with the positive and waiting for the sun, it is mild and Malc tells me we can expect sunny intervals.

Heard a lot of discussion about the Chinese lanterns at Gaillac, apparently they are still illuminated and sounds worth a visit.

We probably will not go as we hate light pollution which affects local wildlife, birds and bats especially become disorientated.

We have a quiet day with lots of deliveries of clothes and bedding.

The new CAO welcome centre for refugees will open towards the end of January just outside Parisot, so a lot of the bedding and other items will go then.

Just a reminder that it is the book swap on Monday 8 th.

looking forward to seeing you there.

taglines82@gmail.com

What a busy day

The editor was up at 6.30 am and out for 7.45am picking up a car full of boys to go off with the remorque / trailer to pick up some household items for the boys.

Quite an adventurous  day as along the route we had a problem with the plastic wheel arch, which we managed to fix by tearing it off.

Then on to meet a friend in a village near Gaiilac who was donating lots of things including a fridge for one of the boys. 

Whilst waiting for the friend in a car park in the village, the gendarmes drew up alongside us, staring intently into the car. 

I told the boys to stay quietly inside and got out to see what the problem was. 

Peering into the car they asked me if it was my car and where I lived. After lots of explanations of what we were doing and where we were going they sat and watched us as we moved off. The relief that we had good working trailer lights  was enormous. 

 Makes you realise though it is not easy for black faces in France.

We got our trailer full and as we drove home I realised we needed petrol and I had left my purse at home, though I did have 20 euros in my pocket. 

We stopped in St. Antonin and straight away found a friend who used her card to get me petrol.

When I got in about 2 pm I was absolutely shattered but still had unloading to organise.

Malc had been on dog / donkey/ garden duty with the help of one of our Africans here. Lots of branches, tidied up, a tree repositioned which had blown over and broken tiles picked up.

Busy is good, doing nothing is boring I told Malc with a big smile..

taglines82@gmail.com

Nous sommes le jeudi 4 janvier 2018

Early start for the editor to collect a frigo for an apartment in Vefeil occupied by two young men from Afghanistan, one of whom has his "papers" and is starting his mandatory French courses.
The sub-editor was delegated to clear up the degats caused by the stormy winds the other day. Lots of branches to be sawn down, fences to be made secure and 8 tiles from the pool house roof. Don't worry, no ladders climbed!
2018 has started in a very busy fashion; lets hope it slows down (at least a bit).
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Has SNCF lost Villefranche de Rouergue?

A regular traveller from Paris to Aveyron's Villefranche searched in vain for his destination at one of the capital's automatic ticket machines. It seems that SNCF update their timetables each November and no trace could be found in the list of stations presented.
There are several Villefranches on the rail network, but the Aveyron town is second only to its "sur Saone" homonym in size. However he entered the name into the machine he was not presented with his destination. So to one of the guichets to annoy a long queue of passengers whilst the agent carried out the same search. Eventually it was found that if one enters "villefranchederouergue" without spaces, up it comes. Searching on the regional TER website it appears as "Villefranche-Rouergue" in a long list of options. If you or your visitors intend to visit our Villefranche and are buying a ticket from an SNCF machine remember to be persistent.
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Singing class in Najac

Dear Singers,

I am planning another song class in Najac to take place in the afternoon of Saturday 27th January, as before from 2pm. Geneviève Foccroulle will accompany the Class again. 

The format will be the same, with the class lasting at least until 5.30 and the opportunity to sing two pieces. The cost is €30.

I hope to see you there! Let me know. Let me know also if it interests you to come as a spectator. You can call me on 05 65 65 79 75 to discuss any aspect of the class.

Meanwhile I wish you all a Happy New Year!

All the best from  Sally.
contact sally.songful@gmail.com

Nous sommes le mercredi 3 novembre

Early start to help out with some furniture removal, followed by an afternoon - removing furniture! All in aid of our putative association "Mains Tendues": happily it does not involve our over-stretched storage facilities.
The teams involved can sadly only look forward to rain or showers, but temperatures well above normal.
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