France publishes a draft "no deal" bill.

The draft bill states British citizens in France could receive ‘more favourable treatment’ than people from other third countries. But this will only apply if French nationals in the UK are given the equivalent status. The worry is that any promises made by Mrs May’s government could be overturned if there is a change of leadership or general election, in which case France would reciprocate. The bill states: ‘In the event of withdrawal by the United Kingdom without an agreement, British nationals who enjoy the right of free movement and free establishment throughout the European Union, as well as members of their family, will become third country nationals and will therefore in principle be subject to common law, that is to say to the requirement to present a visa to enter French territory and to have a residency permit to justify staying here.’
So if there is no deal, we (and our family members) will need a visa to enter France and a Carte de Sejour to stay here. Anyone living in France without a Carte de Sejour will be in the country illegally. Also, if there is no deal, British nationals working for French companies and with employment contracts under French law may be required to obtain a permit. Without permits, a French employer could be criminally liable for the employment of foreigners. Some professions including doctors and pharmacists, and people working for the French civil service must have French or other EU state nationality. So after a no deal exit, a decree would need to be passed to allow British nationals to continue working.
Particularly worrying for the retired is healthcare. If the UK crashes out then existing agreements will cease and new agreements will be needed to cover healthcare, or France could introduce legislation to allow access to healthcare. It is probably reasonable to expect other EU countries to do the same. Clearly, there is much more to be considered by France, but this at least tells us the true implications of no deal and the dangers of our government using us as bargaining chips while refusing to ring fence citizen’s existing rights.

NB see the previous post for the UK proposal on health

UK Government's proposals for Healthcare

Could this be the cure for our healthcare? On 26 October, Stephen Barclay, Minister of State for Health, issued the written statement below which sets out a new Healthcare Bill for future reciprocal healthcare arrangements. After two years we finally have something which might just give some peace of mind to worried pensioners and other British citizens living in the EU. Today, the Government is introducing the Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill. This will provide the Government with the powers that are needed to fund and effectively implement arrangements for UK nationals to obtain healthcare abroad after the UK exits the European Union (EU). Current EU reciprocal healthcare arrangements enable UK nationals to access healthcare when they live, study, work, or travel abroad and visa-versa for EU citizens when in the UK. They give people more life options, support tourism and businesses, and healthcare cooperation. The UK also has a number of reciprocal healthcare agreements with non-EU and EEA countries, such as Australia and New Zealand. These arrangements ensure that UK nationals living and working in the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland can access healthcare in exchange for paying taxes and social security contributions. The UK also funds healthcare abroad for a number of current or former UK residents. This includes healthcare for UK state pensioners who spend their retirement in the EU and needs arising healthcare when UK residents visit the EU for holiday or study through the European Healthcare Insurance Card (EHIC) Scheme. The Bill is part of the Government’s preparations for EU Exit and will ensure that whatever the outcome of EU Exit, the Government can take the necessary steps to continue reciprocal healthcare arrangements or otherwise support UK residents to obtain healthcare when they move to or visit the EU. Presently, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has limited domestic powers to fund and arrange healthcare outside of the UK. When the UK leaves the EU the current EU regulations will no longer be part of UK law and new legislation will be needed. This Bill confers powers on the Secretary of State to make, and arrange for payments to be made, in respect of the cost of healthcare provided outside the UK. This would allow for the funding of reciprocal healthcare arrangements for UK nationals living in the EU, EEA and Switzerland. The Bill also confers powers on the Secretary of State to make regulations for and in connection with the provision of healthcare abroad and to give effect to healthcare agreements with other countries or territories (both EU and non-EU) or supranational bodies such as the EU. Finally, the Bill provides for the lawful processing of data where necessary for purposes of implementing, operating or facilitating the operation of reciprocal healthcare arrangements or payments. Current healthcare agreements benefit people in all parts of the UK, assisting people to obtain healthcare when they are abroad. The UK Government is therefore engaging with the devolved administrations to deliver an approach that works for the whole UK in a way that fully respects the devolution settlements. The Bill underscores the Government’s commitment to reaching a reciprocal healthcare agreement with the EU, or where necessary making agreements with Member States, and to exploring potential agreements with third countries in the future. The Government welcomes the forthcoming scrutiny of the Bill, to ensure that it achieves its aims for the continuation of healthcare support for UK nationals in the EU, EEA and Switzerland after the UK exits the EU, but also enabling the UK to look to the future. This statement has also been made in the House of Lords

Giants (including spiders) invade Toulouse

just a part of the Minotaure: photo La Machine

 Think more of the giants in Liverpool last week rather than Dr Who last night, but from 1st November the streets of Toulouse will be the site of a presentation of "The Guardian of the Temple" by the company called "La Machine". Featuring a giant Minotaure and a web-weaving spider the presentation will take place in the city streets, with various acts making a theatrical event. The event is marking the opening of a new "Halle de la Machine" in the Toulouse suburb of Montaudran, which will display such machines.

Vide maison in St. Antonin

‌hi Val

vide maison

foun de Pio, Route de Saleth, 82140 St Antonin

thursday 1st November

10-12 & 2-5pm

directions from St Antonin - go past gendarmerie and take road for Feneyrols, after 1.5kms we are on LHS with white gates next yo a house called Quietude. if lost call 05  63 30 84 15 we'll guide in.

Poorpaws book sale

Good morning,

 

I am so sorry it has taken so long to let you all know the results of our Book Sale on the 20th October, it has been a very busy week and as my computer is old and a bit rubbish, I have to be able to put by an hour or so whilst it cranks up and decides whether or not to work !

 

The sale was Our Best Ever and I thank all of you who came and supported us, those of you who could not come but were kind enough to send donations and those of you who donated all the fabulous books.  Our best result up to now was over 3,000 euros and we topped that last Saturday, not by much but topped even so.  Fabulous !

 

A donation was made to Cancer Support France, another to La Mere aux Betes, I was able to pay off Poorpaws’ not inconsiderable vet bill and there is enough left to keep Poorpaws dogs in food for a few months and pay for some sterilisations which will be coming up very soon.

 

The Book Team always enjoy the day and I just love going through the thousands of books sorting out the wheat from the chaff, desperately reading like crazy to make sure we give you a great choice.  We are not the biggest book sale around but I like to think we are the ‘cosiest’ and it made my day to have many of you thank me and the team for organising the sales which you look forward to.

 

Next sale will be around Easter time and we will let you know in good time.

 

Keeeeeeeeeeeeeep reading !

 

Sue x.  Poorpaws

Fall back tonight

Don't forget that the daylight saving ends tonight at 3am. Any clocks you have will need to be turned back - most of your devices will do it themselves. Your dogs will not understand the need for an extra hour in bed.

Concert for a misty Sunday afternoon

Cooking with Jo

Proud of the pompiers, proud of our association Mains Tendues 82

Remise de chèque de l'association Mains tendues 82 remis aux pompiers

L'association varennoise Mains tendues 82, présidée par Valérie Johnstone, a pour but d'aider les personnes et les associations qui ont des besoins et qui font des actes de solidarité aux personnes. Par exemple, aux écoles, aux personnes âgées en difficultés, aux réfugiés, aux animaux, entre autres. Des membres de l'association sont venus au centre de secours de Laguépie pour remettre un chèque de 1 000 € à l'Amicale des sapeurs-pompiers. Le président de l'association, le sergent-chef F. Duval, et le chef de centre, le capitaine E.Cros, ont remercié chaleureusement l'association pour ce geste qui leur rendra bien service, notamment pour la stèle érigée au centre de secours, en mémoire des pompiers disparus.

Cette sympatique cérémonie s'est terminée par le pot de l'amitié, en présence des anciens et actuels pompiers du centre et de très jeunes sapeurs-pompiers.

La Dépêche du Midi

 

Men in demand

Men! We need you. Can you sing? The Parisot Choir is currently recruiting tenors and basses. The musical programme up to Christmas is Handel’s Messiah and general Christmas carols. Due to work and travel commitments the male section needs some new blood. The programme for 2019 has not yet been finalised. If you are interested please get in touch with celia.berry@orange.fr The choir meets on Tuesday evenings from 19h to 21h in the Salle des Fetes in Parisot.

Thanks

Celia

Sounds fishy

We know that traditionally firemen save cats trapped up trees, but goldfish swept away in floods?
The catastrophic floods in the Aude recently also swept away garden ponds, many of which contained goldfish and other pondlife. One pompier found a goldfish in a small muddy puddle and called it Moses as it reminded him of the Biblical rescue of Moses. Posting the story on Facebook, the fish's owner recognised her missing resident (though no word on the many other fish from the pond) and asked the pompier to keep Moses safe until her garden is repaired.
In the midst of such tragic devastation it is heartening to hear of such small acts of kindness.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com

Do you remember Reggie? The dog with no name.

Hi Valerie and Malcolm

Sadly I have to tell you that Reggie (aka a dog with no name from your historical blogs) has passed away. Last June he developed a cancer in his spleen, this was removed but they could not guarantee his long-term survival. It turned out that he lived for another 4 months. The last period being as full of events, life and enjoyment as his previous life with us here. He was truly a Star. Thank you for finding him for us.

The three photos below are:

Reggie and friends  near Treport in Northern France

Reggie and  friends at a cottage we hire in Crecy, Picardie

and Reggie asleep with his matriarchal friend Cilla and me (in Molesey Surrey)

Kindest Regards

Douglas

Douglas Johnson

douglas.johnson@virgin.net

Film about two inventive resistants

"Stan et Ulysse" is a documentary film about two resourceful young men who defied the Nazi invaders in the Belgian/Franco border area. Those interested in this period, as well as those wanting to know more about the exploits and "dirty tricks" the resistants used to counter the German occupiers are invited to a showing of the film in Verfeil sur Seye  on Friday 26th October at 19h.
In the Petit Verfeillais, with drinks and nibbles available and a chance to discuss the show with others in the audience..
enquiries to Muriel Fourcade at  murielfourcade@yahoo.fr

A lively but cuddly black cat

Hi Val

 a small cat arrived here at our place some 3 weeks ago... And he is trouble... About 6 months old and full of beans. So much so that he scares our other cats and we are worried we will lose them. By now he is okay with the dog.

So would you please advertise little Toto? He is castrated and is otherwise a handsome boy, completely black and very affectionate to people. Treated against fleas and worms. 
A house with no other pets would be ideal for him. 
Hopefully one  of your TAG-lines readers will want to adopt him

mmscott@orange.fr

Marcia

Not everyone likes “le chasse”

In the merde

A hunters car along our lanes yesterday obviously been attacked by a French hunt saboteur, there are French who campaign against the hunt too.

Too many deaths of people walking or enjoying  the countryside makes tensions mount.

I spoke to the chasseur whose car had been covered in cow effluent, he did not know who had done it but felt it was a young Frenchman who lives nearby.

By the way it was not me🤪

taglines82@gmail.com

November 11 16.00 An Armistice Day Memorial Concert; St Corneille Puycelsi

Mark Opstad is the very well known conductor of the Puycelsi Choir. However if you have wondered what his day job is now is your opportunity to come and listen to the Maîtrise de Toulouse, the youth choir of the Conservatoire.

This choir of which he is the founder director was named by the Lillian Bettancourt Foundation the best choir in France in 2017 and awarded a prize of  250,000€. They will be singing the Requiem by Duruflé and music by Ireland, Howells and Bainton written to commemorate the lost lives of both world wars.

Tickets are priced at 15.00€ for adults, 10.00€ for students and children under 10 free. They can be ordered by phoning Ross and Ginny Jenkins on 05 63 33 15 84 or email arcpuycelsi@gmail.com

Proud of our refugees

My boy on the right has just sent this message

“Mama next salary I want to share with you an amount for the organization”

I explained at the moment he himself needs every euro and if he has any spare it is for his mother.

Then he said

“Yes I know only I want to feel your feeling when you help others

I promise to help anyone with everything I have, I have learned a lot from you”

Now we are talking to a young man who has suffered and has had to leave his mother behind in Sudan, his brothers and sisters are scattered throughout Europe and yet he can think of others.

Do you know when people are horrible to me for helping and to them for being refugees tell them about this boy.

A future good citizen of France 🇫🇷 and be proud to know refugees....Malc and I are.

taglines82@gmail.com

Lunch after the book swap

HI Val

I will be organising lunch at Gazpacho after the book swap on 5^th November at 12 noon. If you wish to be included please notify me on daxlore@wanadoo.fr or 05 63 30 89 29. If you book lunch and then cannot make it, please let me know as at the last book swap lunch a third of those who had reserved were no shows.

Thanks.

Helen

taglines83@gmail.com

Free standing mirror for sale. / Sold

Hi Val 

This is for sale
Freestanding mirror in solid wood surround. Available to collect immediately. 40 euros. Contact eamunro1@icloud.com for more information. 

To our American friends, the world needs you and your vote

Lots of our American friends here in France. As we fight for Brexit they are fighting against a President aiming to be a despot.

This piece by an American journalist shows why everyone who can needs to vote.

Mohammed Bin Salman's ordering of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi is a mistake that will never be forgiven. Right now, the Saudis are saying there was a "fight" and Khashoggi was killed. So he goes in the consulate to get a document confirming his divorce in Saudi Arabia and there just happened to be 18 members of the Saudi Prince's intelligence and security squad and Jamal just got so pissed off that he decided to go full Bruce Lee on the entire lot. Makes total sense. 

Then somehow he got strapped to a table and the bone saw fell on all of his fingers on accident chopping them off and to kind of help him get to Allah, the saw all on its own, began dismembering his body while he was still alive. And then his body evaporated never to be seen again. 

So imagine you're a hedge fund managing retirement benefits and you've got some money invested in Saudi Arabia, you know, that place where they kidnap journalist and saw their fingers off, are whatever investments you have in Saudi Arabia worth doing business with human butchers and torturers? 

This is a level of barbarity that is easily comparable to every despot there has ever been going back to the Roman empire to the sadists in the Inquisition. Because the Saudis have bought Trump and Kushner and that's why that was the first country Trump visited as president. The young Saudi prince became so arrogant that they thought they could torture a man to death who was a reporter for the Washington Post and get away with it. 

What does Trump do about this unimaginable horror show? He's silent. He foments and offers other theories based on lies. He lies about an imaginary $100 billion arms bill. If he died in a fist fight, then where's the body? The stain on our nation's honor cannot be overstated because Trump has no honor. None. Zero. 

What he has done very publicly is kiss the ass of every knee-crawling murdering thug on this planet without exception. The idea of an American president shaking the hands of Kim Jong Un is an offense to anyone who knows anything about foreign policy. He shakes hands and kneels before Putin and the party of liars who could never shut up about Obama's imaginary "apology tour" is now all the sudden silent as that goddamn liar says he loves a man who blows his citizens apart with anti-aircraft artillery guns in public! 

Sure Trump drained the swamp. He had to to make room for the sewer he has installed by putting every incompetent fraudster in every governmental agency there is. Corrupt doesn't even begin to address the level of criminality coming out of this administration. 

What makes me sick to my stomach is that the enabler's and complicitors who help perpetrate this crime against our country are going to get millions of dull-minded blunt-headed ignoramuses to show up to vote for them because the truth is that the oligarchs have funded a propaganda campaign that would make Goebbels blush which has brainwashed tens of millions of Americans into thinking electing this monster is somehow going to help them win something. 

Republicans are actively trying to destroy this country by committing every horror imaginable by taking away people's health care and locking up children. They even tried to put a child molester into the senate! What more do they have to do to shake the conscience of their base? Deny native American's right to vote? They've done that. Deny Black people their right to vote? Done that. Shake hands and praise every tyrant on the planet? They're doing that and now after handing trillions in tax cuts to the rich and corporations, they want to cut social security and medicaid because their 'deficit neutral' *LIE* is exploding the national debt just like everyone who knows better said so. 

Journalists are not the enemy of the American people, Republicans are. You can do something about that in 18 days.

Thomas Clay Jnr

taglines82@gmail.com