Part of the chateau of Laguepie for sale

For sale exceptional house part of the chateau of Laguepie. The house has so much character as befits a French chateau, in total calm, near  an historic site and charming village, dominant location, with all amenities accessible 5 minutes on foot: 2 weekly markets, mini markets, butcher, pharmacy, post office, press, restaurant, hairdresser..

Including:

living room, dining room, kitchen, 6 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 vaulted cellars, laundry room, 2 North and South terraces, 600m2 garden, parking

Perfect insulation, double glazing

Laguepie is known for its river swimming areas with a locally proclaimed blue flag beach.

The Covid years 2020 in Varen

We are now starting to gather in your contributions to the Covid Years in Varen. It is going to be an interesting read and we look forward to receiving around 250 words with a photograph

Why and how long you have lived in Varen, with your impressions of living this year with the Covid pandemic

You can send your contribution to

myriamduboisvaren@gmail.com

deborah.eagle@yahoo.com

taglines82@gmail.com

Or take and post in a box which you will find in the pharmacy or another in the médiathèque

Here below is my contribution, it can be in English or French

I moved from a large property in the hills into the village after my husband died and within weeks Covid raised its ugly head and we went into lock down.

I have lived in Varen for 20 years and love our village and surrounding areas. A village with a chateau, ancient church and a river flowing through. Over the years here we have had some wonderful holidays with family here. We will all keep the memories in our hearts.

In our years here we have played boule, started a book swap in St. Antonin once a month, had fun with a regatta on the river and in our latter years starting helping refugees who were sent to our area whilst they applied for asylum.

Whilst my husband was alive we created with other friends an association Mains Tendues 82 to help not only refugees but people in need. 

We were lucky enough to have on loan a building in the halle where we could sell items donated to us to sell with all profits going to other associations and those needing a bit of extra help.

This year 2020 we have spent many weeks with the friperie closed, we have  had some success selling on line but it is not the same as personal interaction.

Being on my own I have found it particularly hard and laughed when a friend said “ my highlight of the day is going to the poubelles and hoping I meet someone to talk to.”

So difficult not seeing family in the Uk and so because of Covid and the looming Brexit I have made the decision to go back to the Uk to be with family there.

A hard decision.

Val Johnstone

House for sale in Varen

House for sale in Varen, Tarn et Garonne, a priviliged position, away from the main road surrounded by fields but only two steps away from the centre and all amenities. A warm sunny house with every window double glazed, the floor between the sous sol with 6 inches of insulation. Radiators with a Weismann boiler, boiler and radiators all just serviced. Electricity renewed through out with extra points with, all to norm. ( cost over 7,000 euros ) just this year.

The well fenced garden is well stocked with 3 plum, 3 pear, one cherry, one big walnut tree, grape vines  along one wall and two wonderful purple figs. Many established and newly planted rose trees, peonies , iris, muguet. 1,360 m2

A good sized shed for garden equipment. Large drive with plenty of parking, double gates and a further entrance gate further up in the wall at the front of the house.

In a village with renowned restaurant,bar,supermarket,hairdresser, maison de sante, pharmacy. Market and friperie Saturday morning

199,000 euros

Happy Christmas from Mains Tendues 82

Really pleased that our association Mains Tendues 82 in Varen can send 750 euros to help buy shoes for children in an unimaginably terrible refugee camp in Lesvos.

Imagine  your child in conditions like these with ill fitting flip flops and crocs on their little feet. 

We have also sent 500 euros to Pas sans Toit an association which  helps people living on the streets in Montauban, many of them refugees.

Yet another 500 euros to an association in Toulouse which also helps people living on the streets.

Along with local donations,we have donated to associations in Varen and Verfeil.

The spirit of Christmas is with us and all our helpers wish you and yours a very Happy Christmas. Let’s all continue working for others less fortunate.

A young man killed by the chasse near Cajarc

https://www.ladepeche.fr/2020/12/04/accident-de-chasse-dans-le-lot-une-marche-blanche-samedi-a-cajarc-en-hommage-a-moggy-9238236.php

Spread the love and keep dancing

Let’s keep dancing through it all

We have so much to be thankful for

Enjoy each day and spread the love 💖

Wear your mask if you go out 👍

Au revoir Therèse Gautier

Today I will go and sign a book of condolences for Therèse Gautier

A service is being held in the small church at Selgues which Therèse spent the last years of her life raisong money to restore

Strangely this dvd popped up top of a pile yesterday and I remember her giving it to Malc to thank him for all his help

It shows the regard local people hold her in as I have a list of people to add their names to the book

The service is at 10.30am

Therese Gautier,who restored the church at Selgues has died

Many of you may know the little church at Selgues which was restored by one energetic elderly lady who worked tirelessly over the years arranging concerts to raise money to restore the church. I was sad tonight to hear of her death,Malc and she where good friends. He was a big help to Therese helping her with posters, booklets and advertising. 

I have many memories of delicious meals at her house in Verfeil.

Rest in peace Therese Gautier

The church will be safe now so well restored and will be your legacy 💖

bonjour,

nous avons appris le décès de Thérèse Gautier. Une cérémonie aura lieu samedi à 1OH30 au cimetière de Selgues.

 Ce ne sera pas une messe, juste une bénédiction ( des prières).

Nous serons là René et moi.

Merci de donner l'information à des personnes qui la connaissaient.

Amitiés

Nadette

Christmas is not cancelled

Christmas isn't cancelled!

I am still making my Christmas cakes but will be selling online this year.

They make great gifts or a tasty treat for yourselves.

You can collect from Septfonds or I will arrange some drop off points, likely Varen and St Antonin.

I also hope to be selling at the Chat's de Quercy shop in Bourg-de-Visa 12th December.

All my cakes will be featured on my website https://www.cakesinfrance.com/christmas

You can order anything you see on there or send me a specific request

Please feel free to share with your friends - let's make this Christmas enjoyable

Love Glynis

The bar in Varen, doing take away food soon

Plats a emporter Le moulin de Varen

Happy Halloween

There I was in the garden when .... the elastic snapped

Happy Halloween, stay cheerful

The Gazpacho today

The Gazpacho in times of Covid

taglines82@gmail.com

The Aveyron in Varen

Painting in acrylic by my brother in law Tudor Powell

Thanks Tudor

Doctors coming and going and a good optician in St. Antonin

So we have a new remplacent Doctor in Varen called Dr De Vries.

What a good job, as I am told by a reader that Dr Trann will soon have closed his surgery in Laguepie. There is an English speaking Doctor in St. Antonin who if not already,  will be overloaded soon.

I have had a very pleasant visit to the optician in the halle in St.Antonin this morning. What a nice guy who has been installed there for nearly a year and a half.

I needed some new distance glasses and he was able to take the prescription from my sun glasses to make a new pair.

He also did some minor repairs to my reading glasses for free.

He complimented me on my French, ( which went down well ) and he told me in the summer one of every two customers were English who did not speak French. He had come from a practise in Gaillac where  there were few English clients so he said he rapidly had to brush up on his English

I was very impressed.

Since posting I have learned the optician is the son of well known and respected Gerard Narjoux of Espinas

Dr Trann is moving to Marseille, his wife died of cancer some months ago

The new Doctor is Dutch and speaks English

taglines82@gmail.com

Lost an iphone in Varen ?

Has anyone lost an Apple iphone in Varen

If you have or know of someone who has it is in the Mairie

Bonjour Valérie, quelqu'un a déposé dans la boîte aux lettres de la mairie un téléphone Iphone Apple appartenant à un anglophone, les paramètres sont en anglais. Peut-être pourriez vous faire circuler l'info dans vos contacts ?!

Merci.

It is being demolished to rebuild

Today they are starting demolishing the restaurant that partly burnt down, Les Deux Rivieres at Laguepie.

Bernard Mages, councillor at Laguepie tells us it will be rebuilt.

Merci à Bienvenue a Laguepie

25 ans que cet hôtel restaurant est implanté à laguépie...une institution chez nous !

Une grosse pensée pour Gisèle et Pascal Doucet qui patientent depuis presque 2 ans (1 ans et 10 mois) pour la reconstruction du bâtiment après ce terrible incendie à la veille de Noël en 2018.

Les travaux commencent ! 🚧💪

Longue vie aux Deux Rivieres !

Good bye to local stalwarts

This week end our area says goodbye to John Dawson and Susan Dawson.

What a loss they will be to the area.

I am not sure exactly how long they have had a second home here but is probably more than 30 years. I rembered when they moved from Najac to St.Antonin.

John has built up a superb archive of old photographs of the area, his attention to detail, has made it an awesome collection. In the past he helped raise money for Mains Tendues by selling the power point presentation. We did well and everyone loved them.

John is also renowned for his knowledge of the walks in the area and has been running a very popular local walking group.

He intends to carry on planning walks for the group from the Uk

A nicer couple you are unlikely to meet and I along with others will be sad to see them go.

Both John and Susan say they will be back for holidays another year.

Safe journey and bon resettlement in the Uk.

taglines82@gmail.com

Did you know we have otters in the river ?

This afternoon in the Salle des fetes in Varen

A talk with pictures of animals of and along the river including local otters

2.30