Universitat Occitana La Guépia

One can see similarities here

Fancy something spicy?

Book sale hoping to go ahead in April

Message from Sue Glibbery at Poorpaws

Hallo Faithful Booklovers !

I'm getting in touch to tell you that, barring any new confinements, your favourite Book Sale will be taking place the weekend of 10th/11th April.

As usual it will be at the Salle des Fetes of St; Pantaleon, (Lot), starting at 10am and finishing at 14.30.  I am busy sorting through hundreds of books and can promise you that we have some really fabulous books in great condition !  Do I say that every time ?  Yeah, probably, but I promise you it is true.  As last time, anti covid regulations will govern, masks MUST be worn, there will be a one way system in the hall and hand sanitizers will be plentiful.  We are restricted to the number of people allowed inside - hopefully more than last time - but, as last time, and weather permitting, there will be tables to browse outside.  Please use the village car park which is a two minute walk away and well signposted. Prices have not changed, all books are at one euro, as are dvds, with boxed sets being 50 cents per disc.  Cds, 50 cents.

We CANNOT accept books on the day, so please get in touch with me if you have books to donate. We have sufficient cookery and coffee table books for this sale.  I know you won't mind me saying that books must be in a good saleable condition.

Our fabulous cake team has their mixing bowls at the ready and we are hoping to put them back in the main hall this time so you can better see the delicious choices on offer.  We will not be able to offer lunches but can highly recommend Nina's tasty samosas if you fancy something savoury.

I really do hope that you all feel safe enough to come - hopefully many of us will be vaccinated by then !  We really appreciate your support, at the moment bills are being paid  out of personal savings, which is fine, my choice to keep the unadopted dogs, so I assume, but 600 euros vet fees over the last couple of months is a bit of a choker apart from other expenses.

We do our best to make it a pleasurable outing for all you avid readers and, judging from feedback, we succeed, so your Book Team looks forward to welcoming you all again in April.

Love,

Sue x

Poorpaws

Beware those caterpillars

Hi Val

For all dog walkers, be careful because the processionary caterpillars are about a little early.

Tony

Relaxing game boules

Today I had my first day at leisure for 5 years, playing boules again.

Malc set up this group soon after we arrived probably around 2004

Today now I have retired from Mains Tendues I played boules again.

It was my first afternoon of leisure for 5 years and by gum I enjoyed it. It brought me closer to Malc who had he been alive would have been there with us on our 55 th wedding anniversary. 

This was 2011

For many years now a dedicated group of boulistes, mainly Brits but with regular assistance of some French, occasional Dutch players and often supplemented by summer visitors, have met on Friday afternoon to indulge in this most French of pastimes.

 Numbers vary from 10 to 20+, all ages, both men and women, plus many children in the holidays. In order to achieve some fairness in the teams players are generally seeded into “tireurs” (those who think they can knock out opponents’ boules) and “pointers” (the rest). Teams are always drawn at random to try and give some semblance of equal opportunities.

The game is usually played in either “doublettes” – teams of two players using 3 boules each - or “triplettes” – teams of three players using 2 boules each. Given the unknown number of people attending on any Friday we don’t usually know until we start how many doublettes and/or triplettes we will have. But we usually manage to sort something out.

We usually play 2 or three games, “parties”, up to 13 points. The afternoons last about 2 hours.

In summer the matches are at the Verfeil boulodrome, but in winter we find Varen is less likely to be cold as the sun remains on the “terrain” much longer.

All the matches are played in a serious but friendly spirit and the regulars would welcome any newcomers and will willingly help explain the rules and the tactics. You don’t need to become a regular; come as often or a little as you wish. Some of us have even become familiar on the French circuit of “amicales” – occasionally the very proud winners of a few euros! It’s a pastime or a passion, as you wish.

From Friday 4th November we will be meeting at Varen on the boules terrain by the little Vival supermarket, rain always permitting. So if you would like to come and play or just find out more we would love to see you.

For more details ring Malcolm 0563 64 06 73 or email taglines82@gmail.com — with Deborah Eagle and Neil Ford.

Expo in St.Antonin

A new dining terrace at the Moulin

Soon to be a new terrace for dining with views overlooking the river.

I cannot wait.

The Moulin of Varen, how lucky we are to have it here in the village

taglines82@gmail.com

And this was in a Covid year

The end of my era

This week I resigned as President of Mains Tendues in Varen and welcomed in a younger, enthusiastic team

Jo Schofield, the new President

Myriam Dubois, secretary and treasurer

And three Vice Presidents, Hilary Edwards, Charlotte Stallwood and Najat Olive

Rose Lewis is Vice Treasurer, not pictured

taglines82@gmail.com

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