Welcome to the Aude
& Ariege Flyer

Bonjour!

I am very pleased to see so many new readers since the last Flyer. I hope you can continue to spread the word by sending me the email addresses of others who would like to receive it or those to whom you are currently sending it. And as it is now readable in any Google Translate language by clicking on the link above, why not send it all of your local Friends whatever their nationality?

Plans are progressing (slowly due to the deluge of new advertisers and readers) for the survey I will be conducting next month. As previously mentioned there will be a drawer with some useful prizes for those who receive the Flyer direct from me.

There appear to be five seasons in France, the four normal ones, spring, summer etc plus Rentree. And its quite ironic that two of the text books which won't be available to 15 year old students returning to French Lycees at the beginning of next month are on the subjects of Management and Economics.

The Syndicat National de l'Edition, which represents textbook printers, said its aim was for every student to have their textbooks by mid-October. "We've done as much as we can, but we don't have a magic wand," union representative Pascale Gélébart told the Journal du Dimanche.

Personally I think they could have worked harder to find a solution even if it meant having the books printed overseas, or cancelling printers holidays and working extended hours to have all the books ready for the beginning of term. I think its criminal that several weeks of the study year for 500,000 can be lost on such a simple issue.

I am becoming increasingly annoyed by the voiceovers on UK TV ads. One of my favourite actors is Timothy Spall, and his is the voice on the Wickes (a DIY store chain) ad currently running. He refers to "we at Wickes" during the commercial, now I am reasonably sure he is not shelf-stacking, working on a till or as a delivery driver for the company. In fact I am pretty sure he just popped in to a voiceover studio spoke his words and banked the cheque. Surely the idea of a familiar voice makes sense but not when the script tries to convince us that a well known actor works for the business the ad is promoting. Come on Timothy stop all this sillyness "it's got your name on it".

The repatriation of Romanies from France to Romania and Bulgaria has begun. It's a sort of modern version of the £10 pommes mixed with the deportation of criminals to Australia which Britain did in the 18th 19th and 20th centuries? It could be worse; it could be Devil's Island.

But are these people criminals? Maybe if they drive on the roads in August with a caravan they are. They are paid 300€ per adult and 100€ per child and it would appear can get straight in their vehicle and head back to France? And there is also something like 3000€ available for them to start a business in either Romania or Bulgaria.

The Pope has joined criticism of France's behaviour towards the Romanies, saying Jesus acted to bring together "men from every nation and every language". I am not sure the Catholic Church should at this point be criticising the actions of others as I feel "the plank is still in thine own eye".

The European Commission has said it is keeping an eye on events, saying France must respect fellow-Europeans' rights to free movement. Perhaps it is allowed because it's a paid movement not a free one.

Stuck for gift ideas? An anniversary, a birthday or even for Christmas (yes I know, but its only four months away, today!) Why not consider the gardening and cookery courses below?

And why not go first to the Gardener' Lunch at L'Espinet on Sunday week 5th September, eat well and listen to Anthea Guthrie sharing trade secrets for local gardeners, with some insights from behind the scenes at Chelsea. Since 2003, Guthrie has been awarded 13 Royal Horticultural Society medals, including one for best creative garden and best small garden.

Plant swap at Routier (rescheduled to Sunday October 10th)

This growing event will now feature John Price the Butcher, The Vinyl Solution, your way of disposing of your space-taking records via a long time friend and business associate who is coming over for the weekend. Can you mail me the approximate quantity, genre possibly mentioning a few artistes, and condition. He apologises that he is not interested in Classical. I am still working on the bringing over of a lot of daffodils and hopefully I will be able to let you know prices on the next Flyer.

Put it in your diary!

Steve

?

Name this vegetable?
It was grown and bought recently in a market in the Aude.

Click on the image to find out what it is

The Interprofessional Melon Association appeals for more sales

"Charentais melons are sweet, juicy and an excellent source of potassium and vitamin C. And this summer, in their native France, there are just too many of them.

Faced with a surfeit of the yellow melons, the Interprofessional Melon Association appealed to consumers on Tuesday to go out and buy more of the popular fruit.

"We're in crisis because we've had very bad climatic conditions," the association's Bernard Miozzo told AFP.

Melons planted in May and June arrived two to three weeks late, coinciding with the on-time arrival of the June-July crop, he explained."
Expatica

Prices are falling and the fruit is delicious so please do your bit to support the IMA! I have three in my fridge already.

Steve

Train Crèche
SNCF and the CAF have opened their first Railway Crèche at Roanne. It has been created in the former left luggage office, does it remind you of anyone?

On A Lighter Note!

The other day I needed to pay a visit to A & E at the local hospital.

Not wanting to sit there for 4 hours, I put on a dark suit and stuck a badge that I had downloaded off the Internet onto the front of my jacket.

When I went in, I noticed that 3/4 of the people immediately got up and left. I guess they decided that they weren't that sick after all. I cut at least 3 hours off my waiting time!

Here's the badge. Feel free to use it the next time you're in need of quicker emergency service.

Click here to view the badge

It also works at the DSS. It saved me 5 hours.
At the Post Office, three minutes after entering, I had my choice of every cashier in the place.

Don't try it at McDonald's though..... at one branch the whole crew disappeared out the door so l never got my breakfast!

The following is an actual advertisement in an Irish newspaper

Automobile for Sale
1985 Blue Volkswagen Only 50 miles. Only first gear and reverse ever used. Never driven hard. Original tyres. Original brakes. Original fuel and oil. Only 1 driver.

Owner wishing to sell due to employment lay-off.

click here to view the actual photo

Do you have a spare room?

Or even Gite or chambres d'hotes rooms? Well this could be of interest to you. In my day to day bumbling around the intraweb I came across this site.

I thought to start with it was just for people with spare rooms in their own house and could be useful for my own travel requirements. As I investigated further I found what looked like B&B's so I decided to contact the site to see if I indeed could add my own Gites and Chambres d'hotes. This morning I got my reply and will be adding my property as it's available to all. It feels like the way of the future for accommodation renting and finding. This site doesn't ask you for an upfront payment, but purely a 10% commission on bookings made. I will let you know if it actually works to increase my bookings, maybe you could do the same if you join up?

What is Crashpadder?

"crashpadder.com" is a homestay community that has members all over the world. Crashpadder hosts earn extra money from their spare space, and travellers save money on expensive hotels and avoid the discomfort of hostels - by staying with a friendly local.

How does it work?

Very simply indeed.

Step 1: Someone has a spare room, bed or sofabed in their home. They list it on Crashpadder, along with a description, pictures, the price per night plus how they'd like to be paid. They are now a "Padder".

Step 2: Someone else finds the Padder's spare room and decides they'd like to stay there for a night or more. They make a booking request. They are now a "Crasher".

Step 3: The Padder checks out the Crasher's profile, reliability rating and feedback. They may also message the Crasher for more information. Once the Crasher's booking has been accepted their credit card will be debited for either 10% or the full booking amount, depending on the Padder's payment preferences. They have booked a homestay!

After the stay the Crasher and the Padder will shake hands warmly (perhaps even have a quick embrace) and then leave feedback for one another for the whole world to see.

And I am now planning where I would like to go to use the facility of being able to book a room virtually anywhere in the world, yes there are loads of sites where you can do this but somehow this looks like a more interesting mix of the better bits of couchsurfing, sawdays and hip hotels all mixed up with a bit of Facebook.

www.crashpadder.com

Representation of British Citizens in Europe at Westminster.

If any readers have tried to contact any MP or Government Office at any time and have not had any satisfactory response, can they please contact me? You may even have had a brush-off with such a retort as "I/we only deal with problems from constituents resident in Britain". I am in correspondence with David Lidington, Minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on this matter.
He wrote to me in the following terms:- "Expatriate citizens contact government about a wide range of issues covering the responsibilities of different government departments and agencies and I think that it is both fair and logical to treat representatives from expatriates in exactly the same way that we do those from people resident in the UK, where it is the constituency MP who takes the case up with the appropriate Minister."

This comment is, as someone commented to me, baloney. After 15 years out of Britain no expatriate has a representative MP, some never have had. You cannot then discuss your pension, your taxation (yes - quite a few expatriates are taxed in the UK) or your welfare problems, if there is no-one there to whom you can write! Hardly "fair and logical". The reasons why the British Citizen in Europe should have representation in Westminster are quite varied. They are laid out in the blogsite http://pensionersdebout.blogspot.com - please view Concern 2 in that site. Over many years others have written about this matter, I note particularly the Var Village Voice in Provence, and the Riviera Reporter. It is time to put the pressure on again. With your help!

The UK is out of line with most other major European countries. France has recently declared its intention to allow French residents in the UK to have an elected representative in the Assembly. As a first stage towards appropriate representation, I am supporting the notion of a Minister for the British Citizen in Europe. Such a person could get to grips with the intricate issues that face various British expatriates. You may not realise, for instance, that under European Law, if you receive the British Old Age Pension, then the United Kingdom is responsible (the "competent" State, as they say) for the support of your social welfare - it is not France! France is not responsible for paying for your welfare. There are 400,000 British OAPs in Europe beyond the UK. Does the UK Government have your interests at heartA There are many more younger British people. Their situation in the developing social structure of Europe should also be a concern for the UK Government.

This issue is not just about "the vote". If you do not want a vote, then you need not bother to exercise it. It is about having politicians in Westminster who care about the needs of the British Citizen in the European Community. Who ensure for example that we are not ignored when treaties are arranged. Who demonstrate that the British Government values our contribution to the European culture.

A dossier of poor dealing would be helpful. Please send to me at francepensions@orange.fr Items from residents in Spain, Italy and Germany and elsewhere are as welcome as from France. or if you do not possess email then post to le Fourquet, 46300, Gourdon, France. So please report your experiences with UK politicians and bureaucrats, including favourable ones.

Brian Cave
le Fourquet, Gourdon, 46300, France,br Tel ++33(0)565 41 42 69
email lefourquet@orange.fr
web site www.lefourquet.net
Blogs www.pensionersdebout.blogspot.com/
www.naturelot.blogspot.com/

Some vide greniers and foire!

Please check before setting off
http://vide-greniers.org
They also have a sister site where you can giveaway stuff or find stuff others are giving,
http://donnons.org
its all recycling - you know it makes sense

Samedi 28 Août Coursan (coursan) Fitou (Brocantes, Vide Grenier) Saverdun (Vide greniers, marché aux puces) Dimanche 29 Août Alet-les-Bains (Vide Grenier) Cavanac (Vide Grenier) Coursan (Vide grenier) Montréal (Videgreniers/artisanat) Moux (Vide Grenier) Narbonne-Plage (Vide grenier) Port-la-Nouvelle (Vide grenier) Saint-Marcel sur Aude (Vide greniers MJC) Sonnac-sur-l'Hers (Vide grenier) Tréziers (Vide grenier) Ventenac-en-Minervois (Vide greniers) Villalier (Vide greniers, marché aux puces) Besset (Vide grenier) Esclagne (Vide Grenier) Lissac (Vide grenier et marché de producteur) Montaut (Vide greniers marche artisanal regional) Pamiers (Puces et Brocante) Samedi 4 Septembre Coursan (vide grenier) Port Leucate (Vide grenier, puces, brocante) Pamiers (Marché de Brocante)

Pamiers (Vide grenier) Saverdun (Vide greniers, marché aux puces.) Dimanche 5 Septembre Arzens (Vide Greniers des Vendanges-Chorale la Malpère) Carcassonne (Vide grenier la trivale) Castelnaudary (Vide grenier aux fontanilles) Conques-sur-Orbiel (Vide greniers) Coursan (Vide grenier) Coustaussa (Vide Grenier) Limoux (Brocante) Marseillette (Vide Grenier) Monze (vide grenier, exposition d'art, marché du terroir) Narbonne (Vide Grenier Quartier Anatole France) Peyriac-de-Mer (Vide grenier associatif) Port-la-Nouvelle (Vide grenier a l Escale) Saint-André-de-Roquelongue (Vide grenier du rugby) Saissac (Vide grenier) Villesequelande (Vide Grenier FEP) La Tour-du-Crieu (Vide grenier espace roudière) Mazères (Vide grenier) Pamiers (Puces et Brocante) Rieux-de-Pelleport (Vide Grenier Au Profit Du Telethon) Saint-Lizier (Vide grenier)

iPortal

This is a new service designed especially for people who would like to keep up to date with their favourite programmes from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 whilst they are out of the UK. You can also access SKY via an additional subscription direct with SKY.

iPortal have tried to keep the costs as low as possible and currently offer two methods of subscription, both giving a 24 hour, free trial period before any payment is taken, to make sure it works for you.

Monthly €5 or a full 12 months €50 (saving €10, that's 2 months free!)

You're just a few clicks away from being able to access the various Internet players from the BBC, ITV, Channels 4, 5 and SKY whilst you are outside the UK.

Information on how to subscribe

If you know about
an interesting event
please tell me
mail@audeflyer.com