AUDE FLYER 04/2005

Letter from a new Limouxine

Everybody does something stupid once in a while…

This morning I took mum back to Girona airport, well I tried to.

We set off late and admired the rain-refreshed gleaming spring countryside as the noble filthy Kangoo sped ever southwards…..until we got to the first service station in Spain. Being very tired and un peu en retard I chose a petrol pump that had no queue when all the others seemed to have a string of German and Dutch cars patiently revving at them. I filled the tank with something which had a name like gasoline, paid and we were on our way, glancing smugly back at the lines of gleaming Mercedes. A few kilometres down the ‘autopista’ the car started to make small jerky movements although it was going to sneeze. I suddenly had a horrible memory of the petrol pump which had in fact been a rather attractive green colour. Yes, I had put unleaded petrol in our diesel car. I said lots of terrible things that one does not say in front of one’s mother and wondered if the engine would in fact implode or something.

It staggered on until the welcome sight of another garage, coasted in and halted in a dramatic starsky and hutch diagonal parking fashion. I went to see the man in the station shop. I explained with knitted brows and much sweating that I was stupid and that I had put the wrong carburant in the car. He said that I was indeed stupid, and it was shame that I had done this as there was nothing he could do about it. Well I think that’s what he said as he spoke very rapid spanish and I can still only say ‘dos cervecas por favor’ which is not much use when you have 30 mins to get to check in and have a car that has stopped. I drew him a diagram of the fuel guage to show how much sin plomo I had put in, he drew me a picture of a piece of emmental cheese with two round things and a small cloud and then pointed frantically behind the building…? Stood in a pathetic way holding scrap of paper while an endless stream of fresh faced german adolescents purchased cans of beer. Eventually a burly man came in who spoke French and Spanish, and we discussed what could be done. I suppose I imagined that someone could produce a small length of hose, put it in the tank and syphon the fuel out…well that’s what people used to do when I lived in Brixton.

In fact the solution was for me to phone somebody…As he was leaving, the burly man did helpfully tell me, with that sucking air in through ones teeth noise, that I thought was particular to certain British builders when you ask how much the roof is going to cost, that it was going to be TRES MAUVAIS for the car.

After accepting we were going to miss the flight I then phoned our assistance number, listened to a long computer rendition of ‘the four seasons’ and eventually spoke to helpful man called Fabrice. I was just describing exactly where we were when the mobile decided to emulate the car. Tried strange Spanish call box which took…..money…! and an immense amount of it. Re-contacted the company, asked for my friend and they decided to find me a helpful English speaking person. Tried not to scream as 3 more euros dissapeared. English speaking person took the phone. “Arre you aving some bothers’ he said, re-described situation. He seemed fascinated that the mobile had stopped working, “yes I ad zer problem too wizz my mobile, en fait I dropped it onto my toes, zat urt you know”….I ran out of money. We went to have a restorative coffee, and tried again. Found Fabrice who said the ‘depannage man’ would arrive in half an hour.

Sat in the car and talked philosophically about life, petrol, and the fact that millions of horrible things were happening all around the world and that being stuck in a service station forecourt with 3 hundred german football fans was not so bad really. Our knight in greasy overalls arrived in a huge red car rescue lorry. Tanned (or filthy) with romantic foppish hair, he lept about tying the car on to the truck and assuring me that the problem was ‘pas grave du tout’. Apparently it happens all the time, usually at this station too. We climbed into the cab, mother and dog too, and gazed lovingly at our rescuer as he drove as back into france running his fingers through his hair and jiggling along to salsa on the radio.

Arrived at a garage near Ceret. The owner looked at me with a ‘seen it all before’ expression, fag drooping from the corner of his mouth, and mild amusment. “Err is this this ‘grave’ or not?’ I said guessing at the horrible amount of money he was going to suggest I would need to part with. “Non, pas du tout, vous n’est pas seule, ça arrive tout les temps”. He said it would take about an hour to stomach pump the car so we went next door to the restaurant which no doubt makes half its yearly takings from idiots putting the wrong carburant in the car and having it towed next door. In fact it was great, friendly, homely and they served us delicious comforting fish pie and the first Ceret cherries. Paid the bill then paid the bill in the garage (147.00 euros for this sorry mistake….) Drove back in semi-silence thinking of all the excuses I would make to Mark, and trying to remember all the daft car related errors he might have done in case I needed amunition.

20.5.2005

Today is the first day this year that I was slightly relieved to step into our musty smelling cool garage away from…hot sun. Perhaps this is it…. seek out the beach towels ,the old factor 35 and this year we WILL buy a cool box.

SUMMER, time of salad, absurdly colourful flowers, short tempers and…le Vide Grenier!!

I must research the main differences between vide grenier and car boot this year. Car boot sales I seem to remember as depressing affairs usually held on a wet gale infested Sunday in a huge muddy field in places like Tamworth. Each stall was required, possibly by car boot regulations, to have,

1/ at least one set of heated hair rollers from 1983

2/ a yogurt maker

3/ an exercise bike or rowing machine

4/ a small and uninteresting chipped plate by Suzie Cooper priced at 25 pounds.

What are the French equivilants?, DIY foigras kits…Plastic Bertrand records, knitted berets? I can’t remember from last year as we seemed to miss most of them, I shall enjoy making a thorough survey this year.

Well toodloo. Remember if it rains a lot…we need it!

Salut, Kate.

Services

Therapy Aude

Jill Tampin

Counsellor, Psychotherapist and Personal Life Coach

TherapyAude@hotmail.com

06 72 12 06 35

Make the right connexions

If you know someone who is moving over to the

Languedoc and needs some help with the French system,

Then put them in contact with the French Connexions

Agency. They deal with every aspect of buying, moving

to and living in France.

Run by fluent French and English speakers, they have a

Large network of contacts and offer a friendly,

Professional service.

They can deal with property searches, notaires, banks, insurance, planning applications, fiscal matters and lots more. They also know how to register you with the French health system, immatriculer your car and connect all the utilities before you move in.

They can look after your holiday home, find the right tradesmen, put you in contact with English-speaking professionals, enrol your children at school, or even help you set up your own business.

With packages starting from just £70 / €99, they

offer peace of mind at an affordable price

For information contact the Narbonne office:

Rhona Templer: 06 09 17 38 23

Alain Del-gatto: 06 24 48 95 51

www.frenchconnexionsagency.com

Receive BRITISH TV here in the Aude

without subscription.

ITV1.2,3. All BBC Channels

Ch.4 and Ch.5 +many others.

Including 90 Radio Stations

Low cost solutions

website www.oneworlddreaming.co.uk

Tel: 0468698376

Computer solutions in Capendu

Dear Steve,

Could you please add Michael Roland to your addressees? He has an Atelier Informatique in Capendu (English: French/German spoken) and has just revived my computers for me. His wife - Annette runs a real estate business and they are keen to branch out in the business of looking after properties during owners' absences.

Address: mail@safa-agence.com

Best wishes

Kirstie

Bridge to hard

We are relatively new Limouxans and have been receiving the Aude Flyer for a few months. We were in the UK during June and were surprised when we returned to find we had not received the June issue , nor the July one to date. Is there a problem or have we been missed off by mistake? We do enjoy the newsletter and find lots of very interesting and useful info in it.

You "advertised" our new church in Limoux in the May issue for which thank you. As we really would like to build up the congregation the invitation still stands, we are very informal and friendly (we hope!) and offer a free coffee and biscuit after the service. Everyone welcome, services on 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month -- 10.30 at Eglise Saint Augustin . It is a sort of "Tardis" church; a very small frontage on the Rue St Augustin but quite large inside. It's very old with a lovely interior and is steeped in history.

Another plea. Anyone interested in "bridge" played with Brit cards? I really have to concentrate on card values when playing with continental cards. Duplicate is my favourite and it would be good to hear of a local club. If you or anybody knows of one please give me a ring or e-mail, tel 04 68 31 08 48 jen.tonic@wanadoo.fr

Cheers

Jenny & Mike Lang

Men with van’s

Hi Steve

Just to let you know we have just used the services of Euroman and van after we saw Bills ad in the Aude Flyer. Service was brilliant with a door-to-door service in three days. Would highly recommend him!

Regards

Ro Bartram

Find details on earlier flyer

For sale or wanted

Barn for Sale, 400 m2. Parc du Haut Languedoc. 18.000 euros

A barn to renovate with a small garden and "four à Pain du Village" (not

sure about translation - I think it is the oven where the villagers could

bake their bread) in a hamlet situated in the forét du Sidobre (TARN) on a

chemin de Randonnie (with mégalithes - and in general apparently an

historic area). The property is situated between Vabre and Brassac (next to

the Chateau de Ferrières). Nearest large towns are Castres and Albi.

Contact: Mme Armagnac Béatrice 0468 26 37 30

Cheers

Jenny & Mike Lang

Steve,

Don't know if you can include this sort of stuff on your Flyer, but I am looking for a second hand kiln to fire porcelain and it has to be able to go up to 860 C. If not don't worry, just a thought. Would be happy to collect, we have a trailer.

Contact Sara Spencer on 0561 60 39 87 or email: thespencers@libertysurf.fr

FOR SALE 6,500euros

1993 Chrysler Grand Cherokee 4.0l automatic, 4x4,LEFT HAND DRIVE, high low gear box, leather interior, electric seats, air con, recently serviced, light privacy glass at rear, electric windows all round, factory CD player with graphic equalizer and FM AM stereo, speedo reads in miles and KLMS, cruise control fitted to steering wheel, Platinum silver bodywork in good condition as is grey leather interior, auto filler cap release, new wheels and tyres all round, electric mirrors, central locking, onboard computer which shows if doors are open, 4 wheel drive no probs with vehicle or engine, centre cup holders, tow bar, rear wash wipe, very nice to drive.

For enquires, please call Julian Lowe on 06 72 33 08 89

Lift required

Is anyone driving to the UK THIS Tuesday?

Josh Wall is looking for a lift & will help with fuel/peage expenses, he also has a friend with him who would appreciate a second seat but other arrangements can be made for her. He can’t leave Aude before Tuesday lunchtime but has a flight out of Heathrow home to Australia on Thursday night; so needs to be in the London area by Thursday morning at the latest. Please call 06-15-62-87-15 ASAP if you have room!

Hi Steve

My help plea is a bit of a sticky one. For the past year I have been visiting an institution for handicapped people in Carcassonne This took just under two years to achieve as a volunteer the director of the institute was a little reluctant for me invade the peace that was in place by bringing new ideas within his work place. I teach a sign language called Makaton which is an international sign language for people with learning disabilities The French guy I teach now has proved to be a wiz with the signs and at technical equipment i.e.: video camera and production.(I used to teach this in Scotland also) the guy in question has hardly any speech and there is a possibility he is profoundly deaf but the staff and I have come together and now he has signs and a whole new wonderful life to explore - ONLY the old camera that he used (which was my old work machine has decided to retire (its knackered) and we wondered if anyone of the Aude readers have a machine that they have made redundant or if anyone has any ideas for to raise funds so we can buy him some equipment (I don’t know if this is legal in France) I am sure we would be guided for the right way to go.

I am pretty passionate and determined to help my great new friend and any or all of his resident pals if I possibly can so could you please get back to me with any ideas

Your Aude flyer is a great source of info and humour we look forward to reading new stuff every month THANKYOU

Regards

Joy Lilley

wilfred.lilley@club-internet.fr

Some local eateries

Hi Steve

As mentioned this morning here's the name of the Italian place we mentioned:

Au Gourmet d'Italie

29 Av Buneau Varilla

Carcassonne

Phone: 04 68 26 93 98

Only been once, but although small and possibly very hot in this weather, the food was really good. Given the speed of service I suspect cooked 'on demand'. Also plenty of Italian wines available, which make a nice change.

Tony Etherington

We tried the new Indian restaurant in Castelnaudary the other day. It has been open for about a fortnight although in a fairly low-key sort of way. When we went the customers were largely British but one or two French couples. The approach seemed a bit more professional than the lunch at Carcassonne but then we arrived at lunchtime instead of the expected evening!! As for the meal we decided to take it as it came and the resultant curries were fairly mild. Still, it was promising and we will ask them to fire them up a bit when we next go - definitely worth another visit.

All the best

David and Caroline

This restaurant the sister of the newer one In Carcassonne is at 6 ave François Mitterrand

Rennes les Bains

I presume you forgot the little write up of our local Pizzeria/ Restaurant. just to recap....it is run by an English guy and his Italian girlfriend. They do pretty good pizza, Italian dishes as well as dishes of the day and even the odd curry. The quality of the cooking is good and the prices reasonable they do a Traditional English Sunday Lunch....roast beef Yorkshires etc. For this it is may be best to reserve. Tel Will and Marve on 0468691961 open everyday in the high season. (Ring to check outside this period) it would be a good if you could pass on this info to the expats.. Cheers Dave

Le Petit Jardin is a small Bar / Cafe and bed and breakfast in the little village of Belvis on the Plateau du Sault.

We have a lovely garden for enjoying that cold beer and hot sandwich, while taking in the

breathtaking views of the plateau. You can find Belvis on the road from Quillan to Ax les Thermes.

Le Petit Jardin is on the village high street So, next time you are out for a drive or a visit to Andorra,

why not pop in and say hi?

Sarah & Julian Lowe

Le Petit Jardin

Belvis

Tel : 04 68 20 98 39