AUDE FLYER 02/2004
Bonjour,
Well, this is the second newsletter giving local info for the Aude largely
based around the Carcassonne, Limoux, and Mirepoix triangle. Pease understand
that the reason I am doing this is not to create an English ghetto,
but to inform of things that can be of use. I speak a fair amount of
French (mostly it seems in the present tense) but I have found I miss
events that I would have like to attend, simply because I haven't seen
the publicity.
Thank you for very positive response to the first edition. I have received
some information to include; lots of you have passed it on to others
and given me email addresses of friends who would like to receive it.
Please continue to circulate it.
It seems anybody who has looked at the Ryanair link has found it tremendously
useful, with so many comments coming back saying , If only I had this
years ago.
If you don't want to receive this, please just
reply with unsubscribe at the beginning of the text.
However if you do find this useful, let me have email addresses of
others that could be interested.
Also if you have found stuff that should be passed on, email me with it,
and then we can all share it.
Archive
Past issues are available here
Travel
Kent International Airport, never heard of it? No neither had I. From
Saturday December 18th http://www.eujet.com/ Eujet start a weekly
service to Toulouse. The word from the company in England is that this
may only be running for the skiing season. The company will make a
decision on whether to run it permanently in the Spring .
Kent International Airport - the airport at Manston
Some new Ryanair routes which may be of some interest:
Liverpool to Limoges, 3 per week from 19 April, fares from £4.99
Liverpool to Nimes, 4 per week from 20 April, fares from £4.99
Blackpool to Barcelona Girona starts 31 March
SHOPPING
For those of you in diy or construction mode, you
could be glad to hear of a new store opening early next year. It is a
regional company called Tri dome and will be located next to the peage
at the Carcassonne west motorway exit. It should provide a welcome change
to Obi, which seems to be nobodies favourite shopping experience.
There was a rumour circulating that it was Leroy Merlin opening on this
site, sadly no! if you have the chance and the need, visit the Leroy Merlin
store in Balma, a suburb on the north side of Toulouse. It seems they
have a wider range and more things in stock probably because of their
size. Pricing is competitive, as they are head-on to three Castorama stores
spread around Toulouse.
For those of you who still find they have the Sunday shopping addiction,
or a last minute Christmas present panic Ikea Toulouse
is open Sunday December 19th.
For sale or wanted
I
have included here a couple of emails I have received from people who
are offering things for sale.
Printed blank cards, folded notelets, and prints from original
watercolours
Just a note to ask whether you would like some cards, or notelets for
Christmas stocking fillers....there are now over 25 designs of "FLOWERS
& STILL LIFES" and the same of local VILLAGES & THE COUNTRYSIDE" which
might make interesting and different presents.
Cards with envelopes [2E)
Notelets with envelopes (1.50E)
Prints 18 x 24cm [30E] on art quality paper, mounted, titled and signed.
Please email me in good time if you are interested or if you would like
to see the collection.
Very best wishes,
Lynne Mitchell
Mike.Lynne.Mitchell@wanadoo.fr
I am contacting everybody on my email list from France in the hope that
you can circulate this to your friends and acquaintances or maybe you
are interested yourselves.
I am clearing out my instruments, books and
some music:
Boston Steinway Grand (5'10") GP178 , black Ivory, VGC, 6 years old
- 12,000 euros
Cello (Violoncelle) , bow and soft case, with wide selection of music -
3,000 euros
Text books, reference books, biographies, Eulenberg scores, and many
more, any offer accepted (free to poor & needy!!)
Selection of Piano music, good publishing house, any reasonable
offer.
Buyer collects but I do have contact with a very good professional piano
removal company.
elisabeth.burgess@wanadoo.fr
Ideas
Just at the keyboard and thought I would drop you
a line with a half baked idea. What about a scheme where people can
be put in touch with each other with a view to exchanging Sterling for
Euros and vice versa thus avoiding bank charges and commission and also
getting a favourable exchange rate as well aperitifs and possibly a light
supper.
I would have thought face to face deals involving relatively small
amounts of cash, say up to 1000€ should work well; exchange rate would
be set at the mid point between the banks buying and selling rates means
that everyone is happy.
From Mark in Montreal if you are interested email me I will put
interested parties together.
Maybe a one of section floating ideas from recipients, ok what do you
think? Email if interested, I will call Securicor!
In the garden
Ok now we have passed St Catherine’s day, November 25th, it’s the time
to put those new trees in.
If like me you haven't given the grass a final cut, you should have done,
I am hoping that I will end up collecting most of the leaves with the
lawnmower as well, 2 jobs in one, bliss.
If you can still find them buy and plant lavender with bare roots i.e.
no soil I found them at 24 euros for 50 plants, considerably cheaper
than the pot version, don’t forget to trim the root and foliage a little
before planting, and water them, even if the ground appears very wet.
Turn over vegetable plots and other soil and apply the best manure you
can find, and let the winter do its work.
Wineguru's tip of the month
Chateau Agnel 2001 Minervois Paris gold medal winner from Caunes, available from
Géant, Salvaza, Carcassonne @ 3.55 euros.
A place well worth a visit....
A review from a reader
During the half-term holiday I spent a week in our maison vacances near
Montreal (located in a little circular village called La Force) with
just me and the youngest member of the Parry family - Thomas (aged 10).
Great opportunity to do some "bonding" - so on the Thursday we got in
the car and headed for the Centre De l'Espace in Toulouse. Easy to find
- just off the (North) peripherique - quite expensive (around €30 for
the two of us including translation headsets etc) - but well worth the
cost and a fascinating place to visit.
The exhibits really bring "space exploration" to life - and put into
context the major scientific issues such as the origins of the Universe
etc. It was hard to drag ourselves away after 5+ hours - I had to
promise we would go again next year. The visit is ideal for families
(there is a discounted family admission price) and the exhibits are well
suited for children from about the age of 7 or 8 years. The only
downside was the poor restaurant with the very slow service - though the
tickets enable you to leave and return the space centre throughout the
day - maybe a short break at lunchtime to visit a more suitable [and
possibly cheaper] alternative will be my choice next time!
What's on?
Today! November 28: foire de Noel in Rustiques (near Trebes) from 11am
organised by Face to Face, Anglo French friendship association, I
believe there will be a little carol singing, some seasonal products
from the uk, could be good for your puddings if you are still in the
habit. There will also be English teas and a number of other stalls, in
attendance will be Father Christmas.
November 28: Vide grenier, Capendu (rare in loto season?) Not 100% sure
on this info please check before going.
December 4: an evening of South American music and tapas, a night for
dancing or just listening and eating of course
December 12: As far as I can tell there is a father Xmas extravaganza on a
steam train which goes Toulouse Carcassonne Toulouse, it may be of
interest for steam buffs or those with children. Further info on their
website or Carcassonne station http://www.trainvapeur-toulouse.com
December 19 foire au gras Carcassonne
2005
2 January to 13 March + Sat 26 March: Limoux carnival
March 19: Toque et Clocher, Cournanel
June 1: Joe Cocker, Zenith, Toulouse
House Hunter’s required
The new editor of the UK holiday and relocation monthly, A Place in the
Sun’s Everything France just happens to be a distant relative (well, one
of my brothers). He mentioned that he is always on the lookout for
couples or families that are thinking about relocating to France –
doesn’t have to be the Aude. If chosen the UK-based couple is taken to
the regions, escorted round a half dozen properties by a journalist and
photographer and they end up as the subject of a feature in the
magazine. The company picks up travel and accommodation expenses for the
four-day trip. If you have friends in the UK that might be interested,
e-mail me and I will compile the list and send it on.
He wants to know this basic information:-
Names, relationship, ie partners, husband and wife, sisters, mother and
daughter etc, where they live in UK, where they want to look, what they
want to see, how much they have to spend and what they would do there,
ie relocate to start an art school, retire, run a stables, use for
summer holidays and rent the rest of the year, etc.
This basic information is used so that the mag gets a variety of people
with different aims and aspirations, so there is no right answer! It is
a very cost-effective way for serious house hunters to get another
opportunity to see some properties in their price range.
Well that's all for now, hopefully the future issues will
be both more regular and slightly more frequent
Regards
Steve Hedges
Domaine des Etoiles
2 chemin des moulins
11240 routier
04 68 69 18 46/06 89 29 74 24
