- The Languedoc Forum -

[peter]

LFN DIGESTIVE

January 2009

Sunday opening rules relaxed
THERE is much to be said for a quiet Sunday in France without the shops being open, and so letting people get on with other pleasures of life.
Whilst some shops can open, the vast majority still have their doors closed, something that President Sarkozy was keen to see come to an end.
He has been forcing through changes that would have relaxed the rules, but came up against opposition in his own party from traditionalists as well as unions.
Now though it looks as though he has come to a compromise with his own party members that will allow stores to open on a Sunday ten times each year in agreement with the Mairie.
Other commercial regions, such as Lyon, will be able to extend their opening hours, with the area around Lille also expected to benefit as it currently faces competition from shops in Belgium who are able to open on a Sunday.
The opposition Socialist party and unions say that it just means more hours at work for staff, whilst smaller businesses say they can't afford to pay another day's wages and compete with larger stores.
* The winter sale dates have been published with shops able to offer discounts from January 7, 2009 for five weeks with the option of additional time if chosen.


Multiple Sclerosis [MS].

We have a reader of the LFN Digestive who has been diagnosed with MS.
Is there anyone out there, who has any knowledge of this illness or who has MS, and would be willing to share experiences with our reader?

If so please send LFN an e-mail and this will be forwarded to our reader.




Practical help from AngloINFO:
There are over 170 pages for those tricky things such as how to exchange your driving license, what tax to pay and when or how to start a business in France.
Provided by AngloINFO.com and constantly updated:
http://languedoc.angloinfo.com/information.asp



ITEMS WANTED: Used Stamps: Strimmer: Winter Let: Car:
Please visit www.lfn.org.uk small adds (Items wanted section) for further information


In the garden – January

This is a quiet time of the year in the garden but there are still a number of tasks that one can be getting on with during milder spells of weather.

• Remove piles of wet dead leaves from flower beds as the damp can encourage rot, if possible add the dead leaves to your compost heap
• General weeding of flower beds
• Turn some organic material (compost, rotted manure etc) into your flower beds
• Ornamental trees can be pruned for shape
• Check on any plants which are staked to make sure that the stakes are firm against the winter winds
• Prune ivies and ornamental climbers, start pruning roses.
• Sprinkle some slow release fertiliser at the bases of hedges.
• Continue to protect tender plants against the cold.
• If you have a lawn now is a good time to weed and fertilise.
• There is still time to plant trees and shrubs, including hedging, except if the ground is frozen.
• If you haven’t yet done so then it is time to winter prune wisteria.
• If you have a greenhouse or conservatory you can start to take cuttings of tender plants such as geraniums that you took in for the winter.


One charming plant during the winter months is the winter flowering clematis - Clematis cirrhosa - in full flower at the moment. This clematis is a Mediterranean basin native and thus particularly well adapted to our climate; it has open, creamy coloured flowers (speckled with red in the variety Freckles, pictured) and looks lovely when allowed to scramble through shrubs, hedges etc Like all clematis it likes it’s roots in the shade and otherwise is suited to sun or half shade. It will climb to about 3m, any soil and is very drought tolerant; becoming summer deciduous.


But, during cold spells perhaps the best task is doing some reading and planning for the warmer weather! If anyone is interested I have a list of books relevant to gardening locally and would be happy to email it to you. Another useful reference is the website of the Mediterranean Garden Society: www.mediterraneangardensociety.org/mcgttw.html If you are interested subscribe to their email discussion group, follow the directions on the home page.

For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, unusual plants and plants for dry climates), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois. Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com www.lapetitepepiniere.com
Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment at any time, including during the winter months..





GOLDFISH FREE TO A GOOD POND
Our garden pond goldfish are breeding like crazy
so we are offering FREE Goldfish
Contact: Nick Westcott
Location: Boutenac 11200 Tel: 0677 31 24 92








siret number 50502786200018.
Maçonnerie – Rénovation Ancienne

Mickaël and Mickaël are capable and competent builders registered with the
Chambre de Métiers in Carcassonne. We undertake all indoor and outdoor building projects using both modern and traditional methods and materials:

-Roofing- -Plaster work-Flooring-Tiling--Decorating-Shutters-Stonework- Construction
specialists in the preparation and jointing of natural stone walls

The Mickaëls are careful and conscientious workers: our projects are finished to a high standard and our work is clean and correct. Customers, many of whom are English speaking, are very happy to recommend our services.
We have a native English-speaking interpreter so language problems are minimised.

Please call us to discuss your building requirements and to obtain a free estimate:

Mickaël Brochet 0612643896 (French speaking)
Mickaël Gerdelat 0603386680 (French speaking)
Alison Mugford 04 68 78 14 70 (English speaking)



PETER AND HIS VAN FROM THE UK


Peter and his van will be returning to France on 12th January and returning to the UK on the 16th January. If you require anything bringing out or taking back now would be a good time to speak with Peter and book you space.
Do you recognize Peter and one of his customers?
Contact Peter on 0044: 1422 844 124
or 0044: 772 98 57 438 www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk






Golfer mileage
A recent study found the average American golfer walks about 900 miles a year.
Another study found American golfers drink, on average, 22 gallons of beer a year.
That means, on average, American golfers get about 41 miles to the gallon.
Kind of makes you proud, doesn't it?


5 METRE CABIN CRUISER

Moored on Canal du Midi at Paraza by Cafe de Port. With excellent trailer. Outboard motor has been stolen, so much reduced price of E1,000 ONO. (The trailer alone is worth much more than this!) Give Nick Westcott a ring on
0468 27 03.23


Saving Lives - Commission acts to
improve organ donation across Europe

The European Commission adopted important safety and quality measures for organ donation and a 10 point action plan to work with Member States on strengthening organ donation and transplantation systems in Europe. For many patients, organ transplantation represents the only life saving treatment available. There are currently 56,000 patients waiting for a suitable organ donor in the EU. It is estimated that every day 12 people die while waiting for transplantation. The Directive and Action Plan address three key challenges: improving the quality and safety of organs across Europe, increasing organ availability and making transplant systems more efficient and accessible. Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said: "These measures are all about saving lives. We want to reassure citizens and patients across Europe that the EU and Member States are working together to maximise efforts to provide high quality and safe transplantation systems."

Organ Quality and Safety measures - the Directive

The Directive provides a clear legal framework for organ donation and transplantation in the European Union. Concretely this means that in every Member State a national competent authority will be created or designated to ensure compliance with EU quality and safety standards. These standards include establishing a traceability system of human organs and a reporting system of serious adverse events and reactions. To facilitate exchange of human organs, data collection on specific organ characteristics will be standardised. Finally, national quality programmes will ensure continuous monitoring of performance and result in improved processes and learning. The goal of this Directive is to minimise the risk for the organ transplant recipient, to improve and optimise the allocation of organs across the European Union and to provide the transplant surgeon with the necessary information to make the best choice.

10 point Action Plan
The Action Plan (2009-2015) is a 6 year plan with 10 priority actions addressing the 3 key challenges in organ donation and transplantation in Europe. These are: improving the quality and safety of organs across Europe, increasing organ availability and making transplant systems more efficient and accessible. The Action Plan aims to stimulate joint actions and facilitate coordination with Member States. This will be achieved through different mechanism such as exchanging good practice or creating EU wide agreements on specific topics. For example, one priority area is improving the knowledge and communication skills of health professionals and patient support groups on organ donation. A second key area is the exchange of experiences on the use of Transplant Donor Coordinators to increase the number of available organs.
Source: European Commission


Translation Help for LFN Digestive Readers

Patricia Martin: Telephone: 0468 49 63 72: Location: 11200 Ventenac Minervois
Yvonne D’Inverno: Telephone: 0468 71 80 48: Location: 11000 Carcassonne
Bob Robinson: Telephone: 0467 93 32 42: Location: 34620 Puisserguier


Google Movies launches in France
GOOGLE has muscled in on the cinema listings scene in France with the launch of a service that tracks down screenings based on your postcode.
The Google Movies service is very simple, as you would expect from the Big G, you just enter your postcode and it shows what is on at cinemas close to your home.
You can check what films are currently being screened and there is also a link to a Google Map page so you can track down the cinema, as well as links to reviews from a number of other French film review websites.
The long established AlloCiné is likely to face the biggest challenge from the new service, and the contrast between the content and style of the two sites couldn't be more marked.
Service Directory for all your needs in Building Maintenance
Located on the www.lfn.org.uk small adds (Household Repair & Builders Section)
Painter and decorator: Landscape Gardening: Home: Gardens and Pools;
Property Management

Marks and Spencer now deliver to our area

I expect you know already but for info I read in a paper today that M & S send goods direct to addresses in France for £10 which many people are using as it is cheaper with the weak pound. I checked their web site
Subject to Terms & Conditions, selected products may be delivered to, France;
Deliveries outside the UK are subject to customs, legal, regulatory and certain practical restrictions.

What products qualify for international delivery?
Womenswear: Menswear: Kidswear: Lingerie: Accessories,
Jewellery and selected Home and Beauty products.

What products are excluded from international delivery?
Food, Wine, Flowers, Gift Cards, Hampers, Furniture,
Electrical, Lighting, Technology, Large Appliances and selected beauty products.
See individual product details for more information.

Are DVDs available for international delivery?

Yes, they may be purchased for international delivery although not all delivery areas are covered. You should check compatibility with the recipient before placing an order. All DVDs are age related by the British Board of Film Classification. Please note that UK DVD ratings may be different from other countries.

How much does it cost to deliver to: France, £10

How long will it take for an order to be delivered to France?

Approximately 6 - 9 days. Best Wishes, Paddy (Patrick J Phelan)

Cakes

Are you looking to celebrate a very special occassion?
If you would like to a wedding, anniversary or birthday cake, in fruit, maderia or sponge
(chocolate or plain), then I have many designs in both soft or royal icing
. 0468 055024 (close Perpignan) fuilla66-cakes@yahoo.co.uk


Greetings from Jo Slater the property man

Hello again, and hope you all had a Happy Xmas, despite the failing economy!

President Nicolas Sarkozy also announced plans to introduce interest-free loans for energy-saving improvements to homes. He has also stated that the government would buy up to 30,000 new homes to support the construction industry. Zero-interest loans of up to 30,000 euros will be on offer, a measure that will help the construction sector, while boosting energy efficiency.

The French government has launched a range of measures to shelter the French property market from the global credit crunch, which is indicative of France's commitment to its continuing shift towards home ownership.

At least it's nice to know that steps are being taken to save and protect our interests. The Bank of England's decision to reduce interest rates to 2% is expected to have a positive impact on the property market in France. The Bank's latest cut, which follows last month's reduction of 1.5%, has brought interest rates in Britain to their lowest level since 1951.

Local Estate Agents, including myself have seen prices fall recently, but Rajesh Agrawal of currency specialist RationalFX said a boost to the UK economy could have a knock-on effect in France. He told French Property News: "With France being so accessible nowadays it is one area that could really benefit from the UK turnaround”.

Karen Tait, editor of French Property News, said “you should not be discouraged by the current economic situation and urged buyers to take advantage of the "real property bargains" currently available in France”.

So with all this in mind it’s possible a return to normal in the property market will be seen around Easter of next year.

For those of you buying, some good news on latest measures to protect yourself from hidden surprises and for those of you selling, make sure you have your house in order. Starting in January there are new rules on electrical standards for houses over 15 years old. This diagnostic électrique will be valid for three years and comes on top of all the current checks that must be made. Estimated cost of the total diagnostic are put between 500E and 900E with no set fee, so you can shop around, as long as the person is qualified and insured.

If you're looking to make a move in the New Year and want value for money take a look at three new properties added recently to my site: http://www.french-property-sale.com

JS305 at St.Andre de Roquelongue. A solid 4 bedroomed house with garden at only 235000E
http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing--98.html

JS306 at Escales. A modern three bedroomed villa with 9000m2 of land and possibility for planning at a mere 237000E http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing--100.html

JS304 at Vinassan, which is a large detached house, currently split into two 2bedroomed self contained apartments with 4000m2 garden full of lovely old trees at 385000E
http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing--101.html



Please save your used postage stamps
for the Guide Dogs Association.
Contact LFN to find out where to leave them
Thank YOU

GUIDE TO TAXATION IN FRANCE
If you are a resident of France, you must pay taxes. A guide to French taxation and supplementary information
Any individual, whether a French or foreign national who establishes residency in France is subject to French income tax on his/her worldwide income. Under French law, you are resident in France for tax purposes if you meet any one of the following four conditions:

•Your permanent home is in France.
•You spend most of your time in France (at least 183 days during a calendar year,
or even less if you spend more time in France than in any other country).
•Your professional activity is in France
•Your center of economic interest is in France.

Income taxes are based on a calendar year and are declared the year following the year residency is established. The filing deadline varies from year to year (anywhere between March and May).
Failing to supply your yearly tax declaration by the given deadline makes you subject to a penalty of 10 percent. There is no payment made with a French declaration.
This is simply a declaration of your annual revenues. The French tax authorities will subsequently calculate the taxes due, based on information provided in your declaration and will send you a bill any time between August and September. First time filers may receive their tax bill even later in the year.
You must complete the tax forms in France if you live,
work or hold your investments here.

Depending on the nature of the income and where it is sourced, a taxpayer with foreign (non-French) source income may be liable for both French and foreign taxation on the same income. This can be avoided through the application of the Income Tax Treaty (if one has been signed between France and the other country). The Treaty provides for a tax credit system to alleviate double taxation. You should seek advice from a tax professional if you have income from various sources in order to be certain that you are reporting the income correctly on the French declaration and are utilizing the Income Tax Treaty where applicable.

You are well advised to seek expert advice before filling in your tax forms; you may be liable for wealth, capital gains and inheritance taxes.


Can I take my tax free cash from my pension,
without having an annuity now?

Through Income Drawdown and QROPS, you can take your tax free cash, leave your fund invested and choose an income level between 0% and 120% of the UK Government Actuarial Depts. (GAD) rates, so you can take your tax free cash and defer your pension. You can do this to age 75 at which time you either must buy an annuity or Alternatively Secured Pension (ASP). With ASP your fund still stays invested however the income limits change to a min of 55% and a max of 90% of GAD.

Yes you can currently take the 25% cash lump sum as Tax Free Cash in France, however, under French Pension Law you can’t take cash from your pension and all of the income is taxable. We’ve been told that the rules will change and cash from UK pensions will become taxable in France but we don’t know when and to what extent. We’re telling people who might be impacted by this to take their tax free cash whilst they are still UK resident before they become French resident. If they are already French resident then they should take it now in case the rules do change:
Colin Vickers Blevins Franks


A Lark in the Snow

Greetings to everybody, I hope you had a happy Christmas.

I awoke late on the morning of Boxing Day and as I padded through the house I looked through to where our house rabbit lives in the terrace room I could hardly believe my eyes. You see, snow rarely lies here in the valley between the Pyrenees and the Black mountains, the last time was for one day three years ago and another 14 years before that, and through the windows I could see that the oleanders were covered in white and there were huge flakes of snow softly falling. Much excited I threw open the windows and the shutters to see that overnight the world had been transformed. The snow flakes were getting bigger and fell oh so silently – everything cloaked and insulated against the harsh realities of the world. It was not to last very long before the snow turned to sludge and the snowflakes changed to sleet and then rain but before that happened I was determined to take a walk and try and get some pictures.

Out in the vineyards there were very few birds to be seen except for skylarks which seem to adapt beautifully from being camouflaged against earth to that of snow. I could see groups of them on the ground with the odd one calling from overhead and through the binoculars could just make out the crest on the head. Sadly I could not get close enough to get a photograph. Of course there are several species of larks. The Skylark (Alouette des champs) whose numbers are declining in the face of intensive farming. It is listed as a vulnerable species but can still be seen throughout the year foraging on the ground for seeds, shoots, grains and insects, and is about the size of a very small thrush – bigger than a sparrow.

The Crested Lark (Cochevis huppe) is also declining in numbers and to be honest I really would have trouble telling the difference. I think the crest is more pointed. Then there is the Thekla lark (Cochevis de Thekla) which again is an endangered species with a different plumage and call to the other larks. The Woodlark (or Alouette lulu subject of the song – Aloutte, gentile alouette) which as the name implies prefers the woods and does not have a crest but a striped head and is smaller than the other species. The Alouette calandrelle or short toed lark is a summer visitor to France – no crest, and I could go on but I am already becoming confused.

The same afternoon before the snow had completely disappeared a hedgehog wandered past the window and after a quick sprint to catch him up (they certainly do move) I managed to put some peanuts in front of him which he dutifully polished off. Of course he shouldn’t be out at this time of year but then I suppose there are no rules in the hedgehog world.

The rain for the last couple of days has really dampened my bird watching enthusiasm although fortunately there is the usual array of visitors to the bird bath and the feeding stations. I was pleased to hear from David and Michelle Thomas that they have a feeding station level with their window and get magnificent close up views of the birds.
I am happy to report that two of my window feeders recently attached to the glass have been increasing in popularity with lots of tits, sparrows and finches visiting. You cannot buy the feeders here but if you are visiting the UK they are extremely light to transport and not expensive.

Lastly why not make a New Year Resolution, go online and join the Ligue Pour la Protection des Oiseau or put up a bird feeder. Remember an upturned plastic bottle with a few holes punched in it and twigs for perches makes an excellent feeder.

A Happy New Year to everybody, Kate the Bird Lady from Canet

Changes to French Taxes for 2009

In the proposed French budget for 2009, changes to French taxes for 2009 have been announced, and were expected to be accepted into law before the start of the new tax year (by 1st January 2009).

The tax bands for income earned during the tax year 1st January to 31st December 2008 for tax to be paid in 2009 are:

Net Income Subject to Tax
Band Tax Rate
Up to €5,852 €5,852 Nil
€5,852 to €11,673 €5,821 5.5%
€11,673 to €25,926 €14,253 14%
€25,926 to €69,505 €43,579 30%
Over €69,505 40%

A tax credit called the Décote is available if the tax due is less than Є862. For anyone in receipt of a retirement pension, disability pension, child support and alimony, the taxable base will benefit from a 10% deduction of a minimum of €367 and a maximum of €3,592 per household.

There has also been a slight increase in the wealth tax bands. For assets held as at 1st January 2009 the lower tax band has increased to €790,000 (from €770,000) with the upper band at €16,480,000 upwards (previously €16,020,000). A generic five year wealth tax holiday for non-French assets is now in place for those arriving in France from 6th August 2008 onwards. Anyone arriving after this date who has not been tax resident in France during the previous five years will find their non-French assets exempt from wealth tax.

Social charges on gross investment income, net rental income and capital gains increase from 11% to 12.1% from 1st January 2009. Other social charges remain unchanged.

The capital gains tax rate for all gains is likely to increase to 18% from 1st January 2009. The tax free exemption on gains on the sale of shares per household per annum increases to €25,730 from 1st January 2009 (€25,000 in 2008).

Anyone registered as a “professional furnished landlord”, providing they have met the relevant conditions, is free from capital gains tax on their property after five years if their income in the year of sale does not exceed a set limit. From 1st January 2009 this will be €90,000 reduced from €250,000 in 2008. To qualify as a professional furnished landlord, turnover is also likely to change from 1st January 2009 on furnished lettings from at least €23,000 per annum from furnished lettings to in excess of €23,000 and the income constitutes at least 50% of your earned income.

The Micro limits applying to self-employed and furnished rental income will increase to €32,000 and €80,000, although when applied to furnished rental income, it is proposed that the limit is reduced to €32,000 and only 50% of the turnover will be tax-deductible.

There are also changes being made to the tax regime applicable to those coming into France to work, and they will be entitled to certain tax breaks on overseas passive income, such as bank interest and other investment income.

Tax mitigation arrangements can be made for French tax residents and so it is advisable to seek the advice of a financial specialist qualified in both French and UK tax systems.


Mary Taylor Partner Blevins Franks Tel: 0468 81 82 06 (in France) e-mail: mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranksinternational.com
Christmas is over and we can't think of a single person who doesn’t feel sluggish, fed up and January-ish. Warm weather is a long way off and it feels like there is little to look forward to. Zing up your life by following our suggestions, which will instantly make spring feel so much nearer.

Firstly, we would suggest that you immediately cancel the gym membership and instead of pounding away on the treadmill, get out and pound the fields and pavements instead. Much more invigorating, easier to sustain, will give you a healthy glow and a new svelte figure! It will also give you a real injection of adrenalin and whilst this is running high from all the exercise, open the windows wide and let some clean cold winter air blow away the cobwebs.

The dreaded children’s bedrooms…. Most children we know receive heaps more presents than they know what to do with. Everything is unpacked on Christmas day and each single item, chosen with so much care and thought by the giver, is discarded, as the child wants its fix of something else! Make a clean sweep through the bedrooms, packing up some of those toys to bring out later in the year when they will become instantly appealing again.
Those underbed drawers come into their own as great storage for toys. It’s not a bad idea to go through some of the older toys and things they have never played with. Recycle them by handing them on to a charity shop or take them to a car boot sale. It’s so true that your tat can be someone else’s treasure!

The bathroom and bathroom cabinet. Ruthlessly discard anything that hasn’t been used for the last 6 months – hell, that pregnancy kit you bought in a panic a year ago is a “must go” as is that packet of fruity flavoured condoms enthusiastically purchased by your partner!

Your bedroom – how many of us can say our bedroom really is a sanctuary?
Sadly, very few! Clear out everything that stops your bedroom from being a truly relaxing boudoir. Those top of the wardrobe cupboards are usually wonderfully spacious and can be used for all sorts of things including extra bedding – it’s amazing how much you can pack away if you use those marvelous vacuum bag things. Christmas decorations can also be stowed away along with all the Christmas cards, which can be chopped up for use as tags for the next Christmas!

Unfortunately, a stream of visitors can do endless damage to the décor in your home and it’s often the carpets that take the brunt of it. Obviously it’s best to try to remove stains as soon as they appear but for the most stubborn marks the last resort can be a new and expensive new carpet.

Instead of this, shop wisely in the January sales and scoop up pretty rugs and runners for pennies. These will hide a multitude of sins whilst at the same time give your rooms a fresh new zing. Come spring, you could always consider stripping the carpet away completely, sanding, staining or painting the boards and then using the rugs to soften the look. Wooden floors can be so practical, especially in areas of heavy usage, and always look smart.

With the skill of a friendly seamstress, tired and heavy old curtains can be re-fashioned into sharp and chic roman blinds. Always stylish, roman blinds let in more light and are a far chicer and more cost effective method of dressing your windows. You will probably have enough fabric left over to make dress curtains to soften the edges if you feel the look is too stark.

Kitchens get a more than normal amount of use during the Christmas period. Spring cleaning your kitchen will immediately make it feel brighter and fresher. Wash the cupboards inside and out, discard all the old bits of stilton from the fridge and have a go at cleaning out the oven. Soda crystals have the most amazingly flexible cleaning powers as does white wine vinegar and bicarbonate of soda is a fantastic deodorisor.

Finally, as we are very conscious of snappily taken first impressions, optimistically look forward to Spring by painting your front door one of those delicious soft colours which are so gentle and pleasing to the eye – pale blue, duck egg, pale green, buttermilk yellow or even palest sherbert rose. With some winter flower pansies planted in a pretty pot (stick to one colour only!), your heart will be lifted every time you return home and suddenly Spring and warmer weather will seem so much nearer.

We hope this short guide is useful but would always recommend you contact www.lifelaundress.com for some expert assistance and common sense support! Contributed by Honor Marks 0468 90 60 88


TWIN WHEEL TRANSIT PICK UP TIPPER

New clutch, new water pump, replacement gearbox, all new brakes all belts renewed .CT. RHD.2.5cc Mileage 140.000 but new engine fitted .Tow bar Fitted: Year of Make 1993 Diesel on UK Plates. Manual: P A Steering Price €2500
Vic Davey: Telephone 0468 46 88 78

Banoffee Pie
With a little help from
Big John
Ingredients Method
For the base:
100g (3½oz) butter, melted
250g (9oz) digestive biscuits

For the caramel:
100g (3½oz) butter
100g (3½oz) soft brown sugar
397g can of Condensed Milk

Topping:
4 small bananas
284ml carton double cream, lightly whipped
cocoa powder, for dusting

You will also need:
20cm (8”) loose-bottomed cake tin, greased and based lined To make the base, process the biscuits until like fine crumbs then tip into a bowl. Stir in the melted butter. Press the mixture into the base and 4cm (1½in) up the sides of the tin. Chill the base while you make the filling.

To make the filling: place the butter and sugar into a non-stick saucepan over a low heat, stirring until the butter melts and the sugar dissolves. Add the condensed milk and bring gently to the boil, stirring continuously to make the caramel. As soon as it thickens, remove from the heat. Spread the filling over the biscuit base, cool, and then leave to chill for about 1 hour, until firm.

To serve, remove the pie from the tin and place on a serving plate. Slice the bananas; fold half of them into the softly whipped cream and spoon over the toffee base. Decorate with the remaining bananas and dust liberally


The Connexion’s offer to French News subscribers
THE Connexion newspaper is offering readers who had a subscription with French News, which recently closed, an opportunity to receive future editions of their monthly paper.
Sarah Smith, editor of The Connexion, said: "Our next edition will be 52 pages, our biggest ever, and will have extra distribution through newsagents. This success means that we are able to help French News subscribers who may lose money.
"If this is you, contact our office on 04 93 08 31 03 or email contact@connexionfrance.com, we would be pleased to take on the remainder of your subscription with French News for whatever period is left (to a maximum of 12 months), by sending you The Connexion for a token €5 for this remaining period (€8 if in the UK)."
NEED HELP WITH YOUR COMPUTER

Cancer Support France extends its service.
Cancer Support France, a French-registered charity that provides a telephone support service to English speaking cancer patients and their carers, took another step towards its goal of providing a service to English speakers in all departments of France.

Members of a new group of volunteers met in Cailhau, Aude on 2nd December 2008 to elect a President (M. Jeff Turner), a Secretary (M. Keith Redfern) and a Treasurer (Mme Judith Bourne). The group will form a new association “Cancer Support France – Sud de France (11,09,66)” that will offer help by telephone to English-speakers suffering from cancer who live in the departments of the Aude, the Ariege and the Pyrenees Orientales.

Volunteers from each of these departments will bring a wide range of skills and experiences to the new association. Many members have had personal experience of cancer, either as patients or as carers or healthcare professionals. Others have had previous experience in providing support as trained counsellors or bring similar valuable experience to the new association.

Cancer Support France is particularly looking for volunteers in the Ariege and the Pyrenees Orientales. Further information for those seeking help and volunteers is available on www.cancersupportfrance.info
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

COFFEE AND CHOCOLATES AT G20 SUPERMARKET OLONZAC WITH LFN ORGANISATION

TUESDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 10AM – 12 NOON

Don’t forget your Pancake Mix and Syrup for Shrove Tuesday

At the coffee morning you will enjoy a FREE cup of coffee and chocolates (Cadburys). We are also hoping that Mary Taylor of Blevins Franks Financial Management Limited will be able to join us.

Mary has agreed that attendees will be able to collect a FREE copy of the New 6th edition of the Blevins Franks book “Living In France”. The books are limited at the coffee morning so please do not ask for one for a friend, they are only for the people who attend on the day.

If you cannot attend and would like a copy of the book, they are available free of charge, all that is asked for is €7 to cover the post and packaging. If you want to order one to be sent, please contact Mary Taylor by email at mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com

Alternatively they will be available free of charge at Mary’s Seminar in Carcassonne on 27 March 2009. Contact Mary to book your place.

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Also present at the coffee morning will be Nicola Blakemore who has agreed to manage the new Singles
Skype 4.0 offers better video calling
I KNOW many people are big fans of Skype as it lets them speak to friends and family in France and around the world for free or just pennies.

Well Skype has launched a major upgrade of the software, version 4.0, that is says offers improved video calling, crystal clear voice calls and a cleaner interface.

More on: Skype 4.0 offers better video calling

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New Singles Club in the Languedoc


Les Amis- a new singles club for people living in the Languedoc area. If you came to France as a couple and now find yourself alone, fear not.

If you came on your own and now wish you hadn't, fear not. There are more single people rattling around in the Languedoc than you might think! It's just a matter of getting them together! New friends are just an email away. Nicola, the organiser has agreed to come along to the Coffee Morning at G20, Olonzac on Tuesday 24th February 10.00 till 12.00 Noon and explain how the new club will work.

Contact: nicolaadele@hotmail.com Nicola Blakemore Quarante, 34310


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Armed Forces day to be celebrated with hundreds of events in the UK

The idea for a special day to commemorate the military was taken up by Quentin Davies MP Photo: TONY BUCKINGHAM

Events already planned range from huge military parades in cities to flag raising ceremonies and fetes in towns and villages.

The government said Armed Forces Day, which is being held on Saturday 27th June, was a chance for the whole country to show its gratitude for the men and women who have served and are still serving in the military.

Note from LFN, has anyone got a big garden free on Saturday 27th June so we can organise some social event in this area?


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Next English Language Film

With French Sub Titles

Le Theatre Narbonne

Plot summary for
Frozen River

Takes place in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec. Here, the lure of fast money from smuggling presents a daily challenge to single moms who would otherwise be earning minimum wage. Two women - one white, one Mohawk, both single mothers faced with desperate circumstances - are drawn into the world of border smuggling across the frozen water of the St. Lawrence River. Ray and Lila... and the New York State Trooper who ultimately brings the two to justice.

Wed 18th Feb 21H: Fri 20 Feb 18.30H: Sat 21 19H: Sun 20 20H

Price €6.00 (€5 if you have de leur carte)





Barracuda Coastal Cruiser

Or a Home in the Heart of Narbonne

1990 11.8 x 4 x 0.7: Engine Perkins D6 on Volvo DUO Prop Leg (New 2005) GPS. Log/ Depth. Solar PNL etc: Fully Equipped for “Life Aboard”

All new domestic equipment, AIR COND, Fridge Freezer, Washing Machine etc. Central Town Mooring Narbonne France

Price €55.000 Contact: Mike & Molly: Telephone: 06 7111 8102



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Small adds on www.lfn.org.uk really works


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NEWS FROM GEOFF THE HANDYMAN

Spring will be here sooner than you think. Now is the time to plan the year with whatever works are needed on properties whether private homes or gîtes. Easter is in Mid April this year, so that’s when the tourist season will be kicking off. I suspect it will be a little different this year…

There will be more gîtes than ever before on the market. I’ve lost count of the number of calls we’ve had from prospective clients who are renting for the first time in 2009. I fear that both prices and quality will suffer as a result. The exchange rate will, we’re told; deter British tourists from going to the Euro zone. But there are plenty of tourists from within the Euro zone who will still come here. You may even need to brush up on a few other languages. This year alone, we’ve dealt with Spanish, Belgian, German, Swedish, Danish, English, Irish, French, Italian, and a crowd of Brummies – how many languages are there?

You only have three months to ensure your property is up to scratch, which isn’t long. Please remember that if you leave things too late, all the artisans will be busy so your deadline may not be met. Especially if you don’t have too much to be done – the smaller jobs are always the last on the list.

With so much winter rain it’s easy to forget that the summer is long and dry (at least it should be). Plants and grass suffer, and if your pool is surrounded by grass, the amount of dirt and sand that is blown in makes it inevitable that pool cleaning has to be done more often. Automatic watering systems are, in my view, the perfect answer to many problems. By keeping grass around the poolside green, it looks better and keeps the pool cleaner. If the property is unattended for long periods, the garden still looks great. And even if you are resident, the automatic systems use less water than a conventional hose. If you want the pipework buried, this is the time of year to do it, while the ground is soft enough to dig and has enough time to recover before the spring and summer. And it needn’t be too expensive. Timers start at about 50€, the pipe isn’t very dear (whether micro-bore or half-inch diameter stuff), and there is a seemingly endless array of pop-ups and other nozzles to choose from. A ten-minute burst of water from an automatic system during the night works wonders, and when compared to your neighbours’, your garden could look like Wimbledon.

And finally… I’m always hearing stories of how things have gone wrong, often because the ex-pats don’t understand the French way. I recently heard about a couple that bought an old house, and casually mentioned in the village bar that most of the doors didn’t fit the frames anymore. Someone said that Jacques was just the man to put things right. A couple of days later, an old age pensioner arrived, introduced himself as Jacques and set about repairing the doors. After a complete day’s work, all were done beautifully. He wouldn’t take any money though, because as his grandfather built the house this was warranty work. It’s not all bad, is it?

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Why not contact us and see how we can help you manage your property?

24/7 Emergency Call Out Tel 0468 718 880


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LD Lines to start Dover services
FERRY firm LD Lines will begin two new routes out of Dover to northern France starting next month.

The company had already announced it would offer a Dover to Dieppe connection, but following the collapse of SpeedFerries late last year, LD Lines will fast-track the start of its Dover to Boulogne link.

Up to two return sailings daily will be provided between Dover and Boulogne with a crossing time of 1hr 45mins. One round trip daily will operate between Dover and Dieppe with a crossing time of 4hrs 15mins.

New flights to France from Ryanair
BUDGET airline Ryanair has announced a number of new flights to France will be added to its summer 2009 timetable.
New routes will be available from Bristol and Edinburgh to French destinations such as Limoges, Carcassonne and Toulon, with some beginning in March although the majority are set for take off in July.

Flight details:

From Bristol International Airport to:
Limoges, starts July 2 and operates three times a week
Montpellier, starts July 2 and operates three times a week
Perpignan, starts July 3 and operates twice a week
Toulon, starts July 2 and operates three times a week

From Edinburgh International to:
Carcassonne, starts March 31 and operates three times a week
Limoges, starts March 30 and operates twice a week
Poitiers, starts April 1 and operates twice a week

Euroferries to link Ramsgate and Boulogne
I DON'T have much more just yet; ferry operator Euroferries looks set to start a service to France. The Euroferries website says that in the spring it will begin operating between Ramsgate and Boulogne, using a 'state of the art 98m high speed ferry' and promising a journey time of 75 minutes.

Local Labour MP, Stephen Ladyman, told the BBC that the service will start in March and that it would bring jobs and visitors to Ramsgate and East Kent.

In addition to the ferry the company will also operate a bus service for passengers from London via Ramsgate, Canterbury and the Medway Towns.

Euroferries face stiff competition in the cross Channel business with the Channel Tunnel set to be fully operational in February and LD Lines planning to start two new routes out of Dover in the coming weeks.

The information on this page was provided by http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/ always worth a daily visit


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Greetings from Jo Slater the property man

Hello again, and hope you've all survived the recent storms!

As most of you will have realised, the property market is not at its best right now, partly because January is always a quiet month and partly because of the market generally.

However, according to Sextant French Property Agents, the French property market looks set for an interesting 2009, due to a mixture of further price reductions, cut in interest rates and a good deal of properties on offers, both in resale and new build in France markets.

Although most of the people in the UK looking to purchase a property in France seem to be “waiting to see what will happen”, especially with the current state of Sterling. There are others actively looking and negotiating very good deals. In fact, some have realised that given the combination of price reductions and lower offers being accepted, prices of most properties on the French market have remained stable in sterling terms - the 25% fall in the pound’s value that occurred over the past year has put many potential purchasers off; which is easily understandable.

Indeed, the current situation favours purchasers rather than vendors, and most are accepting offers that would have seemed comical just a few months ago. Everybody is in agreement that the first six months of 2009 should remain a buyer’s market and as such be an excellent time to buy a property in France. Then it would not be surprising to see prices go up again, and then, as a consequence, the return of mass purchasers; the best deals will be gone by then as vendors won’t be in a position where they have to agree to low offers.

Here in the Languedoc region, the average cost of a house is now 209 500 €; the Aude department, popular with people looking around Carcassonne and Perpignan, or generally close to the sea, remains the cheapest with a 2-bedroom house costing an average 157 900 € - the Gard and Herault departments, most popular with people looking for a Provence-style move, are very close in prices, with the average cost for a house being respectively 231,500€ and 232 000 € - prices in this region are expected to drop a further 5% to 10% over the next year but most properties are having their prices reduced and owners seem content to accept much lower offers in this corner of France also.

As a conclusion, the uncertainty in Britain in particular and in the world in general may encourage people to buy in France. Indeed, compared with the other overseas markets, France offers a very protective purchasing system and low capital gain tax, and is a long-standing tried and tested market without the various risks that some of the emerging markets offer. And, in today’s current climate, safety is priceless.

Here are some of my latest properties to come on the market:

http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing-- 98.html
http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing--100.html
http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing--101.html

Good luck to all, Jo Slater


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Jazz Club @ Caunes

For the jazz evenings, the price is 20 euros for one concert but if you book for four concerts, the price for the 4 is 60 euros, or 15 euros each. The food ideas were finalised last night and the tapas are of a very nice quality, all prepared by a qualified chef and not just the usual French slice-of-ham-or-saucisson-on-a-slice-of-bread that we have all suffered elsewhere! It also includes 25cl of wine per head. For those people wanting to take advantage of the 4 for 3 offer, they can contact me now and I'll make sure the tickets get sent off to them.

The groups and dates are:
20: February SMOKY JOE COMBO
20: March BELLEVILLE QUARTET
17: April TRIO BERGIN
15: May GOSPEL BAYOU BROTHERS

All the bands have space on MYSPACE so you can hear a sample of their music there.

The June event is combined with the Caunes Music Festival on Saturday 20 June - there are a variety of artists at this one and it will be free except for the tapas and wine.

Reservations can be made via the Tourist Office in Caunes or alternatively people can contact me in the short term on my email address and I'll make sure all is in order!

Alison Mugford [caunesminervois@gmail.com] Phone Number 0468 78 14 70


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Premium Bonds are looking a better bet
The total value of Premium Bond prizes will fall from £88m to £57m

Contrary to the opinion of many, Premium Bonds are looking a more attractive option to cash deposits at the moment. True, the fund prize pot has shrunk by half because its size is dictated by interest rates and consequently the odds of winning have widened, but soon you will have nothing to lose.

Of the 23m Premium Bond holders, most are in it for fun; 85pc own less than £1,000 worth. National Savings & Investments says its research has suggested the public buy Premium Bonds for three main reasons: the hope of winning £1m, 100pc security of capital and a tax-free return in the UK.

If you are only going to earn a meaningless few pounds on cash deposit that will barely cover a round of drinks at your local pub, it might be worth joining the ranks of the Premium Bond brigade. At least you will be able to dream of what might be and, let's face it; we need a bout of healthy optimism right now. From April there will be more £25. prizes

Winnings from UK Premium Bonds are not tax free (in France) as they are not considered gambling winnings as such “stake money” (the investment) is never actually at stake.

(Tax information taken from The Blevins Franks Financial Guide to Living in France.

The Sixth edition of the latest book is now available from Mary Taylor.)


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We would like to wish Joe the Property man and Big John the chef, both a speedy recovery from their new hip replacement operations; their condition has nothing to do with writing articles for the LFN Digestive


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IN THE GARDEN – FEBRUARY

I hope that none of you suffered too severely from the storm on Saturday 24th January. If you have branches that have had to be removed from trees you can help to prevent infection from getting into the cut by spraying with a dilute solution of bleach, cheaper than proprietary products and fine as an anti-bactericidal agent. Usually February is still a quiet time of the year in the garden but there are nonetheless a number of tasks that one can be getting on with during milder spells of weather.

General weeding of flower beds
Turn some organic material (compost, rotted manure etc) into your flower beds and add some general organic fertiliser
Towards the end of the month start to cut back ornamental grasses, other perennials and sub shrubs such as Salvia microphylla and it’s cultivars, Perovskia etc
It’s a good time to divide herbaceous perennials
Deadhead winter flowering pansies to encourage repeat flowering.
Check on the watering requirements of container grown plants, even at this time of the year they can dry out.
During February or March prune summer flowering shrubs (eg Buddleia) that flower on the current year’s growth, prune winter flowering shrubs such as winter jasmine after flowering.

On sunny days it’s lovely to get out into the garden and look at what is in flower. At Caunes we have the beautifully scented winter flowering shrub Sarcococca confusa, the rosemary is in flower already, the Algerian iris (Iris unguicularis) is wonderful and the hellebores are starting to flower.


HELLEBORUSARGUTIFOLIS HELLEBORUSHYB ROSEMARY


SARCOCCA SARCOCOCCA CONFUSA IRIS UNGUICULARIS

At La Petite Pépinière we shall be offering a spring programme of gardening courses – a two day Introduction to Gardening in the Languedoc on the 10th & 17th March, we’ll be offering a one day Introduction to Propagation (theory and practice) on the 12th March and a one day course The Ecological Gardener on the 7th April. For more details see www.lapetitepepiniere.com –The Plant Nursery – Gardening Courses.

For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, unusual plants and plants for dry climates), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois.

Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com

We shall reopen on Friday 27th February and after that it will be our usual opening hours of 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment at any time.


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I thought that you and your readers might be interested in the final total of the Royal British Legion Poppy appeal collection for 2008.

The collection area for the Bordeaux and SW France Branch has contracted this year as a new branch has been opened in the Charante and north. We in this branch are very happy with this arrangement as our area was, to say the least, rather large. However it did mean that our own total collection this year was likely to be reduced.

The total sum collected for 2008 was 7715 Euros! This is an 8% drop on 2007, but less than we might have expected, particularly as we are all feeling the pinch due to the current exchange rate problem.

Please pass on to all your friends and LFN readers our thanks for your terrific effort in contributing 540 Euros towards this total.

We know that there are some large "gaps" in the areas covered by our collectors, and I would love to hear from anyone in an area not at present covered, who would be willing to join our band of helpers in 2009. The collecting period is only three weeks prior to the 11th November, so it is not a big commitment, and it can be a very gratifying task as British people are so pleased to meet a Poppy Collector! We are particularly keen to find people who are willing to attend their local village market, as this is by far the most effective method of collection, but we would also like to hear from those with "English” shops or bars.

If you can help please email me at gordon.merrett@wanadoo.fr or ring: 05 53 83 82 35

We would also like to hear from anyone who would like to join the RBL.

All the best for 2009 to all your readers

Regards Gordon Merrett Poppy Appeal Organiser Royal British Legion

Bordeaux and SW France


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Study French from beginners- advanced level with a Qualified Institute of Linguists teacher

on a one-to one basis or small group sessions. Contact: Margaret Barry tel: 0468460605 (Ginestas)

E-mail: margaret.barry@aliceadsl.fr


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THE STORM FROM KATE THE BIRD LADY

The last weekend here in South of France was one not to be forgotten. My husband follows the weather forecasts tenaciously so we were aware that we were in for some strong winds. Those ‘strong winds’ were strong indeed and in the early afternoon we watched as the trees outside were continuously mauled by their ferocity, with visible roots heaving and straining in an effort to keep footings

Pine trees have very superficial roots and with the spell of rain preceding the wind they soon gave way; falling one after another. The winds were recorded at 160 km per hour and the chaos that ensued gave witness to one of the worst storms in this area in living memory. The church clock stopped here in Canet and at Raissac the church roof was destroyed. I remember the hurricane in England in 1987 and I think this was equal to that. I noticed that our small garden birds were still active during the strong winds; the black redstart (rougeque noir) was flying from one shrub to another seemingly between gusts, probably panic stricken.

The Sunday dawned bright and sunny with that calm that so often follows extreme weather. Since then we have had an array of homeless collar doves (tourterelle turque) and song thrushes (grive musicienne) all wandering around like displaced persons. All our nest boxes and bird feeders were on trees that are no longer vertical but it seems that the word is out and so the queues of sparrows, blue tits and great tits for the window feeders have increased and they seem to visit them in an orderly fashion, in fact, a few humans would do well to follow their example.

Blackcaps (fauvette a tete noir) and thrushes (grives) are also pecking away at old apples lying on the ground. The storm seems to have frightened the robins and the greenfinches, which have been notable by their absence, though I have seen them when out on walks. I wondered where the garden robins (rougegorge familier) disappeared to in the summer months and in the last circular from the LPO (League pour le Protection des Oiseaux) my question was partially answered.

Robins (like many of us) are what are known as ‘partial migrants.’ It seems that the robin we see in our garden in the winter actually returns to Scandinavia in the spring whilst the robins seen in the Aude in the spring actually spend their winter in the south of Spain, they bear no relation to one another. I must say I do not see many robins here in the garden during the summer months and always wondered if they visited somewhere a bit cooler, maybe the mountain regions or the forests.

If you have any interest in joining the LPO, you will be interested to know that starting this month, Jonathan Kemp, one of the English members is now producing a partial translation in English for those who do not speak French and this also includes a field trip Agenda for the area.

To all those who lost their electricity or sustained damage I do hope that everything is now back to normal. Happy birdwatching.


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Jam Roly Poly with Big John

Do you remember bad school cooks? It is not easy to make the case for suet puddings. Most of us recall slabs of greasy pastry with not enough jam in the roly poly or spotted dick with too few spots and who wants to eat a pudding that carries a health warning? The answer is anyone who wants cheering up. No one is suggesting you eat it every day, and, made well, jam roly poly can nearly be called 'light’.

Be generous with the jam, though, and buy good-quality jam and natural suet – dry Atora suet is made from pure beef fat and flour, and makes an airy pastry. You need to have a large steamer ready, on the boil, before you make the pudding. Cook it as soon as the dough is rolled up, or it will be heavy.

Cut two pieces of baking paper into 40 x 40cm squares. For six servings, place 225g of self-raising flour in a bowl with a pinch of salt and 115g of suet. Stir in 55g of caster sugar and one beaten egg. Add up to four tablespoons of cold water to mix to soft dough that is not too sticky. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface into a rectangle measuring 30 x 37cm; spread with a thick layer of fruity raspberry jam and quickly roll it up. Cut it in two, then wrap each pudding comfortably (meaning quite loosely) in a sheet of baking paper, twisting the ends tightly. Place the puddings in the simmering steamer, put on the lid, and cook for about an hour or until they feel firm when squeezed. Unwrap and serve with a mass of hot custard – the only sauce to eat with jam roly poly.


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Bikes for your Holiday Lets

Mellow Vélos is a cycle hire service based at Paraza on the Canal du Midi. Phil Donnison, a keen cyclist, left his job as a teacher of the deaf in Exeter to live in the Minervois and turn his hobby into his lifestyle. Now starting its fourth year, Mellow Vélos has become well known to gite and chambre d’hote owners in the area.

Phil’s idea was simple. Work with property owners to add value to their lettings. By advertising “bikes available”, the owner gives prospective clients an extra incentive to book with them. A link from the holiday advert to the Mellow Vélos website is all that the owner needs to do as Phil will do the rest. The bikes are delivered to the clients and collected at the end of the hire period.

“Supplying bikes to families on holiday in this beautiful part of France is only one aspect of the service we provide” says Phil. “It’s one thing to have a bike, but you need to know where to ride. My winter job is to ride my bike, researching and writing up interesting routes, which are provided to clients. Not a bad job eh?”

Mellow Vélos has a fully equipped workshop where Phil and his staff clean and service each bike after every hire. By following a 25 point checklist, Phil can be sure that every bike offered is clean, safe and efficient. One worry that clients often have is “What if I have a puncture?” Well, Phil has fitted all his bikes with the most puncture proof tyres available. These are Schwalbe Marathon Plus and have proved well worth the cost. In the very unlikely event that a client has a flat tyre, each bike comes with a spare inner tube and necessary tools. If there is a more serious problem, then Phil or one of his team will come out with a replacement cycle for no charge.

If you are a gite owner and want to offer quality bikes for all the family including children’s bikes, child seats, child trailers and tandems, then find out more at www.mellowvelos.com


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DVDS FOR SALE ALL ENGLISH SOUND ONLY €2 EACH SEE www.lfn.org.uk


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Setting up a new business in France?

Creating a company in France is very different to UK. Handyman-France Ltd can guide you through the process and offer ongoing help if needed.
Whatever type of enterprise you’re thinking about (micro-enterprise, SARL, EURL, or even the new auto- entrepreneur) there are a few rules that you need to be aware of – otherwise you will hinder progress not only in registering your business, but also in operating it.
We can also provide effective software to enhance your administration system.
Assistance with advertising also available.
Call Handyman-France Ltd

UK Registered (Number 6232868)

Home +33 (0)4.68.71.88.80 Mobile +33 (0)6.18.87.31.69

Email geoff@handyman-france.com

(SARL Handyman France is the French branch of Handyman-France Ltd)


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UK: Norwich Union returns £10 million of unclaimed cash to customers

Norwich Union, part of Aviva, has returned £10 million of unclaimed cash to its customers. This follows the announcement last year of Norwich Union's intention to return £40 million of unclaimed assets to 40,000 customers.

The insurer, the UK's largest, has appointed a dedicated tracing agency, Assets Reunited, to help find customers who had forgotten to claim their money. This service also covers Policies with the GA Life and other Insurance companies.

Commenting on the developments, Cathryn Riley, chief operating officer at Norwich Union, said: "We are starting to see some fantastic progress in returning the money to customers who haven't claimed.

"We are currently returning over a million pounds a month to our customers - something that we believe is genuinely making a positive difference to peoples lives, and that's a brilliant start. There's often a good reason the money has remained unclaimed; such as changes of address or lost policies. Despite this, we've given good news about old policies to over three thousand five hundred customers, providing them with some much needed peace of mind, at a time when money worries are on the increase

"We have made contact with a further 10,000 customers and are in the process of reuniting them with an additional £25 million.

"We have learned a great deal over the last few months and have added a dedicated tracing agency, to our team to continue the good work and help us reach as many people as we can.

"The issue of unclaimed assets affects the whole industry and it's not going to go away on its own. We are taking decisive steps to address the matter and we encourage the rest of the industry to follow our lead."

If you believe you may be entitled to recover unclaimed money from Norwich Union visit our website: www.norwichunion.com/existing-customers/trace-policies/.

THE LFN DIGESTIVE HAS HELPED REUNITE LOST MONIES IN THE PAST

IT COSTS NOTHING TO CHECK. GOOD LUCK

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Peter the man with Van

Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for

LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.

Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.

Peter will be in France every two weeks, or more if required.

If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK

please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124

Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 Or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk/

You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.

Large Transit Van with full Goods In Transit Insurance,

Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.

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Help at Hand

IF YOU HAVE HAD TREE PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF THE STORM

Jonathan Broad

MAN WITH BIG CHAIN SAW READY TO HELP

SIRETNO: 48213115800016
3:RouteRaissac
11200 Villedaigne

jonathan.broad@wanadoo.fr
Tel: 04 68 91 58 39 Portable: 06 98 94 52 20

http://www.abroadhorizon.com/

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'Berkana' Art Expo
42 Avenue de Carcassonne, Homps.

Throughout February,

Every Tuesday from 10 - 16 hrs

where there is an English Library.

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Translation Help for LFN Digestive Readers

Patricia Martin: Telephone: 0468 49 63 72: Location: 11200 Ventenac Minervois

Yvonne D’Inverno: Telephone: 0468 71 80 48: Location: 11000 Carcassonne

Bob Robinson: Telephone: 0467 93 32 42: Location: 34620 Puisserguier

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REQUIRED FOR WEDDING ON 27TH JUNE 2009.
Wedding car to transport the bride from St Marcel d'Aude to Argel.
If anyone can suggest where one could be located, ideally a classic style/vintage or similar/smart Mercedes etc it would be most appreciated. I can supply a photo of the car I found at a rally in La Redorte last year but regrettably the contact details for the owner have been mislaid.
Telephone Michelle 02 97 392 608 / email: michiemole50@hotmail.com
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

LFN DIGESTIVE March 2009

Ryanair to abolish check-in desks in favour of online operation to reduce costs

Low-fare carrier Ryanair plans to close its airport check-in desks by the end of the year and make passengers check in online to reduce costs. Officials at the no-frills Irish airline said by reducing its costs at airports, savings will be passed on to passengers through lower fares.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that passengers will be able to leave their luggage at a bag drop but otherwise everything will be done online. 'Ultimately, we want just one in five people to check in luggage,' he said.
The carrier said that 97% of passengers booked online already and 75% used the internet to check in. Spokesman Stephen McNamara said the airline saw the move as the 'logical next step' in an effort to pass on savings to passengers through reduced fares.
The plan has emerged days after Ryanair launched an in-flight mobile phone service that will eventually be extended to its entire fleet of more than 170 planes.
Mr. O’Leary stated on BBC TV (27.02.09) they are considering having coin operated W.Cs. on all planes “Spend a Pound to Spend a Penny”.
Ryanair new route Carcassonne to Bournemouth on Tuesday and Saturday starting June 6th


The information on this page was provided by http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/ always worth a daily visit
UPDATE ON FEBRUARY DIGESTIVE
• Singles Club now off the ground
• Mike & Molly’s Boat in Narbonne now sold
• Coffee Morning (It looked like Wembley on Cup Final Day)

Web site in English on all aspects of CPAM http://www.cpam87.fr/SiteWeb/anglais/
Information given by Mary Taylor
This is now on “Life in France” on small adds www.lfn.org.uk


English Book Exchange

G20 Supermarket in Olonzac is willing to hold an English Book and DVD Exchange, bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit just a facility in their supermarket for the English and or French who would like to read English Books and English who might want to read French Books. If you are interested in this idea could you let me (LFN) norm@lfn.org.uk know. There has been a good response for this idea so far.


Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was shut up

BLEVINS FRANKS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED
OPEN NEW OFFICE IN TOULOUSE

For the last eight years, Blevins Franks Partner, Mary Taylor, has looked after both the South West of France and the Costa Brava. In order to improve our investment and tax advisory services to expatriates in both areas, Mary is now solely concentrating on clients in France while Blevins Franks Partner Brett Hanson is looking after the Costa Brava.

Mary has also extended her area of France and now offers financial advice to clients in South Aquitaine as well as the Midi Pyrénées and Rousillon.
Whilst Mary’s new office is in Toulouse, she also arranges time for travelling around her area in order to hold meetings at locations, which are convenient for her clients in the various departments, they reside within.

Mary is a highly qualified and extremely competent financial adviser with many years’ experience in the financial services industry, including eight years working for Blevins Franks advising expatriates in both Spain and France. She is fully qualified; having obtained all three examination passes of the UK Financial Planning Certificate.

This is mandatory for all financial advisers in the UK and most importantly also for advising on UK pensions and Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS), even if the client now lives overseas.

Mary is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority and this fully covers advising on tax and investment planning for expatriates in France. *

Business Development Director, Colin Vickers, said “Our business has grown substantially and therefore Mary is giving more focus to our clients living in South West France to continue to meet the ever increasing level of enquiries received in this area”. Mary added, “I am committed to meeting the investment, tax and general financial planning needs of all expatriates and am looking forward to meeting them through our March seminars or by mutually convenient appointment”.

The seminars explore the tax solutions and investment opportunities for the preservation of your capital and pensions in the face of a new landscape shaped by economic, taxation and financial market developments. They are being held at the Hotel Parc Beaumont in Pau on the 26th March and at La Domaine d’Auriac in Carcassonne on the 27th. Both start at 10.30am and run until around 12.30pm [refreshments provided]. The new 6th edition of our popular guide “Living in France” will be available at the seminars free of charge.


To reserve your place at the seminar, order a copy of the book, or to arrange a meeting with Mary call 05 62 30 51 40 or email mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com


To check if an adviser is authorised by the UK
[e.g. for pension/QROPS advice] type their name in on http://www.fsa.gov.uk/register/home. and if they are, it should state “Active.” This is important for your protection and compensation rights against inappropriate advice.

HIP REPLACEMENTS

Hi I note with interest your note in the February Digestive of Big John and Joe the Estate Agent (Both doing very well by the way) who have had hip replacements.

Not sure if your readers know – but I had a “Birmingham Hip Resurfacing “ in Mazamet last May - it’s a less intrusive operation aimed at younger, sportier patients. So far so good - I am back working full-time as a ski instructor in Andorra, fitter & more mobile than ever. I had to go to Mazamet for it, as none of the surgeons in the Aude (as far as I could find out) are trained & experienced in the operation, which is apparently more complex than a standard replacement.

Just thought I’d mention it, in case there are any others out there requiring these sorts of surgery – I’d be happy to respond to any queries on the procedure.
Best regards Isobel Evens (from Les Volets Bleus, B& B in Salleles d’Aude)


Golden Syrup Dumplings
DUMPLINGS FOR DESSERT?

Yes when they are cooked in golden syrup
(Don’t tell Jill and Sallie - the Slimming ladies)


Dumplings Syrup
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 1 Egg
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon milk • 1 cup water
• ½ cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons Golden syrup
• 1 tablespoon butter

Sift flour into a bowl, and rub in the butter until its like breadcrumbs. Beat the eggs and milk together, and carefully mix the flour to make soft dough. Do not over mix, as this will make the dumplings tough.

Place the water, sugar, butter and golden syrup into a large saucepan and bring to boil.

Drop in teaspoonfuls of dough, cover with a lid and simmer over a moderate heat for about 12 minutes or so until cooked. Remove from the heat and serve with warm runny custard or ice cream.

Serves 4-6 people Thanks to Frances Taylor, Pouzols Minervois.


Last date for registration to guarantee vote in European Election – 30thApril 2009

Conservatives Abroad is advising all British citizens living overseas who are eligible to vote in the European Election on June 4th 2009 that they need to have their voter registration forms returned to the Electoral Registration Officer in the Constituency they were last registered by April 30th 2009 to qualify to vote. As ever, due to the short turn around on postal voting, we advise that people registering to vote appoint a proxy to vote on their behalf in the UK to ensure their vote is counted. Voter registration forms can be downloaded from www.dontleaveyourvoteathome.com
For more information please email Lesley Taylor - lesley.taylor@conservatives.com
NEWS FROM GEOFF THE HANDYMAN

The Blustery Day in January is still fresh in most memories, and the clear up still goes on. Whilst it was mostly roof tiles damaged and lost, I’ve dealt with properties with fallen trees and a couple of smashed skylights. I heard of one swimming pool that had six trees in it. My sympathy goes to all of you who suffered damage.

The insurance companies have responded well. But how would they react to a house fire where no alarms are in place? Do you have smoke detectors? Have you changed the batteries? Do you need CO detectors? Is your fire extinguisher still in date and working? Do you have a fire blanket? CO detectors are needed for gas appliances whether the supply is mains or bottled, and in gîtes all the above is needed (unless there is no gas). Now is the time to check all of these things. And once the weather warms up enough to dispense with the wood burner, have the chimney swept and a certificate issued.

It will soon be law here in France; ALL properties are to have smoke alarms.

Moving outside, is the battery in the pool alarm OK? Are your pool security measures still up to scratch? Some trees still seem to be on the move – I swear at a couple of houses we look after two or three trees are leaning more than they were a week ago. That’s not too bad is it’s at the end of the garden. Have another good look round before you have another disaster.


PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Why not contact us and see how we can help you manage your property?
24/7 Emergency Call Out Tel 0468 718 880




Domaine de la Souterranne
11200 Ginestas
Award Winning Wines

Domaine de la Souterranne is a small family-run vineyard in the Minervois region of the Languedoc. The owners, Jim and Sarah are English and use an award-winning Australian-French Wine-making team. Their philosophy is to grow the grapescarefully for high quality not high quantity. They thin the grapes to concentrate the flavours, and hand pick at harvest.

Oz Clarke.. “Take a beautiful old wine estate in an unfashionable area,
give it new English owners and co-opt Aussie David Morrisson
as a consultant and… bingo- great flavours, great style, sensible prices…
Just what a merlot should be”
James and Sarah Pearce Tel: 0468 40 36 08

The English Living in France weekend at Domaine de la Souterranne
More information for a fun weekend in the next LFN Digestive

More than 40,000 unwitting UK
Driving licences expire
More than 40,000 motorists have failed to spot that their photo card licence automatically expires after ten years and has to be renewed. Motoring organisations said most drivers believed, wrongly, that their new-style licence was for life and blamed the Government for the fiasco.

A mock-up driving licence from 1998 when the photo cards were launched shows the imminent expiry date as item '4b' They said officials had failed to publicise the fact that photo card licences - unlike the old paper ones - expire after a set period and must be renewed.
The first batch of ten-year photo licences was issued in July 1998, and between then and the end of January 173,867 photo cards expired.
The European Driving Licence
The EU has worked to harmonise standards of the driving test and the appearance of the driving licence so that the licence issued in one country will be recognised by other member states. All driving licences issued since 1 January 1983 conform to the Community model, but they may be in paper or plastic form and can look quite different. In March 2006, the Council of Ministers approved plans to create a single European driving licence to replace the 110 different models currently in existence throughout the EU. The plan is to phase out national licences between 2012 and 2032. Ultimately all new licences will have much shorter periods of validity (10 years is proposed).


HEADLAMP CONVERTERS FOR LHD CARS
Hello LFN I thought I'd write, in case it is of interest to the readers of LFN Digestive. I have found a source of headlamp converters for LHD cars when driving in the UK. They can be ordered online at www.travel-spot.co.uk/ or by phone or fax, as below. I have used them a couple of times and found them to be both helpful and efficient. Price is £6.95 per set plus postage and packaging. The company also sells the converters for RHD cars and other equipment for travelling in Europe. Phone: +44 (0)1462 499646 FAX: +44 (0)1462 499648
All the best, kind regards David Cole.

Please save your used postage stamps
for the Guide Dogs Association
Contact LFN to find out where to leave them
Thank YOU



CHATEAU
SAINT-JACQUES d’ ALBAS

In this period of light wallets and thin pockets, here’s a proposal to save some
serious centimes at restaurants and on wine for all foodies out there!

We work with Le Guide de Gastronom, run by Philippe Laurent, who has worked many years in the world of food and wine. He comes from Lyons, not unknown to all foodies.

The offer is a “Gastronom Card” plus a catalogue for 2009, which can be used in numerous established restaurants in the Languedoc, as well as Burgundy and Rhone-Alpes. The holder, assuming a minimum of two guests (including the card holder), will receive a discount either in the form of a percentage (e.g. 20% at La Marquière, Carcassonne) or an amount (e.g. €30 Le Puits du Tresor, Lastours) off the bill. 2 visits per year are allowed to each restaurant to benefit from this offer and wine must be drunk with the meal! Tables are to be reserved, quoting the card number.

The cardholder can also benefit from an offer of 13 bottles for the price of 12 at nearly 100 vineyards in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon – including Chateau St Jacques of course.

Now normally this card costs 49€ but by buying at Chateau St Jacques d’ Albas, Laure Minervois (see www.chateaustjacques.com for directions), you only pay 25€. It’s our 2009 gesture to all foodies! Call 0468 782482 and speak to Martine to reserve one.

“Le Bas” 11800 Laure Minervois France
Tel 00 33 (0)468 78 24 82, fax 0033 (0)468 78 48 08
E-mail: stjacques.albas@wanadoo.fr site: www.chateaustjacques.com

Peter the man with Van


Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for
LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.
Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.
Peter will be in France every two weeks, or more if required.
If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK
Please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124
Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk/
You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.
Kate the Bird Lady of Canet

What a winter? Everyone I meet in Canet talks about what an awful winter we have had. It has been uncharacteristically cold, wet and windy by turn and also seemingly never ending. But now, although still cold, the birds have started singing and collecting nesting material and a myriad of small violets and daffodils are coming into bloom in the garden. Our displaced collar doves are much in evidence and must have found new lodgings since the demise of their last tree home. The days are clearer and at last we can just see the snow on the peaks of the Pyrenees and on the Black Mountains. A multitude of garden birds are visiting our bird bath and window feeders, which have to be replenished on a regular basis.

Now I do not know a lot about the habits of the cigale but I always thought they migrated to somewhere warm in the winter, however we have had three living in our door recess all through the winter, I think they must be a family. Chris Grant very kindly sent me a newspaper cutting entitled ‘Hardy swallow that forgot to fly south survives the bitter chill’. The swallow in question had survived a temperature of -7C at a nature reserve near Penzance in Cornwall instead of wintering in the warmer climes of Africa.

I visited Grand Frais at Narbonne yesterday and as we were approaching from the auto route roundabout I spotted a huge group of very large birds looping and circling very high above. Unfortunately I did not have the binoculars with me (another reason it is always sensible to carry binoculars with you everywhere - or an expert member of the Ligue pour le protection of des Oiseaux) so I was not able to identify them but I guess they were something like cranes or storks. They were a really spectacular sight and there must have been more than a hundred of them. I would have been quite happy to watch them for the rest of the afternoon but they seemed to depart as quickly as they had arrived. Their movements were so graceful and co-ordinated. Again, I am not sure whether they were en route to nesting grounds or resident in this part of France but as I have only seen such a sight once before and they were black-winged stilts (echasse blanche - a smaller bird with trailing legs) on migration, my guess is that these were also on a journey. Of course with spring almost upon us birds are busy travelling to their nesting sites and we are in an excellent area to observe their arrival at such places as Gruissan, La Clape and La Franqui. The LPO has outings for members to observe this and you can visit their website for details or just google LPO Aude.

On Tuesday I went for a wander around the gravel pits and was pleased to see about 30 pochard (fuligule milouin). This pretty little diving duck is easy to identify by its beautiful red head and silvery body. There was a raft or paddling of ducks on the water – all male as the females are not as colourful as the males and obviously have other interests. Talking of collective terms for birds if the ducks are in flight then it becomes a team, brace, bed, flight or flock. I remember years ago an old countryman talking of a parliament of rooks and having seen them in action – yes this is as near as it gets. We can go on all day – there is a flamboyance of flamingos, a charm of finches and so on. Anyway it is a shame to miss a beautiful day so I am off into the garden to do some gardening and observe! Happy birdwatching folks.

Service Directory for all your needs in Building Maintenance
Located on the www.lfn.org.uk small adds (Household Repair & Builders Section)
Painter and decorator: Landscape Gardening: Home: Gardens and Pools;
Property Management
Print your own stamps from La Poste
LA POSTE has launched a new service that allows you to print off stamps through your computer, for internal post as well as overseas.
The Mon Timbre en Ligne service lets you pick from over 200 designs of stamp and in a couple of steps print off a sheet or add a stamp to an individual envelope.
You can buy stamps for regular envelopes or larger parcels, and because you credit your account you can use them whenever they are required.

Sheets of labels can be used, and it is also possible to print directly to envelopes or label makers and as a safety measure you can print a test sheet in advance to make sure everything is lined up correctly.

It is possible to buy stamps for letters to be sent to the UK, the US and other countries, and the price is exactly the same as if you were to use the local post office.
I suppose that's one of the great worries about this service, is this another blow to local postal services especially in the countryside?

Price of stamps in France will increase from the beginning of March upto €0.56c
Second class postage will remain at €0.51

Postage stamps in the UK are also going up First Class 39p and Second Class 30p from 6th April 2009, and 62p for someone to send you your birthday card.
This information provided by http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/ always worth a daily visit

Vintage Blues Grand Central
Friday13th March 2009
Bar KINGSTON
Lezignan- Corbieres
21.00h Free Entry Jazz Club @ Caunes
Friday 20: March 2009
BELLEVILLE QUARTET
Reservations can be made
Via Tourist Office in Caunes

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FOR SALE

LFN Grocery Business for Sale

The business has been built up over three years and is on target to achieve a turnover of €50,000 this year. We are now ready to sell on to someone who has the ambition and drive to not only maintain this business at its present level but to expand it into a growing market. Serious interested parties are invited to telephone for an appointment to discuss further details of the sale. Tel. no. 0468 40 97 11


Vide Grenier (Boutenac) 19th April 2009.
If you would like a stand contact Odette Viale Tel: 06 73 61 07 41
Price: 5mts outside: €8 Price inside 2.4m €8



£30 million of premium bond prizes go unclaimed From Times Online
Government-backed savings provider to search nationwide after thousands forget to claim prizes worth up to £100,000
Thousands of people have won premium bond prizes and never claimed their money, National Savings and Investments (NS&I) The Government-backed bank is now launching a nationwide search to track down 550,000 winners whose unclaimed prizes are worth more than £30 million.
One unclaimed prize is worth £100,000, two are worth £25,000 and ten are worth £10,000. The oldest unclaimed prize dates back to November 1957 for the sum of £25. Prizes commonly become unclaimed because people fail to pass on new addresses when they move house; forget that bonds had been bought for them when they were a child; or executors are unaware the bonds are held when someone dies.
"We urge anyone who believes they could have unclaimed prizes to check with us. The easiest way is to use our website www.nsandi.com and there is no time limit on claiming the prizes." Alternatively write to Premium Bonds, National Savings and Investments, Blackpool, FY3 9YP.
Around 23 million people hold premium bonds, worth a total of £26 billion. Savers can hold up to £30,000 in bonds but instead of interest payments, bond-holders have a chance to win tax-free prizes, anything from £25 to £1 million every month. Each month's prize fund is equal to one month's interest on the total value of all eligible bonds.



La Nature – Wild Flora

Tuesday 21st to Friday 24th April 2009


This is the first Hidden Gardens short tour of 2009 and will offer an opportunity to explore our local countryside at one of the most interesting times of the year. Following the winter rains, the return of milder weather means that wherever one looks there are always new plants coming into bloom to enchant us. Our programme will allow us to investigate four contrasting areas of local habitat with walk itineraries of about four to five kilometres and little ascent/descent. This provides a perfect opportunity to consider the use of indigenous plants in our gardens, in addition to the sheer delight of seeing them in their native habitat. We shall also visit the newly restored terraced gardens at the Abbaye de Fontfroide, the Jardin de Collection of Pépinière Filippi at Meze and the garden of La Petite Pépinière de Caunes; all gardens which relate to the theme of using native vegetation in gardens.

All walks and visits will be guided by Gill Pound of La Petite Pépinière de Caunes. Transport will be by minibus, starting from Cesseras. For anyone coming from further afield we are happy to organise accommodation locally.

For further information please contact info@hiddengardensfrance.com
Or telephone Liz Thompson on 04 68 91 36 96
Singles Club in the Languedoc
www.les-amis4u.com
A singles club for people living in the Languedoc area.
Contact: nicolaadele@hotmail.com Nicola Blakemore Quarante, 34310


In the garden – March

The latter part of February has given us some lovely warm weather and the mimosa and almonds are really letting us know that spring is just about here.

During March think about the following:

• start to remove winter protection from plants to start hardening them up, but remember to replace protection if heavy frost is forecast
• start to clean up the foliage on perennials, cut back many plants to the base, sub shrubby sages for example will shoot up much more vigorously following a heavy cutting back
• keep an eye on the new shoots of trees and shrubs and act accordingly if you see slug damage
• compost or an organic soil improver such as “Or Brun” can be put around the base of shrubs
• aerate the soil of your flower beds and keep ahead of the weeding
• think about planting trees, shrubs and climbing plants If you buy plants at this time of the year check to see if “ils ont été sorti d’une serre” ie brought out of a greenhouse. It is usual for a grower to protect young plants in a greenhouse over winter but they will need some hardening before planting, especially if March brings a return to colder weather
• prune roses
• prune summer flowering shrubs which flower on the current season’s growth
• if you have a lawn scarify it to remove moss and dried grass
• prune your olive trees – how? ask the experts ie your French neighbours!

In the garden there are a number of early flowerers that are already in full flower.




Helleborus corsicus


euphorbias


Kniphofia sarmentosa


The Mediterranean native Helleborus corsicus has wonderful luminous green flowers and is a great plant for dry shade. There are many euphorbias that do well around here, just about the first into flower is Euphorbia rigida, an excellent plant for a hot, sunny position and also very drought resistant. And, for a slightly more exotic note, the early flowering red hot poker, Kniphofia sarmentosa, is just coming into flower with its red and yellow spikes of flowers.

For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes
(shrubs and perennials, unusual plants and plants for dry climates),
21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois.
Tel: 04 68 78 43 81,
email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com
Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays,
10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment.
www.lapetitepepiniere.com

Universal Currency Converter
The Universal Currency Converter® contains the top 85 currencies sorted by country name - listing the ten most popular currencies first. Special units and precious metals are listed both alphabetically and separately, at the end of this list. For every world currency, use the converter, it is now on the links page of www.lfn.org.uk for your use.
Now happening with help from AngloINFO

Find out how today's weather will progress, and what to expect for the rest of the week: 10 Day Local Weather Forecasts


Find out where to go, what to do and what to see today tomorrow and through the weekend with the Languedoc-Roussillon What's On Guide


Buy and sell, offer or look for employment, and talk about local matters with AngloINFO's Classifieds & Discussions


Find out what we've added to the local information available to you on AngloINFO with What's New on AngloINFO



GARDENER’S QUESTION TIME
Thursday 26th March 2009
Hidden Gardens Hidden France is hosting a
Gardener’s Question Time at
Les Ecuries Conference Centre,
Chemin de Minerve, 34210 Cesseras

Programme

10.30 – coffee on arrival
11.00 – questions to the panel. The panel will be chaired by Jacques Thompson (member of the Mediterranean Garden Society Scientific Committee). Panel members: Gill Pound (proprietor of La Petite Pépinière de Caunes), David Bracey (formerly worked in research on diseases and insects affecting world crops, and also a member of the MGS Scientific Committee), Mark Donovan, a long- established landscape gardener in the Languedoc, and Guy Mortimer who will answer your questions on vegetables and the potager.
12.00–12.30 – general discussion 12.30–1.30 – buffet lunch with wine
The fee is € 25. If you would like to reserve a place, please contact Liz Thompson, La Grande Maison, rue des Caves Hautes, 34210 Cesseras. If you have any queries about the event please contact info@hiddengardensfrance.com or phone 04 68 91 36 96

Eurostar returns to full timetable
A FULL service is to be offered by Eurostar from today following the Channel Tunnel fire in September last year.
A high-speed service is now running, offering a travel time of 2hr 15mins between London and Paris, with additional departures from Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International stations, plus a new direct Ashford to Brussels service.
A fire on September 11 saw 14 people injured and traffic through the tunnel face severe disruption until earlier this month when Eurotunnel began full operations.
Richard Brown, chief executive of Eurostar, said: "Research is telling us that in tough times, customers want pricing transparency and value for money from travel operators. They don’t want hidden extras or a reduction in service frequency."
This information provided by http://www.thisfrenchlife.com/ always worth a daily visit


Houses for Sale on www.lfn.org.uk Small adds Real Estate
As a service to our readers you can advertise your property for sale, FREE for 60 days
LFN organisation has no commercial interest in these properties

Durban: €185K: Fraissé des Corbières: €105k:
Blomas €40k Villalier €175k
Salleles d Aude 80K and 235k
Assignan €125k Saint Frichoux €280k

LONG TERM RENTALs AVAILABLE ON SMALL ADDS
Carcassonne: Cesseras: Roubia: Saint Marcel-Sur Aude:
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

English Book Exchange

G20 Supermarket in Olonzac is willing to hold an English Book and DVD Exchange, bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit just a facility in their supermarket for the English and or French who would like to read English Books and English who might want to read French Books.

The date for the first Book Exchange is now fixed for Tuesday 7th April 2009
10am till 12 noon, just pop along with your book or books. You will get a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit.


If you have no books to swop, still come along you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.


Still time to Book for Marys Seminars




Peter the man with Van


Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for
LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.
Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.
Peter will be in France next on the 23rd March 2009.
If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK
Please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124
Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk/
You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.


Ryanair Online check-in confirmed by Ryanair
RYANAIR has confirmed that from October 1, 2009, all passengers will have to check-in through the airline's website. In a statement the airline says it will mean a reduction in queues, and for those people travelling without baggage for the hold they can proceed direct to security.
Passengers who have hold luggage will be asked to leave their items at a drop-off point. Check-in will be available between 15 days and four hours before the scheduled departure time of flights, and passengers will be required to print off their boarding cards.
Ryanair will phase in the introduction of its 100 per cent web check-in as follows:

Phase 1: From March 19, 2009, Ryanair’s web check-in service will be extended to (a) non EU/EEA citizens, (b) passengers travelling with checked baggage and (c) reduced mobility customers.

Customers choosing web check-in and travelling with only carry-on bags will continue to enjoy this service free of charge.
A web check-in fee of £5/€5 per person/per flight will apply to passengers travelling with checked baggage, while customers who wish to use airport check-in will be charged an airport check-in fee of £10/€10 per person/per flight at the time of booking.

Phase 2: From May 1, 2009 all new bookings will be required to use web check-in, and the use of traditional airport check-in desks will be phased out over the summer months.
The web check-in fee of £5/€5 per person, per flight will apply to all new bookings (except promotional fares) from May 1, 2009.
In order to dissuade passengers from using airport check-in desks, the fee for airport check-in will double to £20/€20 per person/per flight at the time of booking.

Phase 3: From October 1, 2009 airport check-in desks will no longer be available at any Ryanair airport.
All passengers will be required to web check-in and those who have checked in bags will use the airport 'bag drop' desks, if required. From this date, children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to travel unaccompanied and passports and national ID cards will be the only accepted forms of photo ID on Ryanair flights.
Information provided by “this French Life”
Ryanair cuts back flights to France from Dublin
BLAMING increased costs levied by the Irish government, Ryanair has announced it will be reducing the frequency of flights from Dublin Airport.
The airline has said that from July 2009 it will cut back on the number of flights it operates to Biarritz and Carcassonne, and end completely its link to the Swiss airport of Basel which serves the east of France.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary criticised the Irish government, saying its €10 levy on flights from the airport had seen passenger numbers fall by 12 per cent in February.
And the flight cuts come as the airline looks to cut its costs, last week Ryanair said that from October passengers would only be able to check-in online.
Ryanair new route Carcassonne to Bournemouth on Tuesday and Saturday starting June 6th




BUS TRIP TO SPAIN FOR THE DAY,
Lunch at Roses Duty free shopping at La Jonquera

If your free on Monday April 20th and would like to join a number of other LFN Digestive readers for a day to the sea side and shopping duty free, your welcome to join us for €17.50 per person. We will leave Lezignan at 9-30am calling at Narbonne 10.00am then off to the sea side for Lunch (you do your own thing at Roses, plenty of restaurants, or picnic on the beach for a couple of hours) Back on the Bus and off to La Jonquera for the duty free shopping (about 2 hours) Then we make our way back to Narbonne and Lezignan.

Interested LFN by e-mail Norm@lfn.org.uk or phone 0468 40 97 11.





CHATEAU
SAINT-JACQUES d’ ALBAS

In this period of light wallets and thin pockets, here’s a proposal to save some
Serious centimes at restaurants and on wine for all foodies out there!

We work with Le Guide de Gastronom, run by Philippe Laurent, who has worked many years in the world of food and wine. He comes from Lyons, not unknown to all foodies.

The offer is a “Gastronom Card” plus a catalogue for 2009, which can be used in numerous established restaurants in the Languedoc, as well as Burgundy and Rhone-Alpes. The holder, assuming a minimum of two guests (including the card holder), will receive a discount either in the form of a percentage (e.g. 20% at La Marquière, Carcassonne) or an amount (e.g. €30 Le Puits du Tresor, Lastours) off the bill. 2 visits per year are allowed to each restaurant to benefit from this offer and wine must be drunk with the meal! Tables are to be reserved, quoting the card number.

The cardholder can also benefit from an offer of 13 bottles for the price of 12 at nearly 100 vineyards in the region of Languedoc-Roussillon – including Chateau St Jacques of course.

Now normally this card costs 49€ but by buying at Chateau St Jacques d’ Albas, Laure Minervois (see www.chateaustjacques.com for directions), you only pay 25€. It’s our 2009 gesture to all foodies! Call 0468 782482 and speak to Martine to reserve one.

“Le Bas” 11800 Laure Minervois France
Tel 00 33 (0)468 78 24 82, fax 0033 (0)468 78 48 08
E-mail: stjacques.albas@wanadoo.fr site: www.chateaustjacques.com
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

By email :


English Book Exchange

G20 Supermarket in Olonzac is willing to hold an English Book and DVD Exchange, bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit just a facility in their supermarket for the English and or French who would like to read English Books and English who might want to read French Books.

The date for the first Book Exchange is now fixed for Tuesday 7th April 2009 10am till 12 noon, just pop along with your book or books. You will get a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit.

If you have no books to swop, still come along you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

BUS TRIP TO SPAIN FOR THE DAY,
Lunch at Roses, Duty free shopping at La Jonquera

If you are free on Monday April 20th and would like to join a number of other LFN Digestive readers for a day out at the sea side with duty free shopping on the way home, you are welcome to join us for €17.50 per person. We will leave Lezignan at 9-30am calling at Narbonne 10.00am then off to the sea side for lunch. You do your own thing at Roses, there are plenty of restaurants, or have picnic on the beach, approximate time there will be two hours. Back on the bus and off to La Jonquera for the duty free shopping (about 2 hours) then we make our way back to Narbonne and Lezignan.

Interested? contact LFN by e-mail Norm@lfn.org.uk or phone 0468 40 97 11.
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

LFN DIGESTIVE
April 2009
Inheritance tax fight for same-sex couples almost at an end
INEQUALITIES in the French inheritance tax system towards same-sex couples from outside France could soon be brought to an end.
At present the French system does not recognise couples that have registered under civil partnership arrangements in their own countries, so on the death of one the surviving partner is treated as an individual and will be charged inheritance tax.
But amendments have passed through the Senate that would recognise non-French civil partnerships, and it is hoped that its passage through the Assemblée Générale will run smoothly. For more information visit www.thisfrenchlife.com
Online check-in confirmed by Ryanair
RYANAIR has confirmed that from October 1, 2009, all passengers will have to check-in through the airline's website. In a statement the airline says it will mean a reduction in queues, and for those people travelling without baggage for the hold they can proceed direct to security.
Passengers who have hold luggage will be asked to leave their items at a drop-off point. Check-in will be available between 15 days and four hours before the scheduled departure time of flights, and passengers will be required to print off their boarding cards.
Ryanair will phase in the introduction of its 100 per cent web check-in as follows:

Phase 1: From March 19, 2009, Ryanair’s web check-in service will be extended to (a) non EU/EEA citizens, (b) passengers travelling with checked baggage and (c) reduced mobility customers.

Customers choosing web check-in and travelling with only carry-on bags will continue to enjoy this service free of charge.
A web check-in fee of £5/€5 per person/per flight will apply to passengers travelling with checked baggage, while customers who wish to use airport check-in will be charged an airport check-in fee of £10/€10 per person/per flight at the time of booking.

Phase 2: From May 1, 2009 all new bookings will be required to use web check-in, and the use of traditional airport check-in desks will be phased out over the summer months.
The web check-in fee of £5/€5 per person, per flight will apply to all new bookings (except promotional fares) from May 1, 2009.
In order to dissuade passengers from using airport check-in desks, the fee for airport check-in will double to £20/€20 per person/per flight at the time of booking.

Phase 3: From October 1, 2009 airport check-in desks will no longer be available at any Ryanair airport.
All passengers will be required to web check-in and those who have checked in bags will use the airport 'bag drop' desks, if required. From this date, children under the age of 16 will no longer be able to travel unaccompanied and passports and national ID cards will be the only accepted forms of photo ID on Ryanair flights.
Information provided by www.thisfrenchlife.com


Thank you to John who was giving away a Mercedes 230ce along with a number of Gas Cookers, Bikes and Heaters on the understanding that a donation was given to the British Legion. We are happy to report that the goods have gone to a good home and Bob has made a generous donation.

Remember You Don't Stop Laughing Because You Grow Old,
You Grow Old Because You Stop Laughing
La Chorale Internationale de Capestang
(Formally Les Alley Cats)
Concert
Monday 6th April 2009
Capestang Church
(LA COLLEGIALE ST ETIENNE)
18-30
John Rutter’s Requiem
Conducted by Sally Shaw
Accompanied by Dorothy Hull
Everyone Welcome
Free entry – Collection on exit

English Book Exchange

Tuesday 7th April 2009 10am till 12 noon
G20 Supermarket in Olonzac is willing to hold an English Book and DVD Exchange, bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit just a facility in their supermarket for the English and or French who would like to read English Books and English who might want to read French Books.

The date for the first Book Exchange is now fixed for Tuesday 7th April 2009 10am till 12 noon, just pop along with your book or books. You will get a cup of coffee and a chocolate biscuit.

If you have no books to swop, still come along you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

BUS TRIP TO SPAIN FOR THE DAY
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Lunch at Roses, Duty free shopping at La Jonquera

If you are free on Monday April 20th and would like to join a number of other LFN Digestive readers for a day out at the seaside with duty free shopping on the way home, you are welcome to join us for €17.50 per person. We will leave Lezignan at 9-30am calling at Narbonne 10.00am then off to the seaside for lunch. You do your own thing at Roses, there are plenty of restaurants, or you can have a picnic on the beach, approximate time there will be two hours. Back on the bus and off to La Jonquera for the duty free shopping (about 2 hours) then we make our way back to Narbonne and Lezignan.

Interested? Contact LFN by e-mail Norm@lfn.org.uk or phone 0468 40 97 11

Ariege Aude Forum
A meeting place for English speaking people of all nationalities in SW France
“ Ariege Aude Forum – A meeting place for English speaking people of all nationalities in SW France. A forum for meeting new friends, discussing local problems, forming mutual interest groups, posting and listing local events.” http://ariegeaudeforum.ning.com/
A day without sunshine is, like, night.
Magpies (Pie Bavarde) From the Bird lady of Canet

Cycling to the vineyards en route to feed a neighbour’s cat I passed by a large unused field where on three occasions this week I have disturbed upwards of 30 magpies. They dispersed each time as I passed but on the fourth occasion I automatically looked for them and saw just two crouched down very close together – these too flew off at my approach but I wonder if this is some sort of important courting ritual in which all the friends and relatives have an input? Maybe the two birds are aristocratic in magpie terms and this was the equivalent of a human wedding ceremony, or more likely were they just meeting up prior to roosting. The collective terms are a tittering, tiding, gulp, murder or charm – so you can take your pick. Charming they most certainly are not, being one of the most raucous members of the crow family. I hardly think they titter and why the other terms? I can only leave you to guess. They are certainly not a secretive bird being large, black and white and highly visible. They have certainly rapidly increased in numbers. At one time they were an endangered species but with increasing traffic on our roads providing more food in the shape of dead animals and birds they are thriving. They are also known to take fledglings and smaller birds in the garden.

It is interesting that a lot of the birds I see I look for in terms of place. Let me explain. I know that as I leave the village there is a falcon that patrols from a telegraph post in the fields in that area and I can usually spot it if I scan the area. On the bridge at Ornaisons this morning I saw a group of about a dozen jackdaws who all seem to live around the bridge but it was unusual to seem them altogether – a sure sign that spring is upon us and they are pairing up. Normally I see them in little groups of three or four. But I can guarantee that I will always see them. I was also passing some plane trees a couple of days ago when I saw the interesting sight of a crow sitting in one of the large holes in the trees. When it is not so windy and I cycle from Canet to Ornaisons I pass the domain of a really large lizard which I have only seen once but I am always aware of its presence, as I approach I hear the rustle of leaves and dried grass and it seems to live in or around the culvert which carries the water to the vines. I have grown used to where to look for the kingfisher and most of these are just from general observation. As a member of the Ligue pour le Protection des Oiseaux you can learn where to go to find the magnificent giant Eagle Owl (Grand duc) or the black winged stilt (echasse blanche). This knowledge means that you can return to the same place and providing the season is right you are likely to repeat that thrilling experience.

We have had some serious domestic disputes in our garden in the last couple of weeks between the ever increasing resident magpies and a couple of birds of prey. Unfortunately they were so fast and so noisy that I was unable to accurately identify the adversary other than its shrill piercing shriek. However my husband found the remains of a bird in the garden and I believe it to be a hobby (Faucon hobereau) and I think it possible that the magpies were responsible as this bird often builds its nest in the old nest of a rook or crow (which may include that of a magpie) so this was possibly a territorial dispute. It is not often that a dead bird is discovered except when they have collided with a window or been hit by a car or attacked by a predator. I sometimes wonder what happens to the birds that die naturally. Do they find somewhere where they will not be easily found, knowing that their time is up or do they manage to conceal themselves? A bird generally has quite a short lifespan between 2 and 6 years for the tiny birds and up to maybe 15 years for the large birds, so on the law of averages we should discover more that have died naturally.

Keep a look out for the hoopoe (huppe fasciee) and bee eaters (guepier d’Europe) – if you haven’t already seen them they should be with us soon. Happy bird watching to you all.


Domaine de la Souterranne 11200 Ginestas have Award Winning Wines
James and Sarah Pearce Tel: 0468 40 36 08
The English Living in France weekend at Domaine de la Souterranne
Is under construction for July - More information for a fun weekend soon.
Make a note on your calendar for July 4th.
Despite the cost of living, it's still popular.


MULTISERVICE
All aspects of Cabinet-making & joinery: Furniture,
Kitchens, Doors, Windows, Stairs etc. Made-to-measure or copied from existing.
Kitchen fitting service. Supply & fit of Velux roof windows.
Also small building works, Plasterboard dry-lining/ insulation, Tiling
Telephone Bob 0617854619 e-mail bobandkateboth@wanadoo.fr
Location Olonzac

Peter the man with a Van


Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for
LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.
Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.
Peter will be in France every two weeks, or more if required.
If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK
Please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124
Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk/
You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.

Universal Currency Converter
The Universal Currency Converter® contains the top 85 currencies sorted by country name - listing the ten most popular currencies first. Special units and precious metals are listed both alphabetically and separately, at the end of this list. For every world currency, use the converter; it is now on the links page of www.lfn.org.uk for your use.
The more you complain the longer God lets you live.
IN THE GARDEN – APRIL

We seem to have had a spell of very mild weather during the latter part of March but, do remember that there is always a danger of a further cold spell and even of late frosts – local lore refers to the Saints Glace or Ice Saints which are traditionally the days of 11th, 12th and 13th May! This shouldn’t stop you gardening until the 14th May, if frost or cold winds are forecast then protect anything that might still be a little tender with winter fleece (voile d’hivernage), especially recently planted items. Even hardy plants may well have passed the winter in a cold greenhouse and will need a little hardening off, try and check when you buy plants if they have already been outside or if they have been taken from a greenhouse (sorti d’une serre).

During April think about the following:

• continue to tidy up foliage on perennials, and cut back perennial and sub shrubby plants to the base - they will regrow with greater vigour and better shape. Any plants which flower on the current year’s growth can be pruned
• give flower beds a thorough weed and think about mulching to suppress weed growth later in the year and to help conserve moisture
• if you have botanical (i.e. species) bulbs in the garden don’t dead head them and they should reseed, Anemone blanda and coronaria seem particularly happy to self seed around and some tulips and crocus will also. Other bulbs can be dead headed, as can pansies
• planting – April and early May are excellent planting times and most nurseries will have plenty of stock available. When buying plants it is easy to fall for the “achat de coup de coeur” and buy plants which are in flower now; do try and plan for colour and interest in the garden later in the year or else the garden can be sadly lacking in colour during August!. Check also on drought tolerance and winter hardiness of plants that you are interested in buying. Try and improve the soil where you plant, many local soils are a limy clay that can be improved by the addition of some organic material and some clean sand (sable de la riviére) and/or gravel for better soil structure and drainage (never use builder’s sand). Plants planted this spring will need watering during the first summer while they become established, even if they are drought resistant varieties. This is also a good time to transplant if necessary.
• apply a balanced general purpose fertiliser to borders and beds and also to trees and shrubs

There are already many lovely plants in flower in our gardens.
One unusual plant is Bilbergia nutans,

It is a member of the pineapple family and is drought tolerant and cold hardy to about minus 7°C; grown in a pot one can really appreciate its unusual flowers.


For those of you with an acid soil the Juneberry or Amelanchier canadensis is charming at the moment, these dainty white flowers are followed by berries in June (which the birds adore) and excellent autumn colour later in the year.

There will be many flower fairs in the area during April, including Sunday 19th April at La Pomarede (just south of Revel), Sunday 26th at Cuxac d’Aude and Friday 1st May at Revel.
I shall hope to see you there!

For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, ornamental grasses, unusual plants and plants for dry climates), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois. Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com www.lapetitepepiniere.com
Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment.
You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive in France.



Curry Cooking with Big John


A visit to G20 Olonzac and you could get the following for a quick and easy meal

Jar of Tikka Masala Sauce: Tin of Bombay Potatoes; Packet of Naan Bread
Packet of Poppadums: Packet of Rice: 4 medium sized Chicken breasts*

Heat 1 tbsp vegetable oil in a large pan
Add 4 diced medium sized chicken breasts*
And stir-fry until the meat is sealed and browned (about 5 minutes)
Pour over the jar of sauce and simmer for 15 minutes stirring occasionally

Pop the Poppadums in the microwave for 90 seconds, the Naan bread in the oven or under the grill for 5 minutes, the Bombay Potatoes into a pan for 4-5 minutes and cook the rice according to the packet.

*** Alternatively, use prawns, mixed vegetables or diced lamb, if using lamb simmer time to 30 minutes***

Invite 3 or 4 friends around and ask them to bring a few bottles of wine - the Vioginer from Domaine de la Souterranne 11200 Ginestas Award Winning Wines is a good suggestion - enjoy.


The Cost of a Ripe Old Age
by David Franks, Chief Executive, Blevins Franks
It is becoming increasingly common for someone retiring at age 60 to live a further 30-35 years. What are the implications of longevity at government, company and personal levels and how will we be able to afford it?
Read full article

Will Your Pension Be An Inheritance For Your Family?
by Jane Goodall, Director - International Pensions, Blevins Franks
Transferring your pension out of the UK provides the potential to pass the balance to your heirs as well as avoid UK taxes on the fund on death...
Read full article
It is advisable to seek the advice of a financial specialist qualified in both French and UK tax systems and authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in the UK


Mary Taylor Partner Blevins Franks Tel: 0562 30 51 40 (in France)
e-mail: mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranksinternational.com


Income Tax Forms
Get ready they are on their way.
The 2008 tax forms will be arriving this month - April 24 2009 forms to be issued and May 30th 2009 deadline date to be returned.
French Government to reduce VAT for restaurants in return for lower prices
Niamh Cremin, Bord Bia Paris
Eight days after getting the green light from the EU, Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that VAT in restaurants will be reduced from 19.6% to 5.5%, in return the restaurant trade must commit to cutting prices and creating jobs, as this reduction is estimated to cost the taxpayer €3.25 billion.
The restaurant industry, which was worth some €43 billion in 2007, is important for the French economy. However, over the past two years it has seen a rapid decline with a report published by Hermes (French Financial Institute) showing that almost 3,000 restaurants were forced to close in 2008 (+30% from 2007) and a further 16% of restaurants have already filed for bankruptcy in 2009. In addition, turnover for 2008 was down by almost 20% due to weakening purchasing power and the enforcement of the smoking ban.

The UMIH (French Hotel Industry Union) believe that this VAT reduction will help restaurants compete with fast –food outlets (whose current VAT rate is 5.5%), and create 40,000- 50,000 new jobs for the industry. Despite the cost to taxpayers, a recent survey by Reuters shows that 74% of consumers support the VAT reduction citing that they would be more inclined to eat out if it was reflected in the price. This new rate will be introduced in December 2009, and it is hoped that it will contribute to improvement in prices and employment.
For further information email: niamh.cremin@bordbia.ie
Smile, it's the second best thing you can do with your lips.
Now happening with help from AngloINFO



Find out how today's weather will progress, and what to expect for the rest of the week: 10 Day Local Weather Forecasts


Find out where to go, what to do and what to see today tomorrow and through the weekend with the Languedoc-Roussillon What's On Guide


Buy and sell, offer or look for employment, and talk about local matters with AngloINFO's Classifieds & Discussions


As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on 280 Interstate. Please be careful!"

"It's not just one car," said Herman. "It's hundreds of them!"



Hello everyone, from Joe the Property man


The French are constantly tightening up on the controls of each aspect of "Immobilier". The latest law to come into effect deals with electrical standards, which may be of interest to many of you who have bought, or want to sell older properties that have been, or need to be renovated.

The official title given to the new electrical safety diagnostic test is L’état de l’installation intérieure d’électricité. This long overdue test finally became compulsory on 1 January 2009. When you consider that an average of over 100 deaths and 80,000 fires are caused by faulty wiring every year in France, it is clear this new test is necessary but, as it will only be carried out when houses are sold, it may not reduce the number of electrical fires significantly. Records show that 96% of these are caused by installations more than 30 years old. Given that most British buyers will purchase an older property, it is likely that this diagnostic test could be key to their final decision.

When will it apply? The electrical safety diagnostic test will apply to all transactions where the complete installation is more than 15 years old. However, if a consuel attestation has been carried out less than three years ago, declaring the conformity of an installation, the inspection is not obligatory – a facture or electrician’s bill will not suffice. Up until now, only Class 2 defects in the gas tests where there is imminent serious danger, extreme recordings of degraded lead paint and degraded (accessible) asbestos have required any compulsory action to be taken. Otherwise the diagnostic reports have been ‘for information only’. Amazingly, this is also the case with this new test. Nor is it a test of whether the installation conforms to the current regulations and it imposes no obligation for works to be done, even if anomalies are detected!

What is it for? As far as the vendor is concerned, the electrical safety diagnostic test is designed to provide an awareness of electrical risk in the property, reflects upon the value of the property, exonerates him from the vice-cachés (hidden defects) guarantee and adds transparency to the transaction. As far as the purchaser is concerned, it provides awareness of electrical risk, mentions works that are necessary and aids the buyer in obtaining an appropriate devis (quote). Your surveyor will be able to assess the relative importance of the findings in the report and put them into context for you, as well as advising you of remedies available.

For example, a consumer unit with its disjoncteur (mains switch) in the cave or garage next to the house could in future be regarded as an anomaly but its safety is probably not in question. You may well ask, what is the purpose of all this if there is no obligation to take action? Well, for one thing you don’t want to risk becoming a statistic. Furthermore, from now on, your insurance company will take a close look at the report.

So, if you're about to sell your property and it falls into that category, making sure you have your house in order to avoid any problems with your sale.

Don't forget to look at my site for recently added properties and good luck to all,
Jo Slater http://www.french-property-sale.com
Events already planned range from huge military parades in cities to flag raising ceremonies and fetes in towns and villages.
The government said Armed Forces Day, which is being held on Saturday 27th June, was a chance for the whole country to show its gratitude for the men and women who have served and are still serving in the military.
Note from LFN, watch this space things are being planned thanks to
Laura & Nick Westcott offering their large garden for our own event

Buying prescription glasses in France is not quite as straightforward as walking into Specsavers.

If you want to buy a pair of spectacles or contact lenses in France, then you can only do so directly through an optician, and only then once you have first been prescribed glasses by an ophthalmologist.
You will also need to buy them from the premises of an optician, as it is illegal in France to sell corrective lenses on the Internet. Even opticians are not permitted to do so.
Some might say that it is probably wise to visit the optician, but not the EU Commission, who consider that the sale of corrective lenses should be made freely available on the Internet. They have recently ordered the French government to open up their market, with the threat that if they do not do so, enforcement action will be taken in the European Court of Justice. Whilst critics claim the existing law in France only serves to protect the business interests of opticians, the French government argues that the safeguards are in place to protect the patient.
It is clear a fair number of British expats in France continue to get an eye test and buy their spectacles from the UK, where a basic eye test is free, prices of spectacles are often cheaper, and the service a lot quicker. Spectacles are also available over the Internet from the UK.
www.glassesonspec.co.uk
Eye Glasses 70% less than the high street
Pine Processionary or tent caterpillar
(Les chenilles processionelles)

This month you may look up into the Stone Pine trees and notice some light coloured, web-like cocoons hanging from the treetops. These are caterpillar nests, constructed by the pine processionary caterpillar or ‘chenille processionnaire’.

The insect is only active during the colder times of the year, spending the warm summer months as a pupa buried in the ground. The moths begin to emerge from the soil in August and then mate and seek out pine trees where they place their eggs.

The hatched caterpillars march out at night in single file (hence the name) to feed on the pine needles, leaving behind them a pheromone trail or scent so that they can re-trace their path back to the nest afterwards.

Colonies are active throughout the winter months and by March the caterpillars are fully grown. At this time they leave their nest, following each other in long, head to tail processions looking for soft soil in which they bury themselves and form their cocoons.

If you have nests on your property, you would be well advised to remove them as carefully as possible.

Quite apart from the damage caused to the trees, the caterpillars have fine hairs on their back containing a protein, which causes skin rashes and eye irritations and in some cases an allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock) to both humans and animals.

Even after the caterpillar is dead, the hairs remain toxic, so be aware if walking your dog in areas where the caterpillars may be, or have been. Initial symptoms to watch out for in your pet may include vomiting and an itchy or swollen tongue.

The most effective way or getting rid of them is to cut off the branch and burn the nest.

Houses for Sale on www.lfn.org.uk Small adds Real Estate
As a service to our readers you can advertise your property for sale, FREE for 60 days
LFN organisation has no commercial interest in these properties

Durban: €185K: Fraissé des Corbières: €105k:
Blomas €40k Villalier €175k Salleles d Aude 80K and 235k
Mirepeisset €85K Assignan €125k Saint Frichoux €280k

LONG TERM RENTALS AVAILABLE ON SMALL ADDS
Carcassonne: Cesseras: Rubia: Saint Marcel-Sur Aude:


Hi LFN
Thanks for the Digestive each month. Out of interest I have been playing on the computer and find I can have all UK TV programmes and even euro sport…here’s how (in case you didn’t already know). Go to Google tap in FILMON, then HDI player then download…I managed it and I am as thick as a plank!!!! Cheers Ann of Luc
Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive, anyway
NEWS FROM GEOFF THE HANDYMAN

Your wood-burner or open fire is probably shut down now for the summer, or at least it will be soon. The French tend to leave having the flue swept until the autumn, which means a busy time for sweeps later in the year. So why not do yours now?



The regulations are quite strict regarding chimneys and flues. The main law is set out in Article 31 of Règlement Sanitaire Départemental (RSD). However, you need to check with the Mairie of your town/commune. The national regulations seem to be guidelines – the local rules can vary (e.g., you may need to have your chimney swept twice per year, not once). One thing that is certain - the regulations require that a professional chimney sweep is used, and that a certificat de ramonage is issued. It is not a job for a handyman! Responsibility for chimney sweeping in a rented property lies with the tenant, although the landlord is obliged to ensure the chimney is in good condition before a new tenant moves in. Within a copropriété it is the Syndicat that carries the responsibility.


If you use a ventilation flue from a cooker, then you must have the flue swept at least once every three years, or more often as necessary. You cannot install an extractor hood ventilator in a room where there already exists a gas fire with an existing flue.
You cannot rely on the products sold that claim to clean your flue without the use of mechanical methods – it must be swept the old fashioned way.


Quite apart from running the risk of your insurance becoming invalid if you don’t have the chimney swept properly, the effects of penny pinching are increased fire risk and that of CO poisoning. It just isn’t worth it.
(You do have smoke detectors and CO detectors, don’t you?)



And finally, I’m not sure I’ll ever quite get the hang of the French language. I’ve cottoned on to the fact that the French have a ‘bon’ or ‘bonne’ for just about everything; bon voyage, bonne chance, bon weekend, bon travail, bon fete – the list seems endless. But whenever I respond with “Bon Jovi” they always look at me as though I’m daft. Do they know something I don’t?

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
handyman-france.com can offer a wide range of services that are fully insured to help you manage your property, whether it is a commercial holiday home, or simply for your private use:
• Cleaning; Laundry Services; Garden Maintenance;
• Pool maintenance; Key Holder Service; Meeting & Greeting;
• General Maintenance.
Why not contact us and see how we can help you manage your property?
24/7 Emergency Call Out Tel 0468 718 880



Service Directory for all your needs in Building Maintenance
Located on the www.lfn.org.uk small adds (Household Repair & Builders Section)
Painter and decorator: Landscape Gardening: Home: Gardens and Pools;
Property Management
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

Lunch at Roses, Duty free shopping at La Jonquera


If you are free on Monday April 20th and would like to join a number of other LFN Digestive readers for a day out at the seaside with duty free shopping on the way home, you are welcome to join us for €17.50 per person. We will leave Ornaisons at 9.15am Lezignan at 9-30am calling at Narbonne 10.00am then off to the seaside for lunch. You do your own thing at Roses, there are plenty of restaurants, or you can have a picnic on the beach, approximate time there will be two hours. Back on the bus and off to La Jonquera for the duty free shopping (about 2 hours) then we make our way back to Narbonne and Lezignan.


Interested? Contact LFN by e-mail Norm@lfn.org.uk or phone 0468 40 97 11
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

LONG TERM RENTAL REQUIRED

An English family comprising 2 adults and 2 children are looking for a house with 3 bedrooms situated within 30 minutes of Saint-Marcel d’Aude. They do not mind the location – village, countryside or lotissement but would like some outside space. Please Contact LFN and your details will then be forwarded to them, thanks.


Can you give a dog a good home?
An 8 year old Golden Labrador who answers to the name of Rudi needs a good home urgently because his owner has died. For further information please contact Sheila Jones in St Pierre la Mer : 0468 498073

DO YOU RECALL the STICKY KEYBOARD
Modern Technology by Deborah Collutt
(Daily Mail Newspaper April 27th 2009)
Well, just as you would with dirty crockery-once you’ve disconnected it, of course – stick your keyboard in the dishwasher. Allow to dry out for 24 hours and it’ll be squeaky clean and super-efficient again.
Bruce, our computer expert says:-
I really would not advise putting a Keyboard in the dish washer!
Water and electronics is not a good mix, the detergent in the dish washer will cause the circuit to separate from its backing plastic. Salt and other minerals will collect under the chips and cause them to fail and lastly the extreme heat of the drying cycle could melt the plastic and cause the whole keyboard to warp. Some keyboards mostly wireless ones have a battery inside, if this is put in a dish washer it will definitely never work again.
To clean a Keyboard, first turn off your computer, unplug the keyboard (making a note of where to plug it back in), then use your vacuum cleaner and a paint brush to get between the keys, turning it upside down helps. Next use an anti static foam cleaner, (available from supermarkets and computer shops) spray lightly directly onto the keyboard and wipe over with a dry cloth. Then leave the Keyboard for 10 minutes to allow any foam under or between the keys to dry out.

It is also important to keep your keyboard and mouse clean as they can become very unhygienic and a prime place to spread germs. With the current worry about Swine Flu and the spread of the Flu virus some foam cleaner or anti bacterial wipes next to the computer and used regularly will help.

Best regards, Bruce Taylor.



KITTENS LOOKING FOR A HOME.

They will be due to leave MUM on the 1st June. They are free to a good home
Please contact Yolanda (mather11@wanadoo.fr) Phone 0468 46 17 49





English Book and DVD Exchange
Tuesday 9th June 2009 10 am till 12 noon
The English Book and DVD Exchange at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read Books.
Just pop along with your book or books.
You will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books to swop, still come along you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the
British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.



Green Issues

Are you interested in attending a seminar (FREE) in the autumn, which is being planned by Anglo Info? The Speakers are from the FRENCH GOVERNMENT and not a commercial enterprise. Topics planned are - Solar Power Free Hot Water: Domestic Pools & Under Floor Heating. Government Grants, interest free loans and tax credits could be available.

If you would like further details please send an e-mail to LFN norm@lfn.org.uk with Solar Heating in the subject, your details will be passed on to Caroline Tixier of AngloInfo.




Peter the man with a Van


Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for
LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.
Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.
Peter will be in France every two weeks, or more if required.
If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK
Please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124
Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk/
You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.

RETURNING FROM THE UK by Road
Please remember if you or any of your friends are returning, by road, to this
area from the UK we will pay you to bring back our shop products.
Please contact LFN for further details Tel: 0468 40 97 11
or e-mail norm@lfn.org.uk


Service Directory for all your needs in Building Maintenance
Located on the www.lfn.org.uk small adds (Household Repair & Builders Section)
Painter and decorator: Landscape Gardening: Home: Gardens and Pools;
Property Management











BRITISH LEGION UPDATE

Thank you to all the readers who attended the last Book Exchange and Mary Taylor’s Coffee Morning. With the sale of the Mercedes etc the total to date, which has been sent to the British Legion Branch in Bordeaux, is €409.62. We have some more money from the May Book exchange, and are just waiting for one more donation from the people who wanted all the old and hard back books, then the money will be sent on to the Legion. More details soon, thank you

On the subject of the Legion if you require a Poppy Wreath for your town this year, please contact LFN by July to place your order. A coffee morning at home, for your friends both English and French, could raise the cost of €25 for a wreath.




Houses for Sale on www.lfn.org.uk Small adds Real Estate
As a service to our readers you can advertise your property for sale, FREE for 60 days
LFN organisation has no commercial interest in these properties

Durban: €185K: Fraissé des Corbières: €105k: Apartment in Narbonne €169k
Trebes €67k Villalier €97k Salleles d Aude 80K and 235k
Marseillette €67k Assignan €125k Saint Frichoux €280k
Pennauitier €97k

LONG TERM RENTALS AVAILABLE ON SMALL ADDS
We have none at present do you have one available?


CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE- Sud de France (11,09,66)
Launches new TELEPHONE HELPLINE SERVICE - 0468 69 01 37

CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE, a voluntary Organisation serving the English Speaking community in France, today extended its service to include a dedicated telephone helpline for those affected by cancer or their carers. The new Sud de France branch of Cancer Support France covers the Aude, Ariege and Pyrenees Orientales.

The Sud de France telephone helpline number is 0468 69 01 37 and is staffed by trained volunteers. Cancer Support France aims to return all calls to the helpline within 24 hours.

For further information see our website www.cancersupportfrance.info

Jeff Turner President Cancer Support France - Sud de France (11,09,66)



BARGAINS AT ST. CHINIAN Sunday 28th June - 9.30 to Midday.
This year the Women’s International Club (W.I.C.L-R) is holding its annual Vente de Charité on Sunday 28th June, as usual in the Salle l’Abbatiale - 9.30 to Midday.

The attractions among two dozen stalls include the ever popular ‘Haunch-of-Ham’ Lotto, drawn on the day; a wall of Tombola prizes; more books in a variety of languages than you can shake a stick at; garden plants; a multitudinous selection of clothes; and even a 1€ stall to help cope in these difficult times.

The two charities to benefit from this year’s takings are Secours Populaire and The Alzheimer’s Society.

Come and enjoy the fun. Entrance is FREE!


BUS TRIP FOR LFN DIGESTIVE READERS
SOCIAL NETWORKING
Suggested Date Monday 15th June 2009

We would like your thoughts on the following destinations below

Afternoon trip to La Jonquera for shopping, maximum time there 2 hours at a cost 12€ per person.

Second Suggestion

Day trip to Avignon , a tour of the town , with about four hours to do as you please either sightseeing, shopping or lunching, or all three! Cost of €20 per person.

Please let me know if you are interested in either or both.
If you are interested in both another date will be negotiated
with the Bus Company for the second trip.

Contact LFN by e-mail Norm@lfn.org.uk or phone 0468 40 97 11








L F N Organisation
29 Avenue du Stade
11200
ORNAISONS
France

Tel: 0033 468 40 97 11 Int
Tel: 0468 40 97 11 (within France)
Tel: 0844 232 3346 (from UK)

e-mail: Norm@lfn.org.uk

web site: www.lfn.org.uk
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

English Book and DVD Exchange

We are please to acknowledge that Vineyard Partners are sponsoring the coffee and biscuits
At the Book Exchange on Tuesday 9th June 2009 at G20 Olonzac
We look forward to seeing you there if possible
Tuesday 9th June 2009 10 am till 12 noon
The English Book and DVD Exchange at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac.
Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit,
just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read Books.
Just pop along with your book or books,
You will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read,
for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.


Kittens looking for a home


Pretty grey cat and her little kitten, both would like to find a loving home together,
PLEASE. She lost her first litter and this time, had three stillborn and this adorable
soft fawn baby which is her pride and joy.

Her sister has three kittens looking for loving homes, one girl and two toms.
Ready to leave their Mummy on the 15th. June.

I will gladly bring each one to your home, if it is difficult for you to get to Argeliers.
All are starting to eat solids and are trained to use a litter tray.

Please ring me, Yolande, on 04 68 46 17 49 -- around mealtimes is best!
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

English Book and DVD Exchange
NEXT ONE IS Tuesday 7th July June 2009 10 am till 12 noon
The English Book and DVD Exchange at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac.
Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit,
just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read Books.
Just pop along with your book or books,
You will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read,
for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

Tuesday 7th July 2009 10 am till 12 noon
Is the next Book and DVD Exchange

The English Book and DVD Exchange is at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read Books.
Just pop along with your book or books, you will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.
This event is sponsored http://www.glassesonspec.co.uk
Eye Glasses 70% less than the high street
See our new prescription sunglass range from only £27 complete

OPEN WEEKEND SUMMER SALE

La Petite Pépinière de Caunes
Route de Citou, 11160 Caunes Minervois

Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th July 2009 10h à 18h

Open access visit to all the garden

Guided visit in English at 11am Saturday and 4pm Sunday

20% discount on many plants :

Free cold drinks, tea & coffee and biscuits

Woodcarving demonstration : Pottery

Wine tastings at 12o/c & 5 o/c
Samedi – Clos du Marbrier Dimanche – Jean-Christophe Aveyrous

Fresh food for al fresco eating : Picnic in the garden

Stone carving demonstration

English food products : Fair trade food products

Fruit juice, jams, onion confit : story telling for children 3pm

Stand et collection pour le soutien de l’Association de Developpement de Soins Palliatifs de l’Aude
(Hospice care)

www.lapetitepepiniere.com
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

Tuesday 4th August 2009 10 am till 12 noon is the next Book and DVD Exchange

Thanks to everyone who visited on 7th July, a further donation of €120.00 has been sent to the British Legion

The English Book and DVD Exchange is at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read books.
Just pop along with your book or books, you will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

This event is sponsored by
Jonathan Broad – Landscaper-Creation and Design
Patios - Poolside - Drives - Pathways - Walling and Terracing –
Garden Structures - Maintenance
Siret No. 482131158 00024
For inspiration or advice contact:
jonathan.broad@wanadoo.fr
0468915839 / 0698945220
www.abroadhorizon.com

Also, G20 will be wine tasting
in the Supermarket at this event



L F N Organisation
29 Avenue du Stade
11200
ORNAISONS
France

Tel: 0033 468 40 97 11 Int
Tel: 0468 40 97 11 (within France)
Tel: 0844 232 3346 (from UK)

e-mail: Norm@lfn.org.uk

web site: www.lfn.org.uk
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

LFN DIGESTIVE AUGUST 2009

Please scroll down for all the information


Cost of new passports to increase



The cost of getting a new passport is to rise again - with the government blaming a drop in income following a fall in applications. We have no choice living outside the UK but to dig deep into our pockets every ten years and obtain a new one. (It is free if you are over 80)
From September 3rd, the cost of an adult passport will rise from £72 to £77.50 if you live in the UK. At the present time it costs €154 plus €21 to have it returned to you from the British Embassy in Paris. I have asked the Embassy for a cost from September, to date I have not had a reply, but you can expect it to rise again. Since 2005, when an adult passport cost £42, prices have increased by 85%.

I have been in contact with my MP in the UK, suggesting that we could send our applications to the UK by post instead of Paris and pay £72 for the current three week service and a Royal Mail fee (AIRSURE) of £6.22 therefore costing £78.22 and not €175 including postage via Paris. Despite three letters and e-mails to my MP, there has been no response to my suggestion. I wonder why!!! (He will need my vote soon.)

If your passport is due for renewal within the next 9 months, you can apply NOW, before the increase and you will receive a 10-year passport with the remaining time from your old one added.



Tribute to Jeff Turner
It is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that we announce the untimely death of Jeff Turner, aged 53 years - President of Cancer Support France (CSF) Sud de France (11, 09, 66). Jeff finally lost his battle for life on Monday 6th July at Carcassonne hospital, after a courageous fight against cancer.

Jeff’s positive attitude and his determination to beat his illness were an inspiration to other cancer sufferers and everyone else who knew him. Even in the last few days of his life, Jeff was providing support and encouragement to others.

Early on during his illness, Jeff became aware of CSF but, as it was based only in the Charente area at the time, he looked elsewhere for support. More recently, Jeff became aware that branches of CSF were developing in different areas of France and he decided that he wanted to provide the same type of support in the Aude, Ariège & Pyrenées Oriéntales. Jeff, supported by his wife Hazel and a circle of close friends, worked tirelessly over the last few months of his life to turn that idea into a reality, and CSF Sud de France (11,09,66) was successfully launched around Easter this year.

Thanks to his determination and strength of character, Jeff has left a legacy to a part of France that he made his home and that he loved dearly. In his memory and in his honour, we will continue to carry on the good work he started, and hope to provide comfort and support to other cancer sufferers in the future.

Judith Bourne – Treasurer CSF Sud de France (11,09,66)

Choosing a financial adviser in France

By Bill Blevins, Managing Director, Blevins Franks

In June, a French court found fraudster Warren Templeton guilty of swindling expatriate retirees in southern France out of €2 million, robbing many of them of their live savings. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

It is more apparent than ever that our choice of adviser is one of the most important financial decisions we ever make. You must carry out effective due diligence on your adviser and the firm he represents. The age adage “caveat emptor” or “let the buyer beware” holds good in all financial transactions.

In France advisers can be regulated in a number of ways. They may be governed by l’Organisme pour le Registre des Intermediares en Assurance (www.orias.fr) if representing insurance based products, e.g. capital investment bonds. If representing direct investments, generally any quoted security, he is likely to be regulated by the Autorite des Marches Financiers (www.amf-france.org). You can verify the adviser’s regulation status on the relevant website.

Most UK regulated advisers who legitimately advise in France choose not to be regulated by either of these authorities - there are compelling reasons for this.



Regulation is complex and requires an excellent command of French. Unless the adviser’s technical French is excellent he may misunderstand the rules that could be costly to his clients. In essence, the local regulators are good for advisers who are themselves French nationals, but one may have doubts about the effectiveness of a French adviser advising non-French clients. So as to avoid breaching the French regulations, most non-French advisers who offer their services in France choose not to take language risks of being authorised directly by the French regulators.
Secondly, the tax and financial systems of France and the UK are very different. Most British expatriates living in France still retain assets in the UK, resulting in issues including UK inheritance tax, estate planning for your UK heirs, your UK pension etc. Many expatriates also return to the UK in later age. Your adviser should have skills and experience in both French and UK planning and really needs to be authorised to give advice in both France and the UK.

The UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) is considered one of the best regulatory authorities in the world. The terms of the EU’s Insurance Mediation Directive and MiFID grants the right of authorised, UK qualified advisers to establish financial advisory businesses in other EU countries under the single regulation of the FSA. This “passporting” system provides the best of both worlds - local advice and regulation by the UK FSA. This is the ideal situation for a British expatriate.
This Directive enables an adviser to legitimately provide services both in the UK and in France. This has the significant advantage of a complaints system in the English language (the French regulators will always deal with you in French).

In the event that the adviser does deliberately or inadvertently breach any of the French regulatory rules, the appropriate French regulator will advise the FSA directly of the breach. Advisers passporting their services need to be extra vigilant because a breach of regulations on overseas soil may impact their regulatory status in the UK. In addition, they have to carry far higher levels of professional indemnity insurance cover - giving their clients far greater peace of mind.

You can verify an adviser’s FSA credentials, and those of the firm he represents, at http://www.fsa.gov.uk/Pages/register/. Use the “passports” link at the top of the firm’s page to confirm he can legitimately advise you in France.

For more information contact Mary Taylor, mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com

TEL 05 62 30 51 40


Dates for your dairy, our next seminars are on Monday 21st at Pau, and Tuesday 22nd September at Carcassonne this year. For further information see below. Please book early as the spaces are limited.







English Food Business for Sale in Carcassonne


The business has been built up over a number of years. It is well established and well known in its current location supplying both English and French customers with all the well known British food products including a full range of frozen and chilled food plus a large vegetarian section.

There are several opportunities to expand the business; in particular a room is available at the rear of the shop, which has numerous possibilities for expansion. The shop is being sold with all fixtures and fitting together with regular, reliable food suppliers already in place. For further information please visit the shop or e-mail Louise at: bobcarcassonne@hotmail.com


22nd August sees the popular return to Tournissan of Dave Kelly. The concert will take place in the court d’ecole this year with a slightly different format, starting at 18h30 with the option of supper after the concert. Tickets priced at €13 concert only. €20 to include supper. For further information please contact Phil Turner by e-mail filturn@gmail.com or telephone

04 68 41 43 25

NEWS FROM GEOFF THE HANDYMAN

Two things that almost everyone agrees about down here - everything is slow; and crime doesn’t happen. Wrong. And, wrong.



An early morning call from a guest in one of our contractual properties was to let us know about a burglary. Whilst it’s true that he had to wait until eight o’clock for the Gendarmerie to open before he could report the crime, by eight-thirty there were three Gendarmes on the scene. By nine, another three turned up. A quick but thorough search of the area meant that the victim’s passport and video camera were returned – but not his cash or plastic. By nine-thirty, the place had been fingerprinted and the Gendarmes were on their way (and not one of them twiddled his truncheon and went ‘haw-hee-haw’).
So don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. Burglaries happen here as well as the UK, though maybe not as frequently. But who can fault the reaction of the Gendarmerie?

It’s only common sense to secure your property. Remember that standards and requirements are different here. Often, these are set by insurance companies who may insist that up to three locks are fitted to exterior doors; that shutters are secured when the property is empty; outbuildings shouldn’t be overlooked; and what about the gate at the end of the driveway – could that be locked as well?

Have you read your insurance policy? Do you know what measures your insurers insist on? The repair bill for the front door lock is probably less than the insurance excess, and the losses were minimal on this occasion. I hesitate to say that the owner is lucky to have suffered so little damage and loss, but it could have been a lot worse.
A break-in is probably worse for a tourist than for the owner. Once your passport, cash and credit cards are gone, and all your banks are in another country, what do you do? The problems are obvious enough, but so are the preventative measures you can take.

Suggestion have copies of your passports and credit card number, plus contact number to report them lost, left with a friend back home, so that if and when required the information and copies can by e-mail- fax to you, this will save time and a lot of inconvenience.

Why not contact us and see how we can help you manage your property?

24/7 Emergency Call Out Tel 0468 718 880




Service Directory for all your needs in Building Maintenance

Located on the www.lfn.org.uk small adds (Service Section)

Painter and Decorator: Landscape Gardening: Plumber:

Electrician and Property Management.

Stir Fried Orange Pork with A Soy Thyme Sauce

by Sheila Jeffers

Serves 4

1 tbsp Peanut Oil 500gms Pork Fillet thinly sliced

1 Medium Onion chopped 70g Water Chestnuts

1 tbsp Marmalade 2 tsps Cornflour

180 ml Orange Juice 2 tbsp Soy Sauce

1 tbsp Fresh chopped Thyme 2 Cloves of Garlic (crushed)

500gm of Fresh Spinach 120gm Beansprouts

Heat oil in wok (or pan will do). Add onion and pork. Stir fry until tender and remove from pan. Add chestnuts, marmalade, cornflour which has been blended into the orange juice, soy sauce, thyme and garlic to the pan. Stir until the mixture thickens slightly. Add the pork, beansprouts and spinach. Cook until the spinach has just wilted. The pork may be marinated in the orange juice together with the onion, garlic, soy sauce and thyme and left in the fridge for 24 hours prior to cooking.

Tips in conjunction with http://www.ariegeaudeforum.com

ON HOW A TIN OF WD 40 CAN HELP WITH MODERN DAY SITUATIONS

Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell).
Cleans newspaper ink from tables
Helps remove shoe polish stains from socks
Cleans clogged Inkjet nozzle
Removes permanent marker from dry erase boards
Removes ink from blue jeans



News from Jo the Property man

Hello to all my readers, hope you're all enjoying the sun!

I keep getting asked how to go about deciding where you eventually buy here and how to go about it. So I've decided to give you all some tips on what to choose and how to choose it.

France is a popular place to own a property, whether for holiday hideaway or permanent home. It is so popular because it’s easy to get to, the weather is incomparable, and the type of lifestyle you want to live is within easy reach. So how exactly can you find French property, and what do you need to know before purchasing?

Assuming you've already decided to be in the Languedoc, study local conditions including the weather and look at web sites on the Languedoc which will give you an idea of what's going on in any particular area. Look at the Tourist Office sites, which will tell you much about the history and geography of different places.

Find a local Estate Agent who is prepared not only to show you his houses for sale, but who is happy to take you around the area to show you points of interest, including local amenities and routes for such things like airports and other things that attract you. Set aside a long weekend to explore your favoured region and view properties. Plan ahead to make appointments with estate agents; giving them time to prepare a list of suitable properties, and make sure an English speaker is available if you need one.
If you see the perfect French property, be sure not to commit right away, especially if you’re pressured to sign a contract. First get a valuation report and a structural survey. A good inspection report will let you know if there are structural problems with the home that need to be addressed before you buy thus giving you a great bargaining chip! A bilingual solicitor who specializes in the French property market can advise on contracts and French conveyance law.

There are two main steps for the buying process. Once you choose a property and agree a price, you will likely be asked to sign a preliminary purchase contract and will have to pay a deposit, which is usually 10% of the purchase price.

The contract binds the purchaser to a range of stipulations and regulations. The next step is signing an acte de vente (deed of sale), which is done once ownership of the estate is signed over to you and the full sum of the buying fees are paid.

Good luck and if you're house hunting now you'll see some bargains on my site,
Jo Slater,

http://www.french-property-sale.com


Remember You Don’t Stop Laughing Because You Grow Old

You Grow Old Because You Stop Laughing

Peter the man with a Van



Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for

LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.

Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.

Peter will be in France every two weeks, or more if required.

If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK

Please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124

Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk

You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.

Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,

Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.

BOAT FOR SALE

Ideal for Sea or Canal Length of boat is 5.80 meters (2 berth cabin cruiser)

Hull Colour (Upper) White: Hull (Lower) Blue: Topside: White with Blue Hood Cover Engine Model: Honda BF 50A 4RTE Lrte (Color Grey) Other Items on board: GPS/Fish finder + Portable VHF Radio other Safety equipment: Life Ring + 4 Life Jackets, Signal Mirror etc,

DETAILS OF BRITISH REGISTRY

Certificate of British Registry Registration No: SSR114954 | Description: Motor Sailor Overall Length: 5.80 meters Name of Ship: TRIST Hull ID Number: not recorded. Dry Dock Storage at Gruissan Port paid until 29/03/10 allows 365 days access
For Sale: 5,500 Euros

Contact Telephone No: John 0468 46 25 76 or Clive's mobile 0682 876255



Blevins Franks Seminars

The next seminars in the region of Midi-Pyrenees, Roussillon and South Aquitaine are on:-.
Monday 21 September, 2009: 2.00 pm

PAU: Hotel Parc Beaumont

Tuesday 22 September, 2009: 10.30am

CARCASSONNE: Le Domaine d’Auriac

. To book your places send an e-mail to mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com

For other regions of France visit www.blevinsfranks.com

In the garden – August

August is the driest month of the year and one in which the garden is often resting and can look a bit jaded. Thus August can also be a month is which there is not a lot of colour in the garden and it is worth noting if you have gaps that can be filled with autumn or spring planting.
There are, of course, some notable exceptions – the trumpet vines (trompettes de Jericho or bignones in French, Campsis in botanical Latin) are looking wonderful this month, as does Bougainvillea for those who can grow it. There are many hybrid bougainvilleas with yellow, pink and orange flowers but the hardiest is the species Bougainvillea spectabilis; the secret to establishing a bougainvillea is to plant it in a sunny, sheltered spot, water it well for the first two summers so that it establishes a deep rooting system and if temperatures drop below about -4°C during the first two winters protect it with winter fleece; it is sensible also to mulch the base during winter. Another shrub that is also excellent value during July and August is Vitex agnus-castus, Chaste tree or Monk’s Pepper (Poivrier des Moines in French).

Campsis x atropurpurea


Camsis grandiflora


Bougainvillea



Trachelium caeruleum



Perovskia Blue Spires



Vitex agnus-Castus



Vitex angnus-castus album




Vitex agnus-castus

Close Up



Gill’s garden

Worth a visit

The Vitex is a deciduous shrub that can reach three metres. The foliage is attractively divided and aromatic and it has spikes of blue flowers that are very attractive to bees and butterflies. Aromatic seeds that were apparently once used as a sort of mediaeval bromide follow the flowers. There is also a white form, Vitex agnus-castus alba. Perovskia Blue Spires is still in flower and so is Trachelium caeruleum. There are many more – come and visit the nursery garden, not to buy but to take notes for the future!

The season for autumn planting will start once the weather cools and we have had some rain, usually sometime during late September, so August is an ideal time to sit in the shade and plan for the coming months. It is also a good time to order spring flowering bulbs for autumn planting, I find that botanical tulips and anemones seem to do particularly well.
Watering and weeding where and when necessary are ongoing tasks, remember that watering a flower bed the evening before weeding will usually make the job easier. Containers and hanging baskets may need watering daily during the very hot period but if you are watering your garden remember that a deep soaking once a week or fortnight is much more effective than frequent sprinkling.


During August think about the following:
Towards the end of the month divide perennials such as iris and day lilies (Hemerocallis) which will not flower again this year
Continue deadheading perennials, which will repeat flower such as Coreopsis and Rudbeckia to encourage a second flowering. Cut back hardy geraniums to encourage new growth.
Collect seeds from annuals such as Cosmos and Californian poppies, you can sow these next spring
Prune early summer flowering shrubs such as Philadelphus.
Clip back lavenders once they have finished flowering
Prune wisteria – leave any long stems that you want to encourage to extend the framework of the plant, cut back completely any stems which are totally unwanted and cut back all other stems to two or three buds on each stem
Clear fallen leaves affected by blackspot from around roses
At La Petite Pépinière we shall be offering gardening courses again during the autumn months,

the exact programme will be decided soon and details will be on the website.
Opening times up to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays,

or by appointment – just phone or email to fix another time.
For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, ornamental grasses, unusual plants and plants for dry climates, garden advice and consultation), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire (route de Citou), 11160, Caunes-Minervois.

Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com www.lapetitepepiniere.com
Tuesday 4th August 2009 10 am till 12 noon

is the next Book and DVD Exchange

Thanks to everyone who visited on 7th July, a further donation of €120,00 has been sent to the British Legion.

The English Book and DVD Exchange is at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read books.

Just pop along with your book or books, you will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.

If you have no books to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.
This event is sponsored by

Jonathan Broad –

Landscaper-Creation and Design

Patios - Poolside - Drives - Pathways - Walling and Terracing –

Garden Structures - Maintenance

Siret No. 482131158 00024

For inspiration or advice contact:

jonathan.broad@wanadoo.fr

0468915839 / 0698945220

www.abroadhorizon.com

Also, G20 will be offering wine tasting in the Supermarket, at this event.
ADVANCE NOTICE FOR SEPTEMBER:

THE BOOK EXCHANGE

WILL BE HELD ON THE 8TH SEPTEMBER.

(not the 1st due to staff holidays)

The Bird Hospital Wing

The summer is passing only too quickly and there are already signs of restlessness amongst the birds. The heat during the day and the lure of the Tour de France on the television have kept me indoors more than normal, and likewise the garden birds (like my husband) seem to go to sleep during the hottest part of the day. They emerge later in the afternoon, many still busy looking for food for noisy youngsters.

Last Saturday afternoon, whilst enjoying the shade in the garden, I heard the unmistakable thud of a bird hitting glass and found a tiny bird apparently lifeless on the ground. My heart sank because from previous experience such tiny beings are lucky to survive such an impact. I gently picked up a juvenile nightingale (Rossignol philomele), which seemed to rally; at least it was not dead.

My husband found a shoe box and we put the bird inside to rest in our summer kitchen. I searched inside the house and managed to find fountain pen filler, which I used to drip water into the little bird’s beak. He/she seemed to respond to the water by a shaking of the beak. The bird was exquisite with brown mottled feathers and a brown/yellow longish narrow beak. It was displaying its left wing which I guessed was probably broken, and I was a little worried that it’s survival would be touch and go if it should require long term care. Also I was faced with the prospect of hunting for worms or looking for a local supply of maggots, and as my last little visitor – a juvenile carrion crow (Corneille noire) who looked fit enough, but appeared to have been left in a friend’s garden in an exhausted state with no sign of the errant parents, had failed to survive - I was contemplating telephoning the LPO (Ligue Pour le protection of des Oiseaux) for advice when unexpectedly the tiny bird flew right out of the box and across to a tree on the other side of the garden. I think it was shamming the broken wing in order to find the opportunity to escape. The best part was to hear it calling its parent and the parent responding. I was so relieved that the impact had not been serious. Of course it is possible to buy stickers for glass windows to prevent birds from flying into them but they will always find the one where the sticker has peeled off.

Abandoning infant animals and birds seems to be quite common at this time of year and a friend in the village recently found a sick baby hedgehog – but sadly in spite of intensive care it failed to survive. It seems that parents reject the weaker of their broods perhaps to give the others a better chance.

We also have large flock of carrion crows, which, each evening, are collecting in ever increasing numbers before settling down to roost in some nearby trees. One of them was probably responsible for abandoning the little fellow I looked after, and in spite of liberating him in the area that they frequented no others seemed to be interested in him. It wasn’t until I searched the garden the following morning that I found that he had not survived. The collective noise of these birds is amazing as they all chatter to one another. They have finished rearing their families and now have more time to socialise. However they do not have the beautiful flight patterns of the starlings and tend to collect and fly in raggedy little groups, which gradually increase in numbers. Not so good at team building! They do however have one skill and that is stripping plums from our fruit trees.
Please remember to fill the water bowls, there is plenty of food about but water can be crucial for their survival. Look out for birds getting ready to migrate. Happy birdwatching folks.

Please save your used postage stamps

For the Guide Dogs Association

Contact LFN to find out where to leave them: Thank you

Recycle your Mobile Phone and Receive MONEY!

How many mobile telephones have you got tucked away in a drawer… could they be worth money?

Fonebank France- www.fonebank.fr has just been launched.
Launched in the UK a few years ago, Fonebank is now the market leader, recycling more than 1500 mobiles a day. Using their services allows you to recycle your old mobile telephone and they pay you money for it!

An average of 8 million mobiles are sold in France each year, according to Andy Martin from AS24 Communications. Until now there has been no simple way of recycling your mobile and obtaining money for it. Fonebank recycles your old mobile to third world countries where they are used again.
Estimates state that close to 90 million phones are sitting in people’s drawers in the UK alone.

For more information visit their web site www.fonebank.fr or e-mail info@fonebank.fr





Eye Glasses 70% less than the high street
See our new prescription sunglasses range from only £27 complete
http://www.glassesonspec.co.uk


RETURNING FROM THE UK by Road
Please remember if you or any of your friends are returning, by road, to this

area from the UK we will pay you to bring back our shop products.

Please contact LFN for further details

Tel: 0468 40 97 11

or e-mail norm@lfn.org.uk


AS24TELECOM YOUR INDEPENDENT TELECOMS PROVIDER - We are the only truly independent Telecom provider in France, in partnership with a number of wholesale Telecom companies across Europe to bring you the very best services and prices, all with professional ENGLISH speaking customer service. Our major partners are Primus Telecom (France), UKTelecom, Jtech Ltd (UK) and Firefly Telecom.
There is no charge for our services. Give Andy Martin a call 0805 46 44 44 (free Call).


CAN YOU SPARE AN HOUR DURING THE POPPY APPEAL, HELD IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER, TO COLLECT AT THE LOCAL MARKETS?


If so please contact LFN



Movies in English in your area

http://languedoc.angloinfo.com/information/movies.asp

This information is provided by AngloINFO.com and updated weekly, on Wednesday
Automatic Tolls on French Motorways

Using the French autoroute télépéage system is the fast way to drive.

The télépéage in France is an automated toll payment system, which allows you to travel non-stop through the toll stations. So while others scramble to find loose change and queue to pay, you speed on your way to your holiday destination!
No longer need sleeping children in the back be disturbed by stopping and paying at the toll stations! The system in France goes under the brand label of ‘Liber-t’.

It works by means of an electronic receiver fixed in a prominent position on the windscreen or dash of the vehicle that records your passage through the toll station.

You use dedicated automatic lanes at the toll stations, shown with an Orange ‘T’ over the lane.
All you need do is slow down as you approach the barrier in the lane, which automatically rises as it picks up the signal from your transponder. No ticket is given, although you should normally see a green light appear and hear a bleep as the barrier rises.

One drawback is that the transponder does not show you the amount you have been charged. Your account is automatically debited with the toll charge, with all charges shown on a monthly statement you will receive. As no receipts are given, you need to check your account when it is received, but complaints about overcharging are rare.

The system is not expensive and it is easy to sign up to it. You can do so on the internet on various sites, with most accepting either a French or UK bank account.

You can sign up at either: Automatic Toll Payment System or Telepeage liber-t The box works on all motorways in France.

Once your transponder is received it should be immediately active. When not using motorways, it is probably best to place it in the boot or glove compartment, as it might attract the attention of thieves.

The basic charge for Class 1 vehicles (including those using a trailer) is €30 for the transponder and a fee of €2 per month. If you do not use the French motorway system in the month, then the monthly fee is not payable.
If you return the transponder then you are also refunded the €30 charge.

The transponder works with any car, so you can swop between vehicles, provided they are of the same Class. Higher charges apply for Class 2 vans and vehicles towing a caravan.

There are height restriction barriers in the Class 1 vehicle lanes, normally 2 metres high, although cars with roof luggage can normally get under the barrier.
Class 2 vehicles also need to pass through a 'T' lane where there is no height restriction.

If you only travel within a specific motorway region, then it can pay to sign up direct with the operator in that region, as they do sometimes offer special tariffs, as it the case with Autoroute de Liaison Seine-Sarthe (ALIS). If you happen to live in Brittany, you can probably do without one, as there are no motorway tolls in this region!

Copied from their newsletter, thanks once again for this type of information.





















FOR THE READERS OF SMALL PRINT.

You are receiving this message because you have shown an interest in the LFN Digestive or requested to be added to the mailing list to receive the LFN Digestive. If you do not wish to receive these e-mails from us in the future please send an e-mail to norm@lfn.org.uk with the word unsubscribe in the subject box.

To keep up to date with the LFN Small adds and latest developments

Check out the web site http://www.lfn.org.uk/
Please note www.lfn.org.uk (the website) and the LFN Digestive (the newsletter) deal with topics of interest to the readers, each individual reader will have varying interests, so any advice on the website and in the newsletter cannot be fully comprehensive. The text on the web site and in the newsletter will provide you with a starting point and allow you to ask questions of professional advisors.
The website and the newsletter is no substitute for seeking Professional Qualified Advice.

L F N ORGANISATION CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLAIMS OF THE ADVERTISERS OR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

LFN DIGESTIVE

September 2009

The Elizabeth Cross for the Fallen
DO YOU QUALIFY FOR THIS AWARD
Her Majesty the Queen has given her name to a new form of
recognition for the families of British Service personnel killed while
serving their country. The new Elizabeth Cross and miniature are to be
awarded to relatives of Her Majesty’s Forces personnel killed on active
service, together with a Memorial Scroll signed by Her Majesty. The
Elizabeth Cross will be granted to the next of kin of Armed Forces
personnel killed on operations or as a result of terrorism in a mark of
national recognition for their loss.
The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll will not just be granted to families who have lost
loved ones in the recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan: It will also be available to the
families of those who died in conflicts dating back to 1948, including the Korean War, the
Falklands conflict and operations in Northern Ireland.
This information has been provided by Kevin Hartley, Specialist Employment Consultant of
the Regular Forces Employment Association (RFEA). The RFEA is the primary job finding
charity for Ex Service personnel and has been in existence for over 125 years. The aim of the
charity is to help ex service personnel (Candidates), who have served a minimum of 1 day, to
find new employment when they leave the service. The ‘Service of Care’ continues
throughout the working life of the Candidate. We recently obtained a part time job for a 74
year old ex RAF Ground Crewman. Like all charities we rely on assistance in the form of
donations (both of money and job opportunities) and unfortunately we are suffering during
this economic downturn, as are all charities.

Wanted

Any oddments of knitting yarns for making
items for a charity sale
Contact Ann Marlow at Luc-sur-Orbieu;
Telephone 0468 270566
Or you could take them along to the Book
Exchange at G20 on Tuesday 8th September. Ann
is the lady who finds all the English DVDs for the
Exchange

TV and Computer Monitor
15” Samsung combined
Flat screen, plus handset etc
Excellent condition 80€
Contact
David Pollard
0631 251 387
Location Luc-sur-Orbieu

For Sale
2 matching single beds with mattresses in vgc:
Laden Dishwasher: Cooler towers
Calor Gas heater and Mirrors
No reasonable offer refused
Tel: 0468 275 239
Location Lezignan 11200

Wanted to Rent: Long Term
Homps- Olonzac- Azille
1 or 2 beds, Garden for dog or outdoor
space,
if possible off the road parking
Contact:
Maria Tel: 0468 906 239 or 0688128086

Tuesday 8th September 2009
10 am till 12 noon is the next Book and DVD Exchange
The English Book and DVD Exchange is at G20 Supermarket in Olonzac. Bring one
and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for
the English and or French who like to read books.
Just pop along with your book or books, you will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to
read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be
appreciated.


Ryanair's new routes to France from Leeds Bradford
RYANAIR is to open a new base at Leeds Bradford Airport with a number of new
routes set to operate to France.
The low cost airline spokesman has said that from March 2010 it will base two
aircraft at Leeds Bradford and offer flights to Carcassonne, Limoges, Montpellier
and Nantes.
This comes a few days after Jet2.com announced it would start a new service next year between
Leeds Bradford and Bergerac. But Ryanair has also announced that it will be reducing its flights from
Manchester Airport, claiming it couldn't reach an agreement with airport bosses over charges.
This will see the withdrawal of its flights to Marseille and Brussels (Charleroi) from October 1.
Craig McGinty of www.thisfrenchlife.com

Would you like to bring into your lives abundance and
prosperity? Give a loving home to these LUCKY BLACK
CATS and this will be assured!
If after one month your life has not been completely
changed for the better, I'll have them back. They are
two little brothers, born on the 20.4.09.
If you live too far away from Argeliers,
we will bring them to you. PHONE: Yolande

Effective Tax Planning In France – The Assurance Vie
By Bill Blevins, Managing Director, Blevins Franks
Blevins Franks’ next wealth management seminars are being held in Pau and Carcassonne on
st
nd
21 and 22 September. We will present solutions to the key themes of 2009, including wealth
preservation in the current climate and beyond, the changing face of offshore banking and
protecting yourself from higher taxation.
Assurance Vie is the French term for an insurance bond, such as a Personal Portfolio Bond. It is a
specialised form of life assurance arrangement that allows you to hold your own choice of assets as
the investment content of the policy and which helps reduce your French tax liability.
Holding your assets in an authorised and approved Assurance Vie can reduce your tax rate on
investment income and gains to between 0-18%, as opposed to rates of income tax which can be as
high as 40% or 52.1% including social charges. No income or capital gains tax is due on money rolled
up in the fund.
Where a withdrawal, either as a regular capital or income, is made (other than payment on death)
the French tax position is highly favourable as only the growth element of the withdrawal is liable to tax.
Advantages of Assurance Vie
► There is no French income tax or capital gains tax if the income and gains are accumulated within
the policy, and no withdrawals are made.
► Where a withdrawal is made, it is taxed very favourably. Only the 'growth' element of the amount
withdrawn is taxable. So if the whole portfolio of assets within the policy has grown by, say, 7%, only
7% of the withdrawal is taxable; 93% of the withdrawal, whatever the amount, is tax-free.
► The tax rates which then apply to the element of growth, can be at fixed rates of 47.1% for
withdrawals within the first 4 years; 27.1% for years 5 to 8, and 19.6% thereafter, inclusive of social
charges. You can opt for the usual income tax scale rates if that is more beneficial for you.
► These tax breaks are exceptionally favourable. As an example, if the investment has grown by,
say, 40% after 8 years, the effective tax rate on withdrawals would not exceed 7% on any
withdrawals, whilst no tax is due on monies that remain invested within the Assurance Vie contract.
► There are considerable succession tax savings if the Assurance Vie was established before
becoming French resident with lives assured under age 70 - there is no succession tax liability on
death. If established afterwards, there is an exemption of €152,500 per beneficiary (in addition to any
exemptions available to them by virtue of their relationship to you), after which tax is payable at a
flat rate of 20%.
► All purchases and or sales within the policy are normally transacted at no cost. For example, if you
were to purchase an offshore fund specialising in fixed interest securities or equities, the cost to
purchase such funds directly would normally be up to 6%. This benefit alone can offset the cost of
establishing the Assurance Vie. Switches do not attract any tax liability on profits made when
switching from one internal fund to another.
► If your Assurance Vie is outside of France but remains French tax-approved, you may escape
wealth tax on the fund for up to 5 years after arrival in France, and even when wealth tax is an issue,
the low level of taxable income may help minimise your wealth tax liability.
► The Assurance Vie provider will carry out all the day-to-day administration for the portfolio.
For more information contact Mary Taylor
on 05 62 30 51 40 or mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com
Death Certain-----Taxes Avoidable

Stork Stopover
Great excitement here in Canet d’Aude on Monday 24th August at about 5.30 pm I was in the kitchen
about to prepare a meal (which incidentally never materialised) when I saw some seriously big birds
wheeling around the sky outside the kitchen window. At first, noticing their
trailing legs I thought they might be Cranes but once outside I noticed that a lot of them had alighted on top of the water tower which is quite close to the house. Then the penny dropped, of course they were the White Storks
(cigogne blanche) who were on migration to Africa and for some unknown
reason had decided to drop in. They are seen in Narbonne most years when they stop over but this is the first time in 14 years that the local people had seen them, possibly because there were storms rumbling around and I must say some of them, especially the younger ones looked a little scruffy and frazzled. The adults have a red bill and legs, but there were many juvenile among them with brown or black legs and not such bright bills. The adults had kind, expressive faces which no doubt endeared
them to those who created the legends about them.
Just to give you an idea of size, a stork is between 40 and 50 inches tall (100-125cm), it has a
wingspan of 61 to 79 inches (155-200cm), weighs 5 to 10 lbs (2.3-4.5kg) and is completely white
except for black wing flight feathers. Many of the storks I saw were ringed (in various colours) and
they appeared to be in families. Their diet consists of fish, frogs and insects, small reptiles, rodents and
smaller birds. They can live up to 25 years.
I confess that I have never seen a stork apart from a plastic one which I thought was real on top of a
building near the Dahli museum in Figueres. So this was absolutely fantastic. Our neighbours thought
so too; soon there was an admiring crowd all gazing at these fantastic birds who did not seem at all
fazed by all the attention. I guess they are used to their celebrity status. After all they are renowned
for nesting on housetops in towns (often on electricity pylons).
I watched them for an hour or so spellbound and a vivid rainbow appeared as though to confirm their
arrival. About 25 were standing like sentinels all around the edge of the water tower. Occasionally one
of them would throw its head back and launch into a sort of clattering rattling sound with its beak. I
think the angle of the head produced a sort of sound chamber to amplify the noise. The rest were
simply sorting out their feathers and preparing for the stork equivalent of bed which consists of
perching in the most precarious fashion as high as possible on the tiniest of footholds often on one leg.
A walk around the village revealed that there were others, one actually perched on the church spire,
others on the very top of the school and on some particularly high trees. I had a prior engagement so
regretfully had to curtail my observations.
I was really hoping they did not depart overnight and could not sleep, listening to the heavy
rain. At 6 am the rain had stopped and I was out touring the village to spot various roosting
places and found some more in the village park and scattered around on the highest points
all close to the village centre. At 10.30 a friend phoned to say that they had assembled in a
nearby field. On arrival we found 87 wet bedraggled birds all flapping their wings preparing
for their long flight to Africa via Gibraltar. Here in the field I could see just how huge these
birds are. I just wonder how such a large number manage to communicate, no excuses – I
don’t feel like a long flight this morning, or I really cannot be bothered! Which field? Their
leader, probably the one perched on the lightning conductor at the top of the water tower
must send his envoys to tell the others. But all the same there they were, all on time, in a
large group for about half an hour before departure time. At the appointed time one took off,
followed by another and then another until they were all airborne and circling high above. I
followed them for a while as they gained height and the vision of them looping and wheeling
continued until they disappeared from view. They will certainly stay etched in my memory.

Timetable for analogue TV switch off
By Craig McGinty of www.thisfrenchlife.com
If you have an older television that is not able to receive digital channels, then from next year there is a
good chance it will no longer work. A provisional timetable has been published by Le Comité Stratégique
pour le Numérique (CSN) outlining when analogue signals will be turned off.
The first region to lose its signal will be Alsace on February 2, 2010, with a number of other regions in
the north switched off by the end of that year. People with older televisions in the south of France, and
Paris, have a little longer as the analogue signal won't be turned off until 2011.
The coverage offered by the digital service, called TNT and which is similar to the UK's Freeview, has
slowly been extended in the last couple of years and you can check online if your home is able to
receive TNT. Most modern television sets will be able to receive TNT signals directly, as well as those
receiving programmes via cable or satellite, but if your TV is quite old then you will have to buy a set-
top box that plugs into the back of your television and aerial.
Richard Westbrook of Sky In France
“for the UK TV via a satellite dish you
don’t need to worry because it’s already digital,
if you have any questions regarding UK or French TNT “
Please contact us:
Tel: 0563 73 07 65: Port: 0671 64 18 19
www.skyinfrance.co.uk

LUXURY PROPERTY WITH GREAT INVESTMENT POTENTIAL
Grezes nr Carcassonne: Le Vieux Presbytere consists of 3 habitable properties, a large 2-
storey barn, an old 2-storey stable and a garage. They are all contained within a walled
garden, with the manageable plot of land being approx. 50 metres x 60 meters.
For much more information and photos, please e-mail Louise at bobcarcassone@hotmail.com
Price 695.000€

Tourists warned as Asian hornets terrorise the French
Tourists are being warned to steer clear of Asian hornets that are
colonising France, after swarms of the aggressive predators attacked
seven people.

Wisdom from Mike Jeffers
It is hard to understand how a cemetery raises
its burial rates
and blames it on the cost of living

In the garden – September
As usual we have had a dry summer but we can normally expect to get some rain in September and
once we have some autumn rain we can think about autumn planting. For the vast majority of shrubs
and perennials the autumn is the best time to plant – there is warmth and moisture in the soil and the
plant starts to develop roots before the cold of winter and in mild winters may keep growing during the
winter thus producing a more established plant – better able to withstand dry winds and heat next
summer. In general the autumn planting season can start once we have had September rain and can
extend until early December. Remember that when planting it is a good idea to dig a hole twice as
deep and twice as wide as the pot, take this soil out and mix some of it with terreau de plantation or
compost (organic material) and clean sand or gravel, use this mixture to give your plant a better start in
life! Before planting fill the planting hole with water and allow it to drain away several times, this will
ensue that there is moisture at depth for the roots to seek out. Whenever possible plant small plants
rather than large specimens, they are less susceptible to wind and will establish faster.
We mentioned bulbs last month and September is the month in which we will start to see spring
flowering bulbs on sale in garden centres (jardineries) - September & October are good times to buy
and plant bulbs for spring colour. I have found that anemones (De Caen hybrids and Anemone blanda),
Chionodoxa, native Gladiolus communis and Scilla peruviana (which is a Med native despite the name)
do well. Botanical or species tulips such as Tulipa greigii, kaufmaniana, saxatilis & fosteriana are
particularly successful here as well. These should be found easily in garden centres. If you are looking
for something a little more unusual have a look at www.bulbargence.com When buying bulbs make
sure that what’s in the packet are firm, healthy looking bulbs with no signs of premature sprouting.
Now is also a good time to collect and save seeds from plants in your garden; colourful annuals such as
Cosmos, Eschscholzia (Californian poppies), and Morning Glories (Ipomea) are easily grown from seed
next spring.
During September think also about the following tasks:
*continue to deadhead perennials to prolong the autumn show of flower
*take cuttings of tender perennials such as geraniums (Pelargoniums strictly speaking)
*prune late summer flowering shrubs:
*trim evergreen hedges
*clip back lavenders after flowering – use hand shears and clip back to just above the old flowering stem, don’t cut
back into old wood as the plant may not reshoot.
A group of plants, which despite mostly having their homeland in the Himalayas and eastern Asia, do well in our
gardens are the Abelias. They are shrubs, which generally grow to a height of around 1,50 to 2m, with a similar
spread. They tolerate limy soils well and are winter hardy to -12°C or more. They need some supplementary
watering in the summer but flower from August until October, fragrant flowers which bees adore. Abelia x
grandiflora and A biflora are white and A engleriana and A Edward Goucher are pink. Other plants, which flower
during September, include the scarlet Epilobiums – native to dry areas of California they do wonderfully here.
Abelia Engleriana
Abelie Edward Goucher
Abelia biflora
At La Petite Pépinière we now have the autumn programme of gardening courses
available. We shall be offering a one day course with a practical workshop on Propagation on
the 1st October together with our popular two day Introduction to Gardening in the
Languedoc on the 8th and 15th October. More details are available on the website (See The
Plant Nursery, then Gardening Course).
For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, ornamental
grasses, unusual plants and plants for dry climates, garden advice and consultation), 21, Avenue de la Montagne
Noire, 11160,
Caunes-Minervois.
Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com
Website www.lapetitepepiniere.com
Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment –
just phone or email to fix another time.
Wanted!
We both need a
home please.

We are Lilly and Kit-Kat, a very young mum and daughter who
have been abandoned, but currently very much at home with
Debbie and Steve Grady.
I’m nick-named Limpet Lil’ because I’m so affectionate!
Kit-Kat was born at the end of July (c.24th)
We’d love to stay here, but unfortunately, there’s considerable
opposition from the existing feline management!
So can you help? If you can’t, do you know someone who
might? For more information, please contact Debbie or Steve
on Tel: 04 68 69 60 39 or email: chezgrady@gmail.com Thank you.

IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Don’t miss out, book your place soon, it fills up very quickly.
A Marriage made in Aude
Earlier this year I was given the job of liaising with
All that done, it was simply a question of getting a
the French Authorities on behalf of an English couple,
copy of the Order of Service in advance to translate
resident in Dubai, wishing to marry in France. Sounds
into English. Of course they do not normally do this,
complicated
as clients are usually French. However, it was a wise
?
precaution as it contained various extracts from the
Well, a little
French Civil Code, which would have been difficult to
bit, but not
translate “off the cuff”.
impossible.
I was struck by the focus of the vows that the bride
As one
and groom have to make to each other, naturally.
partner
But there was also a strong emphasis on their duties
owns a
and responsibilities as future parents, and the rights
property in
of the child, particularly in terms of its education and
the Aude, they did not have to fulfil the requirement
personal development. It underlines the emphasis,
of living in the area for one month prior to the
which the French place on family values, and I think
wedding. Weddings must take place in the Mairie in
this is reflected in the behaviour of the young people
the place of residence and only the Civil Ceremony is
here.
the legal one. Anyone wishing to have a religious or
other secular wedding must have two ceremonies. So
The ceremony was very relaxed and informal. The
when a bride goes in to church for her wedding, she
Mayor was pleased to have performed his first
is already married!
marriage ceremony for an English couple and
welcomed them to the village. The bride and groom
Documents play a big part (as always in France). In
were presented with a “Livret de Famille” which
addition to the standard forms, British Citizens have
contained details of the marriage and, as the Mayor
to complete forms to be endorsed by the British
told them proudly, had enough space in it to record
Consulate in Paris, plus supply originals and French
the birth of up to 8 children!
translations of Birth Certificates. This resulted in a
regular flow of telephone traffic and correspondence
Following the ceremony, and a glass of champagne,
with the Mairie – a challenge in itself as it is a part-
the radiant couple left to look forward to their second
time office, open only 4 hours per week, where they
ceremony a couple of days later at a Château in the
don’t answer the phone if they are busy! Marriages
Ariège. The part-time Mayor went back to his “day
job” - to continue the harvest of his abundant melon
crop!
janet@translation-in-carcassonne.com
www.translation-in-carcassonne.com tel 0468 257941 0669347841

NEWS FROM GEOFF THE HANDYMAN
One of the properties we look after appeared to have an infestation of
wasps in the chimney, but because it’s so high I couldn’t be certain
whether it was wasps, bees, hornets or some prehistoric thing from the
TV series Primeval. (Be fair, it’s a reasonable thought given the time
warp that exists down here.) Janet, our translator, phoned the fire
brigade for us as they deal with this kind of thing. They kept the appointment, and that’s
when the fun started.
Their ladder was too short to reach the chimney from the
outside. It was too long to use inside, so three firemen went
walkabout in the village to scrounge a shorter ladder from a
neighbour. After a few minutes on the roof, the fireman
asked for chemicals – and a hammer.
What on earth had he found…? A little while later, I distinctly heard him say that one chimney
was blocked with ‘chiffon’. Thinking there must be another meaning for that, I
tugged on my shirt and queried what I’d heard. I was right. A chimney had
been blocked with rags. Then I heard hammering. He was simply removing
some masonry that was hampering access, but it conjured up a colourful mental
image of him hammering something to death.
When they’d finished, the firemen stayed for a beer and a chat. One of them has a small
business on the side (quite legal) repairing chimneys, the same fireman that asked for and
used the hammer. No, this wasn’t a work creation scheme, the chimney is fine, he said. In
this case, the infestation was only bees by the way, but three disappointed firemen were
unable to salvage the honey.
The moral of the story, I suppose, is to have the chimney checked, especially in an old house.
Why is it, that having had no problems whatsoever with showers last year, we
had three ‘emergency’ call-outs because showers weren’t working? In all cases
there was nothing wrong, with the showers, that is. It was the guests who
didn’t know how to turn on the water. In one house, no less than twelve
adults failed to figure out how to use a tap. Amazing…
Tel: 0468 49 32 69


Peter the man with a Van
Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for
LFN DIGESTIVE READERS
Peter will deliver to all parts of France and the UK.
Peter will be in France every two weeks, or more if required.
If you have anything that requires a man with a van coming down or returning to the UK
Please contact Peter Direct Details Land Line 0044 1422 844124
Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438 or visit the web site http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk
You may wish to keep a note of his numbers for the future.
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

Sunday 6th September 2009

Book and DVD exchange next Tuesday 8th September 10am till 12 noon, is at G20 Supermarket Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read books. Just pop along with your book or books, you will get a cup of coffee and biscuits. If you have no books or DVDs to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated. This event is sponsored by ALERT INFORMATIK Computer Services of Olonzac. Their new shop is across the street from the CA bank in Olonzac.

Blevins Franks Seminars



There are a few places left so don’t miss out

Click here for booking details

or contact

Mary Taylor Partner on Tel: 05 62 30 51 40

e-mail: mailto:mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com



ITEMS WANTED

For Charities

Oddments of kitting yarns
Old Spectacles
Used Stamps
Copper Coins


If you have any of the above and you are coming to the Book Exchange please bring them along. They will all go to good causes.



In The Garden

with Gill Pound

At La Petite Pépinière we now have the autumn programme of gardening courses available. We shall be offering a one day course with a practical workshop on Propagation on the 1st October together with our popular two day Introduction to Gardening in the Languedoc on the 8th and 15th October. More details (click here).





FOR THE READERS OF SMALL PRINT

You are receiving this message because you have shown an interest in the LFN Digestive or requested to be added to the mailing list to receive the LFN Digestive. If you do not wish to receive these e-mails from us in the future please send an e-mail to norm@lfn.org.uk with the word unsubscribe in the subject box.



To keep up to date with the LFN Small adds and latest developments

Check out the web site http://www.lfn.org.uk/



Please note www.lfn.org.uk (the website) and the LFN Digestive (the newsletter) deal with topics of interest to the readers, each individual reader will have varying interests, so any advice on the website and in the newsletter cannot be fully comprehensive. The text on the web site and in the newsletter will provide you with a starting point and allow you to ask questions of professional advisors.



The website and the newsletter is no substitute for seeking Professional Qualified Advice.



L F N ORGANISATION CANNOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLAIMS OF THE

ADVERTISERS OR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM

The editor cannot accept any liability for any action taken or not taken as a result of the website
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

The Next Book and DVD exchange Tuesday 6th October 10am till 12 noon, is at G20 Supermarket Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read books.

Just pop along with your book or books, you will get a cup of coffee and biscuits.

If you have no books or DVDs to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

This event is sponsored by Mary Taylor partner with Blevins Franks International.

“Making sure your money is in the right Place”

Blevins Franks Seminars



There are a few places left so don’t miss out

Click here for booking details

or contact

Mary Taylor Partner on Tel: 05 62 30 51 40

e-mail: mailto:mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com









Day Trip to Avignon





Monday November 2nd

day trip to Avignon

Picking up Ornasions: Lezignan: Narbonne Cost €19 per person

Please contact LFN if

you would like to join in



The www.lfn.org.uk small adds service is available for the readers of the LFN Digestive

for further details of the items and services below please click here and visit the small ads.

ITEMS REQUIRED

For Charities

Copper Coins in any currency

Knitting Wool: Old Spectacles

Used Postage Stamps

You could hand them in at the next book exchange

or contact LFN

ITEMS FOR SALE

Concert Ticket: Cooler Towers: Egg Incubators: Jogging Machine: Largest Bean Bag In France: Log Burning Unit Deville: MP 4 Player: Mazda MX5 Merlot: Monnerst Soccer Table: Ping Golf Clubs; Porcelain Floor Tiles: Single beds and mattresses: Three piece Lounge suite:

Zimmer frame (FOC)

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Assignan(€125k): Azille (€110): Fitou Bed & Breakfast Business: Fraisse Des Corbier e s (€105)

Grezes (€695k): Minervois (€110): Saint Frichoux (€280): Ventenac (€73k):Ventenac (€36k)



SERVICES AVAILABLE

Art Classes: Builders: Cabinet Maker-Joiner: Cancer Support France: Catering:

Computer Support and Repair: French Lessons: Gite and Holiday letting Agency: Gardening Services: Home Improvements: House & Car Insurance: House Sitters: Insurance (Top Up Medical): Landscaper & Designer: Man with Van (UK-France): Painter & Decorator: Personal Counsellor: Plumbing –Heating Engineer: Pool Maintenance: Prescription Spectacles and Sunglasses: Property Management:

Satellite TV: Sign Writer: Slimming Guidance: Storage Facilities: Translation Services: Welder:

Well Being Reike – Cranio Sacral.







LFN Organistion

29 Ave du Stade

11200

France



e-mail:norm@lfn.org.uk

Web Site: www.lfn.org.uk
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

The Next Book and DVD Exchange, hope to see you there

More details on the LFN Digestive for October which is attached

Tuesday 6th October 10am till 12 noon is at G20 Supermarket Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one;

no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read books.

Just pop along with your book or books, you will receive a cup of coffee and biscuits.

If you have no books or DVDs to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read,

for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

Mary Taylor partner with Blevins Franks International is sponsoring this event.

“Making sure your money is in the right Place”




HAS THE CORNER BEEN TURNED?

Hope you’re all enjoying the cooler weather; it’s so refreshingly hot after the scorching heat of the summer. But September doesn’t just bring cooler, easier to live with heat, it also brings the buyers! Yes I have seen a turn round for requests for visits and the removal vans are back on the road. Two houses next door to LFN have changed hands (I wonder if it’s the folk next door driving them away!) Also LFN informs me that property on his web site has been sold.

There is an upward surge in people looking around already, and this is likely to continue until the end of November when people will be turning their thoughts to Xmas. I’ve noticed that more and more interest is coming from other Euro countries which don’t have the problems our UK neighbours have!


We’ve all probably seen the growing number of Gites and Chambres d’Hotes in the area, but you may not have realised that they all seem to be thriving, and some are charging a hundred Euros or more a night for a double room. Maybe worth getting into that type of business if you’re that way inclined. One of the properties on my site,
http://www.french-property-sale.com/listing--103.html
could be ideal for the entry into this growing market.

To confirm my findings:-
Joie de Vivre holidays told me, “We are always looking for good quality holiday rental properties, with the emphasis on good quality. We find it really difficult sometimes to match the needs of our clients with what's available for holiday rental in the Languedoc today. There are both small and large properties which are really lovely and you can see some of them on our website at www.jdvholidays.com - However, we find there does seem to be a shortage of this type of 'quality' accommodation “

Holiday Homes France (www.hhfrance.com) said “At the moment, the Languedoc-Roussillon is one our most popular areas. Despite the recession, our website has been receiving more enquiries than weeks available and our owners are already taking bookings for 2010”

So, if you’re thinking of selling you should act now and get a free valuation. Good Luck to you all and keep enjoying the sunshine here in the Languedoc-Roussillon area Jo Slater http;//www.french-property-sale.com

My mother taught me LOGIC “Because I said so, that’s why”

The Next Book and DVD Exchange
Tuesday 6th October 10am till 12 noon is at G20 Supermarket Olonzac. Bring one and go away with one; no cost and no profit, just a facility in the supermarket for the English and or French who like to read books.
Just pop along with your book or books, you will receive a cup of coffee and biscuits.
If you have no books or DVDs to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

Mary Taylor partner with Blevins Franks International is sponsoring this event. “Making sure your money is in the right Place”


Getting Your Tax Residency Right
By Bill Blevins, Managing Director, Blevins Franks

Britons moving to France can now benefit from a new Department in France set up to help people who want to make France their home. French residency and tax issues are not always as straightforward as some may think and knowing that you are paying the right tax in France is important and will help you to avoid paying tax unnecessarily.

The new help centre for non-residents and expatriates set up by the French Department of Public Finance is called SANR (Service d'accueil des non-résidents et expatriés) and aims to address complex tax issues primarily posed by wealthier individuals living in France. A specialist team will provide support to anyone moving to France in respect of all tax matters, with particular reference to income tax, wealth tax and succession tax.

It offers reassurance to a potential taxpayer by establishing which tax system will apply to each individual and is able to give a French tax residence Ruling which cannot be contested by the tax authorities.

So, prior to moving to France and becoming tax resident you can find out which tax regime will apply to you without the risk of the local tax office querying your situation or tax regime later.

You become a tax resident in France from the day after you ‘arrive’ in France, which is the date of your first arrival if you intend your stay to be permanent or indefinite, or if you meet any of the other criteria for French residency.

The rules to establish tax residency in both France and the UK, and each country’s domestic rules differ. If you meet both countries criteria at the same time, then there are tie-breaker rules set out in the UK/France Tax Treaty to determine in which country you will be resident for tax purposes. It cannot be both.

Some Britons who move to France mistakenly continue to pay their tax in the UK believing that as long as they are paying tax somewhere it is acceptable. But paying tax to the wrong tax authority can lead to an in-depth investigation, possibly in French, and a list of unpaid taxes, interest and penalties.

Basically, you are tax resident in either France or the UK if you spend 183 days or more in either country in that country’s tax year. The UK also has a 91 day residency rule for people who spend less than 183 days in the UK in a tax year but more than 91 days on average over four UK tax years. The UK tax authority may also look at what links you maintain with the country, such as a family home or a UK business and decide that you should be paying tax in the UK.

Obtaining official information from France concerning your appropriate tax status before you move, as well as consulting with a tax adviser like Blevins Franks who can give effective tax planning advice and help you to clarify your tax residency position, will prevent you from paying tax where it is not required and give you peace of mind that you’ve got everything right from the outset.

While the SANR will clarify what your tax liabilities are, it is unlikely to advise you on how you can lower your tax bill – something which it is usually possible to do using legitimate arrangements available in France. It’s therefore important to also speak to an experienced tax and wealth manager adviser who would advise you on tax mitigation and arrange your wealth to suit your specific circumstances so that you are paying the least tax as possible.


For more information or advice on your situation contact your local
Blevins Franks Partner, Mary Taylor, on 05 62 30 51 40 or mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com


British citizens living in France.
Register to Vote
Register to vote as an 'Overseas voter' to be eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary (general) elections and European Parliamentary elections in the UK.
Click here Registration form
Yorkshire puddings, pubs, and having a good debate over a decent cup of tea with an old friend are just a few things you may miss while you’re living here in France. But living abroad doesn’t stop you having your say back home… You never know you may return one day.
Every British citizen who has been registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years is eligible to vote in UK Parliamentary (general) elections and European Parliamentary elections in the UK.
If you were too young to register when you left the UK, you can still register as an overseas voter so long as your parent or guardian was registered to vote in the UK.
"At least this way you will still be able to keep in touch with Westminster MPs like a lot of the LFN Readers who were helped by Lib Dem pension spokesman Steve Webb. By following Steve's advice on state pensions for married women, quite a number have either managed to get a boost to their pension or in some cases a large cheque from HMG".
IF YOU WANT A RAINBOW YOU HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE RAIN

Day Trip to Avignon


Monday November 2nd
Picking up Ornaisons: Lezignan: Narbonne: Cost €19 per person.
Please contact LFN if you would like to join this excursion.

BORROW MONEY FROM A PESSIMIST-THEY DON’T EXPECT IT BACK

END OF SUMMER CLEAR-OUT, at Saint-André-de-Roquelongue
October 3rd and 4th, 09.00 - 16.00
Proceeds to 2 French charities: U.N.A.D.E.V. and A.P.F.
Find something nice for your home, your gîte or as a gift. Some items never used.
Plus women’s' clothing Fr. size 50/52.
Kitchenware, china, household linen, cookery books, plant-holders, vinyl’s and CD's,
Genuine Chinese-ink set, "Brita" Water Filter + 1 refill, "Black & Decker branch-shredder, lge. lightweight suitcase, good-quality radio. UNUSED ITEMS: glassware, sundry bags,
Radio alarm clock, etc. NO FURNITURE.
Please contact Janet Forster for details and directions.
Tel: 04.68.45.18.50 Email: allan-walter.forster@orange.fr

CHARITIES ARE
U.N.A.D.E.V. A.P.F.
BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED CATHOLIC MISSION SOCIETY




IN THE GARDEN – OCTOBER


Gaillardias

Helianthus maximiliani


Heteromeles arbutifolia


Heteromeles arbutifolia

Miscanthus Cosmoptitan


Zanthoxylum simulans At the time of writing we are still enjoying beautiful sunny weather; great for holidaymakers but not so good for gardeners – most of us are hoping for some decent rain! However, the weather will surely turn cooler soon and in most years we do have some rain sometime during October.

TASKS FOR OCTOBER INCLUDE:

* if you have not already done so; planting bulbs - planting instructions will be on the packets but in general plant the bulb at it’s own depth and allowing at least 5cm between bulbs – more, of course, for larger bulbs. Remember to look at the flowering times on the packet when buying so that you maximise the season of interest.

* dividing herbaceous perennials and ornamental grasses.

* planting trees, shrubs, perennials and hedging plants. Do incorporate some organic material (terreau or compost etc) and some river sand or gravel to improve the clayey soils that most people in this area have and water the plants well after planting. Most plants, even if they are ultimately drought resistant will need supplementary watering during their first summer or two. When you are choosing new plants for the garden remember that this is a difficult climate; we have hot, dry summers, quite cold winters in much of the region and strong winds. Choose plants, which come from Mediterranean climate zones of the world, or from other areas with similar climates rather than tropical, or temperate zone plants; they will perform better and require less watering.

* sowing seeds of plants that will flower early next year such as larkspur (pied d’alouette), wallflowers (giroflé), sweet peas (pois de senteur) and hollyhocks (rose tremière)

* around the house this is a good time to tidy up pots and containers. If necessary plan for how you are going to protect any slightly tender plants during the winter.

* pruning summer flowering shrubs such as Cestrum and oleanders.

* if you have any stumps of felled trees and shrubs that are still sending up unwanted suckers this is a good time to treat the stumps with dévitalisant or destructeur de souches; the active chemical is ammonium sulphamamate.

There is still plenty of colour in the garden. Prairie type flowers such as Gaillardias, Helianthus maximiliani are all giving a good show at the moment; they associate well with ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus Cosmopolitan. It is also the time when we are interested in autumn foliage and berries as well as flowers. The leaves of Zanthoxylum simulans (Szechuan pepper) turn a golden yellow in autumn and the fruits are also attractive. The evergreen Heteromeles arbutifolia from California has white flowers in May/June and red berries in autumn, this is a very drought resistant shrub, which deserves to be better known.

At La Petite Pépinière we still have two places still available on our two day Introduction to Gardening in the Languedoc course on the 8th and 15th October. More details on the website www.lapetitepepiniere.com (See The Plant Nursery, then Gardening Courses) or contact me for more info.
Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment – just phone or email to fix another time.

For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, ornamental grasses, unusual plants and plants for dry climates, garden advice and consultation), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois.
Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com Website www.lapetitepepiniere.com


I intend to live forever….so far, so good.
Bruce’s Computer Tip of the month
Open Old Files in Other Programs
Lost an old program, and your new computer does not have the correct software or you don’t own a copy of a program? Do you have files that you need to access? Have been sent a document via email that you cannot open? Try Zamzar, the Web-based file-conversion service. I've used it in the past when I needed to bring old documents into newer programs.

But what does it support Publisher, Word, Works, and lots more.
In fact, Zamzar can convert a wide range of formats, including Word (DOC & DOCX), OpenDocument (ODT), PDF, HTML, Rich Text Format (RTF), and more. (See Zamzar's Conversion Types page for a complete list.)



The service is ridiculously easy to use: Choose the file you want to convert, choose the desired format for the conversion, and then supply an e-mail address.


After the file is done uploading and Zamzar has completed the conversion, you'll receive an e-mail with a link for downloading the new file. That's all there is to it! Best of all, Zamzar is free. Give it a try the next time you have an old file you're having trouble opening.
LINK: http://www.zamzar.com



Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it

Many congratulations to Steve Henderson at Perfectspeed Photography who has been appointed official photographer to the pompiers. In his official capacity he has taken some stunning photos of the Bombardier 415 Superscooper, Lac de Montbel as they scoop water to fight fires within range of the reservoir. http://www.perfectspeedphotography.com/

Premium Bonds: record £35m in prizes goes unclaimed
A record amount of Premium Bond winnings is going unclaimed, it has emerged.
By Richard Evans of the Telegraph.co.uk

Premium Bonds: record £35m in prizes goes unclaimed. Prizewinners have failed to claim a total of £35m, according to National Savings & Investments. This is an increase from £33m in February and the highest ever level. The number of unclaimed prizes, 599,000, is also a record. There is no time limit for claiming Premium Bond prizes. The oldest unclaimed prize – of £25 – dates back to November 1957.

The biggest unclaimed prize is £100,000. The owner of the winning bond is a woman whose last known address was in "outer London", NS&I said. She now owns just £25 worth of the bonds. Two other investors, a man from Essex and another from inner London, have failed to claim £25,000 prizes, while 10 holders are unaware that they have won £10,000 each.
If you want to check whether you have won any of the unclaimed prizes, you can check by visiting NS&I's website (nsandi.com) and entering your Premium Bond holder's number into the prize-checker search facility on the home page. If you don't know your holder's number, it is still possible to find out if you are due any unclaimed winnings, although the process is more complicated. The website mylostaccount.org.uk helps you trace forgotten money that may be lying dormant in accounts at banks, building societies and at NS&I.
Holders can also check for unclaimed prizes by writing to
Premium Bonds, National Savings & Investments, Blackpool FY3 9YP.
If you are one of the winners, remember you read the information in the LFN Digestive. Good Luck


ATTENTION ALL OWNERS OF HOLIDAY RENTAL PROPERTIES









www.jdvholidays.com

Following a really successful booking season in 2009 with reservations in the Languedoc more than 20% UP on 2008, Joie de Vivre Holidays are expanding and from 1st October are we are actively seeking more quality holiday rental properties to add to our portfolio in Aude and Herault.

We are particularly looking for:

Good quality individual properties with swimming pools
Gite complexes with swimming pools
Stylish village properties with some outside space
Apartments/houses in or near Carcassonne
Properties on or near the coast

So if you are looking for more bookings to increase the revenue from your property, without any cost to you whatsoever, please contact our new Property Manager, Sharon Slaughter, who is based in Paraza on: Tel: 04 68 49 11 69
or e-mail her at: sslaughter@jdvholidays.com

Joie de Vivre is a UK based company, with clients from across the world, who are specialists in quality holiday rentals across the South of France.
We promote your property via our website: www.jdvholidays.com.
UK contact details: Sue Caddick – e-mail scaddick@jdvholidays.com
Tel: +44 (0)1509 600228 or Mob: +44 (0)781 46 56 402
"I'm not telling you it is






Turkey in Mushroom Sauce from Sheila Jeffers

350grams turkey breasts: 100 grams bacon, streaky will do: 2 shallots: 1 clove garlic: 1 tin condensed mushroom soup: add 1small tin mushrooms: add 1 small tin sweet corn any other veg. to your liking.

METHOD
Fry bacon followed by turkey, when cooked take out of the pan and fry shallots and garlic
(at this stage you could add curry powder or paste). Fry for 5 mins return bacon and meat; add soup and a little milk or cream keeping a sauce consistently. Lastly add the veg. of your liking and chopped coriander. Serves two good portions, increase turkey for more persons. Serve with rice.

Recycle your Mobile Phone and Receive MONEY!

How many mobile telephones have you got tucked away in a drawer… could they be worth money?

For more information visit their web site www.fonebank.fr
or e-mail info@fonebank.fr


PROPERTY OF THE MONTH


YOU CAN ADVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY FOR SALE HERE, CONTACT LFN FOR DETAILS

Birds in Your Garden

House Sparrow
No single factor is likely to be responsible for the dramatic decline in the house sparrow numbers but the spark facts are undeniable. In 30 years, the breeding population has plummeted from 12 million to around half of that number, and the bird is now altogether absent from some of its former urban strongholds, even including parts of London. Happily, house sparrows are still familiar garden birds in many parts of the Aude but we can’t assume they will be so for ever. Although they are natural seed-eaters, house sparrows will take all sort of food including kitchen scraps. Insects are vital food for young sparrows.
Unlike many small birds, which are quite promiscuous, established sparrow pairs may remain together for life-although it has to be said that the life of any bird this size tends to be rather short! All sorts of dense vegetation including hedges and climbers may be used as communal roosting sites.
Robin
The robin is consistently voted Britain’s most popular bird, perhaps because we enjoy its oddly endearing habit of nesting in strange places like discarded cans or abandoned cars. There is even a record of a robin starting a nest in an unmade bed, while its recent occupant was having breakfast! More conventionally nests are made in banks or depressions, from ground level up to three metres high.

Robins lay clutches of around five eggs but may rear three broods during the course of long breeding season that can stretch from March to July or later still. They are fiercely territorial birds and will even attack other species they see as competitors. Robins love mealworms and will eat them from your hand if you are sufficiently patient.

If you want free entertainment what better way to provide it than to install a bird bath in your garden within sight of your window. Birds really need a good supply of shallow water throughout the year and as the days get shorter they will make good use of any ‘facilities’ you provide them with. I have just observed a family of blackcaps (warbler family) Fauvette a tete noire Francaise, carrying out their ablutions under the watchful eye of the female who unlike her male counterpart sports a brown cap, obviously the species were named by a male!

The water droplets fly in all directions as they shake their feathers. The only maintenance required is to replenish the water, but you will be rewarded tenfold by a variety of birds visiting.

Happy bird watching folks. Kate the Bird lady of Canet



GEOFF THE HANDYMAN
Winter drawers on as winter draws on, as they say. So are you ready for winter? Your house (and swimming pool if you have one) should be prepared for the colder weather.
FIRST THE HOUSE.
Have you checked your central heating to make sure it still works? Waiting for a plumber when you’re freezing cold is avoidable by taking five minutes to switch the system on now. If you have a gas/oil boiler, has it been serviced? Do you have a CO alarm in case it develops a fault?

If your house is for summer residence only, make sure it’s meticulously clean. Either way, rodents will soon be looking for somewhere warm to spend the winter. Traps and poison are OK if you don’t have a pet, but an electronic device to scare them away may be better. I don’t much like using poison. The dead animal could be anywhere out of sight. I prefer to deter. The disadvantage of electronic
devices is that if the house is unoccupied, the electricity must be left on.

Have you had your chimney swept?

I sought clarification of the law on this recently, as I couldn’t find any mention of the penalty for not having a certificat de ramonage. I asked Janet, our translator, to ring Gayraud Ramonage in Carcassonne to ask a few questions (Janet, if you read this, even I know it isn’t pronounced Gay Rod!). It seems that whilst you are legally obliged under Article 31 of Règlement Sanitaire Départemental (RSD) to have the annual certificate, there is no penalty in law for failing to do so. At first glance this seems absurd. But think about it. The most that the courts could do is impose a fine of, say, one or two hundred Euros. But when the insurance company refuses to pay out, you lose hundreds of thousands of Euros, and quite possibly everything you own. The cost of the certificate, even if the chimney needs sweeping, is usually under 75€. It doesn’t take much to figure out what you should do, does it?

Quote from the English Speaking Insurance lady
Emmanuelle Gosson of Jacques PetitJean, Lezignan

With reference to the chimney "ramonage", yes it's true you must have your chimney cleaned by a professional every year but most importantly you must receive a certificate saying that it has been done. However some people do it themselves or buy a "cleaning buche" which also gives a cleaning certificate.

Now the Swimming Pool
Unless you’re a first generation Eskimo, you’ve probably finished with the pool by now. Winterising the pool is done in fairly easy steps, but can’t be hurried. First clean the floor and sides, as well as the skimmers. I mean, clean. Make sure there’s no alga anywhere (the inlet nozzles, around the light etc). Backwash and rinse.

Then shock the pool. Leave the pump running at least twelve hours. Backwash and rinse again. Balance the chemicals, especially the pH. Now add the hivernage. Run the pump long enough to make sure the chemicals you’ve just added are thoroughly mixed. There are two trains of thought as to whether or not you should drain down the pump and filter. I prefer to run the pump for about an hour per day (usually at night or whenever the cheap rate is on) as I think it’s wise to circulate the water a little bit. It also means that if the weather is exceptionally wet, water can be pumped out of the pool to prevent it flooding. (Yes, I know, a flooded swimming pool is almost a contradiction in terms…)

This also provides the opportunity to backwash and rinse during the winter months. Others prefer to remove the drain stops in the pump and filter for frost protection.

Unless the pipework/pump/filter is particularly exposed, I think it unlikely that it would freeze anyway, and circulating the water helps to prevent a freeze up.

Whichever setup you choose lower the level of the water to below the skimmers and be sure to close the skimmer valve (be careful, though, if you rely on an alarm for pool safety). Block the skimmer pipe(s) with a proper bung. If you shut down the pump, put bungs in the pool inlet nozzles as well.

And don’t forget to maintain your pool security.
Just because it’s cold, it doesn’t mean that a child won’t fall in to your pool and drown. The rules apply all year round.



The Poppy Appeal

Each year the nation expresses its unequivocal support for The Royal British Legion's charity work through the Poppy Appeal. The current theme of "Serving those who Serve", emphasises the increasing need to help the men and women who are serving today, as well as ex-Services and dependants.

Poppy People required, to join our team of volunteers. Could you spare an hour on one of the market days - Tuesday (Olonzac) Wednesday (Lezignan) Thursday (Narbonne) and Sunday (Narbonne)? Collection dates this year are from 21st October till 11th November 2009.

If standing holding a poppy tray and collection box is not your scene we understand. Would you please consider having a coffee morning or afternoon tea and invite a few friends round?

(We will provide the tea and coffee).

ALSO IF YOU REQUIRE A POPPY WREATH FOR YOUR TOWN CENOTAPH:
PLEASE CONTACT LFN
Where can you get your poppies this year?

LFN Book Exchange Saturday 7th November Ornasions 10-16H
Pat and LFN are holding an open house more details to follow
G20 Supermarket Book Exchange Tuesday 10th November 10-12 noon

There are other outlets to obtain your poppies –
details in the November LFN Digestive

At each of the above Book Exchange events you will be able to obtain your raffle ticket for some wonderful prizes, which have been donated to assist the Poppy Appeal. The draw of this raffle will take place on Tuesday 10th November at 11.45 in the G20supermarket, Olonzac.

THERE IS A NEW FORUM ON THE WEB FOR ENGLISH SPEAKING PEOPLE IN THE AUDE

Mary J Wood has produced this forum for her friends and opened up the site to the readers of the LFN Digestive, The site is well worth a visit just click on the link

Visit this site for free advertising, classifieds, interesting articles,
help, and information about the Ariege & Aude area
http://www.ariegeaudeforum.com


Good Home required for a 2 male Kittens found when out walking
Please give Nick Westcott a call in Boutenac 11200 Tel: 0468 27 03 23




Peter the man with a Van

Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for

LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.
Please contact Peter
Tel: 0044 1422 844124
Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438
http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.u
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.

RETURNING FROM THE UK by Road
Please remember if you or any
of your friends are returning,
by road, to this
area from the UK
we will pay you
to bring back our shop products.

Please contact LFN for further details
Tel: 0468 40 97 11
or e-mail norm@lfn.org.uk


Movies in English in your area
http://languedoc.angloinfo.com/information/movies.asp

This information is provided by AngloINFO.com
and updated weekly, on Wednesday
Eye Glasses 70% less than the high street
See our new prescription sunglasses range from only £27 complete

http://www.glassesonspec.co.uk

The www.lfn.org.uk small adds service is available for the readers of the LFN Digestive
for further details of the items and services below please click here and visit the small ads.
ITEMS REQUIRED
For Charities
Copper Coins in any currency
Knitting Wool:
Old Spectacles
Used Postage Stamps
You could hand them in at the next book exchange
or contact LFN ITEMS FOR SALE
Boat: Concert Ticket: Cooler Towers:
Jogging Machine: Largest Bean Bag In France: Log Burning Unit Insert: Mazda MX5 Merlot: Monnerst Soccer Table: Ping Golf Clubs; Single beds and mattresses:
Three piece Lounge suite:
Zimmer frame (FOC)
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
Assignan(€125k): Azille (€110): Brittany 190K: Fitou Bed & Breakfast Business:
Fraisse Des Corbieres (€105) Grezes (€695k): Minervois (€110): Saint Frichoux (€280):
Ventenac (€73k):Ventenac (€36k)
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Art Classes: Builders: Cabinet Maker-Joiner: Cancer Support France: Catering:
Computer Support and Repair: French Lessons: Gite and Holiday letting Agency: Gardening Services: Home Improvements: House & Car Insurance: House Sitters: Insurance (Top Up Medical): Landscaper & Designer: Man with Van (UK-France): Painter & Decorator: Personal Counsellor: Plumbing –Heating Engineer: Pool Maintenance: Prescription Spectacles and Sunglasses: Property Management:
Satellite TV: Sign Writer: Slimming Guidance: Storage Facilities: Translation Services: Welder:
Well Being Reike – Cranio Sacral.
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

LFN DIGESTIVE DECEMBER 2009

LFN Digestive Readers have raised

€2318.29 this year for the Poppy Appeal

December 2009

The Next Book and DVD Exchange

Next Book and DVD Exchange at G20 Supermarket, Olonzac will be on Tuesday 8th December 2009 10am till 12 noon. Coffee and MINCE PIES or Cadburys Roses chocolates will be offered. This event is sponsored by Stuart Stojkovic of Blevins Franks, who has been appointed to service existing and new clients in Department 34.

Please note we do not take videos

Just pop along with your book or books. If you have no books or DVDs to swop, still come along, you may find a book you want to read, or a movie you want to watch, for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.



A Note to ‘The Book Exchange Team’

I know that I speak for all of your readers and supporters of the British Legion Poppy Appeal in offering our praises to you Norman and your team of helpers regarding those very much appreciated Book Exchanges, coffee mornings and the like.

To have raised the great amount of €2318.29 for the ex servicemen and women of the U.K. is by no means a small feat. You have much to be proud of.

Recently, having had a son in law (who is in the French Air Force) safely return from Kabul, Afghanistan after a 4 month deployment there it is very much in the forefront of my mind of what can happen during these current and past times of war.

Congratulations to ‘The Book Exchange Team’ for their time and effort in making them possible. It is not only the donations of the readers and supporters that require thanks but all the organisers and helpers behind the scenes. Well done to you all. Jill Attfield of La Redorte, on behalf of all your LFN readers

Please try and pop along to the next Book Exchange on Tuesday 8th December 10am till 12 noon. We are happy to be able to welcome the Chairman, Poppy Appeal Organiser and Treasurer of the British Legion Bordeaux Branch who are coming to visit to express their thanks personally to you for the donations that YOU have made to the British Legion Poppy Appeal this year.





Poppy wreaths were presented at Canet d‘Aude, St André de Roquelongue and Ornaisons

on behalf of the LFN Digestive Readers and Friends.

Events for your Diary


Christmas fair PUISSERGUIER

Outside G20 Supermarket

Saturday 5th December 2009

All day event with Free Admission

Father Christmas has promised to be there, Christmas gifts available and your chance to have some mulled wine and mince pies. Christmas Crackers: Christmas Puddings: Mince Pies: Mincemeat: Selection Boxes: Cadburys Roses and other chocolate items

Plus lots of English Food items you had forgotten about.

This event is organised by the Puisserguier Tourist Information Office.










ESCF English Speaking Christian Fellowship meets in Homps every Sunday 10.30am. Our Christmas events are as follows:-
Mille Club, Homps beginning at 8pm on Thursday 17th December. Christmas songs and carols. All are welcome. Bring something to drink and a plate for the table.

Sunday, 20th December in the Old Chapel, Homps.

Nine lessons and carols from 10:30am.

25th December – a service on Christmas morning at 10:30am.

A warm welcome awaits you –

contact Elizabeth Jackson on 04 68 91 50 37 or escf@hotmail.co.uk




The Role of Guarantees In Underpinning Your Investment Portfolio

By Bill Blevins, Managing Director, Blevins Franks
Stock markets have surged over the last 8 months – investors with previously invested equity portfolios have seen a significant recovery, while those who bought shares this year have made some very healthy profits. What matters now, though, is what will happen next.

There are many “expert” opinions. Some warn that the market has risen too high too soon and will fall again. On the other hand equities have not yet recovered to their pre-credit crisis level and there are still plenty of stimuli for share prices to rise.

As an investor it is not easy to know what to do at this point. If you take some of your capital and move it into a bank account it will earn negligible interest. If markets continue to head higher you’d miss out on further capital growth.

If however you leave everything invested, including any profits, and markets do fall, you could undo much of the good work done this year.

The solution may be to use a middle ground between bank savings accounts and direct equity investment: Guaranteed funds can provide investors with the security of deposit accounts along with potential for returns linked to world equity markets.

They allow you to invest indirectly in the stock markets; giving your money the opportunity to benefit from stock market rises, without risking your capital. The key for the risk averse is to select a bond that offers a significant (say 100%) capital guarantee. Even if markets fall over the investment term, you will not lose any of your capital (provided you hold it full term). If markets rise, the fund will provide a return linked to a stock market index or indices.
Like any investment it is not risk free. You will lose out on any interest you would have earned if you had left the money in the bank, but if you think that interest rates will remain low for some years, this may not be a significant risk. You are also locking up the monies for a period of years, so it’s not to be used for emergency cash. You also need to check out the institution, which provides the guarantee. A “Too Big to Fail” bank is likely to be suitable, given that their respective governments in effect guarantee them.

These 100% capital guaranteed funds work well to secure your investment profits. You could leave your original capital invested, but move the profits into a guaranteed investment. Your profit should be protected and yet continue to benefit from the stock market potential for capital growth. They can be used as a defensive measure if you are unsure what markets will do next, or if you want to reduce the level of capital you have exposed to stock market volatility.

They are also useful for people looking to move money out of cash, as an alternative to direct equity investment. If however you need income or access to the funds you need to consider a bond fund instead.

Guaranteed funds work well as a risk reduction strategy in an investment portfolio. Holding a diversified portfolio always helps to lower risk. Including a 100% capital guaranteed fund as part of the diversification lowers risk further.

There are various types of guaranteed funds on the market, and although at a glance they can appear similar, some are more risky than others and you may be better advised to leave your money in the bank. It depends on how they work and the guarantees offered. Ask a reputable financial adviser like Blevins Franks to explain the product to you, including all the risks, and establish whether it will be appropriate for your objectives.



For more information or advice on your situation

contact your local Blevins Franks Partner, Mary Taylor,

on 05 62 30 51 40 or mary.taylor@blevinsfranks.com www.blevinsfranks.com







PROPERTY OF THE MONTH

St Andre de Roquelongue 11200 Price €299.000



Set on the edge of the village in the vines, Ten minutes from Lezignan and twenty minutes from Narbonne: Three double bedrooms two have en-suite: bungalow: Spacious through lounge with fireplace and reversible air conditioning. Fully fitted “Pierre Cardin Kitchen2. Double Garage and 1800m of land

Contact: Tina Sales: E-mail: tinajsales@gmail.com: Tel: 0468 451176
YOU CAN ADVERTISE YOUR PROPERTY FOR SALE HERE, CONTACT LFN FOR DETAILS

Number change for France Telecom's English language helpline

I HAVE just called the English language helpline offered by France Telecom and been informed that that it is now reachable via a new number.

The number is 09 69 36 39 00, although the call is no longer free and is charged at a so-called 'standard rate' which I've tried to source but drawn a blank.

The France Telecom Contact Us page provides details of the number you can call in France, as well as how to call if you are outside the country, +33 (0) 9 69 36 39 00.

France Telecom has also swapped the options around, so the first one is for technical questions about your telephone and internet access, whilst the second is for account queries and setting up a line. France Telecom's English-language helpline is open Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

This information was provided by www.thisfrenchlife.com well worth a visit for life here in France.

Languedocienne Stew

With Sheila Jeffers
1 kg (2lbs 4 oz) good stewing meat cube 50g (2 oz) plain flour

5 tbs oil salt & pepper

1 large onion 2 cloves garlic

1 tbs tomato purée 2 oxo cubes – beef

zest of an orange dried herbs and bay leaves to your taste

black olives fresh parsley

1 bottle of merlot red wine



Fry chopped onion and garlic until opaque, remove and put in casserole dish. Coat meat in flour and seasoning and fry until sealed. Add tomato purée, stock (2 oxo cubes diluted in ¼ litre of hot water), wine, orange zest bay leaves and herbs stirring all the time. Bring to the boil and place in the casserole dish. Simmer or cook slowly at 150C for approximately 2 ½ - 3 hours until tender. Add as many black olives as you desire just before serving and sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley.



In the garden – December

At the time of writing we have still had a mild autumn, although again we have still had less than average rainfall for the time of year. Still time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials but make sure they are well watered in while the dry spell continues. If you plant trees remember to stake them well so that they aren’t rocked by the Languedoc winds. During December think about the following tasks:

giving your tools a good clean and a wipe with an oily rag before storing them over the winter
if you have a lawn clean up the mower and aerate the lawn with a fork. Over winter is a good time to service the mower, and any other garden machinery you have. Clear dead leaves off the lawn and any low growing ground cover plants but remember that dead leaves are a resource! They can be added to a compost heap or they can be compressed into a plastic bag, tucked away in a corner of the garden and forgotten about – in a year or two you’ll have a bag of leaf mould – excellent organic material for your garden
it’s a good time to manure rose bushes
it is a good month for taking hardwood cuttings of shrubs
if you haven’t already done so remember to protect any plants that are a little tender – mulch the rootstock and have some winter fleece (voile d’hiver) handy so that you can protect foliage when there is frost. Other tender plants can be brought into a cold greenhouse or veranda for protection.
a good time also to thin out over crowded branches and to do cutting back generally of trees and shrubs, much easier to see what you are doing when the plants have lost their leaves
check all tree ties and stakes to avoid wind damage over the winter, similarly make sure that climbers and wall shrubs are tied to their supports
if you have plants in pots on your patio or terrace make sure that the pot is lifted by standing it on “feet” so that it doesn’t sit in winter wet


Arbutus unedo



Poncirus trifoliata

As to what is of interest in the garden towards the end of the year– late flowering perennials such as Gaillardias, Ajania pacifica and sages will give colour until the frosts, as will shrubs such as cassias and Solanum rantonettii and climbing passion flowers. Nerine bowdenii is in flower too and the amazing Dahlia imperialis normally flowers from around the end of November if it isn’t caught by early frosts. But, interest in the garden is still coming from shrubs, which have attractive berries such as the myrtle (Myrtus communis), Arbutus unedo (Strawberry tree), pyracantha, Poncirus trifoliata (Japanese bitter orange) and citrus plants in general.


Ajania Pacifa


Nerine bowdenii


Dahia Imperialis


For further information contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes (shrubs and perennials, unusual plants and plants for dry climates), 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois. Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com
Open March to November 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment. Although the nursery doesn’t have regular opening hours during the winter months we are always open by appointment so if you would like to visit just email or phone to fix a time.

www.lapetitepepiniere.com www.hiddengardensfrance.com


GEOFF THE HANDYMAN

Earlier this year I predicted that as a result of the credit crunch/recession/poor exchange rates there would be an increase in the number of properties rented out for holidays. I also foresaw that consequently, standards would drop along with prices. I was right. Nearly right…

In the first few months of this year we received numerous calls from people who had decided to rent out their properties for the first time. We could easily have doubled the number of houses we look after had we taken them all. But we didn’t, and I’m glad we didn’t. (Head Office is even gladder, but she has a narrow view of things. She only looks at the cleaning. And the washing. OK, the ironing as well.)

Some of the potential clients’ properties we looked at were very good, and we took on a couple more. In some cases, our cleaning/management costs were slightly more than the owners expected, so we did not get them. Some simply want to do everything on the cheap (I mean, everything, and when I say cheap, I mean cheap!), and we definitely were not interested in those. And one or two houses were, frankly, so grotty that we declined to be associated with them.
Curiously the established gîtes maintained their prices well. But the curiousness soon turned into realisation of what was happening to the holiday home market in 2009. The bigger houses (10-12 berth) mostly did very well; better in fact than a lot of the smaller and cheaper lets. One, which is also the most expensive to rent that we look after, was fully booked from mid-May until the end of September. They were nearly all one week bookings, as were most bookings in most of the dozen or so houses we manage. We’d anticipated the same ratio of 1 week to 2 or 3 week bookings as 2008. But what happened was that people shortened their holidays, and to save even more money came mob-handed with extended family/friends to eke out the cost over more people. The result was some 35% more changeovers across the board than we’d expected. (Logically, this also means more people came to Carcassonne for their holiday.) Hence Head Office’s grumpiness, which I reported recently…
If you have thoughts about renting out your house as a Gîte, you need to be totally objective in your view of it. The photos you use to promote it on any of the numerous websites plus the rate you charge tells anyone with half a brain what they’re likely to get. We’re pretty certain that some of the properties we declined didn’t do too well. We suspect that the owners haven’t yet realised why. The impact of so many ‘new’ gîtes on the market was minimal. Professionalism won through – those houses properly managed and offering high quality accommodation held their own.
Will 2010 be the same? Who can tell at this stage? The General Election could improve the exchange rate etc. But the indications from this year are that tourism, in this part of France at least, is recession resistant.

Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. And may all your problems be those that a poor and distressed Handyman can fix

SARL Handyman France Siret No 500052701500019

Carcassonne area Comprehensive range of

Services from odd jobs to Management of Property.

Geoff the Handyman Tel: 0468 71 88 80 Tel: 0618 87 31 69

e-mail: geoff@handyman-france.com



Following on to what Geoff the Handyman states on lettings we have asked two of our friends with letting agencies to comment on the past year’s lettings and to give their views for what may happen in 2010.

In 2009, and despite the financial crisis, we saw a growth of over 20% in the value of our bookings in the Languedoc. We are anticipating that the pattern of bookings in 2010 will be very similar to 2009 - and we are predicting a further small growth.

In 2009 the pattern of bookings changed - July and August were completely booked up as normal, but far fewer people were holidaying in the shoulder months of May, June and September making these months much harder to fill for property owners. There were definitely more 'one week' bookings in 2009. There were definitely less holidays being booked by early-retired and retired couples due to them having less disposable income as interest rates fell.

We have had a number of real success stories - significantly a handful of gite/house owners in the region who had spent time and money renovating and investing in their properties and who were rewarded by being completely booked from late April to the end of October!

The rental market has changed from a few years ago and expectations from holiday-makers are now much higher. Clean, bright decor, stylish furnishings, quality bed and bathroom linen, a well-cared for outside space, a committed and efficient turn-round team, carefully considered marketing and publicity and most importantly GREAT PHOTOS - will ensure your holiday property is successfully rented.

For those of you with quality holiday properties who might like to join forces and work with us (at no cost to you!) - please contact:

Joie de Vivre Holidays offer a hand-picked selection of quality self-catering accommodation in Languedoc Roussillon via their website www.jdvholidays.com.


Geri Pavier of www.hhfrance.com



We have found that a lot of the bookings for this year were made at the last minute and the bookings for next year are being made early. We get a cross-section of ages and group sizes; the couples on their own are making out-of-season bookings, as are OAPs. We found that the numbers were down across every group until the last minute. So maybe people were waiting until the last minute to see if they could afford a holiday and to take advantage of late availability discounts.


Sadie walked into a print lab to have a photo of her deceased husband Moshe copied and retouched.

She said to the technician, "I have always hated the hat that my husband Moshe is wearing in the photo.

Could you please retouch the hat out?"

"Of course," said the technician, "what colour hair did your husband have?"

"When you take the hat off, you'll see," she said.





Finding the Voice


The other morning I was out fairly early in the morning on the trusty bike when I heard the old familiar unmistakable sound of collar doves cooing. I didn’t actually spot them but of course it is not always necessary when you are familiar with the sound. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we, like the doves each had our own signature tune? Distinctive and individual - just like a fingerprint or DNA.


Of course different species of bird each have their own distinctive signature tune and we all know the alarm call of the blackbird or the beautiful song of the song thrush. If you live in the Aude you are probably lucky enough to hear the fantastic song of the nightingale.


I was feeding a friend’s chickens the other day and noticed that the cacophony of cackling was in fact not all identical, some actually seemed to be cackling in different keys and some louder than others, some more screechy than others. In chicken terms I suppose they were the equivalent of sopranos, mezzo sopranos, altos and tenors - a chorus no less.


So you do not have to actually see the bird to get a wonderful experience. Just hearing the birdsong can be thrilling and uplifting. I remember a little poem by somebody using the pseudonym Patience Strong that went something like this.


If you stand very still in the heart of a wood you will hear many wonderful things,

the snap of a twig and the wind in the trees and the whir of invisible wings.


So if you go for a walk in the woods try not to spend the time chatting and disturbing everything around you but listen for the sounds around you. I find that it is often best to be alone when bird watching and whilst watching the kingfisher on the River Aude, as long as I remain completely still and silent, I stay incognito, but the slightest movement and the bird is gone, the moment is lost, and although it is wonderful to share such an experience with another - they must have a similar understanding of the importance of silence. I watch television programmes about observing birds and wildlife and with all the chatting it is a wonder they ever see anything. Of course the camera can make things look deceptively closer. It is the same when you are watching the birds in your garden on the feeder and of course it is also the reason the stealthy cat is so successful.


The birds appearing in the garden are now varied and interesting and thanks to Tricia at Escales who contacted me to tell me that a Sardinian warbler had flown into their glass patio doors and lay stunned on the garden table. Tricia stroked the little bird until it recovered and flew away, she described it as ‘so exquisitely beautiful’ and that about sums it up. Just to hold such a tiny beautiful being in your hand is an experience you will never forget.


All you need is a pair of binoculars and a bird book and you are away. Please remember the importance of topping up the birdbath - it will supply you with endless entertainment as you watch the splashing and shaking of wings. Kate the Bird lady of Canet.


Recycle your Mobile Phone and Receive MONEY!

Launched in the UK a few years ago, Fonebank is now the market leader, buying and recycling more than 1500 mobiles a day! Using our services allows you to sell or recycle your old mobile telephone and you receive money for it!

Managing Director of Fonebank France, Andy Martin explains that although an average of 8 million mobiles are sold in France each year, until now there has been no simple way of recycling your mobile and obtain money for it. Fonebank recycles your old mobile to third world countries where they are used again.

With the current economic crisis, we are sure that people will be looking for different ways to save money or just upgrade to the latest model – with Fonebank you make money and at the same time, help to protect the environment and give your old mobile a new home in Africa or Asia. Although the web site is in French, it is very simple to understand and in just a few clicks you could be receiving a cheque in the post.

Fonebank France has taken a year to set up and will be a totally new experience for the French. Annaïck Brout, Fonebank’s Director of Marketing says, ‘Although the culture of France has a strong ethos environmentally, the mobile telephone scene is one area where we could see that not enough was being done to protect the environment. Not only are we supporting individuals, we shall be working with Charity Organisations, Sports Associations, small and large businesses across France. With more elaborate mobiles coming onto the market each month, the old ones are just ‘binned’ or left in drawers, adding to the millions of redundant mobiles piling up across Europe. Estimates state that close to 90 million phones are sitting in people’s drawers in the UK alone.’

How many mobile telephones have you got tucked away in a drawer…could they be worth money? For more information visit their web site www.fonebank.fr or e-mail info@fonebank.fr


BRUCE’S COMPUTER TIPS AVG Antivirus version 9

AVG have updated their virus scanning application to version 9, many of you that already have AVG will have been seeing update adverts for the last couple of weeks. If you have not updated yet or have only found the link to the paid version then you can go to http://free.avg.com to download the free version 9 of AVG. If you don’t have AVG and are looking for a good and reliable virus scanner with anti spy/malware built in then you can also download the free version of AVG 9. It is far better than Norton and much faster than McAfee, and is the preferred virus scanner of most computer professionals.






Theatre visits in Narbonne

Are there any readers who would be interested in going to the theatre in Narbonne to see any visual performances i.e. concerts (classical or other), dance (ballet or other) circus etc.


If we make a booking as a group there are huge discounts on the tickets. Please click here to register your interest. Thank you



You can sell your home, in the current market, have you seen the number of new builds taking place as you drive around this area? The people who are having these built have sold. So please don’t think the market is dead or dying here.


But if your house is priced realistically, compared to others in your area, and if the general condition is good, there are some simple things that can help you get the result you want: -


Keep your house clean. Bad smells, stacked-up dishes and clutter will really put off a buyer- and having too many personal effects on show is distracting.

The three areas that help sell your house are the kitchen, sitting room and the master bedroom; so pay special attention to these.

A fresh coat of paint will give your house a facelift. It will look bigger, brighter and better maintained and get rid of lingering odours like tobacco and pet smells.

I should give a word of advice to those of you who may not have bought yet, or who are thinking of moving and buying a renovation project. It's a good time to be buying as many sellers would like to get a sale before Xmas so they can splash out a bit over the festive season, but if you are thinking of buying to renovate then beware of the additional hidden cost if the place is not up to electrical standards.


Check to see whether it has an electricity meter or not. If it doesn’t you may incur extra costs you hadn’t accounted for. When you register with EDF they will come to fit a new meter in the property. If there isn’t already an existing meter they will also inspect the wiring in the house and may condemn it.


This will mean you will need to fit a temporary supply while you have the house rewired. After the rewiring you will then need to have your wiring inspected – an overall additional cost of about 1000Euro for the temporary meter, fitting the temporary meter and the inspection.


This doesn’t apply if the house already has a meter installed; and any additional electrical work that you either do yourself or is done by someone else does not have to be inspected by the EDF.


If you're not already an owner and my prediction is that next year these small village houses will be first to start moving quickly. So now's the time to make a sound investment.


I can recommend this charming little village house which is about as cheap as they come at 66000E and offer two bedrooms and very comfortable living accommodation: http://french-property-sale.com/listing--106.html It's a great little place to get your foot through the door,


Good luck to all and I wish you all a Merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year


Jo Slater: http://www.french-property-sale.com





Peter the man with a Van


Peter Tipton from Yorkshire has special rates for

LFN DIGESTIVE READERS.

Please contact Peter

Tel: 0044 1422 844124

Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438

http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.u

Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,

Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.


RETURNING FROM THE UK by Road
Please remember if you or any

of your friends are returning,

by road, to this

area from the UK

we will pay you

to bring back our shop products.


Please contact LFN for further details

Tel: 0468 40 97 11

or e-mail norm@lfn.org.uk



Eye Glasses 70% less than the high street
See our new prescription sunglasses range from only £27 complete


http://www.glassesonspec.co.uk

The www.lfn.org.uk small adds service is available for the readers of the LFN Digestive

for further details of the items and services below please click here and visit the small ads.

ITEMS REQUIRED For Charities
Copper Coins in any currency: Knitting Wool: Old Spectacles: Used Postage Stamps:

You could hand them in at the next book exchange. For other outlets contact LFN

ITEMS FOR SALE
Bed Settee: Ben Sayer Golf Clubs: Bicycles: Boat: Dining Room Table and chairs:

Fax- Photocopier: Ford Focus Estate Ghia: Free Standing Units: HUGO French Course: Largest Bean Bag In France: Jogging Machine: Laptop; Log Burning Unit Insert: Lawnmower: Rabbit Hutch: Monnerst Soccer Table: M P 4 Player:

Ping Golf Clubs; Pioneer Speakers: Portable Gas Fire; Skis & Ski-wear:

Single Pax wardrobe: Swimming Pool Cleaner: V Box Router: Wall Bracket for TV

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
Assignan(€125k): Azille (€100): Brittany 190K: Fitou Bed & Breakfast Business:

Fraisse Des Corbieres (€105) Puisserquier (€425) Saint Frichoux (€280):

St Andre de Roquelongue (€299K) Ventenac (€73k):Ventenac (€36k)
_________________
The Languedoc Page

[peter]

The Next Book and DVD Exchange

Next Book and DVD Exchange at G20 Supermarket,

Olonzac will be on Tuesday 8th December 2009 10am till 12 noon.

Coffee and MINCE PIES or Cadburys Roses chocolates will be offered.

This event is sponsored by Stuart Stojkovic of Blevins Franks,
who has been appointed to service existing and new clients in Department 34.

Please note we do not take videos
Just pop along with your book or books.
If you have no books or DVDs to swop, still come along,
you may find a book you want to read, or a movie you want to watch,
for which a small donation in the British Legion Poppy box would be appreciated.

Please try and pop along to the Book Exchange,
next Tuesday 8th December 10am till 12 noon.
We are happy to be able to welcome the Chairman,
Poppy Appeal Organiser and Treasurer of the British Legion Bordeaux Branch
who are coming to visit to express their thanks personally to you for the donations
that YOU have made to the British Legion Poppy Appeal this year.





Peter the man with a Van
Will be leaving the UK on the 11th
and returning from France on the 18thDecember.
If you need anything transporting
contact Peter as soon as possible,
this will be his last trip in 2009.
Tel: 0044 1422 844124 Mob: 0044 772 98 57 438
http://www.tiptopcouriers.co.uk
Large Transit Van with full Goods in Transit Insurance,
Part and Full Loads are no problem to Peter.



Theatre visits in Narbonne

Are there any readers who would be interested in going to the theatre in Narbonne
to see any visual performances i.e. concerts (classical or other), dance (ballet or other) circus etc?
If we make a booking as a group there are huge discounts on the tickets.
Please click here to register your interest. Thank you


Eye Glasses 70% less than the high street
See our new prescription sunglasses range from only £27 complete

http://www.glassesonspec.co.uk

RETURNING FROM THE UK by Road
Please remember if you or any
of your friends are returning,
by road, to this
area from the UK
we will pay you
to bring back our shop products.

Please contact LFN for further details
Tel: 0468 40 97 11
or e-mail norm@lfn.org.uk

The www.lfn.org.uk small adds service is available for the readers of the LFN Digestive
for further details of the items and services below please click here and visit the small ads.
ITEMS REQUIRED For Charities
Copper Coins in any currency: Knitting Wool: Old Spectacles: Used Postage Stamps:
You could hand them in at the next book exchange. For other outlets contact LFN
ITEMS FOR SALE
Bed Settee: Ben Sayer Golf Clubs: Bicycles: Boat: Crystal Gifts& Aynsley Porcelain. :Dinning/Kitchen Chairs: Fax- Photocopier: Ford Focus Estate Ghia:
HP Photosmart 7450 printer: HUGO French Course: Indoor Water Storage Vessel:
Largest Bean Bag In France: Jogging Machine: Laptop; Log Burning Unit Insert:
Lawnmower: Rabbit Hutch: Monnerst Soccer Table: M P 4 Player:
Ping Golf Clubs; Pioneer Speakers: Portable Gas Fire; Skis & Ski-wear:
Single Pax wardrobe: Swimming Pool Cleaner: V Box Router: Wall Bracket for TV
Zodiac Above Ground Pool
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE
Assignan(€125k): Azille (€100): Brittany 190K: Fitou Bed & Breakfast Business:
Fraisse Des Corbieres (€105) Puisserguier (€425) Saint Frichoux (€280):
St Andre de Roquelongue (€299K) Ventenac (€73k):Ventenac (€36k)
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Art Classes: Avon Agent: Builders: Cabinet Maker-Joiner: Cancer Support France: Catering:
Computer Support and Repair: French Lessons: Gite and Holiday letting Agency: Gardening Services: Home Improvements: House & Car Insurance: House Sitters: Insurance (Top Up Medical): Landscaper & Designer: Long –Short Term Lets: Man with Van (UK-France): Painter & Decorator: Personal Counsellor: Plumbing –Heating Engineer: Pool Maintenance: Prescription Spectacles and Sunglasses: Property Management: Satellite TV: Sign Writer: Slimming Guidance: Storage Facilities: Telephone Calls cost Advice: Translation Services: Welder: Massage for well Being, Reiki – Cranio-sacral work
_________________
The Languedoc Page