Don't forget the sale of books at this week's Connect for Friendship meeting ~ 10 am ~ 12 midday.
Bring some & buy some!!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Revised Book Club Choices.......2008
Hi ALL members of the Book Club.
Recently we made our choices for the books to be read this year and produced a very good and challenging list.
The list has been revised slightly.
The choice of "The Great Apes" Will Self, has been put back for later in the year, dependent on further discussion and clarification.
Please bring the rest of the monthly choices forward one month.
Thanks......more on this at the February meeting when we will be tackling "The Zahir".
Good reading everyone.
Vernon.
Recently we made our choices for the books to be read this year and produced a very good and challenging list.
The list has been revised slightly.
The choice of "The Great Apes" Will Self, has been put back for later in the year, dependent on further discussion and clarification.
Please bring the rest of the monthly choices forward one month.
Thanks......more on this at the February meeting when we will be tackling "The Zahir".
Good reading everyone.
Vernon.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Good news on Health
Minister grants relief to all EU residents in France
24th January 2008
The British Embassy, Paris today announced that ALL early-retired inactive non-French Europeans who were legally resident in France on or before 23rd November 2007 will be allowed to stay in or join the CMU, including E106 holders.
A copy of the e-mail received from the Embassy is here.
FHI has just learnt that after months of negotiations between the health ministry and British Embassy staff, and lobbying from the expatriate community here, that the minister has finally agreed to simplify the rules, and has accepted that the legislation introduced late last year will not now be retrospective.
Over the coming hours and days, FHI will be interpreting and disseminating this new information and reviewing its impact on our future strategies.
We know that the period since 14th December, when the previous statement – which many CPAM staff refused to implement - was issued, has been extremely frustrating. However, we now believe that this was due to the fact that negotiations were ongoing and that their sensitive nature prevented an announcement from being made in the interim.
Now that such a change has been agreed we trust that all levels of CPAM staff will be properly briefed and that the outcome will be swift for all concerned. We ask those of you who have already been guaranteed cover until the end of March to be patient, in order to allow CPAM staff to deal with the immediate problems of those who have no health provisions, as we believe their situation is the most critical.
In the meantime, we would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have campaigned so hard over the past months. Your voice means something – this is a great victory for speaking up for you rights and fighting for justice.
We send our good wishes to all those who have suffered from the uncertainty which has prevailed recently, we hope that today’s news will be good for everybody’s health. To all those who may be ill, our thoughts are with you, and our hopes for a good and speedy recovery. At least now, you know you should get the treatment you deserve.
24th January 2008
The British Embassy, Paris today announced that ALL early-retired inactive non-French Europeans who were legally resident in France on or before 23rd November 2007 will be allowed to stay in or join the CMU, including E106 holders.
A copy of the e-mail received from the Embassy is here.
FHI has just learnt that after months of negotiations between the health ministry and British Embassy staff, and lobbying from the expatriate community here, that the minister has finally agreed to simplify the rules, and has accepted that the legislation introduced late last year will not now be retrospective.
Over the coming hours and days, FHI will be interpreting and disseminating this new information and reviewing its impact on our future strategies.
We know that the period since 14th December, when the previous statement – which many CPAM staff refused to implement - was issued, has been extremely frustrating. However, we now believe that this was due to the fact that negotiations were ongoing and that their sensitive nature prevented an announcement from being made in the interim.
Now that such a change has been agreed we trust that all levels of CPAM staff will be properly briefed and that the outcome will be swift for all concerned. We ask those of you who have already been guaranteed cover until the end of March to be patient, in order to allow CPAM staff to deal with the immediate problems of those who have no health provisions, as we believe their situation is the most critical.
In the meantime, we would like to give our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have campaigned so hard over the past months. Your voice means something – this is a great victory for speaking up for you rights and fighting for justice.
We send our good wishes to all those who have suffered from the uncertainty which has prevailed recently, we hope that today’s news will be good for everybody’s health. To all those who may be ill, our thoughts are with you, and our hopes for a good and speedy recovery. At least now, you know you should get the treatment you deserve.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Pont Laveyrat Memorial Service ~ 16th February 2008
Just thought you might be interested in this....
It was after we attended the 2007 Pont Laveyrat Memorial service that I wrote the attached article. We were astonished that on a cold Friday afternoon in February that nearly 500 people would assemble in a remote part of Beyssenac to remember the occasion of the massacre of many young people from the communes of Lanouaille, Beyssenac, Payzac etc. Later many made their way to Payzac and Savignac Ledrier for further small commemorations. Some 40 banners of the resistance were paraded and most mayors of the surrounding communes were present. This occasion is an important symbol of the wish of local communities to never see or hear of such an atrocity again. Those of us who have now made our homes here can stand alongside those whose families were touched by the massacre, offering our support for the same ends.
The mill has now been acquired by the local communes and work will start on turning it into a museum of the resistance, with the avenue along the river between the Pont and the Mill becoming a memorial walk with educational panels concerning the resistance activities.
The service takes place at the impressive Memorial by the mill. There is a turning on the right hand side of the road from Pompadour to Payzac, just after Pissac, which leads to the Pont. Many will park at the Pont Laveyrat where fields have been made available and walk to the Memorial, about 600m. If you wish to attend do remember to wrap up warm and have good shoes in case it is wet and cold…
This year, as ever, the date is the 16th February which is a Saturday and the service will begin at around 15:00 hrs in the afternoon. It is best to arrive at about 14.30 hrs to make sure that you can park and also walk to the Memorial area. Following this ceremony it moves on to Payzac Cemetery and thence to the Mairie at Savignac Ledrier. A reception will take place later in the Salle Polyvalente of Savignac Ledrier, behind the Mairie.
Please pass this around to others that you know, and of course everyone is welcome to attend if they wish.
Neil & Sue Spoonley
It was after we attended the 2007 Pont Laveyrat Memorial service that I wrote the attached article. We were astonished that on a cold Friday afternoon in February that nearly 500 people would assemble in a remote part of Beyssenac to remember the occasion of the massacre of many young people from the communes of Lanouaille, Beyssenac, Payzac etc. Later many made their way to Payzac and Savignac Ledrier for further small commemorations. Some 40 banners of the resistance were paraded and most mayors of the surrounding communes were present. This occasion is an important symbol of the wish of local communities to never see or hear of such an atrocity again. Those of us who have now made our homes here can stand alongside those whose families were touched by the massacre, offering our support for the same ends.
The mill has now been acquired by the local communes and work will start on turning it into a museum of the resistance, with the avenue along the river between the Pont and the Mill becoming a memorial walk with educational panels concerning the resistance activities.
The service takes place at the impressive Memorial by the mill. There is a turning on the right hand side of the road from Pompadour to Payzac, just after Pissac, which leads to the Pont. Many will park at the Pont Laveyrat where fields have been made available and walk to the Memorial, about 600m. If you wish to attend do remember to wrap up warm and have good shoes in case it is wet and cold…
This year, as ever, the date is the 16th February which is a Saturday and the service will begin at around 15:00 hrs in the afternoon. It is best to arrive at about 14.30 hrs to make sure that you can park and also walk to the Memorial area. Following this ceremony it moves on to Payzac Cemetery and thence to the Mairie at Savignac Ledrier. A reception will take place later in the Salle Polyvalente of Savignac Ledrier, behind the Mairie.
Please pass this around to others that you know, and of course everyone is welcome to attend if they wish.
Neil & Sue Spoonley
What I've been reading.......2008
With the weather not being so sunny, I've been able to settle away and read quite a few books over Xmas & the New Year.
Here's my list so far:
The Zahir ~ of course ~ lucky to get the book early
Time Traveller's Wife ~ really a great read
One More Day ~ Short read but very telling
The Gathering ~ Last year's Booker prize ~ Dark novel but well told
Marco's Pendulum ~ easy read and good fun
God Delusion ~ proving quite difficult but I'm enjoying in a perverse way
SO WHAT ARE YOU READING????
Here's my list so far:
The Zahir ~ of course ~ lucky to get the book early
Time Traveller's Wife ~ really a great read
One More Day ~ Short read but very telling
The Gathering ~ Last year's Booker prize ~ Dark novel but well told
Marco's Pendulum ~ easy read and good fun
God Delusion ~ proving quite difficult but I'm enjoying in a perverse way
SO WHAT ARE YOU READING????
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Psssst ~ Want some books cheap???
Hi Everyone
At the next Connect For Friendship Meeting ~ Friday 1st February ~ there will be a stall for the sale/swap of books to see if we can raise some funds for the group.
Not sure yet whether books will be swapped or sold at a knockdown price. Watch this space!!
I will advise further concerning details and offers of help when I know more.
Please support by coming along with bags of money or by donating a few books.
Coffee will be available and free car parking.
Vernon
At the next Connect For Friendship Meeting ~ Friday 1st February ~ there will be a stall for the sale/swap of books to see if we can raise some funds for the group.
Not sure yet whether books will be swapped or sold at a knockdown price. Watch this space!!
I will advise further concerning details and offers of help when I know more.
Please support by coming along with bags of money or by donating a few books.
Coffee will be available and free car parking.
Vernon
Calling all Book Club members
Hi There
This is a message to all the members of the Connect Book Club.
Please feel free to comment on any of the postings which have been made. This can be done through clicking on "comment" when a box will come up offering you various ways of leaving a message.
This is your site ~ please contribute.
If you want to post a long article or a review etc it is probably better to contact me and I will post it for you.
Thanks ~ I'm looking forward to some interesting and varied comments!!!!
Vernon
This is a message to all the members of the Connect Book Club.
Please feel free to comment on any of the postings which have been made. This can be done through clicking on "comment" when a box will come up offering you various ways of leaving a message.
This is your site ~ please contribute.
If you want to post a long article or a review etc it is probably better to contact me and I will post it for you.
Thanks ~ I'm looking forward to some interesting and varied comments!!!!
Vernon
Book Club Choices for the rest of 2008
At a lively and well attended meeting on 18th January it was decided that each member of the group could submit a choice of book to be discussed.The following titles came out of the hat....well a paper bag actually.
Book Club Choices for 2008
February ~ “The Zahir” by Paulo Coelho
March ~ “Great Apes” by Will Self
April ~ “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
May ~ “The Time traveller’s wife” by Audrey Niffenegger
June ~ “We need to talk about Kevin” by Lionel Shriver
July ~ “Atonement” by Ian McEwan
August ~ “Firelight and Woodsmoke” by Claude Michelet
September ~ “Last King of Scotland” by Giles Foden
October ~ “Never Let me go” by Kazuo Ishiguru
November ~ “Grasshopper” by Barbara Vine
December ~ “A Piano in the Pyrennes” by David Hawkes
It was also agreed that we purchase, purloin, obtain these books from our own sources and by our own methods.
Good luck.
Looking forward to February. ~ Vernon
Book Club Choices for 2008
February ~ “The Zahir” by Paulo Coelho
March ~ “Great Apes” by Will Self
April ~ “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini
May ~ “The Time traveller’s wife” by Audrey Niffenegger
June ~ “We need to talk about Kevin” by Lionel Shriver
July ~ “Atonement” by Ian McEwan
August ~ “Firelight and Woodsmoke” by Claude Michelet
September ~ “Last King of Scotland” by Giles Foden
October ~ “Never Let me go” by Kazuo Ishiguru
November ~ “Grasshopper” by Barbara Vine
December ~ “A Piano in the Pyrennes” by David Hawkes
It was also agreed that we purchase, purloin, obtain these books from our own sources and by our own methods.
Good luck.
Looking forward to February. ~ Vernon
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