En in gl is h

N°1 January/February 2006

Our regional magazine

Languedoc Sun FREE

Merci de ne pas jeter sur la voie publique

Gratuit

LIVING WORKING and PLAYING in the LANGUEDOC everything YOU NEED TO KNOW, in ENGLISH,

every other month, FROM PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

We would like to thank La Chambre des métiers du Gard, les Offices du tourisme, la CPAM, les Aéroports d’Avignon, de Nîmes Arles Camargue, la Chambre de Commerce Internationale de Nîmes, d’Alès et de Montpellier, Gard International, www.the-languedoc-page. com, l’association BritsNîmes, la Mairie de Saint Gilles, la Maison de l’Europe... for their support

ouverture

le 15 mars ®

Grotte de la Cocalière

®

Courry - F 30500 Saint-Ambroix Tél. 04 66 24 34 74 - Fax 04 66 24 20 13 www.grotte-cocaliere.com

2 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Content

Editorial

Letters Languedoc News

5 6

Languedoc in the Know

9

Local airports Swimming pool security Humor will Triumph over Stupidity The CPAM online in English

A place in Languedoc Languedoc Lifestyle

11 12

Around and About Languedoc

16

Saint Gilles

Underfloor Heating, Bring your pet to France Our correspondant from Aude A bit too French Barcelona; Far away and so Close

Languedoc Gardens Questions & Answers Languedoc Artisans Languedoc Culture

17 18 20 21

Languedoc Cuisine Recipe Languedoc Liquid Assets Another Country Another Language Languedoc Diary Languedoc Sun Pages Languedoc Classified Languedoc Real Estate

22 23 24 26 27 29 31

A Rose by any Other Name

British Screen Festival 2006

Languedoc Sun is published by: Languedoc News, 17 rue des Bartavelles, 30132 Caissargues. Languedoc News is not responsible for fraudulent claims of advertisers. No reproduction in whole or part without written permission. The Publisher: cannot be held liable for any loss or suffered as a result of information herein, can neither accept responsability for views expressed by contributors and advertisers, undertakes.

I heard it on the grapevine It started with a team of people from five different countries – but everyone spoke English. We all agreed: there was a need for a magazine. Everyone has a story to tell, everyone has important and useful information to share, but what’s been lacking has been a central place to do it in. Thus was born the Languedoc Sun, a place for information about the Languedoc and beyond. It’s a place to tell people what you’re doing here, what you like about it, what you don’t like about it, what you’ve found, and what you’re looking for. Having problems? Someone else has probably already had the same problems and can suggest a solution, whether that someone is your neighbour or one of our panel of experts. We’ll be coming out every two months to start with, available free in a wide number of outlets across the area. But we need your input: we need writers, photographers and readers. We need a dialogue with our fellow English-speakers, and with our hosts here in France. So come on, get involved. It’s a great place to be, this Languedoc Sun! Laurence and Ed

Languedoc Sun est publié par Languedoc News, 17 rue des Bartavelles, 30132 Caissargues. Languedoc News décline toutes responsabilités pour les textes et publicités insérés qui n’engagent que les annonceurs. La rédaction n’est pas responsable de la perte ou de la déterioration des textes ou photos qui lui sont adressés, elle ne peut pas être non plus responsable pour les points de vue exprimés dans les témoignages. La reproduction même partielle, de tout matériel publié dans le magazine est interdite. Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 3

4 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc News

Letters Cover photograph: Pic Saint Loup, by Amanda Harper. Have you got a favorite photo of sunny Languedoc? If so, e-mail it to us and we’ll consider it for a future cover!

H

aving moved to Alès a few years ago to join my French wife, I am keen to get in touch with other Dutch expats. Do you know of any clubs or groups for the Dutch-speakers? You can contact Nederlandse vereniging Languedoc Rousillon Mr de Meij [email protected]. Tel. 04 67 72 66 91. There is also information about other associations on page 25.

W W

e have just moved to Narbonne and our neighbour told us about BritsNîmes. We’re a bit too far away to go to all the outings so we were so glad to hear about your magazine. We hope to get to know the region quicker that way! Will you be mentioning any places in Aude too? All the best, Bob & Brenda, Narbonne Our aim is to talk about all of the Languedoc and we are keen on helping you discover some hidden places. In order to this, all our reader’s are welcome to share their experiences.

I

am from Mauguio, I was born here and I have always lived near Montpellier. I am writing to say how unhappy I am that you are creating an English Magazine here. I do not think it is necessary and foreigners who come to live here should be trying to settle in to a French way of life. A 100% Frenchman The Languedoc Sun hopes to build a bridge between English-speaking residents and the French culture. Through a wide-variety of articles our aim is to facilitate integration into this new way of life. We hope to attract French readers with the same ideal, so give us a try!

e heard that you were bringing out a magazine in English and I just wanted to wish you Good Luck! It’s a great idea. Could you tell me whether I can get one delivered to my house? Looking forward to reading the first edition! Mary, Alès We will be sending magazines directly to our readers very shortly. In the meantime, you can send us your postal address and we will let you know as soon as possible.

We moved to France last year with our twins Nicholas and Sarah and we have loved our life here but unfortunately with one exception. There are hardly any facilities for children in public places. I have never been able to get hold of a two-seater trolley or change a nappy while out shopping. If there are any shop managers reading this, it would be nice if you made an effort! Amy , Nîmes

If you wish to write to the magazine or reply to a letter, please send your comments by email to: [email protected] or by post to: Languedoc Sun - 17 rue des Bartavelles - 30132 Caissargues. Don’t forget to write down your full contact details (Tel. & email address). Letters must be original and unpublished. Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 5

Languedoc News Local Airports Flybe will increase its summer services starting May 25th, 2006, from Southampton to the historic destination of Avignon. The New routes for summer 2006 are now available for booking at www.flybe. com. Simon Lilley, Director of Marketing, Flybe comments: “Our increased summer schedule for 2006 is the result of us listening to, and responding to customer demands.

provided. Bookings for unaccompanied children should be made by telephoning Flybe on 0044 1392 268506. Flybe have a supervisory fee for the service of caring for unaccompanied children of £32 (around €50) per child per sector. Ryanair will launch two new routes from Marseille to Glasgow Prestwick (Feb 24th) and from Nîmes to East Midlands (March 7th). Both routes will operate 3 times weekly.

The popularity of our routes to sunshine hotspots across France, Spain and Portugal in 2005, prompted us to look at the gaps in the market and fill these with exciting new routes to the destinations consumers are asking for.”

Ryanair has also recently anounced a new route from Nîmes to Brussels from April 4th 2006.

Photo : Flybe.com

Some other existing Routes:

Unaccompanied children aged between 6 and 11 years old can use Flybe services, as long as at the time of booking the name, address and contact number of the person taking the child to the departure airport and also that of the person picking the child up at the destination is

From Carcassone to Brussels, Dublin, London Stansted, East Midlands and Liverpool. From Montpellier to Copenhagen, Oslo, Frankfurt and London Stansted. From Marseille to Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurt, Dublin, Munich and London Gatwick.

From Avignon to London City via Orly.

LB

An unmissable opportunity to experience www.caterham.fr

the best in classic cars under the Languedoc Sun

Learn to drive a racing car The training takes place at the Alès-en-Cévennes Motor Racing Circuit Enjoy English cars in France

B&B Propulsion, 524 chemin du Mas Icard, 30 Les Tavernes - 04.66.83.82.05 - [email protected] 6 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Languedoc News Humor will Triumph over Stupidity Cheap Eastern European labour will not steal French jobs. It’s all part of an ad campaign that aims to lure tourists to Poland by spoofing French fears about the mythical Polish plumber who moves to France to steal jobs. “I’m staying in Poland. Come,” the ad reads. Within a week, it drew thousands of email responses praising the advert and apologies by those who felt ashamed of their country’s knee-jerk reaction to Polish plumbers, said tourism officials. The publicity campaign was “a humorous wink to get people to visit Poland, but also a political wink at the Polish plumber who stands for the xenophobic feeling”. The response has exceeded expectations. The

response to the publicity campaign “went beyond all our hopes,” said Andrzej Kozlowski, President of the Polish Tourism Organization. “It has echoed around the world.” The advert was the brainchild of Kozlowski and his colleague Krzysztof Turowski. “I came home one night to my home in a Warsaw suburb and heard talk of the Polish plumber on the radio,” Kozlowski explained. “I had the idea that this criticism of Poland could be converted into a positive image of the country.” Even Lech Walesa, the electrician who became Poland’s president after founding the Solidarity Union, provided advice for Adamski before his Paris trip, telling him to ask the French “Why the devil they encouraged Poles years ago to build capitalism since as we see now they themselves are communists?” LB

Swimming pool Security

After numerous accidents, the 2003-9 law dated January 3rd 2003 requires the installation of a security system in order to avoid death by drowning in young children. Four security systems have been selected: Norme NF P 90-306, Swimming Pool Safety Barriers (Fences) Norme NF P 90-307, Swimming Pool Alarms Norme NF P 90-308, Swimming Pool Safety Covers Norme NF P 90-309, Swimming Pool Shelters (a light structure and/or conservatory). For existing swimming pools, the owner is responsible for the security system and for new swimming pools, the builder is responsible. In case of non-compliance, the penalty is €45,000. The law concerns only private or collectively used

swimming pools (a family pool or one reserved for residents, hotels, holiday centers, gîtes and campsites) outdoors with the swimming area in the ground or half in the ground. It doesn’t concern out-of-ground swimming pools, inflatable ones, or indoor swimming pools under surveillance. LB

You can find more information and answers on the following web sites (in French) http://www.logement.equipement.gouv.fr/ actu/piscinespriv/default.htm http://planete.afnor.fr/v3/espace_information/ normesreglementation/piscines_proprietaires. htm and http://www.securite-piscines.com/ give you lots of news about new products as well as the laws.

Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 7

A full service Agency to take care of all property matters including administration; co-ordination for garden and pool maintenance, renovation and construction projects. We are there to help with all your property requirements. Z.I. MOULINAS 30340 SALINDRES (0033) (0)4 66 85 89 70 WWW.WOODFIELDSINTERNATIONAL.COM 8 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Languedoc in the Know The CPAM online and in English Isn’t it nice to read a web site which says: “Welcome to France!” If you need any information regarding your social security, insurance, benefits and health care rights in France you can now call a direct English-language French Health Insurance Advice Line on 0820 904 212 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. If you are on holiday or staying temporarily in France, living in France while working in Great Britain, your principal residence is in France and you receive a retirement pension or disability pension from Great Britain, or you live in France and run a bed and breakfast, the Social Security has a website full of information in English.

www.saint-lo.ameli.fr There are other fact sheets available providing French vocabulary for parts of the body, how to describe symptoms, treatment, hospital visits or at the dentist and more! You can email [email protected] and they guarantee an answer within 48 hours. You will also find all the information about how to get benefits, medical services and how to obtain the Carte Vitale. There is a team of seven Englishspeaking advisers. This service is expanding so watch this space. LB

All your domestic, business and life insurance questions answered

Agence STOKER

57 avenue Jean Jaurès, 30913 Nîmes

04 66 29 63 52 William Stoker [email protected] Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 9

10 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

A Place in Languedoc Saint Gilles, Gateway to the Camargue Between Nîmes and the seaside town of Stes Maries de la Mer sits the beautiful medieval town of St. Gilles. Five minutes from Nîmes Arles Camargue airport, surrounded by the Costières de Nîmes vineyards and fields of peach and cherry trees, this is the gateway to the Camargue. Motorists speeding through this small town on their way to the coast only get glimpses of what is there: a huddle of medieval houses thrown onto the hillside like forgotten chess pieces surrounding their queen, the 13th Century Abbey (Abbatiale).

The «Abbatiale» dates from the 12th Century and its facade is listed by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage Sites, Tokyo Agreement 2/12/98

As you walk through the maze of narrow streets which give shade from the searing heat of the Mediterranean sun, you first set eyes upon the Abbey’s beautifully carved 12th Century façade (now protected by UNESCO) and imposing steps dominating the square in front of you. For centuries it has been an important stop for pilgrims on their way to Santiago. The tomb of St. Gilles, the Abbey’s founder, still lies within the enormous crypt under this beautiful piece of Romanesque architecture. Behind the building itself, through the tiny alleyway at the side of the Abbey, you will find the remains of the ancient chancel from the 12th Century and the famous “Vis de St. Gilles” the stone staircase: a masterpiece of medieval stone masonry. The curators of the Abbey open the tower upon request. Through a narrow alleyway opposite the Ab-

bey lies another of St. Gilles’ treasures: the “maison romane” where Pope Clement IV was born. The building is now an archaeology museum. As you make your way up to the Hotel de Ville exploring the narrow streets, you will discover ornate doorways and, if you’re lucky, get glimpses into hidden courtyards. When you arrive at the top of the hill, you can rest in the shade of the large plane trees and admire the grandeur of the Mairie with a beautiful view over the Camargue. On a clear day you can see the silhouette of Mont Ventoux (the Windy Mountain) with its pale windswept top looking like snow, the sun reflects from its barren peak. To its right, in the distance, you will also see the many peaks of the Alpilles (Little Alps) immortalised by Alphonse Daudet in his famous “Lettres de mon Moulin”.St. Gilles provided inspiration for Antonin Laforet, its own félibre poet (those who revived the Provençal language in the 19th century), and various local artists, but now it seems to have been forgotten by time. Although many of its empty houses have now come to the attention of developers, careful restoration should retain the medieval charm and character of this beautiful town. Because of its location twenty minutes from Arles, Stes Maries de la Mer and Aigues Mortes, and less than an hour from the Pont du Gard and Montpellier, St. Gilles makes a great base enabling you to explore the many attractions this area of France has to offer. Kelvin Mc Conaghey Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 11

Languedoc Lifestyle Cold floor - Cold feet? Do you su suffer from the effect effects Timber battens need to be fixed to your existing floor before layof cold tiled floors? ing the insulation, piping and A tiled floor can be cool in the summer but come winter can be downright chilly. One solution is underfloor heating (UFH). You can still have your tiled floor for the summer but have it heated for the winter, and it can work with a timber or laminated floor. The heating can be either by electricity or water. If you already have a water heating system – a central heating boiler, a woodburning stove or a solar system (although you might need to install additional panels for this) – you could connect into the existing pipework to heat the floor. Electric heating requires a solid floor to conduct the heat from the heating cable to the floor surface, whereas for a timber floor, a water system using conduction and convection to warm the underside of the timber floor is needed. For a hot water system, use a 10 or 15mm plastic pipe laid on a thin layer of board insulation over your existing solid floor and covered in a thin layer of sand/ cement screed. The thicker the layers of insulation and screed the more efficient the system will be creating a heat store. Remember to put in an additional damp-proof membrane of PVC sheeting. 12 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

concrete to fix the new timber floor down. For a tiled floor, the tiling is simply fixed to the screed. You’ll also need a pump and controller to pump the water around the pipework. The electrical system consists of a cable zig-zagged across the area to be heated in loops. The spacing of the loops dictates how warm the floor will get. The cable can either be already fixed to a plastic mesh, at a predetermined loop spacing or as a roll of various lengths where the loop spacing can be set out to suit your heat requirements. Overall, installing UFH is not a difficult or expensive proposition if dif you want warm feet in the winter. David Boxall

“The spacing of the loops dictates how warm the floor will get” The Hepworth website www.hepworthplumbing.co.uk

is a very useful site with links to other sites for UFH and Overlay system.

Again there are various websites where more detailed information can be obtained, for instance

www.klima.co.uk

the piped water system

Languedoc Lifestyle Sally’s trip to France In October Sally, our 11-year-old Golden Retriever, travelled with us by car to the South of France from her home in Devon, England. We were going to visit our family, and to accomplish this journey plans had to be made well in advance. Trips to our local vet started in January she always has her annual boosters then so while she was there she got a microchip inserted in her neck. This gave her an identification number (15 digits) in accordance with the Pet Travel Scheme.

Sally June 2005

This, we were assured, was a painless procedure. Two weeks later she was vaccinated against rabies, followed one month later by a blood test. The blood test confirms whether the rabies vaccination has taken or not.

was more used to the strange lights and sounds.

In Sally’s case it had, as we found out ten days later. Since pets are not allowed to re-enter the UK until six months after a satisfactory blood test result, this part is important, hence the reason for planning well ahead.

This must be performed at a veterinary clinic in France. We found a vet in Calais (address below) who was very kind to Sally. We spent an enjoyable and happy time with our family in France and felt it was all well worth it and we hope to do it again soon. We think Sally does too.

No further blood tests are required in future years as long as the rabies booster injections are given at the appropriate times. We had chosen to travel by Euro Tunnel, since it’s more dog friendly and it meant that Sally would be with us all the time. The journey only took 35 minutes and Sally took it all in her stride, especially on the return trip when she

Between 24 and 48 hours before you arrive back in the UK an injection and treatment is required for tapeworms and ticks that the dog may have come into contact with while on holiday.

Carol Armitage

Useful information: www.defra.gov.uk/animalh Centre Vétérinaire Curie Vet: 139, Bd Curie 62100 Calais Tel. 03.21.82.15.11 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 13

Languedoc Lifestyle The Aude Flyer www.domaine-des-etoiles.com

The Aude Flyer is a web-based newsletter in Aude for the English-speaking community.

I am always looking for fresh input, so don’t hesitate to write to me with your ideas or stories.

After living in the UK for many years, I decided to come to live in France to find good wine, good food and a way of life I couldn’t find in Britain.

We also try and keep up to date with any events or concerts and all informations concerning Aude is very much appreciated. Steve Hedges [email protected]

I was surprised by the lack of communication between English-speaking people and it seemed to me that we needed to get organised exchanging information, give each other hints and tips, etc. Steve Hedges

It’s not easy to understand the French people and their complicated laws. With this aim in mind I gathered together a few interested people with a dab hand at writing. Our newsletter is full of information to help specifically Aude’s English-speaking community find out what’s on, how things work, and read some local writers with some very interesting and funny stories. We have a wine guru and the ‘New Limouxine’ has us all in stitches with her tales.

14 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Languedoc Lifestyle A bit too French Will French businesses be importing Customer Service any time soon or will they be using the home-grown version for a while yet? When we last moved, I had to change the gas tube on the cooker, so I bought one but took the wrong size. I returned to the shop the next day, found the right one on the shelves and went to the desk. The unsmiling woman facing me, who didn’t want to waste her ‘Bonjours’, asked if I had entered the shop with the previously-purchased item. Of course I had! “Well then Madame, I cannot make the exchange.” “But I have a receipt!”. She then explained to me the perfectly obvious scenario of a person keeping a receipt, going into the shop, taking two items from the shelf, opening one and then asking for an exchange! Flabbergasted, I found enough words to ask for the manager. After a few refusals, he arrived and confirmed that I should not have gone into the shop with my gas tube.

« Did you not see the sign as you came in, Madame? ». «No. What sign ? » It was on an A4 piece of paper, sitting on the desk, ten metres from the entrance! Finally the manager suggested to his employee that she should make the exchange. Across the ‘Manche’, at around the same time my grandmother was having trouble with her new dual remote control – she’s a very modern Gran. While out one day, she stopped outside a place selling electrical appliances and decided to ask them for advice. « Hello, I wonder if you could help me here, son. I have this problem …» In no time, the young lad was off with her remote.

A few minutes later, «Yes, I’m afraid it doesn’t seem to be working so here you are», and he handed her a new one in a box… no questions, no receipt, no ID, no forms, no fuss -- and she didn’t even buy it in that shop in the first place! Jacqueline Pérez

Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 15

Around and About Languedoc Far Away but So Close Barcelona is only 350 km from Montpellier: a comfortable three hours drive depending on road conditions. To get to the city centre, follow the signs for the port as Barcelona sits on the Mediterranean. It is a large city and has driving and hotels to match, from the outrageous to the more comfortable.

A good way to get a bird’s eye view of the city is to leave the tour bus on its way back into the centre at

Barcelona

Parking in the city is not a problem with car parks everywhere. You will find one large underground car park on Plaza de Catalunya - right at the centre of the city - so carrying the shopping bags will not be a chore. A great way to see Barcelona is on one of the many open-top tourist buses that leave from outside the Hard Rock Café on Plaza de Catalunya. This tour will take you to all the main attractions of the city and in particular Gaudi’s architectural masterpieces: Casa Batlló, la Pedrera and of course la Sagrada Familia, an incredible church still in the process of being built. Commentary on the bus is in all major languages, so don’t worry if you don’t speak Catalan!

La Sagrada Familia

the ‘funicular de Montjuic’, there are breathtaking views of the city from the hilltop and, from here walk back to the port. The main artery running through Barcelona is La Rambla. It is lively day and night. You will find everything on La Rambla from caged birds and flowers in the daytime to fortune tellers when darkness falls. Just off this avenue in the Old Centre of Barcelona you will find the World famous restaurant “Los Caracoles”. The name means “The Snails” but the menu offers quite a variety of delicacies. It is rather small and does not take bookings, so arrive early if you want to eat in this lovely place surrounded by photos of stars who have dined there: from famous sports players to Robert de Niro. In Barcelona, you will find culture, art, shopping, good food, beautiful architecture, wonderful walks… so what are you waiting for? José Bouzigues

Two charming fully equiped apartments seasonally rented in Nîmes Both independent apartments are part of the host’s house, located in the heart of the «Garrigue» on a private 3000 m2 property with a pool.

Please contact www.cocolistoo.com/ locationsnimes 16 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Mrs da Silva +33 (0)4 66 64 11 89 [email protected]

Languedoc Gardens A Rose by any other Name While looking up the name of a rose the other day I was struck by the charm of many of the old French varieties. Names which conjure up the image of seductive beauties painted by Fragonard or Boucher and which roll off the tongue like a delicous wine. Take ‘Belle Courtisane’, ‘Bouquet de la Mariée’ or ‘Peau Douce’, not to mention ‘Cuisse de Nymphe Emue’ coyly translated into English as ‘Maiden’s blush’. It would do well in the Midi as it is rather tender.

Nostalgia

There is nothing to compare in our own language; ‘Disco Dancer’, ‘English Miss’, ‘Hula Girl’, ‘Peek-a-Boo’ or worse still ‘Sexy Rexy’ are poor alternatives. As for ‘Schoolgirl’ with its description of ‘a rather lanky, large-flowered rose’, it hardly holds much appeal.

Lady Hillingdon, a passionate gardener at the turn of the century, is only now remembered for having confided in her diary «when dear Charles comes to visit me I lie back and think of England.» The irony of this is that the rose, named after her in 1917, was once described in a nurseryman’s catalogue as ‘good in a bed, but better against a wall’ which has been a favourite joke of gardeners for almost a century. Laura Chanter The author runs a landscaping service in the Gard Laura Chanter has lived in Italy and now France for the last thirty years. She studied garden design at Le Grand Mas, Uzès and is currently working on a Mediteranean walled-garden in Dorset.

Then there are the lovely Mesdames as in Isaac Perrière, Ogier, Alfred Carrière which bring to mind elegent ladies, deliciously scented and clothed in Dior. Somehow Mrs.Sam Macready does not have the same ring and with for ‘Climbing Lady Hillingdon’ I see a large tweeded lady, in sensible brogues and a booming voice striding across some grouse moore. Names can be deceptive however, as this one proves, for it is a beautiful, delicate rose with a delicious tea scent and continous looseflowered, double apricot yellow flowers with ruby-red wood and shiny purple-tinted leaves when young.

Just Joey Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 17

Questions & Answers Our experts answer your questions TIPs and RIBs

Q in France? Tony by email How can I pay my bills

A

You can simply pay by cheque, or you can also pay by electronic transfer with a TIP (Titre Interbancaire de Paiement). The TIP is a payment order attached to your bill and was designed for paying recurring bills such as electricity, water, internet, etc. When you pay by TIP for the first time you must also send an identity slip for your current account, called a RIB (Relevé d’indentité Bancaire). The subsequent TIPs will then only need to be signed and posted. You can obtain RIBs from the automated service point or cashier at your bank.

Robin What is a notaire?

Q house in France and the I am looking at buying a

word notaire is often mentioned. Could you explain? Can their charges vary?

Paul W.

A

The public notary is obligatory when you want to buy

a house in France because he has, in particular, the monopoly on the buildings sales. He works for himself (freelance) but, at the same time, he is nominated by the French government and he has to collect all the taxes on the sales he is in charge of for the French state.

Christian

Planning permission Do I need to ask for

Qplanning permission for a

swimming pool and a garden shed ? Ken Montgomery

A

For a swimming pool you do not need to have permission, but you need to send a “déclaration de travaux” to the town hall. They will almost always accept a swimming pool, because this will increase your real estate taxes. For a garden shed of less then 20 m² you also need to send a “déclaration de travaux”, but in this case your taxes will not increase. If you want to build a garden shed bigger then 20 m² you will need to have the permission of the DDE.

You need to send a “permis de construire” to the town hall and they will send it to the DDE. You will receive a letter with a positive or negative answer. In all the above cases they have to give you the answer within two months.

Franck

Skiing Insurance

Do I need to have an

Qadditional insurance

when I go skiing with my family. Carol Hull

A

Most French household insurance policies include Personal Public Liability Cover (Responsabilité Civile Vie Privée) for claims arising from damage caused to third parties, including during holidays. Cover for personal effects is also extended during short stays away from home (typically less than 90 days); the usual limits apply, for example in case of theft, the insurer requires proof of a break-in. Many household policies also include “assistance” which provides limited cover for medical treatment, and tra-

The advice given to you in these pages is relevant to a particular situation and not to be taken as generally applicable. It is only current as of the time of publication. We advise that you take expert advice for a particular situation. Email : [email protected].

Paul Building and renovation

18 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Robin Banker

Franck

Bill

Christian

Estate agent

Insurer

Notary Clerk

Questions & Answers

vel costs for returning home in the event of illness or accident. The emphasis is on the word “limited”; “assistance” does not pay for helicopter rescue, for example. We generally advise our clients to buy insurance with their ski-pass – the cover is very extensive, and relatively cheap.

Bill

.fr

want to create a website. QICan I use a .fr domain name?

Amy King, by email

A

To get a .fr domain name, you must be identifiable by the Afnic (www.afnic.fr/afnic/ presentation_en), so you must either have a SIREN/SIRET number, INSEE number or own a brand (n°INPI). Otherwise, you could buy a .com domain name. www.gandi.net charges you 14.35€ a year for a .fr or .com domain name, and supports redirection of http:// mydomainname.fr to your website and any e-mail like [email protected] to your desired email.

Ludovic

WHO TO ASK

Q

How can I find out about my rights in France? Could you recommend a book or an organisation similar to the one we have in England called the Citizen Advice Bureau? John Read

A

You can find lots of information on the CIRA (Centres Interministériels d e Re n s e i g n e m e n t s Administratifs) web site, http://www.service-public. fr/etranger/english.html. It’s full of very useful information but if you don’t find your answer, you can call their Interministery telephone service on 39 39. They will direct you to someone in the right administration to help you with anything from new laws on the ‘Carte de séjour’ to how to create an association. Unfortunately they don’t usually speak English, but you can email them with your question. You will find the email address on their web site.

Renovation and construction projects undertaken by our dynamic local team, commited to the highest quality of work, in managing all tradesmen to help you achieve the best results with all your construction projects.

Tonie

Marcel

Ludovic

Tonie

Doctor

IT Engineer

Clerk of the Court

Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 19

Languedoc Artisans Master Artisans In this section, we’ll introduce you to local artisans from France and abroad who craft beautiful and useful objects produce original gastronomic delights in our area. If you know someone who would be worth featuring here, please email us [email protected].

Lapidary (Lapidaire in French) Lee BROWN, Lapidary La Taillerie de Nîmes Lee Brown was a mining engineer for 29 years in Australia. During his career, his passion for precious minerals saw him working in numerous deposits where precious gems could be found and cut. Cutting precious stones requires scientific knowledge. Lee Brown arrived in Nîmes 27 years ago and set up the Taillerie in 1989. He is a world famous lapidary and one of the few in France to cut opals. MINERAUX FRANCE AUSTRALIE 212, Impasse Vincent d’Indy - NIMES Tel 04 66 27 00 74 www.opales-mineraux.com [email protected] Exhibition & shop : Wednesday to Saturday 10 H - 12 H, and 14 H - 18 H, Guided tour in English on request.

20 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Languedoc Culture British Screen Film festival Nine years ago a small group of acquaintances – both British and French – decided that their passion for British filmmaking deserved to be shared. The British Screen association was created and with it the only festival of British film in the South of France. This annual event takes place between January and February at the Semaphore Cinema and Carré d’Art Library in Nîmes. The packed programme of previews, special guests, exhibitions and autograph sessions should whet the appetite of any ‘cinéphile’. Each year, the association has commemorated a particular director, producer, writer or actor, from Pete Poslethwaite to the Merchant-Ivory Studios. For this edition they’ve gone one step further and British Screen will provide a unique opportunity to discover the cinematic history of 2006’s European City of Culture – Liverpool! The creation of the new Ryanair direct line to Liverpool last spring stimulated their minds towards creating closer ties between the two cities and Ryanair are one of the official sponsors this year. The choice is also partly due to the President’s recent book on Terence Davies.

«I don’t know anything, I watch. Ignorance is bliss.» Stephen Frears especially for the round table debate on Wednesday February 1st, and it’s become quite common for the occasional actor to pop in too. To find out more you can visit the website www. ecransbritanniques.org or pick up a programme at the Sémaphore, the Carré d’Art or most main Tourist Offices. Last but not least, the Languedoc Team will also be present on the opening night. What more could you ask for? Jacqueline Pérez

From January 27th to February 5th, you can appreciate some late 19th Century scenes of Liverpool filmed by the Lumière brothers, several films by Philip Pilard and Terence Davies, and the recent film ‘Millions’ written by the widely respected Liverpudlian screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce. On preview, you will find ‘Shooting Dogs’ by Michael Caton-Jones and ‘Opal Dream’ by Peter Cattaneo. For those of you who haven’t yet had a chance to see the fabulous new adaptation of A Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy now is the time and Judi Dench fans like myself will be thrilled by ‘Mrs Henderson Presents’. To top it all, the majority of the directors and screenwriters concerned will be there, Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 21

Languedoc Cuisine Cooking the French way PATE A CREPE 2 eggs 1/2 litre of milk 200 gr flour A drop of oil A drop of salt

CHICKEN WITH FIGS AND HONEY

Mix all the ingredients well and leave to sit 20 mn. Warm up your pancake pan on a high temperature. Add a little butter to grease and spead the pastry evenly. Turn when the edges golden.

GATEAU AU YAOURT (Use the empty yogurt box for mesuring) 1 yogurt 2 Pots of sugar 3 Pots of flour 1 packet of yeast (levure) 3/4 Pot of oil and 1/4 Pot of water Mix it all together well in a food processor. Place in the oven in a non-stick cake tin. Cook at 180°/gas mark 4 for 55mn. To see if it’s cooked pierce it with a knife, if it comes out dry it’s ready. You can add apples or chocolate chips.

1,5 kg chicken 500 gr white figs 100 gr sweet onion 2 garlic cloves 3 tbsp of olive oil 2 tbsp of honey 1 tsp of cinnamon 1 drop of safron Salt & pepper In a pan warm up the oil and fry the chicken until golden. Add the chopped onion, the finely cut garlic and the spices. Cover with warm water and cook on a mild temperature for 30 mn 10 mn before the end of the cooking, add the halved figs and honey. Serve with wheat or rice.

HOTEL RESTAURANT Tennis . Pool . Playground

Grill - Sunday brunch In the heart of the garrigue, 30 mn from the sea, Nîmes and Montpellier. On presentation of this advert, the management offer a 10% discount on all hotel rates. 22 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Tel: 04.66.80.24.24 www.villavicha.com

Languedoc Liquid Assets Cheers! wine for the pilgrims on their way to Spain. Not even the French Revolution, in its zeal to strike down the Church, could resist allowing the Abbaye de Valmagne, which had been making wine since 1138, to continue doing what it did – and still does – so well.

www.academie-du-vin.com

Ah, but that was then. Sure, some of those vineyards you see from the highway are producing plonk, but the past decade has seen an upsurge in quality wine-production throughout the area. And about time, too: the first documented vineyards were just above Narbonne, planted by the Romans in 125 BC. Pretty soon they were producing wine all over the area, until the Edict of Domitius in 90 AD put a stop to it, but the locals had gotten the hang of it, and the Middle Ages saw the monasteries and abbeys producing

After a dizzying succession of crashes, frauds, and failures, though, the better winemakers picked themselves up and got serious about producing less and better. Ed Ward Adventurous winemakers didn’t mind their produce being labelled vin de pays if great taste was inside the bottle, and more traditionally-minded ones continued to work out that age-old formula of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre which is the basis of the AOC Coteaux du Languedoc wines today.

A voyage of discovery through the vineyards intertwined

with French cuisine under the watchful eye of our chef and wine expert

ACADEMIE DU VIN ET DU GOÛT

Wine tasting courses Olive oil based courses

Creation of a wine cellar Initiation into tasting

Château de Clary Tél. 04 66 33 04 86 30150 Roquemaure Fax 04 66 33 04 87 [email protected] Come to celebrate St Patrick with us and discover the Académie (see agenda p26)

LEARN AND IMPROVE YOUR REGIONAL WINE KNOWLEDGE Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 23

Alcohol puts your health at risk

Here’s Hugh Johnson in 1991’s Modern Encyclopedia of Wine: “The plains of the Languedoc between Narbonne and Montpellier are the notorious source of calamitous quantities of low-strength blending wine.”

Where’d the bad reputation come from? Where it usually does: overproduction. Once the railroads opened connections to the rest of the country in 1855, the vines went in, and by the end of the century, the Languedoc was producing 44% of France’s wine.

Another Country, Another Language Women’s tables and men’s sofas

I

f you’re looking for logic in language, you’re barking up the wrong tree. All languages are the product of a committee composed of millions of people squabbling over the course of many centuries. And it’s only been in the last few of those centuries that we even began to agree on standardized spellings of our words. Yours truly will be explaining a new, overwhelming, inexplicably complicated aspect of this ‘other’ language for your monthly amusement and delight.

I

n French, all nouns have a gender, either masculine or feminine. This can be a difficult concept for English speakers, (personne [person] is always feminine, even if the person is a man!). It is best to learn vocabulary with either a definite or indefinite article, so that you learn the gender of each word with the word itself. Getting the gender of a word wrong can lead to confusion at best and a completely different meaning at worst, since some words have different meanings depending on their gender! Ending

is usually

Exceptions

-ion

feminine

un lion un scion un avion

un million un billion un bastion

-té

feminine

un comité

un invité

-ée

feminine

un lycée

un musée

-age

masculine

une page une nage une cage

une plage une rage une image

-eau

masculine

l’eau (fem.)

une peau

T

here are some tendencies in the gender of nouns, but this is only a general guideline! Masculine

Feminine

un auteur

author

une hauteur

height

le bal

dance

la balle

ball

le bout

tip, end

la boue

mud

le fait

fact

la fête

party

le fil

thread, string

la file

line, queue

le maire

mayor

la mer la mère

sea mother

le pot

jar, pot, tin, can

la peau

skin

Jacqueline Pérez 24 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Idioms Some of our colleagues have talked about the many difficulties involved in learning the French language and nothing could be truer than when it comes to idioms; even a linguist can get her knickers in a twist. It’s a great way to spice up your daily conversations though! So the next time your showing off your swimming pool to the new neighbours, it didn’t cost you an arm and a leg but the eyes out of your head…

‘ça m’a couté les yeux de la tête!’

Jacqueline Pérez

L’école de français pour les étrangers Specialists in teaching French as a Foreign Language in the Gard Come and study French in a friendly atmosphere, lessons are given for all levels. It‛s in the heart of the town. We offer a wide range of cultural and social activities to help you discover Nîmes and the Region.

Call us on: 06.14.12.85.60

or email us: infofl[email protected]

www.viventleslangues.com

2 rue Formi, 30000 Nîmes

SCHOOL HOLIDAY CAMPS FOR 2006 Séjours linguistiques vacances scolaires

Agence de voyage spécialisée dans les séjours pour les jeunes

Language stay at the Hochelaga Football academie in Cévennes, Immersion holidays in Ireland & England, Immersion with a difference in Wales, Tour de France sports camp, Circus in the Alps, English in Chester

HOCHELAGA Séjour linguistique et sportif Quartier de l’Eglise dans les Cévennes, 30160 Bessèges, France Séjours immersion en Irlande et en Angleterre, Immersion au Pays de +33 (0)4.66.77.51.86 Galles, Tour de France sportif, Email: [email protected] Cirqu’en Bulles dans les Alpes, Garantie financière APS, RCP : Anglais à Chester GAN Assurances Cabinet Richard LADET, Alès (30)

Séjours scolaires***Classes découvertes***Echanges scolaires*** Séjours aventures et linguistiques

> General French > French for exams > Tailor-made courses > French for business > Summer courses > Special Senior courses > Activities and excursions

Accent Français

Accent Français: 7 rue de Verdun 34000 Montpellier - France Tel/Fax: 0033 467 58 12 68 [email protected] www.accentfrancais.com w w w. a c c e n t f r a n c a i s . c o m

7 rue de Verdun, 34000 Montpellier, tel/fax. 0033 467.58.12.68, [email protected] Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 25

Languedoc Diary JANUARY Expo

Native Orchids, Natural History Museum in Nîmes 04 66 76 73 45

26, Second hand book market in Gabian (34) Concert 28, Let it Soul at the JAM Montpellier

www.lejam.com 04 67 58 30 30

Cinema 27 to 06/02, BRITISH SCREEN FESTIVAL

Cinema Semaphore & Carre d’Art in Nîmes www.ecransbritanniques.org

Events 29, Second-hand book market in Gabian (34) 04 67 24 79 29 [email protected]

FEBRUARY Expo

Native Orchids, Natural History Museum in Nîmes 20 to 22, VINISUD, Parc des Expositions Montpellier. www.vinisud.org Discover and taste all the local wine. Over 1500 exhibitors

Events 2, Evening at Aubais (30) wine bar with BritsNîmes. [email protected]

2, Pub night with British Cultural Association O’Carolan’s, Place Ste Anne Montpellier from 19.30 Ask the barman for the BCA pub night, [email protected] 8, Au Pair in America programme information, French American center 19h Mtp www.frenchamericancenter.com 12, Second-hand book market in Cers (34) from 9.30 to 12.30 at the Village Café 06 85 86 22 12 [email protected] 15, BCA (British Cultural Association) Conference - Cape town & botany, Institut de botannique, 163 r Brossonet, Montpellier. Email: [email protected] for details and time 23, Pub night, La Bodega du Poète in Nîmes BritsNîmes

MARCH Expo

Native Orchids, Natural History Museum in Nîmes

Concert 15, John Scofield at the JAM Montpellier

Played with Miles Davis between 1982 and 1985. Jazz; funk & blues to jazz-rock

24, Roy AYERS; famous title «Everybody Love The Sunshine» and 63 albums, Hip-Hop, Soul, Funk as well as Jazz to please all ages! At the JAM Montpellier

Events 2, Evening at Aubais wine bar with

BritsNîmes. [email protected]

2, Pub night with British Cultural Association O’Carolan’s, Place Ste Anne, Montpellier 12, Second-hand book market in Cers (34) 17, Saint Patrick night at the Académie du Vin, Roquemaure. Taste 6 beers, Irish music and meal. 04 66 33 04 86 www.academie-du-vin.com (see ad p23) 26, Second hand book market in Gabian (34)

If you are organising an event and would like to inform our readership, then please forward us the details by email [email protected] or by post Languedoc Sun 17 rue des Bartavelles, 30132 Caissargues

Native Orchids When we think of Orchids we often imagine some exotic island in the middle of nowhere but they are also here right under our nose. There are more than 70 native species thriving in Gard alone. The Natural History Museum in Nîmes is currently showing an exhibition dedicated to these magnificent flowers; their history, their evolution and their status. For the keen Botanists among you, you’ve got until March 30th to pop in and have a look.

26 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

The English Speaking association in the Nîmes area www.britsnimes.com [email protected]

Languedoc Sun pages L BCA British Cultural Association, Montpellier, Email : [email protected], Website : www.bca-montpellier.com Irlande Culture et Musique, Tel. 04.67.03.15.61 BRITSNIMES English-speaking Association in the Nîmes Area, www.britsnimes.com, Email: [email protected], Tel. 04.66.26.07.34 Franco Scottish Association, Contact: Vivian Rossy Tel. 04.67.79.01.58, [email protected], http://france.ecosse.free.fr, Montpellier Dutch Association, Nederlandse vereniging Languedoc Rousillon Contact: J.M de Meij, Montpellier, Tel. 04.67.72.66.91 [email protected] Maison de Heidelberg (Franco-German Cultural Center), Tel. 04.67.60.48.11, www.maison-de-heidelberg.org Maison de Cambridge (British cultural center), 1 rue Général Riu, Montpellier Tel. 04 67 64 07 86 Footlose, Contact: Ms. Dogdson Tel. 04.67.54.38.37, Rés. Plan des 4 Seigneurs, 300 Rue des Brusses, Montpellier, Irish dance, tap dancing class, [email protected] Maison de l’Europe, Montpellier Tel. 04.67.02.72.72, Opening hours on the website: www.europelr.org Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Montpellier, 2595 boulevard Paul Valéry, Tel. 04.67.42.66.11, Estanove, http://danseecossaisemtp.free.fr French American Center, 4 r St Louis, Montpellier, Tel. 04.67.92.30.66 www.frenchamericancenter.com American Women’s Group, Tel. 04.67.58.13.44, Baillargues www.awglr.org [email protected] American Library, Montpellier, 60 rue des Etats généraux, Tel. 04.67.13.43.99, [email protected], www.bibliotheque-americaine.com

Service-public.fr Tel. 3939 (french spoken) www.service-public.fr/etranger/english.htm The official gateway to the French civil service information on-line. The site has practical guides classified by theme, a civil service directory and public web sites directory and you can use the links to access the texts of laws, public reports and job offers in the civil service. The search engine will help you find information in all the gateway topics and on the public web sites.

EDF Electricity Tel.0810.00.3434 Website in English ww.edf.fr/259i/Homefr.html You can pay on line FRANCE TELECOM Tel.0800.36.47.75 http://francetelecom.com/en English-speaking

service for phone enquiries. They can even tell you when you may get broadband in your area.

CPAM, French Health Insurance Advice Line in English www.saint-lo.ameli.fr Tel. 0820.904.212 Email [email protected]

British Général Consulate Montpellier 64 r Alcyone MONTPELLIER Tel. 04 67 15 52 07 AIRPORTS: Nîmes Arles Camargue Tel. 04.66.70.49.49 Montpellier Méditerranée Tel. 04.67.20.85.85 Avignon Tel. 04.90.81.51.51 Carcassonne en Pays CathareTel. 04 68 71 96 65

Websites in English about the area www.the-languedoc-page.com www.frenchpropertyreport.com www.frenchentree.com www.midilife.com www.languedoc-france.com www.domaine.des.etoiles.com www.southerntimes.net www.angloinfo.com www.expatica.com

Help someone out Who would have thought, 14 years later, the Homeless kitchens would still need you? We start on December 15th until March. We serve almost 60 million meals.

We need your help today!

Call us on 04 66 04 12 70 to know where the nearest center is to you.

Nederlandse vereniging Languedoc Roussillon

If you speak dutch and live near Alès-en-Cévènnes, please contact M. de Meij E mail: [email protected] Tel / Fax 04.67.72.66.91

If you wish to add your association, please send us your details : Languedoc Sun - 17 rue des Bartavelles - 30132 Caissargues or email: [email protected] Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc News 27

Languedoc Classifieds FOR SALE Palm IV OS in English with charger and leather case. Very good condition €50. Please call laurence on 06 85 54 68 87 or email [email protected] Villa for sale near all commodities in Caissargues (between Nîmes and the airport) 491 m2 garden, Bungalow 92,5m2, 3 bedrooms, fully equiped kitchen, fire place, air cond, €215.000 call 04 66 38 07 31 Stone house for sale in village between Pezenas and Beziers, 90m2, garage, living room 20m2, equiped kitchen office, 2 bathroom, 2 toilets, south-facing, available immediately, €138.000 please call 06 81 12 29 82 or email for photos at [email protected] Beautiful stone 5-bedroom farmhouse for sale near Anduze. Full information at www. chateaukeyboard.com [email protected] WANTED Young working couple want to buy a house in the countryside near or around Alès. Must have 3 bedrooms and a garden. Please call Jacqui on 06 65 42 33 90 or email jacqueline. [email protected] French female student in Trilingual PA - equivalent of HNC, looks for a work placement from May 22nd till June 30th. Skills in secretarial tasks & reception. Tel.:+33660902170 email [email protected] We are looking for information about the two trees of Saint Aunes, next to the big Leclerc. Any suggestions? Please email us: [email protected] 28 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Wanted native experienced English teacher in Montpellier for week end and evenig courses. Please call Philippe on 06 63 55 05 62 I am looking for an Anglophone who could give me conversation and pronunciation lessons (mainly Business English) from time to time. Thanks for calling David 06 23 30 62 26 ‘WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR TALENTED PEOPLE TO HELP OUT. ESPECIALLY WRITERS, P H O TO G R A P H E R S AND DESIGNERS. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO LANGUEDOC SUN, PLEASE CONTACT US at [email protected]

SERVICES Experienced native English landscape designer offers services around the Gard and Herault. Please call Laura on 04.66.63.22.32 email [email protected] PILOT FOR HIRE ! Birthday present, wedding aniversary... Flight in the region and around, up to 2 people, €100 per hour. See the camargue and photograph your house. Please call Robin on 06.78.30.79.82 Need a hand? I am looking for odd jobs to help pay for my beer, wine, and cheese addiction. Please call Mike on 04 66 87 68 00 ENGLISH HOMEOPATH (LCHE) - NIMES Homeopathy can help with ALL emotional & intellectual problems and most physical difficulties. Consultations are by appointment only and are 100% confidential. Tel 04 66 67 87 30

PLACE YOUR AD Each issue of Languedoc News reaches at least 20.000 English speakers. Send your ad, name address and payment (no credit cards or foreign cheques) Please make cheques payable to: LANGUEDOC SUN Send to : Classifieds Languedoc Sun 17 rue des Bartavelles 30132 Caissargues Prices: Classifieds up to 5 lines (1 line = 30 characters incl. spaces, commas, etc)............ €10 Add. costs: Commercial or Framed Ad...........................€40 Real Estate Classifeds page 31, please contact us Deadline February 24 for issue March/April PETITES ANNONCES EN ANGLAIS Traduction en anglais gratuite Donnez-vous la chance de faire lire votre annonce par environ 20.000 personnes anglophones. Envoyer l’annonce, nom, adresse et paiement (Chèque français en euros uniquement) à l’ordre de LANGUEDOC SUN Adresse : Annonces Languedoc Sun 17 rue des Bartavelles 30132 Caissargues Tarifs: Annonce jusqu’à 5 lignes (1 ligne = 30 caractères, incl. espaces, virgules, etc)...................€10 Côut sup comm. ou encadré..€40 Immobilier p 31 nous contacter Avant le 24 février pour parution mars/avril

Languedoc Sun

in

Languedoc Sun Our regional magazine

If you provide a service in English, you too can advertise Languedoc Sun! Call us on 06.85.54.68.87 or email us: [email protected]

SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY

English Bookshop and Tearoom 155 rue de la Carreterie, 84000 AVIGNON, tel. 04 90 27 38 50

http://shakespeare.bookshop.free.fr [email protected] Try our homemade Devon Cream Tea while reading a book

MAKE YOUR BANKING EASY ! For all your banking needs, we offer you an English speaking telephone banking service For information call us on: +33 (0)4 66 70 30 96 CREDIT AGRICOLE DU GARD

LANGUEDOC SUN is published by/est publié par : Association Languedoc News, Le Mas Chabert, 30500 ALLEGRE Tel: 06.85.54.68.87 Email: [email protected], www.languedocsun.com - All material copyright©2006 Directeur de la publication: Laurence Boxall Editeur: Ed Ward Rédactrice en chef: Jacqueline Pérez Printed by: Imprimerie Rouverand, 2 rue Ruffi, 30000 Nîmes, Dépot légal à parution - ISSN en cours Collaborated on this issue/Merci pour la participation dans ce numéro de: Paul, Wendy, Yvonnick, Jacqui, Robin(s), David(s), Carol, Jo, Emma, Amanda, Benoit, Gaëlle, Laura, Steve, Serge, Christian, Bill, Franck, le Club photo de Salindres, José, Kelvin, Ludo, Andrew, Marcel, Tonie, Bob, Nanou, Gill & Bryan

Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 29

Languedoc Sun

Join our list of distributors?

Languedoc Sun Our regional magazine

Send me 6 consecutive issues of the Languedoc Sun starting at n°:

 N° 1 January/February 06  N° 2 March/April 06

To be sure of getting every issue, fill out this form and send it with payment

France...................................€20,00 Europe (EU)..............................€25,00 Europe (not EU)..........................€30,00 Other (USA Canada Australia NZ)...€45,00 Subscription payment Euro cheque at French banks (no credit card or foreign cheques) Please make cheques payable to Languedoc Sun.

Send to: LANGUEDOC SUN 17 rue des Bartavelles 30132 Caissargues 30 Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun

Cinemas: Semaphore Nîmes - Utopia Avignon - Diagonal Montpellier Shops & Businesses: Crédit Agricole du Gard, Barjac, Aigues Mortes, Book in Bar, 8 rue du Bras de Fer, Mtp - Shaekspeare Library, 155 r de la Carreterie, Avignon - Best of British Pézenas - Cave coopérative d’Aubais - Cave Oléicole d’Aigues Vives - Chambre des métiers et CCI du Gard - Maison de l’Europe - Vivent les Langues 2, rue Formi, 30 000 Nîmes - Pub John Murphy’s Nîmes - Ecoles de langue Accent français, 7 rue de Verdun Montpellier - Meubles Shaker Alès... AIRPORTS: Nîmes, Montpellier, Avignon

Online www.the-languedoc-page.com www.languedocsun.com www.domaine-des-etoiles.com www.cm-gard.fr/cm30 www.britsnimes.com See the full list with links to our distributors website on

www.languedocsun.com

[email protected]

We print 7.500 copies which are available in Shops, Tourist Offices (see list in the next column) as well as many other distribution points. To find out where you can pick up a copy, see the full list with links to our distributors on our web site www.languedocsun.com

Tourist Offices: Nîmes, Anduze, Alès, Uzès, Sommières, Beaucaire, Aigues Mortes, Montpellier, Pézenas

17 rue des Bartavelles, 30132 Caissargues

Name :....................................... Address : ..................................... ............................................. ........................................ Postcode:................................... Town :........................................ Country : ..................................... Telephone : .................................. Email : ........................................ Amount enclosed :...........................

For information call 06 85 54 68 87

Where to find Languedoc Sun

Subsrciption form

Languedoc Real Estate

Villas Village houses Gîtes Vineyards Hotels Farmhouses Apartments Prestige properties

Languedoc Sun, the place to be! Jan/Feb 2006 Languedoc Sun 31