The Herault Times Issue 14 (Aug 2013) by Gatsby L'Herault

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAGAZINE FOR THE HERAULT

The Herault Times Issue 14. August 2013

www.theheraulttimes.com

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THT August 2013

Contents THT 04 05 06 07 09 10 11 12 13 17 18 19 21 22 25 26 28-31 31

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Editorial Letters My Place And Another Thing Restaurant Review Wine Times Business / Legal Garden / Nature GTBY Lifestyle What’s On History E-Male Art Subscribe Recipe Times Classifieds Sport

For your consideration

HT Features

HTArt

My Place - Lord Steel

Lipstick!

Des Crins et des Ailes

Street Painting

How green is this energy

Keeping Tabs.....

Competition WIN - Mademoiselle et Chocolat (Montpellier) are serving brunch between 11h30-15h – eggs, sausages, bacon, potatoes, mini chocolate fondue, fresh bread and jams…win brunch for Two at Mademoiselle & Chocolat Which sport does the HT partner in the Hérault? Win a fantastic new book tanslated into English

‘Pézenas Architectural Heritage’ by Jean Nougaret(2013) Editions ACPLR, France English Version (translated by David Manley) Which French playright is associated with Pézenas?

To enter all competitions send your answer by email to:

competition@theheraulttimes.com

The HT Charity The HT is proud to support CSF. CSF is a self-funded and voluntary organisation doing wonderful work in the region. If you can help or donate to this important charity please do.

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Food & Wine7

The Herault Times 1 Grand Rue, St Thibery,34630 Publisher: Gatsby B Editor : Emma F Advertising Director: Tom Buchanon Art Editor: Daisy B Art: L.A.

August Editorial

EDITORIAL editor@theheraulttimes.com

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The Herault Times The Herault Times is owned and published by L’Herault Art L.A. Publishing (51926616300010). The publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights in regards to copyright of their work. No part of this work covered by the copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written consent of the publisher. No person, organization or party should rely or on any way act upon any part of the contents of this publication whether that information is sourced from the website, magazine or related product without first obtaining the advice of a fully qualified person. This magazine and its related website and products are sold and distributed on the terms and condition that: The publisher, contributors, editors and related parties are not responsible in any way for the actions or results taken by any person, organisation or any party on basis of reading information, stories or contributions in this publication, website or related product. The publisher, contributors and related parties are not engaged in providing legal, financial or professional advice or services. The publisher, contributors, editors and consultants disclaim any and all liability and responsibility to any person or party, be they a purchaser, reader, advertiser or consumer of this publication or not in regards to the consequences and outcomes of anything done or omitted being in reliance whether partly or solely on the contents of this publication and related website and products. The publisher, editors, contributors and related parties shall have no responsibility for any action or omission by any other contributor, consultant, editor or related party. END

ISSN: 2261-561X

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world. Nelson Mandela

ot wanting to be sycophantic (you can tell just by that opening phrase that I am going to be), but we have just watched our eldest happily bussing off into the sunset to make the most of all the free concerts all over the Languedoc with her band of merry friends, things stashed into their rucksacks that I don’t want to know about, all in the knowledge that they have passed their BACs! So I have reserved this space to say THANK YOU TO TEACHERS. Thank you to all of you. For dragging yourselves out of bed every morning, for being supportive and patient, for putting up with being made the scapegoats for what we can’t always manage as parents. You made a difference in whatever immeasurable, unquantifiable way. THANK YOU! Now have a great, long summer holiday, you deserve it. ** he social networks have been a fun place to be in recent weeks. From the fantastic ‘cat doing silly things’ videos (look this up) to Sarkozy. He may not be sharing his migraine or a list of other banal woes but even ‘Nico’ has been Facebooking

away trying to raise funds as his party overspent during the election campaign against Hollande and France doesn’t take kindly to this. And if political ‘grey areas’ aren’t rife enough in whichever country you come from, several government officials current and past are fighting or hoping not to fight corruption charges. But ‘connection’ in any form is getting harder to avoid. As it turns out France is currently one of the leading nations on the use of ‘The Internet of Things’, a concept which predicts everything around us being linked to the internet. In his article Martin Pearce highlights the growing influence of technology and the internet in daily life in all aspects of life. There is nowhere to run to – except Bolivia maybe… or Russia? ** politician cut from finer cloth, Lord Steel of Aikwood, kindly shares his thoughts and experiences in this month’s My Place; we visit the extraordinary Des Crins et Des Ailes, the home of horse whisperer Davy and his wife Audrey Lacroix, where predator and prey live side by side – a simple illustration of what can be achieved with complicity and

respect. Tim King considers the value, sustainability and effectiveness of wind farming, particularly its impact on the ecosystem. And for a touch of dashing scarlet, in lifestyle this month Hugh MacCamley purses his lips and delves into the history of that most iconic of French make-up items, lipstick. ** inally, it’s a prickly theme for a publication, but we couldn’t resist. We leave you this month with a poem (kindly sent in by Lucky) in defense of typos and spelling mistakes:

Eye have a spell chequer It came with my Pea Sea It plane lee marks four my revue Miss Steaks I can knot sea. Eye strike the quays and type a whirred And weight four it too say Weather eye am write oar wrong It tells me strait a weigh. Eye ran this poem threw it Your shore reel glad two no, Its vary polished in its weigh My chequer tolled me sew..... So the next time you see a mistake, do let us know but remember....it could be worse!

WRITERS

he writers and contributors are the stars of this magazine and without them I would have all of my hair and would not be drinking gin at 9am every day. Having said that, you should know more about them. All their bios can be found at www.theheraulttimes.com. Please read them, they deserve to be recognised for their fantastic contribution and for being patient and generous to me.

The Cover Story The HT and The AT promote original artwork.

We are proud to have the talents of Mr Barry Beckett producing the wonderful covers that you see currently.

dharmacamera@googlemail.com 4

Letters Men’s Swimsuits (one) Brigid expressed her disapproval of our municipal pools’ policy concerning men’s swimsuits. As a French native, I can answer her question: when swimming shorts appeared, they were aimed at use... in swimming pools or on the beach/ in the sea... and they were accepted as such in public swimming pools! But they were so successful that sportswear companies created beautiful ones that teenagers, and young men (and middle aged men) started wearing anywhere and everywhere, including in municipal swimming pools. Men and boys put on their “swimming trunks” in the morning, and went everywhere in them, and then they went to the pool where they bathed in the same trunks and not in “just for swimming” swimsuits, which considerably increased the amount of “germs” in the pools. Which is why they were prohibited, and “traditional swimsuits”, (that we call”maillots de bain”) were asked for. Now I wonder, have British men always worn swimming trunks, even before they appeared in France? From what I saw on the internet, in the 50’s, British and American men bathed in what Brigid calls “speedo type” swimsuits.Oh oh! Were men in the 50s less modest than they are nowsadays? Just joking! Or else, there is still a possibility to go to the beach, and swim... in the sea, where any swimsuits are accepted, aren’t they? Personally, what I do not like about municipal pools is when they want us to wear swimming caps! Anyway, here is why swimming trunks are not welcome in municipal pools. Thank you! Anne S Men’s Swimsuits (two) I quite like ‘speedos’ being compulsory in swimming pools. Gives me a day of wholesome entertainment! Dave D Men’s Swimsuits (three) Speedos (issue 13). Brigid, I LOVE them..hours of entertainment watching the guys

who can, the guys who can’t and the guys that shouldn’t! Jan H, 34000

enough for me it is good enough for them. Isla, Isle of Wight Smacking I read your piece on smacking last month and thought it was really good. What right do parents have to smack their children? NONE! Claire by text

There were a lot of letters about this...I’m sure it was because of my modelling...”I’m too sexy for my shirt, so sexy...” Despondent It is a terrible shame that you felt the need to publicize gay (abnormal) marriage in your magazine. I write this letter to show my outrage that you should feel that you liberals think that we can be pushed and forced to read and accept something that nobody really believes in. I will not be reading anymore. Please withhold

And a lot more feedback was received. I don’t know, my mother used to get me to play on the motorway when I was little and I’m ok? Yoga Thanks for the yoga spot in Montpellier. Been and loved it. All should go. Annabelle Art The person who complained about art in the last letters page is an idiot. I love these pages, there is so much art everywhere and sometimes it is good to be led. You keep doing it. Dee, Sète

I wondered whether to print this letter. You madam (yes I’ll tell the world you are a woman) are living in a bygone era where intolerance and prejudice is unacceptable. You are definately entitled to your opinion but not reading anymore? Oh goody, ta ta and don’t forget to close the door on the way out.

French I have begun reading your magazine 3 months ago and it is very interesting. I would like to thank you for the writings on social experiences in France as it is sometimes hard to read this here as our magazines are sometimes frightened. Noémie

Smacking What a good read (smacking last issue). I was smacked if I was naughty as a child and my wife and I on maybe 3 or 4 occasions smacked our daughter when she was younger but only as a last resort. Did her no harm whatsoever. Leonard P

Whats On (Issue 13) I went to Manilla Vice in Sète. (see last letters) and it was brilliant. Dark yes but brilliant. Your reviewer knows nothing. Withheld

Smacking Article So good to see this article but so absurb it makes me laugh out loud. There is a big difference between smacking a naughty child and abuse that these do gooders go on about. Helen, Hérault

Knows nothing? A bit harsh don’t you think? How about an arm wrestle to see who wins? Pesky Pigeons of Pezenas Is anyone else bothered by the

Smacking The world has gone mad. My mother often gave me a quick ‘nip across the legs’ when I was younger. Why do so many people and organisations just need to give advice which is not called for or asked for? I don’t have children (yet) but if it was good

IMPORTANT:

his magazine is intended for the use of the individual(s) who picked it up. This magazine may contain information that is helpful, opinionated and can at times be unsuitable for overly sensitive Persons with no cultural credibility. If you are not sure then may we politely suggest that you pass it onto someone else as to continue reading is not recommended and may constitute an irritating social faux pas. No animals were harmed in the making of this magazine, and believe it or not one single opinion is definitive- period. 5

pigeons in any other area nearby? They are so dirty and are now brave enough to shelter and nest in doorways and windows where they obviously foul too. The noise of them early in the morning is irritating especially when they are so close to skylights. What can be done? Thank you! Jeanne C I can help here Jeanne. If you catch them by luring them with tasty treats they are lovely in a pie! ...says Abse I am totally in love with Abse’s writings. And yes, I know, it is said that serious readers fall asleep when someone writes about their own cats... Guess I finally belong to a minority! Or I am not that serious ;-) Dutchie ...says Abse (2) I want to meet Abse, he is funny and reminds me of my 3rd husband. Zoé 3rd Husband? How many have you had? He’s a grumpy, miserable so and so... and Zoé, can’t you just ask one of your ex-husbands to call Dutchie, she needs to get over Abse. Abse a pin-up, why do I bother? Note Please e-mail us letters or use the website to send them in. Or if you know what this is below, send us a text now.

Lord Steel of Aikwood Lord Steel has had a home in the Hérault since 2000. His many achievements and positions include leader of the UK political party the ‘Liberal Democrats’ and Joint Leader of the Social & Liberal Democrats as well as being the 1st presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament in 1999

You were the President of the British anti-apartheid movement for many years. Although the countries may have changed, do you think racism and segregation is now more of an issue than it was when it ‘focused’ on countries such as South Africa? Whilst institutional apartheid has been abolished in South Africa there are many parts of the world where sectarianism creeps into state policy. I am in favour of diversity with amity and wholly opposed to diversity with enmity, as was well stated by the new Archbishop of Canterbury.

My Place

Why did you first visit the Hérault region? It was in 1999 to visit friends. We first bought a small house in Hérault as our own millennium project in 2000, but our children complained it was too small, so when a larger one came up in the same street but in poor condition we bought it in 2002 and the family spent the next three years doing it up. We get there about three times a year – once for a long break when we come by car and load up with wine, but each of our three children also use it with their families, so it gets well used. What was it that made you want to have a home here? I just enjoyed the peace and beauty of the region and having friends who had settled here. Do you think spending part of your childhood in Kenya and your father’s stances influenced you? My four teenage years in Kenya were hugely influential as was my father’s ministry there. Africa remains a great interest which I visit often. I am President of the Africa All-Party Parliamentary Group. Do you believe that UK political parties should diversify to give a more individual stance? Not sure what you mean – if you mean more individual freedom against the party whips, we do enjoy that in the Lords to some extent, and yes I favour that. The Abortion Act of 1967, speaking out against Israel and their Human Rights record and leading the British antiapartheid movement to name three. Do you regret fighting these causes and the impact that they had on you and your family with the death threats and hate mail? No, I am very proud of my role on these three issues, and I rarely took death threats and hate mail seriously. I have just been made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists recognising the contribution to women’s health, enjoyed my seven years as president of Medical Aid for the Palestinians, and rejoiced in the ending of apartheid.

And with the anti-Islamic rhetoric now abundant in western countries do you have a comment? I oppose fundamentalism of every kind – Islamic, Zionist, Christian or any other kind. The notion that “I am absolutely right and you are wholly wrong” is an indefensible attitude in today’s enlightened world. What do you think about the growth of the far right in France and in Europe generally? It is worrying not just in France but in nearly every European country, but in the end people are sensible and remember where such creeds led Europe in the past. Do you believe that without the Falklands War, your statement at the Liberal Assembly “Go back to your constituencies and prepare for government” would have come true? Yes indeed, the Liberal-SDP alliance reached 51% in opinion polls before British politics was side-lined by Mrs Thatcher successfully becoming a combination of Boadicea and Britannia! What do you think about the proposed referendum on the UK being in Europe? Do you think that this would have a serious economic impact on the UK and also for expats? I am concerned at the potential damage to UK interests since the EU is our biggest trading partner, but I don’t think it would seriously affect the expat community. Would you tell us about your classic cars, and if you could have only one which would you own? My wife would tell you I have had too many over the years, but actually only one at a time. My current classic car is a twenty6

year old Jaguar XJS convertible, which has visited Hérault. My biggest long rally was in 1998 London to Cape Town in an Austin Gypsy. I stupidly sold many years ago a Daimler Barker special sports (an elegant coach built convertible) for £100 but now they fetch over £20,000, so I guess I would choose to have that back. It is said that you didn’t approve of your wife’s tattoo. Have you softened your stance at all? Maybe a joint one next time? I did not really disapprove – I just said “I hope that is a transfer!” But it wasn’t, and in fact the leaping jaguar is the crest atop my coat of arms and in carved wood surmounts my stall in the Thistle chapel at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. You are a keen fisherman. Where are your favourite places to fish? Do you fish at all when you are in Hérault? I am in a four-man syndicate which takes a boat every Friday in the season on Bowhill Loch near Selkirk where we try for rainbow trout. Usually two or three of us get there each week. I tried to be a “pecheur” locally but following advertising signs only found ponds mainly designed for children. Is there a quote or comment either by you or to you which has stayed with you throughout your life? Too many to select just one. Who is the most inspiring politician or leader that you have ever met? Jo Grimond was the greatest personal influence on my political life, and of those I have met Nelson Mandela the most admired. Do you have a favourite wine from the Languedoc? Same answer as to question 4 above! They are one of the great joys of Hérault.

And another thing.......says Abse Shorts and other summer safety issues

ou won’t know this, but for many years I was a health and safety representative for my trade union, and underwent rigorous training to ensure safety in the workplace. Now summer is here I am able to draw upon my experience and proffer some useful tips for the summer. Ah, summer’s here at last. And out come the shorts. The long winter means that this year legs are paler than in previous years, and we all have to face the new danger of being blinded by white calves - and even thighs. As British holiday makers arrive this problem is exacerbated, and you are all advised to wear sunglasses at all times. Tourists cause a range of major hazards in summer in the south of France. Not only do they turn up in your favourite restaurant, they have the indecency to speak English, too loudly in an embarrassing way, and are unable to read the simplest things off the menu, causing you major embarrassment about sharing a culture and language with them. And this always happens just when there’s something you don’t understand on the menu, and then the waiter patronises you too, by speaking English to you. Gah! Tourists on the road are another hazard.

They don’t know which side of the road to drive on as proved by the bloke I saw at Montpellier Airport driving the wrong way around the roundabout, and why are they obeying the speed limit for goodness sake?

That’s really dangerous. I advise you strongly to hoot them and to overtake, gesticulating in a way that ensures they learn the road rules in the future. And another thing, all those Dutch number plates but where are the Dutch? Yellow NL number plates here, there and everywhere but do I ever hear anyone speaking Dutch in restaurants and bars? No.

I’ve got nothing against the Dutch mind, it’s just that they NEVER seem to leave their cars. That can’t be good. Back to clothing, a serious hazard mentioned in an earlier issue of this magazine is the swimming attire known as the banana hammock - which it seems is compulsory for men in public pools for obscure health and safety reasons.. Frankly the major safety issue here is the damage the banana hammocks cause to onlookers. Referring back to my sunglasses advice, in this case I would advise blacking out the lenses completely. Moving on to food hazards, the major summer danger is rosé wine. During these hot days there’s little more refreshing than a glass of rosé. Except two glasses of rosé. It’s like lemonade – so refreshing and easy to drink – but therein lies the danger: Rosé Blindness. After a bottle (or two) of rosé it becomes difficult to see at all - causing problems with walking, driving, all sorts of things, and is especially dangerous on a night out. As you might find out in the morning. My advice: stick to the red. Well chilled of course.

The Changing Times of The Hérault Wine, Olives and Sun. So natural to us now but....

sn’t it amazing how times change? Whilst you relax with a favoured wine and soak up the sun that the Hérault offers take a moment to go back to the the beginning of the 20th century, where sales of wine plummeted and disease affected a large part of the areas vineyards. It was so bad that thousands of local wine producers revolted. It soon escalated and the ‘revolt’ was crushed swiftly and efficiently by the government of Georges Clemenceau. And then in 1956 the winter was so

severe that the frosts accompanying it damaged the olive growing areas so that the recovery of this did not really diminish until the late 1980s. And now we have some of the best wines in the world, the fastest growing regional airport in Europe and the the Montpellier area has expanded quicker with population than anywhere else in France and even Europe. Olive growing was so decimated during the frosts of 1956 And that’s how times can change. that it was not until the late 1980s that they recovered

Santé!

Des Crins et Des Ailes Manes and Wings “He communicates love in such a way that our birds of prey and horses have complete confidence in him.”

armony, confidence, complicity – are the key words essential to the work of Davy Lacroix

ocated in the hills, in a haven of peace where the flora of the Mediterranean offers a sublime panorama, Davy and Audrey Lacroix and their horses, birds of prey, dogs, chickens, geese and goats have set up home. But they are no ordinary couple who just happen to like animals… In the saddle as a young infant, well before he could walk on steady feet, Davy Lacroix discovered his gift of being able to communicate with animals. “He’s one of those rare people,” explains his wife Audrey,” who just knows how to speak to them. It’s not something you can explain.” After training in respected equestrian schools, Davy set up his own equestrian and dressage centre, then after several years he decided to take to the road. Between 2006 and 2012 he went to horse breeders and owners to share his knowledge and give lessons, travelling across the breadth of France and further afield to Germany, Switzerland and Belgium. During that time he also devised a show to demonstrate the potential for working with horses, in which he used no saddles, bridles or bits, guiding the horses with his voice

through a gentle equitation, rather than traditional French dressage. It was in Amnéville where Davy met Audrey, who was working as a dental assistant at the time. She left everything to follow him and his horses. In 2012 they found the five hectares of land behind the village of Aspiran and set about building with their own hands a place to settle themselves and their animals. Here, Davy cares, raises, shares and teaches, his greatest desire to communicate the incredible relationship that humans can have with animals involving no force or attempts to break them, says Audrey, “He communicates love in such a way that our birds of prey and horses have complete confidence in him.” Predators and prey living together, it is a harmonious environment which Davy has named ‘Des Crins and Des Ailes (Manes and Wings); there are spacious pens for their numerous birds of prey which include, great horned owls, eagles and Harris hawks; a shaded paddock for their horses; and a custom built ring for training and performing a weekly summer spectacle of horsemanship. Throughout the year, Davy offers specialist courses for horses and horse owners, helping owners bond with their horses or helping them or their animals overcome problems. His sessions are for both 8

beginners and experienced riders. He also runs courses on falconry, both on horseback and on foot, which are open to children from aged 8 years upwards. As well as the graceful display of horsemanship, the weekly spectacle Le Voyage d’Elfica involves all of their animals – including the chickens, geese and goats (one of whom is named unforgettably Betty Boop) - who Audrey tells me are capable of learning to almost the same performance level as horses. You will see Mabelle, the superb two year-old female Great Horned owl who, despite a wingspan of 1m 90cm, is so quiet when she flies she can be behind you and you will not hear her; and Noblesse, a young eagle from the Steppes who Davy raised from an eaglet. But above all you will be able to appreciate the unique bond between Davy and his animals. He is always happy if he sees someone in the audience moved to tears, witness to the precious connection between us and the rest of creation. The spectacle, Le Voyage d’Elfica takes place every Friday throughout July and August, 20h30. To book, telephone 06 80 38 47 65 For further information telephone Davy or Audrey Lacroix: 06 80 38 47 65 Des Crins et Des Ailes, Colline Gibertou, Aspiran 34800 www.liberty-horses.eu

The Lunch Review

Next Month Fine Dining with Apicius

Good Food in the places that YOU find. This Month: Le Garde Manger 5, Centre Commercial du Pounchou 34490, Murviel-les-Beziers T: 04 67 94 09 58

a salad that was ‘oh yes, delicious and exquisite’ at various times and a steak (rare) which was ‘ok, can’t complain’. The wine menu (so I was told) was good and we both had a glass (one red, one white) and it went down well with the main course of meat. We added a desert to this lunch only in respect of this review (rude not to) and went for some classics. I had the Baba au rhum vieux antillais which was a bit too ‘rum’ for me (less is often more you know, I like to be teased) and I’m not convinced I didn’t hear the cream come out of a can but on the plus side it was the lightest Baba I’ve had in France. Our other desert ( I write it like this because I don’t care who you are, go on and taste everybodys) was a Moelleux au chocolat or to me, chocolate cake and this was gorgeous. Slightly bitter, and the second drool of the day. So, to sum up. I like this restaurant. Is it a shining light in my culinery taste records? No. Julie, front of house and co-owner is lovely, attentive and can’t be faulted. The food is good and consistent and the starters are first class. I do wonder if this is not an Apicius restaurant catering to a lunch crowd but I don’t care, I reckon you should all visit it to tell me if I am right or wrong.

have to say this is not a restaurant I would have found on my own but when visiting a friend she said she and her family had always had a fantastic meal so who am I to argue with that? She also said it was very reasonable which is the criteria I was given by the editor. Location. The restaurant is on a roundabout opposite the tourist office in what looks like the entrance to an industrial estate, not really inspiring but then again, adequate parking is a good start in my book. We went at lunchtime and it was pretty quiet, I counted 4 other diners so my radar was a little wary at this time. You can eat inside and the decor is pleasant and inviting although if you have been to brasseries in any major city you’ll recognise it. On the other hand, down here this is quite rare so good if you are looking for this. There is also the option to sit on ‘the front’, a space in front of the restaurant (above) the car park. Starters were 7€ and main courses 16€ so we hopefully looked at the menus and well, we weren’t disappointed. A starter, main and drink cost us 13€ each and mine comprised foie gras as a starter and the duck as a main. The foie was sweet and the accompanying fig ‘jam’ I would guess was home made and stunning. I can safely say I drooled! The duck was good too. I have had better but I have had a lot worse. My accomplish in this adventure went for

Do you have a review for the Lunch Review? If so, email it to us at info@theheraulttimes.com

Traditional Beer Brewing in the heart of Mèze

n 2000, two brothers passionate about the art of brewing beer upped sticks and moved to Hérault in order to bring their shared vision to life in the artisanal brewery they called Brasserie d’Oc. But why traditionally brewed beer? Barley, hops and water, a touch of yeast and above all lots of knowledge, between art and science… The beers of Brasserie d’Oc are brewed from traditional recipes, using only natural products, with no conservatives. Flavours are balanced with subtle blends of fruit and both bitter and aromatic hops and the different malts which give off the aromas of cereals. The fermentation in the bottle, known as ‘sur lies’, allows the beer to produce its own gas which prevents the stomach from ballooning. As the beer is not pasturised, all of the vitamins usually destroyed in industrial production are conserved. Equally, the benefits of the fermentation process are also preserved.

Brasserie d’Oc is open for visits throughout the summer, with tastings and brewery tours (videos in German and English available). Adults 3€ (includes tasting), children up to 18yrs free (includes tasting of Brasserie d’Oc’s Cola Occitan). Monday –Saturday, 14h-19h. 26, Ave du Mas de Garric, Mèze, 34140. www.brasseriedoc.com

The 3 minute review. Restaurant Name: La Taverne alsacienne 18 Quai Triquette, Cap d’Agde, Your review: We often feel disappointed when we eat in Agde, maybe we’re just unlucky but that’s the way it is but this is as good as it gets for seafood. I’m serious, just order seafood and you will be very happy. From the moule gratin to the poisson it is the best. I love the cod. I will say that my husband has tried other items apart from fish and he too says it is excellent so don’t just take my word for it. Great place, great food. We love it. Hope you do too. Price (per person) : 16€ - 25€ Out of 20: Food = 20 Service = 15 Sent in by: Alexandra J 9

Value = 15

Wine

Rosemary George

Wine.... and so much more

ales from the cellar door, or vente directe, are an important part of most small estates’ turnover and yet wine tourism or oenotourisme as the French more elegantly say, has never been very developed in France, compared with countries like New Zealand or the United States, where any winery worthy of the name has a restaurant or a picnic area and a shop. However, things are looking up in the Languedoc, and most especially during the summer months, when there are all manner of attractions to entice the summer visitors into a cellar. So here are some ideas. The 18th century château de Flaugergues, in the outskirts of Montpellier, is classified as a monument historique. It is the property of the Colbert family, and is a lovely place to visit with a magnificent staircase and salon, and some elegant formal gardens, as well as a good restaurant, and a tasting caveau. www.flaugergues.com The château de l’Engarran in the appellation of St. Georges d’Orques also has magnificent formal gardens, with stylish statuary and some evocative carvings on the facade of the château. They do guided visits for small groups, which need to be reserved in advance. But for the casual visitor there is a

charming wine museum, with an eclectic mix of old implements, as well as tasting of a good range of wines. www.chateau-engarran.com Exhibitions are another way of attracting visitors. Anne and Jonathan James at Domaine Ste. Hilaire outside Montagnac have just opened a permanent art gallery, The Silk Gallery, with a reference to Jonathan’s legal career. It is a splendid space, which once housed the vendangeurs’ dormitory. The opening exhibition was Tony Gaunt’s Les vignes dans tous ses eclats and in August they will have an exhibition of photographs by Marc Deotte, to illustrate his new book, Pasaran. And in addition they organise wine tastings and picnics. And if you are looking for a chambre d’hotes in the middle of the vineyards, this is the place to stay. www.domainesaint-hilaire.com Domaine la Croix Belle in Puissalicon always hosts a summer exhibition in their old cellar attached to their tasting room. As well as enjoying a local artist – this year the exhibition is entitled Exposition Garance Expression - you can also admire the enormous wooden barrels that were once part of the tradition of the Languedoc. www.croix-belle.com And the coop in Montpeyroux has a very worthwhile exhibition in its smart new shop called entitled La Memoire sociale de la cooperation. The Cabrières coop also works in conjunction with a local photography group to host a photography exhibition. And the Château la Liquière in Cabrerolles is exhibiting the work of Pierre Bendine Boucar from Nimes, entitled Le Temps des fleurs, for

the whole of July and August. Wine of course is meant to be enjoyed with food so some wine producers arrange dinners that will show off their wines to best advantage and make for an enjoyable evening. An American couple, Ken and Alison, arrange a series of dinners throughout the summer and the next one is at Domaine la Clapière, outside Montagnac, on 27th July. www.kenandalisoncatering.com Here in the Languedoc we are blessed with some fabulous scenery so ballades vigneronnes are an irresistible way of engaging the tourist. My friend, Noëlle Bardou, who is one of the great enthusiasts of the Languedoc, has organised les Decouvertes de Noëlle, a walk around the picturesque village of Montpeyroux, followed by tasting and lunch for 17€ . Every Wednesday and Friday morning in July and August, but you do need to book. Contact noelle.bardou@gmail.com And finally there is music. At the lovely Château Coujan outside Murviel les Béziers, there is a concert of Spanish and South American music with La Gata Negra on 6th August. Reservations on 04 67 37 80 00. www.coujan.com So there is more to wine than just wine. Go out and explore! Rosemary George MW www.tastelanguedoc.blogspot.com

Business / Money / News Business and Economy

Michael D’Artag

ichael is away this month but will be back next month. He asked us to tell you that he is NOT having a holiday but is dividing his time keeping Silvio Berlusconi out of jail, trying to drum up funds alongside ‘Nicky’ Sarkozy to

keep his party in business and advising ‘Franny’ Hollande on what it really means to make decisions. Oh and he’s starting a podcast on the wonderful politics and business of France and Europe!

Key Numbers for 2013

Where is the money going?

Despite the economy, the department of Hérault 2013 budget voted by county councilors has risen slightly, achieving a figure of 1,377 billion euro, making it the most significant budget in the region. Social aid represents more than half of the allocated funds which, according to André Vezinhet president of the Conseil Générale de l’Hérault, is the result of both necessity and choice: that of defending solidarity in a period of crisis.

INVESTING FOR INCOME

y article last month on lifestyle investing seems to have struck a chord with some people, as I received several calls after it was published. The calls were mostly from people who are interested in improving the income that they earn from their financial capital. This is not really a surprise because since 2008, two major things have happened. First, the interest rates have reduced dramatically and second, people are now more concerned than ever about the security of their capital held on a bank deposit. Since the credit crisis, it can be more difficult to obtain a decent income stream from capital, but certainly not impossible. This is because the investment world has changed and asset classes that were traditionally used before to generate income, no longer meet this objective in isolation. In addition to the low interest rates that we are experiencing, sovereign debt in the developed world, for example, can no longer be relied upon in isolation to meet an investor’s income needs. Even investing in property for income can present difficulties. So if an investor needs to draw income, where do we find it today? How do you choose the assets and funds in which to invest? Is it wise to take professional independent advice? The answers to these questions and more can be found in the full version of this article on the Business Page section of The Herault Times website. In addition, if you did not see last month’s article on lifestyle investing, this can be found on the same page by clicking on the link to The Spectrum IFA Group page.

In millions of euro: Infrastructure and communication: 29 Roads: 103 Education: 101 Security: 50 Social action: 736 Youth culture, sports and leisure: 62 Transport: 41 Housing, relocation, environment: 82 Economic development, agriculture, tourism: 30 General services: 143 Total 1, 377 billion euro

35 days and still Microsoft haven’t given permission to release the interview. What are we scared of Mr B?

If you would like to have a confidential discussion on this subject, please contact me either by e-mail at by e-mail at daphne.foulkes@spectrum-ifa.com or by telephone on 04 68 20 30 17. The Spectrum IFA Group advisers do not charge any fees directly to clients for their time or for advice given, as can be seen from our Client Charter at http://www.spectrum-ifa.com/IndependentFinancialAdviceinEurope-Charter. html. Daphne Foulkes SIRET 522 658 194 00017 Numéro d’immatriculation ORIAS 10 056 800

Brunch in the

City It’s summer… it’s the holidays… feel like getting up late and having brunch! Located in the heart of Montpellier’s charming “boutique’back streets, Mademoiselle et Chocolat are serving brunch between 11h30-15h – eggs, sausages, bacon, potatoes, mini chocolate fondue, fresh bread and jams…

Win

brunch for Two at Mademoiselle & Chocolat (see pg 3) www.mademoiselle-et-chocolat.fr (Mademoiselle & Chocolat, Quartier St Roch 10 rue Roucher 34000 Montpellier, 04.99.63.18.45) 11

Gaura Rosy Jane

In The Garden

Nature Notes Colin Trickett

with Gill Pound

have noticed recently that there is some confusion about jasmines so I thought it might be useful to clarify things a little. True jasmines belong to the same family as lives. The most well known is Jasminum officinale, a vigourous climber with scented white flowers in June. There are many other climbing white jasmines although most are suited to warmer winters than we experience in the Languedoc. Jasminum polyanthemum is the scented climber with pink tinged buds that is often sold by florists in the spring but it is generally hardy here in sheltered positions and Jasminum grandiflorum is a shrubbier plant, it’s scent is magnificent but it is only hardy to about -5°C; this is the Jasmin de Grasse that is cultivated for the perfume industry. Most climbing jasmines seem to be white but there are other shrubby jasmines which are generally yellow in flower; you may see the small, native Jasminum fruticans when you walk in the countryside in spring and Jasminum humile is another yellow flowered shrub to about 1m50 which flowers from April to June and makes an excellent background to a border and is also good in a hedge. Since many people are so familiar with the idea that jasmines are white flowered, climbers and scented the specific name ‘jasminoides’ is often applied to plants which are not at all related to jasmines and other plants get ‘jasmine’ in their common names which can lead to further confusion. Solanum jasminoides is a blue flowered (or white in the form album) climber that is in the same family as potatoes, it is wonderfully free flowering. Trachelospermum jasminoides (the Star jasmine) is a member of the Apocynaceae (the same family as periwinkles and leanders); it is a fabulously scented evergreen climber which flowers from June to August and Mandevillea laxa (the so-called Chilean Jasmine) is another deciduous climber from the same family with large,

scented white flowers from June to September. ** August is usually the driest month of the year and one in which the garden is often resting and can look a bit jaded. Watering and weeding where and when necessary will continue to be 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 start to 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, Gaillardias 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 • Clip back lavenders once they have finished flowering, but never into old wood • 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 • Prune roses which aren’t repeat flowering once all flowers have finished For further info contact Gill Pound at La Petite Pépinière de Caunes 21, Avenue de la Montagne Noire, 11160, Caunes-Minervois. Tel: 04 68 78 43 81 www.lapetitepepiniere.com

e are now into July and the trees and shrubs are alive with that most evocative South of France creature -The Cicada. Like them or dislike them, one thing is certain, you can’t ignore them! They are achieving decibel levels in colossal numbers beyond the imagination. Their image also provides a multitude of “GrotShops” with a plethora of souvenirs. There are over two thousand varieties of these harmless creatures worldwide and about seven here in Europe. Their life cycle is truly fascinating. In July, the male ‘sings’ to attract a mate. This ‘singing’ is achieved by contracting and relaxing the muscles attached to the lower abdomen. There is however a small problem - both sexes are totally deaf! It is the vibration created in the atmosphere which attracts the female. But attracted she is and procreation subsequently takes place. She lays between three hundred and four hundred eggs and deposits them, ten at a time, in slits she makes in the bark of trees. Job done - she then dies! Some weeks later the larvae are formed and each one, after drying in the sun and gaining a hardening of its outer shell, drops to the ground. There it burrows into the earth to a depth of around eighteen inches where it feeds off the sap from the roots. The larvae remain underground for a period varying from two to a staggering seventeen years, dependant on the species. Here in Languedoc it tends to be around four years. At a given set of unknown signals, but most certainly inclusive of ground temperature, within the space of two or three weeks, they all burrow out of the ground. They cling to a tree or shrub, break out of their outer shell and start ‘all over again’. The empty shells remain on the trees and shrubs and provide valuable nutrition for the birds. Isn’t nature fantastic!

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Good To Be Young

Listening to right now:

Is Art Current? Young journalist Theo King reviews Gleize/Metzinger: Du cubism et après:

J Metzinger Cycliste au Vélodrome d’hiver’ 1913 - 1914

hen my Dad suggested we go to an exhibition about Gleize/Metzinger and Cubism, I accepted reluctantly because for one I had never heard of these painters and

for two I thought Cubism was only Picasso’s thing. Probably like most people who aren’t art specialists, when I hear the word “Cubism” I immediately think of Picasso and maybe – if my brain is awake – Braque. That’s because at school we were taught the simple formula: Cubism= Picasso. Having visited the exhibition I can see this is much too limited – it really opened my eyes, broadening my view of cubism, showing how diverse it is. The exhibition shows two painters, Albert Gleizes and Jean Metzinger, who both played

Eclaireurs de la Nature

n France, the Buddhist Scouts have formed an association called Eclaireurs de la Nature, which offers children an opportunity to reconnect with nature. Children live together as a group, learn how to work as a team and how to be responsible for each other. For example, they set up their tents and cook meals together under the guidance of their group holders. All children are welcome. The key principles are: - not to discriminate on the basis of people’s origin or belief system - to offer a universal education based on

a leading role in the evolution of Cubism in France and its spread across the world. They were part of the Parisian melting pot at the beginning of the twentieth century, and both were big names at the time, although now they are over-shadowed by Picasso. So for people of my age, the strong point of the Lodève exhibition is discovering seldommentioned painters and the fascinating way they saw the world. When I first looked at the canvases, though, I found it hard to understand what the painters were trying to do. I knew Cubism was trying to show reality in non-real way through sharp geometrical shapes and taking away perspective, but why? Looking at portraits, still lifes or landscapes made out of cubes, squares, spheres and blocks of colour seemingly mixed-up haphazardly I tried to understand the aim of it all, what they were trying to tell us? I have to say alone, I failed. Bewildered, I looked for help. The annoying thing is the long explanations on the walls are, I find, rather unhelpful if you don’t know much about painting. They say little about Cubism and what they do say is expressed in abstract words which don’t mean much to a young adult discovering this whole world. My advice would be to arrive when there’s a guided tour with a conférencier* – they’re friendly, helpful and they bring the whole thing alive. Don’t hesitate to ask basic questions. It’s honestly the best way to visit the exhibition and get the most out of it. In this exhibition you can see that Cubism is the first step towards modern, present-day abstract art and I could appreciate how hard it must have been to break with traditional ways of seeing (Their early work is very wisdom and non-violence, and - to respect the environment “The scouts are one of my best memories ever, because we can find the person within us. We’re not embarrassed to express ourselves how we want, not like in school. I got involved with the scouts because I love nature and being free, which becomes stronger in me every year I come here. I’ve taken part in two camps and its great fun getting on with my friends and the new friends I make. All the wonderful times under the stars, playing games together, swimming… to live each moment is such fun, and now it takes up a big place in my heart, it’s unforgettable.” Eliza, 13 13

unconventional) – Especially when everyone at the time disapproved of them . Another thing is that some paintings resonate with what we’re learning in history: Metzinger’s ‘Cycliste au Vélodrome d’hiver’, for example, a place full of joy and energy when he painted it in 1914, but now remembered as where the Jews were held on their way to Auschwitz. What I most appreciated about the exhibition, and why I recommend it to every teenager who is, even slightly, interested in art, is that it provides examples of how Cubism influenced writers and poets like Apollinaire, sculptors and even film-makers and architects. There are two short cubist films running in the exhibition itself and another downstairs. Before I went I thought Cubism was a bit old-fashioned, but the exhibition shows how modern it is, how it still influences present day art. I left feeling thoroughly pleased I had learned something new, at first slightly off-putting and intellectual, but then with some guidance highly interesting.

J Metzinger Femme nue à lettre 1946

Benno Schlict

Bang Bang - will.i.am Come & Get It - Selena Gomez Play Hard (Ne-Yo & Akon) [New Edit] David Guetta Hott in Herre - Nelly

Musée de Lodève. Exhibition until 3rd November, 2013 *At 11.00 and 15.00 every day except Sunday

The camp takes place at Lerab Ling, near Roqueredonde.

For more information contact laure.laville@free.fr - children ages 8-11yrs or romainfernandez06@gmail.com - ages 12-14 yrs

How green is this energy? ÂŠTIM KING 2013

A German study estimated wind-farms kill at least 200,000 bats a year, and that number is rising, with mortality highest when the turbines are on exposed ridges, like the ones above LodĂ¨ve.

pascals is enough to kill a rat,” says Erin Baerwald, author of the Canadian study. “Bats are much smaller and wind turbines produce a pressure drop of 5 - 10 kilopascals.” Birds are not affected by barotrauma because they have rigid, tubular lungs. The terrible irony is that bats are drawn to wind turbines because insects – their principal food – gather in the heat generated by the blades and in the light on top of the mast. Also, when seeking a mate, bats congregate at the highest point – so they go to a wind turbine to eat and reproduce and instead are sucked to their death. A German study estimated wind-farms kill at least 200,000 bats a year, and that number is rising, with mortality highest when the turbines are on exposed ridges, like the ones above Lodève. So who cares? Bats get a bad press. Their jerky, flittering wing movements make us nervous – and then there’s their connection with vampires...... a few thousand less, why worry? Because bats eat insects – lots of insects. In a night a bat will eat 1,500 insects – in year a small colony may get through 9 million. Many of those insects are harmful to us – the death-watch beetle, for example, or just those wretched blood-sucking mozzies. Already the malaria-carrying mosquito is back in southern Europe – if we take away its biggest predator it will spread even more quickly. Then there’s the matter of the law: bats are protected by national and European law. The irony is that if you or I deliberately kill a bat, we are liable for a heavy fine, even a suspended prison sentence, while others are given hundreds of thousands of euros to build wind-farms and thus kill thousands of bats. Do we care about such illogicality? The wind-farm project in the Fenouillèdes (Pyrénées-Orientales) will almost certainly kill the last remaining pair of Bonelli’s Eagles in the Languedoc-Roussillon. Further west there are perhaps 20 pairs left, then that’s it. Over and out. The military term for bird and bat mortality is “collateral damage” – regrettable but inevitable: the price to be paid (by the bird or bat, not by us) for producing what we like to call “green electricity.”

t the moment in the northern part of the department there are 6 projects for 56 wind turbines. Although far from densely-populated areas, they will nevertheless be an unavoidable fixture in the landscape, towering 350 feet above that crest of hills behind Lodève and visible all the way down the Herault Valley. As an integral part of an aeolian Maginot Line, stretching from the Spanish border up into the Massif Central, directly in the flight-path of thousands of migrating birds, their impact on wildlife will be considerable. In theory birds will rise above them, but the reality is that many, exhausted after crossing the Mediterranean, keen to get to their nesting sites, will be flying too low and so be killed by the turning blades. But even the larger, resident birds of prey are in danger. Anyone who has watched an Eurasian eagle owl, one of the world’s largest owls, going full belt at a seemingly solid wall of trees and without pause sliding its massive six-foot wingspan between the branches like a ghost melting into castle wall will be sceptical that such agile birds can be affected by a slowly-turning blade. But leaves, branches and tree-trunks do not move – the owl races towards a wind turbine unaware that what is a gap now will not be a gap when it gets there. Wind farm projects kill thousands of birds, many of them protected by law. But according to several studies, for every bird killed there are ten bat deaths. Bats are important in our fragile eco-system, the growing number of wind-farms are a serious threat to their existence and, for those who care about such things, the manner of their death is particularly unpleasant. The bat, with its sophisticated echo-location radar, is well-equipped to avoid solid objects. Indeed, in a Canadian study 90% of bats killed by wind turbines successfully avoided the falling blade – but were then caught in the vortex created by its down-draught. In a vortex the pressure drops suddenly, the bat’s lungs burst and it drowns in its own blood – an effect known at barotrauma. The smaller the animal, the smaller the pressure-drop needed to burst its lungs. “4 kilo-

HT Life Style in partnership with

Architect: G. Kaloghiros

Lerab Ling, Buddhist Centre www.lerabling.org

n announcement has just been made by Turkish Airlines that it will not continue with its ban on flight attendants wearing red or pink lipstick with nail polish. Without entering into any political arenas here, the original ban was framed in order to protect the “visual integrity” of its female staff. Orthodox reasons could justify the ban from one point-of-view but in a rapidly modernising Turkey a restriction of this nature appears extraordinary. Historically, to the other extreme, some 6,000 years ago Ancient Mesopotamia was a degree more positive about this cosmetic for women. However, it was not composed of the same materials as today, being made up of crushed jewels and painted onto the lips. Thankfully, women do not have to go quite to that extent today. By the end of the 19th century, Guerlain, the now well-known French cosmetic company, began to manufacture lipstick. This event followed closely the first commercial lipstick invented in 1884 by two perfumers in Paris. It was covered in silk paper and made from deer tallow, castor oil, and beeswax. Since then it has developed a wide market comparatively quickly. At this moment in our liberal modern cosmetic world lipstick has adapted to the imperatives of diversity with flexibility. Colours, shades, types and presentations match with an era that assumes change. By 2012, MAC was selling one lipstick every two seconds. Three out of the next four best-sellers were French; Clinique Almost Lipstick, Lancôme L’Asolu Rouge and Lancôme Rouge In Love. According to a survey conducted by Vanity Fair women own 7 lipsticks on average and use only 2.5 of them on rotation. The trend setter for this year in France and elsewhere is red lipstick; sexy most certainly. However, lipstick that’s a bold poppy shade with a matte finish because, “It’s passionate and strong,” said makeup artist Pat McGrath backstage at Prada, where she chose the colour to complement spring’s bold prints. Just as with most items sold across the counter in contemporary France the Bio régime has been unable to resist this essential facial asset. This is absolutely to the advantage of the product. Recent health controls have exposed many lipstick brands still fabricate with lead residues with others containing shark fat. In one sample of 33 brands about 66% had lead. Others contained carcinogen petrol derivatives and allergenic parabens. Bio-lipstick is made from alternative constituents such as jojoba oil for moisturising; shea butter from Africa which nourishes the lips; essential oils for fragrance and wax. Colours are provided by natural pigments of mineral origin. A further significant selling-point here is that they are not tested on animals. The French predilection for women to make-up has usually remained very pronounced. The overseas view of French women have an elevated reputation for making-up well and for the way they wear

lipstick. One website from the USA entitled “Rules for The Modern Girl” talks about “My Inner French Girl” under the tag for red lipstick. Among other topics she expresses gratitude to Ines de la Fressange’s guide book “Parisian Chic” for her advice not only on dressing-up but on how to make up, including tips on lipstick. Christine’s is just one from scores of sites expressing similar sentiments. Characteristically French is the preoccupation with the psychology of lipstick usage. From the several surveys conducted in France about it, one claims that in hard times economically women increase their expenditure on the accessory, especially red. While the fact that such a hypothesis comes from Leonard Lauder who in 2000 was Director General of the Estée Lauder group, one could be a trifle sceptical. However, in the Second World War working women also increased purchases of red lipstick as a means of keeping up their personal and collective morale. Another piece of research after the 2008 by Sarah Hill et al. from Texas Christian University has also found the same behavioural pattern further substantiating this theory. Research by Désirée de Lamarzelle for “Beauty Press” published in Marie Claire earlier this year suggests that the way in which women

Lipstick

With a long, illustrious history behind it, lipstick has everything a woman needs to take it into the next century.

use their lipstick and the shape of the end of the stick subsequently, are indicators of certain female tendencies. For instance, if it is flattened then she is in harmony with others; normal shape, she has self-control or if it is a concave shape then she is reserved and introverted. Of course, it may also have a connexion with how it is applied as a mechanical habit only but we need follow up studies to validate de Lamarzelle’s findings. Norms and mores surrounding lipstick have changed over the decades. Back in nineteenth century France public making-up was frowned upon, though the most celebrated French actress of that epoch Sarah Bernhardt, “la Divine Sarah”, put her red lipstick on in public which was seen as rather shocking but she did it. As we move across the twentieth century it became a touch more acceptable to apply it publicly with brief deftness but not as a prolonged spectacle. Intriguingly, a poll conducted by Une Femme in 2007 was split equally on this practice. Without doubt, the aid of a classy Dior compact mitigates outcomes. French women have been seen so preening in trains, the metro and in the café bar. Studies in France on the effects of lipstick colour have found various phenomena. Nicolas Guéguen and Céline Jacob of the Université de Bretagne-Sud discovered that waitresses who wear red lipstick receive more tips from male patrons (not female) than those using other tints. Explanations include healthy appearances, sexual arousal or oestrogen levels. Whether the gender theorists like it or not, objectively speaking, there is no such thing as a unisex brain. In conclusion, we have to leave the final word with the American comedian Jerry Seinfeld, “Where lipstick is concerned, the important thing is not colour, but to accept God’s final word on Text: H MacCamley where your lips end. 16

The struggle against the Tiger Mosquito

he mosquito Aedes albopictus, also known as ‘the tiger mosquito’ was discovered in the department in the last two years. This mosquito, which can transmit dengue and chicungunya virus, cannot be eradicated. However, as in other departments in the South of France, an action plan, developed under the authority of the Prefect is in place. The Conseil Générale is responsible for this, with the support of the Agence Regionale de Santé (ARS) and the ‘Entente interdépartementale for mosquito control in the Mediterranean littoral’ (EID).

What is the tiger mosquito? The mosquito Aedes albopictus, originally of tropical origin, is also known as the ‘tiger mosquito’ due to the black stripes across its body. Despite prolonged treatments, eggs have been spotted in a number of places, including on the many ovitraps (device used to control mosquito populations) distributed by the EID, as well as larvae and adults in the

Yoga Posture of the month Tadasana – Tree Pose

surrounding areas.

This is a posture to open the hips and knees. The hips are pressing forward while the bending leg Does the tiger knee is pressing back. Keep your tailbone tucked in. mosquito carry (TIP: Avoid arching your lower back outward to help diseases? keep the foot high upon the thigh; better to hold the No. The mosquito foot a little longer and keep the pelvis tilted forward.) is not itself a carwww.yogabikrammontpellier.fr rier of the dengue or the chicungunya viruses. It can only them away), organic waste. transmit if it bites someone already infected. • Change plants and flower water at least There is no danger of transmission of the once a week, or if possible avoid plants virus between humans. standing in excess water; replace water in Since its appearance in France, there have vases with damp sand. only been 4 recorded cases of dengue or • Ensure good rain water and sewage chicungunya in the Var and the Alpes-Maridrainage. Clean guttering, drains and drain times in 2010. There are no dengue or chicungunya epidem- pipes and culverts regularly. • Cover water reservoirs (water containers, ics in Hérault. cisterns and basins) with a mosquito net or a simple cloth: How can I combat the tiger mosquito? • Cover swimming pools when they are not The tiger mosquito is an urban mosquito. A in use and ensure that there is no standing widespread mosquito control campaign using water on plastic sheeting or treat the water chemical treatments will not achieve anywith a solution of diluted bleach or chlorine. thing. The objective is to eliminate the places • To limit adult mosquito populations: where it thrives, lays and where the larvae • Keep tall plants and hedges well trimmed develop. Success will be down to individual and cut back, thin trees and gather fallen fruit responsibility. and vegetable debris and reduce sources of humidity (limit watering) and maintain your What can I do? garden. • Eliminate places where there is stagnant For further information contact: water, rubbish heaps, unused tires (you can fill them with earth if you don’t want to throw www.albopictuslr.org

Talk to Maggie Have you ever wished that you could be more in control of how you’re feeling in any given situation? Do you sometimes feel that your emotions are hijacking you, and before you know it you’re feeling anxious or unhappy. Positive future projection is a technique that can enable you to see things how you want them to be and to make a choice to access more positive feelings. To do this you need to see your chosen future clearly. Notice whether you are seeing it as thought or an image; is it in colour or black and white; is it like a photograph or a movie; are there associated sounds, smells? Now connect with the feeling that goes with that positive image or thought. Then on a scale of 1 – 10, where 1 is not much, to 10 feeling you’re bouncing off the walls, give a number to how intensely you’re connected to that image, feeling or thought If it’s low,

LEGGETT

find other elements that you can add into the ‘future you’ to drive it up. Do you need to add other people, change what you’re wearing, change your environment, add something or take something away? Anything that you need to do to see yourself living the future you want. Next, anchor that image, feeling or thought with all those elements of the future you, by squeezing your thumb and middle finger whilst focussing hard. This will connect it to you doing something physical and enable you to bring it back whenever you need it. Anytime you find you’d like to feel differently to the way you’re feeling, squeeze your fingers and see how easily you can recall that positive image, feeling or thought. The more you do it the more embedded it becomes. Now approach any situation with that positive feeling, and notice the difference it can make. **

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The Calendar The Calendar Daily Calendar (in English) on www.theheraulttimes.com

FREE Concerts

July 27th Nadara Gipsy Band Jupiter & Okwess International Tourist office, 34540 Balaruc-les-bains 20h30 ** 28th Zoréol Chicha Libre Tourist office, 34340 Marseillan 20h30 ** 20th Lindigo Bio Ritmo 34560 Poussa 20h ** 26th Comptoir des fous (KB) Las Vegas Wedding (EC) ** 27th Nadara Gipsy Band Jupiter & Okwess International Tourist office, 34540 Balaruc-les-bains 20h30 ** 28th Zoréol Chicha Libre Tourist office, 34340 Marseillan 20h30 ** August 1st Hervé Tirefort, Batipaume Agde, 343000 21h ** 2nd Sticky fingers Esplanade Charles De Gaulle, 34000 Montpellier 20h

9th The Blues Brothers Arizona Kids Esplanade Charles De Gaulle, 34000 Montpellier 20th ** 16th Nanasso Baillardo Foggy and co. Esplanade Charles De Gaulle, 34000 Montpellier 20h ** 21st Hervé Tirefort Théatre de Verdure, 34540 Balaruc-le-Vieux 21h ** 23th Swing Home Trio Sherbrook Esplanade Charles De Gaulle, Montpellier 20h ** 24th African drums Golden Parapluie La grange, 34380 Causse de la Selle 19h30 ** 25th Paco Ibanez Le Village, 34710 Lespignan 18h30 ** 30th Bachibouzouk Esplanade Charles De Gaulle, 34000 Montpellier 20h **

Wednesday 5, 12, 19 and 26 July and 14, 28 August Reading for Children: Make an appointment for children to be read to be an English reader. From 16h-17h, your child can listen to stories in English. This activity is offered on a reservation only basis. Please contact 04 67 66 22 90 or by email: contact@lebookshop.com ** Every Wed & 1 Thursday of the month - Marseillan Marseillan Historique’s Visitor Centre (on main boulevard) offers walking tours of the ancient village and the old port. Village tours are every Wednesday and port tours are the first Thursday of each month. Tours start at 10h30 sharp and are in English. Group tours are by arrangement at any time. Contact Mike or Patrician Worsam 06 86 37 86 06. www.marseillanhistorique.com ** For a list of events and activities updated weekly please visit The HT Calendar which is available in English on the website

Events

Until 15th August Lodève Expo Simon Fletcher “Plaisirs d’une cuisine d’été » Café Minuscule 27 Grand Rue 34700 Lodève ** Sunday August 25th Montagnac Mediterranean Lunch. Languedoc Select Wine club’s annual summer lunch at the magnificent Domaine de la Clapière. Includes a sprinkling of local vignerons, a Mediterranean buffet & live music. It’s a simple formula, and coupled with the guarantee of shade under the terrace. For those who don’t know the Domaine, there’s also the chance to visit the chai. 11h-16h www.languedoc-select.com **

COEUR DE FEMMES

Group exhibition organised by artist/art historian Maryse Lecq Maryse Lecq, handmade paper/lace from plant fibres; Willy Kiestra, painting; Steffi Pecorai, pottery/sculpture; Sylvie Salavera, painting This is the second year of the annual exhibition ‘Coeur de Femmes’. Every year new

female artists are selected, uniting the female creative spirit. The exhibition organizer, Maryse Lecq, studied art history, working at the Ecole de Beaux Arts, Toulouse for 25 years. Exhibition: 2 – 30 August Vernissage: Friday 2nd August, 19h Chapelle Saint-Hippolyte, Loupian (Wed-Sun, 15h-19h) Right: Willy Kiestra: ‘The mother, her son, his wife and their foster child’

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What’s in a name....

Sue Hicks continues her look into the history of Street names

t the time of his death early in July 1943 at the hands of the Nazis, Jean Moulin was almost unknown even among elite circles of the day. Now only de Gaulle is more honoured on plaques, monuments, street names, schools, bridges and stadiums. When Jean Moulin’s ashes were transferred with great ceremony to the Pantheon in December 1964, André Malraux in a rousing and memorable speech claimed “the resurrection of the people of the shadows whom Jean Moulin mobilised and symbolised”. The hero and martyr had become the face of the French resistance. Jean Moulin was born in Beziers on 20 June, 1899, the youngest of four children. He attended the Lycée Henri IV where reports described him as “given chiefly to idleness and dissipation” and to drawing caricatures. He passed his baccalaureate without distinction and studied law at Montpellier University. He was called up during World War 1 but the war ended before he came under fire and he is said to have been left with feelings of regret and inadequacy, of not having played his part, for the rest of his life. He resumed his studies in 1919 and held a minor post at the prefecture. Rapid promotions followed and his ferocious ambition, outstanding ability as an administrator and personal connections through his father led to his being the youngest sous-préfet in France at the age of 26. By the age of 34 he was a divorcee with a crowded social life and a love of skiing. Jean Moulin became Chef de Cabinet to Pierre Cot at the Air Ministry and was involved in the clandestine supply of a number of planes to the Spanish republican cause and helped to recruit a volunteer force to pilot them. In January 1939 Jean Moulin was the youngest Préfet in the country based at Chartres. When the Germans invaded in May 1940, he stayed at his post when others fled and refused to endorse a statement blaming the massacre of civilians on fleeing Senegalese troops for which he was beaten up and imprisoned. Fearing he had reached the limits of his endurance, he used some broken glass to cut his throat. He survived but was left with a husky voice and scarred throat which he often covered with a scarf. He remained as Préfet but was sacked by the Vichy government in November 1940 but not before he had arranged false identity papers for himself. By October 1941 Jean Moulin had reached London, the most notable civilian figure to have rallied to General de Gaulle. After a crash course in coding and decoding and some basic parachute training, he returned to

Fete du Faubourg

The commemoration of the liberation of Béziers on 22 August, 1944 is also known as the Fete du Faubourg. Every year on 22nd August, Béziers celebrates the fight of Jean Moulin against the Nazis, and the liberation of the town with

France in January 1942 with money and technical material for the main resistance movements in the south. There followed months of travelling, under the pseudonyms ‘Max’ and ‘Rex’, and secret meetings in an attempt to unify the disparate and jealous resistance groups. He dealt with clashing personalities and competing maquis groups, made “relentless efforts to speak the same language to radical or reactionary teachers, to reactionary or liberal officers, to Trotskyist or Communists”. This Préfect of the left, supporter of the Spanish republic, eventually managed to insist that even former members of a secret far right organisation should be welcomed to the common struggle. Following a brief visit to de Gaulle in London where his authority was confirmed, Jean Moulin presided over the first meeting of the Mouvements Unis de la Résistance (MUR) in Paris, May 1943 when General de Gaulle was recognised as the sole leader of the French resistance. Within weeks, the commander of the secret army was arrested and a meeting to appoint a successor was arranged at a doctor’s surgery outside Lyon on 21 June, 1943. Some waited in an upstairs room and some latecomers, including Jean Moulin, were mistakenly shown into the patients’ waiting room. They had been betrayed and the Gestapo raided the meeting and arrested the conspirators. An agent, possibly Klaus Barbie then head of the Lyon Gestapo, handed Jean Moulin writing materials when torture had left him unable to speak. Moulin is said to have drawn a caricature of his torturer. Jean Moulin was driven to Paris for more expert torture and then sent by train to Germany. He died on the journey, without betraying anyone, probably on 8 July, 1943. Twenty one years later, Malraux concluded his speech: “May you think of this man as you would have reached out your hands to his poor unrecognisable face on that last day, to those lips that never let fall a word of betrayal; on that day, his was the face of France.”

an al fresco meal in the Jardin Emilie Aine followed by fireworks on the banks of the river Orb; the evening finishes in the early hours of the morning with dancing to a Show Band. For more information contact: www.beziers-faubourg.info/

Holidays

ave you noticed that the French, unlike us, distinguish between holidays and cultural visits. “Les Vacances,” are for relaxation, at the sea-side or in the mountains, but if you go, as we

would say, on holiday to India, or Kenya, on a sight-seeing trip, then it’s no longer “des vacances” but “un voyage”. We don’t really have a term for that. We lump them into Bobbie Trickett one. 19

The legend of The Devil’s Bridge Elise Girard

ver heard of The Devil’s bridge? That’s the bridge located just outside Saint Guilhem le Désert. There is a legend surrounding its construction in 1036. The abbots from Aniane and Gellone wanted to join their villages together and they agreed to build a bridge over the Hérault river at the most narrow place. But the Devil thought otherwise and every night kept destroying what the abbots had built during the day. At some point, the

Image courtesy of: www.midiphotobank.com

Pézenas Architectural Heritage

abbots grew tired of this and asked for Saint Guilhem’s help. Saint Guilhem proposed a pact with the Devil. He would build the bridge himself and make it the strongest, in exchange for the soul of the first person to cross the bridge (an exchange the Devil is always very keen to consider!). The Devil agreed and the bridge was built. However, the abbots could not let him have an innocent man’s soul so they baptised a dog (which they believed gave the dog a soul) and made it cross the bridge. The Devil was raging mad and threw himself from the bridge into the dark abyss underneath. It is said that he remains there until today.

the text. While there is a chronological approach, the book is able to classify buildings in a clear and comprehensive way accordingly. Both secular and religious aspects are included. He uses architectural terminology appropriately where necessary, although this does not dominate his narrative. Each section of the book carries an absorbing mix of historical detail, graphic description and anecdote. As the author states in his text, “The architecture of Pézenas is a true reflection of the history of a town, an image of the aspirations and tastes of a social environment.” (p.19) This is an observation amply reflected in the book which I hope will be found on many a bookshelf or coffee table throughout the region and beyond.

by Jean Nougaret(2013) Editions ACPLR, France English Version (translated by David Manley) €22

his magnificent glossy edition by Jean Nougaret focusses primarily, though not solely, on the architectural heritage and features of Pézenas. From nearby Béziers, the author has a long, well-studied and experienced association with the town built of stone. Over the years there have been a number of books about Pézenas. What is special about this one is that Jean Nougaret is able to combine and animate not only the architecture and history of his subject but also he manages this using an inviting variety of sumptuous photographs, fascinating maps and a useful glossary of period legal and administrative language. Apart from the glossary, these are used concurrently with

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eople have been asking me recently if I am going to protest in France to show my support for everything that is going on at the moment in Turkey. Well, after the latest episode of ‘Politika’, after having been very attentive to the different testimonies, after having read several articles published by

various medias, both national and international…I think that multiplying the protests on French soil could lead to misconduct and I do not believe this to be the best idea in the current context (division of our people, loss of energy, political recuperation…). For these reasons I do not recommend protesting. So why is this my reaction? It is true that I am happy that the Turks are showing a desire

for rupture from society and from the current government – a government that has done some wonderful things, but which is also prepared to surrender a part of the Turkish territory to the East in order to satisfy those who brought it power in the past but who today are out on the streets. A government which, in order to satisfy the desires of some, forgets the needs of many. I have been deeply impressed by the mobilisation in Turkey. It is a sign of this society’s great frustration, my friends there tell me. But I also wonder about it, because behind this great desire for freedom and change, I tell myself that we must take into account certain question provoking points. Notably, the fact that Turkey has become very strong economically and that perhaps this detail no longer pleases certain agitators. Because if we look a little closer, we see projects that will have

The French VIEW _ Translation by Alison Reid long-term geopolitical results for the area; results that will have a huge effect not just on Turkey, but in Europe as well. Some things to think about: • The construction of Istanbul’s 3rd bridge linking the Asian and the European riverbanks. • The construction of the 3rd airport in Istanbul (which will place Turkey at the heart of the European hub, unappealing for Lufthansa and Germany) • The lobbies about alcohol (people unhappy that RTE will be removing a part of their market). • The fact that the French state says nothing to protesters in France, even though no official authorisation for these protests has been published. • The fact that the national medias are spreading this information very widely, shining the spotlight on the Franco-Turks that are protesting about it - the same people that were in the streets of Paris last January, protesting against the legal penalties regarding the massacre of Armenians, but who did not

call rates anywhere you go. The advantages Talk Tech and IT with the are simple: low cost Geek we call ‘E-Male’ for a phone and sim card and in 15 keep getting this ringing in minutes you are up and running. You can recharge the phone with my ears you know and it is very disturbing. It appears that credit by credit card, coupons or in my dark world where phone at some banks and post offices calls are tapped and emails and ATMs and the costs aren’t interceps I have come across a really that bad. They are great especially if question I cannot answer.....if all these government agencies you want your child to have a record all my calls, do they get phone, don’t use a mobile much fed up with the sales calls? or even if you are elderly and ** want one for the car or in case But onto questions and Jennifer of emergencies. from somewhere in the region But beware...... has asked if I can explain Pay as Credit that you buy has a shelf You Go contracts. life and is often not long. Certain carriers last but 1 week. Well Jennifer, do I sound like a guy who deals with ‘burner’ The better alternative is the low contract; This is a contract phones as they are portrayed in the movies? Yes? Oh ok then.... which costs betweed 1.99€ and Pay As You Go Phones are 4.99€ per month. Some you fantastic. No contract, no recharge and the credit lasts a year, some come with unlimited hassles, no records right? Wrong. texts and a little calling credit (usually 1 hour). To learn more PAYG phones are available on every major operator in the about options and providers go world and in fact if you travel to www.theheraulttimes.com a lot and have an ‘unlocked’ and look for the ‘http-email’ column. Ciao ciao geekmeisters! phone or a ‘dual sim’ phone means that you can use local

then have such extensive media coverage. • Etc. etc… So with so many points left unclear, rules of play that I don’t understand, and concerns over the intellectual honesty for everything that has already been accomplished, no, I will not be protesting. Yes, I am delighted by the mobilisation in Turkey, even if it is always regrettable to be obliged to take to the streets to be heard. Protesting is of course a way of expressing one’s views, but it is a little less civilised than heading to the ballot boxes in a democratic manner. When one is a citizen in a country like France, one respects the French institutions without weakening them and without weakening those of other countries either. So instead of protesting let’s just wait and see what turns out to be lurking in the bushes! Written by Sophie C A French citizen of Turkish origin.

www.lheraultart.com

Street Painting

Jane Appleton

nitially it was a wise and good friend who told me about street art painting competitions. They are open to all regardless of skill or experience. Although finding them isn’t the easiest of things. I’m an artist and hadn’t even heard of them until two years ago! Small towns and villages publicise their events very locally; however larger towns such as Albi and Narbonne post their events on acryom.com. Each competition is different, but starts off with your virgin support (i.e. canvas, paper, board, etc.) being stamped on the reverse. However, after a number of competitions it’s funny to observe certain scenarios emerge and repeat themselves... For example, as soon as the church bells chime mid-day all the children on bikes, all the baguettebuying-baladeurs who have been busily animating the streets all morning just vanish. You are alone, under the beating sun /strong wind/rain, except for the sound of humming extractor fans and the clink-clink of plates and glasses as lunch time commences. But on other occasions villages host parallel events, such as vide greniers, art and craft markets and wine-tasting. It’s the loud country/feed-back fusion for the line dancers that will drive you insane (personally I never forget my ear-plugs). Or the village gossipers who aren’t really inter ested in your masterpiece-to-be, only conveying at high speed their personal observations on the state of the economy, local politics and their dog’s allergies. Thus leaving you with a sensation of ‘affliction’! Or the over enthusiastic observer who fire questions at you: “Why did you do it like that?” “How did you produce that effect?” And the ultimate tiny-voiced request,

“Can I just have a little dabble?” (Trust me I am not making this up.) However, the truly wonderful thing I’ve discovered since I started entering these competitions is that the average observer is quite art savvy - asking intelligent questions, giving constructive comments and displaying quite a good knowledge of art in general. The artist always seems to be respected and recognised for their efforts. Prizes are usually awarded, so bear in mind that what you create should be a celebration of their beautiful town/village. The winning picture is more often than not destined to be hung in the Mairie. Amateur and professional alike, you will learn as you go just what is acceptable content. Should you include street furniture, electricity lines and grafitti? Personally I love all these details, but will the judges? I was recently told that a wheelie-bin I’d included had put me out of the running, but had I really gone too far? Well how about birds? Everyone loves birds, how can you possibly go wrong with birds? I spent a day painting by the Canal du Midi, in the shade of the doom-stricken Plain trees, being bombed and splattered by the yackerty-yecking crows above. When I included them in my composition I was penalised by the judges – as crows are regarded as bad luck. Lucky for me though I came second, won a prize and within five minutes had sold it to a Dutch lady. You’ll never go wrong with pigeons! The volunteers who ensure the day runs according to plan are always friendly, welcoming and enthusiastic. One hamlet really went to town for the sake of their art competition. I will just add here that part of my check-list always includes my Dads old lucky shirt and a provision of loo paper which I stick down my socks – there is often more than just painting en-plein-air involved! However, the sock-stuffing was completely unnecessary on this particular day. The clever villagers had foreseen this ‘dilemma’ and had neatly converted their bus stop into what I can only describe as a ‘Tinkle Palace’. It had curtains; it had a beautifully penned turn-around sign saying ‘ Occupé ‘. It also had a throne to beat all thrones, designed around an old chair frame with a real loo seat inserted (the saw-dust bucket wasn’t very palatial though). I felt that the villagers ought to have awarded themselves a prize for the best conceptual / installation piece - Bravo Vernet! I recently entered a painting competition in Narbonne, now in its third year in a location tucked away in a small square in the heart of town. On the day, I signed in and got my canvas stamped and by mid- morning things were looking good. After plenty of positive feed-back about my work, I felt my confidence well-up inside. The (cont next page) 22

www.l-artiste.com

Sans Titre 15 x 15cm

Colourist Painter Béatrice Testet

Béatrice Testet runs regular workshops and courses based on colour and materials, both in her studio and outside in nature. She regular exhibits. To find out more see www. beartiste.fr or telephone 06 85 44 62 99

(cont..) prize here was a good one and I’d started to mentally spend it already. Then, in the early afternoon disaster struck, in the form of a late entrant who rode into the square on his trusty racer bike, his Himalayan rucksack packed up to the sky and an ironing board tucked under his arm. He leisurely constructed his outdoor atelier. The ironing board served as a worktop upon which he carefully arranged his collection of half litre sized household paint tins, and after a good look around and chat with almost everyone, he began to paint. It was by now mid afternoon. Would he get it finished by 5pm? Everyone was mesmerised, public and artists alike, as he proceeded with his painting without any

references, sketches or even preliminary mappings out on canvas. He simply began at the top and worked down. I’ve never seen anyone work in this manner before. Quite simply he was a human printing machine! Of course he finished on time and of course he won both 1st prize and the popular prize. It was I who felt a singing fool as I asked him, “Do you participate in all the street competitions?” “Yes.” “And you win them all don’t you?” “Yes.” Oh well, I still had a super day in spite of not winning I thought to myself with a warm glow as I watched him cycle off into the sunset sporting the smallest pair of cycle shorts ever! 23

De nature elegante 20 x 20cm

draws its qualities from the imagination and nature towards infinity. When I start a painting I don’t know where I’m going, where it’s going to lead me… I leave the material to work, to settle, to inspire me, like the preparation of a meal… that’s what guides me! I let the ‘dish rest’; then, I look at what has appeared on the surface at the moment of creation. As the painter Paul Klee said, “One eye sees, the other feels.” Stretched canvas, fabrics, card, strengthened papers are the principle materials I use to work on. The techniques are mixed: watercolour, pigment, chalk and oil pastels, ink, sometimes spices. Everything is born from chance and creative impulse, from an instantaneous gesture. “Colour is my language, both aesthetically and symbolically. It is a double language where the colour holds the secret. It reveals its magical world through its subtle pallet of tones and nuances; discovering, dressing, inspiring and revealing us. It is an entire exploration, inside and out.” **

Soyez Fleurs 40 x 40cm

fter living in a variety of places in France and elsewhere, including several years in Montpellier, Béatrice Testet put her bags down in the heart of Clermont l’Hérault 3 ½ years ago… where she continues her creative exploration until the next stop! “It’s a journey where art is a meeting place, like in a garden: a fusion of coloured textures where techniques merge and blend the materials and colour, the guiding principle of my artistic work. I’m inspired by the world around me; things that animate me inside, outside and beyond human boundaries. I let whatever comes to me come: chance encounters and cultures, intensely coloured and living vibrations.” Colours, materials, forms, surfaces… the colour is the material, the material the colour. Each painting presents itself, illuminating the chosen surface. Textures, created principally with different papers - printed, silk, collage, letters - are interlaced between fabric prints; it is a game of colours, of lucidity and contrast. “I work in 3 ‘tempos’: shade, colour and the suggestion of graphic forms, born from the main inspiration of the moment and from nature, plants in their simplest forms and moods. The work is an abstraction which

English for Expat Children An indispensable guide Part 5

Minerve

A Jewel with many admirers.

Text: Ursala Purves

aura Smith has a BA (Hons) in English and a background which includes nannying, running ‘arts’ groups for children, supporting early readers, teaching English as a foreign language in Spanish and Italian schools and examining children for the Cambridge Examining Board.

sn’t it great when children get the chance to relax into their own free time? Although keeping children occupied throughout their long summer holidays must be a daunting and exhausting prospect for parents. Rest assured that English language development will be an ongoing by-product of increased interaction with spoken English at home and any reading and writing that crops up. Just to be really contrary about it, I would suggest that it is when the pressures are off that the child-centred learning starts. This doesn’t mean to say that you needn’t have any goals for them, but these can take on a different complexion now that you have the time to read together, start projects and spend unstructured time together. This is the perfect time to provide them with any tools they need to pursue their own ideas. You might even offer them a small budget to work with. Whether you are getting involved or they are developing their own games, try to set them up somewhere where they have the freedom to leave their project incomplete, rather than having to finish it in one go. I hope you find some of these ideas useful: • Hang on to your recycling; you can build up a healthy supply of useful materials in no time. Combined with some glue, staples, tape, scissors, string etc. children can spend hours making. Popular inspiration includes a fashion show, puppets, masks, dens. • Stick a huge sheet of paper up on a wall. Things can be stuck to it, stamped, painted, written and drawn on . • Treasure Hunts can provide hours of fun, but it does take some organisation so get them in on the act to help out. Try this website for quick and easy encryption of clues: http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/cryptogramSetupForm.asp • A puppet show could take up days with puppet-making, stage building, script development, invitations to the potential audience and organising each other. Relief from the stresses of academia is the best goal you can have for your summer holidays! My blog is regularly updated, as are my Pinterest boards http://pinterest.com/eng4xpatchildrn/, so have a look for any ideas, supporting materials or useful links. You can find everything you need to get involved at englishforexpatchildren.webs.com – go ahead and share your own ideas!

ituated on the Aude/Hérault border the delightfully located village of Minerve is set on a jutting limestone spur high above the River Cesse which has carved a deep route through this imposing landscape. Due to the villages very small footprint the car park is located half a kilometer away and is fairly steep decent (but walkers can be dropped at the footbridge). But the walk can be well justified. Minerve has been selected as one of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France (“The Most Beautiful Villages Of France”). Historically, the village has been the capital of the Minervois wine region. The main bridge leading into the village is closed to all passenger vehicles not owned by residents of Minerve. Of all of the original fortifications, only a slender octagonal tower, known locally as the Candela, survives. In 1210 a group of Cathars took refuge in the village after the massacre at Béziers during the Albigensian Crusade. De Montfort, 5th Earl of Leicester laid siege to the village. The attacking army besieged the village for six weeks before it capitulated. They set up four trebuchets around the fortification: three to attack the village, and the largest, Malevoisine, to attack the town’s water supply. Eventually the commander of the 200-strong garrison, Viscount Guilhem of Minerve, gave in and negotiated a surrender which saved the villagers and himself after the destruction of the town’s main well. However, 140 Cathars refused to give up their faith and were burned to death at the stake on 22 July. There are several snack bars and pizzerias where you can eat and drink in the shade at very reasonable prices. There are a couple of more 24

sophisticated establishments but are often fully booked so reservations are highly recommended. It was extremely pleasurable to wander through the many narrow thoroughfares, and with a car ban except for residents (some 122 in 2008) it was a quiet and safe amble. And on hot days it is in the cave tunnels under the village that seem big enough to accept a double decker bus that a cool sojourn can be experienced. Along the edges of this miniature village there are many points to stop and to take photographs or just wonder at the dramatic vistas down the stunning valley looking like a modern artists sculpture with is worn turns and caves. Bearing in mind the villages reputation it is probably best to visit out of season avoiding August if possible. However it is a stunning jewel and should not be missed.

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Grocery Shop Tea Room www.foudanglais.fr 04 30 40 29 54

he Internet of Things. It sounds like something A.A.Milne might have written to help Winnie the Pooh describe the concept to his friends in the 100 Acre Wood, doesn’t it? And yet scientists, researchers and developers the world over are getting extremely excited about this direction the Internet is taking. What’s more, the French are very much at its cutting edge.

health. The data recorded can be used to see if treatments are being applied evenly, whether water is accumulating or lacking and whether vines are missing. Staying with the vine theme, another application is the Vitirover, a small remotecontrolled robot grass cutter. Like the Parrot this can be controlled via a smartphone and because it has an

Keeping tab on the

Text: Martin Pearce

temperature, humidity, air pressure, CO2 levels and ambient noise levels. The data gathered can be transmitted in real time to a user’s mobile device enabling them to decide whether to commute to work on foot, by bike or public transport, for example. Or the data could simply be used for health reasons to encourage the user to ventilate their office or work space. Withings too is concerned about users’ health and has developed an internetconnected Smart Body Analyzer which not only takes traditional weight measurements and body compositions but also measures heart rate and air quality allowing users to adapt their diet and environment accordingly. The weighing scales and the analyzer automatically transfer data to your computer or your mobile phone/ tablet so that you can track and analyze them. It can also transmit the data to your doctor if you want.

Internet of Things So, exactly what does the Internet of Things mean? The concept envisions the possibility of almost every object you can see around you being connected to the internet. Just as computers and web pages have their own unique IP addresses so too will the books on your shelves, the car in your garage and even the wine in your vineyards. This is where computers and the internet come in. Physical objects are given a unique identifier that can track information about the subject thus transforming them into ‘smart objects’. There are a number of technologies that support smart objects; radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags, quick response (QR) codes and smartcards are some of the most common. So much for the technology and thinking behind the concept, but how does the Internet of Things and smart objects fit into the real world and where do the French come in? Several French companies have developed applications that allow users to use the screen on their smartphone as a remote controller. One of the first to do this was Parrot with its drone, a kind of small helicopter, which allows users to record video or capture images from places where it might be hazardous to fly an ordinary aircraft. An increasingly common usage for the Parrot in France is to photograph vines and assess their

extremely low wheel base, the Vitirover can get to the feet of vines where other machinery cannot. With typical Gallic understatement, one user commented. “Using tractors you end up piling up the soil and damaging vines which is not good for production. This does not happen with the Vitirover.” Smart object technology has also lent a hand in the crackdown on wine counterfeiting. It has been known for unscrupulous merchants to fill up empty bottles of the best labels with less than legendary vintages. Prooftag is a small silver sticker stuck on the cork which carries an ID number for the bottle of wine. The potential buyer can take a photo of this bar code with his smartphone which links to the Prooftag website where it quickly verifies if the wine is the real thing. Other smart object applications worthy of note include Netatmo’s, weather station that allows users to monitor indoor and outdoor environment elements including

These then are just a few applications using the principle of smart objects and the Internet of Things. It’s already clear that the French are big players in this market though so far much more on the R & D side rather than actual manufacturing. It’s equally clear that there are likely to be many more applications in the next few years.

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Recipe Times with Bassie Scott

In the heat of the night....

can remember one particular night last August when the temperature didn’t drop below 38 degrees. Even in that stonking heat we were silly enough to light the barbecue! Sometimes we all crave more than a leafy salad as an accompaniment to the main course. Here, then, are some robust recipes which can either just be eaten in their own right or served with the delights you’ll be cooking up on these steamy summer evenings. There is a company in Hérault producing a feta style brebis (sheep) cheese ‘Salakis’. However, they’re not allowed to call it Feta as it isn’t made in Greece. It is lovely, although not quite as salty. You’ll find it in the cheese aisle in all the supermarkets.

Camargue red rice with rocket and brebis cheese Serves 6 – 8 Ingredients 450 mil Camargue red rice 200 gr brebis cheese 100 gr black olives, pitted and chopped 3 shallots, peeled and finely chopped 70 gr rocket, finely shredded 3 spring onions, finely chopped (include the green bits) Salt and pepper For the dressing: 2 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 1 tsp salt 2 teaspoon grained mustard 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 4 tablespoons olive oil Black pepper, freshly milled Method * Place the rice in a large frying pan with 2 teaspoons of salt, then pour in 800 ml boiling water. Bring it up to a simmer, then put a lid on and let it cook very gently for 40 minutes. Turn off, don’t remove the lid, just leave it for another 15 minutes to finish off. * For the dressing: crush the garlic and salt in a pestle and mortar * When the garlic and salt are pureed, add the mustard and pound it a bit, followed by the vinegar and pepper. Add the oil, slowly, using a whisk, until everything is combined * Transfer the warm rice to a dish and pour the dressing over. Mix thoroughly and leave to get cold * Add the olives, shallots, spring onions and rocket. * Just before serving, crumble the brebis cheese all over

Camargue Rice

In 2008, rice farming covered 16.640 hectares of the Camargue, with 98.176 tons of rice paddy produced. Rice is one of the riches of the Carmargue alongside the bulls, horses and pink flamingos. It shapes the landscape according to the seasons: the perfectly leveled steps before planting, the immensity of the earth immersed in water, the tender green shoots or the flamboyant yellow sprays in full view. Rice in the Camargue represents both an important economic and ecological human intervention. To fully appreciate the many aspects of rice farming you can visit the Musée du Riz, situated in the old Bongran buildings, the first company to develop organic rice farming in France. www.museeduriz.fr

My friend Jill brought this salad round when we were cooking a whole leg of lamb on our new tourney broche (spit roaster!). It is absolutely delicious and has such a lovely freshness about it. If you don’t like goat’s cheese, you can use the brebis mentioned before.

I had never made tabouleh but having eaten a fabulous one made by my friend Alex I thought I would try my hand. Mixing bulgur wheat with quinoa gives it a gorgeous nuttiness and is so very good for you too!

Beetroot and orange salad with goat’s cheese

Tabouleh with quinoa Ingredients 200 gr Bulgar wheat (Boulgour gros de blé dur) 200 gr Quinoa 1 cucumber, peeled, de seeded and chopped into chunks 10 cherry tomatoes, halved 1 red pepper, de seeded and cut into chunks 2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped Large bunch of flat leaf parsley, chopped, not too finely Small bunch of mint, chopped Olive oil Zest and juice of 1 lemon Black pepper, salt

Serves 6 - 8 Ingredients 500g carrots, peeled, halved/quartered, & cut into 2cm lengths 1 tsp cumin seeds 2 tbsp white wine vinegar 3 tbsp olive oil 2 oranges 250g cooked beetroot, cut into chunks 200g goat’s cheese A handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped A sprinkling of coriander and tarragon, chopped

Method * Place the bulgur wheat and quinoa into a large saucepan with some salt. Pour boiling water over to 2 x the volume of the grains and simmer gently for 10 minutes * Turn the pan off and leave to swell for another 10 minutes. Drain and cool * When completely cold add all the vegetables, lemon zest, parsley, mint, salt and black pepper. mix thoroughly. * Whisk the olive oil into the lemon juice and pour this over the salad. Mix it all really well with your hands. Check seasoning and chill until needed

Method • Put carrots in pan, just cover with cold water, bring to boil & simmer 10-15 mins • Toast the cumin seeds in a dry frying pan then tip into a large serving bowl with the oil, vinegar and seasoning • Drain carrots then add to the bowl turning to coat in the dressing & leave to cool to room temperature • Peel oranges & cut into chunks. Add to bowl along with beetroot, goat’s cheese, parsley & other herbs.

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Commercial Cleaning Machine for hire. Cleans soft furnishings, rugs, mattresses, sunbed cushions, car interiors, etc.Contact Trudi: 0499570589 trudi@ppm34.fr ** ** Enhanced Business English Training Realise Your Potential RYP Training Consultants prepare you for any aspect of anglophone business from CVs and job interviews to presentations and meetings. www.ryp-associates.eu.pn **

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For Sale my Citroen Pluriel 125.000 km 4 brand new tyres new, breaks and discs, distribution kit done € 6250,00 Photos on demand email: w.f.van.oosten@orange.fr mobile phone 0632164309

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Weddings, events, parties, marketing etc. Comfortable seating for five passengers. Disabled and wheelchair access ramps. Tel: (0680) 438977 or email: kent.terry@mac.com

Watercolour classes in Pouzolles, near Roujan. All levels welcome. Materials supplied. Contact Monica or Simon Roberts. 0761 94 91 38. info@studio-roberts.com Further info at www.painting-in-france.com ** Abri Creative Writing Courses at Gardoussel Retreat, Gard (30) poetry, prose and memoir for 2013. Courses are full-board and residential in a magnificent mountain setting. Delicious vegetarian meals, swimming, massages available. 595 Euros/week all-inclusive. tel. 04 66 60 16 78 www.abricreativewriting.com **

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Shenanigan’s Irish owned and run, family pub and restaurant. All rugby, Gaelic and Hurling shown live. Guinness & Bulmers Plate of the day 10e with a glass of wine. Taxi available. Open all year. Vias centre – 0430 17 83 87.

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** Practise Yoga in Pezenas with an English-speaking teacher Now it is possible! Practise adapted to all conditions Every Monday 9 a.m / 10.15 Dance studio « Ballerine » Avenue Emile Combes Starting Monday September 9th Information 04 99 43 88 84

Summer is almost here, so brighten up with our colourful jewellery. Huge choice, all colours, great prices. Markets Montpellier- Tuesday, Clermont L’ Herault Wednesday, Lodeve- Saturday. Ian Mills 04.67.29.77.14. email ian.mills41@gmail.com 30

Gourmet Walking Tours Sète and Montpellier Stroll the streets past historical buildings while sampling local specialties, meeting merchants, getting historical and cultural tips. 45 € pp Sète / 55€pp Montpellier; nancy@ southernfranceluxury.com tripadvisor reviews -Savouring_Southern_France-Sete

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Comité Sport Tambourin Hérault Sports by Stuart Turpie Restaurant L’Amindine 3 Place du 14 juillet, 34450, VIAS In the historic centre of Vias village, traditional, family restaurant, serving fresh local produce & quality wines Open daily for lunch & dinner English Spoken Tel: 04.67.30.29.78.

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Friendly sociology student at the University of Edinburgh looking to conduct interviews with people who have sought professional help for depression for her undergraduate research on how mental health is perceived. All data collected confidential & anonymous. Katie Gonser katie.gonser@gmail.com t: 07 80 21 63 89 **

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English Books and Cards available at The English Bookstall: These markets; Monday - Bedarieux, Tuesday - Marseillan Ville, Wednesday - Clermont l’Hérault, Saturday - Lodève. Kerith 0467 96 68 87 ** Le Bookshop - Librairie Anglophone / café 8 rue du Bras de Fer - Montpellier T: 04 67 66 22 90 contact@lebookshop.com www.lebookshop.com ** English Books at the Bourse, Pézenas. First Sunday of every month from 10 to 12. The Café de la Bourse is next to the Hotel Moliere in Pézenas. All books are 1 Euro or less. Excellent coffee and company. Want to book a table? Call Carole on 0467905910 **

ur part of France has some very ‘regional’ sports indeed. Tambourin is closely associated with the valley of the Hérault and Joutes take place all summer in coastal towns like Sète, Agde and Mèze with the Jouteurs battling it out in a medieval style. Areas with a Camargue connection enjoy the course camarguaise where bulls stretch the athleticism and courage of the razeteurs to the limit. Rugby in both codes is strongly associated with Languedoc as well. In the summer months across the region pétanque holds sway as a game of the people. Hérault, with over a population of over a million, has the largest number of registered pétanque enthusiasts at 15,000. Aude has licensed players matching its smaller population. The sport which is by far the most popular form of ’boules’ is well over 100 years old. Jeu Provencale played with same size of boule on a larger terrain is less popular and Lyonais with larger boules which are rolled has some keen players as well. This year the finals of the French championships at triplettes were held in Béziers, though the boulodrome at the Stade de la Mediterranée unfortunately lacks the scenic environment of many other terrains in towns and villages. The local teams of three will have competed in April in the secteur competitions where players from the dozen or so local clubs take part. Of perhaps 100 teams about 6 go through to the Departmental competition. Aude and Hérault then send their very top teams to the National finals with teams from all over France. Humble players can say that they took part in this prestigious event. A bit like a local village football side playing in the early rounds of the Coupe de France. What makes pétanque so popular? Simply it is easy to play and very cheap. A decent set of boules will set you back 70€ but they should last forever. Club registration which includes insurance and subsidised social events is usually only 20 € or so. Terrains

take little management and you can play on a great deal of different rough surfaces. Stony terrains are much liked by better players in fact where skill is even more of a factor. The element of luck with the bounce of the boule can level the playing field a bit as well and adds to the attraction. Tactics are reasonably straightforward. The bouchon is thrown between 6 and 10 metres and the first player points from the ‘rond’ he or she has marked on the ground. The opponent then replies trying to point nearer the cochonette or bouchon. The tirreur will try to crash a boule out of the way if necessary. Points are scored by the number of boules nearer the bouchon than the opponent when all 6 boules have been played. In triplettes each player has two boules, with three each in doublettes. The game continues with the winner of each end having the right to restart. 13 points wins the match. A spectacular shot occurs when a tirreur removes an opponent boule whilst replacing it with his own. Singles matches do take place téte à téte but are less popular. Doubles or triplets offer more scope for discussion, teamwork and the argument and banter so popular in the Midi.

The Pétanque federation are concerned that less people are playing the game. Is it less attractive to the young? Traditionally people would play at the end of the working day during the l’heure de l’aperitif. Village cafés would have clubs and the square with its gravel surface would be the setting. Holidays were used for competitions and still are. Most villages with a fete will have a concours de pétanque. Tourists love playing and many northern French visitors enjoy this association with the Midi and their holidays. A great game just to enjoy at any level.

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