The Herault Times Issue 9

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE MAGAZINE FOR THE HERAULT

The Herault Times Issue 9 March 2013

www.theheraulttimes.com

Free Monthly

ISSN: 2261-561X

MUSIC* WINE* GARDENING* NATURE* HISTORY *EXHIBITIONS* ART* FOOD 1

THT March 2013

Contents THT

Never Miss An Issue: Visit www.theheraulttimes.com and subscribe now

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Every Month

This Month - Articles

04 Editorial

08 The French View - Mali

05 Letters

14 sortieOuest

06 My Place

16 UN Women

07 And Another Thing

20 You can leave your hat on

09 Apicius Dines Out

22 Salah Stétié

10 Wine Times

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23 Poetry Corner

11 Business / Legal

24 Winter Wonder

12 Garden / Nature

The Herault Times supports

13 GTBY 17 Lifestyle 18 What’s On 19 Looking Back

20

25 Subscribe 26 Recipe Times 28 DIY

Cover Photo

28 E-Male

‘Dancing Boy’ Barry Beckett 2013 All rights reserved

31 Sport

dharmacamera @googlemail.com 3

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. EDITORIAL EDITOR@THEHERAULTTIMES.COM SUBSCRIPTIONS www.theheraulttimes.com/subscribe or contact us on info@theheraulttimes.com ADVERTISING For display advertising, print classifieds please call 0624 63 63 77 or mail advertising@theheraulttimes.com For online advertising please visit http://classifieds.theheraulttimes.com www.theheraulttimes.com PYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER

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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.

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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

March

Editorial

T

he private letters we get tell us that the HT is many things to many people.

Some of you like it as it is and some people would like to see changes. What is surprising and complimentary is how vociferous some of you are in both defense and offense.

The people involved in the HT made a definitive decision that the magazine is about people and places and events and business and not about the individuals.

The egos belong elsewhere.

We think it is right and numbers show that a number of you agree. But one is oft reminded of the tale of the donkey when trying to keep everyone happy..... *

A

esop’s fable tells of an old man and his son bringing a donkey to the market. Passing some people on the way, they hear one remark, “Look at that silly pair—walking when they could be riding comfortably.”

The idea seemed sensible to the old man, so he and the boy mounted the donkey and continued on their way. Soon they passed another group.

“Look at that lazy pair,” said a voice, “breaking the back of that poor donkey, tiring him

so that no one will buy him.”

The old man slid off, but soon they heard another criticism from a passerby: “What a terrible thing, this old man walking while the boy gets to ride.”

They changed places, but soon heard people whispering, “What a terrible thing, the big strong man riding and making the little boy walk.”

The old man and the boy pondered the situation and finally continued their journey in yet another manner, carrying the donkey on a pole between them.

As they crossed the bridge, the donkey broke loose, fell into the river, and drowned.

Aesop’s moral: You can’t please everyone! *

O

ne of my friends once decided to be an actor but gave up before success beckoned. He claimed that he couldn’t speak English which was quite amusing to the rest of us but Shakespeare is Shakespeare.

And for theatre lovers here we often hear that it can be difficult to go to the theatre in France as one can be nervous of language and interpretation. But think again.

In this issue we meet and hear from two outstanding organisations here in the Hérault that have successfully integrated and risen to the challenge of making theatre accessible to all without compromising excellence. sortieOuest is just outside Beziers and and Domaine D’O is in Montpellier.

Both of these make theatre more than language and more of an experience. *

W

hat do the French really think?

I was having drinks recently and listening to people speculating on topics that were exclusive to France.

And then Pierre spoke up.

Listening to the French perspective highlighted how foreign some of my thoughts were and I was fascinated.

So read Alison Reid who has investigated and translated French commentary on the hot topics in France - currently, from the war in Mali to Gay marriage to Francois Hollande and whether he is a war leader or less popular than daytime tv.

It’s good to be informed. *

The 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 9 am 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.

IMPORTANT:

T

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.

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Letters When I can’t help it. Please tell me when the Herault Times comes out? We sat in the bar the other day and between us we had it as monthly or bi-monthly and out on the 12thst and the 19th? I’m all for keeping us keen but there is a point where it becomes cruel you know. Xavi - Bedariaux Ok Xavi, there have been a number of these but I picked yours because you didn’t call me stupid. The HT is monthly and each isue is available on the 19th of the month. Simple really!

Recipes On your recipe pages ( Issue 8) is the female dancer on the left hand sidde Bassie Scott? If so, please reply so that my wife can cook in that outfit! Cheers Yannick Anybody looking We came to France on holiday for 5 years from 2006 and Spain before and after.

We fell in love with a village called Roujan and liked that it had everything close by. So imagine our surprise when we came back in January to look for a property and we had to drive past a supermarket and were told there will be an industrial estate before the village. Is this normal?

A beautiful ( it still is when there) village is now presumably in danger of losing local shops to the supermarket and it is now an eyesore to get to. Are there planning departments in France?

Yours disappointedly, Marianne L. Fleet, UK Pick me, Pick me!

Please please please please please

please can I review restaurants for you? I’ll do better than the buffoon you have doing them at the moment. And could he maybe go more than a month without taking someone who is allergic to something. A lot of us can eat everything. Thanks. Greta

then make sure that we know who you mean is necessary and looks a little that ones ego may be a little large. I am on the side of critiques but please, about the food and the setting, not the individuals. Anon The Euro I am curious to know the feelings of your readers in relation to the euro crisis. I am especially interested in the opinion of the Americans, Australians etc who are forced into the euro situation and whether they believe in a single currency. This is for a piece I am writing on the economic stress of moving to europe. Please drop a line to the herault Times if I may contact you. Thank you.

Zeb, Montpellier

We enjoy the Herault Times I write to inform you that my evening class now takes 27 copies of the magazine for our advanced English class. We very much like the English and the conversations being about France. We are as well learning a lot of things about where we live and one of my classmates works at ECA Hytec so was very happy to read about his company. Thank you for your seriousness.

Kathryn Montpellier Dear Apicius, Nobody should contest your right to give a bad review to a restaurant where the food and/ or service has not been up to scratch. I am however of the opinion that to ‘name and shame’ Madame A, the ‘female server and chef’s wife’, in your last review was perfectly caddish of you. What purpose was served?

Yours in defence of anonymity, Robert McLean

I’m sexy and I know it ...love the new-look online HT front page.....

Shirley Morgan I’m sexy and I know it (2) I’m going to fawn over you. And ask you to print it. Go on..please say you will.

The Herault Times is the best regional magazine I have read in the last 10 years. Informative, not overly friendly and has written material not just cut and pasted off the internet. Superb.

On the down side. the font is not the best choice and at times the back imagery is too strong for the text. From the light sarcasm in the letters to the ‘are you aware’ of the editorial I have to congratulate you. My husband and I published 11 publications over 17 years before selling up in such diverse countries as India and Spain and your writers and

How exciting.

I read the Herault Times with continuing joy and wonderment that no-one is preaching to me or being twee. And then Apicius appears with a review ( a little like Sete) that is opinionated and personal and good for you.

Those that want advertisements for restaurants there are enough around. I don’t however believe that to criticise the staff and to

The Other Letters A selection of excerpts from letters that we post anonymously....

You make me warm on a cold day. A cup of coffee, feet up and The HT. Perfect.

Well hello ladies. Want to be warm on a cold day? Call me.... (...I knew nothing about your magazine until I found a copy.)

One of our Mensa readers there methinks. (..I want to be here all the time,

and split my time between here and Birmingham..)

Ok, 2 things, mixed messages here and there but Montpellier or Birmingham?? Is it the bullring that is calling? (..It happened to us. You wouldn’t want your neighbours to know about that would you...)

Michael R in Balaruc....come on down 5

people behind this magazine deserve a round of applause.

Name and address provided.

Thank you.

Bloody Hell I have a feeling I’m setting myself up here but I have to write again (July 18 2012) to ask you if you can increase the bloody font size? I’m 59 years old (can’t mock me now can you as it would be disrespectful) and I can’t read the bloody magazine without a magnifying glass. I can’t be the only one asking about this. Private Eye is even worse!

Alan, Beziers Alan, thank-you for your heartfelt and passionate request. I am sorry that you need a magnifying glass but I hold the patents on all of them so yippee. And may I just say personally that I would never

mock you and your constant whining (yes I do know this is your 5th attempt to get

published. I love you for it. Could you read that? No? Good!

Spooky Where did all the ex-pats go?

I remember when I first arrived with my wife 22 years ago we had to search long and hard to find other ex-pats. And after the boom years it looks like we may be returning to those halcyon days. Exchange rates, taxes, second home, healthcare and anti foreigners. Is anyone else feeling slightly persecuted?

Geoff, Montpellier War Do all you magazine people get together or is it war. Den, Agde Oh Dennis, we all play in the garden together......with knives!

LAURE PERMON, Duchesse d’Abrantès and wife of General Junot, wrote many volumes concerning the French Revolution, the Directory, the Consulate, and the Empire. Later, she became mistress to the young Honoré de Balzac, supporting him in his

literary career. Below is an extract from a New York Times article published in 1904 by Catherine M. Bearne which presents an epitome of Laure Permon’s life around Napoleon.

The Memoirs of the Duchesse d’Abrantès L

aure Permon was born in Montpellier in 1784. The exact conditions of her father Monsieur Permon, in early life are unknown.

Her mother was of Greek descent, belonging to the Commenus family. Monsieur Permon

had been arrested on an accusation of being a spy and for other matters by order of Salicetti, about whose conduct in the affair Napoleon felt all the more bitter as they were compatriots and friends.”

was married at Ajaccio, in Corsica. He was sent to America with military supplies for the American army during the period of the Revolution. Mme. Permon returned to Corsica with her children where it so happened that there was great intimacy between the Commenus and Ramolinos families, Charles Buonaparte having married Laetitia Ramolinos. This is important because it had much to do with Laure Permon’s acquaintance with Napoleon when Permon returned to France.

Society was then divided into two classes – those who were crazed with the fancy of liberty. Monsieur and Mme Permon did not entertain the same political ideas; for while the husband was of the old régime, his wife favoured the new. “The manners, principles, and aims of the revolutionary party were alike abhorrent to him.”

When Mme Permon was in Paris she made inquiries after Napoleon, the second son of her old friend, Mme Buonaparte. The lady’s brother, Commenus, told his sister that Napoleon seemed to be a surly kind of youth and without any friends. Through the help of M. Permon assistance had been given to the Buonaparte children and once, when the future Emperor had been in want of funds, Permon had made him a gift of money.

Mme d’Abrantès wrote that Napoleon was so much disliked at college that the authorities were only too glad to hasten his appointment to Lieutenant in the army. When the Revolution broke out the Permons moved to Toulouse. The family lived in an “atmosphere of anxiety and suspicion.”

“Letters were concealed in pies, in cakes, in poultry, in the linings of coats and dresses, in hats and bonnets.” In time Mme Permon returned to Paris and as soon as Napoleon heard of it he hastened to see her. Mme de Saint-Ange thus describes his appearance at the time: “He was plain, thin, sallow, sickly looking, and slovenly in his dress, his boots were badly made and he wore not gloves, because he said it was a useless expense. He

When Napoleon became a General he was in trouble. He had an unfortunate love adventure and as well Junot had wanted to marry his sister Pauline, but neither of them had any money. Carriages were attacked in the streets and mob rule prevailed. After the death of M. Permon the family were in apparent poverty.

Mme Permon was extravagant, and something had to be done. Then one of her sons applied to Napoleon for a position, for now the young Corsican had not only the will but the power to help them.

Now, suddenly, he was an important personage, was well dressed, always came in a carriage and had a suitable house in the Rue de Capucines. He came to see the Permons every day, just the same, only that now he brought one of the aides de camp or his uncle Fesch.

If the memoirs of the Duchess are to be believed, Napoleon pretended to love Mme Permon, in as much as he offered to marry her after her husband died. Because he was rebuffed, his feelings toward the family underwent a change.

Napolean’s Italian campaign made him the idol of France. Paris was wild with delight, and one fete succeeded another.

Laure was then 14 years old.

With the marriage of Napoleon to Josephine new conditions arose. The widow of the Vicomte de Beauharnais is described “as pretty, kind-hearted, but frivolous and extravagant.” Between Napoleon’s first wife and his family there was unceasing enmity. In 1800, General Junot was in Paris and a match was made between Junot and Laure Permon, who was then sixteen, while Junot was twenty-eight. The match met the approval of Napoleon and he gave his General a hundred thousand francs, with other money for the use of the bride. Junot was then Governor of Paris. It is not easy to determine whether there was much love between the contrasting parties. Certainly Junot was what

My Place

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the French call un mauvais sujet, and given to intrigues. Mme Junot’s admiration for the military heroes of the time knew no bounds, and her devotion to Napoleon was unwavering. In the Consular Court Laure occupied an important position.

In subsequent volumes Laure Permon - now Mme. Junot, Duchesse d’Abrantès - describes the many troubles that befell her. She was absent from Paris for many years following her husband, who it seems committed suicide after losing his mind during the hardship of the Russian campaign when he was only forty-one. The Emperor ordered her to return to Paris, but the Duchess resisted this command. Conditions changed. Paris was apparently dead. The armies of the Emperor were meeting with disasters.

Laure and many of her companions of that generation had become so accustomed from their childhoods to a long succession of triumphs and victories that they fancied it was the divine right of France to attack and meddle and rule over other countries, so all this was a kind of nightmare which they could hardly understand. The empire, built up with violence and bloodshed, was crumbling away.

Ironically the Duchess’s own life was also

crumbling away, beset with financial and literary difficulties. After some years of success, she experienced successive failures.

Then, after attempting to create a meeting place for friends loyal to the Empire, the bookseller Ladvocat refused her manuscripts. Laure fell into destitution, finishing her life in a hospital, where, penniless, she was put into the attic.

She died on June 7th 1838 and is buried at Montmartre, Paris.

Next Month we have the much delayed Paul Elliott in My Place

And another thing.......says Abse Saints Alive!

“A saint is one who has been recognized for having an exceptional degree of holiness, sanctity, and virtue.” Wikipedia “There are over 10,000 named saints .. from history, the Roman Martyrology and Orthodox sources, but there has been no definitive head count”. (Catholic Online website).

“A saint is a person just like you and me that God gave special graces to in order for them to do special things. All the saints were holy men and women. Some of the saints could work miracles, some could heal, some had the ability to be in two places at once.” (ainglkiss.com) I have noticed a strange thing about spring – there seem to be an awful lot of saints days this time of year.

Now I need to qualify that statement by admitting I am an atheist with absolutely no knowledge or education in the subject of saints, so I am probably talking rubbish – but that has never been a handicap to me writing about a subject before, so why should I start worrying now?

To prove my point: this time of year there’s St Valentine ( February 14th, the patron saint of massacres and greeting cards) , St David ( March 1st, the patron saint of daffodils and whales), St Patrick ( March 17th, the patron saint of shamrocks and Guinness) and St George (April 23rd, the patron saint of dragons and right wing English van drivers). Shockingly, I had to check an on-line diary of saints’ days to get those dates right, and in the process discovered there are actually other saints days I have missed out: For example March 5th is St Piran’s day and March 19th is St Joseph’s day. A quick internet search informs me that St Piran is the patron saint of tin miners, and St Joseph

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is the patron saint of confectioners and house hunters. Also this search has corrected my previous assertions, and it seems David is not the patron saint of daffs and whales, but is the patron saint of doves and Wales (I was close), whilst Patrick is the patron saint of snakes and engineers, and George is the patron saint of syphilis and sheep (really, no kidding). My

St Valentine description of patronage is of course correct.

But what is all this saint and patronage bit all about? Actually if I take Saint George, for example (and I could have easily taken any of the others) it turns out he’s patron saint of a huge list of things, places, occupations and

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stuff. For example, he’s not just patron saint of England, but also of: Canada, Ethiopia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal and dozens of towns and regions including Beirut, Aragon, Palestine and loads more. The list of professions who have made him their patron saint is similarly long and includes knights, shepherds, saddlers, soldiers, field workers, horsemen and lepers (is that a job?

I think it’s a job…). Anyway, as I said, his saint’s day is celebrated on April 23rd. Well, except in Malta when it’s celebrated on the 4th Sunday in June, in Gozo where it’s the third Sunday in July, in Russia where it’s the 3rd of November and Georgia it’s the 23rd of November.

And what did he do to earn his sainthood? He killed a dragon and saved a damsel in Libya and converted the locals to Christianity (hmm, that turned out well).

Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with people holding implausible beliefs if they want to, but this is all a load of rubbish, isn’t it? There weren’t any dragons, for starters. And then when you realise that the cry of “For England and St George!” could easily have been “For Lithuania and St George!” or even “For lepers and St George!” it all starts to become a bit silly.

Meanwhile a friend in Wales recently asked me if I was celebrating St Dwynwen’s Day – who it turns out, is the patron saint of friendship and love. This a woman who became a nun after being raped.

Hmmm.

Also the patron saint of sick animals, it turns out.

No, I still don’t get it.

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E

very society provides people with ways of seeing, hearing and interpreting the world, usually through a common language.

It is not surprising therefore that most of us have pre-conceived ideas about other cultures when we first encounter them, no matter how

open minded we try to be. Reading about and listening to the opinions of others is crucial, lest we remain trapped in popular myths often based on assumption or rhetoric. However, this is not always the easiest thing to do in a second language. Alison Reid will

regularly translate for you a selection of topical blogs and opinion pieces by French writers, journalists and thinkers and publish them on our website and here…be prepared, the French opinion may surprise you.

originally appear to be needed. “We’re taking it at it comes,” one General was even heard to say.

Military objectives still unclear Why are the allied countries staying so far out of all this? The English have lent two aeroplanes. The Americans are staying quiet.

The European Union is absent.

What is the risk that the conflict will spread to other parts? Is this a risk that has been

the same political results,” Heir to Mitterrand or to Guy Mollet?

The last time that France became involved in an overseas conflict of its own will, at short notice, and in the name of protecting its indirect interests, was in 1956 alongside the English, under a government lead by socialist Guy Mollet.

This military operation, lead with the aim of ensuring control over the Suez Canal, ended

considered? The taking of hostages on an oil rig in Algeria seemed to have come as a surprise to everyone concerned. How on earth is that possible?

What are France’s goals in this war? Why are the African troops that were supposed to arrive taking so long to turn up? Why don’t we admit that in order to really gain control of the area, combat on the ground against rebel forces is inevitable, and that the

in political, diplomatic and military failure, with the USA urging the French and the English to pull out of the region. Making comparisons may not prove anything, but it is worth remembering that the problems with this operation are the same as those being pointed out by the people currently questioning French intervention in Mali.

Is France able to learn from its past, as Valéry Giscar D’Estaing is telling it to? Why do French journalists, seemingly so intent on singing the praises of president Hollande, care so little about making these thoughts and reflections heard?

The question is politically incorrect, and it is true that it may be considered to be some sort of military and diplomatic faux pas, but it needs to be asked: what would happen if François Hollande’s war in Mali was unsuccessful? What would happen if France’s engagement ended in military failure and a diplomatic pitfall?

In a few weeks we’ll have the answer to this question. And we’ll see if François Hollande turns out to be the heir to François Mitterrand or the heir to Guy Mollet.

The French VIEW _ Mali

I

ntro: Journalists in France have been full of praise for François Hollande ever since he decided to engage the French army in the war in Mali. Writer Bruno Roger-Petit is astonished to see that no one seems to be listening to the discordant voices highlighting France’s weaknesses and the political risks it’s running. Voices, it seems, that certainly exist.

François Hollande, war leader.

François Hollande, saviour of Mali.

François Hollande, commander in chief.

François Hollande, a regular president of the Fifth French Republic, because he is a president who wages war.

François Hollande, ‘Jupiterian’ successor to Gaulle, Mitterrand and Chirac.

This chorus of editorial praise really shows just how bored the old school political journalists of France must have been since the departure of Nicholas Sarkozy to have been able to produce so many definitive and historical conclusions on the country’s entry into a war being held overseas.

Contradictory questions cast aside France is a country which well and truly hopes every time it goes to war, that it will be out again within a fortnight. The round of applause which met the decision to intervene in Mali prevented people from asking the questions that, since no one really wants to hear them, no one really wanted to ask.

The promise to go to Bamako the other day was made as quickly as the promise to go to Berlin in 1914. Two weeks and it’ll be over!

But the objective fixed by François Hollande, that little phrase “destroy the terrorists,” or “capture them if possible,”, is going to haunt us.

For the moment, the contradictory questions are being ignored, cast aside. But some of the journalists who are better informed on the subject (journalists who should be invited much more frequently onto TV news channels where the same experts have been slogging away on the sets since the Gulf war in 1991) are pointing out some rather worrying issues. As is seen in the blog written by Frédéric Helbert for example – a space constantly furnished with useful information. Information which, in most cases, turns out to be highly accurate.

What is France’s real mission, aside from the Charles Pasqua style idea “We must destroy the terrorists,”? Between improvisation and lack of preparation, the current extent of the French army’s influence would seem to indicate that in less than five days, the ‘mission’ has already changed. The troops that are now required did not

“France is a country which well and truly hopes every time it goes to war, that it will be out again within a fortnight” operation therefore carries certain risks?

And why has Valéry Giscar D’Estaing’s warning in ‘Le Monde’, been ignored to such an extent by the mass media?

“I want to warn against the development of France’s actions in Mali, which would be of a neo-colonialist manner,” declared the ex-president of the Republic, adding that: “France must strictly limit itself to the logistical support of African forces. Air strikes in the North and the East of the country would hit civilian populations, and would reproduce the same pointless destruction as was seen in the war in Afghanistan. They would no doubt also have 8

www.leplus.nouvelobs.com/contribution/ Written by Bruno Roger-Petit Edited by Sébastien Billard

Restaurant Review

Apicius Eats at..... Restaurant de Lauzun

Haut “Green” Cuisine Restaurant de Lauzun 3,Bd.de l’Esplande Gignac Tel :0467-575083 (closed Sun. eve, & Mon.)

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ocated on the main street of the pretty wine village of Gignac the first impression one gets upon entering the eponymous de Lauzun is of a spacious, modern dining room with soft lighting. There is a thoroughly urban vibe present and it all indicates a feeling for taste and a commitment to quality.

This conscientiousness is followed through in the menus. The vegetables used, are organically grown from farmers not more than 10 minutes away from the restaurant and while there is not a vast menu to select from the rationale is to ensure quality and guarantee freshness. The results seem to justify that approach.

There are several menus to choose from (€45, €63, €78) but I decided for the two course luncheon one for €26. After an amuse bouche that was enough to whet my appetite I was ready, set and waiting with anticipation for my first course. I was not to be disappointed. Beautifully plated it was a

terrine of ham hock covered by crabmeat interspersed with grapefruit, kombawa (kaffir lime), lemongrass, young lettuce leaves, surrounded by a mango sauce. This was a five star beginning with currents of sweet, acidic and slightly salty notes combining in a wonderful explosion of tastes.

Another interesting starter: tartare of haddock with herbs and sun- dried tomatoes, pen clams, mussels in vinaigrette accompanied by different lettuce leaves.

My main was several pieces of poultry with vegetables. Describing it like that makes it sound banausic but the reality was like looking at a Monet. With succulent pieces of chicken surrounded by a panoply of more than twelve exquisitely turned out legumes, this was a luscious plate of food. What I appreciated about both of my courses was the fact that the vegetables and fruits were not an afterthought or simply window dressing but an integral part of the recipe.

For dessert (€7) I had four different types of cheeses accompanied by a really thick fig confiture and 3 types of artisanal bread.

Another interesting sweet is ganache and milk chocolate with raspberries and a raspberry sorbet.

Being close to some of the most renowned wine producers in the Languedoc means that you will be delighted with the variety and depth of bottles available. Most of the “big boys” are present and there are also several representatives from outside the region. It’s a pity, however, that there are very few half bottles on the list and almost none under 30 Euros. I had a red from Mas Cal Demoura- L’Infidèle (€37) a mélange of the five most used grape varieties in the

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ctobre Noir, the animation by Florence Corre and Héraultais illustrator and newspaper cartoonist Aurel, received the critic’s prize at the Kustendorf Festival in Serbia.

The festival, which brings together music and cinema, is run by director Emir Kusturica, twice winner of the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

Octobre Noir, tells the story of the 17th October 1961, during which 300 Algerian protestors were killed by French police in Paris.

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Languedoc. The bottle had an extremely long finish with a nice mixture of spices and red fruit flavors. It’s the type of wine that despite its name one could become very faithful to.

As for service, the out front brigade keeps up the brio of the kitchen. It’s professional but still friendly without being obsequious or overbearing.

Chef de Lauzun the young chef / proprietor cut his teeth on some of France’s most prestigious restaurants including Bras and Illhaeusern and now in his own establishment his intent is to serve modern and creative cuisine while at the same time

keeping it balanced and healthy. This is a kitchen that is not desirous of being anodyne or conventional but intelligent and aware.

What can I say- it’s my type of cooking and my type of restaurant; it’s a place I could eat in every week. As Paul Gaugin noted, ”Cooking well relies on a clear head, a generous spirit and an open heart.” The fact that the chef received a Michelin star in 2009 seems to confirm it.

Apicius

Wine

Rosemary George

Organic wine – or as the French call it, Vin Bio

T

he Languedoc has an enormous climatic advantage when it comes to making organic wine. Apart from the long sunshine hours, it is the wind. The wind will quickly dry up any lingering damp after a heavy downpour, entailing fewer treatments in the vineyard. Humidity is the vine’s worst enemy, and as one wine grower put it, the wind is our best friend.

So what does organic viticulture entail? At its simplest, it is a return to life before the development of agricultural chemicals, so no weed killers, insecticides, pesticides, and just a mild dose of sulphur and copper, the Bordeaux mixture that has been used for centuries. And if taken a big step further, there is biodynamic viticulture which follows a precise calendar, determined by the phases of the moon.

The calendar is divided into root, leaf, flower and fruit days. Fruit 2011 Domaine de Magellan blanc, Pays de l’Hérault A blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne, partly fermented in oak, and partly in vat. Quite rounded and textured with satisfying mouth feel and a good balance of acidity. An appealing bouquet of white blossom 9.00€ 2012 Château la Liquière, les Amandiers, Faugères blanc A veritable fruit salad of Grenache blanc, Roussanne, Clairette, Terret blanc, Bourboulenc and Viognier. Quite a rounded palate with a touch of peachiness from the Viognier. Fresh and elegant. 6.40€ 2011 Domaine de la Prose, les Cadières, St. Georges d’Orques Medium colour. Quite ripe and smoky on the nose, with rounded fruit and good balance on the palate. A blend of Grenache, with some Syrah and Cinsaut and a touch of Mourvèdre. 9.00€

days are best for tasting wine; root days are good for ploughing and flower days are the moment to prune and debud. Biodynamics also entails the use of various products in the vineyard, but that is beyond the scope of this article.

The number of organic wine growers in the Languedoc has grown enormously. The latest figures, for 2011, show 1199 organic estates cultivating 19,907 hectares, compared to 279 estates with 3764 hectares in 2001. And the number continues to grow. At the organic wine fair , Millésime Bio, in Montpellier last month, I met several wine growers for whom 2012 was their first year of organic viticulture, and they were very pleased with the results. Quite simply, the vines are healthier. It takes three years to convert your vineyards to organic viticulture before you can register with one of the organic organisations, such as Ecocert or Demeter. For some growers, converting to organic viticulture does not constitute much of a change. As Sophie Dumoulin at Château la Liquière in Faugères observed: we were already doing it. Alexandre Jougla from Domaine des Jouglas in St. Chinian wondered why they hadn’t done it earlier.

True, there were things to relearn, but the benefits in the vineyard are enormous.

A few drinking suggestions: And I make no concessions for organic wine. The first rule is that the wine must taste good, and these do.

2012 Domaine des Jouglas, Initiale, St. Chinian – 6.20€ Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache in equal proportions.

Rounded with fresh fruit and the appealing scents and herbs of the garrigues.

2011 Domaine Clavel, Languedoc, les Garrigues, - 9.00€ From vines grown near Montpellier airport. Two thirds Syrah to one third Grenache, with a touch of Carignan. Aged in vat. Some spicy leathery notes on the nose. A medium weight palate, with ripe rounded fruit, and a youthful tannic streak.

Rosemary George M.W. / January 2013 www.tastelanguedoc.blogspot.com

Who Shall We Blame Today? Oh come on, I’m only horsing around!

Here is a question for you.

Who or what is Comigel?

As one TIMES who isADVERT keen to HERAULT v2

find fault with ignorant 23/5/12 15:16stupid Page and 1

companies I find the poll that blames the French for the horsemeat scandal absolutely ridiculous. It has been found in Ireland and other countries but apparently the French are to blame and Comigel in particular. Ridiculous!

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Business and Economy

I

Being a business (man/woman/person) in France

Michael D’Artag

t has been a tough time for businesses in France, and Britain, and Germany, and Italy and America and......you get the picture I guess.

With the continuing doom and gloom (unless you are Mark Carney the new governor of The Bank of England who is receiving £874,000 in salary including £5,000 a week for a place to call home) how on earth and why would you want to go into business in France?

Simple really, earn some money, provide a service and teach the French a little lesson in thank-you and service.

I have just given you a multi billion dollar business and it took you 10 seconds to learn and cost you nothing.

Well at least I hope you learnt the lesson.

If you have a business then say thank-you to everything. Thank people for enquiring, thank them for ordering, thank them for paying, the thank you economy is common sense so why do so many companies and

We’ll be starting next month on which business you need but I warn you now, I am not here to tell you which one to use or give you step by step guides that are out of date as quickly as they are mis-translated (go on, do a search and see if I’m wrong).

I will however show you the options, tell you the obvious advantages and disadvantages and then leave it to you. You want to run a business in France? Then do it, I’ll show you things but if you can’t work it out after having the door opened then I politely suggest you give up now.

individuals fail to do it. A book of this title by Gary Vaynerchuk came out and it talks about social media and Twitter etc but it’s real point is simple. People buy people. Unless you are Apple or an undertaker you need to be a friend to your customers. Care about them and listen and say thank you.

If I had a euro for every time someone complained about customer care in France I would buy you all a drink. Customers are hard to find and harder to keep. Good product or services are number 1 but there are more of those out there than we care to admit. Be radical! Be polite! Why do I have to write this?

** - Thank you for reading my column.

- Thank you for picking up this magazine - Thank you for writing in with your thoughts.

- Thank you for subscribing.

Take a moment and read those lines again.

I have just given you a multi billion dollar business and it took you 10 seconds to read and cost you nothing.

** In the next few months I’ll be interviewing business people from the area and further to ask questions on working in France.

Why it works and why it sometimes doesn’t.

Sheer Madness at Peugeot Citroen

A

recent appeals court ruling has prevented Peugeot Citroen from restructuring it’s company and has thereby saved at this time 8,000 jobs.

A company with such a debt that it urgently needs fiscal restructuring cannot attempt to save itself because France said so! Apparently the workers lawyer stated that the company had not in-

Peugeot. The company that in September was removed from the French stock market CAC 40.

And received a 7bn euros state guarantee as long as they agreed to cut back its plan to cut 8,000 jobs and close a factory.

And this the company that 2 weeks ago wrote off €4bn as it’s sales fell 16% globally in 2012. formed the relevant works committee and ‘mon dieu’ we cannot have this.

At a time when a minister is stating that France is effectively bankrupt let us let a little miscommunication put even more pressure on a creaking monolith that is trying to keep going.

But hold on a moment..... let’s rewind here shall we.

Now forgive me but if I run my business this way and then I’m told I can’t try to save it what should I do?

Maybe go somewhere else. How does that appeal, Peugeot Citroen based in.......

China? Germany or how about Ireland or Spain?

VA VA VOOM IS GO GO GONE 11

Avoiding the ‘Cash Trap’ I think that it is fair to say that the global economy has been ill for some time! Central banks throughout the developed world have tried to cure the illness in the form of ultra-low interest rates and other extraordinary measures, aimed at stimulating economic growth. The outcome is that it has ‘dethroned cash from its former place as king’.

For all of us today, wealth preservation is key to the decisions that we make regarding the investment of our financial assets. This is even more important if you are retired and so no longer have the possibility of increasing your wealth by saving from disposable income.

Keeping too much cash - beyond what someone may need to meet short-term capital and emergency needs - can be disastrous for savers. The decline in income generated by deposit accounts and some other ‘perceived safe-haven’ fixed interest investments has all but completely dried up. The decline is not imaginary or hypothetical and the lost income means less money to meet the household needs. Combined with a stronger Euro, which we are also currently experiencing, this can make it more difficult for the expatriate to meet their income needs.

To find out how you can avoid the ‘cash trap’, the full article can be found at [website address to be entered here].

If you would like more information about investing on a tax-efficient basis for France (whether for investing an amount of capital and/or saving on a regular basis), or any other aspect of retirement and inheritance planning, please contact me by telephone on + 33 (0)4 68 20 30 17 or by e-mail at daphne.foulkes@spectrum-ifa.com to discuss your situation, in confidence.

Daphne Foulkes

SIRET 522 658 194 00017 Numéro d’immatriculation ORIAS 10 056 800

Mark Carney Can he agree with everyone now he’s not in Canada?

By the way, if you are British then be thankful and don’t begrudge Mark Carney a penny (see column 1) as he becomes the governor of The Bank of England. He deserves every penny!

Business / Legal / News

Banking

Gill Pound

Colin Trickett

In The Garden Winter this year has been quite mild so far and a number of spring flowering shrubs are already showing colour, although according to Meteo France colder weather is forecast for early February, let us hope that we don’t have a repeat of the exceptional cold that marked the beginning of February 2012. February can still be a quiet time of the year in the garden but as the weather starts to warm up and the days lengthen there are a number of tasks that one can be getting on with to prepare for the coming season: •General weeding, digging and mulching of flower beds •Check that stakes are holding firm with the winter winds •Turn some organic material (compost, rotted manure etc) into your flower beds and perhaps add some general organic fertiliser •Towards the end of the month start to cut back ornamental grasses, other perennials and sub shrubs such as Salvia microphylla and it’s cultivars, Perovskia, etc •Deadhead winter flowering pansies to encourage repeat flowering.

•Check on the watering requirements of container grown plants, even at this time of the year they can dry out.

•During February or March prune summer flowering shrubs (eg Lavatera, Buddleia) that flower on the current year’s growth, prune winter flowering shrubs such as winter jasmine and Mahonia after flowering.

•Planting and moving plants •If you haven’t yet done so, prune woody climbers such as Wisteria and Campsis back to two or three buds on sideshoots. Late flowering clematis should also be pruned now, as can Virginia creeper •Make sure that you have finished pruning hedges before the bird nesting season begins, hedges are ideal nesting areas for many garden birds. Nesting boxes can also still be put up in February.

•Keep an eye on the weather forecast and protect tender plants if severe cold is forecast •Start to sow seeds As the days start to lengthen and to warm up a number of spring flowering shrubs and trees will start to flower. The native shrub Viburnum tinus flowers at this

time of year, it makes an excellent hedge and it’s blue berries are attractive later in the year.

Another native, rosemary, needs little introduction but it’s blue flowers are lovely in the early spring, white forms are sometimes found as well. Less well known is Sophora macrocarpa, a lovely evergreen shrub from Chile with hanging clusters of yellow flowers from early February to late April.

I shall be exhibiting at the Fete de la Bigarade at La Caunette (34210) on the 23rd & 24th February. This is a very good plant fair, with over 30 exhibitors and the opportunity to buy some quite unusual plants.

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

Tel: 04 68 78 43 81, email Gill@lapetitepepiniere.com www.lapetitepepiniere.com We shall reopen on Friday 1st March and after that it will be our usual opening hours of 10h – 18h Fridays and Saturdays, 10h – 12h Sundays, or by appointment at any time.

From Top: 1. viburnum tinus. 2. sophora macrocarpa.

3. rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary)

12

Nature Notes (NOT SO)

RARE ORCHIDS

O

ne of the many delights of living in Hérault is the presence and huge diversity of wild flowers. Amongst them I suppose none has more exotic appeal than the orchids!

By the time you read this edition of the HT the ‘giant’ of the family and the earliest to flower will be in full bloom, the “Barlie de Robert”. This one time rare species can now easily be spotted on the edge of tracks and vineyards, particularly where it finds shelter at the foot of a shrub or tree. Tending to be part of a small colony this plant with its broad green leaves produces a tall (up to 80cm), pink, densely clustered flower.

This variety is just the first of a year which in Hérault will see up to 70 different species in bloom. The vast majority love the calcaire soils, so our garrigue, our stoney vineyards and our worked-out quarries provide the perfect habitat.

The next tranche tend to flower between early April and the end of May and include the “Military”orchid, the “Orchis Brulée”, the “Orchis Male” and the wonderful purple and white “Orchis Poupre”. All of these are similar in form to the “Barlie” but normally around half the size.

From mid-May we start to see an entirely different form of orchid, tiny and delicate, with subtly differing shapes of flower and hues of colour. These are the family “Ophrys”. Up to 20 different sub-species, they include what some of us know as the “Bee” orchid.

Into June and many of the grassy areas will play host to colonies of “Orchis Pyramidale” or “Pyramid” orchids. These pretty little pale to dark pink pyramids atop 5 to 10 cm stems, form a wonderful contrast with the evocative blue of the “Aphillantes de Montpellier”.

Also in June and into July, is a rarer and more difficult to spot variety – “Limodore a feuilles Avortées”. This remarkable name is actually for a visually quite unremarkable flower. It resembles a purple asparagus stem with small flowers peeling off the sides of the shoot. It appears suddenly, one day no sign then the next two or three or these stems pop up in the centre of a track or in a vineyard!

From the ‘giant’ to the ‘unremarkable’, these are just a few of these fantastic plants which adorn our land from spring through summer.

Good Be To Young

Listening to right now:

When I was your man - Bruno Mars Downtown - Lady Antebellum Sweet Nothing - Calvin Harris Movie(s) of the week Wreck it Ralph and Zero Dark 30

Domaine d’O

O

n Friday 11th January, the class of 3eme5 du collège Pic St Loup de St Clément de rivière went to visit the “Domaine d’O” in Montpellier. We were welcomed by Valèrie who showed us around for the day.

Firstly she took us to the château d’O where we met the “metteur en scène”, Marion. She told us about “Ciseaux”, the play we are going to see in February, about the book the story came from and about turning it in to a play.

We then did some exercises to warm ourselves up that Marion does with her actors every morning. The first exercise was, in groups of two, to make contact with our partner one after the other. For example, I touch my friend on the head and then she touches my hip - but when she moves, my hand doesn’t move, it stays exactly where her head was before she moved. Another one was to fly a kite and to pretend one is blown away with the kite.

Once we had warmed up, we went into the theatre. The theatre was quite big with about 200 seats. The stage had been set up with the decor for “Ciseaux”. There were 5-6

On the music side

areas created. In the back left-hand corner, a garden. In the right-hand corner a living room with a tv and an armchair. In the front left there was a piano and in the front right a very

high chair (like a lifeguard’s at the swimming pool) with a desk and a lamp.

In the middle, there was a very big picture frame set up covered in clouds to represent one of the characters daydreaming.

We were invited to go on stage in groups of 5 or 6 and each go to an area and mime actions. Our performance had to involve dealing with an accident. I chose to be at the front

of the stage at the high table and I pretend to wait for someone who never came.

The lights in the audience had been dimmed so I couldn’t see them at all - which freaked me out a bit but I got used to it. While I was waiting for somebody to arrive who never came, I decided that I would pretend to pour myself some water and spill some on the table, which worked quite well. I had had enough of waiting for this person so I decided to leave and go to the garden area of the stage where I joined two of my classmates who were performing.

Early in the afternoon, we went on a visit of the domaine. We went all the way to the big “amphitheatre” that can hold 1800 people.

We also saw backstage. We saw the dressing rooms - and they really do have lights on the side of the mirrors like all the celebrities have on the movies.

The domaine d’O is a wonderful place where one can walk in the park or come and see some theatre or join in with the festivals and have some fun!

Jemima Rushton

Musician/music critic Lilian Armaud introduces up and coming French bands to look out for…...

Introducing this month’s band: Kursed

Nowadays, people always talk about famous bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and many others, but what about those little bands trying to get a place in the world of music as the famous once did?

I have the pleasure and the honour to introduce one of them: Kursed ! A little

touring big cities, such as Paris and Lille, they are slowly making their mark in the world of show-business !

If you’re a music addict and fond of some good Rock with little Pop and Blues tendencies, I think this band is for you.

And last but not least you can see them performing on February the 23th at the Mojomatic in Montpellier with My Great Blue Cadillac and Anchors Away!

Anyway, don’t forget to check their band page on facebook (Kursed ‘Rock’) or Twitter (https://twit-

Rock band from Montpellier. Already 2 albums released (“Like A Coffee” and “Miaow”) and many music videos on youtube in their pocket in less than 3 years, these talented and willful young musicians are ready to give everything they can to become famous.

With radio air time (LeMouv’) and 13

ter.com/Kursed_Rock) and to listen on YouTube or even buy their albums on this site: http://kursed1.bandcamp.com Keep on rockin’ guys and make the Rock go!

I

n general, language is one of the central elements of theatre. However, the subtleties of a script can be lost in translation, and when the audience and players don’t share a common tongue the

between audiences and actors. Their mission is simple – to encourage people to come and enjoy theatre and music. So, put to one side the notion that major cosmopolitan cities are the exclusive homes of cultural excellence, and take the risk of being surprised, amused, challenged… and above all… carried away…

At the helm of the seven strong staff and many volunteers, is actor/ director Jean Varela, a tall, stylish man who knows how to wear a neck-chief and who is clear in his mission and commitment to theatre having no social boundaries. Funded largely by the Département - ticket prices are rarely more than 7 euro – sortieOuest also operates an outstanding, annual programme of outreach theatre across Hérault known as ‘Le Grand Tour’.

Jean Varela recalls the months before the opening in 2006, when the now extensive car park was a melon field and the Big Top space a piece of waste ground; that moment when it is almost impossible to imagine the day when a theatre of canvas and wood would emerge on the splendid estate where the 12th century Chapel of Saint Felix de Bayssan also stands. There were many, he says, who did not believe that this theatre would last the course, seeing it as a brief whim in a suburban area that already had cultural facilities in its centre.

Public curiosity decided otherwise. Today, sortieOuest is a respected institution, regionally and nationally. It is a theatre that aims to make its audience feel welcomed and at home, where everybody knows that the quest for meaning and enjoyment will prevail over fleeting fashions. “It is a worthy place for reflection and entertainment which continually but unassumingly offers its audiences freedom of choice, without ever being dogmatic.”

More Than A Theatre

language barrier becomes seemingly insurmountable. There are however many forms of theatre that by their very nature have the potential to transcend any such restraints.

In the Chinese production ‘Shuisheng’ the actors present the story using body language without any dialogue, which allows foreign audiences to understand the plot without difficulty. Theatre sortieOuest, a performing arts and theatre venue in Bayssan on the outskirts of Béziers, has taken a step further to overcome barriers, not only those of language but also the barriers that can exist

14

All the events available to the public bear testimony to these facts: the theatre courses for adults and young people; free, public conferences; L’Air de Rien, a bookshop well stocked with reading material on subjects covering fine-art to cinema; an on-site restaurant Le Chapiteau Gourmand (see website for opening times); a media centre organised in partnership with the Départment; and an in-house theatre company ‘In situ’ who have been involved since the beginning.

Monsieur Varela attributes a strong element of the project’s success to the relationships that have been made through the educational service established two years ago, including an agreement with the Henri IV school in Béziers.

And recently sortieOuest was put in charge of the on-stage classes within the Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts degree, newly developed in Béziers by Paul Valéry Montpellier 3 University. He negates to mention, however, the key role he plays in selecting the best music and theatre that the region and beyond has to offer…

LOOK OUT FOR March Paris-based, Malian musician, Fatoumata Diawara. Comedian, film actress, a member of the famous street theatre company Royal Deluxe in Paris whose wonderful voice was has accompanied a number of other great artists (OumouSangaré, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Herbie Hancock, ToumaniDiabaté...), before she started working on her own repertoire.

She composed the music and wrote the lyrics of her first album which was released in October 2011. Over West African rhythms blended with jazz, folk and blues tones, beautiful Fatoumata in her warm and bewitching voice conjures up the issues of modern Africa supporting freedom for her countrywomen. (23rd March).

April Bojan Z - winner of the “artist of the year” award at Victoires du Jazz 2012. Bojan Zulfikarpasic, short name Bojan Z, is a Franco-Serbian pianist, keyboardist and composer who has achieved a prominent position in today’s global jazz village since he settled down in France almost twenty-five years ago. His fast and solid left hand helps him build up an elegant touch to serve a music which pervades its Balkan roots. The formidable practice of solo piano brings out all his qualities. (6th April).

VORTEX - Created and performed by Phia Ménard, a trained juggler, this artistic project is based around the transformation of manipulated matter known as I.C.E. (Injongabilité Complémentaire des Eléments).

This show is co-hosted by La Verreried’Alès – National Centre of Circus Arts.

Twenty four ventilators positioned around the circus ring. A strange creature playing with the wind which plays with her in turn as she gradually transforms herself in front of us. We are the witnesses of a weird choreography, an improbable fight waged by this unstable, frail woman juggling with our daily waste: plastic bags and other carton packaging buffeted by violent wind currents in the losing battle of humankind against the natural elements. (11th and 12th April at La Cigalière, Sérignan)

Théâtre sortieOuest domaine de Bayssan le Haut route de vendres 34500 Béziers www.sortieouest.fr BUS: Béziers/Vendres, line 213 from Monday to Saturday (except public holidays).

Win tickets to sortieOuest. See the competition page

15

Lifestyle

Conference on ‘Empathy, Compassion and Health – The therapeutic benefits of compassion in modern life

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2013. The three day programme will consist of plenary sessions and workshops, during which participants will have the opportunity to explore in greater depth the increasingly significant role of compassion and empathy in contemporary medicine and in our society.

Among the panel taking part will be Sogyal Rimpoché, author of the ‘Tibetan book of Living and Dying’, Kristin Neff and Paul Gilbert, research pioneers on compassion for the self, Christophe André and Serge Tisseron, French psychiatrists, Tania Singer and Cliff Saron, neuroscientists and Thierry Janssen, surgeon turned psychotherapist, and James Doty, Director of the Centre for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at the University of Stanford (CCARE).

or the first time in France, an international conference bringing together some of the most respected experts in medicine, neurosciences and Buddhism to present the latest research findings on

the benefits of compassion and its application, both in a medical context and in daily life. Open to ALL, particularly professionals working in health.

This event will be the fourth in the series of forums on Buddhism and Medicine whose aim is to present and increase the links between the Buddhist science of the mind and Western science, medicine and therapies. This year, the theme will be Empathy, Compassion and Health – The therapeutic benefits of compassion in modern life. The forum will take place at the Institute of Wisdom and Compassion at Lerab Ling, Lodève from 31st May to 2nd June

For more information contact Judith SOUSSANS 04 67 88 46 00 Reservations: 04 91 09 70 53 or visit www.BouddhismeEtMedecine.fr Tel. 06 10 47 39 82 judith.soussans@rigpa.org

Love Doesn’t Hurt

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n the wake of the hearts, cards, chocolates and cupids received this Valentine’s Day, there is one more gift that needs to be added for wives, mothers, partners, sisters and daughters across the globe – a life free of violence.

It is estimated that as many as seven out of ten women experience violence at some point in their lifetime. In March the UN will meet to address the pandemic of violence against women and girls.

Why? •Violence against women is a gross human rights violation that destroys families and communities and obstructs development.

•In some countries, between 40 and 70 per cent of female murder victims are killed by intimate

disagreements peacefully.

Every woman and every girl should be able to live a safe life free of violence.

Violence against women should not be accepted, tolerated or justified under any circumstances.

UN Women is leading global efforts to end all forms of violence. It works in countries to help pass strong laws, stop impunity for violations, provide services for survivors and prevent violence from happening. It champions an ambitious goal: universal access to critical services for all survivors of violence.

Let’s talk about it. Love means many things to many people, but

partners.

•It has enormous direct and indirect costs for survivors, employers and the public sector in terms of health, police, legal and related expenditures as well as lost wages and productivity.

•But it is a problem that can be addressed through prevention, protection and access to services.

•Strong legal reform and implementation, and a change in mindsets and attitudes are needed. YOU can make that happen.

Love doesn’t hurt. It is built through respect and equality.

Relationships are based on the foundation of fairness and must be free from physical, sexual and emotional violence. They are based on respect for one another and by working to resolve conflicts and 16

one thing remains constant: a safe and violence-free life.

For more information, visit: http://www.unwomen.org/newsevents/in-focus/in-focus-lets-endviolence-against-women/ Take action on UN Women’s online platform: www.saynotoviolence.org Abused women help line: 04 93 52 17 81 (English); 01 40 33 80 90 (French)

With colds and flu causing havoc at this time of year one of the easiest and most effective solutions is in abundance in our area.

Fish!

Lifestyle

The Benefits: •For the brain and eyes - fish rich in omega 3 fatty acids can contribute to the health of brain tissue and the retina (the light sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye) •Cancer - the omega 3 fatty acids in fish may reduce the risk of many types of cancers by 30 to 50 per cent, especially of the oral cavity, oesophagus, colon, breast, ovary and prostate

You shall have a fishy on a little dishy…

It is well known that regularly eating fish can diminish the risk of illnesses ranging from asthma to prostate cancer. Fish is low in fat, high in protein and an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids.

However, the Fishing Industry is in crisis: diminishment of stock, increasing fuel prices, decreasing consumption… But behind the figures and the quotas there are men, women and families who not only live for it but also rely on it in conditions which are increasingly difficult to predict.

If you would prefer to buy locally caught fish below is a list of stockists for fish caught by the boats of the Grau-d’Agde: AGDE Hyper U, Boulevard Jean Monnet Intermarché, route de Sète Poissonnerie La Cale, 62 rue de l’Amour et parking de la cave coopé Poissonnerie La Côte bleue, 14 rue Montesquieu Poissonnerie Les Mouettes, 50 rue Sadi Carnot BESSAN Intermarché, route de Saint-Thibéry BEZIERS Poissonnerie Carbonnel, 30 avenue du Maréchal Foch Poissonnerie La Côte bleue, 31 avenue de la fontaine neuve BOUJAN-SUR-LIBRON Poissonnerie L’Hyppocampe, 2 rue Marcelin Albert CAP D’AGDE Poissonnerie Les Halles, 45 avenue des Sergents CLERMONT L’HERAULT Hyper U MARSEILLAN-PLAGE Poissonnerie Pailhas Fille, 6 place du marché MEZE Poissonnerie des Halles, 26 rue du Chèvrefeuille PEZENAS Carrefour Market, Avenue de Verdun Les pêcheurs, 6 rue Conti Poissonnerie Babe, 4 rue Kléber SETE Poissonnerie Rivière, Halles Centrales, rue de Metz THEZAN-LES-BEZIERS Super U, Les Masselettes VALRAS-PLAGE Poissonnerie Barba, 33 boulevard Jean Dauga Poissonnerie Penda, Halles Centrales VIAS Intermarché, Lieu dit « le Gravenas » VILLENEUVE-LES-BEZIERS Carrefour, ZAE Pôle Méditerranée

•Cardiovascular disease - eating fish every week reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing blood clots and inflammation, improving blood vessel elasticity, lowering blood pressure, lowering blood fats and boosting ‘good’ cholesterol • Dementia - elderly people who eat fish or seafood at least once a week may have a lower risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease •Depression - people who regularly eat fish have a lower incidence of depression (depression is linked to low levels of omega 3 fatty acids in the brain) • Diabetes - fish may help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels •Inflammatory conditions - regular fish consumption may relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and autoimmune disease •Prematurity - eating fish during pregnancy may help reduce the risk of delivering a premature baby.

17

ith W n O ’s What

www.heraultwhatson.com What’s On Where

For an up to date guide to what’s on in the Herault please visit Wow or The Herault Times websites Tuesday 19th February to 15th April Béziers Exhibition of George Roux, Bitterois artist (1854-1929) Georges Roux was born in Ganges in 1854, although he spent most of his career in Béziers where he produced portraits of Biterroise personalities, illustrations and interior design work in important hotels. Musée des Beaux-Arts - Hôtel Fabrégat Place de la Révolution 34500 BEZIERS Telephone: 33 (0)4 67 28 38 78 ** Wednesday 20th February Lamalou-les-Bains Guided Tour of the historic monument The Roman church of St Pierre de Rhedes RDV 14h15 in front of the edifice FREE Reservations before Tuesday 19th at 12h at Lamalou-les-Bains office de tourisme.

Telephone 04 67 95 70 91/office@ot-lamaloulesbains.fr ** Wednesday 20th February - 27th March Saint Jean-de-Fos Beginners Pottery classes You would love to work with clay ? Come and try a 2h workshop. Or sign up for the technique that interests you: turning, modeling, montage…

Workshops are suitable for both adults and children with different themes throughout the season. During the school holidays workshops on: Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th February and 5th March, and Friday 1st and 8th March. Price: 5€ per person Booking required. Minimum three people per workshop. 6 Rue du Monument 34150 SAINT-JEAN-DE-FOST Telephone: +33 (0)4 67 56 41 96 http://www.argileum.fr/ ** Thursday 21st February Lamalou-les-Bains Conference: La Maladie de Parkinson organized and presented by Dr. Geny 16h FREE (open to everyone) Centre Ulysee Lamalou-les-Bains ** Saturday 23rd February Palavas-les-Flots Avant Féria : an evening celebration open air – but sheltered from the elements – “novillada’ without picadors, performance of sévillanas, and the official announcement of the Féria de la Mer programme.

FREE Salle Bleue Avenue abbé Brocardi 34250 PALAVAS-LES-FLOTS Telephone : 33 (0)4 67 50 39 56 vincentribera.arenes@free.fr ** Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th March Bassan

For the fourth year in a row, the Association les Artistes Complément’Air will hold their winter show in the Salles de Fetes, Bassan.

A number of artists – painters and sculptors – as well as artisans – ceramicists, designers, jewelers, poets…. - will present their work over this long weekend.

There will be a painting demonstration with model on both the Saturday and Sunday between 15h-17h. 09h30 -12h and 14h-18h30 (non-stop Saturday and Sunday) Free entry Salle des fêtes Centre ville - Salle des fêtes 34290 BASSAN Téléphone filaire : 33 (0)4 67 36 10 67 **

Sunday 10th to Friday 29th March Lamelou-les-Bains Exhibition « Graines de lumière pour ombres dansées » photographer, Marieke Hazard and sculptor,Philippe Lecerf, Private view: Saturday 9th March from 18h20h Centre Ulysse, Bvd Mourcayrol Open every day except Mondays 15h – 18h ** Sunday 17th March Béziers Grand Gala Taurin du Printemps et Fiesta Campera Organised by the Cercle Taurin Paul Ricard “El Mundillo”, Fédération des Clubs Taurins du Biterrois, Ecole Taurine Béziers Méditerranée, S.A.S Plateau de Valras, Ville de Béziers.

Avenue Emile Claparède - Arènes de Béziers 34500 BEZIERS Tel: 33 (0)6 19 51 47 97 http://www.elmundillo.com ** Friday 22nd March, 2013 St Geniès-de-Fontedit Concert Appassionata Chorale will be singing at the church St Genies de Fontedit.

The concert starts at 20H30, and donations will be accepted on behalf of the charity RETINA France. ** 18

Thursday 23rd March Vias Printemps des Poètes Printemps des Poètes promises to be the most vibrant ever. This year it pays homage to Pablo Neruda, who disappeared 40 years ago, but who will be brought to life through the medium of poems sung, spoken, and recited in the art gallery. Galerie d’Art Place du 14 Juillet 34450 VIAS Téléphone filaire : 33 (0)4 67 21 60 26 **

Friday 24th March, 2013 Béziers Concert Jacques Higelin: Talented composer and respected show-man, Jacques Higelin has been seducing audiences for several generations with his songs which are as risqué as they are unifying. 20h30 Tél : 04 67 36 44 45 - 06 09 10 05 25 06 09 71 30 48 Mail : christopheburte@gmail.com zingazanga@ville-beziers.fr Salle Zinga Zanga Traverse de Colombiers - Montfloures 34500 Béziers ** Thursday 28th March Villeneuve-les-Bézeirs Direct from the Royal Opera House film screening of the ballet: Alice in Wonderland 20h15 Tickets : 18€ Reservations recommended Méga CGR Avenue Pierre Bérégovoy Pole Méditerranée 34420 VILLENEUVE LES BEZIER 04 67 30 95 95 www.cgrcinemas.fr/villeneuve ** Saturday 30th March Agde Kick Boxing European Championship 10th « Trophy of Ephèbe » under the auspices of the French Kickboxing Federation, comprises many WAKO PRO professional fighters Palais des Sports 34300 AGDE Tel : 33 (0)4 67 94 65 64 http://www.masterkick.net/ **

What’s in a name....

Sue Hicks continues her look into the history of Street names

C

harles de Gaulle is commemorated on 3736 road signs throughout France, more than any other person. Much of his life story is well known and documented but here are a few lesser known aspects of his life.

•Born in Lille in 1890 and brought up in Paris, Charles de Gaulle was a career soldier who had trained at the military academy St Cyr. De Gaulle had what he described as the “shameful misfortune” to be taken prisoner by the Germans in 1916 and he made 5 failed escape attempts.

•He married Yvonne in 1921 and was a strict father to his son Philippe and daughter Elisabeth but gentle and patient with his daughter Anne

which party politics required. He may not have expected this voluntary exile to his home at Colombey-les-deux eglises to last 12 years.

•In May 1958, with Algeria in tumult and the threat of a military coup, the National Assembly voted de Gaulle into power. A new constitution was approved at a referendum and at the age of 68 de Gaulle became the first elected president of the Fifth Republic.

•De Gaulle was an early master of broadcasting. His now famous 18th June 1940 broadcast from London was not actually heard by many of the French at the time. In April 1961, soldiers in France and Algeria held portable radios to their ears to hear a bravura performance ending “Francaises, Francais, Aidez-moi” •Many accounts recall how physically fearless he was and he survived several assassination attempts. In August 1962 a squad attacked the Presidential Citroen.

De Gaulle and his wife remained sitting upright while their son in the front seat shouted at them to get down.

Had they ducked, it is thought they would have been killed by one of the fourteen bullets which hit the car. When de Gaulle refused to commute the death sentence on the ringleader of the attack, he gave as one of his four reasons the fact that an innocent woman, his wife Yvonne, had been fired at.

•Chancellor Konrad Adenauer was the only foreign statesman invited to stay at Colombey. The French former prisoner of war entertained in his private home the German who had been Mayor of Cologne during this detention.

•De Gaulle had been charmed by Jacqueline Kennedy who spoke excellent French and he was the first foreign dignitary she received after the funeral of President Kennedy in 1963.

•The student unrest and factory sit-ins of 1968 – the revolution that never was - ended and legislative elections saw a Gaullist landslide.

De Gaulle insisted on a fifth referendum and announced on television that he would retire if defeated – which he was, so he did.

•De Gaulle died at home in 1970. He was buried as he had instructed, without fanfare, beside his daughter Anne at Colombey.

who had Down’s syndrome and needed constant care throughout her life. Anne died in her father’s arms in 1948.

•In the 1930’s, de Gaulle argued for aggressive mobile war and the use of tanks while his superiors insisted on developing the static Maginot Line. He was removed from the promotion list for a while as a result of this challenge to the conventional thinking.

•Brigadier General de Gaulle, under Secretary for Defence for less than a month, fled to London rather than accept the French armistice on 22 June 1940. He was sentenced to death in absentia by the Vichy regime for desertion.

•Eventually accepted by the key foreign powers and most French exiles as the leader of the Free French, de Gaulle later claimed, “I raised the corpse of France with my arms, making the world think it was alive.” He made a triumphal walk down the Champs-Elysees on 26 August 1944 and assumed leadership of the provisional French government which drew up the constitution for the Fourth Republic.

De Gaulle resigned in January 1946 unwilling to do the horse trading

Earl Grey The Podcast Available now at www.theheraulttimes.com - More controversial than Piers Morgan on gun control - More outspoken than Ken Livingstone on tax avoidance - More male than Brad Pitt talking Chanel No 5 19

You Can Leave Your Hat On D

uring my childhood I recall what was to become a significant well-rehearsed dialogue with my mother. Whenever we had an unexpected visitor to our house, she would ask me to greet them at the door whilst she retreated to her bedroom to dress her unadorned head. I still remember the exact responses for this ritual as we performed it without audience.

Opening the heavy wooden portal, I entertained the doormat visitor for as long as it took her to put on a hat or headscarf to come and rescue me from trader, company representative, Jehovah’s Witness or whomsoever. My mother would never be seen in public without her head being ornamented in adequate measure.

Not until thirty or so years later was it that I paid any attention to this once familial routine. I was teaching sociological studies to groups of mainly Muslim students in SE Asia. All the girls wore lengthy headscarves or “tudong” and the boys had black fez-like hats called “songkok”. We were actually evaluating one or other semiological theories at the time.

This is concerned with the study of symbols and symbolism in society.

Naturally, coming from a family where head coverings of one genre or another had been important, research into the semiology of headwear was selected as being a worthy topic as well as one which had caught my attention very early on in life. Though less scientific than usual, we all shared anecdotal experiences we had concerning hats, headscarves and other indigenous forms of such attire. Thus, the short customary exchange with my mother came readily to

© Hugh MacCamley 2012

Hats were considered more than just an afterthought in France. Paris millinery salons, where women would have felt cut and sculpted to their head, were a French luxury. From the 1870s to the 1930s the label of milliner Caroline Reboux dominated the Paris High Street. Reboux was known for her clean, simple style using fabrics such as satin, velvet and felt which were draped or cut with a minimum of added or fussy details.

mind. My students were interested to hear my tale, empathizing with it though they were surprised that such a tradition had been so recently abandoned.

Several years later, I have not desisted and have spent time observing, researching and discussing this wonderful object of fashion which Martha Sliter describes as, “the difference between being dressed and being dressed up…..the difference between looking adequate and looking your best.” Frank Sinatra noted the psychology of this, “cock your hat, angles are attitudes.” The hat imports with it an immensity of psycho-social symbolism. It is not only a fashion statement but as Hedda Hopper claimed, “I can wear a hat or take it off, but either way it’s a conversation piece.”

It is a remarkable phenomenon to study video footage of the twentieth century to realizethat in a comparatively brief time-space, we have gone from being a universal head-adorning to a largely head-baring culture. In the first quarter of the last century, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films were full of hat-toting characters.

Who could forget the immortalized chaplinesque bowler hat? Moreover, the BBC documentary series The History of the Twentieth Century contains abundant social footage extraordinary in this regard as it is difficult prior to the mid-1950s to find anyone without hat, headscarf or similar item. In fact, we can probably establish the station in life of each person, demonstrating also their job or profession by the form of hat worn.

Lamentably, the relentless leveling egalitarian process, with encroaching flat-line management, have both contributed alongside the insuperable influence of fashion trends toward a near banishment of headcovering from our societies. I am left to wonder why we have so tamely accepted the loss of this magnificent and personalised wardrobe-necessity.

Consequentially, hats inter alia have almost 20

been relegated to past memories and politically spurned symbols of rebellion. I can only ask myself after years of research, why it is that in our era of illusory open-mindedness, we have permitted ourselves to ignore hats; forgetting them at best or at worst, disdaining them as quasi-religious artifacts belonging to bygone days. In contrast, where they do exist, they are mostly banalised in the standard American baseball cap.

Among my own personal collection, I do have a genuine elegant Akubra which hat-connoisseurs will know is a splendid Australian wide-brimmed specimen. Also, apart from a Bruneian songkok and many bonnets, I have seasonal alternatives as well as one for ecclesiastical and other more solemn purposes where decorum and respect for a more contemplative environment are required. My head-covering heart, as it were, currently pines for a specialized trilby for the global-itinerant. This can be purchased from the famed and prestigious Locks & Co’ Hatters in St James’s Street, London.Today, they continue in their 336th year of

ornamenting the heads of both men and women. They are at the epicentre of the milliners’ realm.

The particular Trilby to which I have referred can be packed for travel purposes then unrolled and placed atop as though it had just been purchased or taken afresh from the hat box. Miraculous!

Additionally, Lock’s & Co’offer Fedoras, Homburgs, Caps, Stetsons, Panamas, Top Hats “Cokes” and Fez. Their “Pork Pies” surpass those of the best- attired local butcher anywhere! These all come in a marvelous assortment of natural materials from cotton and silk to tweeds and even straw.

Not to be neglected, ladies will find there is an absolutely vast array of millinery couture, hat-a-porter and

casuals for each season and every occasion.

This includes the humble headscarf.

Contemporary mores have regrettably consigned this to contentious religious symbolism but which Gucci and Yves St Laurent continue to remind us belong to western fashion traditions.

Again, hats for women are made from a truly awesome variety of materials.

Furthermore, colour, design, fabric, style and function are an encapsulated delight of self-debate in decision-making when trying out a hat before the final moment of purchase. This is followed by the absolute delight of elegant public display.

In Pézenas and Montpellier and Beziers it is possible to find hat shops and boutiques. In Pézenas, it is possible to find hats at the local Saturday market and there is a specialist shop near the post-office. Some of us here enjoy wearing hats no matter when and have lost that off-putting self-consciousness haunting the apprentice hat-wearer.

Hat-lovers rest assured that with time and experience, hat-wearing becomes a natural

21

and inherently desirable norm.

As Yves St Laurent stated rhetorically, “Isn’t elegance forgetting what one is wearing?”

www.l-artiste.com

W

elcome to the art pages of The Herault Times. All articles are taken from the bi-lingual Visual Arts magazine L’Artiste or

the L’Hérault Art website. Please visit us at www.l-artiste.com or www.lheraultart.com If you have an exhibition or art event and would like to see it on these pages please drop us a line at info@theheraulttimes.com. All exhibitions are online at www.lheraultart.com

Salah Stétié et les peintres Exhibition runs until 31st March 2013 - Le Musée Paul Valery - Sète

Dominique Aclange

Needle Strangers chatting without words on all the balconies of night Death waits in every needle’s eye But the cautious roses withdrew from this circus act In their long lasting truth Thoughts without angels Here I am with my pierced back screwed on to chairs The sharpened eye in my burst head Face and body under the harsh dictations of rain (Salah Stétié. Translation, Carina Barone)

T

he exhibition Salah Stétié et les peintres, currently at Paul Valery museum, Sete, is worth visiting. Situated above the marine cemetery, on top of a hill facing the sea and the port, the location alone inspires the visitor. Salah Stétiémay has been described as an immense voice of contemporary poetry.

For almost 50 years he has contributed to an average of 250 artists’ books,working alongside 200 of them, establishing a permanent dialogue between poetry and painting.

Salah Stétié (born 1929), a former diplomat then ambassador by profession, dedicated an important part of his work collaborating with painter artists such as Alechinsky, Kijno, Tapiès, Titus Carmel, ZaoWou-Ki, Jan Voss or, very lately Viallat and Woda.

Since his encounter with art during his Lebanese childhood until the end of his life, he has been a tireless intermediary, not only between both sides of the Mediterranean, between East and West, but also between poetry and painters of all nationalities.

The Paul Valery Museum has brought together for the exhibition the integrality of these common realizations and presented them chronologically. A series of painted

portraits featuring Stétié serves as an introductory matter; by Xavier Valls (19232006), François Chapuis (1928-2002), or again Georges Mathieu (1915-1994) to name a few. Then a prestigious collection of original books edited in limited series – next to which are some of the Poetry manuscripts – which flirt with numerous works of art from some of the 90 artists who collaborated in these publications. There are video animations which allow us to virtually thumb through the pages of a number of exhibited editions.

Known as one of the first to have awakened in French editions a taste for Arab calligraphy, Salah Stétié unites various cultures of the Arabic world and of the Occident.

A Lebanese poet known to write in French, Salah Stétié holds a considerable place in contemporary poetry, which he situates at the crossroad of Arabic and European cultures, sources of his inspiration. He is also the author of numerous essays, texts on art, and translator of Arabic poets.

His books share the love for poetry and the beauty of an expressive illustration, often an etching or an abstract print. According to the 22

artist Kijno, the painter and the poet are in a symbiotic relationship, creating through the expression of their art harmony and unity.

This exhibition aims to demonstrate the deep relationship that the writer, himself a major figure of contemporary poetry, entertained throughout his career with visual images.

As Stéphane Barsacq writes in the exhibition catalogue: “Through his work, which covers over fifty years of publication, Salah Stétié also answers the question of the effectiveness of poetry and its impact on our lives, orientating us towards an essential way of being, in contrast with the disorder that crosses over into the beginning of our millennium where the matter of dialogue between peoples and cultures has become an

issue of crucial importance”.

Top to Bottom: Le seul grain - Philippe Amrouche - 2011 Albert WODA - je me suis souvent perdu dans la mer 2008 Koschmider et Salah Stétié - L’AME

Poetry.

The single word that can cover both ends of the emotional spectrum.

For one it is passion and a tranferance to another world.

Of love, of pain, heartbreak, redemption and memory.

To the other side a waste of time and a feeble attempt to garner favour in polite circles.

But there is so much to this genre.

Classical poetry, slam poetry, visual poetry, humour, love, angst and hate.

I have been asked to write about poetry in the Hérault and I agreed willingly.

But first I offer you a taster and it is from where all poetry comes from, the heart Pretty women wonder where my secret lies I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them They think I’m telling lies.

I say It’s in the reach of my arms The span of my hips The stride of my steps The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman Phenomenally Phenomenal woman That’s me.

I walk into a room Just as cool as you please And to a man The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees Then they swarm around me A hive of honey bees.

I say It’s the fire in my eyes And the flash of my teeth The swing of my waist And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman Phenomenally Phenomenal woman That’s me.

Phenomenal Woman Maya Angelou

23

Men themselves have wondered What they see in me They try so much But they can’t touch My inner mystery.

When I try to show them They say they still can’t see.

I say It’s in the arch of my back The sun of my smile The ride of my breasts The grace of my style.

I’m a woman Phenomenally Phenomenal woman That’s me.

Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud When you see me passing It ought to make you proud.

I say It’s in the click of my heels The bend of my hair The palm of my hand The need for my care.

‘Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally Phenomenal woman That’s me.

winter wonder I

am about to make a confession, one which you might find outrageous or even perverse. Here goes, deep breath…… I like - and I’m talking really like - winter in this part of the world. As many people make a beeline for the sun, avoiding a winter climate the rest of the world seem to think is mild all the year round but which we know isn’t, I am relishing all the joys of the cold season.

It’s not that I hate the summer, far from it, but the annual counterbalancing of the balmy, exotic days and nights of summer with the crisp, invigorating atmosphere of winter seems so right. One simply wouldn’t be the same without the regular follow-up of the other. And it’s not just the weather that changes; we have a whole transformation of lifestyle to look forward to twice a year.

Summer life is lived outdoors as much as possible while our activities are dictated as much as possible by the ever- present heat.

There are so many things to do which are so much more enjoyable in the winter. A favourite for many, and the simplest of all, is to “batten down the hatches” for a while to spend an afternoon or evening settled snugly in your own home, glass of wine or mug of hot chocolate in hand, reading, listening to music, chatting to friends. Utter relaxation without spending a fortune. Yes, I know we can do something similar at any time of the year, but the feeling of comfort and security you can get from this on a cold winter’s day simply can’t be beaten.

Visiting a preferred beach or seaside town in the winter can also be very special. It’s difficult to sum up the elusive charm of an out of season holiday resort. The obvious answer is that you get the feeling of seeing something very private, a more intimate side of a place once all the visitors have gone and it has been reclaimed by its inhabitants. The streets are quiet and the shops that remain open are somehow more relaxed and welcoming. It’s a good idea, if you’re going for a winter walk on the beach to do this where you are also close to an all season bar or café as after you’ve been blown along the dunes in a brisk wind it’s good to be able to retreat inside for a hot drink and watch the world pass by. A word of

Text Trish Walker

advice, this is a popular pastime on Sunday afternoons if you were hoping for a bit of tranquility and a spare seat.

Some places are definitely more enjoyable in winter and a very good example of this is the indoor market at Sète. Vibrant, exciting and very Mediterranean in character whatever the season, in summer it is often simply too hot and crowded to enjoy properly. Come the winter it is really seen at its best. The vast majority of stalls are devoted to a huge

variety of food and drink and this is where people come to do their ordinary, weekly shopping. Here you find hungry workmen buying snacks, bread filled with slivers of meat carefully carved from a huge ham, or people buying a selection of tapas to serve as party food, or hot pies filled with creamy mushrooms for a quick lunch…….. A feature of this market is that there are several areas where tables and chairs have been set up for drinking coffee, wine, hot chocolate, whatever you fancy and snacking from the food you have just bought. One Spanish stall will make you up a plate filled with a selection of meat, cheese and olives - take it 24

with you to the nearest table, buy a glass of wine and there you have it, instant elevenses!

Another real winter delight is to go to the cinema showings of opera and ballet productions screened from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, featuring world-class directors and performers. These are either filmed versions of recent live performances (enregistre) or a simultaneous live performance being “beamed” directly from London (en direct). In the case of the latter, while the intervals are taking place in the actual theatre, the cinema audiences will be shown additional material, for example perhaps some footage from backstage or during rehearsals. Even people who do not usually think of themselves as opera lovers have been overwhelmed by the quality of the productions and the thrill of virtually being part of something so breathtaking. Many have become opera fans on the spot and have returned for more.

Forthcoming performances at the large CGR cinema in the new commercial area at Villeneuve-les-Béziers include “Eugene Onegin”

by Tchaikovsky (20th February) and the ballet “Alice in Wonderland” directed by Christopher Wheeldon (28th March).

To book and to find out about other performances in other cinemas go to the cinema website www. akuenic.com or go direct to the cinema box office.

Eat your heart out Milan or Berlin!

This review of some of the delights of the local winter season would really not be balanced or complete without honestly acknowledging two important points. Firstly, it’s the kind of winters we have here that makes them such a pleasure. If we usually had the kind of grey, wet winter seasons that many of us remember from our youth, I would not be writing this - in fact, I would not be here. It’s the cloudless, sunny days, warm in the shade even when it’s otherwise cold and crisp, that I look forward to. Secondly, winter would definitely not have the same allure if there were not a fair degree of certainty that it will be followed by a gorgeously balmy summer.

HIDDEN TREASURES Lisa from Quissac writes: I would like to put forward Cedric from Quissac as one of the Herault Times treasures. He is in his 80’s and still goes around our village on his bicycle and has this routine that he does every day. Bread, paper and his other chores. I was told recently that he has looked after his sister for the last 30 years since she had an ‘episode’ after her husband died.

I believe that this loyalty to family and duty is one of this country’s best points and I hope that you agree. I would love to tell him that he is recognised. Thank you.

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“Seasonal and Fresh” Recipe Times

with Bassie Scott

I

can remember last February when the temperatures here plummeted to -14. All our French neighbours were saying it only happens once every 25 years so let’s hope there is no repeat this year. With winter in mind though -so terribly British aren’t I? - I have devised a hearty, unctuous casserole that will warm the cockles should we need extra logs on the fire. I make no apology for using chorizo again this month; it just adds such wonderful flavour and piquancy to dishes.

Lamb shanks with red wine & chorizo

Ingredients

4 lamb shanks (Jarrets d’agneau) 2 tbsp olive oil 350 ml robust red wine 250ml balsamic vinegar 1 bulb of garlic, cut across horizontally 3 bay leaves 2 tsp paprika (piquante if possible) 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 2 sprigs fresh thyme 300 ml beef stock 130 g chorizo, cut into chunks 1 large red onion, cut into wedges 2 carrots, peeled and chopped 1 tsp honey Salt and pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 150/gas 3 - Season the lamb well with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a pan and brown the lamb shanks all over.

- Put the wine and balsamic vinegar into a casserole dish and boil for 5-6 minutes. Add the lamb shanks, garlic, bay leaves, paprika, half the herbs and the stock. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil.

- Place in the oven and cook for two hours.

- Take dish out and add the chorizo, onions, carrots and honey plus the remaining herbs. Back into the oven and cook for another hour and a half or until the meat is really tender and falling off the bone.

- Remove the meat and the vegetables and keep warm whilst boiling the remaining liquid for a good 10 minutes to reduce it to a thickened sauce.

Check seasoning and add more salt and pepper to your taste if needed.

- Pop the garlic out of their skins and add to the vegetables whilst you’re waiting for the sauce to thicken.

- Serve with mashed potatoes and cabbage with cumin (toast cumin seeds in a bit of oil, add shredded cabbage and cook for 5-6 minutes or until cabbage is just soft).Don’t forget the luscious sauce to go with it all!

Cook’s note: Truffle season is upon us and if you’re lucky enough to be able to buy one just scramble some eggs with some butter, salt and pepper then grate a small amount of truffle on top. Delicious served with smoked salmon or just on its own as a decadent breakfast!

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“Seasonal and Fresh” Lemon, thyme and almond cake

I was originally given the recipe for orange and almond cake by my friend Debbi, who in turn had been given it by another friend, Nicola. I love that good recipes are shared like this and that I can adapt them to suit the season or the dish. This cake is so easy and makes 8-10 portions, meaning you can freeze some for another time – if you can bear to do that! There is no flour in it, making it gluten free too for anyone with allergies to wheat.

You will need a 10 cm cake tin, buttered or lined with parchment paper (I use a spring form tin)

Ingredients

3 lemons 4/5 sprigs of thyme 6 eggs 250 gr ground almonds 250 gr caster sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder Butter for cake tin For lemon syrup 70 gr caster sugar

Method Heat oven to 170c/gas 7 - Zest the lemons and put the zest aside. Leave 2 thyme sprigs whole and strip the other two - Boil the lemons in water with 2 sprigs of the thyme for 1 hour or until very soft. Keep the liquid, put aside. Remove the lemons, cool, then cut open and remove pips.

- Place lemons in food processor and pulp. Add eggs and whizz again. Add almonds, sugar, baking powder, stripped thyme leaves, lemon zest and whizz well until everything is mixed together evenly.

- Turn mixture into buttered cake tin and bake for 50 mins to 1 hour. Longer if it still looks wet.

- Meanwhile, make the syrup. Add 70gr caster sugar to the reserved liquid and bring to the boil. Simmer until reduced and a syrup like consistency.

- When the cake is ready, prick little holes over it, then brush the syrup all over.

- Serve warm with crème fraiche or ice cream (or both!) of your choice

Cook’s note: you can slice another lemon very thinly and place them in the syrup whilst it’s cooking. This produces candied lemon which can be placed on top of the cake for decoration and serving. Any leftover lemon slices keep in the fridge for ages or you can freeze them.

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PORT - EMERGENCY - DIY - TECH SUPPORT - EMERGENCY - DIY -TECH SUPPORT - DIY - TE

The Art of the Bricoleur Latch

L

22

oud shouts from my wife disturbed the peace of my siesta one day last summer. ‘I can’t get into the loo, the handle won’t work.’

At least she wasn’t stuck inside the wc, and fortunately the house has a second loo where nature’s call could be answered.

The handle to the upstairs wc was useless, flopping hopelessly and free to turn full circle.

With no obvious way to fix the problem from the outside, I fetched the ladder and, armed with a favourite screwdriver, climbed into the barricaded wc through its open window. The inner handle was equally as useless as that on the outside.

Door handles fit onto a square sectioned metal bar which goes through a cam in the mechanism so that turning the handle moves the latch. After removing the handles and door plates I found that the cam in this particular door was free to rotate without moving the latch itself. A new door latch mechanism was needed.

I was now in a Latch 22 situation.

In order to replace a door latch mechanism you have to open the door; but I couldn’t get the door open because the latch mechanism was broken!

The least destructive solution would have been to push a bit of flexible plastic, such as a old credit card, between the frame and the door to force back the latch but in this case the door was held too snugly against the frame. I resorted to drilling a row of three holes in the door frame at the same level as the latch. I was then able to push in a screwdriver to force the latch and open the door.

The damage to both door and frame was later repaired when the room was decorated.

Hugh Scott The latch mechanisms of internal doors are usually held in place by two screws and easy to remove.

I pulled the old bit apart to discover

A

e-male - The TECH Column

number of emails have come to me over the months concerning cloud storage.

What is it? Is it safe? Is it expensive?

Do I need to use it?

T

the broken cam and then took the whole thing to the local ‘Brico’ store to make sure that the replacement, less than 20€, was the same size.

here is a good chance you already use cloud storage.

Gmail and Yahoo mail are cloud email.

Flickr, Picassa and Photobucket are cloud driven image stores. Facebook and Myspace store your photos and Music and YouTube hosts your videos.

So you see Cloud is here.

What is it?

Cloud storage is simply a means of saving your data (photos, videos, files, emails) using a 3rd party storage system. Instead of storing information to your computer’s hard drive or other local storage device, you save it to a remote database. The Internet provides the connection between your computer and the database.

Great so far. Your data is secure and accessible anywhere in the world where you have access to a computer and an internet connection. You don’t need to carry around a physical storage device or use the same computer to save and retrieve your information. And you can even let other people grab your data so it is good for sharing.

Is it safe?

As safe as it can be. Encryption and up time are everything. These companies live and die by their reputations so they are not going to mess around. Put it this way, I’d find it easier to break into your home and steal your computer than hack a reputeable storage company (includes Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft etc).

And the Cost?

This piece is about storage for individuals and families so we are looking at Public storage. Many give some space for free starting around 2 to 5gb and if you use the storage or refer friends you can get more free space. If you need to buy more space it is about piece of mind. All your family photos safe forever for 60€ a year? You tell me if it’s worth it?

Ok, so now you are ready, which one?

Do a search for cloud storage providers. There are many to choose from. The safe bets are Dropbox, Adrive, Box, Google Drive (if you use google docs), Apple iCloud, Sugarsync, Microsoft Skydrive, Justcloud and Mozy.

So do you need it? Yes, even if it is just to keep all those photographs safe for ever.

Note. Microsoft Office 2013 which we review next month uses cloud as the default save option.

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Classified Adverts Simply Church Christian worship, prayer & teaching including children’s programme.

2nd and 4th Sundays.

Everyone welcome.

Mail: info@simplychurch.fr Web: www.simplychurch.fr ** The Church of England at St. Pargoire, Holy Communion 2nd Sunday each month at 10 am.

Everyone welcome.

Details achstp@gmail.com **

Anglophone Group Languedoc Roussillon (AGLR) Adults & childrens’ activities including bridge, golf, French conversation, cooking, excursions in convivial atmosphere www.anglophone-group-languedoc-roussillon.com/ AGLRSete@yahoo.co.uk

SERVICES

**

The Tuesday Club

A lively group of English speaking people from all nationalities meet to hear talks, exchange ideas and socialise. www.tuesdayclub.eu tuesdayclub.fr@gmail.com

**

MAN WITH A VAN Deliveries, collections, removals, house clearance, garden clearance/maintenance.

No job too small. No room in your car?

Furniture/Building Materials to collect?

Rubbish to dispose of? Please call or email Tim. 0033 (0)7 87 22 05 55. enquiries@manwithavan.fr ** NEW service in Pézenas FLODESMOTS For you : a bilingual French / English PUBLIC WRITER All types of writings Help in translating Work at home or on line Flodesmots Contact : 04 99 43 88 84 flodesmots9@gmail.com More information on www.flodesmots.fr ** Tired of Housework?

Out of season cleaners. Competitive rates tel: 0467 24 83 72 mob: 0687 64 97 29 Siret registered ** Commercial Cleaning Machine for hire.

Cleans soft furnishings, rugs, mattresses, sunbed cushions, car interiors, etc.

Contact Trudi: 0499570589 trudi@ppm34.fr **

Artisan

Women’s International Club, Languedoc- Roussilon Meets in Saint Chinian, 1st Thursday of month , 2.30pm., at Salle de L’Abbatiale.

Our meetings are conducted in French and English. info@wic-lr.com www.wic-lr.com

Je propose mes services pour des travaux de Maçonnerie en pierre (stone masonry), enduits à la chaux (lime plaster), pierre-sèche (dry stone). Philippe Eymard 06.03.06.60.84 ou ph.eymard@gmail.com **

Babysitting

18 year old Female available for babysitting, dogsitting and house sitting. Reliable with references. Tel: 0778178126 ** 29

CLASSES 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 details 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 **

Wanted:

Writers to join a writers’ support group. contact Jean at 04-67-44-15-65 or jkatzcar@aol.com

** ENTERTAINMENT 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 – 0430178387. **

OPPORTUNITIES

Looking for additional spending money.

Neal’s Yard, currently the UK’s fastest growing organic body care direct sales company, is looking for independent consultants in France. FREE training, excellent income plan!

Please contact me, Pam Kay pamkay.personal@gmail.com 0642159631 **

Classified Adverts PROPERTY SERVICES R & A Interiors

Does your home need a new lease of life?

Ros and Alice can help.

Colour schemes, sourcing new furniture and reviving old, new curtains or simply a fresh coat of paint for a tired room.

Tel: 06 30 23 80 30/ 06 83 53 03 73 rosandalice@gmail.com **

GARDENING

GET STARTED for your perfect summer garden.

Beds and lawns suited to the Mediterranean climate. Easy maintenance and less water.

Creation, Garden Construction, Watering Systems. English Spoken.

Mathieu Goudou - Le Jardinier Tel 0623 463542

**

Perfect Property Management Professional, reliable company for all of your property needs. Changeovers, pool maintenance and repairs, project management. Siret registered.

Contact Trudi: 0499570589 trudi@ppm34.fr www.perfectpropertymanagement.com ** Roquebrun Property Management Personalised services for holiday homes and seasonal rentals. Full or ‘pay as you go’ service. Homes available to rent for 1- 15 people. Call Sue on 0652752445. www.househunterslanguedoc.com ** For All Your Propety Care Needs Complete pool care inc. winter shutdown, gardening inc strimming, changeovers, general painting interior and exterior, varnishing, oiling shutters etc.

Siret registered est 10 years Tel: 04 67 24 83 72 06 87 64 97 29 www.property34fr.com **

A good idea!

Offer your beloved a “feel good” massage Contact: Diana Sawday 06 19 40 66 00 www.planeteherault.com www.counsellinginfrance.com **

Alexander Technique

Learn to free yourself from habits of posture and movement that are at the root of pain.

Wendy McKnight (STATcertified) For an appointment in Lodeve: 06 38 88 27 79 www.alexandertechniqueherault.weebly.com

** Centre d’Ostéopathie et d’Intégration Structurelle (®Rolfing)

Recently opened in Lodève Annette Beckett qualified osteopath since 1992 cranial osteopathy for adults, children, babies annette@beckettosteo.com Barry P. Beckett Certified Rolfer, Rolf Institute 1993 Structural Integration, Postural Improvement, Osteopathics. motionpresent@gmail.com 06 30 64 88 40 **

Optique Bonnaterre

17, Blvd Gambetta 34800 Clermont L’Herault English Spoken Tel: 04 67 96 01 85 www.opticiens-atol.com

**

JEWELLERY Dick Fowler Construction

Liner Pools, Solid Pools All house renovation and construction work Email; fowlerbatiment@gmail.com Port: 0670 91 12 17 Capeb/GDF Suez grants available for loft and wall insulation **

Handyman Services Satellite Installation – Renovation Tel: 0499 41 61 80 Mob: 0609 54 06 62 Email: handyman34450@hotmail.co.uk Ashley (Vias 34450) **

Dyson Property Renovations English Qualified Builder Kitchens, Bathrooms, Decorating and Renovations - Professional and reliable Free Estimates – References Available No Job Too Small Tel: 0647 09 38 65 m: roydyson36@yahoo.co.uk www.dysonpropertyrenovations.com

Makes an ideal gift.

New consignment of over 150 designs just arrived from India.

Excellent quality and wonderful prices.

Ian Mills 04.67.29.77.14. ian.mills 41@gmail.com.

** WELL-BEING MANICURE & PEDICURE

By Pam Kay Pezenas & Surrounding Village nailsbypamkay@gmail.com 064 21 59 631

**

Bespoke massage, Mobile service,

Group bookings taken.

Thai massages, Reflexology, Neck and face massage, Reiki, Oil massage.

Susannah 0652752445 / 0467243142 Based in Ceps / Cazedarnes 30

ACCOMMODATION

New Bed & Breakfast in Cessenon sur Orb, 10 kms from St Chinian. 2 luxury King Sized rooms, 1 min walk to river & town centre.

Wifi/Internet access.

Chris & Susan. Ph 0033 (0) 9 80 39 94 33. lovesy.huston@gmail.com ** Maison De L’Orb, Beziers Beautiful five bedroom bed and breakfast overlooking Pont Vieux and river.

Private garden, bathing pool, fantastic breakfast. Book now: www.maisondelorb.com info@maisondelorb.com

WANTED Appartment to Rent

Retired ex-pat UK professional female (65) lived here 5 years urgently seeks permanent 2 bed rental apartment (long-term) in Herepian, Bedarieux or Lamalou areas. Restricted income, but willing to consider property sit if adjacent s/c apt. available. All responses will be considered. Refs can be provided. rsvp in the first instance please to : info@theheraulttimes.com quoting Accommodation wanted. Thank you for your time.

** FOR SALE - OPPORTUNITY Charming and quiet 5-room appartment in Sète.

Close to all amenities. 1st floor appt for sale.

Large balcony, shared courtyard, private parking. Furniture and equipment an option.

198 000 euros as would like to sell quickly.

Please email or call on: 06 81 43 76 62 or parsegianl@yahoo.fr ** House in St Thibery for sale Ideal for income. House - 2 beds, large terrace, reverse a/c unit. Attached but with seperate entrance 2 studio flats ideal for renting long term. Offers iro €181 000 Enquiries via info@theheraulttimes.com quoting AusStthib please. **

TAXI

Tel: 0033 (0) 467 21 72 38

e-mail: agenceviastaxi@free.fr Any Distance - Up to 8 Passengers E-mail Reservations welcome Estimates Given All enquiries welcome **

FOR SALE

Stuart Turpie

H

érault is a great place to live for those wanting to participate in a wide range of sports. Sailing, canoeing; cycling,walking and golf come quickly to mind.Great facilities, climate and beautiful scenery are the obvious attractions. I have been asked if I really know about all the things I write about in this column. The answer is a definite no!

Especially true this month for one of the best attractions about Hérault is the access to quality winter sports .Since my knowledge is nil I have had to sound out a few enthusiasts for their advice.

A surprising number of people who have spent a year or more here are drawn to the area because skiing is on hand at relatively low cost. Mont Aigoual to the north of Montpellier, which can be reached in under 2 hours from all parts of the department, is particularly convenient. It may lack the number of lifts etc. and pistes of Alpine resorts and seems to cater for beginners to intermediate standard but this is countered by the fact that it is so close and can provide for a days skiing so well. I gather that Alpine resorts due to the greater distance involved will need weekends or longer to take advantage of the superb conditions and facilities on offer.

The Pyreenees which you can see on a clear day from Agde and Béziers are a must for skiing enthusiasts. One of the highest resorts is Cerdagne-Puigmal which can be reached via Perpignan and then the RN 116 through Prades and Saillagouse. Bit of a stretch for one day but with 30 pistes, 12km of artificial snow and a full range of facilities including plenty for beginners it has a lot to offer.27 euros for an adult day pass and less for students and children sounds good. Of course there are a number of deals for more than one day with family tickets etc.There is a full range of accomodation available. Other

BOOKS MAD MARCH SALE: All books at the

Renault Twingo Cordini 1.2 Bought from new in Feb 2011.

Hardly used 8,950 Euros Metallic paint, alloyed wheel, blue tooth Contact Jim 0044 (0)7715570518 0044 (0)1420563889 **

English Bookstall EUR2 or 3 for EUR5 throughout March. New spring range of cards now also in stock. Monday - Bedarieux, Tuesday - Marseillan Ville, Wednesday - Clermont l’Herault, Saturday - Lodeve.

Contact Kerith 04 67 96 68 87 ** Le Bookshop Librairie Anglophone / café 8 rue du Bras de Fer - 340000 Montpellier Tel./Fax : 04 67 66 22 90 contact@lebookshop.com www.lebookshop.com 31

resorts that have been spoken of highly are Les Angles and Formiguères. These can be reached by the same route. The general opinion is that whilst these resorts are not so large as the Alpine centres they provide really good value and excellent skiing. Clearly for full details and planning you need to enjoy time browsing the websites available.

On a general note it seems to be wise to sort out details of equipment,helmets, hire, insurance,degrees of difficulty, access and the costs and deals available in advance. One family I know favour Les Angles and set off at 6am, breakfasting en route for a days skiing. I might add that they are especially well organised and plan safety and equipment in detail. Advice with which the Herault Times would concur.

An interesting note. Some Irish rugby fans who journeyed to Castres to watch Ulster win 9-8 said that they were taken aback by the “enthusiasm” of the home crowd who were not pleased with the defeat! Not unusual though in the region.

The Montpellier Handball club betting saga rumbles on. The club are doing well in second place despite the scandal. Much seems to depend on the evidence from portable phones which are in the hands of the police. Perhaps more will be clear by next month?

Some fixtures are: Football 2 march Montpellier v Rennes 20-00 16 March Montpellier v Troyes 20-00 2 March Sète v Nimes 15-00 Béziers v Lyon 2 18-30 10 March Agde v Andrezieux 15-00 Rugby XV 23 Feb Montpellier v Bordeaux-Begles14-00 3 March Béziers v Armagnac 15-00

ENGLISH BOOKS AND CARDS

available at the English Bookstall at the following markets: Monday- Bedarieux, Tuesday - Marseillan Ville, Wednesday Clermont l’Herault, Saturday - Lodeve.

Contact Kerith Biggs 04 67 96 68 87 **

English Books at the Bourse ,Pezenas.

The Café de la Bourse is next to the Hotel Moliere in Pezenas. All books are 1Euro or less . Excellent coffee and company . Want to book a table ? Call Carole on 046790591 **

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