British Association of the Var Putting people and social needs together since 1998 Association loi 1901

www.baofthevar.com

January 2012 Newsletter No 116

Chairman’s Letter

I had hoped to return from holiday to a queue of willing volunteers ready to take on the roles being vacated at the AGM in March! Shirley and Peter Rowson have very kindly agreed to jointly shoulder the burden of the Newsletter with the continuing help of Pat and Ian Powell who will deal with the electronic distribution. I don‟t, however, have any names in the frame for the roles of Secretary and Welfare Coordinator.

Now that BAV is properly constituted and running independently, the role of Secretary reverts to maintaining the formal records and acting as BAV‟s “conscience”. So, if you like to play Devil‟s Advocate from time to time, this is the role for you. Clare is happy to provide help with any technical matters that arise, including drafting any necessary formal minutes and documents.

I would like to see welfare dealt with in a different way in the future. I am seeking to make local welfare matters part of the remit of Neighbourhood Networks with a report back to the Committee – through the Welfare Coordinator. More serious cases, particularly those involving larger sums of financial assistance, will continue to be dealt with at Committee level. I don‟t see the Welfare Coordinator as someone who will be closely involved with each and every case but as a person who collects information about welfare cases and reports to the Committee. Is there anyone who would like to take on a coordinating role with minimal involvement on the ground?

Our constitution requires the Committee to be made up of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 members of BAV, one of whom is the Chairman elected by the members at each AGM. Members elect the Committee at the AGM but it is the Committee that decides which of its members will adopt the roles of Secretary, Treasurer and Welfare Coordinator. Following the resignations at the AGM the Committee will be reduced to its minimum number but will lack formally elected members to appoint as Secretary and Welfare Coordinator.

Bear in mind that individuals cannot put themselves forward at the AGM for election to the Committee. They must be properly nominated and named in the AGM agenda which will be circulated as part of the Notice of the AGM in late February. Yes, the Committee can co-opt people to fill vacancies but it is unlikely that the bank will accept them as signatories to the account if they have not been elected to the Committee by the members.

This is the quandary. Give it some thought and put your names forward. Feel free to contact the Committee members who are standing down for more information. They know what‟s entailed!

Auriol Langen

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Forthcoming Events for your diary

JANUARY 2012

Digital Photography Group Wednesday 11 January - Montauroux

House Clearance Sale Thursday 19 January – Draguignan

Lunch at La Petite Maison Thursday 26 January - Cogolin

Committee Meeting Tuesday 17 January

Happy Boules Contact: Rob Flanagan 04 *******

Painting Group Contact: Pauline North ********@orange.fr

MARCH

AGM Wednesday 14 March - La Pinéède see p3

www.baofthevar.com

See also Forthcoming Events and Latest News on our BA website

New Members

A very big welcome to 14 new members –

Ian & Pamela Mackintosh, Entrecateaux Pat, David & Liz Mansfield, Draguignan Fiona & Roger Smith, Cotignac David Alec & Lola Bailey, Tourrettes Cynthia Lenain, Vidauban Barry & Debbie Fletcher, Salernes Jane Wallis-Hosken & Graham Gauld, Claviers

House Clearance Sale

Thursday 19 January 2012 ********

DRAGUIGNAN BAV members only

At the kind invitation of the family of a deceased welfare member, members have an opportunity to

view, purchase and remove a range of household items:

Cooking utensils, dining ware – including cutlery, crockery serving dishes and glasses.

Various items of furniture, lamps, picture frames, books and ornaments will be displayed in all rooms of the property plus an assorted

collection of computer equipment. There are, in addition, many miscellaneous items too

numerous to list here.

The entire proceeds from the sale will be donated to the BAV welfare fund.

BAV books will also be on sale

The event is organised by Shirley Wrigglesworth who will be there on the day from

10h30 until 15h30

Please notify your intention of attending either by email to ******@gmail.com or

phone 04 ********

Coffee, tea, biscuits and mulled wine with mince pies will be on sale on the day to assist

you whilst browsing.

DIRECTIONS

From Draguignan follow the road to Flayosc (D567).

At the first roundabout at the top of the hill turn left

and follow the road (D562) towards Lorgues. At the next roundabout turn left and follow the road (D57)

in the direction of Les Arcs.* Drive approx 2.5kms. As you approach a series of bends there are a set of

large gates directly in front of you with blue arrow indicating tight bend - slow down. As you round the

bend indicate LEFT onto ********, Follow this

road around to T junction - Turn RIGHT into *********. The house is not visible from the road

but look for BA sign on LEFT for car parking in the garden.

From Lorgues: On leaving the village follow the road

to Draguignan (D562) until you reach a roundabout. At the roundabout turn right towards Les Arcs

(D57). Then follow the directions from * above. Sat

nav for the vicinity 43,****** 6,******.

Buyers will be responsible for removal of all items they purchase. An alternative collection day and time within one week of the sale can be arranged with Shirley Wrigglesworth for larger items.

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Lunch at the Chairman’s favourite small restaurant

This charming small restaurant is run by a husband and wife team. In winter it is a cosy dining room with an open fire on cold days, in summer there is a delightful shady garden.

La Petite Maison 34 bd de Lattre de Tassigny - Cogolin

Thursday 26 January 2012

Menu du jour at 25€ per person

Cassoulette de Moules a l‟Estragon ou

Terrine de Lapin „Maison‟ aux Fruits secs ou

Soupe de legumes ***

Filet de Dorade sauce au gingembre et citron verts

ou Brochette de poulet Roties

sauce au Miel et Thym ***

Carré de Chocolat tiede sur Creme Anglais ou

Creme brulée au Poire

¼ l Vin du pays de chez Pierre Audemard Domaine de la Giscle á Cogolin

Directions: from Ste Maxime go to Grimaud, then at

the roundabout at the Vignerons de Grimaud, take the second turn off to Cogolin. Follow towards

„centre ville‟. Passing the square and Mairie on the right, take the next turning to the left which is Bd de

Lattre de Tassigny. After the boules square on the

left, the restaurant is on the right. There is limited parking in this street but plenty across the small

roundabout at the end of the road at LeClerc. Sat nav coordinates 43,249876 6,53428.5.

Booking slip must be received by Thursday 19 January! To me at ********, 83310 Grimaud.

AGM Questions

Further to the note in December‟s Newsletter about the AGM, we have now confirmed the date and would remind members that questions relating to matters contained in the AGM papers need to be submitted to the Secretary by 7 March for answer at the meeting itself.

Clare Brown

2012 AGM date confirmed Wednesday 14 March 11h00

Members during the past year have indicated that they preferred the AGM to be followed by a meal but not necessarily a pricey fine dining menu or location.

Rob Flanagan, who seems to have a vast knowledge of Var restaurants of all types, offered to locate a restaurant which had space for the AGM meeting and could provide a meal at a reasonable price. He has booked a room at La Pinéède which is located centrally for most members on the RN7 between Le Muy and the Les Arcs Hyper U turn off.

Fuller details and reservation slip will be in the February Newsletter as well as with the AGM papers when they are distributed. The menu is three courses and includes ¼ wine and will be charged at the restaurant price of 13€. There will be no addition for the welfare fund. Members can, of course, attend the AGM without booking the lunch. It is not obligatory!

The committee are considering providing coffee and croissants from 10h30 for those attending the AGM.

Mike Milner

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Neighbourhood Networks

New! Cabasse, Carces, Correns, Cotignac,

Le Val: A new group is planned for members from these 5 villages. The first exploratory meeting to be held in Cotignac at the Cafe de Cour on Friday 28 January at 10h30 and hopefully on the last Friday in the following months. Contact: Michael Wharton

07 ******** ********@cam.ac.uk

Grimaud/Cogolin: Meeting on 9 January at Clem Ba in Grimaud (2nd

Monday) 10h30-12 noon and on 23 January at the Brasserie at LeClerc in Cogolin (4thTuesday) 10h30-12 noon. Contact: Pat Heal

04 ******** *******@vol.lu

La Motte and Le Muy: Our next meeting will be Tuesday 13 December at Bar des Cascades in La Motte at 10h00. Contact: Alexandra Lewis-Smith

04 ******** ********@bbox.fr

Les Arcs, Vidauban and Taradeau Nine attended our last meeting and in future we will meet on the 2nd Friday of the month - next meeting 9 December. Please get in touch with me for further details. Contact: Pauline North

04 ******** ********@orange.fr

Les Issambres: We meet every other Tuesday at 11h00 at L'Arpillon café next to the Casino. Contact: Richard Tolaini 04 ********

or 06 ******** ********@aol.com

St Raphael & Frejus: No meeting in December but we will start again in the New Year at a new venue, the Beau Sejour Hotel on the sea front at St Raphael at 10h30 on Friday 27 January. Happy Christmas to all. Contact: Diane Jenkins

04 ******** ********@wanadoo.fr

Villecroze, Salernes, Tourtour and Entrecasteaux: We will continue to meet on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 10h30 at the bar "Cercle de l'Avenir" in the square at Villecroze. Please check the venue as they may rotate to another village. Contact: Ann & Maurice Mitchem

04 ******** *********@hotmail.com

Christmas Lunch

A full tummy was finally snatched from the jaws of potential starvation. One has to say that the response to the opportunity of a Christmas lunch created by our own “cookies” at Lorgues was not the success anticipated. So the decision was regretfully taken to cancel that event. However the committee did recognise that there was obviously a demand for a pre-Christmas get together and decided to contact those who had indicated their intention to attend and offered an alternative restaurant meal at Domaine de le Maurette at Le Motte.

Forty one members took up the alternative option and so Le Motte rather than Lorgues was the venue on Monday 12 December. The empty plates visible in the pictures clearly indicate that the food was excellent. The meal was three course, with choices for all courses, the only decision made beforehand by members was for the main, would they prefer skate or a pork daube? Wine and coffee were all part of the package.

Those attending were given the opportunity of a 5€ refund from the price they had paid in advance for the Lorgues meal but the majority though refused that option. It was commented on by many that our party of 41 were just part of a total of over 120 covers catered for that lunchtime and the quality of all the food and the

Page 5

speed and manner it was produced made attempting to emulate it in the future using BAV “cookies” a non-starter. The generosity of those members not accepting the offered refunds, raised the sum donated to the welfare fund to over 250€. The disappointment of the decision to cancel the original event had, by the end of lunch, been forgotten and replaced by very contented members departing well fed and offering Christmas best wishes to one and all. In fact, those present were so content that the tips basket for the staff contained 51.10€! Finally, our thanks go to “cookie” Ann Mitchem who recommended the venue following a recent personal visit.

Mike Milner

The Welfare Team at Work The day before I left for the UK I received a „phone call from a young man, I will call him Mr B, with a wife and young baby who were homeless and penniless. Although they were in the French system up to a point, they had been given yet another batch of paperwork to

complete instead of the money that they thought they should have been entitled to which they would have used to put down as a deposit on a rental property and to feed the family for a few days. The departure from their original accommodation had been planned but was, unfortunately, brought forward. They had taken steps to find alternative accommodation but the property owner was abroad and could not be contacted. At this point Mr B was also waiting to hear the results of an interview regarding work.

Due to her pending departure, I contacted the BAV Secretary, Clare Brown, and went on to find them some temporary accommodation. With the assistance of a member in their old neighbourhood, funds were given to enable them to buy fuel for their car to permit them to reach their temporary accommodation where they were met by me with an emergency food parcel and funds to cover the next few days. In the meantime, there was a 'hotline' between the Consulate and BAV to check credentials.

Clare and Ellis visited the family at their temporary accommodation to complete the paperwork necessary to enable BAV to assess their plight and then discuss with those 'who needed to know' what was to be done next. Although the immediate feeling was that they should return to the UK, this was not an option as there were members of the family who did not have up-to-date passports. The Consulate could help in one situation but not all of them.

During the next two weeks, further enquires were made by both BAV, and the family, to decide what should happen. They needed to move nearer to their original location because of future work offerings for both the parents and to be near the Assistant Social who was 'helping' with their case. A member living closer to that location rented them an apartment for a further two weeks with financial help from BAV. During this time Mr B applied for, and was given, a permanent job with a French company. They were offered the use of a camper van on a long term arrangement but, as a result of the job, Mr B now has an apartment which means that they are now in a position to bring their lives back on track.

This is just one example of what BAV‟s Welfare Team can be faced with. The funds we raise enable us to get involved and to provide support quickly and effectively.

Shirley Wrigglesworth

Page 6

British Association of the Var

Welfare Coordinator Shirley Wrigglesworth

06 43 86 49 01 welfare@baofthevar.com

UK Pension Department - Life Certificate

I have received a couple of enquiries regarding the above document that some of you have received from the UK Pension Service. For those of you that have not seen it - it is a letter and document that is sent to check and confirm that you are who you claim to be and that you are living at the address given by you.

On the form it requires confirmation of details to be given by a UK Diplomat, Consular Services, or various people in authority. The UK DWP now agrees it is possible for you to request your local Mairie to sign - you will of course have to produce passport and other documentation to prove your identity to them.

Your Doctor can only sign, accompanied by a letter explaining the reason why you cannot go to any of the above, if you are in hospital or unable to leave your home.

The action to get these certificates issued and returned is nothing more sinister than an attempt to cut down on fraud, where individuals or families are continuing to claim pensions for people no longer entitled to them. So when the form arrives, if you are chosen as part of the exercise, please don‟t ignore it, just complete it as requested and return. You may be asked for a fee by a notaire, a small price to pay however to guarantee your pension income.

Shirley Wrigglesworth

December 2012 calendar block!

As I write this just one member, so far, has noticed the mistake in the BAV 2012 calendar. Quite a major error to be truthful, December 2012 actually has the same date block as November, it is the November date block repeated. Next year there is no Christmas or Boxing Day, but you do get two All Saints Day.

At this late stage we can do nothing but apologise for the error. The calendar was seen by various people before being signed off as OK and no one spotted that mistake. The printer had been supplied with the correct date blocks for the full year, incorporating major French and UK holiday and festival dates.

Knowing how much effort we put into the proof reading of the monthly newsletter to eliminate errors, the date block error is of major schoolboy proportions and with hindsight something we should have spotted. Perhaps this confirms that my decision to stand down at the AGM is probably well timed.

Mike Milner _______________________________________________________

Global Membership!

Having just renewed our subscriptions we are very happy to note the appeal of The British Association of The Var to non British members. We now have members from Texas, Florida, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Germany and indeed France among others.

We certainly embrace this extended 'family' and enjoy the exchanges when we get together. One couple who are resident in Texas who have joined the boule group over the summer are such Francophiles that they have constructed a boules court in their garden in Texas and are enticing the neighbours to learn the game!

Rob Flanagan

Bereavement Support Network in the Var (BSN)

supports English speaking people who are going through bereavement. For help please

contact: Sandra on 04 94 84 64 89

or 06 32 35 31 24

email: info@bsnvar.org website:www.bsnvar.org

There is also a direct link from www.baofthevar.com „Useful Links‟ section

Page 7

MEMBERS' GROUPS

Digital Photography Group

No two photographers quite agree on a definition of „texture‟. Rather you will know it when you see it seems to be the default position. With this in mind, the group presented their individual take on the theme of texture and not surprisingly, came up with a variety of different perspectives.

Photograph taken by Mike Harper

In essence, texture relates to the surface detail of an object and from a photographic view point encourages the photographer to look closely at both the surface irregularities and the feeling created by an object. That hardy perennial in this region, the plane tree, with its mottled bark was well to the fore in the presentations. Further afield, the unique and other-worldly Bryce Canyon in Utah offered a breathtaking panoramic example of geological texture on the grand scale.

In all, a highly eclectic collection of photos showing both creativity and quirkiness was presented by members.

The group has also been keen to extend its expertise and scope by taking on board some of the technical and artistic techniques now available to the digital photographer. At our next meeting on Wednesday 11 January, we hope to review some of these options available via the internet or various specialist DVDs.

Just a reminder that next month traditionally sees the making (and often breaking) of resolutions, so why not make a firm commitment to develop your interest in digital photography via our group. We welcome new members at any time of the year, so why not give us a try? For more details please contact:

Mike Harper

********@yahoo.co.uk

Card Making Workshop

Back in October we had a wonderful day with Pat making cards, she is so patient. We all sat outside in the sun and Stella and Chrissie supplied us with tea, coffee and croissants - we were thoroughly spoilt.

We will definitely go to the next card making session when Pat returns.

Jill Cunningham _______________________________________________________

Painting Group For information about the group and details of our next meeting please contact:

Pauline North ********@orange.fr

_______________________________________________________

Happy Boules We meet every MONDAY at 14h00. For more details of venue etc please contact:

Rob Flanagan 04 ******** rob@baofthevar.com

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Emergency calls from mobiles

Emergency calls 15 for Ambulance

17 for Police 18 for Fire

do not work from a French mobile „phone. You must use 112 the standard European Emergency number, irrespective of the service required.

MONTAUROUX CGA Prasada Church of England

You are very welcome to join us on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at 11h00

for a service of Holy Communion We also have a Bring and Share Lunch afterwards

For further details about this or any other pastoral needs

Please ring Cécile or Jean 04 94 47 74 26 Prasada, 294, RD37, 83440 Montauroux

~~~

St John’s for the Var St John the Evangelist - Ave Paul Doumer,

St Raphaël Holy Communion is held every Sunday at 10h30

followed by refreshments and a monthly lunch.

Grimaud Village Church 1st Thursday of each month at 11h00

Eccumenical Service

Please ring 04 94 95 45 78 for details www.sjevar.com

~~~

L’ Oasis Fellowship, Lorgues every 2nd Sunday at 11h15

Arc-en Provence 1801 Chemin des Pailles Bring and Share Lunch

and every 4th Sunday at 11h15 Notre Dame des Anges - Bring your own Picnic

For details and directions contact Rev Peter or Shirley Massey at

04 94 73 93 37 06 87 94 04 83 www.arc-en-provence.com/oasis

Bargain Basement

Sales and Wants printed free for

members

Email your ads to newsletter@baofthevar.com

FOR SALE: Teak Terrace Table. Max 2m40 x 1m with centre leaf that folds away, so can be reduced to 1m80 long. Needs to be re-varnished. 50€ Salernes.

Ivan Rose 06 ******** ********@notimetolook.eu

FOR SALE: We have the following items for sale, all in good condition and at a good price as we don't have storage space.

Dining table with leaf and six chairs 50€. Beds – 2 single divans and 2 double beds all with mattresses 25€ each for singles, 70€ for pine bed, 50€ for other. Large white Chest of drawers, 2 matching Bedside tables 40€. Long fabric covered Stool 20€. Several Table lamps (offers). Dishwasher (hardly used) 75€. Small Microwave cooker 20€. Assorted large heavy duty Curtains (various prices). We are at Fox Amphoux between Aups and Cotignac and can send photos if necessary.

Carol and Bri Reeves ********@aol.com 04 ******** or 06 ******** (p)

For next month’s Newsletter

Please let us have your Advertisements, Articles and Reports for the February issue

by

Friday 20 January

All contributions to newsletter@baofthevar.com or send to Mike Milner, Publicity,

*********, 83520 Roquebrune S/A

Desperate to Stop? call Alcoholics Anonymous

24 hour helpline

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