LLC Christmas Party 2013 review

We do hope you all enjoyed the LLC Christmas Party 2013 as much as we did. 

It was lots of fun and a great end to the year’s lunches. For some pictures please see our facebook page here.

Christophe and his team at Cafe Zik in Marciac were great hosts and the food was excellent. 

The Gersabelles performed for us, led of course by Sue Treeby.  
A very professional and talented choir. They sang a number of carols and it was good to hear verses in some of our club members languages.
  

They were accompanied on the piano by Rien de Witt.  

Then we all joined in and sang too, not perhaps as tuneful but with enthusiasm! Pass the parcel followed, much to the amusement of the staff at Cafe Zik and it got quite riotous with parcels flying across the tables.  All in all a good end to the year.  

We take this opportunity to wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year. 
Jane, Pippa, Sue S and Sue T.

LLC Bookclub January 2014 - Short stories by Alice Munro

What's the next book to read for January in the LLC Bookclub?
The January book is your choice of a short story by Alice Munro which we can tell each other about. 

We have decided to have our first meeting of the year on Thursday 23rd January 2014. (1 week later than normally)
Again Pam is hosting us and we’ll meet at 2.30h  

Alice Munro is the nobel prize winner for literature 2013

No idea? Read 18 Short Stories From Nobel Prize-Winning Writer Alice Munro Free Online here
and have an overview of her books and stories and 
some suggestions 

1) The View from Castle Rock

with a review


2) Dear Life

with a review


3) Runaway

with a review.
Now it's your choice.


For your calendar please note:

February bookclub meeting will be on February 20th, 2014 and the book chosen is

Momento Mori by Muriel Spark 

March bookclub meeting is on March 20th, 2014
and the book chosen is 
The 100-year-old who climbed out of the window and disappeared 
by Jonas Jonasson



The December choice of 
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham was a suitable short read for the busy month leading up to Christmas. Most people enjoyed the book but had different opinions of the Krank family who, by booking a cruise, had tried to get away from the madness of Christmas. Of course it didn’t quite work out the way they had planned but perhaps the rather irritating, baa-humbug Mr Krank redeemed himself in the end. Not a typical John Grisham at all, but a quick light read.

A diverse lot of books we have read this last year and it’s so good to be introduced to different authors and books, some of which one wouldn’t necessarily choose oneself.

Looking forward to another stimulating year of reading and wishing you all a Happy New Year and healthy 2014.

Any further information about the bookclub reading list and meeting please look at our LLC bookclub blog page.

Christmas 2013 Schedule of Concerts for the Marche de la Vie

Dear Friends’

We would like to remind you of our forthcoming Christmas Concerts:

• FOR LA MARCHE POUR LA VIE (IN SUPPORT OF  CANCER SUFFERERS IN THE GERS)

                                   

On Friday 13^th December  at 20h30

in TASQUE Church 

On Sunday 15^th December at 15h  

in PLAISANCE Church 

• WITH THE CHOIR VIVA VOCE

            On Friday 20^th December at 20h30 

in IZOTGES Church

We look forward to greeting you at one of those Christmas concerts and thank you for advertising them widely.

Nous vous rappellons que nous chantons Noël

A L’OCCASION DES 2 CONCERTS CARITATIFS DE 

LA MARCHE POUR LA VIE (SOUTIEN AUX MALADES DU CANCER DANS LE GERS)

Le vendredi 13 Décembre à 20h30 en l’Eglise de TASQUE

Le dimanche 15 Décembre à 15h en l’Eglise de PLAISANCE

• AVEC LE CHŒUR VIVA VOCE

            Le vendredi 20   Décembre à  20h30 en l’Eglise d’IZOTGES

Dans l’’attente de  vous saluer  à l’un de ces concerts, je vous remercie de les publier auprès du plus grand nombre.

Bookclub December 2013 - Skipping Christmas

What's the next book to read in the LLC Bookclub?

Our December 2013 read will fall on the 19^th so perhaps we should think of a little celebratory meeting!?

The book that was chosen is:

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Imagine a year without Christmas. 
No crowded malls, no corny office parties, no fruitcakes, no unwanted presents. That’s just what Luther and Nora Krank have in mind when they decide that, just this once, they’ll skip the holiday altogether.

Theirs will be the only house on Hemlock Street without a rooftop Frosty; they won’t be hosting their annual Christmas Eve bash; they aren’t even going to have a tree. They won’t need one, because come December 25 they’re setting sail on a Caribbean cruise. But, as this weary couple is about to discover, skipping Christmas brings enormous consequences–and isn’t half as easy as they’d imagined.

A classic tale for modern times, Skipping Christmas offers a hilarious look at the chaos and frenzy that have become part of our holiday tradition.

Review to the November book:

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell 

is a historical novel set mostly in the middle East during the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference. It follows the fortunes of Agnes Shanklin, a spinster schoolteacher who, having led a very humdrum existance under the thumb of her dominating mother, survives the 1918 Influenza epidemic which kills her entire family & leaves her an heiress as a result. 

In the process of re-inventing herself she sets sail for Egypt where,  by a series of events that are at times perhaps a little overly contrived, she rubs shoulders with all the major players present in Cairo at the time including TE Lawrence, Gertrude Bell & Winston Churchill. 
She is accompanied at all times by her faithful Dachsund who, some of us felt, was perhaps a little over present throughout the book adding a slightly incongruous touch of whimsy.

We all agreed that the characterisation was well done with an interesting depiction of a rather grumpy Churchill, and that the heroine, Agnes,  was a likeable & sympathetic character. We all enjoyed the historical aspects of the novel and I think we also all agreed that we enjoyed the writing style which was evocative & almost poetic in parts  although some of us felt that, in places, it became a little overly 'chatty'. 


The general consencus was that this is an enjoyable book & a good read.
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For more information about the bookclub or 
any of the above or our next meeting and venue, please contact:
Ladieslunchclub secretary: 
lunchclubgascogne(at)gmail.com
or you join the blog here:
follow by email 
(click on this link if you want regular info)
or our facebook page (see widget on the blog)

Gers Ladies Lunch Club

Ladies Lunch Club Annual General Meeting February 2014

An important subject for the LLC in 2014

We appreciate that this time of the year is very busy for everyone but ask you to give the LLC five minutes of your time so that we can prepare for the AGM in February 2014.

Patricia Colan started the club in 2008 and it has grown from strength to strength with now over 100 members, 40 to 50 attending the lunches each month. 
We unfortunately lost the valuable help of Dawn Johnson, our Chairwoman, when she moved back to the UK and although we are succeeding in keeping everything going we would like some help. 

We would appreciate occasional help and ask everyone to let us know what they are willing to assist with, but also we need some additional committee members to lighten the load.  We meet just once a month so nothing to arduous and we work together as a team to share the responsibilities.

Sue Sullivan, 

Jane Cooper

 and Pippa Brown 

are happy to stand for 2014, Jane to continue as Secretary and Pippa as Treasurer. 

Ginster Michel has done excellent work setting up the blog and Facebook page and continues to administer it and has agreed to stand for the committee to continue with this.  She has been nominated by Jane Cooper and seconded by Sue Sullivan.  

Sue Treeby, 

although having completed a three year term has generously agreed to continue if we do not have any other members joining the committee.

So we are looking for nominations! Please don'’t be shy. 

If you wish to discuss it, any of the current committee would be most happy to talk to you.  

Secondly, many of you have suggested that the name of the club should embrace the multi-national essence of the group.  Some have suggested we should refer to ourselves as women rather than ladies or perhaps the name should reflect the country we live in, femmes rather than ladies.  We are therefore asking for ideas for the name of the club.  If you wish it to remain the same, let us know, if you have a great new idea for a name, similarly let us know.

Sue Sullivan and Jane Cooper (secretary) are happy to continue as we are and Ginster has very kindly agreed to handle the IT; the Facebook page and the Blog. 
But we will have places to fill.  

It was hard to find people to stand this year and it will be a problem in January unless people stand up and volunteer.

  

Any member of the LLC is welcome to volonteer to be elected.
Please contact any member of the committee at your next Luncheon or directly at LLC secretary by mail:
lunchclubgascogne(at)gmail.com

LLC Christmas 2013 Luncheon at Cafe Zic in Marciac Tuesday 10th December 2013

We are back at the festive season again.  How fast the years go!  Everyone enjoyed the Christmas Party 

at CaféZik in Marciac, last year -  so we are returning to the same venue for a hopefully even better time.  

The party will commence at 12.30 on Tuesday 10^th December 2013 

The Menu

Apéritif de bienvenue , gressins maison

Bisque de crabe vert

Entrées :
veloute d'asperges

ou

Pressé de crabes, aubergines grillées, chantilly aux herbes

Plat:

Ballotine de pintade, gratin forézien, sauce aux champignons et légumes du marché

( Végétarien : Poisson selon le marché, risotto et légumes )

Desserts :

Bûchette de noël au chocolat blanc , servi avec glace et sauce ( élaboré par Perle)

Vin blanc sec et rouge compris

Café compris accompagné de mignardises compris

 

We are asking that those ladies and their partners wanting to attend the Christmas Party book now and pay at the lunch this coming Tuesday or send us a cheque made out to Café Zik to confirm the booking.  

Cheques that are posted need to be sent to 

Pippa Brown, Domaine de la Tyre, 65700, Castelnau Riviere Basse.  

Please make sure you include your husband/partners name on the form if they are intending joining us.

The cost of the lunch is €28 Euro for partners and only €20 Euro for members.  

Proceeds from the monthly raffles are being used to subsidise the members.  

Unfortunately at this stage we cannot include any guests other than husbands/ partners as space is limited and the number of club members has steadily risen this year.  

If we do have any spaces left we will be pleased to welcome friends and guests.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Your LLC committee
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The November Luncheon in the Casino of Barboton-les-Thermes was an enjoyable get together again, here some proof of the good time everybody of us had:

Looking forward to having an enjoyable Luncheon together in December with you Ladies.

December 2013 Garden group meeting a bit different - 2013 Christmas Table Decorations

This is the December 2013 garden group event but all club members are welcome to attend:  

Please let Barbera or Marloes know if you are attending for 2013 Christmas Table Decorations:

Barbera Roeloffzen will give the 

Christmas Table Decorations workshop

on Friday 6th of December 10 till 4 o'clock 

at the Marloes’ atelier.

You will need plenty of evergreen foliage from the garden, holly, ivy etc and a decorative pot or bowl.

Some green oasis florists foam, enough to fill the pot. 
Some ribbons and any other materials you want to use to decorate your arrangement.

The workshop is € 4 for heating, cleaning and coffee/tea and please, bring your own lunch with you.

You are welcome to use some of the materials Barbera has, she will make a minimal charge.

We hope it will be another wonderful day with everyone working and learning together.
Do you remember last year's table pieces at the restaurant Cafe Zik?
We will make some more this year at Marloes’ Atelier. Follow the link for directions:
http://ateliergounessepanjas.blogspot.fr/p/blog-page.html

If you want to join the workshop, please send an email: barberaroeloffzen(at)yahoo.com

Review on 1st Arts& Crafts Exhibition of LLC

The Ladies Lunch Club held their first 

Arts& Crafts Exhibition 

over the 1^st - 3^rd November 2013 at the most delightful venue of 

Chateau de Millet close to Eauze.  

The Deche family were our hosts and generously gave their wine for the Private View which was a most successful evening.

From a membership of about 100 ladies it is impressive to have such a variety of talent, and I'm sure that there is a lot more and we were only just 'scratching the surface'.

Thanks must go to Magda Looij, Ginster, Jane Cooper and Carole Clarke who put in so much hard work to make the Exhibition run so smoothly and look so interesting.  

We showed knitwear, patchwork and boutis, bags, scarves and jewelry, beading, sculpture, paintings, ceramics, stained glass and cards!  

Many pieces sold, workshops planned for the future and lots of new contacts made.

I'm hoping that this will be the first of many more such events to come.  

Thankyou to everyone who helped, exhibited and supported us.

Pamela Savage.

Exhibition Organiser.

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Interested in contacting us? For further information please contact and email to:
lunchclubgascogne(a) gmail.com
or you join the blog here:
follow by email
(click on this link if you want regular info)
or our facebook page (see widget on the blog)
Gers Ladies Lunch Club

Bookclub : November 2013 book choice

The book suggested for the November meeting 

on 19th is:

Dreamers of the Day by Mary Doria Russell.

So as not to bombard you with book choices, I will email again in a week or so Jane’s selection of books for the December meeting.

Thanks for the delicious cake Brenda and for ‘holding’ next month’s cake!

Jane is selecting books for our December read which will fall on the 19^th so perhaps we should think of a little celebratory meeting!

The October book: 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce:

was enjoyed by all members of the club who were present at the meeting today (and one who wasn’t!). 

We found the strong characters quite interesting, each one with a different background and agenda. 

The reader follows Harold on his cathartic walk to visit his old dying colleague from Devon to Berwick on Tweed and his wife’s struggle to come to terms with his actions, their son’s problems and their marriage.  We found it a thought provoking, sensitive and entertaining read, sometimes reducing us to tears.
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For more information about any of the above or our next meeting and venue, please contact:
Ladieslunchclub secretary:
lunchclubgascogne(at)gmail.com
or you join the blog here:
follow by email
(click on this link if you want regular info)
or our facebook page (see widget on the blog)
Gers Ladies Lunch Club

Ladies Luncheon November 2013 - invitation

The next lunch will be held in November 2013 on
Tuesday November 12th, 12.30h
at the Casino, Barboton-les-Thermes.

  
Please come and join us there! Registration will be from 12.30 for lunch at 1pm.

We have also been promised an aperitif to be included in the price
Menu 16€  :

Salade paysanne

Boeuf en croute

aux champignons duxelles et pommes de terre

Vegetarian option available

Gateaux Basque 

Café et vin included

Please note:
it’s important that everyone brings identification…
no one will be allowed in without Passport or driving licence, or for the French an ID card.
(this is a legal requirement for entry into a casino)

If you would like to join us, which we very much hope you do, please use the attached form.  
If you cannot use the attached form then call Jane on 056231 5897.  
Please register and click the below before form NLT noon on Sunday 2 November:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1AdHG5Yyi_L8rOo1CV-tyAhQa130YoYfuOh-jUveEQjs/viewform

We would like you to please bring the correct money in an envelope clearly marked with your name – a bit like school dinners– but it makes it so much easier at registration, anyone forgetting will have to stand in the corner!  Also don’t forget your badge.

An email regarding the Christmas lunch to be held on 10th December will be sent out separately .  
Full details will be sent out before the November lunch when tickets can be purchased.

In the meantime join us at Barbotan on 12th of November.
Best regards - Your committee



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The October lunch was held on October 8th at the Solenca Hotel, Nogaro where we all enjoyed a delicious lunch.  

Friends and ladies new to the Club shared a few hours together and caught up with events in the area.

The pumpkin challenge winner was announced, a joint effort with Linda Twittey and Agnes Seery taking first prize.  

Pippa came a close second with her pumpkin, a good size but not as heavy as the winning entry. The prize pumpkins were on show for all to admire and I am sure that the winners would be happy to divulge their winning techniques with a bit of persuasion! 

One lady, who must remain nameless, showed me her pumpkin seed still in her purse, maybe next year.

Pam Savage reminded us of 

the Arts and Crafts Exhibition 

which is being held next weekend. All members and their partners are invited to the vernissage on

Friday 1st November from 5pm at the Chateau de Millet.  

The exhibition runs on Saturday, 2nd and Sunday 3rd November from 10am.  
Please bring your friends and family to view the excellent works on show.