Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016

We wish all our members and their friends and families a Merry Christmas and a 

happy and healthy  New Year 2016.

your LLC Committee

Sue, Kate, Ginster, Pat and Pam

December Bookclub meeting postponed to January 07, 2016

Our Christmas meeting is postponed to  
Thursday 07 January 2016, in Reans at 4pm to discuss Wendy’s choice, 

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake.  

Wendy will bring champagne (or some sort of bubbles!), Pam is kindly making mince pies, Cathie and me some savouries for this Christmas meeting.  Any other offers of nibbles most welcome.

We will also be choosing the February book from Ann’s suggestions which are:

‘If on a winter’s night a traveller’, by Italo Calvino 

If On A Winter's Night A Traveler is a surreal story about the hunt for a mysterious book. The book deals playfully with the writing of fiction and its conventions. 

‘Red Dust’ by Gillian Slovo

Red Dust is a literary novel which explores the meanings and effects of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and was made into a film released in 2004.  

‘The Fever Tree’, by Jennifer McVeigh

‘The Fever Tree’ has been compared to Gone with the Wind and Out of Africa. The novel takes place in South Africa, in 1880, a country torn apart by greed. In this remote and inhospitable land, the protagonist, Frances becomes entangled with two very different men—one driven by ambition, the other by his ideals.

‘The Magus’, by John Fowler

John Fowles unfolds a tale that is lush with over-powering imagery in a spellbinding exploration of human complexities. By turns disturbing, thrilling and seductive, The Magus is a feast for the mind and the senses.

The January book, suggested by Cathie is 

West with the Night by Beryl Markham.  

Thursday 21 January in Reans at 2.30.

 

Looking forward to kicking off the Christmas festivities. 
Meanwhile, have a very happy, indulgent Christmas!!
See you in January
Jackie

LLC Book club meeting December 2015

LLC Bookclub - What's next? 

Last meeting of the year will be on 
Thursday 17 December, in Reans at 4pm 
to discuss Wendy’s choice, who will bring champagne (or some sort of bubbles!), 
Pam is kindly making mince pies, Cathie and me some savouries for this Christmas meeting.  
Any other offers of nibbles let me know.

December 17^th at 16.00h

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake  

synopsis: 'sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.

On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter.

In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.

The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them—but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen.

The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during war-time, when those we cherish leave. And how every story—of love or war—is about looking left when we should have been looking right. (From the publisher.)'

For more information about any of the above or our next meeting and venue, please contact:
LLC 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)

Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac.
Also see bookclub page of this blog to see what we have been reading so far. 

We enjoyed a good meeting November bookclub discussing 'On Writing' by Stephen King.  A well written, punchy, honest, imaginative work which gave the budding writers amongst us some food for thought.

We will also be choosing the February book from Ann’s 3 suggestions. 

The January book, suggested by Cathie, 
was a book from our lucky dip in August:  
West with the Night by Beryl Markham. 



Thursday 21 January in Reans at 2.30.

See as many of you as possible in December to start our Christmas festivities!


Jackie 

Christmas 2015 - 3 concerts to listen and enjoy

3 Christmas concerts to listen and enjoy:

11 December 20.30h in Tasque

13 December 15h in Plaisance

15 December 20h in Labatut Rivière

Welcome

LLC Garden Group meeting December 2015

Dear Gardeners,

With the Christmas season rapidly approaching we have something a little different planned for our December & January events. 

We are going to learn how to make bug hotels to attract bees & other beneficial insects into the garden & add to garden biodiversity.

http://www.inspirationgreen.com/insect-habitats.html

Denise Parker, who has constructed some bug hotels for her own garden,

has kindly offered to host these events at her house near Labarrère to tell us about them and what we will need in the way of tools & materials  in order to be able to make one of our own at the January meeting.

We will be meeting at 

3pm 

on December 3rd, 2015  

We will be serving tea & mince pies ! 

Hope to see as many as possible - it should be an entertaining & informative afternoon ! 

Please let us know if you are able to come or not so we have an idea of numbers - many thanks & see then.

Directions to Denise’s house and all other information can be requested from our secretary: lunchclubgascogne@gmail.com

and here an inspirational video.

We would like to get your suggestions for garden visits. 

Please let us know if you have ideas or wishes. 

Also let us know who would like to host one of the meetings of the garden group. 

Sign up for December 2015 Christmas Lunch with Ladies Lunch Club de l’Armagnac

Dear Ladies,

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to attend our Ladies Christmas Lunch on 

Tuesday 8th December 2015, at 12 noon.

our venue is

Restaurant La Baquere, 

32190, Preneron, near Vic-Fezensac

The lunch is open to members at a subsidised price of 25 euros and one guest per member at a cost of 30 euros.  

For this special lunch we would like to collect the money in advance so everyone can enjoy the day.  No cheques will be cashed before 8th December.

Cheques should be made payable to Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac and dated 8th December 2015.  

Deadline for your booking and your payment will be not later than 30th November 2015.  

Cheques should be posted to: 

Kate Notman at Fitan, 32290 Castelnavet.

A list of names who have booked and paid will be sent out on 27th November to ensure that no-one has been missed. 

Lunch will be served at 12.45 hrs.

MENU

(25 Euro for Member, 30 Euro for Guest)

Cocktail de bienvenue et canapes

Welcome cocktail and canapés

*****

Veloute de Butternut, lait de coco et croustilles de porc noir

Butternut soup with coconut milk and pork flakes

*****

Saumon fume a chaud au 5 baies, salade de Wakame

Hot smoked salmon with spices and salad

*****

Supreme de poulet fermier en croute de fruits secs,

sauce au vin rouge et airelles.  Pommes de terre et

brocolis

Chicken supreme with dried fruits in red wine and cranberry sauce

OU  Vegetarienne:

vegetarian option:

Lasagne de legumes-mozzarella

Vegetable lasagne

*****

Religieuse glacee au Pousse-Rapiere, sauce caramel

Ice cream with pousse rapiere and caramel sauce

*****

Café
coffee

Please make your reservation, if you are unable to do this online you can email the committee on: lunchclubgascogne@gmail.com.

Please remember to wear your name badge.

Very much looking forward to seeing you all at the lunch, together with your guest!

The Committee​

​Sue, Ginster, Kate, Pam & Pat

November 2015 on 19th LLC book club meeting

LLC Bookclub - What's next? 

Below are some of the choices bookclub members have made for

November 19^th:
  On Writing by Stephen King

'On Writing is both a textbook for writers and a memoir of Stephen's life and will, thus, appeal even to those who are not aspiring writers. 
If you've always wondered what led Steve to become a writer and how he came to be the success he is today, this will answer those questions.'

Looking forward to meeting you all at 14.30h on 19 November 2015.

December 15^th:  The Postmistress by Sarah Blake  (this was chosen from Wendy’s 3 suggestions the others being:  Incendiary by Chris Cleeve and On Green Dolphin Street by Sebastian Faulkes).

Thank you for the books for the Craft LLC Marche de Noel on 28 & 29 November.  We could do with some more but I do need some support and helpers for this weekend – please let me know asap if you are able to help, or not.

We had a great time on Thursday indulging our love of books and food!  ‘Food’ proved to be an excellent theme and one that could even be repeated.

Books from the Food Theme

Food in England, Dorothy Hartley

A Debt to Pleasure, John Lanchester

Falling Cloudberries, Tessa Kiros

French Cooking, Julia Child

Relish, Prue Leith

Monet’s Cookery, Clare Joyes

Is there a nutmeg in the house, Elizabeth David

Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain

Picasso Bon Vivant

Memories of Gascony, Pierre Kaufmann

Italian Food, Elizabeth David

Crazy Water/Pickled Lemons, Diana Henry

Aphrodite, Isabel Allende

Caroline’s choice is below

My choice of food related book was Marguerite Patten’s Everyday Cookbook first printed, I think, in 1968. My mother, in a desperate attempt to turn me into a young lady, gave me this book when I was about 18 and completely disinterested in cooking or any other domestic activity.

On the extremely rare occasions when I needed to produce something edible for anyone other than myself I consulted this book and, over the next few years, thanks to Marguerite, I became (I like to think) fairly proficient in good, plain, basic British cooking! Since then my tastes and culinary skills have changed but the book is still on my kitchen shelf, battered, stained, spineless & rarely consulted - unless, of course, I need to refresh my memory on how to prepare Mulligatawny Soup or Pineapple Soufflé Pudding. I shall keep it forever !
I have put the dates in above for the November and December meetings but, 

Remember, Book Club is always on the 3rd Thursday of the month.

Look forward to seeing you in November and hearing from you re the marché de noel.

Thanks, Jackie

For more information about any of the above or our next meeting and venue, please contact:
LLC 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)

Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac.
Also see bookclub page of this blog to see what we have been reading so far. 

Bloopers in Marciac on 14 November 2015

Welcome to Marché de Noel of 9 Nations in Réans

Welcome to 

Marché de Noel of 9 Nations 

organized by the 

Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac

on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2015 at

Salles des Fêtes in 32800 Réans 

Welcome to the many talented Arts & Crafts members exhibiting their work at Réans

Paintings, Sculpture, Stained Glass, Ceramics,

Patchwork, Quilting, Knitwear, Jewellery, Beading, Cards, Christmas Cards 

Saturday 28th Nov and on Sunday 29th  Nov, 

from 10 h to 18 h

An event not to be missed, put it in your diaries.

Marché de Noel d'Arts et Loisirs Créatifs 

des 9 nationalités 

organisé par

Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac

au

Salles des Fetes Réans

samedi 28 novembre et dimanche 29 novembre 

10 h à 18 h 

Bienvenu!

Sign up for November 2015 Lunch with Ladies Lunch Club de l’Armagnac

Dear Ladies and Members, 

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to attend our Ladies Lunch on 

Tuesday 10th November 12h

our venue will be

Le Commerce, 

hôtel-restaurant in Estang

MENU

17 Euro 

Carpaccio de Saumon

(Salmon Carpaccio)

*****

Dos de Cabillaud, Ecrase de Pommes de Terre

(Cod with crushed potatoes)

*****

Omelette Norvegienne

(Norwegian Omelette)

OU

Vegetarian option: 

Feuilleté d'Asperges

(Asparagus Tart)

*****

Dos de Cabillaud, Ecrasé de Pommes de Terre

(Cod with crushed potatoes)

*****

Omelette Norvegienne

(Norwegian Omelette)

*****

Café and Wine included

Please make your reservation. To book please use the booking form (for members)(Request from the LLC secretary.)

Deadline for final reservation is 5th November 2015 at 18.00 hrs.

Please submit your reservation by then. If you are unable to do this online or need to change your reservation at the last minute, please contact per email <lunchclubgascogne@gmail.com>.

As usual please arrive at the restaurant from 
12 o'clock with your named envelope with either cash or cheque payable to Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac for 17 euros.

We anticipate that lunch will be served at 12.30 sharp!

PLEASE NOTE:  this month we shall NOT be sending out a Reminder Email for the lunch, so please submit your Booking Form urgently! Deadline for final numbers is Thursday 5th November at 18.00 hrs.

Please remember to wear your Name Badge!  

Very much looking forward to seeing you all at the lunch, especially some of our new members!

The LLC Committee

Sue, Ginster, Kate, Pam & Pat

-----------------------Advance Info------------------

As a preparation of our 
LLC Christmas 2015 luncheon, 
we like to inform you that it is scheduled for 

Tuesday 8th December 2015 this year at Auberge La Baquere, 32190, Preneron .

The price is €25 for Members and €30 for husbands/partners.  Full details together with the Menu will be emailed to all Members shortly, together with a booking form.

Please note bookings will only be confirmed if a cheque for the full amount is received by 30th November.

Bookings can be made on a separate list (together with a pre-dated cheque) at our lunch on 10th November.

LLC Garden Group meeting November 2015

Dear Gardeners and LLC Members

Our next Garden Group event will take place on 

Thursday 5th November 2015.

Pat is organising a 

Plant and Seed Swap

to be held at her house at 2.30 pm.

 

 

We will look forward to seeing as many of you as possible bringing any seeds, plants, cuttings, bulbs and transplants from your own gardens or other gardening related objects to exchange with others. Please remember to label your plants etc.

(NO PLASTIC POTS PLEASE !)

We will be serving tea and cakes.

What a fun way to spend the afternoon !

For any further information of all other activities of the LLC d l'Armagnac please contact LLC secretary: <lunchclubgascogne@gmail.com> 

or 

come to the Ladies Luncheon on every 2d Tuesday per month or

you join the blog here:follow by email 

(click on this link if you want regular info)

We would like to get your suggestions for garden visits. 

Please let us know if you have ideas or wishes. 

Also let us know who would like to host one of the meetings of the garden group. 

October 2015 bookclub meeting

LLC Bookclub - What's next? 

October 2015 meeting on the 15th at the usual venue at 14.30h
we have selected the theme: 
Anything to do with 

FOOD!

If there is some idea needed what to read about food to present at our bookclub meeting:


From Roald Dahl to Anthony Bourdain, the author of Kitchens of the Great Midwest writes about the best descriptions of – and recipes for – food to switch on ‘the lamp in the spine’ Top 10 books about food


Looking forward to talking Food with you all.

For more information about any of the above or our next meeting and venue, please contact:
Ladieslunchclub secretary:
lunchclubgascogne(at)gmail.com

For all other publications regarding the LLC bookclub please see our bookclub page here
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)

Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac

Sign up for October 2015 Lunch with Ladies Lunch Club de l’Armagnac

Dear Lady Members, 
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to attend our October Ladies Lunch on 

Tuesday 13th October 12h.

  

at Le Bonne Auberge 

Place du Pesquèrot

32370 Manciet

They have offered us the front restaurant which is much larger so there will not be a number restriction!

MENU

Feuillete chèvre chaud sur cruditée et jambon

(Hot goat's cheese tart with cruditees)

*****

Rôti de Boeuf avec gratin pommes de terre

(Roast beef - please advise whether you wish

it to be medium rare or well done) on the

OU

Vegetarian option: 

Saumon grillé a là plancha avec purée grand mère

(Salmon cooked on the plancha)

*****

Crème brulée

*****

Wine (red,white,rosé)

 and Café

Please make your reservation. Deadline for final reservation is 9th October 2015.

If you are unable to use our booking form (attached to the member invite email) or if you need to change your reservation at the last minute, please contact the committee per email to:
lunchclubgascogne@gmail.com

As usual please arrive at the restaurant from 
12 o'clock with your named envelope for 17 euros 
with either cash or cheque payable to:  
Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac .

Please remember that during the October lunch, 

our member Kathy Franklin will be happy to collect your unwanted new or nearly new clothes for the 

Bloopers 

Sale on 14th November in aid of 

Medicins san Frontieres .

We shall also be selling Poppies in aid of the 
Royal British Legion as this is our last chance before 11th November.

Very much looking forward to seeing you all at the lunch, especially some of our new members!



The LLC Committee
(Sue, Ginster, Kate, Pam and Pat)

LLC GARDEN GROUP October 2015 meeting

Thursday 1 October at 2.30h the LLC garden group meets at Les Jardins de Coursiana

near La Romieu

please see also:

LADIES LUNCH CLUB DE L’ARMAGNAC
GARDEN GROUP 2015 PROGRAMME

The largest club within the LLC (Ladies Lunch Club Gers) this has over 50 members although not all participate on a regular monthly basis. 
Meetings are on the first Thursday of the month.

For any further information 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 see our facebook page.

September 2015 bookclub meeting

LLC Bookclub - What's next? 

Thursday September 17th  2015 at the usual venue at 14.30h. 

Love, Loss & The Lives of Women, a collection of short stories edited by Victoria Hislop.




Either read them all or just select a couple and we can discuss - Short stories as many as you like.

October 2015 meeting on the 15th we have selected the theme: Anything to do with FOOD

FOOD! 

The November 2015 meeting is on 
Thursday 19th and the chosen book will be 
On Writing 

by Stephen King  and Brenda explained it wasn’t science fiction. 

Thank you to everyone who came on Thursday and made our Champagne Garden book club such a nice afternoon. Books weren’t the only topics of conversation, but I promised to list the books that people had suggested for November.

Books chosen:

Go Set a Night Watchman, Harper Lee

Us by David Nichols

The Woman in White, Wilkie Collins

The Gathering, Anne Enright

The Green Road, Anne Enright

West with the Night, Beryl Markam

The Postmistress, Sarah Blake

All the Light we cannot see, Anthony Doerr


Happy reading

Jackie 

For more information about any of the above or our next meeting and venue, please contact:
LLC 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)
Ladies Lunch Club de l'Armagnac