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.

Ladies Lunch Club Exhibition of Arts and Crafts at Chateau Millet near Eauze - Exposition d'Arts et Loisirs Créatifs

This is a very special event for the LLC. 

Ladies Lunch Club Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

Welcome to the many talented members of the group exhibiting their work at Château Millet, near Eauze . 

Exhibition of Arts & Crafts

by

Members  of the  Ladies Lunch Club

at

Château Millet, Eauze

on

Saturday 2^nd Nov, from 10 h to 18 h and on 

Sunday 3^rd Nov, from 10 h to 16 h

LLC Contact 05 62 09 78 73

Château de Millet 05 62 09 87 91

Ave du Parleboscq, 32800 Eauze

Paintings, Sculpture, Stained Glass, Ceramics,

Patchwork, Quilting, Knitwear, Jewellery, Beading, Cards 

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

Château de Millet, avenue de Parleboscq, 32800 - Eauze, tél 05 62 09 87 91

Exposition d'Arts et Loisirs Créatifs

par

l'association Ladies Lunch Club

au

Château de Millet, Eauze

samedi 2 novembre de 10 h à 18 h et le

dimanche 3 novembre de 10 h à 16 h

LLC Contact 05 62 09 12 36

Château de Millet 05 62 09 87 91

Ave du Parleboscq, 32800 Eauze

peintures, sculptures, vitraux, céramiques,

patchwork, boutis, tricots, cartes, perlage

Bienvenue

Bookclub meeting October 2013 - The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

LLC Bookclub - What's next? 

The next LLC bookclub meeting is on 

16th October 2013 at 14.30h

The October read is 

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by 

Rachel Joyce.

Rachel Joyce is the author of the international bestseller The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. She is also the award-winning writer of more than twenty plays for BBC Radio 4. She started writing after a twenty-year acting career, in which she performed leading roles for the Royal Shakespeare Company and won multiple awards. Rachel Joyce lives with her family on a Gloucestershire farm.

Rachel Joyce's debut novel has taken a fairly simple narrative form, the allegory, and updated it. The journey of Christian through Vanity Fair and the Slough of Despond to the Celestial City was John Bunyan's genius creation, as his humble, everyman hero struggled on his way with his burden on his back. It was a religious tale, of course, full of symbolism. How does Joyce's modern take on it fare?

The withdrawal of religion from the lives of so many of us means a necessary change in our relationship with symbolism. It's no accident that Charlotte Brontë produced novels full of symbolism, being brought up in a religious household; the same could be said for Jeanette Winterson.


Our September book was the 
Chalk Circle Man (L'Homme aux Cercles Bleus) by French writer, Fred Vargas and was the first in her Adamsberg detective series. 
Jean Baptiste  Adamsberg is an unusual detective, ponderous, quiet and enignmatic.  Vargas's characters are slightly eccentric and her narrative style quirky.  Not a pacy read but rather a black comedy. 
The book group was divided in its opinion with some finding it frustrating and others finding it engaging. The different reactions invited a very lively discussion!


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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 October 2013 - registration

Hello Ladies, It's time to book into the Ladies Lunch for October which this month is being held on 

Tuesday 8th October 2013

at the Hotel Solenca, Nogaro 

at 12.30 for registration. 

Please click on this link to register for the lunch and book yourself into the lunch.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lo8NEFarG1l_RgYyBumwu3Ir875kfw7omKtbLYLcv8w/viewform

You should see a confirmation of your booking, if you have any problems with the form please phone me and I will assist.  
Only those ladies on the form will be able to join the lunch, if in doubt check with me by 

Saturday 5th October on 
05 62 31 58 97 or by email 
jane.cooper.everitt(at)gmail.com.

The menu is:

Salade Nicoise

Rôti de veau

Sauce aux champignons

Puree de pommes de terre maison

Tarte aux pomme fine avec une boule de glace 

Vin, eau et cafe compris

€16 Euros

To ease congestion at registration we would like to ask you all to please put the correct amount of money or a cheque made out to the restaurant in an envelope marked with your name.  
The numbers attending the lunch has risen in the past few months  making registration a bit of a bun fight and rather harrowing to committee members taking the money who are also there to enjoy the event.  

We are going to get you to look after your badges between lunches  - anyone forgetting to bring their badge to a meeting will be made to sit in a corner on their own ! Only joking we are very forgiving !

A few reminders:
Pumpkin Challenge

I hope you have all grown huge pumpkins by now from the seeds we gave you at the Termes d’Armagnac  lunch.  
Please bring your winning pumpkin to the lunch to win the prize.

At every lunch there will of course be the raffle. 
All proceeds go towards the Christmas lunch

which is once again at the Cafe Zik. (Marciac) 

Everyone enjoyed it so much last year and so by popular request we are back there again this year ! Numbers are limited to 100 so we are going to start by offering places to LLC members and their partner first and include guests if there are some places left.

We will be selling the tickets at the November lunch and will let you know before that time the menu and cost when confirmed. At that time, we will have booking form available for you to register.  

We have decided to sell the tickets before the event to ease the congestion. Last year was very busy on the door and the committee are keen, as you all are to chat to everyone, before sitting down for lunch.   

If you cannot make the November lunch don'’t fret, we will have a postal method of obtaining tickets.

Last but not least:
Ladies Lunch Club Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

This is a very special event for the LLC.  Some of the many talented members of the group are exhibiting their work at Château Millet, near Eauze .  

There is a private viewing for LLC members and their friends on  

Friday 1st of November 

between 5 and 8pm.  

On the following two days, 
Saturday the 2nd, 10am till 6pm 
and 
Sunday 3rd, between 10am and 4pm 
the gallery will be open to the public. 

More than 12 of our members are exhibiting  a selection of paintings,  stained glass, patchwork and quilting, jewelery, hand crafted cards and sculptures. 

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

Lots to think about.

Looking forward to seeing you at the next lunch

Jane, Pippa, Sue S and Sue K