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This front page was first published on 31st January 2009.
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Vaguely aware of it being a bit breezy during the night,
a morning stroll around the property to check for missing tiles
was interrupted by a phone call from England. "Are you OK?".
Puzzled, the answer was affirmative, but why the question. The hurricane!
What hurricane?... about sums up the ensuing conversation. OK, so
we slept through it. St. Céré was on the fringes and
damage was limited. But the point is, we did not know it was coming.
Why? Because nobody told us... before it happened, that is.
Yes, it turns out, a Yellow Alert was issued by the Prefecture.
Did it get to us? No. Are we isolated? No. Do we have a phone? Yes.
E-mail? Yes. TV? Yes. Radio? Yes. So how come we did not know? Because
nobody told us. Did our neighbours know? Yes, it turns out. Why,
didn't they tell us? Er... we were out. OUT? When there was a hurricane
on the way? Er, yes... but we did not know! Nobody told us.
And that is the point. The system failed us and, we now know, a
great many other English speaking expats around... who also did
not know what was coming.
So how does it work, this warning system? Well, apparently, warnings
are broadcast on the media. So far so good. Except that every one
we know, watches SKY or Free to air UK channels via the Astra satellite.
Ditto Radio. Ditto, internet News (BBC etc). And that's not all...
Apparently, the Prefecture phone every local Mayor to warn them.
They in turn, phone the smaller commune "Elus" the elected
ones, to ask them to knock on doors or shout over the fence to their
neighbours. After that, it is down to bush telegraph, on the premise
that nothing moves faster than bad news. Except a hurricane. And
except... we were out!
We wonder whether the Prefecture know that with modern communications,
it is possible to auto-phone every number in the "at risk"
area, with a recorded warning? Even if out, the free France Telecom
answer service would record the alert. SAUR do it, when there is
a water-supply problem (such as algae in Lac du Tolerme) so how
come the Prefecture do not do the same? If anybody's French (and
patience) is good enough could they please phone the Prefecture
and ask... that is, if they have repaired the 300,000 phone lines
that the storm cut!
The roof? Not a tile moved.
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Bill Stone, one of the last four ex-British servicemen that
served in World War 1 was buried this week.
Incredibly, he also served in the Second World War as well! Until
his death, one of only two British servicemen alive that could claim
this rare distinction.
From First World War battlecruisers such as HMS Tiger, through
HMS Hood, to the more modest minesweeper HMS Salamander, ex-Royal
Navy Stoker Bill served for some 27 years.
It was whilst serving in the Halcyon class minesweeper HMS Salamander
(above) that Bill found himself in 1940, being bombed as his ship
was loading soldiers of the stranded British Expeditionary Force
at Dunkirk. Their luck ran out and on their third trip, a bomb struck
the Salamander damaging her boiler. She managed to limp back to
England, safely landing another 500 troops.
During the Sicily Campaign in 1943, Bill was "Mentioned in
Dispatches" for bravery when his then ship, HMS Newfoundland
was torpedoed.
And he still lived to be 108!
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Yep, it's time to dig out the thermals and ski gear, as the local
ski season is in full swing.
Local? We thought St. Céré was in the sunny Dordogne
River Valley, we hear your say. True, but placed as we are in the
east of the Lot, St. Céré is a mere 1 hour 20 minute
drive away from the ski-slopes.
You can choose from Mont D'Or or Super Lioran, both are
about the same distance. We chose Super Lioran, just north of Aurillac
on the Massif Central. It is a small, purpose built resort, with
bars, restaurants and apartments clustered in a crescent facing
"The Prairie" (as it is called) the slopes and ski lifts.
Being purpose built and French at that, of course, means being able
to ski right up to your table in the sun for lunch! If there is
enough snow. Which there usually is, as Super Lioran is well equipped
with snow cannon in case the temperature soars.
Don't take our word for it, jump in the car one of these sunny
mornings at a leisurely after breakfast hour and you'll be having
lunch on the slopes before you know it.
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31st January - 21st February 2009
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We will be meeting on Friday 6th February, at the Café
Voyageurs, as usual, to put the world to rights and for a drink
or two. If you are out and about...
join us.
Café Voyageurs, Place de la République, St. Céré
- venue for anyone who wants to speak English to other English speakers
- at least once a month!
Don't forget, if you can capture a French friend who is trying
to learn English, there can be no better way for them to practise,
than to join us.
See you there?
The ever-popular Karaoke returns to the Au Passé Simple,
on Saturday 21st February.
Kicks off around 21h.00, but - if you want to make
sure you get do it your way, then get there early.
To
be taken to the Au Passé Simple sponsored page on this website,
please click this link
click this link
for details of other forthcoming events in St. Céré
area and around
Place du Mercardial, St. Céré
St Céré, is in the beautiful Dordogne river valley
region of the Lot (département 46), Midi-Pyrénées,
South West France.
Lot is deep in the heart of France, with the départements
of Dordogne to the West, Corrèze to the North, Aveyron and Cantal
to the South and East respectively.
To
view maps of where in France to find St. Céré - please
click this link
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St. Céré Equitation (Siramon Riding School) have now
moved to new premises on the other side of St. Céré.
From all reports, all goes well and Celine, Claire
and their eager pupils are getting down to the serious business
of exploring the new rides in the glorious countryside that surrounds
the new stables.
For further information, please contact Claire (she
speaks English) on: 06 66 25 33 33.
They have put a new location map on their website:
www.saint-cere-equitation.com
England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and... er? Oh yes, France!
The long slog begins next week on Saturday 7th February, when England
play Italy at Twickenham in the Royal Bank of Scotland Six Nations
Cup Rugby Union Tournament. We will be producing the full fixtures
list for you in time for this, so keep checking the site.
We can tell you now, however, that the "Gala Day" will
be Sunday afternoon 15th March, when England meet France at Twickenham...
we are searching for a pub that has a big screen and which
promises to stay open.
We'll let you know. By the way, does anyone know how to say "Beware
the ides of March", in French?
In this section we provide links to current local
and national news items, which may well affect you if you either
live near St. Céré or, as expats anywhere in
France.
The scroller above will halt as your mouse hovers
over it. Then just click on a brief news item link that is of interest,
and a fuller version will open in a new window.
If you have a local news item you would like to see
aired, please let us know. Use the e-mail form accessed by clicking
the link below to send us your new item.
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Loubressac, a Plus Beaux Village de France - click the image of
Loubressac above for further information.
St Céré is surrounded by countryside of great beauty,
liberally sprinkled with historic sites and villages.
There are no less than five of the officially designated Plus Beaux
Villages de France (the most beautiful villages in France) within
20 minutes drive of St. Céré
Click this link to view photos and
information of some of the great places to visit near St. Céré
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To find out what the weather is like today in St. Céré
and for a 3 day forecast - click the image above.
Snow chains for sale - cheap - in the classified section. Click
the photo above for details or here
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WiFi connections in St Céré are available at the
music bar, Au Passé Simple in Rue de la République
and at the Café 5Cere, Hotel Touring, Place de la République.
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If you have a local news item (or even one of national interest),
you feel deserves an airing; have been Out and About and know a
snippet of local information - somebody new in town/some local info;
or if you have a local event to publicise free, let us know by clicking
the appropriate link below.
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