Canal Cholet

Did you know that you can watch and learn about Cholet by just checking out this website. I've just seen a former colleague on it. Amazing. Have a look and see if you can recognise someone that I might know. I'll give you a clue he used to work at the IML and there's a link with music.

Bye for now Juliet

In a couple of weeks time it'll be once again a musical weekend for everyone in France as we'll be celebrating the 14th July.

I'll never forget the first time that I saw fireworks in France. I just couldn't believe how long the show lasted. I kept thinking, I'm sure this must be the end now....and no it just went on and on and on!! It was wonderful.

We also have fireworks in the UK but in November. Does anyone know why?


Juliet

Summer Concerts in Provence

Juliet's youngest sister will be playing in concerts with her school Prince Henry's High School. The music is vocal - choir of 50, some sacred music - a smaller group, and a jazz band - Sarah plays tenor sax and sings in all the groups. If you are in the area do go and enjoy what should be a wonderful evening. Be sure to introduce yourself to Mr Bullas the musical director!

Friday 18 July Cavaillon - Theatre de Verdure 20.30,
Sat 19 July, Istres - Kiosque a Musique, Centre Ville 21.00
Sun 20 July, 21.00 at Bonnieux
Monday 21 July 18.30, Saintes Maries-de-la-Mer, Eglise de Notre-Dame-de-la Mer
Tuesday 22 July 18.00 Vaison la Romaine, Place Montfort

Gina

Moseley couple Jodi Tommerdahl and Andrew Verity run the Wednesday morning sessions at the Kitchen Garden Café in York Road.

Andrew grew up in Paris because of his father's job and has been bi-lingual since birth. His wife Jodi, a lecturer in the School of Education at the University of Birmingham, also lived in France for several years.

They set up the toddler language sessions in February and they have been so successful that they will be running extra classes from next month and are looking at starting Saturday morning lessons for older kids too.

"The group is designed both for children with no experience of the French language as well as those who already speak it," explains Andrew. "For 50 minutes on Wednesday mornings, the children are completely immersed in French through games, stories, puppet shows and music. Even the children who aren't speaking yet started showing that they understood the content of the class within just a few weeks."

This looks very interesting and I'm going to try and get in contact with them. I heard about this through Lindsey our English "French Teacher" at Solihull College. Well done our links are forever growing....

Did you know that Solihull and Cholet will have been twinned for 10 years next year!! I'm sure there'll be some sort of celebration on the cards. Get your suitcases ready!!!

Juliet

Who are these people in Solihull?

Solihull Carnival is organised by Shirley Round Table, a registered charity and part of the National Association of Round Tables of Britain and Ireland. We receive support from Shirley Ladies Circle and Shirley 41 Club (ex-Tablers who have retired because of the age rule of Round Table).

The Carnival is held every year, usually on the second Saturday in June. There is always a Funfair that visits Solihull in time for the Carnival and helps to make it the event it is. Shirley Table are supported by Shirley Ladies Circle, who provide teas in the Tea Tent for all that require refreshment, and Shirley 41 Club who always seem to run a successful barbeque for the event, and many of them also help out around the ground on the day as well.

As for entertainment, there are always a variety of professional acts to interest and entertain kids of all ages (and that means dads as well), some of which can involve audience participation. The local radio station BRMB have supported us in recent years as well and are available again this year to help provide entertainment throughout the day.

There are really two objectives for the Carnival. The first is to raise funds for local charities and the second is to put on an entertainment spectacular for the people of Solihull

So you see Cholet is not the only town to have a carnaval!!

Juliet

Solihull NWR

I just thought I'd try and write something on the blog about a group of women in Solihull who have just discussed about us!!! They meet about once a month to chat about different things and next time they will be talking about a charity called "Send a cow". I hadn't heard of it before so I thought I'd put something on the blog about it:

Welcome to the Send a Cow !

Send a Cow is a Christian charity that enables poor farmers in Africa to become self-reliant by providing them with livestock, training and advice. We work with some of the most vulnerable groups in Africa, including children orphaned by war, families affected by AIDS, and disabled people.

THINK ORGANIC! That's Send a Cow's message to the Rome summit on the global food crisis.

VISIT OUR HAMPTON COURT SHOW GARDEN. See African eco-gardening techniques in action - and learn how to transform your own garden.

£250,000 GRANT FOR GROW IT GLOBAL. Almost 11,000 British schoolchildren will get to learn natural farming techniques from African farmers, thanks to a grant from the Department for International Development.

SEND A COW TURNS 20. Find out how a group of UK farmers started an international development charity by asking us for our new DVD 'Passing on Hope', or downloading our new leaflet, Twenty Years of Send a Cow. And join in celebrations by holding a Big Birthday Bash!

VOLUNTEER FOR US IN 2008 - By volunteering for Send a Cow, you could be helping poor families in Africa build themselves a better future, and you’ll also be doing something fun and fulfilling for yourself.

GROW SPONSORED SUNFLOWERS! Join in with the African Gardens Competition 2008 by growing giant sunflowers with your children using our kits. You can buy sunflower kits now for a fun Summer Term project - plus you'll be helping the work of Send a Cow! Order kits using this leaflet or by calling us.

COMING SOON - our environment report, showing why cows can be good for the environment.

CALL NOW for our free DVDs about organic farming in Uganda, or in the highlands of Ethiopia and Lesotho (short clip).

WIN A TRIP TO AFRICA by entering our 20th anniversary Big Charity Stick Up Competition! Just take a snap of a Send a Cow animal sticker in a quirky or unusual location for the chance to see our work in Uganda first-hand. Find out more, and see our online map of entries, here.

Yesterday, I had a chat about may 68 at the IML of Cholet. We were 9 persons, 3 english teachers and 6 french students. It was very friendly and interesting, we looked at photos, documents, we spoke of many things about the year 1968 and the differents events in France and in the world. I enjoyed this sympathic meeting and I will be pleased to come to the next discussions (or chats) at IML.
Next Saturday I will go to holiday in the department of "Var" for 2 weeks and I hope the weather will be better than now.
Very good week for everybody.
Christiane