- This event has passed.
CSF NEWSLETTER: NOVEMBER 2019
1st November 2019 - 30th November 2019
Event Navigation
Hello Everyone
There’s a whiff of smoke in the air – bonfires! The smell of burning leaves brings back memories of going into the local tobacconist and buying 4 Jumping Jacks, 2 Catherine Wheels, some Golden Rain, a couple of Roman Candles and a packet of Sparklers all for half-a-crown and still having enough left for a giant gobstopper which turned your tongue the colour of beetroot.
Halloween was just for black and white American films on TV. Frankly the scariest thing down our road at this time of year are the butchered remains of the oleander trees. Cut back within an inch of their lives, they line the street looking like witches’ broomsticks.
Now – make yourself a cup of tea and settle down to read this month’s rather lengthy Newsletter.
Autumn Ball
We had a super Autumn Ball again this year. Over 80 tickets sold and just over €1400 made. The tombola was particularly successful, €393, of which half will go to La Ligue. A big THANK YOU to all who came and supported us and also to those who organised, catered and served.
Welcome Phil
As you know, Cancer Support France is in partnership with La Ligue contre le cancer. CSF provides language skills to La Ligue and we work together to better support everyone in France touched by cancer.
It’s good to have someone locally who can liaise regularly with La Ligue and we are very happy to announce that Phil (short for Philomene) O’Neill who is one of our Active Listeners, is now taking on this role.
Cancer Support France Shop Webpage – this is under construction as we speak! Keep an eye open on our website for the new national 2020 Calendar coming shortly.
Chris Dowd Challenge
In September I talked about Chris Dowd and his amazing Cycling Challenge. He committed himself to raising €1500 for CSF in memory of a friend who had benefited from CSF support. Have a look at his final update. It’s truly inspiring.
Touchlines
The latest edition of this CSF quarterly newsletter helps you catch up with all that’s happening nationally. Click here to access.
Vaincre le cancer Conference
There will be no conference this year. The association is changing its name and will be having a conference hopefully in Spring 2020.
THIS MONTH’S DROP-INS:
Christmas cards are now available at all the drop in venues!
Wednesday 6th November – Céret – 10.30am – 12pm
Pablo’s Bar in the Place Pablo Picasso. Come and join us for coffee and conversation. There are books and DVDs.
Monday 18th November – Laroque des Albères – 10.30am – 12pm
Come along to the Café des Artistes and have a browse, buy a coffee and take two books. We have a large turnover of books and DVDs and we encourage you to bring as many paperbacks as you can carry but please don’t bring hardbacks or text books.
Thursday 20th November – Ille sur Têt – 10.30am – 12pm
If Scuba Diving is your thing, or even if it isn’t, come to Lizzie’s Kitchen this month and ask Steve. Steve Hare, one of our members, will be talking about Scuba Diving and answering any questions you might have. There’ll be coffee and cake as usual.
COMING UP
Saturday 9th November Quiz Night Eus 7pm
The Quiz Night in Eus is at the Maison de Temps Libre. There will be tables of four or six teams and each team competes to win a prize by answering general knowledge questions. There will be a simple finger food buffet plus wine and a chance to win a bottle or two on the Bottle Tombola.
The money raised will go to a charity called Les Blouses Roses. These people are volunteers who go into hospitals and chat to the elderly and run workshops for children. There are 116 branches in France.
Not long now for you to get your tickets – €10. Please contact Maggie (maggie.longworth@gmail.com) or Ginny (ginnymartin@hotmail.co.uk).
Sunday 17th November Rifle Pour La Vie Collioure 3pm
This rifle is organised by our partners La Ligue contre le cancer. The money raised will go to La Ligue and will help fuel medical research and help sick people and their families
The prizes are original and varied and include works of art by local artists and sculptors, produce and services offered by artisans, local shops, restaurants and winemakers.
What better way to spend a November afternoon than to come and play a bit of bingo! The Centre Culturel isn’t difficult to find and there should be plenty of car parking space at this time of year.
Bring friends and if you let me know beforehand I’m sure we can organise a CSF table. It’s a great way to show our support for La Ligue and the work they do.
Find out more here.
Sunday 24th November Christmas Market St Jean Pla de Corts 9am – 5.30pm
Salle Polyvalente
This is a great way to start the Christmas season with lots of present ideas on the arts & craft stalls, plus cards and gifts, stocking fillers, homemade puds, mince pies and cakes. There’ll be Christmas carols from local choirs and bands to serenade you as you browse.
Lizzie Smith will be running the cafe and selling tea, coffee, cakes and lunchtime sandwiches.
CSF will have a couple of tables with books, Christmas cards, umbrellas and tea towels and other CSF products.
It isn’t too late for any offers of help on our stall. Just an hour or two, morning, lunchtime or afternoon – we’d be very grateful. Drop me a line stating your preferred time and I’ll put you on the list.
We also hope to be running a tombola but we can’t do it without you. We need prizes! We’d be very grateful if you could have a dig around for unwanted gifts or anything nearly-new which we can put on the tombola stall.
You can bring them to one of our drop ins or contact Penny (sud-penny@cancersupportfrance.org) and she will arrange collection.
LOOKING AHEAD
Wednesday 29th January AGM CSF Sud
Our own AGM will be in Carcassonne again next year. Please put the date in your diary and wait for further details.
Wednesday 15th April CSF Open Meeting Perpignan
Please make a note of this date because you won’t want to miss our annual Open Meeting. It’s very informal and everyone is welcome.
As always it will be held at the Hotel Le Mas des Arcades in Perpignan. Not only is this venue convenient for all but they also do a great lunch!
We gather for morning coffee and then the meeting starts with a short update of CSF business. It will be followed by a talk from our guest speaker. This time we are fortunate to have with us Doctor Nicolas Van Oudenhove who is the Head of Palliative Care at Perpignan hospital where he works with cancer patients.
The meeting will finish with a three-course lunch.
Lots more on this later but it’s never too early to let me know if you would like to come. Remember you can come on your own or bring family and friends.
Sunday 7th June Vide Grenier Saint Cyprien
This is a large Vide Grenier, organised by La Ligue, which is held every year at this time. We normally have a couple tables and it’s very well-attended (depending on the weather!).
