Wednesday night I went to a Britsnîmes evening (see www.britsnimes.com). There was a very unusual concert with Jason Carter, harpist-gutarist. See http://www.jasoncarter.net. We then had tapas and a glass of wine. We were hosted at le Manoir de Courbessac near Nîmes. See : www.lemanoirdecourbessac.com
November 29, 2009
November 27, 2009
November 23, 2009
Down Memory Lane
This morning I had to go back to the village where I used to live. It's a lovely place very well situated half way between Nîmes and Sommières and only 45 minutes from Montpellier. It has all shops and services including a supermarket, 4 GPs, 1 pharmacy... I eventually moved to Nîmes and then Montpellier because I like to be right in a City center.
I had lunch in Sommières at l'Olivette. See http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.annuaire-blogs.net/57274_-_L_Olivette.html&ei=x6IKS-DTKdWw4QaKzvnTCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CE8Q7gEwCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dl%2527olivette%2Bsommiers%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DwAG%26sa%3DG
Their lunch set menu - 2 courses - is at 13 €
I had lunch in Sommières at l'Olivette. See http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://www.annuaire-blogs.net/57274_-_L_Olivette.html&ei=x6IKS-DTKdWw4QaKzvnTCw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CE8Q7gEwCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dl%2527olivette%2Bsommiers%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DwAG%26sa%3DG
Their lunch set menu - 2 courses - is at 13 €
November 22, 2009
November 17, 2009
November 16, 2009
Going to England / My flat for rent
Following the visa businesss I've decided to move forward. I prefer to live in an English speaking country and so I'm going to go to England next year, in Nottingham. But I intend to come back to France every 4 weeks for a 3-4 days week end. The place I'm going to rent out in Nottingham is quite expensive therefore I need to rent my own flat in Montpellier.
The rent is 750 € / month including internet and unlimited phone calls to most northern hemisphere countries and 2 cleaning hours service a week. The sofa in the living room is a proper convertible double bed. In the batroom there is a mixed bath-shower. The central heating is controlled from from the neighborhood Power station. there is no A/C but a mobile cooler.
The rent is 750 € / month including internet and unlimited phone calls to most northern hemisphere countries and 2 cleaning hours service a week. The sofa in the living room is a proper convertible double bed. In the batroom there is a mixed bath-shower. The central heating is controlled from from the neighborhood Power station. there is no A/C but a mobile cooler.
La Comedie (the main square) is 7 minutes away on the tram or 10 mns on foot (because of the detours the tram is doing it takes about as long). There are shops, bars & restaurants in the immediate vicinity too.
It will be available Jan 2- April 30. I already have tenants May 1- July 30.
It will be available Jan 2- April 30. I already have tenants May 1- July 30.
November 12, 2009
Visa (end)
Here is the answer I got from an immigration lawyer in the States :
"So, did the consulate give you anything in writing w hen they denied your visa? When they said you were not welcome in the States anymore "until you changed your situation in France" did they give you any idea how you might change it to make them happy? Unfortunately, the consulate begins the presumption that everyone in the entire world is dying to live in the United States on a permanent basis and no one intends to return home at the end of their permitted stay in the US. The B-1/B-2 visa or visa waiver for visitors is a strictly nonimmigrant visa and the idea is that you come and see Disneyland, visit your old aunts and then leave to resume your life back home. People do come here and stay for long periods --90 days on visa waiver or 6 months on a regular visa---but they usually do not come back right away.
"So, did the consulate give you anything in writing w hen they denied your visa? When they said you were not welcome in the States anymore "until you changed your situation in France" did they give you any idea how you might change it to make them happy? Unfortunately, the consulate begins the presumption that everyone in the entire world is dying to live in the United States on a permanent basis and no one intends to return home at the end of their permitted stay in the US.
The idea that you can be a semi-resident or have a long visit repeatedly does not fit into their small minds very well and makes them very nervous. They do not like the idea of a 'revolving door' where someone is staying for an indefinite time or establishing a sort f residence by leaving the country and returning with a visitor visa/ visa waiver. Unfortunately, they have all the discretion to make decisions about whether they will admit someone into the country or issue them a visa (two different agencies--Dept of Homeland Security and Department of State). I would definitely wait at least 6 months before attempting to get a visa again. There is no "magic number" of days/ months where it suddenly becomes safe to apply again. And then, will you be able to show employment, family and other ties to France sufficient that they would be an inducement to you to return?"
November 10, 2009
Vélomag
I have tested "Vélomag" for you. What is it ? It is a bike share system. You can borrow a bike from one place to an other within Montpellier. If you have already a 12 months membership with the Montpellier Public Transport (TAM) it's free, you only need to register. Otherwise there are different options available. For more info see :
http://www.montpellier-agglo.com/tam/page.php?id_rubrique=273
Last Friday I became a member. They gave me a magnetic card to use at the several velo-stations available in the city. Saturday night, my fridge was empty (for a change ?!) so I decided to go "down town" to have a "Japonese", the next tram was in the next 7 minutes. I thought : well, let's go there on a bike ! I took a bike at the nearest velo-station, between the swimming pool and the "médiathèque", very easy : I hold the membership card for a few minutes on a pad, the system recognized me - I put a grin on my face in case there was a video - and opened a box with files of keys, told me to pick up one key matching a bike (by #). I went to the bike designated, turned the key in the padlock to release the bike and off I went to the Comédie. There I tried to attach the bike at the velo-station. Even with the instructions sheet they gave me - I can be very clumsy - I couldn't and eventually broke the key inside the lock ! And then the velo-station wasn't working ! Arrrg.... I went on foot to the Antigone velo-station to give back the key. It's the same story : you get the box open with your card & they tell you to put the key back in a # hole.
I had to pay 15 € for the broken key !
Still I didn't give up : I used it again yesterday night and I didn't have any problem. You live and learn - well hopefully !
http://www.montpellier-agglo.com/tam/page.php?id_rubrique=273
Last Friday I became a member. They gave me a magnetic card to use at the several velo-stations available in the city. Saturday night, my fridge was empty (for a change ?!) so I decided to go "down town" to have a "Japonese", the next tram was in the next 7 minutes. I thought : well, let's go there on a bike ! I took a bike at the nearest velo-station, between the swimming pool and the "médiathèque", very easy : I hold the membership card for a few minutes on a pad, the system recognized me - I put a grin on my face in case there was a video - and opened a box with files of keys, told me to pick up one key matching a bike (by #). I went to the bike designated, turned the key in the padlock to release the bike and off I went to the Comédie. There I tried to attach the bike at the velo-station. Even with the instructions sheet they gave me - I can be very clumsy - I couldn't and eventually broke the key inside the lock ! And then the velo-station wasn't working ! Arrrg.... I went on foot to the Antigone velo-station to give back the key. It's the same story : you get the box open with your card & they tell you to put the key back in a # hole.
I had to pay 15 € for the broken key !
Still I didn't give up : I used it again yesterday night and I didn't have any problem. You live and learn - well hopefully !
November 07, 2009
Piano and singing
Back to the routine ? Not quite. Among my resolutions when I came back from N.Y was to learn the piano. I bought an electronic key-board and I found a piano teacher. First lesson last Friday. I started again - I played the piano decades ago - with the very famous method called "la méthode rose" (the pink method). It has accompanied generations of learners.
Yesterday I went to a half day training course : Brazilian percussion. We learnt how to (try to) perform a sing in Brazilian while playing the percussion. We actually managed to do it, 15 people singing and playing instruments, it was really fun.
The other main resolution I had was to do concerts again. So I've planned to do one at home on Sunday December 6. My pianist friend C. will accompany me and then play his own pieces. Then on Saturday December 19 I will be singing in le Bookshop (ex-Book in Bar). Hopefully a pianist will be there too.
Yesterday I went to a half day training course : Brazilian percussion. We learnt how to (try to) perform a sing in Brazilian while playing the percussion. We actually managed to do it, 15 people singing and playing instruments, it was really fun.
The other main resolution I had was to do concerts again. So I've planned to do one at home on Sunday December 6. My pianist friend C. will accompany me and then play his own pieces. Then on Saturday December 19 I will be singing in le Bookshop (ex-Book in Bar). Hopefully a pianist will be there too.
November 02, 2009
Nice Sunday Lunch
I stayed over a few days in Orléans and with my parents we went on Sunday to have lunch in a very nice restaurant below the castle of Blois (50 minutes west of Orléans). The service was a bit slow though... we spent 3 hours !
see : www.orangerie-du-chateau.fr
see : www.orangerie-du-chateau.fr
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