Coming out of Confinement

Well, Covid 19 came and it put a hold on all our plans, as it did to all of us. We had to stop our singing sessions for many weeks and we learned of event cancellations that we were to have taken part in. The big one was the cancellation of Sete. So disappointing for the organisers, but so essential to tackle this beast of a problem.

With the easing of restrictions, we are now meeting and singing again (with care) and are receiving invitations to sing our own blend of sea shanties at various events.

This post is just a stop gap to let you know that we are here and are raring to go. Sadly though we lost one of us recently. Rest in Peace Janner. 

We will let you know when we have firmed up on dates for future appearances.

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Escale à Sete 2020

Once again we have been asked to perform at the Escale à Sete over the Easter period this year. We will be in attendance from Thursday 9th to Monday 13th April. It is a great event and if you come along make sure you come and say hello.

CSF Living Well Day

The Aude Shantymen are very pleased to be associated with this event and to support them on the day with a lunchtime concert.

LIVING WELL/ BIEN-ETRE DAY

 LES MARGUERITES

11580, ALET-LES-BAINS

SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER

10h30 to 16h30

THERAPIES & EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE FREE ON THE DAY:

MASSAGE           REFLEXOLOGY         HAND MASSAGE       SEIKHEM

YOGA     MEDICINAL GARDEN     FOOD & NUTRITION     ART THERAPY

BUFFET STYLE LUNCH €12.50, excl. Drinks

Lunchtime concert by the Aude Shanty Men

THERAPIES & EXPERIENCES

NO ADVANCED BOOKING AVAILABLE BEFORE THE DAY

SIGN UP WHEN YOU ARRIVE!

ART THERAPY – Merrilees Moran   www.coucoulimoux.com

Merrilees is the owner of the Coucou Atelier Boutique, Limoux, and, during the day, she will lead workshops on continuous line auto-portraits, with mixed media.

FOOD & NUTRITION – Andrew Crowe  www.earthsense.eu

Eating well need not be boring – looking at, and making some dishes from, overlooked foods that are extremely healthy, yet great to eat.  Simple to prepare at home with minimal skill levels.  Explaining the benefits of these foods in boosting health on the inside and outside.

HAND MASSAGE – Margaret Pearce

The benefits of hand and arm massage is relaxing with positive touch.  It also aids in the shedding of dead skin cells, helps with stiff joints, and makes the hands soft and moisturised. [If you have a nut allergy, please let me know in advance]

MASSAGE – Heather Edwards  www.heatheredwards.co.uk

Heather has been running a massage practice in Brighton (UK) for 15 years, and has recently moved into the region to continue working with people of the area.  In each treatment, Heather takes a holistic approach – working with mind and spirit, as well as the body.  Through treating many clients over long periods, she has inevitably gained some experience of working with clients with cancer.  In such circumstances, she aims to work with them in a supportive and practical way, according to their needs.

MEDICINAL GARDEN – Lisa Crowe  www.earthsense.eu

The medicinal garden around you – looking at the herbs & plants that you will have in our own garden, or that can be easily grown, that have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing.  Lisa will look at many common plants and herbs, and give an understanding of how to prepare and use such plants, gaining all these extra, and sometimes overlooked, benefits.

REFLEXOLOGY – Dianne Owen

Reflexology is a holistic treatment on the feet which have reflex zones that relate to the human body and its organs.  It is particularly helpful with stress, and brings relaxation, helping to stimulate the blood supply, which restores the balance of the body.  The full treatment lasts 40-45 minutes.

SEIKHEM – Gilli Palmer  Facebook – ‘All Sekhem Healing France’

Seikhem is the healing energy believed to be used by the Priesthood of the Egyptian Pharaohs.  It is a huge energy, when accessed, to bring ALL the elements together to aid healing & personal development, both in this world & in spirit.  It adds to all the other energy healing systems & generally produces insight & change in a wonderful way.  See yourself, the world & your life in a totally new light.

YOGA – Charlotte Pye

Charlotte is a Pilates and yoga teacher, and personal trainer, with 15 years’ experience in the fitness industry.  She has worked extensively in rehabilitation with a wide variety of people, including cancer patients, during and after treatment and surgery.  As well as general sessions, she teaches chair yoga for the less mobile, and can create specific diet & exercise programs designed for the home to help with recovery.  Charlotte has run several ‘Race for Life’ 10k’s, both with, and in support of, clients with cancer, and is really looking forward to participating in the first support day in the Aude.

FOOD & OTHER ENTERTAINMENT

LUNCH

A nutritionally balanced, and tasty, buffet style savoury and sweet lunch will be available, at the subsidised price of €12.50, excluding drinks

Example (subject to seasonal variations):

Red lentil, tomato & basil soup/Hearty vegetable & pearl barley soup

A selection of salads, e.g:

Curried chickpea & walnut salad

Pomegranate salad

Sweet & spicy carrot salad

Green leaf salad

Lentil & mint salad

Spinach lasagne

Selection of homemade quiches

Chicken salad

Apple crumble

Carrot cake

Better brownies

Bookings (limited to 50 lunches) must be made in advance

to Pam Mercer on sud-aude@cancersupportfrance.org

(Vegetarian, gluten free, and allergies may be catered for,

Subject to confirmation at time of booking)

Lunchtime entertainment from:

THE AUDE SHANTY MEN   http://theaudeshantymen.blogspot.com/

The Aude Shanty Men live mainly in the Aude, with a few renegade interlopers ‘press ganged’ from the Ariège.  We enjoy singing traditional and modern sea shanties in harmony, to keep alive the tradition of sailors’ working songs, and other songs of the sea.  As well as enjoying ourselves, we raise money for both the RNLI in the UK, and the SNSM (French Lifeboat Service), with recent donations to the lifeboat at Gruissan.  We have recently been collecting for the families of the tragedy that took place at Les Sables on 7^th June.  On this occasion, we are more than happy to support the good work of CSF, and wish them an enjoyable and successful day.

In addition, the ‘Salon du Thè’ at Les Marguerites will be open from 15h00,

where you can purchase delicious drinks and cakes

VILLELONGUE D'AUDE 12th July

We once again have the pleasure of appearing at the Bar in Villelongue d'Aude. Details are below, please come along and enjoy the evening.

Le Rendez-Vous - Leran

On the 19th April we were very pleased to be associated with the final night of the Rendez-Vous under the ownership of Marek and Shirley. We wish them well in their new venture and also to wish the new owners every success!

STOP PUB

FISH & CHIPS - 6 MAY

Big Audience at Mirepoix Apple Festival

A huge turn out watched Mirepoix Folk and Shanty (Incorporating The AudeShantyMen) as they performed on the main stage of the market hall during Mirepoix's famous Fete de la Pomme on Sunday 21 October.

The crowd were treated by the group to renditions of some traditional folk arrangements, which were being given their first public airing, as well as some of their well known sea shanties.

A rapt audience was enthusiastic both in its appreciation and participation during the better known songs and those sung in the French language were particularly well received by the crowd of mixed nationalities.

It was the first time that live music had been scheduled for this part of the festival and the organisers greatly thanked the group for the lively performance which attracted such a large audience.

MIREPOIX FOLK AND SHANTY

(WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THE AUDESHANTYMEN)

WILL BE PERFORMING IN THE MARKET HALL

FETE DE LA POMME

MIREPOIX

SUNDAY 21 OCTOBER

11H00

CELEBRATING THE GRAPE

Château Guilhem, in the same family for six generations, is located in the heart of the village of Malviès near Carcassonne, facing the Pyrenees mountains. Built at the end of the 18th century in the Directory style on the site of a Gallo-Roman city, it has always been surrounded by vineyards.

Bertrand Gourdou took over the family estate in 2004, succeeding his mother Brigitte-Gourdou Guilhem who for 25 years made Château Guilhem known throughout the world. Today, Bertrand, with his various experiences in the world of wine in France and abroad, produces quality wines that guarantee the expression of the terroir.

Its aim is now to produce great wines in this appellation which offers unique blends in Languedoc Roussillon. But his dearest wish is that his estate can continue to cross generations in order to preserve all the family culture and traditions.

Each year the Chateau celebrates the grape harvest with a "vendanges solidaires" to the benefit of a local charity. This year on 23 September The AudeShantyMen were again pleased to be in attendance to provide entertainment and furthermore presented their own cheque for €300 in favour of this years association, helping autistic young people, Impacts Adom (Toulouse). Mutineer is seen in the photograph during the ceremony.