torsdag, december 17, 2009

L'Echo du Berry and ME



A week ago (10/12) monsieur Frédéric Merle - a journalist in the regional newspaper L'Echo du Berry - called me to ask if I would like to be interviewed concerning how I felt about being a Swede living in France and especially Région Centre and La Châtre.

The newspaper L'Echo du Berry do this kind of interviews with people coming from different parts of the world, moving to and establishing themselves in France and especially Le Berry/Région Centre.

These interviews are centred around some main subjects and in my case these were:

-Equality/L'égalité -Politeness/La politesse
-The social life/La vie sociale
-The countryside/La campagne
-The culture and the traditions

-The drinking/La boisson
-The bureaucracy/La bureaucratie
-The 'Swedish model'/Le modèle suédois d'aide social.

Concerning equality I said that I had found a certain ambiguity between the declarations of the French republique and the reality. In reality the hierarchies are more elaborated here than in Sweden.
I believe - without being able to relate to a more profound experience of the French society - that it's easier to get in contact with decision makers and politicians in Sweden than in France.
Of course I related to Sweden, partly because this is the only experience I can relate to partly because monsieur Merle wanted me to compare the two countries.

Politeness was an issue that came up spontaneously.
I talked about the differences in the way we great and adress each other in Sweden and in France.
In Sweden everyone says 'you' in a more intimate way ('tutoyer').
In English speaking countries one uses 'you' both when knowing someone well and when being more of strangers to each other but everyone knows when it's used and what it means in a certain context.
In France - as we know - as in many other countries, it's a difference between 'toi/tu' and 'vous', the latter more formal and used when adressing people you don't know to well or elderly people. The former used between friends and relatives.
However the 'vous' is often combined with a more polite behaviour, in my opinion.
My impression from the visits to and my stay in France is that people in general are more polite than Swedes and not least in comparison with the inhabitants of Stockholm, known to be rather unpolite.
In France it's always 'bonjour', 'bonsoir', 'merci', 'pardon', excusez-moi' etc. and even if one can claim that this is only a superficial behaviour, I personally feel that it's genuine, expressing respect for other people creating a more respectful atmosphere.
Of course this can be exaggerated when it comes to the previosly mentioned hierarchies but every behaviour has its negative sides.

Under the headline The social life I told the reporter that I found it easier to get in contact with people in France or at least on the countryside.
One are often invited spontanously to someone or someone rings the door bell wanting to say hello and offered something to drink or eat.
In Sweden this is much more complicated (maybe less in the countryside), often preceded by planning and fixed days and dates.

The country side was a headline under which I declared that I found it very surprising to discover that a small town like La Châtre, had a cinema, a theater, a museum, five super markets, a lot of different stores with all kinds of products.
In a town of the same size in Sweden (4500 inhabitants) you can't find more than a gaz station and a kiosk in which you can buy some hot dogs, at the most.
Otherwise you have to travel to the nearest major town and this could be ten, twenty or more kilometres away.

I also talked about the culture and traditions stating that the patrimony/cultural heritage is more important in France than in Sweden. My expericnce is that culture per se - in all its diversity - is much more important here than in Sweden.
In Sweden I feel that culture partly only funtion as distraction and amusement to some extent being used as a way of gaining positive results on the international market when it comes to export and import industries.
In France this might be the case too but the over all importance of cultural expressions in all its different forms tends to be more accentuated here than in Sweden - unfortunately from a Swedish point of view.

When it comes to drinking habits I told the reporter that Sweden was a part of the so called 'Vodka belt' or 'Aquavit-belt' incorporating the other Nordic countries, the Baltic countries, Russia, Polen and some other countries near us.
This implies that Swedes in general drink heavily during week-ends and mostly liquor.
In France the drinking is more focused on wine and less on heavier alcohol and one drink the wine when eating and mostly in moderate proportions. This is of course a truth with modification but a general overview would surely support this my opinion.
In Sweden there has however been some changes the last fifteen-twenty years, meaning that we drink more 'cultivated' but still the 'week-end booze' is the general drinking habit.

The bureaucracy is more elaborated in France - at least from my experience - and this is again probably related to the stronger hierarchial structures in society, combined with more decisional levels.

Lastly we talked about the 'Swedish model', up til this day a very significant trade mark of the Swedish society, so it seems.
I told monsieur Merle that the Swedish model has been under strong revision the last fifteen-twenty years and that the present government wants to make more changes in this system.
The Swedish government is using the so called 'working model' or 'back to work as fast as possible-model' meaning that they want to avoid people falling deeper into a social welfare system, passivating them.
This is something that links France and Sweden together.
The former social welfare system guaranteed people a certain amount of money and standard even if they were unemployed but sometimes this could continue for years, meaning that people lost their ability to strive for a job or a better life.
The social welfare system also implied that people having problems with drugs or/and other social problems where guaranteed a certain amount of money paying for their rent, light, telephone, travelling tickets (in order to visit the job centers and other authorities). It even guaranteed a newspaper.
These civic rights are under considerable change today though.

This interview came about thanks to one of the participants in the GRETA education (look at my blog) I participated in. She had informed the newspaper about this very rare specimen, called a Swede!
I think I'm one out of two Swedes in La Châtre and there are not more than 15-30 000 Swedes in the whole of France (the figures differs), to my knowledge.
This being compared with the 100 000 Swedes living in the London area!


(Picture logotype L'Echo du Berry copied from: http://www.ch-stamand.fr/Actualites/echo%20berry.jpg)

torsdag, december 10, 2009

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies


The day of the Nobel Prize Awards is the one day of the year when we will be able to see the greatest amount of men dressed liked penguins and women in dresses in all the colours of the world (almost).

I last visited the City Hall of Stockholm in connection with a shooting of a film a couple of months ago. As extra in this film I did the role of one of many journalists. This time there will be 'real' journalists but also all the laureates, their families, our Swedish politicians, students and not least the royal family.

I have previously written about Herta Müller and from what I've heard the Nobel Prize Committee obviously found her reaction, when hearing that she had been rewarded, somewhat 'mild'.

This have to do with the fact that Sweden and not least the Nobel Committee expects every laureate to fall to the ground and praise them (and the Lord?) loudly. When this is not the case, they are disappointed.
I remember Doris Lessings reaction. She wasn't at all surprised being rewarded the Nobel Prize in literature, on the contrary she felt it strange not being rewarded earlier as she already had been rewarded other literary prizes!
I like this approach!


(Photo prize plaque copied from: http://cliqueway.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/nobelprize.jpg)

tisdag, december 08, 2009

GRETA La Châtre 1+8/12


Education at GRETA.

What is Greta?

Well it's not a woman from Germany but a group of public educational centers for adults. These educations are complementary to other previous studies and not directed to people who is in need of catching up with school or university studies they previously missed.

The specific education I'm now attending concerns the tourism in the central region of France - Région Centre - (Visa Accueil Tourisme) but also take a wider grip on tourism as a phenomena.

The primary goal is to give the participants good and profound knowledge about Région Centre and its different tourist attractions, cultural heritage and to simplify and ameliorate the welcoming of tourists and all this in order to augment the interest for this region.

As tourism is an essential source of income it's important to take advantage of the great interest people around the world bear for France, its culture, history, food and landscapes.

The knowledge about tourism also implies getting to know some of the habits and traditions in different countries and how people from these countries usually prefer being welcomed.

This includes such things as what they prefer to eat, how they like to be addressed and not least learning some phrases in different languages.

As you know the French are seldom willing to learn nor appreciating speaking other languages but French! 

I know that one of the participants at the course objected to this and therefore displayed that he could both speak and read English and even learnt some phrases in Swedish! To be honest there where other participants who also spoke English, some German and Dutch.

Generally however the attitude has been: Either you learn French or you will be lost (somewhat exaggerated).

We got to listen to people talking English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese and Japanese and was also given the opportunity to learn some useful phrases in these languages.

France is the leading 'tourist country' in the world with about 78 million visitors every year! This is quite impressing.
Most tourists however stay in Paris or near the Alpes or the Mediterranean Sea and this is a pity as other parts of France do offer a lot of interesting sights and events, not least Région Centre!

If you look at our blog (auroregunnar.blogspot.com) you will find a small collection of the many interesting sites to visit in the region.

At first the education was to last three days and three hours each time, but as our teacher couldn't make it the third date, we met for almost six hours the second and last time, 8th of December.
This the last meeting also became a formidable feast where each and everyone had brought something to eat and drink! Mon Dieu! This is one of the things I like about France: Food is culture and the participants had brought pies of different kinds, sausages, pâtés, wine and even champagne! This would never happen in Sweden!

We got to learn a lot about the region and we discussed not only the different sites to visit, like castles, churches and events but also talked about music, literature, film and a lot more.
I think this was a very useful education and after finishing the lesson we got our Visa Accueil Tourisme, proving that we had participated in these courses.

We all decided to meet the 8th of January in the home of one of the participants, to eat and drink and conduct further discussions concerning how to promote Région Centre and the different cities and sites in the region.

This education can be supplemented next year if one wants to become a 'tourist ambassador'.

Some information concerning GRETA in French:

Visa Accueil Tourisme: 3 séances pour:
- Connaître les enjeux du tourisme en Région Centre
- S’impliquer dans l’accueil de touristes étrangers rencontrés sur son territoire
- Connaître les potentiels touristiques de la Région Centre
- Conseiller les touristes étrangers
- Acquérir et pratiquer le vocabulaire de base de l’accueil en langues étrangères.

lördag, november 07, 2009

The Right Livelihood Award



Among the different awards in the world I would strongly like to propagate for The Right Livelihood Award, sometimes called the 'alternative Nobel Prize'.

The founder - Jakob von Uexkull - wanted to create a prize awarding people
making a great effort within different areas of society, not only within the scientific sphere, like the Nobel Prize, and not only stemming from the industrial countries.
Jakob von Uexkull



He even offered the Nobel Foundation to contribute financially, creating two new prizes (one ecological) but they turned his offer down, as the very conservative and rigid organization this is.

Without this - or similar awards - the work carried out by the Right Livelihood Award laureates would hardly otherwise be recognized, certainly not by the Swedish Academy.

I feel that it's important promoting the work and engagement within other sectors of society besides natural science, where the latter always have been revered and admired by not least ignorant and historically narrow-minded politicians.
We have to keep in mind that natural science always creates problems for society.
Even the discoveries meant to help humanity - medical discoveries e.g. - always have great side effects and very often causes more problems than it solves.

A great deal of human intellectual resources have also - as we all know - been used to create weapons and other kinds of destructive tools meant to govern and submit humans.

Most inventions, within the natural sciences, devastates our natural resources like forests, lakes, mountains and other biotopes.
We all know this but unfortunately our politicians - and not people in general either - seldom discuss these huge problems caused by scientists who often themselves are quite narrow-minded, only interested in their own career and making some 'revolutionary discovery', rendering them immortality!

Saying this, I'm not as naive to believe that the Right Livelihood laureates are a group of idealists only seeking to promote the good of mankind.
I just want to point out that I think that the work they carry out, seldom gets the attention it deserves, thus making this award very important.

It's however not only important for the laureates and their work but also important as a reminder to people in general that there are other kinds of commitments at least as important as the scientifical work and - I would like to add - sometimes more important.

The laureates 2009 are:

David Suzuki;

René Ngongo;



Alyn Ware;

and

Catherine Hamlin;

As two examples I can mention David Suzuki and Catherine Hamlin.

In the motivations for why they should be rewarded we can read (Suzukis first and then Hamlins):

-"for his lifetime advocacy of the socially responsible use of science, and for his massive contribution to raising awareness about the perils of climate change and building public support for policies to address it".

is awarded -
"for her fifty years dedicated to treating obstetric fistula patients, thereby restoring the health, hope and dignity of thousands of Africa's poorest women".




(Picture logotype copied from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Livelihood_Award)
(Photo David von Uexkull copied from: https://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/support/foundation/founder/)
(Photo David Suzuki copied from:https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiPvMuci6vlAhUxDWMBHV1wBt8Qjhx6BAgBEAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rightlivelihoodaward.org%2Flaureates%2Fdavid-suzuki%2F&psig=AOvVaw37NepUzgnrE7-fYgOXKd-8&ust=1571669481525089)
(Photo René Ngongo copied from: https://www.rightlivelihoodaward.org/laureates/rene-ngongo/)
(Photo Alyn Ware copied from: http://www.worldmarchusa.net/images/alyn_ware.jpg)
(Photo Catherine Hamlin copied from: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/03/28/drcatherinehamlin_wideweb__470x318,0.jpg)

lördag, oktober 31, 2009

The films I saw in October

I think I have forgotten some films but it gives you an idea and perhaps even an impulse to see some of them?

Trois place pour le 26, Jacques Demy (1988);
The Da Vinci Code, Ron Howard (2006);
Faubourg 36, Christophe Barrratier (2008);
We Were Soldiers, Randall Wallace (2002);
Tremors, Ron Underwood (1990);
Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel, Harald Reinl (1967);
The Butterfly Effect, Eric Brerss & J. Mackye Gruber (2004);
Dishonored, Josef von Sternberg (1931);
Next, Lee Tamahori (2007);
Dialogue avec mon jardinier, Jean Becker (2007);
Roswell: The Aliens Attack, Brad Turner (1999);
In the Mouth of Madness, John Carpenter (1994);
Heist, David Mamet (2001);
Bluesbraker, Dominique Brenguier (2007);
Les courriers de la mort, Philomène Esposito (2006);
Un Prophète, Jacques Audiard (2009);
L'affaire Farewell, Christian Carion (2009);
Terminus, Pierre-William Glenn (1987);
Nue Propriété, Joachim Lafosse (2006);
Vivement dimanche!, François Truffaut (1983);
Marie-Octobre, Julien Duvivier (1959);
Entre les murs, Laurent Cantet (2008);
Vinyan, Fabrice Du Welz (2008);
Hancock, Peter Berg (2008);

torsdag, oktober 08, 2009

Herta Müller



Herta Müller, the Nobel Prize laureate in literature 2009.

She was among the authors mentioned as one of many possible candidates.
I haven't read her but I have to do so now of course. Why of course you ask?
Well of no particular reason more than the lust for reading.

A couple of years ago - it started in 1997 - a friend and I decided to read ALL the literature written by ALL the Nobel Prize laureates, from 1901 and forwards.
This is of course an impossible project but we found it rather stimulating anyway.

We started with Dario Fo where we read all that had been published in Sweden at the time and in fact it was not so much as one might have thought. It caused a lot of laugh anyway, reading the sometime absurd stories of Fo!

Then we continued with José Saramago and there, we found a lot more to read and I did very much enjoy Saramago as a writer. He sometimes writes in 'mysterious ways' and it engage the brain.

The fourth author was one we knew quite well, namely Günter Grass. Not only Die Blechtrommel, a book I also saw transposed into a film by Volker Schlöndorff in 1979, a film I appreciated a lot and I have seen it later too.

Next author to be read was Gao Xingjian and at the time only three of his books had been translated into Swedish; Soul Mountain, One Man's Bible and Buying a Fishing Rod for My Grandfather : Stories. My Chinese is unfortunately restricted to 'How do you do' and 'Goodbye'!

We then continued forwardly but also read some of the older laureates.
We had - both of us - read quite a number of authors rewarded the Nobel Prize in literature but Gao was a new experience for me, as well as Kertész, Coetzee, Jelinek, Pamuk and Le Clézio.
The same goes for Herta Müller.

Now my wife and I have decided to start reading the Nobel Prize laureate but this time in French. 

My mother-in-law is in possession of one book by each and every laureate from 1901 til 1982 (if I remember correctly). We started earlier this summer by reading Sully Prudhomme and Journal Intime.

This time my wife proposed to read the books, not chronologically but chosen by style and she suggested we read the poetical writers:

We will read everyday until the 10th of December.

(Photo of Herta Müller copied from: https://www.larevuedesressources.org/herta-muller-prix-nobel-de-litterature-2009,1349.html)

onsdag, oktober 07, 2009

Human rights, Alison Des Forges Defender


In these days when we focus a lot around the Nobel Prize Laureates, it's important to pay attention to other prizes for work done in an environment where the laureates risk their life.
I therefore publish this extract from an article concerning human rights workers.

Four courageous and tireless advocates of human rights - from Burma, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Russia - have been awarded the prestigious Alison Des Forges Defender Award for Extraordinary Activism according to Human Rights Watch.

These four individuals are, in their work, trying to uphold freedom of expression, to protect women in conflict, and to ease the plight of political prisoners, despite threats and persecution from the authorities.

The awards are named for Dr. Alison Des Forges, senior adviser to Human Rights Watch's Africa Division for almost two decades, who was tragically killed in a plane crash in New York on February 12, 2009. Des Forges was the world's leading expert on Rwanda, the 1994 genocide and its aftermath, and Human Rights Watch's annual award honors her outstanding commitment to and defense of human rights.

The four winners of Human Rights Watch's 2009 Alison Des Forges Defender Award for Extraordinary Activism are:

* Daniel Bekele , lawyer and activist from Ethiopia

Bo Kyi, co-founder of Burma's Assistance Association of Political Prisoners


* Elena Milashina, reporter for Novaya Gazeta, Russia's leading independent newspaper

...and  Mathilde Muhindo, women's rights activist working to stop sexual violence in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The motivation or explanatory statement for this prize:

"These extraordinary individuals confront tremendous challenges every day, yet they work selflessly to end human rights violations and bring abusers to justice," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "We hope this award, named for Alison Des Forges, will inspire and protect them as they struggle to uphold human rights in their countries."

Human rights defenders are critical partners for Human Rights Watch staff conducting investigations in more than 80 countries around the world.
The award winners will be honored at the 2009 Human Rights Watch Annual Dinners in Chicago, Geneva, Hamburg, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Toronto, and Zurich.

Daniel Bekele, Ethiopia

In the ever-shrinking space for freedom of expression in Ethiopia, Daniel Bekele, a prominent anti-poverty activist and human rights lawyer, has faced heavy-handed government repression. After leading a grass-roots effort to promote voter education and participation in Ethiopia's controversial 2005 parliamentary elections, as well as election monitoring and reconciliation after the vote, Bekele was arrested and spent two-and-a-half years in prison on charges of inciting violence against the government. Human Rights Watch honors Bekele who, at great personal risk, challenges the Ethiopian government to uphold the civil and political rights that protect all people.

Bo Kyi, Burma

As a former political prisoner and co-founder of the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners (AAPP), Bo Kyi works tirelessly to secure the release of Burmese people who have been jailed for their political independence and activism. Over the last 20 years, Bo Kyi has demonstrated unfaltering courage, sharing his story and those of other political prisoners and exposing the Burmese military junta's numerous abuses. Human Rights Watch honors Bo Kyi for his heroic efforts to speak out against Burmese repression and to advocate on behalf of those who have dared to criticize the military junta.

Elena Milashina, Russia

As a leading investigative journalist for Novaya Gazeta, Russia's most prominent independent newspaper, Elena Milashina exposes the truth about human rights abuses and widespread government corruption. Despite Russia's attempts to silence its critics and hide abuses, Milashina remains outspoken, publishing accounts of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and torture. She also continues to investigate the 2006 murder of her newspaper colleague and mentor Anna Politkovskaya, calling for accountability at the highest level. Human Rights Watch honors Milashina for her courage in confronting Russia's deeply problematic human rights record.

Mathilde Muhindo, Democratic Republic of Congo

As director of the Olame Centre, a women's rights organization, Mathilde Muhindo empowers women to fight against the pervasive discrimination and horrific sexual violence that are endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She led a coalition of local women's organizations to advocate successfully for a comprehensive law on sexual violence. Human Rights Watch honors Mathilde Muhindo for her tireless dedication to the safety, health, and rights of the often-forgotten women in eastern Congo.




(Photo Daniel Bekel copied from; https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/10/01/daniel-bekele-ethiopia-recipient-2009-alison-des-forges-award-extraordinary-activism)
(Photo Bo Kyi copied from: http://cynicsandidealists.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/bo-kyi-at-hrw-lectern.jpg)
(Photo Elena Milashina copied from: http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2009/11/13/Elena-306.jpg)
(Photo Mathilde Muhindo copied from:https://www.hrw.org/news/2009/10/01/mathilde-muhindo-democratic-republic-congo)

fredag, oktober 02, 2009

Papillons...

...dans le Berry



onsdag, september 30, 2009

The films I saw in September:

Shoot out, Henry Hathaway (1971);
Night at the Museum, Shawn Levy (2006);
Ghost Rider, Mark Steven Johnson (2007);
Les égarés, André Téchiné (2003);
De battre mon coeur s'est arrêté, Jacques Audiard (2005);
Eight Legged Freaks, Ellory Elkayem (2002);
Babylon A.D. Mathiey Kassovitz (2008);
Regarde les hommes tomber, Jacques Audiard (1994);
Goodbye Bafana, Bille August (2007);
The Tripper, David Arquette (2006);
House on Haunted Hill, William Castle (1959);
Mission Impossible III, J.J. Abrams (2006);
Appointment with Death, Michael Winner (1988);
Gomorra, Matteo Garrone (2008);
Liar, Liar, Tom Shadyac (1997);
Fracture (La Faille), Gregory Hoblit (2007);
Fallen (Le temoin du mal), Gregory Hoblit (1998);
Le mystère de la chambre jaune, Bruno Podalydès (2003);
J'attends quelqu'un, Jérôme Bonnell (2007);
World Trade Center, Oliver Stone (2006);
The Cat's Meow, Peter Bogdanovich (2001);
Les dents de la nuit, Stephen Cafiero & Vincent Lobelle (2008);
Mon petit doigt m'a dit... Pascal Thomas (2005);
Deux heures moins le quart avant Jésus-Christ, Jean Yanne (1982);
Sin City, Frank Miller & Robert Rodriguez (2005);
La balance, Bob Swaim (1982);
Lemming, Dominik Moll (2005);
Très bien, merci, Emmanuelle Cuau (2007);
Mais qui a tué Pamela Rose? Eric Lartigau (2003);
La possibilité d'une île, Michel Houellebecq (2008);
Iron Man, Jon Favreau (2008);
Beaufort, Joseph Cedar (2007);
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle; Curtis Hanson (1992);
Le serpent, Eric Barbier (2006);
The Border, Tony Richardson (1982);
Les grandes vacances, Jean Girault (1967);
Rush Hour 2, Brett Ratner (2001);
Un soir...par hasard, Ivan Govar (1963);
The Producers, Mel Brooks (1968);
Adieu de Gaulle adieu, Laurent Herbiet (2009);
Versailles, Pierre Schöller (2008);
The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan (2008);
Rendition, Gavin Hood (2007);
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, Billy Wilder (1970);
DeepStar Six, Sean S. Cunningham (1989);
99 francs, Jan Kounen (2007) +
one 'Inspector Barnaby' and one 'Columbo'

tisdag, september 29, 2009

49 years old!


49 is not 50 but as my mother always said: Each and every birthday is equally important wherefore she never understood why one should celebrate the 50th anniversary more than the 49th or 51st. Happy Birthday to Me!

söndag, september 20, 2009

Journées européennes du patrimoine 19-20/9. Château de Bouges

What is this? European Heritage Days?!

During these two days citizens in the participating countries have the possibility to visit certain buildings like castles, parliamental buildings and other interesting historical sites otherwise not open to the public. There will also be opportunities to discover local traditions within different cultural domains.
In some countries the interest for this event is enormous and France is one of those countries.

The European Day of Patrimony started in France in 1984, initiated by the French Minister for Culture Jack Lang and 49 countries participate by displaying not least buildings but also traditions particular for a specific country, province or region.
1991, several principles were defined within the European Union and these principles were:

- the European Heritage Days should take place during a weekend in September;
- the European Heritage Days allow the general public to visit monuments and sites all over Europe usually closed to the public;
- the buildings that are open all year round can contribute to the programme, providing that they offer special activities, such as guided visits, exhibitions, concerts, lectures;
- the visits should be free of charge or offered at a reduced price;
- the European Heritage Days programme should include the organisation of specific activities that will involve the general public and, in particular, young people and school pupils; all participating countries are asked to use the official name "European Heritage Days". Those countries that set up such initiatives before 1991 under a different name are invited to mention clearly that it takes place "within the framework of the European Heritage Days";
- the logos of the European Heritage Days, the Council of Europe and the European Commission should appear on all European Heritage Days' promotional material; the European Heritage Days' flag should be flown from all buildings open to the public during the event.

We spent Saturday and Sunday in the realm of the 'patrimoine':
Saturday in the former convent Abbaye de Varennes where we talked to the proprietor of the chapel/convent and one of the proprietors of the house and garden, an american painter.

Sunday: Château de Bouges with - among other things - a magnificant garden (80 hectares).










(Picture poster copied from: http://www.exposition-paris.info/wp-content/journee-europeenne-du-patrimoine.jpg)

söndag, september 13, 2009

My raspberry cake


One of the few things I like to use the kitchen for, is to make this kind of cakes.

Either that, pan cakes or waffles and this time I made this raspberry cake. It was good!!

måndag, augusti 31, 2009

The films I saw in August

Something New (Un couple explosif), Sanaa Hamri (2006):

SOMETHING NEW: Movie Trailer. Watch more top selected videos about: Something New, Golden Brooks

Sleuth (Le limier), Kenneth Branagh (2007):


Friday 13th III, Steve Miner (1982):


Hudson Hawk, Michael Lehmann (1991):


Rush Hour, Brett Ratner (1998):


La Ragazza del Lago (La fille du lac), Andrea Molaioli (2007):


How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (Un Anglais à New-York), Robert B. Weide (2008):


Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Robert Zemeckis (1988):


Pouic-pouic, Jean Girault (1963):


The Fly 2, Chris Walas (1989):


Bad Santa, Terry Zwigoff (2003):


Journey to the Center of the Earth (Voyage au centre de la Terre), George T. Miller (1999):

Rambo, Sylvester Stallone (2008):


AVPR: Alien vs Predator Requiem, Colin Strause & Greg Strause (2008):


Les Parrains, Frédéric Forestier (2005):


Perfect Creature; Glenn Standring (2006):


An American Werewolf in London (Le loup-garou de Londres), John Landis (1981):


Kansas City Confidential, Phil Karlson (1953):


If I had a million (Si j'avais un million), Ernst Lubitsch among others (1932):


Los sin nombre (La secte sans nom), Jaume Balaguero (1999):


Scared to Death, Christy Cabanne(1947):


Prince of Darkness, John Carpenter (1987):


Saw IV, Darren Lynn Bousman (2007):


American Gangster, Ridley Scott (2007):


Elementarteilchen, Oskar Roehler (2006):


Fantômas se déchaine, André Hunebelle (1965):


Nochnoy dozor (Night Watch), Timur Bekmanbetov (2004):


Les hommes (Men), Daniel Vigne (1973):


The Cable Guy (Disjoncté), Ben Stiller (1996):


All I Desire, Douglas Sirk (1953):


National Treasure: Book of Secrets, John Turteltaub (2007):


Gangster No. 1, Paul McGuigan (2000):


Whatever works, Woody Allen (2009):


Public Enemies, Michael Mann (2009):


Crimen Ferpecto; Alex de la Iglesia (2004):


Fantômas contre Scotland Yard, André Hunebelle (1967):


This Island Earth, Joseph M. Newman (1955):


The Three Musketeers, Stephen Herek (1993):


Shrek the Third, Chris Miller & Raman Hui (2007):


The Jungle Book 2, Steve Trenbirth (2003):


Death Sentence, James Wan (2007):


The Man Who Knew To Much, Alfred Hitchcock (1956):


Pretty Woman, Garry Marshall (1990):



Liza, Marco Ferreri (1972):


Live Free or Die Hard, Len Wiseman (2007):


Markens grøde, Gunnar Sommerfeldt (1921)



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some Hercule Poirot and not least a great number of George Méliès movies at Salle Maurice Sand in La Châtre during the recurring festival with the motto Jours de Fête du court métrage d'humour.
These movies were introduced and commented by the great grand daughter to Méliès, Marie-Hélène Lehérissey-Méliès, accompanied at the piano by her son.

A list of those movies you find the date of this event, August 7.


(Photo poster 'Journey to the Center of the Earth' copied from: https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Center-Earth-Treat-Williams/dp/6305778256)
(Picture poster 'Les hommes' copied from: http://kebekmac.forumprod.com/mobile/vigne-1973-les-hommes-t4599.html)
(Photo from the film 'Markens grøde' copied from: https://www.aftenposten.no/kultur/i/XbQbn/Hamsun-far-spraket-tilbake)