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Séances Past meetings Wednesday, 3rd of March, 2021 After talking about the extremely violent events related in the news this week, we discussed how very young kids who dislike contradiction quickly become very vindicative. In Châlons, activities are organised during the holidays for these underprivileged children and officials have visited these workshops where they can learn to play chess, too . We also talked about the complex organisation first year students have had to adapt to. Wednesday, 24th of February It was a light and easy-going session this week, discussing the recent documentary about the Bennerley viaduct, its history and its refurbishment and the possibilities to travel around that area. Another topic was the migration back North of the cranes, and how the sonic boom by the planes from St Dizier could disturb them. The last topic was how everything is growing fast in our gardens with this nice weather spell, naming various flowers or birds which are regular residents. Wednesday, 17th of February This week's conversation dwelt on the Shrovetide or Carnival time traditions in different parts of the world, but mostly in the Carribean where Lent and the forty days leading to Easter are a period of sacrifice and repentance which justify the exuberance of Shrove Tuesday demonstrations or in the U.K. with the Royal Shrovetide Football in Ashbourne, Derbyshire. We also shared news about the successes of the French competitors in skiing or Rugby and all the advantages we could find for living in Châlons, enjoying the February temporary garden Place Foch, and the pleasantness of many services. We also wondered whether the local economy will be boosted by the arrival of civil servants from Paris. Wednesday, 10th of February 2021 This week's session was like a jigsaw puzzle which took us from the advantages of learning foreign languages at an early age, to dental treatment, to time-shared flats or the devastating pandemic surge in Portugal, to New Zealand or Vietnam with zero reported deaths, and to the dreams we have of being able to start visiting national heritage places or local museums some time soon. And we even managed to fit in the weather, a record of a visit to les Vosges, Barak Obama's latest interview for the French TV and advice on how to change background images while video conferencing. Wednesday, February the third, twenty twenty one What a delightful session we had this week! Although the topics we discussed were not cheerful as such, we had the opportunity to exchange with Ann and Steve, Glenys and Don from Ilkeston's twinning committee which was great! We discussed how lockdown and strict regulations have impacted our daily routines, or the tribute to "captain" Tom Moore this Wednesday at 6.00pm, as well as the unfortunate consequences of consumers' new habits of shopping online like a national cardboard shortage or the closing of High Street department stores such as Debenhams. This global pandemic has definitely affected us in different ways and has accelerated changes which were already happening Wednesday, 27th january 2021 We had very technical exchanges this week, often revealing gloomy prospects for the future of our world! During lockdown, more than ever, computers have become essential to maintain social connections and recycling or maintaining older desktops with new external devices is a way to reduce our carbon footprint. The BBC documentaries A Perfect Planet narrated by David Attenborough in England, as well as Legacy by Yann Arthus-Bertrand, broadcast last night in France, focus on major human impacts on the environment such as pollution and global warming, are, at the same time, beautiful and dismal. While sitting and reading by the fire can be very pleasant to us, open fires have caused disasters and have become forbidden in most urban areas in Britain. A few days ago, the U.K. has passed 100,000 COVID deaths, a milestone that will make history too. Wednesday, 20th January 2021 We had a busy session today, full of anecdotes and witty remarks!!! Among our usual weekly chit chat, we exchanged on the various ways to enjoy a friendly cup of tea and the characteristics of a good whisky, we compared our reactions to various aspects of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden 's inauguration ceremony in Washington this afternoon and we shared unusual situations we had experienced this week. Wednesday, 13th January 2021 We all enjoy these weekly opportunities to exchange in a random way which this evening took us from cats and kittens, to amazing cat models by a Japanese artist, to young people who have had to start online businesses, to the luddites who have mistakenly destroyed a mobile mast, to blended-learning and the consequences of lockdown for underprivileged families, and so on and so forth... Wednesday, 6th of January Two people couldn't connect tonight, but there were still six of us. The topics covered were : our Christmas and New Year's eve celebrations, whether oysters taste better cold or cooked, curfew measures in our part of France at 6 pm, English words we use in the French language and French words used in English, shopping on Amazon, singers who give concerts in their kitchen and broadcast them online ... and so on ... We had great fun ! Wednesday, 16th of December Nothing unusual for our last conversation group in2020 : most of the time was occupied with sharing our emotions and doubts about the pandemy and the gloomy prospect for our Christmas celebrations this year, but also sharing tips and making suggestions as to what to see, what to do in Châlons to brighten up our days, as well as a few other topics before the traditional exchange of wishes for Christmas and the New Year ! Wednesday, February the third, twenty twenty one What a delightful session we had this week! Although the topics we discussed were not cheerful as such, we had the opportunity to exchange with Ann and Steve, Glenys and Don from Ilkeston's twinning committee which was great! We discussed how lockdown and strict regulations have impacted our daily routines, or the tribute to "captain" Tom Moore this Wednesday at 6.00pm, as well as the unfortunate consequences of consumers' new habits of shopping online like a national cardboard shortage or the closing of High Street department stores such as Debenhams. This global pandemic has definitely affected us in different ways and has accelerated changes which were already happening. Wednesday, 9th of December 2020 Quite a large group exchanged tonight starting with rather pessimistic remarks on the endless restrictions in our lives and doubts about the vaccination campaign in France and all over the world. We could hardly believe how high the number of recommended vaccines is from an early age until late in life. The next topics were more cheerful talking about mince pies and Christmas decorations, local news and unusual numbers such as a googol, a zillion ... Wednesday, 2nd of December Tonight, we were seven discussing various topics. Danièle started telling us about her afternoon : she played with her friends a letter game to guess words. We talked about other games : Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit , Abalone.... Some of us said they preferred to play cards or dice. We then talked about the European song contest for children. This year France won ! Children can sing better than adults! Then Pascal, with cards, and Célia, with her iPhone, made us play quizzes . We concluded that we would like to play that when we meet again round a table. Wednesday, 25th of November We were a lively circle of nine people this evening and although our conversation started with the new lockdown measures and how we understood the new possibilities of travelling around in December, we quickly moved on to lighter topics such as TV programs or series and how inspiring and stimulating they turn out to be. Loneliness affects us all in different ways and even going out for a walk, listening to music can be our only company. Wednesday, 18th November Our conversation today ranged from the interviews given by Barack Obama on French TV yesterday and on BBC1 tonight following the publication of his memoirs, to programs on repairing or upcycling various items which may have been handed down in some families, or to a song by Dire Straits Money For Nothing, released in 1985. Songs, birds, gardening were a few of the topics our carefree happy-go-lucky discussion skimmed this evening Wednesday, 11th November 2020 Seven connexions for today's meeting which was perfect for an hour of small talk : each of us could ask simple questions, make short answers or develop an opinion about the weather, cooking or gardening. We developed how deceptive memories can be when it comes to remembering what the weather was like in earlier times, we discussed the taste of Jerusalem artichokes and other homegrown vegetables for those lucky enough to have an allotment or generous neighbours, and how everything grows again : after a dry hot summer thanks to a mild wet autumn. Wednesday, 4th of November 2020 This first online conversation of the second lockdown was quite a success with eight connexions! Although we can consider ourselves lucky in many respects, the new restrictions have thwarted some of our plans and a few of us face the grim prospect of being unable to reunite with our family and having to spend Christmas alone. Let's keep our chin up and hope there will be ways around that. Our usual chit chat developed from the tricky US election system, to our daily organisation for shopping, cooking or going for walks, to finish with TV programs we like to watch, one being about London's East End and the Thames cable car crossing over the Thames near Greenwich. We dreamt of an opportunity to visit London once things get better. During lockdown, online meetings will take place every Wednesday. Wednesday, 21st October 2020 Happy to be five people around the table this week, we nevertheless wondered why attendance is so irregular (although we understand that we all have our own contingencies to deal with). We mostly exchanged on our current activities like a visit to the neat and tidy village of Haussimont and its beautiful sports facilities, the various sites in Châlons connected to green energy or sustainable development and on the latest regulations due to the covid-19 pandemic and how they affect our lives. As the saying goes "No news is good news!" Let's hope it will remain true for all the members of our twinning, both sides of the Channel. Wednesday, 7th October 2020 Eight people is the perfect number for our meetings as we need space to spread out. Steve had brought a few jars of marmite and the conversation gently rolled to breakfast, fresh bread and every one's habits when it comes to buying or making bread. We discussed shopping and travelling to the U.K. after Brexit when everything we have taken for granted might no longer be valid. To finish on a lighter note, we talked about TVseries some of us have enjoyed watching recently. Wednesday, 23rd September 2020. There were only six of us around the table this evening, but the conversation was very lively and the subjects varied : wearing a mask, or not? the festival "les furies" , the autumn fruit , the presidents ' wives... We also talked about the new museum about champagne in Châlons , and had fun doing a quiz in English... When we left, it was already dark! Wednesday, 24th June 2020. The last few meetings had been more hectic but this week's turned out to be most pleasant. A group of ten members gathered in le Grand Jard for an hour's chatting in the shade, in a quiet spot not far from the music kiosk. Although the topic was films, at the beginning, we soon wandered off and spoke about the lockdown, cooking, nature and means of transport, with new or sometimes updated older technologies to try and limit climate change, among a lot of other things. We all look forward to meeting again after the Summer break.

Comité de jumelage

  Châlons-Ilkeston