ChantillyExpat.com

Anna Murray's new book tells about her life in the Chantilly expatriate community.
More than that it is a tale of great courage in continuing adversity.

To get your copy at only 16 € (Amazon price 18.50 €) place your order with Geoffrey AUCKLAND on 06 81 22 92 17.

An ideal Christmas present !
Hurry while stocks last !!!

Following on from our story here, did you know it is now a legal requirement to have both a warning triangle and a security gilet in your car in case of accident. Failure to have these in the car if stopped (or involved in an accident) will result in a fine of €135 (reduced to €90 if paid on time) for each item missing!

Did you also know that at the same time a new law came into being requiring cyclists to wear a safety gilet at any time outside an 'agglomération' during the night or when visibility is reduced during the day. The fine for non-compliance is €35 (reduced to €22).

The link to the new road law is here.

St. Peter's church are pleased to announce their forthcoming Christmas Kermesse, to be held in the Espace Bouteiller in Chantilly on the 29th November, 2008. Entry is free and all profits will go to the church. Offered for sale will be second-hand books, bric-a-brac, toys and presents, home made jams and cakes and Christmas cards. There will be a tea room offering drinks, soup and sandwiches. There will also be some activities for children.

The Kermesse starts from 10h until 17h and all are welcome.

If you are able to offer any items, especially cakes for sale and bottles for the tombola please get in touch with Cheryl Jones via NCKKJONES@aol.com anytime before the 29th.

llustrator-author Bridget Strevens-Marzo (and former APARC kindergarten teacher) will be signing her French and English picture books at the Bibliothèque de Gouvieux, 37 rue de la Marie, Gouvieux this Saturday October 18 at 4pm.

The library is exhibiting some of her preparatory work for children’s books and children’s drawings inspired by her books and has also invited her to run two “ateliers rencontre” earlier that day:    more ...

As I sit here in my thermal vest, coughing onto the screen, it’s fairly clear that the end of season is here – and quicker than I had been planning. And although we moaned about it occasionally, the weather was kind: no game was called off, and I can’t remember a Friday evening being cancelled either.
So was it a successful year?
You might be disappointed to hear that we had 8 games, with 3 wins and 5 losses, and then be surprised to hear that it ranks as the most successful year ever for the club. But let’s not get hung up on statistics; the games were jolly good fun and if you’ll permit me some poetic licence…    more ...

It is with great regret that we announce the closure of the English Language Montessori School (ELMS). Judith has worked very hard over the last 11 years to build up the school and she has achieved much of which she can be very proud. From personal experience I know that those children who passed through her school were able to learn a lot more than just maths and language. They were able to learn discipline and manners and above all respect, all of which came from Judith. That the school should be forced to close just when it seemed Judith had the premises and the staff to really grow is doubly sad.

As of the 2nd October the English Language Montessori School is closed permenantly.

The sun shone brightly on the last day of the 2008 season when we travelled to Paris to play Standard. We had gathered at McDonalds in Senlis and thankfully avoided having a pre-match meal there, before setting off in convoy to Paris. Doris – Nick Shepherd’s GPS - was tour leader for the day, and Denzil had programmed his SatNav as a backup. Nick Jones, something of an expert in all things automotive, warned that in spite of the two cars having the same german father, Audi and VW were renowned for their genetic conflicts, and there would almost certainly be a clash of minds on the journey. Nick was right. A couple of kilometres short of our destination, Doris took us left. Nick Jones followed in his obedient italian Alfa, as Denzil sped straight on up the hill and out of sight. Adrian, one of the VW passengers, soon got into full sledging mode, calling to mock Doris, then calling back a few minutes later to ask for directions to the ground ! Denzil ignored the SatNav, and was guided through the last few twists and turns via a mixture of mobile phone instructions and smoke signals. When the smoke lifted, it was soon clear to everyone that the journey had been well worth the effort – Standard really is a splendid place.    more ...

“More Lives Than One - Oscar Wilde and the Black Douglas”
Dear Conjunction Theatre Company (Patron Harold Pinter)
Written and performed by Leslie Clack

Colourful and dramatic, blending biography, extracts both hilarious and moving from the works and the infamous trials that shocked the world,
this new Wildean champagne cocktail explores the ambition, genius and tragedy that was Oscar.
“Brilliant….magical performance” Oscar Wilde Society.
“Sparkling,intense ….a gem” Oxford Society.
Directed by Patricia Kessler

Samedi 27 Septembre à 19h
Dimanche 28 Septembre à 17h

Théâtre de la Faisanderie - Potager des Princes
17 rue de la Faisanderie - 60500 Chantilly
Plein Tarif : 20 € Tarif réduit : 15 €
Ces tarifs comprennent la visite du parc

The pedigree of our vistors was unknown to most of us, but Adrian our webmaster had done his research and had delved into the Accies CC web-site to uncover some rather impressive statistics. Their players and umpire took the slow train from Paris and Adrian and I welcomed them at Chantilly station with the fleet of CCC courtesy cars (Karen in a Multipla). Adrian quickly began to put faces to names he had seen on the web site. These mostly youthful faces followed their braveheart kilted talisman, Dundas, and it felt like they were on a mission to re-live the Battle of Stirling Bridge and rescue some pride after 2 defeats to Standard on the previous Friday and Saturday. Recognising that some of their infantry were a little weary from the night before, we took the tourist route to the ground over the cobbles in front of the château hoping to shake their confidence, but no such luck.

Andy Dodson and Rob tossed and the Accies chose to bat first. Metronome Matt and the more and more precise Patrick Clarke opened the bowling and kept the runs down to below 4 an over at the fall of the first wicket, Dowers holing out to Nick Sansbury off Gillett with the score on 18. Andrew and Murray (were they to be followed in the order by Rafa and Nadal ?) set about the Stirling Bridge re-make in fine style, racking up the runs. In an attempt to stem the tartan tide, Rob switched Nick Jones to wicketkeeper and brought Homer into the attack. The Andrew and Murray partnership had reached 99 when the left-armers from Denzil prompted Murray to loop one to Kerkhoven, our Dutch Master – 127 for 2 after 19 overs. The kilted warrior, Dundas, had slipped into whites and then slipped up by presenting a catch to captain Oakley slain for nought off Charlie Hedley’s bowling.    more ...

Dear All,
I am delighted to announce that we have found 3 Leaders who have agreed to take on the running of the Cubs this year. We would like to present them to you (and your children who would like to be Cubs) next week on Saturday 20th September. We will hold a meeting at the Church Centre from 14.30 to 16.30. At this first meeting, I would like to give information to parents for the first 15 minutes of the meeting. We will then hold a regular Cub meeting. If this will be the first time that your children attend, then this is an opportunity to test out whether they would like to become a Cub.    more ...