DLCI 2023 Magazines - January
January
2023
HAPPY NEW YEAR
From us all
Lin, Isla, Jackie, Sheila, Rosemary and Liz
NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas – it was so lovely to meet friends old and new, go to parties and feel free again !
We started off in festive mode with 60 of us attending the Christmas lunch on the 8th December at the excellent Château Les Merles. Special thanks go to : Teresa who booked the event and chose the menu (the food was fabulous) we wish her a happy, healthy 2023, to Judith, the General Manager and Lilon, the Restaurant Manager who were both amazing and ensured we were all looked after, a truly professional service carried out by smiling staff. Everyone had a wonderful time with 100% positive feedback, a lovely way to start the season.
You will probably have noticed that the January edition is much shorter than normal – this is mostly because of time constraints with Christmas and New Year but it is also because we are changing our website – I promise this will be the last one for the foreseeable future ! Our problem has been that as we (and the rest of the world) extend our online presence we also increase our membership – to go above 100 members (with each member having secure individual access) with weebly we would gain very little other than the ability to sell things online (we’re not going there!). After taking advice over the previous 12 months we have decided that Squarespace will answer all our problems – it is easier, more straightforward, has great support, is flexible, we can add more content for more members and it is far simpler to operate.
We will also no longer be www.DLCI.weebly.com but DLCI.CLUB – much better !
Please don’t worry – members who have already reviewed and tested the new site have found usage and navigation much easier - Yaaay !
Sign up details will follow but this will simply be done by providing your name, email address and password of your choice (it can be the same one you use for the DLCI site now). Simple instructions will be provided from day 1 and personal support will be given from the committee throughout.
We are hoping the live date will be 21st January and the whole operation should be completely painless.
Our new site will still have past newsletters, members of the month and articles of interest plus we will have the capacity for more photos and videos !!!!
Photos of the Christmas Lunch and HeeHaws will be available to view on our new website from 21st January
Exciting times ahead
Happy New Year, Bonne Année – meilleurs voeux pour le Nouvel An
Lin
DIARY DATES
Thursday 19th January – Chinese New Year Lunch at the Asia Royal in Creysse
February No events planned as we want to ensure members are comfortable with the new website.
HEEHAWS - ANIMAL CHARITY AWARD WINNER
I started December off by visiting HeeHaws, the recipient of our 2022 animal charity. I was warmly welcomed by Carina Penny, the founder and driving force, and her staff of dedicated volunteers, they had just received 5 rescues (kindly transported free of charge by our very own Rosemary Copley) two of whom were pregnant and a 650€ delivery of feed (which would only take them until the end of January) so I must admit that saying our cheque was received with grateful thanks is the understatement of the year !!
L to R
Sandra Martin, Daniella Dibbens (Tellington T Touch trainer) Carina Penny, me!, Caz Marshall
After spending the morning with them I realised what a valuable and life saving service they provide. They had just lost one older male who had been rescued 3 weeks earlier from a terrible situation where he had been left to die – he couldn’t stand and his teeth were so bad he couldnt eat hay. Carina and her staff took him, cleaned him, made him comfortable and pain free and hand fed him freshly picked grass every day – they said he at least knew some love and kindness before he died.
This is a charity that truly moved me - underfunded, massively overworked and totally dedicated – the phone was going non stop ! I do urge people to go on their website and see what they can do to help – no matter how little – everything is appreciated – sponsoring a donkey can be as little as 35€ per year.
Click here to visit HeeHaws website.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
ASIA ROYAL RESTAURANT, Creysse
Thursday 19 January
Please book early to avoid disappointment
The restaurant offers both buffet and specific foods to order (always excellent).
Cost is 14.50€ (Excluding coffee) per person – partner or 1 guest per member most welcome.
Please note Coffee is an additional purchase
The tables are booked for 12 noon so please can members arrive by 11.45
To book please go to: https://dlci.weebly.com/chinese-new-year-lunch---19th-january.html
You will receive confirmation upon receipt of your booking.
NB
‘No shows’ will be charged the full price in their absence.
Purchases of coffee, wine, soft drinks will be at members own expense.
JANUARY BIRTHDAYS
Susie Bassat
Liz Berks
Jan Dales
Monica Iles
Sharon Lawson
Lizzy Parayre
Anita Phillips
Jane Stumpfle
Annelies Westerveld
COMMITTEE VACANCIES
We are now looking for 2 posts, possibly 3.
Content Manager(s) - A member who is confident on the laptop/computer, knows how to access websites and is able to update information - training and full support will be given at all times. Knowledge of programming or website structure is NOT required. (this could be a two person job if someone wished to partner with another)
DLCI Magazine Editor – to prepare, edit and publish the monthly magazine
For further details on either position please contact me (Lin) at: DLCIPresident@gmail.com
Help, full training and support will be given.
LASTLY
WELFARE
If you have an accident and need help with transport, errands or some company during convalescence or if you know of another member who is unwell, has a bereavement or you think is going through a difficult patch. We will do all we can to provide support and we will be totally discreet. Please contact Isla at: DLCIWelfare@gmail.com
EMAIL UPDATES, CHANGE OF ADDRESS, NAME / TEL NO.
If any members have changed their email, address or telephone number could they please let Rosemary know at: DLCIMembers@gmail.com
DLCI COMMITTEE 2022 / 23
Click here to view
Information and communications contained in this newsletter are accepted by the Committee in good faith. The DLCI cannot be held responsible for complaints arising from them.
All contributions to the newsletter should be sent to Lin Green at DLCIMagazine@gmail.com by the 25th of each month and we hope to have a new monthly issue to you on the 1st of every month to allow you time to plan your calendar.
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS NEWSLETTER.
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO CURRENT DATA PROTECTION LAWS THIS DOCUMENT MUST NOT BE SHARED WITH
ANYONE WHO IS NOT A CURRENT DLCI MEMBER