This French Life

Support from Alcoholics Anonymous in France

FOR many people the wines of France are one of the reasons for visiting and living in this wonderful country, writes the Alcoholics Anonymous France South West Intergroup.

But what if the dream starts to be tainted by an uncontrollable desire to drink more and more and you, or somebody you know, find that drinking alcohol is causing a problem?

Nobody likes to be classified as an alcoholic because the image of a down-and-out in a dirty raincoat sitting alone on a park bench, drinking from a bottle wrapped in brown paper is the one that is normally associated with alcoholism.

But it doesn’t have to have reached that stage: broken relationships, lost jobs, financial problems, losing your driving licence, blackouts and periods when you can’t remember what you did the night before, secret drinking and behaviour unacceptable to your friends and relations are all part of the downward spiral.

One of the members of Alcoholics Anonymous writes a cautionary tale, when ignorance is anything but bliss:

There was a time when I enjoyed a glass of wine or two with a meal or at the pub with friends. Then something changed. Due to a life event I discovered that a glass or two or three blocked out what I didn’t want to deal with emotionally, and it worked.

However, things progressed. I did not realise it but somehow along the way I had lost the choice of having a glass or two. That did not do the job and my drinking gradually escalated to the point where it became an absolute necessity to function.

Always having access to a supply became essential and still I did not realise that I had a problem. Of course I could control my drinking, if I really wanted to that is. I always had a strong will. So I tried to stop the downward spiral and to my great surprise I could not.

Fear, panic, self condemnation and loss of self-respect followed. Living both with and without my daily medication became a living hell.

What I had not realised was that I had an allergy to alcohol which condemned me to obsessively consume it, a progressive illness in fact.

However I did find the help I needed through the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous. With their help I am now happy and sober because I accepted that for me alcohol is lethal.

If my story raises any doubts for you, or rings any alarm bells then get in touch with AA. You will not be judged because they know how hard it is to come to terms with the problem as they have all experienced it themselves.

Our websites are listed below and give details of most of the meetings conducted in English. Just turn up at one. You will be made most welcome.

The websites also give the contact e-mail addresses for each meeting. The telephone numbers listed on the websites might be private ones so you may need to try more than once – but don’t give up.

You have absolutely nothing to lose and a life with choices to regain, I promise you.

Websites
www.aafrancesud-ouest.com
www.aa-riviera.org
www.aa-europe.net
www.aaparis.org

Tips for your first yoga class in France

GOING to a new yoga class in France can be daunting, but with a few familiar words you can soon make a start, writes Carol Miers.

If you are interested in finding a class, ask at your local mairie, visit the tourist office, look in the local paper and read the notices pinned up on the sports hall and salle de fête notice boards.

You can also search online, don't worry yoga is just yoga in French or in English.

In class although it's usually possible to stand next to someone and follow their movements, unless you are told to close your eyes, knowing a few words can make it easier.

So you can practice a few yoga movements while saying the French phrases below:

• Chat-Vache à quatre pattes - Cat-cow pose on all fours
• Assis sur les talons - Sit on your heels
• Levant les deux bras au-dessus de la tête - Lift your arms over your head
• Debout - Standing
• Inspirez/expirez - Inhale/exhale
• Accrochez les doigts - Interlace your fingers
• Faites les cercles avec la tête - Make circles with your head
• Allongez-vous sur le dos/ventre - Lie on your back/stomach
• Fermez les deux poings - make fists with your hands
• Levez les jambes vers le ciel - Lift your legs towards the ceiling (for example in shoulder stand)
• Penchez-vous vers l'avant - Bend forwards
• Assis les jambes tendues devant - Sit with the legs straight out in front
• Accélérez - Go faster
• Attrapez fermement le gros orteil de chaque pied - Grip the big toe of each foot
• Accroupissez-vous - Crouch down
• Gardez la colonne droite - Keep the back straight
• Expirez en vous penchant vers l'avant - Exhale as you bend forwards

And some individual parts of the body:

• le pouce - the thumb
• le menton - the chin
• le gros orteil - the big toe
• l'oncle - nail
• les sourcils - eyebrows

Carol Miers holds Kundalini yoga classes in Villefranche du Perigord, Dordogne and qualified to teach Kundalini yoga with the Amrit Nam Sarovar school in France (KRI Level 2).

Study raises health concerns about radio masts near homes

A SMALL study in the south of France suggests that radio masts around homes has an impact on the health of local people.

The study by Association Santé Environnement France (Asef), found 43% of people close to radio masts complained of hearing problems such as whistling and buzzing in their ears, this compares to national findings of 15%.

The survey of 143 residents of social housing in Aix-en-Provence and Aubagne was undertaken in October, and the buildings in which they lived had between 12 and 14 radio masts on the roofs.

Other findings include 55% of respondents said they had issues sleeping, which compares to around a third of the general population.

While 83% said they felt their condition improved if they spent time away from home, for example on holiday.

Asef said their findings are similar to studies undertaken in Poland, Egypt and Austria.

And Asef was particularly concerned that social housing seemed to be targeted to host radio masts, because it is only required to get permission for installation of the masts from the property owner not individual residents.

Early retirees granted access to French health system

A new circular confirms early retirees from Europe have access to the French health system, although not always on an automatic basis.

The guidance* states that, subject to sufficient resources and existing health insurance cover, inactive early retirees can be admitted to the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU) on a ‘case by case’ basis.

via www.french-property.com

And the full notice (Circulaire N°DSS/DACI/2011/225) from the French authorities can be read below:

Keep an eye out for ticks

I HAVE just got back in from a walk with the dog and picked three ticks off her coat, and will be keeping me eyes peeled for others from now on.

Ticks can pose real dangers to your pets, but also to people themselves, so as the days get warmer the chance of seeing some of these beasties increases.

Diseases such as leishmaniasis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis and heartworm can prove fatal to your pets so precautions should be taken.

It is possible to buy Frontline spray-on and spot treatment that can be applied to cats and dogs, make sure your pet doesn’t try and shake it off once applied.

Pesticide levels high amongst the French

A STUDY has shown that French people have higher levels of pesticides in their bodies than people in the USA and Germany.

Research by the Institut de Veille Sanitaire (IVS) found higher levels of pesticides used in agriculture, horticulture and the home, as well as Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in the French.

One pesticide in particular, paradichlorobenzene, which is used in items such as mothballs and toilet fresheners was highlighted at being at a higher level than expected.

The IVS study tested the blood, hair and urine of around 2,700 adults between 2006 and 2007 for metals, mercury, pesticides and PCBs.

Pollen warnings for French towns

THE Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA) has issued an alert over the pollen levels from cyprus trees around the Mediterranean Sea.

The anticyclone currently sitting over France means little movement of air so pollen from the trees may cause problems, some cities have also seen pollution levels increase in recent days.

If you suffer from hay fever the RNSA website may prove a useful place to explore, for example there are historical records for towns and cities across France enabling you to spot when pollen levels are at their highest.

One feature of the RNSA website that could prove particularly useful is a weekly email service that allows you to choose up to three départements and get updates to your inbox about pollen level risks.

Sarkozy, DSK and other celebrities go 'blind'

AS part of a campaign to raise awareness of the difficulties blind people experience in day-to-day life, President Sarkozy has been 'photoshoped' wearing dark glasses.

The Fédération des Aveugles de France (FAF) has also placed a white stick in Sarkozy's hand, as he walks alongside Carla Bruni.

The campaign features other celebrities, including Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Zinédine Zidane and Gérard Depardieu.

FAF say that just 15 per cent of public areas in France are suitable for blind people, with government plans to make all public places available to those with disabilities by 2015 looking unlikely to be met.

Clearer rules on seeking healthcare abroad in EU

MEPs have approved a new EU law setting out patients' rights to seek medical care in another EU country.

The legislation clarifies the rules for reimbursement, including when advance authorisation may be required.

Tobacco prices increase by 6%

THE price of tobacco has been increased by six per cent as the government tries to put people off smoking.

The change means on average the price of a packet of cigarettes in France will increase by around 30 centimes.

This decision comes soon after statistics showed the number of people who smoke in France had risen, with much of the increase being amongst women.