What is that planet in the sky?

So frustrating! This morning at about 3am the sky over the Dordogne was crystal clear and a magnificent pitch black velvet backdrop for a dazzling multitude of stars. But there was one that was huge in comparison to the others and that had a distinct reddish hue. Really at least three times larger than any of the other stars. Judging by its position, size and colour, I was convinced that it had to be Mars -- and Mars as I have not seen it since 2003 when it was supposedly the closest to the earth than it normally would be.
But this morning I find nothing that tells me more. All I can find at this stage is :

From October 1st 2010, Mars will be an evening Sky Planet that can be viewed after sunset before it goes down the horizon. It will set at about 8:19pm after Sun set at about 6:22pm Nigerian time respectively. Furthermore, from the 5th – 24th October 2010, Mars will be spotted in the Constellation of Libra and in-between the constellation of Libra and Scorpius from 25th – 29th of October 2010. On 30th and 31st of October 2010, Mars could be spotted in the Constellation of Scorpius. For the remaining part of the month of October 2010, Mars will remain an evening Planet.

Not at all a reflection of what I saw this morning.

UPDATE (9.10.10)
Seems it is either Antares or Jupiter that has been waking me up every morning at around 3am, or perhaps even Mira -- the brightest long-period red variable star, which is also having an unusually bright maximum. As of October 7th many observers were reporting it at magnitude 3.1, very plainly visible to the naked eye.

Does anyone know anything about this current phenomenon in the northern hemisphere skies?


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Chateau Lalinde : Home from home in the Dordogne

A week of interviews and good news

It has been a busy week with lots of excitement. An hour-long interview by *Julie Jézéquel on **Bergerac Radio - in French - and not my best, I must admit. Sooooooooo frustrating to have so much to say and not have the means to express those thoughts! Listening back I was not too happy with my delivery -- definitely not my golden (60)moment(s) but great fun, nevertheless. I had to also choose three pieces of music to be played during the hour - and what a challenge! To find three pieces only that represent different parts of your life! It turned out that my three choices hit the right spot as far as the people at the studios were concerned -- Asimbonanga. The French absolutely adore Johnny Clegg and still mourn the end of Savuka. He visited Bergerac only two years ago when he toured France and one would think it was a visit from the President himself the way they go on about it! The second piece of course had to be Leonard Cohen, my life-long love, and my last choice, Vincent Delerm's Fanny Ardent et moi got a few nods and smiles as well. You probably wonder how these three choices reflect my life? mmmmmm Quite well, in fact...
Then off to another lengthy interview with a delightful Carol Miers about The Way of Stars and Stones - Thoughts on a Pilgrimage, general thoughts on pilgrimages and a fascinating discussion on spirituality.
Then, another great event -- the Frankfurt Book Fair where my book is being presented and where, finally, discussions are taking place, as we speak, about its translation into French and publication in France. Watch this space!...

*Julie Jézéquel works part-time at Radio Bergerac where her programme Les Rendez-Vous de Julie
is an all time favourite. Once a week, for one hour, she interviews someone interesting, controversial or colourful -- 'simply for the pleasure of getting know another interesting person'. Her easy conversational style and the infectious laughter in her voice make for excellent listening. Probably not surprising that Julie is such a professional interviewer -- she is also a well-known actress, script writer and, now, author of her first novel which appeared August 2009.
Julie can be heard on Bergerac Radio on Fridays at 16h00, Sunday at 10h00 and Tuesdays at 21h0. She can currently be seen in the Moliere festival of Le théâtre de la Gargouille - this weekend they are performing in Beaumont:
# Friday 8 October àt 21h: « Les Précieuses Ridicules »
# Saturday 9 October àt 21h: « Macadam Tonic »

**Radio Bergerac was launched in June, 1981 - a radio from our region, for our region and by the people of this region. It was an instant hit in the region -- people of the area loved that there was a radio so close to their interests and their hearts. It provides local news that is relevant and current


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http://www.philippeweber.com/topic/index.html

Quality of life? France comes out tops! (As if you needed convincing!)

Recently, in Current Affairs, Craig McGinty reported that France has once again come out top in a quality of life study, with Britain and Ireland proving to be the worst places to live in Europe.

Research by price comparison website, uSwitch.com, said those in France enjoyed the earliest retirement age (yes! still the case even after it has been raised to 62!), had the longest life expectancy in Europe and that the government spent the most on healthcare. One thing the UK did enjoy in its favour was the highest income level in Europe, but that has now been lost to leave income levels trailing behind Ireland, the Netherlands and Denmark.

The uSwitch.com study examined 16 factors to understand where the UK sits in relation to nine other major European countries.

Variables such as net income, VAT and the cost of essential goods, such as fuel, food and energy bills, were examined along with lifestyle factors, such as hours of sunshine, holiday entitlement, working hours and life expectancy to provide a complete picture of the quality of life experienced in each country.

Ann Robinson, director of consumer policy at uSwitch.com, said: "Last year compared with our European neighbours we were miserable but rich, this year we’re miserable and poor.

Euro-life-two "Whereas some countries work to live, UK consumers live to work. In fact we work harder, take less holiday and retire later than most of our European counterparts - but the high cost of living makes this a necessity rather than a choice. With salaries failing to keep up with inflation, it’s likely that we’re a long way from achieving the quality of life that people in other countries enjoy. Perhaps unsurprisingly given how life in the UK compares, three in ten people (30%) believe that now is a good time to emigrate."

And the uSwitch.com research concludes by saying that people in the UK can expect to work four years longer and die two years younger than their French counterparts.

And here in the Dordogne we can see the ripple effect of all of that -- almost a nutshell version of this research study.

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Chateau Lalinde : Home from home in the Dordogne

French Phrase for the day

Entre chien et loup

Between the dog and the wolf
Dusk
The time at the end of the day when the sun has gone down but it is not yet dark -- when it becomes impossible to discern between a dog (symbolising day as he can guide us) and a wolf (symbolising night, a threat,fear, nightmares)

This is an expression that goes as far back as antiquity, but only appeared in the French language in a text of the 11th century: "quand l’homme ne peut distinguer le chien du loup".


In the post about Surfing in France,

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Chateau Lalinde : Home from home in the Dordogne

By way of explanation: Why you get stuck on sand banks when you go sailing in the Arcachon Basin!

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Chateau Lalinde : Home from home in the Dordogne