Labrador Volunteer Sidney rests at La Giraudiere

Posted on February 19, 2016 by La Giraudiere

A Labrador is the best friend you could ever have;

Today I have made the desicion that it is time to let Sidney go to sleep so that he can keep his dignity, self respect and stop his pain. Sidney as spent his entire life at La Giraudiere and it is here that he will rest.

Sidney is the longest serving volunteer at La Giraudiere and during his time he as met volunteers and interns from all around the globe. Judges, Doctors, Solicitors, Editors, Writers, politicians, body guards, Japanesse, chinesse, brazilians the list is endless and all he welcomed with a wagging tale.

If anyone who knows Sidney wants to come and say goodbye you have the weekend as it will take me that long to prepare his resting place.

If you want to send a message then please do so or post something on our facebook at Pauls Facebook page

What occured, Last week Friday, I took Sidney to the vets in Chalais because I wanted to know how it will be when the time comes. The vet was very complimentry on how Sidney was, he further explained that Sidney had reached the good old age of 102 years and that arthritus was normal in Labradors and drugs would help the pain. He prescribed some tablets for his arthritus pain and releived me of a some money saying “let me know how it goes”

The tablets are Previcox 227mg and the dosage prescribed was three quarters of a tablet each day.

Saturday morning, Sidney was a bit subdued and by Sunday he had lost the use of his back legs. By monday he was paralysed at the back but still tried to walk dragging himself with his front paws from his bed so he could say hello.

For the last week, each morning, I help Sidney to go outside by placing a towel under the rear part of his body to support him. If it is Sunny he stays outside watching me and If it is cold and rainy he wants in. This photo is taken today Sidney’s last Sunday at La Giraudiere. He as just had his breakfast and done his visits.

I feel so privlidged that Sidney spent his life with me, yes it was he that chose me, he is, was and allways will be the best friend I ever had had. I will miss him enourmously.

Sidney has choosen his resting place at La Giraudiere and now slowly I prepare it. It is the spot he most liked, it is where he would look out for Bella or Poppit, two of his favorite girlfriends, both of whom mothered his offspring and sadly also fell asleep for the last time several years ago. The vet is arriving on Monday.

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Book now to Volunteer in France 2016

Posted on January 17, 2016 by La Giraudiere

Volunteer in France

You can now book your place to Volunteer in France at La Giraudiere

The ‪#‎volunteers‬ 2016 program starts in April and finishes end of October allready June is booked so if you are thinking of ‪#‎volunteering‬ in ‪#‎France‬ this year at La Giraudiere then get you application in now further info at http://volunteer-france.lagiraudiere.com/

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France Christmas Holiday at La Giraudiere

Posted on October 7, 2015 by La Giraudiere

Christmas Volunteer in France

This Christmas, La Giraudiere is planning a Christmas market, marché noel in French, plus a traditional Christmas day dinner and a New Years celebration otherwise known as la St Sylvestre. We need volunteers to come along and help make all this happen.

The Christmas market is planned for Saturday the 19th December and this wil lbe the third market that La Giraudiere.

Volunteers are needed to help with the selling and serving of the hot wine, the roasted chestnuts, burgers and frites. We also need volunteers to help with the setting up the tables, stalls etc and there will be the parking to organise.

Christmas Pudding at La Giraudiere

Christmas Day will be a tradional christmas day with Turkey and all the trimmings; Last year we had over 20 come for dinner from the local area. We poarticular aim at people who are on their own and the price for the dinner and the day is a suggested price and those who can aford more are suggested to do so and those who cant well they just cant. So interested in putting something differnet in place this Christmas.

Newy years eve the 31st and yes we will hold a party with a dinner come last year so again volunteers are needed to help with this dinner and celebrations.

You can read more about the the program and how you can help and find the application form by visiting Christmas Holiday Volunteering and prices start from 22€ per day all in – incredible.

Posted in Christmas, Community Event, Volunteering | Tagged christmas, Christmas Dinner, christmas holiday, christmas in France, Christmas Market, christmas volunteering, marché noel, volunteer | Comments Off

Scottish volunteer helps clear French jungle

Posted on September 17, 2015 by La Giraudiere

Scottish volunteer helps clear French jungle

19-year-old Kirsty Harper from Scotland decided to spend her summer holiday volunteering at La Giraudiere in France for six weeks.

Kirsty arrived from her home town of Bridge of Weir, just west of Glasgow, in late July, and stayed until the begining of September. She tried her hand at everything that LG offers its volunteers. She started with cleaning but decided it wasn’t for her; she then dabbled a bit in IT – again, this just wasn’t Kirsty. After several other projects she finally found her calling when she was asked to join the jungle clearing team. Perhaps it was her Duke of Edinburgh experience that attracted her to this intrepid endeavour.

She also helped put together the Saturday Night Fever event on the 5th Setember. As well as setting the stage for the evening she helped to run the bar with Tibor.

We’re extremely grateful to Kirsty for all the help she’s given us, and we hope to see her again soon!

From Paul thank you for the card and the chocolate and take great care.

Kirsty, aided by Giulia from Italy, prepares the guitar stall for Saturday night fever.

Posted in Community Event, Students, vacation france, Volunteering | Tagged Duke of Edinburgh, France, scottish volunteer, volunteer in France | Comments Off

Saturday Night Fever

Posted on September 1, 2015 by La Giraudiere

Volunteers at La Giraudière have spent the last few weeks coming up with a music event, which will be held on the first Saturday of each month. Not only does the evening offer its guests music from a range of local artists, guests who have reserved tickets will also receive a main course, a dessert and ¼ of a bottle of wine.

Flyer for Saturday Night Fever, Created by Kirsty

After establishing the main ideas for the event, some of the volunteers, including Kirsty and Georgia, got to work with the planning and marketing of the event. Posters and flyers detailing the evening’s events were produced and distributed, the event was promoted on various local websites and our social networking sites were updated, so that our followers were aware of the exciting new event After just two weeks of promotion, we are thrilled to say that tickets to our musical soirée in September have now sold out.

La Giraudière’s inaugural musical soirée is now just a few days away, and the volunteers have been hard at work, getting La Giraudière ready for the big event. Kirsty, Giulia, Riccardo and Fei have been giving the Gite a deep clean, stocking the bar and arranging tables in the Old House, Newcomers Ewert and Ki have been helping out in the garden, repairing the picnic tables and creating decorations for the exterior, and Georgia has been helping with the logistics of the event. But the work doesn’t stop there. Over the coming days, there is still much to do, including decorations, signs, and cooking enough Irish stew to feed an army!

Georgia, promoting the event

With a good menu and some talented artists coming to play, we are looking forward to what should be a fun and very enjoyable evening. For those who have missed out on purchasing tickets for this month’s event, keep your eyes peels for news of our next musical soirée to be held on Saturday 3rd October!