So, there it was…Christmas, all but gone! Many of us are already back to work and it’s almost a hazy dream…or is that just the booze!?

I hope you all had a super Christmas and I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!

I would like to thank you for reading and returning to  Beauregard The Blog and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

It would appear that the latest ‘hot’, potentially money-making venture out in the blogosphere at the moment is Agloco. I know, ’Algloco’ doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, but if the hype is to be believed, we will soon forgive them the name!

I have heard it mentioned on a few blogs recently and reading the article on Perigord Vacance today, I decided to do some research of my own.

Agloco’s tag is ‘Own the Internet’ and simply, if I have understood it correctly,  it is a system whereby, you, in your normal, everyday internet surfing get a share in the revenue created by the big advertisers/big fish.

 Here is a quote from the OwnTheInternet blog:

This is AGLOCO™ ’s proposition, just three words: Own the Internet.

Whenever you are online, either surfing, blogging, clicking on an ad, making a purchase, all the money generated by your activities is pocketed by a small number of players. At AGLOCO™ they say not anymore!

AGLOCO™ is a global community, whose owners are its Members (you and potentially the millions of internet users out there). Their goal is to capture a significant portion of the value generated by our online activities and return it to Members in cash. Best of all, it is totally free, Members will NEVER have to pay anything, nor will they have to disclose ANY personal information!

So, is it too good to be true? I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

At present, they are recruiting like mad (via referrals), in order to build the community. In February, they launch the Viewbar download, that places a little toolbar on your browser and you carry on surfing as you normally do.  

So, am I cynical? Well, I guess I am! I’m British! But I must admit the write-ups and blogs that I have read are quite convincing, although they emphasise this is not a get rich quick kind of thing.

Did I sign up? Yep, I did! Why? It’s free, I could always do with some more cash, it’s fascinating being in on the ground-floor with something, it has piqued my curiosity.

So what could I lose? No money, a bit of face perhaps, some time checking it out on the net.

But don’t take my word for it! If you are interested in Agloco, do a Google search, read the articles. If you are intrigued, click here to go to the  introductory/sign-up page….it could well be the best thing you ever do!

Let me know how you get on… 

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

Since going ‘live’ with the Beauregard website a few weeks ago, I have been sporadically checking on Google to see if we are listed. But we have been nowhere to be seen! I told myself not to worry, it takes at least a fortnight to get spidered apparantly….

Having nothing better to do tonight, I did another little check and guess what?….We’re ranked right at the top….number 1 on page 1! What a result!

The search-words I used were ’self catering Gite Duras’, so it is pretty specific, (I’m ok, as long as people want to stay near to and have heard of Duras!). I’m sure if I had used ‘Aquitaine’ or ‘Lot et Garonne’ or ‘SW France’, we wouldn’t have even surfaced. I’ll try it again with these words in a minute, once my elation has passed( I don’t want to ruin the moment!).

I am doubly surprised, because, apart from a little tweaking to the name of the blog to include the words ’self-catering’, ‘Duras’ and ‘gite’…..(I noticed what others had been doing), I have paid no heed whatsoever to writing with SEO in mind. I am of the opinion that too much pandering to SEO tactics, can render a blog unreadable, especially if you’re not very skilled at it. Besides which, as with all things, when you start looking at it in detail, it can become quite complicated. And I’m all for an easy life! Seems to be working anyway!

Right, off to check out other search words now….wish me luck!

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

I caught this article  in the Telegraph today, whilst browsing.

Although my two are fairly good with their table manners, I’m thinking it might be a good idea to enrole them anyway. Experimentation with new food is not one of The Boy’s strongest points and more than one set of cutlery…well!

It may give them a taster for when they are tucking into their school lunches at the ecole primaire; or at least buffer the shock a bit!

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

It was recommended by Craig, from This French Life , that I put invitations to sign up to the newsletter/ RSS feed on each entry that I make. This I did the other day, as you know.

And so far, I have had a really good response. I have increased my feeds by  ’big’ %’s, and all in one day! I was amazed to see the amount of people that had signed up.

So big thanks to Craig for the suggestion and Welcome to all those of you new to the feed…it is great to see you here, thanks for joining!

Maybe next time you read Beauregard..The Blog, take the plunge, introduce yourselves and say ‘Hello’…it would be good to get to know you.

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

I have been putting RSS feed and newsletter invites in all of my posts today, which, once I had got the hang of it was a tedious and somewhat time consuming exercise.

But it freed up my mind and I started thinking….never a good sign!

One thought I had was that I don’t really have a clue how a computer, more specifically, all of this internet stuff works. As I become more confident at handling the techy side of things, I am less phased by what I am doing but just as ignorant. For all I know, it is run by a host of geeky fairies that whizz information through the cyber-sphere for our benefit. I can’t believe it’s anything to do with binary…how can two little digits achieve so much? Maybe it isn’t any more…

I mean, how did anyone invent it in the first place? My mind is well and truly boggled! But I tip my hat to them anyway. And sadly, I know if someone were to sit me down to explain the mysteries of the internet, I would glaze over in minutes and be thinking about other things…..’Did I put the rubbish out?’….’Is it Brownies again already?’….’What shall I do for dinner tonight?’

So, maybe ignorance is bliss. I don’t know…..does my attitude stink or should I at least try to show some interest?

After all, I have been using a microwave for years and I don’t understand that either. As long as it warms the baked beans, I’m happy.

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

With Christmas just around the corner and the momentum gathering speed, the last thing on my mind would be booking next years summer holidays.

Traditionally in the UK, holiday advertising starts in earnest on Boxing Day. While Dad’s at the football match, Mum sits down, feet up, Snowball and twiglets at the ready, in front of the box, watching the LunPoly adverts. It’s a far cry from Brussel sprouts and the soaking ovenware littering the kitchen.

However, it would appear that there are a few well prepared and forward planning individuals out there, if the amount of emails I have recieved over the last week are anything to go by. I wouldn’t call it a deluge but it has taken me by surprise a bit.

Unfortunately, they all want the same 2 weeks in August, which have long since gone to a family that have been holidaying with us for the past 10 years. But, being positive, I feel that it is an encouraging start!

It would be so useful to us holiday-providers, if a new calender was devised. One that ensured  there were at least three August’s in every year. If Julius Caesar can do it 2 millennia ago, I’m sure Tony Blair could! What a brilliant legacy!

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email

Check this out!

I never knew it would be so straight forward and simple!

And it is so true…never enter a boulangerie, doctors office, the Mairie, without a ‘Bonjour, tout le monde’.

Admittedly, it doesn’t come easily for us stuffy Brits. Our communities are now so large and ill-defined that we don’t say ‘hello’ to anyone unless we know them personally. We never look people in the eye and live our daily lives, almost oblivious to the rest of society…or is that just me?!

So, bite the bullet, pretend that you know everyone, if that helps and start ‘Bonjouring’……politesse demands it!

And as you leave, don’t forget the ‘Bonjournee’…such a nice bunch, these French!

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email
Subscribe in a reader

Enjoy a holiday at Beauregard.Click here to find out more

Here are some tips on the best times to book your super-cheap, best value flights for your holidays.

It all makes good sense too….I know in my experience, it pays to check well in advance and if it’s cheap and roughly the right time….book it quickly! A few days deliberating can make a lot of difference to the price. As can a day either side of your ‘ideal’ travelling day.

Here is the summary paragraph from the article:

THE LONG & SHORT OF IT You can get last-minute deals on charter flights and package holidays, but you should book scheduled and no-frills flights in advance. If you’re hoping to fly in the next month, the best booking moment is between Wednesday 10pm and 6am the next day, after the 7th of the month. Travel midweek or, if you must fly over the weekend, leave after lunch on Saturday.

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email
Subscribe in a reader

Enjoy a holiday at Beauregard.Click here to find out more

I came across this article on Reuters…School children should learn about wine.

It sounds like a good idea to me! Maybe our British kids could do with a little education when it comes to drinking.

”…it would be useful to inform young adults of the beneficial effects of wine in the framework of education and information programmes on health,” . Maybe Jamie Oliver could introduce it into schools as part of his healthy school meals programme.

I know I would rather have studied wine than physics any day!

Subscribe to BEAUREGARD…The Blog by Email
Subscribe in a reader

Enjoy a holiday at Beauregard.Click here to find out more