95c | ISSUE 12 | JULY 2012
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Ryan, 12, helps save woman from river
Photo: dalbera/Flickr
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A 12-YEAR-OLD boy is to get a bravery award after helping save a woman who got into trouble bathing in the River Orb near Cessenon, Hérault. Named only as Ryan, the schoolboy from Lignan was playing at nearby waterfalls when he saw the 52-year-old woman being carried away by currents at the river in Réals. The woman, from Cazouls-lès-Béziers, had been sunbathing and decided to take a dip, but found herself overcome by hypothermia. Ryan said: “I was playing in the small waterfalls when I saw the lady who had been sunbathing jump into the water, and suddenly I saw her go past me. “She wasn’t moving, so I held on to a rock, grabbed her and pushed her towards another woman who was near me. I let go of the rock and I was carried away by the current. I stayed as calm as possible – you mustn’t panic.” A canoeist who saw what was happening dived into the water, followed by a fireman and they managed to help Ryan. The firefighter said: “Ryan was very brave. He put his own life at risk. If we had not intervened, he would have drowned. The current is very strong.” Ryan, who is to get a bravery medal from the Languedoc-Roussillon prefect, said: “I saved a life, and someone saved mine. I’m pleased I did what I did, but I don’t want to swim in rapids any more.”
Firms are undercut as cross-border rivals pay less in social charges by LOUISE HURREN
Residents give their views on 3:HIKPMD=YUU^Z]:?k@a@l@c@a; low-cost plan M 05234 - 12 - F: 0,95 E
Builders losing out to Spanish
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BUILDING firms in the PyrenéesOrientales are feeling the pinch in the face of growing competition from Spanish rivals who are significantly under-cutting their labour rates. The latest figures show that more than 18,000 Languedoc-Roussillon building trade workers are currently out of work, and firms in the area say a lot of the problem is because Spain has a competitive advantage and key construction contracts are going to them instead of local firms. Pierre Bataille, the mayor of Fontrabiouse near the Spanish border and the owner of a small plumbing company employing six workers, said: “Spanish companies have come into the market in a big way. “Because their social charges are less than those of French companies, they can price jobs more competitively.
They can be 25% or even up to 40% cheaper than us.” He said action needed to be taken at EU level to allow French and Spanish firms to be on a level playing field. Mr Bataille said of his plumbing company: “Our workload was already
“
Spanish firms can be 25% or even up to 40% cheaper than us Pierre Bataille
Plumbing company boss down in 2011, compared to previous years, but now it’s really serious, I would estimate our turnover has declined year on year by about 30%. Î Turn to page 4
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Contents News What’s On Feature Leisure Time
1-7 8-11 12-13, 24 14
Food and Pets 15 Directory 16-17 Home and Gardening 18-19 Property and Finance 20-23
Useful Numbers EMERGENCY NUMBERS 18: Emergencies: Calls the fire brigade (Sapeurs Pompiers), but they deal with medical emergencies and are usually the first port of call in rural areas. 112: Emergency calls from your mobile: Be ready with your name and where you are calling from and do not hang up until told to do so. 17: Police (gendarmes) 119: Child abuse. 1616: Sea and lake rescue. 01 40 05 48 48: Anti-poison centre (Paris) 08 10 33 30 + your department number (eg 24 for the Dordogne): Gas & electricity emergencies UTILITIES FRANCE TELECOM Website in English: www.francetelecom.com To report a fault online: www.1013.fr (click on the UK flag). English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00 (from France); + 33 1 55 78 60 56 (outside France). ORANGE: English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00. SFR: 1023 (+ 33 6 10 00 10 23 from outside France). FREE: 1044. BOUYGUES: 1034. EDF: 24 hour breakdown line: 08 10 33 30 87; Helpline in English: 05 62 16 49 08; From outside France: + 33 5 62 16 49 08; Email: simpleenergywithedf@edf.fr GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS CAISSE D’ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES - CAF: www.caf.fr; Tel: 08 10 25 14 10. L’ASSURANCE MALADIE (AMELI, formerly known as CPAM – the health service): www.ameli.fr; Tel: 36 46 (MonFri, 8am-5pm) English spoken. URSSAF: English-language website: www.anglais.urssaf.fr - Aude - 20 rue Saint Michel, BP 605, 11876 CARCASSONNE CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 11 24 00 | Gard - 6 rue du Cirque Romain, 30923 NIMES CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 66 36 48 00 | Hérault - Quartier de la Mosson, 35 rue La Haye, 34937 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 9, Tel: 08 20 00 34 35 | Lozère - Quartier des Carmes, BP 104, 48003 MENDE, Tel: 04 66 47 23 48 | Pyrénées-Orientales 26 rue Petite la Monnaie, BP 59926, 66021 PERPIGNAN CEDEX 9, Tel: 04 68 35 75 00 PREFECTURE: Aude - 52 rue Jean Bringer, BP 836, 11012 CARCASSONNE CEDEX Tel: 04 68 10 27 01 | Gard - 10 avenue Feuchères, 30045 NIMES CEDEX 9 Tel: 04 66 36 40 40 | Hérault 34 place des Martyrs de la Résistance, 34062 MONTPELLIER CEDEX 2 Tel: 04 67 61 61 61 | Lozère - 2 rue de
La Rovère, 48000 MENDE Tel: 04 66 49 60 00 | Pyrénées-Orientales 24 quai Sadi Carnot, 66951 PERPIGNAN CEDEX Tel: 04 68 51 66 66 OTHER HELP IN ENGLISH COUNSELLING IN FRANCE: for a qualified therapist near you or counselling over the telephone; www.counsellinginfrance.com SOS HELP: similar to the Samaritans, listeners who are professionally trained; Tel 01 46 21 46 46; www.soshelpline.org NO PANIC FRANCE: for help with anxiety disorders; Tel: 02 51 28 80 25; www.nopanic.org.uk ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Aude - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Carcassonne | Gard - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Nîmes, Alès and Cèze | Hérault - Regular meetings are held (in French) in Sète Agde Beziers, Bédarieux and Lodève. Montpellier: English-speaking group (closed) meets Thursdays at 18:45-20:15, doors open at 18:30. Ganges: English-speaking meeting (Willing to Grow Group), with meetings (closed) Tuesdays 18:30-20:00 in the Foyer des Jeunes, near the Schools on rue E. Gounelle, 34190 Ganges. | Pyrénées-Orientales Céret, Le Barcares-Village, Thuir, Vernet les Bains and Perpignan CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE: for advice and someone to talk to: www.cancersupportfrance.info National Office: email: cancersupportfrance@orange.fr; Tel: 05 45 89 30 05. SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN AND FAMILIES ASSOCIATION FORCES (SSAFA): In France: 05 53 01 64 54. Email: france@ssafa. org.uk AVF: help with French life; www.avf.asso.fr OTHER INFO YELLOW PAGES: www.pagesjaunes.fr SPEAKING CLOCK: 3699. WEATHER: 08 92 68 02 + dept. number. LAST INCOMING CALL ON YOUR PHONE: 3131, then ‘5’ if you wish to connect. BRITISH CONSULATE British Consulate Marseilles: 24 avenue du Prado, 13006 Marseilles. Open: 09:0012:00 and 14:00-17:00 Tel: 04 91 15 72 10 (after hours emergency call this number for answer phone emergency service) PUBLIC HOLIDAYS THIS MONTH July 14 - Bastille Day
Languedoc Clubs and Associations Allicance Franco-Anglaise du Languedoc Roussillon Association aimed at assisting English speaking newcomers to integrate through conversation classes and social events. Contact Neil Todd: 04 67 37 99 52 www.afal.name Association Echanges Association offering cultural exchanges in French or English and bringing together various nationalities for meetings every two months. Social events for people in the area plus English lessons. The main activity for English speakers is a "pot luck" meal together for informal discussion and games and so on. Contact Emma Tikunova: 04 68 60 38 99 or 06 01 79 97 27 associationechanges@live.com
Appassionata Choir The Chorale Appassionata welcomes new members. We rehearse in the Salle Polyvalente at Bassan,from 19.45 to 22.00 every Tuesday. Membership is international,- we sing everything - classical to jazz. Contact Rhona Goujon 04 67 36 05 83 ESKA English Speaking Kids Association A new non-profit association called ESKA - English Speaking Kids Association which has been set up in the region to bring together English-speaking children of various ages to enjoy different kinds of activities in English. All children of all nationalities are welcome to join in the activities accompanied by their parents or guardians. Meetings take place in LunelViel. 04 67 82 36 62
PLANS have been unveiled for a new Roman history museum which will be constructed in the centre of Nîmes. Architects Elisabeth and Christian de Portzamparc have been commissioned for the project. Building works start at the beginning of 2014 and the museum will open to the public in 2017. The museum plans to make available to the public some exceptional Roman archeological collections and discoveries and allow vis-
itors to learn about the fascinating history with the latest interactive 3D technology. In contrast to the epic stone monument of the amphitheatre which will be opposite, the new 4,800m2 museum will be a sophisticated building in glass and silver with wide open spaces. The roof will be built like a fifth façade and will provide visitors with a 360-degree panoramic view of the town.
Languedoc towns ‘hell for bicycles’ THE Languedoc towns of Lunel and Nîmes have been named among the least cyclefriendly places in France in this year’s Clou Rouillé (rusty nail) awards. The towns were named under-performers by judges at the Fédération Française des Usagers de la Bicyclette (FUB), but the worst award went to Dieppe, on the Normandy coast. The FUB describes Nîmes as “the kingdom of the car, hell for bicycles”, and Lunel is also referred to in less-than-glowing terms. Montpellier has a slightly better track record. The city has made concerted efforts to create safer cycling conditions, including Vélomagg bikes for hire, a cycle path network, town centre speed limits and pedestrian zones. The annual Vélomagg’Plage summer service has recently restarted, making 90 bikes available free of charge for those wishing to pedal from the bus terminus at Villeneuve-lèsMaguelone to the beach.
Helen Bevis from Montpellier-based cycling club Sudvélo said: “Montpellier is making great efforts to develop the existing 158km of cycle paths. Of course, there is always room for improvement: when cycle paths are designated by raised concrete borders, this can create a problem as cleaning them is difficult and broken glass and rubbish tend to accumulate on the paths. Having said that, I’m really pleased that the local authorities are doing more to promote cycling.” Cycling is the most popular sport in France, but in Languedoc, where 39% of the population cycles, the record for bike-friendly initiatives is patchy from one area to the next. JeanClaude Martinez, member of Béziers-based association Vélociutat, said: “In the south of France, only Montpellier has really set itself apart in this respect.” In the Aude, studies for a network of cycle paths in Carcassonne are under way.
Bird charity seeks helpers THE Languedoc-Roussillon branch of bird protection charity Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux is looking for volunteers to help it carry out a number of important rescue and protection events in the Camargue during the summer. The work will involve helping to explore nesting sites and the LPO has called for volunteers with “their own transport, binoculars and enthusiasm”. The work will continue to the end of the year but initially involves a week-long check. Call Adeline Pichard on 06 42 89 73 65 or www.herault.lpo.fr
July 2012
Millau viaduct race will be back THOUSANDS of runners will cross the stunning Millau viaduct as part of a racing event to celebrate the bridge’s 10th anniversary in 2014. The first Course du Viaduc was held in 2007, when the A75 motorway and the Millau viaduct itself were closed to traffic for a day so that 10,500 runners could complete the 23.7km route, including a 5km stretch that took them across the bridge and back again, with a fourhour time limit to complete the course. The event was repeated in May this year. Organisers will cap the number of runners in the 2014 event at 15,000 for safety reasons and are keen to see more international runners from European countries such as the UK, Spain and Italy. Pierre Berger, director of builder Eiffage Construction, said: “This race really showcases Millau bridge, it enables the public to rediscover it. If we were to hold the race every year, or at least at regular intervals, that would be a good thing for the region.”
New flights to Rome and Strasbourg TWIN Jet has launched a new air link from Montpellier to Strasbourg, aimed primarily at business travellers. Meanwhile, from Nîmes, Air Dolomoti is launching direct flights to the Italian capital, Rome, from July 2.
Languedoc Pages
News 3
July 2012
€25 TGVs to Paris (almost) Photo: rochagneux - Fotolia.com
THE SNCF is taking a leaf from the budget airlines’ book, with a new no-frills TGV service from Languedoc to Paris with luggage restrictions, no bar and no first class accommodation. The low-cost, high-speed TGV train service is scheduled to start running next year connecting Montpellier to Marne la Vallée, east of the French capital city. According to the SNCF, some 30 return journeys per week between Paris and Montpellier (via Lyon) are initially planned. The bargain-priced tickets are to be sold at €25, regardless of when purchased. However, as with low-cost flights, low-cost train travel
comes with some drawbacks: Marne la Vallée is 40km east of the city. This is handy for those planning a trip to Disneyland, but perhaps less so for those wanting to visit the centre of the city of light. A train from Marne la Vallée to the centre of Paris takes 40 minutes and costs €7 each way. To keep costs down and be able to make the service available to the greatest number of travellers, only one bag per passenger will be allowed on the TGV and there will be no bar or first class compartments, or any other kind of service. However, the carriages themselves will be the same as existing TGV trains.
Will you be using it? Jean-Pierre (49), teacher The idea of low-cost train travel is great, I’m all for it, but I don’t call a €50 return fare “low cost” – it’s more like a 30% reduction. If the lowcost service wants to be competitive, it’s going to have to offer truly low prices to compensate for the inconvenience of arriving so far out of Paris.
Jean-Pierre: not ‘low-cost’
Lawrence (49), musician I think it’s a good idea. You can take the RER into the
TOURISM bosses have reported a fall in confidence among hotel, campsite and restaurant owners and a similar decline in visitor numbers in the early part of the season, since the Easter break and the May bank holidays. A phone survey by Sud de France Développement of 2,000 tourist businesses found 44% of respondents disappointed with their performance so far. Hotels fared the worst, with 56% reporting they had seen a drop in numbers. There was similar pessimism among restaurant owners and shopkeepers catering for tourists.
Soldier dies in attack
centre of Paris from Marnela-Vallée. I’m a father of two, and we’ve never been to Disneyland as a family so maybe we’d use this service. Josefina (32), teaching assistant Train travel is usually very expensive so this is great news. If the price is significantly cheaper than the usual service then I don’t mind about the inconvenience of not arriving in central Paris.
Quiet start to tourist season
Lawrence and Josefina: New TGV service is worth a try
A SOLDIER from Saint-Gélydu-Fesc near Montpellier has been killed serving in Afghanistan. Pierre-Olivier Lumineau, 27, was one of four soldiers who died in a suicide attack. Village mayor Georges Vincent said the 8,000 local residents were in shock: “We knew him well – he spent his whole school life here and had a lot of friends.”
Montpellier leads in open government MONTPELLIER is at the forefront in France for supplying data about public services to the public digitally, as part of a new transparency drive. The city ranks higher than Bordeaux and Paris, with most information such as details of municipal budgets and other public service data now easily available. New large screens have also been installed in the town hall providing data on council spending and a vast collection of other information such as bus and train timetables, shop locations and public parks. There are plans to set up
another five or six screens throughout the town this year, with the tourist office next. Jean-Marie Bourgogne, a technical specialist at the town hall, said: “There are two main objectives, the first is to heighten transparency and the second is to provide a service. “Tourists who come to Montpellier might not have readily available internet access but by using the digital data screens have a mass of information at their fingertips. Planning a city tour by foot has never been easier.” For people looking to buy
or rent in Montpellier the digital data service also offers an insight into what is near their area. It works through the company Homengo.com: after inputting the name of a street, data such as locations of swimming pools, shops, pharmacies, and transport links are available. Mr Bourgogne added: “If you want to rent or buy in a particular street and there are no public transport links close by, or a football club for you children then it is important to know.” The service is available online at www.montpellier. territoirenumerique.org
House prices are Scooter hire to too high for locals help jobseekers A SURGE in demand for homes in Montpellier is pushing prices up faster than the rest of the region and pricing some local first-time buyers out of the market. AMEPI – an association of Hérault-based estate agents – says Montpellier continues to command higher prices than another towns. One agent, Frédéric Gasser, said: “Buyers do not want to go too far from the town, even though prices are lower.” Another, Martine Fourcat, said there was a 20% difference, adding: “Buyers from Paris or overseas have no problems, but it’s the local population, particularly first-time buyers, that cannot afford homes here. Barthelemy Renouard, of Unik Immo, said demand outstrips supply: “For a quality period property in the historic Ecusson city centre, you should allow €4,000 per m2.”
YOUNG jobseekers in the Gard can benefit from a “rent a scooter” programme run by a local youth assistance service in Villeneuve lès Avignon. The programme allows them to use a scooter to travel to job interviews for only €1, helmet and insurance included. It is available to anyone aged 16-25 living in Beaucaire, Aramon and Villeneuve. Youth worker Patricia Félix said: “Finding a job or an apprenticeship can be difficult for young people; if public transport does not cater for their needs, and they don’t have a driving licence or vehicle, it is a problem. This service has been a real success. In one year alone, some 35,000km have been clocked up.” A longer-term hire scheme is also available: for a €75 deposit, a young person with a brevet de sécurité routière can borrow a scooter for a month.
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4 News
Languedoc Pages
July 2012
Construction deals Why is a crocodile on being lost to Spain Nîmes coat of arms?
Did you know?
Î From
Nîmes coat of arms was redesigned by Philippe Starck In 1535 they were authorised by King François I to adopt the palm tree and the crocodile as the town’s coat of arms. Since then the inhabitants have been extremely
proud of their crest. Redesigned in 1986 by architect Philippe Starck, the crest can be found all over the town, even in the bronze studs set in the paving of the old town.
page 1 “Today, the financial crisis is biting hard, both in France and in Spain, and there’s less work to go around.” The influx of builders from across the border is evident in the ski resort of Les Angles, where a mainly Spanish workforce of some 50 builders is working on an 82-unit luxury holiday residence at the foot of the slopes. The €100m project is being built by Spanish firm Excover, which won the contract from the Hérault-based property developer, beating rival French bids. Tax is another issue: French companies must charge VAT at 19.6% for new construction work and 7% for renovation, while the VAT rate for construction work in Spain is just 4%.
“It’s not just our problem here, either,” said Mr Bataille, pointing out that a similar situation exists at the Franco-Italian border. “When building was booming years ago in Spain, many Bolivians entered the country and found work. Now they don’t want to leave, and their employers have to find jobs for them. “It’s understandable, we can’t blame them. What’s really needed is for social charges to fixed at the same level across Europe, and for all companies to be checked up on, in the same way, across borders.” Languedoc-Roussillon president Christian Bourquin said recently: “We cannot close the borders. What we need to do is campaign at European level so that all workers have the same social charges and the same rights.”
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Photo: Jerome Dancette - Fotolia.com
THE COAT of arms of Nîmes bears an unlikely creature – that of a chained crocodile. It is said to commemorate the part played by the legionaries in the conquest of Egypt. In 31 BC, Octavius defeated Anthony and Cleopatra’s fleet in the battle of Actium, and ensured Roman control of the Empire. Caesar Augustus was born. A coin was struck in Nîmes to celebrate the event. On the reverse side was a crocodile chained to a palm tree surmounted by a laurel wreath, symbolising the conquest of Egypt. The inscription “Col Nem”, the Colony of Nîmes, suggests that the victorious legionaries had been granted land near the town. However, in fact Nîmes was simply the place where the coin was minted. Over the centuries, the people of Nîmes became attached to these relatively common coins.
Languedoc Pages
News 5
July 2012
Hospital admits overheating problem PARENTS of a seven-month-old baby have complained to management at Lapeyronie Hospital in Montpellier about temperatures of up to 30C in a pediatric recovery ward. Although the management recognises the ongoing problem with overheating rooms, it says there are no immediate plans to install a full air-conditioning system. Director Guillaume du Chaffaut said that heat had been a problem since the hospital’s construction in 1983. There is a “cold ventilator” system, but this is not a full air-conditioning system and does not apply to the whole hospital site. Anne Cousté, a midwife who worked for 10 years in the Arnaud de Villeneuve baby unit, situated adjacent to Lapeyronie, said: “It was a similar situation for us. During the summer months the rooms would reach very high temperatures. It was potentially very dangerous for the new-borns and made our working conditions unbearable. “Women were admitted to our wards with long-term pregnancy problems and could be in hospital for up to two months, so it was critical there was some cool air system to offer comfort, even if it was just a small transferable fan.”
New speed traps to stop red-light jumps TWO new red light traffic cameras have been installed in Montpellier in an attempt to curb dangerous driving in the city. The new equipment brings the total of traffic light radars in the city of 11, with more planned later in the year. Another five have been installed in Béziers and two in Vendargues. The new radars are situated at the intersection of the Avenue de la Justice de Castelnau and the Rue de Montasinos, in the JuvignacCastelnau direction, and at the crossing of the Avenue de Vanières and the Rue du Pas-duLoup, in the Lattes-Juvignac direction. Jumping a red light means four points taken off your driving licence, and a €135 fine. New speed traps will also be set this summer on the A9 motorway, between Montpellier and Saint-Jean-de-Védas, to enforce the 90kph limit that is in effect at rush hour (7.00-9.00 and 17.00-19.00 weekdays). At other times, the authorised speed for this section of the A9 is 110kph.
Matador to fight six bulls alone
SPANISH bullfighter José Tomás is to fight six bulls alone in the bullring at Nîmes on September 16 for the Feria des Vendanges. The matador has suffered a number of serious injuries in the ring and was gored by a bull in a fight in Mexico in 2010 and needed 17 pints of blood in hospital.
Get fit on the beach with new machines NARBONNE residents will be able to get fit this summer while working on their tans, thanks to the installation of two fitness areas on the seafront at Narbonne-Plage (also known as the Côte des Roses). Each area has five exercise machines designed to help users tone up their muscles, for free. The machines, which simulate the movements made when practising sports including cross-country skiing and cycling, are situated at either end of the promenade, in front of the Balcons de la Méditerranée and the port and are part of an ongoing coastal facelift.
Hot, dry summer could be a disaster for many With a drought looming, parts of Languedoc have already been subject to water limits. LOUISE HURREN looks at what a long, hot July and August might mean THE Hérault and Gard figure among the areas in France worst affected by drought, after a period of exceptionally low rainfall. In a region heavily dependent on agriculture this gives cause for concern, as even when heavy rain falls, it does not soak down into the depleted aquifers but is instead taken up by surface crops. A prolonged dry spell this summer could mean problems for Languedoc’s thousands of winegrowers. Lack of rain combined with excessive heat too early in the year can hurt the grape harvest, resulting in smaller yields of unevenly-ripened fruit. Similarly, high temperatures can
Ruth and Charles Simpson: Powerful local wine lobby will challenge water limits produce over-ripened grapes, which can lead to wines with exceptionally high alcohol levels. If this spring’s drought is followed by a sweltering summer, residents and holidaymakers will feel the effects. Owners of swim-
ming pools, park keepers and professional gardeners will be among those affected. While the Hérault and Gard are among the worst areas, the Lozère and Pyrénées-Orientales are also on alert. According to the
Languedoc-Roussillon préfecture, watercourses in spring were at levels usually seen in summer. Below, we look at what effect any restrictions this summer will have on three key businesses that rely on water.
How water restrictions affect our work The gardener PETER Shield runs the Domaine de Montrouch small-holding in the Hautes Corbières. He farms his organically-certified land to produce edible and aromatic herbs. “Edible herbs like basil, chives, parsley and mint are waterhungry fellows. The aromatics – rosemary, thyme, lavender and sage – are less so, but to grow at a commercially viable speed, water is vital. “We rely on our own spring and the villages around us also draw their water from the same areas. “However, the expansion of these villages, and particularly the building of houses with swimming pools is taking its toll. “I fear that unless action is taken, the situation will worsen. If our well dries up then our business will be destroyed and our home will become uninhabitable. “There’s little we can do to prevent the abuse of the general water table, but we try to minimise our own use by installing drip systems direct to the roots of the plants, putting mulch on outdoor plants to reduce evaporation and watering in the evening to reduce water loss. “We’ve also reduced consumption within our home, replacing baths with showers, installing dry toilets and collecting rainwater. The slowly-changing Mediterranean climate means we face more droughts and less water. “We need a radical regional and departmental water plan with a sustainable look at agriculture, biodiversity and rural planning.” The winegrowers CHARLES and Ruth Simpson own Domaine Sainte Rose, a wine estate near Béziers with 36 hectares of vines. Most of their wines are sold to export markets. They say: “Severe water restrictions are not yet in our area, although we’re careful regarding
The gîte owners CÉLINE Beauquel and her partner Romain live in Cabrières at Clos Romain, where they farm olive trees and vines and run three eco-friendly self-catering rental properties. They say: “We make AOC wine so we’re not allowed to irrigate the vines at all, regardless of water restrictions. We could irrigate our olive trees if necessary but we’ve never done so, partly because we take our water from our own well so we’re careful to use water very sparingly. “For our vegetable garden we’re going to put in a rainwater butt (but of course, it has to rain to fill it) so that we no longer use water from the well for our plants. “We are utterly dependent on the weather, so if the shortage of rain continues or worsens, it will be catastrophic. Our vines will send their roots down as deep as they can, searching for water, but this tires them and the amount of grapes produced will be very small. The olive trees are more resistant, but in a drought they can shed their olives and thus, again, our production will suffer. “Our gîtes are rented out through the summer. We have installed water-saving systems in the toilets and taps, but despite our guidelines, some families still use a lot of water, just by playing with it in the garden areas, for example. We understand, but in a drought, every gesture counts.” our water consumption. We have our own water source which takes care of all our needs, but the restrictions are irrespective of this. “Our annual rainfall on average is 600 litres/m2, half of which falls in winter. From December 2011 to February we only got five litres. However, we had a very wet April – 100 litres – and there’s significant rain forecast. “There is talk that the restrictions are in place purely to protect the water reserves for the enormous influx of tourists this region receives in the summer months. “We are allowed to irrigate – and this is done to ensure fruit maturity is achieved even in the hottest years, and to get more
homogenous maturity of fruit within a block. We have installed drip systems for our white grape varieties, which are more susceptible to hydric stress. This was paid for with the help of grants from the France Agrimer body; these are still being issued, in spite of this so-called ‘drought’. “We only irrigate when the vines show signs of hydric stress. It’s done at night to avoid unnecessary evaporation. “There is no indication water restrictions will apply to irrigation of vines. It will probably be the last thing to be restricted as winegrowers are such a forceful lobby. “We’re more concerned about harvest time, in August and
September. Much of the work in the winery is cleaning, to make sure the fruit is processed in the most hygienic conditions possible. “If severe restrictions come into force, we might have to harvest several blocks of grapes at a time, to reduce the number of times we use water to sterilise equipment. “This will mean potentially picking a variety before optimum maturity, in order get it into the winery clean, and that’s not ideal. “Rainwater and grey water would not be appropriate to reuse in the winery: however, it could be useful to water vines and this may mean investing in equipment to will direct the water straight on to the foot of the vine.”
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British-style police searches proposed
Men stole €1.5m yacht 'for a jaunt' TWO young men have appeared in court after stealing a €1.5 million motor cruiser from the marina at Antibes on the Riviera and taking it for a jaunt on the Mediterranean. The two unemployed men from Douai, Nord, had been on holiday in Antibes. They had never driven a boat before and just followed instructions on a sticker on the bridge. Appearing before the court in Grasse, they said: “We just fancied a little ride.” One has been jailed for a year and the other given a six-month suspended jail sentence.
Retire at 60 - new pension rules revealed MOTHERS and older long-term jobless people will get the right to retire at 60 under new pension measures. Social Affairs Minister Marisol Touraine’s decree to the Conseil des Ministres will, in part, overturn one Photo: Chris3d-fotolia.com
TOURISTS are giving animals diabetes by feeding them chocolate, warns an association in the French Alps. Cecile Corellou, of Apvem, an association protecting the animals in the Hautes-Alpes, Apvem, said: “The problem is it has terrible effects. A study on another site in the southern Alps has shown they are becoming diabetic and developing eczema.” Normally marmots eat only leaves and vegetables.
A CALL by housing minister Cécile Duflot for cannabis to be put on the same legal footing as alcohol or tobacco has opened a potential split in the new government of Jean-Marc Ayrault and President François Hollande. Duflot, who is still leader of the Europe Écologie-Les Verts, said she was putting forward her party’s position five days before the first round of the parliamentary elections. Ayrault, when questioned by reporters, said the “government had said nothing”. However, during the presidential election campaign Hollande had refused to support a call by his security adviser, François Rebsamen, to ease laws on cannabis and other “soft drugs”.
Sex workers call for say in rules NEARLY 200 sex workers took to the streets in Paris recently to protest against "police repression" and plans to penalise clients. The sex-workers' union Strass told journalists they wanted “our views to be taken into account when decisions concerning us are taken.” Prostitution is legal in France but Morgane Merteuil, of Strass, said sex-workers were being repressed all the time. The prostitutes – who walked the streets from Place Pigalle to Châtele – say new laws such as the ban on vans in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris and the proposal to penalise clients were pushing prostitutes towards working illegally with pimps and as part of illegal networks.
Socialists win decisive majority Photo: Fred-fotolia.com
of the most controversial reforms introduced by former president Nicolas Sarkozy.People who started work at 18 or 19 and have been paying charges for at least 41 years have the right to take their pension at the age of 60 rather than the Sarkozyimposed age of retirement at 62. There will also be help for mothers who started work early but who, while raising a family, had a broken contributions record and have not paid enough into the system. Older workers on long-term unemployment will also be given a boost, especially those who are close to retirement age.
Eurotunnel wins SeaFrance fight CHANNEL Tunnel firm EuroTunnel has been given the green light to buy three ferries from bankrupt DoverCalais ferry firm SeaFrance in a €65 million deal. SeaFrance collapsed under debts thought to be around €150m and took with it 880 jobs in France and 130 in the UK. Now Eurotunnel will lease the ferries back to a cooperative of former SeaFrance staff under a French flag and save the jobs of 560 in the Calais area. No date has yet been set for the restart of crossings.
opened fire on them with several weapons. Ms Moktari said they would be presenting proof of their claims, thought to be videos sent by Merah via his phone to his father, Mohammed Benalel Merah.
Inheritance rules change approved A NEW EU regulation enabling Britons to bypass restrictive French inheritance rules has been given the final go-ahead. The Council of the European Union has adopted, unchanged, the regulation which means expats who live permanently in France will have the right to stipulate in a French will that they want the inheritance law of their country of nationality to apply to their whole estate. This means that Britons will be able to leave all their property to anyone they like, as opposed to being obliged to leave set portions to their children. The regulation will “enter into force” later this month
but will not apply in practice until summer 2015.
Ban to be lifted on gay blood donors THE BAN on homosexual men giving blood in France is to be lifted. Health Minister Marisol Touraine said the criteria for assessing risk from infected blood did not depend on the “nature of sexual relations or sexual inclination” but on the “multiplicity of partners”. She said she would put forward proposals for the change to allow homosexuals to give blood in the coming months. Previous governments had maintained the ban on homosexual donations as the male gay community was seen as having a greater prevalence of Aids. In the UK, the ban was lifted in November 2011 in England, Scotland and Wales for homosexual and bisexual men who had not had sex with another man in the last 12 months.
PRESIDENT Hollande has been given a decisive majority in the new Assemblée Nationale after the Parti Socialiste returned 314 MPs in June’s elections - it needed just 289. However, it came at the cost of losing 2007 Socialist presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, above, and former minister and party stalwart Jack Lang - and seeing the Front National win two seats; although party leader Marine Le Pen was beaten in HéninBeaumont, Pas-de-Calais. The UMP lost more than 100 MPs and now has 215. The election gives the socialists control of parliament for the first time since the presidency of François Mitterrand in 1981 - it also has control of the Sénat and the presidency. Photo: © Freddy Smeets - Fotolia.com
Diet of chocolate ‘bad for marmots’
Minister isolated on cannabis call
Photo: Matthieu Riegler, CC-BY - wikipedia.org
BRITISH-STYLE stop-and-search procedures may be introduced to improve relations between the police and public, says Interior Minister Manuel Valls. This would, notably, include police handing out receipts with their identity numbers to anyone they stop. In Britain people stopped are also asked to give their ethnic origin so this can be noted as part of a report on the stop (Mr Valls did not say if this would be done, however France has rules against keeping files on ethnic origins, so it is less likely). The aim is to give the public more confidence in the police, and to avoid so-called délit de faciès, which refers to people being stopped and questioned – allegedly sometimes several times the same day – because of their race, colour or appearance.
July 2012
Scooter killer father in murder claim THE father of scooter killer Mohammed Merah has lodged formal legal action against the police for “murdering” his son. His lawyer Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, said they were alleging “murder in aggravating circumstances”. Merah, who admitted killing three soldiers, three Jewish children and a rabbi in Toulouse and claimed connections with Al-Qaeda, was shot in March by the elite RAID squad as they tried to get into his flat to arrest him after a 32-hour siege. Police bosses said afterwards the officers were forced to kill him as he
Six wine merchants accused of fraud SIX Burgundy wine bosses have been questioned over suspicion of fraud involving the mixing and labelling of wines. Leaders of one of the main Burgundy wine merchants, Labouré-Roi, were questioned in police custody after investigators found possible evidence of banned practices – a scandal
which the Dijon public prosecutor, Eric Lallement, said “has upset the profession and changed the image of the wine”. It is alleged that in around half a million bottles, the firm mixed wines of different origins, even adding table wine to ones labelled appellation contrôlée.
It is also alleged that there was fraud over date labelling. The enquiry, by the gendarmerie and anti-fraud officers, relates to a period from 2006-2008. Bosses have admitted there may have been “errors”, but claimed there was no intention of fraud.
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July 2012
Towns set to get tough over dog mess in streets COUNCILS are considering a “zero tolerance” approach to dog mess that, in Narbonne, adds up to more than 43 tonnes a year. The tough-line call has come from Béziers cleansing department head Pierrette Gasquet, who said there should be zero tolerance for dog owners. She said: “Every morning, the town is perfectly clean, but as soon as people take their dogs out, it’s a different story.” Narbonne took some action last year, with posters showing dogs with crosses across their backsides. It says the annual street cleaning costs, including the removal of dog mess, have risen 55% in three years, to €1.3 million in 2011 – and the city council says an average of 120kg of dog mess is scooped up daily (a total of 43.6 tonnes a year). Perpignan has a problem, too, and the town has a booklet entitled La Chasse aux Crottes en Trois Leçons (messhunting in three lessons), with dog toilet training tips, as well as the obvious sugges-
The two bell-towers at Mende cathedral were built in very different architectural styles and were completed in 1512 A RANGE of events are planned this summer as two bells on the top of Mende cathedral in the Lozère triumphantly ring out to mark their 500th anniversary. Local historians say the first stone laid for the church bell towers dates back to 1508 and the work was completed in 1512. Jean-Marc Chevalier, the president of the local branch of Pays d’Art et d’Histoire, said: “The cathedral is such a
significant monument in the department and not to celebrate this anniversary would be a shame.” The construction of the cathedral started in 1368 and the two bell-towers display completely different styles of architecture. The larger one is finely sculpted in Italian Renaissance style and forms a sharp contrast to the more gothic sobriety of the smaller second tower. The town hall is preparing a series of
festivals and events at the cathedral during the summer. Mende mairie spokeswoman Geraldine Moyen said: “We have a great number of events planned to celebrate this anniversary and are finalising the schedule.” Full details can be found at www.mende.fr Since its creation 75 years ago, the cathedral choir has been hosting concerts and events regularly every month and has more than 50 members.
Renewed warning over ‘English’ tarmac scam ENGLISH-speaking conmen who offer to tar your drive for a low fee, before running away with the cash, are back in operation in the Languedoc region. The Fédération des Travaux Publics du Languedoc-Roussillon says the long-running scam, often attributed by the French to bitumeurs anglais (English Tarmac layers) is on the increase in areas of Montpellier, Lunel and Mèze. Targeting businesses and individuals, often those who are elderly or living in remote locations, the con works on a repeated pattern. The scammers claim to have a stock of asphalt (Tarmac and gravel) from a nearby construction site which is coming to the end of a job. They then offer to carry out jobs to tar roads, driveways, and courtyards offering a knock-down price. They ask to be paid in
cash - and then disappear without trace. Florent Gianordoli, federation general secretary, said. “There is no specific information on who these people will target, but most of the time here they are Irish gypsies who carry out the crimes.” The nickname bitumeurs anglais originated many years ago when a number of British conmen were caught operating the scam. Nowadays it is not limited to the British, but to a number of different nationalities. At a court in Alès in June 2011, two Irish men were sentenced to six months imprisonment for a series of such crimes carried out throughout France. Gendarmes ask that, where possible, you should note down a registration number if visited, as this is often the only evidence that the police have to try to track and arrest the conmen.
8 The
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Church bells ring in 500th anniversary
tion of using a plastic bag to clear up the mess. Reha Hutin, of pet owners’ group 30 Millions d’Amis, said: “In France, owners are not as well-trained as in other countries. If we want towns to accept our four-legged friends, we have to be prepared to pick up the mess. “But it’s also up to councils to help: dog toilets are not practical, but why not provide plastic bag dispensers and replenish them, instead of stigmatising owners?” Dog dirt was the subject of an April Fool this year on the Midi Libre’s website. It said the council in Montagnac had voted to create a DNA database of local dogs and use it to identify the “culprits” by analysing the evidence.
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Hail havoc for vineyards WINEGROWERS near Narbonne fear for this year’s harvest after hail hit vineyards near the Aude coast. More than 700 producers have made insurance claims for damage to vines in Gruissan, Peyriac-sur-Mer and Fleury d’Aude. Some say they have lost up to half of their grapes, mostly Syrah.
Sheep cheese safety scare FOOD safety officers have withdrawn sheep cheeses sold under the Berger des Sources brand after a salmonella outbreak in the Lozère. Cheeses should be returned to the shop for a refund.
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July 2012
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SPORT July 15 Tour de France – Riders in the 14th stage of the race will have little time to sample the Blanquette de Limoux bubbly and no desire as the route from Limoux to Foux is a fierce test of their abilities and stamina. The 191km stage features the Port de Lers and then the Mur de Péguère with sections climbing at almost 14%. Limoux was also a stage town last year and it saw the peloton set off for Montpellier and a fourth stage win for Briton Mark Cavendish. This year’s run to Foix sees the start from Limoux just after noon at 179m and after 22km face a climb to the 601m Col du Portel, the first of the three cols on the route. Relentless uphill takes them to the 1,517 Port de Lers at around 14.00 and after dropping 1,000m they have it all to do again up the vertiginous Mur de Péguère at 1,375m. Tour organisers do not often pick such steep climbs – and, with both Andy Schleck and Alberto Contador out, the race has lost its best climbers. The finish is around 17.00. Get a spot early to enjoy the race caravan and its hundreds of free gifts thrown out before the riders go past – the first vans go past 90 minutes before the peloton. Get times for each viewpoint at www.letour.fr (in English)
Hérault
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FESTIVAL
CULTURE
July 21-22 Salon des Vins d'Aniane – More than 30 winemakers from the surrounding villages will host visitors to the winefair at the Chapelle des Pénitents in Aniane.There is a chance to join in tasting workshops where you will find out about the Coteaux de Languedoc and Clairette du Languedoc. Surprisingly for a wine fair, many of the exhibitors come with older vintages as the fair is noted for the high volume of wine sales.
Photo: © Luc Jennepin
July 9-27 Radio France Festival A bit like the Proms in London, the Festival Radio France Montpellier is a large music event which includes plays and operas along with symphonies and jazz. Many of the events are free at venues including L’Opéra Berlioz and L’Espace Radio France. The event includes 17 main events and a number of smaller concerts ranging from classical, modern, jazz and electro throughout the month. Visit www.festivalradiofrancemontpellier.com
Aniane
Mas De Daumas Gassac at Aniane
Hérault Pyrénées-Orientales Montpellier Vernet-les-Bains FOOD
July 1-7 Montpellier Dance Festival One of Europe’s prime dance events, the Montpellier Dance Festival has performances at venues throughout the city. Top dance companies from all over Europe show their latest productions and talented young dancers.There are also dancer’s workshops.Visit www.montpellierdanse.com
July 10 Foire au miel – Perfect for those with a sweet tooth, the Vernet-les-Bains honey fair is organised by the Eixurits du Terroir. Beekeepers will tempt visitors to the spa town with flavours such as rosemary, chestnut and acacia while other stallholders will have jams, candles and other produce. Call 04 68 05 55 35
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Aude
What’s On 9
July 2012
Duilhac
Pick of the rest in Languedoc
FAMILY
All July Spectacle de fauconnerie – The fortress of Peyrepertuse hosts this falconry display by Patrice Potier with his eagle, faulcons, buzzards and owls and it is a superb spectacle in eye-popping surroundings. Find out how falconry was developed and its use for hunting as well as the history of the area.The castle has been occupied since the 11th century and was a Cathar stronghold above Cucugnan and Maury.There are three shows a day. Call 04 82 53 24 07 www.chateau-peyrepertuse.com
GARD, Nîmes July 10 Radiohead Playing live at the Nîmes Arena at 21.00.Ticket prices range from €55.00 to €66.00. Visit www.fnactickets.com GARD, Nîmes July 21 Elton John Playing live at Nîmes Arena at 21.00. Prices range from €62 to €117.Visit www.fnactickets.com LANGUEDOC July 14 Bastille Day France’s national day marks the storming of the prison in Paris on 14 July 1789 and the traditional beginning of the French Revolution. The whole of France celebrates with fireworks, balls and street parties in all the major towns. HÉRAULT, Margon July 7 Festival Cognac Blues Classical music with tenor Jean-Pierre Torrent, Soprano Benedicte Roussenq and Baritone Joseph Guillot at the Chateau de Margon. Starts at 19.00.Tickets €15.
Lozère
Chastanier FOOD
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July 13-15 Fete du pain – There is more than a crusty old loaf to this fair as it opens on the Friday evening with a piano and flute concert in Fonfreyde. Saturday afternoon sees the baking in the communal oven at Villeviellette where baker Henri will show the work in preparing the flour, making dough and kneading before forming into loaves and putting it in the oven. Sunday sees the church blessing of the bread. The midday meal will be taken with the bread made the day before. A Celtic concert follows in the afternoon. Call 04 66 69 14 13 www.foyer-rural-chastanier.com
Pyrénées-Orientales
PYRENEES-ORIENTAL, Perpignan July 13-28 Les Estivales de l’Archipel Eight days of music and dance including the Monte Carlo Ballet, Melody Gardot, Julien Clerc and the Australian Pink Floyd Show. At Campo Santo. Call 04 68 62 00 00 or visit www.lesestivalesdelarchipel.org
HÉRAULT, Agde July 7 Jazz Night New Orleans-style, with the The Royal Jazz Bank, Susana Sheiman and Sammy Daussat Trio. At the Parc du Chateau-Laurens starting 18.30. Tickets €12. Visit www.jazzinade.musicblog.fr
PYRENEES-ORIENTAL, Perpignan July - Every Thursday until August 23 Festival International de Musique et Arts de la Rue Street Performances in the town centre. FREE. Call 04 68 66 30 30
HÉRAULT, Montbazin July 17-22 Festival de Thau Featuring Earth Wind and Fire,Yannick Noah and Camille. At the Abbaye de Valhagne in Meze. Ticket prices range from €15 to €42. Call 04 67 18 70 83 or visit www.festivaldethau.com
Aude, Argeles-sur-Mer July 7-8 Les Deferlantes Music festival with rock, soul, pop and swing featuring Mika, Bénabar, Stuck in the Sound, Metronomy, and Camille at the Parc de Valmy. Music starts at 16.30. Tickets €75. Call 04 68 81 47 25
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July 14 - Feria de Céret Known widely for its bull running event, the Feria opens with activities for youngsters and a fireworks display on the Friday night but thousands will arrive on the Saturday and Sunday for the spectacle of the bulls being run through the streets by Camargue cowboys. On Saturday evening and Sunday morning a bullfight is staged in the town’s bullring. www.ceret.fr and www.feriadeceret.com
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Louise Elsom, left, mother Hilary (standing) and BiC member Susan Heathcock
July 2012
noticeboard New group to make friends BRITS IN Carcassonne is a new local association launched in January 2012. Its founder, Aude-based Louise Elsom, who grew up in Hull and moved to Languedoc with her mother Hilary in 2008, said: “I decided to start the group because I know how difficult it can be to move to a new country, and it's always nice to meet new people, wherever you are,” says Louise, 25, who graduated in Business and Marketing in 2008 and lives in Moussoulens. She adds: “My mum and I found it a lot harder to meet people than in the UK. A lot of people that we knew have now moved back to the UK which is a shame and we wanted to meet more so I came up with the idea of Brits in Carcassonne.” The group has members across the region, including second-home owners; membership is free. Brits in Carcassonne hosts regular events including a walking group, a
Carcassonne Cake Club, coffee mornings, and evenings at a local Irish pub.The aim is to help English-speaking newcomers to the area and to create business networks and a sense of community. “We hope that some of the French locals will join too,” says Louise. “I have already told the local villagers about our coffee mornings and walks. Joining Brits in Carcassonne gives you access to our Forum, where you can chat with other members.” This month the group will be holding its regular coffee morning on Tuesday July 3 at 10am in Moussoulens; the Carcassonne Cake Club will meet on Wednesday July 11 at 2.30pm (the theme is Chocolate Heaven), and the Walking Group will be taking a stroll around the Lac de Cavayère on Sunday morning, July 29. For more details see www.britsincarcassonne.com or email Louise at britsincarcassonne@hotmail.fr
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July 2012
What’s On in the capital
July 20August 19 – Visitors to Paris this summer can combine city sightseeing with a trip to the beach with the return of Paris Plages for its 11th year.A stretch of the right bank of the Seine, from Pont Neuf to the Pont de Sully will be closed to traffic for a month and turned into an urban beach, with sunloungers, mist machines to cool off, ice-creams, restaurants, table football, children’s activity areas, taichi and a pétanque pitch. The main stretch of “beach” is narrow and can get very busy with tourists. Locals looking for a less stressful experience prefer the second Paris Plages site – the much more spacious Bassin de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement, with all the same features plus pedalos and other watersports, a
FAMILY
OUTDOORS July 7 – Paris’s tropical carnival is without doubt one of the city’s liveliest and most colourful outdoor events, with 4,000 dancers and musicians from France’s overseas territories joining the procession in dazzling bright costumes.The event grows in size every year and attracts tens of thousands of spectators of all nationalities.This year’s route starts and finishes at the Place de la Nation, passing by the Boulevard Voltaire, Rue du Chemin Vert and Boulevard Ménilmontant. 14.00 to 18.00. www.carnavaltropicaldeparis.fr
July 19-22 – To mark the launch of Paris Plages, culture superstore Fnac and the Mairie de Paris put on a series of more than 20 free open-air pop and rock concerts on the impressive square outside the Hôtel de Ville over a long weekend.A mixture of popular and up-and-coming French and English-language acts is expected, with full details available shortly at www.fnac.com/fnaclive
MUSIC
Celebrate all things Japan Exclusive July 5-8 – From manga to music and TV, this wide-ranging new exhibition celebrates Japanese popular culture in all its forms, including performances and seminars. It takes place at the Parc des Expositions in Villepinte, on the RER B towards Charles de Gaulle airport. Open daily 10.00-19.00. Tickets from €9 to €14 depending on day of visit. www.japan-expo.com
CULTURE
Evenings of chamber music July 19-August 15 – The beautiful orangery in the Parc de Bagatelle, part of the vast Bois de Boulogne, is the venue for a chamber music festival this summer, with concerts every Thursday at 20.30 and Sunday at 16.30. Works from Beethoven, Bach, Rossini, Mozart and Schubert are among those on the programme, and most performances are priced at €25. www.octuordefrance.com
MUSIC
The Boss performs at Bercy
previews at Paris film fest
Until July 10 – The Paris Film Festival is back for its 10th year, with more than 30 exclusive preview screenings, director talks and a special evening dedicated to films from Hong Kong. Most screenings are €5 (3D films are €7). A pass for the whole festival is €35.The venue is MK2 Bibliothèque cinema, M° Bibliothèque François Mitterrand (line 14/RER C). www.fnac.com/fnaclive
CINEMA
Riverside views as Tour de France cyclists reach capital Photo: traviscrawford/Flickr
July 4-5 – American rock superstar Bruce Springsteen plays two nights at the Palais Omnisports (M° Bercy) as part of his world tour. Tickets range from €68 to €100. Doors open 18.00, concert from 20.00.
MUSIC
Disco theme for fireworks
July 22 – After 20 days racing all over the country, the Tour de France cyclists reach the capital. Setting off from Rambouillet at 14.00, the first competitors are expected to enter Paris at 15.45, with a scenic ride along the right bank of the Seine opposite the Eiffel tower – where there are plenty of vantage points for spectators.They will then complete eight loops from the Louvre up the Champs-Elysées and back before reaching the Arc de Triomphe finish line for about 17.00. www.letour.fr/2012
July 14 – There are fireworks all over France today, but the display at the Eiffel Tower is one of the most spectacular. Lasting 30 minutes, this year’s theme is the 1970s-80s disco era and the first firework goes off at 23.00, but you will need to be there early for a good spot on the Champ de Mars. Earlier in the day is the traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysées from 10.00 – and on the evening of July 13, pompiers hold street parties outside their fire stations.
Photo: tangi_berlin/Flickr
OUTDOORS
SPORT
mini-golf course, cycle track, early evening concerts from metro buskers and an openair cinema festival. Central site: M° Pont-Neuf, Châtelet or Hôtel de Ville. Second site: M° Stalingrad or Jaurès. Entry to both sites is free and open from 8.00 to 0.00. www.paris.fr/parisplages
Photo: Craig O’Neal/Wikimedia
Free summer music outside Hôtel de Ville
Sun, sand and Seine
Photo: slasher-fun/Flickr
Photo: Willy_G91/Flickr
Tropical carnival hits Paris streets
12 Currency special
Languedoc Pag
Make your money go further when buying a French home Buying a French property – whether a main residence or holiday home – is one of the largest purchases you will ever make, so it is important not to waste money by getting a poor deal on currency exchange. Here we look at some of your options WHETHER it is for regular mortgage payments or for a lump sum for a deposit or cash purchase, would-be homeowners often need a cost-effective way to transfer money to France. In fact, getting as much as possible for your pounds became increasingly important in recent years as the value of the pound dropped against the euro. Arranging a transfer through your own bank is the obvious option, but it is advisable not to do so without checking what it offers and whether there are cheaper alternatives. When moving money, costs fall into two main categories: charges and the exchange rate. It is crucial to examine both. Charges A variety of charges can apply, both for the sender and the recipient. Some providers levy several small ones so it may not be immediately clear how much the transfer will cost. Exchange rates This is the “hidden” charge. Some companies state they are commission-free, however an inferior exchange rate can still result in you getting fewer euros for your pound. The principal question to ask is: “How many euros will I get for my pounds, after all of the different charges?” Beyond that, practical considerations come into play, such as the speed of the service, how easy and convenient it is, whether the method is suited to regular payments or one-offs and whether any special safeguards are offered. If you are going with the basic option of using your bank – and many people do – you will need the BIC and IBAN numbers of your French account, which are printed on your relevé d’identité bancaire (RIB). Depending on the bank’s policies, you can arrange the transfer by phone, internet or in person. The bank sending the money applies their own exchange rate. They may also levy a commission fee and/or a transfer charge. Depending on where you are sending the money, there can also be up to another half a
per cent of bank receiving fees, charged by the bank receiving the money. Banks may offer an exchange rate that is considerably worse than the interbank one (the rate you see quoted in the press) which they usually set at the start of each day. They set their rate at a level to make sure if there are exchange rate fluctuations during the day these will be accommodated in the rate. Using a currency exchange company is the main alternative to a bank transfer. Advantages may include cheaper transfers, the chance to arrange your transfers over the internet and the option to set up regular payment schemes, sometimes with “locked in”, agreed exchange rates. People will generally think of using one of these firms when they want to transfer larger amounts, says Mark Bodega, a director of HiFX, one of the larger currency specialists. “Traditionally people will use a firm like ours on occasions like buying a property in France or when transferring larger sums of £5,000 or more,” he says. He adds that people use currency transfer companies for a variety of reasons, including monthly mortgage payments or ad hoc payments such as maintenance money to cover bills for a property in France. While some firms do not allow small transfers, policies vary, he adds. HiFX has an online service which allows people to transfer from £250 up to £300,000 and offers better online exchange rates for the transfer of smaller sums than are available by telephone.
A manager at another large currency exchange firm, Moneycorp, Christina Weis, says: “Currency transfer is our core business – it’s the only thing we do, which is why we are able to offer the best rates and more specific help compared to the banks. For example, we can track the rates and complete transfers when they reach a certain level.” To make use of a British currency specialist, you need to have a UK bank account. An agreement is made – for example via the specialist’s website – for transfer of a given sum at a given rate. The client then transfers the money to the specialist, who transfers it to the client’s bank in France. They can also transfer from your UK account to other third parties with bank accounts. No additional charges There are no charges directly levied by most of the larger currency specialists as any commission charges, transfer fees or bank receiving fees involved are paid by the currency specialist. The firm is able to make money based on the fact that they receive a more favourable exchange rate in the currency markets than an individual does and they share the benefits of this with the customer. HiFX report that their exchange rates are still typically better than those offered by banks, despite the fact that banks can profit also by levying other charges on top. Mr Bodega says: “The banks’ spread on the exchange rate – ie: the difference between the price they buy foreign currency at compared to what they sell it to you at – is so wide that we can afford to offer a better exchange rate and include all the fees within that, because currency is all we do. We don’t avoid those charges – we have to pay them.” Where a fixed rate has not been agreed, currency firms calculate their exchange rates
with reference to the actual interbank rate at the time of exchange, Mr Bodega says, as opposed to the banks’ system of setting a rate at the start of each day. He says this could help them to set more favourable levels because they do not have to factor in possible fluctuations. Regular payment plans For Britons paying overseas mortgages, regular payment plans offered by currency firms allow them to fix or “lock in” an exchange rate, typically for up to 12 months. This protects you from negative exchange rate fluctuations and makes sure you never miss a payment when it is due.
ges
Currency special 13
July 2012
Connexion helpguides INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST ON LIFE IN FRANCE
When buying a home, consider the purchase as well as ad hoc payments, such as for maintenance
“
We can afford to offer a better exchange rate and include all the fees withing that because currency is all we do Mark Bodega
Director at HiFX currency specialists Forward contracts This is a “buy now, pay later” agreement, allowing you to lock in a rate for a one-off payment that you plan to make in the future. Buying a house When using a currency transfer specialist to help you with buying a house, the deposit money can be sent over to whichever bank account you want, whether your own, an estate agent’s or a notaire’s. Regular mortgage payments can be arranged so they go either to your bank account or directly to the mortgage provider. Moneycorp’s Christina Weis says the option of fixing exchange rates for future transactions up to two years ahead is especially useful in the case of buying a house. “It gives risk protection, as regardless of exchange rate fluctuation, your currency will be secured. “If you don’t secure the rate, you agree on a purchase date and start signing paperwork and by the time the notaire has processed everything you need to pay the
balance. By that point, the exchange rates might have changed and you might have to pay more than you budgeted for.” A trader from another large firm, Baydonhill FX, Regis Grant, says: “Your broker can tell you how the markets operate and you can ask them to keep you informed of major market movements. That way you can make informed decisions about whether it is a good time to fix a rate.” He adds that you should never leave an important transaction to the last minute. “If the market takes a bad turn just ahead of your completion, you have no time to recoup your losses.” Picking a currency firm You should do your own research before making a decision. Among checks you will want to make on British ones are looking to see if they are FSA registered. See www.fsa.gov.uk/register/psdFirmSearchForm.do Larger providers are called an “authorised payment institution” and smaller ones are listed as a “small payment institution”. The larger ones must safeguard your money – that is, they must keep it separate from their own funds, so that if the firm went bankrupt your money would be safe. Small payment institutions may also choose to safeguard customers’ funds. Being authorised as either kind of body means the firm has agreed to abide by an EU directive on their terms of business. Individual firms may also stress other matters as proof of seriousness and security – for example, one major currency exchange firm points out that it is stock-exchange listed, which means its accounts get regular and public scrutiny.
Currency exchange helpguide – newly updated The Connexion newspaper has a helpguide to currency exchange that covers topics such as using your UK bank to make a transfer, understanding fees and rates, how to have your UK pension paid directly into your French bank account, and using a currency exchange specialist. The above article is extracted from it.
Download a copy for €5 at www.connexionfrance.com or call 0800 91 77 56 for a printed version to be sent to you
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Explains how France’s healthcare system works and gives a breakdown of the reimbursement system covering doctors, dentists, opticians and mental health specialists. Explains how to register with a GP and other practical information including pregnancy, cancer screening, disabilities and pharmacies. Especially written for Britons living in France. Published July 1, 2012.
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14 Leisure Time
Languedoc Pages
July 2012
Sponsored by French-themed crossword
What’s in a word?
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1. Sweet bread often served warm for petit déjeuner (7) 4. Eccentric composer Erik _____, best known today for his Gymnopédies (5) 7. Conductor’s instrument (5) 9. Healthy toast – à votre _____ (5) 10. Salty accompaniment in Chinese cuisine (3) 11. Greek goddess of victory (4) 12. Scene of first modern Olympics in 1896 (6) 15. Book title by Sir Thomas More now used to describe a perfect but unlikely society or state (6) 16. Toddler depository (6) 19. Musketeer mate of Athos and Porthos (6) 20. Le ____, a loosely defined area of several regions including Languedoc-Roussillon (4) 21. and 14 down: Legend has it this monk discovered méthode for making sparkling wines (3,8) 23. Informal for someone over 60 (5) 24. Writer born Françoise Quoirez who achieved fame with first novel Bonjour Tristesse (5) 25. A bleue one is useful in many transactions (5) 26. Small quantity, just to give a taste (7)
1. Michelin Man introduced at the Lyon Exhibition of 1894 (8) 2. Hollow jointed stem of a tall grass such as bamboo (4) 3. Made as a substitute for something, usually inferior in quality (6) 4. Dry white wine from the upper Loire valley (8) 5. Long lock or ringlet of hair (5) 6. Deadly Sin known in Latin as invidia (4) 8. Far Eastern city bidding for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad (5) 13. Ancient province where the battles of Crécy and later of the Somme took place (8) 14. See 21 across 17. Type of peach whose flesh sticks firmly to the stone (5) 18. Upper arm muscle (6) 19. For some people, this sentiment is all you need (5) 21. Descartes said: “Je pense, ____ je suis” (4) 22. Twin brother of Jacob, to whom he sold his birthright (4)
The France quiz
by Paul Masters
Photo: Mike Knell/Flickr
Photo: Patrizia Tilly - Fotolia.com
canapé IT IS the end of a sweltering hot day in midsummer and you are sitting out on a terrace or balcony when you hear the whine of a mosquito, out for its evening meal. Many an evening has been spoilt by the little pests. Even in Ancient Greece, they suffered. But, being Ancient Greeks, and very civilised, they took to the remedy of hanging curtains around the area where they were seated, as a form of protection from the flying predators. Since the Greek name for mosquito was konops, the curtained area was called a konopion. In later times the Romans took over the Greek idea, but the pronunciation altered slightly to canopeum. Over the centuries that followed, the word spread throughout the Roman Empire, but up in barbarous Britain the final syllable fell silent, and canopeum became canopy, and has, of course, remained in the language to the present day. In France, however, the concept was
1 WHO did François Hollande appoint as the new prime minister of France? 2 WHAT feature will Eurostar be introducing to all of its trains from September? 3 MEMBERS of which age-old industry demonstrated in Paris last month to protest against “police repression" and plans to penalise their customers?
4 WHERE was the starting point for this year’s Tour de France?
applied more to the seats within the area than to the curtains themselves. Thus the modern French word for couch or sofa is canapé. But the story does not end there. At some stage, the French word canapé took on its second meaning, describing a small piece of bread or toast spread with some savoury appetizer, such as foie gras. Maybe because the two shapes resembled one another, or because the bread provided a seat for the pâté. No one is quite sure.
5 TO the nearest million, how many people in France are registered as looking for work at the Pôle Emploi (job centre) according to the latest figures? 6 FRANCE’S first match in the Euro 2012 football tournament was against which country?
Sudoku
Puzzles by websudoku.com
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CROSSWORD ANSWERS. Across: 1 brioche; 4 Satie; 7 baton; 9 santé; 10 soy; 11 Nike; 12 Athens; 15 Utopia; 16 crèche; 19 Aramis; 20 Midi; 21 Dom; 23 Oldie; 24 Sagan; 25 carte; 26 soupçon Down: 1 Bibendum; 2 cane; 3 ersatz; 4 Sancerre; 5 tress; 6 envy; 8 Tokyo; 13 Picardie; 14 Perignon; 17 cling; 18 biceps; 19 amour; 21 donc; 22 Esau FRANCE QUIZ ANSWERS. 1. Jean-Marc Ayrault. 2. Quiet carriages. 3. Prostitutes. 4. Liège, Belgium. 5. Three million. 6. England
Easy
by John Foley
Languedoc Pages
Food and Pets 15
July 2012
Chutney is chic
Green tomato chutney
CUT OUT & KEEP!
is cooked slowly, stirring with a wooden spoon from time to time, until soft. To test for readiness, draw the wooden spoon through the mixture. It should leave a clean path with no trace of unabsorbed liquid. Jars should be sterilised, either by running through the dishwasher or heated in a warm oven for 15 minutes and filled hot and to the brim. Because they contain such a significant amount of vinegar, the closures used for chutneys need to prevent evaporation and shrinkage, rather than spoilage. Lids should be tightly fitting and of course need to be resistant to vinegar, ie; avoid “bare” metal. The jars should be wiped and dried and labelled as usual, then stored for at least a month, preferably longer, in a cool, dark place. Once opened, chutney should be kept in the fridge. Here is a very easy starter recipe – anyone who grows tomatoes will always have a supply of green ones.
INGREDIENTS 1kg green tomatoes 1kg onions 1kg apples - can be wind-falls 500g raisins or sultanas often to be found in markets sold loose. 500g soft brown sugar 2 tbsp Dijon mustard Juice of 2 lemons 1.2 litres white vinegar (see above) Salt and pepper
influenced by the vinegar chosen. So, for example, if you are making a mango chutney, a white distilled vinegar (vinaigre d’alcool cristal) would be indicated so that the golden colour of the fruit is retained The same applies to the sugar; the darker the sugar, the richer the flavour and finished colour. As chutney needs to mature to develop its full flavour, it is no good tasting it when it is freshly made. You would get a very false idea. It may appear too hot or spicy, but this will mellow out during storage. When choosing a pan for chutney, avoid copper, brass, iron or chipped enamel. These impart a very unpleasant taste and give a poor colour. The fruit and vegetables should be washed, peeled, cored, stoned or seeded according to type. They are then either coarsely minced or finely chopped. The remaining ingredients, sugar, flavourings and spices are then added and the whole lot
Photo: Joan Bunting
I DO not think I am alone in noticing that what I used to consider to be a very British condiment, though of course originally imported from India, is making an appearance on French supermarket shelves and especially on upmarket menus – chutney. One of my favourite restaurants serves a variety of preserves with the cheese course including chutney, fig confit and cherry preserve. Chutneys are perhaps the easiest and most satisfying preserves of all. Even inexperienced cooks can be successful, so this is an excellent way to start. Unlike jam ingredients, fruit and vegetables used in chutney-making need not be perfect. This means that surplus or abundant ingredients can be used up economically. Here are a few tips. The type of vinegar used should always compliment the other ingredients. The final colour and flavour of the finished result will be
After winning the first BBC MasterChef in 1990, JOAN BUNTING was soon writing a food column and doing local radio for the BBC. Now she has retired and moved permanently to her home in France, but she is still keen to tell readers about good food
METHOD Chop, mince or process the fruit and vegetables. Put these into a preserving pan. Add the raisins and the other ingredients. Bring to the boil and then simmer for at least an hour, or until very thick (see above). Pot into hot sterilised jars, cover with suitable lids and store for a month before using. Note: If you wish to make a spicier chutney, add a large cube of grated fresh ginger and four to six chopped fresh or dried chillies.
Keeping pets comfortable in the heat
ONE of the reasons many expats cite for a new life in France is the glorious weather. But when the temperature rises there are steps all conscientious pet owners must take in order to protect their pets. While we might enjoy the long, sunny days of summer outdoors, hot weather can spell danger for our four-legged friends. Dehydration, heat stroke and sunburn are some of the severe ailments that can seriously harm – or even kill – animals. First up; never, ever leave an animal alone in a vehicle. The French authorities can and do prosecute for this. Do not forget, even with the windows open, a parked vehicle can rapidly become a furnace and overheating can kill an animal. Parking in shade offers little protection, as the sun moves throughout the day. When travelling with your pets, always carry a supply of fresh, cold water. Symptoms of overheating in pets include excessive panting, diffi-
Photo: alessandrozocc - Fotolia.com
Animals do not handle the hot weather in the same way as humans. SAMANTHA BRICK explains the steps you can take to keep your pet safe and comfortable in the summer heat
Pet Care culty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness or even collapse. Always exercise your animal in the cool of the early morning or evening. Never force your animal to exercise after a meal in searing, humid weather. In extremely hot temperatures, do not keep your dog standing on the street, and keep walks to a minimum. He is much closer to the hot asphalt and his body can heat up quickly. His paws can also burn since they are not protected by shoes. Also, avoid walking your dog in areas that you believe may have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals, as poisonings increase during the summer when gardens, lawns and trees are
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Give your dog a haircut and brush your cat’s fur more regularly to prevent problems with excessive heat sprayed. These chemicals are toxic, sometimes fatally so, for animals. Keep all unscreened windows or doors in your home closed. Vets have noticed an increase in the hot weather of pets – mostly cats – falling out of open windows or doors. Unfortunately the injuries sustained can be serious or fatal. Give your dog a lightweight summer haircut to help prevent overheating. Shave their coat down to a one-inch length, never to the skin, so your dog still has some protection from the sun. Brushing cats
more regularly than usual can prevent problems caused by excessive heat. Ensure that any sunscreen or insect repellent product you use on your pets is manufactured specifically for use on animals. Always provide plenty of shade for an animal staying outside the house. A properly constructed dog house serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day and let them rest in a cool part of your house. Be especially sensitive to the needs of older and overweight animals in hot weather.
If you are attending any of the summer fetes which you know will have a bonfire and fireworks display afterwards, then leave your pet at home – and never use fireworks around pets. If you do attend barbecues or other summer get-togethers, remember the food and drink offered to guests may be poisonous to pets. Finally, always remember that pets can get dehydrated quickly, so ensure they have a constant supply of fresh, clean water when it is hot outdoors.
Tel. 06 58 01 82 76 Web. www.seulementnaturel.eu Email. marc.somsen@chardeyre.com
16 Directory
Languedoc Pages
July 2012
Advertise here ALL YEAR from just €75HT Call free on 0800 91 77 56 or email directory@connexionfrance.com
LANGUEDOC DIRECTORY English-speaking firms near you For your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities
Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily By advertising in our directory you get the chance to run advertorials (the articles you see on these pages). We are currently offering these at a two for one price, so two x 1/4 page advertorials, maximum 400 words plus photo, costs just €200HT. A minimum two month break between publishing applies and the second advertorial is a repeat of the first. If you wish to change the second there is a €25 fee together with a €15 fee if you want us to provide a photo.
We will keep you up to date with features and special events in your area of France in all our publications which could help to boost your business. We include the text from your advertisement in our online directory for no extra charge. Want to advertise in our national paper The Connexion or sister papers in other regions? Call our sales team for more information.
ADVERTISING FEATURE
Renovation, renovation, renovation Whether you are renovating a whole property or just overhauling one room Justin Harrison and David Hodgskin can help you develop and realise your interior ideas ANY kind of renovation can be daunting. Whether it is the refurbishment of an entire house or simply a bathroom installation, doing some research and having an idea of what you want is the best way to start. Having recently renovated an uninhabitable stone house into a two-bedroom property with two bathrooms, a new kitchen floor and a complete rewire, Carcassonne-based business partners Justin Harrison and Dave Hodgskin - a plumber and an electrician respectively are able to bring a large range of ideas and extensive experience to any project. Justin and Dave now have many customers involving them on projects at the
early development stage so that they can benefit from their knowledge. “There are many shops and internet sites that offer a fantastic range of wall and floor tiles so thinking about colour schemes and layouts in advance really helps,” said Justin. “The key is not to mix too many colours and styles together, but instead find a base colour and use feature elements, such as a border, that will enhance the room.” He added: “As a rule of thumb no more than three colours should be used in one room, but the bigger it is the braver it is possible to be.” In terms of bathrooms, the pair have found that the floating variety of toilets and units are currently very popular and
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that people are using baths less and showers more. “With regard to shower units quality is important for both the look and installation,” said Justin. “I would also still advise the installation of a bath if there is enough space as it may be the make or break of the sale of your house in many years to come.” When it comes to lighting, Dave recommends choosing energy efficient options that add to the feel of the room. “Look for soft light fittings that offer effective and harmonious lighting, good ambiance and both financial and energy savings,” he said. For anyone planning to turn an empty room or garage into a bathroom the
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Home from Home
electrics need to be considered and may lead to the rewiring of your property. “This not only creates a safe home, but also increases the value, should you come to sell,” said Dave. For those who would like further information or car rental space while holidaying in the area, please contact Justin or Dave.
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Languedoc Pages
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Directory 17
July 2012
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Need someone to help with property maintenance problems, home improvements, renovations, Exteriors, Gardens & Pools. Contact Anthony Main 0033 (0)468 783 696 email: anthonymain.fr@gmail.com www.midibuilder.com Siret 4846 8735 500012
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18 DIY
Languedoc Pages
2012 Helpguide to Letting out your French home to tourists INFORMATION YOU CAN TRUST ON LIFE IN FRANCE
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It only takes about a day to build a fixed barbecue WITH the summer months in full swing, there is nothing more convivial than inviting over family and friends for an alfresco meal and of course nothing beats a good barbecue when it comes to a summer get together. Impress your guests by cooking for them on a brick barbeque that you have made yourself. It only takes about a day to build and offers many summers of enjoyment. Materials needed are: bricks, cement, sand, spirit level, rectangular cooking tray, trowel, metal ties, length of wood, water, large paving slab. 1. Level the ground where you intend to build the barbeque. Lay out the first level of bricks in an E shape, making sure that bricks fit exactly around the shape of the cooking tray. If possible try not to cut the bricks. 2. Once the shape has been defined, mix the cement and lay the first layer of mortar directly on the ground then place the first level of bricks on top. Check that it is still level and that all corners are at right angles. 3. Use the metal ties to hold together and strengthen the inner, middle wall to the back long wall. 4. Continue to lay the next levels of bricks starting from the corners. Make sure to use the spirit level to check the structure is straight horizontally and vertically and that the bricks’ joints are staggered. 5. On the seventh level place the bricks on small outer and inner walls sideways to create a ledge on which to place the wood or charcoal tray. Build up another three layers (more if you are taller) and do the same again, this time to place the cooking grill on. 6. Build up another level but only on the side where the grill will be to act as protection. 7. Cement the large paving slab to the top of the wall on the right hand side which will act as a work surface. 8. Finish off the joints on the outside walls by taking a length of soft piping and running it along the joints. Wait for it all to completely dry and there you have it – a simple but chic barbecue. Bon appétit. Photo: auremar - Fotolia.com
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How to build a brick barbecue
This helpguide provides you with the information you need to enter the world of short-term holiday lets. We also provide tips on marketing your home and giving it special touches which will make it more attractive to potential guests. Published February 1, 2012, to include the latest information. Choose between PDF digital edition or paper copy posted to your French home.
The 2012 helpguide is now on sale for €5 for a downloadable or printed version Excluding (printed version does not include p&p) P&P You can order at the helpguide section of www.connexionfrance.com or call (free from France) 0800 91 77 56 or 0844 256 9881 from UK (4p/min) to pay by credit card
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D I Y tips Photo: Alexey Polikarpov - Fotolia.com
O
July 2012
Languedoc Pages
Home and Garden 19
July 2012
Al fresco party time
Gardening Sponsored by
Photo: skampixel - Fotolia.com
The fruits of your labour by SAMANTHA DAVID
GARDEN parties are a must for summer – and one way of making sure yours is remembered is to have a theme. With so many possibilities, there is bound to be an idea that suits, whether it be a carnival with games for the kids or an altogether more tranquil affair with a traditional afternoon tea party complete with homemade scones. For a sophisticated evening party, why not go for a jazz or classical music theme and ask guests to come dressed in their finest, or a Victorian theme with paperlace doilies and sophisticated flower arrangements to decorate? If you want to go all out – and think your guests are up for it – you could even ask everyone to come in fancydress. Popular costume ideas include a 50s rock ‘n’ roll party, storybook characters or Bollywood. Once you are happy with your idea, you can set about matching your invitations, music and drinks to the theme. You can either make the invitations yourself or go online to download readymade ones. Alternatively, you could ask friends to RSVP online. If there is a dress code, be sure to mention it in the invitation. When it comes to decorating, flowers are the obvious choice for an outdoor do and can be used as centrepieces on tables. The classic look for garden party table decor is a white tablecloth, and garden arches can work well as an entrance to the party. It is a good idea to start from the top when decorating your garden. Starting at the bottom might mean you have to work around other decorations and risk breaking something. Guests could either sit at tables and chairs dotted around part of the garden, or on picnic mats for a more relaxed style. However, if you would prefer a more elegant garden party, have a table for glasses and nibbles. For a sit-down meal, a seating plan could be a good idea, and you could always add handwritten place cards. If you are lucky enough to have the weather on your side, make sure to have a place where guests can get some shade – either indoors, under canopies or in a summerhouse. Once the party is under way, it could be time to hit the dance floor. If your garden has some space to dance, be sure
Finger food allows guests to wander and mingle amongst themselves
“
Finger food is ideal, as garden parties are a place for mingling. Light, seasonal ingredients work well – and if you grow vegetables, have a fruit tree or plant herbs, put them to good use
to have music to hand; salsa tracks or slow romantic waltzes are often popular. You could also match the music to your theme. As for what to serve your guests, finger food is ideal, as garden parties are a place for mingling. Light, seasonal ingredients work well. And if you grow vegetables, have a fruit tree or plant herbs, be sure to put them to good use. Ideas include mini bruschetta toasts with mozzarella, basil and tomato, wraps, dips, plates of cheese and crackers, salads and mini quiches for savoury, and chocolate dipped strawberries, cookies, petits fours and fruit kebabs for dessert. While beer and wine are a safe bet, you could also offer pitchers of homemade lemonade, sangria or summer punch.
Give some thought to the range of drinks you are offering – and arrangements for seating depending on formality
Photo: Yves Damin - Fotolia.com
Photo: Dasha Petrenko - Fotolia.com
BETWEEN watering the garden and watering the guests, July is a busy month outdoors. Organic mulching can retain moisture, but does also tend to attract slugs, so if you go down this route, consider beer traps. Hoeing will ensure water sinks into the ground, and watering late at night and/or early in the morning gives plants a chance to have a good drink before the sun hits them again. If it thunders, do not assume that you will not have to water. Check for water absorption by sticking your finger into the earth. Very often after a summer storm, only the very surface of the soil will be wet. The vegetable garden will be in full harvest mode, but do not forget to swap produce with other gardeners to avoid eating endless gluts. Ensure you get every single tiny spud out of the ground as rotten potatoes can harbour diseases which will attack next year’s planting. If you have a greenhouse, make sure it is well aired and consider putting up shade if you notice leaves getting scorched. Rolls of bamboo are useful for this. Harvesting fruit is better done before breakfast than any other time of the day, not least because it gives time for jam making or bottling. Set up an outdoor kitchen to avoid heating up the house. Once apple trees have fruited you can prune them. Keep an eye on your strawberry plants. They will be sending out long runners with baby plants on them. Just keep the first one or two plantlets and cut the rest off. You can either pot the baby plants up for over-wintering in the greenhouse or you can stake them out, leap-frogging your established plants each year so that your strawberry bed gradually walks down your vegetable garden, rejuvenating itself as it goes. This is also an ideal month to start a gardening diary of what you planted where, so that you can rotate your planting in the years to come and also so that you remember what grew well in which area of the garden. July is also a good time to do any garden carpentry like constructing trellises or mending gates. And it should be dry enough to give wooden constructions a coat of paint or wood preservative. Do not worry if your lawn dries out and goes brown. It is dormant rather than dead. It will go green again with the first autumn rain. If you have lots of time, energy and water, you can give it a daily soak and a weekly trim to keep it green all summer however. Sow Sweet William, Foxgloves, Violets and Canterbury Bells for next year and take some geranium cuttings to grow on indoors over the winter and plant out next summer.
There is plenty to consider when arranging a summer garden party. REBECCA LAWN looks at everything from themes and decoration to your choice of seating, food and drink
Photo: Moreno Novello - Fotolia.com
Facts
20 Property
Languedoc Pages
July 2012
Houses for sale across France Buying or selling a property? We can help. Our website www.connexionfrance.com carries details of more than 14,000 homes for sale across France. We also feature properties for sale in this dedicated section of the paper each month. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com and enter the ref: code shown under the property.
age costs just €200TTC and gives you three months online advertising as well as a print advert in three editions of The Languedoc Pages. Our 6+6 package is best value at €330TTC and provides the same, but for six months via each channel.
New Consumption and Emission Chart - e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions
Contact us on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of
For sellers, the adverts are also displayed across a range of popular English- speaking websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERY day. Our 3+3 pack-
www.connexionfrance.com
Simply enter the code under each home to find out more PROPERTIES IN LANGUEDOC
€91,000
€108,000
€115,000
Aude Lovely stone house including light living room, equipped kitchen and 2 bedrooms, perfect for holidays.
Argeles sur Mer, Pyrénées-Orientales 1 bedroom apartment comprises cabin, mezzanine, terrace and private garden. The complex offers Spa, swimming pool and fitness centre.
Hérault 2 bedroom first floor apartment (85m2) based in a small town with all amenities north of Beziers. Includes private garden with 3 garden sheds, terrace and a barbecue.
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: 855
REF: 37060
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 10765-TNTBED125000E
€125,000
€132,000
€144,500
Hérault 3 bedroom stone village home offering equipped kitchen, 2 washrooms, and courtyard. The property has many original features such as terra cotta floors, exposed beams and doors.
Bouriege, Aude This 3 bedroom house in the village of Bouriège and has views of the river Aude from the balcony-terrace. The property comprises living room, kitchen, utility, bathroom and garage.
Pouzolles, Hérault 3 bedroom charming townhouse be the local cinema. Inscludes south east facing sun terrace. There is potential for a 4th bedroom with en-suite bathroom upstairs.
REF: 10765-C136400E
ENERGY RATING = C
REF: 700095
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: IFPC21909
€150,000
€152,000
€230,000
Quillan, Aude Well maintained 2 bedroom bungalow with mature garden 1053m². Includes lounge/diner, fitted kitchen, utility room, shower room, terrace and garage.
Quillan, Aude 6 bedroom detached house comprise 2 kitchens, shower room, toilet, sitting room, store room and garage. Close to Ski stations.
Gard 3 bedroom villa comprise a living/dining room, new fitted kitchen, bathroom, toilet, terrace, garden of 705m² and garage.
REF: 2175
ENERGY RATING = D & C
REF: 2065
ENERGY RATING = F & D
REF: W545
€238,250
€250,000
€270,000
Gabian, Hérault Pretty 3 bedroom villa consist of living room, dining room, bathroom/shower room, separate toilet, terrace, garden and garage (utility room and 2 large store rooms).
Fouzilhon, Hérault 3 bedroom house with spacious living room, modern fitted kitchen, utility room, terrace, garden, garage, private parking and swimming pool.
Pyrénées-Orientales Old stone 4 bedroom house entirely renovated. Includes kitchen/family room, living room, 2 bathrooms, workshop, wine cellar, garden and garage.
REF: 5678
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 342431389
ENERGY RATING = C & C
REF: IFPC22162
€283,000
€285,000
€300,000
Gard This 2 bedroom beautiful villa consists of living room with a mezzanine of 48m2, kitchen, bathroom, 2 terraces, garden, swimming pool, outdoor toilet, large garage and outbuilding .
St Chinian Proche, Hérault 3 storey pigeonnier comprises 3 bedrooms, open plan living room, fitted kitchen, large circular bathroom, 2 terraces and large cellar.
Carcassonne, Aude This beautiful 3 bedroom detached villa very good condition throughout with American kitchen, 2 bathrooms, 3 toilets, garage and swimming pool.
REF: U538
ENERGY RATING = D &D
REF: M2892
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 1175
€330,000
€349,000
€369,000
Gard 3 bedroom house comprises kitchen / living room, 2 bathrooms, terrace, balcony, 2 garages, workshop, wooden shed and pool.
Aude The 3 bedroom modern villa includes spacious kitchen, shower room, en suite, conservatory, terrace, garage workshop and garden.
Trèbes, Aude 4 bedroom detached single storey villa includes open kitchen onto the living room/dining room, bathroom, 2 toilets, terrace, garage and swimming pool.
REF: W482
ENERGY RATING = D & C
REF: 700724
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 110153180
€385,000
€410,000
€424,000
Céret, Pyrénées-Orientales Charming 4 bedroom village house full of character consist American kitchen, living dining room, shower room, 3 terraces, cellar, garage, garden and swimming pool.
Magalas, Hérault This 3 bedroom villa comprises lounge, dining room, bathrooms, kitchen and gardens. There is a 22m2 Mezzanine which is currently used as an office.
Gard 4 bedroom Villa includes terrace, garage, double garage, cellar, reversible air conditioning, swimming pool.
REF: VH525
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 342431375
ENERGY RATING = C & D
REF: 37405
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = E
ENERGY RATING = F & C
ENERGY RATING = D & A
ENERGY RATING = B & C
ENERGY RATING = C & D
ENERGY RATING = Not given
The adverts above cost from just €200TTC for three months of web advertising and three months of print advertising.
Let our distribution get you a sale. Contact our sales team on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com
Languedoc Pages
Business and Legal 21
July 2012
ANNETTE MORRIS has lived in Languedoc for over four years. She works as a freelance internet marketing consultant and website developer, helping businesses optimise their online presence. Annette co-runs www.LaFranglaise.com and the Languedoc group of the Survive France network. Last year she started Languedoc Jelly, designed to promote the co-working concept to expats and English-speakers in France. In this regular column she shares her tips for the business community and would welcome readers’ questions and feedback.
LegalNotes Answered by
Photo: GUIDO VROLA - FOTOLIA.COM
Photo: © ermess - Fotolia.com
Cut costs - but not at the cost of reputation You may not be able to do much about neigbours
Bad neighbours can blight lives Attracted by the lovely peaceful French countryside, you bought a property with a beautiful view surrounded by fields with a few cows belonging to the retired farmer... However, your neighbour has now sold up to a young farmer who installs a dunghill near to your house, the farm is a total mess, and his wife sings her repertoire out loud every morning. What can you do?
Many factors help entrepreneurs build success – but you do not need to master every skill to make your business work
The extent to which recent political changes will have implications for expats working in France remains to be seen. Whether established or just starting out, many anglophone businesses in the region will be running on tight budgets and trying to keep expenses as low as possible until the business landscape becomes clearer. REDUCING costs may feel good initially, but in some cases can lead to longer-term shortfalls. You may be confident in your business intentions, but cuts may also mean compromising customer service; and your clients will be the first to notice. Is this the right time to put your business reputation at risk? Clients like consistency, and, as a small business or entrepreneur, your job is to keep your customers happy. So this is a key time to engage with the people that keep your business progressing. While you are walking the walk and talking the talk with clients, there are many ways to keep the sales, marketing and administration going. Using professionals with specialist skills need not cost the earth and will save your own time, and allow you the space to strengthen and grow. Just getting out of the dayto-day and focusing on your business is a huge step that 90% of entrepreneurial small businesses never grasp. Doing the same thing over and over will get you the
“
Realising what an hour of your time is really worth is a turning point
same results over and over again. Successful people, and businesses, recognise the need for change early. There are five easy-to-see benefits to developing your business through seeking the right kind of outside help – before too late. Get some direction – a little specialist help will enable you to get a clearer picture of your business, and the steps you need to take. Two heads are better than one, networking works. Reignite an excitement in your product, get an external view. Technical know-how. Save
time battling the everchanging worldwide web. Seeking expert advice will radically reduce your learning curve and set you on the right online path from the start. Stop juggling – if you are multi-tasking in all directions something is going to suffer. Accept you may not be the best person to do it all. Prioritise, delegate, and focus on what you do best. Get promoted – Selfpromotion can often appear desperate or amateurish. Using a third party professional, your clients can be shown why to like you, trust you and buy from you. Realising what an hour of your time is really worth is a turning point. Once you have identified the services or skills you need, consider how to engage professional help. Anglophone networking groups may put you in touch
with others in a similar position or people that could be open to a skill swap. If you decide to engage a consultant or virtual assistant, the right person will have good experience in what you want done, and won’t be afraid to say to you if it’s not for them. They will have a good reputation (most will have a LinkedIn profile) and be willing to provide references. Most importantly, they will be cost-conscious with your money and won’t demand full payment up front. Small businesses in the Languedoc-Roussillon region have a huge advantage on the competitive map – they can be flexible, versatile and professionally agile - they can respond to a changing marketplace at speed. In times of recession, sharing the workload can only nurture and strengthen the Languedoc-Roussillon business landscape.
Find what you want, here: www.linkedin.com – professionals by expertise or location www.viadeo.com – same as above www.lifehacker.com – useful technology tips & tricks www.fab-networks.com – Business networking events in 66 www.languedocjelly.org – Free events for professionals
To contact Annette Morris, call 07 86 14 16 39 or email Solutions@LaFranglaise.com
THERE ARE various different legal solutions to these types of problems: a criminal complaint when the source of the prejudice is a criminal offence, an administrative order whereby one resorts to obtaining an inspection by the administrative authorities and finally a civil action. Your next move depends on the nature of the disorder. If you are disturbed by noisy neighbours at night, you should make a criminal complaint as this is considered an offence. It is different for daytime noise and there is a distinction between private individuals and professionals. For private individuals, DIY and gardening noises as well as playing music or listening to the radio will not be construed as a disturbance of the peace as long as they do not disturb neighbours repeatedly and the noise is reasonable. For the farmer’s wife’s singing, there are cases where the courts have sanctioned domestic singers who have persistently disturbed neighbours with their lack of talent. If the neighbour is making noise as part of his professional activity, this will only be regarded as an offence if the noise exceeds the accepted legal limit. For such disturbances – and for noise from a bar or club – you can complain to the local authorities competent to carry out health and safety inspections . However, they may not necessarily act on your complaint and can decide whether or not to inspect the establishment. Finally, you can take civil court action for all types of disturbances, based on a case law notion called “trouble anormal de voisinage” or abnormal disturbance caused by neighbours. This can apply to noise, smells, pollution... Civil courts will sanction the neighbour if the disturbance goes beyond what is seen as an acceptable tolerance level. So, for each case the situation will be different and providing evidence of the disturbance is paramount. In the case of the farmer, it could be very difficult to have his dung heap removed as he is running a farm. If it meets hygiene and security rules he will be allowed to leave it. You may feel your neighbour is ruining your life but you may not be able to do much about it. That means it is important to check the situation regarding the neighbours and the urbanisation rules applying to the area where you plan to buy a property.
22 Property
Languedoc Pages
July 2012
PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE
€75,600
€89,650
€90,000
Finistère, Brittany Large 4 bedroom house needing improvements comprises lounge/dining, basic kitchen, bathroom, en suite, double glazed windows and garden to the rear. Ideal for a family.
Jumilhac-le-Grand, Dordogne This charming 1 bedroom stone cottage is set on 0.35 acre of land. Comprises living room, open kitchen and shower room.
Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany Hillside cottage nestles on a wooded hillside in a very t ranquil area. Consist of spacious living/dining room, separate kitchen, 2 double bedrooms and bathroom.
REF: M879-6291477
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 44373
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: IFPC22274
€101,000
€107,000
€117,150
Sées, Orne This 1 bedroom stone house comprises living room, bathroom with jacuzzi bath, converted attic, garden, garage and barn.
Eymet, Aquitaine Charming 2 bedroom stone house in good condition comprises small kitchen /diner, small lounge, nice garden, well and garden shed.
Morbihan, Brittany 4 bedroom house includes south facing conservatory, kitchen, living room and 2 bathrooms. The converted basement has garage, summer kitchen, boiler room and room.
REF: 45662
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: APS2067
ENERGY RATING = G & G
REF: 225
€125,000
€128,400
€132,500
Near Mareui, Aquitaine This spacious renovated 3 bedroomed property. Includes fitted kitchen/diner, lounge, family bathroom, conservatory, small garden, garage and several small outbuildings.
Region Pont d'Ouilly, Orne Attractive Maison de Maitre 3 bedroom property includes entrance hall, fitted Kitchen, 2 reception rooms, bathroom, separate toilet, garden and outbuilding.
Côtes-d'Armor This beautiful renovated 4 bedroom stone house set in 1.81 acres of land has a stable for 3 horses. House includes kitchen/dining area, lounge, 2 convertible attics and bathroom.
REF: BVI0004618
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: 13552PO
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 40012
€139,000
€156,000
€178,000
Minervois, Aude This well presented 3 bedroom south-facing apartment with private terrace, garage and parking place. The complex offers shared use of the swimming pool and sauna.
Gard, Languedoc-Roussillon 3 bedroom house overlooking the country side includes large living room, bathroom, 2 terraces and garage.
Festalemps, Ribérac This renovated 4 bedroom house with a cottage garden and an attached 80m2 barn. The house includes kitchen, dining room, sitting room, studio/study, room and bathroom.
REF: 1170
ENERGY RATING = C & B
REF: G219
ENERGY RATING = C & B
REF: 40788
€232,200
€240,000
€249,000
Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany This 3 bedroom traditional Breton stone longère with a mature garden. Consist of mezzanine area over the dining room, large utility/work room and garage with a store room.
Near Bernay, Eure Restored traditional Norman 3 bedroom farmhouse comprises terrace, garden, outbuildings.
La Coquille, Aquitaine This 2 bedroom farm house with 2 large barns set on 6 hectares of land.
REF: 700385
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: IFPC21434
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: FP-P1001AC
€265,000
€299,600
€315,000
Torigni, Manche Spacious 5 bedroom pavilion set on 300m2 of land. Comprises of dining room, entrance hall, dining room, fitted kitchen, lounge, 2 bathrooms and basement with garage for 2 cars.
Finistère, Brittany A very impressive stone building that has been partially renovated with new roof, concrete floors and PVC double glazed windows and doors throughout. The whole plot size is 2,100m2.
Pont-Audemer, Eure Spacious `colombage` 6/7 bedroom house comprises the bathroom, 2 toilets, 2 reception rooms, kitchen, basement and garage.
REF: 12259
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: KPS 1815
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: DOM1293
€312,700
€349,000
€350,000
Saint-Quentin-les-Chardonnets Renovated 5 bedroom country house is full of character and traditional features. There is an adjoining house with plans for renovation, outbuildings and 15 acres of land.
Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany Magnificent 5 bedroom neo-Breton house comprises a living/dining room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms with shower and large cellar. Set on 2000m2 of land.
Near Gournay-en-Bray This 5 bedroom former convent is set on 2.5 acres of land. Partly renovated the property includes wine cellar, outhouse containing pigeon-loft and 6 stables.
REF: 700047
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 117
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: IFPC20812
€365,000
€371,000
€371,000
Morbihan, Brittany Very light and spacious newly built 4 bedroom single storey house completed April 2007, south facing & set on 2.5 acres (11,000m2) of meadowland with beautiful views.
Gathemo, Manche A rare combination of modern comfort and traditional features are offered in this beautifully renovated 3 bedroom stone Longere.
Near Beaumont-du-Périgord Stone 3 bedroom house consists of living room, kitchen, 2 bathrooms, office, extra storage space, double garage, utility room, workshop, wine cellar and garden.
REF: IFPC16806
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 700617
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 200439
€372,750
€378,000
€390,000
Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany Beautiful 5 bedroom family home with 9480m2 of land and an outbuilding. The property comprises fitted kitchen, living room, office, utility room, bathroom, toilet and en suite.
St Martin de Fressengeas, Aquitaine Renovated 3 bedroom farmhouse set on 4 hectares of land.
Finistère, Brittany Renovated farmhouse with 3 recently renovated cottages, reception room and bar. The property hosts parties, weddings, business meetings, etc. The spacious cottages are rented out.
REF: L10074
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: FP-25581NC24
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: BRE-455
€399,750
€402,800
€418,700
Near Pont-Audemer, Eure Spacious 4 bedroom house in very good condition set on 0.66 acres of land. Comprise garage, swimming pool and dormitory for 7 beds.
Côtes-d'Armor, Brittany Stone house with 3 bedrooms and a number of buildings set on 8 hectares of land.
Near Piegut Pluviers, Aquitaine Stunning Stone built 8 bedroom farmhouse with 2 gîtes set in 11,000m2 of land.
REF: DOM1292
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 2805
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: BVI0004913
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = E & F
ENERGY RATING = E
Languedoc Pages
Property and Finance 23
July 2012
PROPERTIES AROUND FRANCE
€424,000
€434,600
Region Domfront, Orne Peaceful location for this 3 hectare carp lake and fishing business. The 4 bedroomed house with fisherman's lodge/games room and shop look down over the lake.
St Vincent de Cosse, Aquitaine This carefully restored 3 bedroom19th century property consists of 2000m2 of beautifully garden with several terraces and a superb small pool.
REF: 13758POJD
ENERGY RATING = F & C
REF: FP-26007JF24
€450,000
€450,000
Aquitaine 4 bedroom farmhouse with open-plan kitchen/diner, living room with mezzanine with sitting, office, bathroom or shower room to each bedroom, barns and workshop.
Near Le Neubourg, Eure Eight bedroom Normandy house set on 3700m2 of land with garages and outbuildings. There is a possibility of dividing the property (house with 2200m2 land).
REF: 100369
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: IFPC21878
€495,000 Lunas, Aquitaine A beautiful Perigourdine property 5 bedrooms , 3 bathrooms and swimming pool.
ENERGY RATING = C & E
REF: FP-26374CH24
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: BVI0006562
€528,000
€535,000
Near Cognac, Charente Established hotel business. 7 bedroom town house consists of 5 bathrooms, 2 receptions rooms, dining room, terrace, garden, garage and vaulted cellars.
Châtellerault, Vienne Entirely renovated 4 bedroom house and 4 bedroom guest cottage includes outbuilding and garden, small arboretum and 12 hectares acres of land.
REF: IFPC19503
ENERGY RATING = D & D
REF: PC86PIL
€540,000
€546,000
Near Montcuq, Midi-Pyrénées Renovated 5 bedroom house set on 13 hectares of land comprise 2 bathrooms, garage, terrace, garden and pool. Ideal as an equestrian property.
Evreux, Eure This stunning, renovated 15th Century Norman manor comprises 4 (potentially 6) bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and many original, character features.
REF: 128
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: 10947-31696807
€583,000
€594,000
St Hilaire Petitville, Manche This impressive Manor house dating back to 1710 has been restored by the current owners and offers spacious accommodation with fully restored barn in the grounds.
Near Bayeux, Calvados Charming water mill (mill race flowing, working wheel) set on 5 hectares (12.3 acres) near Bayeux. Comprises 3 bedrooms, garage, outbuildings and workshop.
REF: FP-26256CHF50
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: DOM1374
€595,000
€600,000
Annepont, Charente-Maritime This 5 bedroom Mill includes fitted kitchen, large lounge, study, living room, shower room, terrace, large cellar, cellar, summer kitchen and swimming pool.
Near Montréal, Gers Restored 5 bedroom Manor House set on 5 hectares of land with swimming pool.
REF: P0087
ENERGY RATING = E
REF: MA85
€620,000
€662,000
Monflanquin, Lot-et-Garonne Renovated 5 bedroom farmhouse consists of conservatory, terrace, stables and paddock, outbuildings and swimming pool.
Near Mansle, Charente This imposing 6 bedroom Manor house is set peacefully and privately in 5600m2 of park garden. Includes 2 bedroom apartment, barn and garage.
REF: IFPC22384
ENERGY RATING = Not given
REF: FPBF2139
€665,000
€685,000
Near Briouze, Orne 7 bedroom house set on over 2 acres of walled gardens. Comprises 3 receptions and 7 en suite bedroom, large cellar, wine cellar and several outbuildings
Near Cazals, Lot Exceptional modern house built in the local style with swimming pool set on 11 hectares of private ground.
REF: IFPC22146
ENERGY RATING = F & F
REF: BVI0007290
ENERGY RATING = Not given
.com
REF: DOM873
Currency calculation can cut capital gains payout
- Fotolia
€499,790 Near Velines, Aquitaine Beautiful 18th century architect designed renovated barn with a stunning sitting room, large fully fitted Kitchen, 3 bedrooms and a separate 3 bedroom guest cottage.
ENERGY RATING = D & E
Exchange rates can ease CGT payouts
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€499,950 Honfleur, Eure 6 bedroom Normandy manor house comprises 4 large outbuildings, 1 large hanger barn with gates for keeping animals.
ENERGY RATING = Not given
© Jaku
REF: 13582POJD
Answered by
Photo:
€477,000 Region Domfront, Orne Beautiful 6 bedroom stone house set on 1.356 hectares of land together with 70 metre long barn partially converted with new roof and a large bread oven, to restore/renovate.
FINANCE
ENERGY RATING = B & C
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = Not given
ENERGY RATING = B & A
ENERGY RATING = Not given
I have owned my home in the UK for 20 years and when I moved to France I rented out. I assumed there would be no capital gains tax to pay if I sold it. However, I believe that has now changed. Can you say if tax would apply, and how it would be calculated? FRENCH rules relating to the taxation of gains for second properties have indeed changed from February this year. Previously, ‘taper relief ’ of 10% per annum applied from the sixth year of ownership, making the property be free from capital gains after 15 years of ownership. Under the new law, the taper relief is maintained, however, on the following basis: 2% per annum for each year of ownership beyond the fifth year; 4% for each year of ownership beyond the 17th year; and 8% a year for each year of ownership after the 24th year. Thus, the property will be free from capital gains after 30 years. Otherwise, the capital gains tax rate is 19%, but as you are French resident, you will also have social taxes to pay of 15.5%, resulting in a total tax rate of 34.5%. The rules for calculating the gain are fairly straightforward. You can take off the purchase and sale costs of the property and also the cost of any major renovation work, providing you still have invoices from registered tradesmen. In the absence of invoices, as you have owned the property for more than five years, you can claim an allowance for renovation work of 15% of the acquisition price. This is probably more easily explained by an example. Purchase price.................£100,000 Sale price .........................£200,000 Acquisition cost..............5% (£5,000) Renov cost allowance.....15% (£15,000) Therefore .........................£200,000 - £120,000 = £80,000 Taper relief for 20 years’ ownership ............£80,000 x 36% = £28,800 Net taxable gain..............£80,000 - £28,800 = £51,200 Capital gains tax and social taxes ..............£51,200 x 34.5% = £17,664 You must convert the amount payable to Euros and so it is a good idea to discuss with an accountant how this is done. It could be beneficial to do the entire calculation in Euros, using the exchange rate at the time of the purchase. In 1992, this would have been Francs and in May 1992, the GBP/Ff exchange rate was around 9.8. Convert to Euros at the fixed rate of exchange for the Ff/Euro of 6.55957 and, using an exchange rate of £1/€1.20 for the sale price, would cut the tax bill to around €13,400. It would seem, therefore, the extra calculations might be worth the effort.
24 People
Languedoc Pages
July 2012
‘You are a slave to your vines’ Local label of quality
Sophie Delaude learnt winegrowing in Paris, Bordeaux, Saint-Tropez and California before taking over the family vineyard
SOPHIE’S wine is an AOP Malepère, as she is not far from Limoux she sells it under the “Pays Cathare” label, which is awarded to a range of around 900 companies in Aude including those working in tourism, food production, wine-m making, restaurants and creative arts and crafts. The label, which was set up in 1992 by Aude departmental council, guarantees the origin, quality and authenticity of the products and services offered by participating companies. For more information see www.audetourisme.com
Sophie Delaude works almost single-handedly to make wine from vineyards in Pech-Salamou, near Carcassonne, which have been in the family for six generations. She speaks to SAMANTHA DAVID about what the job involves and gives advice to anyone thinking of taking the plunge and becoming a professional winegrower “LIKE my father and my grandfather and all my family, I grew up here on this land,” says Sophie, the third of three daughters. As a child she always wanted to be a vigneronne so, after school, she did a BTS in viticulture and oenology in Bordeaux and went to Paris where she did a BTS in wine and spirit sales and marketing “because what’s the point of making good wine if you can't sell it?” she says. She then worked in Paris for a year compiling national wine statistics, followed by a year working in a wine cooperative in Saint-Tropez. “It was all good experience and I learned a lot about many different facets of the business,” she says. Four months at Cain Winery in Napa Valley, California, taught her to speak English and gave her more valuable experience. “It was completely different from here. The
vineyard was the same size as ours, but they had 32 employees, I do everything myself.” Aged 24 and homesick, she went back to France where her parents were still running the business until she was ready to take over. “It took maybe four years for them to retire fully,” says Sophie. “At first I just worked as a labourer, and I took over bit by bit. But even now that they’re retired, they still help out. Like now, while I’m pregnant my father and my partner are doing most of the heavy work between them.” She says that knowing your parents are watching every step can be hard but that they know from experience that both sides have to work hard to accept each other’s differences. “We talk a lot, and we’re close. We all still live in the same village.” She works outside 90% of the time, except during the harvest when she
is in the cellars, receiving the grapes and starting the long process of turning them into wine. “If it rains, I do paperwork. It’s time-consuming and exhausting,” she admits. “It’s a huge job, but it’s difficult to employ people to help.” Her partner Guillaume Honoré is a musician but this summer, as Sophie is expecting their first child, he has laid his guitar aside and is helping out in the vineyard. “We met at the first cultural evening I organised here. He was in the band,” says Sophie. She organises evening events combining winetasting with poetry-reading or an exhibition of paintings or a concert. “It’s the ideal partnership,” she says. “A house full of wine and music, what else could you wish for?” The thing she likes best about her job is the variety. “I like different things all the time, no day is the same, and working for myself is an enormous satisfaction. And I’m always learning new skills. Making wine is personal and creative, and involves many different aspects. You have contact with clients, you do paperwork, you are outside...” She says the administration and
official paperwork is the worst part. She also does not much like selling to new shops because there is so much competition and selling requires a very special personality. For the future, she just wants to continue working the vineyard single-handed and making a living. She would also like a large family. “A whole bunch of kids would be great,” she says. “And although I’d never pressure them to do it, if one of them ever decides to follow in my footsteps, I’d be thrilled.” Her advice to anyone dreaming of becoming a wine-maker is simple. “Don’t hesitate to get a job, even a menial one, and work for someone else before you take any financial risks yourself.” She thinks it is vital to take the time to get experience of working 10 hours a day in the vines. “It’s very physically tiring, you don’t have holidays, you don’t get weekends and bank holidays off, you are a slave to your vines.”
She would also advise doing a proper course lasting at least a year. “The thing is you only make wine once a year, so to make 20 different vintages takes 20 years. You can’t afford to make mistakes, you can’t learn on the job.”
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